Back with the discovery of the wormhole and Deep Space 9's inclusion, the Federation has always been fascinated with what else lies in the Gamma Quadrant. Now, with the Dominion threat under control, exploration of this new vast space can begin. To christen the adventure, the U.S.S.
Atlantis has been launched and, with it, two more ships. They, along with many more in the future, will be the first to see what's out there.