Chapter 3
After some further legal discussions, Van Leuwan decided that he would make a statement about the events that had happened on LV426 the next day and announced to the press that he would make an important announcement on behalf of Weyland - Yutani at ten am.
The press pool began to assemble at around 9:30am and there were not many there. Weyland - Yutani was a very large company, but their press conferences were usually just a bit of advertising about a successful new colony, or the discovery of another world to build one on.
All in all, only about ten reporters actually showed up including John Folsol, a young journalist with a worldwide news website, Earth Twenty Four. The others were low ranking journalists or reporters who may be able to report on a story that would be considered just something to fill in some time on the media websites or news channels.
Weyland - Yutani's media spokesperson approached the podium.
"Thank you ladies and gentlemen for attending today's statement, company chairman Peter Van Leuwan will make the following statement. Please note this is a statement only and Mr Van Leuwan will not be taking any questions, Mr Van Leuwan."
Van Leuwan approached the podium, shuffled some papers than began.
"Ladies and Gentleman, about six months ago the Weyland - Yutani Group happily announced the return of Ellen Ripley after an incredible fifty seven years in hyper sleep. Commander Ripley told us of a tale where her ship the Nostromo set down on what is now known as LV426 and came across an incredible creature that wiped out her crew and forced her to destroy the Nostromo. Without any evidence however, the board of Weyland - Yutani did not take her story seriously until we lost contact with the colony on LV426 sometime ago.
A platoon of Colonial Marines along with a representative of Weyland - Yutani, a synthetic and Ripley were sent to investigate, with the company believing more than likely it was a downed transmitter or other communication problems.
Unfortunately, we should have taken Ripley's story seriously, as the creatures she described were very much real and extremely dangerous. Sadly, the colony was destroyed with only one survivor, of the platoon that was sent, there was also only one survivor as well as Ripley and the synthetic, who was badly damaged.
Now I understand you have a lot of questions but I will not be answering any of them right now. Details of the Alien creature will be released to all the press as it is imperative that all commercial and military space missions be aware of these creatures and avoid them at all costs.
We have reason to believe that the source of these alien creatures is still intact and will be funding an immediate mission back to LV426 with the most stringent safety protocols to a) study these creatures and b) work out a means to be able to combat them should they be encountered anywhere else.
Once the study is finished, the source will be completely destroyed making sure none of these creatures survive.
On a final note, our genetics department believe that these creatures did not evolve naturally but that they were genetically engineered as a biological weapon and we fear that there may be other sources elsewhere.
Thank you for your time, you will all receive information portfolios as you leave."
Despite an outburst of hands and requests for questions, Van Leuwan stood away from the podium and back into the offices of Weyland - Yutani."
John Folsol leaned over to the young female reporter sitting next to him.
"Wow, we actually got a big story."
"Yeah, I know, I know, sorry I'm trying to get through to my office."
"Well, okay, but I'll tell you one thing, I'm going to be on that ship going to LV426."