What might be the challenges of using the following ideas in my story and how might they be overcome:
To impede Captain McConnell’s investigation, agents linked to the Cabal sabotage recovered UFO artifacts stored at secret facilities. They either tamper with vital data or destroy pieces altogether, compromising analytical capabilities required to understand the nature and origin of unidentified craft. Attempting to explain such setbacks becomes difficult for the protagonist without appearing deluded or grossly negligent.
Harassment tactics: Cabal operatives initiate cyber attacks and personal harassment attempts designed to intimidate or silence key individuals supporting Captain McConnell’s quest. Email hacking, false flag social media accounts, or anonymous hate mail sent to family members.
Personal scandals:
The Cabal stages carefully orchestrated events leading to embarrassing revelations about Captain McConnell’s private life. Perhaps fake photographs or videos suggest infidelities or financial malfeasance during prior endeavors before joining The Truth Is Out There. Distracted by damage control necessitated by these manufactured controversies, the protagonist struggles to focus on his original mission, allowing the mysterious flying saucers to slip further away from detection and analysis.
Factions within organizations: Ambitious figures influenced by the Cabal rise through existing structures (e.g., NASA, military branches) initially working alongside Captain McConnell. Internal strife arises as certain officials undermine objectivity, withhold valuable information, or prematurely draw conclusions based more on hidden motivations than actual facts. Such internal divides weaken collective resolve when facing new adversaries or unexpected developments, forcing the protagonist and remaining loyal cohorts to navigate treacherous bureaucratic minefields to achieve common goals.
Economic pressure:
Facilitated behind closed doors by wealthy interests aligned with the Cabal, powerful investors threaten significant withdrawals from firms sponsoring McConnell Investigations projects unless Captain McConnell halts operations. A lack of funding hampers progress, causing discouragement and confusion, as staff members question whether it is worth pursuing leads when basic survival seems uncertain. The stress prompts resignations or reduces effectiveness until morale rebounds once more secure financing arrives.
Disinformation strategies:
Misleading statements, disseminated throughout popular culture platforms and entertainment mediums, paint Captain McConnell as an irrational dreamer fixated solely on imaginary scenarios. Artificial trends created online propagate negative memes caricaturing him or sensationalistic tales diverting attention away from his genuine discoveries toward fictionalized counterparts. Once widely adopted, such narratives influence public.
Alternative explanations:
As if by coincidence, experts connected to the Cabal propose alternative hypotheses explaining all sightings Captain McConnell finds most intriguing. These supposed experts offer rationalizations to placate the masses, attributing phenomena to natural causes, secret military tests, hallucination, mass hysteria, or even elaborate hoaxes staged by pranksters. By casting doubt over the possibility of extraplanetary interference, society loses interest in the true mystery posed by the anomalous objects. Even those closely associated with Captain McConnell start second-guessing themselves, requiring renewed efforts to refocus everyone’s vision on the correct course.