The electronic attack cruise missiles jammed radars and executed offensive cyber-attack measures. The effect was similar to linemen on a football team protecting a running back, creating a black hole of disabled radars and air defense networks, and making way for what came next.
The second wave of cruise missiles launched from another section of bombers south of Cuba. After launching, the stealth aircraft turned around, their part of the mission completed. Joining the air-launched attack were missiles fired from two Type 093 Shang-class submarines, each positioned in water space south of Panama City, Florida. Twelve cruise missiles were fired from each submarine’s vertical launch system. The noise alerted nearby sonar monitoring stations, as well as a patrolling Los Angeles-class submarine. The Chinese submarines, by launching, had signed their own death warrant. But it was too late to stop their cruise missiles from reaching their targets.
The twenty-four submarine-launched cruise missiles joined the dozen fired from the H-20 bombers in a race toward Eglin Air Force Base, each programmed to attack a specific target. Three of the missiles had cluster-bomb payloads and were used to attack the runways. Other missiles struck hangars, command centers, weapons bunkers, and fuel depots.
Half were saved for the most important target. A group of old hangars and buildings on the far side of the base.
Chase and the others jumped out of their seats and raced into the hallway. An Air Force security guard jogged toward them, his steps echoing on the linoleum floor.
He waved as he shouted, “Incoming attack! Get back in the room.”
A thunderous rumble in the distance turned into two… then three… then the giant booming noises could be heard outside every few seconds. The group ran back into the observation room just as an explosion shook the building’s foundation. Dust sprinkled down from the ceiling. An internal fire alarm sounded, and the sprinkler system kicked on. The detonations were almost continuous. Deafening. The ground shook. Chase fit himself under the wooden bench.
The attack lasted about three minutes, and then stopped as suddenly as it had begun.
“Is it over?” David asked.
Chase got up and dusted himself off.
Susan picked up a phone in the corner of the room, then placed it back down on the receiver. “Nothing. Lines must be damaged.”
David waved to get their attention. “Guys. Hey. Look at this.”
All eyes turned to where he was pointing. Through the two-way mirror, Lena was visible in the corner of her room, holding the baby in her arms. She was shushing the crying child, rocking him, their faces close together. Her eyes were filled with tears.
11
The van traveled west along I-10. The group was escorted by three unmarked security vehicles, one belonging to local law enforcement, the others a combination of CIA ground team members, USAF security forces, and one nurse.
They were conducting a prisoner transfer while emergency services were still dragging bodies out of smoldering buildings. But this couldn’t wait.
The safehouse was a large hunting lodge tucked away in the Alabama pine forest. The vehicles parked on the gravel driveway, and security forces began walking the perimeter.
The nurse took the baby while Chase, Susan, and Lena gathered around a small kitchen table. David was not present. His family lived on base, and he needed to make sure they were okay after the attack.
A single incandescent light bulb hung above the table, flooding the room in a warm yellowish glow. Chase made them coffee and handed Lena a cup.
After taking a sip, Lena said, “I need you to promise me that the child will be safe and cared for.”
Susan said, “Of course. We…”
Lena glared at Susan. “Not you. I don’t trust you. Him.”
She looked at Chase.
He nodded. “I’ll make sure.”
Lena said, “If I do this, I will likely never see my child again.” Her voice was soft.
Susan and Chase remained silent.
Then, like a switch had been flipped, Lena’s face grew hard. She placed her elbows on the table, pressed her fingers together, and said, “Let’s get to it, shall we?”
For the past few months, Lena had been kept in the dark about geopolitics and the war’s progress, being fed only what Susan’s team had wanted her to know. Now Susan brought her up to speed on the state of world events. Lena listened with an intense expression.
When Susan was finished, she asked, “The attack on our base today. Why would they do that now?”
Lena shook her head. “What else are you running out of this base?”
Susan didn’t answer.
Lena rolled her eyes. “Fine. Make me guess. My thought is that you are playing the double-cross game. If you’re here, you wouldn’t waste all your time on just me. So you’ve probably got a shitload more MSS operatives in some other buildings.”
Chase raised his eyebrow and looked at Susan, who remained quiet.
Lena smiled. “I hit the nail on the head?”
Chase said, “The question remains: why would Jinshan choose to target this base now?”
Lena shook her head. “He wouldn’t.”
Chase frowned.
Lena looked at Susan. “Jinshan wasn’t involved in planning this attack. He would have made sure it was executed properly. Appropriate employment of weapons by type and volume.”
“It wasn’t appropriately planned?”
“No.”
“What makes you say that?”
Lena said, “I’m still alive.”
They went quiet.
Lena said, “If Jinshan is not involved in planning, that means one of two things. Either he is dead, or weakened. Which is it?”
Susan said, “Our sources say that he’s been undergoing intense chemotherapy treatments, and that his cancer has progressed despite them. Expectations are that he’ll be dead in three to six months.”
Lena leaned back in her chair, her eyes softening.
“You were close with him?” Susan asked.
Lena ignored the question. “There is a power struggle beneath him.”
Susan said, “There is a power struggle. But not to be Jinshan’s successor. He has named a successor.”
Lena looked skeptical. “Who?”
“A politician named Ma Lin. He’s young. Only forty-five. Jinshan’s new apprentice, they say.”
Lena searched her memory. “I know this name. His father is on the Politburo Standing Committee.”
“Not any longer. His father retired. Now Ma the son is on the standing committee. He has found favor with Jinshan.”
Lena shook her head. “There will still be a power struggle. Perhaps not for succession, but for influence.”
Susan nodded. “You are correct. We have information that suggests Ma will name a vice president.”
Lena said, “For someone so young and inexperienced, that advisor will likely have a lot of control. There are only two men with enough power and influence to serve in that position. I assume they will be competing with each other for that spot.”
Susan said, “Who do you believe they are?”
“One is the Minister of State Security, Minister Dong. You know him?”
“Of course,” replied Susan.
Lena said, “He was another favorite of Jinshan’s. He is loyal, but only because he is smart enough to know to appear that way. I suspect his motivations are more complex.”
“Who is the other?” Chase asked.
“General Chen.”
Susan let out a hum of interest.
Chase turned between the two women. “I’m sorry, why is that significant?”