Yulin Naval Base in Hainan, China
The underground top-secret naval base is a hub of activity. Workers are rushing about working on about a dozen submarines, with the focal point being a Type 093T submarine, an upgraded version of the Type 093 Shang-class nuclear attack sub. The 093 is a second-generation attack sub equipped with weaponry ranging from torpedoes to anti-ship cruise missiles. A significant advancement with the 093 was in the area of noise reduction, bringing it down to 110 decibels, which is about in line with the improved US Los Angeles-class submarines. The 093T was modified to handle special forces missions in coastal waters, with those modifications including a wet docking hangar for a swimmer delivery vehicle (SDV) and enhanced sonar, such as a towed array sonar (TAS), as well as a propeller system designed to be more effective in coastal waters where fishing nets and water plants can cause problems.
In a private office on the base, several members of the Ministry of State Security are gathered, including one agent dressed in a biohazard suit. The most senior member says to the one in the biohazard suit, “They will take you near the shore in the mini vehicle. Once you get established, visit as many highly populated areas as possible. Do not contact us until our unification goal has been accomplished. Until then, use your ATM card to cover your expenses. Remember your pledge to sacrifice everything for the Party and to never betray the Party.”
The submarines are ready to sail, so the state security agent dressed in the biohazard suit boards the 093T. One by one, the subs begin to exit the underground base, with the 093T positioned to depart in the middle of the group.
Observing the Yulin Naval Base are a Japanese Taigei-class submarine, a US Los Angeles-class sub, and a US Virginia-class sub. The Taigei is the most advanced sub in the Japanese fleet, utilizing lithium-ion batteries to generate high speeds and to provide a highly advanced silent drive system, while its advanced sonar system enables it to track stealthier adversaries. The nuclear-powered Los Angeles has been a mainstay of the US submarine fleet for about half a century, going through a continuous rollout of upgrades, while the leading-edge nuclear-powered Virginia, with its full range of the most advanced systems, including such innovations as a high energy laser and photonic sensors (in place of a periscope), has been gradually replacing the Los Angeles. The Virginia was also designed to operate more effectively in coastal waters.
The Taigei sub follows the first Chinese sub departing the base, and the Los Angeles sub picks up the second Chinese sub.
The crew of the Virginia sub, utilizing the sub’s Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capability, is monitoring all of the activity from a 360 degree perspective. The commanding officer says, “Let’s stay here and see how many are in this parade.”
After ten subs have departed from the naval bases, the navigator of the Virginia sub says, “The sixth sub has changed course from where it was heading initially; so far, it’s the only one to change direction.”
The CO responds, “And where is it heading?”
“Taiwan.”
“That’s interesting. Let’s follow it.”
“It has a TAS.”
“Okay, let’s plot an indirect course for the same destination. Exec, boost our speed as necessary.”
About a day and a half later, the 093T and Virginia submarines have both arrived in the coastal waters of southern Taiwan, with the US sub still keeping its distance in order to try to avoid being detected. The Chinese sub appears to be carefully steering clear of the Zuoying Naval Yard, Taiwan’s largest naval base, and any associated naval activity, while heading toward the port of Kaohsiung, a large civilian harbor south of the naval base.
On the US sub, the executive office says to the CO, “I’m assuming it’s a 093T to be able to operate at this shallow depth.”
“It should also have an SDV then. Could they be planning an onshore mission?”
“That would be bold, but to what purpose?”
“Well, let’s see what happens next.”
“It’s amazing that Taiwan has virtually no submarine capability.”
“But they do have the two World War II-era subs, which they bought from us about fifty years ago. And you can’t overlook the other two subs they bought from the Netherlands forty years ago.”
They both laugh.
Shortly thereafter, the Chinese sub surfaces, and the crew rapidly prepare the swimmer delivery vehicle for launch. A pilot for the SDV and the state security agent, both dressed in diving gear, exit the 093T, carefully move over to the SDV, and board it. It is then launched.
The surfacing of the Chinese sub and the launching of its SDV are being observed on the US sub via its photonic sensors.
The exec comments, “It’s launched.”
He is then interrupted by the navigator, who says, “Multiple hostiles approaching.”
The CO commands, “Battle stations. Full speed and begin evasive maneuvers. Communicate the activity observed and request instructions.”
Alarms are sounding; both internal and external communications are occurring, and the crew is scrambling to prepare for battle. The sub accelerates rapidly, trying to escape before it is trapped by the enemy.
About thirty minutes later, orders are sent to the sub, and the CO reads them out loud: “Do not engage. Repeat, do not engage. Return to normal activity.”
The exec responds, “But what about the enemy? Is someone going to let them in on this?”
The navigator interjects with puzzlement, “Hostiles are breaking off.”
The CO observes, “It looks like someone did let them in on this. But why?”
The exec comments, “I’ve never seen anything like this.”
The CO orders, “Head back to our original observation position near the Yulin Naval Base.”
Meanwhile, the SDV has reached a point near the shore of Kaohsiung, Taiwan’s second largest city. The agent exits the SDV and swims toward shore, while the SDV heads back to the 093T. Once ashore, the agent discards his diving gear and begins walking toward the population center. As he walks, he thinks about how fortunate he is to have been chosen for such an important mission and how excited he is to be able to help the Party accomplish such an important goal.
When he reaches a populated area, he stops at the first ATM he finds in order to withdraw cash. Then he walks around looking for a mass transit station. When he finds one, he examines the route map, purchases a ticket, and boards one of the trains.
While riding on the train, he looks at the other people aboard the train and wonders why they would not gratefully accept and rejoice to become part of the People’s Republic of China, soon to be the dominant world power and led by the all-powerful and all-knowing Communist Party. He concludes that their renegade leaders must have brainwashed them and forced them to oppose the PRC; re-education camps will teach them about the mistakes of their ways and the heinousness of their leaders, whom they will then recognize as enemies of the Party and impose upon them the most extreme penalties.
He reaches his stop and shifts his attention back to the mission at hand, looking forward to doing his all for the Party.