But as David had quickly learned, the Red Cell was actually part of an elaborate Chinese intelligence operation, designed to uncover classified American secrets and bolster China’s own soon-to-be executed attack plans. The Red Cell was the brainchild of Cheng Jinshan.
Cheng Jinshan wore multiple hats. A Chinese national, he had risen to become the head of several Chinese Internet and media-related companies. His firms made up a large portion of the cybersecurity and censorship wings of the Chinese technology industry. All throughout his career in business, however, he was also employed as an operative within the Ministry of State Security — the Chinese equivalent of the CIA. His business roles had begun as a mere cover. But Jinshan’s power had grown tremendously.
The influence he wielded in each of his positions — the private sector and the Chinese intelligence world — had served to rocket him into the stratosphere of China’s elite power brokers. The Chinese president had even been friendly with him, and had appointed him as the head of the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection, normally a cabinet position, reserved for a politician.
The CCDI was the Chinese agency intended to root out corruption in the government. But Jinshan had wielded his authority like a sword. He had used the CCDI to consolidate power, installing loyalists in key positions within the Chinese government. His political views were quite unique. Jinshan was obsessed with Chinese dominance of the West and envisioned creating an idealistic form of government, led by an inner cadre of technocrats.
Jinshan had attempted to bring his vision to life through a global conspiracy. Admiral Song — a Jinshan loyalist and commander of the PLA Navy’s South Sea Fleet — had secretly organized the military wing of Jinshan’s campaign. Through a complicated network of spies and secret communications, Jinshan and Admiral Song had engaged in deception and covert operations against the United States in various parts of the globe.
This conspiracy had culminated in a series of naval battles in the Eastern Pacific Ocean, off the coast of Central America. David’s sister, Victoria Manning, had commanded the USS Farragut during the hostilities, ultimately leading the US Navy to victory.
The director of the CIA and the American president had contacted the Chinese president after they had gathered verifiable evidence of Jinshan and Admiral Song’s treachery. They had informed the Chinese president that he was only days away from an attempted coup, and that Jinshan and Admiral Song were the chief instigators.
The Chinese president, embarrassed and surprised by Cheng Jinshan’s rogue activities, had taken swift action. He had called upon all Chinese military forces to stand down and promised no retaliation against the US Navy. The Chinese had fired the first shots in the skirmish, and the US actions had been defensive in nature. The members of those Chinese naval units had been under the impression that they were following legitimate orders, and were considered innocent. Jinshan and Admiral Song were the criminals. And Lena Chou, wherever she was…
For now, the two nations were at peace. But the citizens of both nations were furious at the loss of life, and each felt that they were the victims of a grave injustice. The peace was fragile.
Henry reached into the cooler and pulled out a sparkling water. “Want one?”
“No, thanks.”
He opened the bottle and took a sip. “Seems to me that things quieted down kind of quickly, don’t you think?”
David looked at him. “What do you mean?”
“I mean, our country was attacked. I know the Chinese have publicly apologized and everything, but…”
“You’re not one of those crazies who’s saying we should go to war with all of China now, are you? I thought that was just for the political websites. I mean, where’s that going to get us?” Much of the country was still in an uproar over the Chinese-American naval battle that had occurred. David knew it wasn’t fair to characterize Henry as crazy and immediately regretted saying it.
Henry said, “Well, you’ve got to admit that they have a point there, David. Hundreds of lives were lost. What was the total count?”
“Including the Chinese ship, I think they said eight hundred and seventeen people died. Mostly from the initial Chinese submarine attack.”
Henry flung up his hands, shaking his head. “Well, that’s what I mean. They can’t just get away with that. They apologize and that’s it? Now our president is just acting like it’s not a big deal. Like we can bury the hatchet and blame it all on one guy.”
“I don’t think that’s what the president is trying to do. But he doesn’t have very good options. And they’re supposedly working on a new bilateral agreement that’s going to make China pay for what they did.”
“Right. The new bilateral agreement. What’s the president going to do? Slap a tariff on them? They’ll just do the same thing to us. Look, I mean, I don’t want anyone else getting hurt. But that was an act of war. That wasn’t just Jinshan. China’s military did that. They were responsible too.”
“It wasn’t a sanctioned military activity.”
Henry folded his arms and cocked his head in protest. “Come on.”
This same argument was being played out on radio shows, podcasts, and news rooms across the world. What it all came down to, David knew, was that China had crossed the line. And the American people wanted them to pay.
“Have you seen all the funeral footage? They had a big one in Bogotá. From the Colombian navy ship that was sunk. And the poor kids of those US Navy men. The ones from your sister’s ship, for crying out loud.”
David looked at his daughter sleeping next to him. She was less than a year old and was starting to stir from her nap. David held his finger up to his lips.
Henry got the hint and began to whisper. “All I’m saying is that people are angry. They feel wronged. I mean, the stock market has crashed since all this stuff came out. GPS isn’t working, and the Internet is half of what it was…”
“Things are being restored. And Chinese sailors lost their lives too.”
“So you’re defending them now? This was all just one big misunderstanding, is that it?”
“Henry, what do you want, World War III?”
Henry frowned. “I already said I didn’t. But they deserve to pay. An apology isn’t enough.”
“Jinshan and the admiral he was working with are on trial. They will pay the price.”
“Says who? China’s president? Can you trust them after what they did?”
“You do sound like the talking heads.”
“And you sound like one of those hippies who just wants to make peace everywhere. Don’t be so naïve, David. You saw what they’re like. You were on the island. You of all people should know.”
“What does that mean?”
Henry took another swig of his sparkling water. “I have a hard time believing that it was really just one person, and no one else is to blame. What about Lena? What happened to her.”
“They’re looking for her. She’ll be caught. It’s only a matter of time.”
“You think China really doesn’t know where she is? They know, believe you me.”
David couldn’t be completely sure that Henry wasn’t right on that point. The CIA had had some of the same discussions about Lena. If the Chinese government found her before they did, would they let the Americans know? She had been a double agent, embedded in the CIA for over a decade. They would want her for themselves — even if she had been part of Jinshan’s unsanctioned operation.
Lindsay and Maddie strolled back up the beach to where the two men were sitting.
“Daddy, Mommy says I can have a snack.”