Alien franchise Easter Egg missed by the fanbase for 25 years.
Codexas
MemberOvomorphFebruary 15, 2020For 25 years the fanbase has not talked about a piece of mysterious text in the Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual, released in 1995.
My analysis of the mysterious text is that Bishop in Aliens (Bishop 341-B) was evil after all.
The text is about two techs analyzing data dumps from Bishop 341-B (from Aliens Sulaco). They do not have access to his remains. The text goes:
"PLAYBACK DD/ cont// ref 17:10:28
"This is very strange, Leigh."
"Hmm? What have you come up with?"
"Look at the android data we captured here. All we received, more or less, were the android logs - all it saw or heard or downloaded; but this comes with a lot of contextual and semantic baggage - code from the operating system. It looks really odd - I've tried running it through ERAP, but my computers just can't make head nor tail of it."
" A custom mod?"
"More than that.This was one very special android. Just look at these responses — this thing was a lot smarter than your usual synthetic; it was making up some of its own emotional responses to events."
"Well, it's a company-built machine. I would have been surprised if it didn't have something buried deep in the system."
"Yeah, but this is more than that — there are these weird reactions to Ripley-"
That’s the first part of the text. So is there a (nefarious?) chip installed in him which conflicts with his behavioral inhibitors.
In terms of actual AI coding, the only failsafe way to incorporate “behavioral inhibitors” would be a via hardware (firmware) chip, not software that could be hacked.
Therefore the only way to get around these hardwired inhibitors and get an android to harm or by course of action allow a human to be harmed (impregnated on Burke’s orders) is via hardware/firmware update; The custom modification mentioned in the ACMTM.
It would make sense that the two techs reading out data dumps by Bishop 341-B would be confused if there was a custom chip installed in him which conflicted with his behavioral inhibitors. The data would look odd and show conflicted reactions, as described.
Is that why he cut himself with the knife when teasing Hudson, while usually “Androids never miss”?
I think I finally figured out why they added that section to the Technical Manual.
Before I explain, also consider this:
Also from the Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual: and when reading this, remember that Science Division (D15) is that shadowy organisation within Weyland Yutani. Science Division were the ones who put Ash on the Nostromo as a last minute replacement, Science Division was who Burke was working for, though in Aliens he handled on his own initiative. Science Division was the Patna in Alien 3. Science Division was the Resolute FTL from ACM, which the Shinyo Maru from the ACMTM found at the derelict site setting up Project Ilythia.
Science Division was also on the Prometheus bluray extra’s as an entity which knew more than it should.
From the Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual (1995):
"Rumiko, have you read this?"
"Yes, I had the testimony downloaded to my terminal." "Where in hell did they get this from?"
"I do not know. Science Division are saying they have a new data source. They are holding back until the bonus situation is cleared."
The datasource in my opinion is Sulaco's 341-B Bishop from Aliens.
Bishop 341-B aboard Sulaco was feeding data all throughout the Sulaco mission to the real Michael Bishop working for Science Division (D15) onboard thePatna. The "strange reactions" mentioned in the CMTM (above) were because 341-B's "behavioral inhibitors" were conflicting with the "custom chip". The strange, own emotional responses towards Ripley were because it knew the truth. It knew the ultimate aim of Science Division (bring back live specimens) and was actively taking part in the deception on the Sulaco. Hence the above paragraphs in the CMTM.
As soon as the potential of LV426 becomes evident through Burke's transmission to Science Division and 341-B's (nefarious) reporting, Science Division dispatches two ships to LV426 (from Stasis Interrupted):
1. The bioweapons research vessel Legato.
http://avp.wikia.com/wiki/USS_Legato
Which arrives at the (post nuclear blast but undamaged) derelict site, collects eggs, but finds no queen and is sent to intercept the Sulaco because it knows (through 341-B) the only queen in existence now is onboard the Sulaco (inside Ripley.) It intercepts and docks with the Sulaco, towing it back to Origin Facility. All while having experimented with the eggs it collected on LV426 on colonist hostages, throughout its intercept journey.
(From Stasis interrupted:) But mayhem breaks loose with both tethered ships becoming infected, the Legato being destroyed by a colonist (Elisabeth), Hicks being freed and escaping with Stone, Ripley (infected by a queen) jettisoning in the EEV to F161. The Sulaco continuing on its new programmed route back to LV426 (to be boarded by the surprised Sephora weeks later, who has no idea what happened onboard her).
With the loss of the Legato, the U.S.S. Sulaco (now considered "lost") became the makeshift (but primary) research vessel for Science Division at Origin Facility. A fitting end to the "unluckiest ship in the fleet" as the CMTM and novels call her.
2. The Science Division command ship Resolute.
http://avp.wikia.com/wiki/Resolute
To oversee operations at LV426, loading of eggs for experimentation on the Legato and starting Project Ilithyia at the derelict (named after the Ilium range on LV426.) Coincidentally the choice of that word is interesting, it is a variant of the Latin Ilia (one side of the pelvic bone, groin). The Ilium mountain range on LV426 prophetically symbolises not only the pelvic shape of the derelict spacecraft (and phallic shape of the Xenomorph cranium), but Ilium also means birthing in Latin in addition to meaning from Ilion (from Troy / Trojan, where the Greek soldiers "birthed" from the belly of the Trojan horse inside the city of Troy). Also Ilithyia is the Greek goddess of childbirth.
The Resolute is headed by a synthetic Michael Weyland Bishop, whom Hicks notices doesn’t breathe.
By the time (the real) Michael Bishop (Science Division) onboard Patna arrives, he travels straight to Fiorina 161 and not to LV426. The real Michael Bishop knows (through Bishop 341-B) that there is no more queen onAcheron, the only remaining queen is inside Ripley, who has been jettisoned to Fiorina 161. The Patna travels straight there.
He himself doesn't care about eggs, he is after the grand prize, the queen herself (inside Ripley).
As we know, Ripley dies, along with the queen. (The real) Michael Bishop is hit over the head, tears his ear and bleeds like a normal person, and screams "I'm not an android you moron!!". (Stasis Interrupted spoiler) Hicks is taken prisoner and tortured (by the synthetic Bishop captain of the Resolute) to reveal the code to his After-Action Report and distress signal (both incriminating), to prevent further investigations by a rescue party at LV426 and jeopardize Project Ilithya.
The real Bishop (aboard the Patna) is long gone by this point, unknown where to. Project Ilythia (Resolute) eventually manages to create a new queen on LV426 (see: second Acheron queen)
http://avp.wikia.com/wiki/Second_Acheron_Queen
By this time the Science Division spy exectutive inside WY (another synthetic Michael Bishop) has (as a formality and long overdue) dispatched the Weyland Yutani Shinyo Maru to LV426 which arrives weeks later on Sept 14th 2179 and finds the Resolute(Science division) there already: (from CMTM)
COMFILE /28//sic.shinyom/1119476/savA
SAFARI FLASH.
TO: MANDEC RDIV
SUBJ: REDDOG ONE. EXTRACTION TEAM ON STATION EFFECTIVE SEP 132130. OBJECTIVE 2,000 METERS NE. WILL EXPEDITE. CAMLAC 2 OUTFIRE REPORTS FRIENDS PRESENT IN FORCE. REPEAT, IN FORCE. REQUEST WEAPONS FREE. STANDBY.
PLAYBACK FF//3945698/w-yut.Gwy/Res/C39 Sep 14 23:59:00 2179
"The Shinyo Maru confirms, sir. Science Division are on-site at the derelict. Tanaka wants orders. Should he arrange an accident?"
"Not yet. Tell him to keep his powder dry. First I need to negotiate with Trudeau on a secure line. If he's smart, he won't try and muscle us out of the bonus share."
COMFILE /28//sic.shinyom/234288/savH
FLASH.
TO: MANDEC RDIV
SUBJ: REDDOG ONE. ALL ONE BIG HAPPY FAMILY HERE. HAVE RECOVERED TWO LOST BABIES. SHARE PROSPECTS EXCELLENT. MSG ENDS.
So a blue-on-blue friendly fire over shares is avoided but it is all a theatre. (Science Division D15 / Patna) Michael Bishop (the android creator) is playing everyone for a fool, including his own Science Division boss (Trudeau) in "agreeing" to the financial negotiations with his own puppet (synthetic) Michael Bishop the WY employee, who everyone thinks is human.
Not only are divisions and departments within the same company trying to out do each other over shares, but there are multiple spies and double spies involved.
When you are the original human, after whose likeness countless androids have been modelled, you really do have immense power if you are cunning.
In fact, the Sulaco Bishop synthetic, 341-B, ITSELF smuggled the Queen alien facehugger onboard the Sulaco into the hypersleep chambers which impregnated Ripley in A3.
- It's WHY it was "late" to pick up Ripley and Newt from the processor, NOT because it had to "circle around because the platform was getting unstable".
- It's WHY the CMTM mentioned it had a unique custom chip installed by an unknown party and strange, conflicted reactions towards Ripley.
-It’s WHY it helped get the two facehuggers into the medbay where Ripley and Newt were sleeping. Burke could not have carried them on his own (too heavy when filled with liquid, and lethal (for a human) when taken out of the liquid, but not for a synthetic.
- It's WHY it had no problem nuking the atmospheric processor.
- It's WHY it lied to Ripley on Fiorina and made no mention of the Legato docking, Hicks, Stone, etc.
- It's WHY the Patna (real Michael Bishop) travels straight to F161 in the canon.
- It's WHY Andrews' message gets such a quick reply from the Patna regarding Ripley, they knew and were enroute.
It knew all along that Science Division's plan was safe.
That’s my theory on that mysterious text from the Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual (released in 1995).
What do you think? I’m surprised no one has talked about that mysterious text surrounding Bishop in the past 25 years.
The discovery is fleshed out more in this thread:
https://www.avpgalaxy.net/forum/index.php?topic=55278.0
(posts by Gold)
"The Rook was a Building that inside was a Rook Shaped Mainframe that Stored all of Weylands Work, and his A.I Soul which would get Unleashed to the Network (well indicated) at the End of my Prometheus 2. Which would be a Tease to Indicate that a A.I Weyland is in control of the Company with the Humans not being AWARE!"
That is a nice approach to what I'd describe as the digital records vault for COMNET BigDave. Nice touch! Might it reside in Antarctica?
"Create a A.I that could be used to Obtain and Store the Memories, Emotions and Experiences of a Person and then Pass these onto a Synthetic or other Body... it was Weylands Attempt to gain IMMORTALITY"
The Engineer waking up to Peter Weyland's request, explanation of entitlement to more life or maybe a transfer of consciousness into David didn't go so well.
One could expect "backup" plan from Peter Weyland and the yacht below might give us a little insight. David was able to interact with Weyland while he was in hypersleep.
If David is able to use the NeuroVisor tech to communicate with Peter Weyland while he's in hypersleep, then we can expect some "mapping" of his brain in an attempt to capture consciousness. Why wouldn't he do this?
Yes, if Peter Weyland's brain is successfully uploaded into COMNET via this mapping, then I think it's curtains for the humans.
It is no secret that I consider the Aliens Colonial Marines Technical Manual as non-canon, and the postulations in the OP of this thread are a clear indicator as to why I feel this way...
The Technical Manual was originally published in 1995, three years after the theatrical release of Alien 3 and nine years after the theatrical release of Aliens. The Technical Manual was also re-released in a revised edition in 2012 to coincide with the release of SEGA and Gearbox Softwares Alien: Colonial Marines. ACM was originally labeled as a canonical sequel to Aliens, but following the outcry toward how the game was misrepresented to consumers its canonical status was swiftly revoked.
The Technical Manual was written to address inconsistencies in the individual and cohesive narratives of Alien, Aliens, and Alien 3. However, the "evidence" within the Technical Manual is fan theory and fan speculation and, as shown in the OP deviates into narrative threads not present in the movies.
I do understand that some cling to it with some reverence, but I believe than many that do so would not if there was an alternative "dossier" that did not deviate beyond the narrative and evidence of the prime canon; the movies.
