The Cassandra Conspiracy Page 4
Besides the classics, works by the better American, British, and French authors were included in the prodigious collection. There was also a complete set of law books, bound in leather with gold‑foil imprint. Another section housed modern works of fiction, while yet another was dedicated to nonfiction. Treatises on technical and other esoteric matters also found their way on to the library’s shelves. The room contained numerous texts on the owner’s favorite, or even sometimes past, hobbies, and each volume in its own unique position.
“Thank you. My late wife’s hand can be easily seen in every room of this house except this one. The library’s design I reserved all to myself.” Wingate paused. “I suppose you don’t have any idea why your father set up this meeting?”
Ettleberg shook his head.
“What I am about to tell you must never leave this room. Is that understood?”
The banker was used to handling all kinds of confidential information. He knew how to keep such matters sub rosa, and wasn’t at all concerned about whatever Wingate was about to impart to him. “You have my word.”
“I don’t mean to dwell unnecessarily on this point, Lawrence, but should you ever breech this confidence, it will have the direst of consequences for you and your family. Is that understood?”
Ettleberg couldn’t fathom the significance of what Charles Wingate was telling him. His father had instructed him to agree to the older man’s restrictions.
The younger Ettleberg nodded in acceptance.
“Since before he was your age, your father has belonged to a secret organization, which we call the Committee.” Wingate paused long enough to let the significance of what he said sink in.
“Over five generations ago, the original members, all scions of wealthy American families, banded together at a time when this great country was entering the Industrial Revolution. The membership scepter has, just as in your case, been handed down from generation to generation.
If you agree to become one of us, no word of any business we conduct here tonight or any other night may be passed to anyone outside the group, including your father. He has distinguished himself in service to the Committee, and must be allowed to enjoy the fruits of his labors.”
“I’m not sure I understand.”
“Allow me to continue,” Charles Wingate said pensively. “For decades, we, as well as our predecessors, have seen the horrible failures of world governments. First in this country, where waste is everywhere, and later in Europe, South America, and Asia.
Our elected representatives...” Wingate spat out the word, “... spend more time lining their pockets or worrying about their share of the pork barrel than in accomplishing anything worthwhile. Even the once-emerging commercial leaders, such as Germany and Japan, have followed the same course; the litany of waste and self‑indulgence is endless.
“Of course, we tried to turn things around here, but our efforts were of no avail. Getting our designated candidates elected was easy. It only took money. In each case, our little group either directly or indirectly controlled the donor corporation. Once elected, the representative or senator had no choice but to honor their obligations. But the slothful ways of big government were too ingrained in the system.
Compromises had to be made; amendments were added to support high‑powered constituents. The entire political process was mired in compromise, to the point where the best solution to a given problem was often lost in the rhetoric.”
“In order for a group, any group, to play such a powerful role, it must have highly diversified interests,” Lawrence Ettleberg said.
“The Committee does. We have significant interests in banking, electronics, publishing, agricultural products, clothing, and oil exploration. Any business that we’re interested in, we acquire. If the target enterprise doesn’t fit into one of the convenient categories, then the Wingate Trust moves in to make the acquisition or handle the investment. Through an intricate network of contacts and cut‑outs, we’ve been able to move effortlessly into any area that strengthened our long‑term goals.”
The implications of what Wingate said were staggering. Any group capable of such commercial piracy must control untold billions of dollars. “Then the Committee’s assets must total...”
“Billions of dollars, and these assets, as you put it, are arrayed throughout the world. We have extensive holdings in oil, land, publishing, gold, and technology. People employed by our companies number in the tens, if not hundreds, of thousands. If we attempted to simultaneously liquidate everything we own, the effect would be to drive down the collective financial markets of every major country in the world.”
“And with that goes unbridled political power,” Ettleberg deduced.
“Exactly. The Committee’s influence and power do not stop at the doorways to Capitol Hill either, but extend throughout the branches of government. Even if the bureaucrats and politicians involved don’t see the influence’s source, they feel its power. At the Pentagon, we control who wins and who loses the critical megadollar contracts. At the Department of Justice, our control extends over government investigations into companies and organizations controlled and owned by the Committee. Of course, special attention is paid to those firms who intentionally or inadvertently oppose our interests.”
Ettleberg saw the fire in older man’s eyes and felt the heat of his words.
“Everything we do, every election we control, every position we carefully fill, every investment we judicially make, is done with the utmost secrecy. In fact, the organization’s operations are more like the highly compartmentalized workings of the major international intelligence agencies than those of a private company. No one ever suspects that we’re behind a given takeover or investment. That’s absolutely crucial to our success.”
As Wingate’s steely stare caught Ettleberg’s glance, the latter nodded again.
“The Committee’s power base extends into the very governments of the countries we operate in. Factions supported by us changed South Africa’s prime minister from one who deeply supported apartheid to a more moderate one, only months before certain gold leases were up for renewal.
When the long‑standing feuds between the Palestinians and Israelis threatened to spill over into another war, we flexed our political muscle, managing to bring a moderate leader into the Tel Aviv government, while at the same time reining in the Palestinians. If you remember, during the Gulf War in 1991, it was rumored that Jordan’s ruling family pressured Saddam Hussein. Just goes to show that you can’t believe everything you hear.” Wingate sneered.
“The Committee was behind that?”
Wingate nodded. “We avoided a fight to the finish, and put the region back on the path toward stabilization. When the final accounting was completed, the Gulf War brought untold millions of petro‑dollars into our coffers without jeopardizing our long term holdings in the region, another resounding success.”
Ettleberg was staggered. Beneath the fabric of daily global business was a group so secret that he hadn’t known about his own father’s membership–something that had been going on for decades. Wheels within wheels.
Wingate continued. “There are two things you must know before you decide whether you’re going to join our ranks. First, legal means are always our preferred approach to resolving problems. But each member knows there are limits as to what we can accomplish using only licit remedies.”
“I understand,” Ettleberg said.
“Second,” the chairman said, “in front of you is a portfolio containing biographical information on the rest of our members. If you break the seal, you signify your unflinching commitment to our organization and its objectives. If you elect not to read the contents, and the seal stays intact, you may leave the estate; however, you remain bound by your oath of secrecy never to divulge anything you learned tonight. Doing so will precipitate the gravest consequences. Do you understand?”
“I do.”
“Then I will leave you to your decision,” Wingate s
aid as he strode toward the library doors.
Minutes ticked by as Ettleberg stared at the leather‑bound portfolio on the conference table. Several times he picked it up only to replace it. Handling the file as if it were a rare Ming vase, Ettelberg finally broke the seal and began to read.
Anthony Crofton
Corporate Affiliation: Crofton Publishing
Background:
West Coast-based publishing empire that started out printing a small local paper. Expansion through reinvestment of corporate profits, which were later used to acquire competing companies. Currently owns several newspapers throughout California, Washington, and Oregon.
Introduced West Coast Today, a magazine targeted at the growing population centers in California, Oregon, and Washington. Magazine slowly adding readership in other areas. The magazine’s op‑ed section is highly regarded from the beaches of California to the hallowed halls of Congress. Annual revenue from all sources in excess of $1 billion.
West Coast Today is read and respected by members of Congress. It thus provides a unique forum from which to extol the Committee’s position on various topics.
Committee Membership: 2 generations
Grover Albright
Corporate Affiliation: Worldwide Agricultural Products
Background:
Chairman and CEO of this multinational manufacturer of farming and construction equipment. WAP provides early-generation agricultural equipment to Third World countries. Sales and service outlets widely placed in most South American, African, and Middle Eastern nations. Construction equipment manufactured in seven overseas factories and shipped around the world. Service and sales organizations in place.
Committee Membership: 3 generations
Annual Sales: over $3 Billion
Helene Rochambeau
Corporate Affiliation: Aigrette Habiller
Background:
Holding dual French and U.S. citizenship, Helene Rochambeau was born in the States while her French parents were on vacation. She earned her seat in the group by her intensive expansion of Aigrette Habiller, a company her father had started to make men’s clothes. Her family had made a respectable living from the Paris company. But when her father died suddenly, Helene at the young age of twenty‑four took over the company that had been in her family for decades.
To date, Aigrette Habiller had successfully started over a hundred retail stores worldwide, with the company’s sales approaching the $1 billion mark.
Annual Sales: $1 Billion
Committee Membership: 1 generation
Carlton Steiner
Corporate Affiliation: Steiner Aeronautics, Steiner Systems
Background:
A major first‑tier contractor to commercial aviation, providing most of the airborne radar, radio, and positioning equipment to the airframe giants. In the early eighties, the company, while making itself recession‑proof, expanded its market by providing similar equipment to the military airframe manufacturers. Through the combination of commercial sector and DOD business, matched with carefully controlled overhead costs, the firm has weathered most of the economic storms that have wreaked havoc on its competitors.
With a solid financial base supplying the airframe manufacturers, Steiner Aeronautics began a wholly owned subsidiary called Steiner Systems, tasked with taking state‑of‑the‑art technology and applying it to system applications in both the commercial and military sectors. Steiner Systems quickly assimilated the technological advances that resulted from the company’s work for such high-powered DOD clients as the Advanced Research Project Agency. ARPA was on the cutting edge of defense technology. Under a contract with the agency, Steiner Systems developed high-resolution displays for use on a multitude of DOD applications.
Annual Sales: $6 Billion
Committee Membership: 2 generations
Thomas Ward
Corporate Affiliation: Ward Petroleum Products
Background:
First, the Ward family was the major stockholder in one of the nation’s largest oil companies, the shares having been in the family since Ward’s great‑great grandfather entered into a partnership with the oil company’s founder. Over the years, stock splits and dividends increased the family’s holding in the company to the point that the board of directors listened carefully to their suggestions. Given his stewardship of the family’s regional oil company, his wealth was a foregone conclusion. Nonetheless, Ward’s entry into the day-to-day operation of the business started out slowly. Ward’s company is now the dominant player, providing gas to over three hundred family-owned stations throughout the middle south. The company’s home‑heating oil clients number in the thousands.
Annual Sales: $2.7 Billion
Committee Membership: 4 generations
Ettleberg had no sooner finished reading than the door opened and Charles Wingate stepped back into the room. “Congratulations,” Wingate said, extending his hand. “I see you’ve decided to join our group. We’re proud to have you.”
Ettleberg rose, and then grasped Wingate’s hand. “I’m honored to have been selected,” he replied.
“Please, sit down. I’ve scheduled a meeting for this evening, which of course will be your first opportunity to meet the others.”
Anthony Crofton’s arrival interrupted their conversation. Wingate introduced Crofton to the Committee’s newest member, after which Crofton took a seat across from Ettleberg. The three men talked about business and the state of the economy. They did so until Grover Albright and Helene Rochambeau arrived. Again, the chairman made the introductions.
In appearance, Albright was a diminutive man with thinning hair, at best described as nondescript. The man had no vices and was not given to any form of excess. Albright sat at the far end of the table, farthest from Wingate’s position of power.
The other men rose as Helene walked into the room. She greeted each man separately. Mlle Rochambeau was wearing, as usual, one of her suits, tailored to reflect the exquisite taste of its owner, while conveying a businesslike appearance. She took the chair to the right of the Chairman, and waited for the meeting to begin.
It was now a few minutes past eight, and the remaining two members of the Committee had yet to appear. A stickler for punctuality, Wingate sat at the head of the table, glancing furtively at his watch and tapping his Cross pen like a metronome on the writing tablet in front of him.
With an air of alacrity, Carlton Steiner, entered the room, followed by Thomas Ward. After introducing Lawrence Ettleberg to the late arrivals, Charles Wingate called the meeting to order.
“I’m glad to see that each of you could attend tonight. I regret that I had to call this meeting on such short notice. Before we address the business at hand, I want to be certain that each of you has not been having any trouble with your mail.”
Wingate didn’t trust the telephones to handle his communications. Too many agencies were adept at tapping the lines. Instead, he relied on a simple computer‑based electronic mail system. All communications between the Wingate’s computer in the library and the members’ satellite stations were also encrypted. For short messages, the system functioned in a way that assured Wingate his security integrity was maintained. Once the message was encrypted, a modem link sent it to the recipient’s computer, where the communication was decoded.
Up to now, the Committee had been using an effective but not overly sophisticated encryption scheme. It had been more than sufficient to discourage anyone who might have come across any Committee‑oriented E‑mail. Now, anything less than state‑of‑the‑art wouldn’t do, and Wingate had had a new encryption system developed by Steiner Aeronautics.
Unlike their existing system, which used a relatively simple encryption algorithm with messages transmitted over a huge commercial network, where the sheer volume of traffic made it impossible to tell one message from another, the revamped encryption system used the government-approved Data Encryption Standard, or DES.
Wingate knew t
hat any attempt at penetrating the Committee’s security would come from private-sector sources; his position as the President's best friend and high‑level advisor would deter any of the government agencies from even thinking about trying to intercept his communications. But for reasons known only to him, Wingate had decided to upgrade the system’s security.
Once the new system had been designed, Wingate directed Steiner Aeronautics’ engineers and computer programmers to try and decrypt a test message. When the company’s huge IBM mainframe computers were unable to come up with the clear text message, Wingate was satisfied they had reached an acceptable level of security.
“Our new data security system uses the best possible encryption scheme. In front of each of you is a floppy disk. Guard it well. Without it, your computers are useless. Lose it, and anyone getting their hands on it will be able to read our communications as if they were sent unencrypted. You’ll find the procedure for using the new algorithm in an encrypted file on the disk. All you have to do is to follow the normal procedure when you decrypt the instructions. Forty‑eight hours from now, all communications will be encrypted using the new system. Any questions?” he asked, looking around the table.
There were none. “Carlton, how are things going with our new ventures in the old Soviet Union?” Wingate asked.
“Fine. We’re buying Soviet military arms and support equipment at pennies on the dollar. Every base commander has gone into business for himself, calling what he’s doing biznesmeny. More like theft on a grand scale.”
“I assume that we’re buying the right stuff, no MiG fighters, and nothing that we can’t sell through our middlemen in Africa or the Middle East?” Wingate asked his protégé.
“So far, every deal we’ve done has been for light arms, grenades, and the like, you know, the stuff that every self‑respecting freedom fighter should have in his arsenal,” Steiner responded.
“Any problems getting sufficient quantities of matériel?”
“No. These ex‑Soviet military types make more on a single deal than they used to earn in two years. Our profits on the Moscow Project will probably total close to a hundred million dollars this year alone, and the nice part about it is that everything’s in cash. The Liechtenstein operation is going to have to hire another full‑time financial officer to invest the proceeds if things keep going the way they are. Ain’t capitalism great? ”