Chương 188: LOG-179.

By the time I made it back to the surface of the Reef, the entire facility felt like it was practically shaking apart. Even from the relatively isolated area I was in, I could hear the distinct sounds of combat, yells of exertion and weapons clashing filling the air. The garrison attempting to repel the invasion force that had dropped in right on top of us, no doubt. A problem, but not my immediate concern.

If there was one thing I would extremely hesitantly thank White Diamond for, it was the fact that when I wasn't being restrained and restricted by things like propriety and public perception, I could move. The legs of a Nacre were long, and that length subsequently translated into equally long strides as I practically tore my way down abandoned halls and empty corridors, the soles of my boots shifting to exchange their usual authoritarian clicking for an increased grip.

I could hear a deep, throaty thumping sound towards the east, shattering the relative quiet every few seconds, and if the schematics I'd been privy to as Overseer were accurate, it meant that someone had managed to bring the kinetic point defence cannon platforms online. Shell remains indisposed, so automatic activation is unlikely. The Storm Quartz garrison may have succeeded in manually awakening the guns. I was never informed of their core training, after all.

Only their capabilities in relation to basic security. Possibly a good thing, or a bad one. It didn't matter, just another turn and I would be at my office, then I could get an eye on the situation and- I practically ground to a halt as I almost crashed face first into the unmistakable lightform of a Citrine, the yellow diamond emblazoned upon her chest loudly displaying her allegiance. Wide eyes took me in for half a second, before I moved. She's telegraphing a left dodge and parry.

Little to no skill in hiding her intent, the counter attack setup is obvious. Minutely expanding my range of motion, I flowed past the soldier's attempt at defence, batting her arm aside and slashing my clawed hand forward and, of course, upward. Limb enhancer plasma cutter mode. Active.

The Gem gave out a strangled scream as the space that used to contain her eyes was forced to give way in the face of my arcing talons, then the rest of her lightform followed suit, glitching around the heat pouring out from my claws, before finally falling apart and leaving her gemstone to clatter to the ground. For just a moment, I hesitated. Namely because holy hell, I'd just poofed a combat ready Citrine in what may as well have been one movement.

And now that I've seen this Gemline's pattern of movement in a real combat situation, putting the next one down will be even easier. Still, the situation remains unknown. I don't have time to stop. I need to keep moving. Then I shook myself and returned to my previous pace. Abandoning the temporarily incapacitated warrior behind me, I resumed my reckless rush forward, finally coming into sight of my office door less than a moment later, talons still cooling off from the brief glow they had heated up to.

Gritting my teeth as the constant thumping of the kinetic defence cannon was briefly drowned out by a sharp, beaming sound that served to herald yet another facility shaking explosion, I staggered towards the door, willing it open and slipping into the relative silence of my work space. All at once, everything turned quiet. Oh, I could feel some subtle vibrations even now, naturally. But sound? Nothing. The Bismuths had truly done an outstanding job, despite the unorthodox request. It…

made me feel slightly better, knowing that they were probably all standing around on some planet waiting while Morganite looked at this or that building, instead of being caught up in all of this. Did you know this text is from a different site? Read the official version to support the creator. Casting the stray thoughts aside and finally shutting it behind me, I took a mentally rallying breath before all but throwing myself towards my terminal.

From there I began to bring up holographic screens, slinging aside progress reports and messages from coworkers in favour of my hijacked security feeds. The subsequent footage made me freeze in place, face slack as I watched soldiers clash across countless camera feeds. A large team of Rubies overwhelming a Storm Quartz with sheer numbers, the burly trooper discorporating four of them before being physically dragged to the ground and beaten into submission.

A Peridot escorted by two shield bearing Citrines, seemingly using a plasma cutter of all things to force her way through a sealed off door, even as lasers meant to discorporate defective Pearls or intruders pinged off of the crystallo-metallic wards used to keep her safe, the defence system likely having been activated manually by the facility's own technicians in that area.

A Jasper barrelling out of a stalagspike pod that had just rammed its way through the ceiling, only to be rushed by two of her White Court counterparts, the three Quartzes punching, kicking and biting as they wrestled for control. Watching it all descend into chaos, one thought took to the forefront of my mind, even as I desperately tried to plan out just how I was supposed to get through this mess. The Reef had officially become a warzone.

— For whatever fucking reason, the Yellow Court had decided to kick their little civil war off early, starting with a direct assault on the Reef of all things. Such an assault does not make sense strategically. If logic is not the reason for this attack, then emotion should serve as an equally viable answer. In this case, the most likely outcome that makes some degree of sense is my cutting of communications between Yellow Diamond and her Pearl. But… but that was ridiculous! All of this?! For a Pearl?!

This was war for Stars' sake! A similar thing occurred because of me, once. I was a Pearl. Yellow was likely already on a hair trigger, the mere possibility of losing 1A no doubt pushed her over the edge. I pushed her over the edge. I didn't bother repressing the snarl that escaped me at the thought, slamming a hand down upon my desk hard enough that the fine crystalline material of the no doubt precious piece of furniture cracked and splintered beneath the impact. Regardless, I need to focus.

As it stands, the Reef can not withstand an invasion of this scale, particularly when accounting for its weakened state thanks to my previous acts of sabotage. Unless I intend to allow myself to fall into Yellow Court custody, I must act, and quickly. The fucking bastards had co-opted my plan! This was meant to be for Fawn! For me! Not for them!

"Argh! This is bullshit!" Practically slapping the screen showing off a team of Storm Quartz guards being pounded into the ground by what had to be at minimum five times their number in Jaspers and Amethysts, I brought up the series of applicable protocols in the event of a potential breach or attack upon the premier Pearl production facility of the Empire, glaring at them as I did so.

Shell or the other Nacres would likely have done it by now, but with how I'd set things up, only I was capable of summoning the rapid response force responsible for reinforcing the Reef. Narrowing my eyes at the image displaying the stern faced, white eyed visage of the Grossular Garnet supposedly in command of that force, I noted what little I could from her report, which wasn't much, all things considered. Cut and Facet, redacted. Previous military accomplishments, redacted. Current status, ready to deploy.

Finger hovering above the command panel that would send the equivalent of a digital flare out towards wherever the Gem was stationed, I hesitated, before turning away and bringing up a second screen. First, I synced up to Azurite's little tablet, sending out a singular glyph. White. The code that meant everything had gone horribly wrong, and that the cell was not to approach the area of operations under any circumstances. There, potential collateral damage dealt with.

I sighed in grief for a perfectly planned getaway utterly ruined, then with a brief command, the intercom system for the entire facility came under my control, allowing my voice to pass through training chambers, maintenance corridors, and everywhere else that Shell had once been capable of announcing herself in. As my talons flew across displays and command lines, bringing interior defences and barriers back online, I spoke, doing my best to keep my voice clear and level.

"Denizens of the Reef, this is your Overseer speaking. As of now, we are under attack by what I have identified to be a Yellow Court assault force. My orders are as follows…" —"... arm yourselves, follow all previously agreed upon evacuation routes! Do not allow yourselves to be isolated, and avoid capture at all costs! Resist these invaders, and find your own way out! You know where to go! You know what to do!" Patina stared up at the ceiling as the voice of her creator echoed throughout the entirety of the Reef.

She could see the rest of the Batch all listening in rapt attention as well, save for Violet, who was currently keeping a wary eye on the door leading out of their shared quarters.

"Now go! RUN!" The shrill command jolted through the Pearl, and without a second thought she felt the familiar grip of her weapon materialise into her hand, even as the flashes of light indicating similar summonings began to illuminate the rest of the Batch. Exchanging glances with the Gems closest to her (Eighteen G and J), the Pearl hefted the blade in her hand upwards, drawing the attention of a few additional Batchmates before levelling it towards the door.

"Let's move it! We're busting out of this place!" Sure, it was a bit early but…hey, at least it was actually happening! Though, she was probably going to have to stab someone now. Or several someones. …Yikes.