William Riker

**William Thomas Riker** was a 24th century Human male. Riker was best known for service in Starfleet, as a captain in command of the Federation starship USS *Titan* from the year 2377 to 2380. Riker had previously served as first officer aboard the USS *Enterprise*-D and the USS *Enterprise*-E between the years 2364 and 2377.

## Out Of Character

### Played by:

Admin

**​**

## **Biography**

### Ancestry

Riker's family had lived in the United States of America since at least the mid-19th century, when a soldier named Thaddius Riker fought for the Union in the American Civil War.

It was suggested by Astrid Kemal that there was a high likelihood that the Riker family descended from the offspring of Augments who had emigrated to Alaska following the Eugenics Wars. Riker was at first shocked by this suggestion, but later realized it was a very real possibility.

### Early life

Riker was born on April 15, 2335 in Valdez, Alaska in continental North America on planet Earth, the son of Kyle and Annie Riker.

Riker's mother died when he was two years old. His father, a civilian strategist for Starfleet, was kept away from Earth by his duties for extended periods, forcing Riker to largely raise himself. He spent his early years either staying with various families who owed his father a favor, or enrolled in different boarding schools. On Will's 12th birthday, his father returned to Earth for one day to take him to Yukon Delta National Wildlife Refuge. During this trip, Will expressed his feelings to his father for the first time, saying he "felt like an orphan" and wished to be able to spend more time with his father. His father resented him saying that, and it led to an argument. As an adult, Will would often look back on that day as the moment he believed his father decided to abandon him completely.

Kyle continued to visit his son occasionally for the next three years, abandoning him altogether when Will was only 15 years old. At some point during his youth, Riker was forced to hunt animals as the only alternative to starvation . This may have contributed to his adult disgust at the idea of "enslaving animals for food."

Will's maternal grandfather was a trombone player in New Orleans. In 2342, Will fractured his collarbone after falling off Execution Rock.

During his childhood, Will took a trip to Maine. While on the coastline, he had a chance to see the North Atlantic Ocean , At some point during his youth, he visited a beach where he learned to bodysurf. He also visited an aquapark where he enjoyed riding the hydrotubes.

Will's best friend growing up was named Jackson Carter, whom Will nicknamed "Squibby". Carter retaliated by giving Will the nickname "Thunderball". When Will left for Starfleet Academy in 2353, he and Carter swore that they would keep in touch, but they didn't see each other again until the year 2366 on the planet Paradise

Another person Will called his best friend was Teller Conlon -- who later joined Will at Starfleet Academy -- onboard the USS *Potemkin* and the USS *Yorktown*. In 2361, both were detached from Starfleet duty so they could serve on the team that forged the Imperiman Trade Agreement

Yet another very close friend during Will's childhood was Lyrinda Halk, who was also born in Valdez

The teenage Riker's first serious love relationship was with a gorgeous Russian ballet dancer, Paula Andropova, who was old enough to be his mother

## **​Career**

### Starfleet Academy(2353-2357)

Will entered Starfleet Academy in the year 2353, and was a member of Zeta Squadron. One of Zeta Squadron's assignments was a "scavenger hunt" style survival test on the streets of San Francisco

During his first year, Riker auditioned for and won a place in the Starfleet Academy Band, an honor rarely given to freshmen. Several older students played practical jokes to haze him, including stranding him aboard their band cruiser near-naked after tricking him into believing the ship had a swimming pool. While returning from a music competition on the planet Pacifica, Riker met and had a sexual encounter with Aili Lavena during this time.

During his second year, Will enrolled in an Advanced Survival Skills class, which required him to survive alone on a jungle planet with only a compass and a knife. However, the planet suffered a hurricane far stronger than any on Earth, and Will was pinioned under a fallen tree. He spent three days trapped, lying in mud with giant leeches feeding on him, before being rescued

While at the Academy, Will and a fellow cadet once re-programmed a transporter so that a particularly despised instructor would arrive at a ceremony in his honor sans clothing. The incident became a major scandal with mass punishments threatened but the students all closed ranks. The head of the Academy however felt that the reprogramming was brilliant and deserved on the part of the instructor, and let the matter drop. Riker came away from the experience determined to be more respectful of transporter technology in the future

During Will's third year at the Academy, he developed a relationship with Janice Eardman. Will enjoyed taking her on walking tours within the holodeck and fixing her favorite dish: real Strawberries and Chocolate mixed with Venduvian sauce.

Riker graduated eighth in his class in 2357. He was extremely academic and driven, and this cost him a close friendship when he refused to help a friend cheat. One of the speakers at his graduation ceremony was Admiral Leonard McCoy . Riker took many extra courses of study (in starship command, engineering, communications, and several sciences) both during his time at the Academy and after graduating. He took enough extra courses that he would have qualified for "several doctorates." He also held the Academy Record for all-time highest score on the Starship Reconnect Simulator, a record that was still standing in 2364

As Will was getting ready to graduate from the Academy, he had an opportunity to fill an Ensign position on the distant Tarett IV orbital base as his first assignment. However his desire for Starship duty inspired him to turn down any orbital base or shoreside assignment. This decision had ended his relationship with Janice Eardman.

### Early career

#### USS *Pegasus(2357-2359)*

Will's first assignment as a Starfleet officer was a posting as an Ensign aboard the USS *Pegasus* under the command of Captain Erik Pressman in late 2357. His youthful appearance soon earned him the nickname "Ensign Babyface" from the ship's tactical officer Mark Boylan.

Among the *Pegasus*'s assignments before the ship was lost were the extradition of war criminal Endyk Plure from the Candelar system and a harrowing encounter in space disputed by the worlds of Omistol and Ven.

Following the *Pegasus*'s loss, Riker, Captain Pressman and the other seven survivors then underwent a Judge Advocate General's inquiry about a supposed mutiny prior to to the *Pegasus*'s apparent destruction. However, Riker and the others secretly withheld the information about the experiments with a phasing cloaking device and the investigation was stopped.

### USS *Potemkin*(2359-2360)

#### Deanna Troi

By 2359, Will was serving as lieutenant and second officer on the USS *Potemkin* when Riker was temporarily assigned as Starfleet liaison to the Federation Embassy on Betazed.

On Will's first day on Betazed, he was asked to be the Federation's presence at the wedding of the Daughter of the Third House of Betazed, Chandra Xerx. Will was utterly oblivious to the fact that in Betazoid weddings, all members of the wedding party and all of the guests are expected to be nude. It was at this wedding where Will first caught sight of Deanna Troi (much to her amusement), who was one of the bridesmaids.

Over the weeks that followed, Will pursued Deanna with only limited success. It was not until Will's rescue of Deanna from Sindareen Raiders whom had taken her captive that they each gave into their mutual passion under a waterfall in Betazed's isolated Jalara Jungle. Riker could feel Deanna in his mind, and he heard a word in her voice – "*Imzadi*."

Deanna's mother Lwaxana was less than pleased with this development, and forbid the relationship to continue. At first, Deanna complied with her mother's wishes, and told Will so. She later defied her mother's wishes and left to be with her *Imzadi*.

Unfortunately, the rejected Riker had drowned out his sorrows with a bottle of Scotch whisky when he received a visitor in the form of Wendy Roper, the daughter of the head of the Federation Embassy, who had come to "console" him.

Deanna found the two of them in bed together, and realized that Riker was not ready for the kind of relationship that she needed from him. They parted amicably a few days later at a Betazed museum as The Potemkin arrived and relieved him of his position.

Riker attempted a reconciliation by arranging a date with Deanna a few years later on Risa  but word of his promotion to First Officer of the USS *Hood* came through. Will was on the command fast track, and many even believed that he would achieve a command of his own faster than the legendary James T. Kirk, who became captain at the age of 29.

Neither said "goodbye" to the other Riker chose to make his career a priority and did not see Deanna again until they were both posted to the USS *Enterprise*-D in 2364.

### USS Hood(2360-2364)

In 2361, Riker was duplicated in a transporter accident on Nervala IV. A redundant secondary confinement beam reflected off the atmosphere, rematerializing a duplicate on the surface; his duplicate was left behind alone on the planet for eight years. Riker was unaware of this incident until returning to Nervala IV in 2369.

Riker served on the *Hood* under Captain Robert DeSoto as first officer, until receiving the Transfer to the *Enterprise-D*, the Federation's brand new flagship, where he saw Deanna again.

At some point, Riker and Katherine Pulaski served together prior to their mutual service aboard the *Enterprise*-D, resulting in Riker becoming an "enthusiastic fan" of hers.

### First officer of the *Enterprise* NCC-1701-D(2364-2371)

In 2364, Riker transferred to the USS *Enterprise*-D as "Number One," under the command of Captain Jean-Luc Picard. He was soon reunited with Deanna Troi who was assigned to the *Enterprise* as ship's Counselor. The two chose not to renew their romantic relationship at that time for professional reasons.

Riker developed a close father-son relationship with Picard. Among other things, Picard taught the younger man fencing.

In some of his earlier missions, Riker led away teams that made first contact with species such as the Theluvians and the Creeg. Riker also took part in celebrating Christmas on board the *Enterprise*-D.

Later, this same year, Riker was imparted with Q powers and virtual immortality. A "gift" he later returned to the giver, after seeing how uncontrolled power can corrupt a Human. Little did he know the Q had a particular impact to his family. Years later, the mortal Riker joked with Picard and others how he planned to live forever. Riker and the crew were again joined by Q following the second encounter with him, when Q came aboard during their voyage to Faltos.

During the start of his second year, Deanna Troi convinced Captain Picard to send Riker on enforced shore leave, due to concerns he was suffering from stress. Though Riker enjoyed the shore leave (which he spent mountain climbing on a planet that resembled Alaska), he resented being forced to leave the Enterprise against his will, and decided to gain some small revenge on the pair. It was during this trip he grew the beard he would have for years to come, a decision he made because he felt it would annoy the bald Captain. He soon found the beard was extremely popular with the ship's female crew members. This led to him facetiously asking Picard for "permission to be sexy", something Picard did not find amusing.

Riker was close to *not* living, when attacked by microbes on planet Surata IV. Only the opposite of all his pleasureful memories with Deanna Troi and others he'd ever known saved him from death.

At some point during his early years on the *Enterprise* Riker took shore leave on Earth, visiting England. He brought back a rare book as a present for Picard.

In 2368, Riker received a strange visitor in the form of *himself*, Admiral William T. Riker from the year 2408. The elder Riker had traveled back in time by way of the Guardian of Forever in order to prevent the murder of Deanna Troi by a time-traveling Sindareen, who blamed Deanna for his race's troubles in this era.

When the timeline had been restored, Admiral Riker was restored to his proper time. The younger Riker and Troi again chose not to renew their romantic relationship, but Riker long remained haunted by the vision of the bitter and joyless Riker from the future, who had lived his life without his *Imzadi*. The elder Riker also reminded him of his father.

In 2369, Riker led a dangerous mission inside a Dyson Sphere, during which he was nearly killed trying to rescue an injured team member. However this event led to him making peace with Darrin Kane, an arrogant young Ensign who had been trying to use his family connections to damage Riker's reputation and relationship with Picard, due to his resentment that Riker was not helping his career to progress faster. Kane saved Riker's life during this mission.

Also in 2369, Riker met himself again, this time in the form of a duplicate created by a transporter accident in 2361. This Lieutenant Riker and he had an antagonistic relationship. When Lieutenant Riker left *Enterprise*, he took the name Thomas Riker, and Will gave him his trombone as a gift of reconciliation.

In 2370, the *Enterprise*-D rendezvoused with the shuttlecraft *Goddard*, carrying retired Captain Montgomery Scott. Scott utilized the old logs of the original USS *Enterprise* and recreated the gravity slingshot that propelled the *Bounty 2* back through time, with the *Enterprise* following. When they determined they were back in an alternate 2293, Picard was certain Scott intended to save James T. Kirk from death aboard the USS *Enterprise*-B; Riker was the only bridge officer who doubted it, thinking it was irresponsible. When they found the timeline considerably altered, Riker theorized that Scott may have overshot his time destination, or made a second jump back in time. Eventually the *Enterprise* was able to rendezvous with Scott and Kirk, returning the latter to the Nexus to restore the timeline. (*ST* novel: *Engines of Destiny*)

At some point, Troi had begun a romantic relationship with her *Enterprise* shipmate, Lieutenant Commander Worf. Riker was outwardly happy for his friends, but secretly harbored resentment towards Worf.

After the destruction of the *Enterprise*-D in 2371, Riker finally realized the depths of his feelings of Deanna. He had no wish to hurt his friend Worf, but he resolved to tell Deanna how he felt. Riker's timing was unfortunate, as before Riker could talk to Deanna, Worf proposed marriage to her, and she accepted. At first, Riker willingly stepped aside, but soon realized that he had no wish to turn into that bitter old man from the future, and went after Deanna, Worf be damned.

At this time, Worf's son Alexander Rozhenko had been captured by Tom Riker (who had recently escaped from the Cardassian labor camp on Lazon II) and was being coerced by the Romulan Sela, who believed him to be Will. Will Riker was, in turn, then captured by Cardassians, who believed him to be the escaped Tom. Will was rescued from the Cardassians by Worf, and the two put aside their differences in order to rescue Deanna and Alexander.

It was after this encounter that Worf and Deanna realized that they were too different for their relationship to work, and they parted amicably. Will and Deanna *again* chose not to renew their romantic relationship at that time, but both saw it as an inevitability that they both looked forward to.

#### NCC-1701-E(2372-2377)

In 2372, Riker and most of the rest of the *Enterprise*-D command staff, including Deanna, requested assignment to the newly constructed USS *Enterprise* (NCC-1701-E) under the assumption that Captain Picard would be given command. Starfleet Command had other ideas.

Riker strenuously objected when Starfleet gave command of the *Enterprise*-E to Captain Morgan Bateson, but did his duty as assigned.

Bateson stepped aside for Picard after losing command of the ship to a group of Klingons, led by his old nemesis Kozara, and Picard re-took the ship from them.

Riker then took part in stopping the Borg from changing Earth's first contact with the Vulcans.

#### Dominion War

During the Dominion War in 2374, Riker was then sent with a team from Starfleet's Corps of Engineers to join the crew of the Klingon battlecruiser IKS *Gar'Tukh*. They were sent to help enhance the defenses of an outpost on Elkauron II, which was on the edge of Gorn territory.

Will and Deanna finally resumed their romantic relationship in 2375 after feeling the rejuvenating effects of the metaphasic radiation inherent to the adopted homeworld of the Ba'ku. While in temporary charge of *Enterprise-E*, an armed conflict with the Son'a in the Briar Patch led Geordi LaForge to jokingly refer to the move possibly earning the name "the Riker Maneuver," in the tradition of his captain's Battle of Maxia Zeta.

In late 2375, Riker commanded the *Enterprise* when the Breen attacked San Francisco. Captain Picard was visiting family on Earth at the time. Riker led the *Enterprise* against the Breen vessels assaulting Earth alongside the *Columbia*, destroying them after a short battle.

#### Later years

he was offered the command of the USS *Titan* by Admiral Kathryn Janeway. Janeway reminded Riker that Starfleet had offered him his own command more than once, and warned him that this would be the last time he was offered.

Captain William T. Riker took command of the USS *Titan* 2378. After more than four offers by Starfleet Command, Admiral Kathryn Janeway told Riker it was a "take-it-or-leave-it" decision. Deanna was assigned as ship's Head Counselor and Diplomatic Officer. In hindsight of this, one could point out Riker's career choice may have also been borne out of sheer nostalgia, having co-piloted, six years earlier, a *Titan*-class rocket, in Earth's past. His love for 20th century Earth Blues and its varieties, compelled him to have all issued shuttles christened with names of musicians from the era. One, in particular, the *Armstrong*; was mistaken for Neil the astronaut, rather than Louis ("Satchmo").

The *Titan*'s primary mission was to be one of scientific inquiry and exploration in the uncharted region known as the Gum Nebula. But, before the ship and crew could begin that mission, Admirals William Ross and Leonard James Akaar ordered a slight detour.

*Titan* was sent to Romulus as head of a small diplomatic and humanitarian convoy in response to Praetor Tal'Aura's request to begin a dialogue between the Federation and the Romulan Star Empire.

While in Romulan space, Riker and *Titan* managed to rescue Commander Tuvok, formerly of the starship USS *Voyager*, who had been sent to Romulus to recall the legendary Ambassador Spock back to Federation space. Instead, Tuvok found himself taken captive by a Romulan faction during the chaos following Shinzon's murder of the Romulan Senate.

Riker and Spock managed to negotiate an agreement between the Romulans, the Remans, and the Klingons that did much to stabilize the region.

Before leaving Romulan space, Riker assisted Romulan Commander Donatra in searching for a missing fleet of Romulan ships that vanished near the anomaly created by the destruction of Shinzon's thalaron weapon, which the Romulans called The Great Bloom. The Remans and others called it Shinzon's Folly. The bloom turned out to be an interspacial portal of some kind that deposited *Titan* and Donatra's ship, the Valdore into the mini-galaxy known as the Smaller Magellanic Cloud, home to the sundered branch of Earth humanity known as the Neyel.

In 2380 With the Promotion of Picard to Admiral, Riker was given Command of the Enterprise.

## **​Personal Life**

### Music

Riker was a jazz aficionado, and his favorite musical instrument was the trombone. Although he was an accomplished player, his skills were not quite up to that of a professional musician and he had trouble with certain pieces, including

Riker could also play the piano and taught Amarie, a musician in a bar on Qualor II, some jazz routines when the *Enterprise* visited the planet in 2368.

Data performed Irving Berlin's "Blue Skies" at Riker's wedding to Deanna Troi because of his knowledge of Riker's fondness for "archaic musical forms."

### Poker

Riker first began playing poker as a junior officer aboard the *Potemkin*. He became a notoriously good player aboard the *Enterprise*, participating in most of the ship's weekly poker games and even teaching master classes on the game. He also knew several card tricks, one of which was used in a failed attempt to fool Data in 2367. His poker skills were noted by Captain Picard, and their connection to diplomatic skills was one of the reasons he was selected to replace Mendoza as the Federation representative in the Barzan wormhole negotiations.

In 2369 Riker, La Forge, and Worf made an unconventional wager with Dr. Crusher: if any of the men won the hand, she would become a brunette, and if Crusher won, the men would shave their beards. However, the senior staff were called to the bridge before the hand was over.

Riker was skilled in other forms of gambling and won large sums of latinum at the dabo tables in Quark's during an *Enterprise* visit to Deep Space 9. Quark claimed he was unable to pay Riker at the time, and later voided the winnings in exchange for information about the whereabouts of the Duras sisters Lursa and B'Etor. Riker met DS9 officer Jadzia Dax at Quark's about this time.

### Sports

Riker had several sports-related hobbies. Anbo-jyutsu was one such interest, as were Parrises squares and handball. He had skills in the martial arts, *tai chi chuan* in particular , and took Worf's *mok'bara* classes. He also enjoyed fishing. One of his favorite fishing spots was Curtis Creek, which he recreated in a holoprogram.

### Other interests

Riker was quite skilled at three-dimensional chess, as he used the Queen's gambit coupled with the Aldabren Exchange to defeat the Ferengi Nibor during the closing reception of the biennial Trade Agreements Conference aboard the USS *Enterprise*-D. Riker had an interest in cooking from when he had had to fend for himself as a child. He was a member of Beverly Crusher's theater troupe aboard the *Enterprise*-D and played the lead in two plays, *Something for Breakfast* and *Frame of Mind*. His favorite vacation spot was Risa. Riker also enjoyed dabo, although the beckoning profits did not appear to be the motivating factor. At Quark's on Deep Space 9, Lt. Jadzia Dax staked Riker three strips of gold-pressed latinum when his winning-streak ran dry. He later contacted Quark and traded his unclaimed winnings for information on the Duras sisters.

## Personal relationships

### Marriage

Will and Deanna were finally married in 2377, shortly before their transfer to the USS *Titan*. Their wedding party in Alaska included Captain Picard as best man, Dr. Crusher as bridesmaid, and Data, La Forge, Worf, and Wesley Crusher as groomsmen. Guinan was also present. Another ceremony, a traditional Betazoid wedding, was planned on Betazed shortly following.