because @wcathcrwizard answered [ x ]
They were supposed to be making a delivery to Makus III. Given their two day lead on the rendezvous, they stopped to follow standing orders to examine and research any quasar formations they came across. It was an attempt to learn and expand their knowledge of space, of what they were dealing with. The research was meant to improve their experience in space and pave a way for future vessels to have it easier. Space travel would only ever get easier the more they explored, the more they discovered.
Personally, McCoy had been excited to go out in the Galileo and get a closer look at what they were flying towards. What he hadn’t been excited by was the crash landing that occurred. The second they hit the ground, he was on his feet, ignoring a slight dizzy feeling, and he checked that everyone was okay and blood-free. For the most part, the worst thing had been heads knocked against the wall. They were all okay, until he got to Mardon, who’d been nearly knocked out. He had maneuvered himself over Mark’s chair, tricorder checking for any anomalies.
Luckily, Mardon was going to be fine, which was only a minor comfort given the fact that they were on an unknown planet with unknown creatures and no way of contacting the Enterprise. Whatever friction the ion storm was causing, it looked like they were in for a long and unpleasant stay on this planet. “What hurts? I’m seeing possible broken ribs, but thankfully no internal bleeding. I’ve got something I c’n give ya for a headache if you’ve got one.” Which, knowing their luck, he probably did. “You hear me okay? Any ringin’ in your ears?”