From Earth to the edge of our galaxy and beyond, from the early days of warp flight to the latter half of the twenty-fourth century, humankind and its alien partners in the Federation have looked to their heroes to expand the limits of their knowledge. And as each generation's pantheon of heroes has passed on into legend, a new generation has risen to take its place.

So it was with the crew of the "S.S. Valiant, " the first Earth vessel to cross the galactic barrier. So it was with the crew of the Starship Stargazer and her fledgling commander, Captain Jean-Luc Picard. And so it was with the "U.S.S. Enterprise" NCC-1701-D, the flagship of Starfleet, which Picard commanded with wisdom and temperate maturity.

Over the years, Fate has woven the voyages of these three vessels into a vivid skein of treachery and sacrifice, hardship and determination, tragedy and courage -- each step of the way demonstrating the immeasurable worth of the flawed but farseeing heroes who commanded them.