DUNE (1)
Posted: Mon Mar 24, 2003 3:20 am
(Giedi Prime)
He could have just made his way through the Keep with the knowledge that all he came across would have to give way.However the information he carried was of sensitive nature,so,he was forced to make his way through the deep shadows that were so numerous deep Castle Harkonnen.It was still no challenge,he mused to himself.Raised as a Swordmaster since before he could even talk he was able to spot weaknesses in any defense,and the Keep was full of them.Reaching his destination he gave the agreed upon coded knock and entered as he heard the click of the electronic latch being lifted.
The na-Baron Gunseng Harkonnen was unique to the current and past line of Harkonnen leaders and offspring.Centuries ago a Bene Gesserit witch had infected the feared Baron Vladmir Harkonnen with a debilitating disease,causing his body to bloat uncontrolably.It had passed through the harkonnen bloodline infecting each offspring to differing degrees.Few were ever unaffected,Gunseng was one of those few.Terrified at the thought of becoming fat he exercised regularly and even took part in the collisieum games.Hearing the coded knock on his room door he flipped two switches,one to open his door...the other to activate the jamming device he'd placed here.
"Did you get it?"He demanded,perhaps too desperately.
The Swordmaster held out a printed sheet of 'instroy' paper to which he quickly grabbed and began to scan the tiny writing.
Attuned to his Lord's emotions the Swordmaster recognised the subtle rage that began to smolder in Gunseng's eyes.Crumpling the sheet he held he tossed it into a waste dispenser to the side of the room."Damn him!!"he suddenly exploded smashing his fist into the wall.
"Lord?"
"Five brigades of my best troops have been wiped out on Arrakis,"he replied."A Fremen attack,supposedly."
"It could be true my Lord.If they were placed to guard one of the late Baron's Spice hoards they could have been killed by one of the Fremen raiding parties."
Gunseng ignored his words as he stood at the window overlooking Harko City.He motioned the other man to join him.Fire and smoke erupted from the numerous factories within the city,extnding outwars to the fields at the outskirts of the dark city.The swordmaster waited patiently for the na-Baron to continue.He surprised by using his name.
"Heero.....I need you to go to Arrakis."
"............."
"Treize sends word that Atreides troops have assisting the Fremen in their attacks against us.I can't fight the Atreides and my brother simultaneousely.But if they were to attack and harry my brothers' forces....."
"You speak of an alliance with the enemies of your House!"Heero was incredulous."Even if they agree,what guaratee is it that they won't attack you should we be victorious?"
"The Atreides still hold to the tenents of honor above,as you do....my friend.But do not fear,I'm not planning to ally.........it'll be more like....a truce."he smiled.
"And what does this have to do with me,"Heero asked,toying with one of kodachi,his weapon of choice.
"When you returned from Ginaz,you spoke of an Atreides retainer there.A.....Trowa Barton.Yes?"
Abruptly he knew where this was going,"Yes."
"You spoke of him with some measure of respect in your voice,"Gunseng prodded."You were friends.....comrades,at least."
"Friends would be saying too much,Lord,"Heero said carefully."Comrades,maybe.But it would be best too say we respected each others' abilities."
"Would he listen to what you have to say?"Gunseng pressed."Would he help you if you came offering a mutually beneficial treaty to House Atreides?"
"I.....cannot speak for him Lord.But if you give me the order I will do everything in my power to convert him."
"It may not come to that,"Gunseng mused."For now head to Arrakis and see what you can do to assist Commander Treize.Your proteges' abilities may be of some use there."
".....Yes sir,"Heero bowed and moved out of the room.
Gunseng waited a full minute before,"Well....?"
A hidden panel lifted behind him and the Harkonnen Mentat,Yanish Kobal stepped forward,"It's an interesting plan,Lord.One that could benefit you....regardless of how it turns out."
"So what will you tell my brother?"
"Merely that you've dispatched your precious Swordmaster to Arrakis to stiffen the resolve of your remaining troops."
Gunseng snorted,"Still playing both sides,eh.Very well just try to keep that young follow on of his,Quatre I think it,alive until the next Heighleiner arrives.He's absolutely vital."
As the hidden panel fell back into place behind the Mentat's retreating form,Gunseng allowed himself to expel the breathe he'd been holding.This was probabely the greatest gambit any Harkonnen had ever attempted.Moving to his desk he began to pen two letters.One to the Spacing Guild,about the Frigate docking and freight.And one to his commander on Arrakis.This done he allowed himself a self satisfied smirk.His brother would pay for poisoning their sire........at least before he could have declared Gunseng the heir......
TBC
_______________
Finally!!It's complete and posted.This isn't the story I wanted to put up first but my other has considerable plot holes that need ironing out.Anyway for people who don't know much about Dune,or have only seen the *shudder* movie remake,here's a description of the titles in this chapter.
Swordmaster-Warriors from the planet Ginaz.To become a Swordmaster one must train on the neutral planet for eight years undergoing physical and philosophical training.The training is harsh and one out of every three trainees will either fail or be killed in the attempt.
Na-Baron-Title given to the heir designate of the House Harkonnen.
Mentat-Humans trained as 'human computers'.The training was developed after the war against thinking machines(The Butlerian Jihad) when it was declared that'Thou shalt not make a machine inthe likeness of a human mind'.
Heighleiner-A massive(3km) ship that is capable of trans-galactic flight.Under the control of the Spacing Guild.
Bene Gesserit-A female cult,scorned as witches due to their unusual abilities(truthsaying,prophecy,vocal manipulation).They are also often sought out as wives or concubines by members of some Noble Houses.
He could have just made his way through the Keep with the knowledge that all he came across would have to give way.However the information he carried was of sensitive nature,so,he was forced to make his way through the deep shadows that were so numerous deep Castle Harkonnen.It was still no challenge,he mused to himself.Raised as a Swordmaster since before he could even talk he was able to spot weaknesses in any defense,and the Keep was full of them.Reaching his destination he gave the agreed upon coded knock and entered as he heard the click of the electronic latch being lifted.
The na-Baron Gunseng Harkonnen was unique to the current and past line of Harkonnen leaders and offspring.Centuries ago a Bene Gesserit witch had infected the feared Baron Vladmir Harkonnen with a debilitating disease,causing his body to bloat uncontrolably.It had passed through the harkonnen bloodline infecting each offspring to differing degrees.Few were ever unaffected,Gunseng was one of those few.Terrified at the thought of becoming fat he exercised regularly and even took part in the collisieum games.Hearing the coded knock on his room door he flipped two switches,one to open his door...the other to activate the jamming device he'd placed here.
"Did you get it?"He demanded,perhaps too desperately.
The Swordmaster held out a printed sheet of 'instroy' paper to which he quickly grabbed and began to scan the tiny writing.
Attuned to his Lord's emotions the Swordmaster recognised the subtle rage that began to smolder in Gunseng's eyes.Crumpling the sheet he held he tossed it into a waste dispenser to the side of the room."Damn him!!"he suddenly exploded smashing his fist into the wall.
"Lord?"
"Five brigades of my best troops have been wiped out on Arrakis,"he replied."A Fremen attack,supposedly."
"It could be true my Lord.If they were placed to guard one of the late Baron's Spice hoards they could have been killed by one of the Fremen raiding parties."
Gunseng ignored his words as he stood at the window overlooking Harko City.He motioned the other man to join him.Fire and smoke erupted from the numerous factories within the city,extnding outwars to the fields at the outskirts of the dark city.The swordmaster waited patiently for the na-Baron to continue.He surprised by using his name.
"Heero.....I need you to go to Arrakis."
"............."
"Treize sends word that Atreides troops have assisting the Fremen in their attacks against us.I can't fight the Atreides and my brother simultaneousely.But if they were to attack and harry my brothers' forces....."
"You speak of an alliance with the enemies of your House!"Heero was incredulous."Even if they agree,what guaratee is it that they won't attack you should we be victorious?"
"The Atreides still hold to the tenents of honor above,as you do....my friend.But do not fear,I'm not planning to ally.........it'll be more like....a truce."he smiled.
"And what does this have to do with me,"Heero asked,toying with one of kodachi,his weapon of choice.
"When you returned from Ginaz,you spoke of an Atreides retainer there.A.....Trowa Barton.Yes?"
Abruptly he knew where this was going,"Yes."
"You spoke of him with some measure of respect in your voice,"Gunseng prodded."You were friends.....comrades,at least."
"Friends would be saying too much,Lord,"Heero said carefully."Comrades,maybe.But it would be best too say we respected each others' abilities."
"Would he listen to what you have to say?"Gunseng pressed."Would he help you if you came offering a mutually beneficial treaty to House Atreides?"
"I.....cannot speak for him Lord.But if you give me the order I will do everything in my power to convert him."
"It may not come to that,"Gunseng mused."For now head to Arrakis and see what you can do to assist Commander Treize.Your proteges' abilities may be of some use there."
".....Yes sir,"Heero bowed and moved out of the room.
Gunseng waited a full minute before,"Well....?"
A hidden panel lifted behind him and the Harkonnen Mentat,Yanish Kobal stepped forward,"It's an interesting plan,Lord.One that could benefit you....regardless of how it turns out."
"So what will you tell my brother?"
"Merely that you've dispatched your precious Swordmaster to Arrakis to stiffen the resolve of your remaining troops."
Gunseng snorted,"Still playing both sides,eh.Very well just try to keep that young follow on of his,Quatre I think it,alive until the next Heighleiner arrives.He's absolutely vital."
As the hidden panel fell back into place behind the Mentat's retreating form,Gunseng allowed himself to expel the breathe he'd been holding.This was probabely the greatest gambit any Harkonnen had ever attempted.Moving to his desk he began to pen two letters.One to the Spacing Guild,about the Frigate docking and freight.And one to his commander on Arrakis.This done he allowed himself a self satisfied smirk.His brother would pay for poisoning their sire........at least before he could have declared Gunseng the heir......
TBC
_______________
Finally!!It's complete and posted.This isn't the story I wanted to put up first but my other has considerable plot holes that need ironing out.Anyway for people who don't know much about Dune,or have only seen the *shudder* movie remake,here's a description of the titles in this chapter.
Swordmaster-Warriors from the planet Ginaz.To become a Swordmaster one must train on the neutral planet for eight years undergoing physical and philosophical training.The training is harsh and one out of every three trainees will either fail or be killed in the attempt.
Na-Baron-Title given to the heir designate of the House Harkonnen.
Mentat-Humans trained as 'human computers'.The training was developed after the war against thinking machines(The Butlerian Jihad) when it was declared that'Thou shalt not make a machine inthe likeness of a human mind'.
Heighleiner-A massive(3km) ship that is capable of trans-galactic flight.Under the control of the Spacing Guild.
Bene Gesserit-A female cult,scorned as witches due to their unusual abilities(truthsaying,prophecy,vocal manipulation).They are also often sought out as wives or concubines by members of some Noble Houses.
