Command Post, Do You Copy?

Delta Foxtrot 7HS10

The radio crackled to life. Peri jumped sending the radio flying out of her lap. "You're supposed to be dead! Broken!" She yelped as she took the blanket and partially hid under it. After watching the radio in silence for several tense moments she scooted herself closer to it. A faint voice could be heard through the static that filled the tiny contraption's speakers.

"X 15-18-25-9. Control Room 18, Subsector 21."

Peri reached for the radio and turned the dials a bit, tuning into the channel a bit better. The gem on the other line was talking as though someone was listening. These numbers didn't match up with anything she'd ever heard before.

"Common Era data relocation, Fire Storm 15." The voice continued. It was a woman's voice. Cold and mechanical. This gem spoke as though she were reading something from a script. Her voice was monotone and rather informative.

Peri studied the radio in her hands for several moments. With the onset of the next phrases this mystery gem spoke made her blood run cold.

"This is a warning message. All data subject to Fire Storm 15 will be erased. Event date data log erased. Login tech dismembered. Corruption test files will be destroyed. Missing files in the Gem Shard Experiment Project located. Elimination of the Gem Shards has begun."

Absently Peri rested her hands against her gem. She hadn't heard mention of the Gem Shard Experiment Project in years. She listened intently as the gem continued speaking.

"Shard data is being collected. All traces of shards from the following facets will be terminated. Tango Foxtrot 5F9, Tango Alpha 2H16, Bravo Kilo 6PL8, Delta Echo Foxtrot 1Q9T."

The numbers all correlated with a gem from the shard experiment project. The Gem Shard Experiment Project, a program created to gain soldiers faster by harvesting gems before they had fully matured, had only led to disaster. Ten gem shards had been ordered to be cut in the beginning of the project. When only nine shards were delivered, Yellow Beryl, a military commander charged with managing the project, ordered for a tenth gem to be cut before it had reached its' prime. That last gem, the tenth shard in the project, was a peridot, Peri to be more to specific.

As Peri sat on the floor she held the radio with trembling hands. The numbers were listed off one by one, each representing the gems shards, though the original nine had been shattered, their shards were scattered across Homeworld and kept at a grim reminder of the failed project. Now, some gem was sending orders for the termination of the shards.

"Lastly, a warrant for the capture and termination of Delta Foxtrot 7HS10 has been issued to all sectors."

Delta Foxtrot 7HS10 was Peri's call sign. She clutched the radio with a death grip trying to figure out what to do.

"I know your listening Delta Foxtrot."

Peri dropped the radio. It hit the floor but the voice still kept talking.

"Listen closely. You have evaded capture long enough. I will not be as tolerant as my predecessors. Your gem has an expiration date on it and I'm going to see to it that you are reduced to nothing more than a few glittering shards."

Peri picked up the radio again. Clicking the button on the radio she hesitated, there was a high level of uncertainty in her mind as to what exactly she was going to say. She could confront the gem, but that seemed like too easy of an option. There was the option of falsely persuading the gem that she wasn't really Delta Foxtrot 7HS10, but persuasion wasn't a skill she was great at. She instead let go of the button before she said anything.

The line was filled with static for several long moments before the voice came over the line again. "Termination of the shards has begun. Soon Homeworld will be rid of its past mistakes." The voice grew stronger, less cold and scripted, a bit more fiery and passionate. "We will start by purging the weak disgraces of our world. All that will be left will be the strong, the brave, those who will not falter when faced with the enemy."

Peri watched the radio's screen flicker various shades of green as if it had a life of its own now. She was scared. Something about these threats stirred a bit of panic inside of her, one that for once even she couldn't understand.

"This will be the new era!" The gem now practically shouted, "This is the new Age of Diamonds!" Static filled the line for several seconds before the gem menacingly threatened, "And I'll start with you, Peri."

The radios screen went black. The voice faded into a static nothingness. The warmth of the device cooled quickly in Peri's hands. She clutched the radio to her chest.