fandomhigh | Advanced Criminal Justice, Class 26, Period 1, 04.13.06

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advanced criminal justice

Advanced Criminal Justice, Class 26, Period 1, 04.13.06

[OOC: And once again, I interact little. But there's a good reason for it this time! I'm here, Obi-Wan's here, we're all here, let's party. Class Info Post.]

The Tick was sitting behind his desk with a smile on his face. Even Lockheed seemed slightly interested in what was going on today. "Hello, students! Sorry I wasn't here on Tuesday. I was fighting that most fearsome of all foes, the Uncommon Cold! Thank you, Rory, for covering for me at the last minute."

"Today, we have a special guest lecturer who is here to tell us about another view of Justice that we've had some exposure to. Please welcome Jedi Master Obi-Wan Kenobi!"

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"What would be your favorite strategy when dealing with arguing factions?" Then, after absolutely not winking at Anakin, she asked, "and what would you feel have been your most challenging negotiations?"

Ah, the power of war stories.

Ah, there was always one who liked to ask for story time. He asked, "you have an interest in political negotiations, yourself?"

"In general, I find it's most useful to keep all parties talking. Of course the difficulty there is getting the factions to talk to each other rather than at each other. But as long as they're willing to be at the table, there's still hope. It's when those involved stop talking that things turn ugly."

"Well, the most challenging part of any negotiation can be keeping your temper when matters are at their worst," Obi-Wan said. He thought for a minute. "And sometimes the challenge can be found in the small details. Once, Anakin and I were involved in a fairly simple diplomatic exchange. It was a simple formality - witnessing the formal investiture of the heir to a marriage the Jedi had arranged some few years prior, putting an end to a trade dispute that had disrupted grain deliveries for several systems around. There was a ceremony, the child was declared officially the heir to the new joint shipping organization, and a few days of banqueting were to follow."

He cleared his throat. "Except we discovered the hard way that Anakin was very allergic to Delthi food. Very allergic." He cleared his throat again. "And I think for his sake, that's about all of that story I'll tell. But the point is that although our official function was easy, we were nevertheless both miserable and struggling during our three days there - simply because of so small a thing as the food. So, you never know what your challenge in any negotiation is really going to be."

Anakin slid down in his chair and hoped rather fervently that Sam didn't ask for Obi-Wan to elaborate.

Stupid Delthi food.

Parker looked very, very interested. And was obviously taking notes. Heh.

Bridge winces in sympathy and passes a note to Anakin.

At least there was no acidic mud involved?

Different planet, Anakin wrote back. Stuff's a pain, isn't it?

Hell yes. It *ate* my *uniform*!"

Anakin snickered. Yeah, it got Obi-Wan's robe. He was cranky. How was I supposed to know that wasn't ordinary mud? I was just a youngling, looked like a fun puddle to jump in. Ate through my boots.

"I'm interested in why negotiations fail. On our planet," Sam said, "usually the negotiations and the fighting are handled by two different groups, so it's interesting to see the differences when you have one organization responsible for both duties."

"For instance, do you ever have problems doing your job as warriors and making necessary strategic or military decisions when a short time before you were at the bargaining table with these individuals?"

"Also, how do you keep your temper? I'm sure there must be times you just want to smack everyone involved in a negotiation on the back of the head with something heavy."

"There are all manner of reasons why negotiations can fail. Sometimes it's we who aren't up to the task; sometimes the groups involved are simply bent on conflict. Hate is a vicious cycle, addictive and seducitve."

"If it truly comes to war, it will not always be the same Jedi involved. Like everyone else, we each have different skills. Some of us are better with words, and work as negotiators and diplomats. Others are better suited to be teachers, and may rarely leave the Temple. Still others possess the tactical abilities to lead in battle. So it's very important that a Jedi be able to understand when a situation has gone beyond his skills and another's must be brought in."

"Force, yes," Obi-Wan chuckles. "One of the first things you realise when you start going on diplomatic missions is that frequently, most of the beings around you are thick-headed, obstinate, and so ignorant of things outside their sphere you could weep. Meditation helps. The Jedi code I mentioned earlier? Makes an excellent mantra to repeat when you're trying not to drown the Most Senior So-And-So across the dinner table in his own soup."

Anakin might've blushed at the mention of that particular story.

"It was an accident," he muttered.

Sam giggled briefly after overhearing Anakin, then asked Obi-Wan, "Have you ever had to forcibly remove someone from a situation because they didn't understand they weren't suited for that particular situation?"

Of course, then she wondered if Elizabeth had ever been tempted to drown one of Earth's diplomats in his soup.

"Not myself, no, nor have I seen it happen in my own time. There are stories, of course - there's one of Ulic Qel-Droma on Onderon, where he plunged haphazardly into battle when he should have called in his Master, and though he won the battle, the Sith gained power on that world."

He paused and ran a hand over his beard. "Of course, Ulic's whole life is an enormous cautionary tale, and not a happy one."

"Oh? Is it just cautionary for other Jedi, or is he held up as an example of what not to do across the entire galaxy?"

"For the Jedi. For the rest of the galaxy, it was merely one part of a long nightmare." Obi-Wan's eyes grew shadowed, and though he spoke matter-of-factly, it was clearly a painful story. "Ulic was a talented and powerful Jedi who fell in pride and despair to the dark side of the Force. With another man, Exar Kun, he began the Great Sith War, destroying a great Jedi center of learning, and ultimately killing his own brother, another Jedi."

With a deep breath, Obi-Wan shook himself free of the story. "I told you it wasn't a happy story. Though our legends say he redeemed himself in the end, before he died."

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Advanced Criminal Justice, Class 26, Period 1, 04.13.06

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