Why did Ben leave Jake behind on the station (in Call to Arms)?
- Thread starter indolover
- Start date
It wasn't at all intentional on his part.
Yeah, Sisko didn't realise Jake had made the decision to stay. As I recall, doesn't Bashir suggest going back for him, but Sisko accepts that it wouldn't be right to do so.
Something along those lines; I can't currently verify it exactly but that was definitely the gist. Sisko is told that going back for Jake was the right thing to do, and you can most assuredly tell that every fiber of the man wants to do so, but he recognizes what's at stake and continues onward.
Because he is a citizen and not a Starfleet officer and he gets to make his own decisions about where he goes and what he does. Sisko had no moral or legal right to remove Jake from the station against his will.
Now, if Jake had wanted to leave the station and Sisko refused, that would be an entirely different situation.
Also, this. And Sisko states this as well. "Like it or not, he's his own man now", or something like that.
I think Jake's over 18 as of Season 5, so I presume it's his own decision to make.
Plus, the fact that Jake is the son of the Emissary (remember, the Bajoran government had signed a non-aggression agreement with the Dominion) as well as a reporter for a Federation news agency also were factors. Weyoun was willing to allow Jake to stay behind to show how fair the Dominion was, as well as promote Dominion propaganda.
I thought it was O'Brien (or Jadzia, my memory who escapes me) who suggests going back for him?
I do remember this exchange, though:
Sisko: (Banging his fist on the arm of his chair) "What the hell was Jake thinking!!!"
O'Brien: "Do we go back for him Sir?"
Sisko: (Stern/brooding/semi brusque) "I can't risk this entire crew for one man....And whether I like it or not, he is a man. Continue course"
Jadzia: (turning around in her chair) "We should rondeavou (sp?) with the Federation fleet in one hour"
Bashir: "And then what?"
Nog: "And then we make the Dominion sorry they ever
attacked us."
Sisko: "Ensign, you just took the words right out of my mouth."
How cool is that....
I do remember this exchange, though:
Sisko: (Banging his fist on the arm of his chair) "What the hell was Jake thinking!!!"
O'Brien: "Do we go back for him Sir?"
Sisko: (Stern/brooding/semi brusque) "I can't risk this entire crew for one man....And whether I like it or not, he is a man. Continue course"
Jadzia: (turning around in her chair) "We should rondeavou (sp?) with the Federation fleet in one hour"
Bashir: "And then what?"
Nog: "And then we make the Dominion sorry they ever
attacked us."
Sisko: "Ensign, you just took the words right out of my mouth."
How cool is that....
Pretty god damn cool.
Rendezvous it is.
Jake was an adult who made a decision to stay behind. Captain Sisko isn't just responsible for his son, but for his crew, Earth, and the entire Federation. I always really loved this quote because it spoke to Jake's independence as an adult (and foolishness) and Sisko's high level of focus and responsibility despite his unwavering love for his only child.
Just to nitpick, the "pretty god damn cool" part of that exchange is:
Dax: We should rendezvous with the Federation task force in forty-eight hours.
Bashir: And then what?
Nog: And then we make the Dominion sorry they ever set foot in the Alpha Quadrant.
Sisko: Cadet, you took the words right out of my mouth.
And it IS god damn cool, so I thought it was worth clarifying.
I liked the fact that Jake stayed behind. It provided some interesting development for him, and it also gave us that great scene during the first ep of season 6, where Sisko is wondering just how he is going to break the news to his dad. Dax smiles and says she's sure he'll think of something, then it cuts instantly to Joe on the viewscreen saying "You did what?"
