A Romulan scientist of the 24th century who found the technology of the Progenitors and whose diary, recovered from his long-dead ship in 3191, starts the chase that occupies Discovery's final season.
Doctor Vellek is introduced in Red Directive. He was present in 2369 when Captain Picard and others uncovered the Progenitors' message in the Next Generation episode The Chase, and he afterwards located the device that those ancient humanoids used to seed life.
Judging it too dangerous for any one power, Vellek joined a small group of scientists from different worlds who concealed it and laid a trail of clues that only a worthy seeker could follow. He died aboard his scout ship, which drifted for some eight hundred years.
Moll and L'ak reach the wreck first and take his diary and a Romulan puzzle box. Its first clue points to the twin-mooned world of Lyrek.