The information fed back by the Enterprise's sensors caused everyone on the bridge to feel a sinking sensation. The rough landing point of the klingon landing craft, after repeated calibration and comparison, highly coincided with the position of the photon torpedo beacon containing Spock's remains!
"They… they're going after Spock?" Uhura's voice was filled with incredulous shock.
"Not necessarily," Osiris' synthesized voice calmly analyzed, his logic core rapidly processing. "A more reasonable inference is: in the Klingons' scan, the only clear, stable beacon with obvious Federation technology characteristics on that planet was the photon torpedo pod containing Spock's remains.
On a nascent planet full of unknown interference, this is the most conspicuous landmark. They might think it's an important Federation beacon station, a data storage point, or even… some un-detonated Genesis Device component."
Regardless, the Klingons were heading directly towards Spock's remains.
Whatever their specific objective, Spock's remains were in extreme danger.
If the Klingons got to it first, the consequences would be unimaginable—Spock's soul would not rest in peace, McCoy would continue to be tormented, and the dignity of the Vulcans and the Federation would be trampled upon.
"No time to hesitate!" Kirk decided immediately, his voice resolute. "We must land at once and find Spock before the Klingons do!"
He quickly assigned roles:
"Magos Osiris, I need your judgment and your crew's ground combat capabilities."
"Carol, we need your scientific knowledge to deal with the planetary environment and any Genesis-related phenomena we might encounter."
"McCoy…" Kirk looked at the doctor, his eyes complex but firm. "We need you… We need Spock's Katra to help us find him, or rather, to guide us."
Bringing McCoy was a risk, but it was also necessary. Only Spock's Katra within him could provide the most precise guidance in a complex planetary environment.
"Maine's team, fully armed, you are responsible for the landing party's perimeter security and assault missions! We are about to engage the Klingons in a skirmish!"
"Understood, Boss!" Maine's low voice came through the comms, carrying a hint of excitement at finally being able to act and the steady composure of a mercenary receiving a tough assignment.
Ambassador Sareek stepped forward, his very presence a silent demand.
"Ambassador Sareek, you…" Kirk hesitated; involving a diplomat in a ground assault mission was too risky.
"Captain Kirk," Saavik's voice was steady but unyielding. "He is my son. I must go." her eyes held the suppressed deep emotion and unshakeable resolve of a Vulcan.
Kirk looked at the peculiar team before him—a Starfleet Commander and doctor, a top scientist, a Vulcan Ambassador, an alien mechanical Magos, and armed mercenaries from another dark future. He took a deep breath.
"Alright. Everyone, shuttle bay! Immediately!"
Soon, the group assembled in the shuttle.
Kirk was fully armed, gripping his phaser; Carol checked her scientific instrument pack.
McCoy seemed somewhat agitated, the fragment of Spock's soul within him apparently causing a strong premonition of the approaching remains.
Osiris' massive mechanical body almost occupied a corner of the cabin, his crimson optical lenses scanning external environment data.
And Maine's team made one last check of their thermobaric weapons, plasma cannons, and various heavy armaments, their faces filled with the excitement and focus of finally getting to do some serious work.
"Attention everyone," Kirk gave his final briefing over the comm channel. "Our primary objective is to locate and secure Spock's remains. Our secondary objective is to ascertain the Klingons' intentions and troop strength.
Try to avoid full-scale engagement, but if attacked, Maine's team, I authorize you to use all necessary means to retaliate and ensure the safety of the science team."
"Understood, Boss/Captain/Magos Sir." A mixed chorus of responses echoed in the cabin.
The shuttle engines roared, ejecting from the Enterprise's belly, shooting like a bullet towards the colorful, yet deadly, atmosphere of Genesis.
Violent vibrations and friction noise filled the cabin. Outside the window were rapidly passing, constantly shifting clouds and the dimly visible, nascent and unfamiliar landscape below.
The shuttle broke through the clouds, plunging resolutely towards the fated location where the signals converged.
—
The shuttle cautiously skimmed low over the nascent and rugged surface of Genesis. Below was a colorful, strangely shaped landscape, with glowing rivers and rapidly growing, never-before-seen crystal cluster forests.
Soon, their target appeared in sight—the klingon cruiser. It was tilted precariously in a valley torn open by impact, its hull extensively damaged, emitting wisps of black smoke. The immense impact had plowed a deep gash in the ground.
Clearly, to break through the blockade and force a landing, this ship and its crew had paid an extremely heavy price.
The shuttle landed on a relatively flat plateau about a kilometer away from the klingon wreckage, kicking up a cloud of shimmering dust.
"Maine's team, establish perimeter security! Reconnoiter the klingon ship's condition!" Kirk's voice came through the helmet communicator.
"Understood!" Maine responded in a low voice, then gave a series of tactical hand signals. Rebecca and Dorio quickly took up commanding positions on either side of the high ground, setting up heavy weapons to monitor the surroundings.
Pilar released miniature drones to conduct close-range scans of the klingon wreckage.
Valerie, Jackie, Falco, and Morris formed the assault team, and under Maine's leadership, they approached the silent behemoth quickly and quietly in a tactical formation.
They used the rugged terrain and large crystal clusters as cover, rapidly closing in on the damaged part of the hull.
Inside was dead silence, only the faint crackling of cooling metal and the strange cries of unknown creatures in the distance.
"Entrance secure, entering now." Maine's voice came through.
Back at the shuttle, Kirk, Osiris, Carol, and a somewhat unstable McCoy waited anxiously.
A few minutes later, Maine's report caused everyone's hearts to sink:
"Captain, the ship is empty. We found multiple battle damages and internal explosion traces, with klingon bloodstains, but no bodies. It seems… they evacuated after the crash, and took all salvageable equipment and… possibly the wounded."
Empty ship?! Kirk's pupils suddenly contracted. The Klingons abandoned their ship? This did not fit their custom of fighting to the death with their vessel, unless… they had a more important objective, and time was of the essence!