Martha, ever so high on emotional intelligence, began her wrap-up. “There are still big disagreements among the agencies on cyber, sir. DHS, Treasury, FBI, DoD… all the players in cyber. No one gets along, and everyone thinks they are in charge at the same time. Well, we do know that China has three types of cyber forces. Their first one is a dedicated military network warfare force in the PLA. You know, the uniformed guys. The second one is a PLA-authorized team of network warfare specialists in government organizations. That’s most likely civilian government workers. And the third is a nongovernmental force that may be mobilized for network warfare operations, like some smart college students.”
“All right. We’ve felt some of their work over the years. What capabilities do they have? What can they do?” Ford asked, eager to hear, especially since this latest mission involved cyber.
Martha hesitated. “Hands down, they could access some of our networks, and even deny foreign nations access to their own networks. Bottom line, Mr. Burns, is… really, anything they wanted, they can pursue. That doesn’t mean they will always get through.”
You think? We’ve already seen that, Ford thought.
Martha then asked for the next slide, which was labeled “Wrap-Up,” and she gave her conclusions. “So, to help you with building your situational awareness, just know that China can influence all tools in the tool box on their national power. Yes, the threats and capabilities are real, but only, for the most part, in Asia. Allow me to tee up AI, or artificial intelligence, now while I can. Between the US and China, one of us will win, so to speak, by the year 2035. Whoever gets the AI win first wins strategically. While we in the US will have an advantage in fighting, they already have the advantage in cyber.”
Calvin was still curious about their overall strategy and figured that if they were wrapping things up, he’d better ask now. He leaned over to Mark and spoke in a hushed tone. “They have the time, the capability to steal cyber-wise, the ways and means… and we already know the execution. What do you think?”
“They are already… past us. We’re stuck with bureaucracies, they less so. Like our F-35 Joint Strike Fighter from bureaucracy hell. New Air Force One being dragged through Twitter and the news. China seems to be pouring funding in and flying and making things happen. We’re short on spare parts and pilots and flight time. We just… huff. We have to get Black Scorpion,” Mark quietly replied.
Cal Burns moved his eyes from Mark’s face, up to his slicked back hair and down to his shirt. It was suddenly a distraction, one that Calvin Burns had not noticed previously until this moment. “Is that a Hawaiian shirt you’re wearing?”
Mark laughed out loud, and the rest of the room stopped and looked. Here, the number-two man was getting a brief on China, and he’s asking about a Hawaiian shirt. Mark found it hysterical.
“I’m sorry, Martha. Thank you,” Calvin Burns told her. “Mark thinks the modernization plan and their navy is amusing.”
Chen sat at his desk drinking tea, attempting to sober up and waiting impatiently for the jet to be fixed. He ruffled through the stack of papers on his desk located in his makeshift office inside the aircraft hangar. It was somewhat Spartan for a general of his level, consisting of nothing more than a few seats, a gray metal desk, and a small table with a pot warmer. His chin injury was not covered and was airing out with a light scab beginning to form.
Embedded in the desk paperwork but prominently displayed on top was the DNA report, which Chen started reading. This was the info he was waiting for on the two pilots picked up months ago connected to the Devil Dragon loss. It was only a few pages thick, and it looked to provide the information he was hunting for.
Human DNA was about 99.5 percent identical from person to person. Nevertheless, there were minor variants that made each person unique. Since our DNA was handed down from our parents, and their parents, there was always a reliable connection to the bloodline. Deviations could be connected to certain diseases, ancestry groups, and people, but Chen only cared about the people connection. This report compared the results of individuals to other sources, and while they could be used for medical use, Chen was only interested in the genealogical information.
The DNA report tested three samples from each of the pilot’s bodies, specifically blood, mouth, and hair follicles. Chen asked members of the PLAAF to retrieve samples from their apartments and residences, specifically toothbrushes and combs. In Liu’s case, a hair sample from his child. This method of DNA forensics would show Chen the number he was waiting for.
He scanned, then slowed down to read the conclusion at the end. He read it slowly, then read it again. Chen looked up, staring at the blank, white wall. His face became flushed. The damning line read: “There is a 0 percent chance that the two pilots’ bodies are the Devil Dragon flight crew.”
“Zero percent? Zero percent?” Chen said loudly to himself, rapidly sober. “Who are these two bastards then? Where are the real pilots, and where is my aircraft?” Chen slammed his hand down on the metal desk, and the booming sound reverberated throughout the hangar. Maintainers looked in the office direction once again but kept repairing Black Scorpion’s left wing.
Chen was fuming and wanted answers. He stood from his desk and slowly walked to the back of the office and stared out the back window at the airport. He had his arms crossed and folded and was lost in thought. Tapping his index finger on his forearm once every second, he had the infamous thousand-yard stare. There was no way now to locate his aircraft or its crew. Going on a wild-goose chase this late would jeopardize his fourth star, producing a waste of time. He had no other evidence that something related to espionage took place, and since the DNA report was for his eyes only, neither the Party leadership nor senior general officers in the PLAAF would know of these latest details. After careful consideration, he decided to keep these results quiet.
Chen walked over to his doorway and told his aide, Bai, to get the chiefs of maintenance and engineering into his office. After only three minutes, they walked in together.
Chen stared at both of them, and no words were spoken. His piercing eyes seemed to drill through both their skulls, all without Chen blinking.
“Where are you on Black Scorpion repair?” Chen asked. “I want us flying tonight.”
“That’s impossible. General, we need at least three days of repairs, at a minimum,” replied the chief of engineering.
“What about you, Maintenance?”
“I am in agreement, General. There was extensive damage to the leading edge of the wing, which affected the anti-ice and deice systems, in addition to the bleed air systems. If not repaired properly, it would lead to catastrophic damage and loss of both the aircrew and aircraft. Air could seep into the hole in the wing if we rushed.”
“Show me. Now,” Chen barked.
The three of them walked out from the office and onto the hangar floor. Chen walked behind, arms in back and hands folded, as both chiefs explained the delicate repair job taking place. It was no easy effort on such an advanced jet that did not readily have parts available, as so much of the repair work was done from fabrication on the premises.
All Chen would reply back with was “Hmmmm” as the chiefs went on. At the end of the presentation and walk-around, Chen used his single index finger to call each of the chiefs closer to him. It was amusing to the young maintenance guys stealing glances to see two grown men get called over like kindergarteners.
They physically got closer to Chen, and barely above a whisper, he said to them, “Get it done. Fast. You understand?” Chen had his eyebrows raised as high at the ceiling.