Brainiac Brunch 2010 [IC]

[Supercape]

Cursing again he hadn't come as Supercape, Quentin piped up "That sounds like a splendid idea! I am sure by pooling intellectual resources of those present, and..um...perhaps other caped heroes too... that our scientific endeavours will be all the more fruitful!"

Don't invite Liebniz he added to himself, watching the older scientist furrow his brow, plotting how he could twist this to his advantage.

Supercape really could use some proper facilities to work out what the hell was quantum matter, anyway.

[Raveled]

Jessica sat back and considered the Doktor's idea. "It could be interesting," she allowed. "A private research and development lab, or at least one with enough varied sources of funding to avoid the usual concerns could be very useful to the city. It could even be self-funding, eventually, if the various members developed enough patents." She started sketching idly, and the form of two tall, slender towers began rising in the air above the table. "Of course, it would have to be in Hanover."

[Heritage]

"Really, if we're going to be tackling a way to help, wouldn't it be better to go to the source of the problem and start combating crime rather than powering up law enforcement. I mean, tackling the problems that contribute to increase in crime. Poverty, socio-economic divides, public schooling and racial bias? Wouldn't that in the end be a better use of time and effort than creating even non lethal solutions for police offers to use in stopping crime?"

Estelle had heard that the Albright girl was very intelligent, and her statements only confirmed the facts; when she responded, her tone was light but still respectful.

"Well, if you insist on applying logic and compassion to the problem, then yes, that would be the ideal course of action, but certainly we can look to treat both symptoms and cause? I agree that not every approach we suggested is advisable, but only through the open discussion of all possibile solutions can we hope to seperate flawed proposals from ones with genuine merit."

"It could be interesting," she allowed. "A private research and development lab, or at least one with enough varied sources of funding to avoid the usual concerns could be very useful to the city. It could even be self-funding, eventually, if the various members developed enough patents." She started sketching idly, and the form of two tall, slender towers began rising in the air above the table. "Of course, it would have to be in Hanover."

Dr de Havilland nodded in agrement as the towers rose. "Indeed, an excellent suggestion; I'd be happy to donate time, money and effort towards such a proposal, even if I myself was, for whatever reason, unable to set a up a lab on site."

[Supercape]

Quentin peeked over at the emerging sketch. He was getting quite excited now, thinking of the possibilities...

Excellent. In Hanover too! Its like christmas he smiled to himself. Now, if we could perhaps build a new particle collider at its base. Fusion reactor of course...

His mind whizzed and buzzed over the possibilities. Of course, quite how he would get Supercape in on it was another matter.

[Fox]

Dragonfly tilted her head, watching her friend's emerging sketch with interest. chance to fix some mistakes? - good resources - interesting collaboration - at-will-only volunteered work... "Could supply some engineering and money myself. Curious idea...I like it. Good resource, good for the city." chance to test rapid construction drones - do so little robotics work lately

"Social engineering...mm." She shook her head, shrugging. "Not my area. Leave that to more capable hands. Machines are more predictable...poor experience with people." to say the least

[alderwitch]

"Unfortunately, much of my resources are tied up in the headquarters for Young Freedom and AEON's needs. I am sadly not very liquid right now in my assets. That said, I would be happy to volunteer what I can bring to bear in such an endeavor." Alex said after a few moments of thought of what she had to offer. "I will have to regretfully abstain from work on any weaponry projects for personal reasons."

[Electra]

Miss A gave a sudden quick twitch, looking around the room and blinking a couple of times, as though she'd been in a reverie of her own. "I think a private collaborative laboratory is an excellent idea," she agreed. "I have my own lab space already, but having a space in which to work with other scientists and super-scientists would no doubt provide invaluable insight to my own work. I have some resources I could push in the direction of the project, but I'm afraid I'm busy enough that I would have to leave the details to those better equipped to handle them."

[quotemyname]

Vivian was rapidly beginning to feel overwhelmed as the subject of conversation changed direction faster than a tennis match. She had said her two cents, and now it was time to simply sit back, enjoy the company (she spared an uneasy glance at John). Vivian sank back in her seat and listened to the conversations at hand. She found it unfortunate that she really didn't have much else to add unless someone would address her directly. Even still, she was enjoying herself.

[Supercape]

"With regards to a communal laboratory for the Superhero community" said Quentin, "I would suggest that such a noble enterprise should be built in Hanover, so it links in with other nearby esteemed academic facilities. Like my own university, purely as an example. "

"*Ahem* anyway. If a site could be identified, then I am sure construction could be speedy, given the super - resources available. Perhaps once site identification is complete, it could be advertised, and interested heroes join in and help?"

He gazed around shiftily. "Whilst I am sure most of the superhero community are present, you never know, some others may wish to chip in. Like, um, that Supercape fellow. He is quite clever, I hear". He coughed, adjusted his tie, and mopped his brow.

[Dr Archeville]

Great, this peanut gallery's going to be moving in next door!

I think this is a wonderful idea!

Coming over at all hours, asking to borrow 200g of crystalline carbohydrates... and if Rift's there, there'll be such a racket!

Oh, what a wonderful idea! They could have an open house once they are up and running, and each could bring in homemade baked goods! And karaoke!

... haaate...

Archeville looked on silently as the group took his off-handed remark about starting their own think tank and ran off with it, and smiled.

"Though mein own duties mit de Freedom League, ArcheTech, und ozher organizations prevent me from contributing much to dis projekt," he said at last, "I vould certainly be interested in helping get it off de ground. I do know many of de construction crews dat operate in Hanover, und could give recommendations. I can probably arrange for ArcheTech to offers a substantial discount -- if not outright donations -- of assorted materials needed to get de facility operational. Of course, I vould haf to do so in a vay dat does not make it look like I am setting de facility up as a subsidiary of ArcheTech, dis is to be your baby."

A healthy mix of collaboration and competition is good for all!

Complete and total subservience to me is better for all!

[Ecalsneerg]

"Sorry," said John. "But I'm afraid I'll be unable to contribute. I have very little in the way of disposable assets, I have a large equipment budget for my work." EMP apparatus is not cheap. "But if you need the aid of a biochemical specialist, I'll be willing to chip in once in a while." When I am not too busy using aforementioned equipment budget...

[Shockwasp]

Doktor Archeville, Miss Americana... some heroes she didn't recognize as well, but Katherine Epyllia was star-struck, nonetheless. Great minds, greater than even her father's, were in the very next room... and she couldn't go listen in because then there'd be no one at the desk. It was driving the poor girl mad. I could go back there if Vivian would come back in already... Oh, all the things they could be talking about in there. Not knowing was torture. Kris checked her watch for what must have been the hundredth time. She'd been gone a long time. No one's here right now. I don't think anyone would mind if I just snuck off for a few minutes...

The brunette chewed her lip, looking around nervously. Ah, she couldn't take it any more! Hastily scribbling a "Back in five minutes" sign, the young woman ducked out of her post, trying not to run as she headed back to where the heroes were meeting. Her manners, her good sense, and her indoor voice all left her when she saw the heroes- and Vivian... sitting back in her chair. "Viv!" She called, unintentionally charging straight through the much more important conversation, "Your break ended half an hour ago!" It was only after she'd spoken that she realized what she'd done. Clapping both hands over her mouth, she looked around at the brilliant individuals who were no doubt supremely irritated at this pedestrian girl who had interrupted them, and smiled apologetically. "S-sorry..."

[JackgarPrime]

As the new arrival came in, with Victory standing at the door, he considers stopping her and asking for her clearance to head in, but when she seems to be familiar with one of the guests, he just lets her go.

Victory and Dr. Volk have been quiet during the discussion of a new communal base, mainly because they wouldn't be taking part in it. However, Dr. Volk had been writing something in the notepad she brought with her. Presumably something regarding what the other guests were discussing about this base of theirs. It might be something worth lending funds to someday...

[Supercape]

Quentin watched the new arrival with interest. The more the merrier he thought, although introductions where of course necessary.

"Hello my dear" he waved at her and gave a friendly smile. "Pull up a seat and introduce yourself. I am professor Quill, of Freedom City University. "

She looked a little young to be an academic, but with all the supermind metahumans floating around these days, that was hardly a disqualifying factor.

[Heritage]

"Viv!" She called, unintentionally charging straight through the much more important conversation, "Your break ended half an hour ago!" It was only after she'd spoken that she realized what she'd done. Clapping both hands over her mouth, she looked around at the brilliant individuals who were no doubt supremely irritated at this pedestrian girl who had interrupted them, and smiled apologetically. "S-sorry..."

Estelle slowly turned her head to take in the newcomer, one eyebrow cocked but with a mischievous smile on her face as she looked between her and Vivian. She plucked a small spiral notebook and a pen out of her pocket with a loop of golden hair, then softly whispered, "It's alright; I can take notes." ;)

[Supercape]

Liebniz

Liebniz reacted to the newcomer almost by instinct. He grabbed his pile of C.V.s and half stood up.

"Introductions, why of course! I am professor Liebniz, PhD, of Freedom City University. Head of physics. You will find my research first rate, and we always looking for partners for future scientific enterprise. If you would care to peruse these proposals for research and consider sponsorship or grants then..."

He looked around nervously, his hands halfway to handing out the neatly printed proposals in question. He had quite forgotten his previous efforts, but now the memory of the sting resurfaces.

"*Ahem* Well, yes, indeed. Perhaps later" he mopped his brown and sat down.

[Fox]

Location and contributors were less interesting than the project itself, though Dragonfly had to admit that was probably her own fault. She wasn't a civil engineer and she lacked the skills (and people-oriented attention span) for organizing groups; she had, however, been using her skills to solve 'novel' challenges since she was barely old enough to put pencil to paper. She'd left talk of who was and who wasn't involved and where and how to the others, and was scribbling away on a large pad of drafting paper she'd pulled - literally - out of nowhere, sketching out the skeleton of some kind of build-and-repair drone.

construction - literal-minded - careful supervision necessary - materials? - too many engines to build in too little time - hauling capacity up vertical walls problematic - spider inspiration reference pictures - mm - could always just--

"Viv!" She called, unintentionally charging straight through the much more important conversation, "Your break ended half an hour ago!" It was only after she'd spoken that she realized what she'd done. Clapping both hands over her mouth, she looked around at the brilliant individuals who were no doubt supremely irritated at this pedestrian girl who had interrupted them, and smiled apologetically. "S-sorry..."

Blinking, Dragonfly glanced up at the new arrival, catching back up on the current happenings as others made their introductions; Liebniz's tomfoolery earned him a flat look of disapproval, for all the good it did hidden behind her visor.

She shook her head, sighing and turning back to her designs. "Should take Professor up on his offer. That one," she corrected herself, pointing her pencil at Quill without looking up, "not that one," this time at Liebniz. The pencil went back down to its work, scribbling numbers down in the margins. "Could help. Or learn something. Depending." librarians tend toward higher intelligence - common sense not to be confused with IQ - can't do worse than some have already

[quotemyname]

Estelle slowly turned her head to take in the newcomer, one eyebrow cocked but with a mischievous smile on her face as she looked between her and Vivian. She plucked a small spiral notebook and a pen out of her pocket with a loop of golden hair, then softly whispered, "It's alright; I can take notes."

Vivian quickly turned a strange color of red. She didn't have to look to know where the voice was coming from. Coworkers. Always ruining your fun. "My break! Hah! Right..." Vivian was on her feet in a flash. Far faster than anyone could have been expected to move, especially in the heels she was wearing. "I thank you all, this has been most enlightening!" She addressed the crowd in general. "No, that's quite alright, Dr. Liebniz." She waved the man and his stack of papers back into his seat with a smile. She glanced down at John, she'd probably embarassed the hell out of him. "Sorry," she mouthed silently. "I..." She stammered slightly, "I should be going." She turned and walked briskly toward the doors. Her embarrassment must have been immense, judging by how fast she was moving. Before reaching the doors, she spat a sarcastic, "Thanks," at Katherine.

[Raveled]

Jessica didn't pay any attention to the newcomer, her entire focus on the building swirling in the air above the long table. She had sketched out a pair of towers linked by footbridges, then erased the bridges and joined the towers with bolts of some kind of energy. Now that design, too, was gone, replaced by a single tower, subtly twisted, and banded around with thick girders of some kind of metal; now the girl was idly sketching in magnetic poles. Whatever gaps there were in her education, she had plainly put plenty of time in on CAD machines. "Someone here must know building codes better than me," Jessica announced suddenly. "Is a two hundred foot coilgun against any standing regulations?"

[Shockwasp]

Vivian quickly turned a strange color of red. She didn't have to look to know where the voice was coming from. Coworkers. Always ruining your fun. "My break! Hah! Right..." Vivian was on her feet in a flash. Far faster than anyone could have been expected to move, especially in the heels she was wearing. "I thank you all, this has been most enlightening!" She addressed the crowd in general. "No, that's quite alright, Dr. Liebniz." She waved the man and his stack of papers back into his seat with a smile. She glanced down at John, she'd probably embarassed the hell out of him. "Sorry," she mouthed silently. "I..." She stammered slightly, "I should be going." She turned and walked briskly toward the doors. Her embarrassment must have been immense, judging by how fast she was moving. Before reaching the doors, she spat a sarcastic, "Thanks," at Katherine.

Nice job, Kris. Fantastically heroic of you. A look of guilt and shame on her face, the young woman turned towards the group of heroes, of role models that she'd dedicated herself to being like... and who she'd just made an ass of herself in front of. "I... I should go, too... Sorry for the interruption..." Without another word, Kris turned and left the conference room, praying silently that Vivian would forgive her folly.

(Exit Caliope)

[Shockwasp]

(Enter Shockwasp)

"Must've been a problem with the balance. Had to be." Stepping past two embarrassed-looking females, the hero known as Shockwasp slipped into the double-doors before they closed, twisting slightly to keep his wings from getting caught, "Better remember to fix that before I go out heroing again." His train of thought finished, the young man looked up at the group of sharp-minded individuals that Nick had been invited to join. Pulling off his mask, Nikolas Vespin smiled to the group. His charming, optimistic smile, beneath bright eyes that could see the light in the darkest day. "Nick Vespin - Shockwasp," He introduced himself, holding up the invitation he'd received in his free hand. "Sorry I'm late. Had a bit of a problem with my flight systems on the way over. Think my wings were vibrating too fast." Another thought came to his mind. "Unless it's the boots that are off... huh, I was feeling a bit of drag earlier- ....oh, I'm sorry. Got a bit side-tracked. What were we talking about?"

[Dr Archeville]

Though she'd never leave...

She was not that bad.

Yeah, she was.

Well... she was enthusiastic!

So is a bitch in heat!

"I believe a coilgun like dat vould not be allowed, unless De Lab had some military contracts," Archeville replied, "und I do not believe dat vas part of de plan for his facility. For defense purposes, dough, you could easily-" He paused at the newcomer's arrival, and waved him in, "ah, hello, Herr Vespin! Alvays good to see another face! Please, grab someding to eat," he nodded towards the brunch items still offered at the tables in the back, "before taking a seat. Your arrival meshes well mit de next subject I vished to bring up..." He paused and looked over the other Brainiacs, "assuming, of course, you all vould like to change topics."

[Supercape]

"" replied Quentin, unconsciously dipping into his slightly rusty German. Damn, that accent brings it out in me he conceded.

"I am sure the proposed communal laboratory will be a smashing success. At least one helpful thing has come out of today. But what else was on your mind?"

[Raveled]

Jessica blushed as the Doktor brought up the obvious problem with her building-sized coilgun. "It's not completly destructive," she insisted. "It... it could be used to launch satellites! I'm sure projectiles would at least reach escape velocity. And it could... um... Be used to shoot down spaceships?" The young woman sunk in her seat, trying to appear as small as possible, hiding from the collective gaze of Freedom City's best and... Well, certainly its brightest! "Everyone gets a death ray but me," she muttered. "All I really want is one."

[JackgarPrime]

Jessica blushed as the Doktor brought up the obvious problem with her building-sized coilgun. "It's not completly destructive," she insisted. "It... it could be used to launch satellites! I'm sure projectiles would at least reach escape velocity. And it could... um... Be used to shoot down spaceships?" The young woman sunk in her seat, trying to appear as small as possible, hiding from the collective gaze of Freedom City's best and... Well, certainly its brightest! "Everyone gets a death ray but me," she muttered. "All I really want is one."

Dr Volk looks up from her notes to look over to Jessica. "Unfortunately, you cannot launch satellites from within city limits, either. Believe me, we've tried." She books the notepad down for a moment, and grins. "Of course, if you DO want to get a military contract to work on such a thing within your building, I'm sure we can arrange something. We at AEGIS are always looking for bright minds, and we've been known to give out contract work, as well. In fact, we've set up quite a few with ArcheTech."