Warshot (The Hunter Killer Series Book 6) by Don Keith (dark books to read TXT) 📕

of them, and I was fortunate enough to survive all of them so far. You may not know, however, of my activities on behalf of the Taiwanese National Security Bureau as an operative embedded high in the intelligence infrastructure of the so-called People’s Republic of China.”

She did not miss the slightest of tics near Ward’s right eye. “Or maybe you do. Then you might also know I spent some time at the behest of the Chinese Ministry of State Security in North Korea, learning all I could, theoretically for China but also for the benefit of Taiwan and your own CIA.”

Ward smiled.

“That, I concede, I did not know,” he responded. “But Colonel Zhou, I was already duly impressed with your credentials. And with the intelligence you have previously and so generously shared with us. You have benefited the cause of freedom and peace in many invaluable ways. In all honesty, as much as I appreciate Senator Murson, your file...” Ward pointed to a thick folder on his desk. “...your resume is the reason I agreed to meet with you today. As you can imagine, we are quite busy. So, what brings you to the Pentagon today?”

“Desperation.”

“Excuse me?”

“Because of my previous work, and because I still have people I can trust in high places within the Chinese Communist Party as well as the government in Beijing, I believe I have a unique understanding of and insight into the dynamics of what is going on there now. Crucial moves and developments with frightening ramifications are taking place. Conflict within the Party and the military. Infighting that will result in actions that will violently destabilize the rest of the world. Steps that are being taken and initiatives being set in motion even as we sit here discussing my resume and enjoying your nice view of the Potomac River.”

Li Zhou leaned forward, a grim expression on her face. “But you see, I am having great difficulty convincing anyone within your government or mine of the dangerous nature of these developments. A series of events I have been warning about for years now. They will have consequences for your navy, your government, as well as mine, and very soon. And the rest of the world, too. I know what these moves will be, the reasons for them, and who is making them. And I know what will happen if…”

The phone on Jon Ward’s desk suddenly buzzed loudly.

“Admiral, pardon the interruption, but General Bond is on line two,” his assistant said. “And you have the ten o’clock with the under-secretary at his place. It’s a twenty-minute walk.”

Zhou looked hard at Ward, her eyes piercing. Then she whispered, “Dong Doa. South China Sea.”

Though spoken quietly, the effect of the words on Jon Ward was profound.

“Tell the general I will call him later. And reschedule all my appointments.” A brief pause, then he added, “For the balance of the day.”

Ψ

Joe Glass walked the few steps from his office in the historic Building 661 to COMSUBPAC’s headquarters.

Glass did not take for granted the submarine history that infused every inch of SUBBASE Pearl Harbor. From his office on the second deck in Building 661, his predecessor many times removed had witnessed the unbelievable destruction of 7 December, 1941. And other squadron commanders in the long line had sent the fleet boats out to perform their mighty role in winning World War II. Then others had dispatched their submarines out of the base on Oahu to Cold War missions that were still classified today. It was a proud legacy, one that now rested heavily on Joe Glass’s broad shoulders.

He glanced up at the Submarine Escape Tower. It actually had not been used for escape training in many years and was now a historic landmark with a meeting room at the very top that offered some of the best views of Pearl Harbor. Glass crossed Morton Street, yet another reminder of the place’s legacy. The byway was named for Dudley “Mush” Morton, the legendary skipper of the World War II boat USS Wahoo, who helped rewrite the book on how to use subs to defeat a fanatical enemy. Glass hopped up the stairs to COMSUBPAC’s offices. The cement bunker of a building was every bit as historic as Glass’s Building 661. And even more secretive.

The commodore was immediately ushered into COMSUBPAC’s second-floor corner office. Again, even more history. The old wooden desk at the far end of the spacious room was the same one that Vice Admiral Charles Lockwood had sat behind as he ordered his submarine crews off to sink more than half the Japanese shipping sent to the bottom in the war. But to also incur the highest casualty rate of any branch of the military in the war.

The current COMSUBPAC, Rear Admiral Barney Fritz, rose from behind the desk and came around to shake hands with Glass.

“Joe, glad you could come over so quick.” He waved toward a seat at the conference table. An orderly had already placed cups and a pot of coffee there. The SUBPAC Chief of Staff, Captain Rich Moore, filled three cups and then sat down across from Glass.

Joe took a sip. “Ah, Admiral, you serve the best cup of coffee on the island.”

Fritz chuckled as he plopped down at the head of the table.

“Joe, you know damn well it’s just Waialua Coffee. You can buy it in the commissary.” His face turned serious as he shoved a sheaf of papers across the oak table to Glass. “Okay, I got a job for you. Rich thinks I’m sending you on a South Sea Island vacation, but I’m sending you down to American Samoa for some big doings. You are to set up an advance base for your squadron in Pago Pago.”

Rich Moore picked up the thread. “That gives us an alternative to Guam and a bigger presence in the South Pacific. PACOM thinks we need to do something to counter all the Chinese moves down there. It’ll make the islanders feel better that