In the months since Sietch Impiam had been founded, the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood had made it clear, they would need contacts with the other nations of this World. No one wanted another disaster such as the one they’d faced in the war against the Honored Matres. No one wanted the natives of this world to swarm against their defenses, and bring the Sisterhood low. So, the Bashar, Sani Najib, was given the task of not only erecting defenses for the community, but preparing guardians for the Missionaria Protectiva. This in itself was a massive task, for the only adequate defense they might have had, they could not replicate at the moment.

During the landing, their No Ship had been damaged, and could not take flight. They could not find the proper minerals to make repairs, so the vessel was redesigned into the primary Bene Gesserit barracks in the community. Around this vessel structures had been erected, but the Sietch stuck out like a sore thumb. Anything flying overhead would easily see them, even men afoot would notice the community as it jutted out of the desert. It was Sani’s task to blend Sietch and desert, to hide much as the ancient Fremen had hidden. It was good training for his soldiers, working on their stealth tactics, increasing their strength as they worked. They had lost the technology to cut into the rock around them, and so had to rely on such primitive tools as picks and shovels.

Watching the men work, Sani had a flash of Simuflow from his othermemory. The construction of other Bene Gesserit colonies during the Scattering. They hadn’t faced the same Spice shortage as he was facing now, but they’d had the Honored Matres on their heels. They’d still managed to survive, for a time. In the end, each of those colonies was burnt to ashes by the Honored Matre hunters. He wouldn’t allow that to happen here, not after they’d lost so much just to reach this world. Unconsciously his body took up the Mentat stance, his mind racing across all the information he possessed. Spice consumption, Spice storage, the chance of hostility from inhabitants of this world, the chance of Worms, the production of Axlotl tanks. All of it passed through his mind, and solutions began to present themselves.

Turning from his view of the work below, Sani addressed the man near him, “Dieter, you will take a contingent of men with the Missionaria Protectiva to the land called Xexoria. Scouts report war there. The Reverend Mothers will know what to do. You will protect them at all costs. Also keep an eye open for materials we can use for shields and ornithopters. Failing that, learn all you can of the native society and their military tactics. Report back to after one week. If you fail to do so, I will consider the nation to be hostile, and appropriate measures will be taken.EHe turned his back on the man, expecting his orders to be carried out.

As his body turned away from the young officer, Sani’s gaze fell across the toiling workers below. It was time he joined them. Walking briskly from the sheltered tent he’d occupied, the Bashar made his way down to the workers, acquiring a pick as he went. Still dressed in military uniform, he bent his back and went to work, terraforming the colony to appear just as the desert which surrounded it.

"Yes, sir." The man, Dieter, responded.

Dieter saluted as his superior officer turned after giving orders. Now that it had been taken care of, Dieter turned from Sani, walking in the opposing direction. Dieter was a well rounded soldier, he had skills in just about everything, but nothing outstanding in anything. Though, he had his flaws. No soldier was perfect, despite their skills.

This flaw was his excessive deal of free thought. Always in the back of his mind, he was questioning his orders over and over again. Though Dieter would never leave the service, it was one of the many thoughts that had come to his mind every now and then. Eyes wandered as he walked through the halls, to be finding his soon to be contingent forces. Escorting some of the main girls, huh? A shrug came, it didn't seem as difficult as it could.

The man's frame was that of a tall one, just simple average muscle build for his age of twenty six. Brown hair was kept short, just over tanned skin and barely coming just above light blue eyes. Making sure his wrist crossbow was in tact, Dieter turned a corner, and continued down this hall, onto where this team would be assembled at some point in time. Hopefully.

Waiting for Dieter were the soldiers he was to command. Each man stood relaxed in a large chamber, their gear already gathered and prepared. At the left hip was a closed quiver of bolts for the wristbows located on the right wrist. Breast pockets held packets of Melange, as well as very basic radio communicators. Wrapped around each waist was a Shieldbelt, deactivated for the moment. The leather combat boots adorning the soldiers was a tannish color, designed to blend with the desert around them. Their uniforms were the same color, including the face masks they all wore. Although it was unneeded, they wore Stilsuits already, in anticipation of the affects the Sandtrout would have. Slung across their shoulders were travel packs, loaded with Melange and food supplies. Some of the men carried lightweight tents as well, large enough to hold several people within.

Standing with the soldiers were two Bene Gesserit Reverend Mothers, and one Acolyte. The Reverend Mothers were adorned in Stilsuits as well, although these were hidden beneath dark colored dresses. They too had travel gear, although this consisted of Melange, and the tools they would need to begin the work of the Missionaria Protectiva. The Acolyte was dressed simply in a Stilsuite, and carried a pack with a tent for the Reverend Mothers.

Upon seeing Dieter the soldiers stood at attention and saluted, one of them stepping forward to speak, “S ir, we’re ready to move out. Your equipment has been gathered,Ehe motioned to a pack on the ground against one wall. The group was prepared to move, they need only wait for Dieter’s signal before they would begin the trek to Xexoria. The trip itself wouldn’t be all too long, but they came prepared for the return trip as well. Spice wouldn’t be a problem, nor would food and weapons. For all intents and purposes, the group could stay away from the Sietch for two weeks before having to return for more Melange supplies.

Xexoria was located across the ocean, while New Xexoria was just north of their beginning of an established community. They'd have to get across the ocean, and that required some thinking to do. The currents of the sea that seperated New Xexoria and Olde Xexoria were not quite strong, a simple ship could get them across, but the design would have to be tight and able to be made use of.

It was too bad life rafts didn't come with the colony ships. Releasing a sigh, Dieter nodded to the soldier, and put his fingers underneath of his chin to stroke it in thought. There was a small patch of wooded area just north of them, where the desert itself began and the grassland ended. Just to the west was the sea, and their destination West-North from there, as soon as they got to the sea.

"Alright. We're going to make a sturdy ship, and we only have two days to pull it off." Dieter began, cracking his neck slightly as he motioned his team to follow.

The ones they were escorting could wait in the ship if they so desired. Either way, it was going to take some time for sixteen men to build a ship capable of crossing the sea. North only a couple of miles was the patch of trees, and seemed to be the only resource of wood available for the task. Fortunately, they already had equipment to keep the wood sealed and safe. They only needed to be able to build it sturdy.

Xexoria was indeed across the Ocean, yet New Xexoria was not. Why Dieter wanted to build a vessel was beyond some of the soldiers, and one of them stepped forward to question this decision. “Sir, why not just march to New Xexoria and take a ship from there? It’ll be easier then building a ship, and then carrying it to the Ocean.EHe stepped back into the group, blue in blue eyes regarding the commanding officer of the mission. The Bene Gesserit Reverend Mothers watched this interaction calmly, looking for any weaknesses in the soldiers.

The man who had first spoken coughed and adjusted the straps of his own pack before looking to Dieter, “He has a point sir. We’ll want to move quickly, and I’m sure we can find some way to barter with New Xexoria for transport. If worst comes to worst, we can introduce them to Melange and be done with it. We’ll have to rely on them for the moment, until we can repair the Thopters.EWhile Dieter was overall commander, this man was still the commanding officer of his unit, and he’d been chosen well for the position. He understood what was happening, and had a promising future in the Sietch, his advice was to be heeded.

Quirking a brow, Dieter glanced over at the ones that we responding to his idea. Apparently, he had miscalculated the fact that New Xexoria could still be used. A mountain range was bordering them, but rather on the east side of New Xexoria, instead of the western side. The mountains also moved into the area that they had arrived in, but leveled off slightly into simple hills as they moved through.

"Er... good point." Dieter muttered, scratching the side of his head for a moment.

It would seem as if he had gone through a momentary lapse of intelligence. Very possible for someone of his rank, something that happened to everyone at least once. Now they had to make a trek to New Xexoria, which didn't seem to be that enjoyable, but nevertheless, workable. Returning to scratching his chin, Dieter simply shrugged, turning back to face the direction of New Xexoria once again.

"Well, I guess we're off to New Xexoria, then." Dieter spoke in a fashion that was slightly.. questionable and confused, but then again, this job had just been thrown into his lap.. he needed to adjust.

Offtopic: This plot is continued New Xexoria - Arrival in Meridian

The Bashar, Sani Najib, was working on one of the last sections of the Sietch to be camouflaged. Since the time Dieter and his men had left, the Sietch had seemed to vanish into the desert. He’d watched as parties were sent into the desert, carrying the young Sandtrout. He’d watched them return, without those same Sandtrout. Soon the desert would begin to spread, the moisture of this world drying up. It would be years before the spread was noticeable by the other nations of this World, but that wasn’t important. What was important was that the Sandtrout would grow into Worms, and Worms would create Melange. Melange would increase the power of the Sisterhood, and ensure their survival.

This was the goal of the Sisterhood, to regain their lost power. Sani’s goal was simply to protect the Sisterhood. He knew not what plans might be had for him, for he knew not what genes made him a Ghola. The Sisterhood was careful not to release this information to him. And he never thought to ask. Although he was thinking of it now, a minor curiosity while he worked. His thoughts were interrupted by the crackle of his radio, the message from Xexoria arrived. Wiping the sweat from his brow, the Bashar turned from his work and strode down from the bluff he’d been working at. Arriving at the entrance of the No Ship, he allowed the cool air from within to wash over him. A smile spread across his features as he stripped from his work outfit, reaching out to take a Stilsuit and begin dressing himself. The soldiers who saw him doing this knew something had changed, some new order had arrived. Even the Acolytes knew this, and moved to fetch the Reverend Mothers.

While Sani dressed, the Mother Superior entered the chamber, followed by an entourage of Reverend Mothers. She looked to the Bashar, and spoke, “Sani, you will only have one platoon of soldiers, fight well.EShe turned, her gown swishing about her before she removed herself from the chamber. Sani looked to his men and nodded, “Get me the second platoon. We’ll be following in the footsteps of Dieter and his men.EHe moved to his equipment locker, removing his crysknife, wristbow, and shieldbelt. All these items he placed on his person, looking at the last of the lasguns they had. These would be left behind, for the defenders of the Sietch to use.

Turning from the weapons racks, he strode out of the No Ship, to find the second platoon standing in formation. He made a motion of acknowledgement, and they began to march from the Sietch and toward the city which Dieter had left from.