He glanced around the hall before he continued speaking.
"I welcome you all to come visit Arrakis,"
"And personally confirm the captured live soldiers of nearly 168 Battalions and the bodies of the remaining 32 battalions that passed away in battle," Jack announced.
Silence followed.
Shaddam watched in shock, his grip over his golden cup filled with purple wine grew loose as it slipped out of his grasp.
Piter watched Jack in silence, his eyes flashing white for several moments before they returned to normal.
Quietly, he sat down.
"Piter..." Feyd muttered with slightly widened eyes.
"Young Feyd... House Harkonnen has made a terrible miscalculation."
"They did not use poison gas..." Piter muttered as his eyes flashed towards Thufir, where it lingered for a few moments.
The Great and small Houses watched in stunned silence.
Count Fenring coughed slightly, attracting attention over to him.
"House Harkonnen, what is your defence?" he said, glancing towards Piter, who slowly stood up.
He was silent for a few moments before he spoke.
"We have heard statements… not conclusions."
"This assembly has been shown fragments… and asked to accept a whole." He spoke loudly before his eyes fell on Jack.
"While the Young Duke speaks with admirable conviction, surely the Landsraad does not pass judgment without full verification."
Count Fenring looked at Jack in silence for a moment before he nodded.
"I believe Piter makes a valid statement," he said, "The Houses here at Landsraad must verify this proof thoroughly before we can continue."
"The Landsraad will not proceed without verification."
Silence.
Nobody objected.
"This session is adjourned."
Fenring nodded.
"Very well, Landsraad has been adjourned until confirmation," Fenring said as he stood up.
On Arrakis, Jessica watched the session adjourn in silence.
"We must prepare for the guests," she muttered to herself as the projection switched off.
...
Walking through the dark hall on his way out of the Landsraad, Jack let out a deep breath.
"You killed it out there Paul" Duncan said with a wide grin.
"Indeed, you... Killed it, young Paul," Thufir said softly with a smile.
Jack glanced at the following in the back with a small smile and spoke.
"You know it isn't over yet,"
"Indeed," Thufir nodded.
They walked through the Imperial palace's huge halls for several minutes before Jack arrived at his room.
"Alright, everybody, It has been a long day, Piter may have brought himself some time, But this delay only benefits us" Jack said as he entered his room and shut it behind him.
Thufir was silent for a few moments as he stared at the door before he began walking away with the Harkonnen prisoner. Meanwhile, Duncan stood guard outside the room.
...
Meanwhile, in a chamber within the Imperial palace.
The chamber was quiet, its walls smooth and pale, untouched by ornament. A single low seat rested at the center, facing a narrow projection field that shimmered faintly in the dim light. Everything about the room felt deliberate… stripped of distraction, built for focus.
Mohiam was currently sitting on the seat at the center, staring at the activated projection in silence.
Not even a few moments had passed before a projection appeared.
Mohiam was quiet as she stared at the projection.
"Greetings, Reverend Mother,"
"Jessica, have you been well?" Mohiam spoke.
Jessica paused for a moment. She didn't speak, she quietly stared at Mohiam with a slight frown.
A moment of silence stretched between them as neither of the two spoke.
"Reverend Mother, I have a question," Jessica spoke breaking the silence and Mohiam nodded waiting for the question.
"Why did you confirm that the soldier who confessed spoke the truth?" Jessica asked.
'The boy kept more than we knew, The image of the Bene Gesirt would have been greatly damaged had I lied...' Mohiam thought to herself, staring sharply at Jessica.
"There was such substantial evidence, you should have told us about it."
"You withheld information."
"Deliberately." Mohiam said and Jessica nodded.
"I belong to House Atreides, it is my duty that the house does not suffer injustice," Jessica said.
Mohiam went silent as she gazed at Jessica.
"A very delicate balance is at risk here, you should understand this" Mohiam quietly said.
Jessica thought for a few moment before she spoke.
"That is exactly why... Cova had to meet such an early ending," Jessica said.
Mohiam nodded.
Her assessment of Jessica's character shifting slightly.
"Paul... The emperor proposes a marriage alliance for the boy to his daughter" Mohiam said.
"Is this what the Bene Gesirt desire?" Jessica asked.
"The Bene Gesirt and The Emperor align on this desire," Mohiam said.
"I see," Jessica muttered after a few moments.
"Child..." Mohiam paused for a moment with hesitation.
"The boy, his ambitions, are they as great as his father's?"
"He only wishes for Justice to be served" Jessica said.
"I see... That will be all then," Mohiam said as she ended the projection.
...
A few knocks were heard on Jessica's door as soon as the projection of Mohiam vanished.
"Lady Jessica, may I enter? It is Yueh."
"Enter," Jessica said and Yueh pushed the door open and walked in.
"Lady Jessica, I have the report on the cause of death for Duke Leto," Yueh said.
Jessica glanced at him in silence for a few moments.
"Continue," she spoke softly.
"Duke Leto passed away due to a blood clot on his wrist, slowly blocking the circulation in his blood flow, which resulted in his eventual passing," Yueh said.
"Thank you," Jessica softly said as she looked away from Yueh.
"However, there is something odd I noticed ."
"The pattern of death is very similar to how Cova passed away, a blood clot appeared on his neck, resulting in blood flow stoppage, causing his eventual death." Yueh muttered.
Jessica's eyes widened.
Her gaze froze.
"Leave," she forced herself to mutter.
Yueh nodded and left the room.
'Nerve touch' She thought to herself, her breathing shaky.
Her eyes shut.
"Compose yourself," she muttered.
Her hand almost subconsciously moved towards her stomach as she felt her mind calming slightly.