A human raised on Vulcan, first officer turned captain.
Michael Burnham is the central character of Discovery, a human raised on Vulcan by Sarek and Amanda who becomes a Starfleet officer. Brilliant and driven, she begins as first officer of the USS Shenzhou, where a fateful decision at the outbreak of the Klingon war costs her career and leads to a stint in prison.
She joins Discovery and works with Captain Lorca, Saru, Stamets and Tilly, and she has a complicated relationship with her foster brother Spock and a romance with Book. Over the series she confronts a Control threat, mysterious red signals, a dangerous time-travel mission to the distant future and the loss of the Federation's reach. She eventually becomes captain of Discovery.
Burnham's arc is about forgiveness, belonging and leadership, and her bold choices make her a modern, emotional take on the franchise's heroes.