Chapter 320: Landing on the Genesis Planet
The information fed back by the Enterprise's sensors made everyone's heart sink on the bridge. After repeated calibration and comparison, the rough landing zone of the Klingon landing pod highly overlapped with the location of the photon torpedo beacon containing Spock's remains!
"Are they... are they going after Spock?" Uhura's voice carried unbelievable astonishment.
"Not necessarily," Akira's synthesized voice analyzed calmly, his logic core spinning rapidly. "A more reasonable deduction is that in the Klingons' scans, the only clear, stable beacon with obvious Federation technological characteristics on that planet is the photon torpedo casing holding Spock's remains.
On a newborn planet full of unknown interference, this is the most conspicuous signpost. They might think it's an important Federation beacon station, a data storage point, or even... some un-detonated component of the Genesis device."
Regardless, the Klingons were heading straight toward the direction of Spock's remains.
No matter what their specific goal was, Spock's remains were in extreme danger.
If the Klingons got to it first, the consequences would be unimaginable—Spock's soul would not be able to rest, McCoy would continue to be tormented, and the dignity of the Vulcans and the Federation would be trampled.
"No time to hesitate!" Kirk made a prompt decision, his voice resolute. "We must land immediately and find Spock before the Klingons do!"
He quickly assigned the team:
"Magos Akira, I need your judgment and your squad'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 risky, but also necessary. Only Spock's Katra within him could provide the most accurate guidance in the complex planetary environment.
"Mann's squad, fully armed! You are responsible for the landing party's ground security and assault missions! We're going to have an encounter battle with the Klingons!"
"Understood, boss!" Mann's deep voice came through the comms, carrying a hint of excitement at finally being able to move and the steadiness of a mercenary receiving a tough fight.
Ambassador Sarek stepped forward, his very presence a silent demand.
"Ambassador Sarek, you..." Kirk hesitated. Having a diplomat participate in a ground assault mission was too risky.
"Captain Kirk," Sarek's voice was steady but unquestionable, "That is my son. I must go." His eyes contained the deep, suppressed emotions of a Vulcan and an unshakable determination.
Kirk looked at the bizarre team before him—Starfleet commanders and doctors, top scientists, a Vulcan ambassador, an otherworldly mechanical Magos, and armed mercenaries from another dark future. He took a deep breath.
"Alright. Everyone, assemble in the shuttle bay! Immediately!"
Soon, the group assembled inside the shuttle.
Kirk, fully armed, gripped his phaser; Carol checked her scientific instrument kit.
McCoy appeared somewhat anxious; the fragment of Spock's soul within him seemed to cause a strong reaction to the approaching remains.
Akira's massive mechanical body took up almost a corner of the cabin, his crimson optical lenses scanning the external environmental data.
And Mann's squad checked their combi-weapons, plasma cannons, and various heavy firepower one last time, their faces filled with the excitement and focus of finally getting to go all out.
"Attention everyone," Kirk gave the final briefing over the comm channel. "Our primary objective is to locate and secure Spock's remains. Our secondary objective is to reconnoiter the Klingons' intentions and troop strength.
Avoid a full-scale firefight if possible, but if attacked, Mann's squad, I authorize you to use all necessary means to counterattack and ensure the safety of the expedition team."
"Understood, Boss/Admiral/Magos." A mixture of responses rang out in the cabin.
The shuttle's engines roared as it was catapulted from the Enterprise's belly, shooting like a bullet toward the Genesis planet's colorful yet murderous atmosphere.
Violent vibrations and friction noise filled the cabin. Outside the window were rapidly passing, ever-changing colored clouds and the faintly visible, newly formed, unfamiliar terrain below.
The shuttle broke through the clouds and resolutely dived toward that fateful place where the signals overlapped.
The shuttle cautiously skimmed low over the newborn and rugged surface of Genesis. Below was a colorful, bizarrely shaped landscape, with flowing fluorescent rivers and rapidly growing, never-before-seen crystal forests.
Soon, their target appeared in view—the Klingon cruiser.
It tilted to the side in an extremely wretched state within a valley torn apart by the impact. The hull was damaged in multiple places, emitting plumes of black smoke, and the massive impact force had plowed a deep trench into the ground.
Obviously, to break the blockade and force a landing, this ship and its crew had paid an extremely heavy price.
The shuttle landed on a relatively flat high ground about a kilometer away from the Klingon shipwreck, kicking up a cloud of faintly glowing dust.
"Mann's squad, establish a perimeter! Recon the condition of the Klingon ship!" Kirk's voice came through the helmet communicators.
"Understood!" Mann replied in a deep voice, then threw out a series of tactical hand signals. Rebecca and Dorio quickly occupied the vantage points on both sides of the high ground, setting up heavy weapons to monitor the surroundings.
Pilar launched a micro-drone to conduct a close-range scan of the Klingon wreckage.
Valerie, Jack, Falco, and Mael formed an assault team. Under Mann's lead, they approached the silent behemoth quickly and quietly in a tactical formation.
They used the rugged terrain and giant crystal clusters as cover, quickly closing in on the hull's breach.
The interior was dead silent, with only the slight crackling sound of cooling metal and the strange cries of unknown creatures in the distance.
"Entrance secure, making entry," Mann's voice reported.
Back at the shuttle, Kirk, Akira, Carol, and a somewhat unstable McCoy waited anxiously.
A few minutes later, Mann's report made everyone's heart sink:
"Captain, the ship is completely empty. We found multiple battle damage marks and signs of internal explosions. There's Klingon blood, but no bodies. It looks like... after crashing, they proactively evacuated, taking all portable equipment and... possibly the wounded."
An empty ship?! Kirk's pupils suddenly contracted. The Klingons abandoned their own ship? This didn't fit their style of living and dying with their ship, unless... they had a more important goal, and time was of the essence!