\documentclass[blue]{conditionechoblueshift}
\begin{document}

\name{\bBlackChamber{}}

\bigquote{``\ldots The entity known to the clueful as,``Fuck, it's
  Nyarlathotep! Run!'', to nearly everyone else as ``Fuck, run!'', and
  to the Black Chamber as ``You're late -- we're going to dock your
  pay.''. ''}{-- {\it The JENNIFER MORGUE}}

The \bBlackChamber{} is the United States' equivalent of the
\bLaundry{}. Think of all the conspiracy theories you've heard about
the NSA, and then add in paranormal demons from alternate dimensions,
and you're starting to get there.

The \bBlackChamber{}, like the \bLaundry{}, is tasked with protecting
our reality from paranormal incursions, and with ensuring that the
general public maintains no idea of the horrors that wait a mere
fractal computation away. They monitor our world for risks to the
fabric of reality, be they from our side or another, and deliberate
efforts or some unknowing postdoc stumbling onto the with the wrong
theorems. And when a threat to reality appears, or any other
paranormal threat to the world, they step in and fix it as
appropriate.

The difference between the two organizations is one of methods. The
\bBlackChamber{} is significantly less choosy about its allies and
techniques.  The \bBlackChamber{} will not think twice before
summoning succubi, fiends, and greater demons to assist their cause.
Reanimation of the dead and demon-bonding are remarkable only by their
absence from an operation.

When the \bLaundry{} finds creatures from other dimensions, it sends
them back to whence they came.  The \bBlackChamber{} puts them on
commission and gives them a badge and a paycheck.

The \bBlackChamber{} doesn't have any official stakes in the
negotiations with \bAlpha{} and \bBeta{}, and hence no representative.
However, there are some things the \bBlackChamber{} would like to get
out of the negotiations, if possible. The \iAtmospherium{}, which is
the \bLaundry{}'s primary bargaining chip with the sea-creatures, is
practically nonexistent in the US, and your organization would really
like to get your hands on some. Unfortunately, internal politics and
the state of relationships with the \bLaundry{} means it would be
unwise to negotiate with them directly. See if you can persuade
\bAlpha{} or \bBeta{} to demand more than they need, and work out an
agreement to funnel the extra \iAtmospherium{} back to the US. You'll
take as much as you can get your hands on, but you're shooting for at
least 10 metric tons per month. Make sure you track down the \bAlpha{}
and \bBeta{} representatives early to make them an offer.

In addition, it would be fairly poor for you guys if the \bLaundry{}
managed to establish an ocean base in the lands of either race. The
seafloor location would give the \bLaundry{} a serious jump on you in
terms of paranormal research, which is something your supervisors
would distinctly frown upon. You should either try to persuade both
\bAlpha{} and \bBeta{} to hold a hard line on that point, or else find
a way to talk down the \bLaundry{} negotiators on that point.

Also, just so we're clear, the \bBlackChamber{} takes its agents'
loyalty {\em very} seriously. You've all got deeply bound security
geas on you. Anyone who knows the eigenvectors of your personal
Dee-Hamilton binding matrix (unique to each agent) and has the right
code loaded in their standard-issue palmtop can render you
metabolically challenged at the push of a button.  (That is to say,
your head will literally explode, on the spot.)  Each agent's
eigenvectors is a closely guarded secret by Human Resources, but your
superiors are quite possibly paranoid enough to have given your
numbers to one of the other \bBlackChamber{} agents on base, just in
case he has reason to suspect your loyalties. So watch your step.

% At the same time, relationships with \bLaundry{} aren't as smooth as
% they could be. It would probably be for the best if they don't have a
% good sense of just what you guys do in the course of normal
% operations. We're nominally all allies, of course, but some secrets
% are best kept close.

\begin{itemz}[Goals]
\item Enter into an agreement with either \bAlpha{} or \bBeta{} to
  funnel some \iAtmospherium{} back to the \bBlackChamber{}
\item Ensure that the \bLaundry{} does not get permission to establish a
  sea-floor base from either race.
\end{itemz}

\begin{members}
  \member{\cLiason{}} The primary \bBlackChamber{} liaison to
  the \bLaundry{} in Dunwich.
  \member{\cBlackChamberLoyal{}} Another \bBlackChamber{} researcher here
  to assist \cLiason{}
  \member{???} There are rumors of an undercover agent masquerading as
  \bLaundry{}, or maybe even among the \bAlpha{} or \bBeta{} delegations.
\end{members}


\end{document}
