The Black Captains of ‘Star Trek’
- By Robin Zabiegalski
- Updated Feb 18, 2021 at 3:33pm
YouTube Madge Sinclair as the Captain of the USS Saratoga in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home
When Michael Burnham became captain of the USS Discovery at the end of the third season of Star Trek: Discovery , she joined the prestigious list of Black captains in the Star Trek universe. Though the number of Black captains is still small, the representation they’ve brought to the Star Trek universe is powerful.
Here are some of the amazing Black folks who’ve commanded their own ships in the Star Trek universe.
Captain Clark Terrell
Captain Terrell was the commander of the USS Reliant in the movie Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan . He was the first Black captain onscreen in the Star Trek universe.
Terrell and Chekov, who had transferred from the Enterprise to the Reliant, were captured by Khan Noonien Singh when they were surveying the planet on which Singh and his crew had been exiled. Singh used parasitic creatures to control Terrell and force him to steal a weapon of mass destruction.
The character was portrayed by renowned actor Paul Winfield , one of the most popular and accomplished Black actors of the 70s and 80s.
The Captain of the USS Saratoga
Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home , featured the first Black, female captain of a Starfleet ship. Though the prequel series and movies that came out later depicted female captains that came before her in the Star Trek timeline, the captain of the Saratoga was also the first female captain at the time when the movie came out. Though the character wasn’t named, her appearance marked a momentous occasion in Star Trek history.
The unnamed captain was portrayed by the legendary actress Madge Sinclair , though she wasn’t credited in the movie.
Captain Silva LaForge
Geordi LaForge’s mother, Silva, was a character on Star Trek: The Next Generation , and she was one of the few Black women to captain their own ships. Though Captain LaForge was mentioned multiple times throughout the series, she only appeared in one episode, “ Interface .” When Captain LaForge went missing, her son embarked on a mission to find out what happened.
Interestingly, LaForge was portrayed by Sinclair, the same actress who portrayed the unnamed captain of the Saratoga.
Captain Benjamin Sisko
Captain Sisko was the first Black commander, later captain, to be the lead character of a Star Trek series. Though there had been Black Starfleet captains before Sisko, they were always minor or recurring characters. Though there had been Black characters in the main cast of every previous Star Trek show, none of them had been the central character and authority figure.
Sisko commanded the space station Deep Space Nine with the Bajoran commander Kira Nerys. He was in charge of maintaining order and instilling democracy in a wartorn sector of space that quickly became one of the most crucial spots in the Alpha Quadrant.
The character was played by critically acclaimed actor Avery Brooks .
Captain Carol Freeman
Star Trek: Lower Decks was the first Star Trek show to feature a Black, female captain. Though Black female captains had been shown as minor characters before, they were never the focus of the show. That all changed with the USS Cerritos.
Captain Freeman was the protege of Commander William T. Riker when she was at Starfleet Academy. In spite of that, she was assigned to the Cerritos, a ship that specialized in second contact, rather than the much more prestigious job of establishing first contact. She commanded her ragtag crew of misfits in a firm but relatable way that made her a favorite of her crew.
The character is voiced by award-winning A Different World actress, Dawnn Lewis .
Captain Michael Burnham
Though Lower Decks gave fans the first Black, female captain as a central character, Discovery season four will be the first season of a Star Trek series that focuses entirely on a Black, female captain and her crew.
Fans of the show have watched Burnham go through a mercurial journey to the captain’s chair. She went from commander to a convicted mutineer to a specialist to a first officer to a science officer to captain within just a few years. Though those few years did span over 300 years in the Star Trek timeline.
In the upcoming season four, Burnham will finally be able to call the captain’s chair her own and fans will get to watch as she commands the Discovery.
The character is portrayed by well-known actress Sonequa Martin-Green .
Though Star Trek has always been committed to inclusivity, the franchise doubled down on that commitment in the past few years by putting the narratives of Black folks front and center. The Black captains that came before Freeman and Burnham paved the way for them to have their own ships and their own stories.
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Clark Terrell (Kelvin timeline)
Clark Terrell (also known as Craig Terrell ) was a Human Starfleet officer and captain of the USS Concord in 2260s of the Kelvin timeline . ( TOS - Boldly Go comic : " Issue 1 ")
Biography [ ]
Terrell was almost as young as James T. Kirk when the USS Concord set out on her six-month exploratory mission. As he conversed with first officer Hikaru Sulu , the Concord was approached by a Borg sphere that began transmitting an indecipherable message before it began attacking. Terrell ordered Sulu to the battle bridge but the Borg simply sliced up the saucer and began assimilating the crew. ( TOS - Boldly Go comics : " Issue 1 ", " Issue 2 ")
As a Borg, he was beamed to the USS Endeavour as they attacked [ Outpost Armstrong]]. He warned Kirk and his crew that their technology was inferior and that they would be assimilated should they pursue. ( TOS - Boldly Go comic : " Issue 2 ")
Terrell was part of a Borg landing party on the Romulan world of Quirina VI in their search for " The Outlier ". When the Endeavour crew beamed down, the Borg managed to capture Commander Spock for assimilation. ( TOS - Boldly Go comic : " Issue 3 ")
Terrell was one the Borg who monitored Spock's assimilation. When the commander's hybrid genetics allowed him to break free of the assimilation process, he applied the Vulcan nerve pinch to Terrell. Aboard the Endeavour , he was tended to by the medical staff. ( TOS - Boldly Go comic : " Issue 4 ")
Terrell recovering.
Terrell was then treated at Starbase K-4 . Sulu spoke briefly with him about his assignment as the Endeavour 's new first officer. Terrell assured Sulu that he would be ready if the Borg came back. ( TOS - Boldly Go comic : " Issue 6 ")
At the Babel Conference , Terrell gave an impassioned speech about the Borg threat and how they could only be felled if all races stood together. Though Captain Kirk praised the speech, Terrell was unconvinced of its effectiveness noting how individuals of every species were clustering together out of fear. ( TOS - Boldly Go comic : " Issue 7 ")
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Clark Terrell
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Clark Terrell was a Federation Starfleet line officer on active duty in the 23rd century . ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan )
He was born in Vancouver , British Columbia, Canada in 2233 and graduated from Starfleet Academy in 2254 . ( TOS e-novel The Darkness Drops Again )
By 2265 , Terrell was executive officer of the Archer -class USS Sagittarius , then its commanding officer three years later. ( VAN novels: Harbinger and Storming Heaven )
Captain Clark Terrell commanded USS Reliant during its search, in 2285 , for an appropriate planetary body on which to test the Genesis device . In the Ceti Alpha system , Reliant 's scans found a planet that seemed suitable -- until they found it was a former class-M world whose orbit had changed, resulting in the extinction of all higher forms of life. Ceti Alpha V was also where James T. Kirk had exiled the surviving Augments -- including Khan Noonien Singh -- from the SS Botany Bay in 2267 . ( TOS : " Space Seed ")
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Orion Press [ ]
Terrell was already captain of Reliant in 2275 , where his officers called him "Jellybelly" behind his back, due to his rotundity. ( Orion Press : " The Blue Rose ")
- USS Terrell (NCC-2864), a frigate based on the Excelsior primary hull, entered Starfleet service in the late 2280s or early 2290s . ( Kitbashed Starships : USS Terrell (NCC-2864) )
- The Decker -class destroyer USS Clark Terrell (NCC-6006) was named after Terrell and commissioned on reference stardate 2/7602 (circa 2234 ). ( FASA RPG: Star Trek: The Next Generation Officer's Manual )
External links [ ]
- Clark Terrell article at Memory Alpha , the canon Star Trek wiki.
- Clark Terrell article at Memory Beta , the non-canon Star Trek wiki.
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Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan IDW mini-series
#1 Jun 2009 The story opens with Saavik in command of the Kobayashi Maru, and in peril. Kirk is feeling old and McCoy tries to shake him out of the doldrums. When Chekov and Captain Terrell arrive on what they think is Ceti Alpha 6, they find an old enemy. Dr. Carol Marcus begs Kirk for help from Regula One, and Spock says what we all know to be true, that Kirk belongs in command. Writers: Andy Schmidt Artist: Chee Yang Ong Cover artist: Chee Yang Ong
#1 Jun 2009 Solicitation: Somebody goofed up 25 years ago, and IDW is going to make it right! The one Star Trek movie that never got a proper comic book adaptation is the best one! Kirk, Spock and crew will battle it out with Khan for the last time! Photo cover of movie poster by Bob Peak. Writers: Andy Schmidt Artist: Chee Yang Ong
#1 Jun 2009 Retailer incentive cover. Displayed side-by-side, the three retailer incentive covers form an interlocking panel . Writers: Andy Schmidt Artist: Chee Yang Ong Cover artist: David Dietrick
#2 Jun 2009 McCoy is outraged on learning the details of Genesis. Kirk and Khan play cat and mouse, meet again, and resume the game. Finally, Kirk and his away team find Chekov and Terrell, then Genesis, and Reliant's captain dies a tragic death. Writers: Andy Schmidt Artist: Chee Yang Ong Cover artist: Chee Yang Ong
#2 Jun 2009 Solicitation: Kahn attacks and blows the enterprise to smithereens! Kirk has to consider facing death for the very first time! Plus, he meets his kid! The action-packed movie continues in this three-part, bi-weekly extravaganza! Photo cover. Writers: Andy Schmidt Artist: Chee Yang Ong
#2 Jun 2009 Retailer incentive cover. Writers: Andy Schmidt Artist: Chee Yang Ong Cover artist: David Dietrick
#3 Jul 2009 Khan aboard Reliant, faces off against Kirk and the Enterprise. Kirk lures Khan into the Mutara Nebula and laughs at Khan's superior intellect. Although Khan lacks experience, he makes the last move, setting off the Genesis device, dealing a fatal blow to a member of the Enterprise crew, and putting Kirk firmly in the Captain's chair again. Writers: Andy Schmidt Artist: Chee Yang Ong Cover artist: Chee Yang Ong
#3 Jul 2009 Solicitation: The action-packed movie concludes in the final issue of this three-part, bi-weekly extravaganza! Kirk versus Khan to the death! Photo cover. Writers: Andy Schmidt Artist: Chee Yang Ong
#3 Jul 2009 Retailer incentive cover. Writers: Andy Schmidt Artist: Chee Yang Ong Cover artist: David Dietrick
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Published Sep 30, 2016
"Darmok" Turns 25 Today
Many memorable episodes of Star Trek: The Original Series are turning 50 this year, but they're not the only hours we'll be celebrating in the coming weeks and months here at StarTrek.com . Some of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's best installments will turn 25 years old this year. Case in point, " Darmok ," which debuted on September 30, 1991 and which tends to always land in the top 10, or often the top 5, of TNG Best-of lists.
Some facts, figures and anecdotes about "Darmok."
"Darmok" was the second episode of TNG 's fifth season. Winrich Kolbe directed it based on a script by Joe Menosky and a story by Menosky and Philip LeZebnik.
According to Memory Alpha , "'Darmok" was filmed between Thursday July 18, 1991 and Friday July 26, 1991 on Paramount Stage 8, 9 and 16, as well as on location at Bronson Canyon."
"Shaka, when the walls fell," spoken by both Picard (Patrick Stewart) and Dathon (Paul Winfield), rates as one of the most-memorable lines in all of Star Trek .
We also loved Picard's reply to Riker, when the latter asked, "New friends, captain?" Picard answered, "I can't say, Number One. But at least they're not new enemies."
What did you think of the new captain's uniform, which made its debut in this episode?
Winfield was no stranger to Star Trek , as he'd played Captain Terrell in The Wrath of Khan . The actor, an Oscar nominee and Emmy winner, died of a heart attack in 2002.
Ashley Judd, in "Darmok," made the first of her two appearances as Ensign Robin Lefler. She also played the character in " The Game ."
According to the Star Trek: The Next Generation Companion , producer Michael Piller deemed "Darmok" to have had the longest gestation period of any episode made during his tenure: two years.
Blooper time: phaser fire comes out of the forward photon torpedo launcher.
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Star Trek's 100 Most Important Crew Members, Ranked
This week, we celebrate the 50th anniversary of the original Star Trek TV series. To do so, we thought it might be a good time to rank all of the Star Trek crew members. Before we do, a few stipulations:
1: Only Starfleet personnel and related enlisted crews have been considered for placement on this list. (Which means that characters such as Quark, Morn, or, let's be honest, half of Deep Space Nine are absent.) Placement on the list is the result of long consideration of characters' service to Starfleet and/or Starfleet-related causes as shown or implied during their appearances, with one exception that shall not be discussed further. (Good luck figuring out which one is placed specifically due to personal bias.)
2: Only original on-screen media was considered during deliberation. If spin-off material such as novels and comic books had been included, both Captain Clark Terrell and Commander Elizabeth Shelby would be considerably higher up in the ranking. ( Star Trek: Vanguard and Star Trek: New Frontier FTW, as the famous 24th century saying goes.)
3: Your argument is invalid.
Key: TOS: The Original Series, aka Star Trek (1966-1969) TAS: Star Trek: The Animated Series (1973-1974) TMP: Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979) TWK: Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) TUC: Star Trek VI: The Undiscovered Country (1991) STG: Star Trek: Generations (1994) TNG: Star Trek: The Next Generation (1987-1994) DS9: Star Trek: Deep Space Nine (1993-1999) VOY: Star Trek: Voyager (1995-2001) ENT: Star Trek: Enterprise (2001-2005) KTL: The Kelvin Timeline, aka Star Trek (2009), Star Trek Into Darkness (2013), Star Trek Beyond (2016)
100. Crewman Lon Suder (VOY) 99. Admiral Alexander Marcus (KTL) 98. Lieutenant Marla McGivers (TOS) 97. Lt. Commander Gary Mitchell (TOS) 96. Dr. Elizabeth Dehner (TOS) 95. Commodore Matthew Decker (TOS) 94. Captain Ben Maxwell (TNG) 93. Kes (VOY) 92. Fleet Admiral Cartwright (TUC) 91. Lieutenant Valeris (TUC) 90. Luther Sloan (DS9) 89. Commander Bruce Maddox (TNG) 88. Captain Phillipa Louvois (TNG) 87. Ensign Taurik (TNG) 86. Ensign Sito Jaxa (TNG) 85. Lieutenant José Tyler (TOS) 84. Crewman Michael Rostov (ENT) 83. Crewman Elizabeth Cutler (ENT) 82. Ensign Walsh (ENT) 81. Ensign Tanner (ENT) 80. Lieutenant Sam Lavelle (TNG) 79. Ensign Samantha Wildman (VOY) 78. Commander Kyle (TOS) 77. Lt. Commander Michael Eddington (DS9) 76. Vice Admiral Nakamura (TNG) 75. Captain Rudy Ransom (VOY) 74. Dr. Mark Piper (TOS) 73. Chef (ENT) 72. Ensign Melora Pazlar (DS9) 71. Ensign Robin Lefler (TNG) 70. Yeoman Janice Rand (TOS) 69. Rear Admiral Gregory Quinn (TNG) 68. Captain Edward Jellico (TNG) 67. Lt. Commander Jack Crusher (TNG) 66. Dr. Philip Boyce (TOS) 65. Lieutenant M'Ress (TAS) 64. Dr. Selar (TNG) 63. Nurse Alyssa Ogawa (TNG) 62. Neelix (VOY) 61. Lieutenant Arex (TAS) 60. Nurse Christine Chapel (TOS) 59. Captain Clark Terrell (TWK) 58. Captain Robert April (TOS) 57. Number One (TOS) 56. Commander Elizabeth Shelby (TNG) 55. Lieutenant Reginald Barclay (TNG) 54. Ensign Ro Laren (TNG) 53. Cadet Tim Watters (DS9) 52. Captain Erika Hernandez (ENT) 51. Lieutenant Nog (DS9) 50. Captain Willard Decker (TMP) 49. Lieutenant Ilia (TMP) 48. Lieutenant Saavik (TWK) 47. Captain Richard Robau (KTL) 46. Captain John Harriman (STG) 45. Captain Rachel Garrett (TNG) 44. Lieutenant Demora Sulu (STG) 43. Admiral Owen Paris (VOY) 42. Admiral Maxwell Forrest (ENT) 41. Admiral William Ross (DS9) 40. Chief Medical Officer Phlox (ENT) 39. Dr. Katherine Pulaski (TNG) 38. Lt. Commander George Kirk (KTL) 37. Seven of Nine (VOY) 36. Lt. Commander Tasha Yar (TNG) 35. Captain Christopher Pike (TOS) 34. Ensign Harry Kim (VOY) 33. Ensign Travis Mayweather (ENT) 32. Lieutenant Ezri Dax (DS9) 31. Ensign Wesley Crusher (TNG) 30. Commander Pavel Chekov (TOS) 29. Lieutenant Malcolm Reed (ENT) 28. Lieutenant B'Elanna Torres (VOY) 27. Lt. Commander Hoshi Sato (ENT) 26. Lieutenant Tom Paris (VOY) 25. Dr. Julian Bashir (DS9) 24. Counsellor Deanna Troi (TNG) 23. Commander Charles Tucker III (ENT) 22. Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (DS9) 21. Chief Engineer Geordi LaForge (TNG) 20. Dr. Beverly Crusher (TNG) 19. Chief Engineer Montgomery Scott (TOS) 18. Captain Hikaru Sulu (TOS) 17. Chief Miles O'Brien (DS9) 16. Emergency Medical Hologram Joe (VOY) 15. Constable Odo (DS9) 14. Commander Nyota Uhura (TOS) 13. Lt. Commander Worf (TNG) 12. Lt. Commander Data (TNG) 11. Commander Chakotay (VOY) 10. Commander T'Pol (ENT) 9. Captain Jonathan Archer (ENT) 8. Captain Kathryn Janeway (VOY) 7. Colonel Kira Nerys (DS9) 6. Commander William Riker (TNG) 5. Dr. Leonard "Bones" McCoy (TOS) 4. Captain Spock (TOS) 3. Captain Jean-Luc Picard (TNG) 2. Captain Benjamin Sisko (DS9) 1. Captain James T. Kirk (TOS)
Commander Beach was a 23rd century operations division Starfleet officer who served aboard the USS Reliant as one of Captain Clark Terrell 's bridge officers .
During the mid- 2280s , Mr. Beach served aboard the starship during Reliant 's search for a test planet for Project Genesis , a terraforming experiment which was under the jurisdiction of Dr. Carol Marcus .
In 2285 , when the Reliant first entered orbit of what was mistakenly thought to be Ceti Alpha VI , Beach reported from the science station the initial scans of the planet's surface.
Beach would later serve as the duty officer while Captain Terrell and Commander Pavel Chekov were on the surface of what was later determined to be Ceti Alpha V .
He and the remaining crew of the Reliant were stranded on the surface of Ceti Alpha V when Khan Noonien Singh commandeered the vessel. The crew was later saved by the USS Enterprise , following the starship's escape from the Mutara Nebula . ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan )
Commander Beach was played by actor Paul Kent .
According to the novelization of Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan , Beach (nicknamed "Stoney") was the ship's helmsman , a function consistent with his yellow ochre colored uniform seen in the movie.
External link [ ]
- "Stoney" Beach at Memory Beta , the wiki for licensed Star Trek works
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Khan Noonien Singh
Character » Khan Noonien Singh appears in 68 issues .
Genetic superman, an Augment from the late 20th century. Warlord whose followers controlled nearly a quarter of the Earth before fleeing aboard the SS Botany Bay. Discovered in 2267 by Captain James T. Kirk, Khan would become his greatest enemy.
Summary short summary describing this character..
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Khan Noonien Singh last edited by gravenraven on 07/06/23 07:02PM View full history
Khan was created for the original series Star Trek episode " Space Seed ", and was named in honor of Gene Roddenberry 's friend from World War II , Kim Noonien Singh. Roddenberry hoped his friend would hear his name on television and contact him, but never heard from Mr. Singh.
Genetic Engineering
Records of the period, including Khan's origins, are fragmentary and therefore vague. He was the product of a selective-breeding and genetic-engineering scientific program, based on the eugenics philosophy that held improving the capabilities of a man improved the entire Human race.
Augments produced by the program possessed physical strength and analytical capabilities considerably superior to ordinary Humans, and were "engineered" from a variety of Earth 's ethnic groups. Khan's background was suspected to be Sikh, from the northern region of India .
The Eugenics Wars
Khan lived up to the axiom coined by one of his creators, "superior ability breeds superior ambition" . By 1993, a wave of the genetic "supermen", including Khan, had simultaneously assumed control of more than forty of Earth's nations. From 1992 to 1996, Khan was absolute ruler of more than one-quarter of Earth's population, including the regions of Asia and the Middle East. Considered "the best of tyrants" , he severely curtailed the freedoms of his subjects, but his reign was an exception to similar circumstances in Earth history – lacking internal massacres or wars of aggression. In the mid 1990s, the Augment tyrants began warring among themselves. Other nations combined their efforts to force them from power in a series of struggles that became known as the Eugenics Wars. Eventually, most of the tyrants were defeated and their territory recaptured, but as many as ninety "supermen" were never accounted for.
Khan escaped the wars and their consequences along with 84 followers (including Joachim, Joaquin, Kati, Ling, McPherson, Otto, and Rodriguez) who swore to live and die at his command. He saw his best option in a risky, self-imposed exile. In 1996, he took control of a DY-100-class interplanetary sleeper ship he christened the SS Botany Bay , named for the site of the Australian penal colony. Set on a course outbound from Earth's solar system, but with no apparent destination in mind, Khan and his people remained in suspended animation for Botany Bay's centuries-long sublight journey.
“We offered the world order!”
They were discovered in the Mutara sector in 2267 by the U.S.S. Enterprise , captained by James Kirk . Kirk and an away team including historian Marla McGivers went aboard the Botany Bay and revived Khan, unaware of his involvement in the Eugenics Wars. Khan studied ship records, quickly bringing himself up to speed on 271 years worth of technological innovation. He then revived his own people and captured the crew of the Enterprise. The crew regained control of the ship and Kirk left Khan to rule on the abandoned planet Ceti Alpha V with 71 followers and McGivers, who became his beloved wife.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan
" Ah, Kirk, my old friend, do you know the Klingon proverb that tells us revenge is a dish best served cold? Well...it is very cold in space! "
But the new colony was on Ceti Alpha V for only a few months when Ceti Alpha VI exploded, shifting the orbit of Ceti Alpha V and killing many of Khan's people. With the loss of most life on the planet, except the Ceti eels, Khan's indomitable will reemerged. The eels took 20 of his followers, including his beloved wife. Fourteen years later, the U.S.S. Reliant went down to what they thought was Ceti Alpha VI, only to find out that due to the planet's shift they were really on Ceti Alpha V.
Khan and his people quickly captured Captain Clark Terrell and First Officer Pavel Chekov . The eels were dropped into their ears, affecting the cerebral cortex to allow them to become obedient to suggestion by Khan. He used them to capture the Reliant and strand its crew on the planet, returning to his merciless beginnings as leader. Kirk, now an Admiral, was left with a skeleton crew of trainees to investigate. Khan had the Reliant feign communications problems, allowing him to approach and fire on the un-shielded Enterprise. Khan gave Kirk five minutes to inform his crew that they must unconditionally surrender. Kirk used the Reliant's prefix code to override their shields and fire back. Khan now had to flee, his ship limping away as Kirk beamed to the center of the Genesis planet. Khan's suggestion triggered Captain Terrell and Commander Chekov to transport the Genesis device up to Khan's ship.
Once Terrell was ordered to kill Kirk and refused, vaporizing himself with his own phaser to avoid murdering a fellow officer, Khan decided to maroon Kirk on the planet, leaving him with these words:
"I've done far worse than kill you...I've hurt you. And I wish to go on hurting you. I shall leave you as you left me – as you left her – marooned for all eternity at the center of a dead planet. Buried alive...buried alive!"
But following another ruse, Kirk and the rest of his party were beamed back up to the ship and fled toward the Mutara Nebula. Kirk taunted him, and Khan once again let his anger get the better of him in his quest for revenge. He pursued Kirk into the Nebula, losing track only to be overtaken and fired on. The ship nearly destroyed, a dying Khan activated the Genesis Device. He perished in an explosion of creative force that failed to reach the escaping Enterprise, delivering his last words, from Melville's Moby Dick as he did so:
" No, no...you can't get away. To the last...I will grapple with thee. From Hell's heart, I stab at thee....For hate's sake, I spit my last breath at thee... "
Personality
"Captain, although your abilities intrigue me, you are quite honestly inferior. Mentally, physically. In fact, I am surprised how little improvement there has been in human evolution. Oh, there has been technical advancement, but, how little man himself has changed. Yes, it appears we will do well in your century, Captain. Do you have any other questions?"
Khan is a megalomaniac who craves power above all else. While competent in many fields, particularly leadership and strategy, he is overconfident to the point that he will assume his "superior intellect" is more than sufficient to compensate for his lack of experience in a particular activity (ship-to-ship combat in space).
Characteristics
- Name : Khan Noonien Singh
- Homeworld : Earth, India
- Born : Mid-20th century
- Species : Augment (Human)
- Gender : Male
- Height : 6'
- Weight : 175 lbs
- Hair Color : Black (gray in Wrath of Khan)
- Eye Color : Brown
- Age : 300+ (due to cryogenic suspension, 1996-2267)
- Died : 2285, Mutara Nebula
- Affiliation : Great Khanate
Skills and Abilities
"It was only the fact of my genetically engineered arrogance that got us into this mess."
Khan possesses incredible physical and mental attributes, making him physically, mentally and intellectually superior to even the most exceptional of humans:
- Enhanced strength : He possesses superhuman strength, capable of knocking a person into the air, crushing a phaser pistol in his fingers and lifting a grown man off the ground with one hand.
- Enhanced durability : Khan was extremely durable, and could withstand immense amounts of damage with complete ease, shown during his fight with Kirk.
- Superior intellect : His intelligence is incredibly high, making him the perfect strategist. He possesses a very precise memory - he never forgets a face - and is capable of quickly deducing completely correct conclusions based on little-to-no information.
- Master strategist : Khan became extremely adaptivity in space combat and strategy, shown widely throughout The Wrath of Khan .
- Expert combatant : Khan's strength, intelligence and strategic abilities make him an expert fighter - he uses his brute strength and durability to overwhelm an opponent, but also relies on the overconfidence of his opponents. He only lost his fight with Kirk because of his own arrogance and overconfidence.
Alternate Versions
Children of khan.
In an alternate timeline where the Augments won the Eugenics War, Khan became the ruler of a genetically engineered Human race called the Children of Khan who sought to conquer all of known space. His followers managed to conquer the planet and Khan himself was noted to have finished his conquest of the United States by arriving in Washington in order to accept the President's surrender. His actions led to the Great Ascension of Humanity and he led his people as the First Khan, the Eternal Master and the First Lord of Mankind. Through his actions, he managed to lead his people against numerous alien races and conquered them such as the Andorians who knelt in servitude before him.
His empire later came under attack from the Romulan Star Empire during the Romulan War of the 2100's. At some point, he was noted as having seduced and killed a Romulan commander after which he stole a cloaking device from the Star Empire. It was noted that he died as an elderly statesman after living for over two centuries and had a grandchild who continued to lead the Augment empire. Through his leadership, he became a well respected leader of his people and revered by them for centuries.
Before his death, he was also involved in a program that led to his intelligence and memories being implanted into a computer. With the development of holotechnology, this intelligence was capable of manifesting the appearance of Singh in various points of his life. The program was highly sophisticated as it required three times the processing power of a normal holoprogram. This created a potent counsel which only high ranking Princeps were capable of accessing and thus gained a measure of Khan's wisdom as he advised these younger Augments on their role in the future of their race.
Into Darkness
"You think your world is safe? It is an illusion, a comforting lie told to protect you. Enjoy these final moments of peace, for I have returned, to have my vengeance."
In the alternate Kelvin timeline, Khan's origin remains the same, but he instead of being revived by Captain Kirk he is revived Admiral Alexander Marcus of the Federation to construct weapons and warships for an upcoming war with the Klingon Empire. To prevent any suspicion, Khan was given the alias of "John Harrison". Khan would rebel against Starfleet by conducting acts of terrorism, one of which included the murder of Admiral Christopher Pike . The Enterprise crew captures him on Kronos, and he reveals the truth about his motives to them, his past and Marcus' plan to wipe out his people. Khan assists Captain Kirk in an attempt to arrest Marcus, but betrays Kirk, kills Marcus, and capture the massive battleship, the USS Vengeance. Khan attempts to destroy the Enterprise, only to be tricked by Spock . He then attempts at another escape by sending the Vengeance into Starfleet's base and San Francisco .
Khan is eventually defeated in combat by Spock, who uses his blood and regenerative DNA to revive the deceased Kirk. He is then put back into cryogenic sleep along with his cohorts.
Khan is an extremely powerful, unpredictable, ruthless and brutal person who mostly enjoys terrorizing and killing people and destroying everything in his path. Also, as he is confronting and negotiating with Spock in exchange for Kirk and Marcus' daughter, he seems to have a very massive sense of manipulation. Besides being ruthless and powerful, Khan is also an extremely intelligent and brilliant individual who has vast sophistication and wisdom.
- Aliases : John Harrison
- Height : 6' 1''
- Weight : 172 lbs
- Hair Color : Black
- Eye Color : Blue
- Age : 300+ (due to cryogenic suspension, 1996-2258)
- Status : Cryogenic suspension
- Affiliation : Great Khanate, Section 31
- Muscular capacity augmented beyond human extremes
- Can kick a person several feet into the air
- Can punch through walls
- Capable of cracking open a human skull with his bare hands
- Skin is abnormally tough and resistant to bladed weaponry and explosions
- Completely immune to phaser blasts and lasers
- Can jump from vast heights
- Possesses an IQ of well over 300, approximately
- Capable of absorbing and calculating enormous amounts of information instantaneously
- Capable of thinking three-dimensionally
- Logical to an extreme
- Possesses an extremely eidetic memory
- His eyes can process environments with extreme precision
- Can survive abnormally long periods without fresh oxygen
- Blood cells possess extraordinary regenerative abilities
- Speed of heart rate and lactic acid production means can engage intense physical activity for days on end
- Nervous system and procession of thought means his reflexes are incredibly fast and precise
- Genius-level intellect
- Has matched and very nearly defeated Spock in close-quarters combat
- Capable of wiping out an entire Klingon battalion single-handedly, and killing them all without sustaining a single blow
- Can pilot a ship larger and infinitely more complex than the USS Enterprise single-handedly
- Master strategist
- Master of manipulation
- Expert on orbital skydiving
- Extreme arrogance - superiority complex
- Will do anything to preserve the lives of his people
- Psychopathic personality means that his sanity has very narrow limits
- Susceptible to surprise attacks in combat
- Can be fooled by a person of extreme intelligence that matches or exceeds his own
Weaponry and Equipment
- Portable transwarp beaming device (Ship only)
- USS Vengeance
- Three man cannon (Can carry and wield effortlessly in one hand)
- Phaser pistols
- Phaser rifles
- Combat knife
- Portable life-support equipment
Other Media
Star trek ii: the wrath of khan (1982).
Khan is portaged by actor Ricardo Montalbán .
Star Trek Into Darkness (2013)
Khan is portaged by actor Benedict Cumberbatch .
In 2262, Khan and 72 Augments were awakened by the Red Lantern founder Atrocitus who demanded obedience from them, however, Khan and his followers defeated him. He then took his red power ring as he could sense it calling to him and becomes a Red Lantern, killing Atrocitus. The Green Lanterns try to fight Khan and the Augments, but are quickly defeated and retreat. Khan overthrows Larfleeze and makes a proposition to the Klingon High Council: join him in exchange for their freedom from Sinestro 's rule. To make this alliance more lucrative, Khan is aware of Sinestro's plan after gaining information from Larfleeze, and he wants the Yellow Impurity and use it to destroy the Federation.
The Green Lanterns and the Enterprise crew team-up to stop Khan and Sinestro, with Kirk becoming a Green Lantern.
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Died: March 2285, Regula. Played by: Paul Winfield. " The captain was strong. - Pavel Chekov, 2285 ( Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) Captain Clark Terrell was a Starfleet commanding officer who lived during the 23rd century . In 2285, Captain Terrell commanded the Miranda -class starship USS Reliant, having been assigned to support the ...
See Terrell for other articles with titles that contain, either by relationship or by coincidence, this character's surname. This page details Clark Terrell in the primary universe; for the Clark Terrell in the Kelvin timeline created by Nero's temporal incursion see Craig Terrell. "The captain was strong." —Pavel Chekov, 2285[src] Clark Terrell (2233-2285) was a Human male in the service of ...
Paul Winfield (22 May 1939 - 7 March 2004; age 64) was an actor who played Clark Terrell in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and Dathon in the Star Trek: The Next Generation fifth season episode "Darmok". Winfield filmed his scenes for "Darmok" between Tuesday 23 July 1991 and Friday 26 July 1991 on Paramount Stage 9, Paramount Stage 16, and on location at Bronson Canyon. For his two day ...
Captain Terrell was the commander of the USS Reliant in the movie Star Trek: The Wrath of Khan. He was the first Black captain onscreen in the Star Trek universe.. Terrell and Chekov, who had ...
The USS Reliant (NCC-1864) was a 23rd century Federation Miranda-class starship operated by Starfleet. In 2285, the Reliant was commanded by Captain Clark Terrell. While under his command, the ship's prefix code was 16309. The Reliant was launched in 2264. (PIC: "The Star Gazer" commemorative plaque [1](X) ) In 2267, the Reliant underwent a layover at Starbase 11. The ship's registry number ...
Clark Terrell was created for the motion picture Star Trek II, and was played by Paul Winfield. In the shooting script for the film, Terrell is revealed to be an old friend of Dr. Leonard McCoy .
Clark Terrell as a Borg drone.. Clark Terrell (also known as Craig Terrell) was a Human Starfleet officer and captain of the USS Concord in 2260s of the Kelvin timeline.(TOS - Boldly Go comic: "Issue 1") Biography []. Terrell was almost as young as James T. Kirk when the USS Concord set out on her six-month exploratory mission. As he conversed with first officer Hikaru Sulu, the Concord was ...
It was only the fact of my genetically-engineered intellect that allowed us to survive. On Earth, 200 years ago, I was a prince with power over millions. Chekov : Captain Kirk was your host. You repaid his hospitality by trying to steal his ship and murder him! Captain Terrell : Sir, I demand... Khan : You are in a position to demand *nothing*.
Clark Terrell was a Federation Starfleet line officer on active duty in the 23rd century. (Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan) He was born in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada in 2233 and graduated from Starfleet Academy in 2254. ( TOS e-novel The Darkness Drops Again) The graduation year is the same as that of James T. Kirk. By 2265, Terrell was executive officer of the Archer-class USS ...
A Human male Starfleet officer [1], in the 2260s Terrell was the First officer of the USS Sagittarius, an Archer class scout-ship.He was aboard in 2265 when the Sagittarius transported Lieutenant Xiong to Starbase 47 (Vanguard). [2] He returned to Vanguard the following year. [3] In the 2280s Terrell was the Captain of the Federation starship Reliant, when it was assigned to locate an ...
Previously best known in Trek circles for his performance as the tragic Captain Clark Terrell in 1982's Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan, his masterful turn as Captain Dathon in "Darmok" arguably supersedes that.. Every iteration of Star Trek has brought us tales of adventure, exploration, discovery and understanding. Many remain long in the memory, but few are as affecting and distinct ...
Captain Clark Terrell Terrell Human Paul Winfield The Wrath of Khan Super Rare Crew Federation Starfleet Human Desperate Hero Undercover Operative Command Skill Security Skill Science Skill Accuracy Captain Clark Terrell . ↓ Skip to Main Content ... Home › Star Trek Timelines › Captain Clark Terrell. Captain Clark Terrell. Posted on ...
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan. IDW. mini-series. #1 Jun 2009. The story opens with Saavik in command of the Kobayashi Maru, and in peril. Kirk is feeling old and McCoy tries to shake him out of the doldrums. When Chekov and Captain Terrell arrive on what they think is Ceti Alpha 6, they find an old enemy. Dr.
Yes and no (but mostly no). The original screenplay doesn't mention them having any weapons when they're confronted by Khan's men, nor do they appear to have any in the film itself.. 22 EXT. CARGO HOLD AIRBAY 22. Terrell and Chekov emerge, helmeted, then stop dead.
Some of Star Trek: The Next Generation 's best installments will turn 25 years old this year. Case in point, " Darmok ," which debuted on September 30, 1991 and which tends to always land in the top 10, or often the top 5, of TNG Best-of lists. Some facts, figures and anecdotes about "Darmok." "Darmok" was the second episode of TNG 's fifth season.
Captain Clark Terrell. Captain Clark Terrell is best remembered as commander of the U.S.S. Reliant, which was hijacked by Khan Noonien Singh, and for his fatal resistance to Khan's mind control ...
The shock shifted the orbit of this planet and everything was laid waste. 'Admiral' Kirk never bothered to check on our progress. It was only the fact of my genetically-engineered intellect that allowed us to survive. On Earth, 200 years ago, I was a prince with power over millions. Chekov : Captain Kirk was your host.
Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) - * McCoy: [Kirk runs in to the engine room and sees Spock inside the reactor compartment. He rushes over but McCoy and Scotty hold him back] No! You'll flood the whole compartment! * Kirk: He'll die! * Scotty: Sir! He's dead already. * McCoy: It's too late. * [They let go and Kirk walks to the glass and pushes the intercom button] * Kirk: Spock!
(Star Trek: Vanguard and Star Trek: New Frontier FTW, as the famous 24th century saying goes.) 3: Your argument is invalid. ... Captain Clark Terrell (TWK) 58. Captain Robert April (TOS) 57.
The Forgotten (ENT) EPS control specialist killed in the Xindi attack on the Enterprise in the Azati Prime system. Tebok. Marc Alaimo. The Neutral Zone (TNG) Romulan commander who, in 2364, made the first "official" contact with the Federation after more than 53 years of Romulan isolation.
Commander Beach was a 23rd century operations division Starfleet officer who served aboard the USS Reliant as one of Captain Clark Terrell's bridge officers. During the mid-2280s, Mr. Beach served aboard the starship during Reliant's search for a test planet for Project Genesis, a terraforming experiment which was under the jurisdiction of Dr. Carol Marcus. In 2285, when the Reliant first ...
Today, he lives in Los Angeles, California and has a farm in upstate New York. Captain Jonathan Archer - Star Trek Enterprise. 2. Sean Kenney. Actor. Staycation (2024) Sean Kenney was born on 13 March 1944. He is an actor, known for Staycation (2024). Captain Pike - Star Trek TOS.
Khan was created for the original series Star Trek episode "Space Seed", ... Khan and his people quickly captured Captain Clark Terrell and First Officer Pavel Chekov. The eels were dropped into ...