"Has he been notified of Judy’s suicide attempt?”
"Not yet. I think Commander Wong is waiting for Judy to recover so we can make an assessment.”
"He doesn't think she can continue the mission, does he?”
"No. I think he's afraid Tristan is going to pull the plug, and with it, his command." Then he muttered. "That's strictly between you and me." He paused. "If you'll excuse me, I need to get back to my other patient. She's not quite as strong as you are." He stepped toward the hatch, then paused. "That was a hell of a thing you did," he said, looking back over his shoulder. "I'm not sure if you're brave or stupid."
"I'm not sure either.”
"Maybe a little of both.”
I chuckled.
"The world needs people like you." With that, he stepped out of the compartment.
"You could have gotten your dumb ass killed," JD said. "Then I'd be stuck down here with these nut jobs."
I laughed again.
“It all worked out,” I said with a grin.
JD and I shot the shit for a few minutes, then Wong poked his head into the compartment. "There's a call for you."
I gave him a confused look.
"It sounds important. Can you stand?”
I nodded, then pulled myself out of the bunk. I got dressed and staggered out of the compartment to the control room, still feeling drained and unsteady.
On the video monitor, Tristan was with two gentlemen I didn't recognize. They both wore suits and ties and had serious faces. In their late 30s, one had short curly brownhair and a narrow face. The other had light brown hair and a square jaw.
By their expressions, this couldn't be good.
“Clear the control room,” the man with short brown hair said. “What I’m about to tell you is TS/SCI.”
30
"I'm Officer John Conroy, and this is Robert Baker, CIA. We’ve had a situation.”
“What kind of situation?” I asked.
"I'm going to read you both in. What I’m about to tell you remains in the strictest confidence. Tell no one aboard the habitat. Discuss it with no one but myself or Officer Baker.”
"Copy that."
Conroy held a picture up to the screen. It was a satellite view of a submarine leaving port. "This is the Silent Dragon. A Type 097, Phantom-class attack submarine. It is the latest and greatest China has to offer. This is the last image we have of the submarine as it left the shipyard. This photograph was taken over a month ago. Shortly after it submerged, we lost track of the submarine completely.”
JD and I shared a look.
"It vanished without a trace. We were unable to pick up its acoustic signature. I don't need to tell you, gentlemen, howconcerning that is. That submarine has been able to operate without detection. We believe the submarine was fitted with a Quantum Noise-Canceling Array. That technology is far beyond our current capabilities, and puts us at a significant disadvantage. It is a national security threat.”
"I see how it would be of concern," I said. "What does that have to do with us?" I asked, dreading where this was going.
"This morning, we picked up an acoustic anomaly not far from your current location. The Silent Dragon broke radio silence and sent a distress signal. We believe there was some type of explosion aboard the boat. The Chinese went into panic mode and have scrambled search and recovery teams. We believe the submarine has gone down within a few miles of the habitat. Tristan has offered his full support, and the habitat provides a perfect cover for Operation Ghost Echo. It's going to take the Chinese a little while to mobilize their efforts. And they can’t exactly send the Navy off the Florida coast. On top of that, I don't think they want to admit they lost the sub. We can't overtly search for and recover the submarine or the quantum canceling device without causing an international incident. But make no mistake, gentlemen, we want that device and the QNCA core processing module. You two are going to get them."
“Do you know where the sub is?” I asked.
“We have an idea, based on the acoustic data from the explosion and distress signal. Time is of the essence, and you are in a unique position to accomplish this mission. This is an opportunity for you to be of great service to your country. Can we count on you?”
