"Each Section Was Led By A Corporal..."

"...Armed with a Sten submachine gun."

This 28mm metal model is from the "West Wind Productions" "Secrets Of The Third Reich" blister B-SOTR04 Sten-B. However, rather than use the miniature for Andy Cooper's "Weird WWII game", this British soldier will actually form part of a (Regular) Infantry Section for "Konflikt '47" by "Warlord Games". Indeed, the figure will actually represent the section's "high quality" NCO, armed with a trusty submachine-gun.

The Tommy was initially primed using "Citadel" Doombull Brown and washed with an old pot of "Citadel" Devlan Mud. Once dry the infantryman's weapon, boots and large ammunition pouch were pigmented in "Citadel" Abaddon Black, whilst his bullet proof vest was painted using some Calthan Brown. In addition, I 'picked out' the infantryman's gas mask filter with a dab of "Citadel" Knarloc Green too.

Space Commander Travis wonders what could possibly lurk behind the closed hatchway

Both of these areas were darkened using (more) "Citadel" Devlan Mud. Finally, I 'spotted' the Corporal's eye-goggles with a combination of "Citadel" Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil, before applying some "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone and "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade" to the soldier's hands, ears and neck.

With my 500-point strong Great Britain And The Commonwealth army almost completed, I managed to make another visit to the LVL Up Gaming Store in Bournemouth so as to play-test some cooperative rules for my homemade brew entitled "M.I.S.S." On this occasion I brought along some figures taken from my old collection of science fiction miniatures by "Crooked Dice Game Design Studio", and some cardboard sections from the first edition of the Alien Versus Predator Board Game by "Prodos Games".

Supreme Commander Servalan sacrifices her Federation Troopers to the hungry space mutants

The scenarios we played involved Supreme Commander Servalan and Space Commander Travis leading a boarding party of troopers on board a Terran Federation Science Station which had suddenly ceased communicating with Star One. Needless to say, this was due to an alien viral infection getting out of control and turning the laboratory workers into nightmarish blobs of disease-ridden death.

We managed to get in five games during the afternoon, four of which we won, and one of which turned into a total bloodbath, as the mutated scientists devoured everyone in sight, including the noteworthy Section Leader Klegg; who up until this point had somehow managed to survive every exploration of the space station. Hopefully, we'll get some more games in next month, as I hope to add the Liberator's crew, some event cards and additional scenarios to the "Blake's Seven" proceedings...

"One Does Not Simply Walk Into Mordor."

 "It's Black Gates are guarded by more than just Orcs."

This 28mm scale "white metal figure" of Sterling The Wandering Knight is produced by “Lucid Eye Publications” and can be bought from the company's "Toon Realms" range as an adventurer "for use with The Caverns of The Frog King Adventure Module." Sculpted by Steve Saleh, I have painted him as Boromir, the eldest son of Denethor II, so as to be able to field him as a 'Lord Of The Toons' Hero (Single Model Unit) for “Dragon Rampant” by "Osprey Games".

Originally primed with two layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black,  the older brother of Faramir was treated to two coats of Ironbreaker before being drenched in Nuln Oil and dry-brushed using (more) Ironbreaker. I then 'cleaned up' his shield with some additional "Abaddon Black" and treated his sword hilt and helmet to a combination of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna, Gold and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

The Thing and Black Panther make short work of an alien warrior and some stalkers

The High Warden of the White Tower had his face initially 'picked out' with some "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone, and was subsequently washed with "Citadel" Reikland Fleshshade before receiving some "Vallejo" Heavy Skintone highlights. Finally, his belt was given a lick of "Vallejo" Heavy Sienna and Strong Tone Quickshade by "The Army Painter", whilst his feathered plume was pigmented "Vallejo" White and later splashed with Pale Grey.

I'm hoping to attend the LVL Up Gaming Store in Bournemouth at least once a month this year, and took advantage of my most recent visit to trial some quickly thought homemade rules for H.R. Giger's aliens. Initially I had panned for the slavering extra-terrestrials to face off against an increasing number of "Marvel Comics" most famous superheroes, but rather embarrassingly forget to bring the Avengers statistics with me.

The Human Torch lights up the alien menace with a series of fireballs

As a result, we had to settle for a series of smaller-sized skirmish games across an industrial furnace complex which arguably far better suited the super-powered long range abilities of the Fantastic Four (and Black Panther) than it did the somewhat faster, but vulnerable at a distance Xenomorphs. Fortunately, such disadvantages didn't stop some 'stand out' moments occurring within our games, such as The Thing charging straight into the nearest alien warrior and relying solely upon his thick brick hide to protect him from the creature's acid blood, or the Black Panther dispatching a gaggle of nightmarish stalkers only to then later succumb to his close combat injuries.

Perhaps the evening's biggest star though was Johnny Storm, whose 'untouchable' flight ability definitely helped Mister Fantastic's super-group keep the aliens at bay whenever they seemed likely to break through the line of heroes through sheer weight of numbers. Able to fly almost within touching distance of the Xenomorphs, the Human Torch repeatedly whittled down the fast-approaching warrior drones with a hail of fire-balls, and certainly gave me food-for-thought as to how I could better balance flying units within my homemade rule-set "M.I.S.S."...

"We Didn't Leave Earth To Be Safe."

"Seal all inner doors! Mother, any additional ammo on board?"

These three 32mm scale resin "Prodos Games" miniatures of H.R. Giger's Aliens are from the company's "Alien Verses Predator: The Hunt Begins" board game, but can also be purchased separately as AVP Alien Infants. Each model comes in a number of separate pieces so as to provide numerous different poses, and resultantly caused me a little head-scratching as to which way their wonderfully-detailed tails should be attached.

The "hostile, deadly and numerous" extra-terrestrials have their tail spines protruding out of the top of their lethal appendages according to the photograph of the company's officially painted models, and this seems to fit with the motion picture versions too. However, I have also seen numerous versions of the kit where the tail has been super-glued the other way round too; a position which seems to be particularly popular with those hobbyists wanting to have the tail rearing up from behind the Alien like some sort of stabbing venomous serpent.

"What happened here?"

In the end I went with the second option, as I actually felt the resin pieces themselves literally bent far more favourably with the spines pointing down. Although even this 'safe option' didn't stop one tail from snapping in half when I was trying to re-position it in order to ensure my future handling of the figure on the tabletop was more manageable. Indeed, with hindsight I believe that one of the reasons I may well have held back from painting these miniatures for so very long was due to my concern over (mis)handling them...

I initially gave the Alien Infants an undercoat of "Citadel" Abaddon Black before simply dry-brushing each model with "Vallejo" German Grey. The Stalkers were then washed with "Citadel" Nuln Oil before I applied a second, significantly lighter dry-brush of "Vallejo" German Grey over the figures' more prominently raised surfaces. Each mouth was painted using a combination of "Vallejo" Gunmetal Grey and "Citadel" Nuln Oil, whilst their head carapaces were treated to a final thick coat of Abaddon Black.

Dungeon Wall Tile WIPs - The 3D printed piece has been primed, washed and dry-brushed

Having previously painted several "Horrorclix" versions of this iconic monster, it is clear that the "Prodos Games" sculpts are infinitely superior, if not a little less robust. This has meant that despite my application of the same recipe the "Vallejo" German Grey appears far more visible to the naked eye than it does upon the "Wizkids"models; presumably because there are significantly more ridges on the newer miniatures for the pigment to sit upon.

Lastly, on the sound recommendation of PulpCitizen ("Eclectic Gentleman Tabletop Gamer"), I have purchased a large room's worth of "Dragonlock" 3D-printed tiles from the Ebay seller "3D Horizons". These somewhat hefty 'plastic' pieces are apparently sold "under agreement from Fat Dragon Games" and will hopefully form the start of an entire dungeonscape to rival that of any produced by "Dwarven Forge" and at a significantly cheaper price; albeit I obviously have to paint my own parts up...

"We Found And Destroyed The Enemy."

"Ogrons. They're a form of higher anthropoid."

These 35mm tall "pewter" models of three Ogrons are manufactured by “Warlord Games” and are designed for use with the Nottingham-based company's "Doctor Who: Exterminate!" miniatures game. Living "in scattered communities on an unnamed planet on the outer fringes of the Milky Way, far from the central spaceways", these "hired mercenaries" first appeared in the January 1972 BBC television story “Day Of The Daleks”, and were employed as "police officers" in "an alternate 22nd Century".

Originally undercoated using two layers of "Citadel" Abaddon Black, these figures were all heavily dry-brushed with "Vallejo" Heavy Charcoal and had their trousers layered using some Heavy Brown. The "low-intelligence, ape-like hominids" then had their shirt sleeves painted with Iraqi Sand and their belts, straps and wrist bands layered with Heavy Sienna. All of these areas were subsequently washed with "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade.

Tenth Doctor and Daleks WIPs - Early days yet for all three primed miniatures

I then moved on to some of the Ogrons' more fiddly parts, and applied a combination of "Vallejo" Charred Brown and "The Army Painter" Strong Tone Quickshade to their hair and arms. I also dry-brushed some additional "Vallejo" Charred Brown across each brute's furry face and hands, but washed these facial areas with "Citadel" Nuln Oil in order to darken them quite considerably. Finally, the primate-looking aliens had their disintegrator guns 'picked out' with Ironbreaker and Nuln Oil.

Sticking with "Warlord Games" and their "Into The Time Vortex" miniatures range, I have started work on two more of their plastic Daleks. I've previously already finished a couple of black-headed drones in order to help distinguish them from the all-gold Kaled Mark III Travel Machines I usually field as part of a simple "Dalek Patrol". However, "Warlord Games" have since released the Recruitment Card for the actual "Emperor's Guard", so I now need a third dark-domed Skaro mutant if I want to use a unit specifically "dedicated to protecting the Emperor Dalek at all costs."

Alien Infants WIPs - These large resin extra-terrestrials have been primed and dry-brushed

In addition, I thought I would also make a start on the three Daleks required for the "Cult Of Skaro", as well the "Gale Force Nine" resin Tenth Doctor model I recently got for Christmas. I plan to differentiate my Dalek Thay by pigmenting his fender dark silver, instead of being my usual pure black, and my second David Tennant figure, by giving him a dark brown suit, as opposed to the blue one I've previously painted; thereby perhaps allowing me to use him as the Human-Time Lord Meta-Crisis version.

Lastly, in trying to help clear up my painting space as part of the Partially-Painted Pledge Challenge, I have finally put some "Vallejo" German Grey 'highlights' on three Alien Infants by "Prodos Games". These multi-part resin "Alien Verses Predator" figures have been sat languishing away on my table for close on two years, having been purchased directly from the Warwick-based company's stall at "Salute" 2016 as part of a semi-large pre-show order.

Zombicide Report: Alien Verses Blake's Seven - "Exterminate" - Part Three

“The story so far… A Federation experiment on an extra-terrestrial life-form has gone horribly wrong. Having successfully secured the endoparasitoid species on board the orbiting Weapons Research Facility, Roj Blake has momentarily joined forces with Section Leader Klegg and two Federation troopers in order to help reduce the number of Aliens which they face. But can the Liberator's crew trust the Death Squad troopers, especially when the freedom fighters are already struggling to cope with the seemingly unending waves of murderous creatures and their jump-suit wearing colleagues seem intent on taking all the highly-prized objectives solely for the Terran Administration..?”

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

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

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

Vila Restal moved north to the Stargate Room’s airlock and effortlessly picked the door’s lock. With a rasping hiss and enormous Alien Warrior loomed large from inside and with a scream the thief cowered before it. With a cry Jenna Stannis was beside him and her space shotgun fired. Sadly the ex-smuggler missed, but with ‘Plenty of Ammunition’ on her, she fired again and brought the large extra-terrestrial down to the ground.

VILA RESTAL DISCOVERS THE BIGGEST ALIEN YET AND UNSURPRISINGLY PANICS

Believing the room was now vacant of hostiles Section Leader Klegg swiftly moved inside and claimed the Stargate objective for Supreme Commander Servalan. Scanning his portable strategic computer, the balaclava-wearing Terran goon realised that the humans had now cleared out over half of the Aliens infesting this area of the abandoned space station. Victory was in sight… But to his south, the Federation trooper guarding the long western corridor was forced to fall back as he managed to kill only one of the five slavering monstrosities travelling east towards his position.

Blake meanwhile gave the Death Squad trooper beside him a quick order, and together they moved closer to the Alien Hound in the Green Room. Roj missed the beast with his weapon. However the Federation soldier did not, and the creature died a grisly death.

SECTION LEADER KLEGG CAPTURES ANOTHER OBJECTIVE FOR THE TERRAN FEDERATION

Startled by two Hounds who leapt into the junction between the Radio Room and Stargate Room, Jenna opened up with her shotgun, and, bringing down both brutes, gained enough experience to level up (to yellow). Klegg meanwhile took advantage of the distraction to quickly search the Stargate Room and uncovered… an Alien Stalker. Backing away, momentarily unable to fire upon the fiend due to his acidic blood, the Section Leader was amazed to see the extra-terrestrial crumple into a dead heap courtesy of a rifle shot from Vila.

Ordering the Federation Trooper to his north, Blake fired at two more Alien hounds that snarling, had padded into the Green Room. The Liberator’s captain proved a poor shot. But fortunately his Death Squad companion did not, and blasted the pair to bits. Meanwhile the trooper to Roj’s north blazed away at the writhing mass of Aliens pouring down the lengthy western corridor before ducking back south. The black-clad soldier had only dispatched a single Stalker.

BLAKE AND JENNA FACE A SEEMINGLY UNENDING TIDE OF ALIEN HOUNDS AND STALKERS

The harsh hissing of two Alien Hounds and a Stalker forced Vila to spin south. There he saw the fiends had come between himself, Jenna and Klegg and the route to Green Central. Terrified the thief fired his Space Rifle twice and grimaced as the extra-terrestrials all remained standing afterwards. Pushing the cowardly Liberator crewman to one-side the Section Leader fired thrice and sneering at his cowering companion as all three of the monsters slumped dead to the floor. Clearly Klegg was destined to be a Terran Federation Poster Boy…

TERRAN FEDERATION POSTER BOY - SECTION LEADER KLEGG

Stannis meanwhile took the opportunity of the western corridor being somewhat clear of Aliens and moved east down it. She was joined by one of the Death Squad Troopers. It was time to take the final fight to the extra-terrestrials. But already six Stalkers were fast approaching, with something much larger looming behind them.

Thinking somewhat similarly, Blake gave his accompanying Federation Trooper a quick order, and then entered the Green Room. A Stalker hissed at him from the south and exploded in a spray of green acidic blood as Roj’s gun (for once) proved true. Confident his rebel companion had cleared the area of threats the Death Squad soldier sauntered south past the freedom fighter, and spotted another Stalker to his west. Panicking, the Terran warrior missed his target, and with a victorious snarl the Alien was upon him.

THINGS LOOK BLEAK FOR THE LIBERATOR CREW AS THE ALIENS GET LARGER

Fearing his opponent’s acidic blood, the Federation trooper wisely backed away north from the hissing extra-terrestrial and then gunned the beast down with his firearm. Much farther north, the other Death Squad Trooper killed three of the fast-approaching Alien Stalkers. Klegg joined his team-mate and slew another two. Whilst Jenna charged east firing and brought down the enormous fully-grown Alien Warrior that had been towering over its deadly kin. Hoping everything was safe Vila quietly left the safety of the Stargate Room.

THE EX-SMUGGLER BATTLES ON AS MORE AND MORE ALIENS MENACE JENNA STANNIS

With matters finally under control south of the Green Room, Blake tapped an order to Klegg via his wrist communicator and continued to kill any Alien Stalker or Hound foolish enough to try and rush him from the adjoining corridor. The Section Leader joined Jenna Stannis and together blasted away at any and all the extra-terrestrials trying to pour west towards them. Eventually the slimy fiends’ numbers dwindled and stopped. The battle was over and the Federation had succeeded in killing enough of the monsters to make the creatures rethink their strategy for their human prey…

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

“The story so far… A Federation experiment on an extra-terrestrial life-form has gone horribly wrong. Having successfully secured the endoparasitoid species on board the orbiting Weapons Research Facility, Roj Blake has momentarily joined forces with Section Leader Klegg and two Federation troopers in order to help reduce the number of Aliens which they face. But can the Liberator's crew trust the Death Squad troopers, especially when the rebels are already struggling to cope with the seemingly unending waves of murderous creatures..? And just how is Vila Restal going to survive having been ambushed by three Alien Stalkers..!?!"

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

RECAP: VILA FLEES BLAKE'S SIDE ONLY TO FIND MORE TROUBLE BEHIND AN AIR-LOCK DOOR

Terrified at being surrounded by three Aliens just west of the Green Room, Vila swung his space Fire Axe for all he was worth and somehow managed to chop two of the Stalkers down to size. Unfortunately the monster's acidic blood sprayed all over the thief, causing him two wounds. Hearing his cries Blake barked out an order to Jenna via his wrist communicator and then picked up a nearby machete he just happened to spy lying around. Stannis meanwhile, scooped up a shotgun she had found in Green Central and started blazing away at the remaining extra-terrestrial tormenting Restal. The creature fell to the floor dead. But once again injured Vila by covering the cowardly criminal in its acidic blood.

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

Section Leader Clegg smiled as he heard the rebel scum shouting and screaming up ahead. Perhaps he wouldn't need to kill them himself after all. For now though he contented himself with simply searching the Robot Room and was delighted when he discovered one of the Federation's latest Terran gas-mask helmets. Further North, the two Death Squad troopers opened the door to the Green Room, claimed the area's objective for their corrupt Administration and nervously watched an apprehensive Vila. Even more concerning was the fact they could all hear the rending of metal some distance away, as if the fearsome fiends they fought were trying to tear through a bulkhead door...

VILA ALMOST FALLS AS THE FEDERATION DEATH SQUAD CAPTURE ANOTHER OBJECTIVE

Blake, having quietly spoken to Jenna, once again searched Green Central and found Plenty of Ammunition. The Liberator crew's leader swapped weapons with his female companion, and then smiled as he saw Stannis lift a space katana off of a wall-mounting. Hearing fast-approaching footsteps Roj turned to see Section Leader Klegg, two Death Squad troopers and Vila join him.

The pounding at one of the airlock doors to the North was getting increasingly louder. Until without warning the supposedly secure interior entranceway buckled to one side and through the large gap poured a number of the savage-looking extra-terrestrials. With alarm Blake noticed that a couple of the brutes resembled vicious canines. Bracing themselves the heroes momentarily awaited the arrival of the Aliens...

BLAKE'S SIX MAKE A LAST STAND IN THE CENTRE OF THE FEDERATION RESEARCH COMPLEX

   Roj once again gave Jenna a quick order and then blazed away with his pistol at the fast-approaching monsters. Unfortunately he missed completely and had to watch impotently as Stannis took down one of the brutes before she bravely moved northwards. Desperate for a weapon better than his space fire-axe, Vila used his torch to hunt around Green Central for something useful and found a rifle and pistol. Unfortunately his significant injuries meant the thief was extremely limited in what he could carry. In addition his red-hot acid burns weren't helping his aim much either, as Restal missed when he tried to fire the rifle.

Section Leader Klegg boldly moved north alongside Jenna, and showed her what a professional soldier could achieve by killing an Alien Stalker. The Death Squad commander was soon accompanied by his troopers, who promptly slew a Hound and actually advanced to outside the Radio Room. A sudden growl to the west gave one of the Terran troopers concern enough to cause them to fire down the corridor at another extra-terrestrial canine. But the shot went wide and the formidably-jawed dog-creature was upon him. Fortunately the man was momentarily saved by his recently acquired new-and-improved Federation helmet.

SECTION LEADER KLEGG SHOWS JENNA HOW THE FEDERATION FIGHT EXTRA-TERRESTRIALS

Staggering East away from the hungry Hound, the Trooper saw six more Alien Stalkers rushing towards him from down the length of the corridor. With a curse he fired at the canine-like creature who had just attacked him, and brought the beast down. Realising that the back-suited soldier was about to be torn to shreds, Jenna joined him and killed another of the extra-terrestrials. Hearing the sound of fast-approaching Aliens to their West, Blake quickly spoke to Vila, before positioning himself, along with one of the Death Squad troopers, at the western entrance to Green Central.

The thief meanwhile rushed up to the Radio Room door and easily opening it, found himself face-to-face with another of the fearsome dog-mutations. Paralysed with terror Restal failed to shoot the beast with his space rifle. Moments later however Section Leader Klegg was beside him, and before the cowardly criminal could cry-out the Terran veteran had dispatched the Hound and claimed the objective inside. Unfortunately for the Liberator crew this meant that the Federation Administration minions had now raised the danger level to orange, whilst they were still far behind in the green...

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

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

ROJ BLAKE, JENNA STANNIS, VILA RESTAL AND SECTION LEADER KLEGG 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 try and play the second "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. Having successfully secured the endoparasitoid species on board the orbiting Weapons Research Facility, Roj Blake has momentarily joined forces with Section Leader Klegg and two Federation troopers in order to help reduce the number of Aliens which they face. But despite the threat which faces both the Liberator's crew and the Terran Administration, can the dislikeable Death Squad commander actually be trusted..?"

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). In order to somewhat 'even up the odds' though, it was also agreed that the somewhat contentious Ranged Combat rule of assigning hits in the targeted Zone to Survivors first would be ignored.

The Liberator's boarding party consisted of Blake ('Zombivor' with the skill Born Leader), Vila ('Zombivor' with the skill Break-In), and Jenna (Survivor with the skill Matching Set). Section Leader Klegg (Survivor who starts with a pistol) was given some additional rule tweaks in order to try and represent the two members of his Death Squad accompanying him. Essentially these minions could operate separately to their commander, utilise his weapons as if they were their own, add to his items, as well as contribute experience with their kills etc. But if injured just once they would immediately die. Finally if Klegg himself fell before the extra-terrestrial menace, then his underlings would dutifully flee in terror.

GAN TELEPORTS BLAKE AND HIS PARTY INSIDE THE SPACE STATION, AS KLEGG ADVANCES

The object of the mission was simple. Either one of the freedom fighters or Section Leader Klegg had to survive the Alien's assault long enough for their experience to reach the Red Danger level. There would only be two Alien Spawn points and a series of airlocks initially separating the slimy space creatures from the player's starting zones. These doors could however only withstand five hits before being destroyed and would be attacked by the extra-terrestrials if there was no-where else for them to move. To help speed the game along four Objective Markers were placed around the base, in the Robot Room, Green Room, Radio Room and Stargate Room. Each of these was worth five experience points.

Using his Born Leader skill Blake contacted Klegg, and gave the villainous Terran commander an extra action. He then ushered Vila up to Green Central's western door and watched the thief dutifully open the airlock. With a yell, Restal ran back the way he'd just come. There was an Alien Stalker in the room. Jenna immediately moved beside Blake, raised her space pistol and fired. She missed. The Section Leader meanwhile was experiencing similar problems from his southern entry point. The Federation Death Squad had found an Alien Stalker inside the Red Room, and Klegg's shot had gone wide. Fortunately one of his troopers quickly dispatched the fiend. Whilst the other moved into the scarlet-lit room itself.

VILA FLEES AS THE DEATH SQUAD EASILY CLEAR THE RED ROOM OF HOSTILES

Shouting Jenna an order, Blake raced past the Alien as it moved towards him, and safely entered Green Central. Jenna joined him and then whirled to fire upon the hissing creature behind them. Again though she missed. Vila momentarily hefted the fire axe he was carrying, and then remembering the monsters had acid for blood, cowered further back into the alcove he was trying to hide in. Unaware of the freedom fighters' slow start Klegg walked into the Red Room and found a crowbar. Beside him his troopers quickly opened the area's western door and marched into the corridor beyond. To the north the Alien was momentarily torn between so many living targets. But as the earth female was the noisiest, the Stalker decided to leap towards her. 

THE LIBERATOR CREW STRUGGLE TO OVERCOME A SINGLE ALIEN STALKER

Giving Jenna another quick order, Blake moved north out of Green Central and headed towards the corridor junction linking the Stargate Room and Radio Room together. Stannis  hurried beside him, and looking backwards finally took down the Alien Stalker that had proved so tiresome since their mission's start. Realising he was finally safe (for now at least) Vila made his way into Green Central and lock-picked the area's western door.

Klegg meanwhile was still searching the Red Room but having found naught except a glass bottle headed after his men. Up ahead of him the Section Leader saw one trooper open the eastern door to the Robot Room and blow away the Alien Stalker which leapt out at him. Whilst his black-suited companion claimed the objective inside and took the Federation Death Squad's experience into the Yellow Danger Level. Smiling Klegg thought of how unprepared the hated rebels would now be, and how hungry the Aliens rushing through the air-ducts sounded...    

THE FEDERATION DEATH SQUAD CAPTURE AN OBJECTIVE AND RAISE THE DANGER LEVEL

Blake tapped his wrist communicator, shouted an order to Vila, and then made his way back to Green Central. Inside he searched an especially dark corner for equipment, and with a shout of warning backed away from the hissing Alien he had foolishly disturbed. Hearing Roj's cry, and realising he'd need more than a space fire-axe to help his leader, Vila quickly opened the eastern airlock to the Green Room and screamed in terror; three Aliens were stood in the doorway. Jenna grimly raised her weapon on the extra-terrestrial menacing the Liberator's captain, and took the fiend down with her shot. Its acidic blood sprayed over Blake, and the freedom fighter took a seemingly unnecessary wound. Apologetically Stannis joined her injured team-mate in Green Central.

Further south and oblivious to the increased numbers of Aliens their actions had caused, the Federation Death Squad spent some considerable time searching their surroundings for useful objects. But had to settle for two bottles of water and a space baseball bat. Vila meanwhile had other things on his mind, as the three extra-terrestrials in front of him, angrily leapt upon him... 

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

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