The word SPECTRE stands for Special Executor for Counter-Intelligence, Terrorism, Revenge and Extortion. The powerful and ruthless criminal organisation is dedicated to gaining wealth and power though criminal schemes the involve extortion, instigation of major wars to gain power and acts of revenge. Throughout several missions, Bond has been dedicated to the destruction of SPECTRE and it's leader, Ernst Stavro Blofeld.

Schemes

SPECTRE has been responsible for four criminal schemes. Firstly the From Russia With Love mission, SPECTRE planned an elaborate plot where a bait was used, being a beautiful woman by the name of Tatiana Romonava, Bond was seduced by Tatiana and together they stole the Lektor decoder. Tatiana being a cipher expert thought she was giving information about Bond to SMERSH, however SPECTRE intended to have Bond steal the Lektor and deliver it to them unknowingly.

In the Thunderball mission SPECTRE stole two atomic bombs from a NATO Vulcan bomber and demanded a ransom from the British government of £100,000,000 otherwise the bombs would be detonated in a chosen major city, this was the most ambitious plot SPECTRE has ever undergone.

The You Only Live Twice mission was SPECTRE's greed for world power, they intended to start World War III by causing tension between the U.S.S.R and the USA. SPECTRE in partnership with Red China developed a way of capturing space vessels, firstly capturing a US vessel, then a Soviet vessel the end of the mission was almost the cause of nuclear war between the U.S.S.R and the USA.

The On Her Majesty's Secret Service mission, SPECTRE attempted another extortion on the British government, by threatening to wipe out the entire world population using a deadly virus, unless his demands were met. In the Diamonds are Forever mission, SPECTRE used diamond smugglers to get a large number of diamonds to build a satellite which could destroy any ground target. Towards the end of the mission, SPECTRE began to destroy nuclear missile subs and silos.

SPECTRE consists of members who have defected from major criminal organisations, SPECTRE's major agents consist of some of world's most ingenious criminal minds. Agents are identified either by wearing a silver ring with a black octopus engraved on it or a tattoo of a red Chinese Tong symbol which is a box with a spike through the middle. The following is a list of thee known members of SPECTRE:

• Ersnt Stavro Blofeld - Number 1
• Dr No
• Rosa Klebb - Number 3
• Donald "Red" Grant
• Kronsteen - Number 5
• Emilio Largo - Number 2
• Fiona Volpe
• Count Lippe
• Mr. Osato
• Helga Brandt - Number 11
• Mr. Wint
• Mr. Kid