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<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>"Opening Shot"</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>Japan</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>July 7 2014</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>-----</FONT></DIV>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">The
</SPAN><st1:place><st1:PlaceType><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">bridge</SPAN></st1:PlaceType><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"> of </SPAN><st1:PlaceName><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Japan</SPAN></st1:PlaceName></st1:place><SPAN
lang=EN-US style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">’s largest missile frigate was in
complete silence as they waited for the final order to come in. Her captain
Shinjiro Terada stood quietly in the center of the silent bridge hands clasped
behind his back and eyes closed waiting. Then it came, the sound of Ensign
Hiroto speaking a confirmation in English into his headset, then he turned to
the XO and reported.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">“Order to fire, one minute
sir.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">“One
minute,” replied the XO and turned to the Captain.
<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Terada opened his eyes and nodded to his XO.
“Proceed.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The
bridge was suddenly alive and eager as the order was passed to weapons control
to prepare to fire and the time to launch marked on the bridge clock, everyone
knew that they were about to make history.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The
word came up from weapons control: target acquired awaiting orders. The bridge
fell quiet again as the final seconds ticked away. Then as it hit zero, Terada
barked. “Fire.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The
XO passed the word and in the next second the deck of the Natsukaze was bathed
in smoke lit in the bright yellow glow of the Japanese missile leaving their
pods and streaking off into the night sky towards the distant lights of the
shore, beside them other ships in their battle group from half a dozen countries
opened fire adding new streaks to the ones made by the Japanese missiles. Then
suddenly, there were twin flashes from the shore amidst the tracer rounds and
exploding flak shells fired by the Iranian
defenders.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Everything fell silent again. Then the XO spoke quietly
into his mic before turning to the Captain. “Captain, hit
confirmed.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">The
bridge crew smiled broadly and clapped each other on the shoulder and Captain
Terada smiled. “XO inform the crew, and prepare for our next shot,” he said and
made his way to the phone at the communications station.
</SPAN><st1:City><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Tokyo</SPAN></st1:place></st1:City><SPAN
lang=EN-US style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"> would want to hear of their
success.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">*<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>*<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">“Sir,” Mura said as he entered Sato’s office, it was
early morning and the Prime Minister hadn’t slept, but still he paced nervously
in his office.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">“We
have a report from the Natsukaze,” Mura continued as the Prime Minister stopped
to look at him. “Her first volley was
successful.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Sato
stood there for a moment not sure if he should cheer, smile, or perhaps cry, all
would be appropriate depending who you asked. In the end he chose to smile.
“Excellent,” he said. “I assume Inukai is
pleased.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">“The
Defense Minister is very happy, yes sir.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">Sato
nodded. “See that the press release is out for the morning news, and we’ll meet
with Inukai first thing to discuss how the rest of this
went.”<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">“Yes
sir,” Mura said and departed leaving Sato to ponder the fact that at least his
name would be in the history books after tonight and that
</SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Japan</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN
lang=EN-US style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"> had just taken its first shot in
anger in sixty-nine years.<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">*<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>*<SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>*<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">It
was a half-hour later when a spokesperson for the Ministry of Defense addressed
a drowsy group of reporters from the defense ministry press pool, who at the
sight of the spokesperson perked up at once.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">“Good
morning,” Shinji Nakai said bowing slightly to the
group.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">“At
</SPAN><st1:time Minute="0" Hour="0"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">00:00</SPAN></st1:time><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"> local time the Natsukaze fired two Japanese
Tengu long range surface-to-surface missiles as part of the initial stages of
Operation Caspian Sword, both missiles hit their target, an Iranian naval fuel
depot near the Straight of Hormuz, resulting in the depot’s
destruction.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT face="Times New Roman">The
defense department aides who had come in with him began circulating a print outs
from the latest satellite pass over the area showing the depot in
flames.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"><SPAN lang=EN-US style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">“The
government applauds the efforts of the crew of the Natsukaze and the entire
Japanese contribution to the international force and asks the people of
</SPAN><st1:country-region><st1:place><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US">Japan</SPAN></st1:place></st1:country-region><SPAN
lang=EN-US style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"> join with us in wishing them good
fortune in the days to come.”<o:p></o:p></SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">Actions:<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><o:p><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> </FONT></o:p></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">1><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1">
</SPAN>Detail the first Japanese shot in Caspian
Sword.<o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><SPAN lang=EN-US
style="mso-ansi-language: EN-US"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">2><SPAN
style="mso-tab-count: 1"> </SPAN>Offer
details to the press, and begin the debate on Article 9 (pun intended) with a
bang.</FONT></FONT></SPAN></P></FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>