This from io9:
"First of all, we asked Orci about his statements the other day that Star Trek 2 and 3 might have a linked storyline — maybe with a cliffhanger, or a plot thread that continues from one movie into the next. Orci downplayed the speculation, saying he, writer Alex Kurtzman, director J.J. Abrams, Damon Lindelof, and producer Bryan Burk had one meeting lasting 15 minutes and they had considered for a brief moment the idea of doing the next two movies as a linked story. But it's still way too early to say anything definite. They're still in the phase of throwing ideas out there and seeing what sticks.
When we interviewed Orci and his writing partner Alex Kurtzman about Transformers 2, they pointed out that it's very common for the second movie in a series to feature the protagonist trying to quit the "hero" racket. (Think "Superman II" or "Spider-Man 2.") Transformers 2 follows that pattern, with Sam wanting to go to college and lead a normal life. So we were wondering if "Star Trek 2" would follow that formula as well — would we see Kirk thinking about quitting the Enterprise and going back to Iowa?
But Orci says the formula isn't iron-clad, and it doesn't apply to every second movie in a series. In the case of Trek, he sees the Enterprise crew as being much more committed to their mission and to doing good in the universe, so that kind of "hero no more" story wouldn't fit."
Thank god the formula is not iron clad. That is the only aspect I did not like about "Spider-Man 2." When I was watching "Spider-Man 2" and that part of the story line developed I felt gypped out of a good story. My exact thoughts were "What? Isn't it too soon for Spider-Man to not want to be Spider-Man anymore, this is only the second movie, correct?"
In "Transformers: Revenge Of The Fallen" it made sense for Sam to want to go to college, as young people who graduate High School generally want to go to college if they want to amount to anything in life. This formula will absolutely not work in "Star Trek 2." The Captain of The Enterprise and his crew were not given that assignment because Star Fleet thought by the crew's second or third year everyone would want to give up on their post and go home.
Mr. Orci, please, come up with a new story. Something we have not seen. You and Alex have started a clean slate with reinventing the time wheel in the Star Trek universe. Please be inventive enough to give us the audience, something new and fresh. I know you can do it!!