“As I told you,” Ito started hesitantly. “Even with our modifications, this technology is going to make a different sound from the Yu-4. We have, however, dialed its speed back to match the Yu-4’s, and we’re using the appropriate explosive payload. Still, I’m concerned that it won’t bear careful scrutiny by naval experts.”

Takahashi looked at the unfathomable readouts on the computer monitor and let out a long breath. They had more than seven hundred of these weapons on the ocean floor, covering not only Japanese waters but also Chinese ports and sea-lanes. The torpedoes lay dormant waiting for the signal to activate, and then their artificial brains would take over—scanning the sea around them, prioritizing targets, coordinating with other units. In a matter of hours they could decimate the entire Chinese fleet and make conventional naval warfare obsolete forever. Still, this was a dangerous game. As it had three-quarters of a century before, everything hinged on the reaction of the Americans. Takahashi’s bias was to not repeat the mistake of his predecessors and provoke the United States. But if it became necessary, he would crush that country just as it had crushed Japan.

“Is the Song submarine in a plausible attack position?”

Ito wiped a film of perspiration from his damaged skin. “General, please accept my apologies, but I don’t understand what we’re doing here. The situation—”

“I asked you a question, Doctor,” Takahashi said, raising his voice for the first time in the presence of the scientist. Ito tensed visibly, as did the man sitting in the chair next to him.

“Yes, General. The submarine is in an acceptable position. But the consequences of this…”

Takahashi wasn’t accustomed to being challenged, but understood that Ito wasn’t a soldier and couldn’t be treated as one.

“Doctor, every year the Chinese increase their military spending. They whip their people into an anti-Japanese frenzy by using the memory of events from a time before most of them were even born. More recently, they tried to assassinate me. And why wouldn’t they? There are never any consequences for their actions. In fact, they were rewarded with an offer of negotiations and further concessions by our prime minister. The more we give, the more they take. What we do here today will focus the world’s eyes where they should be—on a country positioning itself to create an Asian hegemony. The situation is getting out of control, and this, while distasteful, may be the only thing that can de-escalate it.”