Star Trek: Discovery: New Details On Michael Burnham's Role In Starfleet

New details from Star Trek: Discovery have revealed what exactly makes Michael Burnham such a valuable First Officer.

Sonequa Martin-Green, who plays Burnham in Star Trek: Discovery, tells SFX magazine that her character has a very particular specialization:

"I'm a xenoanthropologist, I also had another field of study while at the Vulcan Science Academy. I'm the only human to have gone to the Vulcan Learning Centre and the Vulcan Science Academy and excelled at that. As a xenoanthropologist, I'm also essentially and inherently a first contact specialist as well."

Considering the exploratory nature of the missions for most Starfleet vessels, having a First Officer who specializes in first contact scenarios seems like a valuable asset.

However, just because Burnham specializes in first contact scenarios doesn't mean she necessarily loves every alien race she's come across. Burnham's parents were killed by Klingons and she may still be carrying some deep-seeded animosity towards them even in the period when Star Trek: Discovery takes place.

Burnham's parents were killed during an attack on the Vulcan Learning Center, which is why Spock's father, Sarek, decided to take her in and raise her as his own child. She became the first human to enter the Vulcan Learning Center as a student.

Since leaving the Vulcan Learning Center, Burnham has spent seven years serving aboard the USS Shenzhou. When the Shenzhou encounter the Klingons, Burnham seems eager ot strike first. The show's trailer have hinted that Burnham's actions begin a war between the Federation and the Klingon Empire, which seems to lead Burnham into service as First Officer onboard the USS Discovery.

Set 10 years prior to the five-year mission of the Enterprise in Star Trek: The Original Series, Star Trek: Discovery follows the adventures of Starfleet on their missions to discover new worlds and new lifeforms, and one Starfleet officer who must learn that to truly understand all things alien, you must first understand yourself. The series will feature a new ship, new characters, and new missions while embracing the same ideology and hope for the future that inspired a generation of dreamers and doers.

via Trek Movie