Gabriel Lorca

"You started this war. Don't you want to help me end it?"

- Captain Lorca to Burnham.

Captain Gabriel Lorca was a human male and secondary protagonist of the television series Star Trek: Discovery.

First introduced in the episode Context is For Kings, he was portrayed by Jason Issacs.

A member of the Federation Starfleet, he was Captain of the USS Discovery by 2256. His ship was involved in experiments to develop a new type of FTL drive which could cross 90 light years in just a few seconds.

Lorca's family owned a restaurant, and made fortune cookies. Lorca kept a steady supply of them on his ship. In his ready room was a pet tribble.

In 2256 the Klingons led by T'Kuvma renewed their conflict with the Federation. Injured in a battle against the Klingons, Lorca had to endure changes in the light level slowly. He refused implants that would have resolved that problem.

When the prison shuttle STS-21 was nearly destroyed by a space borne species, the Discovery rescued the shuttle, including the mutineer Michael Burnham. Deciding in light of the war with the Klingons that Burnham was still a vital asset, Lorca put her to work while the shuttle was being repaired. Due to the secretive behavior of Lorca and his crew, Burnham began to suspect that Lorca was engaging in the kind of activities that would be considered illegal at best and war crimes at worst.

Lorca decided to reveal the truth to her of what Discovery was doing, and offered her a position on his ship.