Chapter 28

As for the unbelievers, their works are like a mirage in a desert.

The thirsty traveler thinks it is water, but when he comes near he finds that it is nothing.

He finds Allah there, who pays him back in full. Swift is Allah's reckoning.

24:36 Qu'ran



Arista had convened a meeting of the chief elements of CHOAM: The Combine Honnete Ober Advancer Mercantiles. Controlled by the Empress and Great Houses, with the Spacing Guild and the Bene Gesserit as silent partners. CHOAM as the development corporation was set along the lines of Ancient Chambers of Commerce, and had as its mandate the improvement the fortunes of the Houses both figuratively and literally, of its members.

Today they were all in attendance. She had had enough of the petty plays of the various factions and she was about to exert the force of the Throne upon matters. She really was not in a mood for negotiations or even the suggestion of one. She would eat this delegation, hoof, hide and all if she had too.

"Members this meeting is not convened for your approval. I am here to insist that the SOLIS be enforced." She launched. "Two years ago CHOAM hammered out and presented to me the 'Safety of Life in Space Protocols' and NOT ONE HAS BEEN IMPLEMENTED!"

The members around the table remained silent.

"Now here we are. Faced with terrorist activities that clearly could have been avoided had they been enacted as agreed." She looked at each member. "Well enough. With immediate effect I expect members to commence implementation of the protocols to be in place. In particular..."

She read the protocols from the PDA.

"That the automatic identification system be fitted to all ships both passenger and cargo.

That the ID Numbers be permanently marked on the hull and be highly visible.

That the Master/Captain of the vessel be allowed to execute their professional judgment in the areas of security and that the owner is not to intervene.

That all vessels should have security alert systems for ship to shore contact.

That there be increased restriction to Port areas, with the attendant enforcement of ID tags to persons and to vehicles.

That there be confirmation of the security level at which the ship operated in any previous port where it has conducted relevant ship/port interface."

She slammed the PDA on to the table making some members jump. "Questions?"

"Sire." The Landsraad Representative said, "This will take time. We will require a multi-disciplinary task force. There will be Financial Implications."

"You have six months." She replied stone faced.

The Guild Navigation blanched. "That is impossible! We could never meet that deadline."

"You will or I will cut spice production in half." She advised.

"NO! The Spice MUST flow!" The Navigator beseeched.

"Be reasonable, Highness." Reverend Mother Mo'Hadin resident Ambassador to the Court asked.

"Reasonable?" Arista echoed in the same calm tone as the Reverend Mother. "The death toll from the twin attacks is three-quarter million and rising. The protocols will be enforced or the supply of the spice will be stopped." She had upped the stakes, and then stood to leave. "Six months people." She left a stunned CHOAM.

"Six months!" The Landsraad Liaison wailed. "It cannot be done!"

"It can be done in four." The CHOAM President, Nemac spoke for the first time. She looked at the Navigator "And well you know it."

"Indeed I do." He conceded. "But one must always negotiate."

"So you will try to act in accordance with the directive?" The Landsraad representative asked.

"No, we will not try." Mo'Hadin said, "We WILL conform."

"For the Spice must flow." The Navigation ended.

"Why do I feel like saying 'Amen' when he says that?" Nemac asked no one in particular.

"We must report to our people." Mo'Hadin said. "There is much to do." With that observation they disbanded.

A messenger intercepted the Chair of CHOAM; the Empress had summoned her to a private meeting. NOW.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Reverend Mother Zelron had been reassigned to the Exodus. So much for a fifty-year projection, the only place at Chapter House that had the potential to accommodate ten million plus or minus sisters was the southern pole.

And so as the Ships headed off Caladan the Bene Gesserit prepared the cold barren wasteland to receive their own.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The Lady Alexi was grumpy and had been for the past two weeks. Dax was, 'Maud'Dib knew where' with an Inspection Team. Of late they were living under less than ideal circumstances and she missed him. Added to which she really saw no reason why she could not return to Arakkis City – she was the Cabinet Secretary after all. She supposed that it could have been worse - that is until she looked up and saw Bastagen, the Water Accountant and Sietch Gossip, heading her way. She hid the sigh.

"Good evening, M'Lady." She was chipper.

"Evening." She grumbled she had no idea what was good about it. She understood why he was away but she still missed Dax.

"Excuse me, M'Lady, but I'm having trouble with my computer and I need to tabulate the water rings. Could you assist?" She asked sweetly.

Alexi grimaced. "I'm no tech."

"I realize that, M'Lady, but it's late and I need to finish the work." She said.

So she conceded, "OK!" anything for peace. Alexi followed her to her quarters, clicked a couple buttons and solved the problem. As she was walking away, Bastagen called after Alexi, "So, what was wrong?"

She replied, "It was an "ID ten T" error."

A puzzled expression ran over Bastagen's face. "An "ID ten T" error? What's that? … In case I need to fix it again?"

She gave her a grin... "Haven't you ever heard of an "ID ten T" error before Bastagen?"

"No, M'Lady," she assured Alexi.

"Write it down," she said, "and I think you'll figure it out."

Bastagen wrote... I D 1 0 T and produced a weak smile as she read it. "Funny." She growled softly.

Alexi returned to her quarters. Well, maybe life wasn't that bad after all.

~*~*~*~*~*~

It was a morning like any other. Not the way of the ancestors but a day like any other and folks were in the fish market haggling over prices and the weight being claimed on the catch.

Then the morning got dark.

People stopped what they were doing. Some tried to remember if there was an eclipse scheduled. Not really sure some headed out for a better look and froze.

At first it looked like an approaching swarm of locusts. As they got closer it was evident that this was no insect invasion. An invasion yes but not by anything in nature. One by one the aircrafts landed and with similar precision they lifted up loaded.

Loaded with Bene Gesserit. The Bene Gesserit had arrived on Caladan to collect their own.

It was not long before the collective shock of what was happening wore off and bedlam broke loose in the street followed closely by the military, but it was proving to be an exercise in futility. The Bene Gesserit apparently had taken the decision to leave and that that was that.

There was an explosion as some one threw a makeshift bomb at the soldiers. Still the Bene Gesserit loaded wave after wave. Everywhere across the planet the scene was the same. Riots as the Buddislamics fought the Tleilaxu and the Bene Gesserit loaded their people.

In the midst of it all some could only wonder at the blatant violation of the Empress's edict.

~*~*~*~*~*~

The President of CHOAM reported to Arista as ordered.

Nemac was a charismatic and knowledgeable leader that had made the members of CHOAM even wealthier - if such a thing were possible. The two women had known each other from childhood and the rare business meeting was more class reunion than Commercial Summit. Not this day. There were shifts in the economic sector to be considered.

They were here to discuss the latest announcement on the Bio Terrorism Preparedness and Response Act.

"Arista, this act is a serious threat to the member's exports due to the fact that Kaitain is one of the major export markets." The CHOAM President produced the opening salvo. "Under the act, agriculture and food-related companies who want to export their goods to the Kaitain must register themselves to Kaitain Chamber of Agriculture... the COA. After registering, the exporters are also obliged to give prior notice to the COA over the arrival of their goods, otherwise the products will not be allowed to enter the Planet exporters will bear the cost of storage or re-export."

Arista replied, "I understand that The COA itself has estimated that the twenty six percent of manufacturers exporting seven or fewer line entries to the Kaitain, would stop exporting rather than incur the expense of registering, hiring an agent, and providing prior notice..."

"... and that is not the half of it!" Nemac produced the icing for the cake "Do you KNOW what the transportation costs are with the Spacing Guild? If an item is denied entrance into Kaitain that cost is now doubled if one is to re-export. We have not even factored the cost if the whole consignment is lost due to the produce rotting!"

Arista took a deep breath. "Suggestions Nemac."

"You are the Empress! Overturn the order."

Arista snorted. "You are the President of CHOAM. Kaitain is a member of CHOAM..."

Nemac grimaced.

A thought occurred suddenly "Tell me, has Kaitian formally notified CHOAM about the new ruling?"

"Not yet."

"Is there not a protocol to be followed here?"

"They are to inform CHOAM, and within three months then we would decide whether... the... Bio-Terrorism... Act... complies... with... CHOAM... laws." With every word she uttered Arista's idea germinated in Nemac's mind. She grinned at her friend.

"Now you know why you are President and I am Empress." Arista teased. "I suggest that you ensure that Kaitian submits."

"Indeed. Indeed." Her friend agreed.