Star Trek: Discovery season 5 reveals that one of DS9’s most fearsome enemies still pose a threat to the Federation 800 years after the Dominion War.

WARNING: This article contains SPOILERS for Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episodes 1 and 2!

Star Trek: Discovery has teased that the next big threat to the Federation in the 32nd century is an alien race that first appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The story of Discovery season 5 concerns Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the crew’s search for an ancient technology that contains the secrets of life itself. Also seeking this treasure are Moll (Eve Harlow) and L’ak (Elias Toufexis), who will sell it on to the highest bidder, who could be one of the Federation’s enemies, including Star Trek: DS9 aliens, the Breen.

The Breen first appeared in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 4, episode 5, “Indiscretion”, in which Major Kira Nerys (Nana Visitor) and Gul Dukat (Marc Alaimo) liberated one of their internment camps. The Alpha Quadrant species became key allies of the Dominion during their war against the Federation. After the Dominion War ended, the Breen retreated from open hostilities in the Alpha and Beta Quadrant, barring the occupation of Brekka in Star Trek: Lower Decks season 3, episode 9, “Trusted Sources”. However, Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 1 reveals that, 800 years later, the Breen continue to pose a threat to the Federation.

Who Are Star Trek: DS9’s Breen Villains?

“Never turn your back on a Breen.” – Old Romulan proverb

The Breen are one of Star Trek‘s most enigmatic alien species, which often meant that they were underestimated by their enemies. During the Second Klingon Empire, an invasion fleet was sent into Breen space to conquer the planet, but they were never heard from again. The Romulans also coined the saying “Never turn your back on a Breen” based on their own hostile encounters with the powerful species. By the 24th century, Starfleet and the Federation still had limited information about the Breen, but had become used to their raids on various ships in the Alpha Quadrant, such as the S.S. Vico.

It was presumed that the Breen required the use of refrigeration suits and helmets to co-exist with other species, due to other M-class planets having higher temperatures than on their home world. As nobody had seen underneath a Breen helmet and lived to tell the tale, this presumption is yet to be confirmed in Star Trek canon. What was known about the Breen in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine was that they possessed incredibly powerful technology, making them fearsome allies of the Dominion. The Breen affirmed their alliance with the Dominion by launching a devastating attack on Starfleet Headquarters and the Golden Gate Bridge.

An alliance with the Breen almost changed the course of DS9‘s Dominion War, due to the use of their energy dampening weapons. The Breen’s energy dampening weapon destroyed multiple starships, including the USS Defiant, during the Second Battle of Chin’toka. The Federation Alliance were eventually able to counteract the Breen’s weapon, allowing them to ultimately win the Dominion War. The Breen remained allies of the Dominion right up until the end, even after Legate Damar (Casey Biggs) and the Cardassians switched sides. Representatives of the Breen Confederacy were present at the signing of the Treaty of Bajor, before retreating back to their territory.

DS9’s Breen Is Set Up As Star Trek: Discovery’s Next Major Enemy

“War is always a possibility!” – Captain Rayner

Star Trek: Discovery‘s two-episode season 5 premiere reveals that the Breen Confederacy (now the Breen Imperium) are still a threat to the Federation in the 32nd century. At a function to celebrate a thousand years of the Federation, Captain Saru (Doug Jones) mentions that it’s a dangerous time for the Federation, as they face the potential twin threats of the Tholian Assembly and the Breen Imperium. With such a potentially fractious time ahead, Saru is forced to consider if he would be better suited to a career in diplomacy, something he later leaves the USS Discovery to pursue in episode 2.

Also in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, episode 2, Captain Rayner (Callum Keith Rennie) is reprimanded for his actions on the planet Q’Mau. Over the course of the tribunal, President Laira Rillak (Chelah Horsdal) chides Rayner for his actions, pointing out that the Federation is at peace. This infuriates Rayner, who reminds the President that “war is always a possibility” and that the Breen Imperium could soon turn their attention to the Federation once their own internal political struggle is over. Rayner’s warning sets up the Breen as major antagonists in Star Trek: Discovery season 5 or beyond.

Will Discovery Fight The Breen In Season 5?

“This power cannot fall into the wrong hands” – Dr. Vellek

It’s possible that Saru and Rayner’s warnings about the Breen Imperium were originally intended as set up for Star Trek: Discovery season 6. The news that season 5 would be Discovery‘s last wasn’t announced until filming had been completed. However, two Breen references in two consecutive episodes of Discovery could mean that an encounter between the Imperium and the USS Discovery is being set up for later in season 5. Star Trek: Discovery‘s season 5 trailer does show the ship under heavy attack from an alien fleet that could easily turn out to be Breen ships.

Interestingly, some members of Star Trek: Discovery‘s production team have long harbored a desire to bring back the Breen. In a 2018 Facebook Live (via Trek Movie), Glenn Hetrick, Discovery‘s makeup effects department head, revealed that he wanted to finally show what a Breen looked like underneath their helmet. This, coupled with episode 1 and 2’s references to the Star Trek: Deep Space Nine enemies, does create the possibility that the Breen could end up being Moll and L’ak’s highest bidders for the Progenitors’ technology in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.