LT Melvin Martinson - Offer Up

[Aine Sherlock]

((Sherlock's Quarters, Deck 2, USS Octavia E. Butler))

Breakfast had been some bacon and cheese omelet, simple and quick. Aine would have preferred to just eat a replicated meal, but Mel enjoyed cooking. Even if the ingredients were replicated, there was something different about the taste. The little inconsistencies that cooking provided made everything taste unique. The prior night, she'd asked him for a favor. To train someone. Nilsen.

He didn't know the JG personally, but he'd seen his name around and maybe heard Aine mention him once before. Something about him being on the bridge of the 'Oumuamua when she was in command. It wasn't anything bad per se. It was actually complimentary. Complimentary in her own way...which to others would likely sound like she was complaining. But Mel knew better. The fact that she was asking him to help with Nilsen was proof of that.

Martinson: ::taking a sip of coffee:: So, what exactly was wrong with his ::beat:: negotiating?

Sherlock: He spoke first and gave the world away.

Martinson: Well you should speak first.

Aine looked like she almost choked on her tea when Mel said that.

Sherlock: What?

Martinson: Yeah, you set the parameters. Forces them to go defensive. They now have to negotiate and compromise. But you don't make promises, make demands.

Sherlock: But how do you do that if you don't know what they want?

Martinson: You always know what they want. They tell you when they ask to speak to you or through their history. It's like, you don't knowingly go into a fight without a weapon, right?

Aine's eyes drifted, staring at the wall as she took another sip of her tea.

Martinson: Right?

((Conference Room, Deck 5, USS Octavia E Butler))

A short while later, Mel was in the conference room that had been requested. When he entered, he was a young JG in gold and a Marine wearing a bandana. Marines, as professional as they were, were also the rebels of the fleet. Mel kind of admired that they would often shun regulations. He was sure it annoyed Aine.

Nilsen: Martinson? Taggart? I’m Lt Nilsen, it looks like Sherlock has put us all together?

Taggart: Seems that way, Lieutenant. What's the script?

Mel gave them both a nod as he took up a seat at the table.

Martinson: I'm Melvin, but everyone calls me Mel. And I was thinking we could, uh, just practice some scenarios. Negotiations and what not.

Nilsen: Please call me Lhando, She said something about public speaking and I think I know exactly what she means.

Martinson: Yes, she told me ::beat:: about the mines.

Taggart: I'm completely in the dark here.

Nilsen: So when we beamed down the Kings Path mine, I opened my mouth and then we got captured as slaves.

Mel tried to keep a straight face as Nilsen laughed at their situation while the Marine, though he couldn't quite tell what his thoughts were, seemed to not be impressed.

Taggart: How did you get out? Rescue, or escape?

Martinson: It was a pretty impromptu rescue from my understanding. ::looking to Nilsen:: The real question is how'd you get to that point?

Nilsen: I mean there’s a little more to it than that ::laughs:: As it turns out they had no intention of listening to us. It was their plan all along to try and take us.

Taggart: So it was bait? To get their hands on Starfleet personnel.

Nilsen: response

Martinson: Right, well, that's why we're here. We need to work on first contact, so to speak, when it comes to any time of negotiations.

Taggart: Alright. I'm in.....

Nilsen: response

Martinson: Good. So, I'm going to observe and I'll stop you if or when I see something that goes off. So, Mister Taggart, you'll be a representative from a non-Federation allied planet. Your planet has substantial deposits of duranium ore, you don't have a use for it, but you know the Federation does. And you're here to sell the rights to it.

Taggart: response

Martinson: And Lhando, you are, of course, the Federation representative. You've been requested to talk to secure rights to mine. The Federation has given you broad discretion as to what you can offer short of outright membership.

Nilsen: response

Martinson: Okay then, have at it.

Nilsen/Taggart: response

tags/TBC

LT Melvin Martinson

Trade Negotiator

U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler

R239712AS0