Warning: contains spoilers for Star Trek #7!A new Star Trek comic has revealed the most decorated officer in Starfleet history - and it is not Captain Kirk. There have been many legendary officers in the annals of Starfleet history, but a text piece in IDW Publishing’s Star Trek #7 reveals the one Captain who has had the most medals and decorations for service.
The issue is written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, drawn by Mike Feehan, colored by Lee Loughridge and lettered by Clayton Cowles. Captain Sisko and the crew of the Theseus are traveling to the Cardassian homeworld to search for the mythical Orb of Destruction before Kahless and his fanatical Red Path cult can find it. A text piece, titled "The War Record of Benjamin Sisko" reveals that Captain Sisko is the most decorated officer in Starfleet history, just barely topping the record set by Garth of Izar, a hero of the 23rd century Klingon Wars.
For seven seasons, Captain Benjamin Sisko led the crew of Deep Space Nine, shepherding them through some of the most turbulent times in galactic history. The show began with the discovery of a stable wormhole near the planet Bajor, where Deep Space Nine was located. Sisko, who took command of the station around the same time, suddenly found himself in charge of one of the most strategically important places in the galaxy. Two years into Sisko's tenure, the Dominion made their presence known, joining forces with the Cardassians and the Breen to mount a bloody war against the Federation and its allies. As leader of Deep Space Nine, Sisko fought in many of the Dominion War’s first battles, as well as some of its most decisive - and it did not go without being recognized.
Sisko's War Record Makes Him Loved By Some, Hated by Others
Given Sisko’s extensive war record, it makes sense that he is the Fleet’s most decorated officer and a hero to the Federation as a whole - but others see it differently. Readers see the text piece while the USS Theseus is on its way to Cardassia Prime, where Sisko is promptly arrested on war crime charges. Captain Sisko’s medals and decorations came with a price - namely the deaths of countless Cardassians, Jem Hadar and Breen. The Cardassians have not forgotten Sisko’s actions during the Dominion War and whereas his record makes him a hero to the Alpha Quadrant, it makes him the most hated man on other planets.
Star Trek fans may have assumed that Kirk’s multiple legendary five-year missions would make him the most decorated in the fleet, but this is not the case. As a matter of fact, Kirk’s name is never even mentioned in the briefing - just Sisko and Izar’s. While Captain Kirk may seem to be the obvious choice for Starfleet’s most decorated officer, it seems that large-scale conflict is the route to this level of acknowledgment - a potentially damning revelation given Star Trek's utopian ideals.
Star Trek #7 is on sale now from IDW Publishing!