The newest episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy arrived on Paramount+ on February 12, 2026, and it brought more than just emotional gut punches and a terrifying new enemy. Episode 6, titled “Come, Let’s Away,” hid a small but meaningful connection to Chris Pine’s version of Captain James T. Kirk from J.J. Abrams’ 2009 reboot film. The reference is easy to miss, but for sharp-eyed Trekkies, it ties the new series directly to one of the most memorable scenes from the Kelvin timeline.
The connection comes through a single word spoken during a tense moment on the USS Athena. While the cadets scrambled to survive an attack from the savage Furies, Commander Lura Thok offered praise to cadet Gynesis Lythe for her sharp thinking. Thok told Gynesis she uses her eyes with “the precision of a hengra.” That phrase sent longtime fans digging, and they found it links back to the creature that nearly killed a young James T. Kirk on the frozen planet Delta Vega in the 2009 film.
The ‘Hengra’ Reference Explained
The creature that chased Kirk across the ice in the 2009 movie was called a hengrauggi. It was a massive, multi-eyed predator that stalked Kirk after Spock exiled him from the USS Enterprise for mutiny. Kirk only survived because Ambassador Spock, also stranded on Delta Vega by the villain Nero, scared the creature away. The hengrauggi was a brief but intense part of the film, and it stuck in fans’ minds as a classic example of the dangers lurking on alien worlds.
In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 6, the mention of a “hengra” immediately caught the attention of Jörg Hillebrand, a researcher known for his deep-dive work on Star Trek: Picard season 3. Hillebrand pointed out on social media that the hengra is almost certainly a shortened reference to the hengrauggi. The comparison suggests that the creature exists in the Prime Universe as well as the Kelvin timeline, or at least that the legend of the beast is known across both realities.
The line also served another purpose. It gave viewers the first real clue about Gynesis’ alien race, the Dar-Sha. Aside from small ridges where her eyebrows should be, Gynesis looks human. But the comment about her eyes hints that the Dar-Sha have exceptional vision, possibly tied to how they perceive the galaxy.
Who Created The Hengrauggi?
The hengrauggi did not come from thin air. Alex Kurtzman, who is now an executive producer and co-showrunner on Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, co-wrote the 2009 film with Roberto Orci and director J.J. Abrams. The creature was their invention, possibly inspired by the monster in Abrams’ produced film Cloverfield. Kurtzman bringing the hengrauggi back into canon through a single line in episode 6 feels like a personal nod to his own work on the franchise.
It also shows how the new series connects to the broader Star Trek universe without hitting viewers over the head with obvious cameos or heavy-handed references. The mention is quick, almost throwaway, but for those who know the 2009 film, it adds depth to the world-building.
What Happened In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 6?
Beyond the Kirk connection, episode 6 delivered major developments that changed the course of the season. The episode opened with Caleb Mir (Sandro Rosta) and Tarima Sadal (Zoë Steiner) finally acting on their feelings. Their intimate moment took a strange turn when Tarima accidentally pulled Caleb into a shared vision. Caleb saw his childhood teddy bear and painful memories of his mother, and he reacted with anger, accusing Tarima of invading his mind without permission.
The tension between them remained unresolved when an urgent announcement called all cadets to attention. Chancellor Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) and Chancellor Kelrec announced a joint training mission between Starfleet Academy and the War College. The cadets would board the USS Miyazaki, a starship abandoned in a space graveyard after its singularity drive failed. The mission was supposed to be a simulation, a test of how the cadets handled crisis situations.
The blue team, which included Darem and Gynesis, boarded the Miyazaki under the supervision of Commander Tomov. Back on the USS Athena, Caleb, SAM, and others supported the operation. The blue team restored the Miyazaki’s systems in under two minutes, a record-breaking performance. But the celebration ended quickly when the Athena detected multiple unknown vessels entering the graveyard.
The Furies Attack
The unknown vessels belonged to the Furies, a new enemy species described as unstable human-alien variants. They moved fast, seized Caleb, and sent a message to Chancellor Nahla. Meet their demands, or the cadets would die one by one.
On the Miyazaki, Commander Tomov tried to defend the cadets. The Furies ejected him into space, killing him instantly and using his body as a warning. The cadets watched in horror as their commander died.
Back on the Athena, Charles briefed Nahla. The Furies worked for someone, and that someone was Nus Braka (Paul Giamatti). Charles explained that Braka controlled the Furies operating in Sector 119. Nahla had no choice but to contact the man she despises most.
Nus Braka’s Cruel Return
When Nus Braka appeared on screen, he mocked Nahla. He brought up her greatest pain, the loss of her son. He told her she would never share her long life with the child she sacrificed. Then he turned the knife further. He mentioned Caleb, whom Nahla loves like a second son. When he saw her reaction, he knew Caleb was on the ship. Braka pretended to be concerned about the Furies’ savagery, but really, he enjoyed every second of her suffering.
On the Miyazaki, the cadets ran out of time. SAM activated the main computer but could not raise the force field. The system still thought the original crew was alive and refused to accept the cadets as the new crew. The Furies battered the bridge doors, getting closer by the second.
In the chaos, Caleb heard Tarima’s voice in his head. That connection gave him an idea. Back on the Athena, Tarima convinced Nahla to let her help. She would reach Caleb telepathically and guide him to restore the Miyazaki’s singularity drive. That was the only way to reactivate the force field and survive.
SAM, still on the Miyazaki, found a way to trick the computer. Using a Star Trek comic book called “Tales From the Frontier” as inspiration, SAM reclassified the cadets as the ship’s active crew. The computer accepted the change, and the force field snapped into place just as the Furies nearly broke through.
The Truth About Nus Braka
While the cadets fought for their lives, Nahla made a discovery. She pulled Chancellor Kelric aside and shared her realization. Nus Braka was afraid of the Furies. His control over them was fake. He had been using a specific species of bat to manipulate their behavior, but the illusion was crumbling.
Nahla confronted Braka with this knowledge. She forced the dilithium deal back on the table. Cornered and exposed, Braka had no choice but to reveal how he controlled the Furies. Charles immediately arranged for the bats, shifting the power back to Starfleet.
A Cadet’s Sacrifice
On the Miyazaki, Caleb and a War College cadet named Bobby reached main engineering. Following Tarima’s instructions, they found the “Fireflies” protocol and prepared to activate it. Just as they succeeded, the Furies breached their position.
In the chaos, SAM was injured. Kragg shielded himself and another cadet. But the worst was yet to come. As the Furies closed in, Bobby threw himself in front of Caleb. He took a fatal blast meant for Caleb and died instantly.
Before the attack, B’Avi (Alexander Eling), the Vulcan cadet, had quoted Spock: “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few.” He had learned that lesson from Commander Tomov’s sacrifice. In the end, B’Avi made the same choice. He gave his life to save the others. The Federation flag was draped over his body, a solemn reminder that Starfleet Academy is not just a school. It is a place where future officers learn that their duties may cost them everything.
Tarima Unleashes Her Power
With her friends about to die, Tarima made a drastic choice. She destroyed her own mental inhibitor, the device that kept her Betazoid powers in check. The result was a psychic scream powerful enough to annihilate the Furies in their path.
It worked. The Furies were gone. But the cost was high. Tarima collapsed unconscious, her strength completely spent. She was left fighting for her life, her future uncertain. The episode made it clear. Tarima’s power is immense, but it comes with a terrible price.
Braka’s Final Taunt
In the aftermath, Charles publicly named Nus Braka the Federation’s most wanted criminal. Starfleet authorized a full pursuit. Justice, they promised, was coming.
But comfort did not come so easily. Alone in her office, Nahla received one final message from Braka. He was triumphant and cruel. He taunted her with the bodies left behind. Commander Tomov, B’Avi, Bobby. He pointed out the cruel irony. She saved her “son” Caleb, but she lost her crew. The episode ended on that note, a devastating blow that left Nahla and the audience reeling.
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Where To Watch Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy streams exclusively on Paramount+. New episodes arrive every Thursday. For viewers in the United States, episodes drop at 12:00 a.m. PT / 3:00 a.m. ET. In the United Kingdom, the episode is available at 8:00 a.m. GMT. For viewers in India, it streams at 12:30 p.m. IST. Australian audiences in Sydney can watch at 5:00 p.m. AEDT.
The season has ten episodes in total. Episode 7 is scheduled for February 19, 2026.
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