“Sure, so the Hammer Shark mines are what we like to call next-generation smart mines,” Jodi explained. “In the past, mines were laid in the likely path a warship would travel. These are different. Instead of hoping for an enemy ship to cross its path, it’ll seek it out if it enters its detection field. When they’re deployed, they’re essentially in a dormant status until activated by acoustic or magnetic signatures matching the threat library of the onboard brain. Once a match is made, the mine will wake up, verify the target, and attack it from below.”
Master Chief Liang whistled softly. “Incredible. The waters themselves become our ally.”
“Exactly.” Mick pulled up deployment maps. “Tonight, we position twelve Seekers in the deep channels. The Hammer Shark fields go here” — he marked approaches to major harbors — “integrated with your existing coastal defenses.”
“And how do they coordinate?” Commander Tang asked.
“Through the Lattice AI system,” Jodi answered. “Think of it as a conductor orchestrating your defensive symphony. Your Hsiung Feng batteries, our autonomous systems, your preregistered artillery, it’s all linked together to work in support of each other.”
Admiral Han stood, hands clasped behind his back. “Mr. Matsin, I’ve defended these islands since I was Ensign Huang’s age. I’ve seen the mainland’s forces grow from coastal patrol boats to carrier battle groups. Tell me honestly, will these machines make a difference?”
Mick met his gaze. “Admiral, in the Russo-Ukraine War, ten men with drones stopped entire armored columns. Tonight, we’re giving you three hundred underwater drones that never sleep, never miss, and never retreat. Yes, sir. They’ll make a difference.”
Silence settled over the room. On the main display, commercial traffic continued its eternal dance, unaware that beneath those waves, the nature of warfare was about to change.
“Master Chief,” Han commanded. “Alert the fishing cooperative. We’ll need six boats ready by 0400.”
“Already done, sir. Captain Koh selected crews with naval reserve experience.”
“Good.” Han turned to his officers. “Gentlemen, for seventy years we’ve promised to hold these islands. Tonight, we begin keeping that promise. Commander Tang, your team deploys first. Questions?”
Ensign Huang raised his hand again. “Sir, what if the mainland detects our deployment?”
Master Chief Liang answered before Han could speak. “Ensign, they’ve been watching us for decades. They see what we want them to see.” He gestured at the commercial traffic. “You think we chose tonight randomly? That container ship will block their satellite pass at 0420. The fishing fleet creates perfect sonar clutter. We’ve done this dance before.”
“Just never with robotic dancers,” Commander Tang added.
Han checked his watch. “Two hours until deployment. Mr. Matsin, anything else?”
“One thing, Admiral.” Mick set down his coffee. “My team’s been training your sailors for six weeks. They’re ready, Sir. Trust them.”
“Trust.” Han savored the word. “Easier to trust men than machines.”
“Fair enough. Then trust the men who control the machines.”
The civilian section of Magong Harbor reeked of diesel and fish. Mick stood on the Lucky Dragon’s deck, watching ROC sailors load equipment under cover of routine maintenance. The modified trawler’s hold concealed racks designed for XLUUV deployment.
“Nervous?” Jodi’s voice crackled through his earpiece.
“Always am before an op.”
“This isn’t combat, Mick. Just very expensive fishing.”
He smiled. “Tell that to my gut.”
Captain Koh emerged from the wheelhouse. The seventy-year-old skipper with skin like weathered teak was former ROC Navy, having commanded a destroyer before retiring to take over his family’s fishing business.
“We’re ready, Mr. Matsin.” Koh’s English was accented but precise. “My grandson’s boat will follow as backup. Boy did five years in the submarine service.”
“That’s great. I appreciate the help, Captain.”
Koh spat over the rail. “Mainland bastards have been stealing our fishing grounds for years. About time we put some teeth in these waters.”
Commander Tang approached, his team wheeling the first XLUUV on a concealed trailer. The autonomous submarine was wrapped in tarps, looking like any other piece of maritime equipment.
“First package ready,” Tang reported. “Ensign Huang will monitor from here. Chief Liang’s team has the deployment cradle prepared.”
Mick checked his tablet, confirming Lattice connectivity. Each XLUUV showed green on the network, their AI cores initialized but dormant.
“Remember,” he told Tang, “these aren’t torpedoes. They’re hunters. Once we activate them, they’ll patrol for thirty days before needing recovery. They’ll learn every sound in these waters.”
“Including our own submarines?” he asked.
“Yes. Already programmed with your acoustic signatures. They’ll ignore friendlies unless fired upon,” Mick explained.
Tang nodded slowly. “During the Third Taiwan Strait Crisis, I was a junior lieutenant. We listened to their submarines circle our islands, helpless to stop them. Now…”
“Now you hunt back,” Mick replied.
The deployment team worked with practiced efficiency. Within minutes, the first XLUUV was secured in the trawler’s modified hold. Eleven more would follow on five other boats.
Master Chief Liang appeared, smartphone in hand. “Satellite pass in forty minutes. Weather’s holding, light fog rolling in from the southwest. Perfect conditions.”
“I’d call that divine providence,” Captain Koh muttered. “My grandfather said the sea goddess Mazu protects these islands. Maybe she sends fog when we need it.”
“I’ll take help from any source,” Mick replied.
Ensign Huang approached hesitantly. “Mr. Matsin? I’ve been studying the AI protocols. What happens if communications are jammed?”
“Good question, Huang.” Mick pulled up a schematic on his tablet. “Like Jodi and I showed you guys during the training, each unit has three layers of decision-making. Primary is networked through Lattice. Secondary uses the local mesh networking between the units. And tertiary, should the other two systems become jammed or unavailable, is fully autonomous based on the preprogrammed parameters you provide it.”
“So even if we’re cut off…”
“They keep hunting. That’s both the beauty and terror of autonomous systems, Ensign,” Mick answered. “Once awakened, they don’t need us anymore.”
The young officer paled slightly. Commander Tang clapped him on the shoulder. “That’s why we maintain strict deployment protocols, Ensign. These are tools, not masters. We’re still the ones who give the orders.”
“It’s still incredible. Tools that think,” Huang murmured.
“Hey, focus on the mission,” Tang ordered. “We can philosophy later.”
By 0400, the small fleet was ready. Six fishing boats, crews of mixed civilians and naval personnel, each carrying death in their holds. Mick stood beside Captain Koh as the Lucky Dragon’s engine rumbled to life.
“Heading?” Koh asked.
“North first. Deploy along the Penghu Channel’s eastern edge.” Mick showed him the route on a waterproof chart. “Twelve positions, spaced for overlapping coverage.”
“I know these waters. Fished them forty years before you were born.” Koh’s hands were steady on the wheel. “That deep trench near Xiyu? Perfect ambush point. Current pushes south. Anything transiting there has to fight it or go around.”
“Exactly. That’s why we’re putting two units there.”