Andrea Thompson, who plays Talia, wanted more screen time for her character, but when she was told that this wasn't planned, she eventually opted to leave the show for a co-starring role in NYPD Blue (1993).
Showrunner J. Michael Straczynski felt it was important to include the story-line between Ivanova and Talia's implied relationship. He believed that while humanity still had its share of problems in the 23rd century, he thought that by that time, homosexuality was seen as no more an aberration than someone being left or right-handed, or having blue or brown eyes.
This takes place from October to December 2259.