Balalaica- Hotel Moscow

Subject: Balalaica- Hotel Moscow Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:50 pm

Balalaica

Balalaika is the boss of Hotel Moscow. Real name — Vladilena (reduction from Vladimir Ilich Lenin). She was brought up by her grandfather, the high-ranking military head of the USSR. Her father, presumably, has been condemned or has run away from the USSR.

Before joining the mafia, Balalika was a captain in the Soviet Army, Vozdushno-Desantnye Vojska paratrooper and a veteran of the Soviet war in Afghanistan. A fine marksman and sniper, she received the nickname ("balalaika" — one of Soviet army's slang terms for the Dragunov sniper rifle). Due to Balalaika's leadership during the hellish fighting in Afghanistan, her men look up to her as their superior and will do just about anything upon her orders. As a combat officer, she is a skilled strategist and well-rounded fighter, capable of taking care of herself despite the fact that all of her troopers, including Boris, often worry for her. Although she has shown herself to be rather cynical on occasion, she is also a pragmatic and professional businesswoman. She frequently employs Dutch and the Lagoon Company, apparently because they share a mutual respect.

Balalaika can be easily identified by the burn marks which scar most of the right side of her face, neck and chest which she sustained in Afghanistan, earning her the nickname "Fry-Face" by those who dislike her. She has long blonde hair, and usually wears a military greatcoat, thrown over a low-cut business suit. She always smoking a cigar, in contrast with the other characters who smoke cigarettes. In view of her participation in the Soviet war in Afghanistan and the missed possibility to take part in the 1984 Summer Olympics in Los Angeles, it is possible to define her age between 31 and 35 years.

Balalaika is also one of the few people to earn the respect of Revy. In turn, Balalaika also seems to hold Rock in high regard, sometimes relying on his knowledge and business skills.

In critical operations, Balalaika calls upon a personal cadre of ex-Vozdushno-Desantnye Vojska and Spetsnaz commandos who had seen action in Afghanistan against mujahedeen fighters. Known as the Desantniki, they act as Hotel Moscow's special ops team.

When conducting foreign operations from Thai soil, she uses the Russian cargo ship Maria Zeleska as a legal cover from the police and various law enforcement agencies. In spite of the fact that the Balalaika is in the Interpol list, she use the real name in Japan, being covered with diplomatic immunity.