7772/Test-Driving the New Lab

Test-Driving the New Lab
Date of Scene:	07 June 2019
Location:	Unknown
Synopsis:	Summary needed
Cast of Characters:	Baron Zemo, Toxic Doxie, Thaddeus Ross

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Baron Zemo has posed:
It was a dark and stormy night...

Or really it was more a pleasant, mildly cloudy late spring evening, not that one would know several dozen meters below the Earth, in a hidden laboratory on an old military base. The gentleman who is walking through the door does assume the place is presently occupied, given that the lights are on, and given the personnel he knows to be on the base...there's really only one candidate.
"Dr. Covington? Are you in residence?" Helmut Zemo's voice calls out, and he steps a bit further into the lab, glancing back to nod at the older gentleman behind him. "Secretary Ross is here."

Toxic Doxie has posed:
One benefit of an underground laboratory is that it really doesn't matter what the weather outside is. It ends up being a distraction to most.

However, that seems to be the preference of one Dr June Covington. The less distractions, the better. Indeed, as the certain individual enters the lab, the presence of June is noticed. She is in a corner, her back to the door as she hunches over, her attention fully upon a microscope, although a computer monitor is up, with what appears to be a DNA helix model slowly rotating. A finger is raised upon her head, signalling she is busy, though she does vocalize for the benefit of Ross and Zemo.

"Just a moment."

The finger is lowered, as the right hand snakes out to tap on the keyboard besides the microscope. In response, the helix changes, slightly, as it appears that pieces are added, then other pieces removed, only to be replaced with others. This continues for about 30 seconds more...just long enough to make the silence uncomfortable, before June finally stands up, turning around to face the two entering her lab.

"Good evening, gentlemen. How can I help you tonight?"

Thaddeus Ross has posed:
Ross follows Helmut into the lab, still in the accursed three-piece suit. He frowns and takes a few moments to look around the room and then to the arriving scientist. "Doctor, I am here to see what taxpayer dollars have been paying for and the return on our investment." He is still in the posture that he picked up in the army that has yet ot leave him in civilian life.

Baron Zemo has posed:
"As well as seeing how you're settling in." Zemo adds to Ross' words, adding a great deal more charm to it, mostly because he adds a polite smile, "Anything particularly interesting you're working on? And I hope the equipment and setup exceeds your expectations? We did make it a priority for completion." Admittedly, more because Zemo wanted the not-so-good Doctor's mind occupied. Idle hands might have indeed done some dark work otherwise. Some minds do not react well to lacking in challenge. He might know a bit about that.

Toxic Doxie has posed:
If there was any negative reaction to Ross' rather gruff statement, the doctor doesn't seem to show it. However, it is to Zemo that June addresses, offering a smile of her own. "I do certainly appreciate the gesture. The setup is certainly to my liking. The equipment is most definitely beyond my initial specifications. Frankly, it has me rather excited." Hence the reason she was found in the lab.

June then shifts to Ross and includes him in the conversation. "I was mapping a genome. In particular, I was editing the genetic makeup, removing impurities and adding some...intriguing extras. In much the same way I have done to myself." Then, with a pause, June focuses directly upon Ross, speaking directly to him. "With further research, I feel we could develop powered individuals for the express purpose of national security. In essence, we could make our own super soldiers."

Not that June really truly cares about that. But...she knows that Ross does, so of course sees the sense in catering to him.

Thaddeus Ross has posed:
Ross listens to Helmut and then nods to June. "Very good, I'd rather have our own that we built from scratch, better than anything those Russians could have cooked up, or to at least be ready in case the current super soldiers go rogue." Going rogue being very general of course to being against his interests. "What timeline are we looking at and what do you need?" He approaches and looks down at the scientist, "If you need soldiers, those I can get, I know a few who would probably volunteer in a heartbeat."

Baron Zemo has posed:
"I would suggest we let the Doctor further refine her processes while we very carefully screen any potential candidates." Zemo notes, "With all respect, Mr. Secretary, the risk of triggering a superhuman arms race might be something that your political opponents would use to dismantle this project entirely." Zemo glances towards June, "That said...I would see no reason we should not continue to prepare for a time where such enhancement is more...acceptable to the powers that be."

Toxic Doxie has posed:
The mention of process refinement does solicit an agreement from June, in the form of a nod. "I would have to agree. While I have been successful in augmenting myself, doing so on a mass scale could lead to possible complications. We need to be thorough in our actions. The slightest miscalculation could result in less than favorable results." Like death.

June continues. "However, smaller scale research could certainly prove interesting. If there was a particular candidate in mind, then I could feasibly have a potential enhancement ready for use within a year or two. Quite possibly less. It is easier to focus on one particular donor's genetic makeup than to try to compensate for multiple subjects." There is a pause as June considers the needs. "If there is a particular power set in mind, then I would need genetic samples of different individuals with those specific traits, to allow me to isolate and then duplicate the particular genetic code. Otherwise, I could certainly see about fabricating on my own, but this introduces an unneccessary element of randomness, which could contribute to imperfections in the genome."

Thaddeus Ross has posed:
Ross nods, "We can wait, and the arms race began in the 40's." He grumbles, "But we will wait, the downside is that we have to also consider other political realities, namely the election in a couple of years, but I can win over or keep support for a program; however, if you want one candidate, I will keep my eyes open. The joy of having defense on this is is that we get that credit card with no limit." His tone is gruff, "We need results, I can keep the money flowing, but eventually they will wnat to see something in action."