Crowned by Code - Chapter 4: The Countdown ~ (5/11) The Q&A (Part 2)

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

She exhaled, then faced the nation.

"Good evening, Erevania. I’m Selena Veyra, here to bring you direct updates on the ongoing crisis."

She shifted slightly, gesturing to the panelists seated alongside her. "Tonight, I’m joined by a panel of experts who will help us address your most urgent concerns."

She turned to her right. "Deputy Director Arden Pryce is with us to provide insight into the government’s response efforts."

Arden, dressed in a sharp, dark suit, gave a firm nod. "Thank you, Selena. Erevania’s leadership is actively addressing this crisis, and I’m here to clarify our position and ongoing countermeasures."

Selena then motioned toward the panelists who were joining remotely.

"Tonight, we are also joined by two experts who will help us address your most pressing concerns."

At that moment, the air beside the panel shimmered, and two holographic projections materialized—one of Dr. Cassiel Raines, seated in a sleek office lined with data terminals, the other of Elior Cassian, positioned in what appeared to be a high-security command center, tactical displays faintly glowing behind him.

The transmission quality was crystal clear, capturing even the smallest details—the slight arch of Dr. Raines' brow as she scanned the live feed, the firm set of Elior’s jaw as he absorbed the weight of the discussion. The cutting-edge quantum relay system projected them with such clarity that it almost felt as if they were in the room.

Selena gestured toward Dr. Raines first. "Dr. Cassiel Raines, an expert in AI policy and governance, is here to provide insights into Athena’s response mechanisms and the challenges we face in countering misinformation."

Dr. Raines adjusted her glasses, her voice calm and analytical. "Thank you, Selena. While AI systems like Athena were designed to predict crises, misinformation is a uniquely human problem—one that no algorithm can fully prevent. My role here is to separate fact from speculation."

Selena then turned to Elior’s projection.

"Joining us remotely is Former Military Defense Head Elior Cassian, here to speak on security and defense readiness. With Erevania facing an unprecedented digital siege, the question isn’t just how we defend our networks, but how we prepare for what happens next."

The projection of Elior remained still for a moment before he gave a slow, measured nod. "Cyberwarfare is only one front in this battle. If destabilization efforts continue, physical disruptions—riots, resource shortages, targeted sabotage—won’t be far behind. My role here is to ensure Erevania is prepared for both the threats we can see and the ones waiting in the shadows."

Though they were physically elsewhere, the presence of both experts carried undeniable weight, reinforcing that Erevania’s crisis response was being guided by some of its most experienced minds.

Selena turned back toward the camera, hands folded on the table. "Let’s get started."

A live feed of public questions streamed in, moderated carefully to filter out inflammatory content.

The first few questions were straightforward, focusing on the cyber threat and the measures being implemented.

Then came the more pointed inquiries:

Question from a Pro-Vanguard Caller

🗣 "How does the administration justify Athena selecting a leader without public input?"

📌 Arden Pryce’s Response:

Arden sat forward slightly, her expression neutral but firm.

"Athena’s selection process is based on predictive models that prioritize national stability. However, leadership extends beyond selection—it is about action. Right now, Erevania is facing an unprecedented crisis. The real question is not how leadership was chosen, but how leadership responds. If we allow division at this moment, we only empower those who seek to dismantle Erevania from within."

📌 Selena’s Follow-Up:

Selena leaned in, eyes sharp. "And yet, trust in AI governance is declining. What do you say to those who believe Erevania should return to human-led elections?"

📌 Dr. Cassiel Raines Adds Context:

Dr. Raines interjected calmly. "The question of AI versus human governance is complex, and there is no perfect system. However, let’s be clear: Erevania’s governance is not fully AI-driven. Athena is a decision-making tool, but human oversight remains integral. The issue we face is not whether AI governance works—it is how we prevent external forces from weaponizing mistrust against Erevania itself."

Question from a Skeptic Citizen

🗣 "Why should Erevania trust a leader chosen by Athena, especially one with a criminal record?"

A murmur rippled through the live chat feed, the question echoing a sentiment many citizens were struggling with.

📌 Arden Pryce was the first to respond. She leaned forward slightly, her expression neutral but authoritative.

"Athena’s selection of leadership is based on predictive governance models that analyze capability, strategic thinking, and problem-solving under extreme conditions. But leadership isn’t just about selection—it’s about proving oneself in the face of adversity. Darius Kael is being judged in real time by his actions in this crisis. Erevania’s future won’t be decided by his past, but by what he does now."

A pause. The tension in the room was palpable.

📌 Elior Cassian, ever composed, added his perspective.

"I spent years leading Erevania’s military defense. I’ve worked with the best, and I’ve seen what happens when leadership fails. Right now, what matters is capability—who can counter this threat and stabilize our nation. Like it or not, Darius Kael has demonstrated that he understands this battlefield better than most. If he’s the wrong choice, then I challenge anyone to name a better one."

A flood of mixed reactions hit the comment feed—some agreement, others outrage.

Selena took the opportunity to moderate. "Dr. Raines, from an AI governance standpoint, does Athena account for past criminal records when making leadership selections?"

📌 Dr. Cassiel Raines adjusted her glasses, her voice cool and analytical.

"Athena factors in all known variables, including past records. However, leadership selection isn’t about morality—it’s about capability under projected crises. If Erevania wants leaders chosen based on traditional political processes, that’s a societal choice, not an AI failure. The real question isn’t whether Darius Kael deserves trust—it’s whether he can do the job. And if not, what alternative does Erevania have under current circumstances?"

The tension in the room settled into a cold, logical weight.

📌 Selena then closed the discussion with a measured statement.

"Trust is earned through action. Darius Kael’s past is a matter of record, but what’s happening now isn’t about records—it’s about ensuring Erevania’s survival."

Question from a Pro-Liberator Sympathizer

🗣 "Selena, you’ve spent years holding Erevania’s elite accountable. Isn’t it time we hold Athena accountable, too? Doesn’t this crisis prove we need human leadership, not an algorithm?"

A murmur rippled through the live chat feed. It was a pointed question, one that many Erevanians were asking themselves.

📌 Selena leaned forward slightly, acknowledging the weight of the question.

"Accountability is necessary in any governing system, AI or otherwise. That’s not up for debate."

She turned to Arden Pryce, giving her the floor.

"Deputy Director Pryce, as someone in government oversight, do you believe Athena should be held accountable?"

📌 Arden’s expression was measured.

"Any system—AI or human-led—should be scrutinized, especially in times of crisis. But let’s be clear: Erevania’s governance is not fully AI-controlled. Athena’s role is strategic decision-making, but human oversight remains in place. Blaming Athena for this crisis ignores the fact that Erevania is under an active, coordinated attack. Leadership isn’t about algorithms—it’s about how we respond to threats in the moment. That responsibility is still in human hands."

Selena nodded, then turned toward Dr. Cassiel Raines, the AI governance expert.

"Dr. Raines, many people are asking if Athena’s predictive governance is failing. Is AI still the best option for Erevania’s future?"

📌 Dr. Raines exhaled, her holographic projection flickering subtly as she leaned back in thought.

"The question assumes AI governance is an all-or-nothing system. It’s not. AI doesn’t make moral judgments—it analyzes patterns and suggests outcomes based on data. The problem isn’t that Athena is failing. The problem is that someone is manipulating the system, turning public trust into a weapon. If Erevania abandons its AI infrastructure now, in the middle of an attack, we’ll be dismantling our own defenses."

The tension in the broadcast was thick.

Selena turned back to the camera.

"So the real question isn’t whether AI should be held accountable—it’s who benefits if we dismantle the system before securing the nation."

📌 Elior Cassian, silent until now, finally spoke, his tone steady.

"I’ve fought wars, and I’ve seen nations fall. It’s never just about who’s in charge—it’s about who’s waiting to take their place. If we let Erevania fracture now, we’ll have more than just an AI debate on our hands—we’ll have an open battlefield."

Question About Viktor’s Economic Manipulation

🗣 "Financial experts say Erevania’s economy is being destabilized at an unnatural rate. The system was designed to prevent large-scale economic collapse—so why isn’t Athena stopping it? Who stands to benefit from this chaos?"

A heavy silence filled the broadcast for a moment. It was a question that couldn’t be dismissed easily.

Selena leaned forward, addressing the audience first.

"That’s exactly the right question. Who benefits from this?"

She turned to Dr. Cassiel Raines, knowing that the audience needed an expert’s voice on AI governance.

"Dr. Raines, can you explain why Athena isn’t able to stabilize the economy?"

📌 Dr. Raines adjusted her glasses, her holographic projection flickering subtly.

"Athena was designed to mitigate natural economic fluctuations, but this isn’t a natural crisis. This is engineered destabilization. AI-driven financial models rely on predictive patterns, and what we are witnessing is an intentional disruption—anomalous transaction spikes, automated liquidity drains, and market manipulation that bypasses traditional safeguards. Athena can’t instantly correct an attack that is designed to look like organic panic."

Selena nodded, then turned to Arden Pryce.

"Deputy Director Pryce, what is the government doing to counteract this?"

📌 Arden’s expression was firm.

"We’re working with economic regulators to identify and isolate fraudulent activity, but the challenge is stopping misinformation from fueling the panic. Public confidence is as much a factor as financial policy. If people believe the system is collapsing, they will react accordingly—pulling assets, hoarding supplies, further accelerating instability. This is precisely what Viktor Sarren and his network are exploiting."

Selena took the opportunity to push the discussion further.

"Elior, from a strategic standpoint, how does economic destabilization factor into national security?"

📌 Elior Cassian exhaled, his voice calm but weighty.

"Economic warfare is one of the oldest destabilization tactics. When a nation’s financial foundation crumbles, it creates internal fractures—people lose trust in leadership, riots break out, resources are mismanaged. This isn’t just about financial losses; this is about psychological warfare. Viktor isn’t just attacking our economy. He’s attacking our ability to believe in Erevania itself."

Selena turned back to the audience, bringing the discussion full circle.

"So if Erevania wants to resist this attack, the first step isn’t expecting Athena to fix it overnight—it’s recognizing the manipulation and refusing to play into it. The moment we stop reacting to fear is the moment we start taking control again."

Darius watched from behind the scenes, his arms crossed, eyes fixed on the live feed. The tension in the room was palpable, but the panel was holding firm.

Arden was handling government policy questions with unwavering precision, Elior had reinforced public confidence in national security, and Dr. Raines had already dissected two misinformation traps with methodical ease.

And then there was Selena, navigating the discussion with practiced control, ensuring that no answer veered too far into political spin or technical jargon.

"They’re handling this better than I expected," Darius murmured to Kara Lin, who was monitoring the technical feed.

Kara smirked, adjusting an overlay displaying real-time sentiment analysis. "You sound surprised."

"I shouldn’t be," he admitted, exhaling slightly. His gaze lingered on the panelists as they countered another pointed question. "They’re good at this."