Brains aka Hiram K. Hackenbacker

Born: November 14, 2040
Current age: 28
Position: Head Engineer, Medical consultant, Thunderbirds inventor

Brains, who often goes under the alias of Hiram K. Hackenbacker, is a certified genius whose accomplishments in the areas of engineering, design, chemistry, and a whole host of other disciplines have benefitted International Rescue from the start. He is first and foremost the creator of the Thunderbirds and all of the auxiliary equipment. Brains also has created many metal alloys and chemical compounds - such as super-tough cahelium and the fire-fighting foam dicetyline - that are used by International Rescue personnel on an almost daily basis. Until the coming of Dr. Dianne Koch Tracy, he was the one who treated the Tracy's injuries and illnesses. He is known for his perfectionism and is rarely satisfied with his inventions, constantly seeking to improve, upgrade, or modify them for better efficiency.

Orphaned as a small child when a tornado destroyed his home in Michigan, he was adopted by a Cambridge professor at the age of 12. The professor recognized his genius and encouraged him in his studies. By the time he was 23, Brains had earned bachelor's degrees in medicine, electrical and mechanical engineering, master's degrees in aerospace engineering and nanotechnology, and doctorates in both computer and chemical engineering. His involvement with International Rescue came when Jeff Tracy, realizing he would need a brilliant scientist and engineer to help him realize his dream, heard a nervous Brains lecturing in Paris. Right away, Jeff knew that this young man was the one he had been looking for.

For many years, Brains struggled with a pronounced stutter but recently he has overcome that nervous tic. His true name has never been revealed, and uses the alias of Hiram K. Hackebacker in all his dealings outside of IR. For hobbies, Brains enjoys racquetball, golf, chess, designing race cars, and tinkering with his robot, Braman, whose programming he has finally perfected. 

He has developed a good working relationship and friendship with his assistant, Tin-Tin Kyrano – one that has recently blossomed into romance - as well as an easy-going friendship with John, the one Tracy brother who is the same age as he is.

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