An imagined series with a young Jane Moneypenny when she joined MI6 in 1950. I imagine a young Lois Maxwell in the role. I do not own the rights to James Bond or other characters. This is just written for fun. This should be considered a prologue and has no sex scenes.
xxx
By a coincidence it was Jane's nineteenth birthday when she stepped into the grey looking building in Central London. Located at 54 Broadway, near to St. James Park underground station, it had been home to the SIS since 1926. To the general public the service did not officially exist but since the outbreak of war it bad been responsible for obtaining secret information and conducting covert operations around the world. Born in August 1931 the vibrant and attractive brunette had spent the past year working as a junior cipher clerk but had been yearning to step up the ladder for some time. Her friend Loelia Ponsonby, a principal secretary at headquarters, had told her of a lack of field operatives in the service, especially female agents, and Jane had applied for any and all vacancies.
"You're just the type they want Jane," said Lil. "Young, attractive and eager. You should get a position with the greatest of ease."
Jane had spent the best part of the morning getting ready and yet still she was undecided. As she gazed into the mirror she saw a tall, quite good looking brunette with clear blue eyes. She wore her hair in the latest fashion, that is a short cut bob of rolled curls and a centre parting. With outstanding long legs and wasp waist Jane had chosen to wear a check close fitting straight skirt and tight sweater. At five feet eight she chose flat heels as she didn't wish to appear to be too imposing at her interview.
"Could be worse." She said with a smile.
After what seemed an age filing and reading various codes Jane had been thrilled to be summoned for a meeting with the head of the Secret Intelligence Service. Known only as M he had been head of the service for many years and had dedicated his life to the job. Lil had told her not to be upset by his curt or even angry manner. It was just how he was.
"Thanks, Lil."
Jane had duly arrived and had made her way down a long corridor on the seventh floor to a large and imposing door. This led to M's staff office where she found his personal secretary sitting at a desk with typewriter clattering away and three different coloured telephones.
"You may go straight in." The woman said without lifting her eyes.
"Thank you."
Moneypenny opened the adjoining door and entered a quiet office where M himself sat hunched over his desk in a cloud of pipe smoke. He wore eyeglasses and looked about sixty with a bald spot at the back of his head. She stood on ceremony until he waved to a seat opposite him as he wrote on a single sheet of paper. Jane sat and looked around at the paintings of galleons and warships on all the walls. She sat straight backed with her hands folded in her lap. M finished writing with a flourish and tossed his fountain pen with the green ink aside.
"I'll be perfectly blunt with you, I disapprove of female agents in the field but realise that they are a necessity."
He removed his spectacles and looked at her with a steady gaze. Affectionately known by his admin staff as the 'old man' he ruled the house with an iron fist. At his advanced age he had an old fashioned view of women and their place in society.
"I'm trying to build up a team that I can rely on, efficient, dedicated and disciplined. Seven days a week. What makes you think you are up to the task?"
Jane has been temporarily mesmerised but blinked hard twice to clear her head.
"Well, I have a year's experience in the cipher section and have signed the official secrets act. I am fit, healthy and have a sharp mind. I like to think I have a low threshold of pain, and have no problem in working alone or in teams. I can speak Spanish and French and understand a little German, thanks to the war."
"You are quite attractive."
"Why, thank you."
"It wasn't meant as a compliment. Married? Got a boyfriend?"
"Happily single, Sir."
"The war has changed the way we live in countless ways. Even Mata Hari appears as a timid school mistress compared to these times we live in. There may well be occasions where you will be required to seduce, or be seduced by enemy agents or others we suspect on harming the interests of the country. Any thoughts on that?"
Again he scrutinized her as she nervously crossed her legs. Indeed, would she cope in such a situation? Was she getting out of her depth?
"As Churchill said we are in the grip of a cold war thanks to the Russians lowering an iron curtain through the heart of Germany. The service is going to called upon more and more often in these so called peaceful times."
"I think I'm up to it, Sir. If you would allow me a chance."
"Very well, Moneypenny. I shall give you a chance. Everybody in the 'Firm' is required to complete a training course, whether they be secretaries or agents in the field. Once completed I will keep you in mind. You will need a passport, one in your real name and one with an alias. I have a man in mind to take you under his wing. Name of Bond. Heard of him?"
