In late 2018, a joint operation between the United States Marshals Service and the county sheriff's department—consisting of Deputy Marshal Cameron Burke, Sheriff Earl Whitehorse and his deputies Joey Hudson, Staci Pratt and the player character, an unnamed Junior Deputy—arrive at an Eden's Gate church to detain Joseph Seed with a federal arrest warrant on charges of kidnapping with the intent to harm. Although Joseph offers no resistance, he claims that God will not allow him to be taken. As he is escorted away, cult members attack the task force and cause their helicopter to crash. Joseph escapes and commands the cult to capture the task force members; Hudson is captured by John, Pratt becomes Jacob's slave, and both Whitehorse and the Marshall are hypnotized by Faith.