Chapter Five: A War Against God

 ~~/*\~~ Ryder ~~/*\~~

It was less than a day after the announcement. Karla and Ryder were on the move. Several Churches were keeping their response a secret. Others had already embraced the new order. Some of the smaller groups had announced their intention to refuse the International Law; and were already surrounded, or embargoed until the final stage, where the Coalition was empowered to do something more direct.

“The famous ‘Christ the Redeemer’ Statue of Rio De Janeiro was the first in that region of the world to be pulled down. The local governors argued that the site was cultural, and not religious. Certainly it has been a tourist attraction since its opening in 1931; but the Coalition argued that it was a clear public display of a religious figure. The local authority upheld the exemption, but the Coalition appealed to their own leadership. Once the matter was ruled on by people who were not local to the matter, the Coalition were immediately granted permission to carry out their mandate. Footage of the statue’s demolition has gone viral on every platform in the world.” The local anchor reported. “It stood 38 meters tall, at the top of a mountain. It’s an obvious change to the skyline here.”

Gordon nodded in response. “Thank you, Bautista. Enjoy the sunshine.” He turned to his associate on the desk. “For more on this matter, we turn to our FRA expert, formerly our Religious Correspondent, Dominick Andersen. Dominick, I’m sure this is a difficult period for you.”

“For most people in my profession. There are departments of Divinity and such in many universities around the world. The line between studying legitimate history and illegal propaganda is narrowing. The argument about the Statue that you just heard is being repeated in a lot of places where Religion and Culture are tightly entwined. Until the FRA, this was a matter of location. The Eastern World gave no exceptions to European faiths, and the Western Hemisphere has been openly antagonistic of non-Christian denominations. And no courts bothered to argue too strongly for other nation’s viewpoints.”

“Until the Coalition finally took things global.”

“It’s never been done before. For example, if you asked whether the DaVinci painting on the ceiling of the Sistine Chapel was a religious work, or a cultural one, you could ask the Italian authorities, but their answer would be very different than if you asked, say, the High Court of Australia. The Coalition is ensuring total objectivity by taking the choices away from the people close to the problem.”

“The Sistine Chapel is in the Vatican, technically a Sovereign State of its own. One that is not a full member of the United Nations, in fact. Are they accepting the Coalition's authority, given that they aren’t Signatories?”

“That’s the big question. For that matter, other Rogue Nations have Religious leadership in their Governments. What they’ll do is a huge question that the Coalition hasn’t answered yet. Stage One focuses on public displays. The real concern is that Coalition forces have also been seizing personal icons in private homes-”

“It’s not an attack on personal freedoms.” Gordon argued. “The FRA is carefully worded to assure the public that personal faith is unaffected. This action is designed to prevent any organization from imposing its will, or its viewpoints on another.” He tapped his desk pointedly. “The real attack on freedoms come when a Church can force a school to expel a gay kid, or block a woman from seeing a Doctor. And that’s not even counting the more… extreme examples.”

“I’ll grant that, but to lump everyone with any belief in the same pile is callous, and even a little cowardly. Doesn’t the Coalition have it in them to find the real problem, and not just eliminate them all?”

“Eliminate who? Adherents can still do whatever they want, they just can’t inflict it on others. It’s not like the leadership of these groups are pious and holy. Every other day we catch the ‘values’ leadership in blatant hypocrisy.”

“That’s people. What about… Well, someone has to say it eventually: What about God?”

“The Renouncement that we have to sign doesn’t declare that God isn’t real. It doesn’t preclude anyone from praying to him, or living their life by whatever moral or ethical values they care about. All it does is say that Earth is under the authority of mankind. All it does is declare to the world that humans do not speak for God, if He exists at all.” Gordon said seriously. “I went to Sunday School, and they told me the Kingdom of God is in all men. I went to a Non-Denominational service and was told that God was in all of us. I’ve seen God used to justify every war, every law, every time we forgave a sinner and every time we vilified a minority. Heaven and Hell are not a legal argument. God can rule our souls. Our lives are up to us. And finally, even the Law says so.” Gordon turned to the camera, putting this across to his audience. “The Renouncement is a pledge that God has no authority over us. Not in court, not in business, not in government, and not in our public lives.”

~~/*\~~

“The legal battles are going to be awesome. There’s just no way to argue the case.” Karla said with a grin. “They can’t argue that faith has to have a multi-billion dollar organization or it’ll die. They can’t argue it’s an attack on faith, because the FRA only deals with public influence and institutions. They can’t argue it’s wrong or illegal without admitting they want to exert influence on their followers, which is exactly what they’re being charged with… And they can’t argue God will be judgemental, because that’s exactly the kind of talk that makes people hate them.”

Ryder said nothing. “I… shouldn’t comment. My dad was the Dioceses lawyer for a lot of years. This ought to be an interesting showdown, but I can’t report on it.”

Karla froze. “Oh. Should I shut up now?”

Ryder scoffed. “When Dion realized my conflict, he made me the bookie. Right now, odds are the litigation lasts for at least a year while the Churches figure out how to keep the status quo, or at least their own paychecks.” He shook it off. “Anyway, we’re working.”

“We are.” She agreed, looking around the airport. “We were supposed to be met-ah! There it is.” She spotted someone holding up a sign, ready to collect them, and waved him over. “You notice that most law enforcement is out of uniform these days?” Karla said to Ryder quietly as the Lawman came over.

“Only the ones connected to Coalition Missions. Makes it easier for them to run their own investigations.” Ryder nodded back, before he rose and extended his hand. “Ryder. KPXQ News. This is Karla, my Field Anchor.”

The crisp, almost military man returned the handshake to them both. “Sir. Ma’am. I’ve been directed to allow you entry to the Forward Operations Post, and answer your questions. I’m also to remind you that the story is embargoed until we give the go-ahead.”

“Of course.” Karla nodded. “What’s the situation with ‘New Believers’?”

~~/*\~~

The three of them piled into a news van, provided by the affiliates, and drove directly from the airport, towards the scene. It was well outside the local town, and while they traveled, Karla interviewed him.

“The ‘New Believers’ is a Megachurch. They started out with a web channel when the Pandemic started, and just kept growing.” Garrett explained. “They had a following of just under five thousand, which is small by such standards. They got a few million dollars out of people in donations and fees; and when the order came from the U.N., they refused to turn over their assets.”

“Most Churches hid their funding.” Karla offered, trying to draw him out. “At least, they did until the usual hiding places declared their support.”

“Yeah, well: These guys weren’t that clever about it.” Garrett sneered lightly. “They sank all their money into buying a patch of land and they’ve fortified it. Their followers are all running to join the ‘holy men’ who've been cashing their cheques. Out of five thousand adherents, only a few hundred bothered to show up, but it’s enough to be a problem.”

“Have the leaders made any statements?”

“The Leaders aren’t there. They’ve ordered their people to prepare for our warrants, and to keep the place ready for their arrival.” Garrett took a breath. “Except they aren’t coming. We arrested them in Zurich four hours ago. Their private plane was under false identification, with a fake registry, and the baggage compartments were stuffed with cash.”

“The fortifications were a diversion.” Karla summed up. “Do the people inside know this?”

“We’ve tried telling them, but they don’t believe us.” The Lawman pointed at the Camera. “We were hoping you could report on the arrest, and broadcast it where they could see it.”

“We’ll do what we can.” Karla promised promptly.

Garrett thanked them, and headed off as someone called him over. Karla turned back to Ryder, lowering her voice. “He didn’t even identify which branch of law enforcement he’s with. He could be anything from a dogcatcher to a Coalition General.”

“A lot of the red tape got thrown out to make this work.” Ryder agreed. “My thing is this: Why are we here? Rounding up the holdouts is a story for the final phase of the FRA. It’s meant to keep Religion a private thing, instead of a public authority. These people have literally sealed themselves up away from the rest of the world.”

“You really think that’s going to change?” Karla quipped.

“I think Phase Three is weeks away, and Dion sent us out here to cover a story that won’t matter for another month or two.” Ryder shook his head. “I don’t see what we can do here.”

“We’re earning our pay, if nothing else.” Karla shrugged. “But my guess is that it helps the Public support the FRA if the first response they see on television is a bunch of lunatics stomping their feet at the law, while the people who ‘brainwashed’ them are all arrested with bags of stolen loot.”

~~/*\~~

“...we go now, to the forward command post. Karla, can you hear me?”

“Yes, I can.” Karla reported. “While the transition has been relatively painless from all the mainstream Churches, at least in this part of the world; there are independent groups that have already declared they will not be obeying the FRA.”

“What’s the response been from the Coalition?”

“Officially, there isn’t one. The FRA is a phased rollout. Technically, those people haven’t committed a crime until the Grace Period is over. But most of the Fringe Groups have been under surveillance for some time by one branch of the authorities or another. With all those resources put under the direct control of the U.N.C., some of the Holdouts have already been surrounded.” Karla reported. “The Authorities might be waiting them out, but they’ll only have to wait so long.”

The report went on for a few more minutes, covering the arrest of their leadership, with clear images of the seized cash, and mugshots of everyone involved; until they went back to the studio. Karla and Ryder stayed another few hours, shooting B-Roll and background shots for later stories in the area.

And that was how Ryder happened to have a camera pointed the right way when a bus with blacked out windows rolled in. Guards arrived, and escorted a row of people out of the bus, to a large holding pen. The pen had been put together by the soldiers, so it was a ‘mobile’ construction. Just a few wire mesh walls, with barbed wire strung through it. The prisoners weren’t in prison uniform. They were all civilians. Most of them looked scared out of their minds. Ryder wasn’t sure how long they’d been held, but some of them had soiled clothing, all of them were rumpled and unshaven…

One of them was Del.

~~/*\~~

Karla looked nervous as he ran the footage from the camera and uploaded it to the Newsroom. “I don’t like it.” She told Ryder seriously. “Things are happening really fast, and we don’t know the rules yet.”

“You think I’m poking the bear?”

“You don’t owe this guy anything.” Karla said seriously. “You met him twice, for about ten minutes. You shouldn’t get involved.”

“It’s a story, Karla. The people in that cage have been in custody for a while. The FRA wasn’t even announced when Del got bagged. If the Coalition is randomly taking people and renditioning them just for the hell of it-”

“Granted, but we aren’t supposed to take sides in a story.”

“And I’m saying it’s not a story until it has to be.” Ryder pressed. “Look, you aren’t involved in this yet. I just wanted to let you know what I was thinking. This isn’t the Coalition, or the U.N.; they’re local reservists.”

Karla shivered. “Just… don’t get too involved over a stranger just because he knew your mom.”

~~/*\~~

Ryder asked to see the commanding officer at the post, and smothered a grin when he was introduced. The Commander wasn’t a soldier. He was portly, far too young, and his uniform didn’t really fit. He was a reservist, called in to surround a specific place until they had legal authority to start shooting.

Commander Codie shook his hand, eager to be of service. “So, what can I do for you?”

“I wanted to ask you about something.” Ryder said politely. “Those prisoners being brought in? Who are they?”

Codie looked out the window automatically, to where the prisoners were being kept. “We’ve been ordered to keep some of the holdouts under surveillance. Apparently, there’s an operation coming up that requires the information.”

“They’re here… for questioning?”

“No. They’re here because they’re connected to members of the ‘New Believers’. It’s on the ‘watch list’ from the Coalition.” Codie explained. “They’re telling us to keep certain groups under a tight leash, and that includes people they’re connected to on the outside. The ‘New Believers’ have already announced an intention to defy the law. The people in that cage? They’re either in there because they didn’t make it past the gates in time, or they're holding out on giving us the information we need to identify further members of the fringe group.”

“Well, thank god I’m here.” Ryder said brightly. “One of the prisoners in your cage? He’s not a ‘holdout’. He’s one of my sources. I’ve been working with him for a while now. He came here because his mother is inside the compound, and he’s been trying to get her out. I know. He told me so when he was on the way here.”

Codie hesitated. “T-those people were arrested under U.N. authority. I can’t release-”

“Actually, you can. You’re the Commander of this post, and that’s where they are now.” Ryder told him. “Also, an argument could be made that they were illegal arrests. I know the Coalition isn’t bound by any local laws, or even national ones, but I know for a fact that some of those people were taken prisoner before the announcement of the FRA.”

Codie looked uncomfortable. “Off the record?”

“If you like.”

“Off the record, there’s a lot of that happening. The only way the FRA was going to work was if they did it fast and hard, and it was a global order. Time zones worked against some of the early arrests. I’ve been told to hold them until we can get some Renouncement forms in; then have anyone who signs be free to go. We just don’t know how long it’ll take.” Codie spread his hands. “We were told that if anyone had a problem with it, they were free to avail themselves of the entire legal system once the arrests were made.”

“Fair enough, but I need my source free. He’s important to a story that will have… far reaching implications. Except I can’t make it official, because if I reveal his name or why I’m interested, I’m putting his life, and that of his family in danger.” Ryder said with a perfectly straight face. After all, I’m not lying, am I?

Codie, all of twenty years old, actually looked excited. “So… it’s like a secret mission?”

They put this kid in charge?

~~/*\~~

Del was praying silently, giving no indication of what he was doing. He wasn’t the only one in the cage to do so.

Jehovah God, he prayed. I knew I was taking a chance coming out here. If I have been reckless with my life, then I beg Your forgiveness. If I have come out here for the wrong reasons, then I beg You to correct me, and save me. I know that obedience during this most pivotal time is all important now, but I don’t think I was defying any instruction. At least, none that I know about. Father Jehovah, please; don’t let me break. There are people here with bruises, with broken bones; lacerations… none of them are receiving treatment, and it’s only a matter of time until they turn their attention to me. Please, Father…. Don’t let me break. Don’t let me give in-

He was mid-prayer when the cage swung open, and someone came in to put another black bag over his head. He felt his feet leave the ground as he was dragged out. This is it…

The bag was finally pulled off his head and he blinked up at a familiar face. “Ryder?” He blurted, before he could stop himself.

The commander was half Del’s age, dressed in a uniform that didn’t really fit, and looked out of his depth about the whole thing, but was managing to appear as a commander. “So, are you sure about this guy?” He asked Ryder. “We’ve been checking his phone… Most of the contacts are out of state.”

“To be expected. He’s not from around here.” Ryder said, matter of factly. “Did his ID match the details I gave you?”

“Yes.” Codie admitted. “You’re sure he was only here to try and get his mother out?”

“I shouldn’t reveal anything I know about my sources, but I promise you, he came here on a mission.” Ryder said seriously.

“My reports tell me that he told the same story during processing.” Codie admitted, reading off a clipboard. “That’s lucky. A lot of our prisoners have nobody that can corroborate their testimony.” He put the clipboard under his arm. “The Coalition isn't bound by the usual laws of due process. I’m glad to let sorting it out be their mess.”

“Glad I could clear this one up.” Ryder said politely. “The FRA will make an amazing movie one day, but there’s going to be some messy parts.”

“There is.” Codie agreed. “I’ll leave him with you then. Remember, you’re under obligation to make sure he signs the Renouncement. That’s a requirement for anyone leaving custody during the FRA.”

“I’ll take care of it.” Ryder promised. “And don’t worry. I won’t mention the black bags, the poorly timed arrests, the prison conditions… After all, we’re all on the same side here.”

Codie nodded, looking relieved, and left them to it. Del felt the guard behind him uncuff his wrists, and suddenly realized he was being released. The second the uniforms left the room, Del felt a wild, nearly hysterical laugh building in his throat.

Ryder pulled him up and made sure he had Del’s full attention. “Don’t ask me how or why, just listen. I can get you back to your car, and then you drive as far away as you can. The only reason you don’t have to sign the Renouncement is because they don’t have a supply of forms yet. But if you have any ideas about getting away with it, you should know that they’ve seized your phone, and it’s evidence. So they have your name, your address back at Mount Morgan, all your contacts, social media, photos… Your home and your family are probably under surveillance already. Get me?”

“Loud and clear.” Del promised. And as to ‘how and why’? I think I might know better than you do.

~~/*\~~ Satau ~~/*\~~

“You want me to recognize Jehovah?!” Pharaoh was stunned. “And you agree with this, Jannes?”

Jannes nodded. “What the King does is entirely his own choice.” He said seriously. “But as High Priests, we have responsibilities of our own. What you tell the public is entirely in your power. What you say to Moses, or what you do about the slaves is entirely up to you, and you can count on our full support. But the powers we have seen are beyond the work of a magician, or a sorcerer. They are clearly the works of a god.”

“My lord, there are hundreds of gods in Egypt. The fact that the slaves have only one is a point we have always known, but never addressed.” Jambres added. “As High Priest, and representative to the Temples, it is my responsibility to tell you that the Priesthood is forced to accept these Plagues as the finger of God, fighting against you; on behalf of Moses and his people.”

“And so, now that you acknowledge their God exists, what do you plan to do?” Pharaoh demanded. “Accept their demands? Build them a temple?”

“That, my lord; remains your choice as well.” Jambres bowed deeply and respectfully. “It is merely my duty to tell you that the Priesthood is unanimous in its judgment. You aren’t fighting a charlatan, or a sorcerer. Jehovah is not a superstition of Goshen. He’s real.”

Pharaoh considered. It was impossible to be angry at him, he was so carefully respectful about it. “In your opinion, Jambres... Does this acknowledgement in any way change the tactical situation?”

“Respectfully, my king, tactics are a matter for your Generals, and policy is up to you. If you’re asking whether or not the gods are more or less likely to match this magic, by recognizing their opponent is real, I cannot say.”

“How many of our people are likely to recognize the Hebrew God if we acknowledge him publicly?”

“There have been emissaries of other lands, all with their own gods. There was no appreciable loss among our own worshippers.” The Priest said honestly. “And those men were ambassadors of traders and kings. Moses and Aaron are spokesmen for slaves.”

Pharaoh nodded, taking that in. “Bakennifi, where is my son?”

“In lessons with Nassor.” His advisor said promptly. “Should I send for him?”

~~/*\~~

Jambres left the Throne Room as Nem-ur was coming in. Still little more than a boy, he walked like a King, back straight, somehow looking down on everyone who crossed his path. Jambres bowed respectfully until he entered the Throne Room, and then hurried on.

Nobody was quite sure when the spyhole was put into the wall, but it had been a carefully guarded secret of the High Priest for over a century. Satau hadn’t been told about it yet. Only Jambres knew. He listened in on the Throne Room, while Pharaoh spoke to his son, and successor.

“So now the Priests are running scared, because there’s finally a god they can’t control.” Pharaoh was saying to his son.

“They’ve never controlled the gods, father.” Nem-ur said, more cynical than his age would normally allow. “They controlled the worshippers. “

“The only people worshiping Jehovah are the slaves. We’ve run their lives with total control for generations.” Pharaoh countered. “Until now.” He let out a breath. “Do you know why I told Moses I’d let his people leave if he stopped the frogs?”

Nem-ur nodded. “You wanted to know if Moses was actually causing them, or just taking advantage of a disaster.”

“Every Priest in Egypt has invoked one god or another when illness or misfortune has affected someone.” Pharaoh nodded. “But this sort of thing… This never happened when I was your age. If I let the Hebrews go, I’m admitting that I’m the weakest of the Dynasty. Moses is eighty years old. Forty years in the wilderness, waiting for his chance; and he waited until I was on the Throne.”

Nem-ur softened. “Father, I am the only other person in Egypt who knows what it’s like to be the son of a god. To feel the weight of that expectation.”

“Yes, you are. That’s why I want to hear your thoughts on the subject.”

“Jambres taught me that the most important part of being Pharaoh is to be a fixed point.” Nem-ur offered. “He said the most important part of Egypt is that it is protected from change and disruption. To be Pharaoh is to be the face of an entire Dynasty. Every King that came before is personified in you, and so are the gods.” His son leaned closer. “You may have lost that certainty, father. I haven’t. If Moses is here now because he thinks you’re the weak one, then he doesn’t understand the situation. You are all of our ancestors combined. Egypt only increases. You are Egypt.” The Prince hesitated. “As I will be, one day.”

Pharaoh almost smiled. “Jambres’s father taught me the same thing, when I was a boy.” He rose. “When this started, it was all theater. Moses said a ‘three day festival’, but he knew I’d refuse; the same way I knew that if I let them go for three days, they’d never come back. This is the real fight.”

“And?” Nem-ur couldn’t help but ask.

Pharaoh smiled at his son. “What’s the point of leaving you the Empire if you don’t have a workforce?”

Nem-ur laughed. “Moses has no idea who he’s dealing with. Neither does his God.”

Listening from his hiding place, Jambres deflated slightly. He wasn’t sure what he was hoping for, but it appeared nothing was going to change.

We were able to redefine the enemy. He told himself. The odds of being executed just dropped… But now it’s a war with Jehovah, instead of Moses.

~/*\~~/*\~~/*\~

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