2300.Hours Solarian Date 2-23-10105/05
Draconis.IV
Near the city of Dracon…
It was the usual weather on Draconis IV, icy winds blew and the 10-layer cirrus clouds obscured everything on the surface to any marauding frigate. Though each of the 3 houses continually bribed the Spacing Guild for satellite coverage of what entered and left each planet's atmosphere, even the most sensitive equipment wouldn't have been able to pick up the small oblong craft that stealthily climbed away from the planet's capital city, Dracon, which was currently facing away from the Draconis system's sun, D13.
Commander Korba looked at the crystalline display screen and observed the receding planet. He sighed. It would be a long time until he would be able to return, and that was when the Ordos have taken Arrakis from the filthy grip of the Harkonnen and Atreides.
Korba had been given a command of utmost importance. He had been given a choice in the matter because of his record of success (99.2%) in dealing with the other Houses. He had been given command of the Black Guard, a military outfit consisting of top Draconian soldiers and officers, along with an echelon of the new D-4 Laser Tanks for his personal use.
The Black Guard was the best of the best. These soldiers had each left the War Universities in the top 1 %. They had been trained with every Ordos weapon there was, and in some of the other houses' weaponry. They were also adept at camouflage, and could wield explosives with the utmost potency. They needed these skills, for the mission Korba had been assigned was one of infiltration and sabotage…
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2030.Hours SD 2-31-10105/05
Arrakis
Just outside of the Shield Wall…
Taryn was walking home after a hard day at work in the Blacksmith shop in one of the many villages just inside the Shield Wall. He was looking forward to a nice hot meal without Melange as he walked back, since one gets tired of having the essence of Melange in everything, when a black shadow flitted across the mandarin colored sky. Taryn looked up toward the shadow, and saw that it was descending toward the deep desert. He looked on in total incomprehension; who in their right minds would want to go into the deep desert? Then, he stopped. A slithering sound filled his eardrums. He opened his eyes in terror, for this was the sound of a Sandworm coming for its prey…
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2100.Hours SD 2-31-10105/05
Arrakis
In Habbyanna Erg…
The black craft descended toward Habbyanna Erg, as concealed doors in the rock's face opened, it hovered, then lowering itself into the opening.
The craft came to full stop once the landing gear had been deployed and the back door had opened with a soft pshhh of the air equalizing from the journey through space. The silver ramp opened, revealing a huge Ordos crest on the inside security airlock doors. As the doors unlocked themselves, the Black Guard stood at attention, after all, who wouldn't want to make a good first impression on their new commander for the next campaign?
Commander Korba stepped out onto the ramp and looked at his new troops. This was a good lot, he thought. No has even moved even an inch yet. Then again, these were the best of the best, sworn to defend and uphold the Ordos cause to the death.
"All right troops," he said with an unmistakable confidence, "I am your new commander for this mission. I will not tolerate any restraint from killing and will not tolerate any mercy from any of you. Our mission is to infiltrate and disable the Harkonnen bases at Carthag, and the villages A17 and D3. All platoon commanders, report to me now. The rest are dismissed." He lightly walked down from his shuttle, and went toward the 5 men wearing the insignia of Lieutenant Commander and Lieutenant.
The men greeted him in the usual Ordos salute, and went up to him one by one, announcing their names, or at least, were about to, when Korba cut in.
"Men, I know we are going to be working together very closely ion the next few months, so I expect the best out of you. I will refer to your platoons each as a letter, either A, B, C, D, or E." Korba calmly addressed. "Sir," one of the L. Commanders asked, " Will that be the way you will refer to us as well?" "Of course not. I expect you to turn in each a report of the men on your platoons by 2100 this evening, and do I have to state that I expect your platoon letters -oh by the way, you're A, you're B, C, D and you're E-and your names as well? I know that you didn't get this far into your careers with no brains, but this is the first time a commanding officer is going to want you to use them, not use his plans only. I will respect each and every man's opinions, but I can't say that I will use every opinion given to me. And I do know that you'll serve the Executrix with the utmost of your ability, am I right?" "Sir, yes sir!" the 5 responded in perfect unison, and with a touch of pride when Korba had talked about their minds and how they had used them.
"Good. Now start those reports, it's already 1930 hours." Korba finalized.