Star Trek Discovery Season 3: Everything You Need To Know
9. Mutiny
In the pilot episode of Star Trek: Discovery, Michael Burnham is well into her career aboard the USS Shenzhou, serving as first officer under Captain Georgiou.
During a routine mission, however, the Shenzhou encounters a fleet of Klingon warships just outside Federation space. Knowing the danger the Klingons pose, Michael attempts to argue that the Shenzhou should make a preemptive strike – a tactic the Vulcans used in their brushes with the Klingons and the only kind of interaction the warrior race is likely to respect.
But Captain Georgiou resists, citing Starfleet's policy of peaceful exploration over violence.
Unable to reconcile logic over emotion (and vice versa), Michael is unable to accept Georgiou's orders and attempts to take control of the Shenzhou. Michael is easily subdued by Georgiou, but the Klingons attack the Shenzhou along and a fleet of other Starfleet vessels that have arrived as backup.
A huge battle ensues, Captain Georgiou is killed, the Shenzhou is all but destroyed, Michael Burnham is sentenced to life in prison for mutiny, and the Federation and the Klingons declare war.