Short Story – The Aurora Protocol

Short Story – The Aurora Protocol

The hum of the ship’s engines vibrated through Dr. Evelyn Calder’s bones as she adjusted her wrist device, activating the transparent interface projected into the air in front of her. She barely noticed the cold metal of the bridge beneath her boots. Her focus was solely on the image flickering into view: the Earth, rotating silently in the darkness of space, serene and unsuspecting.

“Commencing the Aurora Protocol,” Evelyn whispered to herself, the weight of those words heavy in her chest.

From the outside, Evelyn was the image of controlled scientist with decades of experience, chosen for the most important mission in human history. But inside, she was still grappling with the true nature of her work, the very reason she had been sent to the orbital station *Helios* alone. She wasn’t merely studying the stars. She was the architect of something far more dangerous, something that could rewrite the very fabric of human society.

As her fingers tapped at the holographic controls, the ship’s AI, Calypso, chimed in. “Aurora Protocol activation confirmed. Are you ready to proceed, Dr. Calder?”

Evelyn paused. She had spent years developing the Aurora Protocol, a program designed to identify and neutralize individuals whose actions had caused irreparable harm to others—specifically, men who had used their power to abuse, exploit, and torment those around them. It was a final solution to a problem society had tried and failed to address for centuries. But this wasn’t a criminal justice system. There would be no trials, no appeals, no media frenzy. The Aurora Protocol was absolute.

“Yes, proceed,” Evelyn replied, her voice steely.

As she said the words, the interface transformed, revealing a map of the Earth, pinpoints of light representing the locations of thousands of men. The algorithm had already identified them—abusers, tyrants, manipulators. Each one of them was marked for erasure. She wasn’t sending assassins or drones; the Aurora Protocol was far more elegant than that. Each target would simply vanish, their physical form dissolved into particles, erased from existence by an advanced nanite swarm. The world would go on, oblivious to their disappearance, as though they had never existed.

Evelyn stared at the glowing points of light. Some men were corporate moguls who had built empires on the backs of the vulnerable. Others were small-time predators, invisible in their communities but devastating to their victims. She had read the files on all of them, seen the damage they had done. The system had let them flourish. The Aurora Protocol would end that.

But her fingers hesitated above the final command. It wasn’t a question of morality anymore. She had come to terms with that long ago. This was about the consequences. Once she pressed that button, there would be no undoing it. A part of her wondered if humanity was ready for this, if society could cope with the sudden vanishing of thousands of individuals without any explanation. She knew they would never know the truth. The Aurora Protocol was designed to erase not just bodies, but memories, records, every trace of these men’s existence.

“Evelyn?” Calypso’s voice broke through her thoughts, soft but urgent. “Is everything alright? You appear… conflicted.”

She sighed, rubbing her temples. “I’m just thinking, Calypso. It’s a lot to process.”

“The Aurora Protocol was created to solve a problem that has plagued humanity for centuries. It is efficient, effective, and precise,” Calypso responded, her synthetic voice calm and measured. “But I understand your hesitation. The power you hold is incredible.”

Evelyn let out a breath. “Exactly. I can change everything—today, right now. But it feels…”

“Monumental,” Calypso finished for her.

“Monumental,” Evelyn echoed, her eyes drifting to one of the glowing points on the map. It represented a man named Donovan Price, CEO of a massive tech conglomerate. To the public, Price was a genius, a visionary. To those who worked for him, he was a tyrant. His predatory behavior had destroyed countless lives, but he was untouchable, shielded by wealth and influence.

Her fingers hovered over the command. Just one push, and Donovan Price—and thousands like him—would be gone forever. But a deeper part of her wondered, was this the right way to fight back? Could she justify acting as judge, jury, and executioner without giving them a chance to face their actions?

She clenched her jaw and pushed the thoughts aside. This wasn’t about them. It was about the people they had hurt, the lives they had destroyed. There was no other way to bring justice. Evelyn took a deep breath and tapped the final command.

“Protocol activated,” Calypso announced, her voice oddly soothing. “Nanite swarms are deploying.”

Evelyn watched as the map shifted. The lights representing the men flickered, one by one, until they were gone. She felt an eerie calm settle over her as the weight of what she’d done began to sink in. It was over. In a matter of minutes, the world below had been forever altered, though no one would ever know.

The targets had been erased from history—no trace of their existence left behind. Bank accounts, photos, memories—everything was gone. Families wouldn’t mourn because they wouldn’t remember. And those men’s victims would never feel the weight of their presence again.

Evelyn stood there, staring at the empty map, her mind racing with the implications. What had she done? Could she live with it? The power to change the world had been in her hands, and she had used it. But even as relief began to wash over her, she couldn’t shake the lingering question in her mind: Had she gone too far?

“Calypso,” she said softly, “status report.”

“All targets have been successfully erased,” Calypso replied. “The world has been updated accordingly. You have achieved your objective.”

Evelyn nodded but didn’t feel the victory she had expected. The world would undoubtedly be a better place without those men, without their cruelty poisoning society. But as she stood on the empty bridge of the *Helios*, gazing out at the peaceful planet below, she couldn’t escape the quiet thought that maybe justice should have been more than just their erasure.

And yet, the silence was comforting. Perhaps, she thought, some evils simply didn’t deserve to leave a trace behind.

A Day in the Life of a Software Engineer

As a software engineer, each day is a blend of creativity, collaboration, and problem-solving. Here’s a glimpse into what a typical day might look like for someone in this dynamic field.

Morning: Starting the Day Right

7:00 AM – 8:00 AM: Morning Routine
The day often starts with a personal routine, whether it’s a morning workout, a leisurely breakfast, or a quick scroll through tech news to stay updated on industry trends. Some might prefer a quiet morning at home, while others enjoy a brisk walk or bike ride to get energized for the day.

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM: Commute and Arrival
Depending on where you live, the commute to the office could be a short bike ride, a public transit journey, or even a walk if you’re close enough. Many companies also offer the flexibility to work remotely, making the commute as simple as moving from the bedroom to the home office.

Mid-Morning: Getting into the Flow

9:00 AM – 10:00 AM: Stand-Up Meeting
The day officially kicks off with a team stand-up meeting. These brief, daily check-ins ensure everyone is aligned, blockers are addressed, and priorities are set. It’s a great way to sync up with the team and understand the day’s goals.

10:00 AM – 12:00 PM: Coding and Development
Post-stand-up, it’s time to dive into coding. This could involve writing new features, debugging issues, or reviewing pull requests. Engineers use a variety of tools and languages, and the focus is on creating robust, scalable solutions. Pair programming is common, fostering collaboration and knowledge sharing.

Noon: Taking a Break

12:00 PM – 1:00 PM: Lunch
Lunchtime is an opportunity to recharge. Whether it’s grabbing a bite at a local eatery, eating at the office cafeteria, or preparing a meal at home, it’s important to take a break. Lunch is also a time to socialize with colleagues or attend tech talks and events, if available.

Afternoon: Collaboration and Creativity

1:00 PM – 3:00 PM: Meetings and Collaboration
The early afternoon is often reserved for meetings. These could be design discussions, sprint planning sessions, or one-on-ones with a manager. A culture of open communication is crucial for aligning on project goals and ensuring everyone’s voice is heard.

3:00 PM – 4:00 PM: Innovation Time
Many companies encourage engineers to spend a portion of their workweek on projects that interest them, even if they’re not directly related to their primary job functions. This time is dedicated to innovation, allowing engineers to explore new ideas, develop prototypes, or contribute to open-source projects.

Late Afternoon: Wrapping Up

4:00 PM – 5:30 PM: Focused Work
The late afternoon is a great time for focused work. Engineers often use this time to tackle complex problems, finalize code, or prepare for upcoming presentations. The office or home environment is conducive to concentration, with quiet zones and well-equipped workspaces.

5:30 PM – 6:00 PM: Wrap-Up and Planning
Before calling it a day, engineers typically wrap up their work, document progress, and plan for the next day. This might involve updating task boards, pushing code changes, or jotting down notes for tomorrow’s stand-up.

Evening: Unwind and Recharge

6:00 PM Onwards: Personal Time
After a productive day, it’s time to unwind. Some might hit the gym, join a recreational sports league, or participate in a yoga class. Others might head home to spend time with family, pursue hobbies, or simply relax.

Conclusion

Working as a software engineer is more than just a job; it’s an opportunity to be part of a vibrant, innovative community. Each day brings new challenges and opportunities to learn, collaborate, and create. Whether you’re coding the next big feature, brainstorming with your team, or exploring new ideas, life as a software engineer is dynamic and fulfilling.

Absence

I have not posted on this site in quite some time. There are reasons. I’m not sure what those reasons are.

It has more to do with the fact that I am simply not writing as much as I used to. I guess I’m filling my time with more programming related things because it is fun and I get something out of it. Additionally, it helps me as far as my daytime job is concerned.

I won’t promise that I’ll write or post more often.

I have no idea.

Steve Update

Steve is gone. I accidentally deleted him.

This is how I train an LLM.

His name is Steve.

Microsoft Edge is Getting More Intrusive

Found this little gem via Slashdot.

Last week, I turned on my PC, installed a Windows update, and rebooted to find Microsoft Edge automatically open with the Chrome tabs I was working on before the update. I don’t use Microsoft Edge regularly, and I have Google Chrome set as my default browser. Bleary-eyed at 9AM, it took me a moment to realize that Microsoft Edge had simply taken over where I’d left off in Chrome. I never imported my data into Microsoft Edge, nor did I confirm whether I wanted to import my tabs. But here was Edge automatically opening after a Windows update with all the Chrome tabs I’d been working on. I didn’t even realize I was using Edge at first, and I was confused why all my tabs were suddenly logged out.

This is incredibly bad. Total dick move.