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Pirates Threatening to Detonate Hijacked Oil Rig Near a Nuclear Power Plant

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November 405:00 • In an emergency communication from the 90,000

ton oil tanker Abura-Maru, the Captain advises authorities at Niigata harbor that his ship is being boarded by “pirates.” his radio transmission is cut off in mid-sentence.

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05:17• A radio transmission begins from the ship. After

30 seconds of what appears to be marshall music, a spokesman for “A New Japan” announces that he and his fellow comrades of the “Martyr Brigade” have seized the ship and will within minutes have rigged it up with explosives. Unless the “just” demands of the “Brigade” are honored, a “blow” will be taken which will shake Japan and the world. He promises more to follow.

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05:20• Japan Coast Guard authorities announce that

they have located the Abura-Maru on radar, and it appears to be altering course.

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05:25• Police officials advise that they have no details

on the “Martyr Brigade” except one sketchy report, four months old, that there was a follow-on, poorly organized group of the followers of a religious cult who were attempting to keep the organization functioning.

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05:35• A voice of the “Brigade” from the ship calls in,

and announces that he and his comrades are now in full command of the ship, have completed rigging it with explosives, and are prepared to blow it up with everyone aboard. He threatens to create havoc by detonating it in the vicinity of a nuclear power plant, or in Niigata Harbor, creating the “mother of all oil spills.”

• Demands are to follow.

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05:45• Nuclear Energy officials are beginning to

assemble to determine the potential threat and what measures should be taken. Their first reaction is that any danger to a nuclear installation is highly unlikely.

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05:55• Coast Guard vessels report they are 30 minutes

away from the Abura-Maru. A helicopter dispatched to monitor the tanker reports that all lights aboard the ship have been dimmed, and it is sailing at 12 knots in the direction of Niigata Harbor.

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06:00 – 06:15• The demands of the group are made in a long,

disjointed rambling dialogue over the ship’s radio. They include: the release of any and all prisoners involved in any past “freedom action”; the resignation of the Prime Minister; the organized delivery of 300,000,000 yen to be announced later; one hour for a Brigade spokesman on national TV before 12:00 today to “speak to the people”; the closure of all nuclear power plants; and an apology of the government (for what was not clear.)

• If there is not sufficient progress on all demands by 12:00, a “cataclysmic” act will be taken.

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06:00• An emergency crisis management team has been

formed. It must deliver a report on the actions being taken and the options for decisions to be made at a 7am meeting of key emergency responders.

• Provide advice on courses of actions available and options to be pursued by decision-makers at this juncture.