27 Years On, 2 Deep Space Nine Legends Return to Star Trek (With 1 Perfect Cameo)

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As a lifelong Star Trek fan, I always get excited when the different series worlds collide! Seeing Kirk and Picard together in Generations was a dream come true, and the later seasons of Picard really leaned into bringing characters from across the franchise together. But it’s not just the big crossovers I love – those little cameos of familiar faces are fantastic too! Who could forget Bones showing up in the very first episode of The Next Generation, or Picard and Quark popping up in Voyager? There are so many great episodes that do this! Well, you can add the fifth episode of Starfleet Academy, ‘Series Acclimation Mil,’ to that list. It brought back two characters I never expected to see, and it was a wonderful surprise! (Just be warned, if you haven’t watched it yet, there are spoilers ahead!)

No matter what people think of Starfleet Academy – and many have strong opinions! – the show consistently connects back to the history of Star Trek. We’ve seen nods to characters like Wesley Crusher and Harry Kim, and respectful tributes to important figures from the past, all while the show boldly updates established storylines and moves in new directions. Understandably, some longtime fans haven’t loved those changes, but the recent return of heroes from Deep Space Nine – including a welcome appearance by Avery Brooks, the actor who played Captain Sisko – should please them. (We’ll have more details on that soon.)

Jake Sisko and Dax Both Return to Star Trek


The newest episode of Starfleet Academy follows SAM, a holographic student, as she investigates the life of Captain Sisko after the events of Deep Space Nine. Professor Isla (Tawny Newsome) leads her to the Sisko Museum and its digital archives, where SAM discovers files about Jake Sisko’s life – including his success as an author – and how his father’s disappearance impacted him. Cirroc Lofton returns to play Jake, now sporting his father’s signature bald head and beard. SAM even manages to create a digital version of Jake, allowing her to interact with him and delve deeper into the mystery surrounding Sisko, while also learning more about herself.

Wow, things just got really interesting! After that quick appearance by Jake, I went back to Professor Isla, and it hit me – she already knew some personal stuff about Sisko that wasn’t in any of the museum’s records. Like, he grew tomatoes in his quarters as a tribute to his dad’s Creole restaurant! When I questioned her about it, she dropped a huge bomb – her full name is Isla Dax, and she is Dax! You know, the Trill we all loved from DS9. Of course, Jadzia Dax (played by Terry Farrell) was the most famous host, but over the years we met so many others – Lela, Tobin, Emony, Audrid, Torias, Joran, Curzon, Jadzia, Verad, and Ezri (Nicole de Boer). There was even Yedrin in an alternate timeline! And now, with this reveal, we know Dax is still around in the 32nd century! It’s amazing to see that legacy continue.

Benjamin Sisko Makes A Voice-Over Cameo in Starfleet Academy

The biggest surprise of the latest Starfleet Academy episode was a cameo that felt like a true return for Captain Sisko. Though Avery Brooks retired from acting 13 years ago, his voice appears in a touching scene where SAM reflects on the lessons learned from both Sisko and his son, Jake. Interestingly, the show didn’t record a new performance; instead, they cleverly used audio from a spoken word album Brooks created back in 2007. You can find more details about this special appearance here. It’s clear that Deep Space Nine continues to resonate with fans even now.

What were your thoughts on Starfleet Academy, episode 5? Share your opinions in the comments and discuss it with other fans in the ComicBook Forum!

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2026-02-05 11:10