Mission influence in Sakura?

Whilst in Sakura I was invited to a mission team from another player of higher level so we could utilise the 'team chat' feature instead of sending tells. I would recieve the mission chat from the mission NPCs and the mission objectives would come up on my screen. I would even recieve reputation from completion of the mission.

Then suddenly this happened:


I am guessing they are an 'ambush mob' from moving between mission areas as an influence from the outside member running missions.

~Comserv