Re: 1905: The New Century Campaign
The following is an introductory story to the creation of the somewhat ad hoc organization behind the heroes operating in the New Century campaign. A good rule of thmb is that if it happened in fiction or literature, it is fair game for adventure.
New Century
Providence, Rhode Island April 10th, 1905
Professor Erik Thorssen was aware of only the echoing rhythmic tapping of his footsteps as he walked the final fifty feet down the ornate entry hall of the forty room American industrialist's mansion to the double mahogany doors that led to his final destination. He noted with amusement that his escort, the five foot six, white haired but steel muscled American, made scarcely a whisper of sound at his side. The escort opened the left side massive mahogany portal and ushered the Norwegian savant into a darkly paneled, cathedral ceilinged library, dominated by a conference table large enough to accommodate two score of men, save the one empty chair, apparently reserved for Thorssen himself.
Despite the drawn draperies and dimmed lights, Erik Thorssen recognized his primary contact for this momentous conclave sitting nearest the door. Striding up to the broad bodied, florid faced, white haired and mustachioed Englishman sitting beside his equally familiar thin visage brother, Thorssen started to greet the head of the British Secret Service.
"Ah, so good to see you and your brother again Mr. Hol..."
"Please, Professor, no names." interrupted the stout gentleman, "In my professional capacity, I am referred to as 'M', if you please. The delicate nature of this meeting requires that most of our participants observe great discretion if not outright anonymity. While my American counterpart, your escort Mr. West, requires no such secrecy for himself, he has requested it for our host, his employer."
Thorssen only then noticed the bespectacled toothy grin breaking through the moustache of one of the most famous faces in the world. This meeting certainly had to be described as high level at this point.
His American host spoke in a voice that was both commanding yet conversational.
"Gentlemen. We have the honor of being addressed by Professor Erik Thorssen, late of Stockholm and the Nobel committee, although he is a Norwegian rather than a Swede. His unbiased interest in issues of international and ecumenical import seem quite reassuring to those of us intrigued by his written proposal. We have all presumable read his concept précis, but the good professor has graciously offered to elaborate on his ideas. I urge you all to give him your fullest attention."
"Please proceed, professor"
Although Thorssen was quite accustomed to public speaking, even in such august company, he was nervous given the long term possibility of fulfilling what was up to now merest fantasy. Never had his presentations dealt with items of such import and potential.
"Thank, you gentlemen. I have come today to reiterate my admittedly ambitious proposal which hopefully you and those numerous world leaders and people of influence unable to attend have had the opportunity to peruse and study deeply. To whit, I propose the formation of an international enterprise charged with the acquisition of knowledge, the exploration of our diverse and mysterious world, and the performance of deeds of valor, charity, and beneficence. What I ask by way of assistance from yourselves and your governments is nothing less than a carte blanche in terms of travel and access, influence of your powerful nations and organizations and the occasional good word vouchsafing our representatives."
The shocked and amused faces and comments around the table gave the professor no pause.
"Our agents" Thorssen continued, "will be dispatched to the four corners of the world in an attempt to uncover the world’s mysteries, tap hidden wisdom and treasures for the uplifting of the people of the Earth, civilized and savage, prosperous and poor, downtrodden and powerful alike."
A soft but authoritative voice emanated from one of the less shadowed figures whose accent the much traveled Thorssen recognized as belonging to Cardinal Marrazi, a senior papal diplomat, despite the nondescript clothing the balding man wore.
"Admirable intentions, Profesore, but would not such a noble mission be more easily accomplished by a mighty nation," he bowed his head to the bespectacled host and then to the Briton called 'M', "or perhaps by an organization which already possesses agents and influence around the world?"
Steeling himself for the most potentially objectionable segment of his presentation, Erik Thorssen proceeded.
"It is the intent of this enterprise to be independent of any national, religious, regional, corporate or military alliance currently in existence. With all due respect, my good sirs, despite the best intentions and desires of ourselves and our nations, they have proven incapable of bridging the chasm between good intentions and consistent actions. Look around you, good sirs, and witness whose representatives are lacking. The Russians and Japanese refuse to sit at the same table together. The shadow of a general war on the continent threatening a level of bloodshed and destruction never seen before in history quite is real. The Great Powers have been intent on carving up Africa and Asia for their own profits, a process made all the easier by the constant depredations of thousands of warlords, maharajas and rajas, emirs, mullahs, chieftains and princes on their own peoples."
"Bully!" came the exclamation from the head of the table.
"Indeed, sir" continued Thorssen, "Yet in the Americas the indigenous populations have been almost completely eradicated, subjugated, absorbed or isolated, be they Americans, Canadians, Mexicans, Brazilians or Chileans. The descendants of the Africans taken to the new world in bondage are no longer slaves but not truly free. Latin American nations are looked upon as a resource warehouse for luxury foods and goods by their neighbors to the North, yet themselves ruled by regimes which think of themselves as empowered by divine right to exploit their populations but justified by commanding in Spanish or Portuguese."
"Look to your neighbors at this table gentleman. There is none of the gentler sex present although they comprise one half of our human race. Germany, Russia, Egypt, Abyssinia, Mexico, nor Brazil would sit at table with us. Who sits here from India? We invited Mr. Gandhi, but he is currently protesting that Indian subjects of the crown are not being treated in a manner superior to His Majesty's African subjects, as his higher caste demands. The myriad desert tribes of Arabia are warring and thus unavailable. Which of the Chinese Mandarins, warlords or elders should speak for their people?"
Thorssen let his unflinching gaze sweep the table and his words sink in to the occupants of the mansion's library. His face softened and a smile lit through his beard and moustache as a light through a gloomy fog.
"Think not, gentlemen that I am some dunderheaded naïf or wild eyed anarchist unmindful that such is a constant human condition which has infested the Earth since the fall of Adam and shall persist until the Lord returns. We seek to improve and mitigate the lot of humanity through progress, not destroy it with chaos and revolution. You have heard me describe the monumental challenges, my friends, now let me articulate the hope and vision of the time we live in and the means by which we would kindle more flames of hope and progress."
Erik Thorssen's blue eyes shone with a light from within as he became mindful no longer of the esteemed and elevated company to which he spoke, but of a vision of action and progress and hope.
"The human race has entered a new century. A century portending great danger and great potential. Leviathan motor vessels carry tons of trade goods from all nations across the seven seas. Telegraph cables and Mr. Bell's telephone link the capitals around the globe. Mr. Tesla and Mr. Marconi vie with one another for credit over the invention of wireless communication. Herr Von Zeppelin and the Wright brothers, among others, have conquered the sky."
"Slavery is gasping its last breath while workers and women are demanding and receiving their rights to their equality. Faith and science together and separately seek to slay ignorance, hopelessness and disease. Missionaries teach reading and hygiene as well as salvation and charity in the farthest corners and remotest pockets of our world. My colleagues and I are confident that all that lacks is a focus, a driving force, a motivating ethic to complement and connect the hopes and prayers of Earth's teeming masses just hoping for a better life."
"What I am here to propose, gentlemen, is a global enterprise, operating beyond nationality, on all continents. We shall respond to the recommendations of the independent board of directors as we see fit, but welcome suggestions as to worthy or needful adventures as suggested by your selves or governments."
"We ask a great deal on trust and faith. We promise nothing in the way of credit or notoriety to the participants or the silent supporters. We will deny, disavow and even demean any publicity or claims of our very existence. We do what we do for the joy in the knowledge that it is right, good, and glorious. Who will join us?"
