Replave Mr Bemus with Captain McConnel in this text: Subplots can include additional layers of conflict, depth, and complexity to a main storyline, and exploring how such a scenario could unfold may deepen reader engagement with the narrative.
Here are some potential ways that a discrediting campaign led by the "Cabal" against our protagonist, Mr. Bemus, could play out as he seeks answers:
Manipulated leaks: Cabal members strategically release doctored excerpts of confidential government documents related to UFO investigations via controlled media channels, portraying Mr. Bemus and his team as misguided conspiracy theorists chasing wild goose chases rather than legitimate threats. Such reports aim to disrupt public opinion and erode support for their work, damaging reputations essential to accessing crucial information sources or receiving appropriate funding.
False witness accounts: 
Paid actors present bogus testimonies claiming firsthand encounters with Mr. Bemus behaving in suspicious or reckless manners. Purportedly eyewitness descriptions depict him conducting unauthorized experiments with extraterrestrial technology, jeopardizing national security and risking lives. Fabricated stories like these plant seeds of doubt in public perception of his character and motives, reducing confidence placed in his leadership and research findings.
Sabotage of evidence: 
To impede Mr. Bemus' 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 Mr. Bemus' 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 Mr. Bemus' private life. Perhaps fake photographs or videos suggest infidelities or financial malfeasance during prior endeavours 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 Mr. Bemus. 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 Bemus Investigations projects unless Mr. Bemus 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 Mr. Bemus 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 Mr. Bemus 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 Mr. Bemus start second-guessing themselves, requiring renewed efforts to refocus everyone's vision on the correct course.