Chapter 65 (An Emperor’s grasp can encompass a million worlds)

Josef Venport travels from Kolhar to Arrakis intending to meet Emperor Salvador Corrino on arrival and outmaneuver the attempted Imperial takeover of spice operations. He brings Taref, a disillusioned desert saboteur yearning to return home. Despite Taref’s wish to leave service, Josef secures one last task: infiltrate the Imperial Barge by blending in with the spaceport maintenance and refueling crew.

While the Emperor’s slow, ostentatious vessel approaches, Josef audits Arrakis operations, noting heavy equipment losses, dangerous conditions, and the vast VenHold investment that fuels escalating profits. He views Salvador’s planned seizure as naïve posturing, likely spurred by Manford Torondo, and prepares a direct engagement to control the narrative.

Upon the Barge’s arrival in orbit, Josef opens communications and, exploiting Salvador’s aversion to Arrakis City, offers to come aboard instead. He arrives with a standard VenHold work detail that includes Taref in disguise. In a lavish audience and banquet, Josef performs deference, calls the proposed compensation generous, and frames cooperation as mutually profitable, easing Salvador’s doubts and vanity.

Josef then proposes a high-security excursion to a major, mobile spice operation in the Tanzerouft, emphasizing danger from bandits and the need for secrecy while promising a spectacular demonstration of melange production. Reassured, Salvador agrees. As they feast, Venport has achieved two aims: embedding Taref within the Imperial vessel and drawing the Emperor into a setting Josef controls, laying groundwork to blunt Imperial control over Arrakis.