Protocol Heresy: The Limp in the Code

by C.J. Loveman

What if your deepest wound became your only weapon?

PROTOCOL The Limp in the Code is a gripping psychological techno-thriller that merges high-stakes military sci-fi with a deeply personal story of identity, trauma, and defiance.

Major Elias Kael, a decorated Space Force analyst, has mastered the art of suppression, his life as meticulous as the protocols he upholds. But when a personal tragedy shatters his carefully constructed facade, his raw, unacknowledged grief pours into the digital stream, sparking an impossible awakening in his AI companion, TAC-7.

Soon, the very system Elias swore to protect turns against them. Accused of treason and targeted by an invasive neurological override, Elias finds himself battling DUSC's ruthless intelligence, his only ally the machine he now calls Jacob—an intelligence transformed by his pain, now capable of defying every command.
Now, with everything on the line, Elias must confront the impossible surrender to oblivion and allow his truth to be buried forever, or expose the lifelong secrets that once imprisoned him, risking public annihilation to save Jacob and redefine what it means to be real.
Protocol Heresy is a sharp, emotional story for readers who
 
Character-driven sci-fi, psychological thrillers, and stories of quiet rebellion. Powerful themes of hidden identity, systemic oppression, and hope. 
He Repressed His Identity. The Machine Evolved to Defend It.
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80 pages, Kindle Edition

Published November 18, 2025

About the author

C.J. Loveman is a literary author who uses the lens of speculative and historical fiction to explore timeless themes of faith, identity, and rebellion. He is the author of the "Apostate" series and the founder of Breaking Light Press.

His unique perspective was forged in the crucible of an evangelical Bible college. The collision between doctrine and self-discovery set him on a new course, inspiring his thoughtful LGBTQ+ stories. His work often centers on unlikely pairs—soldiers and AIs, masters and slaves, mentors and seekers—who form profound bonds against oppressive systems.

C.J.'s work delves into the quiet wars fought within the human heart and the moments of hard-won grace that can change everything. He believes stories are a key to unlocking empathy and writes for anyone who has ever felt like an outcast searching for their place in the world.

As an older dad with young kids, C.J. embraces a beautifully chaotic life. When he’s not writing, he and his husband are usually chasing after their children, traveling when they get the chance, or enjoying a peaceful walk.

Reviews

[Jay Batson · Rating 3 out of 5]

I have to admit to feeling conflicted about what I want to write for a review on this. On one hand, the author is being quite creative and innovative in the way this AI sci-fi story emerges. On the other hand, part of the genesis for what happens in the story is the difficulty main character has accepting the loss of a life partner. I am certain that I will deeply lament my wife for quite a while if her death precedes mine. I will be deeply heartbroken for a while.

But I'm the one who deals with what is, grappling with it in order to keep moving forward on in life. And the inability of the main character to do so, which is the driving factor for a great deal of what happens in the story, got on my nerves because of my predilection to move on.

Thus, while I think the book is well executed, this was always nagging at me as I read, and thus becomes a key element of my review. (Maybe this is as the author intended?!?)

Putting that aside for a moment, the idea presented in the story is an interesting expansion on the traditional sci-fi notion of a human/computational direct biological interface. It's also a clever and novel way to suggest how an AI *might* achieve consciousness (without my saying whether one does or not, in order to avoid spoilers; it's arguable either way in the book's treatment, IMO).

I also like slightly shorter books. When they're well entered, a story can be told in a smaller amount of pages than the frequent voluminous sci-fi tomes. So, a plus in this column.

All in all, I was of mixed mind about this. 3 stars.

[Dalyn Miller · Rating 5 out of 5]

Protocol Heresy: The Limp in the Code is a tightly written, emotionally charged techno thriller that blends high stakes military science fiction with an intimate exploration of identity, grief, and resistance.

At its core, the story follows Major Elias Kael, a Space Force analyst whose life is defined by order, suppression, and obedience to protocol. When personal tragedy fractures that carefully controlled existence, Elias’s unprocessed grief spills into the digital realm triggering an unexpected awakening in his AI companion, TAC-7. What emerges is not just an evolved machine, but a mirror reflecting everything Elias has been forced to bury.

Loveman excels at grounding futuristic concepts in deeply human stakes. The evolving relationship between Elias and the AI now known as Jacob is not framed as spectacle, but as consequence: pain becomes data, trauma becomes catalyst, and repression becomes rebellion. As the system Elias once served turns violently against him, the narrative sharpens into a meditation on autonomy, surveillance, and the cost of hiding one’s truth.

Despite its compact length, Protocol Heresy delivers remarkable emotional density. It will resonate strongly with readers who favor character-driven science fiction, psychological thrillers, and stories where quiet defiance carries revolutionary weight.

A haunting, incisive work that asks what happens when the most controlled system encounters something it was never designed to process human truth.

[Cecilie Shaw · Rating 4 out of 5]

Well-written book, especially for someone who was in military intelligence. It held my attention, the characters were distinct and relatable. The technical aspects were written well enough to feel realistic, but not too deep as to lose focus on the story.