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

February 12, 2026

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Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 6, “Come, Let’s Away”Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 referencing the USS Discovery creates a problem considering Captain Michael Burnham’s (Sonequa Martin-Green) victories for the 32nd century’s Starfleet. Directed by Larry Teng, and written by Kenneth Lin and Kiley Rossetter, Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 raises the stakes by bringing back the nefarious Nus Braka (Paul Giamatti).

Nus Braka outwitted Captain Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) and handed the United Federation of Planets a harrowing defeat in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6. Using the Furies, a horde of cannibalistic human/alien hybrids, as a decoy to hold Starfleet Academy and War College cadets hostage on the derelict USS Miyazaki, Braga played Ake, Admiral Charles Vance (Oded Fehr), and the Federation like fiddles.

By the time Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 is over, Nus Braka has handed Starfleet Academy a terrible defeat and tragic deaths, destroyed the USS Sargasso, and stolen a top-secret weapon from a Federation space station. Braka’s villainy even required the arrival of the USS Discovery off-screen, but involving Captain Michael Burnham creates a problem for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

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

At the end of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6, Admiral Charles Vance declares Nus Braka “the most wanted man in the galaxy,” and promises a manhunt to bring the Klingon/Tellarite hybrid leader of the Venari Ral to justice. Vance also said that the USS Discovery “was still collecting escape pods” from the Venari Ral’s attack on space station J19-Alpha.

The USS Discovery was previously said to be undergoing a refit during Nus Braka’s attack on the USS Athena in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s premiere.

If the USS Discovery was called by the Federation, then logically, capturing Nus Braka would become Captain Michael Burnham’s next mission. This makes sense as Star Trek: Discovery seasons 3 to 5 established that Burnham and Discovery were Starfleet’s go-to whenever the most dire crises threatened the Federation.

Further, Captain Burnham never loses. Whether it’s solving the mystery of The Burn, finding the creators of the Dark Matter Anomaly, or keeping the Progenitors’ ancient technology safe from the Breen, Burnham has a perfect track record of saving the Federation. Nus Braka is right in Burnham and Discovery’s wheelhouse.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy exists in the same 32nd century as Star Trek: Discovery and has occasionally referenced the USS Discovery’s whereabouts. Barring a surprise, however, it’s not likely that Captain Burnham and Discovery will appear on Captain Nahla Ake’s show. Yet after Nus Braka’s devastating attack, the manhunt for the Venari Ral should become Burnham’s next mission.

This creates a situation in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy where either Captain Burnham isn’t ordered to bring in Nus Braka, which doesn’t make sense given her past successes, or Burnham and Discovery go on the chase for the Venari Ral but fail to apprehend Nus, which also doesn’t track with the USS Discovery’s history of epic wins and galaxy-saving.

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

Nus Braka was a dangerous space pirate when he was introduced in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy‘s series premiere, but his crimes in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6 elevate Braka to another level. Thus, Nus Braka became a threat worthy of Captain Burnham and the USS Discovery.

Captain Nahla Ake’s main responsibility is overseeing Starfleet Academy as Chancellor and keeping her cadets safe. Despite Nahla’s history with Braka, it’s not the Chancellor’s mission to hunt down Nus; logically, it would be Captain Burnham’s. Yet Burnham and the USS Discovery are unlikely to appear in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

It wouldn’t be satisfying for Captain Burnham to haul in Nus Braka off-screen, even if that’s what should happen.

However, it wouldn’t be satisfying for Captain Burnham to haul in Nus Braka off-screen, even if that’s what should happen given Michael’s skillset and reputation. Meanwhile, Nus Braka promises one more “big surprise” to come for his hated nemesis, Captain Ake. This will bring their grudge, which has nothing to do with Burnham and Discovery, full circle in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.