"They want more government?
"In a way, yes. At that second meeting I went to, for example, they were using a mobile " a real string and cardboard one " to play with the whole structure of the federal government. Just before I left, they were about to add the press itself, like a fourth branch. Only thing was, they insisted on talking about it like it was... Craig broke off, suddenly remembering the man's Russian heritage, and cringed. "... like Pravda. They even marked it C.C.C.P.
Kulya smiled at the reaction. "So. What? Are you saying these people are communist sympathizers?
"No. Of course not. It was their idea of irony. They're not exactly thrilled with the way the press has behaved lately.
"That's a good start, Craig. What else don't they like?
"Hmmm. He closed his eyes briefly, and reviewed the pizza-and-pop chat that he'd walked in on a few weeks earlier. "State Governors being ignored by Washington was a hot topic. They seem to think that enough governors ought to be able to override an Executive Order, a law passed by Congress, or even a Supreme Court ruling.
Several trainees reacted audibly.
Kulya's stern glare ended the chatter abruptly. "Advocating the willful disobedience of all three branches of government by elected officials sounds pretty dangerous to me. Okay, then. So let's assume they're classed as high risk. What's the correct course of action? Anyone?
A woman at the far end of the table raised her hand.
He nodded at her. "Kelly?
"Distract the leader. Keep him too busy with personal crises to concentrate on the cell's activities.
"All right. How would you do that?
She held his gaze for a moment before answering. "That would depend on how he makes his living. If he ran a small business, we could covertly sabotage it, make sure his plans kept falling through, drive him into bankruptcy.
"And if he was a wage-slave? Someone else.
˜Ron' wondered what Boa did for a living. He didn't recall hearing about that over pizza.
The soccer fanatic to Craig's left spoke next. "Well, if he worked through a job shop, we could float spurious accusations to get his contracts pulled. Or if he was a direct hire, pump the rumor mill. Once that takes hold, office politics will do the rest.
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