The Unforgettable USS Saratoga: A Closer Look into Sisko's Forgotten Star Trek Ship

Summary

The character and motivations of Benjamin Sisko were greatly influenced by his time spent aboard the USS Saratoga prior to his assignment on Deep Space Nine. This period was particularly significant for him due to the devastating loss of his first wife, Jennifer, during the Battle of Wolf 359.

Sisko's time on the Saratoga proved to be invaluable when it came to mentoring Lt. Commander Worf, who, much like Sisko himself, grappled with finding his sense of purpose following the devastation of the USS Enterprise-D.

The USS Saratoga has made various appearances within the vast Star Trek universe, engaging with the Klingons, encountering an extraterrestrial probe, and even undergoing a transformation into a distinct iteration of the vessel during Sisko's assignment to Deep Space Nine.

Benjamin Sisko, played by Avery Brooks, served on the doomed USS Saratoga two years before becoming the commanding officer of Star Trek: Deep Space Nine. After graduating from Starfleet Academy in 2354, Sisko's career propelled him to become a renowned Star Trek Captain and a figure of religious significance. Unlike other famous captains such as James T. Kirk (William Shatner) and Jean-Luc Picard (Patrick Stewart), Sisko managed to balance his familial duties with his service on the Saratoga. Tragically, his wife Jennifer Sisko (Felecia M. Bell) lost her life during the Battle of Wolf 359, exacting a great toll on him.

The Battle of Wolf 359 in Star Trek proved to be a turning point in Sisko's life and ambitions, prompting him to question his role in Starfleet. However, his assignment to Deep Space Nine changed everything and gave him a newfound purpose. Despite this, Sisko continued to hold the USS Saratoga in his memories, along with his late wife Jennifer. In fact, a replica of the starship was proudly displayed in his office on DS9. Sisko's experiences aboard the Saratoga also enabled him to become a valuable mentor to Lt. Commander Worf (Michael Dorn), who grappled with finding purpose after the destruction of the USS Enterprise-D.

Sisko’s USS Saratoga Ship Before DS9 Explained

Prior to his assignment on the Miranda-class USS Saratoga, Sisko had served on multiple starships. He had previously served with Curzon Dax on the USS Livingston and was later assigned to the USS Okinawa during the Tzenkethi War. On the Okinawa, Sisko was promoted to Executive Officer by Captain Leyton. Before 2367, Sisko transferred to the USS Saratoga where he served as first officer to his Vulcan captain. Unlike his previous assignments, Sisko was able to bring his wife, Jennifer, and son, Jake, who had their own quarters on the starship. Unfortunately, the Saratoga was among the 39 starships lost to the Borg during the Battle of Wolf 359. The Borg Cube attacked the ship, causing irreparable damage and forcing the surviving crew to evacuate. During the attack, Jennifer Sisko was killed by the Borg Collective, which later became a source of tension between Sisko and Picard. The remaining crew members escaped before the ship was destroyed by both a Borg cutting beam and a warp core breach.

Other Versions Of The USS Saratoga In Star Trek

In the Star Trek universe, there have been multiple starships named USS Saratoga. One notable instance was during the Federation-Klingon War in Star Trek: Discovery, where the USS Saratoga NCC-31911 was pursued by a Klingon raider on a suicide mission to destroy Starbase 22. Years later, the USS Saratoga NCC-1887 encountered a mysterious alien probe in Star Trek IV: The Voyage Home, resulting in a deactivation of its systems. However, after the crew of the Enterprise restored the ecosystem with the help of whales, the probe departed and restored power to the Saratoga.

Interestingly, there was another USS Saratoga, the NCC-51843, which served just a year or two prior to Sisko's assignment to the NCC-31911 as seen in Star Trek: The Next Generation. Later in Star Trek: Deep Space Nine, in the episode "Wrongs Darker Than Death Or Night", another USS Saratoga was docked at DS9. Eventually, the USS Saratoga NCC-1887 was restored and redesigned to match Sisko's own ship. It could be found on display in the Athan Prime Fleet Museum, alongside his other beloved starship, the USS Defiant.