Red Shark

“Esteemed Comrades, I direct your attention to the copy of Commander Zemin’s message transmitted three hours ago, to Admiral Chou’s North Sea Fleet Headquarters, Qingdao,” Shi said in a lecturing voice. “His submarine has been shadowing this pirate, Fat, in his fancy junk, between the North Korean ship Sugun, and Matsu Shan. Fat has apparently concluded his business and has returned to the island.”

Shi pressed a clicker. Behind him and facing his listeners, a large plasma video monitor came to life with a map of the area around Taiwan and Matsu Shan. Four bright red dots labeled T-One, T-Two, T-Three, and T-Four appeared at different locations on the map.

“Target-One represents the present position of Commander Zemin’s submarine, ten nautical miles east of Matsu Shan. Target-Two is the Sugun.” Her dot was two hand’s-lengths north of Matsu Shan. “Target-Three is Fat’s junk, the White Dragon, in her anchorage. Target-Four”—and here Shi paused for effect—“is what may be a U.S. Navy 688I-class submarine.” He turned and pointed to a red dot just south of Matsu Shan and in a direct line with Fat’s anchorage.

Shi’s audience greeted the light show with respectful silence. The admiral cleared his throat again and said, “I emphasize that it may be a U.S. 688I. Commander Zemin tried to make a positive identification but could not. For our purposes, assume it is a 688I.”

Another throat-clearer, an elderly PLAN senior general, spoke around a cigarette stuck between dry lips. “And what is the significance of an American submarine operating off Taiwan? After all, they spy on us whenever they feel like it.”

“True, Comrade General,” said Shi, “but this time we have an unusual set of circumstances — Wu Chow Fat anchoring off Chi-lung harbor twice in two days — unheard of. A North Korean ship, the Sugun, with a helicopter on board, is spotted on the high seas south of Wen-chou. This helicopter takes off from the Sugun for a visit to Matsu Shan. The Sugun then lies to off Wen-chou for two days.”

“Yes?…”

“North Korean cargo ships never carry helicopters. Our spies in Nam’po reported the Sugun’s sailing and also the extremely tight security surrounding her departure. They reported that no drugs were loaded, only bags of cement and that someone of high rank may have taken passage.”

A hand rose. It belonged to General Liu Huaquing of the PLAN air force. “The North Koreans use helicopters to ferry crews between ships engaged in seismographic exploration and their Yangdok oil drilling platform in Korea Bay. Perhaps this is a case of such—”

“I assure you that is not the case, Comrade General,” said Shi.

“And what of the White Dragon? What is her business in Chi-lung?” another general asked.

“Fat never ventures into Chi-lung to unload cargoes of drugs. Instead, he always transfers to lighters offshore, out of reach of Taiwanese authorities. But when he anchored off Chi-lung he wasn’t delivering drugs. Like the Sugun, the White Dragon embarked a passenger for Matsu Shan.”

General Liu grumbled as he pointed to the plasma screen. “So what does this mean?”