Support for Decker's conclusion
- The Ares began the war with a nuclear attack on Earth, killing millions of civilians for no reason other than religious fervor. Religious extremists have a history of not seeking peaceful solutions.
- As an authoritarian society of clones, dissent within the Ares is doubly unlikely. Personality, after all, is largely genetic.
- The Ares are winning the war, and have little to gain from peace with the Commonwealth now.
- The proposal was sent at a critical moment during an operation requiring extreme coordination. It is extremely unlikely that the peace offer would have been sent at this time were it genuine. However, for an attempt to exploit weakness within the Fleet's ranks, it was timed perfectly.
- Helios's decision making is questionable at best, given that she chooses to fight to the death against the player/six Aquila class cruisers when a surrender would likely have been accepted. Regardless of whether this is caused by her ego or a feud with Decker, it indicates that her decision to betray the Fleet may not have been made logically.
- The Ares continue to attack and harass the player should they protect the Antarctica. The only change in their demeanor occurs in Heretic, which could just as easily be an attempt to get the player killed, exploitation of a source of free labor, or simply an attempt to get an extremely powerful potential threat to leave human space before it realizes it has been tricked and seeks retribution.
- The Ares have a history of using subversion within Fleet ranks to their own ends, if the suicide runs are anything to go on.
- The Ares have outposts set up towards the edge of the Outer Realm, which are of no defensive benefit to them. The only Fleet vessels in the region are hospital ships.
- Should a friendly fire incident occur between the Ares and the Antarctica, they will fight each other. Clearly, the Ares do not value Helios's friendship.
- The Ares are hostile towards the Ringers, who are Fleet trade partners but nothing more.
- *Should TSB be taken as canon, the Ares attack St. Katherine's star. This would be a clear indicator that they do not have peaceful intentions.*
- The Ares attack refugee convoys of absolutely no threat to them, preventing Commonwealth civilians from leaving the warzone. This shows extreme inhumanity and brutality, and, on a more pragmatic note, leaves Commonwealth interests in the Outer Realm, making it less likely for them to leave the region.
- Should the Fleet campaign be taken as an allegory for the Crusades, and the attack on Earth for the slaughter of Christians at Mecca, a moderate did eventually take hold of the situation and make peace with the Catholic church despite being on the winning side at the time.
- The Ares offer the player the opportunity to help them with their research should they assist the Antarctica.
- The Ares do not actively attack the Antarctica.
It is likely that the upcoming RTS, CSC America, will add information on the subject. In addition, future updates may expand on the content relating to this. Should they take one side or the other? Should either be Canon?
My personal belief is that evidence for either side should be randomly generated, adding to the game's roguelike roots. For example, in one game the Dantalion Ares could use a variation of Arco Vaugn's AI, and in another they could stop sending attack ships after the player after they save the Antarctica, but in yet another game they could step up their attacks on the Fleet should the player destroy their Aquilas, and in another the Antarctica could be/have been betrayed outright by the Ares, having decided Helios was no longer worth keeping around. This should, however, be limited to small things, and the truth as a whole should be left vague.