Casual Chat - Naxea

Posted on Wed Aug 19th, 2026 @ 10:40am by Lieutenant Colonel Azhul Naxea & Commodore Phoenix Lalor-Richardson

Mission: Interlude
Location: Commodore's Ready Room, Deck 1, USS Elysium
1074 words - 2.1 OF Standard Post Measure

The Commodore gave a respectful nod as Naxea stepped in, stepping forward to meet them halfway before gesturing toward the sitting area. “Colonel—thanks for coming.” She motioned to the chair. “Coffee?Tea?”

Naxea shook her head as she sat down. It wasn't very often that the Commodore called her into her office . "No ma'am. May I ask what this meeting is about?"

"Its not really a meeting. Its a casual chat. I am checking in with all senior staff to see how they are going and their people. I need to know, and sometimes its easier to ask than to just hover in doorways." Phoenix said sitting down opposite Naxea. "So ... how are things?"

It was no secret her department was in shambles. She looked at Lalor and sighed. "To put it very mildly --bad. I only have a squad of Starfleet Marines. Sure, we have Romulan commandos to help fill in the ranks but they're not Starfleet. Not the men and women who began this journey. Who have seen their friends die--violently. On top of that, I have a daughter to take care of and worry about."

Phoenix nodded. "Have your people been taking their rotational leave? Do I need to assign more holodeck time to them? What would help your people and you? Aside from getting home that is."

"They're allotted the time but most prefer to stay occupied. And to be honest, it's best that way. At least until we get the Romulans up to speed. As for me, what spare time I do have is spent either caring for my daughter or settling in with Captain Taylor."

Phoenix raised an eyebrow. "With Captain Taylor?" She asked curiously. "Oh do continue. I should have provided wine."

"Yes, he's asked me to move in with him," she clarified with a slight grin. "I thought you would have known."

Phoenix settled back in her chair. "No he didn't tell me, Probably because last time he was in the early stages of a relationship, I put money in a pool."

"A pool?" she asked, curious as to what the pool was about. "What was the pool about?"

"A betting pool. About him, Lia and Liselle." Phoenix said calmly.

"Ah," Naxea began, pausing for a moment as she thought about what the Commodore said. "He was interested in both?"

"No I don't think so. I know he loved Lia. He liked Liselle as a friend. It was a strong friendship though. So it was often thought he was looking both ways. But he never did anything to Liselle in that way. It was Lia the whole way at the time."

"I see. Thank you for telling me, Commodore," Naxea replied. She hadn't known about the friendship between Liselle and Gary. A part of her was still unsure about her relationship with Gary. Though she was certain it was just nerves, especially after her recent talk with S'hib.

Phoenix looked at her. "If you have concerns, I would suggest speaking with Gary. He is pretty easy to speak with."

Naxea grinned. "I know he is, Commodore. So, I'm going to take it there will be another pool?"

"No. I outgrew that. But then I didn't start the last one. The person who did is no longer on board." Phoenix said. "That said, if you need to gripe about him, I wont blab."

Naxea leaned back on her chair. "That's good to hear," Naxea chuckled. "But I don't have any complaints about him...yet,

"Its always yet with men" Phoenix said with a grin. "Love my husband to the end of the universe but, he can be annoying and make me want to kick his butt at times."

A sigh escaped Naxea as she nodded. "It's exhausting." She paused for a moment. "There are times I wish it was just Sle'anna and myself living on a farm without anyone nearby." She wasn't sure what to do or really how to feel between dealing with S'hib and being in a relationship with Gary.

"Oh thats a dream for sure." Phoenix said softly. "When we were on Earth it was very peaceful, I came very close to handing in my papers but I changed my mind. I can see why it is such a pull."

"Earth is nice but the Delkar Providence on Bajor is what I was thinking of. Fertile land, mountains, rivers. And forests for miles. Perfectly safe to raise a child. I don't mean any offense but I have never understood how Starfleet officers can bring their children with them aboard starships. Space in of itself is dangerous enough," Naxea replied. She worried for Sle'anna constantly.

"No I fully understand the concerns. I live with the dread every day." Phoenix said honestly.

"How do you deal with it?" she asked after a brief pause. "Especially in this damned galaxy?"

"I spend as much time as I can with them. I have family to help. Friends. And I trust my crew and the ship to keep going." Phoenix said softly. "If they were back on Earth I would miss them so much. Those months I was pretending to be Lilly Kass? Horrible. I thought about them every day."

"You're lucky. Things with S'hib are still...tender. With him not talking it makes it hard to see Sle'anna as often as I'd like. Setting up hours with her and taking turns caring for her. There are days I wish he would go back to the man I had married in the first place." She paused as she realized that she was venting. "Sorry. I'm just going on."

"Agreed" Phoenix said softly. "We may never know what happened but I know he is still there for you."

'Was he?' It was one of the issues she had with him. When she lost her arm, he wasn't there when she woke up from surgery. She had never felt so alone and scared before. "He is there for Sle'anna. That's what counts," she replied softly yet with an edge of sadness in it.

"Males can be totally stupid as you well know." Phoenix said. "S'hib, is no exception."

"True," she replied softly. "If there is nothing else, I should probably go,"

"My door is always open for you. Remember that." Phoenix said as she watched Naxea stand to go.

"Thank you, Ma'am. I will," Naxea replied, turning back at the Commodore and then exiting her ready room.