It goes without saying that we're stoked for the new Star Trek movie here at IGN. Being a Trek fan is part of the universal geek DNA, is it not? And so as we celebrate J.J. Abrams' restoration of the beloved sci-fi franchise with its cast of classic characters, we thought we'd take a look back at our favorite fictional figures in the Trek universe.

Before we reveal our picks, a quick word about the selection process... We've made these choices based on overall fan reaction, impact on the franchise, character relevance to the best moments in the films/series, and significance in the Trek universe, as well as our own arbitrary favorites. You might be surprised that a few of your own faves didn't make the list. That's what the comments are for.

Now, join us in our ready room for this priority one Starfleet communiqué on our top 25 Trek characters...

25. Benjamin Maxwell

Featured In: Star Trek: The Next Generation ("The Wounded")

Only the most diehard of Trek fans will recall Captain Ben Maxwell, but his importance to the franchise is unquestionable. He appeared just once, in the superb fourth season Next Generation episode "The Wounded," but it was in that segment that the duplicitous Cardassians were first introduced (who would go on to be among the chief baddies on Deep Space Nine) in the person of Marc Alaimo. He would later play the peerless Gul Dukat on DS9. But more on him later.

Maxwell is the captain of the U.S.S. Phoenix in the episode, which has inexplicably taken to destroying seemingly defenseless Cardassian cargo ships and outposts. Picard is instructed to find the Phoenix, which is flying under radio silence. It turns out that Chief O'Brien had served under Maxwell on the U.S.S. Rutledge during the Federation-Cardassian War years earlier, and while Maxwell's wife and children were killed in the infamous Setlik III massacre of that conflict, O'Brien is certain that Maxwell can't be taking out these Cardassian ships for no reason. Picard isn't so sure. It turns out that while O'Brien is right -- the Cardassians have been secretly transporting weapons in preparation for a possible new war with the Federation -- so is Picard in that Maxwell's emotional wounds from Setlik III have never healed.

Maxwell is an important Trek character not only because of his specific story, but also as a representation of all the fallen Starfleet figures of the franchise. He's also an early indication of the more complicated and nuanced dynamics we would find on Deep Space Nine, which would pick up the saga of the Cardassian War and its long-term effects on the people who fought it.

24. Borg Queen

Featured In: Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Voyager

She's the preeminant female villain in the realm of science fiction. The Borg Queen is the brains behind the Borg Collective. She commands the legions of drones under her rule, guiding them on their mission of assimilation and galactic conquest.

The Queen's first appearance in the Trek franchise comes in First Contact as the Borg attempt to assimilate humanity by manipulating time. She captures Data in an attempt to obtain the encryption codes to the Enterprise, and while he ultimately betrays her, the two share a scandalous smooch as she tempts him with the pleasures of being more human.

Borg Queen's grand entrance, as she descends from the rafters of her lair and fuses her head, shoulders, and spinal column with the rest of her body, is one of the most stunning scenes in all of Star Trek. And the character's design, as well as Alice Krige's chilling portrayal makes her one of the prominent female villains in all of science fiction.

Captain Janeway and the crew of the U.S.S. Voyager later encounter a second Borg Queen (played by Susanna Thompson), formed after the destruction of the first. She's bent on reassimilating Seven of Nine, but Janeway will have none of it. Queen 2.0 is ultimately disabled when Janeway's future self introduces a neurolytic pathogen into the Collective which decapacitates the Queen and destroys Unimatrix One.

23. Christopher Pike

Featured In: Star Trek (TOS), Star Trek (2009)

Captain Christopher Pike was always linked with tragedy. As James T. Kirk's predecessor as captain of the U.S.S. Enterprise, Pike was a cerebral, stoic commanding officer who longed for his ranch back on Earth as he endured the pain of losing men in battle. He was plagued by self-doubt, which he would voice over a stiff drink with his ship's medical officer, Dr. Boyce. A fateful mission to Talos IV would be declassified when Pike's former subordinate, Mr. Spock, was put on trial for mutiny. After his tenure aboard the Enterprise, Pike suffered paralyzing injuries and horrific radiation burns while saving the lives of cadets during a training exercise. It was this sad relic of a man that Spock rescued (or kidnapped?) and brought to Talos IV where the reality-altering alien inhabitants they'd encountered years before could provide Pike with the illusion of a full and happy life. Adding to the tragic legacy of Chris Pike was the fact that the actor who played him in the original Trek pilot, Jeffrey Hunter, died young.

J.J. Abrams resurrected the character of Pike for his new Star Trek reboot. As played by Bruce Greenwood, this Christopher Pike is a fleet captain who serves as mentor and role model for the young cadets he helps enlist in Starfleet, particularly the rebellious young Jim Kirk. Upon the cadets' graduation from Starfleet Academy, they serve aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Captain Pike. But when a rogue Romulan named Nero takes Pike hostage, Spock and Kirk find themselves quickly rising through the ranks to assume command of the Enterprise.

22. William Riker

Featured In: Star Trek: The Next Generation, Star Trek: Generations, Star Trek: First Contact, Star Trek: Insurrection, Star Trek: Nemesis, Star Trek: Voyager ("Death Wish"), Enterprise ("These Are The Voyages...")

Shocked to see Riker appear so early in our countdown? Don't get us wrong. We're fans of Jonathan Frakes' smarmy character in both his beardless and bearded incarnations. But c'mon! Towards the end of The Next Generation, Riker got stale. There was nothing to do with him other than shave his beard, have him marry Troi and save the Enterprise using a joystick. Yawn. But before that? He was a badass.

Though initially portrayed as a go-getting, by-the-book officer, Riker began to show a bit of a bold streak early on in the series. And by "bold streak," we mean to say that he is quite possibly the most arrogant character in the history of the Star Trek universe. But that's why we love him. His over confidence and willingness to occasionally disregard the chain of command are what makes Riker so endearing.

Riker is the ladies' man of the latter-day Trek universe. Much like old-school Kirk, he hooked up with numerous interstellar babes over the years, but his one true love, Deanna Trio -- he had met her years before the events of the series while serving on the planet Betazed -- bagged him in the end.

Women aren't the only thing Riker lusted after. He badly wanted command of his own starship. Ultimately, however, Riker chose the loyalty and friendship of the Enterprise crew, repeatedly turning down offers to become a captain.

Bonus: Riker kills on the trombone!

21. Charles Tucker

Featured In: Enterprise

Charles Tucker III -- a.k.a. "Trip," since he's the third member of his family to be named Charles Tucker -- was the chief engineer aboard the U.S.S. Enterprise under the command of Captain Jonathan Archer, whom he had known for close to a decade going back to their NX-Test Program days.

A natural charmer, the Southern-born Trip's (played by Connor Trinneer) most extensive romantic relationship during the run of the TV series Enterprise was with T'Pol, the ship's Vulcan science officer. Their on-again/off-again romance eventually led to Trip's short-lived transfer to the U.S.S. Columbia.

During the series run of Enterprise, Trip was badly injured, then cloned in order to harvest the cells needed to save him, then he lost his sister in the Xindi's sneak attack on Earth, and ultimately died from injuries he received duping Shran in an effort to save Archer. Trip was many things: a top orbital engineer, a longtime friend to Captain Archer, a lover to T'Pol, an athlete, a photographer, and even the first human man to get pregnant.