First Acheron Queen
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The First Acheron Queen was a Xenomorph Queen born on Acheron (LV-426) in 2179. She was the original leader of the Hive at the colony of Hadley's Hope, and was later encountered there by a unit of Colonial Marines from the USS Sulaco. She was was ultimately killed when she was flushed into space by Ellen Ripley.
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Biography
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EmergenceEdit
At some point during the Hadley's Hope Xenomorph infestation, a Queen developed within the Hive inside the colony's Atmosphere Processor; the exact time at which this occurred is unknown. Once she had fully matured, she began to lay her own eggs as her Warriors continued to bring captive colonists to the Hive to act as hosts.
When a squad of Colonial Marines under the command of Lieutenant Gorman and accompanied by Ripley arrived at Hadley's Hope to investigate, they were almost wiped out by Xenomorph Warriors in an ambush inside the Hive, with the few survivors forced to retreat. The Queen herself remained unseen deep within the Hive, although Ripley and the other survivors later theorized as to her existence, reasoning that something had to have laid the Eggs they saw prior to the ambush.
Encounter with RipleyEdit
Added by UltimatexRipley later came face-to-face with the Queen during her attempt to rescue Newt, the last survivor from the colony, who had been captured by the Xenomorphs and taken to the Hive to be impregnated. Facing the Queen alone and surrounded by Warriors, Ripley reasoned with the creature, threatening to destroy all of her Eggs if she and Newt were attacked. Apparently understanding, the Queen signalled her circling Warriors to let them leave. However, when one of the Eggs hatched, Ripley incinerated the nest with her flamethrower and destroyed the Queen's ovipositor with grenades from her Pulse Rifle before fleeing, believing the Alien dead. Enraged, the Queen detached herself from her eggsac and pursued the fleeing humans.
The Queen utilized an elevator to follow Ripley and Newt to the top floor landing platform, where she cornered them on the landing pad. However, Ripley and Newt managed to escape in the Colonial Marines' dropship, which arrived before the Queen could close in. During a hasty escape, the dropship collided with the landing pad and collected debris on one of its landing skids, allowing the Queen to stow away in the ship's landing gear, unbeknownst to those on board. Moments after the dropship left the Atmosphere Processor it went critical, vaporizing the Hive and all but destroying Hadley's Hope.
Aboard the SulacoEdit
A short while later, in the main hangar of the USCM transport ship USS Sulaco orbiting above Acheron, the Queen emerged from her hiding place, ripping the android Bishop in two and setting upon Newt. However, she was foiled by Ripley, who fought her off in a Power Loader and threw her into the Sulaco's hangar airlock. She was subsequently shot out into space, likely perishing from exposure, or possibly burning up as she re-entered LV-426's atmosphere.
After deathEdit
It was later revealed that the Queen had smuggled a single Egg aboard the Sulaco. This would later spawn a Royal Facehugger that caused the death of Newt and infected Ripley with another Queen embryo.[2] On LV-426, several Xenomorphs survived the Atmosphere Processor's detonation and a second Queen soon emerged to create a new Hive.
TraitsEdit
As a fairly young specimen, the first Queen on Acheron was notably smaller than other examples that have been encountered.[3][4] Even so, she still towered over the Warriors around her and was a formidable physical presence, standing some 15' high. While she spent most of her life attached to her enormous ovipositor and therefore immobile, when separated she was a terrifying aggressor with strength sufficient to hold her own against a Caterpillar P-5000 Work Loader.
IntelligenceEdit
As with all Queens, the first Queen on LV-426 was endowed with heightened intelligence superior to virtually all other Xenomorphs. She was the unequivocal leader of the Hive on LV-426, overseeing and commanding all of the Warriors there.[1] Judging by her ability to issue orders to her brood, it is possible that the Queen played a part in the Warriors' attacks on the inhabitants and, later, Marines at the colony, orchestrating their assaults in a similar fashion to a general.
The Queen was shown to possess adept reasoning and learning skills, able to understand the basic concept of an elevator after seeing it in use only once. She even went so far as to directly "negotiate" with Ripley when the two entered a stalemate within the Hive. It is also debated that she may have had a higher understanding of other emotional concepts; for example, during her ferocious pursuit of Newt aboard the USS Sulaco, it is not clear whether the Queen was acting merely on instinct, seeking to secure a host for the beginnings of a new Hive, or whether she was specifically intending to avenge the destruction of her brood.
Behind the ScenesEdit
The Queen in Aliens was portrayed by a combination of a full-size animatronic model and small-scale miniatures.[5] The full-size Queen, constructed by Stan Winston's special effects company, was mounted on a large crane that was kept out of shot through clever editing, and consisted of a hydraulically-operated head and neck, puppeted legs, and a cable-operated face and jaws. The entire construct required 14-16 external crewmembers to operate.[5] Additionally, two stuntmen were encased within the creature's chest operating the four arms. Miniatures were used for the fight with the Power Loader, as well as shots of the Queen's enormous ovipositor laying Eggs within the Hive.[5]
AppearancesEdit
- Aliens/novel (First Appearance)
- Aliens: Newt's Tale
- Aliens: Colonial Marines Technical Manual (mentioned only)
GalleryEdit
ReferencesEdit
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 James Cameron (writer and director). Aliens [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ↑ Vincent Ward (writer) and David Fincher (director). Alien3 Assembly Cut [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ↑ Paul W.S. Anderson (writer and director). Alien vs. Predator [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
- ↑ Aliens vs. Predator [Microsoft Windows, PlayStation 3, Xbox 360]. Rebellion.
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 5.2 James Cameron, Gale Anne Hurd, Gordon Carroll, David Giler, Walter Hill, Stan Winston. Superior Firepower: The Making of 'Aliens' [DVD]. 20th Century Fox.
