The Leap [LE8]

[Ahmina]

''Material things are useful for survival but only just for that'' she replied ''I am told you work for the outsiders, what is your arrangement with them?''

[Kannon]

"You probably mean the outsiders." He shrugged. "It's less work with them and more settling a debt of honour. Not mine, that of my boss. Still, we're in your hands because of that, clearly. It's got way out of control."

[Ahmina]

''A debt of honor your say. We can respect this at least, should it prove to be true. Why does this debt you spoke of involve you coming here?''

[Kannon]

"The favour the auditors asked my boss for was to give them an off-the-grid landing spot. Cave of Birds was the closest to the real thing we could offer them without betraying our own positions. Since it looks like Tuek wants them to succeed in some way though, he's also provided them with some desert-rigged craft, the old lighter and four armed thopters. We honestly didn't know your folk would be around. It looked deserted enough from high above. An unfortunate happenstance." He carefully didn't comment on what the trespassing entailed, appropriation of both the equipment and their water by the Fremen.

[Ahmina]

She turned to Chat and switched language for privacy...from the smugglers at least

''I suppose they said the same thing to your people? They do not seem to be lying to me.''

[Kannon]

Chat shrugged.

"It seems that the question is less about the smugglers and more about the offworlders. The true issue the naibs dispute."

[Ahmina]

''Any word from the Dreamer yet?'' she asked ''The offworlders have various reasons to harm the Harkonnens...that can be trusted, at least.''

[Kannon]

"Liet is away. We've sent out cielago, and wait." Chatt paused, careful there. "Then I'd let them harm the Harkonnen. Just like I did when we traded with them. But is it that they can do it, or they can't and just want us do it instead?"

[Ahmina]

''From what I understand the Harkonnen are suspected to steal spice which is a great crime to their leaders. If they have proof their leaders will likely act.''

She frowns

''How much they are willing to risk getting that proof of what they will promise us to do it for, or with, them.''

[Kannon]

"Naibs must decide. Or Liet, if he comes on time. I understand there is urgency?"

[Ahmina]

''I understand they have limited time to get the proof they need. The deadline is coming soon''

[Kannon]

"So the argument must be won before the council of naibs." Chatt concluded.

[Ahmina]

She nods in agreement

''We are in uncharted sands so we must be careful....still we could gain much by helping shape what is to come.''

[Kannon]

The smugglers remained in pensive suspension, well-knowing whatever actions they took now would most likely be futile and end in their swift deaths. Some of them tried to observe the exchange between two Fremen, but they could pick out singular words in Chakobsa at best. There was too little to build hope on. Especially that whatever Ahmina and Chatt were discussing was also being overheard by the guards posted by the other naibs, those who were more willing to resolve the situation through knife logic.

"Some naibs are reluctant to do any of the offworlder bidding. Precepts trump promises." Chatt may have been speaking for the benefit of the other Fremen in the cave, to show Ahmina how they reacted. A semi-audible huff of consent passed across.