new scene: Father Alex gets the White Codes

Father Alex – a special missionary from the Vatican observatory – is on the moon for various purposes. While he’s there Father Arogundade, who ministers to the Nigerian Catholic community, asks Alex to use his Vatican connections to reach out through back channels and try to get some codes to delineate certain neighborhoods as civilian, or at the very least, “open cities” so that armed forces can move through with out attacking them.

Father Alex has been trying to do this for a while with out great success.

But now…

== 2064: private office, Aristillus, Lunar Nearside

Father Alex listened, his smile growing larger. Finally the Bishop appeared to be done. Alex waited a second to make sure that there wasn’t more, hidden in the light speed lag, then nodded.

“That’s wonderful news, your Excellency. When will you get the codes?”

“I got them from our representative this morning. Let me send them.”

Father Alex waited and then there was a beep as the file downloaded. His smile got slightly wider. “This will help a lot. Thank you so much.”

“My pleasure, Alex. Now, I’m quite curious about the other matter, but I understand that you’ve got other exigencies to deal with, and that can wait.”

Alex bowed his head. “We’ll talk more when there’s time, but the short version is that it’s fascinating – utterly fascinating. There’s no question in my mind, although they seem to have factions, and while a fair number seem interested, a bit more than half are utterly unreceptive to my message.”

“More than half of the Dogs are unreceptive to the word of God?” Bishop Flynn smiled wryly. “Perhaps that counts as the best evidence yet in favor of your hypothesis that they’re people.” He chuckled at his own joke. “Anyway, we’ll talk theology later. And besides, there’s no rush. The decisions that need to be made will take decades, if not centuries. Now, though, get those codes to the colonists.”

Father Alex tipped his head and cut the connection.

After a moment he placed another call. On the fourth ring it was answered.

“Hello?”

“Darcy, it’s Father Alex.”

On the screen Darcy rubbed her face. “Father, with all due respect, we’re under a lot of time pressure now. I don’t need another lecture about marriage. And besides, I’ve already told you – it’s Mike, not me, that you need to convince.”

Alex held up a hand. “No lectures. I just wanted to tell you that the Vatican finally got the white codes.”

Darcy’s eyes grew wide. “You did? That’s great news! Thank you!”

“You should thank Father Arogundade – he’s the one who had the idea. And perhaps Father Flynn. He managed to pull the right strings back on Earth. I’m merely a go-between. Now, let me five you the codes.” He pushed a button, sending the file.