[Andrew NDB]

Originally Posted by Coola Yagami

So is this all prequel stuff or how does Ripley even fit into the plot anymore?

Ripley hasn't fit into the plot of any Alien movies for almost 30 years. This is an between-quel. Ripley technically sets the plot in this movie in motion by ejecting the Alien Drone from the Narcissus at the end of Alien 1 but spends this movie floating in space asleep, only halfway through her 50+ year journey to Aliens.

Originally Posted by neatoman

Spoiler:

It's not really explained either, though we do get a new stage in the life cycle in this movie, the chestburster is shown to create a cocoon in order to mature into an adult. Maybe it's related to that?

Spoiler:

Huh, OK. I guess that would make sense, especially if they're in the vacuum of space. I guess that means the Alien Queen Ripley ejected from the Nostromo in Aliens is floating around the same star system, encased in something similar.