Star Trek: Discovery Vs. DS9's Breen Is Now Inevitable

WARNING: Contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange".

Summary Discovery season 5 reveals a dark future where the Breen Imperium destroys the Federation with Progenitors' technology.

The return of DS9's Breen has been foreshadowed in every episode of Discovery season 5, setting up an inevitable conflict.

The Breen's interest in Progenitors' treasure poses a major threat, potentially leading to a bidding war with the Tholian Assembly.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange" confirms that a fight between the USS Discovery and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Breen is inevitable. In "Face the Strange", written by Sean Cochran and directed by Lee Rose, Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and Commander Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) are thrown into a potential future where the Breen have annihilated the crew of the USS Discovery and the entire Federation. This dark future is what will happen if Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) get hold of the Progenitors' treasure and sell it to the highest bidder.

The return of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Breen has been seeded since Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 1, "Red Directive", in which Captain Saru (Doug Jones) highlighted the Breen Imperium as a potential threat to the Federation. Now it appears that the crew of the USS Discovery will be fighting to prevent the Progenitors' technology from falling into the hands of the Breen in the remaining episodes of season 5. This plot development makes a return appearance from DS9's most enigmatic aliens an inevitability as Discovery season 5 continues.

Related Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Episode 4 Ending Explained Moll and L'ak send Burnham, Rayner and Stamets hurtling through their past, present, and future as Star Trek: Discovery's treasure hunt continues.

Every Episode Of Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 So Far Has Referenced DS9's Breen

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There has been a mention of the Breen in each of the four episodes released from Star Trek: Discovery season 5. "Red Directive" featured Saru reflecting on the Breen Imperium's potential threat to the future of the Federation. The second episode, "Under the Twin Moons", opens with Captain Rayner raging about the impending threat of the Breen while being court-martialed. Ambassador Saru's first day in his new diplomatic career in "Jinaal" saw him mediate a discussion that highlighted the threat to security posed by the Breen.

Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 4, "Face the Strange", builds on these previous teases by revealing that the Breen are a major threat to the Federation. Sent into a potential future, Burnham and Rayner discover that if the USS Discovery doesn't secure the Progenitors' technology, then Moll and L'ak will sell it to the Breen. The Breen will then use the Progenitors' technology to destroy the Federation and rule over the galaxy, setting up Discovery's darkest future timeline. While Burnham, Rayner, and Commander Paul Stamets (Anthony Rapp) have prevented this for now, there's still a chance for the Breen to acquire the treasure.

The Breen Are Moll And L'ak's Highest Bidders For The Progenitors' Treasure

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Just because Burnham, Rayner, and Stamets pulled the time bug out of the USS Discovery's systems, it doesn't mean that the Breen aren't still keen to get their hands on the Progenitors' treasure. It's possible that Moll and L'ak have already secured interest from the Breen and other parties, who are now watching their progress with interest. If Moll and L'ak fail to secure the next clue in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 5, "Mirrors", then one of these interested parties may take a more hands-on approach when it comes to Discovery's Progenitor technology.

The Tholian Assembly have also been named as a potential threat to the Federation, potentially setting up a bidding war with the Breen in a future episode.

Indeed, the trailer for Star Trek: Discovery season 5 showed the ship under heavy attack from a fleet of starships that could potentially be 32nd century Breen vessels. Moll and L'ak have already shown themselves to be highly creative and unpredictable in their dealings with the USS Discovery, so securing the services of one of the Federation's biggest enemies is a serious possibility. The two couriers may decide that the protection and support of the Breen is exactly what they need to complete their quest and get their own happy ever after, regardless of the wider galactic consequences.

Why DS9's Breen Want The Progenitors' Treasure In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5

From what little Star Trek: Deep Space Nine revealed about the Breen, it's safe to assume that the aliens may not even be humanoid. The Breen wore refrigeration suits to maintain their temperature on the multiple worlds that were too warm for their bodies. The Breen also had no circulatory system to speak of, as revealed in the DS9 episode "In Purgatory's Shadow". Wherever the Breen originated from, it's clear that they're not a species who were born out of the seeds planted by the Progenitors in Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Therefore, the Breen could use the incredible powers provided by the Progenitors' technology to destroy all humanoid life in the galaxy. It would be the perfect way for them to assert their dominance as they recalibrate the temperature of other planets and use the very building blocks of creation to dismantle humanoid life. The introduction of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's enigmatic aliens as the highest bidders for Star Trek: Discovery season 5's treasure seriously ups the stakes for the second half of the season, setting Burnham on a collision course with the Breen.

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