Taken from the Alien Legacy DVD set, these are the histories of the Nostromo crew pre-Alien and are allegedly derived from Ridley Scott’s character notes. Back in the scripting phase, Dan O’Bannon had planned to work out the character intricacies with the actors had he directed the film, and when Scott came onboard he took it upon himself to write the back story for each character. All crew members are accounted for here save for Ash, whose past remains redacted and elusive. Though Scott revealed that he had told Ian Holm of Ash’s cover story, the information hasn’t come to light and likely wasn’t written down. Massive thanks to Xeno_Alpha of Weyland-Yutani Archives for sharing these with me.

What do we learn about the wider Alien universe from these? We learn that the United States has expanded, probably taking in South America, as well as Canada, to become the United Americas. The UK, according to Kane’s dossier in the Alien Anthology profiles (which consist of the text seen behind Ripley in the inquiry scene, also made available here) is a full-fledged Socialist state. We learn that a civil war on Torin Prime broke out into a larger space-war at the beginning of the 22nd century, a war in which Dallas and Parker actively served in pilot/mechanic roles. Finally, we learn that there is a colony on the moon, now officially named Luna, which is the location of Ripley’s birth. According to the menus of the Alien Anthology, Weyland Yutani’s Lunar base sits in the Sea of Tranquillity. On Earth, they are situated in London, Tokyo, and San Francisco.

Note: if the profiles are derived from Ridley’s notes, certain information has been changed from the originals to the Legacy DVD release. For example, Weylan-Yutani sports the now typical d, and the unnamed planetoid of Alien is identified as Acheron, an addition of James Cameron. It wouldn’t be far-fetched to suggest that additional embellishments, additions and even subtractions have been made.

NOSTROMO CREW PROFILES

RESTRICTED ACCESS/EYES ONLY

TO: Director, Special Ops, Weyland Yutani Weapons Division, 937/AG-9.

FROM: Harbour-master, Weyland Yutani Drydock Bravo, Thedus.

RE: USCSS Nostromo, Flight plan, #233/04-A.

Sched Depart: Thedus — 12 June, 2121, 0600 HRS [local]

Sched Arrival: Acheron — 1 April, 2122, 1530 HRS [IST]

Sched Arrival: Earth — TDB

Nostromo flight plan cleared with Antarctica Traffic Control. Pre-flight checks now underway. Included below is the original crew manifest. Select the desired file.

15 May 2099Graduates Mercerton Flight Academy, [Flight Status C].

11 March 2100 – 9 January 2103

Serves as Navigator/Pilot on USCSS Snark salvage vessel, under Captain Van Shuyten, [Flight Status B]

23 January 2103 – 4 December 2105

Serves as Pilot on UTX Ganymede military cargo vessel, under Captain Britten.

1 June 2106

Commissioned into United Americas Outer Rim Defense Fleet. Stationed at Liberty Echo, [Rank: Lieutenant].

12 June 2106 – 17 February 2108

Serves as Pilot on UAS Leviathan fast attack vessel, under Major Baines during Torin Prime Civil War, [Flight Status A].

23 February 2108

Promoted to Captain following Liberation of Torin Prime. Receives the Sunburst Medal of Honour for meritorious service.

1 March 2108

Given command of UAS Archangel troop carrier, [Flight Status A]

25 December 2109

UAS Archangel destroyed in enemy attack during peace-keeping operation on Thedus, 15,293 lives lost. Ship unsalvageable, [Flight Status Suspended].

3 Jan 2110

Receives Dishonourable Discharge from UAORD. [Flight Status Revoked].

4 Jan 2110 – 28 April 2113

Whereabouts unknown. No further enhancement.

28 April 2113 – 9 September 2113

Smuggles weapons and medical supplies into the Solomons on civilian cargo vessel The Vider, under Captain Joshua.

14 December 2113 – 4 May 2114

Freelances special transport ops of hazardous materials for Weyland Yutani in the Solomons, [Probationary Flight Status D]

21 July 2114 – 3 December 2118

Purchases civilian cargo vessel Tremolino. Freelances cargo and transport ops for Weyland Yutani throughout the Outer Rim Territories, [Flight Status C].

7 December 2119

Tremolino decommissioned. Crew disbanded.

4 January 2120 – Present

Given command of Weyland Yutani commercial towing vehicle USCSS Nostromo, [Fight Status B].

11 September 2096 – 23 May 2100Attends Weatherly Private School. Graduates with honours.

19 September 2100 – 30 May 2104

Attends Gunning Foss Military School. Graduates at top of his class.

6 September 2104 – 13 February 2108

Attends Bryce-Watkins Medical University. Expelled for substance abuse. Treated for drug-inflicted embolism and stress. Treatment successful, [Medscan CERT#81712F].

16 September 2109 – 18 May 2112

Attends Wellington Academy, [Suffolk]. Graduates with Masters of Engineering, [Flight Status C].

14 December 2115 – 29 October 2117

Serves as Mission Analyst on UK/EU colonial expedition in the Outer Rim territories, [Flight Status B].

1 November 2117 – 19 December 2118

Serves as First Officer on UK/EU colonial transport vessel HMS Sabretooth, under Captain Lai, [Flight Status BA].

21 September 2118 – 19 December 2119

Serves as Executive Officer on Weyland Yutani salvage vessel USCSS Kenamor, under Captain Kahn, [Flight Status AB].

5 Jan 2120 – Present

Serves as Executive Officer on Weyland Yutani commercial towing vehicle USCSS Nostromo, under Captain Dallas, [Flight Status A].

7 Jan 2094 – 18 April 2110Spends childhood in lunar quarantine facility during outbreak of XMB virus on Luna. tests negative for XMB, [Medscan CERT#90156E].

15 Sept 2111 – 25 May 2115

Attend Evansbrook Academy. Shows aptitude for ethics, law, and corporate affairs. Graduates at top of her class.

1 June 2115

Recruited into Weyland Yutani’s Horizon Beyond officer training programme, [Trainee Flight Status CC].

16 Oct 2115

Successfully negotiates end to hostage crisis on Weyland Yutani shuttle craft Erebus. 49 lives saved. 8 terrorists convicted.

21 December 2116

Completes Horizons Beyond officer training programme, with honours.

2 January 2117 – 19 November 2117

Serves as Junior Warrant Officer on commercial vessel USCSS Kurtz, under Captain Archbold, [Flight Status BC].

1 December 2117 – 8 March 2118

Serves as Warrant Officer on Weyland Yutani cargo vessel USCSS Sephoria, under Captain Eliot.

10 March 2118

Request for maternity leave denied, [WY/REF#295150] See Human Resources for further enhancement.

17 March 2118

Files civil lawsuit against Weyland Yutani, [WY/REF#29162]

18 March 2118

Flight Status Suspended. Salary suspended.

4 April 2118 – 19 August 2118

File sealed under court order. No further enhancement, [WY/REF#42009]

19 August 2118

Request for maternity leave approved, [WY/REF#42017] See Legal [Settlements] for further enhancements. Request for reinstatement of flight status approved [WY/REF#42018]. Request for salary increase approved, [WY/REF#42019].

19 Sept – 27 Oct 2119

Maternity Leave. See Human Resources for further enhancement.

6 November 2119 – 12 July 2120

Serves as Warrant Officer on Weyland Yutani cargo vehicle USCSS Sotillo, under Captain Rosendo.

August 2120 – Present.

Serves as Warrant Officer on Weyland Yutani commercial towing vehicle USCSS Nostromo, under Captain Dallas, [Flight Status B].

FILE UNDER REPAIR, ACCESS RESTRICTED

No Further enhancement by order of Weyland Yutani Weapons Division. WY/SCE-REF#0102/BG/E9

Updated 10 Jun 2121:

10 June 2121 – Present

Assigned as Science Officer on Weyland Yutani commercial towing vehicle USCSS Nostromo, under Captain Dallas, [Flight Status A].

See SPECIAL ORDER 937.

[In a nice display of attention, the Alien Anthology‘s date of Ash being assigned to the Nostromo before departing Thedus coincides with the amount of days Dallas ascribes in Alien. Two days, that is. Assignment date according to Legacy: 10 June, Nostromo departs according to Anthology: 12 June.]

12 May 2112Graduates Ontario University with Masters of Astro-Cartography.

1 June 2112 – 18 September 2112

Interns in Astro-Cartography Dept. at Ridton Corp. London/EU-UK.

7 October 2112

Marries Xander Chapman, Director of Astro-Cartography, Ridton Corp.

28 October 2112 – 5 February 2114

Serves as Shipping Lane Trafficator for Farside Lunar Mining, [Plymouth/Luna-UA].

10 February 2114

Divorces Xander Chapman, former Director of Astro-Cartography, Ridton Corp.

17 February – 6 December 2114

Serves as Assistant Navigator on Red Star Lines pleasure cruiser Infinity, [Mars-Orion route] [Flight Status C].

29 January 2115 – 1 August 2118

Serves as Navigator/Comm Officer on Ridton Corp salvage vessel Leggatt, under Captain Leigh.

13 September 2118

Marries Lordan Hessutt, Executive Officer on Ridton Corp salvage vessel Leggatt.

3 January 2120

Divorces Lordan Hessutt, Executive Officer on Ridton Corp salvage vessel Leggatt.

11 October 2118 – 19 December 2119

Serves as Navigator on Weyland Yutani scout ship Adowa, under Captain Payne, [Flight Status BC].

5 January 2120 – Present

Serves as Navigator on Weyland Yutani towing vessel USCSS Nostromo, under Captain Dallas, [Flight Status B].

14 September 2100 – 6 October 2104Works as pit mechanic for Speedy Maxx high-speed terrafoil racing team. Travels the DAC racing circuit. Quits pit crew over salary dispute.

9 Jan 2105 – 14 June 2107

Recruited into United Americas Outer Rim Defense Fleet, stationed at Skyfire Down, [Rank: Private]. Serves as mechanic of heavy land transport vehicles and officer shuttles.

14 June 2107 – 1 August 2107

Promoted to Corporal. Serves as chief mechanic at Skyfire Down UAORD base.

1 August 2107 – 21 February 2108

Captured by J’har Rebels during Torin Prime Civil War. Imprisoned at Concentration Camp GR-161. Establishes underground black market for POWs.

21 February 2108

Escapes from Concentration Camp GR-161 during the Liberation of Torin Prime. Constructs emergency escape vehicle [EEV] from scrap.

20 October 2108

Receives honourable discharge from UAORD.

19 December 2108

Returns to Earth. No Further Enhancement.

5 September 2109 – 29 March 2113

Attends San Diego School of Astro-Engineering. Studies incomplete. No degree awarded.

2 October 2113 – 13 December 2113

Freelances as mechanic/engineer for Mexcorp, serving on various unauthorised medicinal cargo ops. No further enhancement.

7 January 2114 – 29 April 2115

Serves as Assistant Engineer at United Americas Accelerator Threshold, Neptune.

5 May 2115 – 19 October 2117

Serves as Assistant Engineer on Weyland Yutani commercial cargo vehicle USCSS Otago, under Captain Mortensen.

27 October 2117 – 1 September 2120

Serves as Engineer on Weyland Yutani commercial vessel USCSS Nonnabo, under Captain Keeney, [Flight Status C].

10 September 2120 – Present

Serves as Engineer on Weyland Yutani commercial towing vehicle USCSS Nostromo, under Captain Dallas.

21 June 2085 – 10 May 2094Works as mechanic for family business [E-Z-FLY Spacecraft Repair, Houston/Texas-UA].

15 May 2094 – 21 Dec 2095

Works as hardware specialist for Solari Energy Corp at Osaka solar energy plant. Employment terminated, [SEC/REF#1288-7G].

1 February – 16 July 2096

Pilots high-speed cargo vehicles for Ridton Corp through Iranistan war zone. Employment suspended, [RC/REF#24901-N]

18 July 2096 – 4 December 2096

Receives treatment for alcoholism at Ridton Medical Facility, [London]. Treatment successful, [Medscan CERT#34008N].

15 September 2097 – 21 October 2101

Attends Houston School of Astrophysics and Interstellar Engineering. Graduates.

14 July 2108 – 9 November 2111

Serves as Assistant Engineer on Weyland Yutani waste disposal vessel USCSS Corazon Oscuro, under Captain Speight, [Flight Status C].

10 November 2111

Fails blood alcohol test. Flight status suspended.

9 January 2112

Undergoes cerebral detox procedure at Weyland Yutani Medical Facility, Titan. Minor complications arise. See Medical [Brain Damage] for further enhancement.

9 January 2112 – 31 March 2113

Undergoes therapeutic recuperation at Weyland Yutani Medical Facility, Titan.

3 April 2113

Passes Weyland Yutani Ment/Psych/Cog-5 exam. Flight status restored. Cleared for assignment.

19 April 2113 – 28 October 2117

Serves as Assistant Engineering Tech at Weyland-Yutani Fusion Reactor Facility on Titan.

3 November 2117 – 1 September 2120

Serves as Engineering Tech on Weyland Yutani commercial cargo vehicle USCSS Nonnabo, under Captain Keeney.

10 September 2120 – Present

Serves as Engineering Tech on Weyland Yutani commercial towing vehicle USCSS Nostromo, under Captain Dallas.

ALIEN ANTHOLOGY INQUEST PROFILES

With the release of the Alien Anthology BD set, the crew profiles from Ripley’s hearing in Aliens are all available. There are more discrepancies between the Anthology and Legacy with birth dates, schooling, and first names. Other information is strikingly close or identical.

There are also a few Alien name cameos in the dossiers, including the Hill Company (producer Walter Hill) the USCS Shusett (Ron Shusett) and Dallas’ schooling at Rambaldi High School (Carlos Rambaldi) and O’Bannon Preliminary School (Dan O’Bannon, of course), as well as Dallas’ one-time employment (8 transits, 678,000,000 miles) for the Tyrell Corporation (Blade Runner). The dossiers also mark the date 2/17/34 as being when the Nostromo crew was terminated, or at least, their contracts were. 12 years passed before the Nostromo was written off as forever lost.

Here are the crew names according to the Alien Anthology:

DALLAS, Arthur Coblenz — near fit, A.J. Dallas according to Alien Legacy.

KANE, Gilbert Ward — fits, G.W. Kane according to Alien Legacy.

RIPLEY, Ellen Louise — fits, E.L. Ripley according to Alien Legacy.

ASH remains simply ASH.

LAMBERT, Joan Marie — fits, J.M. Lambert according to Alien Legacy.

PARKER, Dennis Monroe — no fit, J.T. Parker according to Alien Legacy.

BRETT, Samuel Elias — fits, S.E. Brett according to Alien Legacy.

Dallas: According to the Anthology’s profile for Dallas: “Preliminary assessment of psych profile indicates subject’s hostility to authority had been sublimated in such a way as to cause a mild psychosis related to performing executive officer duties. Since the subject’s GMA should have risen with escalation of rank, it was determined that a retesting and orientation treatment was due. However, continuity in employment was disrupted 2/17/34.”

Kane: Kane is described as having worked for several medical starships, such as the “UKMS OUTREACH, class 12 hospital ship, crew of 14, 9 transits, United Kingdom Socialist Medical Authority Colonial Bureau”. All of Kane’s schools are the same as the Legacy, though the attendance dates differ by a couple of years. His birth is 28 March 2081 in the Anthology, 20 April 2083 in the Legacy.

“Subject is highly idealistic overachiever … under pressure at medical school, subject abused medication and caused an embolism with hospitalised subject … after psych evaluation at Man Hadley’s medical clinic, subject responded to career therapy and chose to study for a commercial pilots licence. After achieving it, subject became Executive Officer on a British hospital ship but again succumbed to drug abuse and was removed from position for re-evaluation … Subject may self-medicate with commercially made alcohol … treatment proved successful and subject was rated operational for duty again.

WARNING: Subject still exhibits high level of idealism and at this time his impulsiveness makes him a poor candidate for full command. Recommended that further diagnosis should be undertaken before upgrading subject further”.

Ripley: Ripley’s schooling is listed as “New York Aeronautics University … Boya Private School … Brea-Olinda Private School Los Angeles.”

“Performance ratings exceed average ratings of warrant officers in fleet. Due to highly motivated bio-environmental factors in subject’s childhood, prognosis for promotion to highest rank obtainable is probable …

AMENDMENT: Subject violated bylaw 87-B of company regulations by allowing natural pregnancy to come to terms during layover between hauls. After a committee review of the situation, subject was allowed to continue employment under certain mutually agreed upon conditions …

AMENDMENT: Subject asked for contraction re-negotiations under bylaw 17-G, related to intention to take two leave of absence prior to assignment to USCS Nostromo. After intensive contractual talks with subject’s lawyers, a compromise was arrived at wherein subject would accept duty on Nostromo and subsequently take leave of absence for personal reasons … Subject intends to spend more time with child. Psych profiles and Sylan-Donovan Curves register high level of guilt over lack of contact with child.”

Ash: Ash’s profile is typically bare: “Subject is science officer grade M-1 and has been operational for 4 years. Previous history and personal data are classified from normal Company personnel access due to the scientific nature of subject’s previous assignments”.

Ridley said in one interview: “I told him [Ian Holm] what university he [Ash] attended, what he read in, where he was born, and so forth.” However, Ash’s back story remains, of course, a cover story, as Ridley clarified that, Ash is aware of his android identity “in this instance.”

Lambert: Lambert’s Alien Anthology profile adds nothing too much of note, aside from one thing: “Despin Convert at birth [male to female], so far no indication of suppressed traumas related to gender alteration.” It seems that in the future parents-to-be can change the sex of their child in-utero. Lambert seems to have been a male for some time in the womb, before her sex was changed. Smells more like a small joke than anything that adds to the overall Alien mythos. The “so far no indication of suppressed traumas related to gender alteration” seems like a gag on Lambert’s pretty famous disposition throughout the events of Alien.

Brett: According to the Anthology, Brett’s had quite the troubled life, and “exhibited passive responses to violent childhood memories when given the Steiner/Korngold GMF Analysis, which indicates reversal and sublimination of hostility. In subject’s case, condition requires no external treatment strategies because self-adjustment had been obtained during company training procedures and due to friendship formed between subject and another company employee [Parker]. Passivity behaviour can be a positive factor on extended up mode transits. Subject’s performance ratings remained static throughout company assignment.

SPECIAL NOTE: Subject was remanded to company employment from US Federal Rehabilitation Program for Displaced Youth, or FREPDISY/subject committed a level 8 felony when 17.”