trans_9 | "Listening to others, considering well what they say" (Part 3: Maingate Hotel)

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"Listening to others, considering well what they say" (Part 3: Maingate Hotel)

The Maingate Hotel was pretty extravagant, and an entire section of it had been eked out for the crew's use during their stay. They had several suites, three communal areas, a conference room, their own kitchen with a chef on call if they required her.

They were all teleported from the main teleport pad of the hotel into the conference room, which was a large enough room to be able to hold a group their size and had plenty of chairs arranged in a circular pattern so they could mostly all face each other or whoever was in the middle of the room.

Everyone had to settle down so they were all able to talk, and the meeting itself would have to be carefully controlled so they wouldn't all talk over each other. But they were up for the task, right?

[ooc: Guardian Setup, General Mingling, Clone Checkup, Newbie Briefing, General Briefing, More Mingling, Back to the Meeting, and The Idea Guy sections are open. Backup characters introduced to the plot can join in the mingling subthreads if they want. The opening of new subthreads will be announced here and the ooc. Please read the linked OOC post for a plot timeline.]

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Knowledge really was power. And the ability to gather knowledge was invaluable.

A slight bit of political maneuvering, and Lex had all the information he had asked for previously. Information on the terrorist group and their recent attacks. Information on the laws of this world.

Information on the crew themselves.

It made for excellent reading, and he sat there quietly soaking in all this knowledge. He really should've asked for information on the global economy, but he should probably pace himself a little.

Too bad Daniel hadn't been nearly as prepared as Luthor, because he didn't have enough information on the rest of the diplomats as he'd have liked. After what he saw in the negotiation room, he knew that needed to change, big time.

The archaeologist found Luthor somewhere he hadn't expected him. He thought Luthor would be in the thick of things, talking with the rest of the teams, gathering information. Daniel was surprised to find the man was actually more off to the side, watching everyone. Just like before, he seemed laid back, so sure of himself that he was completely at ease with the world around him. Thanks to Luthor, they had more information, more than had been offered. Granted, they should have had all this to begin with, but Luthor had been the one to get it out of the Councillor. Of course he'd practically twisted his arm to do it, and the whole thing had been effortless.

"You were impressive in there," Daniel's tone was was mild, careful. Not quite a compliment.

"I've frequently done this sort of thing," he answered easily. He's met with Presidents, Dictators, Royalty, and rival CEOs. This was all old hat to him. "There's a rhythm to it all, once you get used to it." It was just a matter of getting his dance partners to follow his lead.

"You, at least, managed to keep your cool." There was a very subtle tone of Well, at least you're not a COMPLETE screw up, in hos voice, despite the pleasantness.

"Oh really? In what capacity?" The archaeologist asked curiously. Daniel didn't know in what universe negotiation was the same as completely strong arming someone into doing what you wanted and making them want it.

Gee thanks. He might as well have said the backhanded compliment out loud. Daniel had heard that kind of thing from a few professors and fellow academics before, although they got a lot less subtle after his last lecture. Luthor just happened to top the rest of them by backing it with such pleasant look that you almost wondered if you were just overhearing things. And he was being patronized in the same breath, as if he'd never done a negotiation or first contact with a culture before. As if he needed some reassurance.

Daniel gave him a tight smile. "Just doing my job. We're not going to get anywhere by yelling and chest beating at them. Besides, it bought us some time."

Clearly Daniel had never been in a board meeting. "As CEO of LuthorCorp, the largest and most successful R&D firm on my world." And one could guess how he managed to make it such a success.

"Hopefully in that time, cooler heads will prevail." Though he doubted it. Even a quick glance around the room could tell him that the rage was only narrowly being kept at bay.

"Though, if you don't mind my asking, Dr., what's your opinion on this society, in general?"

CEO of the biggest R&D firm in the world. That explained a lot about Luthor in so few words. Daniel liked CEOs as much as he liked politicians, which wasn't very much. He found them too focused on their own self-interest, too willing to step on people to get what they wanted. More concerned with what results would benefit them and their PR than something that might be benefit, might change the human race. Like the Stargate.

"Sorry. Can't say I've heard of it," Daniel shrugged. Not the most polite thing to say, especially since there was obviously some pride on Luthor's part there, but it was true . He'd never heard of it. "What kind of R&D does LuthorCorp do?"

At least they could agree on one thing for sure. They did need cooler heads if negotiations were to resume. Looking around, Daniel had to wonder if they had a chance.

The question was innocuous enough. Could have been curiosity. Daniel didn't know Luthor well enough to tell. Anyway he wasn't going to withhold information just because had misgivings about Luthor's conduct back there. He supposed to be a cultural adviser this mission, so he did have a job to do, and that did include keeping everyone informed. He just wasn't going to wear his actual opinion about the treatment of clones on a sleeve.

"They're highly advanced in terms of technology, more so than back on Earth. In terms of a social system, they have a caste-system in place, although I haven't had the chance to find out if there are more divisions than just clone versus non-clone," he said. "They seem very dependent on clone-labor, so much that personally, I suspect the society could suffer a collapse if something happened to it. They're very concerned with propriety and appearance, but they don't seem to understand why anyone would be upset over clone labor, which make sense in light of their system. I haven't noticed any evidence of religion being a major factor in their current life style."

"Sadly, my corporation is multinational, not multidimensional," Lex responded in understanding. Though one could practically hear the word Yet hanging off the end of that sentence. "The company is... or rather was... primarily a defense contractor. But we have our hands in a little bit of everything." Even the illegal stuff.

He had to like Daniel's objectiveness in how he delivered that answer. But Lex didn't necessarily want total objectivity. "I imagine their historical data must be pristine and well preserved. Over five millennia of history and development, none of it lost to things like poverty, revolution, war, and pestilence."

Yeah. 'Sadly'. "I'm sure your company would find something of interest from the Galileans. They've got some pretty advanced technology."

Daniel wasn't surprised to find that Luthor was connected to the arms industry. Well, not solely, but mostly. The fact that he was something of a jack of all trades, intensely ambitious wasn't a shocker either. That wasn't the friendliest thing to think, was it? Daniel suspected part of his reaction to Luthor was because he was a big time CEO, because who knew, maybe Luthor was perfectly nice outside the job. Until he remembered what happened only a few hours ago. Someone who was all around a good person didn't do that. Bad people could do good things and good people were just as capable of doing bad things. But the ease at which Luthor manipulated Allin, and the fact he hadn't hesitated at all, made Daniel suspect it was something he did pretty often. You didn't get that good at crushing someone on your first attempt.

Daniel searched his eyes. Sarcasm, right? Unless Luthor already thought that highly of the Galileans. "If that's what they'd want you to believe. Many cultures clash with each other, and I'd be surprised to find if there wasn't a single war in their history. But whoever wins writes the history books."

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Re: General Mingling

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Re: General Mingling

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"You have a very keen mind and an excellent use of your tongue," Ildraniath remarked. She even sounded slightly impressed, which meant something when it came to Eldar.

"I'm not quite sure why you're not in charge of these negotiations. You seem one of the more adroit members when it comes to diplomacy and negotiation."

Ildy, flattery will get you... quite far, actually.

"Thank you," he stated, looking over Ildy briefly. She had been a person he kept an eye on, a politician at heart. Pragmatic. Some would call her arrogant, and perhaps she might be a touch, but he saw it more as she didn't feel the need to placate others.

"I likely should be in charge of negotiations. But that requires people who are morally self-righteous to get over themselves, and hand off the reins to someone who clearly is not."

"That seems to be the case with most of the day-to-day operations of the ship and our missions. Too many idealists," Ildraniath mused, half to herself. "Morality can get you far, but too often it also tends to hinder you when you could gain an advantage."

She arched one brow, "Exactly how much leverage do you think we can get from this incident?"

His opinion seemed worthwhile.

For a mon-keigh.

"If we imply that this... offense is the only impasse preventing them from getting what they want, we can leverage that for a huge gain. 'We want to help you,'" he stated, switching to most sincere of tones, "'But this misunderstand has really upset some of our leaders. Now, they might be willing to compromise," Lex placed a hand on Ildy's shoulder, offering but a gentle glimmer of hope in that one gesture, "but I'll have to present a really good deal to them. And what you're offering so far...?'" His expression didn't look hopeful as he looked at Ildy, and then switched to a small grin as he dropped the act.

"Unfortunately, how effective that approach will be is far too dependent on just how much the rest can keep their anger in check." Which, judging by the brief look he gave some of the others, he didn't have a lot of faith in their being able to control themselves. "If they're too angry, the Council of Five might consider it a lost cause, due to our out of control clones. Not angry enough, and they'll see no need to appease us further. They'd have to present an image of being pissed off, yet can be appeased, if the price is right.

"There'll have to be greater care put into selecting who meets with them next."

Ildraniath resisted the urge to brush the hand off of her shoulder. She didn't appreciate unwanted physical contact, but this man could be useful. Was useful. And he seemed to think like she did. She nodded, a small, subtle smile on her face. "As I said, you're skilled. But if we let the ideologues dictate our next course of action, it will be wasted."

Repeating, perhaps, but it deserved emphasis. "You ought to be there, obviously. Ter'thelas seemed amiable enough to negotiation and... perhaps might play the reasonable fellow in concordance with you."

Her smile broadened slightly, "And I can do a very good imitation of my very real anger if the moment comes to it - but I won't be allowing it to dictate our actions or the results of our negotiations."

She pursed her lips thoughtfully, "Unfortunately, Kang was one of the ones taken and he seems... less and less inclined to listen to reason or to anything other than violence against the state..."

Lex removed his hand eventually, but not immediately. She can read into that what she wished of it. But he growing to like Ildy more and more. He may have to preemptively stab her back some day soon.

He looked over towards Fate. "Lt. Harlaown might be a good choice. She's rather good at keeping an even temperament, though and anger and disgust is quite genuine. She's not obsessed with making speeches about how right she is, and also one of the least likely to fly off the handle at the slightest provocation."

She followed his gaze and chose to ignore the lingering hand for the moment. She did remember it for later, however. "...she is also a clone. Do you believe we can use her presence as leverage and an example of the affront they've given us? They may not understand entirely, but if one of the bereaved parties - even a clone - is a sitting at the table, it may help unnerve them."

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futureisclear.livejournal.com - 2011-06-27 19:10 (UTC) - Expand

"Would it be possible to look at some of these once you're done?" Knowledge was indeed power, and Lash definitely wanted to know what they were up against. She had no idea what where all those documents he was reading into, but it could help pass the time instead of just twiddling her thumbs, and Lash hated to be bored. "As long as you don't think they're heavily edited up, that is."

She hadn't really talked with Lex much before, but he reminded her of Hawke ~~but with less hair~~ in many ways. Business attitude, no-nonsense type that could sell you out of a house and home if you weren't careful around them.

Edited 2011-06-26 21:01 (UTC)

"Oh, they are heavily edited up," he responded. He could see a spin machine in action from half a continent away, after all. "Though they do a remarkably good job of covering their tracks. If you didn't know what to look for, you'd easily miss it.

"It's really quite impressive."

"For a place that grew desperate enough to ask for aid, hid us clone branding until it was too late, then had the gal to think we'd just think this was fine and aid them out I'm not surprised at this point," Lash admitted. She might be much more suited for war than politics, but even an ex-commanding officer knew all about propaganda and spinning around words in your favor.

"Wonder if they do it as they operate to keep the population in check or if this was all done right before we came here."

"This kind of political machinery didn't spring up over night. They've all but perfected the art of data manipulation and spin control in a way that most people could only ever dream of." He admired it, really.

"Even their laws are written to be vague enough to give the plenty of wiggle room, but specific enough that they're obviously there. Even the branding is made to sound innocuous enough, as it states that all foreign clones allowed in must check in with the government and issued a special ID.

"If I had to hazard a guess, its possible the GIA didn't even know about this."

"No kidding. Black Hole just had manipulation through fear. This is a lot more subtle and new to me." She rubbed her chin in thought before continuing.

"We can use that in our favor then," she replied, "should they end up complaining to the GIA about us. Still, well written but done in such a way that they didn't want to tell us when we got here...makes you wonder how many other skeletons they've got stacking up in their closets."

Lex gave Lash a quietly amused look. This was all old hat to Lex.

"I suppose it would behoove us to learn more about this world. All societies have their flaws. This one goes through great lengths to hide theirs. Though, if one were to try to scratch away the vainer, they'd have to be careful."

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Ter'thelas sidled up easily, a glass of ice water in one hand. The amenities of these modern hotels were quite useful. He gave Luthor a small, pleased smile and took a sip of water.

"So. While everyone else wallows in self-righteous rage and indignation, I suppose some of us have to consider the reality of the situation, hm?"

"I suppose so," Lex responded. Ter'thelas was at least one of the more reasonable ones. "Thankfully, they haven't completely ruined everything."

"Not yet, anyway," the Sin'dorei replied dryly.

"Honestly, I understand why they're upset--I probably would be too, since it was so unexpected. But they really need to step back, take a moment to think about the bigger picture here. This planet doesn't matter. Not to me, not to you, certainly not to anyone on this crew. As long as we get what we came for, this place could collapse into the Twisting Nether the moment we leave and I couldn't possibly give a damn. We have a war to fight, a multiverse to save, and they're focused on the injustice of one damn planet." He sighed and rubbed the bridge of his nose, his arrogant, cool facade breaking for a moment. On purpose? Perhaps.

"Anyway. My point being that we're going to leave and never coming back, we have no connection to this rebellion. Why risk everything to try and aid them, as some of them are no doubt considering now? The idealism on this ship is killing me. It's as if none of them have ever had to deal with problems in the real world."

"Most of these people are individuals who hide their identities behind colorful masks, then go out, violate any law they see fit, assault random individuals in the name of 'justice', and expect to be universally praised and worshiped for their behavior. Expecting something even loosely resembling either logic or common sense may be asking too much of them.

"At most, we need to find a way to keep them distracted and out of the way. Give them something shiny to chase after while the rest of us get the real work done."

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