helldivers


“ The lifeless grey of this planet is interrupted only by the violet flowers that grow from strange, parasitic outcroppings. „
~ Official Description

Cirrus is one of the eight planets that reside within the Orion Sector.

Topography and Astrography

Cirrus topography consists of large lagoons of shallow water, mixed with low, albeit dense "forests" of half dying trees and coral formations that occasionally bloom with deep purple flowers. Small clearings are also present, but are moderately rare.

Entire planet is covered in thick layer of ash, coming from the volcanic plumes, often seen in distance. This layer also hangs in the air, low above ground - resulting in a very limited vision.

Other, more direct dangers on Cirrus include small geothermal vents, that a distracted diver may walk and fall into, or if agitated, explode. In the small clearings, you can find Spikefruit plants, that can explode into deadly shrapnel - being both danger to you, enemies and your vehicles. And last being deceptively shallow water, that may suddenly become too deep.

On Astronomic scale, Cirrus System sits right in the middle of Orion Sector, serving as Crossroads for both travel and important hub in war effort.

History

Second Galactic War

Operation Orion Threshold

Cirrus was one of the first planets to fall to the Initial Terminid outbreak of February 2184. By March 2nd, it had been completely overrun by the invading Terminids, requiring Helldiver assistance to properly quell the sudden outbreak on its surface.

Operation Enduring Peace

However, this incident would be its last for a good while. Cirrus' distance from the Barrier Planets essentially guaranteed its safety and prosperity from March to May until the Terminid Control System failed and the Terminids, now bolstered by the Supercolony at Meridia, would advance. The Helldivers would hold the line while preparing the Dark Fluid for deployment on Meridia, however the Terminids would manage to overrun Heeth before any defenses could be engaged and then, on the midnight of May 28th, immediately launched a surprise attack onto Cirrus, as the fascistic bugs made a desperate attempt to reach Moradesh before the Helldivers could destroy the Supercolony.

However, the bugs' attempts would prove pointless as not only would Cirrus be liberated 12 hours later, but the Helldivers also managed to destroy the Supercolony at Meridia 4 days later on June 2nd, 2184.

Operation Courageous Exodus

Cirrus, alongside with Terrek and Angel's Venture, was chosen as one of the 3 sites from which millions of colonists, displaced by The Gloom, would be processed then relocated into the Democracy Space Station, where they would become its permanent staff.

However, since the Terminids never got to any planets connected to Cirrus, it wouldn't see any need for protection, allowing its colonists to continue their daily democratic lives in unimpeded freedom.

Operation Farsight Breach and Impending Gloom

Cirrus would spend the rest of 2184 in complete peace and democratic freedom, unbothered by the Terminids. However, they soon would find themselves attacked by these bugs. With the resurgence of the Illuminate on the Southern Front in December 2184, the SEAF as a whole had been sent into disarray and left all fronts vulnerable to enemy advances. The Terminids, through some unknown and most likely fascist mean, would learn of this development and immediately capitalized, as a surge in Gloom spore outbursts immediately bolstered the Terminids into a huge series of offensives into the Farsight Sector, as well as into the Umlaut Sector through Erata Prime.

But the Helldivers, loyal in their duty, managed to repel the offensives in the Farsight Sector....at the cost of having to abandon Erata Prime entirely, which the Terminids quickly used to pivot onto Heeth and, immediately after, launch a dual strike at Angel's Venture and Cirrus.

The Helldivers would be forced to pick between Angel's Venture and Cirrus, as they didn't have enough manpower to fully staff both defenses. Cirrus fell in January 14th, with the Terminids immediately attempting an invasion of Moradesh that would be repelled by the Helldivers, which ended the offensive. Cirrus would later be liberated during Operation Impending Gloom. Though not a mission objective as the focus for this operation was an expedition into the gloom, Cirrus would still none the less be liberated on January 29th, 2184.

Operation Damage Control and Equilibrium

Whilst the Meridian Singularity had been successfully brought to a halt, the Illuminate would still deal significant damage to the defenses of multiple strategic sites across both the western and eastern battlefronts, granting the opportunity for our foes to capture formerly well-defended territory. Whilst the Helldivers focused on securing vital strategic sites across the galaxy, other less vital fronts unfortunately had to have their value evaluated.

This would include the extermination of an offshoot strain of the Terminids known as the Predator Strain, which left unchecked would spread from Bore Rock to Terrek and then to Cirrus which would suffer a major outbreak and be lost on May 2nd. Efforts to cleanse the planet would begin almost immediately, however would not pick up steam until Operation Equilibrium with the planet being fully liberated on the 7th of May, however the Helldivers would not have the time to celebrate as there were still many other fronts in need of their intervention.

Operation Ultrakill and Gloom Tide

Cirrus would be lost once more on August 28th, along with many other planets during the infamous Tripartite Invasion of the Federation by the Automatons Icon Automatons, Illuminate Icon Illuminate and Terminids Icon Terminids -- with the Predator Strain Icon Predator Strain running wild on the planets. Efforts to liberate the planet would begin almost immediately although would not pick up steam until the aftermath of Operation Gloom Tide.

Following the liberation of Terrek on September 15th, Cirrus would be completely cut off from Terminids Icon Terminid space, allowing the SEAF logo S.E.A.F. to launch a coordinated ground offensives against the Terminids Icon Terminids, which the victorious Helldivers Companion Helldivers soon joined. Full liberation would be accomplished on September 17th

Operation Kalium and Festival of Reckoning 2185

Since its final liberation on September, Cirrus would spend its time in peace, as the Terminids were pushed back not only into The Gloom but all the way towards their Hive Worlds. Vengeance would be rightfully enacted once the Helldivers successfully liberated and pacified the Hive World of Oshaune on November 4th, delivering a striking blow to the Gloom and greatly reducing its size.

However, despite this great victory, the threat still remained. On December 15th, an outbreak of the Rupture Strain Icon Rupture Strain would make planetfall on Cirrus mere hours after the Terminids invaded Terrek. With the Helldivers away waging righteous repossession against the Automatons, Cirrus' defense received no aid and so Cirrus fell to the Terminids the next day. However, from here, the Rupture Strain departed to Heeth and the Predator Strain Icon Predator Strain followed shortly after.

Despite this, what the self-cloaking fascists did not expect was that Super Earth would soon enact great vengeance and furious anger on those that had just struck at Cirrus. With the surplus of capital on the Reckoning Fund, the Festival of Reckoning of 2185 would be extended from its usual 3-day duration to 14 days in order to truly live up to all the vengeance that needed to be dispensed after all the events that had taken place throughout the year. With Terrek being liberated on December 19th, SEAF Forces in the Orion Sector went on the offensive.

While a significant portion of the Helldivers opted to contribute to ongoing Reconnaissance Campaigns at Heeth, Marfark and New Stockholm to aid in Experimental Stratagem Testing, a small but crucial contingent of Helldivers took the opportunity to liberate as many planets as possible to aid with the designated orders of liberating more planets than were lost.

Cirrus would see heavy fighting throughout December 19th, only really being liberated by December 20th. It would appear that the brave citizens of the ashen veteran world got a Reckoning Miracle few could have hope for. And all thanks to the tenacity and perseverance of the Helldivers.

Operation Spore Cleaning

During the set of operations sanctioned by Ministry of Expansion Insignia Ministry of Expansion between April and May of 2816, Cirrus would come under Terminids Icon Terminid infestation together with Azterra on afternoon of April 30th. Due to Major Order focusing on liberating Brilliance, defense of those worlds were severely undermanned. Small percentages of Helldivers Companion Helldivers and SEAF logo S.E.A.F. were picked apart by the Predator Strain Icon Predator Strain, and control of planets was declared lost on May 1st.

Operation Antivirus

Cirrus would come under Helldivers Companion Helldivers attention during Orion Sector cleanup, following the success of Operation Spore Cleaning and Operation Beach Bash. After tactically taking Terrek, Terminids Icon Terminids were contained in pocket of Azterra, Cirrus and Heeth. With Help of Super Earth Icon Democracy Space Station and the Heavy Ordnance Distribution action active, purging begun on Cirrus around early morning of May 19th. After entire day of operations, Cirrus was deemed Bug free once more on afternoon of following day - isolating the other two planets.

With the shared consciousness of Terminids Icon Terminids severed, SEAF logo S.E.A.F. on Azterra and Heeth immediately gained an advantage, managing to advance entirely on their own.

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FTL Timeline

Trivia