When you have four consecutive chapters with Peridot in the title.

"It ends here!"

Characters created by: Rebecca Sugar

Chapter 5: Preparation

Area 51

The gate leading into the underground launch station opened, revealing President Eisenstein, his staff, Major Seldomridge, and the Crystal Gems. Eisenstein pointed to the researchers, including Dr. Doberman.

"You guys got some more ships to fix. Recruit anyone here who knows at least a little about fixing, inserting, and building things. The Gems will help you as well. We need all the help we can get."

Dr. Doberman walked up to Eisenstein.

"What's wrong, Mr. President?"

"Homeworld is coming back, this time with more intergalactic ships, and some "Harvester" that can supposedly drill into our planet's core. We must stop them."

"Oh. Oh my! Uh, right away, Mr. President!"

President Eisenstein turned to the Gems.

"You never really told me, what are you actually planning to do once we get these ships fixed up?"

Most of them just looked to each other. Then, Lapis spoke.

"We fly up there, get Peridot, and bring her back to Earth!"

Eisenstein was a bit perplexed.

"And then what?"

"Well, she's the only one who would know about the Harvester's weakness, assuming it has a weakness, and we can take advantage of that."

Eisenstein looked to the floor and back up.

"Well, you know more about Homeworld than me, so I have full confidence in what you are doing. But first, I think we need to meet with someone first. Come."

Eisenstein walked off, and they all followed.

Somewhere Else In Area 51-Two Minutes Later

"Captured?!" said Joshua Madison, "Peridot was captured?!"

He paced around, with his wife, Talia, and son Zack. President Eisenstein stood with the rest as he continued speaking.

"I'm afraid so. She was captured by Gems in Empire City. Now a whole fleet of Gem ships and some "Harvester" are heading towards Earth. We need her back so we can figure out how to stop them. We need you to fly the Gems and teach these other pilots how to fly the Gem ships, so we can at least send a small squad of them up there to save her."

Joshua stopped pacing and looked to him.

"Anything for a friend."

Talia stood up.

"Joshua…"

Joshua turned to her as she stood in front of him. He looked down to her as she whispered.

"Don't tell me you're gonna go up there again."

"Talia, Peridot is my friend. She's in trouble."

"Yes, but what about you?"

"Earth is in danger if we don't get Peridot back. I don't know what this "Harvester" is, but it doesn't sound good… I'll be fine… I promise…"

She looked to the floor, and back to him.

"Okay, but be careful."

He smiled.

"Hey, I escaped one giant ship, I think I can escape a fleet of them."

She kissed him, and then he turned to Eisenstein.

"I'll do it."

"Alright." said Eisenstein, "Let's get started."

Soon enough, crashed ships from the nearby downed Set Location Destroyer were hauled to the airfield, and the citizens watched from a safe distance. People were soon being recruited to help fix them. Soon, everyone was getting to work.

Two Days Later

A crew was installing new highly resistant glass into a fixed Gem fighter craft, which was also fitted with missiles and two machine gun taken from a jet aircraft. The Gems looked on.

"That's Nineteen!" said Pearl.

A soldier on top of a ladder threw a bottle of champagne at the craft's side, the bottle shattering, and champagne spilled all over.

"Very nice." said Pearl, "We're getting crafts made fast."

"Thanks to the researchers who spent years finding out how they work." said Lapis.

"Well, thanks to all the people who volunteered to help." said Garnet.

"And thanks to Peridot for setting instructions on fast rebuilding and reverse-engineering, and being an all around genius." said Steven.

"And thanks to her limb enhancers for helping me levitate those parts together!" said Connie, wearing Peridot's limb enhancer arms, as she made a peace sign with both hands.

Steven erupted in laughter.

"You really know how to use those things."

"All it takes is the mind, Steven." said Connie, putting a finger to her forehead.

Just then, President Eisenstein stepped up behind them.

"Gems."

They all turned to him.

"You guys gotta see this."

He turned and speed-walked off. The Gems followed, Connie taking off Peridot's limb enhancers and handed them to Lapis. They all followed Eisenstein to a hangar, where he stopped in front of a soldier holding a laptop.

"Alright, show them." he said.

The soldier turned the screen of the laptop to them, displaying sound waves. Audio was playing.

"You hear that?" asked Eisenstein.

They listened. It was a loud noise, almost like a roar, constantly rising then descending in pitch. In the background was a loud hum.

"Where is it coming from?" asked Pearl.

The soldier typed on the laptop, and the screen changed.

"See for yourself." he said.

The screen showed footage of the Moon. Then, they noticed something. Something was rising above the Moon in the video. It was a giant disk shaped craft with smaller arms branching off a little, a considerable amount bigger than even the Moon. It was being escorted by much smaller Gem warships. The crew was in disbelief.

"Is that the Harvester?" said Pearl.

"That thing is huge!" said Steven.

"Even bigger than Yellow Diamond's Mothership." said Garnet, "A whole lot bigger."

"Jesus Christ, they're here."

Meanwhile In The Desert…

One of Yellow Diamond's staff looked to a small holographic screen, displaying Blue Diamond.

"My Diamond, Blue Diamond is on to speak to you." she said.

Yellow Diamond walked over and crouched down to catch a glimpse of Blue Diamond.

"Hello, Blue."

"Yellow, the fleet has arrived. They are travelling over the Earth's moon as we speak. I'm sending a large transport ship to your coordinates to pick you up." said Blue Diamond.

"Alright. Thank you, Blue."

The screen disappeared, and Yellow Diamond rose up, looking at the sky.

Soon enough, a glow could be seen in the sky, the glow slowly evolving into a whole tail. Something was entering the atmosphere. It was a large Gem transport ship, big enough to house a giant Diamond such as Yellow. The ship came closer and closer before finally slowing down. Now moving slowly, the craft descended down in front of Yellow Diamond. The front opened up, revealing two Gem soldiers from Blue Diamond's rule, both giving the Diamond salute.

"Lord Yellow Diamond!" they said simultaneously.

Yellow Diamond walked into the ship, followed by her staff. The Gems continued giving the Diamond salute to them.

"M'Ladies!" said both.

They walked in, two of them holding Peridot by her arms. As they passed, the two Gems followed from behind, and the front of the ship closed. The ship started, and it began ascending slowly. It turned and sped upwards.

Back At Area 51…

"Look at this, Mr. President!" said the soldier holding the laptop, "Something's been detected leaving Earth!"

They all looked at the screen. A glowing yellow dot was moving fast out of Earth's atmosphere.

"We detected that thing entering Earth's atmosphere only 30 seconds before." said the soldier.

"We need to go, now!" said Garnet, "Come on, Gems."

The Gems ran in the direction of one of the Gem fighters.

"Steven!" yelled Greg from behind.

Steven turned to him.

"Be safe!" said Greg.

"I will!"

He turned back and followed the others. Connie saw her parents running to the group as they stopped in front of the craft.

"Connie!" said Priyanka as she hugged her daughter, "Do not get yourself killed."

"I'll be okay. I have Steven, he always makes sure I'm safe."

"We love you." said Doug.

She looked at them and smiled.

"I know."

She turned and follow the others. They each walked into the ship through the open hatch, but Pearl soon peaked back out.

"Wait, where's Joshua?"

Joshua was then running over.

"Right here!"

"We gotta get going!" said Pearl, "Come on in!"

He stepped in and ran to the pilot's console.

"Ready to rip and roll!" he said.

The craft began ascending slowly, with the others doing the same. Their craft sped first, down the runway, and up into the sky. All the others followed behind them. President Eisenstein looked on.

"Good luck…"