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- "This is Raider 6-8, moving to engage."
- ―Ruiz
Gunnery Sergeant[note 1] Ruiz, callsign Raider 6-8, was a Cheyenne dropship pilot and technician with the United States Colonial Marine Corps. He was part of a search and rescue mission sent to LV-426 aboard the USS Sephora in 2179 to investigate the disappearance of the USS Sulaco and its crew 17 weeks earlier. He perished when Lieutenant Reid crashed her dropship into the Resolute.
Biography
The Assault
- "Ruiz, break off if you're hit. No heroics.'"
"Understood 6-5. I think we're good to stay in the fight a little longer." - ―Reid and Ruiz
Ruiz was one of the Marines who survived the destruction of the Sephora and Sulaco, making it safely to LV-426. During the 118th Battalion's assault against the Weyland-Yutani PMCs, Ruiz was flying in a UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropship with Daggs, providing air support and reconnaissance with Raider 6-5 for the other 59 Marines on the ground.
After Corporal Winter identified a Weyland-Yutani aircraft carrying what looked like the Queen module, Ruiz moved to engage but was hit in one of the engines, disabling it. Despite Lieutenant Reid advising him to break off, Ruiz insisted he was fine to stay in the fight a little longer. After the ground team destroyed the second Anti-Air Gun, Ruiz moved to engage the Queen module but was shot down by the final Anti-Air Gun.
Rescue and Death
- "This is Raider 6-5, going down. Repeat. Raider 6-5 going down.'"
"Ruiz!" - ―Ruiz and Reid
Ruiz and Daggs survived the crash but had been temporarily incapacitated, having to fend off attacking Xenomorphs. Soon after Winter, Corporal Hicks and Private O'Neal arrived to help, the Second Acheron Queen arrived on the scene and quickly scurried on top of the crashed dropship before impaling Daggs with her tail and then throwing him away. Ruiz managed to get to his feet and flee to safety inside a shipping container.
After a brief standoff, Reid circled back around and fired off two missiles at the Queen, however, she missed and only managed to scare off the Queen. The Marines were told not to re-engage the Queen and to get to the FTL ship, but the Queen also headed for the Resolute and so O'Neal suggested following her through. Ruiz then fought through the dockyard with the other Marines to reach the Resolute but they were too late and the Resolute took off without them. After the ground team was too late to board the Resolute, Reid picked them up in her dropship and they flew after the ship. Reid fired two missiles at one of the hangar bay's doors and crashed the dropship inside. Ruiz was killed in the crash.
Equipment
- "This is Raider 6-8, Aft engine is janked, but I think I'm okay to stay in the air."
- ―Ruiz
Ruiz wore a standard-issue Battle Dress Uniform and carried a 88 Mod 4 Combat Pistol for self-defense. Ruiz's most important piece of equipment was his UD-4 "Cheyenne" Dropship, which was shot down by Weyland-Yutani Anti-Air Guns.
Trivia
- When Ruiz is shot down, he mistakenly says, "This is Raider 6-5, going down." This callsign belongs to Lisa Reid.
- Interestingly the rank symbol on his arm is a United States Army Sergeant First Class symbol and not a USMC Gunnery Sergeant symbol.
- Despite being a pilot, Ruiz wears a Battle Dress Uniform instead of the flight suit worn by Reid.
Appearances
- Aliens: Colonial Marines (video game)
Gallery
