Tuesday 12 April 2016

Zombicide Report: Alien Verses Blake's Seven - "Lifeboats" - Part Two

“The story so far… On an orbiting Federation Weapons Research Facility Roj Blake, Jenna Stannis, Vila Restal and Space Commander Travis have encountered a hostile Alien lifeform which has completely wiped out the top secret base’s scientists. Realising that the extra-terrestrials pose a genuine threat to the safety of the Terran Administration, the freedom fighters decide to blow up the station. However before they can do so the party must first deactivate its computer-controlled lifeboats. Having teleported down into a series of cramped corridors, Blake and Jenna have positioned themselves close to the Control Room and established a ‘kill zone’. But Vila and Travis, busy exploring some abandoned space debris elsewhere within the complex are about to experience a much more personal close encounter of the third kind…”

Blake tapped his communications bracelet, and having given Travis some instructions (and a free action), aimed his space rifle at two oncoming Aliens approaching his position and brought one down in a spray of acidic blood. Jenna, realising that they might be momentarily overrun, moved east and made her weapon ready. Up ahead she could see two of the creatures reach the Red Junction, and something was making strange dog-like noises in the shadows further away.

Vila, desperate for a decent weapon searched the Green Room and discovered a glass bottle. Disappointed it was empty as opposed to being full of alcohol, the cowardly thief called out for Travis. Hearing his colleague’s voice, and sensing he was about to be cut off from help by the Aliens climbing out of the air ducts to the south of him, the Federation Officer bravely moved towards the hissing extra-terrestrials and blew one away with his sawn-off shotgun. However the Space Commander’s shout of triumph was cut short as he realised the additional experience he had accrued meant he had levelled up, and as a result the number of creatures the entire party would now be facing would be increased. With a curse Travis ran west back into the Green Room. Whilst behind him another three Aliens scrambled out of the ventilation system.
BLAKE AND JENNA PREPARE TO BATTLE, AS TRAVIS FENDS OFF SOME ALIENS
Blake gave Jenna a quick instruction and then, levelling his space rifle at two more of the slimy monsters rushing towards him, brought both down. Stannis, taking out the third and final Alien at the Red Junction with her blaster pistol, rushed East and then headed North towards the Control Room airlock. Behind the smuggler, the corridor was becoming increasingly thick full of squirming monsters, including a couple of dog-shaped fast-moving creatures which were racing towards her from the South.

Travis, tossing a space Pistol to a petrified Vila, fired with his Laseron Destroyer (pistol) and killed the closest extra-terrestrial chasing him. The Space Commander then had a final look around the Green Room and found a flashlight. Restal meanwhile, unhappy with the small firearm he had been given, rummaged around his surroundings once more, and was delighted to find a submachine gun. Gripping the formidable firearm tightly, the thief headed North towards the Red Room.
JENNA AND TRAVIS TAKE DOWN MORE EXTRA-TERRESTRIALS. BUT A NEW MONSTER IS COMING...
 Blake, fearing Jenna would become fatally separated from him, called out for her to re-join him and took down another two Aliens with his Space Rifle. Puffing, Stannis returned to his side, and exasperatingly asked “Where’s Vila!?!” A call from the West end of their corridor answered her query, as the breathless thief appeared from inside the Red Room. Travis meanwhile was slowly making a fighting retreat, his sawn-off disposing of another extra-terrestrial as the Space Commander moved North out of the Green Room.
BLAKE AND JENNA CONFRONT ALIEN HOUNDS AND COME OUT ON TOP
Blake tapped his communications bracelet again, electronically sending Travis his location’s co-ordinates, and then killed two Alien hounds (Runners) which had been tearing towards him. The Federation Officer meanwhile, eager to re-join his hated foe, fired his shotgun into the packed Green Room, emptying the place of living extra-terrestrials, and taking some satisfaction in his work headed North, then East after Vila.

Staggering up towards his Liberator crewmates, the flush-faced thief reacted to a flick of Roj Blake’s head, and instead of joining them, moved up towards the Northern airlock, and using his Break-In skill (free action) opened the door. All around the shaking gambler could be heard the hisses and growls of the fearsome extra-terrestrials, as three more reached the Red Junction, two appeared from the South-East corridor and four Alien Stalkers emerged behind Travis… And what of the animalistic growls emanating far away in the direction of the Green Room?
TRAVIS MOTIVATES VILA AS MORE ALIENS POUR TOWARDS THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS
Realising they may soon be overwhelmed, Blake gave Vila a quick briefing over his wrist bracelet and once again successfully killed two Aliens with his space rifle. Hearing the carnage behind him Restal raced up to the Control Airlock and picking the opening mechanism (free action) gave a sigh of relief as the heavy-duty shutter silently raised upwards. Behind it two snarling Alien Hounds growled hungrily at the stammering thief…

Finally approaching his arch-rival’s side, Travis prepared himself, along with Jenna, for the oncoming onslaught. Numerous monsters were fast approaching from both the East and West, including several of the larger dog-shaped creatures. It was doubtful that the freedom fighters would last long against such odds despite their firepower. Vila meanwhile was too busy being attacked by the Alien Hounds who leapt upon him from inside the Control Room. The gambler took two swift wounds, and grimly realised he was going to have to take some more if he was to survive, as the savage animals were too close now to avoid their acidic blood…
VILA MOMENTARILY GOES DOWN UNDER A SEA OF TEETH AND CLAWS
Blake tried to give Restal some encouragement over his communicator, before shooting down an Alien Stalker and a hound. Jenna also poured fire into one of the snarling canines (having Plenty of Ammunition) and finally brought down another of the dog-shaped fiends. Moving West Travis opened up upon the extra-terrestrials approaching from behind him with his Sawn-off Shotgun and managed to lessen their number. But there were even more slimy black shapes emerging from the corridors around them…
BLAKE, JENNA AND TRAVIS HOLD ON AS A BATTERED VILA WINS THE DAY
With an anguished cry Vila opened up upon the two Alien hounds savaging him, and his submachine gun took them down with a hail of lead. Twice more though the thief was wounded, as a result of his foes’ acidic blood. Gasping, and near to death, Restal staggered into the Control Room and de-activated the secret base’s lifeboats. The Liberator crew had won… for now.

24 comments:

  1. Action, excitement, whiny thieves!

    A great game and fun graphics. Really like your take on all this using zombicide. And of course, your minis look lovely depicting it all.

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    1. Many thanks Dai. Glad you enjoyed it. "Zombicide" is definitely my 'go to' ruleset these days for such games, as it simply lets two or more players game together - which is always more fun in my books. Glad you like the minis too. Always nice to get the more time-consuming paint-jobs on the table :-)

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  2. Blimey...I'm amazed they've made it this far! Gripping stuff!

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    1. Cheers Gordon. I do have a second "AvB7" BatRep planned, loosely based upon the second mission of "Space Hulk". Hopefully it'll prove just as "gripping" :-)

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  3. And breathe! Phew, that was a close run thing and very tense throughout. I'm very surprised all four survivors made it, and even more surprised that Travis didn't betray, back stab or hinder his temporary allies. Another excellent batrep that once again showcases the versatility of the Zombicide rules.

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    1. Thanks Bryan. It was very tight indeed. I doubt Jenna and Travis would have lasted another turn tbh. But Vila was excellent in the game. Don't you just love the versatility of "Zombicide"? :-)

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  4. Nice job dude, nice mix of styles

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    1. Cheers Andy. It was great fun.

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    2. Weird timing of your game as well buddy with Gareth's passing..... RIP Roj Blake/Gareth Thomas

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    3. Indeed Andy. I'm absolutely gutted about that, as he had recently done a series of "Blake's Seven" audible plays with the rest of the cast to try and fill in some of the TV show's gaps. I've only had a chance to listen to the first one, but it was terrific stuff which took me right back.

      I've met him too, and he was a genuinely nice guy, who had loads of enthusiasm for not only his roles but some cartoons I drew of him (and he kindly signed). Top fellow.

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  5. Oh my word can Villa take much more of this? Fabulous stuff Simon.

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    1. Most Kind Michael. It was a thoroughly enjoyable game.

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  6. Made it by the skin of their teeth. Good stuff, Simon.

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  7. Love the fusion dude! Great game too.

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    1. Most kind, Bob. It was certainly a lot of fun to play.

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  8. Just goes to show the superiority of the Liberator crew versus Colonial Marines. Game over, indeed. Nice work, Simon.

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    1. Thanks Jez. It was close for the Aliens, but no cigar. I do have a second BatRep in mind though already, so more to come without a doubt.

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  9. This is absolutely amazing. I was fortunate to get my hands on (borrow) a copy of the complete Blakes 7 DVD boxed set recently, and once more I find myself drawn to TV programs and films made long before I was even born! This battle report thingy is simply incredible. I want more: much, much more.

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    1. Cheers Tarot. I'm delighted you enjoyed this BatRep. I do have another AvB7 one coming soon. Just need to find the time to play it, photo it and post it ;-)

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  10. Outstanding. WOW, very impressed.

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    1. Many thanks Stephen. Glad you thought your time was well spent reading it :-)

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