Charybdis was the name given to a bottomless maelstrom located on the planetoid of LV-991, as well as a facility built by the National Data Corporation of Iran that was located inside of it.
History[]
Prior to 2184, Weyland Corp scientists explored the planetoid LV-991 and identified Charybdis as a stable lava tube surrounded by a small rocky island within the expansive, brackish waters of Lake Peacock. Weyland Corp also established a clandestine laboratory at the site.
Later, Union of Progressive Peoples member state Azerbaijan constructed a facility inside the maelstrom. The base was later abandoned, with erstwhile UPP subject Iran, latterly of the Independent Core System Colonies, revamping it into a data centre through the National Data Corporation. In 2184, a team from McAllen Integrations traveled to LV-991 to assist in upgrading the facility's systems; however, an infestation of huntsman spiders and complications with the Russian–labeled equipment left behind by the UPP caused setbacks.
Charybdis was later the site of a Xenomorph outbreak as the infested Seegson vessel UAEV Blackstar put down near the facility; shortly after, the Midnighters, a United States Colonial Marine Corps unit trained to deal with the creatures, attacked the base. The local workforce was corralled into the data warehouses and left to be killed by the Xenomorphs, thus securing LV–991 for the United Americas. The Midnighters were later defeated, though only employee Kamran Afghanzadeh and McAllen Integrations executive Mary Fowler survived the ordeal after navigating the facility's rusting infrastructure. The pair eventually escaped Charybdis aboard the Blackstar.
A postcard from Charybdis was later issued to reporter Cherokee Hunt by Chad McLaren; McLaren offered to explain the fate of Hunt's sister Cheyenne, who had died at the facility at the hands of the Midnighters' leader, Captain Kylie Duncan, and arranged for her to meet him on the Three World Empire colony world of New Albion.
Behind the scenes[]
In Greek mythology, Charybdis is a sea monster and is sometimes rationalized as a whirlpool. Greek history and mythology are a recurring point of reference in the Alien franchise; other notable examples include the moon Acheron, the comics Aliens: Rogue and Aliens: Dead Orbit (which contain numerous references), the ships Archimedes and Anesidora, the novel Alien: River of Pain, and references to the Titan Prometheus in both Prometheus Tech and the film Prometheus.
Appearances[]
- Alien: Into Charybdis
- Alien: Colony War (postcard)