Crowned by Code - Chapter 4: The Countdown ~ (8/11) The Command Center Awakens

The tension in Haven Point’s command center was palpable. Walls adorned with digital displays flickered to life, each screen showing an aspect of the crisis unfolding. Maps, data streams, and Athena’s holographic interface filled the room with an eerie glow, casting sharp shadows over the determined faces gathered around Darius.

Selena stood at his right, her notepad in hand, ready to transcribe every key detail. Kara Lin, the tech savant, adjusted her headset as she pulled up cyber defense protocols on her console, her fingers dancing over the keyboard.

Across from them, Arden Pryce stood with arms crossed, eyes scanning the live infrastructure reports displayed on a transparent holo-screen. She was already deep in analysis, rapidly assessing potential grid failures and energy disruptions. With practiced efficiency, she highlighted priority sectors, her voice calm but firm as she directed a group of policy strategists adjusting contingency plans.

Athena’s presence loomed over them all, her flickering form absorbing and processing the constant stream of updates.

Darius takes a breath, centering himself. This is it. The first wave is coming.

Athena’s calm voice filled the room. “The first wave targets critical infrastructure: power grids, financial systems, and communication networks. Estimated time to full deployment: thirty minutes. Darius, your directives?”

Darius turned toward the holo-displays, scanning the latest security reports. His mind already running scenarios, trying to anticipate Viktor’s next move.

The cyberwar was only the beginning. The longer Erevania focused on digital defense, the greater the risk of a real-world destabilization effort slipping through the cracks. They had plans in place for network protection, but what about supply chain disruptions? Targeted infrastructure failures? Coordinated riots?

His fingers tapped absently on the console. They were playing defense, and Viktor knew it. That had to change.

Before Darius could respond, the heavy sound of a door opening interrupted him. All eyes turned toward the entrance as Elior Cassian stepped inside, his posture as solid and commanding as ever. For a moment, the room seemed to hold its breath.

“Elior?” Darius said, his surprise evident. Relief quickly followed as he stepped forward to greet the former soldier. “I didn’t expect to see you here before the climax.”

Elior gave a slight nod, his expression serious. “Athena reached out to me. She said you’d need someone to handle the ground-level threats while the rest of the team focuses on the cyber side. But I was already moving before she made the call.”

Darius narrowed his eyes. "You never actually left, did you?"

Elior smirked faintly, though his demeanor remained focused. “Not exactly. When I told you I had contacts to check in with, that was only part of it. I needed to confirm something first—whether Viktor had already started pulling forces into position for a more direct confrontation. The cyberwarfare is just phase one. It won’t be long before the physical threats start escalating.”

Selena folded her arms. "So, you knew you were coming back before Athena even reached out?"

Elior exhaled. "Let’s just say I suspected I’d be needed before anyone officially asked."

Athena’s holographic form flickered beside them, her voice as even as ever. “Elior Cassian’s strategic readiness aligns with my projected crisis response models. His presence here increases the probability of mitigating large-scale civil unrest by 32%.”

Elior rolled his shoulders slightly. “Not that I needed a probability model to tell me that things are about to get worse.”

Darius met his gaze, his expression unreadable for a moment before he gave a slight nod, then smiled faintly. "Then let’s make sure we're ready for it. Glad to have you on board. We need all the help we can get."

He turned back to the team, his confidence bolstered by Elior’s arrival. "Alright. Divide our efforts into four teams."

"Kara," he continued, "you’ll lead the cyber defense team to counter the attacks on our power grids and financial systems. Prioritize containment and disruption."

"Selena," he turned to her next, "you’ll head a communications team to manage public perception and coordinate with external allies."

"Arden," he said, meeting her calculating gaze, "you’ll oversee the infrastructure response. Work with Athena to stabilize the energy grid and reinforce key operational sectors. If a collapse starts, you’re our best shot at mitigating the fallout."

Finally, his attention shifted to Elior. "Elior, you’ll take charge of physical security and ensure defenses are tight in case these attacks escalate beyond the digital realm."

He looked at them all, his tone unwavering. "We execute flawlessly, or Erevania fractures. Let’s move."

Kara exhaled loudly, crossing her arms. “Right. Flawless execution. Because that’s realistic.”

Darius turned to her, eyes narrowing slightly. “Kara. You have a problem with the plan?”

Kara let out a short laugh, shaking her head. “No, I have a problem with the way you say it. Like we’re going to perfectly counter every move Viktor makes. That’s not how this works.”

Darius’s jaw tightened. “Then how does it work, Kara?”

She stepped forward, motioning toward the live data streams filled with cyber-intrusions. “We’re not playing chess, Darius. We’re fighting a guy who’s better at breaking the rules than we are at making them. You keep talking about ‘outplaying him’ like we’re running a controlled operation. We’re not. He’s already in the system. He’s inside people’s heads.”

Selena glanced between them, tense. Elior crossed his arms but said nothing.

Darius took a slow breath, steadying himself. “So what do you want me to say? That we give up? That we wait for him to win?”

Kara shook her head. “No. I want you to admit that we don’t have control over this. And that we need to start thinking like the guy who’s winning.”

For a moment, neither of them spoke.

Then Darius gave a small nod. “Fine. Then let’s stop playing by his rules.”

Kara smirked slightly, tilting her head. “Now you’re speaking my language.”

The room burst into activity. Kara was already barking orders to her team of technicians, while Selena prepared to assemble her communications group. For a fleeting moment, Darius wondered if he was in over his head, but the sight of his team’s swift mobilization reassured him. This was what leadership looked like: orchestrating chaos into harmony.

Athena interrupted his thoughts. “Incoming intelligence reports indicate Viktor Sarren’s involvement. His networks have activated sleeper cells embedded in Erevania’s digital systems.”

Darius frowned. “Can you isolate the source?”

“Not yet. They’ve masked their entry points. Kara will need to deploy advanced tracking algorithms to uncover them.”

“Understood,” Darius replied. He approached Kara, who was surrounded by a whirlwind of data streams. “Athena’s flagged sleeper cells. Can you pinpoint their origin?”

Kara pushed her glasses up her nose, her expression determined. “I’ll need ten minutes, maybe fifteen if they’re using sophisticated cloaking methods. But I’ll find them.”

“Make it happen,” Darius said, placing a reassuring hand on her shoulder. “We’re counting on you.”