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PERSONNEL FILE: Sisko, Benjamin
Played By: Avery Brooks
Rank: Captain
Current assignment:
commanding officer, Deep Space Nine/U.S.S. Defiant
Full Name: Benjamin Lafayette Sisko
Year of birth: 2332
Place of birth: New Orleans, Earth
Parents: Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Sisko
Education: Starfleet Academy, 2350-54
Marital status: Widowed: married to Jennifer Sisko 2354-67
Children: One son, Jake, born 2355
Starfleet Career Summary
prior: --
Assigned to U.S.S. Livingston and, under Capt. Leyton, promoted
to lieutenant commander and first officer of U.S.S. Okinawa
2367 -- As lieutenant commander and first officer of U.S.S.
Saratoga, survived ship's loss at Battle of Wolf 359 against Borg;
assigned to Utopia Planetia Shipyards on Mars and oversaw development
of
Defiant-class warship, later mothballed
2369 -- Agrees to lead Starfleet contingent on Bajoran-owned
Deep Space Nine; helped discover Bajoran wormhole, make first
contact with its builders, the nonlinear "Prophets"
2370 -- Made first contact with the Jem'Hadar and Dominion
in Gamma Quadrant
2371 -- Given command of experimental U.S.S. Defiant to
beef
up DS9 defenses; later promoted to captain
2372 -- Temporary assignment, Chief of Starfleet Security
on Earth
2373 -- Single-handedly postponed Bajoran admission into
UFP based on "visions" from "Prophet" aliens
Psychological Profile, Medical File Extract:
Report of Chief Medical Officer Julian Bashir, M.D.
(acting in counselor's capacity) ***Starfleet Biographical File
appended
Following the tragedy of his wife's death fighting the Borg at
Wolf 359, Sisko entered a dark period for three years at Utopia
Planetia and very nearly resigned from Starfleet rather than take
the Deep Space Nine assignment - until an encounter with the Bajorans'
"Prophet" aliens and the discovery of their wormhole jump-started
his healing and set him on an ongoing journey in that role, energizing
his life once again. Moreover, his one-time ambitions to make
admiral as soon as possible have yielded to his realization that
he's more suited to making decisions work than just making them
- a prime reason for his success as a "builder" at DS9 and for
Bajoran-UFP relations, along with defending against external threats
such as the Dominion, the Maquis, and foreign powers.
Sisko is very much proud of his New Orleans upbringing, where
his father was a gourmet chef and insisted the family dine together
to try out his new dishes. Sisko had worked summers in his father's
restaurant, simply called Sisko's where he had a job by age 15.
Along with his brothers he has a sister, who lives in Portland,
Ore.; the boys had to pick vegetables in their family garden as
youngsters. He had a crush on one Effie Beaumont, but later dated
Zoey Phillips for three years. Sisko had been so homesick during
his first week at the Academy that he beamed home at 6:30 for
dinner to New Orleans, where his mother was still alive. Today
Sisko worries about his elderly father's health and heart condition,
and at one point felt helpless when it appeared he would indeed
die. The elder Sisko refuses to leave his business and make the
long journey to DS9, so visits are few and far between. During
his academy years Sisko was captain of the wrestling team in 2351,
and served his sophomore field study at Starbase 137. One cadet
Sisko knew at SFA was Laporin, a Benzenite. A fellow Academy graduate
was Cal Hudson, who shared his love of baseball and ambition to
make captain by 30 and admiral by 40; they remained close until
the Maquis crisis of 2370 split their loyalties. Another friend
is now the captain of the U.S.S. Venture; another is the Tholian
ambassador at DS9. As a "raw cadet" he also met Curzon Dax, a
joined Trill and Federation official who became his mentor through
many years and assignments; when the two first met on Pelios Station,
a woman named Anastasia was somehow involved. A perpetual womanizer,
Curzon joined him as a first-rate carouser at least until Sisko's
late 20s, well after Jake's birth. Curzon had attended his wedding
and wild bachelor party as well. They toured the Cliffs of Bole
together, often visited Risa, and he once bet he and Hudson's
dom-jot play against two Zakdorn at Pelios Station.
Sisko met his future wife Jennifer on Earth immediately at Gilgo
Beach after his Academy graduation in 2354, and they soon grew
serious about marriage. They once shared a trip to the Mazurka
Festival on New Berlin with the Hudsons; ironically, Gretchen
Hudson died within the first year of Sisko's stint on DS9. After
Jake's birth the men recalled their best family trip ever was
camping on Itamish III. Sisko and Curzon served some months on
the U.S.S. Livingston. He was a veteran of the last UFP-Tzenkethi
War during his tenure as lieutenant and lieutenant commander under
Capt. Leyton on the U.S.S. Okinawa. Leyton promoted him in rank
to become his first officer, and helped nurture his career beyond
a basic interest in engineering and ship design.
Sisko's next assignment, on the Saratoga, came to an abrupt end
in early 2367 at Wolf 359, where his wife was killed amid their
cabin's debris and he and Jake barely escaped. (A reunion with
Jennifer was bittersweet when the short-lived encounter occurred
in the mirror universe after he was forced to replace his counterpart,
the assassinated leader of the Terran Rebellion, in talking her
out of working on a deadly project for the Alliance there. This
doppelganger also lured Jake over a year later to coerce Sisko
in helping build that universe's Defiant for the rebels.) Leyton,
later an admiral, nominated Sisko for the DS9 post when it came
open upon the Cardassian withdrawal, but he took it without conviction,
still not over his wife's death; his displeasure turned more solid
when his send-off came from Capt. Jean-Luc Picard, who was kidnapped
and for a time transformed by the Borg to lead the Wolf 359 assault.
While considering a resignation to escape the post, Sisko considered
directing construction of orbital habitats on Earth - the field
of astrionics he was asked to teach at the University of Vasteras
in Sweden. Instead, Sisko not only decided to stay but convinced
Bajorans and Promenade merchants like Quark to stay.
Sisko's comfort level in his role at DS9 and as a religious icon
to Bajor has gradually developed as he's grown comfortable in
both roles. Dukat once called him the most joyless and least vulnerable
human he's met - a compliment that was eventually rescinded. Torn
between the important joint subspace relay project with Cardassia
and the looming chance it might be a foretold catastrophe of Bajoran
prophesy, he went ahead with a risky save that not only allowed
the relay to work but fulfilled the prophecy in a different way.
The incident left him more open and reflective about other prophecies
regarding the "Emissary," whose arrival is now celebrated annually
as the Ha'mara. He sat in for the ailing Bareil during the secret
Bajoran-Cardassian peace talks on DS9, but refused Kai Winn's
later request for Starfleet Security troops or aid during her
hunt for fugitive Shakaar, based on Prime Directive. Sisko does
have a temper and is usually unswervable when his mind is made
up. He carries a small scar on his lower lip from the impact of
a ring where Curzon decked him after he took on an Argosian lieutenant.
As a junior officer on VIP escort, he once slugged a visiting
ambassador for sexually harassing a female ensign. When perturbed
in surprise he often utters an odd yipping sound. He initially
butted heads with Kira and Odo, including a case where she went
over his head to Starfleet, but he grew to value their opinions
and abilities as time passed. Sisko has stood by Kira during her
battles with the Bajoran Provisional Government and been aware
of her discomfort at his dual role as her religion's "Emissary."
Likewise, he has defended Odo's performance from past criticism
by Starfleet regulars, and refused to desert him more than once.
It is certainly with Dax that Sisko has the most history. He still
calls her Curzon's "old man" nickname and continues their friendship
as one of many years, despite Dax's new outward form - a rare
break for Trills who usually are barred from such reassociation.
He and Dax lost touch after Jennifer's death early in 2367; Curzon
slowly slid into death and Dax was joined to Jadzia later that
year. He hated to see her go to be with the Meridians, but unlike
Curzon he knew she'd thought it through. He never thought he'd
get used to the "new Dax," but he threatened to turn Trill society
upside-down by revealing the Joran scandal after the long quest
with Bashir to save Jadzia's life. After taking the risk of embodying
the murderous Joran for Dax's zhian'tara, he counseled her not
to let Curzon manipulate her again in Odo's form. In return, Dax
may have a latent attraction to him, since under the effects of
Lwaxana Troi's Zanthi fever she can't keep away from him.
Sisko has long shared his love of baseball with Jake, aided by
a holo-program he brought to DS9. Early on he is wary of losing
personal time with him to the demands of work, and at first banned
his friendship with the Ferengi boy Nog until he got to know him
better. The landmarks of Jake's aging often leave him confused
or anxious, as when he first dated. He knew Jake was writing,
though he'd try to hide it, but Sisko was not ready to let him
become a matchmaker and was miffed that his private life was so
well known before he even met Kasidy Yates. Still he and the freighter
captain did hit it off - especially when she revealed her brother
plays baseball in a Cestus III colony revival league. Sisko later
risked shooting a then-allied Klingon ship to rescue her freighter
shortly before the alliance breakup. Aside from Yates, Sisko's
romantic life since Jennifer's death had only included Fenna,
a telepathic psychoprojective alter ego of the Halanan woman Nidell
Seyetik in 2370. Sisko maintains a healthy recreational life,
led by his inherited love of cooking, especially Cajun, and occasionally
prepares a hands-on meal for the staff; an old recipes for Creole
shrimp is how he finally got to know Jake's onetime girlfriend
Marta, his poetry and dom-jot talents. He also cooks Hungarian
food when in a good mood. His usual drink on duty is coffee -
more specifically the Klingon variety, raktajino - especially
first thing in the morning; even Dukat knows about it. Kira could
set her watch by it during his first year.
Sisko collects ancient African art and after two years finally
brought it to DS9. In 2371, Sisko threw himself into the project
of building by hand and flying an ancient Bajoran solar-sail craft
with Jake with a zest not seen since he built Jake's nursery -
and wound up proving a Bajoran legend about early contact with
Cardassia. His love of baseball includes a holo-program of famous
stars, including his hero Buck Bokai, and a baseball kept on display
on his desk; when playing, he's a right-handed pitcher. He also
keeps up with soccer, but he has no bluff in poker and is outclassed
by O'Brien and Bashir in darts. He does play 2-D and 3-D chess,
often with Dax. Befitting the crossroads culture of his command,
he's been reading up on the Ferengi Rules of Acquisition as of
his third year on the station, and hosted a Gratitude Dinner during
the same-named Bajoran festival in 2371.
UPDATE: Psycho-medical File, CMO J. Bashir
reporting SD 50500
As times have grow tense at DS9, Captain Sisko has risen to the
challenge. With only the help of Odo and Nog he foiled a martial-law
coup on Earth led by Admiral Leyton in mid-2372, even though it
pit him against his longtime mentor and senior officer; he formed
an uneasy partnership with the Jem'Hadar to subdue rebels trying
to use ancient Iconian doorways; and he led the team that unmasked
the Changeling double of Gowron's top aide Martok. And I must
say he has grown increasingly comfortable as Bajor's Emissary,
especially since he had to "fight" for the role of religious icon
from well-intentioned poet Akorem Laan later in 2372. This episode
probably best prepared him for the experiences of a year later,
when a post-neural shock helped the captain discover the ancient
lost holy city of B'hala on Bajor after 20,000 years, and to seeing
cryptic visions of the future. Now that this doctor can reflect
from a distance, I am not sure what was more shocking: that without
Jake's intervention to authorize corrective treatment he would
have sacrificed his life to continue, that he called off Bajor's
UFP admission based on a vision, or that he finally has Kai Winn's
respect.
To the surprise of no one, and just as he had promised her, the
captain resumed his relationship with Kasidy Yates when she returned
from her six-month sentence for aiding the Maquis -- about the
same time as his pagh'tem'far visions began. The intimacy and
its consequences in hindsight have appeared to have little effect
on his command ability, other than in a positive way.
Professional Assessment: Report of Starfleet
Command Evaluation Board
Sisko has been an exemplary commander in the new hot spot at DS9,
although at times he has shown a streak of stubborn independence
that has defied orders yet carried the day in the long run. He
disobeyed direct orders to stay at DS9 during the Romulan-Cardassian
covert invasion of the Dominion, and risked the Defiant to retrieve
Odo anyway; at another time he delayed delivery of a Jem'Hadar
youth until he made his escape, trusting in Odo's belief the boy
could be raised against his genetic programming to fight. In still
another instance, he liberally interpreted the word evacuate during
the Bajoran coup threat to delay the withdrawal of his forces.
When trapped in the 21st century's Bell Riots, he risked his life
to assume the identity of prematurely killed riot namesake Gabriel
Bell and even took a bullet in the shoulder to preserve the timeline
after he and Doctor Bashir's accidental arrival. Sisko has also
made a bit of history in 2371 as the first sponsor of a Ferengi
cadet to Starfleet Academy, Rom's son and Jake's friend Nog -
but not before putting the boy to the test. While Sisko's direct
intervention to rescue Cardassia's civilian Detepa Council may
have been questionable with Klingons nearing Cardassia Prime,
along with the unauthorized use of the cloaking device, his heavily
re-armed station helped persuade Gowron that division among Alpha
Quadrant powers is exactly what the Dominion Founders want.
Sisko has risked his life on more than one occasion in the line
of duty, including working from the Cardassian War Room to retrieved
the Defiant when stolen by Tom Riker of the Maquis, then negotiating
for the release of hostage Kira, the ship and its Maquis crew
in return for surrendering their leader without the customary
death sentence in store. He was also ready to self-destruct the
Defiant rather than let it start another war with the Tzenkethi
as part of a Dominion Founders sabotage.
AUTOMATED FILE REPORT:
Agent X. Dulmer, Temporal Investigation SD 50200
Upon review of the customary evidence and interviews of all subjects
involved by this agent and Agent Lucsley, it is our determination
that no lasting contamination in this timeline resulted from Sisko's
accidental use of the Bajoran Orb of Time to visit 2367 and the
NCC-1701, J.T. Kirk commanding. My only regret on this trip is
in not visiting more of this station, which I have heard so much
about.
ADDENDUM:
Adm. Charles Whatley, Starfleet Command SD 50500
What do I say about Ben Sisko? First he and his crew are decorated
for retrieving a new and fairly intact Jem'Hadar cruiser, and
then he goes and starts having these odd Bajoran "visions" and
postpones -- maybe even sinks for good -- the very Federation
admission for Bajor that he's worked for five years. Not to mention
his run-in again with the Temporal Investigations boys, after
his run-in with the time-hopper of all "time," JTK. Any other
officer would have been yanked for that, or at least reassigned,
but I have a hunch about Ben. I also have a hunch that any sudden
action by this "secular" authority regarding Bajor's Emissary
will not be received well by the locals. Despite our earlier choice
to take him off the mission, I must also commend Sisko for his
handling of the Eddington affair and the virtual end to Maquis
operations that brought. And yes, his covert team sent to check
out whether Gowron had been replaced by a Changeling was well
done, and likely helped set up the current armistice. I suppose
the fact that his psychographic profile is now required reading
for Dominion Vorta field supervisors means something.
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