[...]<1> My idea after reading Winter`s storyline is to loose the allpowerful hivemind and stick to the more typical evil invading aliens. [...] <2> Also this would allow PHALANX to recruit aliens who stand against opression of theyr own species (and other ones as well) [...]
<3> Point of attacking earth could be... ...well... ...umm... ...it would be a gicantic clishe to say "to enslave humanity"... [...]
<1> Similar ideas – of taking the "all-powerful alien menace" a few notches down, or even drop it completely and just stick with the plain ol' alien invading force – have been suggested before, by several individuals. However, the writers have chosen to ignore them altogether and keep the current storyline "as is". It has become pointless to argue this any further;
they simply won't listen to reason.
<2> That, although not an entirely new idea, would be an interesting game element. I would love to be able to play alien characters as well (maybe even have some story tidbits about their interaction with the human counterparts).
<3> Hmm... That is a tough cookie to crack, indeed... I do agree the "enslavement of all mankind" is quite the cliche, but no more than almost all other plot points pertaining to alien invasions. Still, the challenge remains: Can we do better than that?