The next segment of the video displayed the drone’s view as it hovered over one of the ballistic missile subs.
“That’s one of their Jin-class boats,” Arnold commented. He was trained to track and sink both Russian and Chinese boomers.
“Right,” Osberg said. “Jin-class—Type 094.”
Arnold along with the others watched as the drone descended through an open hatch and began to survey the interior of the top secret sub.
The tour took twenty minutes. Commander Arnold was blown away. “That’s incredible. We saw virtually everything.” He looked Yuri’s way. “How did you manage to pull that off?”
Osberg answered. “We can’t get into methods at this time but as you can imagine, this video provides our technical people with a goldmine of information on the capabilities of the PLAN’s top of the line missile boats.”
“No kidding.”
“Yulin is important but the Chinese have been up to no good elsewhere on Hainan.” Osberg clicked on the remote and a new slide flashed onto the screen. “This is a PLAN facility at Shendao, which is about six nautical miles west of Yulin.” He highlighted a developed area further west. “This is the city of Sanya, about five miles northwest of the Shendao base. Resort city. Population of around 700,000—China’s Honolulu.”
Osberg advanced to the next slide, a high resolution aerial view of the Shendao Naval Base. A massive reinforced concrete pier jutted 2,300 feet into the breakwater protected harbor. Osberg highlighted the pier with the pointer. “This monster wharf is for mooring and servicing aircraft carriers.” A 200-foot workboat moored along the south side looked like a dinghy compared to the bulk of the pier.
“So why are the carriers at Yulin?” Commander Arnold asked.
“We’ll fill you in soon about the carriers. Right now, we need to focus on this facility.”
Osberg called up the next slide, an oblique view of a sizeable building located upland of the aircraft carrier pier. Yuri studied the image, curious as to what Osberg was up to.
Captain Clark took over as Osberg reclaimed his seat.
“Gentlemen,” Clark said. “We believe this run of the mill building represents the greatest threat to our submarine forces that the United States has ever faced.”
Chapter 30
Yuri looked at the image of the Shendao installation as Captain Clark began his rundown. Yuri’s immediate attention, however, was elsewhere. The revelation jolted Yuri with the impact of a mountain avalanche. This entire briefing has been for my benefit—they want something from me! But what?
Yuri would soon find out.
Captain Clark said, “The PLAN officially identifies this building as the Shendao Fleet Logistics and Support Center. It appears to function as advertised but it also serves another purpose, one that Beijing has gone to extremes to conceal.”
Clark called up a new slide. “This is a satellite image taken during construction of the building. Note the activity in this area.” He pointed with the laser, highlighting an excavated zone behind the building’s foundations. A narrow but long box like reinforced concrete structure extended from the building’s south end into the adjacent hillside.
“Looks like some kind of underground storage facility,” commented Commander Arnold.
“That’s what the Chinese want us to believe.” Clark handed the remote to his colleague.
Jeff Chang highlighted the same area. “The design used here mimicked a stormwater storage vault. We use them routinely in the States to temporarily store rainfall during storms and then let it drain out over time. Helps prevent flooding. They’re also sometimes used to help filter out contaminants in stormwater. From satellite monitoring of other new construction in China, we’re just starting to see the use of these types of facilities. For this case, however, it’s bogus.”
Chang presented another slide. “This is an interior photo of the so-called stormwater vault.”
Commander Arnold reacted first. “That’s a tunnel.”
“Correct,” Chang said as he called out the obvious features. “Dedicated walkway, utility conduits, overhead lighting, ventilation system. None of these improvements would be located inside a stormwater treatment tank.”
“Who took this photo?” Yuri asked.
“One of our recruits. Worked as a laborer.”
Yuri started to ask a follow-up question when Steve Osberg intervened. “The tunnel connects to another facility hidden in the hillside; a cavern that we speculate was hollowed out several years before the building was constructed. We believe it houses the control center for China’s new submarine monitoring system in the South China Sea, which includes deployment of ASW weapon systems.”
“And that would also include whatever attacked Commander Arnold’s boat?” Yuri said.
“We believe so!” Osberg signaled for Chang to continue.
Jeff Chang keyed the remote and the image of a middle aged male dressed in the uniform of a PLAN officer appeared. “This guy is Captain Zhou Jun. Naval academy graduate. Served five years as a line officer on a destroyer and was sent back to school. Received a Ph.D. in IT and transferred to the PLA’s advanced weapons research group—roughly similar to our DARPA.” Chang glanced toward Yuri. “DARPA stands for Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency. It’s part of the U.S. Department of Defense, responsible for developing emerging technologies for use by our military.”
“Thanks for thinking of me, but I’m quite aware of DARPA.” Yuri grinned. “I can assure you that DARPA has and continues to generate colossal heartburn at the Kremlin.”
Chang and the others laughed.
Jeff Chang resumed his presentation. “Captain Zhou is based in Sanya. His group works out of an office building in the port district. It’s part of a research center operated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences.” A new slide materialized, exhibiting a multistory building set on the shoreline of a modern harbor. Three oceangoing research vessels were moored to the docks fronting the marine facility. Chang continued, “Zhou has an office in the building but lately he spends most of his time at the Fleet Logistics and Support Center.”
Chang again clicked the remote, returning to the aerial photo of the Shendao complex. “Our intel suggests he has operational control of all the acoustic hydrophones in the South China Sea from the underground annex. We also believe it now functions as the ASW ops center for the SCS and maybe elsewhere. Signal intercepts of PLAN comms has identified it as the South Sea Sound Surveillance System, S5 for short. Also known as China’s Great Underwater Wall.”
Commander Arnold reentered the discussion. “So, Zhou is the prick that ordered the sea snake thing to attack my boat—in international waters?”
“Yes, in all likelihood he gave the order.”
Arnold muttered a curse.
Yuri scanned the paper pad he used to take notes before addressing Chang and Captain Clark. “Well, it appears that China has come up with an effective antisubmarine technology. I now understand your concerns so I assume you’d like my thoughts on countermeasures.”
“Of course,” Clark said.
“First and foremost, early detection. Your sonar picked up the two machines that attacked the Tucson. That’s where I’d start.”
“I agree and that’s already in the works. But we need a way to take out those damn things at their source, not when they’re about to swarm one of our boats. Tucson was lucky. . . if that line charge had attached itself to the pressure casing, Commander Arnold would not be here with us today. Correct, Scott?”
“Yes sir.”
Yuri considered Clark’s request. “Well, the best way to defeat something as radical as their sea snake machine is to get your hands on one of the units and reverse engineer it.”
“We’re all in agreement on that.” Clark glanced Chang’s way. “Jeff, go ahead and tell Yuri your plan.”
“We�
�re confident that all ASW ops for the South China Sea are controlled at Shendao. Accordingly, that’s where we plan to concentrate our efforts. Our intent is to insert a recon unit onto Hainan Island with the express goal of gaining access to the Shendao ASW unit.” Chang met Yuri’s eyes. “Because you have intimate experience with covert ops on Hainan, your assistance is requested.”
“To help plan the mission?” Yuri asked.
“That’s right. We really need your hands-on experience to pull off the op.”
So that’s what all this is about!
Chapter 31
Nicolai Orlov was on the 21st floor of the Sun Hung Kai Centre, standing beside a window wall. The vista of Victoria Harbour in the foreground and the cluster of gleaming office and residential towers on the opposite shore awed Nick. He watched as a passenger ferry departed from a pier at its Wan Chai terminal on Hong Kong Island and began crossing the three-quarter mile wide waterway to its companion berth at Tsim Sha Tsui on the Kowloon Peninsula.
Founded in 1888, the Star Ferry Company has operated a fleet of a dozen boats on two routes that transport over 70,000 passengers a day between Hong Kong Island and Kowloon. Although a modern system of road and subway tunnels crisscross Victoria Harbour, the ferries were an inexpensive and popular way to traverse the harbor.
Noticing the vintage ferry chugging across the busy channel waters tugged at Nick’s heart. He missed the daily water commute he used to make when he lived in San Francisco. He had rented a houseboat in Sausalito and took a ferry across the Bay to downtown in the morning. He would complete the commute to the Russian Consulate with a crosstown cable car ride and a brisk walk.
Nick made a mental note to take the ferry to Kowloon in the afternoon. He returned to a chair beside the oak table. He had arrived early at Russia’s Hong Kong Consulate. The receptionist directed him to the conference room.
Nick retrieved his tea cup from the table and took a swallow.
His cup was almost empty when the door opened and a middle aged man with thinning brown hair and a slight build appeared.
“Nicolai! I’m so sorry to keep you waiting. I was on the phone to Moscow.”
“Don’t worry about it. I was early.”
Nick had arrived at Hong Kong International the previous evening. His hotel was just a few blocks away from the consulate. Unable to sleep much because of jet lag, he rose early.
The two men embraced. “Good to see you, my friend,” Oleg Chapev said.
“You too, sir.” Earlier in Nick’s career, he had worked for Chapev at the Russian Embassy in London.
Nick turned to his side and gestured toward the windows. “Incredible views from here.”
“Indeed. This truly is an amazing place.”
“How long have you been assigned here now?”
“Just over a year.” Like Nick, Chapev worked for the SVR. He served as the SVR rezident for the consulate. He held the rank of colonel. Seven years Nick’s senior, Chapev was married and had two teenage daughters.
“How does the family like living here?”
“They love it. Really surprised me. Education system is first class. We have a gorgeous apartment with a terrific view. Evalina and the girls are fluent in English, which makes it easy to get around because it seems like just about everyone in Hong Kong speaks at least a little English. You can forget about Russian.”
Nick grinned, familiar with HK’s language customs from prior visits. “That’s great.” Nick returned to his chair and Chapev sat beside him.
Nick said, “How about you, sir—how’s it going here at the consulate?”
“Busy, lots going on.”
Nick crossed his legs. “I expect you’re wondering what I’m doing here.”
“I received notice yesterday from Center that you were en route but nothing more.”
“Smirnov sent me.”
“The big boss himself…I’m impressed.”
“He wants an assessment of where we are with China. The Qingdao situation has everyone in the Kremlin spooked.”
“That’s a huge concern here too. Hong Kong likes to think it is independent of Beijing but reality’s finally hitting home. Terrorists could just have easily targeted Hong Kong as Qingdao.” Chapev turned toward the windows. “A nuke going off in the harbor, even a small one, would devastate this place.”
“For sure.”
Nick and Chapev discussed the Qingdao debacle for a couple of minutes before returning to Hong Kong issues. “Just how active is the MSS here?” Nick asked.
“Very. They have infiltrated just about every ministry, including the police. Generally, they operate in the background. Nevertheless, Beijing has clearly consolidated its grip on the entire government.”
Nick said, “The specter of nuclear terrorism will accelerate the takeover.”
“No doubt.”
China’s One Nation, Two Systems policy toward Hong Kong had provided a degree of independence for the former British colony. When the UK’s lease for Hong Kong expired in 1997, China allowed Hong Kong to police itself, along with a pledge not to import mainland security forces to the enclave. That promise, along with others, evaporated. Despite vigorous protests by Hongkongers, the Ministry of State Security operated freely in the city of seven million.
“What’s the gang situation like here?” Nick asked.
“Triads are active. Prostitution, illegal gambling, drug trafficking, smuggling…knockoff luxury goods.”
“Contract murder?”
Colonel Chapev’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, they’re involved in that too. Why do you ask?”
Nick reached into a pocket of his jacket and took out a folded paper. He opened it and gave it to Chapev. “What can you tell me about this?”
Chapev scanned the photocopy of a nearly three week old Hong Kong newspaper article. It featured the murder of a prominent businessman. “This was a big deal.”
“The article pointed the finger at a local Triad. Is that still the case?”
“As far as I know. Kwan Chi was a real estate developer. We heard he got crosswise with some bad people and they took him out.” Chapev frowned. “What’s so important about this guy?”
“We think he might have been MSS.”
That took the wind out of Chapev’s sails. “No—a billionaire working for the MSS?”
“Moscow believes that’s the case.”
Colonel Chapev hardened his posture. “Is Moscow concerned about me not knowing.”
“No sir. Please relax. That’s not the case at all. Center just discovered the possibility from an agent in the States. Smirnov sent me here to investigate.”
Chapev took a deep breath, relieved. “Putting a hit on a highly placed MSS asset like Kwan, no triad would dare risk something like that.”
“Center agrees. If a gang did it, they had no clue who their target really was.”
“But who could be behind this? I’m sure Kwan had special security, being one of the wealthier men here plus working with the MSS. It’s almost like he was the target of a state sponsored hit.”
“Exactly, Colonel. That’s what we think happened.”
Chapev pursed his lips, thinking ahead. After a moment he said, “Who would risk such a thing?”
“We suspect it was a CIA op.”
“But why would the Americans want him dead?”
“That’s why I need your help to determine what really happened.”
* * * *
Nick Orlov took in the marvels of Victoria Harbour as the Golden Star dashed across the waterway. Departing from a Wan Chai pier, a short walk from the consulate, the ferry was bound for the Kowloon Peninsula. The Golden Star was packed with tourists along with a swarm of locals this afternoon. Nick was near the stern on the lower deck. The pulse of the diesel engine vibrated the steel deck plates, transmitting mini shudder
s through the soles of his shoes. The churning wake surged as the ferry captain added power. The wash helped mask the high-pitched Cantonese chatter of two middle aged women who gossiped nearby.
A perpetually ravenous seagull patrolled along the starboard side of the Golden Star, his jet-black BB eyeballs tracking the tourists who collected near midships. The Americans munched on French fries and Big Macs from the McDonald’s at Wan Chai. The gull hoped for a tasty treat to be tossed his way.
Nick embraced the salt laden fragrance of the air. And he welcomed the ship induced breeze; Hong Kong sizzled with dripping humidity. His shirt and trousers stuck to his skin like paste.
After his session with Colonel Chapev, Nick lunched with both Chapev and the Consul General at a restaurant near the Sun Hung Kai Centre. It was a courtesy meeting. On official business from SVR headquarters, Nick was not obligated to reveal the true nature of his visit to the consulate’s senior diplomat. Nevertheless, it was Nick’s policy to always befriend the Russian consul general or ambassador in whatever foreign country he operated. Nick traveled on a diplomatic passport and on more than one occasion foreign ministry staff had saved Nick’s bacon.
During lunch, Nick explained that he was sent to Hong Kong to review the consulate’s cyber security systems, which the Consul General welcomed. It was a smokescreen that Nick previewed with Chapev prior to the luncheon.
Nick would go through a perfunctory security review of the consulate for show purposes only. The CG bought in, offering whatever assistance Nick might need. Nick solidified his connection with the Consul General when he took care of the lunch bill.
Nick walked forward to the ferry’s main seating area. That’s when he spotted the blonde sitting in a bench seat with her back to him. Her hair was short, almost a bob.
It can’t be!
With his heart pounding he stepped along the aisleway opposite the young woman. He stole a quick look—anticipating, hoping. But no joy.
What the hell are you thinking. This is the last place she would come to.
The Vigilant Spy Page 14
