July 1975 brought Gold Key’s issue 31 of their Star Trek comic. The Final Truth was written by John Warner, had art by Alberto Giolitti, and another cover painting by George Wilson.

The splash page hints at a philosophical bent to the universe while showing an Enterprise landing party being attacked and told they will be prisoners of the Ministry for the rest of their days!

The min body of the story opens with Spock leading a landing party alongside McCoy to Quodar where they are preparing for entrance to the Federation. They are rich in dilithium and could be a useful stronghold against the Klingons.

Captain Kirk, meanwhile, is escorting an Admiral Kahn (KAAAHNNN!) by shuttle. As it traverses space, with Chekov at the helm, it’s caught up in a cosmic storm. And it is brought down on an unknown planet, not that far from Quodar. Kirk clashes with the Admiral over what to do and leads his people towards a large concentration of life signs – a city?

Spock learns of the shuttle’s crash. It’s been brought down on the nearby planet of Tristas. He’s been working alongside one of the locals who looks like Lex Luthor! Luthor, sorry T’Oell, relates the history of Tristas. It’s not good. They seemed to be scholars in constant search of knowledge and discovery, including the secrets of life. One day, Tristas stopped communicating, turning inward, and taking prisoner anyone who violates their territory

Moments after Kirk and his people discover a city, surprise, they are captured!

Spock is convinced he can get to Tristas undetected but must convince the ruling unseen Queen of Quodar, Arama, to allow him to make the journey. Something she is apparently not keen to do, because of Tristas stances.

Kirk and company find they are being held in an observation laboratory. They will be held by the Science-Lords for study and the security of their people. They are collared and confined. And through it all, Kahn and Kirk clash over what should be done.

Spock and his landing party engineer a break-in to reach the Queen and make their case. But it’s not who Spock expects.

Kirk and his fellows are forced to labor, digging the moss that covers the planet and seems to have some theological and philosophical significance for those that live there. Kirk isn’t so sure about that.

Spock discovers that Queen Arama is a Vulcan! She is the daughter of the last Vulcan ambassador but considers herself Quodarian. And she understands what is going on at Tristas. The pair logically debates over what to do and that night a shuttle piloted by Spock takes off for Tristas.

Kirk meanwhile, has been keeping his people safe, but Kahn is upset with this and works to escape! Promising to court-martial Kirk when he comes back to rescue the captain and his landing party. Kirk uses the opportunity to make a break for the Ministry, wanting answers. And Chapel fights alongside him.

The entire place seems to be a psychological experiment, to quell violence, which is something they fear, but they also learn that ‘the life within’ isn’t just a theological belief, it refers to a being of mental energy living within the plant. This is something Kahn discovers and it has a profound effect on him, shifting his perspective.

Kirk promises the Federation can help share the knowledge of the mental energy being and the civilization of Quodar and Tristas and welcome them into a larger universe, not the small currently closed off one they exist in now.

Spock arrives to help, but everything is all wrapped up. Kahn stays behind on Tristas to help the transition, and the landing party leaves as the planet celebrates its new journey into knowledge discovery and the UFP

Kirk doesn’t know what Kahn saw and learned but is envious of it and is hopeful for the change.

The Enterprise resumes it’s adventures and next time will discover The Animal People!