Did STARFLEET ACADEMY Answer a 27-Year-Old DS9 Mystery?

The latest episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy centers around a holographic cadet named SAM, portrayed by Kerrice Brooks. SAM stands for “Series Acclimation MIL,” and that’s also the episode’s title. However, the episode is largely a tribute to Deep Space Nine, the groundbreaking Star Trek series from the 1990s that has gained a dedicated following. Two characters from DS9 reappear in this installment, and the episode revisits a major unanswered question from the show’s 1999 finale: what happened to Captain Benjamin Sisko (played by Avery Brooks).

SAM Tries to Unravel the Mystery of Deep Space Nine’s Missing Captain Sisko

SAM is a representative from the Kasqians, a holographic species. She was sent to the Academy to study living creatures. Long ago, the Kasqians were originally created by organic lifeforms, but were then forced into slavery before being left to fend for themselves. To better understand organics, the Kasqians recently created SAM, giving her the personality and mindset of a human teenager.

SAM, experienced as an envoy herself, becomes fascinated by the story of Captain Benjamin Sisko, who commanded Deep Space Nine and was considered a messenger of the Bajoran Prophets. To learn more, she joins a Starfleet Academy class called “Confronting the Unexplainable,” which explores unanswered questions – including what happened to Sisko after the end of the Deep Space Nine series finale, “What You Leave Behind.”

The Complex Life (and Death?) of Deep Space Nine’s Captain Benjamin Sisko

The setting for Deep Space Nine is a space station near the planet Bajor, which technically owned it. After Bajor gained independence from the Cardassians, Starfleet sent Commander Benjamin Sisko to run the station. The Bajoran people believed in powerful, god-like beings called Prophets who lived in a Celestial Temple and guided their lives. When Sisko arrived, he discovered a stable wormhole near Bajor. This wormhole was inhabited by non-physical beings existing outside of normal time – the very same beings the Bajorans worshipped. They identified the wormhole as the Celestial Temple, and thus Sisko was revealed to be the Emissary – a figure prophesied in their religion.

Throughout the seven seasons of DS9, Commander Sisko wrestled with being both a Starfleet officer and a religious leader. He gradually accepted his spiritual duties, and later learned his mother, Sarah, was part human and part Prophet – a being who had actually planned his birth. After successfully defending Starfleet from the Dominion, Sisko entered Bajor’s Fire Caves to fight the dangerous Pah Wraiths. He won the battle, but appeared to die in the process.

Ben Sisko seemingly vanished, appearing only to his wife, Kasidy Yates-Sisko. He explained he was now a spirit within the Celestial Temple, and to the people of Bajor, he’d become a legendary, almost god-like figure. He told Kasidy, who was pregnant at the time, that he would come back someday. However, 800 years passed, and by the 32nd century, he hadn’t. The fate of Ben Sisko became one of the galaxy’s biggest unsolved mysteries.

SAM Takes Starfleet Academy’s “Confronting the Unexplainable” Course to Solve the Sisko Mystery

Even though the semester is almost over, SAM speaks with Professor Illa, the Cardassian instructor of “Confronting the Unexplainable” – a role played by Tawny Newsome, who is also a writer and star on Lower Decks. The school offers courses on classic Star Trek topics like the Guardian of Forever and parallel universes (including the Mirror Universe). There’s even a class on how the Galactic Barrier affects psychic abilities, referencing a classic Original Series episode. However, SAM is most focused on uncovering the truth about Captain Sisko and his ultimate fate. She hopes solving this mystery will prove her worth to those who created her.

Two Main Deep Space Nine Characters Return in Starfleet Academy

Following Captain Ake’s suggestion, SAM goes to the Ben Sisko Museum. She discovers details about his upbringing in New Orleans, his passion for baseball, and his career in Starfleet. She even sees a holographic recording of his son, Jake, sharing memories of his father. Cirroc Lofton, the actor who played Sisko on DS9, returned to reprise his role after 25 years. Despite learning so much, SAM remains stuck in her search for answers. Starfleet couldn’t find Sisko’s body and officially listed him as missing in action. However, the Bajoran people believe their Emissary lives on eternally in the Celestial Temple, continuing to watch over them – though this is based on faith, not hard evidence.

Finally, SAM confesses to Professor Illa that she couldn’t solve the mystery. The Professor then reveals that Benjamin Sisko’s son, Jake, was a writer who penned a book called Anslem about his father, but it was never published. Luckily, the Professor has the only existing copy, which might hold the clues SAM needs. As SAM reads the book, she feels as if Jake is speaking to her, explaining that his father was always present in their lives. She also discovers that Professor Illa is actually Illa Dax, a unique individual who is half Cardassian, half Trill, and currently hosts the Dax symbiote. This means Illa knew Ben Sisko personally, having been his mentor and friend for centuries. That’s why Jake gave her the book in the first place.

Does Starfleet Academy Solve the Riddle of Captain Sisko?

This episode tackles the question of what happened to Captain Sisko, but for longtime Star Trek fans, his fate was already known – he joined the Prophets in the Celestial Temple. However, actor Avery Brooks requested a specific scene in the DS9 finale: Sisko appearing to his pregnant wife, Kasidy, promising to return. Brooks felt it was important to avoid the harmful stereotype of a Black man abandoning his family. So, the real question isn’t what happened to Sisko, but if he ever came back. This Starfleet Academy episode suggests he didn’t, which is disappointing. Or is Jake hinting that he actually did?

As a huge fan of DS9, I’ve always been fascinated by the mystery of Jake Sisko’s father. Jake always maintained his dad was there for him, always present in his life. But it got me thinking – was that a metaphorical truth, or something…more literal? Given Jake was a non-corporeal being, a Prophet, he had the ability to inhabit other people. We saw that happen on the show. Could Ben Sisko have found a way to stay with his family by essentially being present within someone else? It’s a wild thought, but it would explain everything, and no one would be the wiser. The thing is, Jake never breathed a word of it to anyone, taking that secret with him when he died. This episode just dropped the tiniest hint of that possibility, which is enough to keep me theorizing!

The Door Is Open for Avery Brooks to Return as The Emissary in Star Trek

Avery Brooks has largely stayed out of the public eye since his last on-screen role in the 2001 film 15 Minutes, though he continues to do voice work for documentaries and perform on stage. Tawny Newsome, a writer and former cast member of Lower Decks who is a devoted fan of Deep Space Nine, co-wrote this episode and secured permission to use a recording of Avery Brooks’ voice for the ending. While we hear Sisko’s voice and the episode is a tribute to him, it appears Brooks chose not to make a visual appearance. Fans would be thrilled if he ever decided to return and finally solve this storyline.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is currently streaming on Paramount+.

2026-02-05 11:04