fandomhigh | Tactics of War [Monday Evening]

Before I begin, I would like to say that I'm impressed with the ingenuity of those who were involved in the attack on Friday. I know little of the details, but if anyone would like to give me a full account, I would be happy to award you with extra credit for this course.

Also, Cameron Mitchell? Please see me after class, thank you.

Now, I had a long and boring lecture planned for you today (in which, of course, I expected you to plot my doom, as it would be an excellent sign of success for you as my students learning the tactics of war as one of my long term goals is to ultimately destroy this planet -- *laughter* Oh, I'm just kidding) but last night I saw this film that I vaguely remember seeing from the early 90's and I wish for you to see it and to write down three shockingly irritating tactics of either the locust-like aliens or the ridiculously stupid Americans.

Being both a commander of an invading force and ex-American military, I have GREAT irritation at this film and feel that it is a wonderful learning tool in how NOT to proceed on either (a) invasion or (b) countering such a genocidal attack.

She looks over at Aeryn and smiles.

And Miss Sun, I particularly look forward to your rather inspired point of view.

Now, please, sit quietly and watch.

Eighth puts in Independence Day

Flat | Top-Level Comments Only

"three shockingly irritating tactics" plz

1. The aliens decided not to blow up the Earth all at once, giving the humans time to regroup.

2. The humans used an Apple computer and random computer virus to take down an entire alien armada. I can't even get my Apple computer to talk to my PC with any regularity.

3. The Americans decided to attack on Independence Day because it had a specific relevance to them. Meanwhile, the British response was probably 'WTF? Why would we want to attack on a day that started the downfall of British colonization? Choose a different day.'

4. The Americans had relevant information that could have helped out in the original defense, but didn't mention anything to the President until it was too late, costing millions upon millions of lives.

1. I will give the movie credit in that sometimes a diversionary tactic, such as a full-scale assault in order to distract from one smaller ship doing the necessary damage, this was just implausible. With this species being as advanced and clearly bent on planetary domination, I refuse to believe that they wouldn't at least have expected something like this, or at least been prepared for the possibility. There would have been guards, or some sort of security system, that would have alerted them trouble. Also, why was there no one inside? I have never seen any sort of docking area that didn't have someone walking around, especially in the middle of an attack. Especially a command carrier. Mothership. Whatever they're calling it.

Also, the human pilots should have died on their suicide mission. Clearly.

2. I've seen the computer systems on this planet. They are nothing like anything I have ever used where I come from. Which is why I can't understand how they happen to be able to use some computer virus from the systems here to infect that of another species' technology. It has to be a talented virus. Computers on THIS planet aren't even compatible. It shouldn't have worked, simple as that. Movie stupid.

3. THEY SENT THE PRESIDENT TO FIGHT IN THE BATTLE. IDIOTS. This man should not be in charge of a post-apocalyptic nation. He obviously does not care about the people and is instead in it for his own glory. At the very least, this is a man whose wife just died and he's about to go up against another species in a battle that will probably prove to be very very suicidal and chance orphaning his own daughter, so why not try it with the rest of the people he governs? And why did anyone let him! If this is any indication of what the human population would do if any of this actually happened, everyone is getting wiped out. Deservedly.

1. I, uh, don't get a lot of this. But who in the hell sends the leader of the forces into the middle of a battle like that? I mean, I guess if they're desperate or something, but you want your brains somewhere safer.

2. Um. I don't get a lot of the technology. I kind of understand computers since I've been around here for a while, but not really. I don't understand how "Earth" computers are compatible with the alien computers.

3. Okay, and the guys who just flew up into the mothership? Why aren't they dead? I've been in a lot of tight scrapes myself, but that just doesn't make sense.

1.Humans-Counting on the idea that all the nations of the world would somehow magically set aside all the differences of millions of years of fighting of territory and religion and band together to join forces.

2.Aliens-Not having any sort of protection against computer viruses. Seriously, if your defenses are so dependant on your computers, protect the damn things.

3.Aliens-Not having any of their fighters defending their weak point at all. I mean, I know that their weak point is a giant laser o' death, but a few guns to keep fighters from shooting it probably would've been a good idea.

Bonus fourth point.

4.Humans-Don't keep important information from your leaders. They're, ya know, your leaders.

1. You cannot write a virus for a completely unknown operating system and figure out a viable method of delivering that virus. Especially when you don't know how or even if those alien computers are networked. You just can't.

2. Don't even get me started on the concept of telepathic aliens who can somehow cause humans to talk by wrapping tentacles around their throats. No. It's not going to happen that way. First of all, how did these aliens learn to speak the human's language instantaneously? Even a telepath would require a time to learn the language and communicate effectively. And why would they spill all their evil plans right then and there? The aliens were stupid.

3. The aliens destroyed all the major cities and then didn't work on destroying the smaller cities and the infrastructure. Or the military bases. Which, of course, allowed the humans to move troops and equipment around and develop a viable resistance movement against the invading aliens. Why do these sorts of movies always presume aliens have no training in tactics of any kind?

1. If you have the firepower to destroy a world and obviously no conscience about using it, why not destroy the world?

2. Why are you sending the leader of your world up to get shot at? I mean, seriously stupid tactics there.

3. Why would two different communications systems even be compatible? I had to do some serious reconstructing to get my datapad to talk to anything here in Fandom. You'd think an alien species with the firepower to destroy a planet would have decent firewalls set up.

1. Human virus hurts alien technology? Is that possible?
2. Um, why are you sending your leader up into space? He's a symbol, if anything happens to him, morale goes down.
3. Why are you attacking Earth without a good fight plan, like take out the military bases and um, kill the leaders?

Bonus: If you're a cute kid or animal, you'll live.

1. The invaders, once captured, cheerfully blurted out all of their secrets. This is stupid.

2. Despite clearly superior firepower, the invaders failed to press their advantage by utterly destroying them and allowed the humans to regroup. This is not sense.

3. The humans sent their leader into the fight. This is stupid. They should have prtected him at all costs, as he is a symbol and rallying point, and if he'd been killed there would have been a conflict of leadership in the middle of a war, whcih is a bad thing.

1. The aliens have no idea about proper resource management. If they didn't do the locust draining planets of all their resources they wouldn't have to invade as many planets and they'd save themseleves a whole lot of trouble in the long run.

2. The humans waited until the aliens actually started attacking to prepare more than cursory defenses. Hint- If an unknown force aren't even attempting to make contact with you, chances are they are not friendly.

3. The President decided to co-ordinate and lead a world-wide attack within hours of losing his wife. Which everyone knows is the perfect mental state for the person in charge off a battle to be in.

Tactics of War [Monday Evening]

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