Rescue from the Hive

Overview

Rescue from the Hive is a science fiction board game published by SPI (Simulations Publications, Inc.) in 1981. One or two players simulate a hostage rescue mission aboard an alien spacecraft. Radical alien Znons have kidnapped Terran Ambassador Helstrom and his daughter Athena. One player commands a squad of Space Marines attempting to rescue the hostages, while the other controls the Znon alien defenses trying to delay the Marines until the alien ship can engage its hyperdrive and escape. The game includes rules for solitaire play with automated Znon defenses.

Components

• 1 Game map (representing the interior of the Znon spacecraft)
• Die-cut counters (Space Marines, Znon defenders, hostage markers)
• Darter space ships (up to 6)
• Scout units
• Engineer units
• Two-person lancer units
• Rules booklet
• Dice

Setup

1. Place the spacecraft map in the center of the table.
2. One player takes the Terran forces (Space Marines); the other takes the Znon forces.
3. Terran Force Selection: The Terran player spends a specified number of points to purchase their forces: scouts, engineers, two-person lancer units, and up to 6 Darter space ships.
4. Znon Force Selection: The Znon player spends points to set up defenses within the spacecraft.
5. Place hostage markers in the designated location within the ship.
6. Set up the hyperdrive countdown timer.

Turn Structure

Each turn consists of:

1. Terran Phase: The Terran player moves units, searches rooms, and initiates combat with Znon defenders.
2. Znon Phase: The Znon player moves defenders, triggers traps, and attempts to delay the Marines.
3. Hyperdrive Check: Advance the hyperdrive timer. If it reaches its maximum before the hostages are rescued, the Znons escape and win.
4. Rescue Check: If the Marines reach the hostages and can evacuate them, the Terrans win.

Actions

• Move: Move units through the spacecraft corridors and rooms.
• Search: Scouts and Marines search rooms for hostages, traps, and enemy units.
• Combat: Engage Znon defenders in firefights using lancer weapons.
• Breach Doors: Engineers can breach locked doors and bypass security systems.
• Evacuate Hostages: Once hostages are found, Marines must escort them back to the extraction point.
• Deploy Darters: Darter ships provide covering fire and extraction capability.

Scoring / Victory Conditions

• Terran Victory: Rescue both hostages (Ambassador Helstrom and Athena) and evacuate them from the Znon ship before the hyperdrive engages.
• Znon Victory: Delay the Marines long enough for the hyperdrive to engage and escape, or eliminate enough Marine forces to prevent the rescue.
• Partial Victory: Rescuing only one hostage may result in a partial or minor victory for the Terrans.

Special Rules & Edge Cases

• Solitaire Play: Rules are included for solitaire play, with the player controlling the Space Marines and the Znon defense run by automatic rules.
• Force Purchase: Both sides select their forces from a larger pool using point-buy, allowing different strategies each game.
• Hyperdrive Timer: The countdown creates urgency for the Terrans; they cannot afford to be cautious for too long.
• Hidden Units: Znon defenders may be hidden, revealed only when Marines enter their room.
• Darter Limits: Maximum of 6 Darter ships can be purchased; they serve as both combat and transport vehicles.
• Engineer Specialists: Only engineers can bypass certain ship security features and locked doors.

Player Reference

Unit Type	Role
Scouts	Search rooms, detect hidden enemies
Engineers	Breach doors, bypass security
Lancers	Primary combat units (2-person teams)
Darters	Space ships for fire support and evacuation

Terran Goal: Rescue hostages before hyperdrive engages Znon Goal: Delay rescue until hyperdrive engages