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…”

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

THE TABLETOP - THE "GORDON RICHARDS" FEDERATION WEAPONS RESEARCH FACILITY

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.

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

ROJ BLAKE, JENNA STANNIS, VILA RESTAL AND SPACE COMMANDER TRAVIS BATTLE ALIENS

This game was played predominantly using the "Zombicide: Toxic City Mall’ rules of “Zombicide” by “Guillotine Games” with a few additional house-agreed variances on account of us attempting to actually play the first "Space Hulk" Mission by "Games Workshop". In addition as I wanted to try out some science fiction heroes and villains, and have already plenty of painted “Crooked Dice”, “Heroscape”, "Prodos Games" and “Horrorclix” models ready for the table, we simply swapped the Survivors, Walkers, Runners and Fatties with some future freedom fighters, Alien stalkers, 'Alien hounds' and larger Aliens. 

“The story so far… A Federation experiment on an extra-terrestrial life-form has gone horribly wrong. Fearing the hostile aliens will breach the orbiting Weapons Research Facility and endanger the Terran Administration, Space Commander Travis has begrudgingly asked his long-time foe Roj Blake for help in destroying the entire artificial satellite. Worryingly however the endoparasitoid species have demonstrated remarkable intelligence during tests, so before the top secret base can be blown up its lifeboats must first be rendered inoperable. Teleporting down to the station Blake, Jenna and Vila encounter a cramped corridor and a heavy airlock door. Whilst Travis has another mission in mind as well..."

THE TABLETOP - THE "GORDON RICHARDS" FEDERATION WEAPONS RESEARCH FACILITY 

As aforementioned before we started we incorporated a few special rules of our own in order to make the game play a little differently. The biggest change was that each 'survivor' could only initially perform two actions instead of three on account of the cramped corridors and sense of claustrophobia. In addition all of the Aliens were treated as being Toxic on account of having acid for blood. This meant that "upon elimination" they would inflict one wound upon their assailant if they were both in the same zone (or rather tile). To counter this the boarding party consisted of the following: Blake was a 'Zombivor' with the skill Born Leader, Vila was a 'Zombivor' with the skill Break-In, Jenna was awarded the skill Matching Set and Travis was allowed to start the game with his Laseron Destroyer (pistol).

The object of the mission was for one of the Liberator's crew to reach the Control Room and de-activate the functioning computer bank inside which allows the lifeboats to be activated. To begin with only the two Alien Spawn points to the East of the station would generate extra-terrestrials. The South Alien Spawn point would only take effect once the eastern door of the Green Room was opened. Three Objective Markers were placed around the base. Each was worth five experience points, and Travis had to reach at least one of these pieces of Space Debris as a Secondary Victory condition.

AVON TELEPORTS BLAKE AND HIS PARTY DEEP DOWN INSIDE THE SPACE STATION

Finding himself inside a narrow passageway, armed with a simple crowbar, Roj Blake used his Born Leader ability on Vila to give the cowardly thief an extra action, and stood by as the lock pick 'magically' opened the airlock door before them. With a hiss the Alien Stalker in the Red Room beyond spun round of the startled criminal. But before the creature could leap Travis threw a (second) space pistol he was carrying to Jenna and blazed away with his hand's built-in energy laser. Incredibly though the Space Commander missed and it Stannis had to kill the toxic creature with her weapon instead. Watching the corpse dissolve into a green gooey mess, the female smuggler walked east into the Red Room and looked around. In the distance she could hear something far away hissing angrily, as if it was searching them out...

VILA PANICS AS HE UNLEASHES AN ALIEN STALKER UPON THE FREEDOM FIGHTERS

Blake walked into the Red Room and discovered a space rifle leaning against a wall. Vila, carrying a simple space fire axe, followed him and discovered a bag of space rice, before using his Break-In ability (free action) to open the eastern air-lock door and (a third action courtesy of the Liberator's captain) to open the southern air-lock as well. Beside him Jenna discovered 'Plenty of Ammo' for her firearm and moved East into the adjoining corridor. Travis also moved into the Red Room and discovered a Sawn-Off Shotgun.

JENNA AND BLAKE PREPARE THEMSELVES FOR THE ONCOMING ALIEN HORDE

Moving East past Jenna, Roj Blake headed towards the Red Junction to see just what was making all the hissing sounds from the shadows up ahead of him. There were quite a lot of black shapes rushing towards his position. The "Native of Earth" also gave Vila a (third) order. Jenna, weapon at the ready joined him. Warily Vila travelled South and opened the Green Room's North air-lock door. Another Alien Stalker was waiting for him inside and so with a yelp of terror the cowardly thief raced back North to the Red Room and Travis. Realising the danger the Space COmmander moved South and blew the extra-terrestrial to pieces with his Shotgun. Boom Baby!!

Tapping his wrist communicator, Blake gave Travis an additional action, and then started shooting at the horde of oncoming Aliens racing West across the Red Junction. With a spray of green acidic blood an Alien Stalker exploded into pieces. But there were plenty more of the creatures behind it. Jenna stood alongside her friend, the blonde-haired smuggler's (short-range) space pistol levelled at the deadly darkness before them. Stannis was ready to kill any fiend which evaded Roj's fire.

SPACE COMMANDER TRAVIS ACCOMPLISHES HIS SECONDARY MISSION... BUT WILL HE SURVIVE?

Vila meanwhile sheepishly entered the Green Room and used his free action to open its eastern air-lock. Travis hurried past him and utilising Blake's order reached the southernmost piece of space debris. It was a partially constructed battle robot, whose micro-chip would prove invaluable to future federation armaments. The Space Commander pocketed the small information card, gaining five experience points and bringing the Terran Officer to the cusp of levelling up. At least something useful would come from the Research Facility the ruthless cyborg thought. However Travis was suddenly aware of a sound like air escaping coming from right behind him and spinning round was aghast to see two more Alien Stalker's emerging from an air vent at the southern end of the short corridor he was in...

Da Da Da Dah Da Dahhhhh... Da Da Dah Da Dahhhhhhhh  

28mm Battle Report: Blake's Seven, Rocket Raccoon and Groot Verses Ultron

MACHINE VERSES MAN... AND RACCOON... AND TREE.!?!

This “7TV” adventure takes place using my “Space Hulk” board sections confined within a 2x2 gaming area. Five areas were identified to contain objective markers, ranging from values 1 – 5. The winner was the side who held the most points at the end of the sixth turn. However no-one knew how many points each objective was worth until the end of the game. This scenario was designed to establish how the High Maintenance and Boffin rules, found within the “Villains Programme Guide” “7TV” rule supplement worked.

THE TABLETOP - THE FEDERATION RESEARCH BASE PYM ONE

“+++Information+++ The Liberator is in orbit above the Federation Research Base Pym One, having intercepted a distress call from the scientists there that the facilities have been invaded by a humanoid robot called Ultron. Orac has ascertained that the computer banks within the base contain large amounts of data which would be useful to the Liberator crew in their fight against the Federation. However before teleporting down, Blake has been contacted by the starship Rack ’n’ Ruin and agreed to conduct a joint expedition with its captain, Rocket Raccoon and his partner Groot…”

Because we were using board sections instead of an ‘open’ playing surface, in order to replicate the atmosphere of tight corridors, a House Rule was agreed that although the Dreadnought robots’ 40mm bases were wider than some of the floor sections, they’d still be able to walk through them. But nothing else would be able to get past unless it could fly or climb across the ceiling. This was important to clarify as during the Prologue Ultron was equipped with both Climbing Suckers and a Jet Pack, amongst other items. In addition it would take the models one complete action to download the computer information from each of the data terminals. They could then carry the information with them. However if they were knocked out or killed then they’d immediately drop the data chips they were carrying. 

The heroes’ deployment zone was in the north-eastern corner, whilst Ultron and three Dreadnought robots would start in the opposite corner of the complex. As Ultron had the disadvantage Cameo, we rolled a 1D3 to determine the turn which the model could first activate. The robot would not start the game until Turn Two. In addition the villain also had the disadvantage Love To Hate, which meant his ‘cast’ would receive one less Audience Appreciation marker each turn.

DOWN AND SAFE - ROJ BLAKE LEADS ROCKET AND GROOT AGAINST ULTRON

At the start of Turn One, Roj Blake, Rocket Raccoon and Groot teleported down to their start location. The freedom fighter was immediately thrown as the sentient tree-like creature had a bright blue bucket on his head. Apparently this was Rocket’s idea of a Disguise Kit for his friend, which gained Groot the Infiltrator special effect and would allow him to move within 2” of Ultron and his Dreadnoughts without detection. Shaking his head the human ran off west up the northern edge corridor towards the base’s north-western room and the computer terminal within it [Objective One]. Rocket and Groot moved south together with the plan that the anthropomorphic raccoon could download the data from the ‘central’ terminal [Objective Four] whilst the Monarch of Planet X, hoping his ‘robot disguise’ would keep him safe from enemy fire, would carry on towards the base’s south-eastern room [Objective Five]. Sensing the presence of living life-forms within the lay-out two of the Dreadnought robots marched out from their robotic master’s ‘throne room’.

INTRUDERS DETECTED - TWO DREADNOUGHT ROBOTS MARCH INTO ACTION

Turn Two saw Ultron emerge from his private chamber. One Dreadnought headed north towards a computer terminal located at a corridor cross-way [Objective Two] near the western edge of the complex. Whilst the other tall robot marched east down the southernmost corridor towards another alcove-situated computer terminal [Objective Three]. Blake continued running west towards the north-western room [Objective One] and fleetingly caught sight of one of the huge metallic blue-armoured robots as he dashed past a corridor. Meanwhile Rocket reached the computer terminal housed within the facility’s central room [Objective Four] and downloaded its data.

LONGSTANDING GRUDGE - BLAKE AND A DREADNOUGHT DOWNLOAD DATA FILES

At the beginning of Turn Three we realised that we hadn’t played the Event Longstanding Grudge during the Prologue, but agreed to play it now instead. Hopefully this game would be the start of a long-running battle of wits between the mighty Ultron and the inferior human Roj Blake – How dare the puny fleshy one challenge the will of one powered by an internal nuclear furnace!?! In game terms however it simply meant that these models could re-roll failed hits made against one another. Certainly Blake was already becoming a major concern for the villain as he reached the north-western room [Objective One] and downloaded the data stored there.  Meanwhile, trusting Groot could get the job done on his own, Rocket raced west up a U-bend of corridors in order to support Blake. Dispatching a third (and final) Dreadnought from his Throne Room, Ultron received news that the non-sentient robotic combat instrument had downloaded the data from the terminal located in the southern corridor [Objective Three].

GADGET MASTER - ULTRON UTILISES A JET PACK AND CLIMBING SUCKERS

Disconcertingly for Ultron, the next turn saw the Event card No Faith In The Plan being played, which in effect made his robotic brain realise that his Dreadnoughts were moving too slowly throughout the research facility to assure his victory. As a result Hank Pym’s creation activated his Jet Pack and flew straight down the southern-edge corridor, over the head of one of his robots, and landed just behind the Dreadnought with the data chip. Utilising his Climbing Suckers, Ultron then scuttled past this giant robot as well, and ended his move close to the complex’s south-eastern room [Objective Five]. Turning, the nearest Dreadnought marched down the corridor directly behind his master. Groot, realising he was fast running out of time, increased his own pace towards the south-eastern room. Meanwhile in the opposite corner of the research facility, Blake, sensing the imminent approach of a Dreadnought, tucked himself away in a corner at the end of the corridor and prepared to step out and fire his weapon.

ROLE REVERSAL - FEMALE LEADS TAKE OVER THE SHOW

With the anticipation of a fire-fight starting at one end of the table and a fist-fight at the other, there was stunned silence as the Casting News Event card was played, and both actors playing Ultron and Roj Blake were recast; predominantly Sally Knyvette replacing Gareth Thomas. As a result, and as a bit of fun, we swapped the models of Ultron and Blake for those of Jocasta and Jenna Stannis.

Blake, now wearing high heels and sporting bright blonde hair, stepped out in front of the approaching Dreadnought and fired… missing. Using her Luck, the freedom fighter fired once more but again missed. Utilising Heroic Surge, and gaining two more actions as a result, Blake took careful aim [+2 Shooting dice roll] and hit the tall robot. But although the blast penetrated its titanium steel alloy shell it failed to damage the brute. Elsewhere, Groot, throwing off the blue bucket from his head, charged into Ultron with all his might. But to no effect due to the villain’s Invulnerable Adamantium armour. However all was not lost as the Dreadnought behind Ultron decided to open fire upon the Monarch of Planet X, despite him being locked in combat with Hank Pym’s creation. Fortunately for the sentient tree-like creature the Dreadnought’s shot struck Ultron but despite being a high calibre energy blast, it also was unable to penetrate the villain’s armour.

UTTER CHAOS - AS GROOT BATTLES A FEMALE ULTRON AND UM... BLAKE RECOVERS ANOTHER CHIP

The final Turn saw Ultron try and pull out all of the stops and bring down Groot before the ‘possibly malfunctioning’ Dreadnought behind him inadvertently shot him again. Activating a hidden blade [Dagger Shoe] from one of his feet, the robot kicked out at Groot, but found the bark of the Flora Colossus just as impenetrable as his own adamantium shell. As a result a slug-fest begun but each blow failed to damage the Monarch of Planet X. Exasperated, Ultron activated an Adrenaline Boost for a final ‘last gasp’ action but rolled a one. With a sense of horror, the villain then heard the Dreadnought behind him power up his weapons once again and felt the idiotic robot’s energy blast burn into his back for a second time. Fortunately for the robot, his armour was proving to be as Invulnerable as Groot’s bark. Finally, aware of an awful racket taking place far behind him, Rocket scurried up to Blake’s position. Whilst the freedom fighter downloaded the data from the nearby computer terminal [Objective Two].

As the game ended and the three heroes teleported back to their respective space vessels, it was revealed that the Dreadnought with the data chip had 4 points worth of information and Rocket only had 1 point. However Blake had acquired a total of 5 points from his two data chips, giving the crews of the Liberator and Rack ’n’ Ruin victory.