The Last Crusade

by Ira Tabankin

  “God is dead.”

  The right fights back with images of the pain and suffering from the nuclear attacks. They show the horrible, stomach wrenching wounds and burns of those close to the nuclear explosions. They hold pictures of wounded, crying children. They hold counter protests while holding signs saying,

  “Death to Allah.”

  “Islam isn’t a religion.”

  “Islam killed two hundred million.”

  “Islam is a war on people.”

  “Islam is the original war on women.”

  The police fail to keep the two groups apart. Blood flows through the surviving cities. Churches and Muslim stores are burned.

  This time, there is an immediate backlash against the media. People believe the church’s story that the Caliphate set up the war to destroy the west. The majority of people side with the anti-Muslim movement and their churches.

  The media is surprised by the sometimes violent backlash. Printing presses are destroyed, network offices ransacked and burned. Local reporters are spit at, their mobile trucks are attacked, many are overturned. Slowly, some in the media question if they should review their editorial position.

  The Pope announces he has no intention of ruling the world, his only goal is to ensure the world has religious freedom and is able to pray to God however people want to. Some in the media counter, saying that means people should be able to pray to Allah if they want to. They repeat their demands that the Caliphate be left alone.

  The Pope addresses the world,

  “The world’s media has been complaining that I’m racist, they say, I’m against Muslims. They say I’m not a man of God because I’m raising an Army to kill Muslims. I’d like to take a couple of minutes to respond why their claim is false. First of all, a religion isn’t a race, so I can’t be a racist. Second, I don’t care how or who people pray to, or if they decide not to pray at all IF they are peaceful and respect all life. This is my problem with Islam, they won’t allow the people of the world to honor the God of their choice. They demand the world follow their religion as they do, I refuse to surrender my and the world’s right to pray to God my way. If the Caliphate would denounce their demand the world accepts only Allah as God and Islam as the only religion, I would drop my request for a Crusade. The next move is up to the Caliphate.”

  An hour later the sky over Turkey is lit up from a long-range missile launching. An American AWACS sees the launch; a FLASH warning message is sent around the world. The world fears another nuclear war is about to begin. Around the world, people begin crying and praying for help. Basements fill with scared people who shake with fear. Millions try to flee cities fearing they’re going to be incinerated by nuclear fire. Millions of tears flow in fear and anger.

  Militaries around the world rush to their defensive positions, every anti-aircraft and anti-missile battery begin searching for targets. The sky over Germany is lit by two THAAD anti-missile missiles targeted on the missile which had been targeted on Switzerland. The Caliphate missile is an attempt to assassinate the Pope. Hitting a missile with a missile is like trying to hit a bullet with another bullet. The THAAD missiles are the newest generation of interceptors while the Caliphate’s missile is based on a North Korean rocket which in turn is based on an old Russian design. People around the world hold their breath as the missiles race towards each other. The Pope’s security tries to force him into a shelter,

  “NO! I’ll show the Caliphate they can’t scare me. God will either protect me or not. My future is in his hands. I’m not afraid. I will show the world I can face death without fear. I will set an example for the world.”

  “Your Holiness, you must take cover.”

  “If the incoming missile is nuclear armed, a shelter won’t save me. It may make my death worse than standing in the open. If it’s God’s will for the missile to strike me, then I’ll face my death like the innocents who live and work surrounding us. I won’t hide in a hole in the ground if the people have no shelters.”

  “Your Holiness, you know that every home and office in Switzerland has a shelter. The people are already in their shelters, as you should be too.”

  “Shelters won’t save the people if the missile strikes us. I will show my faith in the Almighty. I will remain on the stage and say mass for the world.”

  “We could make you come with us.”

  “My son, would you force me to turn away from the Lord?”

  “No, sir.”

  “Then either stand with me or take your leave.”

  “Sir, we will stand with you.”

  “Let us pray.”

  The world holds its breath as the missiles quickly move towards each other. Flying at 35,000 feet, the crew in the American AWACS watch the two interceptors close in on the Caliphate missile. They watch the dots on their radar scope inch closer to each other. The radar screen blooms as the interceptors strike the incoming missile. The Caliphate’s nuclear warhead explodes at 150,000 feet over Eastern Germany. People on the ground see the flash of the exploding warhead. Millions fall to their knees giving a prayer of thanks. The only nuclear effect to reach the ground is the EMP pulse which burns out a lot of consumer electronics in Eastern Europe adding to the demand for already back ordered new televisions, DVD players, and cell phones. Hundreds of thousands of candles are lit in Eastern Europe, for light and to give thanks to the Lord for protecting the Holy Father.

  This is the first time in history television shows the interceptors racing towards the attacker. The world follows the progress on their monitors and televisions, nuclear war becomes the ultimate reality show. The world cheers with the shooting down of the nuclear missile. Even the EMP pulse is overlooked by the millions who thank God they’ve survived.

  The Pope issues a one-line Press Release, “My offer of peace was responded to with an attempt to kill me and millions of innocents.”

  The media claims there’s no proof the Caliphate fired the missile and it was one that simply went off course.

  The next morning, people begin wearing T-shirts and sweatshirts which say, “I survived the nuclear war.” Others begin wearing small red hearts on their lapels, each heart representing a member of their family lost in the nuclear attacks. Others wear yellow hearts representing missing family members.

  Muslim communities blockade themselves behind walls trying to stop attacks on their homes and stores.

  Chapter 3

  News and private drones fly over some of the attacked military bases showing videos on the internet of the damage left behind from the nuclear strikes. Large black circles and craters are shown. New lakes filled with black radioactive water scares the viewers. People’s breath catch in their throats when outlines of people, burned into the concrete runways chill people’s souls. Globs of melted hangers and twisted steel skeletons are all that remains of thousands of buildings. Rivers of melted glass reflect the sun. People are shocked at the level of damage. A video of Fort Hood shows rows of tanks sitting as if everything is normal, except they’re surrounded by outlines of the dead, pieces of burned black and melted skin clings to the tank’s armor. Most of the antennas are missing from the top of the rows of tanks.

  Fox News buys hundreds of hours of drone video to create a two-hour program showing the destruction from the nuclear strikes. The video shows military bases both in America and Russia. People living close to the bases are interviewed. Many show the burns and wounds they received, some people show the pattern of their clothing they were wearing at the time which was burned onto their skin. The video is one of the most watched programs in history, Fox shows it without commercial breaks and offers it for free to any broadcaster in the world who wants to show it. The program ends with videos of people in the Caliphate dancing and cheering after the attacks.

  The following dawn is met by a sober world who wants revenge. The media tries to talk the people out of their call for revenge, more media offices are set on fire for supporting the attacks.

  The media’s
headline and main talking point is, “Give Peace a Chance.”

  They’re rewarded with having some of their buildings torched, their reporters are attacked on the streets, they’re called traitors.

  Fox News’ alert flashes across the world, “Egypt is joining the crusade!”

  NBC follows up with “Arab to fight Arab.”

  ABC’s evening news anchor reports, “Egypt has sent her military leader to Switzerland to pledge their help in the fight against the Caliphate. Egypt publicly thanks Israel for supporting her defense against the Caliphate. The Egyptian President gives an interview on Fox News, he explains how Israel helped stall the Caliphate’s invasion of Egypt. He says,

  “Without Israel’s support, there wouldn’t be a free and independent Egypt. We owe our lives to the people and military of Israel. The People of Egypt will never forget the help we received. Other Muslims tried to invade us, the people the Quran says are our eternal enemy came to our assistance, how could we turn our back on the rest of the world’s efforts to free the people of the Caliphate from the yoke of radical Islam?”

  The interview sets new records for a news program’s ratings. The progressive media tries to mock Egypt saying they turned their back on their own brothers and sisters.

  The Salt Lake City local news anchor looks into the camera, her face is flush, the camera shows her hands shaking. She breaks the station’s rules by sipping a glass of water on camera, her director is about to pull her off the air when she begins speaking in a voice that breaks with raw emotion,

  “Good evening Salt Lake City, based on the recent events, I think we are entering the period known in the Bible as the End of Days…”

  The news director yells, “Get her off the air! She’s lost it, cut to commercial and get Paul to replace her, NOW.”

  The red “On Air” light in front of her fades out. Paul enters the sound set from the left. “Susan, I’m sorry. I’ve been ordered to replace you. I’m going to say you came down with the flu. You know you can’t go off script like that.”

  “Am I fired?”

  “I don’t know, I was told to tell you to take a couple of days off and return on Monday.”

  “Paul, don’t you see it? The Crusade is going to be the battle of Armageddon. The forces of God and Satan are going to be fighting the final battle. It’s all written in the Bible. We’re all doomed.”

  “Susan, relax, it can’t be the Final Battle, the Anti-Christ hasn’t made his appearance yet.”

  “How do we know Ali Mohmand Tanvir or The Mahdi as he now calls himself isn’t the Anti-Christ? How do we know he hasn’t been among us all this time? He did kill millions; he did kill the Pope.”

  “Susan, I’ll call you after the program. I have to go on air now. Go home and get some rest. I’ll leave you with this last thought; we haven’t had our seven years of plenty.”

  “How do we know the Bible is literal?”

  “Please go home, get some rest. I don’t want to see your career ruined.”

  “Thanks for supporting me.”

  Her opening line and that she was pulled from the air in mid-word spreads around the world. Recordings of her two minutes upset millions. Churches are filled to overflowing with those seeking redemption before the return or the first coming of the Messiah. Priests, fathers, rabbis, pastors are overwhelmed with the mass of people seeking salvation.

  “Bless me father, for I have sinned…” is repeated millions of times.

  @@@@@

  Pope Francis II is happy with the trust and respect the senior military officers have shown to each other. Regardless of country or previous rank, they are accepting and respecting their new ranks which are based on the American Army.

  General Green smiles at his senior staff around a conference room electronic table showing a map of the Middle East.

  “I think we’re agreed, we’ll land our forces in two ports in Egypt and three in Israel. We’ll form three prongs of attack. One will move up the coast through Gaza, into Syria. Our goal is to locate the Mahdi and his senior staff. The second will drive into Saudi and capture the cities of Mecca and Medina. The third will enter Iran from Russia to destroy their nuclear plants and equipment. Intel says they moved all of Pakistan’s WMDs to Iran. Each prong will have four hundred divisions. Each prong will be escorted by mobile SAM missiles and covered by fighters and attack planes. I believe if we can capture the Mahdi while destroying the Caliphate’s supply of nuclear missiles we’ll break the back of their military. If we hold their leaders and their holy cities, the Caliphate will collapse. I hope we’ll be able to end the war without millions of civilian causalities.” A very tired General sits down swallowing a cup of cold coffee in two gulps.

  The IDF general looks at the map, “General, what are your orders if their civilians attack us. I don’t want my people bogged down fighting an insurgency behind us as we advance. We remember your problems in Iraq, we don’t wish to repeat your experience.”

  “Are you suggesting we use a scorched earth policy?”

  An angry Israeli General stands, he slaps the table, “At the end of the day, you will go home leaving us to live with the remains of the war. My Prime Minister would prefer we end the problem now so we don’t have to refight this war next generation and the one after that. We’ve been fighting them for our entire existence. We’d like to live in peace for a while. We agreed to join the Crusade since we were led to believe this would be the war to end all wars with the Muslims.”

  General Green shakes his head, “I don’t think my people back home will support a final solution.”

  Standing up again and pounding the table, “Don’t ever use those words to me again! During the Holocaust, you sat safe and sound with oceans protecting you on both sides. You knew about the camps and did nothing. You knew and yet you turned away the Saint Louis you sent those poor souls to their deaths. You can’t imagine the horror of being sent to the camps. You don’t know what it’s like to have tens of thousands of missiles land on your country. I’m willing to bet if Canada or Mexico launched missiles into your country like we’ve had to deal with, you would have invaded and crushed them. Yet, every time we moved to stop the missiles, you forced us to halt before the job was finished, leading to more deaths. Maybe if you had let us take care of the problem years ago, we wouldn’t be sitting here mourning millions of deaths or planning an invasion with millions of people.”

  “You Jews aren’t the only ones who’ve suffered.” Said an equally tired and angry Egyptian General.

  “General, let me remind you, we only attacked you after you struck us. We never started a single war. Since signing our peace agreement, we’ve gone out of our way to honor it, we came to your aid.”

  “As have we. Hence, why we’re sitting next to you and why we publicly thanked you for your help when the Caliphate tried to crush us. My people owe you our lives, we always pay our debts. We’ll never forget what you did for us.”

  The two generals hug, The IDF general looks into the Egyptian’s eyes, “I know you do. We’re proud to fight shoulder to shoulder with you.”

  Pope Francis II smiles,

  “Now that we have the love fest out of the way let us continue with the briefing.”

  General Green nods towards the Pope.

  “Your Holiness, we will open hostilities with thirty days of air bombardment to suppress and take down their air force and air defense network. Once the Caliphate has been softened, we’ll begin the land war.”

  The Russian General, Colonel General Georgy Zhukov II laughs,

  “My friend, don’t you think they learned their lesson from watching your Gulf Wars? I suggest we launch this war differently, they will be expecting an air attack to open the war, they will have their army in underground bunkers, their SAMs will be ready for us. I suggest we open the attack with a move they haven’t seen before. One that will surprise them.”

  “General what are you suggesting?”

  “We try to capture or kill th
eir leadership. If we succeed, they will be leaderless. We know they're operating from a bunker in Syria. We know where it is, we helped them build it. I suggest we send our special forces in to attack and remove the Mahdi and his senior staff.”

  Pope Francis II looks at the Russian General with concern on his face,

  “Are you sure they’re using the bunker you build for Assad? Can you really get people inside his shelter and remove him? If it’s possible, I like it. It means we won’t place millions of our people at risk nor will we kill millions of innocents.”

  “Your Highness, are any of them innocent? We don’t think so. If we succeed in taking out their leadership, we’ll ensure we don’t have to repeat this war every generation. My people have grown tired of fighting the same fight over and over.” Said the Israeli General.

  “Says the man who dropped sixty nuclear weapons on the Caliphate.” Sneers General Zhukov II.

  “We do what we have to. We’ll do whatever we have to so no one will repeat the Holocaust. We warned the world we take ‘Never Again’ very seriously. We have no regrets about what we’ve done. We’d do it again if we had to.”