what arrives in the film arrival

In the film "Arrival," twelve extraterrestrial spacecraft arrive and hover over various locations around the Earth. The story centers on Louise Banks, a linguist who is recruited by the US Army to help establish communication with the aliens. The aliens, called heptapods, have a complex written language made up of circular logograms. The arrival is initially met with widespread panic and tension among nations. The aliens' purpose is revealed through their language; they "offer a weapon," which Dr. Banks interprets more as a "tool" or means to help humanity. This tool is actually their language, which has the power to alter human perception of time, enabling a non-linear experience of past, present, and future. The aliens come to assist humanity, revealing that in 3,000 years they will need humanity's help in return. Thus, what arrives in the film "Arrival" is a peaceful extraterrestrial encounter involving a gift—their language—which has profound implications on human cognition and future cooperation between species. The arrival prompts a global response, military and scientific investigation, and challenges to human understanding of time and communication. The aliens do not come to invade but to establish a collaboration that will ultimately benefit both species.