The basics of the mission were explained in a log entry by Captain Jean-Luc Picard: "Captain's log, Stardate 41153.7. Our destination is planet Deneb IV beyond which lies a great, unexplored mass of the galaxy. My orders are to examine Farpoint, a starbase built there by the inhabitants of that world." Q agreed with Picard's request, and revealed that their "immediate destination offers far more challenge than [they] can possibly imagine," making the Farpoint Mission, in Q's mind, "an excellent test." (TNG: "Encounter at Farpoint" )