The silence that followed Aethel's final words was brittle, tense enough to snap.
Then, like a sudden downpour, the questions began.
Reporters surged to their feet in a controlled frenzy, hands raised, voices overlapping as camera drones shifted wildly to catch the chaos.
"Director Aethel!"
"Sir, over here!"
One was finally acknowledged, Lana Myre a reporter , her voice cutting cleanly through the others as she spoke into her mic.
"Director," she began, "with all due respect, the city's current stability, such as it is, is largely credited to Alister and the dragons under his command. If he is detained, what structure do you intend to put in place to maintain order?"
Another reporter, a younger man from a rival channel, quickly followed up.
"And if I may add, why now? Why declare this so suddenly? Don't you think this risks turning the population against the Union, given Alister's rising public support?"
All eyes returned to Aethel.
