Last Night on Earth - Star Trek Theme at Halfway Point

Any miniature painting project of mine that reaches the mid-point stage always gets its own group shot. These set of Starfleet Survivors and Zombies painted using pieces from the Last Night on Earth board game are no different. So without further ado, below are photos of the class of 1966 to '69. 

Last Night on Earth survivors as Star Trek characters Chekov, Uhura, Christine and Sulu (from left to right)

In this series of photos, I tried to compose a visual story of the foursome's first encounter with fellow crew members of the USS Enterprise who had been turned into zombies. Hope you like them. 

It was a dark and stormy night ...

Now that I have had some time apart from these finished pieces, they do look like they need more contrast, especially the zombies' clothing. Things weren't helped by the fact that I had to position the lights closer to this set of miniatures when the shots were taken, likely leading to overexposure. Regardless, I'm working hard to improve contrasts when painting light colours and I'm starting to (finally) have some success in this problematic area. Hopefully the next few work-in-progress miniatures I have on display will see some minor improvement in terms of contrast on clothing. 

Look out behind you!

Oops! Too late, the zombies are upon them ...

... and things look grim for the crew of the USS Enterprise

It's poignant that this post coincides with the recent passing of Mr. Leonard Nimoy, an actor who I have come to closely associate with the Star Trek franchise. This popular sci-fi universe is one of the few (if not only) TV/Movie series that chose to depict a positive view of humanity in the future. In reality, we are sadly too busy being offended by perceived insults and ever ready to hate things which we are ignorant of, don't understand or don't agree with. Whatever happened to live and let live?

An odd group of Starfleet zombies

Captain's Log, Stardate 7208.37 - We have uncovered yet more Starfleet officers being afflicted by a condition that renders them undead, for a total of seven affected crew. It is interesting to note that so far all those who have turned into zombies were part of a later group of shore leave participants - still in their Starfleet uniforms - from the USS Enterprise. Meanwhile, an earlier group which was attired in 20th century Earth-like clothes to fit in with the locals (refer Appendix 1A) is still unaccounted for.  

Starfleet officers have been seen wandering around aimlessly in zombie form

Latest to fall foul of the mysterious affliction are the O'Brien twins Aiden and Sean, commissioned officer Katrina Gupta and security officer John Norris. Unfortunately the presence of security officers has not prevented more of our crew from turning into zombies. Early progress on my research into the cause of this undead plague suggests the method of transmission is via bites from the afflicted.

Latest additions to the Star Trek zombie horde

Back view of the latest Starfleet undead

At the moment, these poor souls are wandering aimlessly on the planet surface. In another surprising turn of events, the local inhabitants of the M-class planet Dukkha have also completely disappeared. Attempts to contact the first few crew members of the Enterprise to arrive at the planet have also met with failure. But we have not given up hope that perhaps they have escaped the strange plague.

Enterprise computer analysis shows the zombies moving at a slow pace

Majority of the victims are the red-shirt security officers

Chief Medical Officer Leonard McCoy standing in for Captain Kirk. Updates to follow, McCoy out.

Appendix 1A: Captain's Log, Stardate 7201.3

Dammit Jim, I'm a Doctor, Not a Survivor

Captain's Log, Stardate 7201.3. This is Lieutenant Commander Leonard McCoy filling in for Captain Kirk and First Officer Spock. Both have gone missing together with 12 other crew members of the USS Enterprise during a seemingly harmless trip to a Minshara-class planet the locals call Dukkha. For now, all contact with the crew members on shore leave on the planet have been lost.

Leonard H. "Bones" McCoy, chief medical officer of the USS Enterprise

Surface scans of the planet came up with the images that show what the ship computer has identified as Commander Spock, Yeoman Tonia Barrows and Captain James T. Kirk although they bear no resemblance whatsoever to their original form. In fact, they look like monsters called zombies from an old earth movie from the ship's database. So until we know more, that's what I am calling them. 

Crew members of the Federation starship USS Enterprise have turned into zombies

Spock, Yeoman Tonia and Captain Kirk looking excited prior to the ill-fated shore leave

Back view of three crew members who have been plagued with an unknown vector

So far, I have not been able to find a cure for this mysterious plague affecting the three crew members away on shore leave. Although it has not been confirmed that the others on the planet have also turned into zombies, I wouldn't rule it out at this stage and am assuming the worse. Nonetheless, the ship's medical team is working around the clock to ascertain what's happening to Kirk and the others. 

Zombie Spock attempting unsuccessfully to make the Vulcan sign of greeting

Zombie Kirk may seem to have an effeminate demeanour but he is anything but

Zombie Tonia retains memories of her cheer-leading days hence this effort to spell out her name 

Zombification seems to have enhanced the green hues inherent within Spock's Vulcan physiology, more specifically in the skin. I haven't seen old pointy ears look so much like a hobgoblin since he tried drinking Nurse Christine Chapel's infamous chocolate marshmallow milk shake in the last Starfleet Officers New Year party. Also, further scans show that a fellow crew member may have tried using a Vulcan nerve pinch to bring zombie Spock down. However, by the look of the smudged hand print's position, I can safely surmise the attempt was incorrectly placed therefore unsuccessful.  

Spock deems his current state to be ... illogical

Pus in a wound to Spock's left arm suggests mode of infection could have been a bite

Hand print on Spock's back seem to indicate a failed attempt at applying a Vulcan nerve pinch

These changes in physiology apparently also affect humans as Yeoman Tonia's skin has darkened considerably as if due to accelerated onset of necrosis. In addition, her hair has gone from an original light brown to a brighter yellowish blonde, indicating a possibility that hair melanin is also affected. A bite mark in the region of her right knee provides a clue as to possible mode of infection. A similar bite mark is seen near the left elbow of Spock. Both wounds are filled with pus and blood.  

Yeoman Tonia Barrows has seen her hair take on a lighter hue while her skin got darker instead

A pus-filled bite mark on Tonia's right knee is another possible indication that bites are a mode of infection

Seeing that Tonia is a 'Red Shirt', it stands to reason she is most likely patient zero

Captain Kirk, his zombie version anyway, seems to have been shot at with phasers. Hopefully no serious irreversible injury has been inflicted on his internal organs that could prevent his healing if we manage to find a cure for this zombification disease. Interestingly enough, Kirk does not seem to sport any visible bite marks in the scans. Perhaps transmission was made via other bodily fluids.

Captain Kirk has retained his ab muscle tone despite zombification

A belt in the 23rd century? Kirk was always a rebel in fashion

Phasers set to kill seem to have little effect other than cause a small wound

Continuous efforts have been made to contact other crew members of the USS Enterprise on shore leave but to no avail. Meanwhile, something weird about the inhabitants of Dukkha has revealed itself to us. After a few days of shore leave, a majority of the inhabitants started wearing clothes that mimic fashion prevalent on Earth during the 20th century. It's as if they have scanned, downloaded and utilised information from the ship's records. It looks like we will have to sent in two groups of a four-member away team, similarly dressed, in order to investigate this whole puzzling mystery.

USS Enterprise lies in orbit around a planet called Dukkha

Updates will be made as soon as possible. Chief Medical Officer McCoy out, computer ... end log.