Planetfall

The Voidwalker shuddered violently as it breached the upper atmosphere of Exo-9, the planet's gravity dragging it down like a predator pulling its prey into the abyss. Cain tightened his grip on the restraints across his chest, feeling the entire ship groan under the strain. The flickering lights in the drop bay did little to comfort him as the vessel plunged through thick, swirling clouds of violet and gray, lightning cracking around them like angry whips.

"Brace! Brace!"

Commander Ryker's voice boomed over the intercom, but Cain didn't need the warning—he could feel the ship lurch as it fought against the brutal winds trying to tear them apart. Metal creaked, the artificial gravity struggling to compensate, and somewhere behind him, someone cursed under their breath.

"Goddamn turbulence—" Reyes spat, his voice strained as he gripped the safety rails near his seat. "This planet hates us already."

Cain glanced across the bay. Sasha sat stoic, eyes closed, controlling her breathing, while Dr. Kessler, the medic, looked like he might lose his breakfast any second. Cain didn't blame him. The gravitational shifts were enough to make even veterans like himself feel queasy.

Elara Monroe sat rigid, her fingers clenched tightly around her harness. Her face was pale, but her eyes remained locked on the small datapad in her lap, running calculations Cain couldn't begin to understand.

The ship lurched again, this time with enough force to send a crate of supplies sliding across the floor before it was caught by the magnetic locks. Sparks erupted from a console near the bulkhead, and Cain could hear Reyes swearing louder.

"Hull integrity holding at eighty-seven percent," the AI's voice droned through the cabin, eerily calm despite the chaos. "Atmospheric density fluctuating. Adjusting trajectory."

"Come on, girl, hold together," Cain muttered under his breath, patting the side of the ship like it was a nervous animal.

Through the small viewport, flashes of the planet's surface became visible. Rugged mountain ranges, deep canyons that stretched endlessly, and swirling sandstorms that moved like living things. Something about the landscape felt... hostile. Like it was waiting for them.

The ship suddenly dropped, free-falling for a few terrifying seconds before the thrusters roared to life, stabilizing them just above the jagged cliffs below. Cain gritted his teeth as the force pushed him back against his seat.

Ryker's voice crackled through the comms. "Landing sequence engaged. Everyone stay sharp. We touch down in sixty seconds."

Cain felt the weight of the moment pressing against him, but he forced himself to breathe. This was it. No turning back now.

Sasha opened her eyes and glanced at him. "You look too calm," she said over the deafening roar of the engines.

Cain gave a half-smirk. "I've seen worse."

The ship rocked again as the landing struts extended with a deep, mechanical groan. Dust and debris whipped against the hull as they descended, the planet's storms howling outside like banshees.

Then—impact.

A bone-jarring thud resonated through the ship as they finally touched down. For a moment, silence filled the drop bay, except for the ticking of cooling metal and the distant rumble of thunder outside.

Cain unbuckled his harness, exhaling sharply. "Smooth landing," he muttered sarcastically.

Reyes let out a low whistle. "I think I aged ten years just now."

The cabin lights shifted from red to a steady white, and the AI announced, "Landing successful. External conditions stable within acceptable parameters."

Cain stood, stretching his sore muscles. Sasha was already on her feet, double-checking her gear.

Ryker's voice came through the comm again. "Ground team, suit up and get ready to move out. We secure the perimeter first."

Cain grabbed his helmet and sealed it, the HUD flickering to life with telemetry data. The visor displayed an ominous warning in the lower corner:

ENVIRONMENTAL HAZARD DETECTED. EXTREME CONDITIONS. PROCEED WITH CAUTION.

"Comforting," Cain muttered.

Elara appeared beside him, adjusting the pressure seals on her suit. "We should move quickly," she said, eyes flickering to the exterior monitors. "The storms could shift at any moment."

Cain nodded, his gut telling him things would only get worse from here.

The drop bay doors groaned as they slowly began to open, revealing the bleak, alien landscape outside. Wind howled into the cabin, carrying with it fine particles of sand and ash. The world beyond was a barren wasteland of jagged rocks, distant lightning flashing across the sky like warning signs from the gods.

Cain stepped forward, his boots crunching against the dusty ground as the team disembarked. Sasha, Ryker, and Reyes followed close behind, their weapons ready. Dr. Kessler hung back nervously, scanning the environment with his handheld monitor.

"Stay sharp," Ryker barked over comms. "No one strays from formation."

Cain took a deep breath, feeling the weight of his rifle comforting in his grip. He scanned the surroundings, instincts sharp. "I don't like this," he muttered.

Reyes chuckled, though there was little humor in it. "Welcome to Exo-9, Voss. We've barely set foot, and you're already jumpy."

Cain ignored him. The air was heavy, too still. No movement, no signs of life. Just the wind and the sand, whispering secrets across the desolate plains.

Then something caught his eye. A flicker. A shadow. Something moving just beyond the ridge.

Cain froze. "Hold up."

Sasha turned, her rifle snapping to the ready. "What is it?"

Cain squinted, scanning the horizon. The HUD in his visor highlighted an anomaly—a heat signature, faint but present. It disappeared almost as quickly as it appeared.

He swallowed. "Thought I saw something... movement."

Ryker stepped beside him, eyes scanning the same spot. "Stay focused. We stick to protocol."

Cain nodded, but the unease remained.

The team pressed forward, trudging across the rocky terrain. Every step felt heavier, the weight of the unknown pressing down on them. Cain could feel it in his bones—something was watching them.

And whatever it was... it wasn't human.