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The Sentry, also called the Defender, was the next step of a Runner (or Scout) Xenomorph's lifecycle. Essentially the Runner's version of the Warrior, they were stage 5 Xenomorphs and could evolve further into Crushers.^[1]

Characteristics

Sentries were mature Runners, just as Warriors were mature Drones. Runners evolved into Sentries when the Hive they served was well established and had found a steady supply of hosts. Like Warriors, they developed harder and more ridged carapaces. They also developed dorsal spines. Sentries maintained their speed and dexterity and developed specialized hands and feet adept at gripping, scaling, and climbing, more so than other Xenomorphs.

If the Drone Xenomorph was the hive's main offensive force, Sentries were its main defensive one. Charged with protecting weaker siblings in the hive, such as the Drones or Workers, Sentries were attuned to their Queen and would attack and retreat at her command. They would not hesitate to pit themselves against the odds and would thoughtlessly die to protect the hive.^[1]

Evolution

After being exposed to Royal Jelly and force-fed raw metals for weeks by Workers, the Sentry would molt into a Stage 6 Xenomorph called a Crusher. The Crusher was sometimes considered the Runner-evolved equivalent of a Praetorian, even bearing a queen-like head crest. However, it was not known to evolve further.^[1]

Behind the scenes

A "Sentry Alien" first appeared in 1997's Aliens/Predator Collectible Card Game, although this Sentry was a physically identical variant of the Warrior that had been exposed to Royal Jelly.

The Sentry proper was created for 2019's Alien: The Roleplaying Game, where it was instead the quadrupedal equivalent of a Warrior, acting as a mid-stage between the Runner and the Crusher. While the RPG provides a brief physical description, the Sentry has yet to receive an official appearance. The RPG also gave it the alternative name of Defender, which is also the name of another caste that debuted in the 1994 Alien vs. Predator arcade game.

Appearances

• Alien: The Roleplaying Game (mentioned only)

References