Imagination's Limits

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Imagination's limits. Computer, continue personal log for Dr. Rosalind Lear. The new pieces added to this puzzle by the logs I retrieved on SETI Alpha 5 only confirm my belief that Khan was much more than a mad tyrant. Determined to the point of obsession, passionate but strangely vulnerable. He didn't thrive on the adulation of his people. He was mission-driven.

And that mission, at least initially, was the construction of a new kind of human society. One he protected fiercely, even as he... Dr. Lear, please report to Captain Sulu's quarters immediately. Immediately? He knows I don't actually work for him, right? Come. Captain Sulu. Dr. Lear, please sit down. You summon me. And you don't like being summoned. I still have hundreds of hours of recordings to review before we depart the SETI Alpha system. And are you finding your recordings helpful?

Improving your hypothesis that Khan Noonien Singh and his fellow augments were victims of Starfleet negligence. I seek only the truth. Do you believe that's where the evidence will lead? It's important in my line of work to keep an open mind. These are the census scans taken of the City Alpha System by the USS Enterprise on Stardate 3143.1. While they do indicate minor core instabilities on CETI Alpha 6, nothing in the analysis suggests that it was anywhere near catastrophic destabilization.

Who took these readings and performed the analysis? Our science officer, Mr. Spock. The Mr. Spock. His record as an officer is... Unimpeachable. Thank you. I will review them. You think Spock might have missed something? Someone did. Because the odds of that planet randomly exploding six months after these unimpeachable scans were taken are several billion to one. And you honestly believe it's possible that Jim Kirk would intentionally have sent 73 souls to face that kind of death?

this is the part where you tell me that you served with him you know him he would never but honestly who would have blamed him ever since the eugenics wars ended genetic augmentation has been banned Descendants who share augment blood are monitored for any sign that their true nature might assert itself. You've damned an entire subset of people to diminish citizenship out of fear and ignorance.

Khan's record both on Earth and beyond left little doubt that genetic augmentation brought out the worst in humanity. I faced Khan once. I saw firsthand. the merciless suffering he was capable of inflicting and I sleep very well at night knowing that he will be forever remembered as the monster he was. What is it you hope to achieve here? Khan and his people are dead. In my experience, monsters are made, not born. I'd like to better understand the recipe. The crucial ingredient is pain.

Pain that is not processed is passed on, and it is pain that creates monsters. If that is true, what is the responsibility of those who encounter suffering souls? Are we not required to help those who lack the tools to help themselves? In Khan's case, Captain Kirk provided him with an opportunity to seek within for his better angels. It is not Kirk's fault.

that Khan was unable or unwilling to heed them. Why do you suppose he never asked Starfleet to monitor Khan's progress on SETI Alpha 5? Or never returned to see for himself what had become of the seeds he planted? Starfleet captains are forced to make difficult decisions in prioritizing their many responsibilities. How convenient. Thank you for the scans.

Doctor, it's a big universe, and we've barely begun to explore the wonders it contains. The nice thing about always looking forward, Captain... It rarely leaves time to look back. It's ready.

Dip your toes in the water. How about your first day of freedom? There are more interesting ways to use my toes. Hey, stop. This is for history. Oh, you're hopeless. Con! Con, come quickly! My lord! Hurry, both of you! Calm down, Paolo. This wasn't supposed to happen. What's going on? SETI Alpha 6. It's exploded. Paolo, planets do not simply explode. Look, I've set the magnification so you can see the whole thing.

No. No. Khan? The entire planet? No. How is this possible? It shouldn't be. Not for thousands, maybe millions of years. but its core was unstable. It could have been impacted by something. A larger meteor, or... Khan! What's happening? Khan, the sky! Look! There, on the horizon. What is that? A massive meteor shower, perhaps? It's too big. It's not part of the planet. It's too soon for that. Then what is it? It's heading right for us. It's coming at us. Everyone, get down!

It missed us. Barely. That smoke on the horizon. That must be the impact site. How far is that? About 15 kilometers. Paolo find Ivan and Ursula. Tell them to arm themselves and meet me at the gate. Yes, my lord. That wasn't a meteor. No. No, that was a vessel. I'm going with you. I will not endanger you or our child. The sky is literally falling. I think that ship has sailed. We could be under attack. You don't know that. Have you ever made first contact with an alien species? Because I have.

Who said anything about contact? Our first task is reconnaissance. Will you even know what you're looking at? Bring your scanner and your phaser.

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If there are survivors, they'll be an advanced species. They just crashed on our planet. How advanced could they be? Advanced enough to use some form of faster-than-light propulsion. How do you know this? We've only been here six months. If they were flying at sublight speeds, Enterprise would have seen them approaching when they scanned the system and either wouldn't have left us here or would have warned them away. Could they have destroyed SETI Alpha 6?

It takes more energy than most starships have to destroy an entire world. And why bother? It was an uninhabitable, barren rock. Target practice? Much more likely. They were surveying the system, and their ship was damaged by the explosion. Take care, my dear. While these suppositions might apply to you and your Starfleet... We have no way of knowing who or what these creatures are. If they are advanced enough to travel the universe in warp-capable ships, they might be able to help us.

Why do we need their help? Because eventually, the broken pieces of SETI Alpha 6 are going to start raining down on us. And that is bad? Try apocalyptic. Within the next few years, Ivan... The entire surface of Seti Alpha 5 will be laid waste. From this moment on, we have but one purpose. Survival. Dear gods, that's the crash site. The trees below us are all flat.

They were knocked down by the shockwave. You can tell by the radial pattern in which they fell. Do you see that? At the center? Yes. As I said, a starship or what's left of one. Its debris field is two kilometers long and its hull is in over a dozen pieces. All of them on fire. My scanner's picking up life signs. There are survivors down there. Binoculars? Thank you, my brother.

I see at least a hundred, maybe more. Just as many dead. Do they carry weapons? Not that I can see. They have a human shape, but their flesh is like pearls and their hair silver. Metallic. They're awfully quiet. No screaming, no crying, even from the injured. They're in shock. Khan, we should help them. They outnumber us at least two to one, my love. If we strike now, before they can regroup...

We can easily take them. No. I can't believe I'm saying this, but Ivan has a point. I say we rally our people and attack. Do you hear yourselves? Starfleet encounters new species all the time, and but for a handful, most aren't hostile. But if we threaten them first... I did not mean threaten. I meant kill. What if they can help us? What if they have communication systems that can send a distress call to other ships or planets? Or shuttlecraft that were undamaged?

These people could be our salvation. Their technology is now scattered across this plane in pieces. And who would we call for help? Starfleet. You said yourself that Captain Kirk is never returning to this planet. But if they knew what had happened, they might... He has stranded us on a dying world. Ivan, you will stay and observe. I will send you reinforcements. Keep out of sight and use our radios to advise me of any new development.

Yes, my lord. Paula, there you are. Did you hear? Aliens landed. Well, crashed, but some of them survived, and it's... It doesn't matter, Joaquin. Khan called a council meeting. I think we're going to war. Step outside and look at the sky. An entire planet just exploded. We need to identify and track the pieces of the planet that are about to hit us. We need to estimate the impact sites. We need to know how long we have until this world becomes a ball of dust. What was that?

Are we under attack? Are you even listening to me? The loss of SETI Alpha 6's gravity is affecting our orbit around the system's main star. Quakes like that are going to become daily occurrences. Our tides will shift, as will our access to the sea's food sources.

This is the war we need to worry about winning right now. But Khan said... It doesn't matter what Khan says. We're talking about the laws of physics. Even he can't bend those to his will. We don't need to kill these aliens. The planet is going to do it for us. Can we decide I don't think that you know what to count the necessity It is imperative that our numbers appear greater than they are. We will divide into squads of three, surround them and attack from multiple angles simultaneously.

We have enough ammunition left to arm each squad with one automatic weapon. The others will carry swords and maces. We will fight hand to hand to the last man. Last I saw, they were grouped at this point, near the largest bit of wreckage. The fires were extinguished. I counted 289. So, a little more than 41 now. Did you ever hear them speak or shout or cry out? No.

But we kept our distance. Have you considered the possibility that they could be telepathic? And many species with psionic abilities possess other formidable mental powers. We saw no weapons. They might not need them. Some telepaths could kill you where you stand with a thought. There is another option. Speak, Maddo. We could wait for them to come to us.

By showing our numbers, we are showing our weakness. Behind our walls there could be hundreds. They are weak now, my lord. They will grow stronger. Or they won't. We have no idea how the planet's atmosphere agrees with them. Things that are harmless to us might be toxic to them. Ivan is right. We cannot wait. Assemble and arm the squads.

We will move into position in six hours and attack at first light. I will lead the first charge from the southernmost edge of the encampment. It will be done, my lord. And Ursula. Medow and I will set up a triage center off the medbay and prepare to treat the injured. Good. You have your orders. Go. Yes, Con. Erica, I think you got him.

How am I supposed to figure out how to do this in six hours, Joachim? I was trained for botany, not battle. Here, let me help you. It's pretty simple. Game the pointy end at whatever you want to kill. And give it all you got. There you go. I don't want to do this. I'm afraid. What if... I die before I figure out what to name the yellow berries. Paolo says that if the aliens don't kill us, the planet will, so maybe it doesn't matter so much? Paolo's just being Paolo. Well...

If it makes you feel any better, I'm scared too. Trust in Khan, Erica. He will find a way. And wish me luck. It's my first real battle. Father... He never allowed me to... You still have Khan's blade? Always. That's all the luck you need. And... Maybe this too. Why'd you do that? So we both have something to look forward to.

Paolo wishes to speak with you. Enter. Well, go ahead. My lord, I have done some initial calculations and... I believe you should reconsider killing all of the aliens. Do you? Yes, my lord. So far, I've counted 19 pieces of SETI Alpha 6 that will impact the planet in the next six months. The biggest two are each a little larger than Iran.

Do you know where they will hit? Doesn't matter. Debris will fill the atmosphere, blocking the sun. Our crops will die. Temperatures will drop. The surface will become uninhabitable. We'll go underground. Exactly. We should begin scouting now for cave systems large enough to hold us all, but that's not the real problem. Water. Right. To drink. To maintain sanitary conditions. To grow hydroponic food sources.

We'll find an underground source and tap it. It'll have to be huge. And it will dry up eventually, given that there won't be precipitation on the surface for decades. Maybe more. What does any of this have to do with the aliens? Ships like the one that just crashed require navigational arrays and long-range sensors. They'll have subsurface geological scans of the entire planet. Possibly. Thank you, Paolo. You've given me much to consider.

So you're going to call up the battle? No. I'm going to assign a squad to capture a few of the aliens, and if they have what we require, we will force them to give it to us. The rest must die. Okay, I... Suppose. We're done here, Paola. Thank you, my lord. Your triage center is ready. Mana, I understand that you are afraid for us.

and afraid for me. It may comfort you to know that I faced many ground assaults where the odds were against us and the outcome unknowable, but each time I prevailed, I will do so again. This is what I was made for. Is it, or is it just the battle you think you know how to win? I have made my choice. That is the end of it.

A little over 200 years ago, a lunatic scientist named Zefran Cochran took a weapon of war, a nuclear missile in fact, and turned it into a ship capable of flying faster than the speed of light. During his first test flight, A Vulcan survey ship happened to be passing by and when they saw that humans had achieved warp travel, they landed on Earth and made first contact.

This was shortly after the end of the Third World War, and most of Earth's people were living poverty-stricken, desperate lives. Cochrane was a brilliant engineer, but he was also a realist. He built that ship because he hoped it would make him rich. Instead, he became a legend. Humanity's introduction to the reality that many intelligent species live and thrive among the stars ushered in a new era of peace and prosperity. It was from this one choice.

that the lives of countless billions were changed forever. Marla... I'm not afraid you're going to lose, my love. I'm saddened by the limits of your imagination. My brothers and sisters, we stand together tonight, united in purpose, strong of limb, courageous of heart, and above all, determined. We did not choose this course. Fate. has decided to test us. We will each seek within ourselves and go beyond what we believe to be our limits. For we must pass this test.

We must eliminate anything and anyone that stands between us and survival. Khan! We know this place well. The precipice of battle. We've been here before. And as we always have, we will do what must be done. Ours is the superior strength! Ours is the superior intellect! Ours! It's the victory to come.

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I count close to 400 now. 396. As soon as the dawn breaks, I will give the order. Squads 4 through 10 are to hold at the treeline until... My lord, do you see this? They are moving into circles, each larger than the next. Town. Either their ears are sharper than ours, or someone's given away opposition. Their face outward, holding hands. As if they are preparing to confront us. Or defend the ones within. But I still don't see any weapons. At least this way they won't be hard to pick off.

Choose your first targets and prepare to break cover and open fire, but keep your distance. Yes, my lord. Weapons ready? Yes, my lord. Hold until I give the command. Conserve that ammo. What is that sound that hum it's not mechanical is it do you hear that stand ready? Who's making that sound? Their mouths aren't moving Alien treachery. Hold your positions. Do you feel that? Quiet. I feel it. Look at my teeth. It's inside my head.

Brain! Oh my god! Whoa, what the heck? Son, your rifle! Oh my god. It's melted! Mine too! What's happening? My rifle! It's broken in two! Forcery. My lord, our weapons, the metal bends and breaks the... Useless. Mine as well. It matters not. The dawn has come. We will kill them with our bare hands. Wait. But...Khan? It's as Marla said. They are telepaths. And hardly unarmed.

Even if they don't speak, they probably bleed. Ivan, hear me. Retreat. Collect our people and return to Cal. I will not... abandon you do as i say i will not die cowering the brush i'm not afraid of you. It's you that should fear me. My lord! Using my imagination. But Khan! If I fall, tell my beloved wife that we were both from.

my words. Difficult now, but he is in time. Practice. You are Delmonda. That is your name? Yes. I have claimed this world for my people. You do not belong here. Our ship, damaged. Entered system to make repairs. Sixth planet unstable. Your ship was caught up in the explosion? Lost orbital integrity. Where is Elboria? Many thousand light years. Two of our spans have journeyed. You cannot stay here.

Neither can you. My people are my concern. You will take yours and leave this world. If that is your wish... That is my command. You do not trust easily. Why should I trust you? Why should I believe anything you say? His vitals are all fine. Neurological activity is normal. I don't know why he's not awake, but I don't want to risk a stimulant. Can you hear me? Con? Where am I? You're home, love. I'll leave you to it, but don't keep me in suspense for long. I won't, thank you.

Take it easy. You've had quite a day. Now, water. You're thirsty? I'll get it. No. Water under the ground. What are you talking about? I saw it in my mind. He showed me. I know where it is. Where we must go. Who showed you? Del Monda. The Elborian. Elborian? I've never heard of them. Starfleet has never encountered them. You spoke with him. No. No, not exactly. I... I spoke and he answered in my mind. So they are telepaths? Delmonto wants us to survive.

All of us. He told you that. No. But... I know. Somehow I... I just know. So, what happens now? Gather the others Ivan the lights Over here. Exactly as I saw it. Just where he said it was. It must be at least a hundred miles wide. And it's fresh water. It's so beautiful. And Xanadu did Kubla Khan a stately pleasure dome decree where Alf the sacred river ran.

through caverns measureless to man, down to a sunless sea. Cotteridge. I would have thought of all the romantics you would prefer Wordsworth. I had to memorize it as a student years ago. then it was just words now it's real well paulo will this do yes my lord it will I am Khan, ruler of Seti Alpha V. The empire I would have built here will never be. And as if in answer to a prayer I never uttered.

Hope has fallen from the sky. Do I dare trust it? In Delmonde's place with his powers, I would have destroyed us all and taken this sunless sea for my people. But he did not. And if I refuse his generosity, what price will we pay? There is nothing to fear. And yet, and yet I do. God's helped me. How can I help but fear that which I simply do not understand.

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Star Trek Con is based on a story by Nicholas Meyer, written by Kirsten Beyer and David Mack, produced by iPodcast Productions, Inc., Secret Hideout, and Roddenberry Entertainment. Production by Realm. Directed by Fred Greenhalgh, executive producers for Secret Hideout, Alex Kurtzman and Aaron Byers. Executive producer, Kirsten Byer. Executive producers for Roddenberry Entertainment, Eugene Roddenberry and Trevor Roth.

Executive producers for Realm, Molly Barton, Carly Migliori, and Fred Greenhalgh. Co-executive producer, Robin Johnson. Co-producer, Greer Mathiat. This podcast is based upon Star Trek, created by Gene Roddenberry. Starring Naveen Andrews as Khan. Ren Schmidt as Lieutenant Marla MacGyvers. Sonia Cassidy as Dr. Rosalind Lear.

Tim Russ as Ensign Tuvok, and George Takei as Captain Sulu. Also starring Oli Haskovi, Maury Sterling, Mercy Malik, Zari Washington, with additional voices by Phaedra Al-Casey. Hayden Bishop, Paul Castro Jr., Chad Chennai, Ethan Dubin, Aaron Fors, Juan Francisco Villa, Juliet Golia, Aaron Hendry, Cynthia Hood, Tina Ivlev. Adriel Jovianeris-Riviera, Alina Khan, Jacqueline Jackson, Jeremy Maxwell, Christina Oates, Hamish Sturgeon, Regina Toffin, Maxwell Whittington Cooper.

Casting by Meg Moorman CSA and Sunday Bowling Kennedy CSA. Looping group casting by Barbara Harris. Sound design and mixing by Daniel Brunel. Additional sound design by Jonathan Roberts. Original score by Marcus Thorne Bagala and Sam Bagala. Production manager, Devin Shepard. Production coordinator, Chad Chennai. Additional writing by Mac Rogers. Dialogue editing by Gordon Bramley. Original song, You'll Be With Me, written and performed by Lisa Carbet and Jean-Pierre Duran.

Recorded at Mark Grau Studios, The Invisible Studios, Real Voice LA, Adrenaline Studios, and City Vox New York. This podcast was recorded under a SAG-AFTRA agreement. Copyright 2025 CBS Studios Inc. All rights reserved. This program is protected under the laws of the United States of America and other countries. Unauthorized duplication, distribution or exhibition may result in civil liability and criminal prosecution. Star Trek and related marks are trademarks of CBS Studios Inc.