“There is a story of a wise farmer from Yunnan province whose wild stallion ran off one day. All the neighbours gathered around saying “Very bad luck.” The farmer said, “bad luck, good luck, who knows?” A few days later the stallion returned with a herd of wild horses. The neighbours gathered around saying “Very good luck.”
“Bad luck, good luck, who knows,” said the farmer.
A week later the farmer’s son was trying to break in one of the horses and was thrown from the horse and broke his leg.
The neighbours gathered and said, “Very bad luck.”
“Bad luck, good luck, who knows,” said the farmer. Several weeks later the Chinese army came to the town looking for able-bodied youth to join the army and fight in the war. When the soldiers came to the farmer’s house and saw the boy’s broken leg, they left him alone and moved on. The neighbours gathered saying “Very good luck.”
The wise Yunnan farmer said, “Bad luck, good luck, who knows?”
Gao sat back and sighed, she knew they wouldn’t tell her what the call had really meant.
“If you get any more calls from her, let me know.” Gao pulled a face, why? Why should I Hue?
“You will yes?” She nodded it was said without enthusiasm,
“Yes, I will.”
Gao knew they thought she was just some girl, a cousin of Hue’s who helped them out. It hadn’t always been this way, she remembered the lessons and discussions with her Father’s friend. He taught at a University and knew just what he was on about, she’d learned a lot from him. She’d been at University when little Ji came on to the scene and that had changed things a lot.
She knew a lot more than they thought, and this didn’t add up at all. They were sympathetic with Taiwan, yes. So was she, The Republic of China was an area the Party didn’t want you to look into, so for Gao that had been a big come on. She devoured all she could.
Yes, something odd was going on. The PLAN was sailing in numbers and could be heading for Taiwan with an NSB Officer on board. She’d reported to this group and they’d decided not to pass the news on to the NSB? Gao knew it just didn’t add up, she’d have to keep an eye out and play dumb for now. She leaned her head back and sighed, that couldn’t last.
Chapter 7
“SIR, LUCY IS STREAMING now, she’s giving me good data. It looks like somebody just cleaned the dirty windshield. All clear out there, all but civvy stuff. I did pick up a faint transient that may have been a Taiwanese Hai Lung class boat. If it was, she was on the surface charging her batteries.”
Nathan patted Benson on the shoulder, it was good to get the towed array sonar back.
“XO.” Nathan pointed to Lt Kaminski’s chart display. The two of them looked over her shoulder. “I propose a northeast to southwest track roughly at the mid-point of the Strait, when we get to the northernmost point we do a large lazy circle, about 60 miles diameter and then resume the track. I want to spend more time north than south. With Lucy back online we should get a damn good picture of Strait movements on and below the surface. Let’s be that picket tripwire,” he looked at his XO with steely eyes, “and Larry, if in doubt head to north.
USS Stonewall Jackson’s not here to sneak around and hide.
Remember before the battle of Trafalgar Admiral Nelson said, No Captain can do very wrong if he places his ship alongside that of the enemy.”
IN A MEETING ROOM AT the heart of The Pentagon, a group of uniformed senior officers, The Joint Chiefs sat around a large table, coffees had been served.
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, General Ian Cotton USAF sat at the head.
Also present were the Chief of Staff of the Army General Sally Weingarten, USA.
Chief of Naval Operations Admiral Nicolaj Kamov, USN.
Commandant of the Marine Corps Bruce Nanut, USMC.
Chief of Staff of the Air Force General Neil L Cooper, USAF.
National Security Advisor, Stockhaisen.
General Cotton spoke.
“Lady and Gentlemen. We are here again to discuss a subject we all love and cherish. Admiral Kamov’s pet attack dog the USS Stonewall Jackson.” General Cotton smiled and looked about the table.
“He currently has it on the leash but straining and ready to chew the ass off the General Secretary of the People’s Republic of China. Over to you Admiral.”
Kamov cleared his throat. “The boat’s on patrol in the Strait of Taiwan, we have fleet movements out of central China to the north. Big movements, consistent with an offensive move against Taiwan. Our boat’s Commander is requesting that we relax the ROE he operates under. He’s allowed to return hostile fire, but he wants more.”
“How much more Admiral?” asked Neil L Cooper USAF.
“That’s down to us Neil, I know he’ll take whatever he can get.”
“If I could fill in some political background here?” said National Security Advisor, Stockhaisen.
General Cotton held out the palm of his hand, “Go ahead.”
“We have some humint that suggest the PRC is starting to take a more aggressive stance against Taiwan. It hasn’t been helped by the fact that the recent murder of a big C-Pop star, a favourite of the Chairman’s daughters, is being linked to the Taiwanese secret intelligence service, the NSB. The murder was carried out while she was on a US tour in San Francisco.
“Is this credible?” asked Sally Weingarten.
“We don’t think so,” replied Stockhaisen, “but the PRC has gotten all itchy over it. To them it’s one more issue in a list of them. Remember to them Taiwan is a renegade province, and they want it inside the PRC. The United States is by treaty, committed to defend Taiwan should it become necessary.”
“This guy,” Neil L Cooper raised the palms of his hands, “running the boat, is known to be an aggressive SOB, right?”
“Commander Nathan Blake commands the USS Stonewall Jackson,” said Kamov. “he’s one of our best submarine drivers.”
The Chairman of the Joint Chiefs, General Cotton looked at Admiral Kamov.
“You’ve more too, haven’t you Nicolaj?” The Admiral sighed.
“Yes, one of the boat’s war committee has been ashore on Taiwan and seen the Heads of the NSB and the Republic Of China’s army. She’s made an analysis of the PRC’s intentions. This has some back up by ROC intel and military.
This analysis predicts an invasion of Taiwan via Taichung City, that’s a major port in the east central part of the Island.”
“Who is this war committee member?” Asked Sally Weingarten head of the Army.
“She’s a Lieutenant on board the boat,” said Kamov sheepishly.
“A naval Lieutenant?” Weingarten was opened mouthed.
“She has been right on these matters before,” Kamov shrugged, “we can’t ignore her.”
“I remember her, she called out Kim Jong-un’s mob the DPRK,” smiled Commandant of the Marine Corps Bruce Nanut, USMC. “And there was the Iran/DPRK nuke thing too. Seems to me if she’s put this together and she’s got back up from the ROC Army we can’t dismiss it. If I remember, this lady has balls.”
“I’ve got details of Lieutenant Kaminski’s report.” Kamov passed out copies around the table.
General Cotton looked around the table at the Joint Chiefs. “We can’t give Blake carte blanche to start hostilities against the PRC, but we need to give him more flexibility. Admiral, issue new more appropriate ROE to USS Stonewall Jackson. People, read this report from Lieutenant Kaminski and make preparations based on the fact that she may be right. She does have a track record on these things.” Cotton sat back in his chair.
“Let’s meet again on this issue tomorrow evening. Anybody have any comments?” There was silence.