"Preparations have been made," answered Su Zhong. "Once the ship enters the Caribbean, the crew will reengage the automated systems for her journey to Sungari and disembark."

"Any word on the intruders at the shipyard?" "Only that it was a very professional operation using a highly sophisticated submersible." "And my underwater security team?" "Their bodies have been recovered. None survived. Most appear to have died from concussion. The patrol boat was found at the Harbor Authority dock, but the crew has vanished."

"The Iranian-registered freighter that was moored nearby the shipyard—has she been boarded and investigated?"

"Her name is the Oregon. She departed slightly ahead of the United States. According to our sources at Naval Command, it was overtaken at your request by Captain Yu Tien of the cruiser Chengdo. His last message said that the freighter had heaved to and he was sending a boarding party of marines to inspect her."

"Nothing from Captain Yu Tien since then?" asked Qin Shang. "Only silence."

"Perhaps his boarding party found incriminating evidence and he has seized the ship and disposed of the crew under strict secrecy."

"No doubt that is the situation," agreed Su Zhong.

"What else do you have for me?"

"Your agents are also questioning the guard at the main gate who claimed that three men, one of them wearing the uniform of a security officer, presented stolen credentials and entered the shipyard in a Rolls-Royce. It was thought they drove directly to the United States, but this cannot be verified since all guards were ordered off the dock just prior to her sailing."

"I want answers," Qin Shang said angrily. "I want to know what organization is responsible for spying on my operations. I want to know who is behind the intrusion and the deaths of our security people."

"Do you wish Pavel Gavrovich to head up the investigation?" asked Su Zhong.

Qin Shang thought a moment. "No, I want him to concentrate on eliminating Dirk Pitt."

"At last report, Pitt was in Manila."

"The Philippines?" Qin Shang said, his composure slipping away. "Pitt was in the Philippines, just two hours away from Hong Kong by air? Why wasn't I told of this?"

"Word only came hi from Gavrovich an hour ago. He trailed Pitt to a dockyard in Manila, where he and his partner, Albert Giordino, were observed being taken aboard an Iranian cargo ship."

Qin Shang's voice became quiet and vicious. "The same Iranian freighter that stood off the United States?"

"A positive match has not yet been confirmed," said Su Zhong. "But every indication suggests that they are one and the same."

"Somehow, Pitt is mixed up in this affair. As the National Underwater and Marine Agency's special projects director, it stands to reason he can operate and pilot a submersible. But what possible interest can NUMA have in my operations?"