"Tatiana, you are our only agent with the proper skill set to pull this off. There is nobody else, and I mean NOBODY." My boss dropped the bomb on me. "We think with the combination of technology and your talent, you can do this."
"Cyka Blyat!" I uttered a profanity in Russian because it is more widely known and Russian is less elegant than my native Ukrainian, so better for saying these type of things. "There is no way this will work. It's a suicide mission."
"I am confident in your ability to be successful or to handle things if they go sideways." He tried to sound inspirational. "You've never turned down a mission before."
"But this isn't seducing a bad guy or finding creative ways to separate a target from an unfriendly." I protested. "These guys don't play around. They are a small force but highly lethal."
"I know, but we can't wait any longer to get an agent inside. They are up to something big, and it could bring the whole interplanetary trade agreement down if they succeed. We have no choice. Lives are at stake. Billions of them!"
I guess the one thing in our favor is that while there isn't a lot known about the Kyrin, they don't know a lot about us either. The big problem is they screen the incoming males to an unbelievable degree, but only males can work with their foreign affairs force, the ones giving us trouble.
"If I pose as a male, as you suggested, there is no way I'll make it past their screening." I explained. "This Vladimir persona you want me to become will be immediately caught and imprisoned."
"I know that!" Frank growled. "Vladimir can't get on the planet, but Tatiana can."
"Ah, I see." I declared. "I won't adopt this Vladimir persona until I'm on Kyrin. Will I be able to bring the necessary gear to make the switch afterwards?"
"It won't be easy, bit if you use your impressive 'talents', I think you can get it done. As you are aware, they don't screen females nearly as thoroughly as males. It may take some persuasion, but you can do it."
"You mean the horizontal kind of persuasion?" I asked the question I already knew the answer too.
"Is that a problem?" Frank got all prickly.
"No, but I want a raise if this mission is successful." I replied.
"Just get the damn job done Tatiana! We are counting on you!" he was now spitting a little as he shouted, as pleasant as ever.
The Kyrin are notorious pussy hounds, so much so that they watch what male competition they let on their planet. Not only are they horny bastards, but they have two sets of genitals. Compounds the problem by 2.
This evolved because the Kyrin females evolved two sets of their own genitals as nature tried to correct the dwindling Kyrin population. Now they always birth twins. Cause and effect perfectly demonstrated by nature over thousands of years. Fascinating science but problematic for me. Just another complication to an already difficult mission.
Frank wouldn't have asked me if it wasn't critical and impossible for anyone else to pull off. Not only do I have the languages needed, but I have a master's degree in mechanical engineering, and I am skilled at hand-to-hand combat.
He is right. No other agent is equipped for the mission. The Kyrin language is difficult, but I've always had a knack for learning languages.
I knew four languages growing up. In addition to my native Ukrainian, I spoke Russian, Romanian and Polish. I learned Thai and English the year I lived and worked in Thailand. It came in handy when I met my wife in private life, Suporn there.
When the Kyrin started making waves with the interplanetary trade pact worlds, I was assigned to learn the language, and to train others so we could monitor chatter. None of the Kyrin language specialists are rated for field work though. That is, except for me.
My gear for the mission included injectable nanotechnology to temporarily make my facial features more masculine and an orally applied appliance that will attach to my vocal cords to deepen my voice for the length of the mission, once I apply it. All of these will be concealed in hollow metal shoes I will be wearing when I make the trip. The rest I will have to come about the old-fashioned way.
My cover is I am going to Kyrin to work in their casino. Earth women are paid very, very well to go there for work. The Kyrin men have a bit of a thing for some of the flavors of earth women. Blondes happen to be the top of their list.
Their society is completely different than what we are used to, however. Interactions between men and women are very sexual in nature there. Sex is not really a big deal to them, and they don't have the concept of life-mates.
Quite simply, the Kyrin love to fuck. The women going there know this, and if you don't play the game, you won't be employed there very long. This means I have to play my part until I find my target and a way to get inside the foreign affairs department as Vladimir.
The Kyrin are sneaky and underhanded. Perfectly aligning with Russian Bratva (mobsters). There are already a few Bratva on Kyrin doing business. "Vladimir" already has the contacts, thanks to our agents inside the Bratva, but I still have to look the part.
It's helpful that I am rather tall and strong for a woman. Sure, I only weigh 63kg (138 pounds) for my 183cm (6 feet) height, but I am strong from growing up on a farm and playing basketball at university. I got an outstanding grade in the hand-to-hand combat training here, so it's not just me that thinks so.
In my private life, I'm rather sweet and feminine even though I have an engineering degree. I've always been good at problem solving, and engineering was a good way to build a better life for myself. I just never thought it would land me in an American government agency, and certainly not the covert operations unit.
What can I say? As the line goes, they made me an offer I couldn't refuse. Not only is the pay nearly embarrassing, but for my expected 2- or 3-month mission, I will get 6 months of part time desk duty as a reward.
My wife certainly enjoys those periods when I can drop her off and pick her up from work every day. Most of those days we even eat lunch together. Lots of face time to make up for the inconvenience of the missions away from home.
Yes, I'm married to another woman, but it's less about us both being female and more about we are supposed to be together. We both knew it the minute our paths crossed by accident in that Bangkok restaurant. We share a connection that most people just can't understand. The rest, as they say, is history.
The answer to the obvious question is no, she doesn't know EXACTLY what my job details are, but she's not stupid. She is a nurse and has seen firsthand the aftereffects of field work at times. Hand to hand is a messy, physical event. Even the winner takes their lumps and injuries. And no, unlike the movies, I have no chance against an equally trained male. Or even somewhat closely trained male. The genetic physical difference is just too vast.
She is pretty understanding that most of what I do is "classified", and she only worries about my safety. She knows not to ask too many questions. She has her own job and things to worry about. Being the eldest of 11 siblings is a huge responsibility for Thai's.
It's her duty to help her siblings and her parents. Both of which I fully support. Since my mother passed when I was 2 and I never knew who my father is, they are my family. I trust and support her to do her duty for them. We are a good team.
She is disappointed when I tell her I'll be off planet for 3 to 4 months (better to under promise and over deliver), but she knows it's part of my job, and I have a limited shelf life as a field agent. Not too long from now, I'll have to pass the duty to someone younger and better for sure. But for now, I have to do this.
Finally, she has a pretty good idea that it has been necessary for me to be "unfaithful" at my work, at times. Thais are very good at separating work from private life. We have no jealousy or problems in that area. She knows it is necessary and doesn't hold it against me. Being a female field agent, you catch more flies with honey than vinegar, so it's the best route for me usually.
My wife is a stunner, and I'd be constantly fighting people if I was the jealous type. We firmly believe love is love and sex is just sex. Not the same. So doing what I have to for my job has never been an issue.
Yes, she is "allowed" to play when I'm away on a mission. I am fairly certain she has, but I honestly don't care. It would be hypocritical of me to get jealous. Besides, I trust her COMPLETELY. I know her heart, and she knows mine. We will NEVER break up. We are together life.
I spend just under a week getting use to the tech and interacting with the A.I. in possible scenarios. By the end, I am convincing enough as Vladimir to fool the Kyrin. The Bratva, probably not so much. I will be careful to limit my exposure to them.
My equipment specialist and good friend Sylvia drops off the final package to my desk an hour before my transport is scheduled to depart. Thankfully I get to bypass the security and go in the side door straight to the transport. It will only take me 5 minutes to get there and get on board once I'm ready.
Frank does a final briefing with me. My mission is to communicate the details of their planned action, not to stop it. We have our version of a "brute squad" to do the dirty work. I plan on being off Kyrin when the shit hits the proverbial fan.
"Blyat (fuck)! Is this really what I'm supposed to wear on the transport Sylvia? I might as well go naked!" I playfully barked at my equipment specialist after opening up my pack.
"It's what the computer simulation said would be the best outfit on the transport and most likely to be successful in getting you past security with your gear." She replies, factual as always.
Vulcans might not be real, but Sylvia is the next best thing. Always business with her. I have never gotten an emotion out of her. A baby, however, turns her into a mushy noodle. Go figure.
I put it on. If I don't breathe, all my naughty bits will stay covered. Ah, the things I do for my planet. The shoes are 5-inch stilettos with just slightly thicker soles than normal. I'll have to keep this outfit to wear for Suporn when I get back. Assuming I get back. I've had missions that made me nervous before, but never as bad as this.
"I look like a prostitute in this." I complain. "I will stick out like a loose nail on the transport, and we know what happens to nails that stick out."
"Well, most, if not all of the other women on the transport ARE prostitutes, so you will blend right in. At least as much as a 6-foot blonde can fit in." Sylvia calmly replies. "And nails that stick out get hammered down. I can't make any promises that you won't get nailed during this mission. In fact, the A.I. says it's 98% likely."
"Geesh, is everyone here trying to get me laid?" I joke. "It's a dangerous mission, not a spring break sex party."
