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
Aliens (film) Kile M. Ortigo of Emory University, agree with this interpretation and point to the "Sulaco" with its "sterilized, white interior" as representing this element in the second film of the franchise. While some claim that the shape of the "Sulaco" was based on a submarine, the design has most often been described as a "gun in space" resembling the rifles used in the movie. Author Roz Kaveney called the opening shot of the ship traveling through space "fetishistic" and "shark-like", "an image of brutal strength and ingenious efficiency"—while the militarized interior of the "Sulaco" (designed by Ron Cobb) is contrasted