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Proxy War: An Aegis Techno-Thriller Novel
The internet is a weapon.
At first, it seems like just another computer virus. A digital plague that extorts its victims, bleeding them dry with ransomware. But the code that's infecting the world is no ordinary malware.
It's the opening salvo in a war that threatens to reshape the very foundations of cyberspace and beyond.
College student and hacker Alex Mercer stumbles upon the virus's dark secret-and suddenly finds herself in the crosshairs of its creator, the enigmatic Cipher. As Alex delves deeper into the twisted world of cyber warfare, she uncovers a conspiracy that stretches from shadowy government agencies to the darkest corners of the web.
Pursued by assassins and manipulated by unseen forces, Alex must navigate a labyrinth of lies and digital traps. A mysterious ally known only as N3tN1nja may hold the key to unraveling Cipher's plan-if Alex can discern friend from foe in a world where identities shift like sand.
From college campuses to the covert operations centers of US Cyber Command, Alex and her unlikely allies confront an enemy who's always one step ahead. The stakes? Not just their lives, but the future of digital warfare itself.
In this Proxy War, the most dangerous weapon is knowledge-and time is running out.
At first, it seems like just another computer virus. A digital plague that extorts its victims, bleeding them dry with ransomware. But the code that's infecting the world is no ordinary malware.
It's the opening salvo in a war that threatens to reshape the very foundations of cyberspace and beyond.
College student and hacker Alex Mercer stumbles upon the virus's dark secret-and suddenly finds herself in the crosshairs of its creator, the enigmatic Cipher. As Alex delves deeper into the twisted world of cyber warfare, she uncovers a conspiracy that stretches from shadowy government agencies to the darkest corners of the web.
Pursued by assassins and manipulated by unseen forces, Alex must navigate a labyrinth of lies and digital traps. A mysterious ally known only as N3tN1nja may hold the key to unraveling Cipher's plan-if Alex can discern friend from foe in a world where identities shift like sand.
From college campuses to the covert operations centers of US Cyber Command, Alex and her unlikely allies confront an enemy who's always one step ahead. The stakes? Not just their lives, but the future of digital warfare itself.
In this Proxy War, the most dangerous weapon is knowledge-and time is running out.
422 pages, Kindle Edition
Published May 14, 2025
1 person is currently reading
7 people want to read
About the author
S.W. Michaels
3 booksS.W. Michaels crafts intricate techno-thrillers that explore the razor’s edge between technology and human nature. After building a following with several acclaimed science fiction series, Michaels now delves into the dangerous landscapes where digital threats collide with psychological suspense.
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Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews
May 11, 2025
A knockout series debut you can’t afford to miss. Proxy War is a rare combination of explosive technology, global security stakes and emotional depth.
College student Alex Mercer lives with her adoptive parents, Jin-woo and Soo-yeon Mercer, in a modest Fremont, California apartment complex. Amidst financial struggles, Alex has to juggle school and side jobs. When she learns that her father has been the unwitting victim of a ransomware virus, she decides to hack into an infected server to understand how the virus works and potentially protect her family and community.
Upon accessing a hidden communications layer, Alex realizes that the ransomware virus isn’t just stealing money — it’s actually a massive espionage tool. This ransomware wasn’t ordinary criminal activity for financial gain. It’s cyber warfare.
Author S.W. Michaels reveals Cipher, a primary actor behind the virus, before we even meet our protagonist. Handpicked by North Korea’s elite intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), Cipher is a force to be reckoned with. We first see him holding a blade to a captive’s throat, with deadly intent, in a Las Vegas hotel room. And Cipher’s motive for unleashing a virus across the globe? Revenge for his parents’ fiery murder (although he tells himself that his reason has evolved into something bigger – American imperialism).
Needless to say, Alex and Cipher are on a collision course that will play out both across the labyrinthian digital landscape and in the real world. Should Alex (and eventually, U.S. Cyber Command) fail to stop him, the North Koreans will have laid the groundwork for a devastating attack that could tip the balance of global power in their favor.
Michaels has created a colorful supporting cast, including Riley, a spoiled rich girl and high school cheerleader who bullies Alex. There’s also Tae-Woo and Jin-Soo, a pair of meticulous and effective field operatives under North Korean General Tau’s command. But the real star of the show is Michaels’ careful thematic construction. Cipher is working for North Korean intelligence, while Alex’s adoptive family are South Korean immigrants who sacrificed everything for a life in the United States. Alex’s South Korean adoptive family embodies resilience, love, and hope, while Cipher and his North Korean handlers largely represent control, vengeance, and destruction. The result is an undeniable allegory for the larger North/South Korean conflict that underpins much of the novel’s deeper emotional and political resonance.
Readers will find themselves anxiously awaiting Alex’s next adventure.
College student Alex Mercer lives with her adoptive parents, Jin-woo and Soo-yeon Mercer, in a modest Fremont, California apartment complex. Amidst financial struggles, Alex has to juggle school and side jobs. When she learns that her father has been the unwitting victim of a ransomware virus, she decides to hack into an infected server to understand how the virus works and potentially protect her family and community.
Upon accessing a hidden communications layer, Alex realizes that the ransomware virus isn’t just stealing money — it’s actually a massive espionage tool. This ransomware wasn’t ordinary criminal activity for financial gain. It’s cyber warfare.
Author S.W. Michaels reveals Cipher, a primary actor behind the virus, before we even meet our protagonist. Handpicked by North Korea’s elite intelligence agency, the Reconnaissance General Bureau (RGB), Cipher is a force to be reckoned with. We first see him holding a blade to a captive’s throat, with deadly intent, in a Las Vegas hotel room. And Cipher’s motive for unleashing a virus across the globe? Revenge for his parents’ fiery murder (although he tells himself that his reason has evolved into something bigger – American imperialism).
Needless to say, Alex and Cipher are on a collision course that will play out both across the labyrinthian digital landscape and in the real world. Should Alex (and eventually, U.S. Cyber Command) fail to stop him, the North Koreans will have laid the groundwork for a devastating attack that could tip the balance of global power in their favor.
Michaels has created a colorful supporting cast, including Riley, a spoiled rich girl and high school cheerleader who bullies Alex. There’s also Tae-Woo and Jin-Soo, a pair of meticulous and effective field operatives under North Korean General Tau’s command. But the real star of the show is Michaels’ careful thematic construction. Cipher is working for North Korean intelligence, while Alex’s adoptive family are South Korean immigrants who sacrificed everything for a life in the United States. Alex’s South Korean adoptive family embodies resilience, love, and hope, while Cipher and his North Korean handlers largely represent control, vengeance, and destruction. The result is an undeniable allegory for the larger North/South Korean conflict that underpins much of the novel’s deeper emotional and political resonance.
Readers will find themselves anxiously awaiting Alex’s next adventure.
August 9, 2025
Take a pulse-pounding ride with a talented young hacker as she unwittingly tangles with an evil international organization bent on world domination. Realistic and dangerous scenarios take this inexperienced protagonist on a non-stop journey of discovery. Like any good book, my reading pace accelerated with each chapter, until the only way off was to reach the end.
Displaying 1 - 2 of 2 reviews