Teal AG was bought from a Germany consortium in the mid- 1980’s by an American, Michael Davis, who acquired the com- pany for its science resources, media connections, and political ties. After moving it from Bonn to Northern California in 1985, he replaced key people with his own and formed the Circle. They began recruiting from Teal’s diverse employee base, many coming from progressive backgrounds that condemned destructive ecopractices.
The group began to investigate biological solutions to the globe’s overpopulation in the early 1990’s. Creating a killer virus proved to be easy, but creating one that would not mutate out of control was not. This last research hurdle has kept them from simply releasing a strain of Hanta or Ebola into an inter- national airport during the holiday season.
UMBRA
The Circle views itself as modern-day white knights, doing what must be done to save the Earth. With Teal AG as a public front, the Circle has nearly unlimited access to vast research, media, and political connections. The group targets all political parties and lobbyists that support pro-environmental legislation and uses Teal AG’s resources to fund those objectives. The
Circle, through Teal AG, has hired several ex-FBI agents and pri- vate investigators to collect blackmail material on opposing lob- byists and politicians. These data are used to “persuade” politi- cians to do more for the environment. All investigators are hired for their skills, contacts, and influence. The investigators are not aware of the Circle’s ultimate goal.
PROFILE
The Circle’s primary goal is the development of a lethal bac- terium or viral agent that will not harm any other species or plant life on the planet, mutate uncontrollably, or be too easy for the CDC/USAMRID to defeat. The members are also bur- dened by the need to develop a vaccine for themselves. All these constraints have significantly increased the difficulty and research time needed. The Circle expects the research could take up to twenty years to complete.
Fearing that the world may not understand or appreciate its ultimate solution, the Circle maintains utmost secrecy about its intents. To the outside world Michael Davis is a well known CEO, and the public identifies him as a spokesman for the environ- ment. Only the top members of the Circle know that Davis heads this secret organization. For obvious security reasons, member- ship is kept very quiet. No one ever speaks of who is in the Circle. This is the quickest way to an early grave. As the Circle’s ultimate goal is the eradication of three quarters of the Earth’s population, only Davis and his closest friends know this. They are the Inner Circle. The rest of the membership is unaware of the ultimate goal but may catch glimpses of odd research requests or other information. Of course, nothing is definitive.
Currently, Teal AG employs more than 200 individuals, and within that group less than half are considered to be part of the Circle. The general membership believes that they are working to make the Earth a better place. Most of the mem- bers assume that this involves some form of illegal activity (sabotaging logging equipment, blowing up dams, etc.) and that’s why they are not told “everything.” They accept this necessity and follow the Inner Circle’s requests without ques- tion. Members of the Circle are very dedicated and believe that “the ends justify the means.”
RESOURCES
The very nature of the Circle’s conspiracy gives the members access to exceptional science facilities and research equipment. Most requests are readily granted to expedite achieving the group’s goal. Sensitive data pertaining to the ultimate goal are delayed before being forwarded so that the Inner Circle can review them. The Inner Circle also keeps a tight rein on intelli- gence assets, as investigators hired through Teal AG have no knowledge of the Circle’s plans. Teal AG has had to smuggle rare and endangered botanical specimens into the U.S. As a corporation, Teal AG has a wonderful rapport with the media, but only a select few employees deal with them directly. Most of the time Davis oversees media events personally.
KNOWLEDGE
Teal AG’s knowledge base is steeped in science and research. It has numerous research facilities, contacts within the CDC and USAMRID, and high-level contacts in other independent research firms. This gives the Circle access to information from outside sources. Likewise, because of Davis’ reputation, the Circle has a fair amount of pull in the media. In intelligence, sev- eral members are former FBI officers recruited for their skills and connections. Teal AG also keeps a number of private inves- tigators on the payroll, giving the Circle a wide selection of information sources. Finally, because of its botanical smuggling, it has contacts in the criminal world. Most of this information is related to the black market and smuggling.
FACILITIES
Shasta Basin HQ: This Northern California site is the head-
quarters for Teal AG and home to an environmental think tank. A variety of research facilities dot the landscape, all within view of Mt. Shasta. Notable resources include a satellite communica- tions suite and two computer research centers with expert sys- tems in genetics and biochemistry. For transportation needs, this facility houses ten electrically powered sedans, six convert- ed SUV’s, two Bell 222B-twin helicopters, and one small corpo- rate jet, all of which are designed to be as environmentally friendly as possible. The facility supports 175 specialized staff (scientists, engineer, lab assistants, and security) in addition to a large administrative staff. Of the employees at this facility, only 75 individuals are members of the Circle.
Sankuru Immunology Facility: Located east of Ilebo, on the
Sankuru River in Zaire, Africa, this facility does legitimate pathogen and transmission vector research, specializing in Ebola. Currently, researchers are trying to develop a treatment or vac- cine for the Ebola-Zaire virus and have a close working relation- ship with the CDC and USAMRID. The facility sports an on-site hospital with a biohazard suite, in addition to a barracks and satellite communications. A supercomputer with systems in bio- chemistry, virology, and genetics is also housed in the facility. On site are six doctors, three scientists, 15 lab assistants, and 12 secu- rity agents who have extensive military training. Of these individ- uals, all but one doctor, two scientists, and five assistants are members of the Circle. A portable base camp for fieldwork is made available to staff who put in a legitimate request. This base camp is in addition to a large, heavy-duty ambulance (“Haz- Mack”) with an onboard biohazard suite. The Haz-Mack has off- road capability to get it to almost any hot zone in Africa, given time. Additional transportation is provided by a UH-1 Huey heli- copter, a Chinook cargo helicopter, and 10 standard SUVs.
Costa Rica: Mainly specializing in reforestation techniques,
the Costa Rica facility does some work in botanical pharmacol- ogy. This facility is little more than a rented office with some eco-engineers and doctors. The Circle primarily uses them for their smuggling connections.
TRAINING
Davis promotes a healthier existence by encouraging employees to train in Chinese internal and external arts. Chi Gung gives individuals greater control over their energy flow and has been described as the first step toward immortality. The ability to exercise control over one’s energy also boosts one’s physical strength and willpower. This training becomes apparent should anyone engage a member of the Circle in hand-to-hand combat or use torture or drug therapy.