"Hey! You There! Stop!"

"Our Axon friend has just walked straight into the furnace of the main reactor."

This 28mm metal model of an Axon Monster is manufactured by “Black Tree Design” and can be bought as code DW310 from their "Doctor Who" range. "A scavenger entity which came to Earth, supposedly for fuel, the aliens' real motivation was "to drain all energy from Earth" and made their first appearance in the March 1971 BBC Television science fiction serial "The Claws Of Axos".

The model was originally primed with "Vallejo" Heavy Orange and washed with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson. It was then dry-brushed first with more "Vallejo" Heavy Orange, and later with some Heavy Red. Finally, the entire figure was once again washed with "Citadel" Carroburg Crimson.

"Excalibur Captain Harris and first officer dead. Many casualties."

I don't ordinarily get the opportunity to post other people's painting on this blog, but Roy Williamson, who runs the excellent "Never Mind The Yankers!" website, very kindly sent me a rather splendid-looking re-painted constitution-class starship earlier this week. It's a plastic "Wizkids" model for their "Star Trek: Attack Wing" tactical space combat miniatures game, and comes complete with a mind-boggingly tiny hand-painted NCC-1664 registry number on top of its saucer section.

Of course that marks the 23rd century Federation vessel out as the USS Excalibur, with Captain Harris as its commander. Sadly, both the starship and skipper were destined to be destroyed by the U.S.S. Enterprise "during the disastrous M-5 Starfleet battle simulation war games" depicted in the broadcast episode "The Ultimate Computer".

Grishaks WIPs - The beaked-birds have all been primed and are ready for shading

In addition to the odd bit of painting, I've been sorting through my worryingly burdensome lead mountain and separating all the miniatures I've based, prepped or even started working on, from those I've never touched, and even more embarrassingly never even unsealed/opened. There's been a few trips down memory lane as a result, and once such quartet of models was four Grishaks by "Twilight Miniatures".

As I recall I picked these weird dinosaur birds up as part of a starter set bought at "Salute" several years ago, and clearly made some sort of effort to get them 'up and ready' as they'd all been based, primed and one even shaded. Sadly however, they subsequently fell out of favour and have been lost to time... until now. I have little intention of actually playing "The World Of Twilight" with them, but because they're on the self-same 28mm lipped bases I use for my "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" models I thought they might make interesting 'killer birds' for a scenario or two...

Star Trek Attack Wing Report: U.S.S. Enterprise-D Verses The Doomsday Machine

This game was played using “Wizkids” "Star Trek: Attack Wing” Original Series Organised Play Event rules for “The Doomsday Machine”. The game was set up using the following vessels from the Federation Faction - Ship Card: U.S.S. Enterprise-D, Manoeuvre Card: Galaxy Class, with Captain Card: Jean-Luc Picard and the Upgrade Cards: Data & Worf, and Ship Card: U.S.S. Constellation, Manoeuvre Card: Constitution Class, Captain Card: Matt Decker and Upgrade Cards: Damage Control Party & Dual Phaser Banks. In addition the Federation Faction spent 5 Squadron Points on the Structural Damage Check Resource.

COMMODORE MATT DECKER & CAPTAIN JEAN-LUC PICARD TEAM-UP AGAINST A PLANET KILLER

The ‘encounter’ was played using the recommended set up on a 3’ x 3’ space mat, and followed all of the OP rules with the exception of allowing the Doomsday Machine to repair two damage to its hull at each End Phase.

THE BATTLEFIELD - THE KANDARI SECTOR

“The story so far… While responding to a garbled automated distress beacon in the Kandari Sector of the Alpha Quadrant, the U.S.S. Enterprise-D passes by the long-dead debris of what was once all the planets in the L-370 and L-374 systems (See “Star Trek” TV Episode “The Doomsday Machine”). Suddenly, a wormhole appears before the Federation flagship and from within it emerges not just an old Constitution-class starship, but the vessel which destroyed the two systems decades earlier; an automated, self-sustaining doomsday machine. Immediately joining forces with the Commodore’s aged spacecraft in order to destroy the planet killer, Captain Jean-Luc Picard realises that history is strangely repeating itself…”

COMMODORE DECK TAKES CHARGE OF THE CONSTELLATION AND ENTERPRISE-D

Dwarfed by the ancient robotic weapon, Captain Jean-Luc Picard gave the order for his Galaxy-class starship to move further into the debris field at Warp Factor Three in an effort to join-up with his superior officer’s vessel. The Federation flagship was put on Battle Stations, and Data was told to employ Evasive Manoeuvres (reducing the U.S.S. Enterprise-D’s Arrack Dice by two this Round). Commodore Decker meanwhile, instructed for the U.S.S. Constellation to bank left at Warp Factor One, and initiated his own Evasive Manoeuvres.

Believed to have been created by the Preservers in order to be used against the Borg, the Doomsday Machine maintained its course through the system at Warp Factor Two.

THE FEDERATION STARSHIPS BACK AWAY FROM THE FEARSOME DOOMSDAY MACHINE

With a curse Picard realised that his course into the debris field was already in danger of putting his vessel within range of his foe’s anti-proton beams (eight Attack Dice) and therefore tapped into the Galaxy-class starship’s Auxiliary Power in order to reverse backwards away from the incredibly powerful planet killer. This stress upon the NCC-1701-D’s hull immediately prevented the Captain from using any actions (even free ones) during the turn. To the South Commodore Decker was equally aghast at the 50,000 year-old ship’s proximity, and, using his own vessel’s Auxiliary Power, ordered the U.S.S. Constellation into full reverse.

THE U.S.S. CONSTELLATION DRAWS FIRST BLOOD, BUT LOSES ALL HER SHIELDS

The Doomsday Machine moved towards Asteroid Four and in doing so entered Matt Decker’s attack range. With a cry of exhilaration the unkempt Commodore utilised his vessel’s Dual Phaser Banks (and subsequently rolled four Attack Dice). The Planet Killer’s neutronium hull was capable of resisting “many known types of weapon fire” and as a result treated “all Critical Damage inflicted on the Doomsday Machine as normal damage”, but was still reduced from ten hulls points down to seven. 

However, the NCC-1017 was now within range of the ancient machine’s own primary weapon, and immediately felt the effects of its devastating antiproton beam as all three of its Shields were destroyed and its aged hull was battered for two more points. Little wonder “even the Borg were incapable of resisting the Preservers machine.

COMMODORE MATT DECKER ATTEMPTS TO MAKE A RUN FOR IT

Desperate to eliminate its need for Auxiliary Power, the U.S.S. Enterprise-D effortlessly banked to port and entered orbit around Asteroid Two. Able to utilise Actions again, Captain Picard ordered his vessel to Battle Stations and Evasive Manoeuvres. Cursing, Commodore Decker realised his Constitution-class starship was effectively finished as it was badly outmatched in a head-on confrontation, and so ordered it to travel away from its opponent at Warp Factor Three.

Having now locked onto the U.S.S. Constellation as its primary target though, the Doomsday Machine passed Asteroid Four and turned towards the significantly smaller fleeing spacecraft.

Sensing his imminent demise, Matt Decker ordered a Structural Damage Check and repaired one damage to his starship’s hull. The NCC-1017 was still using Auxiliary Power though, so was unable to utilise its Damage Control Party. Outgunned and unable to return fire, the Constitution-class vessel’s bridge crew prepared for the impactive of the planet killer’s primary weapon. Four hits thudded into the U.S.S. Constellation, and it was lost with all hands…

THE PLANET KILLER DESTROYS THE CONSTITUTION-CLASS STARSHIP

Alone, Captain Jean-Luc Picard drove the U.S.S. Enterprise-D straight past Asteroid Two, remained at Battle Stations and obtained a Target Lock with its weapons upon the enemy vessel (allowing him to re-roll any number of his Attack Dice). The Doomsday Machine passed around Asteroid Four and began to head towards the Galaxy-class starship like a shark rising towards its prey. 

The NCC-1701-D fired at the ancient robotic weapon at maximum range and scored three hits, reducing the planet killer’s hull points down to four. Commodore Decker had clearly done enough damage to the ancient device before he died to give the Federation flagship at least a fighting chance.

THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE-D BRAVELY ENGAGES THE DOOMSDAY MACHINE

However the U.S.S. Enterprise-D still needed to withstand the Doomsday Machine’s formidable firepower and was rocked as its anti-proton beams initially scored four hits and two critical damages. Admittedly Picard was able to utilise his Battle Stations command to evade part of the damage. But the Galaxy-class starship still had its Shields entirely collapse (courtesy of a Direct Hit) and suffered Power Disruption (which caused the Federation Flagship to tap into its Auxiliary Power).

The French Starfleet Officer realised it was ‘do or die’, so quietly ordered for his ship to move straight ahead at a comfortable Warp Factor One and disengage Auxiliary Power. The NCC-1701-D went to Battle Stations and Mister Data was told to once again employ Evasive Manoeuvres. To the starboard side Jean-Luc saw that the planet killer was fast-approaching the Galaxy-class starship as if to swallow it whole.

CAPTAIN PICARD RISKS ALL IN AN EFFORT TO DEFEAT THE ANCIENT WEAPON

Closing to short range (+1 Attack Dice) the U.S.S. Enterprise-D opened fire with all it had against the Doomsday Machine, hoping its Phaser Beam Arrays could fatally penetrate the ancient devices’s super-dense neutronium hull. The directed energy weapons poured into the Preserver’s planet killer, and due to Picard utilising his Battle Stations in order to convert two of the Galaxy-class starship’s dice into hits, blew the 50,000 year-old vessel up! It was over, and once again the Kandari Sector was safe.

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...

Star Trek Attack Wing Report: U.S.S. Enterprise-D Verses I.R.W. Khazara

This game was played using the "Star Trek: Attack Wing” rules by “Wizkids”. The game was set up using the recommended Federation Faction (Ship Card: U.S.S. Enterprise-D, Manoeuvre Card: Galaxy Class, Captain Card: Jean-Luc Picard and the Upgrade Cards: Geordi La Forge & Miles O’Brien) and Romulan Faction (Ship Card: I.R.W. Khazara, Manoeuvre Card: D'deridex Class, Captain Card: Toreth and Upgrade Cards: Bochra & Plasma Torpedos. The ‘encounter’ was played on an empty 3’ x 3’ space mat, with each faction beginning “opposite from each other across the play area.”

TORETH TAKES ON JEAN-LUC PICARD IN HER LUST FOR REVENGE

“The story so far… Eager for revenge upon the U.S.S. Enterprise following the starship's role in the successful defection of Vice-Proconsul M'ret and his aides to the Federation (See “Star Trek: TNG” TV episode “Face Of The Enemy”), Commander Toreth has crossed back into the Neutral Zone and then lured Captain Jean-Luc Picard's Galaxy Class vessel to her location using a fake distress signal…”

THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE FALLS FOR A FIENDISH ROMULAN TRAP

Commander Toreth smiled evilly as the N.C.C. 1701-D came out of warp near to her B-Type Warbird's spatial location. Her foolish prey had taken the bait and now it was time for the Romulan to spring her deadly trap. Nodding to her Conn, the Sotarek Citation recipient ordered the I.R.W. Khazara to bank to port and activate its cloaking device.

Aghast at finding his starship facing "one of the largest and most powerful mainstays of the Romulan Star Empire" instead of an errant crippled science vessel, Jean-Luc Picard immediately raised his vessel's (four) shields and threw the Federation's flagship into reverse; a (red) manoeuvre which forced the U.S.S. Enterprise to switch to Auxiliary Power (and thus prevented it from executing future Red Manoeuvres as well as any Actions, even Free Actions). Mister Worf, eager as ever to engage the Klingons' bitter rivals, fired all phasers towards the D'deridex Class Warbird's last known location. But the starship was well out of range.

SNEAKY AS THEY ARE DEADLY THE ROMULANS CLOAK BEFORE LAUNCHING THEIR ATTACK

Chuckling at her blind prey's reckless shooting, Commander Toreth ordered her vessel to fly straight towards the seemingly impotent Galaxy Class starship at Warp Factor four, and readied her vessel to perform Evasive Manoeuvres if necessary.

Cautious and wary of making an unwise move too early, the Enterprise's captain simply ordered for the Federation flagship to travel forward to its original position at Warp Factor one and anxiously waited for his opponent's next move. Fortunately the manoeuvre allowed the Galaxy Class starship to switch over from Auxiliary Power, and to show he meant business Jean-Luc Picard gave Mister Worf the order to fire phasers once again.

THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE FIRES BLINDLY UPON THEIR FAST-APPROACHING FOE

Sensing that her moment had arrived Commander Toreth suddenly had the I.R.W. Khazara turn hard to starboard, and gave the order for her Conn to execute a series of complicated Evasive Manoeuvres if the U.S.S. Enterprise suddenly turned in the cloaked B-Type Warbird's direction. Incredibly however as the D'deridex class vessel swung round towards the Federation flagship, the military officer saw her prey bank to port. The Romulan was heading straight towards the right flank of her hated opponent. 

Jean-Luc Picard realised he'd guessed wrong as soon as his starship pitched to port and the I.R.W. Khazara de-cloaked behind him. The Federation Flagship was now in range of the Romulans' disruptor arrays. Ordinarily the battle cruiser would roll three Attack Dice. But because it initiated "an attack while cloaked", it was allowed to add an extra Attack Dice to its total. The Romulans initially scored two hits and one Critical Damage. However Commander Toreth's special ability allowed her to convert one of the hits to another Critical Damage.

THE I.R.W. KHAZARA SWEEPS INTO POSITION FOR A DEVASTATING ATTACK

The U.S.S. Enterprise's great size meant it was only allowed to roll a single Defence Die to begin with. But because the Romulan was attacking from long range, the Galaxy-Class Starship was given a second die. Fortunately the vessel's captain had also ordered Battle Stations before the attack, so the vessel was able to convert one of its results to a Miss and at least negate the B-type Warbird's first hit...

Jean-Luc Picard reeled in his chair as the Federation Flagship's shields were reduced to 50% in an instant. In addition the Romulans had caused two amounts of Critical Damage, which resulted in a "Stunned Helmsman" (meaning that the next time the U.S.S. Enterprise attacked it would not roll any dice) and "Structural Damage" (meaning the vessel's Agility was reduced by one to zero until Engineering spent a successful action rolling a hit on an Attack Die). Things were not looking good for the Galaxy Class Starship.

[N.B. Applying the effects of the Critical Damage upon the U.S.S. Enterprise was a mistake as the starship still had shields. However, clearly some despicable Romulan agents interfered with our interpretation of the rules at the time, and it did make for an exciting climax to the battle...]  

CRITICAL DAMAGE REDUCES THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE'S SHIELDS BY FIFTY PERCENT

 Wishing to see which way her prey turned before she committed her D'deridex Class Warbird, a triumphant Toreth ordered her vessel to switch to Auxiliary Power and went into full astern. Meanwhile Captain Jean-Luc Picard ordered for the Federation Flagship to bank hard to port. His duty was clear. He must retreat from the Neutral Zone and seek additional support. Fortunately Chief Engineer Geordi La Forge reported that he had repaired the starship's structural damage. The Galaxy-class vessel was as agile as ever once again.

 Sensing that her foe was preparing to flee the battlefield, Commander Toreth shouted for the I.R.W. Khazara to fly straight towards the 'limping' Federation Flagship at Warp Factor four. In addition the B-Type Warbird acquired a Target Lock upon the U.S.S. Enterprise. This meant that the Romulans could "choose any number of Attack Dice and re-roll them once during the Combat Phase, or alternatively, if within range, 'spend the Target Lock' to fire (five) "Plasma Torpedoes" at their opponent; a significant attack which would also allow the Romulan officer to re-roll all of her blank results.

CAPTAIN PICARD'S TACTICAL WITHDRAWAL SEES THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE RETREAT 

Desperate to keep his Galaxy Class Starship out of range of the D'deridex Class warbird's formidable plasma torpedoes, Captain Jean-Luc Picard ordered his vessel to bank to starboard and continue along its course out of the Neutral Zone.

With a frustrated curse, Commander Toreth realised that the Federation Flagship was manoeuvring itself out of range of her torpedoes' launchers. She quickly ordered the I.R.W. Khazara to replicate the U.S.S. Enterprise's bank starboard. But with a sigh then saw the N.C.C. 1701-D warp out of the Neutral Zone, and it was not yet time to take the fight into Federation space. Still at least the Romulan officer had restored both her honour and brought glory to the Star Empire. 

Star Trek Attack Wing Report: U.S.S. Enterprise-D Verses I.K.S. Maht-H'a

This game was played using the "Star Trek: Attack Wing” rules by “Wizkids”. The game was set up using the recommended Federation Faction (Ship Card: U.S.S. Enterprise-D, Manoeuvre Card: Galaxy Class, Captain Card: Jean-Luc Picard and the Upgrade Cards: Geordi La Forge & Miles O’Brien) and Klingon Faction (Ship Card: I.K.S. Maht-H’a, Manoeuvre Card: Vor-cha Class, Captain Card: Nu’Daq and Upgrade Cards: Konmel, Tractor Beam & Photon Torpedoes [Klingon Faction]). The ‘encounter’ was played on an empty 3’ x 3’ space mat, with each faction beginning “opposite from each other across the play area.”

NU'DAQ TAKES ON JEAN-LUC PICARD FOR HIS PERSONAL GLORY 

“The story so far… ashamed by his failure to ensure the Klingon Defence Force were the first to decipher a four billion-year-old genetic program, and his vessel’s defeat by a Galor-class Cardassian warship whilst orbiting Loren III (See “Star Trek: TNG” TV episode “The Chase”), Captain Nu’Daq has decided to regain his honour by improperly entering Federation space and destroying the first vessel his Vor’cha-class attack cruiser encounters. Unfortunately for the Klingon commander however, the I.K.S. Maht-H’a’s course takes the vessel directly into the path of Jean-Luc Picard’s U.S.S. Enterprise, and the Federation’s Galaxy-class flagship isn’t going to go down without a fight…”

THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE ENCOUNTERS A KLINGON TRESPASSER

The inferior of the two captains, Nu’Daq immediately threw his Vor’cha-class attack cruiser hard to starboard and forced his vessel to execute a tight turn that left the I.K.S. Maht-H’a facing 90 degrees away from the oncoming Federation vessel. They’d be no glorious head-to-head confrontation yet the Klingon thought, even if his weaponry did outmatch the pitiful human starship. The (red) manoeuver did however cause the Klingon craft to gain 1 Auxiliary Power Token as a result. This stress immediately prevented Nu’Daq from using any actions (even free ones) during this turn and as a result the commander was left to simply sneer at his opponent.

Believing that the Klingon vessel's captain may already have been reconsidering his hasty incursion into Federation space, the U.S.S. Enterprise shot straight ahead at Warp Factor Two. Sensing that his Galaxy-class starship would soon engage his foe, Jean-Luc Picard utilised his free action special ability to go to Battle Stations and ordered for the flagship to scan ahead. Lieutenant Worf momentarily fired the craft’s phasers in order to try and find the Klingon’s range…

THE I.K.S. MAHT-H'A PUSHES ITSELF TO ITS LIMITS IN ORDER TO ATTACK

With his inferior prize foolishly approaching, Nu’Daq placed his vessel into a (green) starboard bank and instantly reduced the strain on the cruiser’s engines (thus removing the Auxiliary Power Token and allowing him to use any appropriate actions). As a result the Klingon commander ordered his helm to perform Evasive Manoeuvers.

Sensing that the Vor’cha-class attack cruiser was about to attack, Captain Picard ordered the U.S.S. Enterprise to carefully bank left and had his crew remain at Battle Stations. Worf once again directed the vessel’s ship-mounted phaser banks at the intruder. But once again the weapons were out of range.

THE KLINGONS CONTINUE TO KEEP OUT OF RANGE OF MISTER WORF'S PHASERS

Judging that the time was right to spring his trap, Nu’Daq had the I.K.S. Maht-H’a perform another turn, almost as if the Klingon attack cruiser was about to come about, and then activated its cloak! This action instantly disabled all of the ship’s shields. But mean that it could now roll four extra defence dice in battle as well as perform a Sensor Echo (which signifies that the cloaked ship is actually in a different place than the enemy ship’s sensors believe).

Frowning, Jean-Luc Picard allowed his Galaxy-class flagship to continue forward at Warp Factor Two, and instructed Worf to fire the vessel’s phasers towards the last known location of the Vor’cha-class attack cruiser. The U.S.S. Enterprise was still too far away from its target to hit it…

CAPTAIN NU'DAQ ACTIVATES HIS VESSEL'S CLOAK JUST IN TIME

With a gusty laugh, Nu’Daq kept his attack cruiser’s course straight and true, and then utilised his craft’s Sensor Echo action to move it some way starboard of its current position. By Kahless the Unforgettable, today was going to be a good day for the Klingon if he could just get his vessel could into the perfect killing position.

Captain Picard knew his vessel would soon be badly out-manoeuvred if he didn’t do something immediately. Gripping his chair firmly he ordered the U.S.S. Enterprise towards his target’s last location at Warp Factor Four. Encouraging his crew to remain at Battle Stations and continuing his vessel’s scan of the surrounding area, he turned to Lieutenant Worf and instructed him to fire at will.

THE U.S.S. ENTERPRISE FIRES ALL PHASERS AT THEIR KLINGON FOE

The Federation flagship rolled four attack dice and initially caused two critical hits. However, Jean-Luc Picard used his Battle Stations token to change another of the dice to a normal hit. Reeling from the potential damage and with no active shields Nu’Daq instead had to rely upon his attack cruiser’s cloak to stave off the attack. Fortunately because the vessel was cloaked it was allowed to add four dice to its basic agility of just a single die, and a sixth defensive die on account of the Federation flagship firing at maximum range.

The Klingon rolled three evasive manoeuvers which ordinarily would have negated the entirety of the Galaxy-class starship’s attack. But because Picard had ordered his vessel to scan beforehand, Geordi La Forge was able to use his special ability to force the I.K.S. Maht-H’a to re-roll one defence die of his choice. Amazingly, Nu’Daq simply re-rolled another evasive manoeuver and as a result the Vor’cha-class attack cruiser somehow survived the devastating Federation phaser barrage unscathed.

DESPITE SURVIVING THE ATTACK UNSCATHED, NU'DAQ DECIDES TO RETREAT...

Realising that the U.S.S. Enterprise might be a far more formidable foe than he first thought, and believing that today was perhaps not a good day to die, Captain Nu’Daq decided that he would seek an honourable victory within Federation space another time, and thus ordered his vessel to return to Klingon space with all best speed. Jean-Luc Picard has thwarted the commander of the I.K.S. Maht-H’a for now…