My theory on Shaw [potential spoilers]

@SeanJohn

Is this just a interpretation? because its the first i have heard of Engineers boarding the  Juggernaught... not that it cant be ruled out.

@KurtisRay

This continues with SeanJohn's comment, indeed we dont know if that other Ship is some kind of Docking Device, and if David and Shaw attempt to land the Ship but then the Ship is then caught and brought over to that Docking Ship  (like some kind of Tractor Beam)  or other Automated Sequence.

David would then feel threatened knowing that they could be trapped by that Docking Device, and then be left with no option to unleash a Bombardment.

@BigDave. Mostly going off what was said about the CinemaCon footage. It stated that the two ships connected and the Juggernaught was docked but still above ground. Im only guessing that some engineers didnt get doused in black goo because david had 2 fresh corpses to study. Im thinking these engineers boarded the juggernaut and crashed with David and Shaw. I doubt David overpowered them through other means or maybe they were already in that state? Cant wait to find out.

@BigDave

I remember this video from a few weeks ago:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKSICi_spRo

Although I must admit this could easily be misdirection by the studio.

Of course these guys might be full of shi*t too :)

I still feel that David would be able to learn all he needs about the Engineers from the ship he and Shaw are flying long before they arrive at Paradise... Through this he would give Shaw her answers she seeks. He can fly their ships, speak their language, surely reading data or accessing knowledge from the ship he is flying would not be beyond his capabilities...I feel they learn what they need prior to arriving and the plan with dropping the goo is formed after they make their discoveries from the ship 

"the gods have rejected mankind as cruel, weak and full of greed,” David then says in a voiceover. “They are a dying species, grasping for resurrection. So they are leaving the earth forever.”He continues, “But their power is an illusion. They don’t deserve to start again, and I’m not going to let them.”

i think ink this statement is not made in the movie during the bombing sequence but it's taken from a conversation later in the movie..... Perhaps David is telling Walter his plans for mankind right before he destroys Walter or uses him for his final stage experiments possibly. By this point in the movie David would have learned what the Covenant is and its plans to colonize. I feel he would infer that this is the inception of mankind searching for alternate home worlds planning for the day Earth no longer can support us.

i could see him delivering this dialog to Walter as he has poor Walter confined or trapped in his plan before he takes him over or shuts him down for his nefarious plans

@KurtisRay

i can't imagine that those guys have the origin of the xenomorph correct. that would screw up the timeline and a lot of what ridley scott has stated

I agree that david may not be the instigator of an airstrike on the engineers, but david did knowingly infect holloway and did not care at all about the outcome, he is a proven deceiver. Using the black goo en masse is just the next step up the experiment ladder. As he is an android, why would he care about 'species' as a completely different form of sentience from living consciousness?

I think david does it, shaw buys into it because of something learnt along the way, and something causes their crash. Why david would leave shaw alone is anyones guess, maybe he doesnt as she has no defence against him.

the bigger question is, would an interplanetary species like the engineers have one planet as a homeworld? Would david and shaw have enough skill to sneak right up to them and would there not be an engineer retaliation from other bases or planets they occupy? One bombing and species over? Seems too easy.

I'm sure David 8 was upset that the Engineer tore his head off so he most certainly could have shifted mass death priorities upon that action.

If David or Shaw did bomb the inhabitants below, why them are they all frozen in time like mannequins?

Is it possible a higher race 'nuked' them all from the Scorpion-Naught-ship with some sort of out-break controlling energy pulse?

IMHO - David bombing them all just to see what happens is a very lame idea.  If David could just ride up on them & kill them all, how could they have survived as long as they have?

Sorry, but I am just not sold on the 'bombing' idea.  To me, the screen shot of David in the bomb bay looks like a comic book drawing?

I just want to be amazed, again!!!