“What happened?” Chase asked the petty officer on duty at the air terminal.
“We don’t know. About half an hour ago, we just started hearing explosions coming from the naval station.”
“What’s the damage?”
“Nobody knows yet. They shut down access to the base. No phones. No one gets in or out. I’m surprised they let you pass. Anyway, sir, your flight’s delayed. All air traffic has been shut down. You’re first on the list when it resumes.”
Chase slept on a couch in the air terminal, rising with the sun. Sipping coffee, he looked in the direction of the pier. Black smoke still rose from the wreckage.
The morning news showed intense and disturbing footage. Chase was surprised that the military had cleared the video for release. Rows of damaged ships, many with blackened, charred holes in their hulls and superstructures. One destroyer had been hit, and both aircraft carriers looked to be out of commission.
Then the newscaster said, “Reports of similar attacks at other east coast military bases have been coming in this morning. Both Naval Air Station Oceana and Langley Air Force Base were attacked. No word yet on how enemy forces were able to carry out the attack, but the Pentagon expects to give a public briefing later today.”
The news channels didn’t show the video footage again. Chase was certain that Chinese agents would pass it on to Beijing. Valuable battle damage assessment information on an incredibly successful attack.
Chase thought about what this meant for the war. A Chinese Atlantic fleet was heading north, and America’s anti-ship capability had just been gutted.
34
“Our collaboration with the Russians is working well,” General Chen said.
Lena and her father stood with a few of his senior military and intelligence leaders as one of the men showed them a summary of international news headlines from the past twenty-four hours. Every global news organization outside the United States was plastering coverage of the surprise Chinese attack on American east coast military installations.
They watched mobile-phone videos of post-attack damage. Originally broadcast on American TV, they were now continuously shown by international news agencies and shared on social media. The footage was incredible. Both for the damage it showed and its value to the Chinese intelligence organization.
Lena said, “I am very pleased with the overwhelming success of the operation, Chairman General.” Watching as the monitors showed rows of destroyed American fighters, bombers, and missiles, she found herself wondering where the Americans were keeping her child.
Minister Dong said, “The Americans had consolidated their air forces to load them with advanced new anti-ship missiles. These jets were to deploy to the Pacific and begin attacking our supply lines. This priority shifted when they discovered our Atlantic fleet movements. Most American Atlantic ships were also in port, getting final loads of stores, fuel, and weapons before setting sail to meet our fleet.”
General Chen said, “Our timing was very good.”
One of the main screens changed to a satellite picture of Norfolk Naval Station, showing cruisers and destroyers burning in the night. General Chen grinned.
Minister Dong said, “Our analysts say that at least seventy-five percent of their ships and upwards of ninety percent of their aircraft at those bases are now out of commission.”
At first Lena was surprised that her father had allowed Minister Dong to continue participating in these meetings. But then she understood that having a defeated rival remain in his inner circle fed into his narcissistic personality. A constant reminder of his greatness, and a warning to anyone who might try to unseat him in the future.
General Chen turned to a PLA colonel waiting behind the inner circle of leaders whom Lena recognized as the slithering man from China’s unconventional weapons program.
The colonel placed a tablet computer on the table in front of the general, pointing to the data it displayed.
“Our chemical weapons will be deployed to Panama and Hawaii in the coming days.”
One of the politburo members said, “Is that prudent?”
“Strength is the only language an enemy understands,” responded General Chen.
Out of the corner of her eye, Lena saw Minister Dong shift his weight. He looked uncomfortable with the conversation.
General Chen said, “And what of our strategic deterrence program? Has the Russian biological weapons research improved our progress?”
“Indeed, General. While the Russians would not share all of their secrets, what they did share allowed us to reverse engineer one of their most powerful bioweapons.” The PLA unconventional weapons officer began to describe the biological weapons breakthrough. “The warhead contains a single dose of the agent. Airborne transfer between those infected is very rapid. The virus stays alive in the harshest weather conditions. It affects animals of all kinds. Birds and mosquitoes will both carry it and spread it to humans.”
General Chen watched the reactions of those around him. “What happens to those infected?”
“It starts like a harsh flu strain. Those infected seem sick, but the virus is not discernible from most other illnesses in the flu family. After a few weeks, their condition gets progressively worse. This timeframe is important. If it kills too quickly, the virus won’t spread. But the weeks of incubation will allow a substantial number of people to become carriers. If launched in a large population center like New York City, we estimate at least one-hundred million people could become infected.”
Minister Dong said, “What is the mortality rate?”
“Once infected, over ninety percent die, usually in week three to four.”
Lena felt sick. No amount of discipline could hide her distaste. She looked at her father. “What would be our objective in using such a weapon? The Russians have pledged to act on our behalf if the Americans launch nuclear weapons.”
“The Russians can’t be trusted with such a vital role. Minister Dong said so himself, when we spoke with Jinshan.”
Minister Dong looked down at the floor. “I worry about the instability of such a dangerous biological weapon.”
General Chen frowned. “Obviously the biological weapon would be used only as a deterrent. Equal in devastation to an American nuclear attack on China. Jinshan carelessly allowed our nuclear warheads to be diminished. This gives us a weapon so deadly, no country would consider taking advantage of our weakened nuclear ability, for this biological weapon would wipe out…”
“Everyone,” said Dong.
General Chen glared at him. “It would wipe out any enemies that would dare launch nuclear weapons at us. An organic deterrent freeing us from reliance on fickle allies.”
Minister Dong said, “General Chen, with respect, our plans call for massive deployments of Chinese troops and eventually Chinese civilian personnel into the US after we conquer it. While I can see the value in using some of these unconventional weapons to overcome tactical obstacles, do you think it wise to deploy such weapons at scale?”
“I think it is wise to win, Mr. Dong. I think it is wise to win.” General Chen looked over the small group until his eyes met Lena’s.
“What do you say, daughter?”
Lena could hear her own heart beating as she tried to suppress thoughts of her child being gassed or dying of some synthetic variation of the bubonic plague.
“General, your strategic vision and your talent for commanding our great military is unrivaled. But with the success of the Russian attack…”
“You mean our attack…”
The Russians, as Lena had predicted, denied involvement in the attack on Norfolk. Fanned by MSS information operations teams, news agencies around the world were reporting that Chinese submarines and long-range hypersonic cruise missiles had conducted the attack. This was preposterous, Lena knew. The Russian submarine force and a sizable contingent of Russian aircraft were the only ones in a position to make it happen. But the comically uninformed world media didn’t know that, which suited the Russian president’s diplomatic aspirations to deny involvement. And it suited her father’s ego to accept credit.