Wikkheiser Assume Governorship of Arrakis
Transition proceeding well, although smuggler activity is up
Turn:
125
House Wikkheiser has been granted the Governorship of Arrakis
The Sardaukar have established positions in the major settlements between the north pole and the main northern mining operations to oversee the withdrawal of Ziyairan forces and personnel. The operation is being supported by the Spacing Guild, who are coordinating shuttles, transports and cargo vessels from the planetary spaceport to orbiting heighliners. The operation has been costly, time consuming, and has adversely affected harvesting operations. And despite how dramatically Ziyairan production has already fallen in the last few months, it has fallen yet further as the crews have reconsidered their futures and tenure. Actual spice production these days is almost zero.
To join and eventually replace the two legions of sardaukar, House Wikkheiser has reportedly dispatched four legions to Arrakis, commanded by their Warmaster. These legions are comprised mostly of veterans from the brutal Tleilaxu campaign and House Wikkheiser's previous campaign on Arrakis whom House Wikkheiser has called back to active service. Reconnaissance missions to get the lay of the land are reportedly well under way. Scouts have reported that smuggling cartels are taking advantage of the current unstable situation. Scouts have detected myriad ongoing smuggling patrols and harvesting operations, and there are reports of violence between some groups and the native desert rats, whose activity also seems to be on the rise. Imperial Sardaukar have reported a successful defense of Tsimpo against a Fremen razzia in early nElroodim.
On a positive note for the transition, it does not appear that House Ziyaira has been moving their newly fitted and highly efficient mining equipment, as they are permitted to do under a standard transition agreement.
Arrakis governors have a history of dereliction; reputations on the line
It is earnestly hoped that this appointment, the second of Shaddam IV's reign, will last, as the previous governorships ended amid scandal. House Ziyaira has been forced to abdicate as a result of the disappearance from duty of the so-called Shogun, Li-Han Ziyaira. The fiercely religious house had been awarded the demi-fief partly due to their remarkable efforts during the campaign against the E-Lord, which emerged during the Harkonnen governorship. That governorship had demonstrated a certain lack of energy during that campaign, and following it, House Harkonnen had adopted policies that ultimately led to their ruination and reduction to minor house status. During this downfall, they seem to have simply ignored their responsibilities on Arrakis. Since taking over the governorship, House Ziyaira has been credited with restoring confidence in spice markets after embarking on a series of administrative and technological reforms. Yet, just as House Harkonnen had simply and mysteriously dropped the reins, so has House Ziyaira. There has been no word from House Ziyaira to explain themselves, and it is a testament to the friendship that has developed between Li-Han and the Emperor that Imperial House Corrino hasn't taken further punitive action against them.
This appointment is important for the Empire and for House Wikkheiser, obviously. But it is also important for Imperial House Corrino. Their last appointment ended in failure as the house they entrusted simply begged off their duty. If this were to happen with a second appointment under Shaddam IV (not to mention the third appointment in a row for House Corrino), the great houses may start to murmur a bit, all the more so as vital spice production lags. It now falls to House Wikkheiser to restore the reputation of the throne and the confidence of the Landsraad. Are they up to it?