LT Melvin Martinson - Unleash The Fury

[Aine Sherlock]

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

Thus far the little experiment of teaching a JG who'd only had the bare minimum of diplomatic training the Academy offered was going relatively well. There'd at least been no yelling or threatening. And now it was time to give a small review, get him up to speed on a couple things.

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: Absolutely. Could even tell them that what they do now could reflect positively for a membership application.

Taggart: Exactly. You're not closing the door on membership, just taking it off the table.

Mel pointed and nodded at Taggart in agreement.

Nilsen: but there is an alternative offered?

Martinson: Correct.

Almost as if they were in sync, Taggart held up another finger and seemingly finished Mel's thought.

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.

Nilsen: Membership by association

Martinson: Yup. Maybe what they really want is to just feel a part of something. But of course, you don't want to just ask that outright.

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?

Mel was impressed by Taggart. He really hadn't expected this from the bandana wearing man. But it takes all kinds.

Martinson: Correct again. ::looking towards Taggart:: You should really consider joining the Diplomatic Corps. You're a natural at...

Mel stopped talking as he realized they were there for Nilsen, not Taggart. He quickly shook his head and turned back to Nilsen.

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: Basically yes. A lot of people think you need to build to what you want. But that's just a waste of time. Start with it. If you look at past negotiations, you'll read through the transcripts and by the time you get to the end, you don't understand what all the stuff in the middle was.

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.

Martinson: Well ::beat:: no. But nothing works one hundred percent of the time. But even in those situations, you're setting a precedent. And even then, you can gauge where to go next by their reaction.

Taggart: Response

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: That's a problem that's only going to be fixed by actions. No negotiation will ever fix that.

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.

Mel was sensing the pattern here...because Lhando had said it a couple times. Now, Mel was no psychologist, but if he had to guess it was Nilsen's own potential trust issues.

Martinson: I'd drop the "let's be honest" line altogether. Like...forever. Never say that again in a negotiation. Makes them not trust you.

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: Well the hitting hard and fast doesn't have to do with any value. Look at it this way, hitting hard and fast is setting the initiative. It's just strategy.

Taggart: Response

Mel was thinking, with this new set of tools in the bag, Nilsen would need more practice. And there was no better time than now.

Martinson: So ::looking back and forth between Taggart and Nilsen::, round two?

Taggart/Nilsen: response

Martinson: Alright. Play out the same basic scenario, but try to shake things up a bit this time, alright?

When Mel looked at Taggart he gave him a wink to say, "Let him have it!"

Taggart/Nilsen: response

LT Melvin Martinson
Trade Negotiator
U.S.S. Octavia E. Butler
R239712AS0