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.

 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.

 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.

 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.