- "Due to my substantial dollar value, I am not allowed to be used in potentially hostile operations unless-"
"Unless certain thresholds have been reached, yeah, yeah..." - ―Liston and Lt. Henry (from Aliens: Colonial Marines)
Liston was a security model Synthetic stationed aboard the USS Melville. He accompanied and assisted a squad of colonial marines fighting against the Xenomorph species and the terrorist cult Bug-Men. He was badly damaged in the explosion of the Alphatech communication array and desactivated himself.
Characteristics[]
- "Base compound. Counteractive to Xenomorph acid. Exuded from modified sweat glands. It's in my design specs. Among other things."
- ―Liston explaining his specs (from Aliens: Colonial Marines)
Standing more than 7 feet tall, Liston is a technological advanced security synthetic specially conceived to battle Xenomorphs. To do so he possessed modified sweat glands that exude a counteractive compound designed to neutralize Xenomorph acid blood, superhuman strength being able to subdue multiple people or easily tearing Xenomorphs apart and a strong skin able to withstand Xenomorph attacks or a massive explosion but not without being badly damaged. He also possessed other specifications that aren't mentionned.
Biography[]
- "What about the military commissioning a multi-millon dollar prototype synthetic to hoist girders for a year?"
- ―Beliveau to Henry about Liston (from Aliens: Colonial Marines)
When USCM learned that Alphatech lose contact with one of their communication array to a terrorist cult presumably lead by Alan Bradshaw, a USCM Major, under the name of "Father", they commissioned Liston and assigned him on the USS Melville after the ship was requisitioned by Alphatech executive Beliveau to haul personnel to the comm array.
Accompaning the Melville[]
- "I appreciate your concerns, Mr.Beliveau, but we will simply wait until communications are restored. We can then assess the situation. And after all, reinforcements are three weeks away."
"What about you? You're a specially modified synthetic, built to handle certain... forseeable encounters. Shouldn't you at least..." - ―Liston and Beliveau (from Aliens: Colonial Marines)
After the Melville departure from Mobile Base 82, Sgt. Nyland introduced her new commanding officer to Liston and he instructed him to help the marines to pack their gear and put them into hypersleep. Once arrived in the SunGun vicinity, after they lost contact with Beliveau's security team, Henry made his men gear up but as they were disinclined and refused to gear up, he was forced to physically discipline them and scolded Liston because he didn't intervene. He answered that the soldiers possed no threat and then refused to join the searching party "unless certain thresholds have been reached" and stood on the ship during the whole operation.
Reprogramming[]
- "I've had it with that million-dollar Wallflower. According to your file, you have extensive tech training. You looked pretty sharp back at the railgun so don't deny it. After the op, I want you to jack into Liston's head and motivate him. I need him for the mission."
- ―Henry to Rake about Liston just before the mutiny attempt (from Aliens: Colonial Marines)
Arrived on Bracken's World, Liston still stood outside of fights staying in the main colony maintaining contact with the Melville. He managed to defuse a mutiny attempt because of micro-bombs planted in Marines neck, by informing everyone of the Melville's imminent destruction. On the trip to Joliet Mining Facility he stood alongside Beliveau supervising the weapons loading and evacuate on Beliveau's FTL ship. On Henry's order, Rake put a fractal set in Liston's programming making it bug allowing him to reprogram the synthetic making him obey to every Henry's order and installed an Asimov subroutine unbeknownst to Henry without his name on the protect list. Once done, Henry ensured of Liston's loyalty and learned the true purpose of his mission and Alphatech's and asked Liston to act as his bodyguard allowing him to foil a mutiny attempt from some marines.
Final Moments[]
- "Liston Unit-- Final Report. Identification positive-- "Father" was one Professor Ernst Kleist. Strategic position Kleist held is now nullified--loss of life within acceptable parameters. Full charges will be levied against Alphatech upon retrieval of this unit. Detailed report recorded and filed. Initiate shut down procedures. Objective Accomplished."
- ―Liston's final report. (from Aliens: Colonial Marines)
Once arrived on Alphatech's research station and after he downloaded all necessary datas, they were cut off by hordes of Xenomorphs and Liston's "certain thresholds" had finally been reached sending him a total Xenomorph slaughter. After evacuating the research station, they reached their final destination, the communication array transformed into a huge Xenomorph hive. He participated in the full assault on the station core driving a LAV while Henry manned the turret and forced their way in "Father"'s chamber. Kleist's death, killed by Henry, triggered the station's self-destruction and in a last momentum of lucidity Henry asked Liston to save what's remain of his men which caused him to rip him heart and defuse the microbombs thanks to Rake's Asimov subroutine he activated during the trip to the comm array. Alongside the last survivors, Rake, Forsythe and Maryland, they reached back the ship but even if he tried his best to buy them some time the station explode killing everyone leaving a disembowled Liston drifting in space filing his final report confirming "Father"'s identity and clearing Alphatech and Bradshaw of all charges.
Personality[]
Liston was an imposing hulk of a synthetic with a calm and collected demeanour. Despite his incredibly large physique, Liston largely remained inactive during times of need, as his expensive nature meant that he could only be allowed to operate during times of utmost necessity, as he would constantly remind everyone. However, he eventually saved the team from a horde of Xenomorphs and proceeded to slaughter them with ease.
Appearances[]
Gallery[]
