The fifth episode of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy arrived on Paramount+ on February 5, 2026, and it delivered something special for long-time franchise fans. Titled “Series Acclimation Mil,” the episode focuses on the holographic cadet SAM (Kerrice Brooks) and her journey to understand what it means to be an emissary. To do that, she looks back at one of the most important figures in Star Trek history—Captain Benjamin Sisko from Star Trek: Deep Space Nine.
What followed was an hour of television that brought back beloved characters, introduced a new host for a familiar symbiont, and even featured the voice of Avery Brooks, all while telling a heartfelt story about identity and purpose. Here is a complete look at the cast and characters who brought this emotional episode to life.
The Return of Deep Space Nine Legends
Cirroc Lofton as Jake Sisko
The most emotional returns in the episode belong to Cirroc Lofton, who reprises his role as Jake Sisko, the son of Captain Benjamin Sisko. It has been 27 years since Lofton last played this role in a live-action series, and his appearance in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy marks a historic moment for the franchise .
In the episode, SAM visits the Sisko Museum in New Orleans through a virtual interface. There, she accesses a digital archive that includes a recording of Jake Sisko from the year 2408. In this recording, Jake—now a successful author—talks about his father not as the Emissary of the Prophets, but as a man. He shares memories of his dad loving baseball, cooking Creole food, and being a father first .
Later in the episode, SAM reads Jake’s unpublished novel titled Anslem, and a holographic version of Jake appears to speak with her directly. This version of Jake helps SAM understand that being an emissary means staying true to yourself, just as his father did .
Lofton also played a key role behind the scenes in securing the voice of Avery Brooks for the episode. It was his idea to use a recording from Brooks’ spoken word jazz album Here, which made the emotional ending possible .
Tawny Newsome as Professor Illa Dax
Tawny Newsome, who voices Ensign Beckett Mariner in the animated series Star Trek: Lower Decks, makes her second live-action appearance in the franchise as Professor Illa Dax . Newsome also co-wrote this episode alongside Kirsten Beyer, bringing her deep love for Deep Space Nine to the script .
Throughout most of the episode, Illa appears to be a simple professor teaching a class called “Confronting the Unexplainable.” She challenges SAM to solve the mystery of what happened to Benjamin Sisko. But in the final act, Illa reveals her true identity. When SAM asks how Illa knew that Sisko grew tomatoes—a detail not in any official records—Illa pulls back her hair to reveal Trill spots .
She is Illa Dax, the latest host of the Dax symbiont. This means she carries the memories of all previous Dax hosts, including Jadzia Dax (Terry Farrell), Ezri Dax (Nicole de Boer), and Curzon Dax, who was Sisko’s mentor . The Deep Space Nine theme music swells in the background as SAM realizes she has been talking to someone who personally knew Benjamin Sisko .
The Voice of Avery Brooks as Benjamin Sisko
The biggest question leading into episode 5 was whether Avery Brooks would actually return as Captain Benjamin Sisko. Brooks retired from acting over a decade ago and has not appeared in any new projects since the early 2000s . The answer to that question is both yes and no.
Brooks does not appear on screen in Star Trek: Starfleet Academy. However, his voice is heard in the final moments of the episode. After SAM has her conversation with Jake and comes to terms with her role as an emissary, she looks up at the sky over San Francisco and speaks directly to Sisko, honoring him. Then, Brooks’ voice is heard saying :
“Divine laws are simpler than human ones, which is why it takes a lifetime to be able to understand them. Only love can understand them. Only love can interpret these words as they were meant to be interpreted.”
This audio was not recorded for the episode. Instead, it came from Brooks’ 2007 spoken word jazz album Here. The producers secured permission from Brooks himself to use the recording, and Cirroc Lofton personally helped facilitate the request . Writer Tawny Newsome explained that Brooks “very graciously allowed us to have this,” and the production team moved “heaven and earth to make it happen” .
Robert Picardo as The Doctor
Robert Picardo returns as the Emergency Medical Hologram, simply known as The Doctor, from Star Trek: Voyager. In Star Trek: Starfleet Academy, The Doctor is now over 800 years old and serves as an instructor at the Academy . He brings centuries of Starfleet medical knowledge and holographic experience to the cadets.
In episode 5, SAM seeks out The Doctor for advice. She asks him about loss and how to deal with it. The Doctor, true to his character, offers blunt but honest counsel. He tells her that the way to deal with loss is simply to “get over it,” though the emotional weight of his own long existence adds depth to the advice . Picardo’s presence connects the new series directly to the 1990s era of Star Trek, just as the Deep Space Nine returns do.
The Main Cast of Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Kerrice Brooks as SAM (Series Acclimation Mil)
Kerrice Brooks plays SAM, the first Kasqian cadet at Starfleet Academy. SAM is a holographic lifeform—a photonic being—sent by her people to study organics and determine whether they can be trusted . Her people, the Kasqians, were once enslaved by organic beings, and they fear a repeat of that history .
Episode 5 is centered entirely on SAM’s journey. She struggles to understand her mission and her identity. Her creators, the Makers, constantly pressure her to focus only on data and algorithms. But SAM finds herself drawn to music, friendship, and the messy emotional world of her fellow cadets .
Brooks brings warmth and curiosity to the role. The character was rewritten after her audition to embrace the softer, more naive qualities she brought to SAM . In this episode, SAM gets to let loose when her friend Caleb lowers her behavioral inhibitors, leading to a “drunk” version of the character who dances, shouts, and sets up her friends on romantic dates .
Chiwetel Ejiofor as the Voice of the Makers
A surprise addition to the cast in episode 5 is Academy Award-nominated actor Chiwetel Ejiofor (12 Years A Slave), who voices SAM’s Makers . The Makers are the photonic people of Kasq who created SAM and sent her on her mission. They communicate with her from their homeworld, often pulling her out of reality to demand updates and criticize her progress .
Ejiofor’s voice is digitally altered in the episode, making him not immediately recognizable. His casting connects to executive producer Alex Kurtzman, who previously worked with Ejiofor on the series The Man Who Fell to Earth . This cameo adds another Oscar-nominated actor to a cast that already includes Oscar winners Holly Hunter and nominee Paul Giamatti.
Holly Hunter as Chancellor Nahla Ake
Holly Hunter plays Chancellor Nahla Ake, the leader of Starfleet Academy and captain of the USS Athena. A half-Lanthanite veteran, Ake is responsible for both command decisions and mentoring the next generation of officers . In episode 5, she counsels SAM after the holographic cadet causes an incident at a Bajoran cultural club. Ake advises SAM that no emissary can understand others without first understanding themselves .
Sandro Rosta as Caleb Mir
Sandro Rosta plays Caleb Mir, a human cadet searching for his missing mother . In episode 5, Caleb helps SAM by lowering her behavioral inhibitors so she can experience a night out at a bar. He also shares a romantic moment with fellow cadet Tarima Sadal, encouraged by a uninhibited SAM .
Other Cadets and Instructors
- Karim Diané as Jay-Den Kraag, a Klingon cadet studying to be a medical officer
- George Hawkins as Darem Reymi, a privileged Khionian cadet
- Bella Shepard as Genesis Lythe, a Dar-Sha cadet and daughter of an admiral
- Zoë Steiner as Tarima Sadal, a Betazoid cadet and daughter of the Betazed president
- Tig Notaro as Commander Jett Reno, a physics and engineering instructor
- Oded Fehr as Admiral Charles Vance, a senior Starfleet officer
- Gina Yashere as Commander Lura Thok, first officer of the USS Athena
Guest Stars and Cameos
Episode 5 also features several other notable performers:
- Stephen Colbert voices the Digital Dean of Students at the Academy
- Brit Marling voices the USS Athena’s computer
- Raoul Bhaneja appears as Chancellor Kelrec of the War College in a B-story about diplomatic tensions
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Where to Watch Star Trek: Starfleet Academy
Star Trek: Starfleet Academy is available exclusively on Paramount+. New episodes release weekly on Thursdays. The series premiered on January 15, 2026, with its first two episodes. Episode 5, “Series Acclimation Mil,” debuted on February 5, 2026 .
For viewers outside the United States, the series is distributed worldwide by Paramount Global Content Distribution and available on Paramount+ in regions where the service operates . The show has been renewed for a second season, with production expected to begin later this year.
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