Star Trek: Discovery’s Captain Burnham Creates Dilemma For Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

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A recent episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy (Season 1, Episode 6, “Come, Let’s Away”) introduces a continuity issue with the timeline established in Star Trek: Discovery. The episode, directed by Larry Teng and written by Kenneth Lin and Kiley Rossetter, references events involving Captain Michael Burnham and her successes in the 32nd century. It also brings back the villainous Nus Braka (played by Paul Giamatti), increasing the tension and complexity of the story.

In the sixth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Nus Braka cleverly defeated Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter), resulting in a major setback for the United Federation of Planets. Braka used a group of dangerous, cannibalistic hybrids called the Furies to lure and hold cadets from Starfleet Academy and the War College hostage aboard the abandoned USS Miyazaki, skillfully manipulating Captain Ake, Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr), and the entire Federation.

By the end of the sixth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Nus Braka has caused significant damage: she’s defeated Starfleet Academy, resulting in several deaths, destroyed the USS Sargasso, and stolen a highly confidential weapon. Her actions were so severe they even prompted the off-screen arrival of the USS Discovery. However, bringing Captain Michael Burnham into the story creates a narrative challenge for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Nus Braka Becoming Federation Enemy Number One Would Make Him Captain Burnham’s Next Mission

In the final moments of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6, Admiral Charles Vance publicly identifies Nus Braka as the galaxy’s most wanted fugitive and vows to pursue him relentlessly. Braka leads the Venari Ral, and Vance is determined to bring him to justice. Vance also reveals that the USS Discovery was still recovering escape pods from the Venari Ral’s attack on space station J19-Alpha.

Given that the USS Discovery answers to the Federation, it’s reasonable to assume Captain Michael Burnham’s next task would be to secure Nus Braka. Throughout seasons 3-5 of Star Trek: Discovery, Burnham and her crew consistently handled the Federation’s most critical emergencies, making them the natural choice for this kind of mission.

Captain Burnham consistently succeeds, no matter the challenge. She’s solved major crises like The Burn and the Dark Matter Anomaly, and protected powerful ancient technology from threats like the Breen – always saving the Federation. So, dealing with the situation at Nus Braka is exactly the kind of problem Burnham and the Discovery are equipped to handle.

The animated series Star Trek: Starfleet Academy takes place in the same future as Star Trek: Discovery and has sometimes mentioned where the USS Discovery is. While it’s unlikely Captain Burnham and her crew will appear in Captain Ake’s show, the search for the dangerous Venari Ral after the attack on Nus Braka would be a natural next assignment for Burnham.

The storyline in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy presents a problem: either Captain Burnham isn’t sent after Nus Braka – which is odd considering her previous achievements – or she and the crew of Discovery pursue Nus but fail to capture her. This second outcome doesn’t fit with the USS Discovery’s established record of major victories and saving the galaxy.

Nus Braka Became An Enemy Worthy Of Captain Burnham & The USS Discovery

Nus Braka started as a dangerous space pirate when we first met him in the premiere of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. However, his actions in the sixth episode of the series were even more serious, making him a significant threat that eventually caught the attention of Captain Burnham and the USS Discovery.

Captain Nahla Ake’s job as Chancellor of Starfleet Academy is to lead the school and ensure the students’ safety. While Captain Ake has a past connection to Braka, pursuing Nus isn’t part of her role; that would fall to Captain Burnham. However, it’s unlikely that Burnham and the USS Discovery will be featured in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Even though it would make sense for Captain Burnham to quickly capture Nus Braka, it wouldn’t be very exciting if it happened without us seeing it, considering her abilities and experience. Nus Braka also hints at one final, shocking move against his enemy, Captain Ake. This will finally resolve their long-standing conflict, a storyline separate from Burnham and the Discovery, in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

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2026-02-12 22:00