I don't know how much they would be involoved in crime beforehand. It's pretty out there as-is.

A more toned-down version would be that Ripley is forced to get work on lesser ships. Newt somehow goes along and now she is kept in stasis longer. I'm trying to keep Ripley, Hicks, Bishop and Newt together on one ship. I suppose Ripley could afford to purchase a terribly damaged android that was about to be scrapped anyway.

She might be on a crusade to hold the company accountable and heads out to the colony for evidence. Maybe Hicks was badly treated upon returning and wants to set things right for his squad. They are on the colony world when things go to hell.