[War] Japan: "Hey Dad Guess What?"

[Ian Martell]

"Hey Dad Guess What?"
Prime Minister Shunichi Sato
Akemi Sato
Japan
July 25th 2014

The Osaka Chamber of Commerce was on its feet as Sato left the podium after 
his speech. Sato waved as he returned to his seat at the head table of the 
dinner, next to the Mayor of Osaka, who shook his hand. The applause was of 
course expected, he was the Prime Minister, and he knew the speech was not 
his best, but he was sure the business men, some of whom were among Japan's 
most wealthy, would like the news he had given them, he had promised them a 
shift away from Japan's high corporate tax rates, continued protection 
against foreign takeovers and money for developing new technologies to 
maintain Japan's industrial base.

It was all good news, even if he did promise them as well further pressure 
to pursue alternate energy, however, the war in Azerbaijan was evidence 
enough of its necessity.

As Sato sat down, Akira made his way over to whisper in his ear.

"There's a call from Akemi," he said.

"Tell her I'll call her back."

"She said it was urgent."

Sato nodded and when the next speaker was finished eliciting a further round 
of applause for the Prime Minister, he slipped out of the hotel ball room 
and into a service corridor where Akira handed him the phone.

"Kemi-chan?" he asked into the mouthpiece. If that's what it was, these new 
phones never really looked like phones.

"Father, sorry to interrupt the dinner," she said. "But there was an attack 
here at the reception."

"An attack?" Sato exclaimed. "Are you alright?"

"Yes, I'm fine as is the President of North Korea and the Chinese 
Ambassador, there were some military casualties, I am not sure how many."

Sato nodded, the calm detached nature of Akemi's report, calming his 
parental concern if only a little.

"What happened?" he asked.

"There was a rebel attack, mortars and some men who got inside the 
perimeter, however the Chinese and the North Koreans fought them off."

Sato couldn't help but observe the irony in that statement, his daughter 
saved by the efforts of the Chinese and North Korean military. It was a 
bizarre world in which they lived.
"I'd ask more but I assume you're on a satellite or cell phone?"

"Yes," Akemi said.

Sato knew just what sort of equipment the rebels had been supplied with by 
the Americans, after all a lot of it came through Japanese bases to be 
delivered to the insurgents. Somehow, he felt Beijing was never going to let 
him live this one down. But to hell with it, his daughter was safe.

"Are you coming home soon?"

"As soon as it is safe I am going back to Pyongyang, however I have yet to 
speak with the North Korean president on the kidnapping issue, do you want 
me to come home before I have a chance?"

Sato let out a breath, after the attack the security around the President 
would rival the security around Kim Jong-Il himself, Akemi would be safer 
there than anywhere else in that accursed country. "No, continue with your 
meeting, afterwards, head home, no more tours."

"I understand," Akemi said, the slight catch in her voice saying clearly she 
had already made that decision for herself.

"I am glad your safe Kemi-chan," he said quietly. "Be sure to call your 
mother, eventually this will be on the news and it's better she hears it 
from you and knows your safe."

"I will."

"Then I'll let you go, be careful and call me when you're safely back in 
Pyongyang."

Another of those phrases Sato would never have thought he would utter.

Akemi caught it too and offered a small chuckle. "I will father, and don't 
worry I'm in good hands."

"Good, talk to you soon," he said and then after a moment's pause hung up 
the phone and gave it back to Akira.

"You didn't hear any of that, and get me a secure line to Sakai in 
Pyongyang, I want his security people waiting for Akemi when she lands, and 
get me the North Korean President when he gets back to Pyongyang."

Akira nodded and vanished down the corridor to get things done. When he was 
out of sight, Sato let out a long sigh and leaned against the wall as the 
panic he felt left him. His daughter was alive. He offered a silent prayer 
of thanks to the Sato ancestors and made a mental note to make a donation to 
Toshogu-shrine when he was back home, before he stood up straightened his 
tie and affixed his politician's mask as he walked back out into the banquet 
room.

Actions:

1>	React to events in the "The President's Son and Prime Minister's 
 Daughter" posts.
2>	Hint at Japanese economic policy (yes we have one, it's not all just the 
JSDF and Southeast Asia folks)
3>	Akemi will discuss the issue of finding the Japanese citizens kidnapped 
by Kim Il-Jong's regime with the North Korean president.
4>	Sato calls the NK president to thank him for his troops sacrifice and 
protecting his daughter.