Stargate SG-1: Dr. Alvira Kane

Stargate Personal Dossier

Name: Alvira Kane
Origin: Earth, USA, Tennessee, Memphis
Status: Team Bravo, Active
Rank: Civilian, Ph.D.
MOS: Mechanical & Civil Engineering

Background:

Alvira Kane is the only child of former Tuskeegee airman, Colonel Morris Kane. The Colonel (then a Captain) married late in life to Alvira's mother, a 21 year old veterinarian named Cassidy Clark. Shortly after their May-December marriage, Cassidy became pregnant with Alvira. The delivery was difficult and though Alvira survived it, Cassidy did not.

Alvira grew up the beloved only child of an aging career Air Force officer. She spent most of her childhood in various USAF bases around the world -- mostly unsupervised. While Cpt. (and eventually Col.) Kane doted on his daughter, he was a little out of his depth when it came to raising a child. Thus, Alvira's youth was spent on the airstrips of the world, gaining a rough and ready education from the various corpsmen and technical crews that populated them.

A 'small accident' involving a pipe bomb in her early teens left Alvira with a scar along her right forearm and Col. Kane with the knowledge that his daughter had a inquisitive bent of mind. And the intelligence to make it dangerous. After that, the Colonel saw to it that Alvira was kept busy with 'safer' projects -- i.e. construction projects. Alvira was encouraged to spend more time around the Army Corps of Engineers and less time around the USAF support crews.

From the ACoE (sic?), Alvira picked up her love of civil engineering. A love that carried her into a minor scholarship at William and Mary college. During this time, Alvira barely managed to avoid crushing her left hand while helping a friend build a scale model of Stonehenge in his backyard.

However, once in college, Alvira's general hoydeness and level of distractibility kept her bouncing from major to major -- and eventually from school to school -- for several long years. Though Alvira has collected enough 'credits' and the course load of a several-times-over-doctoral candidate, the only doctorate she actually holds is honorary.

After a few years of 'professional student' status at Yale, Alvira's knowledge level was extremely broad based. Enough so that she was able to lend her expertise to the local police to help track down a campus bomber. Alvira proved pivotal in locating and nullifying the explosive. In response the grateful Yale board awarded her an honorary doctorate of Philosophy in -- philosophy.

While his daughter spent her time gathering more and more 'degree-less' skills, Col. Kane continued to be active in the Air Force hierarchy. From that position, Alvira's various exploits became common officer's lounge chat at the various bases that Col. Kane served on. And Alvira's frequent visits to her father made her a common visitor to those bases. Col. Kane never spoke to Alvira about his mission specs or job situations and Alvira, raised with military security, never pried.

Three years ago, Col. Morris Kane died suddenly of a heart attack at age 64 while still on active duty. Alvira attended his full military funeral in Washington DC and still keeps his flag with her through all her various moves.

To this day, Dr. Alvira Kane's job title is a little uncertain. Perhaps consultant is the closest. Dr. Kane is always able to earn 'eating money' by contracting out to various construction or development companies. Her no-nonsense approach and general engineering skills have given her the skills necessary to 'fix things.' However, her AF-brat background has given her enough of a wanderlust that she hasn't been able to settle down to yet.