Gonna do some crazy early predictions:
Episode 1: “That Hope Is You”
They find the remnants of the Federation, chat with the Prez and begin their quest to Put Things Right™
Episode 2: Forget Me Not
The crew get The Big Sad when they realise their loved ones are long dead
Episode 3: Scavengers
They're attacked by space pirates in the crapsack future
Episode 4: Unification III
Michael learns what her big brother ended up doing with his life.
Episode 5: Terra Firma, Part 1
They find Earth, moved through space by magical advanced technology.
Episode 6: Terra Firma, Part 2
On Earth, things have also gone to shit.
Episode 7: The Sanctuary
Probably future-Terralysium.
Here are mine:
“That Hope is You”
Michael-only for almost the entire episode, if not the entire episode. She meets Book, who brings her to Mr. “That hope is you” from the teaser trailer. Book is skeptical, but comes around and joins the mission to save the Federation.
“Forget Me Not”
Discovery’s crew, helmed by Saru, locates Michael and has information of their own to share. The ship sets a course for Trill and Michael communes with an ancient Dax to learn more about what has happened and how to stop it.
“Scavengers”
The crew bumps into a group of — you guessed it — scavengers during their mission to wherever Dax has sent them. These are the people we’ve seen in the teaser, including a Cardassian and a member of Morn’s race. They’re also those Andorians. Our heroes convince the scavengers to stand down, gaining new allies in the process. Perhaps there’s also an initial run-in with the Big Bads.
“Unification III”
Michael learns Spock’s legacy when the crew encounters a Vulcan/Romulan alliance forged through the legends of her brother’s efforts. The crew celebrates further allies, but dissidents within the alliance nearly shatter their hopes.
“Terra Firma, Part 1”
One way or another, Discovery reaches Earth. Given the writing credits here, I’m thinking there’s significant material for Georgiou, and this two-parter will sneakily serve as a backdoor pilot for the Section 31 series. Regardless, Earth is in a predictably bad place, and the crew launches a desperate mission to save it from the Big Bads.
“Terra Firma, Part 2”
A surprisingly expensive-looking episode for the mid-season, with ship-to-ship and ground team action outclassed only by “Such Sweet Sorrow, Part 2.” The mission to liberate Earth runs into inevitable complications and the Discovery is narrowly successful. Georgiou decides to stay behind and use her talents to do spy stuff for Burnham.
“The Sanctuary”
I’m with you, Daniel. Future Terralysium just feels right somehow. Obviously, it will include forward momentum for the season’s arc while tying into the crew’s prior visit.