I see. I must admit, using them as navigational/targeting markings could make sense for our aliens too, if it wasn't stressed that their navigational/targeting computers are so damned good (and they could very well abuse human GPS systems).
Well every navigational system needs points of comparisons in order to navigate, so maybe these crop circles could be results of end side energy formations of "catchers mit" or end results of pulse being fired across the universe in order of a snipers laser sights to see where the ship will be travelling, or a pulsefield landing sites generated on earth, because ufos travel faster than light to reach earth. There must be a endside buffer in order to stop ship fram simply crashing to the earth.
so maybe aliens in the planet a fires a targetting pulse across the universe, it ends up in earth, aliens fire UFO in faster than light travel from theyr planet. This targetting beam will form a (insert your energy type here) field that will result forms in the earth (crop circle) and generate a cloud of receving energy on earth. This will act as a buffer that will slow UFO down when it arrives to earth.
maybe like this, but i do see a dilemma how to fit it onto the game.
also, i arrived at my first battle, but it keeps shutting game down, is this a bug?
There's also no need for PHALANX to keep the media in check, as that's done by the nations themselves.
The general idea of an investigation 'arm' for PHALANX may have better hope, but there would have to be uses for it.
Well it fits the game and would serve same purpose as suggested agents, and that is just it: how does the countries keep citizens in check? Prevention of hysteria? meaning restriction of information and elimination of sources of information is best way to do it. How many times you have seen "G" men in some weird accident sites? or military intelliance expecting UFO crash sites? kinda same kind of deal here, army knows there is an alien invasion force comming, but in order to preventcivilian accidents of paramilitaristic forces forming, and starting to make rucus, starting to loot peace loving citizens, goverment is doing everything to cover theres a problem.
I assume theres several steps how it would go as the threat progresses:
1. first they would try to hide the fact (like nowdays, there are ufo sightings, but most are tried to be explained by "mass hysteria")
2. then hide the evidence and launching misinformation propaganda
3. then contain any possible whitnesses, preventing leaks from being created from secret technologies
4. downgrading and belittleling problem and telling the threat is not that high (our superior army technology can prevent the invasion)
5. and finally when all other things are lost, army taking over peacekeeping of citizens by martial law.
these agents would fit first 3 steps on the program on civilian controlling, basicly, they would investigate and try mainly to find nearby alien bases, they are just slow.
to make fun out of it, othervice there would not be a point to making this trouble true (you allready have units that can do the same) there could be that mentioned research items or occasional moneyworth items.
But again, its only an idea, the "g" men and agents on aliens... ok, im not referring to x-files... but similar ones.