War of the Worlds ... attack methods.

[seawana1]

I recently watched <i>War of the Worlds</i> and found it to be a very entertaining movie. The methods used by the aliens to attempt elimination of our species were, at best, suspend-your-disbelief movie grade material. Fun to watch, but laughably under-developed as military strategy. Despite all the implausibilities, it really got me to wondering about a purely hypothetial exercise.<br /><br /><b>How would you exterminate a species from an alien world?</b><br /><br />Let's assume that you want the planet's resources for yourself, so simply destroying the planet or making it uninhabitable is not a viable option. Exactly what those required resources are would be up for discussion. It could be plant life, water, gold, a base for operations, or pretty much anything.<br /><br />Also, you have a budget. That is to say, the method used must be economically feasible such that it would be worth doing in order to attain the wanted resource.<br /><br />- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <br /><br /><b>1. Disease/poison</b><br /><br />Drop a carefully designed airborne biological contaminant into the most populated areas of the planet where it can easily spread. Preferrably one would use a contaminant that would kill only a desired species (or maybe only a few species within a certain genus) and to which the attacker is immune. A properly prepared attack could kill or incapacitate enough beings to render them essentially defenseless to a small scale troop invasion.<br /><br />Cons: Length of time to develop a successful agent that the planet's inhabitants cannot successfully stop with an antigen of some kind could be too long.<br /><br />Pros: Great if you need a new home planet.<br /><br />- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <br /><br /><b>2. Blunt impact</b><br /><br />A 100 meter chunk of iron moving ~17km/s would produce an impact energy of nearly 1000 megatons ... enough to essentially flatten a small city. Assuming enough space junk is available near the target planet, numerous such attacks

 

[votefornimitz]

Strategically Targeted Orbital Stikes of key agricultural areas.....<br /><br />Microwave lasers to wreck havoc with the worlds ocean tempatures, leading to weather extremes....<br /><br />Just a few ideas from me... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <span style="color:#993366">In the event of a full scale nuclear war or NEO impact event, there are two categories of underground shelters available to the public, distinguished by depth underground: bunkers and graves...</span> </div>

 

[kauboi]

What if you actually want to keep the planet for yourself? then it wouldn't be very wise to mess with the weather. Lets ask vogon what he would do.

 

[votefornimitz]

Wouldn't be permanent....just long enough to drive them into famine and kill most of them... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <span style="color:#993366">In the event of a full scale nuclear war or NEO impact event, there are two categories of underground shelters available to the public, distinguished by depth underground: bunkers and graves...</span> </div>

 

[spacefire]

what about old fashioned military attack? Missiles against cities, bombers agains enemy forces, fighters to protect them, soldiers on the ground to capture key strategic points...the aliens would probably want to keep part of the planet's population as slaves and keep much of the infrastructure and work it for their own benefit. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>http://asteroid-invasion.blogspot.com</p><p>http://www.solvengineer.com/asteroid-invasion.html </p><p> </p> </div>

 

[flynn]

Send in Hasselhoff, within a week they will be leaving by themselves. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <font color="#800080">"All God does is watch us and kill us when we get boring. We must never, ever be boring" - <strong>Chuck Palahniuk</strong>.</font> </div>

 

[vogon13]

A genetically engineered radiological toxin would seem to be the 'no brainer' answer to your query. Hence my adoption of the technology for advancing my plans for global domination.<br /><br />Just take a commonly occuring bacteria or other microscopic life form that has a symbiotic relationship with the dominant life form of the planet of interest (in this case, humans) and genetically modify it so that it starts accumulating naturally occuring radioactive isotopes (like carbon 14 and potassium 40 ) in the host. Slowly at first, and then increasing in frequency, the target organisms will start dying of random cancers. By the time they figure out what's going on, I will own the planet (due to your interesting laws concerning inheritance).<br /><br />This technique doesn't harm the planet and it therefore maintains its' value as a source of materials.<br /><br />Worked great for us on Replevin 6, if I had a little more budget (yes we are trying to do this on the cheap) I could finish up and get the hell out of this wretched little solar system.<br /><br />Ta ta.<br /><br />V<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[vogon13]

Funny, with your ad hom rules on this site, I cannot tell you what a miserable species you all are, but I can discuss killing all of you without being modded.<br /><br />Go figure.<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[unlearningthemistakes]

neutron bomb?? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p>pain is inevitable</p><p>suffering is optional </p> </div>

 

[votefornimitz]

You do no you'll have to get through my fleet first right?<br /><br />And if you start with your radioactive bacteria all just get my old Tin-foil hat at of the closet and be fine.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <span style="color:#993366">In the event of a full scale nuclear war or NEO impact event, there are two categories of underground shelters available to the public, distinguished by depth underground: bunkers and graves...</span> </div>

 

[votefornimitz]

But if my plans fail, don't kill me, I'd much prefer to end up in your zoo, or as your personal pet.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <span style="color:#993366">In the event of a full scale nuclear war or NEO impact event, there are two categories of underground shelters available to the public, distinguished by depth underground: bunkers and graves...</span> </div>

 

[jmilsom]

My brother in Sydney, Australia just received the following flyer.<br /><br />BOOK YOUR TICKETS NOW before tickets go on sale to the public on Friday November 18. <br /><br />The Knight Rider is about to take the drive of his life - all the way around the world! David Hasselhoff, the talented star of "Young & the Restless", "Knight Rider", "Baywatch", feature films and Broadway is once again, READY FOR ACTION. His one of a kind concert, which will kick off its world tour in Australia, showcases the musical talents that have made him an international recording star. Along with his sexy back-up ensemble, hilarious, rarely seen video clips and of course "KITT", his infamous car, Hasselhoff sings, dances and drives in this hip and sexy extravaganza. <br /><br />Having just completed his latest film role in "Click", opposite Adam Sandler (International release June '06), the "Hoff" is eager to perform to live crowds again. David Hasselhoff carefully combines the well-known songs from his recordings with a new, contemporary catalogue. Between musical numbers, he entertains the audience with personal stories that reveal what its like to be "The Hoff". His stunning stage presence, deft sense of humour and blatant sex appeal prove, without a doubt, that David Hasselhoff is READY FOR ACTION. <br /><br />I agree just extend "The Hoff's" hip and sexy extravaganza to any alien planet - and they'll evacuate quickly. Just have ladders and arkships ready to evacuate the planet's population. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[Leovinus]

1) Take out all man-made satellites. <br /><br />2) Take out all power-generation capability (be careful not to spread radioactivity from nuke plants).<br /><br />3) Jam all radio traffic<br /><br />4) Destroy all aircraft<br /><br />5) Kill everything that moves in the resulting chaos. <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[cbxsix]

<quote><br />- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <br /><br />4. Nano machines <br /><br />A self replicating water borne nanomachine that can both replicate itself and freeze a small amount of water would eventually freeze all the water on the planet, including water being used within all living beings. This would indescriminately kill all water-based life on the planet and would need an "off" switch to get the water back into liquid form. A different nanomachine that captures oxygen (or whatever passes for breathable air on the target planet) is another option that could leave many species unaffected. <br /><br />Cons: Depending on the machine used and resource eliminated, such an attack could take a long time to work. Also, the planet inhabitants could have time to collect resources and go into hiding. On the plus side there would be no wide scale defense against such an attack. <br /><br />Pros: Basically unstoppable by beings less intelligent than yourself. <br /><br />- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - <br /></quote /><br /><br />Cons: Method is against The Law. There is only one universal Law, which is this: it is against The Law to build self-replicating, planet-destroying robots. (I think the case of self-replicating planet-life-eradicating nanites would fit in this case)<br />The penalty for breaking The Law: the race who developed the offending robots will be eradicated by Ships of The Law, crewed by the surviving children of the planets that were destroyed by the robots. <br /><br />Anyone who has read Greg Bear's Forge of God and Anvil of Stars know what I'm talking about. Those who haven't, should. <img src="/images/icons/smile.gif" />

 

[vogon13]

For some reason, the other Vogons are uncomfortable with the idea of me possessing weapons that would work on them too.<br /><br />Logic of empire . . . . . .<br /><br /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><font color="#ff0000"><strong>TPTB went to Dallas and all I got was Plucked !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#339966"><strong>So many people, so few recipes !!</strong></font></p><p><font color="#0000ff"><strong>Let's clean up this stinkhole !!</strong></font> </p> </div>

 

[seawana1]

<b>cbxsix</b> wrote:<br /><i>Method is against The Law.</i><br /><br />We're talking about a hypotehical situation where your goal is genocide. It would obviously be against someone's laws, but that's not really the point of the exercise.<br /><br /><b>cbxsix</b> wrote:<br /><i>The penalty for breaking The Law: the race who developed the offending robots will be eradicated by Ships of The Law, crewed by the surviving children of the planets that were destroyed by the robots.</i><br /><br />What children? Genocide doesn't leave behind any survivors. <br /><br />On a side note, I've never heard of <i>Forge of God</i> but it sounds like a smashing good read.<br /><br />- Skip

 

[seawana1]

<b>Leovinus</b> wrote:<br /><i>1) Take out all man-made satellites.<br /><br />2) Take out all power-generation capability (be careful not to spread radioactivity from nuke plants).<br /><br />3) Jam all radio traffic<br /><br />4) Destroy all aircraft<br /><br />5) Kill everything that moves in the resulting chaos.</i><br /><br />So in other words, a fairly standard military attack scenario. EMPs could carry out your first four initiatives. However, it might still take a very large force of troops and a long time to complete task #5. Chaos amongst a group doesn't last forever when you are under constant attack. People band together, they hide out, they counter attack. I sure would.<br /><br />Military warplans aside, I was really curious about alternative methods of attack. How might you do it differently if a large military presense is not available and assuming you had at least our currently level of technology?

 

[Leovinus]

Did you ever see the twilight zone episode where the invading aliens got the humans to turn on each other just by playing games with the power grid? <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[JonClarke]

Sigh. You guys are just to obsessed by technology! You just change the psychology of humans so that they stop having sex. Wait 100 years and they are all dead. <br /><br />In a hurry? Tweak the psychology a bit more so that men and women hate the other sex and kill each other off at a person level. Takes about 10 years.<br /><br />Either way no nukes, no large scale destruction, a beautiful planet with a functioning biosphere and largely intact infrastructure, ripe for redevelopment.<br /><br />Anyone read "The screwwfly solution"? One of the saddest, most chilling SF stories I have ever read, it basically proposes the 2nd approach. They get away with it too.<br /><br />Jon <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <p><em>Whether we become a multi-planet species with unlimited horizons, or are forever confined to Earth will be decided in the twenty-first century amid the vast plains, rugged canyons and lofty mountains of Mars</em>  Arthur Clarke</p> </div>

 

[seawana1]

<b>JonClarke</b> wrote:<br /><i>You guys are just to obsessed by technology! You just change the psychology of humans so that [snip]</i><br /><br />Technology does work well in situation where you don't have 100 years to wait around. Even ten years might be too long to wait if you were in dire need of a new home planet.<br /><br />Still, it's an interesting concept to simply change a being's idea of what constitutes a "good idea" to a point that they kill one another. I'm curious how you come to the conclusion that it would only take 10 years to convince men/women to kill each other. How exactly would you do it? I have not read <i>The screwfly solution</i> so please forgive my ignorance.<br />

 

[Leovinus]

What you could do, if you have a bit of time, is to muck with the electronic voting machines on the planet's only superpower such that an absolute idiot is elected president.<br /><br />Oh, wait, this belongs in Free Space... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[votefornimitz]

A for a political solutionm lets look at Lenin for Ideas....<br />The germans let one man loose in a country and he has all the power and everyone behind him....<br /><br />Why not disguise and alien with equally radical and promising ideas and send him down, 3 years and the whole world is willining under your control.... <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> <span style="color:#993366">In the event of a full scale nuclear war or NEO impact event, there are two categories of underground shelters available to the public, distinguished by depth underground: bunkers and graves...</span> </div>

 

[chriscdc]

The main idea that they would attack earth first seems flawed. Assuming they don't have FTL then they would arrive on a generation starship and would likely be adapted to live in space, so why go down a deep gravity well to earth. Simply drop rocks on there heads whilst you buld up your forces in the kuiper belt. <br /><br />Oh and 1000megatonnes is enough to flatten the largest cities on the planet. Actually put all the cities on the planet next to one another and a 1Gigatonne bomb will wipe them out no problem.

 

[Leovinus]

Ahhh, well. My jokes are wasted on some people.... <img src="/images/icons/wink.gif" /> <div class="Discussion_UserSignature"> </div>

 

[seawana1]

<b>Leovinus</b> wrote:<br /><i>What you could do, if you have a bit of time, is to muck with the electronic voting machines on the planet's only superpower such that an absolute idiot is elected president.</i><br /><br />Yeah, um, try to keep on topic, Leovinus. This comment is obviously meant as a political slam, but I'm going to ignore that and take it at face value instead.<br /><br />Having an idiot president would obviously not cause planetary extinction. This has been proven several times already. In fact, outside of a large nuclear volley amongst superpower enemies, I can't think of a single situation where having one person in power would cause extinction.<br /><br />Maybe if the president was crazy/brilliant, not stupid. If he was crazy/brilliant perhaps he could somehow convince the military to aim it's nuclear arsenal at humanity and kill everyone. Seems pretty unlikely though and it wouldn't exactly leave behind a useful planet for an invader.