Chapter 284: The Delegation! When the Clam and the Snipe Fight, the Fisherman Profits! The True Victor Emerges!
It wasn't long before Leto and Hawat arrived at the ground command center aboard an ornithopter.
As soon as they stepped into the central control room, Hawat immediately questioned a subordinate, "What's the situation? Have we determined the size of the enemy fleet?"
The top priority right now was figuring out how many people the enemy had brought. If the Corrino royal family and the Harkonnens had mobilized their entire forces, much more preparation would be required.
"We don't have an exact number yet," the base commander reported, "but based on preliminary scans, the fleet they've sent doesn't appear to be very large… though it is quite unusual."
"The fleet bears no insignia of the Spacing Guild, nor is there a single highliner belonging to the Guild."
"It seems to be a fleet unaffiliated with any known noble house or guild organization."
As he finished speaking, new and clearer visual data arrived from the front lines. Hawat studied the incoming images of the fleet and realized it wasn't as massive as he'd feared.
That allowed him to breathe a little easier.
If this was all they were dealing with, the Atreides forces were more than capable of handling it.
Without delay, Hawat stepped up to the central console and issued orders via the communications system to the frontline troops. "This is Thufir Hawat. I'm taking over the defense operations of Caladan effective immediately."
"Until further notice, no one is to make any moves without my explicit command!"
Just then, more detailed imagery streamed into the command center.
When Hawat saw the fleet labeled Universal Megacorp, with its wildly varied paint schemes and immense ships, he was clearly stunned.
Universal Megacorp? What house owns this private company? I've never even heard of it!
His mind raced, trying to connect the name to any known noble faction—but no matter how hard he thought, nothing came to mind.
What's more, while the fleet wasn't large in number, each ship was absolutely massive.
The fleet consisted of 52 various warships—everything from carrier flagships to cruisers, destroyers, and battleships. It was a fully equipped and highly organized force.
From wanderer-class Dreadnoughts to the Long Night, Endless-class vessels, and standard Phoenix ships, the lineup formed a striking and majestic display.
"Are all their ships that big? What house could possibly afford something like this?!"
Hawat's mind practically short-circuited. Even the Spacing Guild's long-range highliners topped out at 25,000 meters in length.
But the Long Night visible in the image? It measured a staggering 30,000 meters.
And unlike the Spacing Guild's highliners—which were transport freighters—Universal Megacorp's Long Night was a fully armed warship.
Building an interstellar warship at 30,000 meters and outfitting it for combat? The technical expertise required dwarfed that of constructing a freighter of equal size.
Frankly, in all his years, Hawat had never seen any house build ships this enormous. It was simply unfathomable.
"We've received a communication signal from the other side. Should we connect?"
One of the communications officers turned to report.
"Put it through."
Hawat didn't hesitate for a moment. He wanted to see just who had the audacity to barge into Atreides territory like this.
A sharp hissing sound played briefly—and then the transmission linked successfully.
[This is the advance fleet of Universal Megacorp. We are currently engaged in an escort mission. Our diplomatic delegation will be arriving shortly. Please prepare to receive them.]
[I repeat—…]
Unlike prior raids or direct assaults, this time, Universal Megacorp had chosen a surprisingly gentle approach. They were opting for diplomacy first—talking things out with House Atreides before resorting to force.
Hearing the message, Duke Leto and Hawat instinctively frowned. The tone was rather condescending—making them feel like the small-time faction, while the other side behaved like an established powerhouse of the Imperium.
"Universal Megacorp? Never heard of them," Duke Leto muttered with a scowl. But the transmission didn't appear hostile—they were simply requesting a visit and asking the Atreides to prepare for it.
Not an unreasonable demand.
"Send the word. Prepare a welcoming party, but also put our fleet and ground forces on alert. Be ready in case they try anything."
"And find out—quickly—what house they're actually from."
For a brief moment, Leto even suspected this so-called Universal Megacorp might be a cover for the Corrinos or the Harkonnens.
But that level of deception would've been outright laughable.
"Yes, my lord. I'll see to it immediately."
Hawat nodded and went off to relay the duke's orders.
Meanwhile, Duke Leto furrowed his brow, unable to fathom why Universal Megacorp's warships were built so absurdly large. It just didn't make sense—what a colossal waste of resources.
After all, in the universe of Dune, humanity never built ships on that scale. It would've been the height of extravagance.
Thanks to a technology known as the Holtzman Shield, any kinetic weapon that struck such a shield would be instantly nullified—rendering bullets and shells completely ineffective.
Worse, energy weapons would trigger a subatomic fusion reaction upon hitting a shield—causing both the shooter and the shielded target to detonate in a nuclear blast.
In other words, if a laser cannon struck a shield, both sides would be blown to pieces.
So using conventional energy weapon turrets to trade for an enemy ship was never a good deal. The attacker always lost more.
The invention of the Holtzman Shield completely upended the foundation of interstellar warfare in the Dune universe.
Small, agile, and specialized craft became the mainstream tools of war. Some ships were even as compact as cars.
Ornithopters, for example, were the most common type of micro-warfare vehicle.
These craft typically carried a small payload of missiles and were used primarily to control airspace during planetary conflicts.
In short, Dune-style space warfare had no room for flashy naval tactics.
Victory came down to raw endurance—who had deeper reserves. You shot down one of mine, I shot down one of yours. Whoever ran out of ships first lost.
This kind of battle—the dream scenario for wealthy "pay-to-win" types—meant that peasant uprisings in the Dune universe were practically impossible.
After all, how could the common folk possibly match the overwhelming wealth and heritage of noble houses that had ruled for millennia?
---
Half an hour later, a Thunderhawk shuttle, escorted by several Stormhawk gunships, slowly descended into one of House Atreides' vast estate grounds.
Gazing at the exotic architecture before him, Andrew, the representative of the Interstellar Mega-Corporation, couldn't help but exclaim in awe.
"Medieval Western European-style castles and open-air manors—these aristocrats really know how to flaunt their wealth."
Andrew De Rio, once captain of a Carthage-class carrier in Universe 004's Halo timeline, had since taken up a new role as a temporary envoy for the Mega-Corp.
Though this was his first diplomatic mission—with all the risks of being used as a scapegoat should things go awry—it was also a rare opportunity. A successful mission could mean a meteoric rise in his career.
By now, the manor grounds were swarming with people. Most were guards loyal to House Atreides, with a smaller number being members of the noble house itself.
The guards maintained high alert, cautiously surrounding the shuttle. Meanwhile, the Atreides family members craned their necks with curiosity, eager to catch a glimpse of the newcomers.
Naturally, Duke Leto himself was nowhere to be seen—he was the core of House Atreides, after all. Without fully understanding their visitors, he wouldn't risk a personal appearance to meet with the Mega-Corp delegation.
The shuttle's hatch slowly opened. First to emerge were a squad of Spartan warriors, swiftly taking position to provide complete protection for the soon-to-debark Andrew.
Then, led by Andrew himself, the Mega-Corp delegation disembarked.
Andrew walked at the front, exuding confidence and composure. Approaching Thufir Hawat, he gave a respectful nod.
The reason for the nod rather than a handshake? Concerns over inter-universal microbial differences—better to avoid any unintended contamination.
Seeing the sharp gleam in the man's eyes, Hawat immediately sensed that this visitor was likely a military officer—possibly a high-ranking commander.
"I am Andrew, representative of the Interstellar Mega-Corporation."
After their mutual introductions, Andrew wasted no time getting straight to the point:
"Mr. Hawat, House Atreides is on the brink of destruction. You would do well to prepare."
At those words, the surrounding Atreides guards and family members instantly bristled with anger. Even the ever-composed Hawat couldn't hide the sudden bulge of veins on his forehead, his breathing noticeably quicker.
"Mr. Andrew, I don't understand what you mean. Are you implying that your Mega-Corp intends to go to war with House Atreides?"
Hawat's expression darkened, and his voice turned cold. He assumed the envoy was here to deliver a formal challenge, perhaps to provoke them into conflict.
Faced with the hostile atmosphere, Andrew merely smiled calmly and replied:
"Our Mega-Corp has no conflicting interests with House Atreides. On the contrary, we're here to help you escape your current predicament."
Before Hawat could ask further, Andrew continued:
"Soon, Duke Leto will receive an imperial dispatch from Emperor Shaddam. The entire House Atreides will be reassigned to Arrakis. And on that endless sea of sand, the Harkonnens and the fearsome Sardaukar will wipe out every last member of your family."
"Our Mega-Corp is the only force capable of pulling you back from the brink of annihilation!"
The Sardaukar Andrew mentioned were the Empire's most elite shock troops, essentially Emperor Shaddam's personal guard.
Trained on the brutal prison planet of Salusa Secundus, these warriors were hardened in a crucible of cruelty, rising above even the most savage criminals to become elite combatants who could take on ten men apiece.
As the razor-sharp blade of House Corrino, the Sardaukar were often deployed for the dirtiest, most dangerous missions—earning a fearsome reputation that echoed throughout the Empire.
Though House Atreides boasted some of the finest warriors among the noble houses, they were still no match for the Sardaukar.
Hearing this, Hawat hesitated visibly, clearly weighing the truth of Andrew's words. If what he said was true, then…
Seeing the opening, Andrew pressed on:
"Our Mega-Corp is a coalition of civilizations from across countless universes."
"Tell your Duke this: if he doesn't want House Atreides to be buried by his own hand, he must respond to us as soon as possible."
"If your house refuses our alliance, we'll simply seek out another."
With that, Andrew turned and left, leading his team back into the shuttle without waiting for Hawat's reply.
Hawat stood frozen, silently watching Andrew depart. His lips parted slightly, as if to speak—but no words came out.
Moments later, the Thunderhawk lifted off under the escort of Stormhawk gunships, ascending rapidly toward Caladan's low orbit.
Throughout the negotiation, Andrew had only revealed two critical points: House Atreides was in grave danger, and the Mega-Corp was the only force that could save them.
Whether Duke Leto believed it or not didn't matter—soon enough, the truth would reveal itself.
Trying to make such a colossal noble house like Atreides obedient through bribery or intimidation alone would never work.
Offer too little, and they'd scoff at the insult. Offer too much, and it would cut into the Mega-Corp's own interests. After all, to make such a grand house truly tempted, you'd have to offer them the imperial throne itself.
But that throne was reserved for their CEO, Li Ang . No one dared promise it lightly.
Instead, by leaking intel about House Corrino and House Harkonnen's imminent strike, the Mega-Corp could position itself as House Atreides' only hope. A life-saving gesture might just be enough to open the door to future cooperation.
Later, when Hawat relayed everything to Duke Leto, the Duke was clearly unsettled.
"What do you think? Is their information reliable? And how would they even know about this?"
He looked to Hawat for answers.
Hawat's eyes rolled upward, revealing mostly whites—an involuntary reaction triggered by a Mentat's brain rapidly entering high-level computation.
After a moment, he returned to normal, having pulled a key detail from recent intelligence.
"Recently, House Harkonnen replaced all their seasoned spice harvesters and most of their equipment. The only ones left are inexperienced workers and worn-out machinery."
At that, Duke Leto's eyes sharpened. That kind of move at such a critical time was highly suspicious.
After all, Arrakis was the sole source of the spice melange.
For years, House Harkonnen had made untold profits off the shimmering sands of Arrakis, even closing the wealth gap with House Atreides.
Under normal circumstances, they'd have no reason to abandon such a cash cow just when it was yielding the most profit.
The only logical explanation? Just as Andrew had said—House Atreides was about to be assigned to replace House Harkonnen as the ruling power on Arrakis.
"Could it be… House Corrino and House Harkonnen are really planning to strike against us?"
Leto began to imagine what was to come.
On the endless sands of Arrakis, besieged on all sides by Corrino and Harkonnen forces, House Atreides would be isolated and destroyed.
Once the dust settled, no matter how unjust the Emperor's actions, it would be too late. The leader would be dead, and the smaller noble houses—lacking unity or strength—would be powerless to defy imperial rule.
Just thinking of this worst-case scenario filled Leto with dread.
Of course, Leto wasn't entirely clueless as to why House Corrino would want to destroy House Atreides.
In fact, he probably understood better than anyone.
Over the years, Leto Atreides had rallied many other noble families to join the Landsraad Union. As its de facto leader, he had worked tirelessly to secure benefits for the group.
But the galactic pie of power had already been carved up after the end of the Butlerian Jihad, divvied among the great houses based on merit and past deeds.
That feudal meritocracy had clearly defined every house's future potential. Everyone was expected to stick to their lane.
Unhappy with your share? Too bad—you should've earned more when you had the chance!
The current privileges and powers of the noble houses had been bought with the blood of their ancestors. They were getting exactly what they deserved.
But then House Atreides came along with their so-called Landsraad Union—undermining House Corrino, attempting to redistribute imperial resources under the guise of collective welfare.
Even if the redistributed benefits were small, they were still part of Corrino's imperial inheritance. Why should a bunch of freeloaders get anything for doing nothing? Infuriating!
Ungrateful parasites!
It was as if House Atreides had used the Emperor's own resources to hand out favors—then took all the credit for themselves. And if the Emperor refused, the other noble houses would rise up in protest.
What a despicable move!
Generous with other people's wealth—House Atreides was nothing but a pack of shameless ingrates! The ancient laws of the galaxy were being corrupted by the insidious ambition of these aristocrats.
That was the real reason Emperor Shaddam wanted House Atreides destroyed. They had challenged his authority—and tried to carve up his imperial legacy.
All those acts of kindness and coalition-building? Just a ploy to amass power and build a noble alliance against the Corrino throne.
But from Duke Leto's perspective, it was all done to strengthen and revitalize House Atreides.
Your standpoint defines your logic—he had little choice in the matter.
"If House Harkonnen really is vacating Arrakis, then we're the only house qualified to take their place."
Hawat's expression grew somber. This was a critical juncture, and even he felt cornered.
"If we do go to Arrakis, and Corrino and Harkonnen launch a joint attack…"
"We don't stand a chance."
As a seasoned military strategist, Hawat knew all too well the terrain of Arrakis.
Even with full preparation, it would be nearly impossible for House Atreides to withstand a two-front siege in such an exposed environment.
There were no fortified strongholds, no loyal local population, no stocked food reserves—none of the advantages they enjoyed on Caladan.
Set foot on Arrakis, and they were walking into a death trap.
But refusing the transfer would mean defying an imperial order—tantamount to open rebellion.
Even if House Atreides managed to rally other families and miraculously topple Emperor Shaddam, the ultimate victor would not be them.
It would be House Harkonnen—who would emerge unscathed, having let others do the fighting.
Caught between the sandworm and the deep, Leto could see it clearly now: no matter what path he chose, House Harkonnen would be the one to win.
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