History Main / NebulousCriminalConspiracy

A subtrope of TheConspiracy.

[[AC: Anime and Manga]]

[[AC: Comic Books]]

[[AC: Film]]

[[AC: Literature]]

[[AC: Live Action Television]]

[[AC: Tabletop Games]]

[[AC: Video Games]]

* The Inner Circle from the ''VideoGame/MaxPayne'' series, while seeming to be an AncientConspiracy in the first game, is revealed (or {{Retcon}}ned, if you're feeling less charitable) to be one of these in the second game. It's also a GovernmentConspiracy, with all those senators in cahoots with them.

[[AC: Webcomics]]

[[AC: Web Original]]

[[AC: Western Animation]]

** Several villain groups in the Heisei era received backing from Foundation X. Both the Museum organization's Gaia Memory research in ''Series/KamenRiderW'' and Gamou's plans with Zodiarts Switches in ''Series/KamenRiderFourze'' receiving funding from them, and they're speculated by Phillip to be involved with the Core Medals in ''Series/KamenRiderOOO'' as well. They later resurface in ''Series/KamenRiderExAid'' eyeing the Rider Gashats.

* The High Table from the ''Franchise/JohnWick'' series.

** Another ComicBook/SpiderMan villain, The Tinkerer, operates on a much smaller scale. Amongst other things, he is responsible for helping deck out Mysterio with his toys, and in the ''ComicBook/SecretWar'' storyline it was revealed he is one of a number of arms dealers and rogues who are supplied by Latveria (though Doom wasn't actually in charge of the country during that particular story; it is still the kind of thing Doom probably does).

* ''Videogame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole'' deals with a drug epidemic that involves multiple criminal groups, including the Mafia, Butters and his minions, Ninja assassins, the local cops, and even the Sixth Graders. The one behind it all turns out to be none other than [[spoiler:Cartman's [[BareHandedPuppetry hand puppet alter-ego]] Mitch Conner]].

* ''Videogame/SouthParkTheFracturedButWhole'' deals with a drug epidemic that involves multiple criminal groups, including the Mafia, Butters and his minions, Ninja assassins and even the local cops. The one behind it all turns out to be none other than [[spoiler:Mitch Conner, AKA Cartman's hand puppet]].

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice2003'', a secret society known as The Light seems to have connections or acts as [[TheManBehindTheMan the mastermind]] with nearly every villain that the heroes face.

* In ''WesternAnimation/YoungJustice'', a secret society known as The Light seems to have connections or acts as [[TheManBehindTheMan the mastermind]] with nearly every villain that the heroes face.

* ''VideoGame/CriminalCaseWorldEdition'' has a NebulousEvilOrganization called SOMBRA behind many criminal activities in the world, such an AncientConspiracy in Europe, rebels in the Sahara, [[TheMole moles]] inside of a space agency in Russia, diamond smuggling in Africa, and so on.

** The conspiracy that comes to be known as the Trust is another example. It brings together hard-line nationalists and human supremacists from the national security establishment (the rogue NID), international businessmen who want to profit from patenting and selling alien technology (the Committee), and at least one politician who enables them in exchange for their supporting his political career (Senator Kinsey). [[spoiler:And then the Goa'uld infiltrate and take over the entire organization, using it first to try and destroy the Earth, then to turn it into a refuge for them after the collapse of their interstellar empires.]]

* The Shadow Collective from ''WesternAnimation/StarWarsTheCloneWars'' is an underworld coalition put together by Darth Maul and Savage Oppress as a sort of third party in the Clone Wars, opposing both the Jedi and the current Sith order of Palpatine and Dooku. It brings together a dark side Force cult (the Nightbrothers and Nightsisters of Dathomir), a reactionary terrorist group (Mandalore's Death Watch), and three crime syndicates (Black Sun, the Pyke Syndicate, and the Hutt Cartel).

*** As an underworld banker for not only Quantum but many other clients, Le Chiffre is basically a one-man show, who constitutes the link between a huge and diverse number of criminal organizations such as Al-Qaeda and the Lord's Resistance Army, whose money he secures and launders. This largely explains why [=MI6=] is so interested in capturing him.

* The Lucian Alliance from the Franchise/StargateVerse are an example of sorts- a collection of criminals and criminal organizations who existed (presumably) prior to the dissolution of the Goa'uld Empire's hold on the galaxy who banded together to take advantage of the power vacuum left behind. Initially, they seemed content to deal in addictive space corn and just do regular criminal stuff, but by the time of [[Series/StargateUniverse SGU]] they clearly had some sort of plan to take over the [[CoolShip Destiny]]. Since the series was [[ScrewedByTheNetwork canceled]], [[WhatCouldHaveBeen we'll never know]] what they wanted it for.

[[AC: Webcomics]]:

** [[ComicBook/{{Hydra}} HYDRA]] began as a ''Werewolf''-esque backup plan for the Nazis in the closing days of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, and evolved into a major international terrorist organization who have crossed paths with nearly every hero and villain in the Marvel Universe. They were infrequently allies with ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'s evil {{ninja}} enemies The Hand (in some tellings, HYDRA began as an offshoot, a faction subverted by Nazis), and used to team up with the Maggia, who were Marvel's politically correct {{exp|y}}ies of TheMafia (though The Mafia have also started popping up in stories as well). Their science division AIM also went their own way, but they still team up from time to time. AIM both creates the Cosmic Cube and the freakish [[AIIsACrapshoot MODOK]]. HYDRA is responsible for bringing back the ComicBook/RedSkull (who quickly betrayed them). One of HYDRA's leaders and main assassins is Viper/Madame Hydra, who once dated the Red Skull (he left her- ''she was too evil'') as well as [[ComicBook/XMen The Silver Samurai]], and usually leads the snake-themed mercenaries the Serpent Squad, who consequently are often in HYDRA's employ. The Squad's current leader is Sin, the Red Skull's daughter. WordOfGod even modeled them after SPECTRE, the NebulousEvilOrganization that Film/JamesBond frequently fights in the books and movies.

The NebulousCriminalConspiracy is when a number of criminals and criminal organizations -- which when properly defined includes terrorists, illegal militias, revolutionaries and other politically-minded groups as well as your mafias and drug cartels -- make common cause with each other despite rival or even diametrically opposed goals. It may or may not include -- or is headed by -- at least one NebulousEvilOrganization that feels the need to hire out from time to time. It is often run behind the scenes by a group of [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bastards]] and [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]] who are trying to achieve a single grand objective, but want or need to use other criminals to achieve these ends. As the underworld is a community, expect them to know who all the hitmen are and to use many frequently.

* The Undersiders from ''{{Literature/Worm}}'' are part of such a conspiracy. [[spoiler:Coil]]'s status as their employer is kept secret initially, as is the knowledge that other groups in the city, like [[spoiler:the Travelers]] are also on his payroll. [[spoiler:It is later learned that his NebulousCriminalConspiracy is actually part of a much greater NebulousEvilOrganisation that he doesn't know about.]]

* The High Table from the ''Film/JohnWick'' series.

** The most recent films providing good examples as Le Chiffre from ''Film/{{Casino Royale|2006}}'' is bankrolling African terrorists as an employee of NebulousEvilOrganization Quantum, who in ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' are trying to set up a Bolivian general as a dictator to seize control of Bolivia's water, and whose members include evil phony philanthropist Dominic Greene, a former KGB agent turned businessman, a Mossad agent and an advisor to the British Prime Minister. They also convince the CIA and, later, MI6 to go along with their schemes under false pretenses. They seem to be motivated by power more than by cash, and probably have some kind of ideology.
*** As an underworld banker for not only Quantum but many other clients, Le Chiffre is basically a one-man show, who constitutes the link between a huge and diverse number of criminal organizations such as Al-Qaeda and the Lord's Resistance Army, whose money he secures and launders. This largely explains why MI6 is so interested in capturing him.

*** As an underworld banker for not only Quantum but many other clients (it's implied that the 9/11 perpetrators were among them), Le Chiffre is basically a one-man show, who constitutes the link between a huge and diverse number of terrorist and criminal organizations whose money he secures and launders. This largely explains why MI6 is so interested in capturing him.
** ''Film/{{Spectre}}'': It's actually revealed that Quantum and Le Chiffre were [[spoiler:fronts for SPECTRE]], and that they bankrolled RogueAgent turned cyber-criminal Raoul Silva in ''Film/{{Skyfall}}''. Their EvilPlan in ''Spectre'' is to [[spoiler:[[FalseFlagOperation stage several terrorist attacks]] so that a joint intelligence- and surveillance-sharing network could be established — which SPECTRE will have total access to thanks to their [[TheMole moles]] within the various governments and allow them to stay permanently one step ahead of their enemies. Unlike in the classic continuity, SPECTRE is now a massive, [[TheIlluminati Illuminati-esque]] cabal working behind the scenes to manipulate events from {{Black Site}}s to their side while secretly meeting to discuss their global criminal ops and killing those who get in their way.]]

** ''Film/{{Spectre}}'': It's actually revealed that Quantum and Le Chiffre were [[spoiler:fronts for SPECTRE]], and that they bankrolled RogueAgent turned cyber-criminal Raoul Silva in ''Film/{{Skyfall}}''. Their EvilPlan in ''Spectre'' is to [[spoiler:[[FalseFlagOperation stage a series of terrorist attacks]] so that a joint intelligence and surveillance sharing network could be established -- which SPECTRE will have total access to thanks to their [[TheMole moles]], allowing them to stay permanently one step ahead of the opposition. They have even managed to plant their men within the various governments, so yes, even MI6, CIA, and UsefulNotes/MoscowCentre have been massively penetrated by SPECTRE. Also, while SPECTRE is still a NebulousEvilOrganization like in the classic continuity, they are now more of a massive, [[TheIlluminati Illuminati-esque]] cabal of crooked politicians, businessmen, criminals, terrorists and officials working behind the scenes to manipulate geopolitical events from {{Black Site}}s to their favor, secretly meet to discuss their global criminal ops, and kill those who get in their way.

** The trope was less overt in earlier films, but SPECTRE is involved in drug running, the Great Train Robbery, nuclear terrorism, and has members that include a world chess champion, the former head of SMERSH, a mad scientist, a playboy, a Japanese chemical company, and is recognisable to the public as the International Brotherhood for the Assistance of Stateless Persons. They also do mercenary work for an unidentified country, probably Red China.

*** ''Film/{{Spectre}}'': It's actually revealed that Quantum and Le Chiffre were [[spoiler:fronts for SPECTRE]], and that they bankrolled RogueAgent turned cyber-criminal Raoul Silva in ''Film/{{Skyfall}}''. Their EvilPlan in ''Spectre'' is to [[spoiler:[[FalseFlagOperation stage a series of terrorist attacks]] so that a joint intelligence and surveillance sharing network could be established -- which SPECTRE will have total access to thanks to their [[TheMole moles]], allowing them to stay permanently one step ahead of the opposition. They have even managed to plant their men within the various governments, so yes, even MI6, CIA, and UsefulNotes/MoscowCentre have been massively penetrated by SPECTRE.]]
*** As in the classic continuity, while [[spoiler:SPECTRE]] is still a NebulousEvilOrganization, they are now more of a massive, shadowy, [[TheIlluminati Illuminati-esque]] cabal of crooked politicians, businessmen, criminals, terrorists and officials working behind the scenes to manipulate geopolitical events from {{Black Site}}s to their favor, secretly meet to discuss their global criminal ops, and kill those who get in their way.

The NebulousCriminalConspiracy is when a number of criminals and criminal organizations -- which when properly defined includes terrorists, illegal militias, revolutionaries and other politically-minded groups as well as your mafias and drug cartels -- make common cause with each other despite rival or even diametrically opposed goals. It may or may not include, or be headed by, at least one NebulousEvilOrganization that feels the need to hire out from time to time. It is often run behind the scenes by a group of [[ManipulativeBastard Manipulative Bastards]] and [[TheChessmaster Chessmasters]] who are trying to achieve a single grand objective, but want or need to use other criminals to achieve these ends. As the underworld is a community, expect them to know who all the hitmen are and to use many frequently.

** Another ComicBook/SpiderMan villain, The Tinkerer, operates on a much smaller scale. Amongst other things, he is responsible for helping deck out Mysterio with his toys, and in the ''ComicBook/SecretWar'' storyline it was revelaed he is one of a number of arms dealers and rogues who are supplied by Latveria (though Doom wasn't actually in charge of the country during that particular story; it is still the kind of thing Doom probably does).
** [[ComicBook/{{Hydra}} HYDRA]] began as a ''Werewolf''-esque backup plan for the Nazis in the closing days of UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, and evolved into a major international terrorist organization who have crossed paths with nearly every hero and villain in the Marvel Universe. They were infrequently allies with ComicBook/{{Daredevil}}'s evil {{ninja}} enemies The Hand (in some tellings, HYDRA began as an offshoot, a faction subverted by Nazis), and used to team up with the Maggia, who were Marvel's politically correct {{exp|y}}ies of TheMafia (though The Mafia have also started popping up in stories as well). Their science division AIM also went their own way, but they still team up from time to time. AIM both creates the Cosmic Cube and the freakish [[AIIsACrapshoot MODOK]]. HYDRA are reponsible for bringing back the ComicBook/RedSkull (who quickly betrayed them). One of HYDRA's leaders and main assassins is Viper/Madame Hydra, who once dated the Red Skull (he left her- ''she was too evil'') as well as [[ComicBook/XMen The Silver Samurai]], and usually leads the snake-themed mercenaries the Serpent Squad, who consequently are often in HYDRA's employ. The Squad's current leader is Sin, the Red Skull's daughter. WordOfGod even modeled them after SPECTRE, the NebulousEvilOrganization that Film/JamesBond frequently fights in the books and movies.

** Maggia bosses include minor ComicBook/SpiderMan foes Silvermane and Hamerhead and old Avengers baddie Count Nefaria (who is the dad of ''ComicBook/IronMan'' baddie Madame Masque, another Maggia member). They are rivals of the Kingpin and other small-time crime lords, but have a lot of connections.

*** As an underworld banker for not only Quantum, but many other clients (it's implied that the 9/11 perpetrators were among them), Le Chiffre is basically a one-man show, who constitutes the link between a huge and diverse number of terrorist and criminal organizations whose money he secures and launders. This largely explains why MI6 is so interested in capturing him.
*** ''Film/{{Spectre}}'': It's actually revealed that Quantum and Le Chiffre were [[spoiler:fronts for SPECTRE]], and that they bankrolled RogueAgent turned cyber-criminal Raoul Silva in ''Film/{{Skyfall}}''. Their EvilPlan in ''Spectre'' is to [[spoiler:[[FalseFlagOperation stage a series of terrorist attacks]] so that a joint intelligence and surveillance sharing network could be established -- which SPECTRE will have total access to thanks to their [[TheMole moles]], allowing them to stay permanently one step ahead of the opposition. They have even managed to plant their men within the various governments, so yes, even MI6, CIA and UsefulNotes/MoscowCentre have been massively penetrated by SPECTRE.]]

* ''Film/TheInternational'' is about a crooked bank that sits at the centre of one of these. The protagonists are informed that too many powerful people find it useful to alow it to fail, and that if it did another one would likely take its place.

* Creator/JohnGrisham's ''Literature/TheFirm'' has its protagonist uncover that [[spoiler:the seemingly amazing law firm he works for is actually a front for [[TheMafia the mob]], and that they kill anyone who either gets to close to the truth, or who learns it and doesn't want to become a partner, and therefor be in on TheConspiracy. The Firm conducts SinisterSurveillance on its employees, wiring their cars, homes, and telephones and monitoring their lives closely. When they do kill people, they tend to MakeItLookLikeAnAccident.]]

* Something like this seems to be going on in ''Series/FlashForward2009''. The Blackout was orchestrated by a conspiracy which includes various scientist pawns, a crooked mercenary company, a trade company in Hong Kong, a nuclear terrorist/ assassin, and possibly elements of the US government. They have at least two moles in the FBI, though one of them is actually a double agent, but even she may be being duped as her handler might also be a spy. The conspirators has the power to make people see the future, which means they can pre-empt almost every move that will be made against them before it is even thought of. The full extent of the conspiracy will remain unknown sadly, as the series has been cancelled.
* The Lucian Alliance from the Franchise/StargateVerse are an example of sorts- a collection of criminals and criminal organizations who existed (presumably) prior to the dissolution of the Goa'uld Empire's hold on the galaxy who banded together to take advantage of the power vacuum left behind. Initially they seemed content to deal in addictive space corn and just do regular criminal stuff, but by the time of [[Series/StargateUniverse SGU]] they clearly had some sort of plan to take over the [[CoolShip Destiny]]. Since the series was [[ScrewedByTheNetwork canceled]], [[WhatCouldHaveBeen we'll never know]] what they wanted it for.
* In ''Series/SonsOfAnarchy'' the eponymous biker gang ends up in the center of one of these. They initially bought smuggled guns from a splinter group of the IRA and sold them to black gangs in Los Angeles. Their EqualOpportunityEvil nature makes them the ideal middleman between criminal organizations who do not trust each other but need what the other group sells. In the course of the series they make deals with the Russian [[TheMafiya Mafiya]], Latino biker gangs and a Mexican drug cartel. When a Justice Department taskforce is building a racketeering case against these groups, the Sons are a central element in proving a massive criminal conspiracy. By the end of season 4 things get even more complicated as the Sons are now [[spoiler: and unwilling partner in a CIA plan to take control of a Mexican drug cartel]] which takes the conspiracy to a new level.

* ''VideoGame/GrandTheftAutoV'' Online features The Professionals, an inmensely powerful crime network that operates in San Andreas. They are ex-military operatives involved in drug trade, and they are affiliated with various other gangs such as the Ballas, the Vagos, and The Lost MC. The Professionals seem to be affiliated with the FIB as well.

*** ''Film/{{Spectre}}'': It's actually revealed that Quantum and Le Chiffre were [[spoiler:fronts for SPECTRE]], and that they bankrolled RogueAgent turned cyber-criminal Raoul Silva in ''Film/{{Skyfall}}''. Their EvilPlan in ''Spectre'' is to [[spoiler:[[FalseFlagOperation stage a series of terrorist attacks]] so that a joint intelligence and surveillance sharing network could be established -- which SPECTRE will have total access to thanks to their [[TheMole moles]], allowing them to stay permanently one step ahead of the opposition. They have even managed to plant their men within the various governments, so yes, even MI6, CIA and MoscowCentre have been massively penetrated by SPECTRE.]]

** The most recent films providing good examples as Le Chiffre from ''Film/{{Casino Royale|2006}}'' is bankrolling African terrorists as an employee of NebulousEvilOrganization Quantum, who in ''Film/QuantumOfSolace'' are trying to set up a Bolivian general as a dictator to seize control of Bolivia's water, and whose members include evil phony philanthropist Dominic Greene, a former KGB agent turned businessman, a Mossad agent and an advisor to the British Prime Minister. They also convince the CIA and, later, MI6 to go along with their schemes under false pretences. They seem to be motivated by power more than by cash, and probably have some kind of ideology.

*** ''Film/{{Spectre}}'': It's actually revealed that Quantum and Le Chiffre were [[spoiler:fronts for SPECTRE]], and that they bankrolled RogueAgent turned cyber-criminal Raoul Silva in ''Film/{{Skyfall}}''. Their EvilPlan in ''Spectre'' is to [[spoiler:[[FalseFlagOperation stage a series of terrorist attacks]] so that the governments of the world would all put aside their differences and set up a joint intelligence and surveillance sharing network -- which SPECTRE will have total access to thanks to their [[TheMole moles]], allowing them to stay permanently one step ahead of the opposition.]]

* ''Top Secret: SI,'' the 1987 remake of Creator/{{TSR}}'s ''Top Secret'' espionage roleplaying game, has the Web, a secretive criminal organization along the lines of SPECTRE that was created in the wake of World War I and has plotting to quietly dominate the world ever since. Its principal opponents are the equally secretive [[BenevolentConspiracy Orion Foundation]], an agency founded by the survivors of the Web's early plots.