This is my 2 cents.
HOW I WOULD VISIT/ INVADE A PLANET
1) Send probes. Automated, unmanned, and as inconspicuous as possible. Soil samples, plant samples, if possible, animal samples. Stay away from the
sentients for now.
2) Send a scout party. Several, actually, depending on the size of the planet, population, ect. AGAIN, quietly and carefully sneak in. all craft would
be cloaked/ and or camouflaged. Observe the sentients- if there's a species issue where we dont look like them, if there's similar size/weight
proportions, costuming does wonders.
3) Buy Stuff! Find out what the locals use for currency- what can be sold to get currency? Metals? Food? Skins? Buy local magazines, newspapers,
periodicals. Find a library, or equivalent knowledge storehouse. Record what can be recorded.
4) 'Take me to your leader.' NOT. I would establish a relationship with a local- start looking for someone who is sane, for starters. Not easily
panicked- this process may take time, and much effort to find the right person. DO NOT go with famous people. Go with someone who is humble, and
doesn't see (Currency symbol here) in their eyes when you reveal who and why you're here. Or grabs a weapon. Find someone who does charity work, non
profit, gives of themselves.
5) Establishment party Blend- In. This would be a specialized group of people -anthropologists, psychologists, etc, WITH RADIO EQUIPMENT. This would
be the group who would blend in with the society (if possible) and remain as a contact point with the planetary sentient. Plans would be worked out to
reveal ourselves to the world, and depending on which scenario, either establish trade and commerce with the sentients, and try to lower the
apprehension, or stage a full out conquering. The ground group would coordinate with the home base, mother ship, and home planet. If it's commerce-
slip some of the advanced tech into the mainstream commerce. Sell some patents. go to the universities and 'help' them discover things. Leave subtle
clues about where all this might have come from.
In case of invasion- I would use exactly what our govts and corporations and media have done to us NOW. Snow the population under, make us blind
idiots, and panic as many as possible to pave the way for a good ol fashioned invasion. Destabilize the world and every monetary system so bad, people
would go for anything we'd have up our space suited sleeves. plans for this would have to go back decades, if not a couple centuries to get all
operatives, agents and everything set. Depending on how long lived we were as opposed to the general populace, agents would be replaced as needed. As
for the sentient in on this- I would either a) wipe their memory. b) brainwash them so they'd be CONVINCED we were 'good'. c) If they wanted in,
why not. A direct mouthpiece to the populace is always welcome. Treachery would be... interesting. Nothing like making an example of one of them to
the rest of the populace. Or a group.
I have NO faith in this 'channeling' stuff. It smacks too much of fairies and mythical things, not aliens with space traversing ships. IF something
shows up Oct 14th, I'd be suspicious, wary, and afraid. VERY Afraid.