Navigators of Dune

Josef looked at the Mentat and cocked his head. “After we purge Lampadas, maybe I’ll even let you establish a new Mentat School there, Draigo. Would you like that?”

“Very much, Directeur. It will preserve the great work of my mentor.”

* * *

SOON JOSEF’S OPTIMISM was shattered when two VenHold commercial spacefolders delivered the same disturbing report. The first agitated captain hurried from the landing field to the headquarters tower with his urgent news. At the same time, the second spacefolder arrived, broadcasting wild alarms.

Josef’s anger flared even before he had all the details.

The first captain barged into the office. “I just came from Subiak, Directeur! I tried to deliver a full load of spice, large farming equipment from Ix, and expensive musical instruments from Chusuk. That was when we discovered that all VenHold financial assets have been impounded, the planetary bank seized!” The captain blinked. “Directeur, all your wealth on Subiak has been frozen, by order of Emperor Roderick Corrino.”

Josef’s hackles rose. “But that bank is secure, like my others. All financial assets are held not just in the name of Combined Mercantiles, but in the names of countless other depositors. It’s a separate entity! Roderick has no right!”

“He is the Emperor, after all.” The captain sounded defeated. “He simply changed the law as he saw fit. Any trade with VenHold is forbidden.”

Josef slammed his fist down on the desktop.

Draigo narrowed his gaze, appeared to be running Mentat calculations. “You have been declared an outlaw, Directeur, and therefore your assets are subject to forfeiture. Roderick has taken them away from you.”

The second spacefolder captain entered the headquarters offices, looking just as alarmed. He confirmed the news, saying he’d heard of banks on three other worlds that had also been impacted, their operations cut off and assets confiscated.

Josef felt deeply betrayed. “My company cannot function without that cash flow! The wealth stored in any one of those planetary banks is enough to buy an entire world.” He lowered his voice to a growl. “The Emperor knows he can’t fight me militarily, so he’s resorted to this childish ploy. Trying to flex his muscle.”

“Childish, perhaps, but effective,” Cioba said. “If all of our banks have been stripped from us, Venport Holdings cannot operate. All across the Imperium our ships are loaded with cargo that needs to be delivered, otherwise we have very little operating capital. He’s cutting us off, painting us into a corner.”

Josef dismissed the two captains, leaving only Draigo and Cioba with him in his office. “We have other assets that even the Emperor doesn’t know about. I will liquidate them to buy more time.” His voice became a low, dangerous growl. “He just moved this conflict onto an entirely different level. It is no longer a dispute, but an outright war.”

Draigo straightened. “Directeur, perhaps it is time for me to go to Salusa Secundus as our ambassador. I will open negotiations with the Imperial Court. I can facilitate a compromise solution that restores Venport Holdings to the Emperor’s good graces.”

But now Josef was enraged. “No, we’re a long way past that point. Roderick thinks he can force me into submission, but I will not bargain from a position of weakness! Emperor or not, he cannot treat me this way. I put that man on the throne, and now I find out he’s not fit to rule the Imperium.”

Angry thoughts clicked like the beads of an abacus in his mind as he tried to measure the assets Roderick had just seized, but the number seemed incalculable. Josef inhaled several long breaths. “I never wanted to be Emperor—I’ve said it countless times—but he has just forced my hand. I cannot ignore this. I will not ignore this.”

“He seized your assets, and in retaliation you seize the Imperial throne?” Draigo said.

“I will at least threaten to do so, until he surrenders. After which, he can make an appropriate act of contrition, and I will generously restore him to the Imperial Palace—with a far better understanding of his place.” His voice held a sad weariness. “I had high hopes for that man. Why couldn’t Roderick just operate like a sensible businessman? Now I have to save the human race from their own Emperor as well as the barbarians?”

“How will you accomplish that?” Cioba asked.

“VenHold military forces exceed anything that the Emperor commands. I have Admiral Harte’s expeditionary force held hostage here, and I’ve seized his guardian fleet at Arrakis. I certainly have enough military might to move against Salusa.” His eyes brightened as a thought occurred to him. “Draigo, you said there are now thirty-one battle cymeks ready on Denali?”

“Yes, Directeur, although we were expecting to use them against the Butlerians when—”