“Sargent Y, MSS.”
“Thanks Sargent, that was close.”
“We’ll take you back now.”
“No. I want to carry on with my task.”
“Sure?” May nodded. “Ok, we’ll keep two plainclothes men following you at a distance.”
She left the Mall and carried on to the Hospital.
She entered and found where he was from the desk assistant and walked down the corridor. Here it was, room A7. She entered and spotted him quickly.
“Jin.” He turned and grinned.
“Tang. Great to see you. I didn’t expect to see you.”
“How did you get away from them and back to shore?” She had made up a story on the way, he swallowed it.
“They tell me I can leave here soon, it’s OK, but I’ll be glad to leave.” They chatted on for a while. May knew she had to make the closing.
“Jin.” She looked at him in the eyes. “What we talked about in Taiwan, about the resistance group to the Party. I must see your Father, he is in danger.” Not strictly true she knew but close.”
“Tang. Tell me the truth.” She nodded. “Are you involved in this?”
“Yes. Yes, I am Jin.” He sighed and thought for a minute.
“Ok, wait here. He comes to visit in about half an hour. We can get a private room, we usually do.”
Jin’s Father arrived, they hugged, Jin nodded to a nurse. She led them to a private room where they sat.
“This is my friend Tang, we were in Taiwan together. She’d like a word with you.”
“Good day Tang, what can I do for you?”
“What I am about to say to you will probably come as a shock. I just have to say it.” She pulled her NSB card from an inner pocket and placed it on the table.
“What?” said Jin, you? NSB?” His Father was surprised too but held it in better.
“Yes I am, I was born and raised in Taiwan. I’m aware, Deputy Long of your involvement with the 7/12 group and I sympathise. Let me tell you about recent events.
“I decided that the situation was shaping up to a crisis. So I walked into Xiyuan.”
“You did what?” said Deputy Long.
“I know, I was desperate.” She told them about the waterboarding and the meeting with Ling Shimming. “Finally, he issued me this, she pulled out and set down her MSS card. He was confident I’d be a double agent.” She grinned.
“So your real name is May?” asked Jin.
“Yes, I’m sorry, I truly am Jin. I have sympathies with 7/12. But I’m here to tell you that Ling Shimming is preparing a move, he knows many ringleaders and people lower down the tree. The NSB have confirmed the extent of his knowledge. It won’t be a purge that you can recover from, you’re facing Armageddon, the end of 7/12.
We in Taiwan don’t want that. Go underground, don’t take any part of this unrest that’s coming. Get away, leave the country if you can.” Deputy Long thought long and hard about the situation.
“The ROC will not help?” She looked at him plaintively.
“No, it will become a regional war, something we can’t afford. Political asylum, yes. But that’s it.” Deputy Long sighed.
“Then we have only one option.” He looked to his son.
“I’m sorry Jin. The only option is operation Diyu.”
“Father No.” Deputy Long turned to her.
“It’s time. I’ll tell you the truth May, we’ve seen increased MSS activity, We captured two and tortured them. They told us similar things to you.
Jin, help me, we’ll call who we can. We’ll get over to the PLAN base at Qingdao tomorrow.”
She put her hand on his shoulder briefly.
“Deputy, what is Operation Diyu?”
“We’ll destroy the PRC and hope that we can rise from the ashes. We’ll take a Jin class SSBN to sea.” She was shocked.
“You’re going to nuke the country?”
“No,” he smiled, “That wouldn’t be enough firepower. We’ll sail the Pacific until we’re in range of many key American cities. We’ll announce that the People’s Republic of China is at war with the USA and unleash the MIRV warheads. San Francisco, LA, Seattle, San Diego, Denver and Chicago will burn in the nuclear fire. The USA will have no choice but to rain down nuclear terror on the PRC. It’s the only way we can be sure. It’s a heavy price, but one day China will be free under the blue star.”
“No, don’t do it Deputy Long. There must be another way?” May pleaded.
“Thank you for your time May. I must go now, there’s a lot to do.” Jin kissed her and left too.
May sat with her head in her hands. “What have I done, what have I done?”
THE FOLLOWING DAY SHE made her way by train to the base at Qingdao. Her MSS card got her access. She found the submarine dock and spotted the Jin tied up. She’d bought some binoculars and looked. It was taking on stores, ready for sea. An hour later several people showed up in Limousines or cars. There were a couple of trucks, men with assault rifles climbed out the back. All made their way on to the submarine's deck, climbed the sail and entered the boat. She spotted Deputy Long and then. “No God no.” It was Jin following him.
“Jin, no don’t do this.” Tears rolled down her cheeks, she sobbed, until she was sore.
“It was a phone call she wished she’d never have to make, she took out a cell phone and dialled.
After a few minutes she was put through.
“Yes?”
“Nikki, it’s May. The shit’s about to hit the fan. I’m in Qingdao. A Jin class SSBN is about to sail, it’s going to nuke the US.”
“What?”
May told her what had happened the MSS, the Hospital, Operation Diyu.
“I can’t believe it May.”
“You have to, I swear it’s true. Stop it. Please stop it. Tell Nathan, get him to believe you.”
“What are you going to do?”
“Get out. Somewhere, I don’t know. I might see you in Guam or the US.”
“Take great care my friend.” May cut the connection.
May looked out over the docks and wharves, grey warships filled the scene. She’d told Nathan long ago, she was frightened about what he may do. Now she knew.
He was going to try to kill her love from the PRC. What a mess she’d made. What a mess.
Chapter 19
NIKKI HAD CALLED A meeting of the war committee. The three of them sat around the table in the Wardroom.
Larry looked at her with a sceptical gaze. “You know how fantastical that is. I mean I met her she seems to be wired up right, but an SSBN on its way to nuke the US?”
“She is NSB,” said Nikki.
“I know. I’ll accept this 7/12 thing, I’m not too surprised at that.”
“It is a lot to take in I agree,” Nathan rubbed his temples, “can we obtain any proof apart from this call?”
“I don’t see how, said the XO.
“Wait,” she said, “what about Big Bird passes? They could show a Jin class in port.”
“Yeah, that would go a long way to proving it, I’ll get on to COMSUBPAC.”
Nathan stepped into the control room. “Lemineux get a message out to Pearl now. He dictated the message. “Ok Planesman,” said Lemineux, “speed four knots. Float the communications buoy.”
“In the meantime, I want us up alongside Bellerophon, I want to talk to Pike on Gertrude. Get us alongside XO.”
“Aye sir.” About an hour later the XO came to Nathan’s station.
“We’re alongside the RN SSN, six knots, 250 feet, 200 yards apart.”
“Thanks. Lemieux get Gertrude in contact.” After a minute fiddling, he made contact and handed the handset to Nathan.
“Hello Frank.”
“I’m here, go on.”
“I can’t give you all the background, with this thing, but the NSB agent we’ve been working with tells us that a Jin class SSBN is leaving Qingdao. Its mission is to nuke the USA.”