Friendly Chat

Posted on Thu Mar 19, 2026 @ 5:39pm by Lieutenant Commander Anahera Chernova & Commodore Kate Banninga

682 words; about a 3 minute read

Mission: S03E01 - Something about Tribbles
Location: Langley Station - Conference Room
Timeline: MD 02 - 10:30 hours

ON:

As the others filed out of the Conference Room, Anahera stayed behind. Approaching the Commodore, she asked. "Kate, do you have a minute?"

Lost in thought about Richard's response to the promotion, she didn't respond to the woman talking to her right away. She smiled up at one of her oldest friends on the station. "Of course, walk with me to my office, that's a bit more comfortable to talk."

"Sure." Anahera said with a smile. "I love the new uniforms, by the way."

Kate looked at her own clothing as if she needed to check what she was wearing. "You mean the uniforms we've been wearing for almost a year now. They are good yes." She'd been in several versions of uniforms in her years of service. As they arrived at her office she signalled Anahera to enter. "Come in, take a seat. Coffee?" and walked to the replicator. She needed more coffee.

"Please." Anahera said taking the offered seat. Not beating around the bush, she simply came out with it. "What are your feelings about Richard?"

Kate raised an eyebrow at the question. They had served together for quite some years, but this question she didn't see coming really. "You mean the XO?" she simply asked, in a tone that was anything but personal.

"Yes, the XO, Commander Richard Fitzsimmons, do you have romantic feelings for him?" Anahera asked.

What the freck, Kate thought. "You want to know if I have romantic feeling the my executive officer? Why do you ask that?"

Anahera took a sip of her coffee before answering. Because it's obvious I'm trained to read people. She thought of saying, besided on a different tactic. "Because I was thinking of asking him out and I didn't want to step on your toes, my friend." Anahera lied.

"Why are you asking for permission to the XO out." Kate asked, hiding her devastation. The interaction she saw in the earlier still fresh in her mind.

"My Gods, you're stubborn." Anahera said. "I'm threatening to take away someone you care about, you're acting like I just asked you to use the restroom."

"Someone I care about?" Kate parroted. Of course she cared about him, and not as a colleague or even a friend. But she was not gonna discuss her personal feelings with anyone but him. Not even an old friend.

"Okay, if you don't want to talk to me about it, fine, at least talk to him, the poor man cares for you, but he doesn't know where stand with you." Anahera said. "Also, I don't have any romantic feelings for Richard, I've just been helping him with his Close Quarters Combat training, and providing a sympathetic ear."

"Close Combat Training?" she asked without thinking. Unfortunetly Ana wasn't telling her anything new, she was aware of his feelings, even though she had not been able to admit her own feelings to him a few days ago. Nor had been able to since. She was just wondering who was already aware of this. Were they being that obvious? "I am planning on talking to him," she simply said without explaining more.

"Good, now that's taken care of, how is little Lotte doing?" She said.

Kate let out a loud laugh. Only Ana had the ability to change subjects so abruptly. Or finish a topic so quickly. "the little miss is growing very fast." She swivelled her chair and grabbed the latest picture of her niece from the photo's she had up in the cupboard behind her desk. "Look at this photo, David sent it over about a month ago."

Anahera looked at the picture. "Awww, what a cutie, she reminds me of Anzhelina at that age." She said.

Kate knew who Ana was referring to, although she didn't knew the woman's granddaughter at this young age. "They're cute at this age."

"Yeah, they are." Anahera agreed. "Next time you speak to her, send her my love."

"I will," Kate said.

OFF:

Commodore Kate Banninga
Commanding Officer
Langley Station

Lieutenant Anahera Chernova
Chief Security/Tactical Officer
Langley Station

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