Solar System. A vast darkness between the Asteroid belt and Mars.

A black battleship was moving at breakneck speed leaving behind a tail of purple, following closely was another navy blue battleship with its thrusters pulsating with blue ions. It had been two days since the team had started their journey.

The doors to the command deck swished open as Jason entered wearing pajamas, yawning along with a hand in his pocket.

“Lucifer, catch!” Shouting, he threw an energy bar towards him.

Lucifer did not even turn around but the energy bar floated quietly around him. Rubbing his eyes he stretched his arm and caught the bar, tearing open the wrapper and taking a huge bite from it.

“So how long?” Jason asked seemingly bored about the journey.

It was expected, unlike the adventurous novels and fictions, space was nothing but a vast piece of darkness. In the beginning everyone was excited but as time went by the excitement too died down. It had been two days since they started their journey and Jason was already exhausted. Think of it as a non-stop one week train journey. You would be able to enjoy the scenes outside but after a while you would feel tired.

“At our speed we should be entering the asteroid belt soon.” Lucifer replied without batting an eye towards him.

[Incoming transmission from EDS]

Aria’s mechanical voice chimed in with a thunder.

“That’s weird, did something happen? But it's only been two days.” Lucifer mumbled.

“What’s transmission?” A glimmer of light pierced through the boredom present in his eyes.

“Aria, call everyone on the deck.” Lucifer instructed.

Very soon everyone was onboard the command deck and by that time, Lucifer had decoded the transmission which contained strings of data.

“What is it?” Percy questioned.

“EDS sent a transmission of data packets through the quantum channel. Considering the existing protocols on the base, it would only be possible when there is an unexpected threat to the planet.” Lucifer conveyed the details.

“And?” This time it was James.

“Well I am not sure, but recently there was an unexpected surge of energy close to the I-CA Naval Station Lemegeton. The energy signature is totally unknown--”

“Sheesh, Lucifer English please!” Jason cut him before he began with his scientific jargons.

Lucifer glared at him and continued, only this time in a language that the rest would understand.

“In simple words it was something extra-terrestrial.”

A heavy silence descended on deck, everyone turned their attention to the Captain. Percy closed his eyes and pondered a bit.

“Aria, open a channel to Captain Brad.” Percy ordered.

-Beep-

[Captain Brad here]

“Captain, there has been a situation back at home. Our sensors detected some kind of an unknown entity outside the planet’s atmospheric influence.” Percy conveyed.

[WHAT! This…… What now, Captain?]

“Since we are obliged to continue onwards, your battleship should head back in case the High Command needs extra support.” Percy suggested.

After a long silence, there was a reply

[Affirmative Captain, CL-01 will be heading back. Best of luck on your mission.]

As Percy heard the message a smirk formed on his face.

Outside, the thrusters from the Navy Blue battleship died as the auxiliary thrusters fired off, moving the ship along the x-axis clockwise making a solid hundred and eighty degree turn and preparing for an emergency deceleration.

Meanwhile on the command deck of the black battleship that had moved far ahead.

“Since we no longer have to worry about losing them, how long do we need if we move at our optimal capability?” Percy questioned.

No one bothered to ask Percy about his decision, after all their history with I-CA was not that pretty either.

Answering Percy's question, a map of the solar system appeared on the screen. Along with the map, a holographic projection of their path appeared.

“Let’s talk about that after we pass through the Asteroid Belt unharmed.” Lucifer suggested with a grave expression after studying their path.

Just as he said that a heavy tremor rocked the battleship.

“Aria, divert maximum power to the shields and reduce acceleration at a minimum.” A heavy stream of instructions left Lucifer’s mouth along with his hands dancing on the console.

After a few seconds the vibrations were reduced to a bare minimum. On the other hand one could observe small sparks around the battleship, that were the asteroids crashing with the energy shield and being burnt in the process. Everyone quietly sat down on their seats and the command deck descended into silence.

This silence though didn’t last long.

“Oh shit, it’s a big one!” Lucifer exclaimed in horror as he watched the screen. An asteroid, twice the size of the battleship, lay up ahead.

----------

A young man seemingly in his youth with a pale face watched the squad of twenty people in front of him. Covered in black tactical armor, these twenty people stood there in silence awaiting their orders. This was the Phenex Squad, led by the young man bestowed with the codename: Phenex, by his superiors.

[T-10 minutes to drop location.]

A voice sounded from the speakers. The squad was traveling in a modified advanced version of a MH-60, which could house an independent squad. The young man turned around and gazed at the never ending ocean in front of him which looked like a huge mass of black. Due to the missing moon and the clouds, all one could hear was the waves and the slight sound made by the rotors of the aircraft equipped with stealth technology.

Soon ten minutes passed by and the aircraft hovered in the air. Captain Phenex relayed the standby order to his troops and ventured inside the cockpit which seemed more like a cabin due to its huge size.

“Situation.” He asked.

“Everything seems normal, Captain. No sign of any human life. Even the advanced sensors are not picking up any biological signs on the surface..” One person among the four person pilot squad reported.

“Hmm, look for flux radiation in the vicinity.” Cap. Phenex instructed.

“Affirmative.” The four person pilot squad got busy with the machinery and soon results were out.

“Heavy residual radiation detected, two clicks northwest from here. Awaiting orders, Captain.” Reported one of them.

The Captain turned around and headed back towards his team. He silently raised his arm and punched the air as he pressed on the console.

“Open the side hatch.” He ordered.

[Affirmative.]

Along with the confirmation, the side hatch slid open and a solid blast of salty air descended in the cargo bay. Squinting his eyes, the Captain stretched his arms.

One of the people from his squad handed a combat knife in his palm made of some unknown black material. Suddenly everything turned quiet as a heavy silence descended in the cargo bay. After a few seconds he threw the combat knife with all his might towards the direction mentioned by the pilot squad.

The knife as if piercing through space traveled rapidly and then---

-Boom-

A short boom could be heard as the darkness in the surroundings vanished, replaced by a faint blue glow. If one zoomed carefully one could see a combat knife covered in black deathly flames embedded in what seemed like a blue energy barrier.

“There, hit that spot.” Pressing on the console he ordered and rapidly a small orb was shot in that direction.

On the other side, when the combat knife struck the blue flickering shield-like barrier, an alarm sounded in the border fortress of Atlantis. The island of Atlantis was surrounded by mountain ranges which acted like a natural barrier. Advanced and well versed as they were in the field of technology, these mountains were carved and retro-fitted with defensive and offensive weapons in case of a breach.

King Diaprepes, was located in the command center of the border fortress. He observed the huge aircraft as the combat knife pierced the barrier creating a gap in the defensive shielding. He knew the enemy would retaliate in full force yet he did not expect them to possess someone with such a power. But he was not afraid.

“Prepare for a breach.” He instructed.

After his instruction, multiple turrets erected themselves from the mountain range surrounding the island, ready to destroy any and all advancement. Alas this time, they had chewed on a tough bone.

-Phew

Along with a small shockwave everyone in the command center witnessed how the seemingly all powerful turrets ready to rain a barrage of energy shots deflated like a balloon and darkness descended throughout the fortress.

“My King, we have been hit by an EMP wave. Our communications are down, the shield sustainers in the area around the pierced section have been disabled.” One of the officers reported.

But still there was not an ounce of worry on the faces of the people.

Meanwhile, after the EMP attack, the aircraft carrying Captain Phenex and his squad rapidly approached the shore.

Captain Phenex along with his twenty-person squad descended on the top of the mountain. As soon as they landed, there was a person standing in front of him. The man wore armor made from some unknown material which looked like sapphire, holding a spear made of the same material. Despite facing the squad of twenty people, there was not a hint of fear on his face. In fact there seemed to be a hint of excitement.

The twenty-person squad immediately aimed their electromagnetic rifles towards the man, ready to fire at a moment’s notice.

But then Captain Phenex raised his hand to stop them. The squad immediately lowered their weapons and stood alert.

“Proceed with the task.” Cap. Phenex ordered.

The twenty person squad separated into four small squads as they moved in four different directions.

Sensing this, the man with the spear frowned. He held his spear and kicked his feet, disappearing from his position and appearing in front of a smaller squad. Just as he raised his spear to attack, he immediately turned around to parry another attack.

-Clang-

Along with a metallic sound, the spear blocked the two short black daggers from piercing through his neck, yet the impact from that attack pushed him aside, clearing the way for the team.

There was no exchange of dialogue between the Captain and the man, but a battle hardened veteran could sense the aura condensing around them.

This time it was the man with the spear who attacked. He raised his spear and moved towards Captain Phenex, as the spear stabbed forward aiming towards the heart. The momentum behind the attack was vast as one could hear the air being pierced from the friction.

As he neared Captain Phenex, the man noticed something unusual. Captain Phenex did not try to dodge the attack at all. He just slightly twisted and bent his body avoiding the fatal part. The spear pierced through his shoulder and a fountain of dark red viscous blood splashed all over the spear and Captain’s face. The man frowned at such an action and hurriedly took distance from the Captain.

Captain Phenex on the other hand was totally unbothered by the wound leaking blood. A creepy smile appeared on the young pale-face as he licked the small splash of blood near his face. The very next moment, the man as if feeling something turned around and fled. But it was too late.

-Thud-

The arm holding the spear cleanly separated from his body and fell down. The man came to a halt and looked in horror towards the now fallen arm. The place where the arm was severed was covered in black flames which burnt the flesh around. The man felt no pain but that was the last thing that he could remember as the very next moment Captain Phenex appeared next to him and sliced his throat, robbing him of his life. The Captain then gently embraced the now lifeless body in his arms and laid it down as he proceeded to detach the armor from it. Just as he was about to complete a blue beam of light pierced the air, targeting him.

Captain Phenex immediately placed the dagger in front of him. The dagger was successful in blocking the beam but the momentum pushed the Captain back. Stabilizing himself, Captain Phenex gazed at the distance towards the source of the attack. His gaze seemed to pierced through the distance and landed on the sniper at a distance.