Sisko: Ambitious?

[Crazedwraith]

I've been re-watching some season 4 of DS9 and it made me remember something I noticed last time I watch season 5. Which is one of Micheal Eddington's rants in either For The Uniform or Blaze Of Glory, where he mentions Sisko pursued him so doggedly because he was a black mark on Sisko's record and because 'Sisko was so busy measuring himself for an Admiral's Uniform' he couldn't take it.

Now, this comment weirded me out, because Sisko never really seemed that ambitious too me. Was that actually supposed to be one of his characteristics? Or was Eddington just bullshitting?

In fact, I can't recall any starfleeter, with the exception of Shelby, was that ambitious. How many times did Riker turn down command of a ship? Of course, for the most part this is just a side effect of wanting to keep the same main cast through out the run of a show.

[Uraniun235]

I just watched the episode where Sisko got promoted to Captain. Sisko says the promotion doesn't make a big difference to him, as he's got the same assignment and the same responsibilities. Eddington says that it's not even the Admiralty that a lot of people aspire to, that everyone joins Starfleet with an eye on the "Captain's chair".

"I appreciate the sentiment Commander, but it really doesn't change anything. I have the assignment I want, I have the crew that I want... the rank doesn't make much difference."

[Skylon]

In fact, I can't recall any starfleeter, with the exception of Shelby, was that ambitious. How many times did Riker turn down command of a ship? Of course, for the most part this is just a side effect of wanting to keep the same main cast through out the run of a show.

James T. Kirk. In TMP he is portrayed as obsessed with reclaiming command of the Enterprise. Based on TOS, we can infer from Kirk's near love of the Enterprise (and what we gleam about his early years in Starfleet) that he was probably as ambitious as Shelby to get a command. However, his ambition seems to end at the Captain's chair, as he was portrayed as unhappy with the rank of Admiral at every turn.

[Crazedwraith]

I just watched the episode where Sisko got promoted to Captain. Sisko says the promotion doesn't make a big difference to him, as he's got the same assignment and the same responsibilities. Eddington says that it's not even the Admiralty that a lot of people aspire to, that everyone joins Starfleet with an eye on the "Captain's chair".

"I appreciate the sentiment Commander, but it really doesn't change anything. I have the assignment I want, I have the crew that I want... the rank doesn't make much difference."

That's the same episode where Eddington laments that goldshirts don't get to be Captain? Sounds like Eddington was just projecting hard if he became a Marquis purely to gain a command position.

James T. Kirk. In TMP he is portrayed as obsessed with reclaiming command of the Enterprise. Based on TOS, we can infer from Kirk's near love of the Enterprise (and what we gleam about his early years in Starfleet) that he was probably as ambitious as Shelby to get a command. However, his ambition seems to end at the Captain's chair, as he was portrayed as unhappy with the rank of Admiral at every turn.

This is a good point. But most of Kirk's ambitiousness is in the past. By those standards you could also include Riker who was supposed to a young brash ambitious officer before TNG. Until he started turning down commands to maintain the Status quo.

[TheFeniX]

I've been re-watching some season 4 of DS9 and it made me remember something I noticed last time I watch season 5. Which is one of Micheal Eddington's rants in either For The Uniform or Blaze Of Glory, where he mentions Sisko pursued him so doggedly because he was a black mark on Sisko's record and because 'Sisko was so busy measuring himself for an Admiral's Uniform' he couldn't take it.

The Admiral comment was Eddington being a dick. Sisko is just extremely dedicated to his work and feels that Eddington betrayed him personally. Also, the idea of losing makes him batshit crazy.

Now, this comment weirded me out, because Sisko never really seemed that ambitious too me. Was that actually supposed to be one of his characteristics? Or was Eddington just bullshitting?

From all the comments Dax makes about young Sisko, he was extremely headstrong and ambitious. The death of his wife crippled him until he was given command of DS9 and bitch-slapped by the Prophets into finally accepting her death.

So, he's chilled out a lot. But it still doesn't change the fact that he can't stand to lose.

[Isolder74]

I just watched the episode where Sisko got promoted to Captain. Sisko says the promotion doesn't make a big difference to him, as he's got the same assignment and the same responsibilities. Eddington says that it's not even the Admiralty that a lot of people aspire to, that everyone joins Starfleet with an eye on the "Captain's chair".

"I appreciate the sentiment Commander, but it really doesn't change anything. I have the assignment I want, I have the crew that I want... the rank doesn't make much difference."

Also Eddington's whining about gold shirts don't get to be command is BS. It's lucky for him that Worf isn't in the room when he was saying that. Come one Eddington, you are dealing with a Gold Shirt in a command position every day. Even Troi can pass the command qualification test! Get out of whine cellar and do something to move up to command Arnold Rimmer!

[Havok]

Does anyone become an officer in any military to stay an ensign/lieutenant? The question is pretty dumb.

I think what you want to ask is if Sisko's ambition drives him more than the average Starfleet officer. The answer is no.

You also have to take into account youth and experience. As we have seen, Kirk and Picard were practically different people when they were cadets and young officers. There is no reason to think Sisko was any different. That difference could very well color a person's opinion of an elder and seasoned officer if they hadn't been around that person for years.