'Star Trek: Discovery' Season 3: What happened to Adithya Sahil? Lone Starfleet officer seems completely forgotten
The very first moments of the 32nd Century featured a day in the life of Adithya Sahil (Adil Hussain). It is a solitary life – no friends, no family, and most importantly, no colleagues, as he mans one of the last few Federation stations left in the galaxy - at least, as far as he knows. He was the first person Michael Burnham (Sonequa Martin-Green) met on her voyage to find the location of Federation headquarters, and the first person in this new future to provide some hope that the Federation was still out there - so why hasn't anyone gone back to pick him up?
When we meet Adithya, he appears to have gone decades without any word from Starfleet at all - he can't even confirm whether or not he's the last Starfleet officer left in the universe or not, but he's still been waiting patiently, day after day, hoping for a sign. The closest he gets is Michael Burnham, who, as the highest-ranking Starfleet officer he's had the chance to meet, finally gives him the induction that he's been waiting for. The two of them, together, hang up the flag for the Federation of United Planets - but he's not been heard from, since.
It makes sense that he wouldn't have heard from Starfleet before this - after all, even though they remain quite active in their efforts to reunite the galaxy and fight back against the criminal elements of the Emerald Chain, they lack the dilithium necessary to be able to travel long distances or even get a message out to Starfleet stations. Now, however, the USS Discovery can be pretty much anywhere in the universe - so why hasn't anyone gone to pick Adithya up? Or did Michael Burnham completely forget he was there?
Don't forget, he's spent another year waiting after meeting with Michael Burnham, and she's made no mention of him. Michael's either forgotten about him, or he has died, tragically, before he ever got a chance to see the Federation in action again. There is, of course, a third possibility – that he was rescued offscreen, or at least given word. If so, then the audience has been robbed of a pivotal moment - the restoration of hope in a Starfleet officer's eyes, one who has held the torch for so long on nothing but faith.
There are still several episodes left before this season of 'Star Trek: Discovery' ends - and hopefully, we get to see Adithya Sahil again just so the fans can have some closure on what may be the most loyal Starfleet officer in all of Federation history.
The next episode of 'Star Trek: Discovery' airs on December 17, on CBS All Access.