Star Trek: Starfleet Academy’s powerful Deep Space Nine tribute works as well as it does because Kerrice Brooks had an “amazing” scene partner in Cirroc Lofton. In a recent interview, Brooks reveals how the DS9 star stepped back into the role of Jake Sisko with zero “rust,” became the big brother she didn’t know she needed, and turned their episode into something that felt almost spiritual.
Starfleet Academy’s fifth episode brings Brooks’ cadet‑turned‑Emissary SAM face to face with Jake Sisko, marking Lofton’s first time playing the character since Deep Space Nine ended in 1999. The hour doubles as a love letter to DS9, with Jake’s presence helping bridge the franchise’s past and future as SAM navigates her role as the emissary to the holographic Kasqians.
Brooks admits she initially didn’t grasp just how historic this comeback was, only later reacting with, “Holy s**t. I didn't really realize that,” Brooks said via ScreenRant. For longtime DS9 fans, seeing Lofton stand beside a new generation of Starfleet cadets instantly signaled that Starfleet Academy was serious about honoring Sisko’s corner of the franchise.