Katey Ann Peters, aka Katya Petronovna Orlova
Archetype: That Sweet "Third Eye Spy" Girl Next Door
*OSIRS Notation Start*
File Number: 20-09-77143
Status: Probationary Agent, Second ClassRank: 1 Band: 010 01-18 Clearance: Restricted
*OSIRS Notation End*
PHYSICAL STATISTICS
Senses normal
Initiative 11/16/21
Action Points: 1
Speed 20 meters
Str 4, Agi 3, Vit 4, Int 5, Foc 6, Per 4
DURABILITY
Armor Reduces Physical by [ ], energy by [ ]
Vitality 4 Durability Track
Severity Wounds Effects 1–3 [] [] Graze: No ill effects. 4–6 [] [] Light wound: No ill effects. 7–9 [] [] Moderate wound: –1 step penalty to all checks 10–12 [] [] Serious wound: –2 step penalty to all checks 13–15 [] [] Critical wound: –3 step penalty to all checks 16+ [] Mortal wound: Incapacitated
SKILLS AND TALENTS
Skill Point Pool / Spent: 35/35
Combat Skills 7 Points
Skill (specialty) Rank Abilities Success Bands Acrobatics Agi 17/22/27 Armor Training Int 15/20/25 Athletics Str 16/21/26 Dodge Agi 17/22/27 Energy Weapon Foc 14/19/24 Firearm 1 Foc 13/18/23 →Pistol +1 Foc 13/18/23 Hand-to-Hand 1 Str 15/20/25 →Grappling +1 Str 15/20/25 Heavy Weapons Int 15/20/25 Melee Str 16/21/26 Primitive Weapon Foc 14/19/24 Resilience Vit 16/21/26 Willpower 5 Foc 9/14/19
Non-combat Skills 22 Points
Skill (specialty) Rank Abilities Success Bands Academics 1 Int 14/19/24 →Political Science +1 Int 14/19/24 Awareness 4 Foc 10/15/20 Athletics Str 16/21/26 Coercion Per 16/21/26 Computer Int 15/20/25 Culture 1 Per 15/20/25 →USA +1 Per 15/20/25 Deception 3 Per 13/18/23 Driving Agi 17/22/27 Empathy 5 Foc 9/14/19 Endurance Vit 16/21/26 Engineering Int 15/20/25 Extreme Sports Vit 16/21/26 Influence 5 Per 11/16/21 Mechanics Int 15/20/25 Medicine Int 15/20/25 Misdirection 1 Per 15/20/25 Performance Per 16/21/26 Pilot Int 15/20/25 Profession 1 Foc 13/18/23 →Massage Therapist +1 Foc 13/18/23 Resilience Vit 16/21/26 Science Int 15/20/25 Security 1 Int 15/20/25 Stealth Foc 14/19/24 Survival Foc 14/19/24
Psi FX Skills 6 Points
Skill (specialty) Rank Abilities Success Bands ESP 5 Int 10/15/21 →Battle Mind* 1 Int 14/19/24 →Clairaudience Int 10/15/21 →Clairvoyance Int 10/15/21 →Empathy Int 10/15/21 →Mind Reading +1 Int 10/15/21 →Psychometry Int 10/15/21 →Sensitivity Int 10/15/21
Talents
Name Description Closer You have a natural instinct for sealing the deal, gaining a +1 step bonus on Coercion and Influence checks when you’re interacting with someone who is untrained in Coercion or Influence (whichever one you’re using). →Character Study You gain a +1 step bonus on Empathy checks if you’re interacting with an NPC you’ve met previously, either in a prior interaction scene or in a conversation lasting at least 30 minutes. Sensitive You are one of the rare humans born with true ESP potential thanks to a "failed" a Soviet eugenics program.
ATTACK ACTIONS
Weapon Skill Type Speed Damage Special
RANGED AND HEAVY WEAPONS
Weapon Skill Type Rg Mag Speed Damage Special
GEAR
Weapons as noted above, MORE STUFF GOES HERE … TBD
CHARACTER NOTES
Katya's focus is getting people to talk and picking up on their hidden thoughts, feelings, and motivations through observation and ESP. As an added bonus, she can employ her espionage training for everyday spy stuff.
A Tragedy, an Opportunity A pretty young woman — a "girl next door" type — sits in the Hoffman Institute waiting room, an open recruitment brochure in her trembling hands. She is quietly crying. A CNN segment from the morning plays over and over in her head:
Breaking news from Vienna: an apparent assassination by the Russian government. Doctor Igor Viktorovich Vachkov, professor of neuropsychology at Saint Petersburg State University, was found unresponsive in his hotel room this morning and died later at the hospital. According to forensic medical examiners, his symptoms were consistent with neurological poisons used in recent assassinations of Russian opposition leaders. Toxicology reports are still forthcoming…
It makes no sense! she kept thinking to herself. Russian: "Uncle" Dyadya Igor had never been political, never undermined the state or the president. How could they!?
She had not been surprised by the text notifying her that an Uber was ready at a coffee shop two blocks away — an Uber she hadn't ordered. She had been surprised when the driver brought her here instead of a safehouse. Nothing about this place or the people seems Russian: "Service," in this case part of the Russian words for Foreign Intelligence Service, a peer to the CIA. Sluzhba .
The door opens and a middle-aged, professional-looking man approaches.
"Please, join me in private, Miss Orlova," he says.
She is startled by the use of her true surname, but her body language does not reveal it. Instead, she nods, wipes her eyes, and composes herself, then stands and follows him, alert for any danger.
He guides her to a sterile interview room, only a small table with two opposing chairs. She notes that there is no two-way mirror or obvious cameras. No unusual or distinct sounds or smells.
"Please, have a seat," he says, gesturing toward the chairs. She chooses the one opposite the door and sits. "I would offer you a beverage, but I doubt you'd accept it." She nods in affirmation.
He sits down and places a tablet and manila envelope on the table.
"You've read the brochure?" he says, pointing to the brochure in her hand. She nods.
"We'd like you to join our team."
"I assume this 'Hoffman Institute' is a front for the CIA? Mr. …?" she says, trying to read his mind but getting … nothing , a wall. Talented?
Focus on the basics, then. Body language seems genuine — eyes open but not too open, pupils normal, relaxed orbicularis, relaxed trapezii, relaxed hands — a man without an ulterior agenda and at ease in his environment. Scars on the knuckles, though, a man of action. Wedding band indent on the ring finger. American accent, western Tennessee possibly.
"Actually, no, not CIA," he says, ignoring the request for his name. "We're a non-governmental agency – genuinely non-governmental."
She looks at him blankly. He picks up the tablet and begins to tap and scroll.
"Katya Petronovna Orlova, Yefreitor rank, Foreign Intelligence Service of the Russian Federation," he summarizes aloud. "Born 1995, Saint Petersburg. Birth parents unknown. Adopted by Pytor and Galina Orlova. Parents divorced 2000. Your father emigrated back to Ukraine, and you became estranged. Your mother raised you alone until her death in 2007. Ordinary stuff."
He puts the tablet down, folds his hands, breathes deeply, and looks her in the eye.
"What caught our interest was your ongoing relationship with Doctor Igor Viktorovich Vachkov. First, you were a child patient of his. Then the state appointed him your guardian when your mother died.
"Of course, we know that he was a research assistant to Doctor Leonid Leonidovich Vasiliev , his dissertation advisor, and later worked on the top secret Soviet Bindi Program conducting research into ESP, eugenics, and their military applications. Officially, Bindi was discontinued and ESP research disavowed as a dead end when the Russian Federation came to power. Unofficially, the Bindi Program was continued and renamed Project Zreniye, with Doctor Vachkov as director.
"So why would Doctor Vachkov treat you as a child patient? He wasn't a clinical psychologist. Why become your guardian? Why become your advisor when you entered the psychology program at Saint Petersburg State University? We've been keeping tabs on you for many years, Miss Orlova.
"After you completed your Diploma of Specialization in 2016 — that's like our master's right? At 21, too. Impressive! — you joined the Foreign Intelligence Service and trained at the Academy of Foreign Intelligence. The Russian acronym for the Foreign Intelligence Service SVR moved you around for a couple years, we assume on junior, ad hoc assignments. Then eight months ago, you were hired as a massage therapist by the DC Ritz Carlton under the alias 'Stacy Marie Johnson'. Your first rezidenty assignment?"
She nods, impressed at the depth of their intel but continuing to keep her body language neutral.
"OK so far. Let me guess at your talents and value to the SVR. You are a success of Project Zreniye in that you have genuine ESP abilities. Yes, we know ESP is real in some cases, even other paranormal abilities. Over your lifetime, Doctor Vachov has studied you, trained you, and overseen your training by others to access and control your psychic abilities. Further, he ensured you got an excellent education. Perhaps he was a father figure as well?"
Despite her training, tears begin to well. He clears his own throat. Empathy or faking it?
He continues, "As an SVR field agent, your main role is to observe targets, both as a psychologist and a psychic, developing their psychological profiles, befriending them as necessary, and gaining actionable intelligence when possible. Is that about right?"
"I will not betray the Motherland!" she says, voice cracking, fighting back tears.
With a gesture, he waves away her concern. "Our focus is not political. Generally. We will not debrief you on prior assignments for the SVR. And we would avoid giving you Institute assignments that conflict your loyalties. Here." He slides the manila envelope toward her.
Containing herself, Katya opens the envelope and pours the contents onto the table, examining them: Maryland driver's license with her photo and "Katey Ann Peters", US passport, birth certificate, credit card, prepaid debit card, bank debit card, cash, Maryland Licensed Massage Therapist certificate, diplomas and official transcripts from The Community College of Baltimore County for a massage therapy associate's and the University of Maryland for a bachelor's and master's in clinical psychology. In other words, a new identity and enough to start a new life.
She slips the items back into the envelope and slides it back to him. He slides it right back at her.
"This is our gift, whether you accept our offer or not. We'll also give you a change of clothes and hair, and arrange transport wherever you wish in the USA," he says. "You don't have a future back in Russia, I think."
He pauses. She says nothing. A gift? Hard pressure, then soft, eh, she thinks, recognizing his persuasion technique. Still, a new identity...
"Here's what I expect will happen if you report back to your handler. You will lose your assignment and be sent to Moscow for months of interrogation about your relationship with Doctor Vachov and whatever you might know related to the reasons he was assassinated. At best, your government career is limited or over. At worst, you'll be killed or face years, even decades in prison for conspiracy or some trumped-up charge. Sound about right?"
She nods. "I don't want to go back. I won't betray the Motherland, but I'll never forgive the Service or the government for murdering him," she says, surprising herself with her openness, frankness, and resolution.
"OK, so you can take that new identity and start over somewhere in the US as a massage therapist, maybe become a licensed counselor, even go for a doctorate. Get married. Have kids. Why not? Not a bad life. ... Or you can join the Hoffman Institute and apply all your talent, experience, and training toward a mission you'll find personally rewarding and of service to all Humanity." He stands. "Come. Let me show you around, Miss Peters , show you a little of what we do, what we're up against."
Last edited by savoylen; Jan 6th, 2021 at 08:16 PM .
Reason: Minor correction of one success band