Schools of Dune, #1
Sisterhood of Dune
by Brian Herbert and Kevin J. Anderson
Contents
90. Our greatest commanders …
Overview
Draigo’s elaborate automated defense at Thonaris inflicts heavy losses on Manford’s Butlerian fleet, but Gilbertus takes command and turns the battle by matching Mentat against Mentat. Josef is forced to abandon the VenHold shipyards as Manford’s willingness to sacrifice his own followers makes the Butlerians impossible to stop.
Just as Josef and Draigo appear trapped, Cioba and Norma Cenva arrive through foldspace and rescue them. The chapter destroys much of Josef’s industrial base while preserving Josef himself, escalating the conflict between VenHold and the Butlerian movement.
Summary
Manford watches apparent evacuee ships explode near the Butlerian fleet and assumes Josef Venport has murdered his own people. Gilbertus quickly judges that the ships were probably empty automated decoys, and he becomes troubled by how unpredictable and seemingly suicidal Venport’s tactics appear.
VenHold patrol ships and additional vessels from the Thonaris complex suddenly attack. Their weapons and acceleration exceed expectations, and half-built automated starship hulks join the fight as sacrificial ramming craft. The surprise detonations, strafing runs, and collisions destroy many Butlerian ships and disrupt Manford’s tight formations.
Manford tells Gilbertus to treat every follower and ship as expendable so long as the Butlerians win, while Anari insists Manford’s own life is not expendable. Gilbertus enters deep Mentat calculation, recognizes the enemy’s pattern, and asks permission to coordinate the Butlerian response. Manford allows Gilbertus to direct the fleet’s fire.
From the Thonaris control center, Josef initially believes Draigo’s defense may succeed despite the devastating loss of VenHold facilities. Draigo recognizes Gilbertus’s command style and warns Josef that the battle is now unwinnable because the Butlerians have more resources and are willing to spend lives without restraint. Trusting Draigo, Josef agrees to flee in a small survival craft.
Josef and Draigo launch just before Gilbertus’s forces destroy the administrative hub. With no foldspace drive or Navigator, Draigo admits that he cannot determine a way to escape, then contacts Gilbertus for a final exchange. Gilbertus praises Draigo’s skill but says Manford will not spare him; Manford interrupts, and Draigo cuts the transmission.
Before the escape craft can be destroyed, a large VenHold ship folds into the battlefield and opens its cargo bay. Cioba, accompanied by Norma Cenva, rescues Josef and Draigo; Norma explains that her prescience surpassed the Mentats’ calculations. The rescue ship takes them aboard and vanishes into foldspace as the Thonaris shipyards burn.
Who Appears
- Josef VenportVenHold leader; loses Thonaris facilities but escapes destruction through Cioba and Norma’s rescue.
- DraigoJosef’s Mentat; designs the defense, recognizes defeat, and helps Josef flee.
- Gilbertus AlbansManford’s Mentat; analyzes Draigo’s tactics and redirects the Butlerian fleet to victory.
- Manford TorondoButlerian leader; orders total sacrifice of his fleet to destroy VenHold’s machine-aided forces.
- Anari IdahoSwordmaster protecting Manford; commands return fire and insists Manford’s life is nonnegotiable.
- Cioba VenportJosef’s wife; arrives in a VenHold ship to retrieve Josef and Draigo.
- Norma CenvaPrescient Navigator figure; foresees Josef’s danger and enables the rescue through foldspace.