The Lunar Explorers had landed on the surface of the moon and were busy extracting samples when Lieutenant Lee's voice crackled over the comms.
"Commander, we've detected a potential opening under the surface. It could lead to a cavern system."
Commander Blackwood frowned. "We're not cleared for subterranean exploration. Let's avoid it for now."
As they loaded the samples onto the ship, Captain Wong approached the team. "Some of us can take the glide vehicle and head to the polar. We might be able to gather more samples and data there."
Lieutenant Colonel Hernandez nodded. "We'll need to ensure that the vehicle's magical systems are functioning properly. Corporal Kim, can you perform a check?"
Corporal Kim nodded and began to weave spells around the vehicle, ensuring that it was protected from the moon's harsh environment.
Sergeant Major Chen inspected the vehicle's propulsion systems, while Private Singh and Private Smith made sure that the communications systems were working properly.
As the team prepared to depart, Major Williams approached Commander Blackwood. "We'll need to ensure that the living quarters are ready for any emergencies."
Commander Blackwood nodded. "Understood, Major. We'll maintain constant communication with the team on the ground and be ready to provide any support they need."
With the preparations complete, the team split into two groups. The glide vehicle soared towards the polar while the ship remained on the surface.
As the glide vehicle reached its destination, Lieutenant Lee's voice crackled over the comms once again. "Commander, we've detected some unusual readings. It looks like there's some sort of entity down here."
The team tensed up, realizing that they might be facing a dangerous threat.
"We need to proceed with caution," said Commander Blackwood. "All mages, be ready to use defensive spells if needed."
The team continued their exploration, gathering samples and data, while remaining alert for any potential threats.
As they returned to the ship and began to analyze the samples they had collected, Lieutenant Colonel Hernandez's voice sounded over the intercom. "Commander, we've detected something unusual in the ice samples. It appears to be a bacterial life form."
The team gathered around the analysis screen, studying the data. "This is incredible," said Lieutenant Lee. "We could be on the verge of a major breakthrough in astrobiology."
Commander Blackwood nodded. "We need to continue our exploration and gather as much data as possible. But we need to do so carefully, to avoid any potential contamination."
The team worked tirelessly over the next few hours, studying the samples and analyzing the data. As the team finished their analysis, they were suddenly interrupted by a loud banging noise coming from the airlock. Sergeant Major Chen quickly checked the security cameras and saw a dark, shadowy figure trying to break through the door.
"Everyone, prepare for battle!" Commander Blackwood shouted as she quickly cast a protective spell over the team.
The team quickly grabbed their weapons and prepared for the worst. Corporal Kim cast a spell to create a barrier around the airlock, while Captain Wong activated the ship's defense systems.
"We don't know what we're dealing with here," said Lieutenant Colonel Hernandez. "It could be an unknown magical creature or an alien life form."
Private Smith tried to reach mission control for assistance, but the communications were down. "We're on our own," he said.
The banging continued, getting louder and more intense. Suddenly, the airlock door burst open, and the shadowy figure emerged, revealing itself to be a grotesque, tentacled creature.
The team unleashed a barrage of spells and weapons, but the creature seemed impervious to their attacks. "It's no use," said Major Williams. "We need to find a way to escape."
Lieutenant Lee quickly came up with a plan. "We can use the glide vehicle to reach the back to the main ship, where the creature won't be able to follow us," she said.
The team quickly made their way to the glide vehicle, dodging the creature's attacks. They managed to gather and extract data from some ice samples before returning back to the ship.
As they returned, they could hear the creature's angry roar fading away into the distance. "We made it," said Private Singh, panting heavily. "But what was that thing?"
"We don't know," said Commander Blackwood. "But we need to report this to mission control and request backup. We can't take any chances with our mission or our lives."
As the team approached the main ship, they saw that it had already been destroyed. As they made their way inside, they found the corpses of their fallen comrades. Suddenly, a dark and shadowy figure appeared out of nowhere, standing ominously in their path. The figure was cloaked in darkness, and its features were obscured by the shadows.
The team stood ready to fight, but the figure remained silent, its motives and intentions unclear. Its very presence sent shivers down their spines, and they could feel the weight of its malevolent energy bearing down on them.
The team attacked the figure with their magic spells, but they seemed to have no effect. The figure remained unfazed, almost as if it was toying with them. With a flick of its wrist, it sent waves of dark energy crashing towards the team, knocking them back with a powerful force.
Commander Blackwood knew they were outnumbered. "Fall back," she shouted. "We need to regroup and come up with a new plan of attack."
They turned around and the figure was already there, as if waiting for them. That was the last record of the second human team sent to the moon. Another failure for the records of the Astral Empire's space programme.
Back on Archelous, Mission Control was in a state of chaos trying to figure out what had happened. The supremacy of the human race was at stake.
The rise of the Astral Imperium and humanity on Archelous was a hard-earned achievement. To reign supreme over other supernatural creatures and entities. No one else could have done it before. Not even deities and gods could stop their supremacy.
Now they had found a new enemy.
For the survival and supremacy of the human race, this enemy, no matter how powerful, must be fought.
By any means necessary.