10 Huge Revelations From Star Trek: Khan

7. The Cause Of Ceti Alpha VI's Explosion

Star Trek The Wrath Of Khan USS Reliant
CBS Media Ventures

Among the many things that Khan blames James Kirk for is the hellish nature of his new home. While Ceti Alpha V was described as 'habitable, although a bit savage, somewhat inhospitable' by Spock in 2261, it still offered Khan and his people hope. 

Six months after their arrival, Ceti Alpha VI exploded, changing the orbit of Ceti Alpha V. This laid waste to the planet's surface, forcing the survivors underground. The explosion of the planet was foreseen, but was still expected to take centuries. Ursula, the chief of medicine for the colony, was aware of that planet's instability, but was initially unconcerned about an explosion that she would never live to see. 

While the question of how the Reliant failed to notice a missing planet in The Wrath Of Khan doesn't receive an answer, the cause for said planet is revealed. The El Boreans, another group that crash lands on Ceti Alpha V, are responsible for VI's destruction. Their ship was damaged in transit, requiring them to find an emergency landing zone. 

The type of engine they used could devastate matter, though they couldn't jettison it for fear of becoming stranded in deep space. Left with little options, they allowed their propulsion system to destroy VI, which they knew was uninhabited. Their ship crash lands on V, which in turn leads to several years of tension and secrets between them and Khan's group. 

Contributor
Contributor

Seán is the host and head writer/presenter for TrekCulture, as well as a writer/presenter on WhoCulture and WhatCulture Horror. He has authored two novels, dozens of short stories, and hundreds of articles for WhatCulture. He holds a Master of Arts in Creative Writing from University College Dublin. As part of his work with TrekCulture, Seán has been invited to participate in collaborations with Roddenberry Entertainment, as well as contributing to several Star Trek community projects. An avid fan of Star Trek, Doctor Who, and the horror genre at large, Seán's expertise has helped develop these channels to the successes they are today. As host of the Ups & Downs series on TrekCulture, Seán has become internationally recognised for his positive yet critically informed approach to reviewing every episode of modern Star Trek, ensuring he is one of the go-to voices in the Trek community. Favourite Quote to describe himself: "I'm serious about what I do, just not always about the way that I do it"