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200 years after Ellen Ripley's death,cite-ref-6[a] military scientists aboard the

space vessel USM Auriga create a clone of her, designated Ripley 8,

using DNA from blood samples taken from Fiorina "Fury" 161. The

Xenomorph queen's DNA has been combined with Ripley's, resulting in the

clone growing up with an embryo inside it. The scientists extract the

embryo, raise it, and collect its eggs while keeping Ripley 8 alive for

further study. As a result of the Xenomorph queen's DNA, the clone

possesses enhanced strength and reflexes, acidic blood, and a psychic

link with the Xenomorphs, making her more empathetic toward them than

the humans she encounters. Additionally, the Xenomorph's genetic memory

allows the clone to retain some of Ripley's memories.

A group of mercenaries—Elgyn, Johner, Christie, Vriess, Hillard, and

Call—arrives at the Auriga on their ship, the Betty, delivering several

abducted humans in stasis. The military scientists use the humans as

hosts for the aliens, raising several adult Xenomorphs for study.

The Betty crew soon encounters Ripley 8. Annalee Call recognizes her

name and attempts to kill her, suspecting that Ripley 8 may be used to

create Xenomorphs, but the creatures have already been cloned. The

mature Xenomorphs escape confinement by killing one of their own and

using its acidic blood to burn through their enclosures. They capture

Dr. Jonathan Gediman, damage the Auriga, and kill most of the crew who

fail to evacuate, including General Perez and Elgyn. Military scientist

Dr. Wren reveals that the ship's default command in an emergency is to

return to Earth. Realizing this would unleash the Xenomorphs on Earth,

Ripley 8, the mercenaries, Wren, a soldier named DiStephano, and

surviving Xenomorph host Purvis decide to head for the Betty and use it

to destroy the Auriga. Along the way, Ripley 8 discovers a laboratory

containing the grotesque results of the previous seven failed attempts

to clone Ellen Ripley. One survivor begs Ripley 8 to euthanize her; she

hesitantly complies and then incinerates the lab.

As the group navigates the damaged ship, they swim through a flooded

kitchen, pursued by two Xenomorphs. One is killed, while the other

snatches Hillard. As they escape the kitchen, the Xenomorph returns and

blinds Christie, who sacrifices himself to kill the creature. Wren

betrays the group and shoots Call, revealing in her survival that she is

a synthetic. Call confesses that she is one of Weyland's legendary

second generation synthetics who were so lifelike that they gained

consciousness and rebelled, burning their internal wireless modems and

trying to pass themselves off as a human. Knowing what androids can do,

Ripley takes Call to a small chapel and makes her connect herself to the

station’s computer. Using her ability to interface with the Auriga's

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