David Ajala gives his thoughts on whether Cleveland Booker will join Starfleet in Star Trek: Discovery season 5. After the Dark Matter Anomaly destroyed his homeworld of Kwejian, Book went rogue in Star Trek: Discovery season 4. Booker teamed up with mad scientist Dr. Ruon Tarka (Shawn Doyle) to destroy the DMA and its creators, Species 10-C, until Captain Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) and the USS Discovery stopped them.

In an exclusive interview with Screen Rant to promote the home video release of Star Trek: Discovery season 4, David Ajala discussed the potential for Cleveland Booker to join Starfleet. Even after the consequences of his actions in season 4, Book remains romantically linked to Discovery's Captain Burnham. Here's what Ajala had to say about whether Booker could still become part of Starfleet:

David Ajala: Cleveland Booker is a man of the people... Whether or not it may be advantageous for Cleveland Booker to join Starfleet, maybe there are things that he can learn from Starfleet, and there are things that Starfleet can learn from him. Cleveland Booker is used to being able to operate in the underbelly of society. And I think that's what makes him of value and effective when it comes to working with Starfleet.

What's Next For Book In Star Trek: Discovery Season 5


While David Ajala neither confirmed nor denied that Cleveland Booker would join Starfleet in Star Trek: Discovery season 5, his perspective is interesting nonetheless. Through his relationship with Michael Burnham, Book has been adjacent to Starfleet since season 3, and the former courier has worked with them but also opposed Starfleet in season 4. Book has certainly shown his value and effectiveness by joining forces with Starfleet in an unofficial capacity. Book's Kwejian empathy also made him a secondary operator of the USS Discovery's spore drive, and his emotional range helped make the Federation's First Contact with Species 10-C a success.

At the end of Star Trek: Discovery season 4, Book is making reparations for siding with Dr. Tarka and working against the Federation's interests. Book is now working with refugees who were displaced by the destruction caused by the DMA. It's not clear how long he will be serving in that capacity, but Booker will no doubt be part of Captain Burnham's search for "the greatest prize in the known galaxy" in Star Trek: Discovery season 5. Book has already proven he can be an effective ally to Starfleet without actually joining them, and it's unlikely Cleveland would ever be recruited into Starfleet Academy. But if Book were to join Starfleet, he could do it as a Specialist as Michael was in Discovery season 1.

In regard to Star Trek: Discovery season 5's adventurous new tone, Ajala confirmed that the new episodes will feature "levity, adventure, and fun." This is something audiences can look forward to after the dire doomsday scenarios of the prior seasons of Discovery. Michael and Book's romance is the heart of Star Trek: Discovery, and it's likely to be heavily featured in season 5. But perhaps Book will also finally don a delta badge and join Captain Burnham in Starfleet in Star Trek: Discovery season 5.