Sulaco (fictional spacecraft) Sulaco in Conrad's "Nostromo" is the home of the owners of the silver mine figuring in the book, while the "Sulaco" in "Aliens" transports soldiers to investigate unknown troubles at a corporate outpost of Weyland-Yutani and to protect their investment—drawing parallels between the "corporate" owners in Conrad's work and the shadowy business entity forming a central part of the Aliens franchise. The "Sulaco" is a "Conestoga"-class starship that transports United Systems Colonial Marines to investigate the loss of communication with a colony on LV-426 in the "Aliens" film. While carrying only a small complement in the movie, and only two
Sulaco (fictional spacecraft) of antennae enter[ing] the frame, followed by the enormous bulk of the SULACO". While some claim that the basic shape was based on a submarine, the design has most often been described as a "gun in space" due to the elongated form resembling the pulse rifles used in the movie—with Syd Mead agreeing that (in addition to Cameron's preferences) this was one of the reasons for the switch from the spherical form. Other film analysts have remarked on how the opening shot of the ship as something sinister and weaponlike presages Ripley's transformation during the movie into a warrior figure,