Thomas Riker

William Thomas "Tom" Riker was "born" as a result of a transporter accident in 2361.

While part of an away team on Nervala IV, this accident was caused by a distortion field interacting with the transporter beam, in conjunction with the planet's unique atmosphere. The transporter beam both made it through the distortion as well as was reflected back onto the planet's surface, allowing William Riker to return to his ship, and allowed for the creation of a duplicate. The two Rikers were discovered to be genetically indistinguishable from one another, with their memories being identical up to the point of the duplication. The discovery of the "second" Will Riker came eight years after this incident, when the USS Enterprise was sent to clean up what Riker's previous ship had left behind. In search of scientific instruments and research, the revelation of the person who would become Thomas Riker was obviously quite a shock to the now-First Officer.

Eight years' time was all that separated the two men, with Will becoming a cautious, duty-focused officer, and Thomas still impulsive and reckless, and perhaps a bit twitchy from having to fend for himself for eight years. Choosing to not stay on his "brother's" ship, Thomas accepted an assignment on another ship, expressing a desire to continue his Starfleet career. However, he did not stay in Starfleet, as the plight of the Maquis inspired him to join the resistance movement in 2370 (just about one year later).

In 2371, Thomas posed as his "brother," and stole the USS Defiant. In negotiating for his life from Cardassian custody, Thomas was sentenced to life in a labor camp (rather than face Cardassian torture or death).

Following the end of the Dominion War, the labor camp was abandoned by the Cardassians, and Thomas Riker presumably freed.