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NPCs that never offer Trade Updates:
Architect (even if they are working on plot-rated NPC CVs)
Captain
Marine Officer
Pilot
Station crew if they are not available for hire (Defense Officer, Engineer, Manager or Specialist).
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Location and skill visibility for hirable, well-skilled NPCs
I think these These options only point to NPCs with unknown skills, so there could be other NPCs available to hire within range that won't be highlighted if their skills are already known. It makes sense to use these options where there are a lot of NPCs of the type you are interested in (e.g. see sidebar for zone, or station dock menu to check platforms or station population).
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Completion of the second smalltalk allows us to ask for 'Training Manuals', which are unique to Smalltalk. They are available for various potentially important skills, such as Engineering, Leadership and Morale: a Training Manual can be used to add one star to the related skill of any one of your hired NPC's primary, bold-highlighted skills (eg only Engineering for Engineers, but Leadership or Navigation for a Captain), to a maximum of 5 stars. Exactly which Training Manual you may be offered relates to the primary skills or the type of the NPC in question so it is somewhat random, in the sense that it is random as to which NPC may begin a smalltalk. Boarding experience for Marine Officers can only be gained through.. heh.. experience, and it's slow (around +(2d5+3)% per successful boarding)! So be warned!
These Manuals are only available via the Give (craftable) Gift option, after the first smalltalk was completed with a score of 8+ points in 2 minigames and if the second smalltalk was completed with a score of 4+ points in all 3 minigames. A higher (maximum?) score in the second smalltalk stage can increase the range of manuals, depending upon the smalltalked NPC's class. Otani can only pick 1 manual as the prize, no matter how good the score.
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