Emperor: Battle for Dune manual

The following article serves as a partial transcript† of the Emperor: Battle for Dune manual. All material written in this article is of copyright ©2000 by Electronic Arts, Inc. The author of this article claims no right of the material written.

† The following sections were removed to preserve only or mostly the lore-related information:


 * Getting Started
 * Long Live the Fighters
 * Main Menu
 * Single Player Game
 * Options
 * The Interface
 * Game Basics
 * Advanced Gameplay
 * Multiplayer & Skirmish Games
 * Westwood Online™
 * Technical Support
 * Credits

Story
The planet Arrakis, also known as Dune™, is home to the Spice Melange. Spice is the most powerful substance in the known universe. With it comes the ability to prolong human life, give Future Sight to the Bene Gesserit Sisterhood, and fold space, allowing interstellar ravel. Many battles have been fought to control this precious substance, but Dune and the Spice have remained under the control of House Corrino until now.

String to secure his position as Emperor of the Known Universe, Emperor Frederick IV of House Corrino initiated a grand battle between the next three great Houses for control of the governorship bf Arrakis. Frederick had hoped that the other Houses would destroy /each other and that he, along with his feared Sardaukar, could wipe out any remaining forces. This would have ensured that no one faction had enough power to usurp his position. What he didn't foresee was that his concubine, Lady Elara Moray Trieu of the Bene Gesserit, had plans of her own. She conspired to assassinate Frederick and bring Dune under the control of a more peaceful ruling body, which she hoped would ensure an endless availability of Spice to her Sisterhood.

low with the death of the emperor through the machinations of the Lady Elara, the battle to control Dune has escalated. A civil war is brewing. The elite forces of the emperor, the Sardaukar, are without direction, becoming mercenary and siding with whoever holds the most power. A new emperor must be chosen.

Needing a ruling body to maintain order, the remaining three great Houses each seek to fill the void by gaining control of the emperor's throne. Each House now fights to control the most territories on Dune, for whoever controls the spice, controls the universe. Who will it be? The noble Atreides of the peaceful water world Caladan? The evil Harkonnen, who hail from the dark and cruel planet Giedi Prime? Or the insidious Ordos of the mysterious ice-covered world Draconis IV? It may be none at all. As the three Houses begin their war, the smaller Houses are making their own plans and are poised to take advantage of any weaknesses shown by the great Houses. Only military prowess and time will decide the fate of Arrakis, and the universe...