Navigators of Dune

Roderick scowled. “I do not have any spare ships that I can use to impose my authority on Arrakis.” But if Roon is successful at Kolhar, I will win control over all the VenHold operations anyway.

Roderick ground his teeth together. That infernal planet had caused so much trouble, and his brother’s inept handling of an attempted takeover had led to the current crisis—as well as his own death. Frowning, he said, “That confirms information I already have, Truthsayer. You have told me nothing new.”

“You cannot extract your mining crews and troops from Arrakis. They are struggling to defend their spice operations, but they have no feasible way to deliver the spice they produce, other than by using black-market runners, who steal as much as they sell. Your citizens are addicted and demanding melange, and they are growing restless. They need to see the flow of spice restored.”

Roderick admitted, “We didn’t station enough firepower there to hold spice operations under Imperial control, and I don’t have the forces to recapture it. Venport’s profits must be immense if he continues to expend so much to maintain his operations there.”

“Spice means more than just profits to Directeur Venport. You must understand this, Sire.” Fielle gazed at him. “He needs to provide a constant supply of spice for his Navigators. Without spice, his Navigators cannot envision safe paths through the universe. Without spice, he cannot create more Navigators. Without spice, Venport Holdings cannot function. That is why Arrakis is so vital to him.”

“And how did you come by this information?” Haditha interjected, looking suspicious.

“I cannot reveal our internal source, but Mother Superior Valya requested that I share this knowledge with you.”

Frowning, Roderick said, “I will consider it thoroughly.” Then he spoke to the honor guard. “Take these women to the quarters vacated by the previous Sisters. Reverend Mother Dorotea served me well—so when I have need of a Truthsayer, I hope I can trust you as I did her.”

As if choreographed, Fielle and the women bowed in unison, then turned to follow their escort, leaving Roderick and Haditha next to the new rosebush. He spoke quietly, relying on his wife as a sounding board, as he always did.

“I am far more worried about Venport and his control of Arrakis than I am about the schemes of those women. But General Roon and his strike force should reach Kolhar soon. If he breaks Venport Holdings, then we will have all the time we need to reassert control over Arrakis.” He drew a deep breath. “The Imperium will be stable again.”

A plan is only that—a plan. It is not the actual doing of a thing.

—SUPREME COMMANDER VORIAN ATREIDES, Annals of the Jihad

After the pilot checked and rechecked his manual calculations, the giant foldspace carrier plunged into the labyrinth between space, carrying the Imperial strike force toward the Kolhar system. The carrier would arrive close to the VenHold stronghold, depending on the variance and navigational errors.

As soon as the Imperial carrier emerged above the planet, the attack ships would be dispatched in an overwhelming surprise assault. Without any time to respond, Venport Holdings would fall. Anticipation built among the troops.

General Roon stood on the bridge, hands clasped behind his back, waiting. He looked forward to the spectacle, since it gave him the opportunity to prove himself. A defeat of Directeur Venport would dispel any lingering personal issues between himself and Roderick Corrino. At last.

Roon had served on the staff of Commanding General Odmo Saxby, where he’d seen firsthand what a fool Saxby was, but he had never reported his superior (although perhaps he should have). Finally, Saxby’s incompetence came to the attention of the new Emperor, and Roderick had ordered sweeping changes. Now, it was Roon’s turn to lead. He had earned this opportunity.

The surprise strike force was a significant portion of the Imperial space military, in order to guarantee victory and take down the man who had assassinated Salvador Corrino. But the logistics of gathering, preparing, and loading so many ships aboard the gigantic carrier had delayed the launch for more than a day. Mechanical issues, checklist irregularities, personnel reassignments. But it all had to be done properly. General Roon would have only one chance, and he wouldn’t let Roderick down.

As the carrier moved out of Salusan orbit, his technicians had gone over the Holtzman diagnostics, studying the space-navigation panels. Since they did not have the use of a Navigator, the course to the Kolhar system had been calculated and recalculated. Just to be safe.

When Roon finally gave the order, reality folded around the carrier, and they plunged into a shortcut through dimensionally uncharted space.