Turn: #125
Next GM Ruling Period Begins: TBC
Rebels on Eirdanos Continue to Hold Out
Canidar Courier
House Alexin has finally done what many had predicted they would do: begun military operations against the rebel cities of Kratos and Kerameikos. The decision has dismayed many among the aristocracy, especially those who have given public or tacit support to the rebel cause. Loyalists, on the other hand, hoping to capitalize on the downfall of Governors Damokles (Kratos) and Adelphos (Kerameikos), have quietly begun to line up behind House Alexin. The Count appears to enjoy some degree of popular support, but this will surely erode quickly if military advances are not made forthwith.
Taking the military option constitutes a serious gamble for the Count, and if the war drags on, he can expect further challenges to his legitimacy. The house shields protecting the key command centers in Kratos and Kerameikos are still operational. Dissident elements that have been causing trouble of late have retreated behind the shields. This will help House Alexin maintain order, but if those shields remain up, the cities are nigh impregnable. And as long as they stand, they are an ongoing witness to the apparent illegitimacy of the Count's claim to authority.
In response to the news from Kratos and Kerameikos, the city of Limenas and its Governor have taken up arms and are reported to be sending emissaries to several townships in the southern region to convince them to join the uprising. This is indeed a worrying turn, as Count Alexin needs the support of every city governor he can get at the moment. The question now is whether House Alexin will divide her forces up so as to deal with Limenas militarily or try diplomatic options. Both paths involve serious risk for House Alexin, which may come to rue their decision to escalate this conflict.
Rumours of Ophelion Radicalism
Septimus Sceptre
Rumors are surfacing about a potentially radical development from within House Ophelion. According to rumor, children fief-wide are being removed from their families and labor responsibilities in order to be given what have been called "civics" lessons. These lessons, which are delivered at various institutions throughout the fief, are apparently compulsory for all children starting from the age of four. It's unclear what purpose these lessons might serve. However, it is quite certain that they can only reduce the industrial capacity of the Ophelion family's holdings as valuable peon labor is diverted to these institutions.
Some commenters speculate that House Ophelion is experimenting with a liberalizing political programme such as are hinted at in various folk tales and ancient legends. These legends talk of societies in which whole populations are given a "liberal education" and where even the lowest dregs of society participate in political decision-making. Such a radical innovation, if it were truly attempted, would wreck havoc with the political stability and economic success of the Ophelion-controlled fiefs for obvious reasons. Peons who are convinced that they can take an active role in decisions that are too great for them may indeed demand to take such an active role. Widespread strikes and political foment can be the only predictable outcome. Mob rule is the utter lack of order and profits.
Making matters worse are the rumors that this compulsory education programme involves physical education. The peons are thus being led to believe that they have the ability and status to effect political change and the physical wherewithal to implement it. Several anonymous Landsraad sources report that there is widespread displeasure at these rumors. Although the aristocracy is willing to hear House Ophelion's side of the story, it also seems clear that they are willing to hear only one version of that story, viz., a flat denial of the rumors and some explanation for the rumors' existence.
Harkonnen Begin Massive Reconstruction Program
Canidar II Inquirer
The new Harkonnen regime has begun work on restoring the fortunes of Giedi Prime. There are three projects underway, focusing on infrastructure, work force maintenance, and industrial refurbishment. All this whilst Imperial Sardaukar provide security and Houses Poritrin and Wikkheiser provide badly expertise and resources.
With the failing leadership, especially during the recent contagion and resultant rioting, of the previous Harkonnen regime under the now-disgraced Vladimir Harkonnen, Giedi Prime's infrastructure was almost completely destroyed. Roads, warehouses, power generators, water supply, and all manner of services ground to a halt. The new regime under Maksimillian Harkonnen, is trying to remedy the situation through massive investments of solarii and materiel. Wikkheiser engineers, among the best in the Imperium, have arrived on Giedi Prime this month. They have taken the lead in planning and implementing the infrastructure reconstruction whilst Imperial Sardaukar continue to operate on the planet, safeguarding operations.
Also in desperate need of immediate attention are the once-vast labor pool of Giedi Prime. The slave labor camps been destroyed, and it will take some time to rebuild and restock those camps. But before that work can seriously proceed, the population requires food and medical aid. And although the new regime have made significant contributions to aid operations, there are several pockets of pyons that are still quite deprived, sick, and dying of starvation. There is really no telling how much damage has been done to the labor pool, but even after all the new regime has done, a conservative estimate must place the loss at over 70% of the original pool. Without importing other slave labor or embarking on an expensive fertility and procreative program, Giedi Prime can look forward to sluggish economic recovery for years to come.
That said, the Maksimillian regime, with significant contributions of materiel from House Poritrin, have made significant strides toward re-creating a viable industrial base to the planet. Although nowhere near the glory days of House Harkonnen, the planet may soon have a modest industrial output.
The empire earnestly needs the restoration of Giedi Prime. Industrial goods have been in short supply since the once-prolific factories of Giedi Prime have shut down. And although there is no guarantee of success in this refurbishment, House Harkonnen appears to be making a serious attempt. One wonders whether the new regime can survive its own refurbishment program. It is reportedly near bankruptcy, and without returns on its investments soon, may require Landsraad assistance to keep up the effort.
Ginaz Allegations 'Dismissed' by CHOAM
Canidar Intelligencer
The CHOAM Board of Directors has rejected accusations from House Ginaz that House Wikkheiser may have been disrupting interstellar trade. The allegations stem from what House Ginaz called "another underhanded attack on our economy that has again forced us into protectionist measures to stave off this threat." The Ginazi representative was apparently implying that this economic attack was a follow-up to the controversial Wikkheiser embargo against House Ginaz, initiated in response to the Ginaz mentat musing out loud about the possibility of starting a Ginazi munitions industry. As Tann Ginaz said at the time, "I am not one to believe in coincidence," and called upon the Directorate to take up an investigation.
The allegations began a short and brisk debate among the Directorate. Predictably, House Wikkheiser bristled at the allegations, complaining that House Ginaz was making allegations before the facts were in. The Maros representative suggested that two separate investigation teams be sent to the Wikkheiser and Ginaz homeworlds to ascertain the truth, but that suggestion led nowhere. Other directors, led by House Aiantis and House Harkonnen, said that if House Ginaz felt slighted, they should perform their own investigation, and if malfeasance is discovered, bring that information before the CFI via a proces verbal. As the Aiantis representative concluded, "CHOAM has nothing to do with criminal investigation or handling baseless accusations."
At times, the exchanges between houses got very heated. In one case, the Wikkheiser representative, flush with anger, threatened war against House Ginaz saying, " If you wish, we can resolve this matter with our extensive reserves of conscripts."
In the end, it was decided that House Ginaz should pursue their own investigation of the unspecified "economic attack" and bring the results to the appropriate bodies, whether it's the CFI or CHOAM. House Ginaz was evidently upset, saying "In essence [the CHOAM Directorate] are stating that economic attacks that interfere in interstellar trade are legitimate and justified actions that CHOAM are not interested in investigating."
There has been no word since from House Ginaz whether they are going to pursue an investigation independently.
Wikkheiser Assume Governorship of Arrakis
Canidar Courier
Transition proceeding well, although smuggler activity is up
Welcome news! After months of in camera negotiations between Kaitain and low level Ziyairan diplomats and envoys on Laoujin Prime, with the Shogun absent, the Throne and House Ziyaira have agreed to begin the transfer of Governorship to a replacement: House Wikkeiser. The Throne have dispatched two legions of Sardaukar to Arrakis to monitor security and ensure melange production continues during the handover. Imperial House Corrino have also said that they have no intention of managing Arrakis directly: the institution of the Arrakis Governorship will remain unchanged "for the time being."
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?
