The JDS Mirai monitors radio traffic indicating that the Wasp is preparing a second strike. Since the radar and the main cannon are damaged, Gunnery Officer Kikuchi recommends launching a Tomahawk missile to destroy the Wasp rather than wait for the second wave to strike. Lt. Commander Oguri suggests instead that a Harpoon missile be used instead to damage the flight deck instead. Kikuchi counters, however, that during the Battle of Coral Sea, USS Yorktown (CV-5) was back in operation only after three hours' repairs after a similar damage, and besides, since JDS Mirai came back in time, Allied forces have constantly seen it as an enemy and sought to destroy it, Mirai can't run forever and hold back punches if its crew are to survive. Captain Umezu agrees but first sends a warning to the Wasp and orders that the Tomahawk be self-destructed if the American ship calls off the second attack. Unfortunately, the American Admiral Noyes believes the warning is a bluff. The I-21 observes the launch of the Tomahawk and Kadomatsu lays the blame for the upcoming loss of lives on Taki, which makes an impression on Capt. Shimamoto, the submarine's commander. It is revealed that, just two months before they were to graduate from the Maritime Defense Academy, the Persian Gulf War broke out and the prospect of Japan sending warships in support of American operations against Iraq was raised. Kikuchi decided to drop out rather than risk the possibility of being involved in killing — which led to Kadomatsu and Oguri coming to blows. Kikuchi decided to stay in the SDF only for the sake of their friendship.
「ワスプ」撃沈……それが菊池の苦汁の選択だった。味方ではない者は“敵”と見 なされる。それを認めなくては自分たちを守れない――。「みらい」は「ワスプ」に 向けトマホークを放った。伊号の潜望鏡から、海上で起こった事態を知った角松。空 へ放たれたトマホークと、損傷し煙を上げる「みらい」……。角松は菊池の胸中を思 う。菊池は、防衛大学卒業を目前にして一度は任官拒否を決めたのだった。
El Mirai se prepara para un segundo ataque del USS Wasp después de que al interceptar las comunicaciones de la marina estadounidense se percataran de sus planes.
