It’s been a busy week, so I apologise for the lateness of the annotations.

Lear estimates the opening recording (Tape CA5-29-4), where Khan admits he lied to Joaquin about the circumstances of his father Joachim’s death, between Day 6000 and 6500 of the exile, which makes it about 16.4 to 17.8 years after, or around mid-2283 to late 2284. This is assuming that TOS: “Space Seed” takes place in early 2267, given that it was the last episode of Season 1, which mostly takes place in 2266, and was broadcast on 16 February 1967.

This brings the years in line with the now-accepted 2285 dating for ST II, rather than taking Kirk and Khan’s statement that 15 years have passed literally. That would have been true if you took the real world time span between 1967 and ST II’s release in 1982, but the preponderance of evidence places ST II in 2285 - not least the 2283 vintage of McCoy’s Romulan Ale - rather than 2282.

Lear then cross references between Days 30 and 45, the former of which is one day after the events of the previous episode.

“Uneasy lies the head that wears the crown,” is from Shakespeare’s Henry IV, Part 2, Act III sc i.

Khan’s recording continues to state it’s been more than 15 years since it rained on Ceti Alpha V. Ceti Alpha VI exploded six months into the exile, laying waste to Ceti Alpha V, so that is another indication that the 15 years statement in ST II should no longer be literal.

Richter becomes the first victim of the Ceti eel. Khan states in ST II that they eventually kill 20 of his group, including McGivers. Incidentally, they are not named in the movie, but are named in the script. The name is also present in the novelisation by Vonda M. McIntyre and then picked up by Shane Johnson (as she then was) in the 1989 Star Trek: The Worlds of the Federation and also in Greg Cox's 2005 To Reign in Hell: The Exile of Khan Noonien Singh.

Dynoscanners were first mentioned in ST II, when Reliant picked up signs of life on what they thought was Ceti Alpha VI. Dynoscans were also mentioned in TNG: “Reunion” and TNG: “Ethics”.

McGivers says that when things go wrong Khan changes the plan. This reminds me of Kirk’s penchant of changing the rules in order to win, something Saavik comments on in ST III.

Richter’s compulsion to obey Khan’s commands is an effect of the Ceti eel, as Khan explains in ST II. But eventually as the larva grows, comes madness and death.

McGivers says it is Day 41 of the exile, with just about 3-4 months to go before Ceti Alpha VI explodes. However, this must be a mistake, because she also says Khan and Richter have been missing for two days, which makes it Day 31, since the hunting party left on Day 29.

Ursula calls for 10 ccs of “coranaline” to treat Richter, which I don’t believe has been mentioned before, but from the context could be a sedative or analgesic.

Sylvana and Richter are the next deaths, bringing the numbers down to 69.