Sick of the Grand Conspiracy?

[Irish Wolf]

Originally Posted by Nymdok

Bene-Jezerat Witches from Dune :
The bene-jezerat witches manipulate people and blood lines for thousands of years to get the kwizatz haderach. Some weird religeous zealotry based on a prophecy. This one seems to work because although we may not fully understand that level of religeous devotion, we DO understand that there are religeous fanatics in the world (any world with a religeon).

The Bene Gesserit aren't quite along the same lines as the Grand Conspiracy of which the OP has grown weary; they aren't shadowy, they're no more secretive than any other religious order, and the only thing they seek is to create the Kwisatz Haderach (apparently under the impression that if they bring him to be, he will obey them. Didn't work out well for them in the long run). Also, everyone's already suspicious of them.

The Founders are along the right lines, as their lifespans and ability to pose as anyone they study long enough will give them the chance to run things behind the scenes. They also engage in disinformation, as when they left one of their captives with the impression that the highly-placed Klingon they'd replaced was Chancellor Gowron (when in fact it was

Spoiler:  

Gen. Martok

).