Torque’s Lab is coming soon!

Posted on March 11, 2010 by Jasper Dunlap

Portable Power Packs

Portable Power Packs – Worn by Mssrs. Torque and Peck, and carried by Scrappington Hauley

The portable power packs are a crucial component in the Abolishers’ arsenal. They are designed to generate steam on demand for the weapons and equipment used by the team. For weapons such as Brassy’s Heavy Cannon and Peck’s Sonic Blunderbuss, it would be impractical (nigh impossible) to include an adequate steam boiler within the weapon itself.

Each portable pack derives its power from a vertically-mounted Emeraldic Energy Extrapolator which provides the wattage to heat the water in the small boiler at the bottom of the rig. The steam can then be safely dispensed as needed to the other team members’s weapons and gear through the removable high-pressure injectors, shown hanging on the left of each pack in the photos.

Rusty Koontz™

Primary weapon of Brassy Galore

Dr. Torque initially fashioned a dainty, lady-like weapon for Brassy, but she subsequently demanded the largest hand-held weapon the doctor could make. Amused and intrigued, the good doctor created a steam-powered weapon over five feet long – with double barrels of brass that fires large, explosive, charge-reversing shells. Brassy dubbed the weapon Rusty Koontz and mounted a skull over the sight on the top of the cannon, facilitating an unshakeable, spirit-guided aim.

The cannon includes dual Aether Density Attenuators™ and a patented recoil-absorption system. Future upgrades will include a counter-balanced active suspension harness for better mobility. Until then, Scrappington Hauley has an optional side-mounted gun rack where Brassy can rest the cannon for long journeys.

Plasma Pistols

Primary weapon of Jasper Dunlap

Dr. Torque created this pair of plasma pistols at Jasper’s request. These unique weapons can affect both spiritual and physical foes with equal ferocity.

To keep from encumbering Jasper with an over-abundance of gear on his back, each pistol carries a miniature version of the Emeraldic Energy Extrapolator, which in turn powers each plasma containment sphere. The excess power generated by the Emeraldic Energy Extrapolators is fed back through braided hoses to a small boiler and converted to steam. This steam is, in turn, stored under pressure in the cannisters on Jasper’s back.

The pistols can be switched from plasma to steam power and back, depending on the type of adversary that is encountered. Japser’s heavy leather gauntlets protect his forearms from any errant steam or plasma discharges.

Jasper has a special fondness for his plasma pistols, and often can be seen brandishing them with great pride.

Scrappington Hauley™

Mechanical Mule

Scrappington Hauley (“Scrappy”) functions as the pack mule for the team during missions and adventures by carrying equipment and supplies.

Scrappy is also often sent ahead of the team into uncertain situations for reconnaissance and remote surveillance. Guidance is achieved by using the Mallardian Steerage Apparatus™ which employs organic global positioning and a radio-telegraph wireless linkage between the operator and the infernal contraption. Primary power comes from a large Emeraldic Energy Extrapolator™ mounted on the rear of the chassis.

Scrappy is able to function autonomously when navigating through Dr. Torque’s secret underground laboratory thanks to the recent facility-wide installation of multiple wireless directional devices of the doctor’s own design.

Dr. Mortimer J. Torque

Tinkerer & Steamologist

(a.k.a. Chris Lee)

Dr. Mortimer J. Torque is the founder of the group. He is a world-renowned inventor and the pre-eminent steamologist in the United States. From his secluded headquarters underneath Washington D.C., he runs a string of factories and mills that produce marvel after marvel of the Steam Age. Steamships, motorized carriages, trains, even an airship: The Centennial that serves as his personal transport to the far corners of the globe.

His latest creation is a steam-powered automated mule on wheels, dubbed Scrappington Hauley. This device was intended as a labor saving aid for man, but something is not quite right with this new invention. Sometimes it seems to act as if it has a mind of its own. In fact, the highly skeptical Dr. Torque has become convinced that a spirit of some sort has possessed his creation. Since coming to this realization, he has also noticed many strange happenings in his factories and at other sites worldwide. He has come to believe that the rising dead are harbingers of the apocalypse, due to arrive sometime after 1900.