Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Replaces Captain Sisko As Emissary

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Warning: SPOILERS for Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Season 1, Episode 5 – “Series Acclimation Mil”

A new character has been introduced in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy to take over the role previously held by Captain Benjamin Sisko (played by Avery Brooks). The fifth episode, written by Kirsten Beyer and Tawny Newsome and directed by Larry Teng, pays tribute to both Captain Sisko and the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

In the fifth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Kerrice Brooks plays SAM, a cadet investigating what happened to Captain Sisko after the events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. SAM, who is also the holographic representative of the Kasqians, hopes to understand her role better by learning about Sisko’s experiences as the Emissary to the Bajoran Prophets.

SAM receives support from two unexpected characters with ties to Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Professor Illa, from Starfleet Academy, is revealed to be Illa Dax (Tawny Newsome), the newest host for the Dax symbiont. Additionally, Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) appears to tell SAM she’s worthy of being the Emissary, just like his father, Captain Sisko, was.

Captain Sisko & Avery Brooks Pass The Emissary Torch To SAM & Kerrice Brooks

In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5, Sam officially takes on the role of Emissary, marking a significant transition from Captain Sisko to the current series. Tawny Newsome shared with ScreenRant that Avery Brooks symbolically passed the responsibility to Kerrice Brooks during a key phone call while filming, essentially ‘handing the reins’ to the next generation.

One late night after filming, Cirroc, Kerrice Brooks, and I were heading to dinner when Cirroc received a surprise call from Kerrice’s father, Mr. Brooks. He put both Kerrice and me on the phone, and what I witnessed was truly moving – Mr. Brooks clearly passing the torch to Kerrice and the next generation. It was a powerful moment for everyone involved.

Avery Brooks has stopped acting and moved on from Star Trek, but he understands how much Captain Sisko still means to fans and the show’s legacy. By passing the role of SAM to Kerrice Brooks (who isn’t related to him), he’s entrusting her with a similar responsibility: to be a guiding figure for her people, the Kasq, much like Captain Sisko was for the Prophets of Bajor.

Although Avery Brooks isn’t reprising his role as Captain Sisko, he did generously allow audio from his jazz album, “Here,” to be used in a key moment of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5. This impactful choice revealed that Captain Sisko always knew who SAM was, and he shared with her—and viewers—that love is the most crucial strength for an Emissary.

What SAM Being The Emissary Means In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy

SAM has embraced her position as an envoy for the Kasq and is dedicated to understanding organic life. She will share this knowledge with her creators, the Makers, hoping they can eventually integrate with organic civilizations. While SAM holds the title of Emissary, similar to Captain Sisko before her, she isn’t taking his place as the Emissary of the Prophets.

At the conclusion of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Captain Sisko achieved his fate as the Emissary of the Prophets, becoming a spiritual being and entering the Celestial Temple. He essentially became a god, and for the past 800 years, the Bajoran people have worshipped him as such. Having moved beyond a physical form, the Bajorans no longer depict him in images.

The way SAM communicates with her creator in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is similar to how the Prophets communicated with Captain Sisko in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. The main difference is that SAM’s creator speaks to her directly, while the Prophets appeared as members of the Deep Space Nine crew to talk to Sisko. Despite this difference, both SAM and Sisko receive demanding orders from these powerful beings.

SAM isn’t a person in the traditional sense – she doesn’t have a body. While her aims as the Emissary differ from Captain Sisko’s, she shares his heavy responsibilities. But the most valuable lessons SAM learned about the role, thanks to Captain Sisko and his son Jake, were to lead with compassion and to approach her challenging work in a way that feels right to her.

Star Trek: Starfleet Academy beautifully reimagined the role of the Emissary, effectively passing the legacy from Captain Sisko to Series Acclimation Mil. The values and hope embodied by Captain Sisko and Star Trek: Deep Space Nine now live on through SAM, who strives for a future where her people, made of light, and organic life forms can coexist peacefully.

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2026-02-05 20:59