"We must consult with the smaller sietches first before we can make a decision," Kynes said.

  "Indeed, we should consult them before we make a decision," Arak'Numi muttered.

  "Take these stillsuits," Stilgar said as he stood up.

  "Wait," Kynes said stopping everybody from dispersing.

  She hesitated for a moment before she spoke.

  "There is one more matter..." She said.

  The rest all glanced at her.

  "It is about... Lisan al-gaib," She said.

  "Are you referring to the prince of House Atreides?" Rauth asked.

  "Yes," Kynes nodded.

  "There is nothing special about the boy," Stilgar stated.

  "Indeed, on the surface he is as plain as they come," Kynes nodded, "But..." She hesitated for a moment.

  "Three weeks ago, I had set off with, the Duke and the boy named Paul, he was a ordinary prince by every means but when we were in the air, he had a vision, he witnessed the Worm approaching the harvestor far beyond the scout, he not only found out about it quicker, he knew the direction it was coming from, his actions saved the first harvestor, but due to his timely vision we had just enough time to call for a second carryall, after the first one failed" Kynes recounted what had happened.

  "Are you telling us that he Lisan al-Gaib... just because he had a vision?" Inal asked with a frown.

  "You've heard the rumours," Kynes muttered, her eyes conflicted.

  Majes was silent.

  "He doesn't fulfill all of the conditions to be the Lisan al-Gaib" Rauth said.

  "Yet... he doesn't fulfill all the conditions yet" Arak'Numi muttered.

  "The rumour is just that... a rumour," Inal said.

  "We are the Council, we do not speculate, we look at facts. The boy is simply a prince of a great House, nothing more right now," Majes spoke up.

  "We all have far too much to attend to," Majes spoke as he stood up using a crane to support himself up.

  "We do not have much time, Atreides speculated the attack would happen in two weeks" Stilgar said glancing around the room.

  ...

  Two weeks later.

  The bright moon with the hand of god lit up the dark deserts of Arrakis.

  On Arrakeen an abnormal silence seemed to stretch.

  Arrakeen on this night felt like a ghost town, with only a few guards patrolling the perimeter of the city.

  This story originates from a different website. Ensure the author gets the support they deserve by reading it there.

  The chill of the night filling the empty streets.

  It felt like a very ordinary night, just like every other night Arrakeen had experienced so far, except there seemed to be an unnoticeable pressure surrounding the city.

  The shield surrounding the city remained active, performing its duty of preventing anybody from entering the city.

  Its blue hue, lighting up the sky around Arrakeen letting anybody observing know the defences protecting House Atreides is up and strong.

  Many moments passed as the moon rose higher in the air.

  The barrier flickered.

  And then...

  It switched off.

  The absence of the blue hue leaving Arrakeen suddenly naked against the dark sky.

  ...

  In the atmosphere of Arrakis, a large ship floated within it. A large man seated in a chair was silently observing outside the window, with a few soldiers standing at attention around him.

  A static buzz appeared followed by a voice.

  "My lord, Barriers surrounding Arakeen have fallen."

  "It appears it is time Baron," said the man standing at attention beside him. Shaved head, grey and black Sardaukar uniform bearing no House markings. His face was gaunt and expressionless.

  "Indeed," A blood thirsty smile appeared on the baron's face as his body began rising in the air using suspenders.

  "Soldiers, hear me!" His voice resounded as he rose from his chair.

  “Tonight,” the Baron said softly,

  “House Atreides dies.”

  "Attack!" He shouted.

  "Copy." Several voices came through the radio.

  The large ship along with several small ships activated, moving quickly, they entered the airspace near Arrakeen.

  ...

  Inside a base within Arrakeen, there stood several people.

  The room was dim, lit mostly by the glow of the screens covering the walls.

  Nobody spoke unless necessary. Gurney stood slightly behind Leto, one hand resting on the handle of his blade. Not drawing it. Just touching it.

  Jessica stood slightly apart from the others. Her eyes weren't on the screens. They were on Jack.

  Yueh stood in the corner. Eyes down. Not watching anything at all.

  "They have taken the bait Sire" Thufir said staring at the large ship that had appeared in the sky over Arrakeen, and received a nod from Leto.

  "Activate the ground-based missile batteries"

  For a moment nothing happened.

  The battery operators however moved quickly as they aimed and locked onto the targets, fingers resting on triggers, eyes locked on the descending ships.

  "Fire" Leto's voice came through the radio. Calm. Single word.

  The ground shuddered first before the sound even registered.

  A deep rolling thud that traveled up through boots and legs before reaching the ears.

  Then the streaks appeared, bright orange lines cutting upward through the dark sky one after another after another.

  The night turned bright as day for a moment.

  Harkonnen ships that had descended confidently began breaking apart mid-air, debris raining down onto the desert outside Arrakeen.

  The explosions lit up the sky in waves of orange and red. The sound arriving a half second after each flash.

  Ornithopters rose from hidden hangars, intercepting the few missiles the Harkonnens managed to launch towards Atreides barracks, ships and spice refinery infrastructure.

  The explosions lit up the night sky with bright orange.

  Frigates rose up in the air as they began opening fire onto the larger ships.

  "What's Going on!" Baron Harkonnen shouted.

  "My lord, they were ready for us!" Rabban exclaimed.

  The Baron's smile faded.

  “Of course they were.”

  The Baron sank slowly back into his chair.

  “So the Duke chose to fight.”

  Baron's eyes glanced at the scenes from the window, his mind rapidly spinning.

  The Sardaukar commander stepped forward.

  "Vladimir Harkonnen, your insider... he has tricked you." Cova, the commander of the three Sardaukar battalions numbering three thousand said.

  "How dare you speak to Lord Baron like that!" Rabban withdrew his weapon and immediately pointed it at Cova.

  "Enough Rabban" Baron said stopping Rabban.

  "Control your mutt, Vladimir" Cova said glancing at Rabban with contempt.

  "Cova, don't forget that we are not so different at the end of the day " Rabban muttered through gritted teeth.

  Cova simply scoffed at him before turning away.

  "The Ground troops are ready. The city's defenses are concentrated on aerial targets." He coldly said glancing at the window.

  "These fools think they can survive a battle with split forces" Baron muttered.

  "Maybe they may be able to win against your troops, Baron, but with the Sardukar here, they stand no chance," Cova stated.

  Baron glanced at him and nodded.

  "Send them in. Boots on the ground. Let Atreides burn their missiles on our ships while our soldiers take the streets, let us see their final attempt at fighting back."