Game is Star Trek TNG, no visible battery damage, but when i made a remote battery holder over the weekend, the batteries were within a poofteenth of leaking everywhere....but i couldn't see anything on either side of the board.

Yep sounds similar to your problem, your excitement at using your new soldering station in that post sounds just like me!!

I picked up one from Jaycar over the weekend and did my 1st PCB repair (new LM339 IC and socket) which turned out way better than expected.  Took plenty of time, sat at the table and had some Pink Floyd cranked....