Operation Northwest Passage

Data File 0450C-232: Operation Northwest Passage

Compilers: Gen. D. Washburn, Spec. S. Pyotr, COS A. Michaelson

[WARNING]

[SECURITY CLEARANCE TOP SECRET-THETA-ZERO]

[POSSESSION AND/OR OBSERVATION OF THIS DOCUMENT WITHOUT PROPER CLEARANCE SHALL BE PUNISHED AS HIGH TREASON]

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The following document is a compilation of hundreds of interviews, hours of radio transcripts, sixteen physical examinations, and fourteen terabytes of camera footage, both mounted and carried. This data was captured both during and after the lifespan of Northwest Passage. Note that most interviews were made independently and, as such, viewpoints may differ to some degree.

***

-2 Hours

Earth: United States: Montana: Helios Facility "Deep Six": 0600 Local

Throughout Deep Six, there was an air of barely-repressed panic. A bulletin had gone out the previous day that Northwest Passage was going to be initiated, and everywhere about the cavernous base technicians and scientists were preparing the hundreds of tons of hardware needed to succeed. A mile-long relay of high-power capacitors slowly charged over the night, in preparation for what was to come. But of all the men and women involved in the project, none should have been more nervous than Lieutenant Gim Carmichaels, a co-founder and first participator in what would become Northwest Passage. After all, he would be, in less than six hours, farther away from home than anyone could ever imagine to be. However, his mood before launch was no worse than that of a man taking a short road trip to another state. Why? Some have said that it was simply because it wasn't the first time this had happened to him. Others say he suffered from one of many fear-coping disorders. Still more, though, say it was because he didn't have any time to think about what was to come. Every waking hour of his life for the week leading up to launch comprised of endless research of dossiers, checks and rechecks of flight equipment, and contingency planning in case anything went wrong along any step of the way. It was only in the last hour before launch that the icy grip of fear started to come over Carmichaels, when the relative torpor of getting suited up allowed him some time to think.

Sitting in the ready room, oxygen mask in his hands, he stared himself in the mirror and thought. Come on now, Gim, this won't be that bad. Just stick to the plan, and everything will work out. Think about all the lives you'll change. Don't think about what could go wrong. Just...go.

After all, there are a lot worse universes you could be going to. Statistically speaking.

The voice of a technician interrupted his thoughts. "Lieutenant? We're ready for you. Don't forget to check--"

"The breathing mask, I know." Carmichaels slipped the mask onto his face, and felt as cold bottled air rushed into it as he stepped out into the main firing chamber.

The oversized semicircular concrete room was dominated by a complex array of power leads, detection equipment, and field generators. All along the sides lay several observation booths and control consoles, and set against one wall was the strangest machine Gim had ever laid his eyes on. It appeared to all the world to be a ten-foot-high steel ring of complex circuitry, sucking in power from every corner of the complex. When activated, this would serve as a gateway to one destination, spanning the gulf between universes.

He strode forward as the machine prepared to activate, an unearthly hum filling the air. Not a single person in the room was breathing as the main firing sequence was initiated.

With a resounding thud of expanding air, the middle of the ring was suddenly filled with a wall of charged plasma, crackling with blue light. Carmichaels didn't even break his stride as this strange event occurred. Instead, he looked towards a camera-wielding technician, and smiled behind his mask. Within seconds, he stepped into the field, leaving no trace to the world of his existence save for the echoes of his final few words:

"See you on the other side."

-0 Hours

143.79: Equestria: Ponyville: 0900 Local

The Ponyville town square bustled with activity. On any other day at this time, there would be no more than a few of the town's residents milling about. However, this was not any normal day. Rather, today was the day after Winter Wrap Up, and everypony in the town was packed into the square. They waited with bated breath as Mayor Mare strode forward to report on their efforts. One could hear a pin drop as the Mayor cleared her throat and began to speak.

"Citizens of Ponyville! We spent the whole of yesterday working to clear away winter and let spring free. This year, we were faced with one of the coldest winters to date. Of course, this made wrapping up winter even harder than usual, as I'm sure we all know.

"But our efforts were not in vain! This year, we all worked hard, did our best, and successfully wrapped up winter!"

The square broke into wild cheering. After all, this was only the third year in a row that they had completed Winter Wrap Up on time. The Mayor waited, smiling, for the cheering and applause to die down, before continuing.

"Most of all, I would like to thank the captains and co-captains of each team for working together and keeping everything under control. Of course, we must also thank our valued All-Team Organizer for her role in promoting cooperation."

A hearty round of applause rose up for Applejack, Rarity, Pinkie Pie, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and Twilight Sparkle, the aforementioned ponies, while the six each expressed their gratitude and joy for their role in Winter Wrap Up. Over this hubbub, the Mayor's voice rang out one last time:

"Thank you, everypony, for making this the best Winter Wrap Up yet! Go forth, and have a wonderful spring!"

The cheering became even more mighty as the collected ponies began celebrating their fresh new spring of opportunities. Some ran off to their favorite places in Ponyville for partying, while many others simply stayed in the town square to strike up a fiesta there. Someone produced a gramophone and a few records, and the throng of ponies rapidly dissolved into one big dance. The thunderous music nearly drowned out any other sounds, including a strange humming coming from a point in front of the town hall. As such, no one was warned of what was coming until it was far too late to prepare.

Near the edge of the crowd, an infinitesimally small blue point of light appeared. It grew slowly over about ten seconds, the strange humming rising in volume the whole time. Everypony in the area backed away from this strange ball of light, staring at it with a mixture of terror and curiosity. With a deep thud, the ball grew to be about eight feet around, causing the gathered crowd to jump back in fear. Somepony knocked over the gramophone, allowing the square to be filled with only the ear-piercing hum of the ball and the scared voices of the ponies gathered there.

"What's happening?"

"Is it...magic or something?"

"Is it just going to sit there?"

As if in response, the ball exploded. A shockwave of blue light rushed outwards, bowling over everypony there and knocking pegasi out of the sky. As the crowd slowly got to its hooves, the smoke cloud left by the explosion slowly cleared. As it turned out, the ball was gone.

In its place stood the strangest thing anypony had even seen.

Standing on two legs, the creature loomed over even the tallest ponies. It was clad in what seemed to some sort of clothing analogue, including a heavy coat and some sort of metal mask. It stood there for a few seconds, seemingly in as much shock as the ponies collected there. Then, slowly, it scanned the crowd. Even though its eyes were hidden behind the mask, it seemed to be staring at every single pony, one by one. Sizing them up. It glanced at a watch at its wrist, and at a few papers it procured from one coat pocket. Nopony dared move, for fear of waking the giant's wrath.

Thirty-six ponies and one unidentified creature neither moved nor made a sound.

Then, as non-threateningly as possible, it removed its mask. The citizens of Ponyville were treated to a strange, partially-hairless face and a pair of cold, calculating eyes. In a manner eerily similar to the Mayor's just a few minutes before, it cleared its throat to speak.

"Citzens of Ponyville. I request an audience with Princess Celestia."

Thirty-five jaws hit the ground. Throughout the minds of almost everypony there, a wildfire of thoughts blazed. What was this thing? What was it doing here? How did it speak Equestrian? How did it know where it was?

The creature waited for a response, looking for any reaction more than thirty-five surprised faces and one thin-lipped deadpan one.

"Well. Looks like I'm going to have to be more direct." It slid a scroll from one sleeve, briefly checking the label on the ribbon around it. "Spike, can you send a message?"

The young dragon visibly shook himself. "Wha- I- How do you know my name?"

Twilight Sparkle, having regained basic motor functions, piped up. "Yeah! How do you know who he is, or where you are?"

The visitor smiled knowingly, shaking his head. "Miss Sparkle, I had hoped you would understand the situation. I assure you, I will answer all of your questions as soon as possible. First, though, this scroll needs to get to the Princess as soon as possible."

The scientist portion of Twilight's brain, having previously been occupied with the strange wisdom of the...thing, jumped at the possibility of being able to interview a creature that she had never even heard of. Eyes sparkling with a certain glee, she grabbd the scroll and nearly hurled it at Spike. "Send it."

Spike was less eager. "But what if it's--"

A strange edge came over Twilight's voice. She leaned closer to Spike and growled, "SEND. IT."

"All right, all right." A brief puff of flame sent the scroll rocketing towards far-off Canterlot. Positively shaking with excitement, Twilight telekinetically grabbed the visitor and sent him bodily through the doors into the empty Town Hall. Galloping after it, she called out behind her, "Come on, girls! And Spike! There's science to be had!"

Reluctantly, Twilight Sparkle's six closest friends followed her into the town hall, fearing her almost as much as the strange beast.

Having found seats in the hall, everypony turned to their strange guest. It leaned back against the too-small chair it had collapsed into, and regarded the ponies and dragon with a smile. Nopony said a thing until Twilight burst out with:

"What are you? Or who are you?"

The tall creature steepled his fingers. "Ah yes, introductions. First of all, let me introduce myself as Lieutenant Gim Carmichaels, human and most certainly not a resident of this universe. And you are..." He pointed to each in turn. "....Spike, Rarity, Applejack, Twilight Sparkle, Fluttershy, Rainbow Dash, and," he nodded to the last member of the group, "Pinkie Pie."

"Lieutenant," this last intoned with a similar nod, her thin-lipped expression still in place.

Twilight glanced back and forth between the two. "What was that?"

"What was what?" they replied in unison, innocent expressions clouding their faces.

"...Never mind. What's important here is how you know all of us. And what was that you said about not being a resident?"

"I assume you have heard of the theory of multiple universes?"

Twilight thought back to an old physics book she read long ago. "Yeah, I think so."

"Excellent. Have you ever considered what it would be like if you could travel to another universe, where things could be anywhere from almost identical to completely different?"

"I've...read about it."

"Even better. In my own universe, our top scientists have made this dream a reality. We can cross the void between universes, search for ones that have the traits we need, and enter them quickly and painlessly, albeit with a massive expense of energy.

"During our studies, we came across your own universe, numbered as 143.79. Our universe seems to be strangely...linked to this one. We spoke the same language, acted similarly, and even used the same mixture of elements to survive. Even stranger was the medium between us: the not-matter outside universes was oddly turbulent, as though energy was flowing between them. Naturally, we decided that the best course of action was to investigate."

"And so you came here for the first time? And you know so much about us because your scientists have been observing us through your machines?"

Carmichaels bit his lip. "Not...exactly. I wish I could tell you more, but unfortunately that information is highly classified. The only ponies I should be discussing this with are the Princesses and...well...a few others, whom I'll meet with eventually." He turned his gaze towards Spike, who had during the previous conversation received a response from Celestia. Before he could retrieve the scroll, though, Twilight snatched it with her magic and read aloud.

"'Time is of the essence. The Canterlot Express leaves from Ponyville Station in five minutes.'"

The human clapped his hands together and rose to his feet, a feat that the ponies still found unnerving. "Well then, we must be going. Time stops for no man! Or pony."

Applejack held up a hoof. "Hang on now, sugarcube. What do you mean, 'we'?"

Gim was already halfway to the door before he stopped and replied. "I had assumed that Twilight would want to hear my conversation with the Princesses, and that the rest of you would want to accompany her. Was I wrong?"

"Well...no."

Carmichaels grinned. "Right then. To Canterlot!"

[Compiler's note: In the interest of providing a simplified account of Operation Northwest Passage, the six and one-half minutes in which the subjects made their way to the train station without inciting widespread panic of a monster attack have been omitted. For such an account, please refer to Supplementary Document AE-21.4.]