Planet Havoc

Tim Waggoner writes Planet Havoc, adapting the Zombicide: Invader game into a narrative of galactic survival. The story centers on two disparate groups forced to cooperate after their ships crash on a deserted world. One group consists of scoundrels and soldiers from the Leviathan Guild, who arrived to plunder an abandoned R&D facility. The other group is a quarantine patrol that attacked the Guild ship before the crash. Both crews face a new Xeno threat, described as alien zombies, which has awakened on the planet. The plot hinges on the tension between these groups and their desperate need to contain the outbreak. The Leviathan team sought valuable research from a base abandoned after a neighboring planet was devastated by Xenos. They assumed the danger was distant, but the quarantine patrol’s intervention changed everything. Now, the combined crews must decide whether to destroy the new foe or sacrifice their lives and ships to protect the galaxy. The narrative explores themes of survival, cooperation under pressure, and the consequences of greed in a hostile environment. This book suits readers who enjoy fast-paced action and sci-fi horror elements derived from tabletop gaming. It may not appeal to those seeking deep character introspection or slow-burn psychological tension. Waggoner’s background in game adaptation informs the structure, focusing on immediate threats and tactical decisions rather than extensive lore dumps. The story remains grounded in the physical reality of the crash site and the escalating danger of the alien zombies.