Navigators of Dune

65

Josef felt vindicated as well as recharged. He gambled that Roderick would be true to his word, and if this was the price for putting the personal conflict behind them, Josef would gladly pay it. He had already wanted to eradicate the Butlerian vermin for his own reasons. He had intended to go after them with or without the Imperial sanction.

Obviously, the Emperor realized the necessity of eliminating the fanatics, even if he used VenHold to take care of the dirty work. This was truly a perfect solution, but the Emperor had no idea what kind of weapons VenHold could bring to bear against the Butlerians.

According to Draigo, their force of cymek warrior forms was ready to launch from Denali — more than one hundred battle machines with perfectly configured Navigator brains — not to mention the forty refurbished robot ships, which were ready to be placed into service as well. Josef intended to station those new warships at Arrakis, refusing to weaken his grip here while he went to Lampadas. No one would dare to challenge him.

And after their atomic attack on Kolhar, Manford and his savages had gone home to their primitive planet, where they were completely vulnerable.

Yes, this plan was indeed coming together nicely. Once they were back in the Emperor’s good graces and the antitechnology cancer had been excised, the Imperium would be strong again. VenHold and Josef would be strong again! Then he could come back and resume his spice production with a vengeance.

First, though, the Manford-devil had to die, and that was a task Josef anticipated with great relish.

Leaving Arrakis, the VenHold fleet arrived at Denali, the base from which Josef would launch his surprise attack on Lampadas. Since the laboratory domes could not support the many thousands of extra inhabitants, most of his personnel remained aboard the orbiting ships during the two days of staging. Josef traveled down to the surface to meet with Draigo, Ptolemy, and Administrator Noffe, so that they could finalize the assault against Manford Torondo.

They were more than ready.

He also wanted to see Anna Corrino, his last bargaining chip. If all went well with this operation and Emperor Roderick was true to his word, Josef wouldn’t even need her. Her brother still did not know that he had her there, safe but held hostage … much as Cioba was on Salusa Secundus. Once Manford was destroyed, if Roderick made amends and remained true to his word, Josef would be pleased to return his sister to him, unharmed.

Everyone would be friends again.

If the Emperor betrayed him, Anna would make an excellent human shield, as a last resort.

When the shuttle landed in the darkness in front of the clustered lab domes, he felt a thrill of fear and excitement to see five fearsome cymeks striding noisily toward them through the caustic greenish mists. As a sealed-environment sleeve connected the shuttle to the laboratory domes, Josef watched the immense walkers march along on patrol. Each of Ptolemy’s redesigned mechanical warriors was more heavily armored than earlier models, carrying more weaponry than any cymeks that had fought during Serena Butler’s Jihad. These were invincible.

Josef smiled to imagine how Manford Torondo would react upon seeing a large force of such battle machines land on his doorstep.…

During the détente meeting, he’d gotten the impression that Roderick considered him weak and wounded, perhaps even defeated, but Josef would surprise him. The Emperor had no idea about this Denali installation or the cymek army just waiting to be unleashed.

Venport entered the dome wearing formal business clothes, and Draigo was there to meet him. “Directeur, the cymek walker forms are ready, as are the Navigator brains to drive them. We are prepared to strike the Butlerians, on your command.”

“The command is given,” Josef said, sounding pleased, “in the name of the Emperor himself. Roderick finally recognizes the true scope of the threat posed by the fanatics. Prepare the cymek drop-pods and begin loading the Navigator brains. We are readying our warships in orbit. This will be a total, unrestrained attack, with no mercy and no survivors — not after what those monsters did to Kolhar. I want to launch for Lampadas as soon as possible. The half-Manford is there now, crowing about his victory. This is our chance to obliterate him.”

The Mentat nodded. “We know he’s used atomics — so we must consider that he might have more when we go against him. But I suspect that he will be hesitant to use atomics anywhere near his own homeworld. It would foul his nest.”

“I was thinking the same thing.”

“Also,” Draigo said, “the forty refurbished thinking-machine battleships have already been dispatched to Arrakis, as you ordered, where they will hold firm against any incursion. Your operations there are secure.”

“Excellent. Soon enough we will resume full spice production, expand our commercial routes with more Navigator ships, and bask in the Emperor’s high regard … in an Imperium without the silly Butlerians.” He allowed himself a satisfied smile. “We may be at the beginning of a new golden age after all.”

While the Mentat conferred with Noffe and Ptolemy, Josef went to see Anna Corrino. He needed her to do something for him, as insurance. While he waited in the main admin office, Josef reviewed the initial Lampadas foray, during which a mere three cymeks had caused so much damage. He could only imagine what a powerful force of them would do against a world full of unarmed primitives.

Two figures appeared at the waiting room door, lovely young Anna Corrino and a muscular man who looked like an idealized reproduction of Headmaster Albans. Surprised, Josef rose to his feet. “You are Erasmus? This is your new body?”

The man lifted his arms and flexed his fingers, as if still marveling at himself. “I am, and it is.”

Anna Corrino grasped her companion’s arm. “Erasmus is one of us now. He is my lover and my true love. Thank you for keeping me safe here with him, Directeur Venport.”

Josef gave the young woman a reassuring smile. Anna’s primary mental damage had occurred on Rossak at the Sisterhood school. Afterward, she had been sent to be trained among Mentats, in the hope that Headmaster Albans could reshape her thoughts and make her normal again. When Draigo Roget whisked her off to safekeeping on Denali, Anna had been frightened, but he managed to convince her that the laboratory domes were a sanctuary against the turbulence in the Imperium. Anna seemed not to understand her value as a hostage.

Now she pressed herself against the biological body of Erasmus. “We are so happy now.”

Josef smiled back at her. “Good, then there is something I need you to do for me. I think your brother is concerned about you. Would you record a message for me? We should reassure him.” For insurance.

“My brother?” Anna’s brow furrowed, as if trying to remember. “Which one — Roderick? Or Salvador?”

Josef kept his voice smooth and gentle. “I’m afraid Salvador suffered an unfortunate accident. He is dead.”

“Oh, that’s right — I forgot. A sandworm gobbled him up.” She shrugged. “Salvador ruined my love affair with Hirondo and sent me to the Sisterhood school.”

“Roderick is Emperor now,” Josef said. “I’m sure he wants to know that you are safe. I would very much like you to record a holo message to reassure him. Could you possibly do that for me?”

“Of course, as long as I don’t have to leave Erasmus.” She slipped her hands around her companion’s arm.

“No, I want you to stay safe right here, for as long as is necessary.”

Erasmus’s brow furrowed as he worked through the implications. Finally he looked at Josef. “I understand. He is right, Anna, it is very important that we say what your brother needs to hear. I will help you make the recording so that it says exactly the right words.”

“Thank you. Record it as soon as you can.” Josef looked into the human eyes of the independent robot, and a strange understanding passed between them. Erasmus was probably devious enough to develop a more effective recording than any Josef would have constructed, and it was obvious that Anna would do anything for him. “I’ll review it when you’re finished,” Josef added.

Interrupting them, Draigo arrived at the office door, accompanied by two cymek carts carrying brain canisters. “The walkers are being loaded and shipped up to orbit now, Directeur. All Navigator brains have been briefed on the attack plan against Lampadas. Ptolemy and Noffe are eager to go.”

Anna brightened. “Will you kill Manford Torondo?”

“We most certainly will,” Josef promised.

“I’m glad. He’s a monstrous, cruel man. He cut off the head of Headmaster Albans. Actually his Swordmaster did it, but Manford gave the order, so he’s responsible.” She frowned, reliving the event. “If you kill both Manford and Anari, that would be best.”

“We intend to,” Josef assured her. Anna seemed happy with the answer.