In 2063, Earth made its first contact with an alien species, launching the planet and its inhabitants onto an interstellar stage. In the next century, United Earth established a space exploration and defense service called Starfleet and co-founded The United Federation of Planets, a benevolent organization of hundreds of worlds. The chronicles of Starfleet are collectively known as the Star Trek Universe. Aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise NCC-1701-D, Starfleet's flagship, Captain Jean-Luc Picard leads an elite crew on its continuing mission to boldly go where no one has gone before. Commander Riker has turned down a command of his own several times, preferring to remain aboard the Enterprise, which he considers a truly unique opportunity, both personally and professionally.