Star Trek: Discovery's New Captain Already Equaled Kirk & Picard

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Summary Captain Rayner, like Kirk and Picard, earned the prestigious Grankite Order of Tactics award in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.

Captain Rayner becomes Burnham's First Officer after disciplinary actions, bringing a gruff demeanor to the optimistic crew dynamic.

Rayner helps the USS Discovery crew on dangerous missions, proving he genuinely cares about the mission and the Federation.

One of Star Trek: Discovery's newest cast members, Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie), has something in common with two of Starfleet's greatest Captains, James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart). In its fifth and final season, Discovery finds Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew of the USS Discovery embarking on an epic treasure hunt that spans the galaxy. Before the season premiered, several new characters were announced, including Callum Keith Rennie's Captain Rayner. With his gruff personality and old-school approach, Rayner's command style contrasts sharpling with that of Captain Burnham.

Despite their earlier disagreements, Captain Burnham later seeks Rayner out to be the new First Officer of the USS Discovery. Although Saru has enjoyed serving Discovery's Number One, he decides to accept a position as a Federation Ambassador — in part because of his romance with Ni'var President T'Rina (Tara Rosling). As Burnham leads up to asking Rayner, she references some of his accolades, including the Grankite Order of Tactics. This Starfleet commendation is given to officers who are particularly skilled tacticians. Previous recipients of this award include Captain James Kirk, Captain Jean-Luc Picard, and Captain Liam Shaw (Todd Stashwick).

Captain Rayner is a member of the Kellerun species, who were first introduced on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Related Star Trek: Discovery Season 5 Returning Cast & New Character Guide As Burnham seeks the universe's greatest treasure in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, she'll need help from a host of new and returning characters.

Captain Rayner Received A Starfleet Award Kirk, Picard, & Shaw Won

All four Captains received the Grankite Order of Tactics.

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In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 1, "Red Directive," Burnham and her crew work alongside Captain Rayner and his ship, the USS Antares, to pursue renegade couriers, Moll (Eve Harlow) and L'ak (Elias Toufexis) to the planet Q’Mau. Moll and L'ak have stolen a Romulan puzzle box that contains the diary of an 800-year-old Romulan named Dr. Vellek (Michael Copeman), who had been searching for the technology the Progenitors used to create life. After a near-disaster on Q'Mau, Starfleet holds a disciplinary hearing regarding Rayner's actions. When Rayner must step down as Captain, Burnham recruits him to be her First Officer, saying she wants someone who will sometimes challenge her.

Star Trek: Discovery has not yet revealed much about Rayner's history, but Michael mentions that he has received "citations for distinguished service" and "awards of valor," in addition to the Grankite Order of Tactics. This particular award has been mentioned before, connected to three different Starfleet Captains. James Kirk received this award sometime prior to his court martial in 2267, as it was mentioned by the computer in Star Trek: The Original Series season 1, episode 20, "Court Martial." Jean-Luc Picard received the award for creating the "Picard Maneuver" when he was Captain of the USS Stargazer. Lastly, Captain Liam Shaw of the USS Titan earned the reward "in recognition of outstanding maneuvers in battle" during his time as a Commander.

Rayner Disrupts Star Trek: Discovery's Family In The Best Way

Like Captain Shaw in Star Trek: Picard season 3, Rayner is a man of a different time.

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Despite his gruff exterior, Captain Rayner has already proven himself at least twice by helping the USS Discovery's crew. When Moll and L'ak cause an avalanche on Q'Mau, Rayner followed Captain Burnham's lead and used his ship to save the colony there. In Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2, "Under the Twin Moons," Rayner steps in to help even after he has been forced into an early retirement. When Discovery travels to the planet Lyrek as the next stop on their hunt for the Progenitors' treasure, Michael and Saru find themselves facing off against an automated weapons system.

Rayner brings a very different personality to the mostly optimistic family of Star Trek: Discovery.

As Lt. Sylvia Tilly (Mary Wiseman) and Ensign Adira Tal (Blu del Barrio) work to save Burnham and Saru, Rayner pops in via hologram to help them find a solution. These actions show Michael that Rayner genuinely cares about the mission and the Federation as a whole. Captain Burnham knows that the journey ahead will be a dangerous one, and she welcomes Rayner's different way of thinking. Much like Captain Shaw shook up the dynamic in Star Trek: Picard season 3, Rayner brings a very different personality to the mostly optimistic family of Star Trek: Discovery.

New episodes of Star Trek: Discovery air Thursdays on Paramount+.