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〃It seems that the Emperor and the Tleilaxu have made some kind of an alliance to do unorthodox and highly illegal work。〃
〃Sligs and shit go together；〃 Rabban said。
The Baron chuckled at the analogy。 〃I've learned that our dearly departed Emperor was personally behind the takeover on Ix。 He forced House Vernius to go renegade and set the Tleilaxu up so they could begin research； adapting their methods to sophisticated Ixian facilities。〃
〃And what research is that； my Baron？〃 de Vries asked。
The Baron dropped his bomb。 〃They seek a biological method to synthesize melange。 They think they can produce their own spice artificially and cheaply； thereby cutting Arrakis us out of the distribution channels。〃
Rabban snorted。 〃Impossible。 Nobody can do that。〃
But de Vries's mind spun as related information clicked into place。 〃I would not underestimate the Tleilaxu especially when bined with the facilities and technology on Ix。 They'll have everything they need。〃
Rabban drew himself up。 〃But if the Emperor can make synthetic spice； what happens to our holdings？ What happens to all the spice stockpiles we've spent years building up？〃
〃Provided the new synthetic is cheap and effective； Harkonnen spice…based fortunes would evaporate；〃 de Vries said stonily。 〃Practically overnight。〃
〃That's right； Piter！〃 The Baron slammed a ringed fist on the table。 〃Harvesting spice from Arrakis is incredibly expensive。 If the Emperor has his own source of cheap melange； the market will collapse and House Corrino will control the rest a new monopoly held entirely in the hands of the Emperor。〃
〃CHOAM won't like that；〃 Rabban said with surprising insight。
De Vries suggested； 〃Then we will have to get this information to the Spacing Guild。 We must reveal to them what the Emperor was doing； and see to it that Shaddam ceases all such investigations。 CHOAM and the Guild won't want to lose their investment in spice production either。〃
〃But what if the new Emperor makes a treaty with them first； Piter？〃 the Baron asked。 〃CHOAM is partially owned by House Corrino。 Shaddam will be out to make his mark as he begins his reign。 What if CHOAM presses him into giving them access to the synthetic spice at an extraordinary discount； as the price of their cooperation？ The Guild would love to have a cheaper； reliable supply。 They might abandon Arrakis altogether if it's too difficult。〃
〃Then we'll be the only ones left out in the cold；〃 Rabban growled。 〃House Harkonnen gets stepped on by everybody。〃
The Mentat's eyes fell half…closed as he droned on。 〃We can't even file a formal plaint with the Houses of the Landsraad。 Knowledge of a spice substitute would create a feeding frenzy among the Federated families。 Political alliances have shifted recently； and a number of Houses wouldn't mind if our monopoly were broken。 They couldn't care less if the price of melange plummets。 The only ones to lose would be those who had invested heavily in secret and illegal spice stockpiles； or those who invested heavily in the expensive spice…harvesting operations on Arrakis。〃
〃In other words； us again and a few of our closest allies；〃 the Baron said。
〃The Bene Gesserit； and your little sweetheart among the witches； would probably like an inexpensive supply； too。〃
The Baron glowered at his nephew。 Rabban merely chuckled。 〃So what can we do about it？〃
De Vries answered without consulting the Baron。 〃House Harkonnen will have to take care of this by itself。 We can expect no outside assistance。〃
〃Remember that we're only a quasi…fief on Arrakis；〃 the Baron said。 〃It was given to us on sufferance from CHOAM and the Emperor。 And now it's like a hook on which they've hung us out to dry。 We must be extremely careful。〃
〃We don't have enough military strength to fight all those enemies；〃 Rabban said。
〃We'll have to be subtle；〃 de Vries said。
〃Subtlety？〃 The Baron raised his eyebrows。 〃All right； I'm willing to try new things。〃
〃We must disrupt this Tleilaxu research on Ix；〃 de Vries said； 〃preferably destroy it。 I suggest that House Harkonnen also liquidate various assets； build up a reserve of cash； and milk our current spice production for as much hard profit as possible； because it may disappear at any moment。〃
The Baron looked over at Rabban。 〃We need to squeeze。 Oh； and I'll have your idiot father step up whale…fur harvesting on Lankiveil。 We need to stuff our coffers。 The uping battles may be quite taxing to our resources。〃
The Mentat wiped a red drop from his lips。 〃We must do this in utmost secrecy。 CHOAM watches our financial activity carefully and would detect if we suddenly started doing something unusual。 For now it's best we don't tip our hand about the Tleilaxu research。 We don't want CHOAM or the Guild joining forces with our new Emperor against House Harkonnen。〃
〃We've got to keep the Imperium properly dependent upon us；〃 the Baron said。
Rabban scowled； trying to wrestle his way through the implications by brute force。 〃But if the Tleilaxu are entrenched on Ix； how do we destroy this research without exposing it for what it is？ Without giving away our own involvement and bringing all of our enemies against us？〃
De Vries sat back to stare at the sexual designs on the walls。 The rotting corpses hung in their display cases like hideous eavesdroppers。 His mind churned through Mentat calculations until finally he said； 〃We must have someone else fight for us。 Preferably without their knowledge。〃
〃Who？〃 Rabban asked。
〃That's why we brought Piter here；〃 the Baron said。 〃We need suggestions。〃
〃Prime projection；〃 de Vries said。 〃House Atreides。〃
Rabban's mouth dropped open。 〃The Atreides would never fight for us！〃
De Vries shot back a response。 〃The Old Duke is dead； and House Atreides is currently unstable。 Paulus's successor Leto is an impetuous young pup。 He has no friends in the Landsraad and recently gave a rather embarrassing speech at the Council。 He went home humiliated。〃
The Baron waited； trying to see where his Mentat was going with this。
〃Second data point： House Vernius； staunch ally to Atreides； has been ousted from Ix by the Tleilaxu。 Dominic Vernius remains at large with a price on his head； while Shando Vernius has just been killed； based on her renegade status。 House Atreides has offered sanctuary to the two children of Vernius。 They're in thick with the victims of the Tleilaxu。〃
De Vries raised a finger to assemble the points。 〃Now； brash young Leto is a close friend of the exiled Prince of Ix。 Duke Leto blames the Tleilaxu for the takeover of Ix； for the bounty on the mother； and for the ruined situation of their family。 'House Atreides values loyalty and honor far above politics；' Leto said to the Landsraad。 He may see it as his duty to help Rhombur Vernius regain his position on Ix。 Who better to strike a blow for us？〃
The Baron now smiled as he followed the implications。 〃So。。。start a war between House Atreides and the Tleilaxu！ Let them tear each other apart。 That way House Atreides and the synthetic…spice research will both be destroyed。〃
Rabban was clearly having trouble envisioning this。 From the intense look on his face； the Baron could see that his ne