So, let's recap some of these points:
Either the lifeboat oddly records what the Nostromo was doing or that the Nostromo log was uploaded to the lifeboat computer. Also, for all advanced tech, it appears that some systems are still primitive: the Nostromo has computers that can navigate the ship and take care of the crew while they are in hibernation, but for some odd reason will record only simple facts about changing course and landing, but not landing location.
And if the upload is automatic, it appears that that process is also primitive, as the computer probably didn't upload any logs about Dallas' conversation with Mother or even things like Ash's report on the face-hugger he was examining.
Burke has the location of the derelict ship, and we have no idea where he got it. If he probably imagined it, then that explains why he and the rest of the board don't believe Ripley. If he got it from the same logs, then that means what I wrote above is negated, and that he and the rest should have logically believed Ripley and wouldn't have needed her for investigating the matter further.
Burke sends the location to the colonial admin and instructs him to send someone to check out the place. If he probably imagined the location, then that explains why he was the only one who bothered to contact the colony. That means any cut he was thinking of getting must involve the point that "mineral rights" that the company and government had on the rock essentially involves anything found on the rock.
If he got the location from the log, then that means he wouldn't have been acting alone as everyone else in the board would have been examining the log, too. That would also mean that his cut would be lower as the rest would want a piece of the action, too. Burke would have accepted that because at least the colonial admin and the wildcat team would have wanted a cut, too.
He tells Ripley that they lost contact with the colony. That either means they sent the instructions to investigate the location and got nothing after that or that they received more and lied to Ripley so that she could be convinced to join them. If it's the former, then that means for some absurd reason the colony comms suddenly go down right after the Jordens return with the face-hugger. In which case, they would have just sent a regular ship with some security and supplies. If it's the latter, then that means they should have at least heard about the discovery of the ship, and probably the first face-hugger which infects one of the Jordens. That might explain why Burke decides to send an armed expedition and not simply one to deal with a mere "blackout situation."
The expedition sent is actually experienced in "bug hunts," is heavily armed, but appears to find some missions as routine, and for some reason is led by a greenhorn (their actual superior was probably not available). The ship that they use appears to be essentially a troop carrier with little by way of facilities to store things like alien organisms and artifacts, they only have the equivalent of a science officer but likely a tech synth attached to their team, little by way of techs needed to repair anything in the colony or scientists to recover alien material, only one medic and flight crew for itself and barring a colony of dozens of families, no backup or even second team to secure the perimeter of the derelict ship, etc.
This implies that they (Burke and other officials) were rushing, which is why the marines' briefing takes place onboard, that they were assuming that the colony was wiped out or would be left (they'd probably figure out how to pay off the marines in exchange for their silence, together with Ripley, or worse), which is why they would probably be interested in acquiring at least several alien eggs (or face-huggers if the eggs open automatically given nearby hosts), and probably send more expeditions for more.
One more thing: we don't know what happened after the movie. They had the location of the derelict ship, which meant they could have recovered eggs even after the colony blew up. If they didn't, then that meant Burke acted alone, and that for some absurd reason he had managed to commander a military troop carrier and personnel without the company or the government knowing. That also meant that he had only guessed the location of the ship, and that the location never showed up in any logs.
In short, it all boils down to Burke guessing the location of the alien craft, and was lucky to get it right.
Quote from: Local Trouble on Oct 26, 2022, 01:23:13 AMQuote from: ralfy on Oct 26, 2022, 01:13:25 AMFinally, it looks like you're agreeing with me.
I wouldn't count on that.
Quote from: ralfy on Oct 26, 2022, 01:13:25 AMI ignored SM because he resorted to personal attacks.
Citation needed.
Well, he just did, which is why he ended with "And?" As for the latter, I don't want to bother unignoring him as enough forum members here are responding to my points.
Maybe you can help SiL out.
Quote from: Local Trouble on Oct 23, 2022, 03:34:18 AMI sometimes wonder how Burke might have confirmed the derelict's presence without endangering the colonists and without turning it into a "major security situation."
It may have been enough to instruct them to report back at first sight of anything unusual and to NOT investigate further unless they received explicit instructions to do so from corporate HQ (under penalty of total forfeiture of shares).
More important, where did he get the location? The board only refers to the part that the Nostromo changes course and lands, but no location is discussed. Also, for some reason, the lifeboat flight recorder was operating at the same time as the Nostromo throughout.
I think the forfeiture of shares refers to the Nostromo crew refusing to investigate the signal.
Finally, I don't see the point about a "major security situation" as discovery of the ship even from outside would have already alarmed the ones who discovered it.
That means the only logical thing to do was to tell the colonial admin that they have reports of an alien craft in that location, that he should not tell anyone else in exchange for a nice cut, that he should send someone trusted or even go himself with a trusted team (even though it would have taken a week to travel to the location, I think), not to enter the ship or else they might get infected, and contact the company (maybe bring some sort of patch-up or repeater so that they can radio back from the site) about the discovery.
Of course, if Burke was only guessing the location, that that explains much of what happened in the movie.
Quote from: SiL on Oct 23, 2022, 03:55:22 AMI imagine that's exactly what he was expecting; someone would go out, find a giant alien construction, and call back saying "Hey, we found a giant alien construction." If Russ Jordan hadn't gone inside to take a look it's entirely possible everything could've been avoided and Burke could've retired early very well off.
He would have because he gave the grid reference. He would not have expected it if he had guessed the location.
If it's the former, where did he get the location? It's not mentioned in the hearing, and board members pointed out that the colony had been there for decades and found no such thing.
And if there's no other source for the location, then that means Burke guessed that the alien ship was in that specific grid, and he was lucky.