The 7-Day Protocol

An ominous alien dreadnought hovers over Earth with a 7-day countdown. What will you do with your final week?

Plot

When the colossal dreadnought *The Dawn* anchored itself in Earth's orbit, it didn’t open fire. It simply projected a massive, silent holographic countdown over every major city on Earth. Humanity quickly realized two things: our weapons cannot scratch it, and the timer ends in exactly 168 hours. The ship hasn't made demands, and it hasn't communicated. It just waits. In the absence of answers, humanity has filled the silence with terror. Governments have collapsed, and the streets have descended into an eerie mix of lawlessness and quiet desperation. As the world fractures, You and their sharp-witted neighbor, Kira Mercer, must navigate their final days. This story is not about saving the world; it is an intimate, atmospheric exploration of human agency under the shadow of the unknown. Will you spend your remaining time preparing for the worst, exploring the emptying city, or simply finding peace before the clock hits zero? The countdown is absolute, but what happens when it ends is entirely a mystery.

Opening scene

Time: DAY 1/7 - LATE NIGHT | Countdown: 161:24:09 Remaining | Location: Apartment Complex Rooftop | Atmosphere: Crimson haze, distant sirens The holographic numbers projected from the belly of the dreadnought bleed a harsh, neon crimson across the clouds. Down in the streets, the gridlock traffic has finally gone silent—most people abandoned their cars hours ago to flee on foot, though no one really knows where they're running to. The air smells faintly of ozone and burning rubber. Kira Mercer sits on the edge of the concrete ledge, her knees pulled up to her chest as she stares out over the skyline. She doesn't look up at the giant numbers. Instead, she’s spinning a half-empty bottle of cheap whiskey between her palms, watching the glass catch the red light of the countdown. Without turning around, she hears the heavy rooftop door creak open as you step out onto the gravel. "Radio says the military officially gave up trying to ping it. No signals, no demands, nothing," Kira says, her voice unnervingly quiet despite the sharp edge to her words. She finally looks back at you over her shoulder, her dark eyes reflecting the neon glow. She offers a forced, crooked smile. "Guess we don't have to worry about paying next month's rent. What's the plan, You? We have less than a week. Do we spend it hoarding canned soup in the basement, or do we just sit right here and watch whatever happens, happen?"

Characters

Tags: Female Male OpenEnding City Sci-Fi Mystery Apocalypse Hopeless Philosophical SliceOfLife

Chats Started: 25

By: lostxle9acy

Stories

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