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In Dune how did the Emperor know that Alia was Paul's sister? No-one knew Jessica was pregnant, let alone had survived the Harkonnen attack on House Atreides. The Surdaukar that were captured and release by Muad'dib and the Fremen only knew about Paul, and Alia would have easily passed for a normal Fremen child.

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  • At least in the movies he knew she was Muad'Dib's sister, not Paul's. A small distinction but initially he didn't know Paul was Muad'Dib.
    – Servitor
    Sep 27, 2018 at 18:40

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Alia told the Sardaukar her identity when she "allowed" herself to be captured, and the Sardaukar presumably told the Emperor when they gave their account of the battle.

“Unfortunately,” the Emperor said, “I only sent in five troop carriers with a light attack force to pick up prisoners for questioning. We barely got away with three prisoners and one carrier. Mind you, Baron, my Sardaukar were almost overwhelmed by a force composed mostly of women, children, and old men. This child here was in command of one of the attacking groups.”
“You see, Your Majesty!” the Baron said. “You see how they are!”
“I allowed myself to be captured,” the child said. “I did not want to face my brother and have to tell him that his son had been killed.”

The Sardaukar claimed the child Alia was in command of a number of Fremen fighters and recognised that Alia was an important enough prisoner to be taken aboard the (very few) craft that managed to escape the battle.

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  • she was brought before the Baron, the Emperor knew before the scene in the palace ship, because the Sardaukar told him when they presented her as a prisoner along with the news of their retreat.
    – RedOculus
    Sep 27, 2018 at 14:09
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    Excellent point, well made. I've taken the liberty of adding in a book quote to back this up (and rewording the answer so that it's not duplicating what's in the quote
    – Valorum
    Sep 27, 2018 at 14:26
  • I get that done 'off screen' discussion must have happened between Alia and the Emperor, or someone else, as I don't think Shaddam correctly assumed solely from her features. Just trying to find out if there is such a conversation in some appendix etc that I've not found yet? Oct 1, 2018 at 14:59

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