# Aliens - so what were the Colonial Marines actually prepared for (tactically)? **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [January 29, 2015, 7:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260 "2015-01-29T19:36:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 6
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/101 "2018-09-22T00:59:16Z")
Wow. This thread was in cryosleep so long it drifted right through the core topics. And it’s really just blind luck that a deep salvage team found it when they did. It’s one in a thousand, really. > [@Jophiel](#): > > Edit: Actually, Bishop also says that the dropship crash caused too much damage for them to shut down the reactor. So either the firefight contributed to the issues by rupturing the cooling pipes or you can assume that since only two Marines had wepaons they were firing, they just didn’t hit anything vital. Or they did but it’s compounded by the dropship crash. Anyway, it’s not an issue for me. All that alien acid blood splashed everywhere probably contributed a lot more damage to the reactor than the bullets. IIRC, I think the dropship just severed some cables between the control center and the reactor that would have enabled them to try and fix stuff from the control center. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 3:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/102 "2018-09-22T03:41:07Z")
> [@msmith537](#): > > All that alien acid blood splashed everywhere probably contributed a lot more damage to the reactor than the bullets. That’s true. Though the basic fact remains that “shooting bullets down there” was a bad thing that led to bad results. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/103 "2018-09-22T04:41:53Z")
Shoulda just used their knives and sharp sticks. ---
**Author:** ![Chronos](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chronos/32/134_2.png) [@Chronos](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chronos)\ **Post date:** [September 22, 2018, 1:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/104 "2018-09-22T13:05:37Z")
Trademarks are specific to their area of use, especially for a symbol as simple as Ralston-Purina’s. If they had shown that icon to represent pet food or breakfast cereal, then Ralston-Purina could go after them for that (assuming that there wasn’t some sort of agreement in place to allow it, which there probably would have been). But there’s nothing at all infringing about using something vaguely similar to the Ralston-Purina checkerboard to represent a danger symbol. ---
**Author:** ![glowacks](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/glowacks/32/5548_2.png) [@glowacks](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/glowacks)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 12:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/105 "2018-09-23T00:24:17Z")
> [@Chronos](#): > > Trademarks are specific to their area of use, especially for a symbol as simple as Ralston-Purina’s. If they had shown that icon to represent pet food or breakfast cereal, then Ralston-Purina could go after them for that (assuming that there wasn’t some sort of agreement in place to allow it, which there probably would have been). But there’s nothing at all infringing about using something vaguely similar to the Ralston-Purina checkerboard to represent a danger symbol. Yeah, a red and white checkerboard symbol is part of the coat of arms of the old royal Croatian family. I’ve been seeing it a lot playing as them in Crusader Kings, and the pattern is still used on the shield in the middle of the modern Croatian flag. ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 12:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/106 "2018-09-23T00:46:54Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > Shoulda just used their knives and sharp sticks. 🙂 that, or the sonic electronic ball-breakers. (knifing an alien would presumably also have sprayed acid all over the place…) ---
**Author:** ![Banksiaman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/banksiaman/32/3334_2.png) [@Banksiaman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Banksiaman)\ **Post date:** [September 23, 2018, 3:55am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/107 "2018-09-23T03:55:37Z")
> [@glowacks](#): > > Yeah, a red and white checkerboard symbol is part of the coat of arms of the old royal Croatian family. I’ve been seeing it a lot playing as them in Crusader Kings, and the pattern is still used on the shield in the middle of the modern Croatian flag. Its on every single fucking souvenir in the country!!! ---
**Author:** ![DPRK](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/4491bb/32.png) [@DPRK](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DPRK)\ **Post date:** [September 24, 2018, 10:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/108 "2018-09-24T22:04:13Z")
The logo digression got me thinking: what the W-Y logo _does_ resemble, is a [Faravahar](https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f9/Faravahar-Gold.svg). No way that is a coincidence? ---
**Author:** ![CaptMurdock](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/captmurdock/32/11736_2.png) [@CaptMurdock](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CaptMurdock)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 12:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/109 "2018-09-25T00:07:29Z")
> [@AncientHumanoid](#): > > This > > Burke pretty much shows me that the main mission wasn’t really rescue and relief, but retrieval of bio-something for The Company. So, I wouldn’t be surprised (in the Aliens universe) that W/Y actually held back critical intel. > > IMHO, YMMV Now that you mention it…Apone says “it’s a rescue mission” when the Marines are having breakfast aboard the Sulaco. Now, let’s say a possible scenario (besides the downed transmitter) was something that was possible hazardous to the colony but most of the colonists were still alive, just in need of evacuation… …how the hell were they going to get over a hundred colonists off LV-426? I would think _some_ of the grunts would be saying, “if we need to evac the colony, Sarge, how we gonna do it?” :dubious: ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:07am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/110 "2018-09-25T03:07:15Z")
You can rescue someone from a threat or dangerous situation without moving them from where they are. A rescue and an evacuation are not necessarily synonymous. ---
**Author:** ![Bryan\_Ekers](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bryan_ekers/32/183_2.png) [@Bryan\_Ekers](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bryan_Ekers)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/111 "2018-09-25T03:10:26Z")
> [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](#): > > A rescue and an evacuation are not necessarily synonymous. If virginity is involved, I should hope not! ---
**Author:** ![Novelty\_Bobble](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/a3d4f5/32.png) [@Novelty\_Bobble](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Novelty_Bobble)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 7:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/112 "2018-09-25T07:47:55Z")
And, sadly, it is “game over man” for actor [Al Matthews](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/al-matthews-dead-cigar-chomping-sgt-apone-aliens-dies-at-75-1146419) who played Sgt. Apone. If there’s any nuking to be done from orbit he’s now in an ideal position to carry it out. RIP you crazy bad-ass. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 9:21am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/113 "2018-09-25T09:21:35Z")
> [@CaptMurdock](#): > > …how the hell were they going to get over a hundred colonists off LV-426? I would think _some_ of the grunts would be saying, “if we need to evac the colony, Sarge, how we gonna do it?” :dubious: Secure a landing zone and ferry them up in the drop ship, 60 at a time. ---
**Author:** ![Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/intergalactic_gladiator/32/112_2.png) [@Intergalactic\_Gladiator](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Intergalactic_Gladiator)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/114 "2018-09-25T14:19:19Z")
And they did have two dropships, I believe. ---
**Author:** ![Alessan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/alessan/32/465_2.png) [@Alessan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Alessan)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/115 "2018-09-25T14:29:06Z")
They really screwed up when it came to securing their original LZ, though. They either should have left a full squad of troops surrounding the drop ship, or they should have sent it back up. I blame Gorman. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/116 "2018-09-25T14:31:01Z")
Maybe the future is different than we imagine, but doesn’t it strike anyone as a really bad idea to leave a fully armed combat vessel orbiting with NO ONE on board? Some grab happy “salvage” crew could find it and rob it blind. Or take the whole ship. If they can’t run the engines because of security, they could just tow it. Not to mention the tactical stupidity of not having a backup in case both the drop ship AND the comm gets damaged. You could make a move: “Open Space” A crew is stranded on a planet lights years from home with no way to get up to the ship. They could at least have left Bishop there as the ship’s robo-butler. ---
**Author:** ![Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/7cd45c/32.png) [@Elendil\_s\_Heir](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elendil_s_Heir)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:31pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/117 "2018-09-25T14:31:58Z")
> [@Novelty\_Bobble](#): > > And, sadly, it is “game over man” for actor [Al Matthews](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/al-matthews-dead-cigar-chomping-sgt-apone-aliens-dies-at-75-1146419) who played Sgt. Apone. If there’s any nuking to be done from orbit he’s now in an ideal position to carry it out. > > RIP you crazy bad-ass. _…If the Army and the Navy Ever look on Heaven’s scenes; They will find the streets are guarded By United States [Colonial] Marines._ At ease, Sergeant, and rest in peace. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/118 "2018-09-25T14:35:01Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > Secure a landing zone and ferry them up in the drop ship, 60 at a time. I was going to say that the depiction of the _Sulaco_ didn’t give the impression that it has stasis capsules for everyone but Wiki tells me that it “has sufficient life support capabilities for 90 crew and passengers (with up to 2,000 possible in hibernation for short-term trips).” ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 2:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/119 "2018-09-25T14:38:19Z")
> [@Alessan](#): > > They really screwed up when it came to securing their original LZ, though. They either should have left a full squad of troops surrounding the drop ship, or they should have sent it back up. I blame Gorman. The drop ship crew didn’t seem to think it was a bad idea. Spunkmeyer went out to take a leak and left the door wide open. Gorman didn’t make him do that. Ferro should have just kept flying. Or at worst, found some tall rock to land on a couple miles away. I blame Cameron. He really wanted to set up the situation like Ten Little Indians. If they could have just left, it wouldn’t be much of a movie. But the incredibly stupid tactics the Marines used to get to that point in the movie were really glaringly bad. ---
**Author:** ![MichaelEmouse](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/michaelemouse/32/101_2.png) [@MichaelEmouse](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MichaelEmouse)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2018, 3:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260/120 "2018-09-25T15:27:20Z")
> [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](#): > > The drop ship crew didn’t seem to think it was a bad idea. Spunkmeyer went out to take a leak and left the door wide open. Gorman didn’t make him do that. Ferro should have just kept flying. Or at worst, found some tall rock to land on a couple miles away. > > I blame Cameron. He really wanted to set up the situation like Ten Little Indians. If they could have just left, it wouldn’t be much of a movie. But the incredibly stupid tactics the Marines used to get to that point in the movie were really glaringly bad. Given that Aliens had significant Vietnam subtext, bravado chasing out caution seems apt. As for ferrying civilians: Was there really no one, even androids, on the Sulaco except the people we saw? The Wiki page says it’s nearly 80 000 tons which is about as big as an aircraft carrier. Presumably, the Sulaco would have many dropships with better autopilot than today which could land once the perimeter is secure and the civilians located. Technology in the Alien franchise is a little strange. Interstellar travel is common enough that the crew of Alien1 are blue-collar space truckers but they use CRT monitors (unlike 2001 Space Odyssey with its flat screens and tablets). Sentry guns are trusted to autofire but reconnaissance drones are little used. Androids are superhuman with dog-like loyalty and no family that will ask questions but a squad is made of up 1 android and many humans instead of the other way around. [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260.md?page=5) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/aliens-so-what-were-the-colonial-marines-actually-prepared-for-tactically/711260.md?page=7)