A member of the genus mandrillus sphinx, the Kerensky Exiles introduced the
fire mandrill to Eden where it thrived. Named for it's fire-red coat, the
fire mandrill earned respect for its aggressiveness and loyalty to the pack,
making it an ideal 'totem animal' for one of the new Clans. In seems appropriate,
therefore, that the rivalry and aggression between fire mandrill packs should
also be reflected in their namesake Clan. The Fire Mandrills are a microcosm
of the Clans, broken into a number of factions each maintaining their own
traditions, philosophies and methods.
Since their earliest days the Fire Mandrills have fought among themselves.
This fractiousness began during Operation Klondike, when each warrior sought
to demonstrate their prowess and thus the strength of their bloodline. The
relationship between Bloodname houses was difficult but several banded together
to share resources and to advance their own cause on the Clan council. These
groupings were known as 'Kindred Associations' or Kindrasc, although later
this would be shortened to Kindraa. Politics between the associations was
fraught and reached boiling point when the Kindraa Sainze claimed sections
of the Widowmaker enclave on Dagda for their own. Recognizing the benefits
this would give the Sainze, the rest of Clan Fire Mandrill sought to join
one or other faction, leading to a virtual collapse of Clan organization.
The system remained stable for many years until the Kindraa Smythe-Jewell
sought to strengthen their position. The Fire Mandrills had obtained OmniMechs
from Clan Coyote through what the Coyotes described as "dubious practices",
and the Kindraa Smyth-Jewell gained immeasurably when they traded the system
to the Blood Spirits in exchange for territory on Foster. Furthermore, they
sought to enhance their power by using the Kindraa Payne as pawns in a raid
on the Hell's Horses. This would prove their undoing as together with Clan
Coyote, the Horses - allegedly aided by the Kindraa Payne - shattered the
Smyth-Jewell association. This provided ample demonstration that while each
Kindraa could be likened to a Clan in miniature, they lacked the resources
to face another Clan alone. The net result was an increase in the power of
the Khan and saKhan - posts decided by Trials of possession rather than election
- although this had little effect.
Having fought among themselves for years the Fire Mandrill warriors were honed
to a fine edge and should by rights have won a place in the Operation Revival.
However, their factional politics lead to a series of internal trials over
who should represent the Clan in the inter-trials for the open slots in the
invasion force. These battles shattered the Mandrill Touman leaving them in
a poor position and resulting in their exclusion from the Invasion.
Further losses to the Ice Hellions in the 'fury' campaign, and to Clan Burrock
on Dagda, convinced the Clan that something needed to be done and they set
about a slow rebuilding. Although Kindraa rivalry remains a focus of Mandrill
life, the Clan sees the need for a unified front. Over the last decade the
Kindraa have put aside some of their rivalries and have begun to work together.
This has allowed them to retake much of their Dagda enclave from Clan Burrock,
as well as capturing large swathes of the former Jaguar enclave on Atreus.
However, the internal divisions reemerged in the force selected to represent
the Clan in the Trial of Refusal on Strana Mechty, resulting in their defeat
by the Capellan Red Lancers.
To the Fire Mandrills, the Kindraa - and thus the Bloodname House - is the
center of their existence. Each contains elements of every caste (but not
always a full range of sub-castes) and is largely self-sufficient and Kindraa
rulers have powers akin to a Khan over their people. However, each Kindraa
believes in its own superiority and rarely if ever takes genetic material
from others. Although genetic engineering prevents the usual perils of interbreeding,
this lack of diversity has resulted in the stagnation of the lines. It is
rumored that to (literally) inject new blood into these Kindraa a few have
incorporated freeborn DNA into the breeding program.
The Fire Mandrill attitude to Bondsmen is mixed. They are leery of outsiders
and thus regard those they take with suspicion. However, they do not wish
to waste 'resources' and although few warriors can expect adoption into the
warrior caste, use of such personnel in civilian castes is as prevalent as
in other Clans. Furthermore, the Mandrill's insular and fractious nature makes
them bad Bondsmen - as the Jade Falcons, among others, recently discovered
- and any taken in by other Clans, irrespective of caste, will be disruptive.
I understand the members of the Kindraa Sainze routinely enact Bondsref.
The Clan's civilian castes are well rounded, but while capable of supporting
their Kindraa, the lack of overall cohesion limits their potential. For example
the scientist caste lacks the pooling of resources that has allowed other
Clans to make technological leaps, thus forcing the Mandrills to acquire technology
from outside the Clan. To this end the Clan's merchants - the least fractious
of the castes - have achieved some prominence, frequently working with the
Clan Diamond Shark. The Shark merchants act is middlemen and mediators, minimizing
the Mandrill's contact with other Clans. However, there is no doubt that the
warriors rule.
In most cases the honor of the Kindraa is placed above that of the individual
and this leads to surprisingly good relations between the castes. Most warriors
are willing to help out with any work that needs to be done, strengthening
the bonds between them and the civilians. The notable exception is Kindraa
Sainze, who value individual honor and consequently have a poorer relationship
with non-warrior members.
While the Mandrills are a Crusader Clan, many of the Kindraa hold to Warden
principals. The current Khans are from the Crusader Kindraa Mattila-Carol
and Sainze and have worked for the Crusader cause. However, historically the
Clan has been more neutral in its politics, dominated by the pro-Warden Kindraa
Payne and the pro-Crusader Sainze. With the Clan's defeat on Strana Mechty,
their politics look set to return to the middle ground.
Overall the Mandrill Touman is well rounded, but the composition of units
varies by Kindraa. For example, Kindraa Payne is staunchly pro-MechWarrior
to the exclusion of other branches, while Kindraa Beyl-Grant and Kindraa Mick-Kreese
have a pro-aerospace bias. Vehicles and conventional infantry are represented
in the Clan, but only in Kindraas Payne and Kline. Each Kindraa fields the
equivalent of a Galaxy of troops, each comprising between three and five Clusters
with associated support services.
The Mandrill's nature means that they have great difficulty accepting outsiders
as allies and over the years since the Founding only two Clans - the Blood
Spirits and Diamond Sharks - have had anything like good relationships. Most
other Clans are simply regarded as outsiders, whom are held in contempt irrespective
of whether they are members of another Kindraa or another Clan. However, the
constant raiding by Clans Burrock and Smoke Jaguar earned them the status
of traditional enemies and the Star Adders have inherited the Mandrill-Burrock
feud.
Since invasion of the Inner Sphere, the Mandrill's relationship with Clan
Steel Viper, hitherto regarded as little more than an annoyance on the shared
world of Marshall, has deteriorated. Following their activation, the Vipers
denigrated the Mandrill's performance in the pre-Invasion trials, prompting
a number of Trials of Grievance that have spilled over into a general Mandrill-Viper
feud.
Clan Coyote have long been viewed with disdain. Unlike the Hells Horses, whom
the Mandrills had just cause for attacking the Kindraa Smythe-Jewel, the Mandills
view the Coyotes as opportunists and remain vigilant for some weakness in
the Coyote's defense.
Worlds: 6 (1 exclusive, 5 shared)
The holdings of Clan Fire Mandrill are surprisingly compact, with the exception
of Dagda being located within two jumps of Strana Mechty. Their failure to
expand beyond these, the oldest of the colony worlds, is symptomatic of the
Clan's internal divisions, but that they held the territory is also a testament
to their prowess.
In the last few years the Clan has retaken much of the territory it lost to
Clan Burrock on Dagda, and has solidified its hold on Atreus. However, having
withdrawn once again after their defeat on Strana Mechty they have failed
to exploit the ongoing 'land grab'. Since the SLDF withdrawal, the Mandrill
Kindraa Matilla-Carrol occupied the Pahn City on Huntress but are locked in
clashes with Clan Star Adder.
Affiliation: Crusader
Capital: Shadow
Population (Clan Space): 81,719,000 (3060)
Population growth rate: 2.3 percent
Self-Sufficiency Index: 96 percent
Leaders:
Khan: Amanda Carrol
saKhan: Garret Sainze
Loremaster: Drew Tanaga
Scientist-Gneral: Arkady (Crick)
Merchant Factor: Bianca
Master Technician: Lom
Senior Laborer: Todd
Military:
Clusters: 30
WarShips: 7
Clan Space Worlds:
Atreus (65 percent)
Dagda (26 percent)
Foster (30 percent)
Huntress (16 percent)
Marshall (13 percent)
Shadow (100 percent)
Hoard (39 percent)