NationStates Jolt Archive

(OOC: This thread is for a meeting between the Melii and the Fremen. If you could think of a way you could somehow join, TG one of us. I don't think there will be much opportunity, though.)

Padishah Emperor Donalbin Garindi VI looked out a window upon his hordes of fanatics. They had wandered out of the channels of swirling dust that are the streets of Arrakeen and to the gates of the palace where they were bent in meditation. Over their heads, the light purple sky of late afternoon Arrakis was beginning to blanket the treacherous rays of the sun.

“They wish for the palace to bless them,” said the Emperor, “and for their prayers to earn me enlightenment from the heavens. Their wish shall be granted.”

“But of course, m’lord,” said a woman behind him. Both were dressed in intricate robes. The Emeperor’s were black with red cobras snaking up the body. He wore his normal Fedaykin mask, which was split down the middle, being black on the left and white on the right.

“I must assume my position on the throne. The delegation from the House Raumson will be arriving soon.” The Emperor took another glance out the window and into the dusty evening and left his concubine. The Emperor did not know that they would be having another guest tonight.

One step
A hundred crickets
Jump
Jerry A Levy



POP! pop pop pop ... POP!

The Fleet translated to the outer edges of the Arrakeen system. One of the cricket light-cruisers fired the standard salute. It was targeted at one of the larger Orrt bodies. This particular body could be classified as a gas giant if it were not so distant to the inner systems. The energy barrage funneled energy from hyperspace and the Void for the briefest instant. It was a tremendous amount, and thus it was enough to ionize the outer atmosphere. For several minutes, Arrakis had a second star.

It was a beautiful piece of cosmic vandalism. The explosions and Ionized Nebula ought to be visible from Arrakis.

After a tightbeam relay to the Spice World of the Dragons known to many as Arrakis, two cricket light cruisers detached from the main body of the planetoid HHS Magpie and jumped insystem. One carried several mega-tons of their "water-gift" to the Padishish Emperor.

Magpie grinned.

It was most strange that they did not just gather the excess water from the Orrt clouds. The Freman's Heighliners had plenty of room in their enormous holds. Moreover, the Navigators were skilled enough in their maneuvers to merely translate a comet or two if the resources were set aside for the Harvest.

The Entity Known as Magpie frowned...perhaps it was a holdover from the great cleansing...the great fall of the Butlerian Jihad against "thinking machines" and those that utilized such innovations? Since the Sundering the Empire of the Core seems to have turned even more inward and isolationist. Beyond the Core and beyond its view the Melii had fled the insane. They had grown and prospered.

Then the Daemon's came and the Wars began. For millennia the Melii Tribes had fought Incursion after Incursion. They would lose many great and glorious battles. Nevertheless, the wars would end after several centuries of bitter fighting almost as fast as they began. The Melii would push the Incursions from their space and the local timelines. Still the Imperium was weakened and still rebuilding when the latest Incursion began a few centuries ago. His Holiness was currently personally leading the defense of the Homelines. The Daemons had overrun several of the Picket Lines...

This disaster was in part the reason for dispatching the Hunting Groups. The Great Hunt was for the Lost Tribes of Man, for the Ancient Houses of Mara, for the Melii's Kinsmen. The time had come to reunite the Houses and Reform the Imperium. Thus, they had came to this Verse and were pleased to find that some of the Kinsmen were more than chattel under the whips had chains of the Oulde Order. It was amusing to see that the slaves were now the masters.

The Sand Shrew laughed in the Gestalt.
Be nice Magaret! We are guests to these decadent cousins.

One Cherry Blossom Shuttle detached from the Cricket and touched down at the Space Port as instructed by Arrakis Ground Control. The Escorts fanned out and assumed honour positions. The Admiral followed sedately afterwards. He blinked at the dryness of the air and at the brilliance of the harsh Arrakeen star. His throat was already parched and his eyes watery...well was watery. They were becoming desiccated in this environment.

<MU> No wonder water was so precious on this hell-hole; this armpit of the heavens!
<shush mapie! and remember to keep quiet!>

The delegation pulled their vibro-blades and formed an arch for the Freman delegation. The Sand Shrew smiled and waited for the Barbarian Kinsmen to approach. If Mentat Huruli's cultural data had been true, then he couldn't wait to spit in this shit-shitter bureaucrats face. Among this Freman Tribe that was a goodly sign of respect.

His dried lips and parched tongue could now appreciate why this was so.

The Imperial Airfield was little more than a large, smooth stone slab that had been placed here millenia ago. It had sunken into the sand so that the only thing keeping it visible were the maintenance crew, who went across the landing field every few hours with machines that blew away the accumulated dust.

Surrounding the landing field on three sides was a modest expanse of dunes and sand that stopped abruptly at a formation known as the shield wall. On the fourth side of the landing field began the city of Arrakeen. Worn stone houses and temples no more than one or two stories tall crowded the area. In the middle of the city was the massive Imperial Palace, which arose out of the residences of the common people like a mountain out of a sea of pebbles. Indeed, real estate around the palace was more expensive not only for the sense of divine presence, but for the shade that it provided during a large portion of the day.

As this day came to a close, the wind howled as it flowed through the streets, whipping up funnels of dust. The light purple sky had become a round, deep purple, which seemed to cast its color upon the landscape.

As the Cherry Blossom shuttle landed, several men scuttled out from a domed hut on outskirts of the landing field. Their robes fluttered furiously in the wind that always crashed through the city upon the transition from day into night. One of them turned back and made a motion with his forearm, and a surfacecar pulled out from behind the hut. The Fremen reached the shuttle as the Melii had come out and their arch was created with the vibro-blades. They decided not to walk under the ominous looking arch, instead choosing to confront them from where they stood. The first thing to clear up was whether these were intruders, who needed to be dispatched, or guests who should be respected.

"Greetings, foreigners. We have been told that you are the Melii for which we have been waiting. Is this so?"

He did not respond immediately...his attention was fixed on the immovable dunes that seemed to pile upon the shield wall protecting this oasis. They were frozen waves of motion and rose to several deca-meters. Were they still moving in the shield wall. His awareness accelerated...yes the dunes were still moving albeit slowly against the shield wall. Soft and hard powers had met and conspired to raise them higher still.

This wall must serve as a partial moisture trap. It was still damn dry, hot and the damn star was setting! If it was this dry under the protection of the domes, then the outside must be another order of magnitude greater. Magpie and He ran the calculations indeed, it would be infinitely worse during the daytime hours. However, according to nearly all the projections, this planet ought to contain a M-Class earthlike environment. The Desert landscape ought not to be able to support the life on this largely lifeless planet.

How was it they were generating Oxygen and Bio-Carbons?

***

He reassigned his attention to the Freman standing several hundred meters away. They appeared a sensible and cautious folk. It was reassuring to see that even on the Capitol world the Freman were not too soft. This world seems to have forged an independent if strange peoples.

The Escorts preformed a simple series of flourishes and sheathed their weapons. The wind played upon their simple cloaks of Black Edged in Silver. The Admirals was merely of slightly finer spun-spider-silk and edged in platinum. His witch advisors wore a simple green edged also in platinum. The Shrew smiled and called out a simple response as he and two Bene Grillon Verte Truthsayers joined the Escorts on the Imperial spacepad.

"Greetings, foreigners. We have been told that you are the Melii for which we have been waiting. Is this so?"

“We are Melii. Take us to your Leaders.”

The surfacecar drove across the landing field, its treads growling as they pulled the vehicle along the ground. The two men who had gone out to meet the Melii studied their new guests. Yes, that checks out. We were told that they would be expecting to see the sublime Padishah Emperor.

"Very well, once the car gets out here you may get in and we will take you straight to the Imperial palace." The man who had just spoke motioned towards the gargantuan structure in the middle of the city.

Their blue eyes were difficult to distinguish in the darkness that was rapidly enveloping Arrakeen. Glowglobes could be faintly seen at this distance, being lit one at a time, like fireflies coming out on a warm autumn night.

The surfacecar reached the shuttle. It resembled a pickup truck on treads, but instead of doors on the sides they were open to the outside. The vehicle made a u-turn and backed up towards the guests, exposing it's open passenger area. It had been prepared with cushions and tied down glowglobes for these special passengers. There was a hole in the back of the driver's compartment for communication with the guests.

"Get on," said one of the Fremen, motioning into the back of the passenger's compartment. One of the Fremen that had journeyed out to greet the guests sat on the front bench next to the driver. He turned back and through the hole he asked, "Are you ready?"

The Delegation hid their amusement behind their masks.

How quaint!

Why did not the Freman use a simple gravimetric flyer? This caterpillar was impressive in an archaic and barbarious sense. It seemed well made and well cared for. It obviously was an expensive item. This was demostrated by the internal trappings were opulently rich. The glow globes seemed to have not changed in the millennia since the Sundering...a traditional folk these Freman. The Admiral dismissed the Escorts. Then he and the witches appeared inside the passenger compartments without ever really moving.

The escorts hated it when they did that. Both the dismissal and the weirding translation was troubling. And now they would have to wait in the shuttle until the Embassy had been established. What was worse was that there appeared to be no Local Systems Net! How were they going to gamble?!?

The Admiral silenced their unspoken concerns with a quick command in the silent Melii hunting language. Then he instructed the coachman.
“Yes, Now please proceed to the palace.”

The surfacecar drove off into the Arrakeen night. They reached the edge of the landing field and entered the streets of the city. Many of the residents had just woken up an hour or two ago, and were now seated on their porches or balconies, discussing trivial matters with family or drinking tea. They looked on as an otherwise normal surfacecar passed that contained what appeared to be wealthy visitors. They did not have the rough, weathered look of a Fremen.

"I like these treads. They don't kick up sand like the wheeled ones do," remarked the front passenger to the driver.

About twenty minutes into the drive, a group of Fremen walked in front of surfacecar. The vehicle stopped. "Get out of the way!" yelled the driver.

"We require payment for you to travel further," said one of them. One of the group held up a kindjal threateningly.

"We are agents of the Padishah Emperor. Get out of the way," commanded the driver. The men complied and let the vehicle pass. "Those types like to pick on people who look like rich foreigners," informed the driver. "It's a good thing that they recognized us as Fremen. Otherwise they wouldn't have believed us and we would be in trouble."

After an hour or two of growling through the labyrinth of streets, they arrived at a large silver gate. From behind the two pillars to which the gate was hinged emerged two Fedaykin guards. Their uniforms were like the normal uniform of a Fremen soldier: form-fitting armor with a three horned mask. The largest difference was in color: the entire left side of the suit was black and the entire right side was white.

"The lips of the Great Mother drip with praise for you," said one of the guards as he reached for a handle and opened the gate. The surfacecar entered the palace courtyard, which was made up of dusty flagstones with giant potted trees placed at uniformed intervals.

Three more Fedaykin had come out to guide the guests to where they needed to go. As they stepped in front of the surfacecar, the one leading the group held up a hand to halt them. "Helmuth wishes for the Admiral to come to the Throne Chamber for a meeting. The two concubines are to be held in a guest's room until He says so. He has something special planned for them."

"Very well," said the driver. He turned back and said through the hole, "Alright, get out. You two women will be going with those two guards over there, and you, I suppose the Admiral, are to go with that guard over there."

The guards had separated into the two groups that the driver had mentioned.

"No."

This was the first time that the Melii had spoken since they had gotten into the groundcar.

The man was flustered and was uncertain as how he would respond. Anger and sweat radiated from him...most ungentmanly like. His anger was based on some preconcieved notions and revealed much of the Freman's society that was not in the records.

One of the witches had decided that enough was enough. This one meant well but obviously did not reckognize the chop of the Bene Grillon Verte. That was not surprising as the Chapterhouse was merely a few centuries old and on the outer rims of the Core's sphere of knowledge. Very few of the Order had ventured beyond the local sectors of the Dunverse. It would be no surprise that very few would understand the differences between the Bene Gesserit and the multitudes of other Holy Orders.

Many had arisen over the years to claim the titles and honours. Few Orders survived the eons. Attrition had arbitrarily reduced the Hundred Schools to a mere handful. Although now many alien schools were beginning to be introduced, a vast majority of the Ancient Orders of Holy Terra were actually still alive.

The Admiral waved aside the Servant's concerns, and with a movement of his hand calmed the woman. "They are of the Bene Orders; my advisors. They will accompany me."

The Fedaykin were not expecting that answer. These people do want to see Helmuth, right?

"I am not sure if it will change the situation at all," said one of the Fedaykin, "but please enlighten me as why you need to bring these witches before Helmuth?"

Even though there was nearly absolute darkness, the visors on the Fedaykin helmets only needed the slightest amount of light from far away glowglobes to see as if it was a bright, sunny day.

I speak for my House and our Madhi. They speak for their Order...They have taken offence at your casual use of certain terms. You must excuse them for they are young to the ways of gaijins. It is customary that three emissaries from each Soverign Peoples meet when an audience is first made with the ruling daiymo. Is this not the custom amongst your peoples?

He raised a questioning eyebrow and directed his mirrored eyes into the Servant's soul. He pushed aside his fatigue at having to deal with foriegners. The Freman were alike and unalike. It was most tiring trying to figure out were the Streams had molded the peoples. He watched this one's essence...his questions had revealed much. The Admiral had returned the gift.

The two women were not tense but rather poised...to make a dance...

The guards straightened up. These people are not like what we told they were going to be like.

"Helmuth told us you were a people that liked jokes, yet our joke seems to have gone completely over your head. We did not intend to offend anyone. Now, about our customs. We understand that our customs are different than yours. Here, the dominant priciple is that of our Mahdi's word. He is divinely guided by the heavens, and knows what is best. He said that your Order members are to be kept in a comfortable room for the time being. Do not worry, they will get an equal audience with Helmuth, albeit a slightly later one."

The Sand Shrew's eyes glittered with amusement...the Truthsayers relaxed and gave sheepish grins.
They had misread the intentions. This was rare. These Freman were not normal!

Then the Melii laughed. The Shrew's belly laugh echoed and reverberated throughout the hallways of the Palace. It boomed and bounced along the long dimly lit corriders and found many a people. It was a goodly Melii laugh. The people were forced to look towards the sound and join in the laugh. It could not be helped; for the laugh was infectious. The two Green Crickets chirped in an lighter counter-point to the booming braying of the Admirals. After a few minutes they contained themselves.

"Ah I see then this is the wish of your Madhi?
Very well as guests we will bow to his pleasure."

A quick burst of information passed between the three in the Melii silent hunting language. Then the women gave a slight bow to the Captain of the Guards and left with their Escorts. The Admiral smiled and spat in his hand...then offered it to the Brother of the Padishish.

"You will forgive the young ones, they are just out of the Academie.

Ah...I had not expected a goodly joke!
You have successfully goosed us!
This is truly a great gift!
I honor your joke!

Let shake and then us to your Madhi."

"Right away," said the guard who was standing alone. "Admiral, come with me." He turned and lead the Admiral towards the doors of the palace.

"You two ladies will be coming with us," said one of the two remaining guards.

The guard leading the Admiral stopped briefly so that he could walk with him side by side. His rifle was held in the regular relaxed position, almost hanging from his right hand.

The halls of the Imperial Palace showed of a kind of wealth that could be found no where else on Arrakis. One large hall was covered entirely in mirrors, from floor to ceiling to each of the walls, with the only surface not covered by mirrors being the large pillars that were placed at intervals throughout the room. Most rooms, however, had walls covered in tapestries and hangings and floors covered in rugs with suspensors lighting the room. After a few minutes of journey, they came to a large flight of stairs that led up to a massive door that was made of stone. The Fedaykin pushed on the door, which opened apparently with the aid of ball bearings.

The pair found themselves on a brightly lit balcony that overlooked a room so large that the far wall was not distinguishable. There was a niche in the wall in the center of the balcony, which held a modest chair made of glass and cushions covered in red velvet. Beside the throne was a large water basin several meters in diameter with some people gathered around it. There were Fremen dressed in normal brown robes, Fedaykin in their uniforms, and women in many multicolored robes and garments. One figure seemed central to the arrangment, as if he was the one who was the focus of it all. He had a black and red silk robe with a Fedaykin mask obscuring his face. He looked up from the basin as the Admiral entered.

"How great of you to join us. Introductions can wait, come to the basin and observe." He looked back down into the basin.

Suddenly there was a splash in the water. It was made by what appeared to be a slimey black worm. The entire basin was full of such repulsive creatures. Garindi whispered something to one of the normally dressed Fremen standing next to him, who jotted down some notes on a pad he procured from his robes. An adjacent Fremen procured a small brass instrument, which appeared to be a tube with many twists and turns, and dipped it into the basin.

Garindi looked up at the new guest. "What do you make of this particular fiend's desire to splash?"

Meanwhile, the two guards that were to accompany the witches led them to a small room with rugs and cushions spread out on the floor and hangings covering the walls. "We ask that you remain here until Helmuth is ready to see you."

bump

<bump> sorry had some appointments...just telegram me if i forget again. :p


Garindi looked up at the new guest. "What do you make of this particular fiend's desire to splash?"


"It appears to be fighting for its life...
a futile effort that appears to be doomed to failure,
but noble in its attempts.

I am curious Garindi Mahdi of the Freman of Arrakis,
you will gift me two answers in return for my response.
I will pay the balance at a latter date.

This is a little Dragon of the Dunes?
Why not just shoot the thing and collect its water?"

The shrew responded as he would to his own Madhi and watched as the little dragon dies in the basin of water... strange that they would waste so much to drown the poor beast. He also watched as the water grew cloudy and a strong cinammon smell prevaded the chamber.

His primary attention remained on the Emperor. Magpie continued to study the courtiers, cortesans, and nobles of the Court. It seemed a most relaxed affair...too relaxed. She prepped herself. Saftey first the Olde Man had always said. It took to long to train a good admiral. She wanted to keep this one around a few centuries.

***

Meanwhile, the two guards that were to accompany the witches led them to a small room with rugs and cushions spread out on the floor and hangings covering the walls. "We ask that you remain here until Helmuth is ready to see you."

The two women bowed and sat down. They began meditating and conversing in one of the oldest silent hunting laguages known primarly only to the Bene Orders. Yes, this place was very richly decorated. Obviously, it was designed to overawe the Houses of the Empire... They were impressed despite themselves. The Kinsmen were indeed decadent, but also very rich in both material and art.

It would be an interesting meeting.

Garindi let out a small chuckle. "No, no, these are not the masters of Arrakis in this basin. They are instead the primordial creatures that they evolved from. I believe they are known outside Arrakis as sandtrout. Instead of being poisoned by water, they thrive in it. To answer your second question, we may have to kill it later, but not for its water. It contains very concentrated forms of melange, which are useful as stimulants." As he spoke, his head remained pointed down at the basin, watching the movements of these creatures and interpreting. He pointed at one of the sandtrout. "That one, Julavo."

The Fremen named Julavo, who was holding a large net, scooped the specimen to which Garindi had pointed out of the basin. The worm wriggled like a fish, but it seemed to dilate itself at the same time so that it either became shorter and fatter or longer and thinner. Julavo maneuvered the sandtrout into his arms and took out from his robes a bottle with a tube at the top. He inserted the tube into an orifice of the worm and squeezed a red substance into the worm. Then, he let it loose into the basin. As the worm frantically swam about, the red liquid came out of a rear orifice and settled in the water much like blood.

"Interesting patterns," said Garindi. "I notice that one of those little makers swam into the path of the test specimen almost immediately after he was released. I feel compulsed to contemplate that fact." After the basin had settled once again, Garindi looked back up at the Admiral. "Well, I have been rude for long enough. In case you did not know, I am Donalbin Garindi VI, Naib, servant, and brother to these here Fremen. I want you to know that I received the letter your Mahdi sent me, and I have spent mornings contemplating it. It discussed demons and your campaigns agaisnt them. I agree that I will try to suppress demons should they appear before me. In a way, I have been all along. It asked that the Melii be recognized as a Great House of our Imperium. This is a convoluted and bureaucracy stricken matter, but I am sure that should you still want this and your House can fulfill its duties properly you will be accepted. It is unfortunate, though, that mankind is still at such a level as rank and title in the Greater Empire is only in paperwork. I have tried to change it, but it is apparently a necessary part of humanity's current mental and moral evolution. It then asked for access to our archives, which will of course be given. They are located on the planet Caladan, and you may go there any time to browse through our scrolls, texts, and filmbooks. Finally, your Mahdi wanted to know of the location of Holy Terra. It is in the Sol system of the galaxy most commonly known as the Milky Way. If you need more specific directions, you will be able to find them in the archives.

"I hope that sufficiently addresses the letter. Is there anything on which you would appreciate more elaboration?"

The focus in the group had shifted during this lengthy discourse towards the new member of the group. At first they seemed almost tense, but Helmuth had shown a deep comfort in his presence and that was enough for them to welcome him as at least a temporary member of the tribe.

The Sand Shrew was truly relieved...the Padishish was not an Abomination and his peoples, while strange, would likely prove to be great allies in this sector. He continued to watch the struggles of the test "trout" in the large basin. Why would the Freman be experiementing with a larval Dragon? Did they wish to somehow adapt it to extract other things? With an effort he set aside his questions for the moment.

"I have no further instructions. My mission objectives are complete."

He handed the holopad to the Padishish. The list had a series of codes that were easily decipherable to any first year mentat.

Primary mission successful:
They had been warned of the Incursions and would make ready for the invaders.

Secondary mission successful:
Access to the Padishish Archive had been granted.
Historical, cultural & technology transfers will be easily facilitated by this opening of the archives. Moreover, the Melii now would have knowledge of the spatial location of Sol and Holy Terra. From this point, they would be able to find the One True Terra.

Tertiary mission successful:
Negotiated status of House Me Li for this sector of Duneverse as subordinate to Garindi is acceptable. Request data dump and list of duties.

As the emperor was studing the mission orders, he continued to look around the richly decorated room. A small light made the subconcious connections..the basin was what kept the humidity in this chamber Universal Standard. Hence, was one of the reasons he felt so comfortable.

As the Helmut's blue on blue eyes measured him, he measured the worth of this King. They stared at each other for several minutes. The courtiers and bodygaurds tensed at the sight. Finally, the Sand Shrew's eyes twinkled amusement and the Admiral bowed as he would to his own Cousin, Leader, and Madhi.

"I have but one goodly boon to ask for myself...It is said that your people ride the dragons? I have always wanted to try this feat of skill and honour. I wish that some of my people have a chance to either feed the dragon or ride them."

The holopad contained nothing the Emperor did not already know, as it had been clearly laid out in the letter he had received. The request of the Admiral came as a surprise to him though. Why would this man want to ride a maker, or "Dragon" as he called them? He is not a Fremen...he does not have any ceremonial reason to do so. Garindi will grant his request because of his high status, and it might also reveal why he wants to do such a thing.

"I like your request, Admiral. It surprised me. I like the feeling of surprise, and I rarely get to feel it these days. You will be granted your wish for an attempt to ride the maker, but for someone who is not of the sand, it can be a difficult task. We will try to help you should you get in to trouble, but know that you may perish."

Those who had been gathered around the basin had now stepped back and were making casual conversation with each other, but being careful not to disturb the main conversation between Garindi and the Admiral.

(OOC: It probably wont affect the RP all that much, but know that the Fedaykin mask conceals all of the Emperor's head, including the eyes. He sees out of a visor that is like a one-way mirror.)

The Admiral's eyes smiled with mirth, and then he snorted.

"Death comes when it will come. I chose to do things that interest me.

"I am not of your sands Imperator. Truth be told, I had thought myself familiar with the deserts. On the Homeworld Xanadu, there is a small continent whose interior is principly arid and dry. It was from this place that I grew to adulthood, hence my shortness in comparasion to many of the Melii. I spent my youth and early careers around pristinely, dry, barren and inhospitable places. Indeed, my family was fond of deserts. Thus I was named in honour the dimunitive and fearsome Sand Shrew... well it was not actaully a Shrew of Earth orgin but rather named after the Earthly creature... It is a deadly predator despite its size."

He stopped to build the tension...that and to catch his breath and compose his next words.

"In truth, the desert of my childhood is a bountiful oasis in comparison to this your capital world. I am neither unfamilar with deserts nor sand. Your Dunes, however, are a bit more extensive than I had expected. I note that your "trouts" are not the usual "trouts" that one tends to think off when refering to trouts.

"I expect that your dragons are not exactly dragons?
I will tend well my lessons...will you be joining me?"

Might this person be from a place where mythical creatures such as normal trout and dragons actually existed? The Emperor's prescient memory was cloudy when he tried to view the Melii homeworld.

"Our makers are usually described by those foreign to Arrakis as worms. Unlike dragons, they can not fly and they do not have any extraordinary magical abilities. Like dragons, they are massive and lethal. For your lessons, I may be joining you since you are such an important guest. Much of your training will have to come from one of my warmasters, though. Since I do not know how similar your desert is to this desert, I am not sure how much training you will actually need. Arrakis may at first appear to be like other desert planets or regions, but a second look will find that it has a unique ecology and geology. I do not wish to sound too negative, though. The fact that you are native to desert gives you certain intuitions that most other foreigners lack. Was that all you wished to discuss with me during this meeting?"

The Sand Shrew's Silver Eyes studied the polished surface of the mask and thoughts of the Padishish... both masks hid much. It was a disciplined mind or an artificial device? He had manners and did not intrude. He lacked the adequete information... therefore he took the Freman's word at face value.

Sand Shrew bows from the waist with his hands held loosely to his sides. In a quick blurred movement, he draws the blade of his dirk across his palm and watches as the blood begins to slowly well up.

"I thus accept the terms of this joining of Tribes. My honour to this agreement."

He pulled out an parchment copy of the agreement written in one of the Olde tongues and allowed the blood to drip upon the lower margins before placing his seal and the Imperial seal upon the documents. After handing the document to the Padishish he then nodded to the data pad...

"The diplomatic gifts are also on the manifest. I am beginning to understand the value of water... we have brought several kilotons of the liquid."

"I have many questions to ask of you Imperator, however, they can wait until another time. Moreover, it is likely they will be answered in due time. I will attend to my lessons and perhaps learn more than a trick or two. Until we meet again Imperator!

Ave!"

The Admiral excutes an elegant maneveur. He manages somehow to salute and bow at the same time. Now his mirrored eyes stared into the mirrored surface mask... blue-on-blue eyes... that would be logical... the Melii Admiral chose not to pry further... at least not yet.

ooc: Olde Real Life Myths speak of eyes that could see past illusion. hmmm... most matter is empty space... lets just say the few Melii with mirrored eyes see things differently.

Garindi recognized the signs of respect demonstrated by the Admiral. He lifted up the visor on his Fedaykin mask, revealing a face that might have been taken from an eroded statue. The worn features revealed the opposite of what the immediate surroundings did: a life lived in the cruel desert. Short, thick hairs sprouted out of the chin and cheeks to form a crusty beard. Then, of course, there were the dark, round blue eyes that seemed to wear the bushy eyebrows like fancy hats.

Garindi spat upon the Admiral.

"Thank you for this discussion. May the Great Mother continue to bring enlightenment into our lives."

Garindi contemplated his own choice of words. "Enlightenment." Such a contradictory word, but he supposed that it made sense. While light normally betrayed, it also revealed what might have otherwise been hidden.

Garindi spoke again. "I suppose I shall now speak with the two witches that accompanied you. Och-In will take you to Sietch Grapanin. That is where you will be assessed and it will be determined your readiness to ride the maker. I will travel there when I make my rounds through the planet's sietches and will meet you again. Until that time, may the Great Mother watch over you."

One of the Fedaykin, apparently Och-In, had stepped out from the rest of the group. "Come with me, Admiral."



There was a knock on the door of the room in which the witches were staying. "The Emperor wishes to see you now," said a voice from behind it. "May we enter?"

The Admiral openly grinned as he wiped the spittle into an laquered stasis box. The Emperor had shown great favor to him and his House. He bowed deeply and spat in return. DNA exchanges were a relativly normal part of many cultural greetings. This particular custom, however, seems to have much more direct relation to the aridness of the Dunes.

They continue to guaged each other before he nodded. This was not a hothouse plant... well not a garden variety Hothouse plant. A goodly leader of his people... <MU> the connections between the Imperator's first statements and ambivalence of... He saluted again right fist to chest and bowed at the waist.

"Imperator."

Then without another thought, he turned to the one he assumed was Och-In and replied simply

"Lead."

They then left the chamber.

***

There was a knock on the door of the room in which the witches were staying. "The Emperor wishes to see you now," said a voice from behind it. "May we enter?"
The Two raised a curious eyebrow... strange question... it raised the real question could the voice's owner enter here without first asking? The meeting was brief; they would assume the Shrew had carefully prepped the Imperator to the Order.

<silence save for their blinks>

Agreed.

"This is welcomed News. You may enter."

The door to the room opened and two Fedaykin stepped in. "I trust that everything has been going smoothly in here. If that has not been so, please tell me. Otherwise, we should begin to make our way to the throne where Helmuth is waiting. Are you ready?"

(OOC: Check your TGs.)

The Stream flows and bends the universes according to her whims...

The Green Robed Ones begin to appear here and there along the edges of the Garindi's sphere. They do no speak often and are not molested... Only a fool would purposefully annoy a witch. They would be doubly foolish now that the Garandi had so recently declared the witches sect a Holy Order of the Empire. They of the Green Robes would often be seen with peoples in the Freman Colors of Mourning.

It was truly unnerving; the Melii appeared to always be mourning. They always seemed to be dressed in either Black with white/silver edgings or in the brilliant white of familial mourning. When asked why they wore those colour, they would reply that they always had worn these colours. Moreover, they were required to. The majority of the Freman deduced that the House Melii must be very bad warriors to always be losing able bodied warriors. There was a small minority, however, that suggested this phenomena was perhaps something else entierly.

***
Over the Planet Arrakis, the Melii Taskforce hung in majestic gemed beauty against the backdrop of the stars. Several Twigs were detached to accompany the Heighliners on their journeys. The Hunting Group preformed Fleet and Strike exercises with the Cousins. Joint operations were still rather difficult but by the end of the fourth month things had noticeably improved.

***
In the Desert/Outside, the Admiral and two selected Aides were undergoing their own desert re-training on the ways of the Dunes. It was exhausting, mentally, physically, and spiritually. In the most barren of places the illusions of self and sophisticated civilization were stripped down and ground to dust.

This devolution was not marked difficult for the Three Melii. They had undergone similair training in the Enclaves. This was a refresher and seminar on the Ancient Ways. The Melii were not truly civilized. They had never really been "proper" or "respectable."

We are primitives! We survive.

ooc: Feel free to RP my peoples reactions to yours a bit.