Chapter 34 (History often distorts through a lens of fear)

Ptolemy arrives on Arrakis with Directeur Venport and Mentat Draigo Roget to conduct a clandestine field test of new cymeks. Still suffering lung damage from Denali despite Administrator Noffe’s care, Ptolemy suppresses pain and focuses on proving his designs. Venport’s secrecy ensures no record of their landing, preserving strategic advantage.

Ptolemy deploys seven selected cymeks equipped with advanced mobility, armor, and thoughtrode-linked proto-Navigator brains. As the walkers adapt to dunes, they demonstrate weaponry—artillery, acid, lasbeams, and flame—impressing Venport, who imagines stationing them to protect spice operations against bandits and worms. Ptolemy’s hatred of Butlerians fuels his determination, even agitating one cymek, Hok Evander, into an errant shot.

Seeking to validate effectiveness against sandworms, Ptolemy orders synchronized stomping to summon a worm, while Draigo coolly critiques unverified Fremen methods. No worm appears, prompting Ptolemy to escalate per reports that shields guarantee a response.

To force a definitive confrontation, Ptolemy initiates Phase Three: all cymeks activate Holtzman shields, accepting the risk of provoking a frenzied sandworm to prove the Titans’ strength for Venport’s broader war against Butlerians and to secure Arrakis spice operations.