Hadley's Hope

A terraforming colony on LV-426 overrun by alien creatures and destroyed by a nuclear explosion.

The human colony on the moon LV-426 served as a terraforming site where contact was lost with Weyland-Yutani Corporation. This silence prompted Ellen Ripley, the sole survivor of the Nostromo's alien encounter, to return to the site accompanied by a unit of Colonial Marines under Lieutenant Gorman. Upon arrival via dropship, the team discovered the battle-ravaged settlement and found only one survivor: a traumatized young girl nicknamed Newt. The investigation led them beneath the fusion-powered atmosphere processing station, where they located the colonists' signals. Inside, they found opened eggs, dead facehuggers, and cocooned colonists serving as incubators for alien embryos.

Quick Facts

Location: LV-426
Operator: Weyland-Yutani Corporation

Lore & Background

The colony's history began when Weyland-Yutani established the site on LV-426, utilizing fusion-powered atmosphere processing stations to manage the environment. The turning point occurred after contact was lost with this terraforming colony. Investigations revealed that Carter Burke, a company representative, had ordered colonists to investigate a derelict spaceship containing alien eggs. This decision was driven by Burke's intent to profit by recovering the specimens for biological weapon research.

When the team descended into corridors covered in alien secretions at the station's center, they found the aftermath of this breach: opened eggs and dead facehuggers. The colony's fate was sealed when adult aliens ambushed the responding marines, killing or capturing many. The facility ultimately met its end not by evacuation, but by destruction; a stowaway alien killed the dropship pilots, causing a crash that damaged the power plant's cooling system.

With the station destined to overheat and explode, Ripley, Newt, Hicks, and Bishop escaped moments before the nuclear blast consumed the colony.

Reader's Guide

Visitors or investigators of LV-426 must first locate the terraforming colony site where communications were lost. The primary entry point is the fusion-powered atmosphere processing station, which houses the critical signals from the missing colonists. Inside, one will find corridors covered in alien secretions leading to the station's center. This area contains opened eggs and cocooned colonists serving as incubators. Be aware that the dropship crash damaged the power plant's cooling system, meaning the facility is destined to overheat and explode. The colony also holds evidence of corporate malfeasance: Carter Burke ordered the initial investigation into the derelict ship containing alien eggs for profit. Key survivors include a traumatized girl named Newt and Corporal Hicks.

Did You Know?

Corporal Hicks, Private Hudson, and Private Vasquez were rescued when Ripley rammed their armored personnel carrier into the alien nest.
Ripley discovered Burke had released facehuggers to implant her and Newt with alien embryos.