Reina Natalya "Mermaid" Svobodnei-Vankori

Reina Natalya Svobodnei-Vankori (c. 1950 GHC – 1 May 1973 GHC) was a Sovjetese Kikikan overwatch sniper during the Gamian War (1971-1974). She was also the twin sister of Peter Reinhold Vankori. Reina served in UKM-KFAF special operations Hydro alongside her brother, Chernova Kamarova, Adam Lindbroh, Reinder Klaus IV, and briefly Joseph Rodenski. Reina was killed during a siege on the eastern shores of her native region, Kikikoa, in 1973.

Early Life in Kikikoa
Reina, along with her twin Peter, were the firstborn children to their parents in Zlyenigrod, Kikikoa. She grew up very close to her brother, although they argued most of their time together due to their contrasting personalities. From a young age, Reina learned that the predominantly-Frãci Kikikan society she lived in thought less of her, a Sovjetese Kajin. She performed well academically, getting along better with her teachers than her brother (even though they both endured similar discrimination for their Sovjetese ethnicity).

Not long after becoming “of breeding age,” and in a tight spot for money, she went seeking employment alongside her brother. The harassment she faced from many Franc employees was enough to hold off on her efforts. While Peter was employed at a Franc-owned weapons factory, Reina was unable to find a job that did not jeopardize her physical well-being. To help the family get by, she convinced Peter to help her become a prostitute to the jocks of their educational facility. While he initially resisted, she insisted that she could make enough to help the family. Eventually, Peter caved, and enlisted the help of other siblings to find Reina clients under their parents’ noses (who, as traditional Sovjetese Kajin, would greatly disprove of the act of prostitution). Reina spent many nights performing sexually, eventually taking a toll on her health and marks.

Enlistment in UKM
Eventually, after some years, the operation was uncovered when Peter snapped and nearly murdered one of her clients. Seeing no other option to ensure the family’s financial security, Peter enlisted in the military. Reina followed suit, again against his wishes. They were trained separately for different specialties but were assigned (with some inside bribery thanks to a recently adopted Benji La'pwaent) to the same squadron; UKM-KFAF Special Operation Hydro. Reina made friends with their comrades quickly, while Peter took some warming up first; Kalubians Adam Lindbroh and Kow’weı Agzüda, and Frãca Kajin Chernova Kamarova. While Peter hated Chernova for several years because of her ethnicity and its mistreatment of his family, her and Reina became friends quickly (Peter eventually dulled his dislike of her through Reina’s persuasion). Following Kow’weı’s early death in the Gamian War, Kalubian Reinder Klaus IV was recruited in his place. Reina became a maternal figure for Reinder, whose mother had been forced to leave the family while he was young. She showed a similar side to Joseph Rodenski upon his arrival to Hydro.

Hydro participated in several special ops missions across the globe throughout the war, in Bathole, Jalfxia, Mosba’ata, and Schremn. Reina was kidnapped by Gamian forces following the failed assassination of the Gamian prince. While their squadmates were transferred to an orbital detention craft, Reina and Peter would be moved to Jogor’oe. During their time in captivity, Peter bargained with the Gamians against her wishes to guarantee their family’s safety in exchange for their defection.

Reina’s refusal to agree to terms led to her being silenced first by Peter’s urging, then her death by her own rifle during the landing in Schremn. She would be laid to rest near her family’s home in Zlyenigrod.

Appearance
Reina is a petite Sovjetese Kajin with blonde hair and cyan eyes. Her combat uniform consists of a modified helmet enabling her to scope her allies, a tight blast-resistant waterproof bodysuit, skin-tight camo gloves and knee-high Kevlar-PVC weave boots. Her small, nimble figure make it easy for her to hide in cramped quarters for long periods, an essential skill as a sniper. Off-duty, she often wears canopy or hemp robes and dark denim pants, along with her heritage scarf.

Equipment
Reina used a BARA-3 sniper rifle, painted a cool white to match her Sovjetese heritage. She carries a heavily-modified AKM assault rifle with a muzzle silencer, under-barrel GP-25 grenade launcher, EO holographic optic, and folding stock. Her sidearm was a Kikikan variant of the Soviet Makarov pistol, and she wielded a balanced dagger as a melee weapon.

Personality
Reina is often a patient, soft-spoken and supportive teammate to her allies. However, she frequently bickers with her short-tempered, brash twin brother. With Reinder and Collin taken from their families, Reina often took a mother-like role with them to fill the void, contrary to common perceptions of Sovjetese Kajun. Reina’s Ba’it is weaker than her brother’s, so she often sprinkles her speech with odd sentence structures or Sovjetese expressions.