Cain sat at the edge of the conference table, his arms crossed, eyes scanning the faces around him. The air inside the briefing room felt thick, heavy with unspoken tension. A single overhead light flickered slightly, casting erratic shadows across the walls. The hum of the Voidwalker's systems buzzed low in the background, a constant reminder that they were hurtling through the void toward something none of them fully understood.
Commander Ryker stood at the front of the room, his stance rigid, the holographic display beside him rotating an image of Exo-9, their soon-to-be home. A barren, gray planet with jagged mountain ranges and swirling atmospheric disturbances. The closer they got, the more unsettling it looked.
Ryker's voice cut through the silence, sharp and controlled. "Final approach begins in thirty-six hours. This is the last time I'll explain our mission parameters, so listen closely."
Cain leaned back in his chair, exchanging a glance with Reyes, who twirled a screwdriver between his fingers, clearly disinterested. Across the table, Sasha sat upright, her eyes locked on Ryker, absorbing every word. Dr. Elara Monroe, however, sat stiffly with her hands folded, her expression unreadable as usual.
"Exo-9," Ryker continued, tapping the hologram. "Initial scans indicate high concentrations of unknown energy signatures beneath the surface. Command believes this could be the key to solving Earth's energy crisis. Our primary objective—locate, extract, and secure the source."
Cain watched as the planet rotated slowly on the display, his instincts gnawing at him. "Sounds simple enough," he muttered under his breath.
Ryker's sharp gaze snapped to him. "It's not. We have limited time and resources. The atmosphere is unstable, weather conditions unpredictable. We need efficiency and discipline, not sarcasm."
Cain smirked but said nothing.
Elara shifted in her seat, clearing her throat. "The energy fluctuations we've detected suggest a possible interaction with subterranean structures," she added. "We need to approach carefully. If there is intelligent design involved—"
"Intelligent design?" Reyes cut in, his brow arched. "You saying there's something alive down there?"
Elara pursed her lips. "I'm saying we don't know what's down there, Mr. Reyes. That's why we proceed with caution."
Ryker ignored the exchange and continued. "Operational phases are as follows: Phase One—establish a forward operating base at Landing Zone Theta. Phase Two—deploy ground teams for preliminary scouting and sample collection. Phase Three—secure and transport findings to Voidwalker for further analysis. Any questions?"
Cain drummed his fingers against the table. "Yeah. What about security protocols? What exactly are we preparing for besides bad weather and maybe falling rocks?"
Sasha spoke up, her voice low but firm. "We prepare for the unknown. Same as always."
Ryker nodded. "We follow standard containment procedures. That includes defensive measures if we encounter... anomalies."
There it was again—that carefully chosen language Cain didn't like. "You mean threats," he pressed.
Ryker's jaw tightened. "I mean anomalies."
Cain leaned forward, his tone sharper. "Cut the crap, Commander. What aren't you telling us?"
The room fell silent. For a brief moment, Ryker's stoic façade cracked—just enough for Cain to see something lurking beneath. Something colder. Darker.
Elara shifted uncomfortably in her seat but remained quiet. Sasha simply observed, her eyes flicking between Cain and Ryker. Reyes, however, let out a low whistle, shaking his head. "Always gotta be something they're not telling us," he muttered.
Ryker's expression hardened. "You know how this works, Voss. You don't need to know everything. You just need to do your job."
Cain exhaled, leaning back again. "Fine. Just don't be surprised when things go south and we're left in the dark."
"Enough," Ryker snapped. "Focus on what's ahead of us. We touch down, we get the job done, and we get out. Anything else is irrelevant."
A heavy silence settled over the group.
Dr. Kessler, who had been silent until now, cleared his throat nervously. "Uh, Commander... about the crew rotations during descent. The cryo-sleep effects haven't worn off entirely for some of us. I'd suggest adjusting the schedule—"
Ryker cut him off with a glare. "We don't have time for adjustments. You'll function as required, Doctor."
Cain watched as Kessler nodded stiffly, his fingers tapping anxiously against the table. The man looked like he wanted to be anywhere but here.
Ryker straightened. "Dismissed. Final checks begin in one hour. Get your gear ready."
Chairs scraped against the floor as everyone stood. Sasha was the first to leave, her usual silent, measured stride carrying her out the door. Elara followed, her eyes lingering on Cain for a fraction of a second before she disappeared down the corridor.
Cain moved to leave when Reyes clapped him on the shoulder. "Well, sunshine, looks like we're in for another fun day of imminent death."
Cain grunted. "Yeah. Just another day in paradise."
As they left the briefing room, Cain felt the weight of something heavy pressing on him—not just the mission, but the unspoken tension that filled every inch of the Voidwalker. Whatever they were walking into down there, one thing was clear:
They weren't ready.
And something was waiting.