Okay, so it’s 1:06 GMT on the 1st of December, 2006. Suddenly pandemonium erupts around the globe! Radar tracking stations pick up over 30 multi-kilometer large objects descending through the atmosphere; people everywhere spot the bright flaming trails left by the suspected doomsday meteor shower, as the objects plummet towards the ground.
But just as all hope seems lost, the objects slow! In a matter of minutes, it becomes apparent to the (now mostly awake) people of Earth, that the cosmic visitors are giant space craft! The behemoths slowly begin to fly over the world’s largest population centers. For hours the terrified population of Earth watches, from the streets, windows, and televisions, with bated breath, as the ships make their rounds.
Then it comes, at 4:18 GMT, Dec 1, 2006, human kind’s first message from the stars. The first to hear it are those listening to the news on their radios, a brief wave of static; then in every major language, a strange sounding voice declares:
"We have come to you, the people of Earth, to make you of us. You will put your guns aside, and your leaders will speak to us. Force will be met."
How do you think Earth will react? (and what would you have done had this happened?)
Note: the aliens in this scenario *are* primarily peaceful, the question here is not “could we win?”, we couldn’t, they have thousands of star systems and member races, the technology to lift multi-kilometer star ships in the air, and the resorces to conduct long term cultural integration projects.
The question I ask is: how long would it take modern Earth society to 1. figure out the true meaning of The Message: “We come in peace to induct your people into our inter-stellar civilization” 2. accept the offer, and 3. how life on Earth would change before #2 came to pass?
Note2: forgot to add that the aleins will land and attempt direct negotiations with world and regional leaders if no one contacts them after several days. (also hostilities on the part of any nation against the aliens during the negotiations will result in the pacification of that nation)
EDIT'd for what I hope will be clairity