maneuvering (?.)
- artifice
- behind-the-scenes influence
- cabal
- collusion
- complicity
- complot
- confederacy
- connivance
- conspiracy
- contrivance
- contriving
- counterplot
- covin
- deep-laid plot
- devices
- engineering
- expedients
- finagling
- finesse
- frame-up
- game
- influence
- intrigue
- little game
- machination
- maneuvers
- manipulation
- plot
- plotting
- political influence
- rigging
- scheme
- schemery
- scheming
- stratagem
- tactical maneuvers
- tactics
- trick
- underplot
- web of intrigue
- wire-pulling
