Vermaak 88, often referred to as The Ice Gang, The Ice Freaks, or The Ice Soldiers by several of the citizens at New Marais, is a very large and powerful South African based Private Military Company hired by Joseph Bertrand for experimentation, initially for protection. It is reported that Vermaak 88 had extended 43 percent of its operations in the last five years and had become one of the largest Private Military Contractors in the world due, in part, to lucrative government contracts with the United States Military during the War in Iraq.