"Wizkids" Battle Report: Star Trek - The Devil In The Dark Returns

CAPTAIN KIRK AND MISTER SPOCK BATTLE THE HORTA ON PLANET JANUS VI

This game was played using the 2017 "Heroclix" Quickstart Rules by "Wizkids" in order to allow us to quickly field a handful of pre-painted miniatures from the New Jersey-based company's "Star Trek HeroClix Away Team: The Original Series" range, and took place upon six of the cardboard game tiles found within the "Necromunda: Underhive" boxed set by "Games Workshop".

The Federation faction, which began on the western edge of the tabletop, consisted of Captain Kirk with Mister Spock, and cost 100 points. Whilst their opponent, a single Horta, started in the east and also cost 100 points. The planet Janus VI had five strategic locations identified and at each of these sites was placed a piece of the pergium mining colony's dismantled main circulating pump. However, until either Kirk or Spock examined the component it would not be know just how many parts it would provide Scotty's repairs with. The U.S.S. Enterprise's Chief Engineer required eight parts to "rig one up" before the reactor went super-critical in ten turns time...

In addition, it was decided not to utilise the Star Fleet officers' Team Ability: "United Nation Of Planets"; which provided each figure with +1 Speed whenever "given a Move action". As we were only playing with 100 points per side, each faction's starting Action Total was only one. But because Kirk started the game with "I'll Keep That In Mind, Mister Bailey, When This Becomes A Democracy", the Federation were allowed "Action Total +1" on account of this Leadership; providing both the Captain and his First Officer with the ability to act whenever possible.

THE TABLETOP - THE PERGIUM MINING COLONY ON THE PLANET JANUS VI

"Captain's log, Stardate 3196.1. A distress call from the pergium production station on Janus Six has brought the Enterprise to that long-established colony. Mister Spock and I have beamed down to locate some odds and ends which will help Chief Engineer Scott rig up a spare circulating pump. However, somewhere within these passageways lurks a killer silicon-based life-form known as a Horta..."

Taking the initiative, Captain Kirk directed Mister Spock to travel west towards Objective Three (Drink Dispenser). The Starship skipper was ordinarily quicker than his First Officer with a Speed of 8 to the Vulcan's 7, but currently the blue-shirted scientist could utilise "Fascinating"; which courtesy of a Sidestep provided a Free "move up to 2 squares." The green-blooded half-human easily reached his goal and gathered up two spare parts to aid Scotty in building his temporary fix.

KIRK AND SPOCK BEAM DOWN TO THE PLANET JANUS VI

James Tiberius Kirk meanwhile, headed north to Objective Four and incredibly collected four more parts. The U.S.S. Enterprise crew-mates were already only two pieces shy of completing their mission. And yet, before the Constitution-class vessel's captain could celebrate, he heard Commander Spock gasp in surprise as the Horta, using its "Astonishing That Anything Of That Bulk Could Move So Rapidly" trait, travelled east straight up to Objective Three and closed with his pointy-eared friend...

Mister Spock attempted to break away from his rocky opponent, and see whether Jim could make a Running Shot at the creature. To do so though he needed to attain a 4-6 on the roll of a D6, but rolled a 2 and failed. His action was over, and to make matters worse because this was his second action on-the-trot, he was dealt "1 unavoidable damage".

AS SPOCK FACES THE HORTA, JAMES KIRK MAKES SURE THE MISSION IS WELL IN HAND

"The first and only student at Starfleet Academy to defeat the Kobayashi Maru test", Captain Kirk was torn between making a break for it and heading towards Objective Five or racing south-west in order to help his friend. In the end he decided to simply stay put and catch his breath. He couldn't help his half-Vulcan colleague by arriving at his side winded (i.e. also being dealt "1 unavoidable damage" for receiving an action on two turns consecutively).

The Horta however, infuriated by the Humans invasion of his territory had no such qualms and immediately utilised its "This Creature's Body Secretes An Extremely Powerful Corrosive" free action to "deal 1 damage to all adjacent opposing characters." Spock cried out in pain and then watched in increasing horror as the "silicon-based life-form from Janus VI" launched an attack at him. The creature had an Attack Value of 10, and rolled a 1 and 4, thus totalling 15. Fortunately for the blue-shirted scientist his Defence Value was 16, meaning the U.S.S. Enterprise's Commander narrowly avoided the assault.

CAPTAIN KIRK CATCHES HIS BREATH AS COMMANDER SPOCK BATTLES THE HORTA

Despite owning a "physiology [that] was very different from the carbon-based norm more commonly found in the galaxy", the Horta gave an involuntary shudder. Like its green-blooded target it had received a second action on-the-trot, and been duly dealt "1 unavoidable damage" through its exertions.

Believing his pointy-eared friend could manage on his own, James Kirk decided to take advantage of the rocky creature's inability to momentarily do anything, and struck out west for the far away Objective One. If Spock could escape the acidic clutches of the Horta then he'd be able to retreat back towards Objective Five, and having scoured four separate objectives the Federation officers would definitely own enough spare parts to help Scotty complete his temporary repairs. It was a gamble for sure, but one "Starfleet's youngest starship captain" was willing to risk...

To Be Continued...