Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) tripled Captain James T. Kirk's (William Shatner) singular devotion to the Starship Enterprise on Star Trek: The Original Series. Sisko commanded the Deep Space Nine space station for seven seasons of DS9, fending off all manner of hostile aliens, interstellar crises, and the all-encompassing Dominion War that nearly toppled the United Federation of Planets. Through it all, Captain Sisko achieved a remarkable work-life balance that eluded Captain Kirk.
![Star Trek: What Happened To Captain Sisko After Deep Space Nine?]()
Star Trek: The Original Series set Captain Kirk as the gold standard of starship Captains. Kirk led the Starship Enterprise on a historic five-year mission, interacting with countless aliens, solving dilemmas, and saving the galaxy. To accomplish this feat, Kirk fully committed himself to the USS Enterprise and his crew. Jim may have enjoyed numerous human and alien lovers, but the Captain of the Enterprise denied himself a long-term relationship and a family. Kirk prized his starship above all, but Captain Sisko spread his love more evenly.
How Star Trek: DS9’s Captain Sisko Tripled Kirk’s Love Of The Enterprise
Sisko Cared For DS9, Bajor, And The Defiant
![An image of Captain Sisko standing between the wormhole and Starfleet Headquarters]()
On Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, Captain Benjamin Sisko exceeded Captain Kirk's love of the Starship Enterprise by finding equal care and devotion to three things: The Deep Space Nine space station, the USS Defiant, and the planet Bajor. Captain Sisko was as committed to Deep Space Nine as Captain Kirk was to his beloved starship. As station commander, Sisko oversaw Starfleet's personnel, the Bajoran militia, the station's merchants and inhabitants, and the countless visitors passing through DS9. Sisko was an authority figure, to be sure, he wasn't distant. Ben was a reasonable, compassionate, and popular station head, and he cared for DS9's civilian and military population in equal measure.
In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 3, Captain Sisko received his own starship, the mighty USS Defiant. Partially designed by Sisko himself as a weapon against the Borg, the diminutive but overpowered Defiant gave Deep Space Nine a necessary edge in their numerous conflicts with the Klingons, Cardassians, and the Dominion. Captain Sisko loved the Defiant, and he was devastated when it was destroyed by the Breen during the Dominion War. Soon after, however, the USS Sao Paulo was assigned to DS9 and rechristened the USS Defiant. Sisko had his starship back to help him win the Dominion War.
Captain Sisko was able to give DS9, the Defiant, and Bajor equal care and attention.
However, Captain Sisko's loyalties were continuously split between his Starfleet duties and his responsibilities to Bajor. As Sisko grew to embrace his role as the Emissary of the Prophets, he also fell in love with the planet Bajor and its people. Before he became one with the Prophets, Ben even dreamed of retiring to Bajor and building a home there. As the Emissary, Sisko carered deeply for the Bajoran people, offering his counsel and even presiding over weddings and personal events. Captain Sisko was able to give DS9, the Defiant, and Bajor equal care and attention, whereas Captain Kirk's life revolved only around the USS Enterprise.
Sisko Met Kirk On Star Trek: DS9 (& Saved His Life)
Captain Kirk Would Have Died On Space Station K-7 Without Sisko
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Captain Kirk was Captain Sisko's hero, and Ben is one of the lucky few who have gotten to meet his hero and save his life. In Star Trek: Deep Space Nine season 5's classic "Trials and Tribble-ations," the Bajoran Orb of Time sent Sisko and the crew of the USS Defiant to the 23rd century. Sisko and his DS9 friends became secretly embroiled in the events of Star Trek: The Original Series' "The Trouble With Tribbles." However, this time, a Klingon agent posing as a human named Arne Darvin (Charlie Brill) time traveled with the Defiant crew and attempted to assassinate Captain Kirk with a bomb placed inside a Tribble.
"Trials and Tribble-ations" was Star Trek: Deep Space Nine's celebration of the 30th anniversary of Star Trek.
Thanks to Captain Sisko and Lt. Commander Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell), Darvin's plan failed, and the Tribble bomb exploded harmlessly in space, with Captain Kirk none the wiser. In fact, Kirk had no idea his life was in danger on Space Station K-7, nor did he know Starfleet Officers from the 24th century were clandestinely operating aboard his Starship Enterprise. Before returning to the future, Captain Sisko posed as a Lieutenant, introduced hiself to Kirk, and shook his hero's hand. Captain Kirk went to his grave in the 24th century never knowing he met Captain Benjamin Sisko.
Sisko Was Star Trek's Most Complete Captain
Benjamin Sisko Achieved A Balance Few Star Trek Captains Had
![Captain Benjamin Sisko (Avery Brooks) receives the Christopher Pike Medal of Valor as Jake Sisko (Cirroc Lofton) watches in DS9 Tears of the Prophets]()
Captain Benjamin Sisko emerged as the most well-rounded, well-balanced, and complete Star Trek Captain precisely because he broke the mold set by Captain Kirk. Other Star Trek Captains like Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart) on Star Trek: The Next Generation, Kathryn Janeway (Kate Mulgrew) on Star Trek: Voyager, and Jonathan Archer (Scott Bakula) on Star Trek: Enterprise followed Kirk's lead by devoting themselves to their starships and denying themselves lasting relationships and family lives. The lonely starship Captain eventually became a classic Star Trek trope.
For Picard and Archer, nothing took precedence over the Enterprise, while Janeway purposefully made herself a solo act in order to lead the USS Voyager home from the Delta Quadrant.
However, Captain Sisko not only found a way to balance his Starfleet duties on Deep Space Nine and the USS Defiant, as well as his religious responsibilities as Bajor's Emissary, but Ben also found time for family. Sisko's highest priority was raising his teenage son, Jake (Cirroc Lofton). Captain Sisko never neglected Jake or shirked his most important role, being Jake's father. Ben also found time to visit Earth and see his own father, Joseph Sisko (Brock Peters). And Sisko still made time for love, dating and eventually marrying Captain Kasidy Yates (Penny Johnson Jerald). Truly, Captain Sisko had it all on Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
Juggling Starfleet, Bajor, and his personal life certainly wasn't easy for Captain Sisko, especially during the dark days of the Dominion War when the Federation was on the brink of disaster. Ben had a lot of help and support from his friends and loved ones. But this is also why Captain Sisko shines compared to the personal failings of Captain Kirk. Sisko understood that life was richer and more rewarding than a singleminded dedication to Starfleet. Kirk was one of Sisko's personal heroes, but Ben chose not to be like Jim where it really counts. Captain Sisko's love in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine contained multitudes.
