————
DISCLAIMER
The following is a fan-based FICTION
All Installations of Star Wars are owned by Lucasfilm and Disney. All Installations of Dune belong to Herbert Properties, Legendary Entertainment, and Warner Bros. And any other references to other works all belong to their respective authors/companies and whatnot.
Chapter 13:
An Opportunity
"Talking"
'Thoughts'
————
Location: Atreides Center of Military Research
Year: 31 BBY
Time: 7:30 P.M
The exercise ended shortly after Cade claimed the flag, though his victory earned him little time to recover. With his muscles still aching from the stun bolts and exertion, Cade was met outside the training course by a pair of Talons who escorted him through the Academy's halls and toward an elevator reserved for senior personnel. Somewhere above, Director Matlok and the nine senior military officials who had observed the test were making their own way upstairs. Savage, Kellan, Kylain, and the others who had accompanied Cade were politely turned away, with Matlok making it clear that whatever came next was a conversation meant solely for Cade and the officers whose support he had come seeking.
The elevator carried Cade toward the highest levels of the Academy, leaving behind the training halls and classrooms as it climbed. When the doors finally opened, a DT-015 wardroid was waiting for him, its towering armored frame standing motionless until Cade stepped out. Without a word, the machine turned and led him through several quieter corridors until they reached a massive pair of ornate wooden double doors. The wardroid stopped beside them, leaving Cade to take the final few steps alone.
The doors opened.
Cade stepped through and immediately found himself inside a chamber far larger than he'd expected. A massive crescent-shaped wooden table dominated the center of the room, its polished surface and edges covered in ornate carvings depicting centuries of Atreides military history. Seated around it were Director Ryan Matlok and the fifteen senior military officers who had watched Cade's performance from the observation gallery, men and women of different species, branches, and ranks who collectively commanded a significant portion of House Atreides' military forces.
Behind them, an enormous curved wall of reinforced transparisteel stretched almost from floor to ceiling, providing a commanding view over the island. From this height, Cade could see nearly the entire Academy complex spread out below them, from its training fields and barracks to landing pads, defensive emplacements, and the fortified coastline beyond. It wasn't difficult to understand why Matlok had chosen this room for meetings with his senior commanders. From here, they could quite literally look down upon the military machine they were responsible for shaping.
Cade's eyes moved across the nine officers before eventually settling on Matlok.
The Director sat near the center of the crescent table, his hands folded together in front of him as he studied the sixteen-year-old standing across the chamber.
"Lord Cade," Director Matlok greeted in a firm, measured tone, motioning toward the lone empty chair waiting opposite them. "You wanted your meeting."
Cade walked forward and pulled out the chair. "I did."
"Then sit," Matlok replied, his expression giving absolutely nothing away. "You've proven you can fight. Now let's find out whether you've actually got something worth saying."
Cade lowered himself into the chair, folding his hands together atop the table. His eyes swept across the fifteen officers seated before him, briefly meeting each of their gazes before finally settling on Director Matlok. Unlike his meeting with Marcus, there was no smile, no relaxed posture, and certainly no hint of familiarity. These were senior military leaders responsible for shaping House Atreides' armed forces. They expected professionalism, and Cade intended to give them exactly that.
"I appreciate all of you taking the time to meet with me," Cade began in a calm, composed tone. "I'll refrain from wasting your time, so I'll get straight to the purpose of this meeting."
No one interrupted him.
"I am here because I require your support."
Several of the officers exchanged brief glances, though none spoke.
"I am aware that, as the heir to House Atreides, I could simply wait for the day my father passes the title of Duke to me and expect your loyalty as a matter of tradition." Cade paused, letting his words settle over the room. "I have no intention of doing that."
General Tybier, an older human man with slicked-back white hair, leaned back slightly in his chair, studying the young heir with renewed interest.
"Loyalty that is expected is often loyalty that has never truly been earned," Cade continued evenly. "I'd rather earn the respect of the men and women responsible for defending this Dukedom than simply inherit it."
"So," Director Matlok said, his face expressionless, "what exactly are you asking of us?"
"I'm asking you to invest in the future."
The room fell silent again.
"There are men within House Atreides who are already building influence in preparation for the future. They cultivate relationships, strengthen political alliances, and quietly expand their reach. I have no intention of sitting idle while that happens."
"Acheran," Major General Claudi stated bluntly.
Cade's expression shifted, genuine surprise flashing across his face. "...You know?"
Colonel Domnnai nodded once. "We do."
Director Matlok folded his hands together atop the table before speaking. "There are two hundred members of the Military Council responsible for the direction of House Atreides' armed forces. They determine where resources are allocated, where troops are deployed, which procurement projects receive funding, and how the military's budget is spent." He paused for a moment, studying Cade's reaction. "For the last several years, Sevastus Acheran has been attempting to... persuade a number of those members that you are not ready to inherit your father's position." A faint frown crossed his face. "Worse still, he argues that you never will be."
Cade's surprise quickly hardened into determination.
"I've made mistakes," he admitted evenly. "I won't deny that. But I'm sixteen years old. I'm still learning."
"You are," Director Matlok agreed without hesitation. "And the fact that you're sitting in this room for the reasons you are is proof that you've grown considerably in a relatively short amount of time." He glanced around the table at the other officers before continuing. "That is precisely why the majority of the Military Council disagrees with Acheran's assessment."
Cade caught the wording immediately.
"The majority?" he repeated.
"Of course." Matlok gave a small nod. "Any organization of two hundred people is going to have its dissenters. There will always be officers who disagree, whether out of conviction, loyalty, or personal ambition." He leaned back slightly in his chair. "I know who most of them are. Frankly, I believe they'll come around once you've proven yourself. Judging by what we witnessed today..." A faint smile tugged at the corner of his mouth. "I'd say you're already well on your way."
Around the table, several of the senior officers voiced quiet murmurs of agreement, while others simply nodded.
"Trust me, Lord Cade," Matlok continued. "Acheran's ambitions may be considerable, but they are unlikely to bear fruit."
Once again, the officers signaled their agreement.
Cade inclined his head respectfully.
"I appreciate the vote of confidence," he said in a calm, professional tone. "However, I don't intend to discuss possibilities." His gaze swept across the room, meeting the eyes of each officer in turn. "Nor am I here to ask any of you to choose between individuals based on friendship or politics. I'm here because I believe House Atreides will face challenges in the coming decades unlike anything it has encountered in generations."
General Claudi folded his arms. "Such as?"
"The Republic," Cade answered simply.
That response drew several raised eyebrows around the table.
"The Republic is becoming increasingly unstable," Cade said, his voice remaining measured and analytical. "Political corruption continues to spread throughout the Senate. Entire sectors are becoming dissatisfied with the Core. Trade disputes are escalating, corporations are fielding increasingly powerful private militaries, and confidence in the Republic's ability to govern continues to erode."
He let his gaze drift around the table, making eye contact with each of the officers before continuing. "Individually, each of those issues appears manageable. Together, they're symptoms of a far larger problem."
Colonel Dranza leaned forward, resting his forearms on the table. "You believe there's going to be a war."
"I do," Cade replied without hesitation.
"And you're certain?"
Cade met the Twi'lek's eyes without hesitation. "I would stake my life on it."
Silence settled over the chamber.
"When that war begins," Cade continued, "it will not remain confined to one sector or another. It will engulf the Republic. Every major power will be forced to choose a side, and every independent system will find itself under pressure from one faction or another. Neutrality won't remain an option for long."
Director Matlok rested his forearms on the table. "Continue."
"House Atreides cannot afford to be reactive. If we wait until that conflict begins before preparing, we've already failed. Our fleets, logistics, officer corps, industrial base, and military doctrine must all evolve before the first shot is ever fired. If they don't, we'll spend the opening years of that war scrambling to catch up while everyone else dictates the tempo."
He looked toward the broad transparisteel window overlooking the Academy below.
"That is why I've devoted years to improving our equipment. It is why I've expanded the Research Center's capabilities." His gaze returned to the officers. "And it's why I'm here."
"What do you require from us?" General Claudi asked.
"I need the Academy to become the finest military institution in the Republic."
Several brows rose.
"I need officers who can think instead of simply obeying. NCOs who can assume command when the situation demands it. Soldiers capable of adapting when doctrine no longer applies. Battles are rarely won because everything goes according to plan. They're won because disciplined men and women know how to respond when the plan falls apart."
He paused.
"I also need access."
Director Matlok tilted his head slightly. "Access?"
"To observe training exercises. To review current doctrine. To recommend changes where I believe improvements can be made." Cade paused briefly before adding, "Nothing would be implemented without your approval, Director, nor without proper evaluation and testing."
He let that point settle before continuing. "I'm not here to undermine your authority."
His eyes swept across the table one final time. "I'm here because, if House Atreides is to survive what I believe is coming, then our military cannot simply be good."
His expression hardened. "It has to become the standard by which every other military in the galaxy is measured."
The room fell silent.
————
Location: Castle Caladan
Year: 31 BBY
Time: 1:57 P.M
Cade hadn't felt this content in what seemed like years.
His muscles still ached from yesterday's ordeal at the Academy, and more than a few bruises protested with every step he took through Castle Caladan's stone corridors. Even so, he couldn't remember the last time he'd been this optimistic about the future. For the first time since his exile, it genuinely felt as though the pieces were beginning to fall into place.
The shipyards over Zorbia II were quietly turning his vision into reality. Two Charon-class light frigates were already complete, an Autumn-class heavy cruiser was steadily taking shape, and more hulls would follow. The Atreides Center of Military Research now stood firmly behind him, as did Director Ryan Matlok, along with several of the Academy's and the military's most respected senior officers. Politically, his position had strengthened as well. Beyond Karnath, Representatives Roy Karshun of Atreides Landing and Icard Vutere of Sanyassa IV had quietly pledged their support after speaking with the Gen'Dai.
Karnath had spent much of the morning meeting privately with several members of the Council before they departed for their respective worlds. He hadn't revealed everything, only enough to paint a broad picture of the future Cade envisioned for House Atreides. Thankfully, that had been enough.
With that matter settled, Cade had spent the remainder of the day reviewing the latest engineering reports. Several design teams had presented updated prototypes for the next generation of Atreides ground vehicles, and each meeting left him more encouraged than the last. Three designs had already been approved for development. The first was the M12 Nexu, a direct evolution of the UNSC Warthog that retained its role as a fast reconnaissance and patrol vehicle. The second was the M13 Fyrnock, a heavier, better-protected variant intended to fill a role similar to an MRAP, capable of transporting troops safely through hostile environments. Finally came the M850A Rancor, the future main battle tank of House Atreides. While it retained the silhouette of the UNSC Grizzly, its conventional cannon had been replaced by a mass driver, accompanied by several additional systems designed specifically around Star Wars technology.
Two more vehicles were nearing completion as well. The redesigned M35 Raxshir, based on the UNSC Cougar, was entering its final stages of development, while the M650 Mastodon was undergoing extensive modifications of its own. Its signature Vulcan cannon had been removed entirely, replaced by a starfighter-grade autoblaster capable of providing devastating anti-infantry fire while also being effective against armored units.
A familiar voice drifting down the corridor finally pulled Cade from his thoughts.
He slowed.
Without making a sound, he approached the partially open door leading into his father's office and glanced through the narrow gap.
Tyler Atreides sat behind his ornate wooden desk, though he wasn't facing it. Instead, his chair had been turned toward the massive painting hanging on the opposite wall. It depicted a happier time, long before grief had driven a wedge between father and son. Tyler stood beside Lady Ailia with one hand resting proudly on a much younger Cade's shoulder, all three of them smiling as though nothing in the galaxy could ever tear them apart.
The sight made Cade's chest tighten.
Then his attention shifted to the small holotablet resting atop the Duke's desk. Projected above it was the blue holographic image of a Quarren Atreides naval officer dressed in the dark green and black uniform of the Atreides Navy. Though slightly distorted by the transmission, the concern on the man's face was unmistakable.
"Lord Duke," the officer reported in a respectful but concerned tone, "Captain Tarik is growing increasingly worried about the worms. They appear to be breaking free from their rocky prison. He's requesting reinforcements immediately."
Without turning around, the Duke replied, "Inform Captain Tarik that I'll contact Colonel Dranza personally and order him to deploy the 8th Talon Regiment, the Firebreathers."
"Yes, my lord. I'll relay the orders immediately," the Quarren replied.
Tyler remained silent for a moment before asking another question. "And how, exactly, are these worms breaking free from the rock? The Talons' helmet camera showed the worms combining into massive forms; are they breaking through with brute strength?"
The Quarren hesitated. "No, lord Duke. T-They're... eating their way through it, my lord."
For the first time since the transmission had begun, the Duke reacted. His chair slowly turned to face the desk, causing Cade to instinctively lean back from the crack in the doorway before his father could catch him watching.
"Eating their way through solid rock?" Tyler repeated, a faint crease forming across his brow. "I remember Captain Tarik telling me of how they could burrow through solid rock, but I didn't imagine they would be able to do it so soon. Interesting."
He rested an elbow on the arm of his chair, his expression thoughtful.
"I'll make sure Colonel Dranza is informed before his regiment deploys to Sharls." After a brief pause, he looked back toward the blue hologram. "One more question. Why wasn't this handled by the Military Council? Situations requiring troop deployments normally never reach my desk."
"They believed it warranted your direct authorization, my lord," the Quarren answered respectfully. "Given the... unusual nature of the situation, they felt you would possess more knowledge than anyone else. After all, you personally oversaw the expedition to Sharls."
"I see," Tyler replied with a slow nod, seemingly satisfied with the explanation.
The Quarren straightened. "Is there anything else you require of me, my lord?"
"No. That will be all."
"Very good, my lord." The Quarren snapped off a crisp salute. "Atreides!"
"Atreides," Tyler returned.
The hologram flickered once before disappearing entirely, leaving the office silent once more.
Meanwhile, Cade was already halfway down the corridor.
He had originally come for his afternoon lesson with his father, but judging by the conversation he'd just overheard, that clearly wasn't happening anytime soon. Besides, Tyler usually contacted him over his communicator whenever he was ready.
The Quarren and his father's way of describing these worms replayed itself over and over in his mind. 'They combined into massive forms... They're eating their way through the rock...'
His pace slowed. 'No... Surely not.' Then another thought struck him. 'What if they are?'
His pulse quickened.
If what he overheard was accurate, those creatures sounded alarmingly similar to Lekgolo. It was a long shot, and he knew it, but if Sharls truly harbored a colony of Lekgolo, then it represented an incredible opportunity.
A slow grin spread across his face. 'If I'm right, then I'm pulling an Arbiter and taming those bad boys.'
If he could establish peaceful relations with an entire Lekgolo colony, the implications would be staggering. They would be invaluable during the coming Clone Wars. Properly equipped Mgalekgolo could tear through battle droids, fortified positions, and armored vehicles with terrifying efficiency, while colonies of Lekgolo could potentially serve roles far beyond the battlefield. Beyond their military value, they would stand as yet another symbol of House Atreides' growing strength.
His mind was already racing through the possibilities when another realization stopped him in his tracks. His father's restrictions.
Cade thought about them for several seconds before a slow grin spread across his face.
Tyler had forbidden him from leaving Atreides-controlled space.
Sharls was Atreides-controlled space.
Technically, he wouldn't be breaking a damn thing.
And if Tyler questioned why he'd decided to suddenly travel there...
Cade shrugged to himself. 'I'll think of something.'
His expression became more thoughtful. 'Actually... while I'm there, I should probably meet with Representative Horne. Two birds with one stone.'
Another realization immediately followed. Colonel Dranza and the Firebreathers. If they reached Sharls first, they might kill the creatures before Cade ever had the chance to determine whether they truly were Lekgolo.
That settled it. He had to leave today.
A smirk tugged at the corner of his mouth. For once, it felt as though the universe had handed him an opportunity instead of another problem.
Later that evening, a steady wind swept across the landing platforms of the Atreides Center of Military Research, tugging at Cade's cloak and rattling the loose straps of his armor as he crossed toward the waiting Condor. Its engines were already beginning to spool up, their steadily growing whine carrying across the platform while the flight crew completed their final checks.
Cade tossed a duffel bag containing his essentials into the troop compartment before turning toward the two Winged Shield privates assigned as his personal security detail. Haunun Mikel and Rhan Valen stood several meters away, and judging by their expressions, both men were currently wrestling with the same uncomfortable question. Their orders were to protect Cade and ensure he remained within Atreides-controlled territory. Cade was technically doing exactly that, but somehow he doubted his father had envisioned those orders allowing his sixteen-year-old son to disappear off-world the moment something interesting caught his attention.
The four Talons accompanying the expedition apparently suffered from no such crisis of conscience. Carrying M1 Atreides blaster rifles and enough equipment for an extended deployment, they marched straight past the two Winged Shields and disappeared into the Condor's troop compartment without hesitation.
Mikel and Valen exchanged one final look. Cade could practically see the argument taking place without either man saying a word. Eventually, duty to their assigned charge won out over whatever consequences might be waiting for them when Tyler discovered where his son had gone. Both Shields hurried across the landing pad and climbed aboard.
That left one person.
Cade spotted Kellan Moone striding across the platform toward them, fully armored and carrying himself with the same disciplined purpose Cade had seen from him since childhood. Whatever reservations the two Winged Shields had about the expedition, Kellan certainly didn't share them. If anything, the Mandalorian looked as though traveling to another planet to investigate rock-eating worms was merely another assignment on an already crowded schedule.
Cade waited until his mentor reached the ramp before falling into step beside him.
"You ready, Mentor Moone?" Cade asked, raising his voice slightly over the engines as the two of them walked up the Condor's ramp.
"Always, Lord Cade," Kellan replied in his usual soft but serious tone, continuing past him into the troop compartment without breaking stride.
Cade smiled faintly as he followed.
Sharls awaited them.
Ding!
Cade glanced down at his comlink in confusion as the device chimed against his wrist. Raising his arm, he accepted the transmission, but before he could even get a word out, his father's gruff voice filled his ears.
"Where are you going, son?" Duke Tyler Atreides asked.
Cade let out a humorless chuckle as annoyance immediately began creeping into his voice. Of course his father had caught him before he'd even gotten off the damn landing pad. "Out," Cade replied simply.
There was a brief silence on the other end.
"Where are you going?" Tyler repeated, more firmly this time.
Cade sighed and glanced toward the open ramp of the Condor. "Sharls, Father," Cade finally answered.
Another pause followed, this one noticeably longer.
"No," Tyler said firmly. "If you insist on traveling, choose another planet. There's a situation developing on Sharls right now, and I want you nowhere near it." His father's voice softened slightly before he continued. "Am I understood, son?"
Cade's jaw tightened. "No, because whatever situation is taking place there has nothing to do with me," Cade replied, deliberately keeping his voice controlled despite the irritation building inside him. "I'm traveling to Sharls to meet with Representative Horne and discuss several matters with him."
"Postpone it," Tyler ordered.
"Father..." Cade growled quietly, finally allowing some of his frustration to bleed through. He looked across the troop compartment at Mikel and Valen before continuing. "I'm not going there alone. Your two men are with me, along with four Talons from the Research Center. Mentor Moone is coming as well. I'll have more than enough protection."
"Kellan is going with you?" Tyler asked, genuine surprise briefly breaking through his stern tone.
Cade glanced toward the armored Mandalorian standing nearby. "Yes."
Tyler was silent for several seconds.
"Hmmm." Cade could almost picture his father sitting behind that massive desk, weighing the risks against whatever confidence he placed in Kellan. "Fine. But I expect you to contact me the moment you arrive on Sharls. If you don't, I'll contact Representative Horne myself and have him confirm your arrival."
Cade's annoyance immediately spiked into anger. Even when his father relented, there always had to be another condition attached to it, another way to keep tabs on him. He forced the anger down before it could reach his voice.
"Yes, Father," Cade replied stiffly. "Goodbye."
"Goodbye, my so-"
Cade terminated the transmission before Tyler could finish.
"Tch. Annoying bastard," Cade muttered as he lowered his arm.
Kellan had been standing close enough to hear most of the conversation. The Mandalorian watched Cade silently for a moment before speaking, his voice quiet enough that the Talons and Winged Shields farther inside the troop compartment wouldn't overhear them.
"You know he does that because he cares about you, right?" Kellan asked softly.
Cade immediately scoffed.
"No, he doesn't," Cade replied bitterly, turning toward his mentor. "He does it because he wants to keep tabs on me. That's all it's ever fucking about with him. Knowing where I am, what I'm doing, who I'm talking to, making sure I'm doing what he wants." Cade shook his head, the anger in his expression carrying something older and considerably deeper beneath it. "The bastard hasn't cared about me in years. I don't see why the hell he'd suddenly start now."
Kellan didn't answer.
There wasn't much point.
He had watched Tyler closely enough over the years to recognize the concern behind the Duke's increasingly protective behavior. He'd also known Cade long enough to understand why the boy couldn't see it. Too much had happened between father and son, and too many years of anger and resentment stood between them for a few worried comlink calls to suddenly erase everything.
Kellan's expression softened beneath his helmet. 'Oh, Lord Cade. Your father still cares about you. If only you weren't so blinded by your anger, perhaps you'd finally see it.'
The Condor's boarding ramp began to rise behind them, sealing with a heavy metallic thud as Cade moved deeper into the troop compartment and strapped himself into one of the seats. Seconds later, the dropship's engines climbed to a roar, and the craft lifted away from the Research Center, banking sharply toward the clouds. Caladan's sprawling military installations disappeared beneath them as the Condor climbed through the atmosphere, passing the stations and starships guarding the planet before setting course for the edge of the system. Towards Sharls.
————
Location: Juvhan City
Year: 31 BBY
Time: 4:49 A.M
Five hundred years ago, Sharls had been little more than a barren rock drifting through the void. It was a valuable rock, rich with minerals and ores that made it well worth claiming, but there had been no breathable atmosphere, no native vegetation, and certainly no civilization. Generations of Atreides investment and terraforming had changed that. Within a century, Sharls possessed a Type I atmosphere capable of sustaining life, and what had once been a dead world gradually became one of House Atreides' most important mining planets.
Sharls was still far from hospitable. Vegetation remained almost nonexistent, with most of the planet dominated by mountains, rocky plains, deep ravines, and enormous stretches of exposed stone and ice. Its cities were less concerned with beauty than practicality, built to house the workers and industries necessary to extract the immense mineral wealth beneath the planet's surface. Even after centuries of settlement, only 77,034 people called Sharls home, and more than forty thousand of them worked directly in the mining industry.
Juvhan was the largest settlement on the planet, though calling it a city almost felt generous compared to the sprawling metropolises Cade had seen on Naboo. Its population stood at 22,001, packed behind twenty-meter-high walls constructed from starship-grade durasteel. A dozen twin-barreled turbolaser towers stood at intervals along those defenses, their massive weapons trained outward toward the rocky wilderness surrounding the city. The fortifications hadn't been built to repel invading armies. They were there to keep out the wildlife.
Apparently, giving Sharls a breathable atmosphere had produced consequences nobody could have predicted.
Whatever primitive organisms had survived beneath the planet's surface hadn't taken long to exploit the new environment. Over the centuries, Sharls developed an ecosystem filled with creatures seemingly determined to murder anything unfortunate enough to cross their path. Mining operations outside the protected settlements required automated defenses and armed escorts; civilian travel between cities was heavily regulated, and every major population center maintained defenses powerful enough to discourage even the largest predators from getting too close.
The Condor touched down with a heavy thud, its landing gear compressing beneath the dropship's weight as the engines began winding down. Cade wasted no time. He unclasped his restraints, rose from his seat, and grabbed his equipment as the other members of the group did the same around him.
By the time the loading ramp began descending, Cade was already standing in front of it.
"You ready?" Kellan asked in his usual calm, serious tone as he stepped up beside Cade.
Cade gave his mentor a firm nod, and the two descended the ramp together as it settled against the cold steel of the landing pad. The four Talons followed several paces behind them, with Mikel and Valen bringing up the rear. A bitter wind swept across the exposed platform, carrying with it fine particles of dust and ice that scraped against Cade's armor and cloak.
Looking to his right, Cade craned his neck slightly as his gaze traveled up the massive durasteel wall surrounding Juvhan City. Even from here, the twenty-meter fortifications were imposing, but they were dwarfed by the twin-barreled turbolaser towers positioned along them. The weapons looked more appropriate for defending a military installation from armored assault than keeping wildlife at bay, which told Cade everything he needed to know about the creatures inhabiting the wastes beyond the city. Years of constant dust and ice storms had taken their toll as well, leaving the walls scratched, weathered, and stained rather than pristine.
Cade lowered his gaze toward one of the fortified gates leading deeper into Juvhan and spotted the welcoming party waiting for him. A contingent of Talons stood at attention in front of the entrance, their weapons held across their chests. Standing several paces ahead of them was the rugged form of Representative Abelard Horne, the scar across his nose making him immediately recognizable even at a distance. Beside Horne stood another man Cade didn't recognize, an older human somewhere in his early sixties whose weathered features and heavy clothing made him look more like a veteran miner than a politician.
'Planetary governor, probably,' Cade thought as he and Kellan crossed the landing pad toward them. 'Either that or somebody important enough that Horne bothered bringing him out here at four in the fucking morning.'
"Ah, young Lord Cade! Greetings, and welcome to Sharls," Horne called out in a welcoming tone as Cade approached. The rugged representative stepped forward before gesturing toward the older man beside him. "Allow me to introduce Governor Kael Rourke."
"Welcome to Sharls, Lord Cade," Governor Rourke greeted in a gruff, scratchy voice. The older man gave Cade a respectful nod, his weathered face and rough hands doing little to hide the decades he'd likely spent working in Sharls's mines before entering politics.
Horne's attention shifted toward the armored Mandalorian standing beside Cade, and genuine surprise crossed his face. "Lord Kellan. I had no idea you would be joining us as well," Horne said.
"My lord required me, and so here I am," Kellan replied simply in his usual soft but serious tone, giving Horne a respectful nod.
"Governor, Representative Horne, it's good to finally meet both of you properly," Cade said as he shook hands with each man. "Meeting like this is certainly more comfortable than trying to speak in the middle of a Council session, even with the freezing fucking weather."
Horne barked out a laugh at that. "Yes, I suppose it is. Come, let's get inside. I'd be a rather poor host if I kept the Duke's son standing around in the cold at four in the morning."
Cade certainly wasn't going to argue.
Passing through the massive gates, Cade and Kellan followed Horne and Governor Rourke into Juvhan City while their armed escorts fell into formation around them. The city was surprisingly clean for a settlement built around heavy mining. Wide streets ran between squat durasteel buildings, warehouses, apartment blocks, workshops, and storefronts, while overhead lamps were only beginning to shut off as the first light of dawn crept over the surrounding walls. Cade could already hear heavy machinery rumbling somewhere deeper within the city as another workday began.
There weren't many civilians outside yet. Those who were seemed to fall into one of two camps when they noticed the procession. Some stopped outright to stare at the sixteen-year-old heir walking through their city under armed guard, while others barely spared him a glance before continuing with whatever they were doing. There seemed to be absolutely no middle ground.
After several minutes of walking, the group approached a heavily guarded building near the center of Juvhan. Its broad lower levels supported a massive domed upper structure that gave the entire building an almost mushroom-like appearance. Cade stared up at it as they approached the entrance.
'Huh. Kind of looks like a smaller Senate Building.'
Thankfully, he doubted what awaited him inside would be nearly as insufferable.
Two Talons pulled open the entrance doors, and Cade followed Horne and Rourke into a wide lobby of polished stone and dark metal. Unlike the utilitarian buildings outside, the interior possessed considerably more decoration, though nothing Cade would describe as extravagant. Banners bearing the Atreides hawk hung from the walls alongside the planetary crest of Sharls, while several large holographic displays showed mining districts, transportation routes, weather conditions, and production figures from across the planet.
"This is Juvhan's Government Hall," Governor Rourke explained in his rough voice as they crossed the lobby. "My office is here, along with the planetary administrative departments and Representative Horne's offices whenever he's planetside."
"I imagine most of the planet is run from here then," Cade replied as his eyes briefly moved across one of the holographic maps.
"Most of it," Rourke confirmed. "The individual mining settlements have their own administrators, but anything involving planetary infrastructure, defense, or the larger mining operations eventually reaches my desk."
"Which means far too much reaches his desk," Horne added with a faint smile.
Rourke gave the representative a dry look. "That's usually what happens when you're the governor."
Horne chuckled under his breath before leading them toward a turbolift at the rear of the lobby. The Talons guarding the lift stepped aside immediately, and the doors opened with a quiet hiss.
Once everyone was inside and the doors closed, Horne looked toward Cade. "Now, Lord Cade, your message said you wished to discuss several matters with me personally. I assumed whatever they were must be important if you were willing to travel here rather than wait until the next Council session."
"They are," Cade answered in a more businesslike tone. He briefly glanced toward Rourke before returning his attention to Horne. "But before we discuss that, there's something else I'd like clarified."
Governor Rourke looked over at him.
"The situation outside Juvhan," Cade continued. "I've heard enough to know something is breaking free from the rock, but not much beyond that. Since I'm already here, I'd like to know exactly what's happening."
The change in both men's expressions was immediate.
Whatever amusement had remained on Horne's face disappeared, while Rourke's already hardened features became considerably more serious.
The turbolift came to a stop.
"We can discuss that upstairs," Rourke said grimly as the doors opened. "Because if you're planning on staying on Sharls for any length of time, Lord Cade, you need to understand what the hell has been happening in those mountains."
"Talons stay outside. Only Lord Cade, Lord Kellan, and his two Winged Shields are permitted inside," Horne ordered in a calm, authoritative tone, stopping beside the entrance.
The four Talons immediately glanced toward Cade for confirmation. Cade gave them a single nod, and the soldiers returned it before taking up positions outside the conference room.
"Shut the door," Horne instructed once Mikel and Valen had entered.
One of the Shields reached back and pulled the door closed. The moment it sealed, whatever warmth Horne had shown during Cade's arrival disappeared. The veteran representative approached the holotable and planted both hands against its edge, his expression settling into a hardened seriousness.
Governor Rourke stepped up beside him and manipulated several controls. The holographic terrain rapidly shifted northwest until a mountainous region nearly three hundred kilometers from Juvhan filled the display. A small settlement labeled Southreach sat only a few kilometers from the highlighted mountains, surrounded by several mining sites and access roads.
Horne studied Cade for several seconds before speaking.
"First things first, Lord Cade. How do you know about this?" Horne questioned in a controlled but suspicious tone, his eyes narrowing slightly. "We haven't made the situation public. Captain Tarik knows. The Duke knows. Governor Rourke and a handful of senior officials here in Juvhan know. Beyond them, we've kept this contained."
Kellan's helmet turned slightly toward Cade.
That was apparently news to him as well.
Cade had told his mentor only that something had arisen on Sharls that could give them an advantage over Acheran and, potentially, in the war Cade believed was coming. He hadn't explained exactly what that opportunity was or how he'd learned about it.
"My father," Cade answered simply, keeping his expression deliberately neutral.
He hoped that would be enough.
Rourke's eyebrows rose as he looked between Cade and Horne. "So the Duke sent you ahead of the Firebreathers to get a better understanding of the situation," Rourke said in a mildly impressed tone. "Makes sense. I'd expect nothing less from the Duke of House Atreides."
"Yup," Cade replied with a single nod, his face remaining completely expressionless.
Horne nodded.
Cade approached the table, his attention settling on the holographic mountains. "How many?" Cade asked, his tone turning serious.
"We don't know," Rourke admitted.
Cade looked up sharply. "You don't know?" Cade asked, surprise breaking through his otherwise controlled expression.
"No," Horne answered calmly. He moved around the table and rested both hands against its edge as he studied the projection. "We've confirmed hundreds, possibly thousands. Beyond that, any number I'd give you would be speculation, and speculation doesn't do anybody any good."
That sounded considerably less encouraging.
"Casualties?" Kellan asked in his usual soft but serious tone, remaining beside Cade with his attention fixed on the hologram.
"Besides the two Talons that died when the creatures were originally discovered, none. We've had seven injured. Two seriously," Horne replied evenly. "But otherwise no deaths."
Cade's eyebrows rose slightly. For creatures supposedly dangerous enough to warrant the deployment of an entire Talon regiment, that was remarkably low.
Horne noticed the reaction immediately. "That's largely because Captain Tarik hasn't been stupid enough to provoke them," Horne continued. "The first security team opened fire when one of the creatures breached the cavern entrance. It responded violently. Tarik arrived shortly afterward, reviewed the recordings, and ordered everyone to hold fire unless directly threatened."
Cade's interest intensified. "And?" Cade asked.
"And the attacks stopped," Rourke answered.
Cade stared down at the holographic mountains as several pieces finally began falling into place. 'Oh, you've got to be fucking kidding me.'
Everything he was hearing fit.
"Have they attempted to leave the mountains?" Cade asked, looking back toward Horne.
"Not since," Horne replied. "They've expanded through several abandoned mining tunnels, but they've shown no interest in Juvhan or any of the surrounding settlements. Every hostile encounter we've recorded occurred after our people approached them or entered territory they currently occupy."
"Then why deploy the Firebreathers?" Cade asked.
"Because containment isn't the same thing as control," Horne answered without hesitation. His tone wasn't defensive, merely practical. "I've spent enough years fighting to know you don't wait until something becomes a threat before deciding how you're going to respond to it. Colonel Dranza's regiment gives Tarik enough manpower to establish a proper perimeter, evacuate Southreach if necessary, and respond in force if the situation changes." Horne paused, his eyes returning to the mountains. "And if these creatures prove hostile despite our attempts to avoid provoking them, Dranza will have enough firepower available to put them down."
Cade's expression hardened slightly at that last part.
"Possibly even wipe them out," Rourke added grimly.
"No," Cade said immediately.
The firmness of the answer drew everyone's attention toward him.
Horne slowly looked across the table at the young heir. Rather than taking offense, the veteran representative simply studied Cade for several seconds, waiting for an explanation.
"No?" Horne repeated calmly.
"Not unless they attack first," Cade clarified, keeping his voice controlled despite the urgency beginning to build inside him. "Everything you've just told me suggests these creatures aren't actively hostile. They were attacked, they defended themselves, and when your people stopped shooting at them, they stopped attacking. They're occupying abandoned tunnels, they haven't moved against Southreach, and they haven't attempted to breach any other settlement."
Governor Rourke crossed his arms. "That doesn't mean they're intelligent, Lord Cade."
"No, but it means they're displaying restraint," Cade countered. "And right now, that's enough reason not to start killing them."
Horne's expression remained unreadable.
Kellan, however, had begun watching Cade much more closely.
"You seem unusually invested in these creatures," Horne observed after a moment, his voice steady rather than accusatory. "More than I'd expect from someone who only learned about the situation yesterday."
Cade didn't answer immediately.
That was the problem with experienced soldiers. They tended to notice things.
"I think I know what they are," Cade finally admitted.
Rourke's brow furrowed. "You've encountered them before?"
"No," Cade replied. "But I've encountered information about something remarkably similar."
Technically true.
Horne straightened slightly. "What information?"
Cade's eyes returned to the holographic mountains. "Before I answer that, I need to see one."
Silence followed.
Rourke stared at him as if he'd misheard. "You want to see one of the worms?"
"Preferably alive."
"Absolutely fucking not," Kellan said quietly.
Cade turned toward him. The Mandalorian stood completely still beside him, but Cade knew that tone. It was the same one Kellan used immediately before explaining precisely how stupid Cade was being.
"I didn't say I wanted to walk up and pet the damn thing," Cade replied.
"No. You merely want to travel three hundred kilometers into an active military containment zone so you can inspect an unknown creature capable of eating through solid rock," Kellan responded in his soft, serious voice. "A considerable improvement."
Cade stared at him for a moment.
Rourke coughed into his fist, poorly disguising what might have been amusement.
Horne didn't so much as smile.
Instead, the veteran representative looked down at the map and considered the request. "If you're serious about this, there is a way to do it without marching you directly into one of their tunnels," Horne said after several seconds. "Captain Tarik established his command post outside Southreach. They've been using probe droids and remote cameras to monitor the breaches."
"Good," Cade replied immediately. "Then that's where I want to go."
Horne raised his eyes toward him.
"Lord Cade, before I agree to anything, I want to make something clear," Horne said firmly. "Once we leave Juvhan, Captain Tarik commands that containment zone. Not me. Not Governor Rourke. And unless the Duke gives him orders stating otherwise, not you. If Tarik tells us to stop, we stop. If he tells us an area isn't safe, we don't enter it. I've buried enough soldiers in my lifetime because somebody with more authority than sense decided rank made them immune to getting killed."
Cade held the older man's gaze.
There wasn't any disrespect in Horne's words. No challenge to his position or title.
Just experience.
"Understood," Cade replied with a firm nod. "When we're inside his perimeter, Captain Tarik is in command."
That appeared to satisfy him.
Horne straightened and looked toward Rourke. "Have a transport prepared. Something armored. Alert Tarik that we're coming and tell him not to engage the creatures unless absolutely necessary."
Governor Rourke nodded. "I'll see to it."
"And inform Colonel Dranza of the same," Cade added.
Horne looked back toward him. "Dranza isn't scheduled to arrive today," Horne explained. "The Firebreathers are still a day or two out."
Cade felt some of the tension leave his shoulders.
Perfect. That gave him time.
"Then let's not waste it," Cade said.
Horne studied him for another second before giving a single nod. "Agreed."
————
A/N: Welcome to the Thirteenth chapter of my fic: Star Wars: House Atreides! Not to mention the longest one yet!