More plot preparation!

[swordedpast]

On the heels of the English Skrull Investigation Plot (or, Crumpets And Tea-ming Up To Kick Alien Ass), I've got another, related proposal for the players of Cape and Cowl.

It's all well and good to hunt for shapeshifting aliens, but there are other aspects to Vulcanus's plots. One thing Archer, as a practical kind of guy (when he's not wallowing in angst, anyway), has noticed is that an organization like Vulcanus must need a lot of rather specific scientific know-how to do things like give aliens psychic powers and build interdimensional transporters. And in turn, the rather specific kinds of scientists that Vulcanus needs would probably do some rather specific things as Vulcanus's researchers--anyway, the point is, it's time for some research of our own!

The basic plan: triangulate in on potential Vulcanus connections by looking up cutting-edge researchers in scientific fields of note (certain kinds of technology, xenobiology, genetic engineering...) and taking note of which ones have had certain behavior patterns in the past two years, including any abrupt or unexpected changes (indicating possible Skrull impersonation), pursuing a few specific scientific developments without much explanation, and a lot of travel to certain locations (especially Dolvania). Then, when interesting things begin to turn up...it's time to get a bit closer to investigate.

Here's the catch: Archer is more of a field agent than the kind of guy who sits behind a desk, so he's going to turn to others to help him look these things up. While he's doing that, he'll probably also run into people who want to help out with the part of this that's out in the field as well, and he can't very well say no at this point...

So here's what I'm looking for: players interested in a plot about investigating Vulcanus, who play characters who could either help do the research or help use the research when it's done. In particular, science-y types would be welcomed for the research phase. If Archer doesn't actually know the character in question, we'll just have to figure out a way to fix that.

The mods have cleared this so far, and once I know who all is interested, we can move on to the next step of the plot, which is finding out exactly what the research entails! Just comment here with what character you'd like to get involved and how they could help, along with ways Archer could hear of them and get in contact with them.

Comments

[hastheedge]

Sign Connors up for this! He'd definitely help look through information on genetics/help out in the research phase and also has enough credentials that it wouldn't be suspicious for him to go to a sciency convention that a possible Vulcanus chap might be at.

[swordedpast]

Sounds good. Any idea how Archer would hear of him? Has he talked about this stuff on the network?

[clammedup]

He has, yeah. Connors hasn't made any secret that he's a geneticist-his last couple of posts are talking about his projects, iirc.

[swordedpast]

Oh, good, that works then! Archer can contact him ICly in private because of that.

[promised_victory]

I'd like to get Saber involved. The question is would Archer let Saber get involved or would he convince her to keep an eye on Rin and Shirou instead?

[gandere]

Alternatively, if Archer refuses to get Rin involved in it, then Rin can send Saber in her place. He can't really argue against that and I'm not opposed to sitting Rin out for Saber to take her place :)

[swordedpast]

Well, he'd initially be trying to keep these plans from Saber, Rin, and Shirou, but it'd be easy enough for someone to let it slip to her, in which case he'd probably let her come along if she agreed to do it in Rin's place.

[xxii_thefool]

We talked about it a little previously but I'd be happy to get Minako involved in this in whatever capacity she is able. She's not particularly sciencey, but she can at least help compile and crunch data and generally contribute to organization.

[swordedpast]

Noted! She's already made it clear that she wants to help with Practical Vulcanus Investigation, so he'd be keeping her in mind.

[incywincyhero]

It's probably dangerous to sign up for plots late at night, but Peter Parker is a science type who'd be interested in that kind of thing! (He's also doing research for Jack's team as Spider-Man, for the record.)

[swordedpast]

There shouldn't be too much of a problem with conflict with the other plot, since this one won't get off the ground for a while. Is there any way Archer would find out about Peter's interest/research credentials?

[incywincyhero]

Peter has made a few network posts about being a Global Dynamics researcher, and of the import scientists he's well acquainted with Hank McCoy, Mordin Solus, Tony Stark, and Bobbi Morse, amongst others.

[viced]

Tony would totally be in on this! He's a science type, but can also serve as basically a computer to crunch numbers too!

[swordedpast]

Tony's well-known for StarkTech stuff, right?

[ropedin]

Very much so, yes!

[professorlionface]

offering hank as another science-type, also already in the vulcanus investigations

[swordedpast]

There shouldn't be too much of an overlap between the plots time-wise, since this one's just about to get started. And I think this post should be more than enough to get Archer thinking that Hank could be useful here. So, that works!

[professorlionface]

Not worried so much about overlap, just thinking it might have been a way for archer to have noticed him involved in this sort of thing. but yeah, that post does the job too!

[smarterthandad]

Val's a science-type. Her father's the world's foremost expert on Skrulls, and she's picked up a lot of that because her parents got replaced during Secret Invasion and she got blown into the Negative Zone, so she has a grudge.

ETA: I CAN READ. Depending on canon point, other Marvel characters would know enough to suggest bringing her on board.

[swordedpast]

I'll bring it up to the players of Marvel characters in question, then. Archer wouldn't have any problem using a small child that way, so it could work.

[not_really_charlie]

Sign Charlie up! Atop of being pretty spectacular with a computer, she's a a genius hacker. (And I mean... like. Actually a genius, with a special spark that canonically can't be copied. Now with the ability to mentally interface with tech!

She can get into all the freaking systems - and probably help design programs to look for those patterns you mentioned.


...She doesn't tell everyone about her hacking skills because lol she's totally the robin-hood-of-the-nets but it's no secret that she works with IT, and she has let people know she's skilled.

...If nothing else, I suppose she could find them?

[swordedpast]

Archer might deliberately make a just-barely-hackable post saying, "If you can bust this encryption and working with computers and data that way is normal for you, I want to speak with you." Does that work?

[not_really_charlie]

Enough to catch attention~

[blueshifting]

Depending on the timing I would sign Raven for this. But I'm hiatused until the 20th...which I might change it to earlier, but I'm not sure yet.

She's very much a field agent, and a terrific shit stirrer lol.

[swordedpast]

The field part of the plot probably won't actually happen until next month, so after the 20th we could work on getting Raven and Archer to know each other so that he'd get her in on this?

[blueshifting]

Most certainly! We should totally log something once I'm not swamped in college stuff.

[heal_or_execute]

science

research

you know he's in this

[topslug]

YAKO WORKS AT NOHOPE BUT SHE'S NOT VERY SCIENTIFICALLY MINDED. That said! Looking at behavior patterns and investigations sounds like the thing that's totally up her alley, so she'll be happy to help however she can.