Chapter 15

"The more corrupt the state, the more numerous the laws"

Cornelius Tacitus Roman historian

Humans tended to obsess about the Planet of their origin – Earth. There tended to be romanticism about anything Terrestrial, among them was a plethora of legends. One such Legend was about the Marabunta.

The Marabunta was a Soldier Ant said to inhabit the jungles of the Southern Continent of Earth. When their war-like instincts were triggered they would go on a rampage. Once the ants were on the march, man and beast faced only two options: Get out of the way or die. Seen approaching for kilometers the insects would consume and destroy everything in its path, leaving a desert in their wake.

Marabunta did not make social visits. Once the war impulse is triggered, neither did Fremen.

The Highliners of the Spacing Guild arrived and blackened the sky to the point that the sun was eclipsed. They delivered the deadly cargo and were gone. They would return when called upon as per the agreement of the contract.

Five cohorts of Battle Hardned, Desert Tempered, Shai-Hulud Fanatical Fedaykin prepared for deployment. If there were Worm Bed on Salusa Secundus, they the faithful would find it and eliminate the abomination.

Alerted to the situation by the eclipse the planetary government declared their innocence, called for negotiations and begged for mercy. The Fremen had one reply "We are Fedaykin. We have come to stop the incarceration of Shai-Hulud." There was no other announcement and no negotiations.

Looking like a spatial tornado linking Salusa Secundus to the space transport, the Arakeen transports hovered over the planet to disgorge their deadly cargo. The troops swarmed out. As with the Legend of the Marabunta the Fedaykin could be seen approaching for kilometers across the sky and as with the insects they would consume and destroy everything in its path.

The leading edge of the invasion was already two days on the ground and conducting searches when the last of the soldiers landed.

Salusa Secundus faced only two options - get out of the way or die. The planetary government called upon the Landsraad for assistance.

~*~*~*~*~

Dwanna watched impassively as the Fremen ground troops had taken control of the Planet. She had emerged from the Tourist Attraction just the week before and was still conferencing with Reverend Mother Kardon when the swarm had arrived; apparently they too had heard the rumour of worms on Salusa Secundus and had come to find out for themselves.

The arrival had been impressive. In no time the Planet had been shut down. No transport – no communications. That meant she was marooned here.

Teams had finally gone into the mock Dune and were due back soon. She knew what they would find.

~*~*~*~*~

In an effort to intervene at the risk of the wrath of the Empress, the Landsraad sent a negotiator be broker a peace between Salusa Secundus and the Fremen.

The negotiator had had his skills tested to limit of his training, experience and patience, but finally; FINALLY! An agreement had been hammered out.

The Fremen would be allowed to search for worm sign on Salusa Secundus with an observer from the Planetary Government. Once satisfied that there were no worms, they would leave within two solar days.

In the privacy of his quarters he sent a message to the Landsraad Liaison. That done he collapsed onto his bunk and instructed all that he was to be called only when the Fremen had returned and were ready to report.

He fell into an exhausted sleep.

~*~*~*~*~

"TERRAN GROWTH INC." The plaque declared its existence to all as far as the eye could see. That day it was declaring to the latest version of Xavier Mehda'in, Mentat Ghola of the Prince Corinno. He was conducting the latest inspection of the facilities.

He and the cloning scientist; Doctor Chanson watched the latest batch being 'cooked'.

"Since our last report." She droned, "We have reached capacity with the first order. We now have the first batch of one million Sardaukar ready."

Mehda'in grunted his approval.

The Doctor sensed the Ghola's doubt; it was the age-old competition of Ghola vs Clone. "As we have stated in our bid documents. Cloning is more efficient and lends itself to mass production as well as genetic engineering." Chanson continued. "These new Sardaukar will make their ancestors though formidable seem tame."

The troops continued to go through their various military training paces.

"Will you be able to meet the delivery date?" Mehda'in asked, though he knew the answer.

"Of course." She bowed slightly.

"Can the growth rate be increased?"

"At the moment no. It still will take ten years to grow an adult… but our scientists are working on the prob… challenge every day."

Mehda'in continued to watch the army that his Prince had built in secret. "And the schedule for the balance?"

"This way." The scientist led him to the lab section.

Every visit was the same. Samples at different stages of growth; from test tube to baby, to toddler, teenager and adult -- the assembly line was in full production.

"Satisfactory." He pronounced as he did every quarter. "I shall inform the Prince."

~*~*~*~*~

Rammen Corinno read the coded message. When he came to the part where the first batch of Sardaukar was ready for delivery he stretched back and declared the work "Satisfactory."

Then the Fremen had struck.

~*~*~*~*~

The team of Fremen had presented their findings and reported that there was no worm bed on the planet. They had found 'Rakis World and gone in amass. What they had detected was human sign – nothing of import. It had taken the experienced Fremen a fortnight to cross the exhibit, more than enough time to investigate. The whole planetwide searchhad taken eight weeks in total.

Amasso pronounced the report as "Satisfactory." The 'war' on the other hand had left much to be desired. His emotions raged [Such a tame little military exercise, no wonder mother had sent me and not Dax. This is not a campaign that one received promotions on. I suppose this is her statement on my trial.]

"Pack – we leave this Maud'Dib forsaken place and go home." Amasso ordered barely hiding his scorn.

The junior officer left to execute the order. Now alone Amasso vented his frustration in a more extroverted manner. He trashed the room.

~*~*~*~*~

Mehda'in who had been stuck on the Planet too, let out the breath he had been holding. So intent had been the Fremen to find worm sign on Salusa that they focused on that to the exclusion of all else. As such the Prince's project remained secret.

"Satisfactory." He whispered to himself.

~*~*~*~*~

Amasso had sent a preliminary statement to his mother, the Empress. "Impressive achievement." Duncan stated. Amasso's full report would follow later.

"Satisfactory." Arista replied and kissed him. He didn't complain or resist.

~*~*~*~*~

Amasso continued to seethe. It was an unrealistic reaction he knew, but the thought that his mother had purposefully sent him on this deadened assignment had sent him seething like a volcano ready to erupt.

He managed to control his boiling rage as he ensured that his troops boarded safely. The process entailed his driving between the shuttle craft, the route he took this time required a quick detour as he had promised himself a case of Secundus Ale before he left.

As he approached the Central Business District, he spotted a child - a little girl - waiting to cross the road.

He stopped.

The child began to cross.

It happened all so fast. The vehicle behind Amasso with a driver too impatient to wait, pulled passed him and ploughed head on into the child.

Amasso's blood curdling shout shattered the sleepy atmosphere of the community. Both drivers were out of their transports in a flash. A crowd soon gathered.

"Oh, God!" The man moaned. Amasso ignored him and went straight to the child and cradled her in his lap. There was blood everywhere and soon he too was covered in the sticky liquid. She was dead.

"Someone get a Doctor!" Some one shouted.

"Is she..." The culprit couldn't say the words.

Amasso stood. His pent up frustrations had found an outlet. "WHAT - THE - HELL - IS - WRONG - WITH - YOU!" He raged. He grabbed the man and shook him. "Did you think I stopped for the fun of it?" Still he shook. "You couldn't wait?" Inevitability he swung and his right fist made a solid connection with the man's jaw, sending him flying.

The crowd watched and didn't interfere as the man landed, rolled and came back fighting. Just what Amasso needed. He didn't waste his para-bindu training on the weasel. He wanted to feel every contact. Using the man as his personal punching bag he swung with a series of right hooks then a left upper cut and a combination flurry that ended with a satisfactory crunch of bones.

No one could tell if the blood on Amasso was his or the child's. He took a menacing step forward. "I should break every bone in you God forsaken body." He returned to the lifeless body of the child, picked her up tenderly and said in a drained voice, "Where do I take her?"

He was shown where. Amasso left the beaten driver on the ground... no one approached him. The authorities would deal with him soon enough.

Amasso's didn't feel angry anymore, just beaten and sad. There was nothing satisfactory about this.