2273 was, on Earth's calendar, the 74th year of the 23rd century, and the fourth year of the 2270sdecade. Besides this time period's Human dates, in stardates this era begin with stardate 2273.0[1] in some systems of dating, and includes stardates circa 7412 in others.[2]
V'Ger destroys the Epsilon IX station and incapacitates Earth's defense network before merging with Willard Decker and Ilia and ascending into a higher plane of existence. [3]
AdmiralJames T. Kirk re-assumes command of the USS Enterprise. Despite his rank of rear admiral, Kirk began wearing a uniform with captain's braid. For the duration of his command, he was referred to as both "admiral" and "captain" in everyday address.[3]
Shortly before receiving his first operational command, CaptainWillard Decker is temporarily demoted to commander, and made ship's science officer and first officer. Admiral Kirk required him to begin wearing a uniform with commander's braid for the duration of his command, and referred to him as "commander" in everyday address.[3]
Admiral Kirk was very specific about demoting Captain Decker to commander and giving himself a nominal demotion to captain in order to facilitate his takeover of command. However, in TOSmovie, novelization & comic adaptation: The Voyage Home, no such move is made to demote Captain Spock, who is coincidentally made Kirk's first officer and science officer.
Takes place very shortly after The Motion Picture, with the Enterprise checking for survivors at the former location of Outpost Epsilon IX after the V'Ger incident.
Set one month following Star Trek: The Motion Picture. Alternate version of post-movie events: USS Enterprise departs on a seven-and-a-half-year survey mission to the Aquarius Formation.