//------------------------------//
// Chapter 0_Invitation by Reckless Research 
// Story: The Breakthroughs’ Call. Another Equestria. 
// by Leafwebs 
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Chapter 0_Invitation by Reckless Research

“Three days prior to the breach of the think tank mainframes of White Rabbit, a theoretical science damage assessment group; the following viral Youtube video was published by the French Theoretical Physicist Deloris LeClaire depicted the world first breach into another world.” Spoke a news caster for WNYP 26.
A video recording shows a simple work table. A hand from off screen places two identical copies of The Cat In the Hat as illustrated by Fredric Gould, still in the shrink wrap on the table next to the a book of the same story but illustrated by Judy Reese. The off screen hands appear again to remove the shrink wrap from one of the duplicate books.
“Now folks of White Rabbit, about 2 weeks ago you were sent a package with 2 copies of this classic children’s book in it accompanied by instructions to open it up 1 with me during this live stream today.” Deloris speaks from off camera to her audience. “You will notice that it is a rather simple and charming tale.”
“A tale identical to my other copy here illustrated here by Judy Reese. You wouldn’t believe how hard it was to find matching in text but different in art copies of the same story” Deloris cheerfully sings as she makes a deliberate page by page comparison to the 2 different books. The playback seems off visually, more pages than should be present clip through the book’s cover and the hand that flips the pages, the sound however is unchanged.
“Now I know video is easy to fake and if all goes as I anticipate only you who witnessed what I do next will believe it possible.” Deloris somberly remarks as she brings into frame a weird micro scope shaped contraption. “But I think it is time for a little revision!”
The hands flip to page 6 of the duplicate and slide it under the scope. The placement of the scope is moved so it appears right of the camera’s center with the still shrink wrapped copy moved to the left end of the frame.
“Let’s make some history!” The weird scope is turned on and where the light shines on the simple illustration a tennis ball with a white unicorn and Deloris’s name is pushed through the light’s circle. The moment the ball disappears within the page the shrink wrap on the sealed copy violently bursts as the book spontaneously adds several pages to itself. The scope is then turned off.
“Multi-verse Theory is proven.” Deloris chirps as the video ends.
“Deloris LeClaire as of this time is still missing, on a related note numerous book distributers globally have since reported sever property damage allegedly linked to the now infamous Fredric Gould copy of The Cat in the Hat books that exploded from there packages.” The WNYP 26 news caster continues. “YouTube reports a rising trend of ‘watch them pop’ videos all involving cell phone bloggers who were lucky enough to get it on video.”
“And not one of these media hacks have bothered to condemn the breach into our mainframe by groups of every stripe who will treat this discovery like a naive child treats a box of matches.” Mike groans turning off the television. “The Pentagon, that Vatican splinter group, 4 major universities, and who knows how many terrorist outfits are now browsing the lost data to be the first to plant their flags somewhere they have no understanding of.”
In a small disorganized ground floor meeting room with a pair of CPU desks and a card table, 3 humans and a red fox sit in relative silence.  Mike had the TV remote, he is 5’5” ear length brown hair and brown eyes, 207 lbs and with a robotic right arm. Tina was sitting in on plush gray bench; she is 4’9” dark brown hair hazel eyes, 196 lbs and has a small digital display on her left temple no bigger than a wrist watch face. Brian sit a CPU desk with a browser open to questionable cartoon drawings, he is 5’6” short brown hair, mustache, and brown eyes, 213 lbs and on the back of his head a small metal plate with a flashing red diode blinks just above the where the spine meets the skull. Lastly Lilly the red fox sits curled at Brian’s feet, she has a full yet not uniform coat with cross-fox red black markings, eye color greenish yellow, 33lbs and has a smaller metal plate with a flashing red diode similarly placed on the back of her head.
“At least the CIA has bothered to consult us on possible precautions they can take should this technology get replicated.” Brian replies with Lilly jumping up on his desk to give him an all too disapproving stare after seeing what his browser was open to.
“Advice or no, Brian; all we need is one fool to open a portal to SKYNET HQ or to the home world of the Metroids and this planet dies!” Mike retorts. “The people involved in this hacking invasion are just the kind of self-righteous butt plugs who think nothing can oppose them and will bite off more than they can chew screwing us all.”
“Deloris’s device was completely unsalvageable. That is something.” Tina interjects. “We have the expertise and the familiarity with the research here that they do not.”
“Tina’s right, if you’re suggesting what I think you are.” Brian adds. “This is now an arms race against these assholes to not only prefect guided travel but also pioneer countermeasures to Planer Travel.”
“And we will be the test subjects, yes?” Mike frowns smacking a wall. “We only get one shot at this and getting lost in this newly accessible multi-verse is only our 2nd obstacle. I suppose you expect that I will build the prototype too.”
“Well your right so far. Yes.” Brian replies.
“I can gather up and decode Deloris’s notes so we can build this.” Tina adds. “And Brian can gather research for a plane to sever as our test run.”
“Me?” Brian replies razing an eye brow.
“We need a target we can write a detailed list of parameters for the navigation software.” Tina replies calmly. “This will be a blind jump without some way to guide the system like Deloris’s scope system. You’ve seen her test run; only the one version was affected that means we are dealing with multiple realities not just with Earth but with our chosen destination as well. The more input the more control.”
“We’re doing this then?” Mike shakes his head groaning.
The next 4 week or so is spent on the task of building a Planer Trans-location prototype and writing the navigation software. Their CIA contact was furious with the plan and it took a data dump of all boasts of the various mad men that claimed a working device, the unfinished blueprints, and counter blackmail about the Pentagon’s own program to get cooperation. No doubt they were being used to help jump start the Pentagon’s own program.
“Well have you picked a location?” Mike lazily remarks as he finishes installing a new but external implant on Brian about the size of a watch.
“We must be insane with any option that is put forth.” Tina states grimly.
“I’m on the spot and you’re already disappointed.” Brian resists the urge to move his head in fear his body will follow. Lilly emitted a low growl staring up at Brian from floor to his right. With a resigned sigh he continues. “Okay. I choose the following location for a few reasons. First we have an ample base of information for the navigation program with this location. Second they are not scientifically or technologically as advanced as us, at least not in the same areas. Third is your fire power Mike. These people and the wildlife can’t match it at least not for first contact and if the recall system works. Lastly we have a local we can exploit for the purposes of these tests and can be in and out.”
“The location you chose, Brian. Where is this safe bet?” Mike sarcastically demands pulling the soldering iron from his latest work installed on Brian’s wrist.
“The G4… MLP universes.” Brian replies rubbing his newly released wrist.
“You did give this thought didn’t you?” Tina now joined in the group scowl. “The land of Dungeons and Dragons monsters, trickster plants, deceptively hostile ponies, and mind warping cursed artifacts. Mike do you have anything to add to this? Perhaps like an alternative!”
“I’m running a blank Tina. Brian here just ran an effective 0 out of 4.” Mike shakes his head. “Even the most inept mage of ‘Ponyville’ is skilled enough with shield spells that will deflect my firepower. Most of the information from the 'fandom' is non-canonical. Several ponies are practically planes walkers themselves who could hold masters degrees in many of our sciences if they just got a hold of one of our books. Lastly what local contact could we exploit?”
“Fluttershy.” Brian meekly replies.
“An ‘element bearer’…” Mike folds his arms. “Lilly indeed might work out here, but any false move and you’ll bring the whole planet down on us. Even if the 2 don’t interact directly it is risky.”
“The other options I can think of are no better. Sonic, Sherlock Holmes, Garfield, even Smurfs have their own expected and unexpected pitfalls.” Brian nervously and weakly tries to protest. “We won’t find a purely innocent location without hazards. The fact we expect those here is some safeguard.”
“Is that the right meaning to that word, Tina?” Mike asks casting eyes to the floor and into his hands.
“No.” Tina remarks dryly only to fix Mike with a stern gaze. “However Brian proposed a location and he has a point about us being not blessed with safe options. Our only advantage is to get in and get out with something like a history book to verify the jump. As risky as it sounds we have convenient target for information gathering.”
“Can we even infiltrate the Golden Oaks Library with Lilly? Foxes are animals in this universe and the librarians don’t lend books out to them. Can you read any of it either?” Mike counters.
“The books have pictures and we can spy on them to get the rest of the info we need.” Brian replies getting irritated.
“We need to set the anchor sub-routine for the recall program.” Tina sighs getting up to stretch.
“You’re giving up!” Both Brian and Mike reply stunned.
“It will be progress report time in awhile with the CIA. I would rather pick this than let them pick a location.” Tina groans heading for a shower.
“Can’t put the genie back and can’t live forever.” Mike sulks.
“Like anyone else who ever plunged into the unknown.” Brian replies placing a hand on Mike’s shoulder. “Columbus, the moon landing, jet travel… We are doing this, hopefully first; so the rest of humanity has an example to follow or to discourage further mistakes. This is what White Rabbit was for after all.”
“For Science, that is not always a comfort.” Mike looks up with a grin. “But, if it can be done someone will do it.”
With that Brian and Mike head off to bed in preparations for the next day.