Praetomorph

Praetomorph's History

The Praetomorph (Plagiarus linesteres) was a genetically-engineered species of highly-aggressive endoparasitoid that bore a great resemblance to the Xenomorph XX121 species. Originally the result of experimentation carried out by the rogue Weyland Corp synthetic David, initial incarnations of the Praetomorph were loosed on the crew of the Weyland-Yutani Corporation colony ship USCSS Covenant in 2104. Human encounters with the species did not stop there, however; Praetomorphs also emerged on the worlds of LV-187 and Shānmén during the Frontier War.

After Covenant captain Oram shot down a Neomorph, an enraged David tricked the former into following him to his workshop where he had been experimenting on the pathogen. David brought the captain further down, revealing a chamber filled with large eggs. Oram was unaware of how they functioned until it was too late, as a Praeto-Facehugger leapt out of one and latched itself onto his face. Sometime later, Oram awakened and had a brief discussion with David about their beliefs, when a Praetomorph Imp suddenly ripped its way out of Oram's chest, killing him.

Sergeant Lopé and Cole discovered the workshop in search of Oram. Cole found Oram's body, as well as another Praeto-Facehugger which ambushed them. During the ensuing chaos, the Praeto-Facehugger attacked Lopé and latched onto him. Cole used a knife to cut it off, with the resulting acidic blood burning Lopé's cheek. As Cole bandaged the wound, Lopé noticed an adult Praetomorph watching them from an overhead vent. Panicked, Lopé got up and fled. The alien then lunged on Cole and killed him.

The Praetomorph pursued the crew of the Covenant and discovered them attempting to escape on its cargo lifter. Although it managed to get aboard and endured some serious injuries, it was duly defeated by chief terraformist Daniels.

The crew took Lopé to the medical ward on the Covenant. Subsequently, ship computer MU-TH-UR contacted Daniels and informed her of an unidentified lifeform present on the ship. Daniels and pilot Tennessee headed to the medical ward and found Lopé dead with his chest burst open; the Praeto-Facehugger from earlier had managed to impregnate him.

The already-mature Praetomorph roamed the ship and ambushed Ricks and Upworth while they showered together, killing them both. Following this, the creature was lured to the Terraforming Bay by Daniels and Tennessee, where they trapped it inside one of the Terraforming Trucks and attempted to eject it. However, the truck's deployment winch was jammed by a JCB skid-steer that broke loose of its moorings, and Daniels had Tennessee release a second truck to remove the blockage. Given time to escape, the Praetomorph broke out of the truck and attempted to return to the ship, when the second truck impaled the alien and sent it flying out of the Covenant to its death.