So begins the grand finale of the Star Trek: Khan podcast, which answers all our questions on Khan Noonien Singh's fall for a stunning conclusion to this amazing audio drama.
Ceti Alpha V (the past) — the tragedy unfolds
“Eternity’s Face” opened with Ursula stunned to find Ivan alive. He had survived off water and Ceti eels, plus he just killed Paolo! Ivan quickly realized that Khan had no intention of ever returning and planned to take over the Venture himself. Despite claiming she’s overcome her hatred of Khan, Ursula agreed to be at Ivan's side. She then offered some words as a final goodbye to the fallen youth: "I hope that wherever you are now, Paolo, there are stars."
Joachim talked with Khan, who once more refused to contact Starfleet, believing Captain James T. Kirk feared them and was convinced the Federation would kill any Augment that tried to escape. Joachim said that Khan had bested Kirk, and Khan was sorry that they’re unlikely to ever meet again. Joachim brought up Delmonda’s advice on dismissing vengeance, with Khan outraged at the mention of the Elborean's name.
After, Khan discovered his people had gathered, knowing the truth and demanding Kali (Khan and Marla McGivers' daughter) stay to ensure their leader would return. Khan was then stunned by Ivan’s return as he gave a big speech on how Khan was going to abandon the Augments and riled the mob up against their leader. Khan was surprisingly calm as he related that the Venture was locked and only had a small launch window to safely escape from the planet.
Launch of the Venture
Delmonda and the other Elbs arrived to use their power to craft a force field around the ship to protect the launch and those inside the vessel. Ursula ordered Erica to take as many people as she could to the surface, and when Ivan attacked Delmonda, Ursula used Marla's phaser on him! She then demanded that Khan ensure Madot gets a seat on the Venture.
Khan boarded the ship, giving Madot Joachim’s seat with the young Augment agreeing to stay behind. Hearing Marla’s log entry, though, on how history celebrated a coward, it resonated with Khan and made him realize that running away was not the answer. Kali didn't understand her father's sudden change of heart, and, with a final heartbreaking goodbye, Khan left the ship. After swapping out with Delmonda, Khan told the Elb to protect his daughter.
Ivan attacked Khan, the pair having a brutal fight, with Khan clearly in control. When Ivan asked why he didn’t kill him, Khan replied that he did want to kill Ivan. Khan then offered Ivan one last chance, which he rejected, and Khan finally ended his old friend’s life. Khan then watched the Venture take off.
Ursula was trying to contact the Venture, but Erica had seen the Venture take off and fly into the clouds only for an eruption of fire to follow. While Ursula was hopeful it was nothing, Erica was convinced the Venture exploded. Out of nowhere, Joachim arrived with more survivors, bringing their total number to 31, with all the Elbs having sacrificed themselves to ensure the Venture’s escape, thus explaining their future absence.
Ursula broke the news to Khan that it appeared the Venture had exploded. At first, while in denial, Khan tried desperately to contact the ship. Then, after having accepted his daughter's fate, Khan smashed the radio in a rage! And in that moment, with the loss of Kali and the last hope for his people, Khan’s hold on sanity and humanity was shattered and he finally transformed into the madman we would see in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan.
Ceti Alpha V (the future) — the secret revealed
Engisn Tuvok confronts Dr. Rosalind Lear with the knowledge that he knows she is Khan and Marla's daughter, Kali Noonien Singh. Tuvok also reveals to Lear, after studying the logs, Khan believed his daughter had died in the Venture on the day it launched. Had Khan not smashed the communication equipment, he would have been able to eventually contact Kail and discover it was a fuel pod that exploded in Ceti Alpha V's atmosphere that tragic day — and not the Venture!
Lear speaks for everyone in that had Khan waited just a few more minutes, so much pain and suffering could have been avoided. Sadly, Lear also reveals to Tuvok that she is the only one of the four who boarded the Venture that day who is still alive.
Both Elbs died earlier, but Madot lived to see Lear's university days, and she left Khan's daughter Marla’s logs in her will. Lear believed that if Khan ever returned, he’d have come for her and was upset that instead, he targeted Kirk. Now, though, Lear knows Khan never abandoned her but believed his daughter was long dead.
Tuvok promises to keep Lear's identity a secret and that he will help work against Starfleet’s policies against Augments. She then does what her father never could and agrees to trust Tuvok. The pair beam away to the USS Excelsior, leaving Ceti Alpha V once more a lifeless world as the voices of Khan and Kali intertwine and echo the podcast's final words, courtesy of the Kubla Khan poem: "And drunk the milk of paradise."
So ends a stunning drama that frankly puts some of the live-action Trek shows to shame. It deepens the characters of Khan and Marla, and the tragedy of how close Khan came to redemption, only for a tragic misunderstanding to ruin it, solidifying his collapse into darkness. It’s a must-listen for any Trekkie and hopefully the start of more audio dramas to take Star Trek into a new dimension.
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