Quote from: Local Trouble on May 17, 2021, 05:25:47 AM
Quote from: Xenomrph on May 17, 2021, 03:44:20 AM
Quote from: SM on May 17, 2021, 02:52:36 AMI don't have a problem with it either that far in the future. It's when they try to crowbar this shit in where it doesn't belong AND is really unnecessary. There is no reason for this rubbish to be in there.
Okay, I'll bite.
Why doesn't it belong, and why is it unnecessary?
Like I'm not a huge fan of the idea of WY running the universe although I see it as an easy conclusion to reach given the trajectory of the first three movies, and corporate overreach is an important through line in the first three movies. I don't think "co-financing the military" is outside the realm of possibility given how fast Burke is able to procure an entire warship and a military officer he can conveniently railroad, especially with Burke being essentially a lone actor. It doesn't mean they own the military, just that they're able to exert influence sometimes.
Was it ever established that Burke procured anything? I always assumed it was simply the USCM's responsibility to investigate something like the loss of contact with a colony whether Weyland-Yutani had a financial stake or not.
I'd have to check if the novelization says anything, but the movie certainly leaves it open to interpretation.
But let's look at the scenario. If the USCM investigates independently of WY, why is there a WY rep present on the mission (and why is that rep specifically Burke, a person who didn't even know the colony existed 2 weeks prior)? Why didn't they tell him to sit it out? What service is he possibly going to provide?
Why isn't anyone else from Ripley's inquest (or anyone representing those parties) present on the mission, if they all have a stake in the colony?
Why is the commanding officer on the mission conveniently someone that Burke can manipulate? I guess if someone more experienced had been assigned, Burke's whole plan would have been hosed?
The RPG isn't saying W-Y owns the USCM, just that they can leverage them sometimes (as evidenced by how quickly and easily Burke is able to insert himself into the Sulaco mission and get an inexperienced commander in charge, and Burke manages to apparently do it on his own). I always assumed Burke had *some* kind of leverage.
That's not even that unrealistic in today's US military climate where huge companies have enormous exclusive contracts, let alone centuries in the future.
Also worth pointing out that the History section of the Colonial Marine sourcebook at no point even alludes to WY "owning" the USCM or anything that extreme.
Is it possible SM only read the first page of the book and flipped out, rather than continuing to read and looking for context?
Quote from: SM on May 17, 2021, 05:59:57 AM
Quite.
The USCM are supposed to be more tied to the ECA as public service.
Where is this "supposed to be" stated?
Or is it headcanon?
Edit-- this is the closest the script gets on the topic:
QuoteRipley stares at his like he's a particularly
disagreeable fungus.
RIPLEY
You son of a bitch.
BURKE
(hardening)
Don't make me pull rank, Ripley.
RIPLEY
What rank? I believe Corporal Hicks
has authority here.
BURKE
Corporal Hicks!?
RIPLEY
This operation is under military
jurisdiction and Hicks is next in
chain of command. Right?
HICKS
Looks that way.
Burke starts to lose it and it's not a pretty sight.
BURKE
Look, this is a multimillion
dollar operation. He can't make
that kind of decision. He's just
a grunt!
(glances at Hicks)
No offense.
The novelization adds a bit more to Ripley's dialogue:
Quote"This operation is under military jurisdiction," she reminded him quietly. "That's the way the Sulaco's dispatch orders read. Maybe you didn't bother to read them. I did. That's the way Colonial Administration worded it. You and I, Burke, we're just observers."
I don't think that changes much, given what I said above. It's classified as a military op but Burke certainly doesn't seem to care, no matter what the "official" papers say.
"The source material", as SM put it (reads: the movie) certainly leaves it open for interpretation.