Around them, the Harkonnen security detail was as expressionless and rigid as statues, but she was sure they could turn deadly in a moment.
“We will work out any additional details,” the Baron said, “but I believe we have a meeting of the minds. Orgiz is a functional platform for us to ship an agreed-upon amount of spice through CHOAM distribution channels.” His round, fat face darkened with concern. “So long as Count Fenring and the Emperor never get wind of what we do here. Shaddam could strip House Harkonnen of the Arrakis governorship, just as they did to House Richese before us.”
“Oh, you certainly have my agreement, Baron, but since I came all this way, you will now take the time to show me your operations in detail. I want to understand the process flow and every aspect of your business.” Malina pressed her lips together. They were already dry and cracked. Amazing how rapidly this planet stole water from the body! “The alliance is acceptable—so long as you do not demand that I come to this godforsaken place again.”
The most honorable course of military action rarely wins the battle.
—SUPREME BASHAR CORREA DOBLÉ
With elite Sardaukar standing on each side of his immense throne, the Emperor shouted to his assembled aides. Even after making revisions to the list, he remained dissatisfied with the current candidates to fill the Landsraad vacancies.
Throughout the morning, Chamberlain Ridondo had ushered in numerous advisers and scribes, and Shaddam had read summary after summary. He didn’t recognize most of the names, though his dear Empress likely would. So far, the dossiers did not impress him. He needed to know that all Landsraad replacements he approved would be loyal to him, even with the brewing unrest fostered by Noble Commonwealth sedition.
“I need more names. I eliminated half the ones you submitted based on their private sentiments and public statements.” He glanced at Ridondo, then down at the Imperial functionaries. “You should never have wasted my time with them.”
The advisers cowered, which was the appropriate response.
“Not only is this an emergency,” Shaddam continued, trying to make them understand, “it is also an opportunity. I intend to fill the vacancies with those I can rely on to carry out my policies and to support me against any controversy. We must be absolutely certain that none of them are involved in Jaxson Aru’s heinous insurrection. Am I clear?”
“Very clear, Sire,” said Stef Ibbon, a career bureaucrat who led one of the research teams.
“We will consult with a broader group of experts and deliver new candidates by the end of the day,” said a young woman. He couldn’t recall her name, but knew she was a recent graduate of a top university. The Emperor frowned at her, as did Stef Ibbon, both of them aware that the young woman should not have spoken up in front of others who had far more seniority.
Then Shaddam looked at her again. Unlike many of these others, she seemed to have confidence, intelligence, and stronger convictions than her colleagues. He recalled that the candidates she had put forward were satisfactory, and many of them remained on the Emperor’s list. “Clearly, I need to disrupt my old focus groups to get better results.” He struggled to remember this young woman’s name. Ah, now he had it! “You are Aina Tere, correct? From this moment forward, I place you in charge of the candidate search.” He glowered at Ibbon. “You will follow her orders from now on.”
The career bureaucrat paled and lost his voice for a moment, before he managed to reply, “Yes, Majesty, as you wish. We will strive to do better.”
“Provide her with all your research. Aina Tere will vet the names more carefully, dig deeper to identify the Imperial loyalists on the list, and separate out the traitors.”
* * *
DEDICATED AND READY to sacrifice his life should any threat arise against the Emperor, Colonel Bashar Kolona stood beside the throne and listened intently. Shaddam IV was justifiably angry and frightened about the violent assassination attempt, but he was just as concerned by the quieter aspect of the Noble Commonwealth rebellion, the slow advance of planets secretly slipping out of his iron grip.
The Emperor was beginning to see traitors everywhere, most of them imaginary, but some were genuine rebels. As his Imperial spies dug deeper and exposed evidence of some noble houses that promulgated independence and advocated the breakup of the Imperium, Shaddam refrained from exposing them in public, since that would give them an open platform to air their indignation and grievances. But he began making his list.
The Sardaukar officer observed, but he kept his thoughts to himself. Many Landsraad nobles were treacherous, and yet some surprised him, Leto Atreides in particular.
Not long after becoming Duke, young Leto Atreides had discovered his own father’s unwitting participation in the downfall of House Kolona. Even though the seized Kolona holdings had been transferred to House Atreides, Leto’s sense of honor would not allow him to keep assets that had been gained by such means. Years ago, though it cost the wealth and stature of his House, the Atreides Duke had come to Kaitain and voluntarily surrendered his inherited Kolona holdings to distant surviving relatives.
Because he said it was the honorable thing to do.
The young colonel bashar had been attending Shaddam at the time and had witnessed Leto’s unexpected generosity. From that point on, Kolona had reconsidered his original low opinion of the Atreides. Now he refused to believe Leto was involved in the Noble Commonwealth rebellion, especially after what he had seen on Otorio. The Sardaukar had immediately taken Leto’s warning with due seriousness, though he was certain the Duke of Caladan did not know who Jopati Kolona was.
Shaddam’s suspicions, though, ranged widely.
Now that the Emperor had the attention of young Aina Tere, he continued lecturing his search committee. Shaddam held up the paper. “On this most recent list, I see the name of Count Trum Vichon, a man who has spoken out in favor of planetary rights. Though he did not cite the Noble Commonwealth by name, does that not give any of you pause? In order to build a strong and unified Imperium, do we dare give power to a man who idealizes the very concept of breaking it up?”
The advisers quickly consulted their notes. One heavyset woman spoke up in a surprisingly high voice. “Vichon has never criticized you or the throne, Sire. I read his speech. The Count merely proposed a political thought experiment, about the challenges of governing such a large star-spanning Imperium, given the time lags and communication delays across vast distances. We thought you only wanted to exclude those who had openly agitated against you.”
Shaddam was not in an open-minded mood. “Think about what you are saying! The core of the Noble Commonwealth’s argument is planetary rights as opposed to Imperial rights, scattered independence versus strong unification. A nobleman who is in favor of planetary rights might be an enemy of the throne.”
The aides responded with dead silence.
Kolona remained at attention, listening as the Emperor’s rant gained momentum. Though he was a loyal Sardaukar, Kolona had mixed feelings about this man. Shaddam Corrino had demonstrated the utmost cruelty in the service of maintaining his firm hand of leadership. Fifteen years ago, Shaddam had executed his own half brother in the Imperial Plaza after declaring him a traitor. He was not averse to hard decisions or extreme acts.