In need of some fire support, the Spacedock has called on the services of the:
The I.K.C. Hegh'ta's uses:
The Easy Stuff: Some of the I.K.C. Hegh'ta's uses are plainly obvious. RRD with Kurn and Captain's Log makes her a great combatant. By the same token, Kurn is handy in a Klingon Diphole deck--and again, the I.K.C. Hegh'ta and RRD let you pull Kurn straight away.
The Not-So-Easy Stuff: The I.K.C. Hegh'ta is one of the best battleships in the ST:CCG. One crew member for a potential 10 Weapons is too good to pass up. Strategically, there is only one thing to do: Something else.
Put simply, the I.K.C. Hegh'ta is *predictable*. If it comes out early, your opponent will probably assume that it is the heart of an armada--which seems even more likely if you use a Spacedoor to download another K'Vort on the first turn. It is a reasonable assumption--the I.K.C. Hegh'ta is very good at battle. Using AMS and a Spacedoor, you can have 19 Weapons (two generic K'Vorts and the Hegh'ta) by the second turn. Starting this way is essentially equivalent to telegraphing the following message to your opponent:
AM PLANNING TO ATTACK YOU STOP WILL COME AFTER YOUR OUTPOST STOP YOUR SHIPS WILL FALL SOON AFTER STOP HA HA HA STOP
So, your opponent can now predict the complete course of the game. In two or three turns, you will attack and destroy his outpost. You will then set about crushing any targets of opportunity which should happen to present themselves. In all likelihood, your opponent will respond by either (a) trying to complete at least the outpost mission before the hammer falls (which will probably cost him/her several personnel) or (b) running away. Regardless of which option your opponent chooses, you now have a significant advantage: Your opponent has handed you the initiative, and is letting you do as you wish. Now, you have to press that advantage.
This is where the I.K.C. Hegh'ta turns interesting. Instead of attacking, you begin space-redshirting, letting your minimally crewed K'vorts take the heat of Borg Ships, Theta-Radiation Poisonings, and doctors running about muttering about their Hippocratic Oaths. Once the smaller ships have taken the prerequisite pounding from dilemmas, you can move in with the skills to complete the mission without fear of either dilemmas killing the personnel or your opponent attacking you.
Perfection is unattainable:
Who's The Man: The I.K.C. Hegh'ta suffers to a certain extent from the potential for overconfidence. In its un-Logged form, the I.K.C. Hegh'ta is not especially powerful. Although it has an exceptional staffing-to-attributes ratio, it is still vulnerable without a certain amount of assistance.
Final Analysis: The I.K.C. Hegh'ta is an exceptional craft. Economical in its staffing requirements, it nevertheless is powerful in combat. There is, for all intents and purposes, little reason *not* to use it, since it fits neatly into the Tent of almost any Klingon deck.
Next Week: The Spacedock unleashes a wave of I.K.C. K'Vorts.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? Feel free to e-mail Phalanx
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