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THE STAR TREK ENCYCLOPEDIA: A REFERENCE GUIDE TO THE FUTURE RIKER, WILLIAM T. 411 Starfleet in a Tholian conflict in 2353 when, at age 30, William The starbase he was working from was was reunited with Kyle attacked by the Tholians and all station T aboard the Enterprise-D personnel except for Riker were killed (“The Icarus Factor” [TNG]) Future Enterprise-D Medical Officer ry William graduated from Katherine Pulaski cared for Riker, and Starfleet Academy in 2357 - the two became romantically involved and was ranked eighth in his Pulaski later recalled that she would have class at graduation. As of married him, but Riker's priority was his 2369, he had been decorat career. (“The Icarus Factor” [TNG]) ed five times. (“Chain of a Command, Part I" [TNG]) Riker, Thaddius. Union Riker's ancestors included .) - Army officer during Earth's Colonel Thaddius Riker, NN ’: 2 United States Civil War, and also known as “Old Iron _ 4 h 5 ancestor of Starfleet officer Boots Riker,” who fought in SEN William T. Riker. Colonel Earth's American civil war No» Riker was the commander (“Death Wish" [VGR)]) / of the 102nd New York Riker's first assignment [A during Sherman's march on after graduating from the A » Atlanta, and had the nick- academy was as heim officer » - 4 . name “Old Iron Boots." In aboard the U.S.S. Pegasus > | / ¥ - 1864, he was wounded at a ship that disappeared in . ¢ \ | Pine Mountain. Quinn, a 2358 under mysterious circumstances. Years later, it was { r | | member of the Q Continu- revealed that Pegasus Captain Erik Pressman had been illegally | um, helped the wounded testing a Federation cloaking device in violation of the Treaty of Thaddius Riker back from Algeron. The crew of the Pegasus mutinied to try to prevent the front line, probably sav Pressman from testing the device. Riker fought to defend his ing his life. (“Death Wish" captain, and Riker and Pressman were the only two to escape [VGRI]) when the ship apparently exploded. Afterwards, Pressman suppressed all records of the incident Riker, Thomas. (Jonathan Frakes) (“The Pegasus” [TNG]). Early in his An exact duplicate of William T. Starfleet career, Riker was stationed on Riker, created in 2361 during a planet Betazed (pictured) (“Ménage transporter accident when the a Troi” [TNG]). where he became U.S.S. Potemkin was evacuating romantically involved with psychology the science team on planet Nervala a. xr student Deanna Troi. Riker, then a IV. One copy of Riker returned safely lieutenant, chose to make his Starto the Potemkin, while the other was . a fleet career his priority over his rela reflected by the planet's distortion iad Oo tionship with Deanna, and accepted a posting to the U.S.S. field and materialized back on the Potemkin. While aboard the Potemkin, Riker led a rescue missurface of Nervala IV. The existence sion to planet Nervala IV and was subsequently promoted to of the duplicate Riker was not dis- lieutenant commander and commended for “exceptional valor” covered until 2369 when the Starship during the rescue. It was not realized until years later that a transEnterprise-D returned to Nervala IV porter malfunction during the final beam-out caused an identical during a brief respite in the distortion copy of Riker to be created on the planet's surface. (“Second field. This Riker had lived alone for Chances” [TNG]). SEE: Riker, Thomas. William Riker was later eight years on the planet's surface. Once rescued, this Riker promoted to executive officer aboard the U.S.S. Hood, where he decided to use his middle name, Thomas, to distinguish himself served under the command of Captain Robert DeSoto from his copy, who had since been promoted to commander. Riker joined the Enterprise-D at Thomas indicated a desire to continue in Starfleet and was planet Deneb IV, having transferred assigned to the U.S.S. Gandhi. Thomas took with him a cher- from the Hood. (“Encounter at ished trombone, a gift from his twin. It should be noted that the Farpoint, Parts | and II" [TNG]). Riker - individual known as Thomas Riker has just as valid a claim to accepted the Enterprise-D posting being the “onginal” as does his duplicate known as William Riker. despite the fact that he'd been (“Second Chances” [TNG]). Lieutenant Thomas Riker remained offered command of the U.S.S. aboard the Gandhi for little more than a year before abandoning Drake. (“The Arsenal of Freedom Starfleet and joining the Maquis. As a member of the Maquis, he [TNG]). One of Riker's greatest per. impersonated his double in 2371 and commandeered the U.S.S sonal tests came in 2364 when the Defiant from Deep Space 9 to investigate a suspected entity Q offered him a gift of supernat Cardassian military buildup in the Orias system. After Riker was ural powers, an offer that Riker was apprehended, he agreed to give himself up to the Cardassians to able to refuse. (“Hide and Q" [TNG] be sentenced to life at the Lazon ll labor camp. In exchange, the Riker became the first Federation Cardassians promised to allow his Maquis crew and the Defiant Starfleet officer to serve aboard a tself to return to the Federation. (“Defiant” [DS9]) Klingon vessel when he participated in an Officer Exchange Program in 2365, serving as first officer Riker, William T. (Jonathan Frakes). Executive officer of the aboard the Klingon ship Pagh. (“A Matter of Honor" [TNG]). Riker Starships Enterprise-D and Enterprise-E under the command was offered command of the U.S.S. Aries in 2365, but he declined of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. (“Encounter at Farpoint” [TNG]| the appointment, preferring to remain on the Enterprise-D. (“The Star Trek: First Contact). Starfleet serial number SC 231-427. Icarus Factor” [TNG]). Riker suffered a near brush with death while (*Gambit, Part I" [TNG]) on a survey mission to planet Surata IV, where contact with an William Thomas Riker was born in Valdez, Alaska, on Earth in indigenous plant-form caused him to lose consciousness for sev 2335. Riker's mother died when he was only two years old, and he eral hours. (“Shades of Gray" [TNG]). Riker was charged with mur was raised by his father, Kyle Riker. The elder Riker abandoned his ~~ der in the 2366 death of Dr. Nel Apgar at planet Tanuga IV after son at age 15, an act that William held against his father until 2365 Apgar's research station exploded. He was acquitted after a