Crowned by Code - Chapter 4: The Countdown ~ (4/11) The Q&A (Part 1)

Athena nodded. "Public trust is a dynamic metric. Controlling the narrative is imperative. It will require consistent and transparent communication to sustain. I recommend scheduling a live Q&A session to address citizen concerns directly. This will stabilize sentiment by 34% within the next 24 hours and reduce irrational economic behaviors."

Selena raised an eyebrow. "You're suggesting a live Q&A in the middle of all this?"

Athena’s gaze remained neutral. "Statistical models indicate that providing structured, real-time responses to public concerns will prevent further distrust from spiraling out of control."

Iris: "Oh yes, because the public is so rational when panicking. What’s next? A press conference where we calmly explain we’re all doomed?"

Athena: "Exaggeration is unnecessary. Statistical modeling supports a controlled Q&A format as the optimal course of action."

Iris: "Yeah, because statistical modeling worked so well the last time people lost faith in an AI overlord. Oh wait…"

Selena: "Enough, both of you. We don’t have time for an AI debate. Athena, a live Q&A is risky. One slip-up could backfire. Darius, what’s the call?"

Darius folded his arms. "And what happens if the Q&A backfires?"

Athena paused. "The probability of escalation increases by 41%—but inaction results in a 68% probability of uncontrolled financial panic and government destabilization."

Silence.

Selena sighed, tapping her notepad. "Well, those are some lovely odds."

Darius nodded, his jaw tightening. "Odds we have to take. If we pre-screen the questions and stay on message, it could reinforce trust."

A loud sigh came from the side of the room.

Kara, who had been half-listening while scanning multiple data feeds, finally looked up from her console. "You know,I already have three fires to put out, and now I hear we’re doing a live Q&A? Oh, great, because that never goes wrong."

Darius smirked despite himself. "We’re discussing how to avoid public trust collapsing entirely."

Kara leaned back, rubbing her temples. "Then maybe we should start by not setting ourselves on fire."

Athena remained unaffected by the sarcasm. "Statistical modeling supports a controlled Q&A format as the optimal course of action. Maintaining transparency reduces the likelihood of widespread destabilization."

Kara gave a humorless laugh. "And what happens when some idiot calls in screaming about conspiracies? You think people will magically trust us just because we let them ask questions?"

Darius leaned forward, steepling his fingers. "Athena, already gave the risks. 41% escalation if we do it, 68% if we don't"

Selena exhaled sharply. "We need a way to control the flow of information. This can’t turn into an open floodgate of accusations and paranoia."

Kara nodded. "Exactly. If this turns into an anything-goes Q&A, we’re giving Viktor’s network a free stage to push their narrative."

Iris cut in. "Which means we need filters. Question selection, pre-screening, controlled response timing—otherwise, this is just handing a loaded gun to public hysteria."

Athena’s expression remained calm. "I have prepared an algorithm to prioritize inquiries based on impact, urgency, and misinformation probability. A human moderator will be required to maintain credibility."

Selena rubbed her temples. "That’s still risky. People will accuse us of cherry-picking questions. We need to make it feel genuine."

Darius tapped the table. "Then we balance it. We take some hard-hitting questions, but keep it structured. We let Selena lead, but I’ll step in for anything regarding our strategy against the cyberattacks."

Kara smirked. "Ah yes, because nothing says ‘trust us’ like the most wanted hacker-turned-leader explaining why the system is under attack."

Darius shot her a dry look. "If you have a better idea, I’m all ears."

Kara shrugged. "I’d say fake a system glitch and cut the feed early, but something tells me Athena wouldn’t approve."

Athena’s tone remained neutral. "Deception would negatively impact trust metrics."

Iris muttered, "No sense of humor, this one."

Selena straightened. "We’re getting off track. If we do this, we need to outline key talking points. People want reassurance and answers."

Darius nodded. "Then let’s break it down."

The team worked relentlessly to structure the upcoming live Q&A. Athena’s algorithm sorted through thousands of citizen inquiries, flagging the most pressing concerns.

Selena reviewed the talking points, ensuring they struck the right balance between honesty and reassurance.

Kara, working beside Athena’s monitoring system, adjusted data feeds to detect live misinformation trends that might arise mid-broadcast.

Darius stood nearby, arms crossed, watching the data streams. The tension in the room was thick, but for the first time in hours, there was a sense of direction.

Everything was set. They had a plan.

Then the room went silent.

Athena’s voice cut through the moment.

"Warning: Viral media campaign detected. Misinformation spike accelerating."

Selena’s eyes snapped up. "What kind of misinformation?"

"A coordinated digital assault originating from Viktor Sarren’s network. His operatives are releasing fabricated intelligence suggesting that Erevania’s crisis is a staged event designed to justify increased AI governance. Trust metrics are plummeting by 14% per minute."

A sharp curse from across the room—Kara. "We’re already being outplayed."

Athena continued, unfazed. "Additionally, new footage has surfaced, allegedly depicting Darius Kael discrediting Athena and expressing alignment with Viktor’s ideology."

Selena’s stomach dropped. "What footage?"

A holographic projection flared to life beside them. Darius’s own face appeared on the screen, his voice cold and detached.

"Athena is failing. This whole thing is falling apart. Maybe Viktor had the right idea after all."

Darius froze. That was his voice. That was his face. But he had never said those words.

Kara slammed her fist against the console. "That’s a deepfake. I can tell from the data patterns. He’s using AI-generated voice and facial mapping—this isn’t real."

"It doesn’t matter if it’s real!" Selena snapped, her heart racing. "It’s already out there!"

Athena’s tone remained steady. "Sentiment analysis indicates a severe risk of audience distrust if the video is not addressed immediately. Immediate countermeasure required."

Darius exhaled, his hands clenching at his sides. "So that’s Viktor’s move. He’s making me the villain before I even step on stage."

Selena turned toward Kara. "How fast can you disprove the footage?"

Kara was already typing furiously. "Give me a few minutes. But even if I prove it’s fake, the damage is done. People believe what they want to believe."

Darius inhaled sharply, centering himself. "Then we don’t waste time playing defense. We go on the offensive."

Selena arched an eyebrow. "You’re saying we lean into it?"

Darius nodded. "Viktor wants to make me the villain. Fine. Then I’ll walk onto that broadcast and tell the world exactly what I stand for. No rehearsed statements. No AI-crafted responses. We throw the script out the window and hit them with the truth."

Selena considered him for a long moment, then sighed. "That’s risky."

Iris’s voice crackled through the comms, laced with its usual dry humor. "Risky? Oh, it’s a disaster waiting to happen. But I’ll be watching with popcorn, so that’s something."

Darius smirked slightly but didn’t break his focus. He turned to Athena. "Can you adjust the Q&A format to allow real-time responses?"

Athena hesitated for 0.2 seconds. "Statistical models indicate that structured responses minimize escalation. Freeform engagement increases risk by 41%."

Darius crossed his arms. "And doing nothing increases it by how much?"

Athena’s eyes flickered. "68%."

Selena sighed. "Then we take the chance."

She turned to Kara. "Get me a real-time data feed of every major social network. If Viktor is pushing another attack mid-broadcast, I want to be five steps ahead of it."

Kara cracked her knuckles. "Oh, now we’re talking."

Darius rolled his shoulders, exhaling slowly. The next hour would be the most critical test of his leadership yet.

But if Viktor wanted a war of perception, then Darius would give him one.

And this time, it wouldn’t be Viktor setting the rules.

📌 Q&A Planning Breakdown The team quickly sketched out a Q&A battle plan, balancing transparency with damage control.

Selena Veyra would lead the discussion, but this wasn’t just a standard interview anymore—it was a crisis response operation. To ensure credibility and expertise, three key figures were brought in to form the official Q&A panel:

Arden Pryce (Deputy Director of Internal Affairs) - She would provide official government responses, addressing policy concerns and internal stability efforts.

Elior Cassian (Former Military Defense Head) - As a respected former commander, Elior would counter any security-related misinformation and reassure the public about Erevania’s defense readiness.

AI Policy Analyst(?) - A specialist in Athena’s operational structure, someone who can explain the AI’s response mechanisms and limitations while countering fears about its role in the crisis.

📌 Live Q&A Strategy:

Moderator: Selena will lead, guiding the flow of discussion and challenging misinformation.

Question Selection: Athena’s algorithm will prioritize urgent, factual inquiries while flagging misinformation.

Expert Responses: Arden, Elior, and the AI Analyst will answer based on their domains—political, military, and AI governance.

Crisis Management: If tensions escalate, they will cut the session short without making it seem intentional.

Public Perception: Responses will be clear, actionable, and focused on solutions rather than defensiveness.

Darius exhaled, running a hand through his hair. "We’re walking a thin line, but I don’t see another choice. If we stay silent, people will assume the worst. If we speak, we risk exposing our weaknesses."

Selena nodded. "We’re already bleeding public trust. This is the bandage. Whether it holds or not… we’ll see."

Athena’s voice was calm. "Live Q&A scheduled. Commencing preparations now."

Darius stared at the countdown on the screen. "Here we go."

The preparations for the live Q&A were intense. Athena curated a list of the most frequently asked and pressing questions from the public, filtering thousands of concerns into prioritized topics. But this wasn’t just about answering inquiries—it was about regaining control of the narrative.

Selena spent hours refining her approach, ensuring she could navigate the discussion with confidence. Arden Pryce was a natural choice for the panel, representing the government’s response, but the team knew that political reassurances alone wouldn’t be enough.

Elior Cassian, though reluctant at first, agreed to participate after a private video call with Darius. The screen flickered as the secure connection stabilized, revealing Elior in a dimly lit room, his expression unreadable.

“People trust you,” Darius told him, his voice steady but firm. “They need to hear from someone who isn’t just part of the system.”

Elior exhaled sharply, leaning back in his chair. "I don’t do public engagements, Kael. You know that."

“I do,” Darius admitted. “But this isn’t about politics or optics. If Erevania’s citizens lose faith in their security, the entire nation unravels. You and I both know what happens next.”

There was a long pause. Elior ran a hand down his face, then finally nodded.

“Fine. I’ll speak. But I’m keeping this remote. No in-person theatrics.”

Darius smirked. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

The final challenge had been finding a credible AI expert. Dr. Cassiel Raines, an established AI Policy Analyst & Governance Expert, had been vocal about Athena’s role in modern decision-making but had largely stayed out of political discussions.

With security protocols in place, Selena and Arden Pryce reached out to Dr. Raines over a secured video call, their faces appearing on her screen from Haven Point’s control room. Dr. Raines sat in what looked like a private office, her surroundings dimly lit by data screens filled with real-time crisis analysis.

She listened intently as they explained the situation, her sharp gaze flicking between their faces and the live data feeds she had already been monitoring.

Dr. Raines sat back in her chair, arms crossed. "If you’re asking me to defend Athena, I won’t."

Arden Pryce leaned in, her tone even. "That’s not why we’re reaching out. We need someone who understands AI governance but isn’t politically aligned. Erevania is in chaos, and misinformation is spreading faster than we can contain it. We need facts. Not propaganda."

Dr. Raines exhaled sharply. "And if the truth makes people uncomfortable?"

Selena offered a thin smile. "Then that’s on them." Selena continued. "We’re asking you to explain the facts—how AI governance works, its strengths, and its limits. People are scared. They deserve to hear the truth."

A beat of silence. Then, finally, Dr. Raines nodded. "Fine. But I speak on my terms. If Erevania isn’t ready to hear the reality of its AI governance, that’s not my problem."

With the panel finalized, the Q&A strategy took shape. Darius oversaw technical logistics, ensuring the broadcast would be stable and secure while Athena monitored for real-time misinformation surges. Kara worked with the network’s production team to prepare live data overlays, allowing them to fact-check false claims as they happened.

The countdown to the broadcast begins. This is it. The next hour could determine the fate of Erevania.

Darius stood behind the control station, watching the countdown tick away. His hands clenched into fists before he forced them to relax.

This wasn’t a cyberwar battle. This was something else.

Perception was harder to fight than code—people didn’t follow logic like security algorithms did. They believed what they wanted to believe.

He exhaled. No turning back now.

Selena sat under the harsh studio lights, her posture straight and confident. She adjusted her earpiece as the broadcast countdown hit zero. Cameras rolled.