The Wuhan Mission

The Team Leader went over the specs of the quick boat. The Mark V SOC aluminum hulled boat had a reduced radar signature and could do sixty-five knots on a flat sea. The guys called it “The Mako.” The squad carried Chinese made ammunition, and would be out of uniform, with no dog tags or flags. As always, the standard rule of leaving no man behind applied.

*

As the minivan pulled over in a small town three hours outside Shanghai, Xue Lin connected the satellite aerial to the phone, and keyed in the Sam Chilvers’ SAT-phone number that she had memorized back at Langley during her final three weeks of training. She felt a surge of adrenaline as it rang. Things had really moved on since she had talked to him on the radio.

“Good evening, is this Empire Szechuan?” she asked.

“Yes. Would you like to reserve a table?”

“A table for three, we will be there at 11pm.”

“Excellent. Might you be expecting any other guests?”

“It’s only a remote possibility, but it could happen, I have a lot of new friends these days.”

“We look forward to seeing you” said Sam before hanging up, giving the signal to the Team Leader to call a meeting.

*

The SEAL Team Leader stood in front of the widescreen TV addressing his team as Sam stood to the side.

“We will take the ‘Mako’ to the first checkpoint.” He pointed to the position between the Korean coastline and Shanghai. “This is called checkpoint ‘Flipper.’ We are to proceed at high speed to this point off the coast, which we will call ‘Miami Vice’, then we take the inflatable into the beach here, at ‘Empire Szechuan’ and pick up three individuals at 11pm plus or minus. Two are Chinese Nationals, the third, a female, is one of ours. We will refer to them as ‘Gilligan, the Professor and Maryanne.’ We will have along for the ride Officer Sam Chilvers, he is ex-Delta Force. Please give him your attention.”

Sam moved to stand in front of the television and looked at the team. “Two of them are highly trained, the female, ‘Maryanne,’ is one of mine. The male, ‘Gilligan’, is potentially hostile. If he even looks at one of you the wrong way I suggest you zip tie him. The older man, ‘the Professor’ is a scientist, obviously with no training and his English may be rusty, so talk slow and keep it simple. Try to keep them dry and be gentle. One of them is carrying a breakable package that you really don’t want to break. We do not know if we are expecting guests.”

The Team Leader stepped forward: “Anything else?”

Sam spoke up: “We don’t know if they will be early or late, so if they are not at Szechuan, put two frogmen in the water near the beach to watch for them and radio the inflatable, and withdraw to observation distance. It’s a calm sea tonight, no wind or swell, but unfortunately a full moon and clear skies.”

The Team Leader said sternly: “Gear up!”

The men looked fired up as they walked back to gear up. The operation would use a good amount of the water skills in which they had been heavily trained.

*

“Sir, the Director of the Ministry of State Security is here to see you. Shall I?”

“Yes, go ahead and show him in.”

The Chairman picked up a cigar as he stood up and moved to the pair of couches in front of his desk.

“Thank you for coming in Director!” the Chairman said without getting up.

“Thank you for inviting me to see you Mister Chairman.”

“Please sit down. Would you like a drink?”

The Chairman beckoned his assistant: “Please pour us two whiskies. Ice. Bring the cigars.”

The Chairman looked at his comrade, now on the sofa opposite him. He clapped his hands together smiling:

“Well! Things are falling into place. The small plans that make up the big plans are bringing the country closer to the great goal.”

He paused, thinking, and continued: “When one really wants something, all the universe conspires in helping him achieve it.”

The Chairman’s eyebrows were high on his forehead as he smiled at the Director. He was very pleased with himself.

“Mister Chairman, the work on the virus is complete?”

“Yes. In fact it has been released in Wuhan and it is already on it’s way to America.”

“Ahhh, but I thought the scientists were in custody sir.”

“Yes, that was unfortunate. We were not expecting all three of them to get caught, and of course they all talked.”

The Director looked sternly at the Chairman, saying: “The Americans have cleaned up the circuit that we created. The American academics have been named. Several of our agents on student visas have been sent back to us.”

“Yes, all very bad news.”

He paused and puffed on his cigar as his assistant brought in a small silver tray with two lowball glasses, full nearly to the brim with expensive Scotch Whisky.

“You heard about today’s kidnapping and theft at the Institute in Wuhan?”

“Yes sir. I was given the memo. Am I guessing correctly that it was the young American lab assistant?”

“You are correct, comrade. Yes. She is a violent young lady.” the Chairman laughed, continuing: “However, not a good erhu player. I hear that she has been serenading the young men listening at the 3PLA.”