Hrm. Well, the Vulcan Isolationist Movement is concerned that the other races in the galaxy are diluting the Vulcan Ideal. So, you need a reason for them to care about this ship / the PCs.
Maybe the ship is getting a valuable set of sensors or the like - something newfangled that will be a real plus for the science academy, and yet on the way home with said new ship, those kick-ass sensors pick up a distress call in a bad area of space where going will likely overload many of the ships relays (picture badlandy or ion-stormy type stuff). The distress call is automated, and somewhat old.
VIM Members: The call is old, and likely has not been heard before this. Taking the ship to rescue likely-dead <insert aliens> in an area of space where the ship would take extreme damage is illogical and a waste of resources.
Even for a Vulcan, that's cold - it should be a bit of a tip=off that these aren't your average Vulcan...
The Doc
So you think, 'Might as well,
Dance a Tango to Hell,
at least I'll have Tangoed at all.'
-- "Rent," Jonathan Larson