Star Trek: Discovery's Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) was born from Section 31. Burnham became the legendary Captain of the USS Discovery in the 32nd century, where Michael and her crew saved the United Federation of Planets multiple times. Burnham's 930-year one-way jump to the future distanced her from the dark elements of her past, and Michael's infamy as Starfleet's first mutineer. Meanwhile, Section 31 is inextricably linked to Michael's history through her parents, Dr. Mike Burnham (Kenric Green) and Dr. Gabrielle Burnham (Sonja Sohn).
Section 31 was introduced in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and the Federation's black ops division has become an enduring Star Trek concept. Section 31 was central to Star Trek Into Darkness, but it truly came roaring back in Star Trek: Discovery. Section 31 was integral to Star Trek: Discovery season 2 as the organization's threat assessment A.I., Control, was the genocidal main villain of the season. However, Star Trek: Discovery season 2 also revealed that Michael Burnham's past is rooted in the sins of Section 31.
Michael Burnham’s Parents Were Section 31 Agents In Star Trek: Discovery
The Red Angel was a Section 31 project
In Star Trek: Discovery, Michael Burnham's parents, Dr. Mike Burnham and Dr. Gabrielle Burnham, were Section 31 agents. When Michael was 10 years old, the Burnhams were stationed on Doctari Alpha working on a top-secret project for Section 31: a suit capable of time travel. Section 31 agent Leland (Alan Van Sprang) provided the Burnhams with a stolen time crystal to power what became the Red Angel time suit. However, the Klingons learned of the Federation's plan to develop time travel and attacked Doctari Alpha, murdering Michael's parents.
Kenric Green is the real-life husband of Sonequa Martin-Green.
The orphaned Michael Burnham was adopted by Ambassador Sarek (James Frain) and raised on Vulcan. Michael didn't learn the truth about her parents' deaths and their Section 31 affiliation until Star Trek: Discovery season 2. Meanwhile, Gabrielle Burnham didn't perish on Doctari Alpha as Michael believed. Gabrielle donned the Red Angel suit and jumped to the 32nd century when the Klingons attacked. As the Red Angel, Gabrielle attempted to warn the Federation about Control because, in the future she traveled to, Control became self-aware and wiped out all organic life in the galaxy - a timeline Commander Michael Burnham and the USS Discovery prevented by permanently traveling to the 32nd century.
Burnham & Star Trek: Discovery Left Section 31 Behind
Section 31 may not be part of the 32nd century Federation
Michael Burnham left her familial ties to Section 31 behind in the 23rd century. Dr. Gabrielle Burnham became a member of the Qowat Milat sect of Romulan warrior nuns living on Ni'Var in Star Trek: Discovery's 32nd century. However, Michael still had one more link to Section 31: Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh). Georgiou joined Section 31 in Star Trek: Discovery season 2 before accompanying Burnham and the USS Discovery's jump to the far future. Michael's last tie to Section 31 was severed when the Guardian of Forever (Paul Guilfoyle) sent Georgiou permanently to the past in Star Trek: Discovery season 3.
Section 31's underhanded tactics do not influence Captain Burnham's compassionate and optimistic leadership.
Section 31 may no longer be part of the United Federation of Planets in the 32nd century, which has other clandestine means to protect its interests, such as Dr. Kovich (David Cronenberg). Section 31 breaking off from Star Trek: Discovery was also because Star Trek: Section 31, starring Academy Award-winner Michelle Yeoh, was originally meant to spin off into its own TV series before being refitted into Star Trek's first made-for-streaming movie. Meanwhile, Section 31's underhanded tactics do not influence Captain Burnham's compassionate and optimistic leadership. Michael's parents may have been Section 31 agents, but Captain Burnham is the farthest thing from them in Star Trek: Discovery.
