FAR AWAY FROM HOME: In the dark

[Taro Toporific]

--FAR AWAY FROM HOME: In the dark
The Asahi Shimbun 14 Feb
ARABIAN SEA- Japan currently has three MSDF vessels in the Arabian Sea: the Aegis destroyer Kirishima, the destroyer Harusame and the supply ship Tokiwa.
On a typical day, crew members conduct drills to prepare for terrorist attacks. An exercise earlier this week aboard the Kirishima, for example, was done on the assumption an unidentified helicopter was approaching.
About 20 crew members intently monitored radar and other equipment at the command post, while orders were barked out in rapid succession-``Man the machine-gun posts,'' ``Prepare to fire warning shots''-as the supposed helicopter approached.
The machine guns, in storage near Japanese waters, are set up on both gunwales when the ships are in the Arabian Sea. Personnel are stationed at the posts around the clock.
...E-mail messages are their only source of information ut their duties and hope the looming conflict doesn't touch them.,,,
Their days are spent doing drills and training exercises in case of a terrorist attack and performing tasks that are supposed to keep them out of harm's way: providing rear-area support for U.S.-led anti-terrorism operations.....