Chapter Text
BEGIN REPORT OF POTENTIAL ASSET:
A transcript of a personal log belonging to Amethyst 5F3L, Cut 1SP, was recovered from a terminal in the remains of a small bunker. Located in the south end of the seventh facet of Klavius 7, the bunker was found in a state of disrepair three cycles after the reclamation of the colony under the Authority and its subsequent Yellow Court. The bunker itself seemed large enough to shelter ten quartz soldiers, and evidence from the scene and the transcript points to at least three Authority aligned gems using the bunker for shelter. Evidence on site and from the terminal point to an attempt to repair vital components of the structure, including but not limited to the bunker’s external structure and power supply. The transcript was found in a damaged state, and an attempt to recover the lost and corrupted data was made by Peridot Facet 6F9L, Cut 3XC. After analyzing the transcript, a team of Ammolites and Citrines determined that its contents would be useful in determining the enemy’s protocol for asset use determination and management for newly acquired colonies. This in turn could be utilized for predicting enemy movements and decision-making priorities on a facet-by-facet level.
BEGIN TRANSCRIPT:
ENTRY ONE:
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: My identification is Amethyst 5F3L, Cut 1SP. It’s been three cycles since the Red Banner took over the place. Good Stars, I knew we were on the edge of the no-gem’s-land, but (unintelligible) think those clods would be so bold as (unintelligible) here. I found this terminal in a downed drop-ship - figured I could use it to record stuff I saw, record my cycles, help keep me sane.
(Amethyst 1SP looks away from the camera)
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: I haven’t found any other survivors, so it gets lonely. I really hope this helps.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: The Red Banner clods are milling about the colony. I’m not engaging any of the soldiers I see, cause I don’t want to draw attention to myself - but I hear them talking. Some lower ranked soldiers were reporting to their higher-ups about the state of the warp pads on the colony - maybe they’re looking to see how easily they can get around the planet? Stars if I know what goes on in those gems of theirs. The nearest star is close to setting over the horizon, and it’s getting dark, so I’m ending this cycle’s log here.
(End Video)
ENTRY ONE NOTES:
Author: Peridot Facet 6F9L, Cut 3XC
Note one: This terminal was clearly damaged in whatever attack that caused the drop ship to crash. The audio quality throughout all of these logs is markedly poor, and her words are completely unintelligible when she mutters. I used our best audio editing software to try and create a transcript for this report, yet even it found difficulty at points. Regardless, I hope this transcript is of use to the higher-ups.
ENTRY TWO:
(the droning howl of wind can be heard through the recording, while Amethyst 1SP comes into focus on the screen)
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: My identification is Amethyst 5F3L, Cut 1SP. It’s been four cycles since the Red Banner took over Klavius 7. A cold wind is blowing over this facet, and the Red Banner (expletive) are shivering in their boots. Heh, serves them right. They think they can take over a colony, and not have the planet itself fight back?
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Well, in other news, I stumbled across a broken down Authority-issue skiff. Looks like it was hit by some kind of laser or plasma blast, as its got a hole ripped right through it. There were some gem shards scattered around it, but more importantly, I got some new weapons! I mean, not new new, obviously. But they’d probably want me to have them, since they aren’t using them or anything…
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: You know how you think you can get desensitized to seeing so much death when you’re on the front lines of a war? Yeah… that’s not how it works, like at all…
(Unintelligible muttering continues for 5.7871 microcycles)
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Just (expletive) whatever Ammolite came up with that story to gloss over how horrific war really is.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: (expletive), it’s cold.
(End Video)
BEGIN ENTRY TWO NOTES:
Author: Peridot Facet 6F9L, Cut 7HD
Note one:
Of course the audio receiver for the terminal decides to function perfectly when 1SP is swearing. Anyway, I censored the curses for the transcript.
ENTRY THREE:
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: I found a shelter!
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Ah I mean - my identification is Amethyst (unintelligible) SP. It’s been five cycles since (unintelligible) Banner took over, and I finally found a shelter from this (expletive) cold!
(Focus pans away from 1SP to reveal the remains of a small bunker, chunks of scrap metal from various downed craft can be seen in a pile in the center of the shelter)
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: I got all this scrap metal here, and I’m gonna use one of the spears that I found at the skiff as a makeshift welding (unintelligible). That way I can patch (unintelligible) holes around the place! I haven’t seen any of the Red Banner (expletive)s patrolling around here, so it should be safe.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: I got a lot of work ahead of me, but (unintelligible) be able to make something of this little shack…
(Amethyst sighs audibly, slouching her shoulders)
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: (Expletive), this’ll be a lot of work.
(End Video)
BEGIN ENTRY THREE NOTES:
Author: Peridot Facet 6F9L, Cut 3XC
Note one: She appears to have damaged the terminal even more during the process of moving it to the bunker. Additional calibrations will need to be made to the processing software to restore the audio file to an acceptable level.
Author: Peridot Facet 6F9L, Cut 7HD
Note two: Adjustments made as of 9 27 4.
ENTRY FOUR:
(Amethyst 1SP comes into frame appearing visibly exhausted, covered in various dark fluids, likely oil and grease)
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Uggggggh… is Amethyst 5F3L, Cut 1SP. It’s been seven cycles since the Red Banner took over Klavius 7. I didn’t get to make an entry last cycle, spent too much time building this.
(Amethyst 1SP gestures to the small bunker, now crudely patched together and reinforced with various hunks of metal).
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Now that a base of operations is established, I’m going to begin patrolling around, look for other survivors… maybe even put together some kind of guerrilla tactics group. Basically, (unintelligible) want to get my bearings on how this colony has changed. That sort of thing.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: (unintelligible) are finally looking up… Soon -soon I’ll make those (expletive)s pay for what they did to my Diamond’s colony.
(End Video)
BEGIN ENTRY FOUR NOTES:
No notes listed for this entry
ENTRY FIVE:
(Amethyst 1SP appears on screen - taking up most of the frame, an injured Peridot can be seen in the background, alongside an Ammolite gem who is administering medical aid to the Peridot.)
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Agh! No! Not record! I need stabilizing information! The quartz tears aren’t working!
PERIDOT 8F3L CUT 3NJ: Wwwwwwo It’ll work. Emit ti evig tsuj! It’s gnikrow (unintelligible)…
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: Add more tears! She’ll stabilize, she just needs-
(Video cuts off abruptly.)
BEGIN ENTRY FIVE NOTES:
Author: Peridot Facet 6F9L, 7HD
Note one:
This is the first appearance of gems other than Amethyst 1SP. The Peridot gem, who has yet to introduce herself as Peridot 8F3L, Cut 3NJ, specializes in electrical engineering for warships, forts, and other applications that require a high level of robust construction, according to our records and reports. The Ammolite gem, who has yet to introduce herself as Ammolite Facet 792, Cabochon 3, is responsible for overseeing the development of shipping manifests for incoming and outgoing Yellow Court vessels for most of Sector Four.
ENTRY SIX:
(Amethyst 1SP, Peridot 3NJ, and Ammolite Cabochon 3 appear disheveled and scuffed, but uncracked, each facing the terminal)
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: It… this is Amethyst 5F3L, Cut 1SP. It’s been eight? eight cycles since the Red Banner took over Klavius 7.
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: 8.9063428 cycles, to be exact.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Right, thank you. Anyway, on my most recent patrol, I ventured to the west and found two other refugees piloting a makeshift skiff. We were spotted by Red Banner troops, and were easily outnumbered.
PERIDOT 8F3L CUT 3NJ: We could’ve gotten away if that (expletive) Citrine didn’t get a lucky hit on the engine.
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: Well, we should count ourselves lucky that we got out with our gems in one piece. We lost the vehicle, but managed to get to the relative safety of this bunker.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: She’s right. Anyway, if you both want to introduce yourselves for the log?
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: Right, I am Ammolite Facet 792, Cabochon 3, of the Yellow Court, certified in record-keeping, with a focus in logistics and asset management.
PERIDOT 8F3L CUT 3NJ: And I’m Peridot, Facet 8, 8F3L, Cut 3NJ, of the Orange Court, certified in electrical engineering, with a focus in combat-durable design applications.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Together, we are are going to strike back at the Red Banner, and hopefully send some kind of distress signal out to the Authority. Although I had previously wanted to (unintelligible) a more combat capable team, I believe that our current group would be best suited to continue scouting for additional support.
PERIDOT 8F3L CUT 3NJ: I would have to agree, neither of us are fighters like you…
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Given your ingenuity and resourcefulness, I believe that you should stay behind Peridot and work on making this bunker a more suitable place of refuge and base of operations.
PERIDOT 8F3L CUT 3NJ: Sounds good to me!
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Good. Now Ammolite, based on your attention to detail and large stamina, I think you would be best suited to helping me map out where Red Banner encampments are, and aid in the search of more survivors.
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: That makes the most sense.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Wonderful. Now that we have our roles set out for us, I think we’ve earned a good rest after the cycle we’ve had.
(Video ends.)
BEGIN ENTRY SIX NOTES:
Author: Peridot Facet 6F9L, Cut 3XC
Note one: Given the marked increase in the quality of captured audio and video between this entry and the next, it is safe to assume that Peridot 8F3L, Cut 3NJ worked on repairing the terminal in addition to restoring the functionality of critical utilities to the bunker.
ENTRY SEVEN:
(Ammolite Cabochon 3 fills much of the frame, appearing dishevelled and panicked. The other two refugees can be seen behind her, appearing less shaken than Ammolite. Amethyst also appears to have just entered the bunker, possibly having followed Ammolite as she made haste to the shelter).
PERIDOT 8F3L CUT 3NJ: -ding straight for the terminal? What did you two see? If it was so important, tell me first!
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: I heard a commotion from where I was patrolling, but I didn’t see anything.
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: My identification is Ammolite Facet 792, Cabochon 3, it has been 9.3072947 cycles since the Red Banner captured Klavius 7, yet on this cycle… on this cycle the Authority began an effort to take it back.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: What? Reinforcements are here? We can help them! We have weapons and intel from being here on th-
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: H-help them?! I saw them. I saw… I saw and I saw, and I saw. I saw her. I… I was patrolling north from the bunker, close to an encampment of Red Banner soldiers. That was when it happened.
PERIDOT 8F3L CUT 3NJ: Her?? Who is this her?
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: The sky split open before me, drop ship after drop ship spilled forth from the heavens bathed in the light of our Star. And I saw her. She stood atop the very craft that parted the clouds as though the massive vessel was naught but a humble skiff. I watched, feeling as helpless as a freshly emerged stone as I pressed myself into the cleft of the rock wall I had perched upon. Yet though I was sore afraid, I could not find it within me to tear my gaze from her form. Her eyes were ablaze like twin Stars, her every movement so graceful and powerful, it was as though I was watching a planet spin in orbit, or a vessel cut through space. The gem, the being that I beheld was a force of nature, a manifestation and messenger of the Diamonds’ own will. I found myself so transfixed on her form that I did not see the Red Banner troops attempting to organize an attack until pulses of laser fire rose up from the ground to meet her. She was unbothered, she stood calm and resolute, unwavering. Neither her vessel, nor any other ship in her fleet slowed their decent. Instead she drew a spear from the gem on her forehead and pointed it at the feeble gems below. It was not plasma fire, but words that flew forth from the gem. She spoke with such surety and power I felt myself trembling with fear. Such a force, such a raw energy washed over my gem, her very presence bringing with it an unmistakable weight. She declared the colony to once more be under the rule of the Yellow Court, and ordered the Red Banner gems to leave or face shattering.
PERIDOT 8F3L CUT 3NJ: W-what?? She just rides up and talks to them, what kind of gem-
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: This was no mere gem. The Red Banner gems called her Lustrous… and her lithe form and radiant burning light only confirmed what I heard. The very hand to her Radiance, the Radiance White Diamond oversaw the attack.
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: The Lustrous Pearl!? What happened next??
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: The Red Banner did not surrender, and the space betwixt the two forces erupted in light. The Lustrous Pearl stood atop the craft firing beams of plasma from her spear, sniping enemy turrets and ordering troops. Her words reverberated through the battlefield like a song, the very air vibrating with the sound of her voice! Enemy lines fell at a word! Turrets and trenches were overrun with a flick of her wrist! There was nothing left. Reinforce her? Reinforce HER??? You don’t understand… You don’t - you cant understand! Nothing is capable of standing in her presence, and only the Radiances themselves can survive in her wake! Light and fury were all that existed in that space, she descended upon the lines of foes as every bit an avenging messenger of the Diamonds that is spoken of! And the shards of gems were all that remained!
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Okay, what would you recommend we do?
AMMOLITE FACET 792 CABOCHON 3: We must go to the Authority forces at once, to be given safe departure from this colony, lest we be razed to the ground, mistaken for the very gems that stranded us on this planet!
AMETHYST 5F3L CUT 1SP: Sounds like a plan. What do you think 3NJ?
PERIDOT 8F3L CUT 3NJ: Whatever gets us off this rock faster works for me!
(Video ends)
END TRANSCRIPT
CONCLUSION:
Citrine ma’am, it is in my opinion that this transcript provides critical insight as to the priorities of the Red Banner as they gain new colonies, and underscores the importance of the continued innovation of warp pad securities technology. I highly recommend reassigning existing information technologies and securities certified Peridots to Peridot Facet 2F4L, Cut 1AR’s Emergency Protocols task force.
Regards,
Nephrite Facet 382, Cabochon 1