So this story is kinda like a prequel to the Steven Universe storyline, giving readers an insight on the Homeworld's point of view of the Rebellion. It was inspired by a piece of dialogue that Greg had said during 'The Return' and has been stuck in my head for sometime. . I'm intending on adding some heavy themes in this story later on. Because as Greg would've put it, "No such thing as a good war, kiddo."
I'm just going to give a short summary on when this story is set placed.
The year is 3760 B.C.E and it's been 10 years since the Great Diamond Authority have established their colony on Earth. But their plans are halted by the presence of a group of rebels known as the Crystal Gems, led by Rose Quartz. White Diamond has since ruled Homeworld alone while trying to find a more peaceful solution to end the rebellion and perhaps even save a few humans in the process.
Prologue
Through the windows of her tower, White Diamond gazed at the skyline of Neo Adamas, where the rising Sun slowly consumed the grey sky in orange. Below, she could see the various spacecrafts coming and going from the space port. Most of them were transport carriers bringing materials, supplies and soldiers to their newly discovered planet, Earth; a planet so rich with organic life until it would make a suitable Kindergarden planet.
Earth is ideal for an industry planet, White Diamond thought. But haven't we already had enough planets colonized? She had grown tired of her sisters' ambitions for global expansion. Always take this planet and that planet then colonize it. Homeworld has now expanded to five star systems and colonized over 100 planets. So why must they conquer another one?
That wasn't White Diamond's decision to make. Like the color of her gemstone embedded on her forehead, she maintained neutrality, often choosing what seems to be the best decision for both sides, earning her the title, The Fair Diamond from her other sisters.
The door behind her opened, revealing a Pearl with milky-white skin and wearing a white dress slowly walking towards her mistress.
"Forgive me to interrupt, my Diamond," said the Pearl in a courteous manner. "The Diamonds are requesting to speak with you."
White Diamond sighed before she pulled up her hood. "Very well, Pearl. You may leave and continue with your duties."
Obediently, the Pearl obeyed and left the room without saying a single word. The lighting in the room soon dimmed down as the windows were darkened, preventing any sunlight from entering. A beam of light emerged from the centre of the room before it split into two, diamond-shaped screens of yellow and blue. Blue Diamond and Yellow Diamond soon appeared in their respective screens. Both were equally powerful and well-respected like her.
"Ah, White Diamond," Yellow Diamond spoke. "It's so good to see you again." Hard was what she was known for. She was acting Military Governor of Earth in response to the troublesome activities caused by a group of rebel Gems. She wore a yellow military coat decorated with medals, ribbons and diamond-shaped epaulettes as befit a Military Governor.
"As am I, Yellow Sister," White Diamond replied before turning towards Blue Diamond's screen. "And you too, Blue Sister. So how goes the colonization of Earth?"
"Terrible," Blue Diamond expressed her frustration under her hooded face. "Our Injector teams are constantly being harassed by the rebels and we only managed to complete the Lunar Sea Spire. I thought your soldiers would deal with them, Yellow Sister."
"They are dealing with them." Yellow Diamond rebutted. "Rose Quartz is proven to be more elusive than I had expected. And the presence of a defective Pearl as her second-in-command is making the other upper-class Gems a bit concerned about their own Pearls."
"Then we'll just offer free inspections and repairs for them at the G.T.C Centers." White Diamond suggested. Her wisdom and decisive actions was the reason the Great Diamond Authority was able to maintain order in their vast empire and it was that reason she'd stayed in Neo Adamas while her Diamond sisters were busy colonizing Earth.
"You are ever so wise, White Sister." Blue Diamond praised, agreeing to her decision. "This would ensure the noble Gems' loyalty to us, including the Pearls. After all, no one can resist a generous offering from the Great Diamond Authority."
"Yes, yes. Speaking of generous offerings," Yellow Diamond flicked her screen and displayed her reports. "There have been reports of 'unwanted visitors' coming to Earth."
"Unwanted visitors?" White Diamond asked in curiosity.
"Crooks, outlaws, smugglers and all of their kind are flocking into Earth under the guise as workers to join Rose's ever-growing rebellion." She revealed in disgust. "It seems every one of them is buying in the words of a traitor. Betraying the Homeworld for freedom? Hmph, I would say it's a foolish cause."
Oh yes it is a foolish cause indeed, Yellow Sister. Enough to get Pink Diamond wrongfully executed. "Then persuade them to stop joining Rose Quartz's army. Offer them an Octahedral pardon in exchange for their loyalty towards the Homeworld and the whereabouts of Rose Quartz. Give them credits, a house, anything they lack which we can give."
Blue Diamond only froze, placing a hand on her mouth to cover the shock while Yellow Diamond widened her eyes, gritting her teeth as she suppressed the anger boiling inside of her.
"I would prefer to have their gemstones crushed for their intolerance!" she declared with a tone of half-suppressed anger. "They are rebels, they don't deserve any pardons, only punishment and death."
She had got her sister right where she wanted. Being angry makes her sister do rash actions, rash actions that can be easily manipulated by her if she played her cards right. It was always fun to mess with her from time to time. "And where would that bring us, my dear sister?" she began her ploy with a resounding question. "It would provide another reason for them to join Rose Quartz's army." She heard a small snicker coming from Blue Diamond's screen before continuing. "My decisions are made for the best of Homeworld and our colonies; both current and future ones. I don't want this rebellion to rage on into an all-out war. The sooner we finish this rebellion, the sooner you two can resume the colonization activity."
Yellow Diamond stood there, thinking about what her sister had said. Her anger diminished with each passing second until her eyes calmed down and she let out a breath. It was easy to anger her, but calming her down was an ability only a few Gems could do.
"Very well, we will give them an Octahedral pardon. But, only after they served 10 years in suspended imprisonment and reveal the rebels' activities and whereabouts. Yellow Diamond, signing out."
"I say that was well done, White Sister." Blue Diamond proclaimed as the communication line between them and Yellow Diamond was terminated.
"To be honest, I thought she wouldn't fall for it." White Diamond confessed. "By the way, have you seen the schematics I've shown you for the human settlement?"
"Yes, this, Project Atlantis is quite… interesting. Tell me White Sister, why do you take interest in these humans?"
"They're very curious little organisms. They seem to be fairly civilized despite their primitive nature. I believe we can further evolve their civilization if we guide their way."
Blue Diamond lowered her head and shook in slight disagreement. "You do know that when we start hollowing the planet, all organic life will die, including the humans."
"I know," She solemnly agreed. "That is why I'm asking you and Yellow Diamond to give me a portion of the planet for me to keep. It's certainly not as much as Rose Quartz wanted and you can still have enough of the planet's life energy to mine."
"You know as well as I do that everyone respects your decisions, White." It was one of the only few times Blue Diamond had ever said her first name and that was when she was in her very good mood. "But unless the threat of the rebels has been eliminated, your request will be on hold. I will however, give you the resources to continue Project Atlantis. I hope to see this project you have put high hopes on be completed in the near future. Blue Diamond, signing out."
White Diamond could only sigh in relief as the room lightened up. With Blue Diamond backing up her project, she could only wait for the time when Gems and another different species could live together. Atlantis was her grand masterpiece, a safehaven and settlement for humans who wanted to live on a Gem-occupied Earth. She had already sent probes to scout the different sectors in the planet, hoping to gain more information on the humans' culture, lifestyle and society then integrate it into her project. The only problem she had was convincing Yellow Diamond to let her keep a portion of the Earth. Without her approval, her vision of a sanctuary will be destroyed the moment they start hollowing the Earth.
If only I had someone to convince her. White Diamond thought. Someone that has the same expertise as her, someone who has experience in the battlefield, someone reliable and trustworthy, someone…
Before an image could appear in her head, the Pearl entered the room again. "Forgive me, my Diamond." She said in the same courteous manner as before. "But there is a 'Sol' waiting in your office."
Hearing the name, White Diamond grinned. Someone like Sol.
Sunstone Facet 5F7G Cut 50L was no ordinary Gem. He was Feldspar; Gems more powerful and superior than Quartzes during their prime time. But that was in the past. Now he and his brother, Orthoclase were ghosts of a forgotten Gem species.
He waited at White Diamond's office which was unsurprisingly, white and pure, nearly spotless of dirt. He was dressed in his standard orange diamond outfit with a charcoal vest. The faded diamond-shaped emblem was visible behind it. The cool air breezed through his black hair, writhing through the air like fire.
He then heard the massive door slid open. White Diamond entered wearing her white robes with ashen-grey accents. She was nearly four times the height of Sol. Even her chair looked like a small building.
"Sol," White Diamond greeted him with a kind and friendly voice before she took her seat. "How fortunate you came by. I was just thinking about you."
"Really, my Diamond?" Sol quipped. "Because the only time you have ever thought about me is when you have something for me to do."
The giant robed woman giggled, having her plans revealed by her servant's wild guess. "Well, it seems my secret has been exposed. Yes, I do have a task for you but for now, let's talk like friends."
White Diamond has always been a friend to him and his brother ever since they were created. She treated them like a friend instead of a servant, though only showing this when the other Diamonds weren't around. They exchanged stories on what happened to them during the day. White Diamond sharing her ideas of Project Atlantis and her disappointment towards her fellow Diamonds' continued colonization activities while Sol expressed his boredom due to the lack of action happening around the Homeworld. He was part of White Diamond's Expeditionary Force but due to his leader's neutrality towards the colonization of Earth, he had been resorted to serve as a temporary police officer to maintain order around Neo Adamas.
"So how's your brother, Sol?" White Diamond asked.
"Quiet, and depressed," Sol solemnly answered as he laid back on the couch. "He's been like that ever since he found out she had joined Rose's Rebellion. And it gets worse every time the Homeworld News broadcasts her defeat over Yellow Diamond's army." He had once went to Orthoclase's mountainside home to check-up on him, only to find the interior of his house slashed and destroyed with his brother's tantrum of rage echoing through the corridors. But on the next day, everything was repaired and placed back on its original position with Orthoclase meditating outside. He could never understand the pain and suffering his brother had gone through that day.
Snapping himself out of the dreadful memory, Sol wanted to change the subject. "Alright, I think that's enough personal talk, my Diamond. Now tell me about this mission you have for me."
"On a scale of 1 to 10, how bored are you?"
"8.5," Sol answered, confused at the question. "Don't get me wrong, I like chasing criminals and the desk work. But it's just not like the expeditionary days when things were a little… intense."
"Intense huh? Well this mission might just suit you well enough." She then summoned a screen from the palm of her hands and displayed it in front of Sol's couch. "How knowledgeable are you on the current events on Earth."
The question rang like a rank 1 pop quiz in the Military Academy. "Earth is being colonized by the Homeworld, led by Blue Diamond and Yellow Diamond. Their progress is temporarily being halted by a group of rebels led by Rose Quartz who was Pink Diamond's subordinate. Currently, the progress to full colonization has just reached 1%."
White Diamond nodded to all except for the last one. "Mathematically, it's actually 0.97% complete. I guess this means you're ready for Earth."
Sol was surprised at his newly-assigned mission. He thought he would at least get a simple reconnaissance mission to an uncharted area of a colonized planet. But this, this was quite a reprieve from his daily job. Yet, he was skeptical on why he was selected.
"But White Diamond, I thought you said you kept your neutrality in the colonization of Earth. Why the sudden change of heart?"
White Diamond shrugged before explaining. "Well it's more personal rather than of interest. You do know about Project Atlantis and my plans to preserve a portion of Earth once it's colonized right?" After getting a nod of understanding from her friend, she continued. "Blue Diamond has already agreed on funding my project, but she will not give away a portion of Earth to me unless the rebels have been taken care of. And currently, Yellow Diamond is taking care of the rebels and she is too busy to look into my plans."
Sol was starting to see the bigger picture here. "So let me guess, you want me to go to Earth and help Yellow Diamond take care of the rebels who, in turn, solves Blue Diamond's problem and in return, you get both the Diamonds' approval to let you keep a portion of Earth?"
"Exactly." White Diamond smiled in amusement to see him crack her motives so quickly. "In short, you'll be my representative; my eyes and ears on Earth and the hand that carries out my orders. You'll follow the other Diamonds' orders, gain their trust and convince them to give me my share of Earth. Oh, and be sure to gather some intel on the humans. I need it for my research."
"So when can I get started?" Sol was already eager to get back out in the field. Exploring the great unknown and discovering foreign creatures. That was life in the Expeditionary Force.
"You'll board the H.N.S. Gemini at 0400 tomorrow at Phyrus Space Port. Best you pack up and prepare."
"I will," He bowed in respect before standing up to leave. "And thank you for this, my Diamond. It really means a lot to me to get out in the field again."
"The pleasure is all mine, Sol. Now if you'll excuse me, I need to make some calls to my Diamond sisters to inform them of your arrival." White Diamond stood up and went out of the office. Her subtle footsteps resonated through the room until the door closed, leaving Sol to ponder at his thoughts.
"Earth," He said to himself. It was like a mystifying word; so simple yet it brought a lot of meaning. To him, it meant adventure and exploration. To the Homeworld, it meant a new colony and new resources. But what struck out the most for him was why the rebels fought for Earth. Betraying Homeworld just to save one planet. He couldn't help but laugh at the irrationality of the idea. White Diamond had a similar yet smaller scale idea that didn't involve invoking the wrath of the Diamonds and so did Pink Diamond if her subordinate didn't cause that incident which led to her execution.
He let himself sink deep into his thoughts before the glaring sunlight from the windows awoken him with a rejuvenated energy. He looked out the window to see Neo Adamas's towering spires overshadowed by the planet's Sun and pictured a colonized Earth with hundreds of them dotting the surface, reaching out to space and his Diamond's Atlantis floating in the middle of the sea with humans interacting with the middle-class Gems.
If this works, maybe Rose Quartz would see her mistake and just surrender. And if she doesn't, then it would only make her life more difficult.
Author's Note:
I created White Diamond as a sort of 'negotiator' among the Diamonds. Someone who could solve problems without causing more problems.
Vocabulary:
G.T.C Center - General Treatment & Care Center
