Star Trek: The Motion Picture (1979): In 2271 an unknown, cloud-like entity descends upon several Klingon vessels and destroys them. Having monitored the surprise attack, Federation space station Epsilon IX is still unable to prevent itself from becoming the next victim of this vast, mysterious energy cloud.

Meanwhile, on Vulcan, Spock is preparing to undergo the rite of Kolinahr — the achievement of total Vulcan logic — and the purging of all remaining emotion. Just then Spock's human half stirs in response to the cloud entity, interrupting his meditation and forcing the Vulcan masters to withdraw Spock's admission to their ranks.

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982): In 2285 at Starfleet Academy, Admiral Kirk is busy training new cadets. Among the cadets is Saavik, a young protégée of Spock's, who feels that she has failed the Kobayashi Maru — a no-win scenario test used to evaluate potential commanders. Kirk advises the young Vulcan that all commanders at some point must face a "no-win" situation. Saavik, displaying her willingness to become a reliable commander, pilots the U.S.S. Enterprise out of spacedock on a routine cadet training exercise.

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock (1984): As the U.S.S. Enterprise returns to spacedock for repairs following the battle with Khan in 2285. Kirk continues to mourn Spock's death. McCoy suddenly enters the Vulcan's sealed quarters, babbling incoherently. Upon reaching Earth, McCoy is hospitalized. Scotty is reassigned to the U.S.S. Excelsior and the newly formed Genesis Planet is decreed off-limits by Starfleet Command. Kirk is then informed that the U.S.S. Enterprise is to be decommissioned.

In Kirk's quarters, Sarek, Spock's father, confronts the Admiral, saying that Spock's body should have been returned to Vulcan so that his katra could have been stored in an ancient Vulcan repository on Mount Seleya. Sarek tells Kirk that he must retrieve the coffin from the Genesis planet and, since Spock performed a last-minute Vulcan mind-meld with McCoy, thus transferring his "katra" or spirit, the doctor must also return to Vulcan.