Society of Mandarins
The Society of the Mandarins was a secret organization within the Terran Confederation consisting of Terran traitors who supported the Kilrathi Empire during the Terran-Kilrathi War. Their main goal was to assist the Empire in defeating humanity.
Origins
It is unknown when the Society of the Mandarins first formed. It is known that they have been active since at least the 2650s and was comprised of humans who had become disillusioned with the ideals of the Terran Confederation. It is possible that the Mandarins had no faith that the Terrans would win the War, and instead sought political asylum with the Kilrathi so that they would be spared when the Empire won the War. It is also made mention that said traitors were promised high positions within the Kilrathi Empire if they agreed to help the Kilrathi to defeat the Confederation.
The term "Mandarins" is said to have originated from the ancient Mandarins of the region historically known as China, which was constantly invaded by the Mongols in the northern regions of Asia. The Mandarins were said to have defeated the Mongol threat by converting the Mongols over to their own society and lifestyle, just as the Mandarin spies managed to convert many of their comrades over to Imperial rule.
Activities
The network of Mandarins extended across the entire Terran Confederation and possibly into the Union of Border Worlds. The group grew to the point where it was considered a grave threat to the Terran war effort and established a base of operations on Ayer's Rock, a secret facility hidden deep within an asteroid field in the Ayer's System.
The Mandarins were eventually successful in establishing an alliance with the Kilrathi Empire, and have since become some of the Kilrathi's most prized series of agents. The Mandarins posed as ordinary Confederation personnel, and therefore were able to work behind the scenes easily without prying eyes. They adopted a campaign of murder and terrorism, destroying Terran vessels by luring them out into the open or keeping the Kilrathi informed of their movements. They murdered any pilots or servicemen who could threaten their plans, and did everything in their power to impede humanity's war efforts.
History
The first Mandarins were discovered in 2655....
(To be continued)