Emperor Philippa Georgiou (Michelle Yeoh) is a character who was of great importance to Star Trek: Discovery, but her existence has likely been redacted from Starfleet’s history by the time of Star Trek: The Next Generation. After the USS Discovery traveled 930 years into the future at the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 2, knowledge of the Crossfield Class ship was classified by Starfleet with its records redacted by Lt. Spock (Ethan Peck) to protect his adopted sister, Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green). Since Emperor Georgiou traveled to the future with the Discovery crew, her role in stopping the malevolent A.I. Control has likely also been redacted and eventually forgotten.
Of course, the real-world reason Philippa Georgiou was never mentioned in TNG is because the character had not been created yet, but that does not hold true for Star Trek: Lower Decks. Considering how often Lower Decks, and Lt. Brad Boimler (Jack Quaid) in particular, reference past Star Trek events, it would make sense for them to have at least mentioned Emperor Georgiou – if she were remembered. Since no one on Lower Decks has referenced Emperor Georgiou or the USS Discovery, it appears that Spock did a good job ensuring the events surrounding the Discovery were scrubbed from Starfleet records.
Spock Redacted Discovery Knowledge So Starfleet Forgot About Emperor Georgiou
After the events of Star Trek: Discovery season 2, Spock, Captain Christopher Pike (Anson Mount), First Officer Una Chin-Riley (Rebecca Romijn), and Ash Tyler (Shazad Latif) reported to Starfleet Command that the USS Discovery was destroyed with all hands. Spock then insisted that everyone who knew of the events regarding the Discovery be sworn to secrecy under penalty of treason. This likely includes any mention of Emperor Philippa Georgiou and her cross-over from the Mirror Universe. Mirror Georgiou briefly posed as her Prime Universe counterpart , Captain Phillipa Georgiou, and helped Starfleet win the Klingon War of 2256-2257, but her participation in these events has likely also been redacted.
With most (if not all) mentions of Mirror Philippa Georgiou scrubbed from the history books, Starfleet likely forgot about her over the next several decades. By the time of the TNG era, the USS Discovery and its destruction have likely become little more than a footnote in Federation history. Spock specifically recommended that any mention of Discovery’s spore drive be redacted, and that was the feature that made the ship unique and historically significant. Without that, the Discovery and its ill-fated crew become another tragedy in Starfleet’s long history. Any mention of Mirror Georgiou would just raise unnecessary questions that Starfleet does not have the ability (or desire) to answer.
What Happens If Section 31’s Emperor Georgiou Appears In Star Trek: TNG’s Era?
Soon after the USS Discovery traveled to the 32nd century, Emperor Georgiou began experiencing painful flashbacks due to her displacement in time and dimension. Before this condition could kill her, Georgiou traveled with Commander Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) to Dannus V where they encountered the Guardian of Forever (Paul Guilfoyle). After Georgiou passed the Guardian’s test, he allowed her to travel through the portal to “a time when the mirror universe and the prime universe were still aligned.” With this cryptic phrase the only clue as to where Georgiou ended up, she could emerge anywhere in the Star Trek timeline, including the 24th century era of Star Trek: The Next Generation.
Very little information has been revealed about the upcoming Star Trek: Section 31 movie, which means it could take place in any Trek era. The 24th century would be a fascinating choice for all or part of the film’s setting, as Georgiou would be completely unfamiliar with that era. Georgiou’s personality and mindset would contrast sharply with the more regimented Starfleet of the 24th century, but she could also offer a unique perspective that could be useful to the Section 31 of this timeframe. Just like she aided Starfleet against the Klingons in Star Trek: Discovery, Georgiou could likely help the Starfleet (or Section 31) of the TNG era come up with more ruthless strategies to use against their enemies.
