History Characters / AlienSulaco

[[foldercontrol]]

!Crew of the ''USS Sulaco''

[[folder:In General]]
!!USS Sulaco
[[quoteright:308:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/sulaco_crew_6456.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:308: Ripley and the Colonial Space Marines.[[note]]Hudson, Burke, Wierzbowski, Dietrich, Vasquez, Crowe, Hicks, Ripley, Drake, Frost, Spunkmeyer, Bishop, Gorman, Ferro, Apone.[[/note]]]]

The USS Sulaco is a Conestoga-class starship that transports Ripley and the Colonial Space Marines.

* Sgt. Al Apone
* Corp. Collette Ferro
* Corp. Dwayne Hicks
* Pvt. Timothy Crowe
* Pvt. Cynthia Dietrich
* Pvt. Mark Drake
* Pvt. Ricardo Frost
* Pvt. William Hudson
* Pvt. Jenette Vasquez
* Pvt. Daniel Spunkmeyer
* Pvt. Trevor Wierzbowski
* Bishop

With additions for the 'bug hunt':

* Ellen Ripley
* Lt. William Gorman
* Carter J. Burke

* ArmorIsUseless
* BadassBoast: The Sulaco insignia: "Bugstomper. We endanger species."
* BadassCrew
* TheCavalry: They're meant to be, but find themselves in need of a cavalry themselves.
* CurbStompBattle
* DwindlingParty
* RatedMForManly
* SemperFi
* SendInTheSearchTeam
* SmartGun
* SpaceMarine
* WeWillWearArmourInTheFuture
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Gorman]]
!!Lieutenant William Gorman
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/gorman.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"I want this thing to go smooth and by the numbers."'']]
->'''Played By:''' William Hope

->'''Ripley''': How many drops is this for you, Lieutenant?
->'''Gorman''': Thirty eight. (''{{Beat}}'') Simulated.
->'''Vasquez''': How many '''combat''' drops?
->'''Gorman''': Uh, two. Including this one.

A lieutenant recruited by Burke to lead the mission. He was inexperienced, having gone through 38 simulated drops, but only one previous combat drop. He is also slow to understand situations and often needs things explained to him.
----
* ArmchairMilitary: Gorman commands from a comfy chair, far away from the real danger.
** Subverted ironically when he does much better when personally faced with danger and others to make the decisions.
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler:Surrounded by Aliens, he and Vasquez blow themselves up instead.]]
* DirtyCoward: Subverted. While he is panicky and quick to freeze when acting as MissionControl, he shows no cowardice in actual combat which makes his fear having responsibility for others than his own self.
* TheDitherer: Gorman is indecisive and panicky, often freezing in difficult situations that call for leadership.
* EnsignNewbie: Only his second combat mission, and his greenness shows.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: One of Gorman's earliest scenes establish his poor commanding skill, when he confuses Hudson with Hicks, allows Apone to discipline the marines and tries to compensate by being needlessly harsh with his orders.
* GeneralFailure: His entire command is basically a massive failure.
* HeroicBSOD: Has one briefly when it seems the most of the squad has been killed and no one left is listening to his orders.
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:He and Vasquez detonate a grenade, killing themselves with a score of aliens.]]
* MissionControl: And not a very helpful one. Even Burke seems better equipped to handle the situation than him.
* TheNeidermeyer: He's not appreciated by his troops as he's not very competent, but it's more because he's in way over his head, rather than out of malice.
-->'''Hudson:''' He's coming in, I feel safer already.
* ThePeterPrinciple: Implied to be the case for Gorman, who is competent and brave when in personal danger like an ordinary soldier, yet can't handle the responsibility of being in a command position.
* RedemptionEqualsDeath: [[spoiler:Gorman is killed after his only display of valor and bravery.]]
* TapOnTheHead: He's knocked out by some overhead boxes, taking him out of the fight until they return to Hadley's Hope.
* WeakWilled: Contributes to his inability to effectively assert his authority over the Marines under his command. May be part of the reason why [[spoiler:he was selected for the mission by Burke, who uses him to issue orders that further his own purposes]].
* YouShallNotPass: [[spoiler:His final act is to stop the aliens from following Ripley and co. through the airshafts.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Apone]]
!!Sergeant Apone
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/apone.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"Look into my eye."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Al Matthews

-->''"All right, sweethearts, what are you waiting for? Breakfast in bed? Another glorious day in the Corps! A day in the Marine Corps is like a day on the farm. Every meal's a banquet! Every paycheck a fortune! Every formation a parade! I ''love'' the Corps! "''

The squad leader of the team sent to investigate LV-426. Far more liked and respected than his C.O, Lieutenant Gorman.
----
* {{Badass}}: By implication, mostly. He's an experienced commander who slugs it out on the front-lines. [[spoiler:He gets taken out like his other troops in the first battle with the aliens.]]
* BoisterousBruiser: A grunt at heart:
-->There's some juicy colonists' daughters we have to rescue from their virginity.
* CigarChomper: He apparently keeps some in his hypersleep chamber, since he puts one in his mouth seconds after getting up.
* DeadpanSnarker: Oh, he engages in a lot of snark-to-snark combat with Hudson.
* FateWorseThanDeath: [[spoiler:APC readouts show he isn't killed in the attack, making it more likely he was cocooned by the xenomorphs. It's not revealed if he was parasitized prior to the reactor explosion.]]
* AFatherToHisMen: He loves his Marines to death. [[spoiler:His falling in combat devastates his platoon.]]
* NiceHat: As displayed to the right.
* ReasonableAuthorityFigure: When Ripley asks if she could help them out with the Loaders, he allows her to do so and is impressed at how much of a natural she is with them.
* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:You'd be forgiven for thinking he was going to impact the story more than he did. Initially, Apone enjoys lots of screentime with memorable lines aided by a wonderfully hammy performance from Al Matthews...but during the first incursion, he's quickly taken out by an alien. Apone's demise serves to show that even lovable badasses are not immune to a horrible FateWorseThanDeath.]]
* SergeantRock: Practically '''the''' classic example.
* TheWorfEffect: [[spoiler:While many of the marines who die early on were stamped with 'faceless cannon fodder' across their chests, Apone and Drake's deaths shows just how serious the alien threat is.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Hicks]]
!!Corporal Dwayne Hicks
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hicks_duane.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"It's a bughunt."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/MichaelBiehn

->''"We're all in strung out shape, but {{stay frosty}} and alert. We can't afford to let one of those bastards in here."''

One of the Colonial Marines who took charge when the squad's Sergeant Apone was taken alive by the Aliens and commanding officer Lt. Gorman was knocked out. He was later wounded after a burst of acid from an alien encounter began to burn through his armor.

While not comfortable taking over the role as squad leader, his demeanor, unlike the machismo bravado of other squad members showed a thoughtful intelligence. Sincere and impartial, he was open to any suggestions as to how to defeat the Alien invasion.

{{Trope Namer|s}} for StayFrosty.
----
* AncestralWeapon: In the novelization of ''Aliens'' it is revealed that Hicks' shotgun ("I like to keep this handy for close encounters") is an heirloom that has been in his family for generations; Hicks' great-great-great-grandfather used it during the Vietnam War.
* {{Badass}}: Hicks is a solid badass, frequently showing his combat expertise. [[spoiler:He's also the only Marine to survive the film.]] Let's not forget that he was the one that peered into the ceiling vents for xenomorphs, then immediately took point on top of a desk to defend the group. Badass indeed.
* {{Bandage B|abe}}oy: After getting a face full of Xenomorph blood, he spends the remainder of the movie bandaged up.
* BewareTheQuietOnes: Next to the other marines, he prefers not to make a show of his badassery and while he's not adverse to wisecracks, he tends to keep them to a minimum, preferring to get the job done and boy does he get it done!
* ChekhovsSkill: He teaches Ripley how to use a pulse rifle, which comes in handy later.
* DeadpanSnarker
* GivingThemTheStrip
* HandsOnApproach
* KnightInSourArmor: Not as much as Ripley, but still is one after the squad is decimated.
* TheLancer: To Apone and later Ripley.
* NervesOfSteel: After [[spoiler: his unit gets largely wiped out,]] unlike Gorman, (who freezes up under pressure and then gets knocked out) Hudson, (who becomes a nervous wreck) and Vasquez, (who enters a murderous rage) Hicks never once loses his cool.
* NiceGuy: Promises to protect Ripley should anything happen, but respects her strength and ability to take care of herself just the same. He even teaches her how to load and fire the rifles so as to better defend herself.
* OhCrap
* OneLiner
* PapaWolf: To a degree, he is this towards Newt: he's certainly the most affectionate and protective towards her of all the Marines.
* SoleSurvivor: [[spoiler: Of the marines sent to LV-426. Ripley and Newt are both civilians, and Bishop is a navy android.]]
* StayFrosty: Probably the most famous use of the phrase, and it fits Hicks very well. He even ''falls asleep'' during the drop ship ride!
-->'''Apone:''' Somebody wake up Hicks!
* SuddenSequelDeathSyndrome: [[spoiler:He dies in the opening of ''Alien 3'', unless you count ''VideoGame/AliensColonialMarines'' as canon. Also, he will be returning in the yet-untitled fifth ''Alien'' film.]]
* UnresolvedSexualTension: With Ripley.
* YouAreInCommandNow: [[spoiler:After Apone's death.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Hudson]]
!!Pvt. William Hudson
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/hudson.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"We're on the express elevator to hell, going down!"'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/BillPaxton

->''"That's it, man. Game over, man! Game over! What the fuck are we gonna do now? What are we gonna do?"''

The squad's jokester and computer tech expert. He seemed arrogant and overconfident of his squad's firepower and abilities. However, he soon cracked under large amounts of stress after most of his Marine squad were taken during the Alien attack in the hive. Later on, he was able to pull himself together and regain his composure.
----
* {{Badass}}: While it may not seem like it, Hudson actually ''does'' back up his BadassBoast when push comes to shove. He eventually finds his bravery in the heat of battle.
* BadassBoast: In the Special Edition Hudson attempts one that even uses the word "badass" as often as he can. He does not deal well with the loss of the high-tech gear that he describes in said boast. He does go down shooting while spitting out even more 'heat of battle' boasts, as well. An Alien has to ambush him from below to take him down.
-->"I'm ready, man. Check it out! I am the ultimate bad-ass! State of the bad-ass art! You do not want to fuck with me. Check it out! Hey, Ripley, don't worry. Me and my squad of ultimate bad-asses will protect you! Check it out. Independently targeting particle-beam phalanx. WHAP! Fry half a city with this puppy. We got tactical smart missiles, phase plasma pulse rifles, [=RPG=]s. We got sonic, electronic ball breakers! We got nukes, we got knives, sharp sticks!"

-->"Come on! Come on! Come and get it, baby! Come on! I don't got all day! Come on! Come on! Come on you bastard! Come on, you too! Oh, you want some of this? Fuck you!"
* BashBrothers: [[spoiler:Following Drake's death, he settles into a somewhat begrudging BashBrothers relationship with Vasquez.]]
* TheBerserker: After recovering from his HeroicBSOD, Hudson is a beast in combat. He's firing and yelling and basically going a bit crazy.
* BoisterousBruiser: Hudson's a big guy with a bigger mouth.
%%* BruiserWithASoftCenter
* CowardlyLion: Hudson spends a lot of time panicking in some snarky way or another, but eventually shows he's a capable elite soldier.
-->"How do I get out of this chickenshit outfit?"
* DareToBeBadass: He gets a roundabout one of these from Ripley.
-->'''Ripley:''' Hudson! This little girl survived longer than that with no weapons and no training. [to Newt] Right?
-->'''Hudson:''' Why don't you put her in charge?
-->'''Ripley:''' You better just start dealing with it, Hudson! Listen to me! Hudson, just deal with it, because we need you and I'm sick of your bullshit.
* DeadpanSnarker: Oh, absolutely. Even more so when he's [[HeroicBSOD losing his shit]]. Hudson is probably the most quotable character in the entire film.
-->'''Apone:''' What do you want me to do, fetch your slippers for you?
-->'''Hudson:''' Gee, would you sir? I'd like that.

-->'''Hudson:''' Hey, maybe you haven't been keeping up on current events, but we just got our asses kicked, pal!

-->'''Bishop:''' I'm afraid I have some bad news.
-->'''Hudson:''' Well, that's a switch!
* DefiantToTheEnd: [[spoiler:He may have been something of a panicky, whiny bitch up 'til then, but when his time comes to buy it on that rock, he damn sure doesn't go out like one.]]
* DoomedContrarian: Constantly questions the actions of his team-mates, and meets a grizzly (but brave) end.
* FriendToAllChildren: While the others were preoccupied with stopping the facehugger from getting Ripley, he himself killed the one that was going after Newt.
** He even effectively shields her with his own body, should the facehugger lunge at them.
* HeroicBSOD: Though Ripley snaps him out of it enough that he is still useful to the team.
* HypocriticalHumor: While searching the complex, the Marines find a hole made by acid. Hudson spits down it and then tells Vasquez, who is standing next to him, to quit fooling around
* LargeHam: Bill Paxton decided to play the obnoxious team jokester by swallowing the scenery whole: "I am the ''ultimate'' badass! State of the badass art! You do NOT wanna fuck with me!"
* JerkWithAHeartOfGold: Hudson is obnoxious, overbearing, immensely arrogant and can come across as a coward who crumbles under pressure. Despite all this, he's a good, loyal man at heart.
* NonActionSnarker: Though, in this case, "Non-Action" refers more to ''not taking action'' or doing anything constructive, rather than not kicking ass, which he ''does'' do later.
* OnlyAFleshWound: [[spoiler:Unlike with Drake, Vasquez and Hicks, Hudson recovered quickly after taking a spray of acid blood to his left arm.]]
* PluckyComicRelief: Until about mid-way through the film when shit gets serious. He's still pretty funny.
* PunchClockHero: Points it out when Gorman asks him about the xenotunnels.
-->You tell me, I only work here.
* {{Retirony}}: [[spoiler:He was only four weeks away from being out.]]
* TheSmartGuy: Surprisingly, yes. Hudson might seem like a dumb grunt, but he's responsible for the technical work in the squad, hacking open the main door on the marine's arrival, being the primary motion sensor operator (and the first to locate something with it, though it turned out to be [[CatScare hamsters]]), later tasked with pulling blueprints of the facility from the computer system (work that seemed to help him regain his composure) and is also the one seen setting up the emplaced sentry guns. In the Special Edition, [[HiddenDepths he correctly theorizes the nature of the Xenomorph's insect ecology as well.]]
* TookALevelInBadass: He's a whiny spaz for most of the movie. Then his unit starts dropping. And so do his balls.
%%* TookALevelInKindness
* VerbalTic: Man, Hudson says 'Man' a lot, man.
* YouShallNotPass: [[spoiler:He makes a final stand against the Aliens, but sadly, it doesn't take. They come from below.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Vasquez]]
!!Pvt. Jenette Vasquez
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/vasquez_jeanette.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"Look, man. I only need to know one thing: Where they are."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Jeannette Goldstein

->'''Hudson:''' Hey, Vasquez, you ever been mistaken for a man?
->'''Vasquez:''' No, have [[InsultBackfire you]]?

A smartgunner on the Sulaco, partnered with Drake. Vasquez survived the hive and helped seal off the complex from the aliens.

{{Trope Namer|s}} for VasquezAlwaysDies.
----
* ActionGirl: Vasquez is a BloodKnight with a massive gun, always willing to throw herself into the action.
* AmbiguouslyGay: Rather butch, and has a woman's name tattooed on her arm. Some of the looks she gives Ripley and Drake could be interpreted in certain ways.
* {{Badass}}: Vasquez kills scores of aliens, never shows any fear and enjoys combat. She's also one of the very few characters in the series to ''physically'' attack an alien, as seen when she slams a xenomorph's head into the wall of the air-duct with the heel of her boot and blasts the shit out of it with her hand-gun.
* BashBrothers: With Drake, her fellow M56 Smart Gun operator. Later, she settles into a quieter BashBrothers relationship with Hudson.
* BetterToDieThanBeKilled: [[spoiler:Along with Gorman, they blow themselves up instead of facing death by Xenomorph.]]
* TheBigGuy: When the team gets whittled down. Vasquez always carries the {{BFG}} and provides most of the suppressing fire.
* BloodKnight: ''"I only need to know one thing: where they are."''
* BoobsOfSteel: Jeanette Goldstein had to strap herself down, and Vasquez still manages to look stacked. In real life Goldstein even went on to found a famous clothing company that makes bras in extra large cup sizes.
* {{Brownface}}: A badass Latina, played by a Jewish woman.
* ButchLesbian: Maybe. See AmbiguouslyGay.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: Chin-ups and a demolishing comeback against Hudson immediately establish her tomboyish martial prowess, her sharp tongue and her comradeship with Drake.
* GoodLookingPrivates: Bonus points for her rank actually being private. She's almost as beloved among lesbian fans of the series as Ripley is.
* GratuitousSpanish: Slips into her native tongue when angered, but also in general conversation -- "Hey, ''mira'' (look), who's Snow White?"
* HeroicSacrifice: [[spoiler:Her and Gorman.]]
* ItHasBeenAnHonor: In her cantankerous style, her LastWords "You always were an asshole, Gorman" also carry the implication of such an acknowledgment. She also gives Gorman the "power grip", her ritual for greeting and departure she only shared with the chosen few like Drake.
* TheLadette: She's noticeably the butchest female in the film.
* LatinoIsBrown: Averted. She's dark skinned by Anglo-Saxon standards but well within the skin tone of Southern Europeans.
* NiceJobBreakingItHero: Nice Job Shooting that Alien With Exploding Rounds and Killing Your Boyfriend, Vasquez.
** Of course, if she hadn't shot the alien probably would have gotten him anyway.
** This leads to a minor HeroicBSOD where she wants to go back for him, but circumstances prevent her from doing so.
* SpicyLatina: Through a FakeNationality. Jennette Goldstein is actually Jewish.
* SurvivorsGuilt: She was the one who shot the alien attacking Drake, spraying his face with acid.
* TankTopTomboy: The quintessential butch chick in the franchise, and first depicted in a tank top doing chin-ups.
* YouShallNotPass: [[spoiler:Achieved through a HeroicSacrifice.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Drake]]
!!Pvt. Mark Drake
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Drake__454.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"They ain't payin' us enough for this, man."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/MarkRolston

The smartgunning partner of Vasquez. The two marines shared a special bond. [[spoiler:During the first encounter with the xenomorphs he is fatally wounded after being splashed by the creatures' acid blood.]]
----
* {{Badass}}: Everything about his general demeanour and look.
* BashBrothers: With Vasquez -- the two smart-gunners both take point when infiltrating the LV-426 compound, effectively leading the charge.
* BelligerentSexualTension: Also with Vasquez.
* {{BFG}}: Like Vasquez, he wields a massive smart-gun.
* TheBigGuy: Don't mess with Drake...or he'll mess you up.
* CruelAndUnusualDeath: Gets covered with acid from a dead xenomorph, causing him to set himself on fire with his flamethrower.
* PlayingWithFire: Wields a flamethrower after his smart gun runs dry.
* SacrificialLion: [[spoiler:With his intimidating appearance, {{BFG}} and BashBrothers relationship with Vasquez, Drake seems like he'll be pretty tough. He goes down like the other marines, proving just how dangerous the aliens are.]]
* YouShallNotPass: Covers the Marines' retreat after the first encounter with the xenomorphs.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Bishop]]
!!Bishop
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Bishop__3807.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"I prefer the term "Artificial Person" myself."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/LanceHenriksen

-->''"Not bad for a...human."''

The android executive officer assigned to the Sulaco, primarily responsible for planetary maneuvering. Unlike Ash, he was loyal to his seniors, colleagues and especially Ripley. Although Bishop tried to be friendly to Ripley, she did not trust him until he had proved himself.
----
* ActionSurvivor: Despite having ''literally'' no offensive capabilities whatsoever, [[spoiler: Bishop is one of the four people to survive the events of the film.]]
* AlienBlood: White, in a CallBack to the first film, as shown in his RoboticReveal.
* ArtificialHuman: He's even [[BloodierAndGorier gooey inside]].
* BadassBaritone: It's Lance Henriksen. Of course he has this.
** BadassPacifist: Possibly an ActualPacifist, to the extent that his programming may restrict him from being able to commit any violent acts whatsoever. That being said, he volunteers for the extremely dangerous task of reprogramming the outside antenna to call down a dropship from the Sulaco, waited for Ripley to return from her near-suicidal mission to retrieve Newt from the Alien hive while the Atmosphere Processor Reactor exploded around him, and saved [[spoiler:Newt from being sucked out into space when Ripley depressurized the cargo bay to eject the Alien Queen]].
* BigDamnHeroes: [[spoiler:Bishop swoops in to save Ripley and Newt when the Queen corners them.]]
* CastingGag: Lance Henriksen was Creator/JamesCameron's first choice for the role of the T-800 in ''Film/TheTerminator'', which may have impacted his decision to cast Henriksen as a ''friendly'' cyborg in this movie.
* TheCavalry: For Ripley and Hicks.
* DeadpanSnarker: Bishop has his moments. Given their situation, it borders on GallowsHumor.
-->'''Bishop:''' "Believe me, I'd prefer not to. I may be synthetic, but I'm not stupid."
-->'''Bishop:''' "In nineteen minutes, this area's gonna be a cloud of vapor the size of Nebraska."
* DoesntLikeGuns: Refuses to take along a pistol when he leaves to summon the dropship. It's explained in outside sources that he has no directives for combat, but even in the extenuating circumstances the film presents, it wouldn't have done him much good if he encountered any aliens en route.
* EncyclopaedicKnowledge: Part of the job of military synthetics is to be a "generic expert" in a wide variety of fields, and such are programmed with a wide array of knowledge. This allows them to be consulted when the unit has need of specialized information (as they might when fighting on exo-planets they may know nothing about) that a typical grunt would not be expected to know.
* EstablishingCharacterMoment: The memorable knife scene swiftly establishes Bishop's NervesOfSteel, [[RoboticReveal reveals him as an android,]] and his subsequent conversation with Ripley shows him to be [[NiceGuy a caring and sensitive soul.]]
* HalfTheManHeUsedToBe: [[spoiler: Is torn clear in two by the alien queen. He lives.]]
* HiddenDepths: Bishop is a talented [[FiveFingerFillet Five-Finger Fillet]] player, and in fact provides the current page image.
* ImpaledWithExtremePrejudice: [[spoiler:Immediately followed up by HalfTheManHeUsedToBe.]]
* MadeOfPlasticine: The alien queen quite literally rips him in half. Good thing androids aren't susceptible to shock. Or blood loss. [[AllThereInTheManual However, The Colonial Marines Technical Manual]] notes that androids are in many ways more delicate than humans, especially their artificial musculature, justifying the trope.
* NervesOfSteel: Bishop keeps calm and cool at every situation that is thrown his way, whether it's ''volunteering'' to go outside of the safety of the installation to go call the dropship while being completely unarmed, [[spoiler: rescuing Ripley and Newt from both the Alien queen and a nuclear blast, or being HalfTheManHeUsedToBe and saving Newt from being airlocked along with the alien queen.]] Even more impressive when Bishop reveals that he's just scared as everyone else and is yet is still entirely willing to do these things. Bishop's got '''balls''', man.
* NiceGuy: [[JustifiedTrope Military synthetics are built for it]], as their appearance and manner have been calculated to make them approachable, trustworthy, and non-threatening as a means of fostering unit cohesion.
* NonActionGuy: He hands back the pistol that Hudson gives him due to his non-hostile programing while getting ready to crawl into the conduit to the relay station. [[AllThereInTheManual Supplemental materials]] note that combat androids are forbidden by international treaty, so military synthetics are restricted to non-action support roles, like medics, pilots, or general information experts to consult.
* NotQuiteDead: [[spoiler: Contrary to what some might believe, Bishop ''does'' indeed survive the film, albeit with heavy (but by no means irreversible, given his status as an android) damage.]]
* RedHerringMole: Ripley (and by extension the audience) are very suspicious of Bishop due to the previous experience with Ash, not to mention his somewhat creepy mannerisms.
* RidiculouslyHumanRobots: Not only does he look like a perfectly average human, but he's one of the most genuinely likable characters in the film. Justified by his design criteria: most military androids are built to seem non-threatening, calm, and trustworthy in order to integrate better with their unit and help foster squad cohesion.
* RoboticReveal: Played with. He cuts himself with his knife trick, and the white fluid reveals to Ripley (and the audience) that he's a robot. Everyone else already knew though.
* TheSmartGuy: Just part of the territory when you're an android.
* ThreeLawsCompliant: He quotes the First Law almost verbatim.
* WhatMeasureIsANonHuman: Bishop is part of a series of androids who are programmed to easily integrate with human society and is obliged to help his human companions, whether he wants to or not. However, he is undoubtedly self-aware and capable of formulating his own decisions. It is ambiguous whether or not Bishop's courageous actions throughout the film are entirely the result of his programming or his own conscious decisions.
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Ferro]]
!!Corp. Colette Ferro
[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Ferro_6030.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"We're in the pipe, five by five..."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Colette Hiller

-->''"Rough air ahead, we're in for some chop."''

The dropship pilot. She stayed with the craft during the alien ambush.
----
* AcePilot: Her official role in the marine unit.
* AssholeVictim: [[spoiler:A minor case, but she was kind of a dick to Spunkmeyer.]]
* {{Badass}}: [[spoiler:When she turns around and sees an alien in the cockpit of the dropship, she doesn't scream or panic. Instead, she immediately reaches for her sidearm. Unfortunately, it doesn't help her.]]
* CoolShades: She wears nifty reflective aviator shades while flying.
* DangerDeadpan: An excellent example thereof.
* DangerTakesABackseat: [[spoiler:An alien pops up behind her while she's flying.]]
* IceQueen: She's pretty cool and collected to the point of being rude to Spunkmeyer.
* {{Jerkass}}: Mildly, due to her IceQueen persona.
* NotNowKiddo: [[spoiler:She ''really'' should have listened to Spunkmeyer...]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Dietrich]]
!!Corp. Cynthia Dietrich
[[quoteright:320:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/a94476707885a910012065d949702ec5.png]]
[[caption-width-right:320:''"Physically she's okay. Borderline malnutrition, but I don't think any permanent damage."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Cynthia Dale Scott

-->''"Maybe they don't show up on infra-red at all."''

The marines' medic.
----
* FateWorseThanDeath: [[spoiler:Dietrich's vital signs show she's still alive after the fight - which means she was facehugger bait.]]
* KillItWithFire: One of the team's flamethrower operators. [[spoiler:Later manages to kill it - unfortunately, "it" in this case is Frost.]]
* MauveShirt: [[spoiler:Killed during the first encounter with the aliens.]]
* TheMedic: For the marines.
* TheSmartGuy: Makes some intelligent observations (Such as speculating that the Aliens don't show up on infrared).
* UnfriendlyFire: [[spoiler: When Dietrich gets grabbed by the Aliens, she triggers her flamethrower and sets Frost on fire, causing him to fall to his death. Then the ammunition bag he was carrying and was set on fire explodes, blasting Crowe into a wall and breaking his neck.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Frost]]
!!Pvt. Ricco Frost
[[quoteright:300:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/frost5.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:300:''"What do you expect us to use man, harsh language?"'']]
->'''Played By:''' Ricco Ross

-->''"Man, I'm telling you, I got a bad feeling about this drop."''

A trooper and rifleman. Frost was the driver of the unit's APC and seemed to have a good friendship with some of the marines, especially Hicks.
----
* AmbiguouslyBi: It's incredibly subtle, but he seemingly had sex with a male 'Arcturian'. He also has a heart-and-arrow decoration on his armor with the name "Heath", although that isn't necessarily a romantic implication.
* {{Badass}}: By virtue of being a marine and someone who can keep up with Hicks.
* BlackBestFriend: To Hicks; they're usually seen together and exchange banter.
* BlackDudeDiesFirst: [[spoiler:He's the second marine to die, burned alive by Dietrich when an alien grabs her from behind.]]
* CassandraTruth: "I got a bad feeling about this drop." Frost, you have ''no'' idea how right your are.
* DeadpanSnarker: Every other line of Frost's dialogue is this.
-->''[after Ripley blows up at Bishop in the cafeteria]'' "Guess she don't like the cornbread either."
-->''[upon being told he can't use his weapon]'' ''"What do you expect us to use man, harsh language?"''
* KillItWithFire: [[spoiler:How he goes down.]]
* MauveShirt: [[spoiler:Frost gets slightly more characterisation than the other RedShirt marines, but still dies very quickly during the first encounter with the aliens.]]
* TheLancer: To his pal Hicks. [[spoiler:He doesn't last long, however.]]
* RailingKill: [[spoiler: Falls off a catwalk to his death after being set on fire.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Spunkmeyer]]
!!Pvt. Daniel Spunkmeyer
[[quoteright:336:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/6c0b8ecbfa154b28b28cc5df2a1589cd.png]]
[[caption-width-right:336:''"I'm in, ramp closing."'']]
->'''Played By:''' Creator/DanielKash

-->''"What's this crap supposed to be?"''

The dropship chief weapons officer who worked often with Ferro.
----
* UsefulNotes/AmericanAccents: Has a broad "Noo Yawk" accent.
* DangerDeadpan: He has moments of this in the cockpit.
* TheLoad: How Ferro seems to view him.
* MauveShirt: [[spoiler:Killed (off-screen) when an alien manages to board the drop-ship.]]
* TooDumbToLive: [[spoiler:You see evidence of an Alien in your ship, you do ''not'' seal yourself in. Granted, he wasn't with the team that first went in, so it doesn't seem very likely he knew what the secretion in the dropship actually was.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Crowe]]
!!Pvt. Tim Crowe
[[quoteright:321:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/63de3bb1c9e86ceeb60e48f8eda2fdcc.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Tip Tipping

->''"You always say that Frost, you always say, I got a bad feeling about this drop..."''

Rifleman in the Marine squad.
----
* TheQuietOne: Only speaks twice, the first time he's off-screen and is inaudible the second time.
* RedShirt: [[spoiler:Exists basically to fill space and then go down.]]
* NeckSnap: [[spoiler:He gets hurled into a wall by an ammunition bag exploding and snaps his neck upon impact.]]
[[/folder]]

[[folder:Wierzbowski]]
!!Pvt. Trevor Wierzbowski
[[quoteright:258:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/7ae82cd0101d3ec982de8c35902a99b9.png]]
->'''Played By:''' Trevor Steedman

Flamethrower operator in the Marine squad.
----
* TheBigGuy: Seriously, he's pretty darn big. Apone even sends him off alone when in the colony.
* KillItWithFire: He wields a flamethrower as his weapon of choice.
* RedShirt: [[spoiler:He exists basically to fill space and then go down.]]
* TheVoiceless: He doesn't talk, only screams.
[[/folder]]
----

* {{Badass}}: Hicks is a solid badass, frequently showing his combat expertise. [[spoiler:He's also the only Marine to survive the film.]]
** Let's not forget that he was the one that peered into the ceiling vents for xenomorphs, then immediately took point on top of a desk to defend the group. Badass indeed.

%%* DeadpanSnarker

* KillItWithFire: Wields a flamethrower as his weapon of choice.
* RedShirt: [[spoiler:Exists basically to fill space and then go down.]]
* TheVoiceless: Doesn't talk, only screams.

[[caption-width-right:300:''" Look into my eye."'']]

[[quoteright:350:http://static.tvtropes.org/pmwiki/pub/images/Dwayne_Hicks_4419.jpg]]
[[caption-width-right:350:''"It's a bug hunt."'']]

[[caption-width-right:336:''"I'm in, ramp closing"'']]