Chapter 318: The Silver Lady's Final Mission
Kirk seized this opportunity, proposing a request of paramount importance to him: "Since the mission is decided, then... please let the Enterprise execute this final mission."
His voice carried an imperceptible tremble, full of deep affection and reluctance to part with his old friend. "She has just completed her basic repairs and is fully capable of this voyage.
"Rather than letting her wait silently in spacedock for decommissioning, gathering dust, it's better to let her soar through the starry sky once more, using a glorious exploration mission as the final chapter of her legendary career. She deserves such a farewell."
This request contained so much emotion: the reluctance to part with the ship, the reminiscing of past glories, and an almost ritualistic sense of farewell.
Letting the Enterprise carry them to Spock's resting place, completing this journey of both salvation and exploration, seemed to be the perfect footnote where all storylines converged.
Carol gazed at the unquestionable earnestness and determination in Kirk's eyes.
She understood what the Enterprise meant to Kirk and the original crew.
Letting this battle-scarred legendary starship execute one last mission was not only fulfilling Kirk's wish but also paying tribute to the starship that had rendered outstanding service to the Federation.
"...I will do my best to fight for it with the Council and Starfleet," Carol finally promised. She didn't give a one-hundred-percent guarantee, but her attitude showed she would fully support the proposal.
Under Carol's unyielding mediation and vigorous arguing, the Federation Council ultimately, albeit reluctantly, agreed to Kirk's request.
They approved a more comprehensive repair of the Enterprise that went beyond the basic maintenance scope, aiming to restore this highly decorated starship at least to a state where it could safely and reliably execute a deep-space scientific expedition, rather than merely being able to move.
Engineers in the spacedock fought day and night, replacing aging wiring, reinforcing the hull structure, and testing critical systems, attempting to let this old Constitution-class starship recapture a bit of its former majesty.
When the repair work concluded, personnel from various parties began to board the ship one after another.
Dr. Carol led a capable scientific expedition team aboard the Enterprise. The team members included several physicists, geologists, and biologists who had enjoyed pleasant conversations with Ryo during the previous exchanges.
Their mission was to utilize the advanced laboratories and equipment aboard the Enterprise to conduct an unprecedentedly detailed scientific investigation of the Genesis Planet.
Immediately following, Ryo's massive, dark red mechanical body also appeared on the Enterprise. Serving as the "Special Advisor" for this expedition, his massive dark red mechanical body created a stark visual contrast with the surrounding environment when he stepped onto the deck of the Enterprise.
With personnel assembled, the bridge of the Enterprise once again welcomed its familiar crew: the steady Sulu took charge of navigation, the passionate Uhura managed communications, the optimistic Chekov reported engine status, while Dr. McCoy stood at the Medical Officer's station with a reluctant face (perhaps mixed with some thoughts that did not belong to him).
Kirk sat in the long-lost captain's chair, feeling the familiar yet slightly strange touch, a myriad of emotions welling up in his heart.
However, an unexpected figure also boarded at the very last moment before departure—Sarek, Spock's father and the Vulcan Ambassador to the Federation.
He formally requested to join the operation in an official capacity, with reasons that were sufficient and undeniable: as Spock's direct blood relative and spiritual mentor, he had to go in person to ensure his son's Katra could rest in peace according to ancient Vulcan traditions.
His arrival added a layer of heavy and sacred redemption to this scientific expedition.
Just as everything was ready and the Enterprise was about to set sail, Ryo proposed a suggestion to Kirk that he had been observing for a long time.
His crimson optical lenses swept over the busy Federation crew on the bridge—they were undoubtedly elites, excellent explorers, scientists, and operators, but they lacked something, something Ryo was accustomed to seeing in Maine's squad, the Skitarii, and the Astra Militarum—that almost instinctive aura of actual combat forged from years immersed in the flames of war and slaughter.
"Admiral Kirk," Ryo's synthesized voice rang out steadily. "The professionalism of your crew is unquestionable. But according to my assessment, they excel at operating complex equipment and handling deep-space crises; close-quarters security tasks on planetary surfaces, especially in environments where unknown organisms or residual threats might exist, are not their forte."
His gaze seemed to pierce through the deck, falling on the members of Maine's squad in the lower cabins who were about to "die of boredom."
"I propose that my exploration squad—Maine and his team members—take charge of the entire security detail after the expedition team lands on the Genesis Planet," Ryo's tone carried a fact-based statement. "They are highly skilled in this, richly experienced, and their equipment and combat modes are better suited to deal with sudden, high-intensity ground threats.
"This will maximize the safety of the expedition members and your crew, allowing the scientists to focus on their research."
Hearing this, Kirk frowned slightly.
He looked at Ryo and recalled the first time he saw Maine's squad, the fierce aura they exuded that was entirely out of place in the Federation, and those heavy weapons clearly designed for killing.
He had to admit that Ryo made sense.
The Enterprise's security personnel might be sufficient to handle general interstellar disputes, but facing a planet full of unknowns reshaped by the "Genesis Device," along with potential hidden dangers left by Khan, a more professional combat squad could indeed provide stronger protection.
After quickly weighing the mission risks and personnel safety, Kirk nodded: "Acceptable. Maine's squad will be incorporated into the temporary security roster for this mission, responsible for escort duties during planetary surface operations.
"But they must accept my unified command and abide by the Federation's operational guidelines during this mission."
"Reasonable," Ryo agreed. He subsequently issued instructions to Maine via internal comms.
The members of Maine's squad, who had been idling on the ship doing nothing, were instantly invigorated upon learning they finally had a mission, and that it was their specialty: ground security.
Rebecca excitedly checked her plasma cannon, Jackie started calculating whether there were any "local specialties" on the Genesis Planet worth swiping, and Valerie had already begun formulating emergency contingency plans.
And so, a legendary starship awaiting its final curtain call, a captain seeking redemption, a group of scientists pursuing knowledge, a Mechanical Magos from another world, a grieving Vulcan Ambassador, and an elite mercenary squad from the Cyberpunk world formed an extremely unique and multi-purposed mission team.
The Enterprise's engines started. Carrying everyone's expectations, sorrow, thirst for knowledge, and sense of mission, it slowly sailed out of the spacedock, adjusted its course, and once again plunged resolutely into the boundless sea of stars, its target aimed straight at that newborn planet containing infinite mysteries and an unfinished bond—the Genesis Planet.
(End of Chapter)