Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Episode 5 – SAM’s Emissary Journey & DS9 Connections Explained

by

Episode 5 of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, titled “Series Acclimation Mil,” sees Kerrice Brooks’ character fully embrace her role as an Emissary. Written by Kirsten Beyer and Tawny Newsome and directed by Larry Teng, the episode is a touching and emotional homage to Avery Brooks’ iconic portrayal of Captain Benjamin Sisko in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Facing expulsion from Starfleet Academy, SAM, the first Kasqian cadet who uses photonic technology, teams up with her friends to investigate the disappearance of Captain Sisko at the end of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. She also hopes to uncover clues in a special course at the Academy, “Confronting the Unexplainable,” led by Professor Illa.

Professor Illa introduces SAM to “Anslem,” an unpublished novel written by Jake Sisko (played by Cirroc Lofton), and Jake appears as a manifestation to talk with her. Together, Illa and Jake provide SAM with personal insights into Benjamin Sisko and the confidence she needs to believe she can also be an Emissary, just like Benjamin Sisko was to the Bajoran Prophets.

SAM Will Be An Emissary Her Way, Thanks To Jake & Captain Sisko

Seeing her father through Jake’s memories helped Kira overcome her worries about being an Emissary. She feared it meant constant sacrifice, having no control, and simply following orders, potentially giving up her life as the Prophets demanded. Jake showed her that even seemingly impossible situations can have positive outcomes. Captain Sisko did follow the Prophets’ guidance, but he still made his own choices and fulfilled his duties in a way that felt right to him.

Jake helped ease SAM’s worries about whether she was capable of being an Emissary, encouraging her to follow Captain Sisko’s example and lead with compassion. Inspired by what she learned about the Siskos and Professor Illa, SAM confidently faced her creators, declaring she would fulfill the role of Emissary, but in her own unique way.

SAM deeply cares about the Kasq and their wish to rebuild relationships with organic lifeforms. She also understands and sympathizes with their worries about being mistreated, and her experiences at Starfleet Academy are shaped by her position as an ambassador for her people.

After nearly three months at Starfleet Academy, SAM realizes she still has a lot to learn. She’s also made strong friendships with her fellow cadets. Ultimately, her time at the Academy has helped her understand who she is and what she wants to achieve, giving her the confidence to forge her own path as a representative of her people.

Captain Sisko & Jake Sisko In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy Explained

The spirit of Captain Benjamin Sisko, and the powerful presence of actor Avery Brooks, are central to the story in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5. While Brooks doesn’t appear on screen as Sisko, he delivers a moving voice-over at the end that feels as though Captain Sisko himself has been guiding SAM throughout the episode.

Even though the character Sam doesn’t react to Captain Sisko’s lines, viewers can hear them. The powerful voice-over isn’t a previously used recording from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. Instead, it’s a piece from “Here,” a jazz album performed by Avery Brooks. Cirroc Lofton specifically chose this selection for the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5, and Avery Brooks approved its use.

Spiritual truths are actually quite simple, but it takes a lifetime of learning to truly grasp them. Only love has the capacity to understand and interpret these truths as they were originally intended.

Cirroc Lofton returns to his role as Jake Sisko for the first time since Star Trek: Deep Space Nine concluded in 1999. While Jake appears as a hologram and a unique projection connected to SAM – possibly through the power of the Prophets featured in his book, “Anslem” – Lofton seamlessly slips back into the character. This makes him the first actor from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine to reprise their role in live-action on Paramount+.

In the fifth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, Jake and the crew explore a virtual museum dedicated to Benjamin Sisko. The episode cleverly brings back several props originally used in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, including Captain Sisko’s uniform, an Orb of the Prophets, his baseball cap, glove, and a Willie Mays baseball card. They also see Benny Russell’s typewriter, which was featured in the memorable DS9 episode, “Far Beyond the Stars.”

Tawny Newsome As Professor Illa Dax Explained

Tawny Newsome, who also helped write and produce the show, plays Professor Illa in the fifth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. At the episode’s conclusion, the Cardassian instructor at Starfleet Academy reveals she is Trill and shares her last name: Dax.

Professor Illa Dax carries on the legacy of the Dax symbiont, following in the footsteps of Benjamin Sisko’s friends and mentors: Curzon Dax, Jadzia Dax, and Ezri Dax. As a unique blend of Cardassian and Trill heritage, Illa represents the significant progress both species have made over the past 800 years since the events of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

Throughout the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 5, several hints suggested Illa Dax wasn’t who she seemed. She knew Captain Sisko’s fondness for tomatoes in his gumbo, and she had the only known copy of Jake Sisko’s book, “Anslem.” Notably, she repeatedly called Captain Sisko “Benjamin” – a nickname reserved for Jadzia and Ezri Dax in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.

The Dax symbiont first appeared in 2018 as a character in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, and Ezri Dax was its ninth host. Trill symbionts typically don’t live longer than 800 years, meaning Dax would be over 1,177 years old by the time Star Trek: Starfleet Academy occurs. Of course, within the world of science fiction, there are many possible explanations for how Dax could still be alive after so long.

Romance Is Blooming Between The War College & Starfleet Academy

I was so excited to see Sam gather her friends – Genesis, Jay-Den, Darem, Caleb, and Ocam – to help her look into things with Captain Sisko. It felt inevitable that their investigation would quickly lead them to a local bar, being Starfleet Academy cadets and all!

The cadets tour The Academy, once known as The Launching Pad, a San Francisco bar that a young Benjamin Sisko visited while at Starfleet Academy in the 24th century. Sisko had a fight there with a Vulcan named Solik (played by Gregory Wagrowski), and the cadets of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy recreate this rivalry when they meet their opponents from the War College.

The rivalry sparked by the prank war in the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 3 is still going strong, but so are some developing romantic connections between cadets from the War College and Starfleet Academy. Caleb Mir and Tarima Sadal (played by Zoë Steiner) share a kiss behind The Academy building, only to be interrupted by a flying War College vehicle. At the same time, Jay-Den is showing interest in Kyle Djokovic (Dale Whibley) from the War College.

Through the actions of Caleb and SAM, Mil experienced a sensation similar to extreme intoxication – as if she’d had twelve shots of alcohol. Once she ‘recovered,’ SAM discovered that The Doctor (played by Robert Picardo) hadn’t actually met Captain Sisko, but he did become friends with Jake Sisko after the series Star Trek: Deep Space Nine and Star Trek: Voyager concluded.

Chancellors Ake & Kelrec Will No Longer Be Enemies

In the fifth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, a funny side plot involves Chancellor Nahla Ake (Holly Hunter) giving lessons to Chancellor Kelrec (Raoul Bhaneja) on how to host a visiting dignitary. Nahla enlists The Doctor and Commander Jett Reno (Tig Notaro) to help Kelrec throw a perfect dinner party, but things don’t go as planned, leading to a series of comical mishaps.

In the Star Trek: Starfleet Academy episode 2, Chancellors Kelrec and Ake didn’t start off well, largely because Kelrec disapproved of Ake’s habit of going barefoot. Later, in episode 3, Kelrec was also humiliated by Ake and the Academy’s cadets when they cleverly used the Vitus Reflux plant to win a competition against the War College.

Captain Ake extended a gesture of peace to Commander Kelrec, and the two leaders reached a temporary agreement. Although their students may still disagree, the Chancellors are setting an example by putting aside their own differences, hoping to inspire those at Starfleet Academy in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy.

Read More

2026-02-05 16:12