<P> Saru was introduced in the series premiere as a senior bridge officer on the USS Shenzhou, which received massive damage in the series' second episode . Before the events of "Context Is for Kings", Saru joins the crew of the USS Discovery . </P> <P> In the Mirror Universe storyline Saru is a nameless slave stationed on the ISS Shenzhou . </P> <P> Voq (portrayed by Shazad Latif) is an albino Klingon, described as being "touched by fate and fire". He undergoes surgery to disguise himself as Ash Tyler, a human Starfleet lieutenant and former prisoner of war . </P> <P> Latif was originally cast in the role of the Klingon Kol in December 2016, before being recast as Tyler at the end of April 2017 . Voq was initially credited as being portrayed by Javid Iqbal, an invented actor named for Latif's father, to hide the connection between the characters . Latif described his character as "a very complex and painful and deep character", and noted that "there's a chemistry, a relationship" with Burnham . Latif's accent for Voq is Arabic - inspired, and he tried to maintain "a kind of pharyngealness" to Tyler's American accent . </P>

Who plays the klingons in star trek discovery