[Chapter 514: Picking Up Bargains]
William White finally relaxed after resolving the troubles in Africa. He didn't want his people to face any unexpected disasters. As for those who would take the blame, he didn't care at all.
"Master, we have news from the Soviets. The items you wanted are ready to go," Tanner reported.
"Tanner, we shouldn't show our faces during the transaction. Let the local powers handle it," William instructed.
"Understood, Master!"
William climbed out of the pool, looking puzzled as he said, "We need to be careful about safety. We must not let the Soviets catch on, and we can't let the CIA know either. I mean, has their management really sunk to this level?"
"Master, they plan to create a few fakes. According to their claims, the success rate for launches is low, and even if something actually gets off the ground, they can always say it was a malfunction," the subordinate explained.
William stared in disbelief.
To be honest, such items would still count as a bargain at two hundred million dollars. The Soviets' cutting-edge technology was not inferior to that of the Americans. At the moment, the U.S. was still without infrared sensing capabilities, while the Soviets had already implemented that feature.
Everyone was digging into the Soviets resources. The latest night-vision equipment on the T72 tanks could be snagged for five hundred bucks and brought back to the U.S. This stuff was even more advanced than what the Americans had, and now it was all cheap for the U.S.
Truthfully, Soviet equipment was a bit rough around the edges; they couldn't handle overly delicate work. However, there was one very important point: Soviet products were sturdy and durable.
Most importantly, there were no backdoors; these items came without aftereffects. Even if you managed to smuggle away an American satellite, it'd likely be hijacked before you knew it -- after which you'd have no tears left to cry.
When a building was on the brink of collapse, various anomalies emerged. Sometimes, it only took a couple cigarettes and a bottle of whiskey to cart a lot of stuff home. The Soviets were in complete disarray, and no further opportunities would come their way.
William had a keen interest in Soviet gadgets. After all, the American Apache was quite pricey, while the KA-50 was a great deal. He wouldn't mind bringing some back.
"How's that guy, Saddam, doing? Any changes?" William asked.
"Heh, what do you expect? He's just avoiding paying and complaining that Kuwait stole their oil. Master, do you think the oil really flows that way?" Tanner replied.
"Honestly, I don't know. It's a possibility, but just a possibility. Who can say for sure about what lies underground?"
"Right, they still have that demand -- they want to cut production. They can only pay back their debts under those circumstances," Tanner added.
"Heh, that's truly wishful thinking. If they negotiate privately, there might be a chance," William said. "Have they mentioned anything about a price they hope to maintain?"
"Ha! They said at least thirty bucks. Considering inflation, rumors are flying that Saddam thinks oil is incredibly valuable and non-renewable, claiming a hundred bucks would be the reasonable price," Tanner explained.
"A hundred bucks? Heh, if that's the case, we won't be able to gas up this Saturday," William said, rolling his eyes.
Oil and the U.S. dollar were potent weapons -- and those weapons could not be allowed to fall into someone else's hands.
Much like the Panama Canal, the U.S. didn't care about the revenue it generated; it was more concerned about control.
William White was particularly wary of digging into Soviet resources. He understood all too well that there were too many forces interested in doing the same. If one waited for the Soviets to collapse before taking action, there wouldn't be much benefit to gain.
The U.S. had plenty of backup plans to prevent the Soviets from rising again. Forget the other strategies; just that decommissioned aircraft carrier was a colossal deception.
They'd first acquire a steel company to buy scrap metal, and by the time they dismantled the aircraft carrier into pieces, the owners would have fled. As for the millions in deposits? Well, they simply walked away.
The poor shipyard ended up in dire straits. Not only did they lose a half-finished aircraft carrier, but they also took a big financial hit. You see, millions of dollars didn't cover the dismantling costs.
There were plenty more schemes like this. William believed that when it came to aerospace, the U.S. certainly wouldn't hold back either.
The Soviets' time was already counting down, which didn't worry him much. If the CIA set their sights on him, then he'd be in serious trouble. Those guys might be inept at getting things done but were fearless. They risked everything to get ahead.
It had to be said that some people's schemes made a lot of sense. The Americans were very envious of Soviet space technology. They also wanted to understand how those guys managed to fly into space without a semiconductor industry.
Some joked that it was simply risk-taking.
While there was some truth to that, one thing was crystal clear: the Soviets had succeeded. Their space technology was basically on par with the U.S.
Even though the Soviets couldn't land on the moon, the American efforts had massive risks as well. Otherwise, why did they later stop lunar missions?
While William White was plotting against the Soviets, the CIA was clearly not sitting idle. However, they were understandably cautious. The Soviets weren't like Panama, where ruining things would lead to sending in the troops. They had their own big weapons, and messing up could lead to serious trouble.
They could be wary, but William had no need to hold back. Passing the buck was commonplace. As long as he didn't get caught red-handed, nobody could touch him.
...
"Sir, we've received word that Japan's central bank will tighten loans on land assets. Looks like our friends are in a spot of trouble."
"Ha! Just a shame it's a bit late. Though it may confuse those guys, it won't change anything for them," William replied with a wry smile.
Faced with a boss who takes advantage yet plays innocent, Filson could only smile wryly. It wasn't as simple as William made it sound; he was sure that those fat crocodiles were furious right now. Under the circumstances, trying to escape easily would come at a cost.
*****
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