LOG-128.

  It was actually kind of insidious, just how easily someone could cause damage when placed in a position of trust, and to a lesser extent in my case, authority.

  I was the only survivor of the ever so terrible Lithoplague, after all. As such, I was the foremost expert on it, and to consult me on what had to be done before sending a team to double check what I'd reported was only common sense.

  That was how I found myself taking a trip via Warp pad away from Yellow's palace, the metaphorical breath of fresh air only barely limited by the fact that I was almost instantly singled out and escorted by an entire team of Peridots to the facility I was now tentatively in charge of, all of its occupants eager to figure out how to solve the problems I was posing for the duo that would be going to investigate.

  Setting all of those thoughts to the side for now, I brought a hand up and idly adjusted the golden jewellery hanging from the side of my head, voice intentionally lecturing.

  "Now remember, you're entering a fundamentally hostile environment. The infected spread through direct contact, that means these protective suits remain on at all times, understood?"

  The hulking Quartz in front of me scoffed for a moment, what little of her face was visible behind the visor of her brand new outfit containing an irritated expression.

  "It's too bulky. I can barely move in this, let alone fight."

  The original prototypes had actually been a lot sleeker, but my impromptu research and development team had been all too understanding of just why the material had to be thicker and thicker, lest the claws of some feral Gem broke through and spread the plague to the wearer.

  Holding back a small smirk at the thought, I instead stared Jasper down, even as another, shorter Peridot continued to whine from somewhere to our side, struggling to fit her limb enhancers inside of the arms and legs of her own suit.

  "Trust me, the only things left on that planet are primitive fleshforms and corrupted Gems. If you're fighting anything at all, you've already botched the mission."

  The warrior grunted at that, huffing slightly as she reached over and tightened one of her gloves.

  "Too bad there isn't some rebels to crush or something, though if you're right I guess they all got what they deserved-"

  Whatever else she'd been about to say sputtered and died as she stared at the small shape I'd accepted from one of my temporary minions, her pupils narrowing into almost literal slits.

  "What is that."

  Holding up the pink insignia, I waved it around slightly.

  "Your key to a majority of the facilities present on the surface, including the Cluster research bunker."

  Turning to glance at the little badge, I remained silent as Peridot (the one I actually recognised) stepped forward, tilting her head, not that the act was very clear thanks to her own bulbous helmet.

  "That's strange. All of my notes regarding Pink One don't mention Court based access systems!"

  Instead of shrugging like I wanted to, I instead opted to toss the thing at Jasper, the Quartz scrambling slightly to snatch it out of the air as I did so, still glaring at me, though with part of her attention turned towards her new toy, a distinctly somber look entering her eyes.

  "It's how the other members of my former owner's crew managed to get inside various structures. I wouldn't know much regarding why or how it works, I'm just a Pearl after all. I've read your record as well Jasper, with luck the local infrastructure will recognise you as one of Pink Diamond's original soldiers."

  Shaking my head as one Gem nodded along and the other tensed her fists, I waved a hand, ignoring the idle hope that Rose would pick up on what I was trying to give her here.

  Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator.

  "Regardless, that's just about everything I can give you. You've read the other reports I submitted, I presume?"

  More nods, with Peridot raising a baggy finger this time.

  "It was mentioned that our transport for this mission would be restricted to a disposable Roaming Eye? The previous Diamond-class Auxiliary Hand Ship I was assigned feels like it would be significantly more capable for something like this."

  The words earned a scoff from the technician's supposed partner before I could respond with a reaction of my own, the Quartz gesturing to the smaller Gem with her free hand, even as its counterpart slowly, delicately sealed the badge in its grip to the exterior of her suit.

  "Don't be a clod, even I know that's a bad idea with an insane mutated terraformer messing with the planet's oceans. Pink One is more water than it is land, from what I remember."

  Slightly pleased at the free shot, I nodded along with Jasper.

  "The Quartz has the correct idea. A smaller, less noticeable vessel is exactly what you need in order to avoid potentially gaining the attention of the Lapis Lazuli that dragged the cruiser I was stationed on into the depths."

  Turning slightly, I waved away another Peridot who'd apparently been transcribing the conversation, her eyes wide behind her visor.

  "I'll handle the debrief of this, go gather the others and finish up on final preparations for the Roaming Eye."

  Glancing back at my unwitting sacrifices as the technician ran off with her limb enhancers clanking against the floor, I scowled.

  "Which brings me to my final point. Your vessel has been modified to self destruct upon either detecting an absence above your allotted time limit, or that either of your suits have been compromised. Should you find yourself infected or stranded, it is your duty to contain yourself to Pink One's boundary as best as you can."

  Honestly, it was kind of fun, seeing the visible concern enter their eyes at that statement. In a fucked up, sadistic kind of way. Preferably I wouldn't have told them that particular detail at all and just left it a surprise, but alas, I had appearances to keep.

  "After all, the Gem Empire simply can't afford something like the Lithoplague spreading, if I haven't already made that abundantly clear."

  Their twin affirmatives were like music to my ears, honestly, with Peridot's subsequent question prompting what may or may not have been a malicious giggle. Internally, of course.

  "B-But we'll be fine if we do everything according to the procedures you set, right?"

  The demure smile I gave the technician that might have become a Crystal Gem in another life was (in my humble opinion) about as reassuring as I could reasonably make it, all things considered.

  "Oh of course, I'm confident you'll both do just fine!"

  —

  The near silent tone of a certain datapad nestled between my legs activating drew my attention, right during a certain giantess's groans, the Diamond lounging in the massive throne to my side muttering about colony tithe reports with a level of disdain in her voice that I couldn't help but find impressive.

  Confirming that my supposed owner was busy for the moment, I finished up with the latest bit of datawork I'd taken on in her stead, confirming the transfer of several hundred thousand Rubies to some battlefield on the far reaches of Imperial space (a decidedly pointless one that didn't actually need reinforcements) and grabbed hold of my link to Fawn, booting it up with a light tap.

  The first message to greet my gaze prompted an arching of my eyebrow, to say the very least.

  [Greetings, Agent Star. Are you presently available for consultation?]

  Agent huh? That was a new one.

  Quirking my lips slightly, I tapped out a response on the datapad with one hand, while navigating through several more holographic folders floating across my work station with the other.

  [I'm currently sitting next to Yellow Diamond and running part of the Empire. So yes. To whom am I replying to?]

  A moment's pause gave me time to hum a gentle tune to calm said Diamond, who visibly did her best to relax and enjoy the soothing sound, even as I redistributed several libraries worth of random minutiae regarding a developing space station to a lesser administrative office.

  [A subordinate to Coordinator Crown. Allow me to be brief. It has recently been discovered by official channels that a Lapis Lazuli who assisted in the terraforming of Blue Nine was committing blue-stone crime in the form of major schedule fraud. She has since been arrested and is awaiting trial inside of an orbital judiciary complex within Crown's sphere of influence.]

  My eyes widened at the explanation. Schedule fraud was something that (as I'd come to understand after a decent while spent working with various administrators and bureaucrats beneath Yellow's command) might be expected of a Zircon. Or maybe a particularly favoured Jade with too much terminal access. But a terraformer?

  Odd. Very odd.

  [Are Lapis Lazulis not generally under Blue Diamond's jurisdiction? Why and how is this Gem being detained in Yellow space?]

  After all, for an intergalactic empire run largely by the numbers, spreadsheets failing to line up at the end of a given cycle could be catastrophic. Time and resources were some of the most valuable things to Gems, after all.

  [The Lazuli in question is currently registered as an inter-Court terraformer, thus falling beneath both jurisdictions. Fawn high command agreed that she could prove an invaluable agent if exfiltrated and recruited to our cause, and ensured she was brought to a point we could manipulate. Nonetheless, the circumstances indicate that potential intervention on your part would likely heavily tilt the odds in our favour, given your current position. You may consider this an official request for assistance from my Coordinator.]

  I considered that for a long moment, glancing at Yellow out of the corner of my eye and finally ending the song I hadn't quite been singing, before nodding to myself as a plan of sorts clicked into place, one that would let me help and give me another chance to escape the stifling walls of the palace around me.

  [Relay the following to Crown. I will be attempting to bring this matter to my Diamond's personal attention in the hopes of being sent to act as a judge in her stead. Send forward all additional details promptly, I will need them if I am to be convincing.]

  The golden matriarch glanced back at me as well, and I offered her a happy smile, her own lips quirking upwards ever so slightly before we both turned back to our workstations, my eyes falling back to the extra screen hidden just beneath my own.

  [Understood. Your assistance and expertise in this matter are greatly appreciated, Agent Star.]

  Hidden from Yellow, my smile widened just a little more.