What would have been Decker's crew?

[Wally]

Assuming the V'Ger did not occur and Kirk did not feel the need to take back the Enterprise, installing his old buddies. What was the crew that would have worked under Decker's command?

From what I can tell-

Commanding Officer - Captain Will Decker (obviously)

Executive Officer/Science Officer - Commander Sonak? (seems like he was last minute add by Kirk because he wanted a vulcan. ) Would this position be split?

Chief Engineer - Commander Montgomery Scott

Chief Medical Officer - Dr Christine Chapel (seems implicit that she was CMO until Kirk dragged McCoy back to take over)

Communications Officer - Lt. Commander Uhura

Helm - Lt. Commander Sulu

Tactical Officer? - Lieutenant Pavel Chekov

Nagivator - Lieutenant Ilia

Transporter - Chief Janice Rand

These are guesses, and many of them could have just been there for the refit, not for whatever mission it would have gone on once the ship was recomissioned.

 

[C.E. Evans]

Pretty much answered your own question, IMO.

As far as who would have been Decker's exec, we don't know for sure. Kelvin Timeline aside, Spock doubling as exec and chief sciences officer may have been just during Kirk's original tenure. That might not have been the case with Sonak under Decker's command, Vulcan or not. Maybe Decker's exec could have been the unfortunate woman that was beaming up with Sonak before the transporters were ready.

It's possible that Ilia was also a last-minute addition too. To me, Decker seemed initially surprised when he heard she was aboard. Had he known in advance, he might have requested a different navigator while he was still captain.

 

[Wally]

Pretty much answered your own question, IMO.

As far as who would have been Decker's exec, we don't know for sure. Kelvin Timeline aside, Spock doubling as exec and chief sciences officer may have been just during Kirk's original tenure. That might not have been the case with Sonak under Decker's command, Vulcan or not. Maybe Decker's exec could have been the unfortunate woman that was beaming up with Sonak before the transporters were ready.

It's possible that Ilia was also a last-minute addition too. To me, Decker seemed initially surprised when he heard she was aboard. Had he known in advance, he might have requested a different navigator while he was still captain.

Good point. I wonder with Kirk telling Decker that he would have to double as science officer after Sonak died, implied that the original plan was for Science Officer and Executive Officer to be 2 seperate on this ship, rather than the combined roll that Spock had.

It seemed everyone was surprised by Ilia. I get the feeling that, yes, she was last minute, and that also she was not specially requested by anyone, just whoever Starfleet Command decided to send.

That's a good point, regarding the woman in the transporter beam. I know the novelization stated that she was a Vice Admiral, but no information about her ever ended up onscreen, so she could really be anyone.

 

[valkyrie013]

I suspect that the captain has a alot of discretion at the makeup of the crew, but also it's mostly Starfleet personal office filling seats best they can as I doubt the captain has 400 names ready. Probably just section chiefs and a few odd crew they would want.
Captain can submit a list but if a person on the list is not available, doesn't want a transfer, or otherwise taken, Starfleet would slide in who's qualified and available.

For Ilya .. There might have been a person going to be the lead nav officer but was not available on the short notice launch. So she was sent up due to her avalablity. I suspect the ahead of schedule launch cought Starfleet flatfooted and beamed up who was available in alot of roles.
Then there's Those like McCoy who were just thrown in the transportation beam.

 

[McCoy's Disco Collar]

There's nothing to indicate that Sonak was a last-minute replacement; all we know is that Kirk originally recommended him for the job.

Ilia sure was, though. Kirk mentions that they're holding off on their departure "awaiting final crew replacements" before she beams aboard. Uhura stumbles over her name, and Decker is obviously very surprised to hear it. No way the captain would be unaware of her assignment to the Enterprise if it had been pre-planned. In my head canon, I always presumed that the original navigator was the other person killed with Sonak in the transporter accident (as opposed to Kirk ex-wife Admiral Ciana from the novelization), and Ilia was hastily assigned to take over the role.

I think Chekov was supposed to be the Security Chief, not just the tactical officer. He's the one who scans the shuttle and who arrives to greet its passenger.

 

[Wally]

Ilia sure was, though. Kirk mentions that they're holding off on their departure "awaiting final crew replacements" before she beams aboard. Uhura stumbles over her name, and Decker is obviously very surprised to hear it. No way the captain would be unaware of her assignment to the Enterprise if it had been pre-planned. In my head canon, I always presumed that the original navigator was the other person killed with Sonak in the transporter accident (as opposed to Kirk ex-wife Admiral Ciana from the novelization), and Ilia was hastily assigned to take over the role.

That makes a lot of sense. And the transporter mishap was probably just due to the sped up timetable.

Then Ilia likely was not part of Decker's crew. I forgot about the line regarding replacements.