Star Trek: Discovery Season 3, Episode 3 is directed by Jonathan Frakes. In this episode, we learn what Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) has been up to in the year leading up to her reunion with the crew of the USS Discovery. She was working as a courier and befriended Cleveland Booker. After they are reunited, Burnham tells the crew about The Burn, and the fall of The Federation.
Burnham also found a 12 year old transmission from Starfleet Admiral Senna Tal, awaiting anyone who still believes in The Federation to join him on Earth. The Discovery then plans to use the spore drive to jump to Earth. Saru (Doug Jones) officially becomes captain of the Discovery.
Upon their arrival to Earth, they find it is protected by a force field and they are not welcome. They are told by Captain Ndoye of the United Earth Defense Force to leave immediately. They beam aboard to inspect the Discovery for signs of piracy. One of the UEDF inspectors is a teen genius named Adira, who has a connection to Admiral Tal.