The NSA’s mouth was open. It took him a moment, but he finally got up and walked out the door.
The president read through the rest of the report on Jinshan. He looked up at the CIA director and said, “You’re sure about all this? There’s no way that this could be wrong?”
The CIA director nodded. “Sir, we have excellent intelligence. This was all the work of two people: Cheng Jinshan and Admiral Song. The Chinese president, and Politburo leadership as far as we can tell, were all left in the dark. The crypto key that our Special Forces team recovered shows historic data for all of Admiral Song’s rogue military units. That includes communication signals from a Chinese submarine in the Persian Gulf, right at the time of the attacks there. We’ve corroborated this with other signals intelligence, and it looks like the rogue Chinese elements have been trying to push us into a war with Iran. They’ve been building up troops in Ecuador. All these factors together point to the veracity of David Manning’s testimony about the Red Cell.”
The president shook his head. “Unbelievable.”
The chairman of the joint chiefs said, “Sir, I’ve spoken with my counterpart in the People’s Liberation Army. He has assured me that China has no hostile intent towards the United States. He couldn’t explain why any Chinese South Sea Fleet units were located in the Eastern Pacific. He has agreed to stand down Chinese military assets’ defensive postures. We’ve seen corresponding activity that verifies that. Ships pulling into port, fewer fighter aircraft flights. That sort of thing. Our Pacific theater assets are all on alert.”
“So we’re not at risk of starting World War Three, after we just sunk a sub and four Chinese Navy ships? Is that what you’re telling me?”
“Sir, from what I can tell, the Chinese want very badly to de-escalate. They were shown the preliminary evidence that Director Buckingham mentioned, and they realize that this was their fault. The Chinese don’t want any further aggression.”
CIA Director Buckingham and General Schwartz sat in a private meeting room at the embassy of the People’s Republic of China in northwest Washington, D.C. The official communication would take place between the US president and the Chinese president and include high-level State Department personnel. But that official meeting was still being set up. This was the unofficial communication. And it couldn’t wait.
Their meeting was with the Chinese ambassador in D.C., and by secure video feed, with a Politburo member they were certain was loyal to the Chinese president. Director Buckingham went out of his way to ensure that no Chinese intelligence representatives were invited into the room. He was too worried that Jinshan would influence the proceedings.
The discussion took about an hour. It was late at night in Washington. The Chinese Politburo member asked for a ten-minute recess when the Americans were done speaking. He did his best not to sound upset, although it was easily the most difficult conversation of his professional career.
After the recess was over, they re-joined the call.
The Politburo member said, “We are gravely concerned about this matter. I am to assure you that China’s senior leaders were quite unaware that this was taking place. We are very upset that military action has been taken. These military actions occurred without the knowledge or consent of the Chinese military leadership, including the president.”
The CIA director said, “The United States would like to keep our relationship with China positive. We understand that these actions were not the result of Chinese-sanctioned activities.”
The Chinese Politburo member said, “I have been authorized by the highest levels of my government to ask if there is any way that we might find a mutually beneficial resolution, and keep these conflicts… confidential?”
Director Buckingham said, “I’m afraid that is not possible. You can hang that on Jinshan if you like, but lives were lost. We will not keep this conflict secret from the American people, or from the world.”
“I understand.”
“Good. Now, what about Iran, and any Americans who might be on the Red Cell island? We want resolution on those matters as soon as possible. We request that China immediately contact the Iranian regime and enlighten them on Jinshan’s actions there. Specifically regarding Jinshan’s part in the assassination of Ahmad Gorji. We want China to pressure Iran into standing down its military, and ensuring that no further hostilities occur.”
The Chinese Politburo member nodded. “Yes, of course. We will contact the Iranian leadership immediately.”
“And the Red Cell — the Americans that are being held on your island base in the South China Sea? We demand that they be released immediately as well.”
“Please give us a day to look into this. Again, this is most disturbing for us. A complete breakdown of trust in our chain of command. We need to take these rogue leaders into custody and then ensure that the personnel under their command conduct no further illegal actions. That will take a matter of hours. Once that occurs, we will ensure that any Americans that they had in custody are released.”
The CIA director nodded. “That sounds acceptable.”
“The president of China will call your president tonight. He wishes to personally pass on this message. He wishes no harm to our relationship. These actions were not the actions of the Chinese people. They were the misguided actions of… as you have said, rogue persons. If there are truly any Americans on that island, they will be released immediately.”
Jinshan and Admiral Song were in the middle of their lunch when the call came. They sat on the enclosed balcony of Jinshan’s tower penthouse. The view of the hazy cityscape stood in front of them as they dined on seafood and white wine.
“Mr. Jinshan, you have an urgent call.”
He waved over his assistant, taking the encrypted phone and putting it to his ear.
Admiral Song had been discussing their military options. Song was nervous. It had been almost twelve hours since they had heard from the four ships and one submarine that were to attack the USS Farragut.
Jinshan listened to the voice on the call. “You are sure? When?” Jinshan looked at his watch. “That was more than two hours ago. Why am I just getting this information now?” He looked at Admiral Song in disbelief. He held his hand to cover the receiver and told the admiral, “They know.”
“Who? The Americans?”
Jinshan shook his head. Song’s eyes went wide.
The front door burst open and commotion erupted in the next room.
A group of nearly a dozen uniformed military police stormed into the dining area. Jinshan’s own three bodyguards looked at him nervously, not sure of what to do. They were clearly outnumbered and outgunned, and likely wanted nothing to do with a confrontation with the People’s Liberation Army.
The highest-ranking officer in the group of military police looked at the two men eating lunch and announced, “By order of the general secretary of the Communist Party of China, you are both under arrest.”
Admiral Song stood up. “What is the meaning of this? This is preposterous. What is the charge?”
Jinshan didn’t say anything. The military police quickly surrounded the two men and placed them in handcuffs.
The military police officer said, “Treason.”
The Chinese Y-20 jumbo transport plane landed at the Manta airport runway just like all of the others, with one exception.