Chapter 220: We Just Have to Sink It

We were able to leave the National Intelligence Service safe house with our minds at ease.

And [N O V E L I G H T] for good reason. We had managed to persuade Major General Lee Cheolseung, who had stubbornly resisted us until the very end, to defect to our side.

We headed to a restaurant near the safe house for lunch.

During the meal, which proceeded in a relaxed and friendly atmosphere, Director Nevers turned to NIS Director Om Giyeon and asked, as though something had piqued his curiosity:

"Director Om, when are you planning to form the task force for cyber operations against North Korea?"

"We'll try to do it as soon as possible."

"How many people are you planning to include in the task force?"

"We haven't really thought about that yet, but..."

Director Nevers immediately understood why NIS Director Om Giyeon had trailed off without finishing his sentence.

"Our country plans to assign twenty agents each from the FBI and CIA to the task force."

"Isn't that too many?"

"North Korea has thousands of Reconnaissance General Bureau operatives involved in cyberwarfare. Considering that, the more people we have in the task force, the better."

"I understand what you mean. Let's discuss the formation of the task force separately."

"Agreed. Now, let's change the subject. You're not planning to give Major General Lee the full version of the video, are you?"

The video contained a great deal of classified information, including footage of the interrogation of Politburo member Liu Peiqi and Public Security Bureau Chief Pu Zhenghua.

That was precisely what Director Nevers was referring to.

"How could I possibly do that?"

"Haha, I see. By the way, what do we do if Politburo member Liu has changed the password?"

"Major General Lee knows just how enormous a sum $1.6 billion is. So he'll do everything humanly possible to obtain the password."

"I certainly hope so."

"And how do you think Politburo member Liu will react when all his cryptocurrency gets stolen?"

"He'll probably just faint."

Bzzzt—Bzzzt—

At that moment, Director Griffin's phone vibrated on the table.

After checking who was calling, he excused himself and answered.

"Deputy Director James, what happened?"

[Ten minutes ago, the newest nuclear submarine anchored at the Russian port of Vladivostok put out to sea.]

"I see... We've got a problem."

[How should we proceed under these circumstances?]

"Do we have one of our submarines near the port of Vladivostok?"

[A Virginia-class submarine is on patrol in that area (a state-of-the-art nuclear submarine with a submerged displacement of 7,900 tons).]

"Ask the submarine's commander to begin covertly tracking the Russian nuclear submarine."

[We'll do that, but shouldn't we prepare for the worst-case scenario?]

"What kind of stupid question is that?!"

Click.

After barking into the phone, Director Griffin ended the call.

NIS Director Om Giyeon immediately asked him cautiously:

"Director Griffin, what exactly happened?"

"The thing is, the submarine that had been stationed at the Russian port of Vladivostok..."

As I listened to Director Griffin's explanation, only one thought crossed my mind.

We were in trouble.

Chinese Navy submarines were advancing north with the intention of attacking the warships and submarines in the port of Vladivostok.

If the Russian nuclear submarine encountered the Chinese Navy submarines, it would cause a major incident.

But even if they didn't encounter each other, the Chinese Navy submarines absolutely could not attack the port of Vladivostok.

If the Chinese submarines struck Vladivostok, news of the attack would immediately reach the Russian nuclear submarine.

If the Russian nuclear submarine blocked the sea route and began hunting down the Chinese Navy submarines, Vice Chairman Tang Guochang's already precarious position would become even more unstable.

While I racked my brain for a way to solve the problem, Director Griffin finished his explanation.

"...It looks like we'll have to prepare for the worst-case scenario."

"It certainly seems that way."

"We need to discuss countermeasures, so why don't we postpone Minister Peng Yuxiang's interrogation until tomorrow?"

"That would be wise. Where should we discuss our next move?"

"Our embassy is nearby."

***

Conference Room, U.S. Embassy.

Director Griffin wet his throat with some mineral water, then turned to me with a worried expression.

"Chief of Staff Cha, perhaps you should call Vice Chairman Tang Guochang?"

"Please give me a moment."

After answering briefly, I immediately dialed Vice Chairman Tang Guochang.

After several rings, his voice came through.

[Chief of Staff Cha, I'm listening.]

Vice Chairman Tang Guochang's voice was usually crisp and powerful, befitting a military man.

But there wasn't the slightest trace of strength in it now. He sounded like a deflated balloon.

That meant he already knew what was happening at the Russian port of Vladivostok.

Wanting to confirm my suspicion, I carefully asked him about it.

[You're right, Chief of Staff Cha. How should we solve this problem?]

"The best option would be to postpone the attack until the Russian nuclear submarine returns to its naval base."

[If we postpone the operation, we'll have to recall the submarines that have already deployed.]

"In that case, how about destroying only the railway and freight trains connecting North Korea and Russia, along with key facilities at the ports of Rajin and Vladivostok?"

[Chairman Xi Jinping expects the cargo ships, warships, and submarines in the ports of Rajin and Vladivostok to be sunk as well.]

The Triad and Delta Force soldiers had reduced the Chinese naval base in Dalian to rubble.

As a result, Vice Chairman Tang Guochang had lost Chairman Xi Jinping's trust.

Following my advice, he had reported to Chairman Xi Jinping that North Korea was responsible and declared his intention to retaliate.

In response, Chairman Xi Jinping had ordered him to use the opportunity to strike back at another thorn in China's side—Russia.

If the Chinese Navy failed to attack and sink the cargo ships, warships, and submarines docked at Vladivostok, it would mean that he had disobeyed Chairman Xi Jinping's orders.

Then he would lose the trust he had only just managed to regain.

In the end, he would be purged before he could even make his decisive move.

That was exactly what he was worried about right now.

I needed to put his concerns to rest.

"I'll tell you what I think. If you have any questions, ask me immediately."

[Agreed. Please, go ahead.]

"If the Chinese Navy submarines advancing north encounter the Russian nuclear submarine, it'll be a disaster."

[I completely agree with you on that, Chief of Staff Cha.]

"It may take a little longer, but the Chinese Navy submarines should advance north along North Korea's territorial waters."

[I'll do that. But what should we do about the Russian nuclear submarine?]

"The solution is simple. We just have to sink it."

[How?]

Vice Chairman Tang Guochang's voice was filled with intense curiosity.

"At the moment, an American Virginia-class nuclear submarine is tracking the Russian nuclear submarine. I'll ask Director Griffin to provide the Chinese Navy with the Russian submarine's coordinates."

[If you do that, I'll be extremely grateful.]

At that moment, I noticed Director Griffin shaking his head.

I couldn't ignore it, so I covered the phone's microphone with my hand and turned to him.

"Director Griffin, do you disagree with my proposal?"

"It's not that I disagree. I simply have a different idea."

Wanting to hear Director Griffin's opinion, I asked Vice Chairman Tang Guochang to wait and ended the call.

"Director Griffin, go ahead."

"We'll sink the Russian nuclear submarine ourselves."

An American nuclear submarine would fire American torpedoes and sink a Russian submarine.

If the sunken nuclear submarine were later raised and examined, it would become clear that the United States was responsible.

Who could guarantee that war wouldn't break out between Russia and the United States in that case?

I asked Director Griffin directly what he thought about that.

"The Sea of Japan is extremely deep, and off the coast of Vladivostok the average depth exceeds 2,500 meters. If the submarine sinks at that depth, raising it would be impossible with current technology."

"I understand what you're saying, but is it really worth taking that risk?"

"There's no better training than actual combat. Besides, I want to place an additional burden of responsibility on Vice Chairman Tang's shoulders."

I thought I understood Director Griffin's intentions.

He was trying to take out an insurance policy in case Vice Chairman Tang Guochang successfully carried out his coup.

I nodded in understanding, called Vice Chairman Tang Guochang again, and relayed my conversation with Director Griffin without leaving anything out.

"...The American military is prepared to take this burden off the Chinese Navy's shoulders."

[Please convey my gratitude to Director Griffin.]

The words, "We're not doing this for free," rose all the way to my throat and lingered on the tip of my tongue, but given the circumstances, I couldn't say them aloud.

"I'll be sure to tell him. Please notify us of the operation's start time at least thirty minutes in advance."

[There's a reason for that, I assume?]

"The American nuclear submarine will need time to prepare to sink the Russian submarine."

[Ah, I'd forgotten about that.]

After discussing a few more details with Vice Chairman Tang Guochang, I ended the call.

Director Griffin looked at me in puzzlement and asked:

"Chief of Staff Cha, why didn't you mention my true motives to Vice Chairman Tang?"

"Vice Chairman Tang is a perceptive man. If we make it too obvious that we're doing him a favor, it could have the opposite effect."

"Ah..."

Director Griffin drew out the sound as he nodded, as though only now realizing what I had been thinking.

***

"Vice Chairman Tang, what is the Americans' real reason for helping our country?"

Commander Wang Dazhong looked at Vice Chairman Tang Guochang in confusion as he asked the question.

Vice Chairman Tang Guochang gave him a long, exasperated look before answering.

"Their goal is simply to make our country indebted to them."

"Ah, I see."

"You understand the position you and I are in right now, don't you?"

Commander Wang Dazhong commanded the People's Liberation Army's Northern Fleet.

However, after North Korea's attack, the naval base in Dalian had been reduced to ruins.

As a result, both he and Vice Chairman Tang Guochang faced being purged by Chairman Xi Jinping.

They had managed to save their lives only by going before Chairman Xi Jinping and practically begging him for one more chance.

For both of them to survive, this operation had to succeed at all costs.

"Of course I understand."

"Good. Then thoroughly review the operation plan one more time."

"Yes, sir! Understood!"

Commander Wang Dazhong answered thunderously.

***

"Chief of Staff Cha, could something unexpected have happened?"

We had expected the Chinese forces to strike the North Korean port of Rajin and the Russian port of Vladivostok at midnight.

Vice Chairman Tang Guochang had promised to notify me of the attack time at least thirty minutes in advance.

But it was already past 11:50 p.m., and my phone still hadn't shown any sign of life.

That was why Director Griffin asked me the question so impatiently.

"Should I call Vice Chairman Tang and find out what's going on?"

"That would be a good idea."

Bzzzt—

Just as I was about to dial Vice Chairman Tang Guochang's number, my phone vibrated.

I checked the caller's name in a flash.

It was Vice Chairman Tang Guochang.

After telling Director Griffin and the others who was calling, I answered.

"Vice Chairman Tang, I'm listening."

[Chief of Staff Cha, the operation is scheduled to begin at midnight.]

"It's already eleven fifty."

[Chief of Staff Cha, I think you've gotten something mixed up. It's ten fifty right now, China time.]

China was one hour behind us.

Vice Chairman Tang Guochang had been planning to begin the operation at midnight China time.

"Ah, you're right. I got mixed up."

[Please make sure Director Griffin sinks the Russian nuclear submarine.]

"I'll be sure to tell him. I'm in a hurry, so I'll hang up now."

Click.

The moment I ended the call, Director Griffin immediately bombarded me with a question.

"Chief of Staff Cha, what's the situation?"

"The operation begins at midnight China time."

"China time..."

Director Griffin trailed off as if something had just dawned on him.

"That's right. China is one hour behind us."

"And we didn't even realize that..."

Director Griffin muttered self-critically as he grabbed his phone.