if you’re going to cross vast distances to conquer humanity for the usual reasons, I doubt they would use guns and bombs. An EMP for starters, then gas. But it’s never gas. No, they walk around with guns and shoot, and in the case of “Fallen Skies,” they have stormtrooper aim half the time. In last night’s episode the aliens set a trap in a food warehouse, where they suspected the humans might go. Let’s imagine that conversation in the war room:
“Corporal Xxrtg, send a Mechabot 3bV to the trap, and wait for the humans to come for food.”
“Okay, but -”
“But what?”
“If they’re coming for food, they’re probably attached to a larger group. Why not just call in their appearance, and have the huntercraft look for their heat signature and vaporize them all at once?”
“Don’t ask me. Ask Commander Plrgb. It’s his call.”
“As long as we’re at it, why not just send in hush-snakes with the gas? They’d -”
“Again with the gas! It’s always the gas with you.”
“It’s just easier, that’s all I’m saying. Have you seen the reports? We have a 37% kill ratio because someone upstairs says we have to shoot them one at a time. And forget about the wide-radius heat ray, apparently.”
“I don’t make the rules of engagement. Now get on it.”
“Sure. And tell whoever assigned us the Mechabot 3bV that the men call it Old Stompy. It can’t take two steps without giving away its position.”
“Get moving.”
“Yes sir.”
There are two ways the series can end: humans win, or humans lose. “Win” is nice, rah us, but I have a hard time believing that the time-honored Ragtag Band of Scrappy Fighters can defeat a culture capable of space travel. It even makes “War of the Worlds” seem silly, because you have to imagine this conversation at HQ: did you remind the contractors to refit the ships with biofilters?”
(Panicked expression) “I thought that was your job.”
“Hell no. I TOLD you.”
“No you didn’t.”
Remind me to hire him for my next SF flick (which will also be my first).
[Update a while later]
This seems related, somehow: s3x with creatures from the future can be bad for your offspring’s health.
