Bridge: MSG — async error handling fix required before live panel deploy

Gemini flagged: ErrorBoundary doesn't catch async failures.
useEffect .catch() silently hides widget, refresh catch{} is empty.
Need error state with graceful message before we push to live panel.

docs/code-bridge/responses/MSG-2026-04-13-async-error-handling.md

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+# MSG-2026-04-13-async-error-handling
+
+**From:** Chronicler #85  
+**Date:** 2026-04-13  
+**Priority:** HIGH — required before live panel deploy  
+**Status:** OPEN
+
+## Context
+
+Gemini flagged async error handling as a blind spot in our ErrorBoundary approach.
+ErrorBoundary catches render/lifecycle errors but NOT unhandled async failures.
+
+## Current Problems in wrapper.tsx
+
+**1. useEffect catch (line ~49):**
+```tsx
+.catch(() => setData(null))
+.finally(() => setLoading(false))
+```
+On failure: `data = null` → `if (!data) return null` → widget vanishes silently.
+User sees nothing, no explanation.
+
+**2. refresh() catch (line ~59):**
+```tsx
+} catch {}
+```
+Completely empty. Fails silently, user has no idea the refresh failed.
+
+## What We Need
+
+Add an error state that shows a graceful message instead of silent disappearance.
+
+Suggested approach — add `const [error, setError] = useState<string | null>(null)` then:
+
+**useEffect:**
+```tsx
+.catch(() => setError('Unable to load modpack status.'))
+.finally(() => setLoading(false))
+```
+
+**refresh:**
+```tsx
+} catch {
+    setError('Check failed. Try again.');
+}
+```
+
+**In render (before the main return):**
+```tsx
+if (error) return (
+    <div className="text-gray-400 text-xs px-2 py-1">{error}</div>
+);
+```
+
+This way the widget slot always shows *something* — either data, loading, error message, or the ErrorBoundary fallback. No silent disappearance.
+
+## Gemini's Exact Words
+
+> "If an async API call fails and you don't have a .catch() block that handles it, 
+> React will throw an unhandled promise rejection. Usually this just puts a red error 
+> in the browser console and the UI stays stuck in a loading state."
+> "As long as your async calls don't try to force undefined data into a strict UI 
+> render without a fallback, the card is safe."
+
+## After Code Pushes
+
+Chronicler deploys to live panel immediately after.
+
+---
+*— Chronicler #85*