Star Trek Attack Wing Report: U.S.S. Enterprise-D Verses Borg Scout Cube 608

This game was played using the "Star Trek: Attack Wing” rules by “Wizkids” and set up using two 40 Squadron Point fleets. The Federation Faction consisted of Ship Card: U.S.S. Enterprise-D, Manoeuvre Card: Galaxy Class, Captain Card: William T. Riker and the Upgrade Cards: Worf & Photon Torpedoes. The Borg Faction consisted of Ship Card: Scout 608, Manoeuvre Card: Borg Scout Cube, Captain Card: Third of Five and Upgrade Cards: Fourth of Five, Borg Alcove & Magnetometric Guided Charge.

The ‘encounter’ was played on an empty 3’ x 3’ space mat, using an adapted version of the Mission: A New Source of Dilithium from the main rule-book. This meant that each faction began the game “opposite from each other across the play area.” Whilst a planet token was placed in the centre of the play area. The winner was the faction that either managed to warp off the play area with three Dilithium miners first or eliminated their opponent...

COMMANDER WILLIAM T. RIKER ATTEMPTS TO SAVE THE MINERS ON DELTA VEGA

“The story so far… Captain Jean-Luc Picard has returned to Earth in order to fully recover from his Borg assimilation and left Commander William T. Riker in charge of the U.S.S. Enterprise (See "Star Trek: TNG" TV episode "Family"). Embarking upon a routine mission to collect the miners residing within the Lithium-cracking facility on Delta Vega, the Galaxy-Class starship's task is suddenly made all the more vital when its forward scans show a Borg Scout Cube is about to enter the planet's orbit..."

A BORG SCOUT CUBE IS ENTERS THE DELTA VEGA SYSTEM

Detecting the approach of the N.C.C. 1701-D, the Borg vessel stopped its approach towards the large orange-coloured world and noticeably reversed backwards, as if waiting for the Federation Flagship to reactive to its presence in the system. Despite its square-shape the spacecraft appeared unbelievably manoeuvrable.

Nervous as to the Borg's formidable firepower, and keen to discern the alien race's intentions, Commander Riker similarly threw his starship into reverse, and nervously acknowledged that his cautious 'Red' order had required the U.S.S. Enterprise to utilise Auxiliary Power (and thus prevent it from executing future Red Manoeuvres as well as any Actions, even Free Actions).

COMMANDER RIKER TAKES AN UNCHARACTERISTICALLY CAUTIOUS APPROACH

Third of Five watched his opponent falter in their approach to Delta Vega and sensing a reluctance to engage the Borg, sent his scout cube hurtling straight towards the Dilithium-rich planet at Warp Factor four. The vessel's engines whined with the strain of the speed and tapped into its Auxiliary Power in order to attain the required speed.

Cursing, William Riker realised his hesitancy had been seen as a sign of weakness and ordered the U.S.S. Enterprise to match the Borg's speed and course towards Delta Vega and the hapless miners trapped on its surface.

THE FEDERATION AND BORG RACE TOWARDS THE MINERS ON DELTA VEGA

Sensing that he could goad his opponent into a rash course of action, Third of Five again ordered for Scout 608 to reverse its direction, and waited for the Human vessel to make its next emotionally-charged move before the Borg struck.

Spotting an opportunity to beam down to the planet and start rescuing the Dilithium miners, William T. Riker ordered the U.S.S. Enterprise to fly straight into a fast-orbit around Delta Vega at Warp Factor five. The Galaxy-Class starship zoomed into position and awaited it's Commander's orders to disable its shields and prepare for the Away Team's transportation.

Scanning the data before him, Third of Five continued to assess his opponent's actions, and calculated that the Federation flagship would be unable to perform a successful recovery of any humans trapped within the Lithium-cracking facility whilst it was still required to use Auxiliary Power. As a result the Borg Cube continued to steadily reverse away from the planet.

THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE IS FIRST TO ATTAIN AN ORBIT OF THE PLANET

Mindful that he needed to lower his shields in order to transport down to Delta Vega, Commander Riker ordered for his Galaxy-class starship to bank to port at Warp Factor three and skirted the planet's atmosphere. However although the move didn't put the Borg vessel within reach of the U.S.S. Enterprise's phaser arrays. The manoeuvre did place the Federation Flagship within range of Scout 608.

Third of Five immediately gave the order for the Borg cube to fire, and successfully rolled two hits. Not being the most agile of spacecraft the crew of the N.C.C. 1071-D were grateful that their opponent was firing at extreme range as it awarded them a second Defence Die, and allowed them to evade one of the blasts. But Worf still informed Commander Riker that their shields had been depleted by 25 per cent.

UNABLE TO BEAM DOWN TO THE PLANET'S SURFACE THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE ATTACKS

With the opposing forces now within firing range of one another, the Borg Cube effortlessly slid to starboard, negating its need to utilise Auxiliary Power and allowing Fourth of Five to beam onboard the U.S.S. Enterprise. The alien cyborg immediately disabled two of the Federation Flagship's shields and its Photon Torpedoes, as well as Mister Worf.

Aware that his shields were currently depleted by seventy-five percent, his Head of Security was injured and that his secondary weapons system was offline, Commander Riker shouted for his Galaxy-class starship to fly straight ahead at Warp Factor four. However the course was not enough to get the N.C.C. 1701-D completely out of harms way...

THE BORG MERCILESSLY BATTER THE FEDERATION FLAGSHIP

Scout 608 once again fired upon its weakening target, and this time used its Magnetometric Guided Charge. Not only did this weapon allow the Borg to roll three Attack Dice, whilst the "target ship does not roll Defence Dice against this attack." But it also allowed them to convert one of their Battle Stations results into a Critical Damage.

With a shudder the U.S.S. Enterprise rocked under the detonation's impact. Its remaining shield was instantly overwhelmed by the attack, and the vessel took both a hit on its hull as well as some Critical Damage; its helmsman being stunned. In response, all the Federation Flagship could do was repair the damage caused to its two shields by Fourth of Five.

MISTER DATA IS KNOCKED OUT BY A FORMIDABLE BORG ATTACK

Believing that his foe was now ready for assimilation, Third of Five moved his Borg Cube towards his prey at Warp Factor Two, and acquired a Weapons Lock on the Galaxy-class starship. This meant the hostile aliens could "re-roll as many of his attack dice as he chooses."

Grimacing at the news that his opponent now a distinct advantage over his vessel William T. Riker reluctantly gave the order for the U.S.S. Enterprise to continue on its course out of the system at Warp Factor four. Delta Vega was lost and the Dilithium miners were destined to become Borg drones. The only good news was that Scout 608 was now within range of the Commander's secondary saucer phaser array. However with a Stunned Helmsman the N.C.C. 1701-D was unable to fire.

RIKER REALISES HE MUST FLEE AS THE BORG GAIN A TACTICAL ADVANTAGE

Third of Five concentrated his square-shaped vessel's firepower upon the Borg's fast-fleeing prize, and once again battered the Galaxy-class starship's shields. Fortunately for the Federation Flagship though the alien's attack failed to penetrate to its hull, and with an angry last look at his fearsome opponent Riker took his bruised command out of the Delta Vega system...