When Thoughts Become Questions

Posted on Thu Aug 14th, 2025 @ 11:30am by Lieutenant Cassian Massy & Commander Anastasia Aventnova

1,627 words; about a 8 minute read

Mission: Let That Be Your Last
Location: Operations Headquarters

Since the dinner with the First Officer, Anastasia, he was left wondering many things. While the dinner itself thought awkward in parts it was however the cause of many thoughts rifling through his head.

Since the Admiral arriving things had been strung tightly which was to be expected to a point considering it was now an Admiral's Flagship, ship shape and Bristol fashion as the old saying went. The scores of power allocation demands that were coming in seemed endless but through it all Cassian's mind often drifted to Anastasia. The kiss at the end is what did it, something felt...different about it and at the time he felt like he was missing something, that something was just a touch out of reach because he wasn't aware.

Sat in his chair at the desk that had three separate displays streaming lists of power allocation requests and maintenance cordon requirements. Yet his mind drifted to Anastasia. He saw some requests be answered while others were put on a roster for when they could be assigned a time slot and a notification forwarded to the Chief Engineer to let her know. He had to consider that some species like Betazoids for example were direct, forward in how they handled interpersonal matters, some were strict and followed code. He knew very little about Anastasia and her ways and while he didn't want to cause any offence, he considered that not knowing, was an offence especially if he liked her.

So he decided to learn, he needed to know what to do, cultural things, actions, gestures, information that would help him understand.

In among one of his searches, most of which had been general information regarding the planet of Roma Nueva, the unique vegetation and the 'essential' cultural information that visitors to the world or diplomats should follow was an article that had the title 'Lesser Known Cultural Facts Of Roma Nueva And Her People'.

"Roma Nueva, being one of the oldest daughter colonies of humanity stemming from Earth, is well known to be living the 'glory days' of the Ancient Roman Empire. Naturally, it is a more modern interpretation of those times, but first and foremost among the traditions of these nouveau Romans is not just a cultural bias but an outright desire to serve the people of Roma Nueva. The single-most common method of this is serving in the Legions, also known as the infantry, which served the world well during the invasion of the Dominion War. While nearly the entire fleet of ships (both Roman and Federation) was wiped out in the defense of Roma Nueva, the soldiers on the ground held out even against orbital strikes for several weeks before the system was retaken. The sheer tenacity of the Roman military, outnumbered and outgunned is not one to be taken lightly.

Immigrating to Roma Nueva is also not for the faint of heart as there are no 'casual' immigrants and 'pregnancy and birth' tourism is forbidden. Visitation visas for over a month are rare indeed, even for professionals beyond diplomatics. While certain specialties may possibly be fast-tracked if seen as critical to the Roman People, most immigrants are required to be of public service for twenty years, whether serving in the Legionary Reserves for that period (like a part-time soldier), or a more direct form of military service for ten years. Even those who marry a Roman are bound to these terms.

Most of a Roman's life (and they prefer to be called Roman, not New Roman or anything like that) is based off of that service to their world, which is why few have left their home defense fleet to join Starfleet as a whole, though more and more have joined the Fleet Marines and are a common sight in that venue of Federation forces. They are typically very direct with others and their word is their bond. If a Roman makes a promise, they will keep it unless something forces them to break it, such as death or outright catastrophe. Even if something completely out of their control keeps them from keeping their word, they take it as a personal dishonor.

Loyalty is a word that encompasses these new Romans, even those who are 'in opposition' to their government or their Emperor will defend the same and vice versa, because they are all Romans and they are one people. Being longer-lived than the 'standard' humans from Earth, they form personal bonds that last a very long time. The unique environment which affects fetal tissue during gestation only grants Romans additional life-spans, roughly a decade longer for each generation, which means that someone born on the planet now whose ancestors were among the founders of the colony (seventh generation) can see a lifespan that will extend out well over fifty years longer than someone born on Earth or other sister colonies. This longevity also comes with a slowing of the ageing process, which ends up with some of the current older generations, at 140 years old at this time of this article, appearing to be only around sixty years old or younger. This makes young adulthood rather awkward for many Romans, especially those who do wish to leave their homeworld, as those who join Starfleet at the 'normal' age of eighteen appear as children of perhaps thirteen years.

Another feature of this slow aging means that personal relationships can be very difficult for Romans to have, much less romantic relationships. The few Romans that this author has been able to talk to have reported propositions by others, both civilian and Starfleet, that have made his temper rise as to what they were. As a result, of those few Romans, the close personal friends they have made have told this author that there is no one more loyal to them, not even the friends they made as children. Romantic relationships are even more rare and the 'age gaps' that have been reported are consistent with the appearances of age of the Romans.

Romans are almost seemingly bound to their customs, which they grow up with as if drunk with their mother's milk. Many of these customs are subtle and can be misinterpreted if not careful, but most Romans off-world understand when it happens. Even still, they unconsciously exude their customs throughout their daily lives and will tend to have a routine they follow. Hand gestures are very important to a Roman, with flourishes often giving an insight to the mindset of an individual. Slow and deliberate gestures are the sign of a calm Roman, sharp wrist gestures are one that is stressed, languid and flowing are the signs of interest of some sort or another.

Kissing is another cultural feature, often used in greetings and farewells, not just as a romantic gesture. In social settings, the Roman woman will present their hand to a male companion in greeting. A kiss on the back of the hand indicates a romantic intent, on the fingers is a close friend, whereas a gripping of the hand is that of a mere acquaintance. In same-sex situations, both male or female, greetings are typically formed as faux-kisses on each cheek. Farewells are versions of the greetings, though even in opposite-sex farewells, the faux-kissing on the cheeks is more common among friends, though acquaintances are limited to curtseys and bows. One way of showing a romantic interest in one another is a third kiss, however, by the temple from one to another, which according to one contributor to this article stated as being 'A kiss to keep one in the mind of the other'. While it can be common among the children of Roma Nueva, among teenagers and adults it is seen as a rather forward romantic gesture. Responding to that gesture should be very considered, because of what it conveys to the recipient.

While as stated, Romans are a very forward people, there is also that hidden side to them that only those who look further than skin-deep will see. Those lucky enough to become close personal friends or more with a Roman have someone who will defend them to the death or have someone who would never willingly betray a secret under any circumstances. This author could only be so lucky."

It was towards the end of his reading that Cassian's brow furled. "Wait...hang on a minute." He stood up from his chair looking at the Padd and the information on it as he started to pace, his mind replaying the dinner they shared. Cassian had kissed the back of her hand, he remembered it, part of him thought she was going to slap him over it. Then he reread what it said about the kiss....Anastasia kissed him exactly so. It had been several days since that dinner, she probably thought he'd lost any kind of interest, given mixed signals. He put his brow to the Padd with a disappointed groan as if absorbing the situation and his colossally bad handling of it. "Top marks Cassian, well done, upstanding gentleman right there." He spoke to himself.

As if fate had decided to shock him for his error her voice came through the comm.

"Lieutenant Massy, I need you to evaluate the data that's going to be coming in from our orbital sweep. ANYthing that looks out of the ordinary within the atmosphere, I want to know about it immediately."

"Aye Commander, starting it now." Cassian winced, it was like he'd been punished for not acting sooner, as much as he tried not to, by her tone he wondered if she was angry with him, going down that route many people do when of worry and over thinking.

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