Changes: Mark Drake

Revision as of 15:22, 19 February 2013

*If you are looking for another Drake, check the (disambiguation)page*

Mark Drake was a smart gunner in the Colonial Marines and was stationed on board the USSSulaco in 2179.

Biography

Awakening and Briefing

"Hey, Hicks. Man you look how I feel."

―Drake, to Hicks (from Aliens (Film))

Stationed on board the USS Sulaco, Drake and his squad were tasked with investigating the loss of contact with Weyland-Yutani Corporation's colony on LV-426. After awakening from hypersleep and grumbling to Dietrich about how they aren't paid enough for this job and didn't get any sympathy but insulted instead. After awakening he overheard his good friend Vasquez being teased by Hudson for her masculine appearance and had it thrown back at him. Drake found it funny and complimented Vasquez on giving it back to Hudson. Later at breakfast, Drake "volunteered" Hudson for Bishop's "knife trick" much to Hudson's chagrin and Drake's amusement.

File:M56-smart-gun-aliens.jpg

Drake (right) with Vasquez and their Smart guns.

During the mission briefing Vasquez, made a sarcastic remark about the creatures wanting to know only : "where they are" Drake laughed at his friend's joke. Later Drake prepped with Vasquez for the mission by suiting up with their M56 smart guns for the mission. Later during the drop Drake was told by Lt. Gorman that he was getting interference from Drake's head cam. Drake "fixed" the issue by smacking the side of his head on one of the support bars in the APC.

Investigating the colony

Marines LV-426 — Drake (center) investigating a signal on Frost's motion tracker on LV-426.

After landing Drake and his squad made their way to the Hadley's Hope administrative building and entered with Drake taking point. After the building was checked out by Drake and the others, Gorman radioed saying he was coming in. After Gorman came in and the squad did some deeper investigation of the colonists' whereabouts, Frost picked up a signal on his motion tracker. Drake and Hicks backed up Frost while he closed in on the signal, when a young girl ran across the hall to an air duct with Drake accidentally shooting at her. Hudson eventually tracked the colonists' signal to the atmospheric processor with Drake and the squad heading out.

Death

"Drake, Come on!"

―Vasquez, to Drake (from Aliens (Film))

When Drake and the others made their way to the processing station and gone down several sublevels the Squad received word that the M41A Pulse Rifles and the Smart guns had to be slung so that a stray armor piercing round wouldn't rupture the processor's cooling units. When Apone ordered Drake and Vasquez to hand over the batteries powering the Smart guns, Drake and Vasquez added fresh batteries when the Sergeant turned his back on the two. As Drake and the squad made their way further in, Dietrich came across a woman cocooned by the creatures and watched the woman die as one of the creatures ripped from her chest. Apone torched the body and creature and unintentionally agitated the nest.

Agitated with the death of one of their infants, the creatures struck and Drake and Vasquez sprayed the nest with their smart guns to take down the creatures. After the squad took heavy casualties, Hicks ordered Drake and the other survivors to retreat in the chaos back to the APC. Taking the rear, Drake gave cover fire and took out a few of the creatures before his Smart gun gave out. Cursing, Drake removed the harness and the rest of the gear and unslung his M240 Incinerator unit to continue providing cover for the retreating Marines. Drake was unaware of one of the creatures that waited to ambush him, but it was noticed by Vasquez. She yelled out to Drake to watch out and took out the creature with her Smart gun; but it exploded and drenched Drake in its acidic blood killing Drake. Drake was one of the few marines that was not later cocooned and impregnated because he died before the Xenomorphs could get him. While he died his flamethrower sprayed the side of the APC, creating a fire for the survivors to deal with before they could close the door, leading to Hudson being slightly injured with the same kind of acid.

Drake right after acid was sprayed on his face, killing him.

Personality & Traits

"They don't pay us enough for this, man."

―Drake, grumbling (from Aliens (Film))

Knife Trick — Drake was amused when he "volunteered" Hudson (right) for Bishop's "knife trick"

Having a habit of grumbling, Drake would complain after waking up from hypersleep that he wasn't paid enough for this. He would later be insulted by Dietrich that they weren't paid enough to wake up to Drake's face. He also enjoyed giving Hudson a hard time when he bugged Bishop to do his knife tirck and was 'volunteered' by Drake and his warped humor. He also had a knack for egging on Vasquez on her jokes, and appeared to be on good terms with her. Like Vasquez, Drake also had issues with following orders, such as turning over all the power cells for the Smartguns when they were ordered to, instead handing off a spare power cell after their originals were collected.

Equipment

File:M56A1 Smart Gun.jpg

A diagram of the M56 Smart gun.

Drake was outfitted with a M56 Smart Gun, Battle harness, and targeting eye for his standard weapon in the field. He was also proficcent with the M240 Incinerator Unit that he kept as a back up should his smartgun jam or run out of ammo. He was also equipped with an Flack Vest that he wore benieth his battle harness for added protection.

Behind the Scenes

Drake had a figureine based off his appearance in the Kenner line of Alien toys.
Interesting to note, in Aliens: Colonial Marines, Drake makes a playable appearance in the game's Versus' mode.

Non Canon Appearance

In Aliens: Book One, Drake appears in Hicks' nightmare along with Vasquez in the generator room dead from chestbursters ripping out of them.

Appearances

Aliens (film) /novelization (First Appearance)
Aliens: Newt's Tale
Colonial Marines Technical Manual (Indirect Mention)
Aliens: Nightmare Asylum (Indirect Mention)

Non Canon Appearance

Aliens: Book One (Appears in Dream)

References

Gallery

[1] Aliens: Newt's Tale

[2] Aliens

[1]

[2]

@@ Line 52: / Line 52: @@
 ==Behind the Scenes==
 *Drake had a figureine based off his appearance in the [[Kenner line of Alien toys|Kenner line of Alien toys.]]
-*Interesting to note, in [[Aliens: Colonial Marines]], Drake makes a playable appearence in the game's Versus' mode.
+*Interesting to note, in [[Aliens: Colonial Marines]], Drake makes a playable appearance in the game's Versus' mode.
 ===Non Canon Appearance===
 In [[Aliens (Series 1)|Aliens: Book One]], Drake appears in Hicks' nightmare along with Vasquez in the generator room dead from chestbursters ripping out of them.