214: Chapter 214 The Signal of Rebellion: The Declaration of "Freedom Day"

The shadows of the testing grounds and hangars seemed mild compared to another abandoned Cold War-era broadcast relay station deep in the desert. Buried deep beneath the surface, its thick concrete layers and lead shielding were once meant to withstand nuclear blasts and electromagnetic pulses, but now they served as an excellent hideout and... an information warfare launchpad.

McCarthy stood before a console covered in dust and aging equipment, his eyes burning like a blaster about to light a fuse. Kelson and several technicians were sweating profusely as they operated. They were connecting old, theoretically obsolete high-power long-wave and short-wave transmitters to signal frequency-hopping and disguise nodes cobbled together from specially modified GDA civilian network components and old-era military encryption chips.

"We only have one chance," McCarthy's voice echoed in the dim space, carrying the resolve of someone burning their bridges. "The GDA's 'Mozi Network' is under tight surveillance; any conventional network attack or information infiltration would be detected and snuffed out by the system within microseconds. But these antiques," he patted a nearby transmitter that was rusty yet still exuded a dangerous aura, "operate on frequency bands and modulation methods that the 'Mozi Network' has actively abandoned as 'noise zones' for the sake of efficiency. It's like using carrier pigeons and signal fires to combat a satellite network—primitive, but difficult for modern defense systems to completely filter and trace."

"Furthermore, we don't need to occupy the channels for long," Davis added, holding a freshly written manuscript, his eyes a mix of tension and a twisted sense of mission. "We just need one sufficiently loud, sufficiently piercing 'scream' to shove our voice into every ear across the globe that can still receive traditional radio waves, or even those who inadvertently turn on old receiving equipment. Light the fuse, and let suspicion and fear ferment on their own."

The "timing" they were waiting for quietly emerged on the seventeenth day after the first round of Scavenger attacks.

The GDA's attention was almost entirely pinned down by deep space. After a brief silence, the four Scavenger units began more threatening maneuvers—they no longer clustered for attacks but dispersed, performing irregular maneuvers at extremely high speeds on the outskirts of the Solar System. Simultaneously, they continuously launched probes and miniature, autonomous "Purification Probes" inward. These probes varied in size, some as large as meteorites and others as small as soccer balls. Utilizing their weak propulsion and simple guidance systems, they attempted to break through the early warning and interception networks set up by humanity at the Mars orbit and asteroid belt to harass and scout defense weak points.

For a time, the outer Solar System became a vast, dynamic hunting ground. The human fleet was exhausted, rushing around to intercept those elusive probes while remaining constantly vigilant against a possible second round of major strikes from the four main units. Defensive pressure on Earth and the Moon Base eased slightly, but nerves were stretched to the limit. On the GDA's propaganda channels, news of successful interceptions was broadcast daily, showcasing the power of new defensive weapons and repeatedly emphasizing unity and confidence. But at the same time, the casualty figures of frontline officers and soldiers (though partially blurred), along with footage of probes breaking through interceptions to strike Mars base shields or being destroyed by the final line of defense outside Earth's atmosphere, inevitably began to spread.

A new sense of fatigue and anxiety began to breed among some of the populace. They saw the civilization fighting hard, but they also saw the cost. Some issues originally suppressed by the pressure of survival began to resurface: the fairness of resource distribution, the difference in sacrifice between the front lines and the rear, the mandatory popularization of technology, and the ethical controversies surrounding the Prometheus project... Especially in the former North American Affiliated Zone—the land that was integrated last, bore the deepest marks of the old era, and was instinctively wary of "strong central authority" for historical reasons—unease flowed like an undercurrent, quietly surging in the fringe forums of the Kunlun-Education world and in certain unregulated offline gatherings.

McCarthy's "ears," planted within these restless undercurrents, accurately reported everything back.

"The time is now." McCarthy looked at the summarized intelligence, a sharp light exploding in his eyes. "When people start feeling tired, start doubting the price paid, and start reminiscing about the past—even a glorified version of it—that is the best time for the new 'gods' to fall and the old 'devils' to be resurrected."

He turned to Kelson: "Are all the transmitters adjusted according to the predetermined coordinates and power?"

"Ready. Utilizing seventeen relay stations scattered across different time zones in remote locations globally, we can ensure that over the next thirty minutes, our signal will intermittently cover over 95% of the globe at maximum power, including the Ark city and major bases prioritized by GDA defense. The signal content is encrypted, but the encryption method intentionally leaves flaws to ensure the GDA can crack it and hear the full text within ten minutes—which is exactly what we want, to let them 'hear it clearly'," Kelson replied, his fingers trembling slightly from tension.

McCarthy looked at Davis again: "The manifesto?"

Davis took a deep breath and projected the manuscript in his hand. The title was in bold, provocative letters:

[Freedom Day Manifesto—To All Fellow Humans Who Are Deceived and Enslaved]

The content began with accusations of the GDA's "technological monopoly" and "thought control," depicting the Kunlun-Education network as a brainwashing tool, slandering the Prometheus project as a conspiracy to create "genetic slaves," and portraying Lin Mo as a dictator who relied on an "alien system of unknown origin" to seize power and kidnap all of humanity with hypocritical "civilizational righteousness." The manifesto deliberately ignored the threat of the Scavenger units, instead describing the GDA's war preparations as "militarism exhausting humanity's last vitality" and the sacrifices of frontline soldiers as "pointless bloodshed for a dictator's ambition."

The tone then shifted as it threw out the "truth" meticulously fabricated by McCarthy and the others:

"The true path to survival lies not in proving some ridiculous 'symbiotic potential' to the cold universe, but in reclaiming the innate free will and spirit of resistance of humanity! The GDA enslaves you with fear and numbs you with false hope! They dare not use the power that could truly deter the enemy because they fear losing control, they fear your awakening!"

"But we, the people who have inherited the glory and the sparks of freedom from the old era, possess the truth! We have the power to break the stalemate and end this mistaken war! We call upon all compatriots who long for true freedom and refuse to be transformed into docile lambs to take action! Reject unreasonable conscription, protect your homes and traditions, and wait for our next signal!"

"Today is 'Freedom Day'! The first day of spiritual liberation from the enslavement of Lin Mo and his accomplices! We, the 'Free Human Front,' will be with you! Victory and freedom belong to unyielding humanity!"

The entire piece was filled with inflammatory lies, half-truths, and emotional language designed to incite opposition and panic. It was like a carefully prepared poison, targeting not the rational mind, but the weary, fearful, and dissatisfied heart.

McCarthy nodded with satisfaction: "Very good. Remember, we don't need to convince everyone; we only need to ignite that 10% of 'kindling' to make the GDA's backyard smoke."

He looked up at the old atomic clock on the console; the time pointed to the scheduled moment.

"Start the transmission sequence. Let our voice of 'freedom' resound through this world shrouded in fear!"

Kelson pressed the master switch.

Instantly, the seemingly abandoned facilities scattered across seventeen corners of the globe, their hidden antenna arrays or buried ground-wave transmitters, simultaneously beamed malicious radio waves at maximum power toward the sky and across the land.

For the first few minutes, nothing seemed to happen. The GDA's public channels continued to broadcast battle reports and mobilization orders.

But soon, anomalies began to appear.

In some remote areas, people still using old-fashioned radios or car stereos suddenly heard piercing static, followed by a passionate yet utterly unfamiliar voice reading the "Freedom Day Manifesto." In the cities, internal broadcast systems of some unrenovated old buildings, backup communication lines in industrial zones, and even individual public screens briefly malfunctioning due to electromagnetic interference all eerily displayed fragments of the manifesto's text.

More lethally, on the outskirts of the Kunlun-Education world, non-core and relatively loosely regulated public message boards and social nodes began to be flooded by anonymous accounts posting the full text or summaries of the manifesto. Although system and the GDA network regulatory forces initiated cleanup and tracking procedures within seconds, the seeds of information had already been sown.

The Command Hall of Ark City.

Lin Mo was discussing response plans for the Scavenger's new tactics with Long Zhantian when Su Xiaowan suddenly walked over with a solemn expression, placing the full text of the freshly cracked and organized "Freedom Day Manifesto" and a preliminary impact assessment before Lin Mo.

Lin Mo quickly scanned the words filled with malicious accusations and inflammatory rhetoric, his eyes instantly turning as cold as polar ice. He looked up at Su Xiaowan: "Source?"

"Seventeen scattered long-wave and short-wave transmission sources. The signals were crudely disguised and frequency-hopped, but they have all been located. Nearby forces are being dispatched to confirm and destroy them. The infiltration accounts within Kunlun-Education are being traced, but the opponent used a complex botnet and disposable nodes, so it will take time," Su Xiaowan spoke rapidly. "Preliminary impact assessment: It has garnered some attention and discussion in fringe areas with weak information infrastructure and among some nostalgic groups. In core areas, due to our timely information control, it hasn't formed large-scale dissemination, but... certain points mentioned in the manifesto, such as the controversy over the Prometheus project and resource distribution issues, have indeed touched upon existing doubts in some people."

Lin Mo set down the manifesto, his fingers lightly tapping on the console. There was no anger on his face, only a deep, all-seeing calmness.

"They finally couldn't help themselves," he said softly, as if stating a long-anticipated fact. "Hiding in the shadows, afraid to face the real enemy, yet stabbing the foundation of our unity in the back."

He connected to the global communication, offering no long-winded speech, only a short and powerful voice:

"To all GDA members, to all fellow humans."

"Just as we are united as one to resist the common threat from the stars, a small group of rats hiding in the gutters is attempting to use lies and incitement to destroy our unity and shake our convictions."

"They call themselves 'free,' yet they attempt to drag humanity back into the abyss of division and infighting; they accuse us of 'enslavement,' yet they cannot provide any real plan for the continuation of civilization; they flaunt 'power,' yet they only dare to fire cold arrows from behind their compatriots."

"I want to tell these people, and everyone who hears their voices:"

"Human freedom has never been about selfishly doing as one pleases, but the right and responsibility to strive for a common destiny under common rules! Human unity is not a slogan for calm waters, but the backbone that supports one another in the midst of raging storms!"

"Their lies are fragile in the face of the real threat of the Scavengers. Their incitement is pale and weak before the firm will of billions fighting for their home."

"I order: All GDA institutions are to immediately initiate the 'Net-Purge, Shadow-Sweep' contingency plan to clear all malicious information and soothe the public's emotions. Simultaneously, increase the intensity of internal security screenings. For any behavior attempting to destroy unity or create division at this time, the GDA will take the most decisive measures and will not tolerate it!"

"As for those rats," Lin Mo's voice suddenly turned cold, carrying an unquestionable majesty, "since they have chosen to betray the collective interests of humanity, they are no longer protected by the laws of civilization. I declare the 'Free Human Front' an enemy of human civilization. Find them and eliminate them."

With the order issued, the massive machine of the GDA began to operate efficiently against the internal threat.

The "Freedom Day" manifesto was like a giant boulder thrown into a lake already surging with undercurrents; though it didn't immediately create massive waves, it caused the silt at the bottom to churn up.

In the starry sky, a Scavenger unit seemed to have finished its adjustments. It suddenly broke away from the maneuver formation and began charging toward Mars at an unprecedented high speed!