Why wasn't Sisko replaced?

[Thanos007]

It's been a very, very long time since I watched any DS9. This has nothing to do with Sisco's actual abilities but how Star Fleet looked at him. Correct me if I'm wrong but wasn't Sisko considered a burn out and that's why he got the DS9 assignment? It was a little back water of no real importance. Then the worm hole is discovered and DS9 is a big deal. If Star Fleet considered Sisko a burn out why didn't they reassign him to something else and put a more competent commander in his place?

 

[kkt]

To the Bajorans, he was the emissary. They would not have appreciated having him reassigned.

 

[RandyS]

The whole "Emissary" business played into that. Reassinging Sisko might have angered the Bajorans, who in turn would have retaliated by cutting off Starfleet's access to the wormhole.

 

[Thanos007]

The whole "Emissary" business played into that. Reassinging Sisko might have angered the Bajorans, who in turn would have retaliated by cutting off Starfleet's access to the wormhole.

Was this ever addressed in series?

 

[Ryan Thomas Riddle]

Bruce Boxleitner replaces Sisko in the second season when he's made an Ambassador... oh wait, wrong space station show.

 

[Shamrock Holmes]

Not as such.

What I think would have made the most sense was keeping Sisko as the "harbourmaster" in charge of day-to-day operations on the station, but bringing in Admiral Ross or similar earlier as a strategic/diplomatic muscle for extra-territorial operations.

 

[RandyS]

Was this ever addressed in series?

Not exactly. In the episode where the Bajoran from 200 years earlier comes through the wormhole, and becomes a replacement Emisary, Sisko refers to how "Starfleet will be thrilled" with his stepping aside, but that's as close as it ever came.

 

[Jedman67]

Avery Brooks signed a 20 year contract with Viacom/CBS/Paramount/Desilu/NBC or whomever, so they couldn't just replace him.
An early season two draft had Garak becoming the new Emissary, but that plan was scrapped.

 

[Phily B]

I feel like they threatened it several times but always back down because of Bajorans seeing him as the emissary. Also he quickly proved himself more than capable of handling the role and was well respected amongst his peers. Was it Admiral Ross who said they could remove him from DS9, but won't because of the Bajorans?

 

[Noh-Jay Consortium]

I would say Sisko had more than proven himself to Starfleet Command as being a competent commander by the end of the first season. Even Kira, who at first despised the idea of Starfleet officer being in charge of station, was won over by Sisko within a few episodes.

Also recall Sisko's big "It's easy to be a saint in paradise" speech from the Maquis Part II (and the events that surrounded it). I think it seemed to suggest that at that time, despite the discovery of the wormhole, Starfleet Command still didn't give a whole lot of consideration as to what was going on with DS9 and that Sisko still felt a fair bit isolated and alone in carrying out his mission.

Last, but certainly not least, (as others have mentioned) don't underestimate the importance of Sisko being the Emissary of Bajor. Despite Starfleet's concerns with his status as such, it was still the best card in their hand for uniting the factions of Bajor and bringing them into the Federation.

 

[JirinPanthosa]

After Emissary when Ben withdrew his resignation Picard seemed to believe in him and want to leave him with a chance. Then as the show progressed they couldn't have removed him without alienating the Bajorans, that's why they didn't remove him after he sabotaged their entry into the federation in Rapture.

 

[Tosk]

wasn't Sisko considered a burn out and that's why he got the DS9 assignment?

According to who?

 

[JirinPanthosa]

According to who?

It's strongly implied between Wolf 359 and Emissary he was so focused on his loss he was completely unmotivated and performing poorly.

 

[Tosk]

Is it? Why was he put in sole charge of making sure that Bajor's entry into the Federation went smoothly? "Everything short of violating the Prime Directive" as Picard says.

 

[Timo]

That Sisko even warrants this special pep talk speaks of hidden agendas overall. Some in Starfleet want this project to fail, so they put a hopeless loser in charge. Picard wants the project to succeed instead, but since Sisko is all he's got, Picard has to engage in extra motivational monologue to get what he wants.

Or then it's vice versa, and Starfleet thinks Sisko is fine but Picard is the one who decides he's a mole or a joke and has to be smoked out if Bajoran membership is to have a prayer.

Timo Saloniemi

 

[kkt]

Focused on his loss and suddenly raising a boy alone. But I don't think he was performing all that poorly. He was paying attention to the design and construction of the Defiant.

 

[Tosk]

Maybe that's why the Defiant never got finished. Sisko whiffed it.

 

[Takeru]

It's strongly implied between Wolf 359 and Emissary he was so focused on his loss he was completely unmotivated and performing poorly.

When was that implied? How would it even make sense for starfleet to have an unmotivated and poorly performing officer and give him his own command? And if the loss of Jennifer would affect Sisko ourwardly to such an extreme that his performance suffered don't you think someone would notice and get him help?

 

[JirinPanthosa]

When was that implied? How would it even make sense for starfleet to have an unmotivated and poorly performing officer and give him his own command? And if the loss of Jennifer would affect Sisko ourwardly to such an extreme that his performance suffered don't you think someone would notice and get him help?

He basically asked Picard to resign.

I didn't say it affected his performance to the extreme, I said it affected his performance, his attitude.

The Starfleet we see in TNG has an issue with empathy for officers not fitting into the mold well, you think it'd be different for Sisko?

 

[Tosk]

Again though, what is the source of this implication?