"Team Black Hole, acting under squad leader Artemis: standing by."

"Check-in complete, squad leader. Please await further instructions."

"Affirmative."

The display screen on Artemis' vocal receiver goes black. He slides the device into the pocket of his thin aluminum jacket. His hand is placed back onto the barrel of his ray gun. The cold, sleek metal against his bare palms fills the squad leader with a sadistic sense of glee. 

Around him, neighboring seats are occupied by excited team members. Each person is clad in the signature war uniform of all black attire. Thin receivers leading to attached microphones hang out of their ears. A few people are rocking back in forth in tandem with the spaceship's movements. Others are looking out of the clear glass window with direct sight of Juno-57B.

With their current one being on the cusp of total annihilation, intergalactic fleets have been called upon to claim a new home planet. Juno-57B is not only a fair candidate because of distance, but also because it's climate appears much more stable than their current one. Drones have even picked up enough sustainable plant life to last humans for at least a century on this new planet. It's a real gem in their eyes.

The only problem is Juno-57B's current inhabitants.

"Question, squad leader."

"Permission granted, lieutenant Ren."

"Do you believe retrieval of Juno-57B will go as planned? Or do you expect a fight to ensue? Since this is my first time out of the engineering department, I'm unsure of what to expect."

"Of course a fight will ensue-- territories aren't conquered in silence. The alien creatures residing on the planet will most likely try to protect themselves, but it'll be for naught. We've yet to lose a war when it comes to planet retrieval. We aren't about to start now."

"You seem very confident."

"Team Black Hole has the best track record in terms of utilizing lethal force, and cementing planet retrieval. Our strategies give us the necessary tools to keep our enemies out of the loop. They won't know they're under attack until we've obtained most of their land. It's actually quite easy to catch these creatures off guard-- what with our superior intelligence leading us to victory time and time again."

Before lieutenant Ren has a chance to speak again, a robotic female voice fills up the confines of the small cabin.

"Squadrons, please prepare for space travel."

Everyone takes a moment to strap themselves down with cross body seatbelts. Artemis leans his head against the metal wall behind him. He smirks in response to the jovial chattering of his team. Such high energy will aid them well in their upcoming battle. One that they'll win, of course.

"Commencing countdown. Orbital drop in five...four...three...two--"

"Stop!"

A frightened voice from an overhead speaker interrupts the automatic countdown.

"Attention squadrons! There's been an onboard breach! I repeat, there has been an onboard breach! Neighboring fleets have reported total wipe outs! Current threat is unknown, but enemy is shown to be hostile! In case of contact, permission has been granted for lethal action to-- agh!!"

Piercing screams can be heard on the intercom before it shuts off. Stagnant silence overtakes the Black Hole's cabin. Lacking noise is interrupted by a thunderous 'boom' mere seconds later. Broken glass, shrapnel, and fire can be seen in front of their window. Other squadrons float out into the depths of space before the team's very eyes.

Artemis is haunted by blood shot eyes, half singed bodies, and people fighting for oxygen. Despite such carnage, no screams are heard. No pleas, no cries; everything outside of the cabin is silenced.

The squad leader is frozen in his spot. He watches as friends and comrades lose their lives right in from of him. He realizes that the ice running in his veins is from fear.

Multiple other explosions go off. The cabin continues to jolt and shake as more bodies go flying outside of the spaceship. Faces are lit up by building fires and broken, sparking electrical components. 

Juno-57B sits in the background undisturbed.

"Squad leader, what do we--"

Artemis yells out when the group's cabin is rattled by another explosion. This time, half of their containment hold is ripped apart. Men and women are sucked out of their seats, and are tossed into an inky expanse lit up by vibrant stars. Artemis attempts to keep himself rooted by holding onto the cabin's door handle. Forceful suction pulls him out of his seat though, with the brutality of a starved animal dragging along its prey.

His grip against the metal door handle tightens. The gesture leaves him without a weapon to protect himself. Harsh winds force the squad leader to shut his eyes. It's too loud for him to think clearly.

But it's quiet enough for him to hear a teasing laugh.

Artemis squints his eyes open. They widen when he notices lieutenant Ren still sitting comfortably in his seat. His ankles are crossed, and he's fiddling with his gun as if it were a toy. His attention only stays on the shining metal for a moment. His grin widens when he looks up at his squad leader.

Artemis is taken aback when half of Ren's face begins to melt. Pale skin is overtaken by a sparkling purple. A single brown eye becomes engulfed in yellow with dual pupils. Half of a menacing grin stretches all the way up to a fluorescent hairline.

Ren chuckles. He puts up a hand, and everything comes to a complete standstill. Artemis is still left clinging onto the door handle for his life. His fear amplifies at the sight of the creature in front of him.

"So what was that about catching us off guard, squad leader?"