LTJG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen - Hit First, Hit Hard.
Lhandon Nilsen
((Conference Room, Deck 5, USS Octavia E Butler))
Martinson's facial expressions seemed to have more range than an actor at the Royal Shakespeare Company, and Lhandon realized that he had taken him on a rollercoaster of emotions, but Mel's final expression did seem to suggest that he had liked the twist.
Nilsen: But there is nothin' stopping us from trading. You've got the means to mine the ore effectively, but you've got a problem we can help you with. You don't have as much land to farm on as other planets. We can provide you with agricultural technology to make better use of your limited space; hydroponics, minor weather control systems, and soil reclamation projects come to mind.
Martinson had folded his hands, Taggart had given a small smirk. They both seemed to have approved the twist, even if the journey to get there was longer than a Norm Macdonald story. Taggart had also provided one hell of a scenario, and although it was only for a few moments, Nilsen had really enjoyed this roleplay. He had never caught Taggart’s first name though.
Martinson: ::to Taggert:: Well, that's something to consider, yes?
Taggert: It is indeed. We are, as you note, rather short of usable croplands.
Martinson: Ok, I want to pause here. Do a bit of review.
Lhandon breathed out as well, both him and Taggart slipping out of character. All in all, he had found the two officers very easy to get along with. He had respected them immediately, and they clearly had the experience that he wanted to learn from. So, when they delivered feedback, which was given to him just as respectfully, he listened.
Taggart: Review away.
Lhandon nodded. Ready to listen.
Martinson: One thing I learned early on, hit first, hit hard. Meaning, layout what you're willing to offer and what you want in exchange. Be firm about it. Almost always, both parties already know why they're there.
Taggart: Also, start much lower – depending upon the situation – than what you are able guarantee. That way you are actively appearing to make larger compromises and concessions than you really are. ::He paused, glancing at Martinson.:: It's a delicate balance though, as you don't want to over-egg it and appear dishonest.
Nilsen: Appearing dishonest is the last thing I want. But why do we that, going lower, rather than meeting them where they are from the start?
An honest question was given out of curiosity.
Martinson: The reason you do that, it forces whoever you're negotiating with to compromise. It puts them on the defensive.
He thought about that,
Nilsen: Ah…so you’ve got more room to play with?
Taggart: Sure, gives you an extra card in your hand if the other negotiator is on the back foot.
Martinson: Well, if they don't want to compromise ::beat:: walk away. Or at least act like you're walking away. It lets them think you don't need what they have. Now they have to impress you. Again, forcing them to compromise.
He also thought about that, and stored that away under “things that are very important”.
Nilsen: And then if they really want the deal, they’ll want to try and bring you back to the table.
Taggert: In our little scenario for example, membership isn't up for compromise. That's what is wanted, end of. However, if it comes to the point that you're now walking away and offering nothing at all, then a hefty independent trade deal doesn't seem like such a bad thing all of a sudden.
Nilsen: I guess you can also frame that as something that could lead to the membership in the future, but not right now.
Martinson: response
Taggart nodded strongly, raising up a finger.
Taggart: Exactly. You're not closing the door on membership, just taking it off the table.
Lhandon nodded along, he was listening, at here, wanted to hear all that they both had to say.
Nilsen: but there is an alternative offered?
Martinson: response
He held up a second finger.
Taggart: You're offering trade. Which they could accept as a form of membership by association and allows them to build towards a formal application.
He repeated and nodded, his brain taking all of this in.
Nilsen: Membership by association
Martinson: response
Taggart held up a third finger, before lowering his hand.
Taggart: Lastly, it means that you have pushed no longer negotiating membership to being their idea. Which is a lot more palatable than you slamming the proverbial door on it.
Nilsen: Which you’ve framed to be a better option at that time?
Martinson: Response
It was all starting to click for him
Nilsen: So all this is like a trade? We start where we want to be and then find somewhere in the middle of that. expect it’s not money is stuff like erm treaties and agreements. What can each side afford give and is that worth the price the other side want to pay?
Martinson/Taggart: Response
Nilsen: You said to hit first and hit hard. I did wanna ask about that and also the be honest thing. In the last mission, after I got rescued from mine, I was thrown into the negotiation room with the UDP, and we were tasked with getting them to work with us. The first officer we were negotiating with was a Dosi and I know they very much value cutting to the chase, so I did that. I guess I must have got in hit hard and fast there. I told them I wanted to be completely honest with them right at the start. But when I tried that in our roleplay it didn’t come across the same. That doesn't work all the time, right? Sorry, that sounds like a stupid question now I say it out loud, but of course, it won’t work all the time, everyone's different. I just answered my own question.
He didn't mean to be so verbose, but he felt it important that they should get all the context. He also didn’t really know how else to word it.
Martinson/Taggart: Response
If one hadn't noticed, his question had accidentally highlighted the massive bruise on the side of his face, covering his eye and cheek. It had been slowly healing and it was very obvious where it had come from. At that point, it was more cosmetic than anything else, but it certainly had hinted that his time in the Kings Path mine hadn't been fun.
Nilsen: The thing I learned from them is they really wanted to be understood by us, they, the UDP still think that we think they’re just the dominion.
Martinson/Taggart: Response
Nilsen: I also did that be honest thing with the Kings Path, but as we found out, they had no intention of listening. At most, they strung us along for a little while.
Martinson/Taggart: Response
Nilsen: So I guess, I’m getting stuck in just one way of doing this, and I shouldn’t be? But something that isn’t clear to me; how does both hitting hard and fast, but also starting low work together?
Martinson/Taggart: Response
Tags/TBC
Lieutenant JG Lhandon Joseph Nilsen
HCO & Acting Asst. Chief
USS Octavia E Butler
O240007LN1
He/Him/His (Both player and character)