Which institutions will react on alien invasion?

[LedFarmer]

Hello!
It's just curiously interesting - which institutions will be the first who will react on alien invasion! I'm guessing - first NASA (they are the ones who will spot smth. out of ordinary and then pass on the intel! But to who? Directly to the department of defence?) It is clear that the last one will be the minstry of defence... however maybe You could throw a light on this one! How the possible scenario will play institutionaly!

Thank You in advance!

 

[Chopperjohn]

Depends

It depends I got the US or Russia will pick it up first, depends on where thei focus is at that exact moment.

But as long as we kill eachother we don't stand a chance against a alien force which lacks internal warfare. We are still primitive in too many ways.

 

[Kilo 2-3]

For starters, we have a Hollywood/science fiction misconception as to how aliens would attack. War of the Worlds, etc. have basically given us the notion that aliens would buzz around shooting up civilians, blasting the bumbling military, and maybe taking a few prisoners for labor, food, whatever.

In my mind, this type of invasion plan just doesn't make sense (...yes, I know, I'm applying Human logic here...)

The hypothetical approach taken by alien invaders is going to be subject to a variety of factors, factors which will in turn affect the Earth's military/political response. They are as follows:

1. Culture/Mentalities. Perhaps the most important factors. What is the mindset and culture of the aliens? Do they value overwhelming force? Negotiation? Are they xenophobic or tolerant of other species and cultures? This is going to be the fundamental factor in determining how the aliens deal with the Earth situation. It's going to determine how they use diplomacy or if they even use it at all, and how they conduct their military campaign (whether they use WMD, target of civilian centers, etc.)

2. Objectives. Why are the aliens here in the first place and what are they after? Natural resources? Food? Slaves? A new colony? The answer to this question is going to determine what the aliens target and how much destruction they will be willing to do. Effectively, this factor determines the ROEs.

3. Resources. What kind of military, numerical, technological, and political resources do the aliens have on their hands? If the aliens have simply deployed a small expeditionary force, they might seek to take over a small foothold or bridgehead on Earth, rather than conquer the whole planet in one fell swoop.

4. Naval/Aerospace capability. (Superluminal drive technology, size of fleet). If the aliens are capable of moving at faster-than-light speeds, then Earth will have absolutely no advance warning. However, if they're moving at slower-than-light speeds, then obviously that changes things for both sides; for the Humans in that they have some warning, and for the aliens in that their travel time and ability to launch reinforcements are negatively affected.
This factor also leads to:

-4.1 Logistics: The aliens will be at the end of their rope conducting a long-range expeditionary attack. Their logistics will be severely taxed and this will probably limit their size of their force and the amount of ammunition they have, fuel they can expend, and the time they can operate independently before the force needs major resupply. In fact, they might even opt to establish a base of operations on Mars or the Moon before attacking Earth itself. This could take place over several years, allowing the aliens to stockpile enough ammo, food, and fuel to launch a prolonged campaign on Earth.

The way humans respond, is going to be reactive i.e. largely determined by what the aliens do first. However, a variety of Terrestrial factors will also intervene in dictating the Human response.

1. Geopolitical state of the Earth.If Iran suddenly acts up and the US deploys large amounts of air, ground, and naval assets to the Gulf, then that's obviously going to reduce the US military's ability to react to an invasion from space. Also, an international response will be key to fighting off an attack and the current level of global accord/dischord will regulate how effectively Earth nations will be able to unite and fight back.

India and China might jump at opportunity to show leadership in fighting the aliens, since it could allow them to increase their geopolitical clout. Post-invasion, assuming Earth beat off the attack, they would also stand to benefit done to other major power or superpowers.

2. Leadership. The initiative and level-headedness of military and political leadership at all levels will be key. At the bottom of the chain of command, infantry 2nd Lieutenants are going to have to quickly adapt to a dramatically different set of small-unit tactics in fighting alien ground forces. Meanwhile POTUS, the Russian PM, ChiCom Party leaders, and the Indian Prime Minister are going to need to show strong and co-operative leadership, and skill in diplomacy should negotiations arise.

3. Military focus. How Earth militaries are equipped in relation to the alien armed forces is going to prove decisive in how they chose to fight. For example, can F-22's evade the alien sensors? A yes or a no answer will lead to vastly different methods of employment of this asset. On a strategic level, the effectiveness of nuclear weapons or other WMDs versus alien units is going to dictate their use in campaigns.

Before we have answers to these questions, we can't begin to fill in enough of the matrix and determine exactly how the Earth and who would chose/be chosen to respond.

However, in my mind the major players would be:

United States of America
-Department of Defense
-relevant subordinate Joint Commands
-US Navy
-US Marine Corps (might be among the first military units to respond)
-US Army (would be a key player in a protracted land campaign
-US Air Force (Space assets and launch capability could prove key, along with its tactical and strategic airpower)

-Department of State (would prove important in an Human-alien diplomatic process)
-CIA/other intelligence agencies

China, India, Japan, the UN, Russia, the UK, etc. would also play a major role. The groups involved would probably be the opposite numbers to the US ones listed above.

 

[StingrayOZ]

Detection. Hmm tough, if its a radio signal SETI first to find it, if its radar or Ir most likely the americans.

Assuming they can't just warp to our orbit.

First step will be diplomacy, honestly I think the europeans will lead that effort and the americans perfering to watch intensely although the americans may perfer to make first contact themselves. Everyone will want to be involved atleast as observers in the discussions.

Any defence will be coordinated by the americans. Russia and China may deal specifically with there own systems but under the auspice of the Americans.

In terms of which service has imediate ability to shoot things around our atmosphere.
USN (SM-3) could launch immediately on threats. Sub launched ICBM's could also go directly to targets in the atmosphere.
USAF could launch significant airlaunch weapons at targets around the earth as they have some antisat weapons now. ICBMs from silos could also be used.
NASA would provide technology and launch vechicals.

If you could put a modified ICBM's in orbit then you could hit anything in our solar system providing it could get through defences and provide guidance for it.

If earth was attacking an alien world, think how we would do it. If we wanted to elminate it, just nuke it from space. No one would have a chance.

We really have very little in terms of space weaponry. Any one who picks a fight with us by travelling to earth will be much more capable than us. Imagine a small army sitting at the bottom of a hill armed only with axes and another army at the top with archers.

 

[old faithful]

mmmm....we should have plenty of time to consider a response to alien invaision.....
consider this....if we could travel at the speed of light, (@ 186,000 miles per second) it would take approximatley 100,000 years to cross the milky way.

I think aliens are already amongst us, in the form of bacteria, so i dont think its intelligent life. reckon the invaision might take the form of accidental illness. So it would be the medical industry of the world to defeat the alien flu or something like that, so i vote for the medical community as those who will respond to the "invaision".
(probably already have, without even knowing it!)

 

[StingrayOZ]

It would take 100.000 ly to cross the milky way.

However we would only detect them once they arrived as any signature emitted (radar, light, ir etc) would be travelling at the same speed as the craft.

 

[Ananda]

Faster Than Light Technology

This all will down to whther the 'Faster than Light' travel technology (ie, Warp, Hyperspace, Wormhole, Interdimensional, Jump Gate etc,etc)..is a reality or not.

If this technology is non existing in this universe, than chances of inter world/species/stellar interaction is close to nill. Once I saw a documentations of 'terra forming' (on Discovery, if i'm not mistaken) that concluded that even in our present technological capability, we have the ability for terra forming Mars.

In sense. if human species somehow in the near future gained this faster than light technology, then it's matter of will for humanity to conduct terra forming to different world it's choosing, since in the sense we already have the capability to do that.
If that technology (interstlellar travel and planetary forming) also already exist with an allien species, that the most probable choices that they will do is to destroy human civilizations from the space and conduct their own planetary forming from the ashes of the human civilizations.

This due to the basis of the terra forming technology that need only the basic availability of the element to manipulate the changes in the planetary habitations.
In sense , if the allien races with intentions to form a planetary forming just jump from hyperspaces in the earth orbit, then they will not going to land (like Hollywood interpretations of World Conquests) and faces humanity. They just destroy us from the spaces, and since humanity have minimum and unprepared for significant Space Defences, and we'are doomed.

 

[Belesari]

This all will down to whther the 'Faster than Light' travel technology (ie, Warp, Hyperspace, Wormhole, Interdimensional, Jump Gate etc,etc)..is a reality or not.

If this technology is non existing in this universe, than chances of inter world/species/stellar interaction is close to nill. Once I saw a documentations of 'terra forming' (on Discovery, if i'm not mistaken) that concluded that even in our present technological capability, we have the ability for terra forming Mars.

In sense. if human species somehow in the near future gained this faster than light technology, then it's matter of will for humanity to conduct terra forming to different world it's choosing, since in the sense we already have the capability to do that.
If that technology (interstlellar travel and planetary forming) also already exist with an allien species, that the most probable choices that they will do is to destroy human civilizations from the space and conduct their own planetary forming from the ashes of the human civilizations.

This due to the basis of the terra forming technology that need only the basic availability of the element to manipulate the changes in the planetary habitations.
In sense , if the allien races with intentions to form a planetary forming just jump from hyperspaces in the earth orbit, then they will not going to land (like Hollywood interpretations of World Conquests) and faces humanity. They just destroy us from the spaces, and since humanity have minimum and unprepared for significant Space Defences, and we'are doomed.

Which is why we should have at least 2 Orion nuke ships in orbit to deflect asteroids and to safe guard the orbitals.

 

[SamTHorn]

Interesting read. Thanks for the share. I would like to follow this conversation.

~ Sam

 

[LeGrig]

Alien Invasion

Looking back to modern history, Internet and amateurs would probably react fastest. Media will come soon and "institutions" would have to react first to the above ones and after that look after the invasion.

 

[Belesari]

For starters, we have a Hollywood/science fiction misconception as to how aliens would attack. War of the Worlds, etc. have basically given us the notion that aliens would buzz around shooting up civilians, blasting the bumbling military, and maybe taking a few prisoners for labor, food, whatever.

In my mind, this type of invasion plan just doesn't make sense (...yes, I know, I'm applying Human logic here...)

The hypothetical approach taken by alien invaders is going to be subject to a variety of factors, factors which will in turn affect the Earth's military/political response. They are as follows:

1. Culture/Mentalities. Perhaps the most important factors. What is the mindset and culture of the aliens? Do they value overwhelming force? Negotiation? Are they xenophobic or tolerant of other species and cultures? This is going to be the fundamental factor in determining how the aliens deal with the Earth situation. It's going to determine how they use diplomacy or if they even use it at all, and how they conduct their military campaign (whether they use WMD, target of civilian centers, etc.)

2. Objectives. Why are the aliens here in the first place and what are they after? Natural resources? Food? Slaves? A new colony? The answer to this question is going to determine what the aliens target and how much destruction they will be willing to do. Effectively, this factor determines the ROEs.

3. Resources. What kind of military, numerical, technological, and political resources do the aliens have on their hands? If the aliens have simply deployed a small expeditionary force, they might seek to take over a small foothold or bridgehead on Earth, rather than conquer the whole planet in one fell swoop.

4. Naval/Aerospace capability. (Superluminal drive technology, size of fleet). If the aliens are capable of moving at faster-than-light speeds, then Earth will have absolutely no advance warning. However, if they're moving at slower-than-light speeds, then obviously that changes things for both sides; for the Humans in that they have some warning, and for the aliens in that their travel time and ability to launch reinforcements are negatively affected.
This factor also leads to:

-4.1 Logistics: The aliens will be at the end of their rope conducting a long-range expeditionary attack. Their logistics will be severely taxed and this will probably limit their size of their force and the amount of ammunition they have, fuel they can expend, and the time they can operate independently before the force needs major resupply. In fact, they might even opt to establish a base of operations on Mars or the Moon before attacking Earth itself. This could take place over several years, allowing the aliens to stockpile enough ammo, food, and fuel to launch a prolonged campaign on Earth.

The way humans respond, is going to be reactive i.e. largely determined by what the aliens do first. However, a variety of Terrestrial factors will also intervene in dictating the Human response.

1. Geopolitical state of the Earth.If Iran suddenly acts up and the US deploys large amounts of air, ground, and naval assets to the Gulf, then that's obviously going to reduce the US military's ability to react to an invasion from space. Also, an international response will be key to fighting off an attack and the current level of global accord/dischord will regulate how effectively Earth nations will be able to unite and fight back.

India and China might jump at opportunity to show leadership in fighting the aliens, since it could allow them to increase their geopolitical clout. Post-invasion, assuming Earth beat off the attack, they would also stand to benefit done to other major power or superpowers.

2. Leadership. The initiative and level-headedness of military and political leadership at all levels will be key. At the bottom of the chain of command, infantry 2nd Lieutenants are going to have to quickly adapt to a dramatically different set of small-unit tactics in fighting alien ground forces. Meanwhile POTUS, the Russian PM, ChiCom Party leaders, and the Indian Prime Minister are going to need to show strong and co-operative leadership, and skill in diplomacy should negotiations arise.

3. Military focus. How Earth militaries are equipped in relation to the alien armed forces is going to prove decisive in how they chose to fight. For example, can F-22's evade the alien sensors? A yes or a no answer will lead to vastly different methods of employment of this asset. On a strategic level, the effectiveness of nuclear weapons or other WMDs versus alien units is going to dictate their use in campaigns.

Before we have answers to these questions, we can't begin to fill in enough of the matrix and determine exactly how the Earth and who would chose/be chosen to respond.

However, in my mind the major players would be:

United States of America
-Department of Defense
-relevant subordinate Joint Commands
-US Navy
-US Marine Corps (might be among the first military units to respond)
-US Army (would be a key player in a protracted land campaign
-US Air Force (Space assets and launch capability could prove key, along with its tactical and strategic airpower)

-Department of State (would prove important in an Human-alien diplomatic process)
-CIA/other intelligence agencies

China, India, Japan, the UN, Russia, the UK, etc. would also play a major role. The groups involved would probably be the opposite numbers to the US ones listed above.

One of the things ive always found ironic is that people (especialy those that cheer the all aliens would be peaceful meme ) is that in there veiw they make one thing clear. Aliens wont be alien of course they are just like us.

Aliens are ALIEN. Yes they are out there or have been or will be or all three. we have 800billion stars i believe in our galaxy so...........

If they did find us they might not think anything of just pounding our cities to ruble from the orbitals with KKPs and then mopping up our remains later. They might not understand us in anyways. Heck they might not see us as even intelligent (Humans intelligent? nonsense! there not of "US" ) Or they may see us responding by even looking or atempting to contact them as a threat. As i said ALIEN.

Of course then theres another one. Religion. Nothing says a deeply religious people cant be VERY advanced. Take the Aztecs we consider them primitive but they had Universal Education far before we did. The Romans had appartment complexes factories and many things we see as modern ideas.

But then think who did most of the science after the darkages and the fall of rome? Monks. This never really stopped until more reactionary forces came into play. Infact this still goes on today.

I think one of my favorite little questions is this. What if GOD is real and what if he was once just like us? Would you still believe him to be worth worshiping or holding so high? No? but if god is the father of man does that mean we shouldnt hold our own fathers, elders, or past kings/leaders in high esteme reguard?

 

[Belesari]

"-4.1 Logistics: The aliens will be at the end of their rope conducting a long-range expeditionary attack. Their logistics will be severely taxed and this will probably limit their size of their force and the amount of ammunition they have, fuel they can expend, and the time they can operate independently before the force needs major resupply. In fact, they might even opt to establish a base of operations on Mars or the Moon before attacking Earth itself. This could take place over several years, allowing the aliens to stockpile enough ammo, food, and fuel to launch a prolonged campaign on Earth"

Nanotech.

Hack we're to the point that we could get practicaly everything we need from space.

In all truth i think one day most all resources will come from there to here.

 

[Kilo 2-3]

"-4.1 Logistics: The aliens will be at the end of their rope conducting a long-range expeditionary attack. Their logistics will be severely taxed and this will probably limit their size of their force and the amount of ammunition they have, fuel they can expend, and the time they can operate independently before the force needs major resupply. In fact, they might even opt to establish a base of operations on Mars or the Moon before attacking Earth itself. This could take place over several years, allowing the aliens to stockpile enough ammo, food, and fuel to launch a prolonged campaign on Earth"

Nanotech.

Hack we're to the point that we could get practicaly everything we need from space.

In all truth i think one day most all resources will come from there to here.

Wait, what?

Even if you have nanotechnology, you still need raw materials for it to work on, and therein lies your limitation.

For example, there's "nothing stopping people" from making rocket fuel out of the Moon. Human technology is already there, and I'm sure alien extraction and processing technology would be even more advanced (hypothetically speaking of course).

The problem is, there raw materials simply aren't there in quantity. Sure, you could split the water molecules to get Hydrogen and Oxygen, but you'll need to sift through a quarter of a million tons of dirt to get enough water to actually do anything meaningful, since several tons of moon dirt will yield you only about a glass full of water.

(And using particle accelerator to crack and reassemble the other molecules into other, useful elements and molecules simple isn't energy -efficient.)

And that's just talking about a very fuel form of fuel. The aliens still need food, air/atmosphere, plus fuel and ammo for whatever exotic technology they have.

The issue is not whether you have the technology to do something, the issue is whether or not you're going to ever be able to use that technology in the first place.

In this case, having capability is secondary to the ability to actually use it.

 

[Belesari]

Wait, what?

Even if you have nanotechnology, you still need raw materials for it to work on, and therein lies your limitation.

For example, there's "nothing stopping people" from making rocket fuel out of the Moon. Human technology is already there, and I'm sure alien extraction and processing technology would be even more advanced (hypothetically speaking of course).

The problem is, there raw materials simply aren't there in quantity. Sure, you could split the water molecules to get Hydrogen and Oxygen, but you'll need to sift through a quarter of a million tons of dirt to get enough water to actually do anything meaningful, since several tons of moon dirt will yield you only about a glass full of water.

(And using particle accelerator to crack and reassemble the other molecules into other, useful elements and molecules simple isn't energy -efficient.)

And that's just talking about a very fuel form of fuel. The aliens still need food, air/atmosphere, plus fuel and ammo for whatever exotic technology they have.

The issue is not whether you have the technology to do something, the issue is whether or not you're going to ever be able to use that technology in the first place.

In this case, having capability is secondary to the ability to actually use it.

LOL, NOT THERE IN QUANTITY!

Have you looked at the numerous asteroids and Commets in our system not to mention the satelites of Jupiter and saturn.

Compared to a space based civilization a earth based one is VERY mineral and resource poor.

Rares earths which very few are mined each yr are found in aboundence in space. Not to mention nickle Iron and others.

 

[Bonza]

LOL, NOT THERE IN QUANTITY!

Posting all caps sentences mocking other posters does nothing to help your argument, and only makes you look childish. You might want to consider that.

 

[Kilo 2-3]

LOL, NOT THERE IN QUANTITY!

Have you looked at the numerous asteroids and Commets in our system not to mention the satelites of Jupiter and saturn.

Compared to a space based civilization a earth based one is VERY mineral and resource poor.

Rares earths which very few are mined each yr are found in aboundence in space. Not to mention nickle Iron and others.

Alright, perhaps I should have made myself a bit more clear.

Quantity is certainly a subjective issue as you so rightly point out. Certainly, nickle is a very common element found in many asteroids and meteorites, however, you can't build a civilization or run a war based solely off of iron and nickle.

So, for lack of a better word, the presence of a usable "span" of elements is important (by that I mean having basic elements like oxygen and hydrogen as well as other, more complex elements and molecules)


As I said before, you need more than just a handful of elements to run a war effort, and while the aliens may be able to supplement their logistics with harvested elements, they will still need a primary supply line to fill in whatever resources they can't mine, not to mention any food, medicine, or other equipment they may need. This line of supply is going to add a lot of hassle to the alien's military efforts.

The invading task force is a military operation, not a civilian mining expedition. Trying to even partially self-supply a military foray strikes me as a desperately stupid waste of time and alienpower.

 

[Belesari]

Posting all caps sentences mocking other posters does nothing to help your argument, and only makes you look childish. You might want to consider that.

I didnt mean to make fun of him just that its a funny assertion.

And now i have to go to work.

 

[Kilo 2-3]

I didnt mean to make fun of him just that its a funny assertion.

And now i have to go to work.

I didn't take offense to what you said, so no harm done.

Just see my previous post. Perhaps the revised verbage is a bit more accurate.

 

[Belesari]

I didn't take offense to what you said, so no harm done.

Just see my previous post. Perhaps the revised verbage is a bit more accurate.

Ok cool i didnt want to offend. I just get tired of hearing many people refer to space as some type of wasteland that we can get nothing from. With the right equipment you could survive there indefinatly.

For us at present its all about MASS to orbit. But if we had truely concentrated on space exploration and industrialization we could have had hundreds if not thousands of people living in space.

 

[F-15 Eagle]

If their is an alien race that can travel from their planet all the way to Earth and take over there is not really anything we can do....we are screwed. Since this alien race would be far superior technology wise the US military would not stand a chance.