Chapter 2

Pyrite

Two Months Later

"So what do you think of being in command of a company instead of a whole battalion?"

"To be honest, it's a giant relief. I didn't mind being in charge of one-thousand Gems but in comparison to only two-hundred it was a lot of work. Plus, now I have a lot more time to spend with you guys."

Pyrite, Axinite, Howlite, and Aventurine stood in formation with the rest of their company and the other four-thousand Gems around them. They had all been sent here by their commanding generals without clear notification of exactly what they were doing. Aventurine had been given an extremely vague explanation from Tourmaline. She said that she and the rest of the Module Battalion's Zeta Company were to attend a specialized training course that could very well change the outcome of the war. As exciting as that sounded it did not exactly make things any clearer.

Just by looking around it could be seen that Crystal Gems from all over the world had been gathered here. Each Gem had their own unique look. Colors ranged everywhere on the spectrum, some Gems were large while others were the size of Human children. Zeta Company though was not like them.

Because the sector they occupied was lush forest and rugged, Aventurine and the Crystal Gems under her command wore dark green so that they blended in with the area, but for the moment they were standing in a wide clearing. General Tourmaline explained to them that they needed to change the way they dressed in accordance to their surroundings. Otherwise you would stick out like a sore thumb and make it easy for the enemy to spot you.

"I saw some Gems from Rose Quartz's army here," Howlite said with glee, "It must be pretty cool to be under her command. To be fighting with the Grand General."

Axinite looked down the row at Howlite to ask, "Do you not like General Tourmaline?"

"No! Of course not! She's a great leader and commander! Being a part of the Coalescence Brigade has taught me more than my entire experience in the Fortitude Brigade… I wish we could have been with her from the beginning." Howlite and the others laughed but inside a sudden pain spiked through all of them.

It had been two months since they had first been attached to the Coalescence Brigade. The Gems that comprised the Coalescence Brigade's Zeta Company were all survivors of the "Erroneous Battle", as it was now called. They all tried to forget about that battle, about that mistake. Whenever someone brought it up horrible memories would surface. No amount of time could make them forget.

Pyrite heard the sound of marching coming from the right of the company. Others turned to look and soon everyone was watching the battalion of four-hundred Gems clad in black uniforms and armor take their place in front of the entire brigade. Pyrite recognized just about everyone in front of her. They were all Gems from Tourmaline's Brigade. Specifically the Amalgamate Battalion.

Their commanding officer was Commander Obsidian: a short, frail looking Gem with black hair which matched the color of her dress. She ordered her battalion to halt and spun to face the battalion revealing the dark gem that replaced her right eye to everyone in attendance.

"Brigade! Attention!"

Pyrite and those around her straightened up and became absolutely silent. They remained like this for at least five minutes before anything notable happened. From the right of the brigade entered two Gems. Pyrite could name them both: Iolite and Carnelian. As they walked to the front-center of the brigade Pyrite tried to remember everything she could about them.

There was a lot of talk and rumors surrounding Iolite. Supposedly she was an expert with all types of weaponry and had trained most if not all of the Crystal Gems' commanding officers and generals, and every member of the Coalescence Brigade. This seemed a bit farfetched considering that Iolite was a lower rank to many of them. If she was the one who had trained them she should have been their superior or at least an equal.

Aside from the rumors there was not much Pyrite knew about Iolite for certain. The two had never spoken to each other and rarely did they ever meet. One of these occasions was during a routine combat practice. One of the Gems in the Coalescence Brigade had jokingly challenged Iolite to a duel. They did not expect her to accept but when she did she easily defeated her opponent. The duel had lasted seconds. During which Iolite had exerted little to no energy in subduing her opponent.

Carnelian's history was just as equivocal. Not even rumors surrounded the Gem. She was always cheerful despite everything going on around her. According to the veterans of the Coalescence Brigade, Carnelian even smiled in battle. They said that she seemed even happier on the battlefield, like she genuinely enjoyed, not just fighting, but destroying other Gems. Her age was a mystery, some guessed she was a few hundred years old, others said at least five-thousand. Where she came from was even more unclear. Before the war no one had any recollection of her and when someone would inquire about her origin Carnelian would simply shrug and skip away with an innocent smile.

"Welcome," Iolite said. Her calm, stern voice boomed so that everyone could hear her clearly. "I am Commandant Iolite Sunstone. You are here because you have been deemed the best by your commanding generals. Your strengths, talents, and skills will be tested and further improved over the next twelve weeks as my subordinates and I put you through rigorous and grueling training.

"This training is not only for your benefit but the benefit of the Crystal Gems as a whole. Here we speak nothing but the truth. And the truth is that we are not winning this war. Every battle that we fight, we lose hundreds of Gems that cannot be replaced. Homeworld, however, can easily replace their lost numbers. So what do we do?

"We train the Gems that we have to fight better, faster, stronger, and win with ease. We do not just build warriors but leaders. On the battlefield you will have to be the deciding factor in whether or not we succeed. Expect challenges that will push your body and mind to the brink of collapse, anticipate difficulties that will seem nearly impossible, and prepare yourself for the next three months knowing that what you do here will determine the not only your fate but the fate of those around you. Victory or defeat? Life or death? Which do you choose?"

Iolite turned to leave and Obsidian took over for her. "This morning," She announced, "We will be splitting you up into your teams and proceed to tour the camp site. After that you will begin your training. But at this time the Gems wearing black uniforms like myself will disperse into your companies. They are your instructors. They will watch and take note of your performance.

"Be warned: this program is not for everyone. If you fail one of the examination trials or the instructors find you to be unfit for this program you will be sent back to your brigades. It is in your best interest to put forth your full effort. With this in mind… Commanders! Prepare your companies to move!"

Aventurine

"Keep your guard up! Don't let her get behind you!"

Aventurine, a slim green Gem with long hair swiped at the yellow jasper who raised her shield just in time to keep from being hit. Aventurine backed away as her opponent swung with her sword. Seeing an opening in the strong Gem's guard Aventurine leaped to the jasper's side and slammed her sword into the Gem's left forearm.

"Finished!" Fuchsite ended the match. The jasper threw her sword and shield down in frustration. "Hey! Grab your equipment and get off the field." The jasper was starting to get riled up. Her hands were balled into fists and her eyes focused in on the instructor. Just like every other jasper she was quick to anger. Fortunately, this one was also quick to realize that there would be no benefit in this fight. She grabbed her equipment and stood on the side with the rest of the Gems.

Aventurine was kept in the sparring area. A Ruby was waved forward as the next opponent. This time Fuchsite changed the rules. The Gems were to place armor on their bodies and victory went to the one who was able to shatter their other's armor first. Aventurine complied without question. A hardened layer of magic formed along her torso and limbs creating an appearance of a light set of armor.

"Is there a problem?" Rhodolite, the unexpressive instructor to Aventurine's squad, was beside the Ruby who had yet to manifest her armor.

"Um… well, you see… I-uh…"

Rhodolite asked the twenty-three other Gems around them, "Who else does not know how to use armor?" More than half of the Gems raised their hand. Even some of the Gems who were raised explicitly as warriors had no clue.

Truth be told, none of the instructors or veteran Gems were surprised by this. Armor magic was not very common as it took a lot of concentration to maintain and slowed you down pretty significantly if you were not accustomed to its weight. That being said, if you were able to wear armor and still move efficiently you were considered one of the more powerful Gem warriors. The strongest could adorn "heavy armor" and move as if there was nothing at all.

Rhodolite and Fuchsite halted the sparring match in order to teach the Gems how to create armor through magic. Aventurine and those who already knew were asked to help anyone who was having trouble. It took about forty minutes for all the Gems to figure out how to create a basic set. Most of them seemed distraught by the unnatural weight and amount of focus it took to create the armor.

Fuchsite called Aventurine and the Ruby back to the center for their match. Aventurine's eyes met Rhodolite's who simply gave her a shrug. They both knew this would end in no time. The Ruby already looked tired from her armor and they had yet to begin.

"Begin!"

Aventurine raised her shield as the Ruby charged her. The small red Gem was slow. She lunged with her sword which Aventurine slapped out of her hand. A kick to the stomach shattered the Gem's armor and sent her backwards into the grass.

"Finished." Fuchsite called the next Gem. Then the next one and the next one until everyone had a chance to spar. Aventurine had yet to be defeated. "Gather 'round," Fuchsite said. "Does anyone know why we are training with armor?"

"Because it helps protect us," One of the rubies suggested.

"Exactly. I know in this moment that it may seem pointless or just a burden but trust me when I say that you all need to learn how to manage this power. If you can learn to move as you do now while having the defensive properties that come with wearing heavy armor you will be nearly unstoppable on the battlefield. I'm going to give you a five minute break and then we will start again with our armor. Understood?" Fuchsite waved them off.

Aventurine stood with the other five members of her squad. "So," Blue Agate, a peppy little Gem asked Aventurine, "When did you learn to use armor magic? Weren't you a ship captain?"

"All aventurines fall under the quartz type. As quartz, we have a natural affinity to both combat and magic. From the moment we're created, aventurines already know how to create 'light' tier armor as well as a few other skills. It makes up for the fact that we are nowhere near as large as some other quartz Gems."

She meant practically every other quartz. Most of them took on large, beefy appearances that matched their incredible strength. Aventurines were thin and a much more "normal", by comparison, height. They relied on speed rather than overwhelming muscle.

"Why aren't you an instructor then since it seems you already know what we're doing?"

"Because we'll be learning things she's unfamiliar with." Rhodolite walked over to the resting Gems. "Do any of you have any questions? About anything at all?"

Pyrite did. She asked what it was like to be a Fusion all the time. Rhodolite thought that was a fair question. She corrected the inquisitive Gem that she was not constantly Fused. The two Gems that comprised her, a ruby and a rubellite tourmaline, could only handle being together for a certain period of time before becoming too exhausted and had to de-Fuse. Currently they had been Rhodolite for forty-one hours but their record to date was seventy-seven.

To answer Pyrite's question, she was more than happy to be Rhodolite. The power, knowledge, and experience was more than amazing. Every moment together better than the lifetime the two had been apart.

"That's why-" Fuchsite put her arm around Rhodolite with a large grin. "-She is constantly smiling!" Rhodolite kept the same emotionless expression she wore all the time. "If you really want to know what it's like being a Fusion you know who you should ask?"

"Uh- General Garnet?"

"No!" Fuchsite pushed off of Rhodolite and dismembered into another aventurine and a green apatite. "Us!" The apatite called out. "See, we're really good at what we do. Even better than Rhodie here! Our record is just over two-hundred ours, y'know." Apatite crossed her arms and fell backwards. The aventurine caught her and the two were engulfed in a white light.

"Ta-da!" Fuchsite said while striking a finishing pose. "Any questions for me?" Everyone was silent. "Oh well. Let's get back to it then but this time I want one-hundred and twenty percent from all of you!"

Peridot

Executive Director Peridot F1136-9024 walked through the loading area located inside building AC2-233. It was a large warehouse filled with hundreds of Gems, warriors and otherwise preparing to embark on through the Warp Pads to Earth. On her left a regiment of lawsonite, rubies, and adamite were beginning to march onto the pads and be transported the vast distances to a foreign battleground.

To Peridot's right was a company of constructors, technicians and engineers. Pyrites, peridots, and kyanites made up this group and were all turned to face and greet Peridot as she passed. Once Peridot had the group returned to facing the Warp Pads.

"Peridot F1136-9024," An emerald asked as she approached her lookout console.

"Yes?" Peridot stood several feet behind the taller, darker green Gem.

The emerald spun around and offered an information pad to Peridot who outstretched her arms from underneath her cloak. "Sorry for the inconvenience, Director, but I need this information completed before you pass through the Warp Pad with Regiment D-22. It's basic information: destination, who you'll be travelling with, and how many."

Peridot quickly inputted the desired requirements and handed the pad back to the emerald. "Is that all?"

"Yes, it is, Director." Peridot began to leave to join her regiment. "One moment, Director."

"Is there a problem," Peridot inquired. She was given no answer for a few moments. The emerald stared inquisitively at her information pad as if something was very, very wrong. "Pull your company to the side, please."

Peridot rushed down and passed the order along to her assistant supervisor and section leaders. The Gems under her command moved away from the Warp Pads in unison. So did the other regiments in the area. They all watched as a group of eight Gems emerged on the central Pad and began to cross the floor.

The first thing that caught Peridot's eye were the five hulking purple Gems. Peridot recognized them as amethysts. Never before had she laid eyes on them, only on their bio-reports. They were astonishing to gaze upon. Ten feet tall, clad in heavy, black armor with long white hair. It was obvious to anyone with a minimal level of intelligence that these Gems were created for war.

The amethysts dragged between them two smaller Gems— rather funny to say since most Gems are smaller than they. One of these Gems was a ruby, the other a citrine. They were beaten and appeared unconscious. Peridot noticed that the gem on the ruby's shoulder was cracked. A peculiar detail about these two was that they had large star designs on their bodies. A brand that marked them for all to see.

In a sudden outburst the citrine wretched herself free of her captors. She pulled a sword from her gem and dashed towards the lead Gem of the group. What a foolish mistake.

Peridot was unsure if anyone else knew who she was. That Gem was Red Coral. She was a special agent for the Diamonds known as a Mandate Operator, though because Red Coral was an agent who actually executed the plans her official rank was "Sentinel". Peridot had worked with her several times during her centuries of service. Not once had she ever witnessed Red Coral be touched by a weapon. This fact still held true.

As the citrine neared her target Red Coral reared back and collided her fist with her attacker's gem. The citrine exploded into dust and her gem fell to the floor. Cracked but not shattered. The group carried on as if nothing had happened and the room returned to their original positions.

After the incident Peridot's group was let through the Warp Pad. On the other side a team of rubies was waiting for her to come through.

"Executive Director Peridot?" She did not acknowledge them immediately. She was taking in the sight around her. They had emerged in Gateway Fortress One: an installation ten miles in diameter built to defend the Warp Pads as well as to supply energy all across the theatre. The walls spanned one-hundred and twenty feet into the air. Guards were posted along it at all times. Hundreds if not thousands of Gems occupied the inside. They were either maintaining the fortress or being deployed from it.

"Executive Director?"

"What?" Peridot shot the rubies an annoyed glare. They immediately tensed up and gave their names.

"We're here to escort you to Regiment A-103, Ma'am. Prime General Indicolite and General Dravite await you there."

"Is that all?"

The small, nervous Gems looked at each other briefly to confer. "Y-yes, Director."

"Then escort us. I want to leave as soon as possible."

"Yes, Ma'am!" The four Gems took off to the front of the companies who began to march behind them.

This small walk gave Peridot a chance to further bask in the fortress' eminence. According to the reports she had acquisitioned before being deployed to Earth, Gateway Fortress One employed state of the art machinery and technology. This included several gem powered particle cannons mounted along the walls that covered the four cardinal directions and the twelve long range and thirty-two local Warp Pads. As well, this fortress alone could supply the necessary energy for all major bases within the theatre to run at optimal capacity.

"Prime General Indicolite-" Peridot gave a slight bow at twenty degrees to the commanding Gem of the entire Gateway Fortress. The blue Gem returned Peridot's greeting with a bow of her own. A very peculiar instance since a Gem of the tourmaline classification is considered dominant to a peridot. "-It's been a while since we've last met."

The general flashed Peridot a smile. "It has, Executive Director Peridot. I suppose we both have moved up the chain of command. We're no longer field operatives but rather administrative officers." Her voice was smooth and wispy.

Peridot joked, "I think being a field agent was a lot more fun, to be honest. A lot less pressure on my shoulders as well." Indicolite covered her mouth with her coat sleeve as she chuckled.

"I could not agree more. Though, I believe that we will be making a bigger impact on things in our current positions."

Eighty-two years ago, before the rebellion, Executive Director Peridot and Prime General Indicolite, who at the time were Specialist Peridot and Agent Indicolite, had worked together as Mandate Operators. Their overall operation was to halt an insurgency on another world but their task was to gather information, locate any insurgents, their leaders, and devise a plan that resulted in the capture of the insurgent leaders and the elimination of anyone below them.

The operation had taken several weeks to plan and setup and needed the intervention of several Operators with much more distinguished records and skills. One of these Operators was Red Coral. When the mission was finally conducted on the forty-ninth day, the six Sentinels tasked with the apprehension of the insurgent leaders and elimination of their fifty-seven lackeys completed the mission without a hitch. In total the mission took approximately thirteen minutes from start to finish.

Over the next forty years Indicolite and Peridot had worked together on several other operations but that halted fourteen years ago. Peridot had been moved from Specialist to supervisor in preparation for her to take command of this new post. She assumed that Indicolite had also been given a position that was a preliminary to her current one.

The two did not reminisce for too long. But in the short time that they did speak both of them felt reassured. They trusted each other and were confident in their abilities to fulfill their new prerogatives: ensure the colonization of the planet Earth was completed, the termination of any further acts of aggression against the Diamond Authority, their worlds, and those who stood loyal to the Diamond Authority, and the detainment or eradication of Rose Quartz and her inner circle.

"Before you leave, Executive Director, I wanted to ask you something… Did you sign onto this position to avenge—"

"Yes." Peridot answered with her eyes locked with Indicolite's. "And it is for that reason alone that I am here. Her death will not go unpunished. I am no combatant, Indicolite, but I will be responsible the Crystal Gems are wiped off of this world."

Indicolite nodded with a smile. "I signed on for that exact reason. I guess when this is over we'll both be to blame for the eradication of the traitors."

"That is what I am hoping for." Peridot and Indicolite bowed one last time to each other before General Dravite was given permission to move her regiment out of the fortress.

"Have fun being in charge of the Kindergarten, Executive Director Peridot" the Prime General said, "Make sure we get lots of those amethysts."

"Of course, Prime General Indicolite! I know you'll run this fortress to its maximum efficiency and I hope that you won't have to use those cannons. But if you do, try to make sure their trained on the enemy!"