Aliens will come in peace not war.

-The Ship My opponent suggests that, "Con has left out a more plausible option for the ship. A small vessel that only holds a few beings in it, the sleeper idea would be plausible for this type of ship. This small vessel would be likely because it would not take the huge amount of resources that would be required for a generation ship. A small vessel would also, most likely, not be a warship designed for invasion. " The aliens are unlikely to utilise a single small sleeper vessel, they would naturally have sought to send a sufficient population for both genetic variability and to ensure the survival of a new colony. In any event it is likely that vessels sleeper technology would still require energy and/or sustenance. In any event a small sleeper vessel unsuited for war would not after a journey that may have lasted millions of years approach an inhabited and potentially hostile world. -Resources My opponent states that, "The alien beings are coming directly at earth, not stopping by all the other planets and moons on the way. Why would they not be interested in the resources on these also? If resources were on their mind, they would harvest everything they possible could in their mission. Humans have already discovered usable resources all over the known cosmos, so a more intelligent being must surely have also. Thus I conclude resources are not on their mind. " However my opponent has not challenged the proposition that this is a colony vessel, thus by heading towards earth we can see that the aliens desire the specific life sustaining resources of earth. The other worlds and planetoids not being sutiable to them. As Earth is heavily populated we must infer that the aliens are prepared to address that issue, the most logical way is through violence. -Colonisation My opponent states that, "A small vessel ship would not be likely if its purpose was to colonize a planet. " However it is simply speculation that the vessel is small, the size of the vessel was not mentioned in the premise of the scenario. " Besides, if they have space faring technology, surely they could terraform any rock planet they came across. Even humans have ideas of how we can terraform mars. Going through the trouble to find a planet with life on it, just to steal it, is not plausible. It would be more likely to terraform planets and moons close to home" It is equally possible that the aliens were unable to dedicate suficient time or resources to 'terraforming' due to the loss of a war or the sudden deteriotation/super nova of their home star. It is possible that the aliens are refugees, or exiles. My opponent has already accepted the possibility that it is a sleeper ship. The use of a sleeper vessel would be consistent with a species on the brink of extinction desperately trying to save itself. Inhabitants of a safe system would be unlikely to embark on such a vessel, such a vessel would be used for trade or exploration for obvious reasons. Under these circimstances the most likely motive is colonisation, attempting to colonise a populated area suggests an acceptance of violence. -Peace My opponent states that, "The beings are on a small vessel, coming straight toward earth. Because of the apparent lack of life throughout the cosmos, it would be likely that we would be the aliens' first contact. They would come here to learn about the same things we hope to learn once we actually discover other life. They will be interested the age of life on earth, the age of our sun, and the age of earth, that we are carbon-based life forms, that all life here requires a form of water, and many, many other things. They will have likely send an ambassador of some kind, a language expert in hopes of communicating with us, a biologist, and maybe a historian to teach us their past. The possibilities are endless but it is most likely bound to be a peaceful greeting. " This is not consistent with a sleeper vessel. Many of the facts suggested here could be ascertained by the aliens without leaving their homeworld. The ambassodor would be representing a power millions of years extinct. A sleeper vessel may have taken many millions of years to reach us, they would not come for simple curiosity. I do not consider my opponent has made a case that the alines would likely be peaceful, not that he is has refuted my points.