Corrected entry: If Spock had not shown up at the end of the movie to offer his services, Kirk would have left spacedock without a First Officer. Starfleet wouldn't allow the flagship of the Federation to go on a mission without a complete command crew.
Grumpy Scot
13th Mar 2013
Star Trek (2009)
Correction: Why not? They did it in The Motion Picture. Clearly it's no big deal to pick up an officer for an empty post after leaving Earth.
Correction: In the pilot episode of The Next Generation, the Enterprise picks up its First Officer, Commander Riker, at Farpoint Station. Captain Picard even makes reference to this in his log, that they will be picking up 'Key Personnel' also including their Chief Medical Officer.