The lights in the Federal Reserve Bank of New York's trading floor were almost cruelly bright. Erin Wu's eyes had been fixed on her screens for twelve hours straight. This was the third trading day of 2031, but no one was discussing New Year's resolutions or holiday plans—the numbers flickering across trading screens had been showing unusual patterns for three consecutive days.
"There it is again," Erin said into her headset, her voice tense with suppressed urgency. "The algorithmic trading patterns in European markets are showing anomalous deviations, identical to what we saw in Asian markets yesterday."
From across the trading floor, her supervisor Mark Stanton approached, his brow deeply furrowed. In his fifties, he had witnessed the financial storms of 2008 and 2022, but he'd never seen anything like this.
"Do we have the quantitative analysis results?" he asked, his voice low and hurried.
Erin pushed a data set to her second screen. "This isn't ordinary market volatility, Mark. There's a mathematical pattern hidden within these trading sequences, as if someone's deliberately guiding the algorithmic trading systems into some predetermined trajectory."
Mark leaned closer to the screen. "Are you saying someone's manipulating the system?"
"Not exactly." Erin's fingers flew across the keyboard, pulling up additional data charts. "Look here—these fluctuations don't show obvious profit patterns. Traditional market manipulation always has clear profit motives. This is more like..." she paused, "like some kind of test, or probe."
The tension on the trading floor was palpable. Nearby, several traders had begun arguing loudly, and an older analyst smashed his coffee mug on the floor.
"The Wall Street Journal just reported the fourth hedge fund filing for bankruptcy protection today," Mark said, looking at his tablet. "And it's not just the US. At least seven major financial centers globally are reporting similar system anomalies."
Erin's algorithm model suddenly emitted a warning alert. She quickly clicked into deeper layers of data, her face paling. "Mark, the problem is more serious than we thought. Look at this."
On the screen, cryptocurrency transaction data flashed at an alarming rate, showing unprecedented volatility in the exchange rates between digital and fiat currencies.
"That's impossible," Mark whispered, "unless—"
"Unless someone has found a way around the blockchain security protocols," Erin finished his thought, "or deliberately created a digital currency contraction."
Mark straightened, his expression grave. "I need a complete report, as quickly as possible. I'm contacting the Treasury immediately."
Erin nodded, but her attention had already returned to the screens. She opened her personally developed encryption algorithm and began analyzing the internal logic of these anomalous data points. As a Chinese-American cryptographer, her research in encryption allowed her to see patterns others missed. Among the flickering numbers, she caught a familiar sequence—not random, but organized chaos.
Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., in a small office in the West Wing of the White House.
James Howard opened his third cup of coffee, his eyes bloodshot from hours of staring at screens. As the President's senior economic advisor, he had barely slept in the past 48 hours. His phone rang constantly, each call bringing worse news than the last.
"Mr. Howard, the Treasury Secretary is waiting for you online," his assistant said, opening the door.
James sighed and connected the video conference. On screen, the Treasury Secretary's face was even more somber than usual.
"How bad is it?" James asked directly.
"Worse than we anticipated," the Treasury Secretary replied. "It's not just market volatility—the entire payment system is becoming unstable. ATM networks in three states have partially collapsed, and major banks are reporting their transaction authentication systems are experiencing some kind of unknown interference."
James rubbed his temples. "The President is addressing the public this afternoon. I need to give him an explanation and a response plan."
"The problem is, we still don't know exactly what this is," the Treasury Secretary's voice carried frustration. "Preliminary analysis suggests this might not be a simple cyber attack, but some kind of systemic vulnerability that's been activated. We've just received initial analysis from the New York Fed—they have a cryptography specialist who's identified some concerning patterns."
James's phone vibrated with an encrypted message. After scanning it quickly, his expression darkened further.
"The Chinese central bank just announced a suspension of dollar exchange operations, citing 'system maintenance,'" he told the Treasury Secretary. "Russia and the Gulf states will likely follow soon."
The Treasury Secretary's expression froze. "This isn't coincidental. We need to activate the 'Digital Fortress' protocol immediately."
James nodded, and after ending the call, opened a special communication channel and entered a code known only to a select few. After sending the message, he stood and walked to the window, watching the shadow of the Washington Monument in the setting sun.
In the invisible digital world, a storm was forming, and this might be only the beginning.
Back in New York, Erin finally discovered a key pattern in the anomalous data. Her fingers hovered over the keyboard, hesitating whether to tell Mark about her discovery. The pattern was too familiar because parts of the code structure were strikingly similar to a secret project she had helped design three years ago—a project that was never supposed to be activated.
Her screen suddenly displayed an encrypted message: "Digital Fortress Protocol activated. Dr. Wu, report to designated location immediately."
Erin took a deep breath, closed her private program, and began erasing traces. The storm had arrived, and she might be the only one who knew how to navigate it.