Navigators of Dune

55

After she returned from Lord Pondi’s planet, Anari Idaho’s report was exactly what Manford had hoped for. With her own eyes, the loyal Swordmaster had seen Pondi’s stockpile of atomics, doomsday weapons like those that had been used to wipe out the thinking machines.

But not all of the warheads had been used in that ruthless holocaust, and a planet-killing reserve had been set aside on Gillek. The nobleman was far too frightened to keep it there, and he was such an eager convert to the Butlerian movement that he had offered it all to Manford — who knew exactly how to make use of such unexpected bounty, and strength. It was just what he needed against Venport and his supposedly impregnable stronghold on Kolhar.

Over the course of several days on Pondi’s planet, Anari and her team had worked under cover of darkness to remove every one of the atomics. As she prepared to depart with her prize, the nervous nobleman had remained behind, bowing, weeping with happiness, thanking Anari for relieving him of such a terrible burden. Her Butlerian spacefolder raced back to Salusa Secundus with a full arsenal of forbidden atomics, and when the ship slipped in among Manford’s fleet, no one guessed how much destruction she carried in the hold.

Proud of her accomplishment, Anari shuttled down to rejoin the ever-growing hordes camped in Zimia’s palace square. Manford was relieved to have her back, and not just because of the news she brought. He was a far stronger leader with his Swordmaster present, and not merely in the physical sense. He could never have asked for a more perfect bodyguard, nor a better emotional bulwark, a stabilizer.

After Anari delivered her oral report in a low voice, close to his ear, Manford heaved a long, ecstatic sigh. Looking toward the towering Imperial Palace nearby, he narrowed his gaze. “I would prefer to keep this knowledge away from our dear Emperor Roderick. It does not concern him, and he has already shown that he is unwilling to take difficult but necessary actions. Therefore, we will use the atomics against our mutual enemy. And we will win. Anari, I am certain that Roderick Corrino will thank us.”

Both he and the Emperor were determined to crush Directeur Venport and erase his cursed technology, but Manford didn’t entirely trust Roderick’s convictions. While weak-willed Salvador could be pressured into doing what he was told, his brother had an unfortunate habit of thinking for himself.

Anari warned, “The use of atomics is strictly forbidden — particularly atomics against humans.”

During the long days of waiting for her report, hoping for the best, Manford had already thought through the consequences. “The use of thinking-machine technology is also forbidden, and Venport is clearly guilty of violating that. He sent cymeks to Salusa Secundus! I will use one anathema to destroy another. Thinking machines tortured and enslaved us for centuries, but remember that atomics liberated us. There is no moral equivalency.” He flushed as he thought of the glorious mission that lay before them. “After we wipe out Kolhar, if Roderick is too upset, I will explain that we did it to avenge the murder of his brother. If there is still too much uproar about our method, we can be contrite and beg forgiveness.” He smiled, nodding to himself. “I don’t expect it to be overly difficult, though. Roderick also gets what he wants.”

“If we succeed,” Anari said. “Remember that Kolhar is the most heavily defended planet in the Imperium. Despite our atomics, we could suffer heavy losses.”

He looked at the sprawling encampment of Butlerians all around him. “We have plenty of blood to spend.” He gestured to Anari, having already made his plans. “Take me to the Imperial Palace. I will inform the Emperor that we intend to conquer Kolhar, and all my followers will depart immediately. He doesn’t need to know more details.”

He had many warships in orbit alongside Roderick’s Imperial Armed Forces, including the hostage fleet that Admiral Harte had recently brought home. All those fighters were happy comrades for the time being … but Manford knew that the Butlerians had overstayed their welcome. The Emperor wanted them to leave.

When Manford returned after defeating Directeur Venport, though, his followers would never leave. They would be here to stay.

EMPEROR RODERICK SAT with Haditha in his private suite in the Palace, reading the unexpected handwritten message from Manford Torondo. The Butlerian leader announced that his entire fleet would depart for Kolhar, “to do what must be done. My forces are sufficient and my followers are determined. We will break through Venport’s defenses and lay waste to his entire planet.”

It was welcome news indeed.

He caught his breath as he handed the message to his auburn-haired wife. “I will tell Manford he has my blessing. The Butlerians will surely be slaughtered in the attempt, but they might still inflict considerable damage on Venport.” He tapped his fingers on the ornate bloodwood table. “Both sides may decimate each other.”

Haditha finished reading and set the note aside. “Manford must know that, though. He seems altogether too confident. Or foolish.”

“They can’t depart from Salusa swiftly enough, as far as I am concerned.” Although the Butlerian ships had made no overt threat against the Imperial capital, Roderick knew they could just as easily turn against Salusa, and maybe even attempt a coup. “I don’t trust Manford Torondo any more than I trust Directeur Venport.”

By now, he had decided that General Roon’s strike force had been lost somehow. Admiral Harte’s hostage battle group from Kolhar consisted of slow FTL ships that could not compete with even the old-model Butlerian fleet. Roderick had a plan for Harte’s ships, though — one that would be effective against the Butlerian homeworld, provided they were not totally destroyed at Kolhar. Either way, he felt confident that the Butlerians would be defeated.

The Emperor was supposed to possess the strongest military force, bar none, but during the course of his reign Salvador had let the fleet degenerate into corruption and incompetence. Salvador had become too dependent on the VenHold Spacing Fleet for transport, which left his military nearly helpless when Directeur Venport betrayed the Imperium.

Roderick stifled a groan. His brother had weakened the throne in ways that would take generations to repair … if House Corrino survived that long.

In the meantime, Roderick had signed extended contracts with EsconTran and other foldspace shipping companies to transport his peacekeeping ships around the increasingly restless Imperium. But only VenHold had Navigators, and so far Roderick’s scientists had not been able to poke, prod, or analyze the answers out of their captive specimen.…

Roderick struggled with the turmoil. An Emperor could not be tossed back and forth like a toy between the Butlerians and Venport! Soon, though, if the clash at Kolhar was bloody enough, the problem might resolve itself.…

BEFORE MANFORD AND his followers departed on their “holy mission,” the Emperor announced a day of celebrations to make the Butlerians feel appreciated. Their rallies seemed surprisingly restrained, because apparently they were saving their rage to be unleashed against Venport.

When Manford was ready to shuttle hundreds of thousands of followers up to his fleet in orbit, Roderick and Haditha gave the warships a grand send-off. They waved from the Palace towers as ship after ship lifted into the sky.

“Good riddance,” Roderick muttered. He didn’t really appreciate the Butlerians at all.

Haditha squeezed his hand. “Do you think they really could conquer Kolhar?”

“Faith and blind fanaticism are not sufficient weapons. I only hope the Butlerians inflict mortal damage on Venport’s forces before they themselves are destroyed.”

That would remove both of the annoying thorns that had been tormenting him.