It takes nerves of steel to enter an unknown ship in the void of space, and that’s exactly what you’ll be doing in the recently revealed Kill Team: Into the Dark – the next evolution of tactical skirmish action. There are few places as deadly as a space hulk, so if you want to survive the deadly corridors of the Gallowdark, you’ll need to do some homework.
For your first assignment, brush up on four of the greatest boarding actions in Warhammer history. Important lessons can be learned from the successes and/or failures of these brave heroes,* and if you’re the next lucky Voidsman in line through the breach, this knowledge might just mean the difference between survival and becoming Kroot food.
Space Hulk
Where better to start than with the original? 1989’s Space Hulk set the standard for boarding actions in the 41st Millennium, introducing Warhammer hobbyists to the terror of fighting voracious xenos monsters in the ultra-cramped confines of a void ship.
In search of lost technology a strike team of Blood Angels boarded the Sin of Damnation, an ancient hulk infested with over 42,000 Genestealers!
Despite their heavyweight Terminator armour, the Blood Angels are frighteningly vulnerable to Genestealer claws. Careful movement and supporting fire was key to victory – and the assault cannon they lugged aboard can’t have hurt.
The Battle of Phall
Soon after the Isstvan III atrocity, Rogal Dorn sent a punitive fleet to round up Horus and his traitors, only for the Imperial Fists contingent to be blown off-course and subsequently ambushed by the Iron Warriors. Unfortunately for the sons of Olympia, the Imperial Fists had a bone to pick, and Captain Amandus Tyr led a force of over 50 Terminators onto Perturabo’s flagship.
Although only 15 lived long enough to be killed by the Traitor Primarch, Perturabo lost trust in his bodyguard for good, while Fleet Master Alexis Polux** hijacked the Iron Warriors vessel Contrador even as his own ship was exploding, joyriding it all the way to Ultramar following a vicious teleport assault.
The Doom of Iyanden
While some boarding assaults are impressive for their tactical genius or incredible bravery, the Hive Fleet Kraken invasion of Craftworld Iyanden*** is spectacular for its scale alone. Billions of Tyranid bioforms blew past the Aeldari blockade and showered the worldship in hordes of hungry beasts.
The warriors of Iyanden stood little chance before the overwhelming might of Kraken. Although eventually saved by the arrival of Prince Yriel, the sheer damage caused by Tyranid assault would scar the Craftworld permanently and give the entire galaxy a harsh wake-up call on the menace of the Hive Fleets.
Blackstone Fortress
Breaking your way into a ship is only the start of a boarding action – the real trick is staying alive when things go pear-shaped. That’s what the intrepid explorers of Warhammer Quest: Blackstone Fortress discovered when the walls started to shift and disgorge alien monstrosities.
Janus Draik and the rest of the gang held their nerve, however, and kept on exploring in the hope of discovering wondrous archeotech treasure. You can read all about their adventures in the Black Library series.
Do you have a favourite boarding action that we’ve missed? Let us know on our Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, and stay tuned to Warhammer-Community.com for more reveals from Kill Team: Into the Dark.
* Or hungry monsters, in the case of the Tyranids.
** Also known as the Crimson Fist. Yeah, he was the first of those guys.
*** It’s a ship, it counts.