Star Trek: S.C.E. #5: Interphase, Part Two by Dayton Ward & Kevin Dilmore delivers a strong, action-packed conclusion to the series’ first two-parter. The pacing ramps up nicely, balancing high-stakes sci-fi tension with some great nostalgic callbacks. It’s a satisfying payoff to the setup in Part One, and it solidifies the creative team’s skill at juggling character and spectacle.

This novella raises the stakes and successfully expands the series’ reach into deeper Star Trek lore. The inclusion of the Tholian perspective was a bold and fascinating choice — we so rarely get their point of view, and it added and eerie, alien texture to the story. I also appreciated the use of the Defiant here more than I did in Enterprise’s mirror-universe episodes. It felt more grounded and purposeful.