Damned!

The Mess

Mayor Mignon was taking a nasty zoom call from President Hoveting and was in the middle of conferencing the archbishop in as per demand by the POTUS. Pulled up on his computer screen was a breaking story by The Village Voice entitled, "AI tech used to force villagers out of the Jungle."

"Where in God's name did they come up with this info?"

"I have no idea, we never even discussed AI technology in connection with the Watershed Project. We certainly didn't release information about this. This is a brazen lie.".

Outside his office, he could see the protestors pushing forward against the city office building, shouting epitaphs, and slogans decrying the police. Security forces had been called in, when the police force claimed they needed to pull other units from out of town. The department of homeland security surveyed the mess with consternation.

"We need to issue a statement to calm the crowd; but we must be careful. They will want more than just my input. I'm afraid this one will need to come from the Mayor or yourself, President Hoveting."

President Hoveting wiped his head with his hand.

"Mayor Mignon, this is your job. Release a press statement negating the AI story. Make it clear that we totally decline the veracity of this story, even better do not mention the story, too many details can be misconstrued. Paint the picture from a positive standpoint, showing the projection of jobs and job workforce skills to be created by the Watershed Dam Project. If asked, say we negate the Village Voice story entirely."

The mayor felt his face drain. This was a huge situation. The press release would be a major task. Oddly enough, the only item he could think of at the moment was that the opera tickets he had secured for his girlfriend would have to wait. $75 dollars each, box office seats, champagne and dinner before, and this? His mind was brought back to reality as the zoom scene shifted to the crowds now throwing signs and cups into the fray. Any moment now, more heavy artillery could come from the crowd and the mayor did not relish the idea of having to take care of violence in his city. Already he had a monumental headache and started out the door to the conference room to gather his crew. He plucked his coat and called for his security to walk out with him.

"I'll take care of this," he stated and then logged off the zoom call leaving Chandler Simmons- Department of Homeland Security, Archbishop Dominez, and President Hoveting on the phone.

"Obviously we have a mole in our ranks who is releasing partial information for their own gain. This person needs to be punished." Archbishop Dominez continued.

The three men discussed the matter heatedly and the decision to push up the start of the excavation in Medium Cruces was agreed upon.

"Get me Tannebaum's on the phone," President Hoveting directed. "I will inform them to ship their excavators tomorrow. Archbishop, do you have favorable news from Father McNalster?"

"I have let him know. The relocation should be starting this week. What is the status of the apartments?"

"With the added $20,000 they requested and our compromise for a shortened timeline, Tananbaum's has accepted the offer of building the military housing units and of renovating the Gandan apartments up to code. However, renovated apartment buildings are not a necessity, we could set up temporary shelter for the Gandans in storage warehouses. We need to focus on establishing a presence in the river area of Medium Cruces at the moment."

Archbishop Dominez noticed the fatigue on the President's face.

'Also, let's finalize a plan to get rid of these protestors, starting by striking back at the media story. I will direct my personal lawyers to get on top of this in case things go further. We need to know how to combat any kind of investigation during an election year. Chandler, starting with the engineering department, check all the phone logs in the capitol. I want to know who leaked the news. Your job is to find our mole ASAP."