Episode 5 of *Alien: Earth* catapults us back in time, aboard the Maginot, a mere 17 days before its catastrophic collision with Earth. Morrow is jolted awake by a crew member, who delivers grim news: the Captain is dead, and a facehugger has unleashed its lethal embrace on the science officer, leaving the host on the brink of death. Let's face it, you can't just pry these creatures off; once they've latched on, it's a one-way ticket to oblivion.
Adding to the chaos, a fire has erupted, its origins traced back to a saboteur. This act of sabotage has crippled their navigation systems and fried the engine relays. Morrow urges the engineers to spring into action, emphasizing the dire consequences if they fail—a ship hurtling towards Earth at such velocity would inflict far greater devastation than what actually transpired.
With the Captain gone, command devolves upon Zora Zaveri, whom the dying Captain implores to launch an investigation. Yet, Zaveri might not be the most impartial judge, given her intimate entanglement with the science officer, Bronski. Morrow expresses his concerns, stressing that the paramount objective is to safeguard the cargo for Earth's sake.
The crew opts to place the science officer in cryo-sleep, naively believing it will save him. Spoiler alert: it doesn't.
Morrow sets out to inspect the remaining specimens they've captured, the fire's epicenter, and potential causes. CCTV footage reveals a saboteur lurking in the shadows, though the identity remains shrouded in mystery due to a blind spot. However, Morrow does catch a glimpse of Zaveri and Bronski engaging in a steamy rendezvous in the cargo hold. Timing and location, folks—it's everything!
Meanwhile, Zaveri makes her way to the ship's forefront to confer with Mother, who essentially echoes Morrow's sentiments: the cargo is of utmost importance.
That fateful night, disaster strikes anew as someone blasts a gaping hole in the ship's side. Fuel reserves plummet to a mere 8%. As Zaveri and Morrow deliberate over the engineers' fate, an alarm pierces the silence—a cryopod quarantine breach has occurred. Bronski lies lifeless, and the facehugger has once again claimed its victim.
The Xeno has broken free, prompting Morrow to swiftly arm Clem, while Zaveri rushes to contain the menace using electric zappers. However, their troubles are far from over, as a multitude of other species also manage to escape their confines in the lab. Among them is the ominous eyeball creature, Ocellus, which smashes its way out of its container with terrifying ease.
Gathering the crew, Zaveri delivers a grim update on the unfolding chaos. She orders a thorough sweep of the ship to recapture the Xenomorph and reveals the chilling news that there's a saboteur lurking among them. With the identity of the traitor unknown, all non-essential movement is immediately suspended.
Morrow, ever vigilant, demands the duty rosters and activity logs within the hour, eager to piece together the puzzle. But amidst the turmoil, disaster strikes again when one of the engineers unwittingly drinks from a spiked water bottle, contaminated by a Blood Bug that had escaped the lab and sprayed its offspring into the water supply. The effects are swift and gruesome; the engineer soon begins vomiting blood and collapses into unconsciousness.
Meanwhile, Zaveri learns of the escaped eyeball creature from the careless science officer. After a brief discussion, they decide to prioritize other threats, sealing off the lab and walking away from the looming danger.
Delving into the logs, Morrow uncovers a fascinating exchange between Petrovitch and Boy Kavalier. It appears that Petrovitch has been secretly collaborating with Kavalier all along, feigning cryosleep while actually remaining very much awake and active.
Back in the medical bay, the science officer works to contain the ailing engineer, and Zaveri gives the green light for an operation. As they examine the engineer, it's clear he's been contaminated, but Morrow voices his concerns. None of them are wearing hazmat suits or any protective gear, and they're underestimating the severity of the situation, brushing it off as a mere case of "ticks."
Zaveri's crippling indecisiveness proves fatal for the science officer and Rahim. Both are left stunned as a swarm of Blood Bugs unleashes a deadly spray of acid, claiming their lives in an instant. Amidst this chaos, Teng meets his end at the hands—or rather, the claws—of the Xenomorph. He had been left alone, vulnerable, after a brutal interrogation, and the alien predator wasted no time in seizing its opportunity. Witnessing this carnage, Morrow decides he's seen enough carnage and chaos; it's time for him to seize control of the ship.
However, their newfound resolve is swiftly challenged when Petrovitch makes a dramatic entrance, guns blazing. Clem and Morrow scramble for cover, finding refuge in the contaminated lab. But it's a race against time, and fate isn't on their side. Clem falls, another casualty in this brutal struggle for survival. In the chaos, Morrow unwittingly sets Ocellus free, unaware of the creature's existence or the potential havoc it could wreak. To compound their troubles, the Blood Bugs, now unleashed, wreak further havoc.
The Xenomorph, ever the silent predator, appears behind Zaveri in the corridor. Yet, instead of striking immediately, it allows her a fleeting chance to escape, pursuing her relentlessly until she reaches the bridge. In a twist of fate, Ocellus arrives on the scene, infecting the engineer and assuming a human host. A fierce battle ensues between the infected engineer and the Xenomorph, with Ocellus managing to cling to the alien's face, buying Morrow just enough time to communicate with Mother.
This brings us to the brink of Episode 1, where Morrow, in a cold and calculated move, sacrifices Zaveri to the Xenomorph, condemning her and the entire crew to their doom. He manages to reach the Impact Room before the ship crash-lands in a fiery blaze.
In the aftermath, Morrow pays a visit to the Yutani CEO, his resolve unwavering. He vows to eliminate Boy Kavalier and recover the precious specimens, his words laced with a steely determination that promises no mercy and no retreat.
