Remember this is also about 120 years before we saw those DS9 uniforms. But, you're probably right. It's probably unofficial business.
Perhaps they're in the Vulcan Forge looking for Sarek to recruit him for something. I'm assuming since they went all the way to Jordan that it's for a really important sequence.
Perhaps they are trying to blend in. Some alien culture? The planet reminds me of Vulcan in Kelvin era movies.
I bet the communicator resembles the Pike era ones from The Cage. Hopefully this picture means we will get some real substance at this afternoon's prezo.
"Captain's Log, Stardate 6798.9. We have arrived at the planet Arrakis to pick up a shipment of spice.. ."
So, they have the budget to show Starfleet people dressing appropriately for their environment and this is causing angst?
"What? Its a new Star Trek series? Well, we'll see..." "What? Its set in the prime timeline? I don't know..." "What? That ship looks like crap!" "What? We have to pay? Forget that! It's going to be crap!" "What? There's a delay? It must be crap!" "What? Those are Klingons? Its not the prime timeline! It's going to be crap!" "What? ANOTHER delay? It's really going to be crap!" "What? Harry Mudd and Sarek? They can't do anything original! It's going to be crap!" "What? A desert planet and characters dressed in appropriate environmental clothing that look in passing like another sci-fi franchise? IT'S GOING TO BE CRAP!" Drives me crazy.
I am so excited about Star Trek Discovery. I've been waiting since Enterprise ended in 2005 for Star Trek to return to its roots as a series. I know it is only one picture, I really hope they release more today.
I mean, it's cool and all to see a first image, but just two people standing in a desert? Eh. Should have been the cast on the bridge of Discovery. Oh well. Maybe later today.