Chapter 8: When Deals Go Bad

"Violence is the last resort of the incompetent. Sometimes we're all incompetent."

Conflict resolution for morally complex scenarios.

📖 Modifies STA Core Rulebook, Chapter 8: Conflict

Negotiations, standoffs, and betrayals

Negotiation Frameworks

Interest-based bargaining vs. positional haggling
Information asymmetry and leverage assessment
BATNA (Best Alternative to Negotiated Agreement) development
Multi-party negotiations and coalition dynamics

Preparation: Research, goal setting, and strategy development Opening: Relationship establishment and initial positioning Exploration: Information gathering and option generation Bargaining: Offer exchange and compromise development Closing: Agreement finalization and implementation planning

High-Stakes Negotiations

Life-or-death bargaining situations
Hostage negotiations and prisoner exchanges
Territory disputes and resource conflicts
Information trading and intelligence exchanges

Pressure: Time limits, external threats, escalating stakes Leverage: Power balance shifts and advantage exploitation Psychology: Stress management and emotional manipulation Consequences: Deal failure costs and success benefits

Betrayal and Double-Cross Scenarios

Trust violation detection and response
Counter-betrayal planning and execution
Information security and compartmentalization
Relationship recovery and damage limitation

Warning Signs: Behavioral changes and suspicious activities Verification: Trust testing and loyalty confirmation Response: Immediate threats and long-term consequences Prevention: Security measures and relationship management

Standoff Management

Mexican standoff dynamics and resolution
Prisoner's dilemma and cooperation incentives
Face-saving and dignity preservation needs
De-escalation techniques and tension reduction

Psychology: Pride, fear, and rational calculation balance Communication: Clear signaling and misunderstanding prevention Mediation: Third-party intervention and neutral facilitation Resolution: Win-win outcomes and mutual benefit identification

Lethal Combat

When stunning isn't an option

Escalation Ladders

Threat assessment and appropriate response selection
Non-lethal alternatives and de-escalation opportunities
Lethal force justification and moral considerations
Post-conflict consequences and trauma management

Stages: Verbal warnings, physical intimidation, non-lethal force, lethal response Triggers: Threat level assessment and response threshold crossing Alternatives: Creative solutions and unexpected options Consequences: Legal, moral, and psychological aftermath

Deadly Weapons and Combat Options

Disruptor settings beyond stun levels
Projectile weapons and ballistic considerations
Edged weapons and close-quarters combat
Improvised weapons and environmental hazards

Effectiveness: Damage potential and incapacitation rates Availability: Legal restrictions and acquisition difficulties Training: Skill requirements and safety considerations Forensics: Evidence trails and investigation complications

Combat Tactics for Criminal Operations

Ambush planning and execution techniques
Suppression fire and area denial methods
Breaching and room-clearing procedures
Extraction under fire and casualty evacuation

Surprise: Initiative advantages and first-shot opportunities Positioning: Cover utilization and movement coordination Communication: Non-verbal signals and noise discipline Timing: Coordination and simultaneous action execution

Moral Consequences of Lethal Force

Character value challenges and ethical compromises
Psychological trauma and PTSD considerations
Reputation effects and faction standing changes
Legal consequences and law enforcement response

Character Development: Growth through moral challenge navigation Relationships: Team dynamics and trust effects Society: Public perception and community standing Future: Long-term consequences and reputation management

Ambush & Stealth

Dirty fighting and surprise attacks

Ambush Planning and Setup

Target pattern analysis and vulnerability identification
Position selection and escape route planning
Equipment placement and concealment techniques
Timing coordination and signal systems

Intelligence: Target behavior prediction and schedule analysis Positioning: Advantage maximization and detection risk minimization Coordination: Team member placement and communication protocols Contingency: Plan adaptation and failure response preparation

Stealth Operations and Infiltration

Movement techniques and noise discipline
Concealment methods and camouflage application
Security system bypass and alarm avoidance
Sentry elimination and guard rotation exploitation

Skills: Physical conditioning and technique training Equipment: Specialized gear and technology assistance Environment: Terrain utilization and weather advantages Psychology: Stress management and confidence maintenance

Dirty Fighting Techniques

Below-the-belt tactics and unfair advantages
Environmental weapon utilization and improvisation
Psychological warfare and intimidation methods
Gang-up tactics and numerical superiority exploitation

Ethics: Honor vs. survival consideration balance Effectiveness: Quick incapacitation and conflict termination Risk: Escalation potential and retaliation consequences Training: Technique development and moral boundary setting

Counter-Surveillance and Detection Avoidance

Surveillance detection and counter-surveillance techniques
Electronic countermeasures and signal jamming
Pattern disruption and behavior modification
False trail creation and misdirection operations

Awareness: Threat recognition and response preparation Technology: Detection equipment and countermeasure systems Behavior: Natural acting and suspicious activity avoidance Planning: Route selection and timing optimization

Interrogation & Intimidation

Getting information through pressure

Psychological Pressure Techniques

Fear induction and threat implication
Isolation and sensory deprivation effects
Time pressure and deadline creation
Social pressure and peer influence utilization

Ethics: Torture prohibition and humane treatment requirements Effectiveness: Reliability vs. expediency considerations Resistance: Training and psychological resilience factors Alternatives: Incentive-based and cooperative approaches

Information Extraction Methods

Good cop/bad cop role differentiation
False evidence and bluff utilization
Relationship exploitation and emotional manipulation
Gradual revelation and incremental commitment

Preparation: Subject research and vulnerability analysis Environment: Setting control and psychological advantage Timing: Optimal pressure application and resistance breakdown Verification: Information accuracy and corroboration needs

Intimidation and Threat Assessment

Credible threat establishment and communication
Reputation leverage and fear factor utilization
Physical presence and non-verbal communication
Consequence demonstration and example setting

Subtlety: Implied vs. explicit threat communication Escalation: Graduated response and increasing pressure Effectiveness: Target psychology and resistance assessment Backlash: Retaliation risk and protection needs

Legal and Ethical Considerations

Information admissibility and legal consequences
Witness protection and safety concerns
International law and jurisdiction complications
Moral boundaries and character value challenges

Documentation: Evidence handling and chain of custody Rights: Subject protections and legal representation Oversight: Authority approval and accountability measures Consequences: Legal liability and ethical responsibility

Chase Sequences

Pursuit through stations and systems

Foot Chase Dynamics

Urban environment navigation and obstacle utilization
Crowd dynamics and civilian interference
Vertical movement and three-dimensional pursuit
Stamina management and endurance considerations

Environment: Terrain advantages and hazard navigation Skills: Athletics, parkour, and environmental awareness Equipment: Pursuit aids and movement enhancement Consequences: Civilian casualties and property damage

Vehicle Pursuit Operations

High-speed maneuvering and evasive action
Traffic navigation and civilian safety
Damage assessment and system failure management
Fuel consumption and range limitations

Skills: Conn, Engineering, and tactical awareness Modifications: Performance enhancement and defensive systems Environment: Space lanes, asteroid fields, planetary surfaces Escalation: Weapon deployment and ramming attacks

Multi-Environment Chases

Transition between space, atmosphere, and surface
Transportation mode changes and transfer points
Jurisdiction boundaries and authority limitations
Resource coordination and asset deployment

Planning: Route knowledge and alternative preparation Adaptation: Circumstance changes and opportunity exploitation Communication: Coordination and information sharing Endurance: Extended pursuit and resource management

Pursuit Termination Methods

Evasion and disappearance techniques
Confrontation and direct resolution
Negotiation and surrender terms
Diversion and misdirection tactics

Success: Clean escape and evidence elimination Failure: Capture consequences and legal proceedings Compromise: Partial success and damage limitation Learning: Experience improvement and future preparation

Moral Consequences

Tracking the cost of violent choices

Character Value Erosion

Gradual compromise and boundary shifting
Rationalization and self-justification patterns
Peer pressure and group normalization effects
Recovery and redemption possibility assessment

Measurement: Value challenge frequency and severity Documentation: Character sheet notation and tracking systems Roleplay: Internal conflict and decision difficulty representation Growth: Learning opportunities and moral development paths

Psychological Trauma Effects

PTSD symptoms and behavioral changes
Relationship difficulties and trust issues
Performance degradation and decision paralysis
Treatment options and recovery processes

Symptoms: Flashbacks, nightmares, hypervigilance, emotional numbing Triggers: Environmental cues and stress activation Coping: Healthy and unhealthy mechanism development Support: Professional help and peer assistance availability

Team dynamics and trust deterioration
Family relationships and civilian connections
Professional reputation and network standing
Community perception and social isolation

Communication: Honest discussion and secret keeping Understanding: Perspective sharing and empathy development Boundaries: Comfort levels and interaction limits Rebuilding: Trust restoration and relationship repair

Long-term Consequences

Career trajectory and opportunity effects
Legal liability and prosecution risks
Health impacts and medical needs
Legacy considerations and final judgments

Planning: Future consequence consideration and mitigation Adaptation: Life change and path adjustment needs Acceptance: Reality acknowledgment and peace making Redemption: Positive action and amends making opportunities

Reputation Damage

How conflicts affect faction standing

Faction Relationship Mechanics

Standing point loss and gain calculations
Severity modifiers and context considerations
Witness presence and information spread effects
Recovery timeline and effort requirements

Measurement: Numerical tracking and threshold effects Modifiers: Action severity, witness count, faction values alignment Consequences: Service availability, pricing, protection levels Recovery: Reputation repair actions and time investment

Information Warfare and Spin Control

Narrative management and story control
Counter-intelligence and false information spread
Witness intimidation and evidence suppression
Media manipulation and public perception management

Strategy: Proactive vs. reactive approach selection Resources: Information network and influence capability Timing: Response speed and message coordination Effectiveness: Audience reach and credibility assessment

Damage Limitation Strategies

Immediate response and crisis management
Scapegoat identification and blame deflection
Compensation and amends making efforts
Future behavior modification and commitment demonstration

Assessment: Damage scope and affected parties identification Prioritization: Critical relationships and expendable connections Resources: Available assets and influence leverage Timeline: Recovery duration and milestone planning

Cross-Faction Complications

Multiple faction relationship management
Conflict spillover and alliance effects
Reputation transfer and guilt by association
Balancing competing interests and loyalties

Complexity: Multiple relationship tracking and management Conflicts: Competing faction interest navigation Opportunities: Alliance building and mutual benefit identification Risks: Overcommitment and impossible promise consequences