Advanced Negotiations

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

Scenario:

You are to attend a diplomatic meeting with a historically hostile party. This party has had a long history of violent confrontation with your people and has a reputation for dishonesty. Yet, the rules of conduct for this mediated meeting are that no one be armed nor display anything that could be construed as aggressive. What do you do? Explain your reasoning.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_gottahavefaith/]

In order for this situation to work, one has to trust the mediator. Very well. I'm assuming that the meeting is in a neutral location, as well, otherwise you're screwed.
Bring people who are good at unarmed combat, or have other special skills- magic, superpowered, whatever- and be prepared for the worst. Have others waiting near the meeting site, ready to come in and fight at a signal- or perhaps a lack of a signal. Then, wait for them to start something. Or insist on neutral guards with stun weapons, who are instructed to stun anyone who looks about ready to get violent.

Or, alternatively, just kill them all. Why're you even trying to negotiate with them? They're violent, and their past dishonesty implies that they're not going to honor any agreements made at this meeting.

Just saying.

[neptune-wallace.livejournal.com]

*Wallace scoots his desk a little farther from Faith's*

I agree with every word. Please don't hurt me!

[http://users.livejournal.com/_gottahavefaith/]

*Looks over at the loud scooting noise. debates making a fake threatening gesture, remembers that she's trying to be good. also remembers rover.*
Oh, for god's sake, it's a hypothetical situation. Even if it was, you know, kinda true. I'm not actually killing anyone.

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

You mean these aren't the only kinds of negotiations there are? Huh. Guess you don't send Jedi to the easy ones.

You follow the guidelines as they've been set up, but you prepare yourself to improvise. Get a read on the body language of the party in front of you, see if they look like they're getting ready to do anything. Make sure you do a scan of the area before you step into it to make sure they've been following the guidelines they set out.

Be the one to behave in good faith but have a back-up plan ready in case they aren't doing the same.

[pure-blooddraco.livejournal.com]

Well, it's all about location. You have to make it in a place that is neutral to both sides. Though I wouldn't say no to any inside infomation saying where the meeting will be, then we can set up some sort of defense.
I'd bring people with me who can take and throw a punch. Perhaps people with supernatural powers that don't rely on wands.

And I'd be ready to kill as soon as they set foot in the room.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_gottahavefaith/]

See, I like the way you think.

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

It is always best to prepare for anything, I suppose.

[fh_jackass]

Can we have a neutral third party enforce the weapons ban? Or is this purely on the honor system?

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

Of course. You could make that a condition of the meeting.

[fh_jackass]

Okay. So, you go with the meeting, although you keep your own armed people nearby in case you need backup quickly. You don't need weapons to negotiate.

[notcalledlizzie.livejournal.com]

If you can persuade them that a neutral third party is an advantage, then you should conduct it with help from them. The location agreed on needs to be neutral, with access only being allowed in at a certain time. Before then would violate the accords agreed on prior to the meeting.

The representative party needs to know how to defend his/her self without weapons. Although their reputation is for dishonesty, you cannot presume that they will break their word on this occassion, and for you to break the agreement first will allow them to increase hostilities, thinking that they are in the right to do so.

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

Very good, very thorough. You speak as if from experience?

[02maxwell.livejournal.com]

Go with the flow. Most higher up government-types are wussies anyway, so they're not the ones who're gettin' involved in the violent confrontation, so if they ask for an arms-free meeting, they're probably afraid of you. *grins* Also, make sure to keep someone with access to missiles or somethin' on standby. Just in case.

[auroryborealis.livejournal.com]

I would go out of my way to look as non-threatening as possible - down to wearing white if I can. If I deliberately look harmless, they may find me non-threatening, and could be more peaceful than otherwise.

[fh_jackass]

*Eyes her suspiciously, with a hint of a grin.*

After class

[emo-padawan.livejournal.com]

*stares at his feet, then up at Padmé*

Did you happen to get my message last night?

Re: After class

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

I did. I don't see it being a problem. I know how important it is to you.

[threeweapons.livejournal.com]

"Well, they'd be welcomed peacefully, searched for weapons, a few truth spells would be run, and then negotiate. However, have some loyal soldeirs ready as back up in case blood shed errupts.

Of course, the envoy should be watched carefully, and all servants serving them should be reminded to report back everything they hear."

[sheldonjsands.livejournal.com]

Never go in alone. Preferable to have a man (or woman) on the inside. Nothing that a good payoff can't accomplish.

Barring that, have a good third party ready to back you up at a moment's notice. Preferably one that it appears you have no ties to. Then if something happens, it isn't your fault.

[can_be_more]

Aeryn is currently protesting the weapons ban at the firing range and can't be coaxed to leave (but she's not shooting at people, so apparently she's learned something), but she had a kind classmate bring her the homework to finish there.



"My first question is whether there are any cultural differences that would allow me to sneak a weapon in. It would be stupid to walk into a knowingly hostile situation without any sort of defense, though it would help if it could stay hidden in case they're being honest for once.

If all else fails, I'm well-trained in self-defense and they can just try to get past me."

[kawalsky.livejournal.com]

What do you do?

Send someone else.

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

Not on the list of answers I was expecting, but good all the same. *half smile*

[jayne-serenity.livejournal.com]

go in shooting.

[padmeofnaboo.livejournal.com]

*headdesk*

[2ls-in-oneill.livejournal.com]

kawalsky stole my answer dammit. His plan-B that is.