| “ | The strange subversion of photosynthesis that sustains the oddly-hued flora that flourishes on this planet remains an intriguing mystery to Super Earth's greatest exo-biologists. | „ |
| ~ Official Description |
Gemma is one of the four planets that reside within the Ursa Sector. On December 27th, 2184, this planet became the first planet to be attacked by the 
Illuminate more than once.
Topography and Astrography
A Super Destroyer Squadron stationed in orbit over Gemma.
Similar to planets like Genesis Prime, Veld, Peacock and Malevelon Creek, Gemma is a lush jungle planet of perpetual cerulean twilight, its starlight reaching it only enough to illuminate the surface but not to the point of distinguishing the morning from the night. Because of this unique condition, the plant life of Gemma has evolved a different type of photosynthesis that gives it its distinctive azure color. Besides the captivating xenoflora, Gemma is also home to many species of xenofauna, mostly species of alien insects and fireflies, but most notable among them being an unidentified type of avian that can be seen flying in packs during the day.
The Sapphire Jungles of Gemma
Gemma is volcanically active and its land surface is littered with various smoking geysers. While these may make for magnificent vistas for tourists during peacetime, they also pose an enormous threat for any combatants who may be careless enough to forget to watch their step around them. Should you or any Helldiver in your squad fall inside a geyser, whatever gear and samples carried will be lost for good, as the body will be undoubtedly vaporized inside. Additionally, there is a form of xenoflora present on Gemma, though not exclusive to this system, that Helldivers must exercise great caution around. These are plants that will be conjecturally referred to as "Shrapnel Bushes". These bushes consist of one central stem from which multiple spiky fruits sprout. Should these plants be disturbed by any kind of munitions, they will violently release the thorns contained within the fruits, such release being as violent as the explosion of a Frag Grenade and being capable of immediately disabling vehicles.
One of many breathtaking beaches in Gemma.
In addition to all of the elements one must consider from Gemma's jungle environment and unique twilight lighting, Gemma's magnetosphere is also very active, which subjects the planet's surface to frequent Ion Storms, which intermittenly disable ALL stratagems except for any active SEAF Artillery in the mission area, as well as rendering the minimap inoperative for the duration of the Ion Storm. Helldivers will have to make use of their combat abilities to be able to survive through the Ion Storm, as they will be unable to call reinforcements or needed orbital strikes, eagle strikes or support equipment. Additionally, the Ion Storm prevents Helldivers from calling mission equipment, so keeping track of time is critical when operating on Gemma's surface.
Gemma is not home to any Mega Cities or facilities of importance for the ongoing Galactic War. However, Gemma's surface is home to various scattered urbanized settlements which house a significant portion, if not the majority, of its population. Besides these colonies, the jungle is sparsely dotted by detached settler dwellings, frontier camps, farms, broadcast stations, research outposts, E-710 Storage Silos and 
S.E.A.F. facilities.
The Gemma System is a binary star system between a white giant and a blue subgiant, with Gemma orbiting closer to the white giant in the system, though the blue subgiant can still be seen from Gemma's orbit. Planet Gemma possesses one moon which has a particular stretch around its equator. Besides planet Gemma and its orbiting moon, the Gemma System contains at least 2 other astronomical bodies, which are a gas giant and a nearby rocky exoplanet.
Gemma was one of the first planets to be attacked by the Illuminate following their resurgence at Calypso on December 12th, 2184. It would be attacked multiple times during the 
Meridian Singularity Crisis alongside neighboring Skaash until the Illuminate's defeat at the Battle of Super Earth on May 30th, 2185. Ever since, Gemma sat unbothered until it was reconnected to the Federal FTL Network on April 1st, 2186, which thrusted it into a position of relative importance on the fight against the 
Terminid Horde. Gemma, alongside its neighbor Acrux IX, marks the border between the Ursa Sector and the neighboring Farsight Sector through their shared connection into Grand Errant. For any Terminid infestation to spread into the Ursa Sector and beyond, the Terminids at Grand Errant have to first surpass Gemma and Acrux IX. Gemma's defense is critical not just due to its proximity to the 
Factory Hub at Achernar Secundus, but also because of how its fall could domino effect into the loss of the Ursa Sector.
History
Second Galactic War
Return of the Illuminate
A Helldiver pays respects to his fallen comrades after defending a nearby monument during the Second Battle of Gemma - December 27th, 2184
Gemma was, for most of its history, a peaceful planet colony of Super Earth far off in the galactic fringe. Despite its proximity to the Jin Xi and Borgus Sectors, it would spend most of its time untouched, as the colonial overseers of the Ursa Sector all coordinated to cut their FTL lines that led into the territories within reach of the Terminids, which ultimately allowed Gemma's colonists to continue their lives as if nothing was happening.
Having been settled after the First Galactic War, Gemma's primary economic activity was probably lucrative enough to allow its colonists to build up urbanized settlements, outfitted with all the essentials such as a stable power-grid, running clean water, waste management systems and, most important of all, pristine green grass lawns for their Super Earth Flags and Helldiver statues to immaculately be pitched on.
A Helldiver uploads classified black box data to their Super Destroyer as one of Gemma's urban settlements burns in the distance after a lengthy engagement with the Illuminate - December 27th, 2184
However, a foe once thought defeated was staring at Gemma with envy from the darkness of the cosmos, waiting for a moment to strike. The Illuminate, an ancient enemy of the Federation from the First Galactic War, had returned and was now seeking revenge for their banishing. On December 19th, the Illuminate sent an invasion force towards Gemma, mere hours after they had been defeated at Hadar by the Helldivers.
Wishing to protect its citizens from such savage pillaging, the Helldivers mobilized as quickly as they could towards Gemma in order to try and repel the Illuminate raid. However, the Helldivers couldn't arrive in force due to other ongoing campaigns and, therefore, couldn't repel the raid, which would leave Gemma in ruins.
However, not long after the nefarious raid on Gemma, the Illuminate would return once again in order to deny its colonists any respite. On December 27th, the Illuminate would send a second raid onto Gemma after their vicious raid at Julheim. Seeking righteous payback for the first raid, and with orders to kill as many voteless and Harvesters as possible in order to aid research efforts, the Helldivers deployed in force onto Gemma- but would fall just short of defending the planet, as the Illuminate had pillaged its colonies and kidnapped more innocent civilians.
Until February 2185, Gemma had managed to escape more horrendous Illuminate raids upon its surface. Sadly, Gemma's luck would run out on February 6th when a small Squ'ith raid force began to plunder its surface once more. In a stroke of liberty for the citizens of the vibrant blue world, the 
Helldivers had all but completed their Major Order against the 
Automatons, and now had a significant portion of their Corps available to challenge the invading Illuminate forces. After nearly 8 hours of battle, Gemma had been purged of the Squ'ith menace, marking the first 
Super Earth victory in the Second Galactic War on the planet.
Dissatisfied with their failure, the Illuminate still had their unforgiving sights set on Gemma once more. On March 7, following the issuing of Operation Wild Hunt for the Helldivers to kill Automaton and Terminid forces, the Squ'ith sent yet another small raid force to Gemma's sapphire-hued world. With the Helldivers forced to contain Terminid and Automaton invasions of Darius II and Mintoria respectively, Gemma's colonial defenses were overwhelmed, and the Illuminate had seemingly exacted their vengeance for their rightful rout issued by the Helldivers in the previous month. Gemma was left in tatters, now needing significant rebuilding efforts.
Operation Spring Cleaning
Gemma, having suddenly been thrust into the Second Galactic War by the Illuminate, would escape for the rest of 2185 unscathed. The planet's colonial overseer led significant rebuilding efforts across the planet, hoping to restore what was illegally dismantled by the cost of each wretched Squ'ith assault. Though they could never replace the many innocent civilians who had been kidnapped and turned into cannon fodder for the Illuminate, they could at least strive to ensure that it couldn't happen again.
Now, having been out of the limelight, Gemma would watch on as the war continued to evolve. The Illuminate had abandoned their raid campaign tactics and, following their failure to capture Super Earth, began occupying and invading other planets just as the other two enemies of Super Earth did. Gemma and the rest of the Ursa Sector would certainly be threatened by these developments, as the Illuminate invaded and occupied planets within the adjacent Ferris and Gallux Sectors, leaving the peaceful Ursa Sector at the mercy of any potential Illuminate threat.
Simultaneously, compounding the situation, the Ursa Sector was consistently bordered by the ravenous Terminids. The bugs would occupy the adjacent Borgus and Farsight Sectors, along with having brief periods of presence within the Korpus Sector. Despite managing to avoid any assaults by the Terminids, the added presence of the bugs, in addition to the Illuminate, significantly worsened the plight of the four innocent planets of the Ursa Sector.
On April 1, 2186, over a year after Gemma had any involvement within the Second Galactic War, things would take a turn for the worse for the Ursa Sector. Amidst an already ongoing, massive Terminid attack in the adjacent Borgus Sector on Achird III, the 
Predator Strain and 
Rupture Strain on Grand Errant in the Farsight Sector would launch a brazen attack, opening up new FTL Lines to Acrux IX and Gemma before assaulting each planet with the Predator and Rupture Strains.
Amidst the detection of bugs on its surface, Gemma would immediately raise an SOS beacon calling for aid, with the planet set to collapse in just 24 hours. High Command would then immediately issue new Orders, demanding the Helldivers to halt the Terminid outbreaks into the Ursa Sector by defending against at least 6 invasions across the Eastern Front.
Sadly for Gemma, the planet began low on the priority list. The Helldivers had already been stationed on Achird III in mass to repel the Terminids invading the planet for hours, and few would leave Achird to join Gemma's defense. Then, even with Achird's defense completed by 22:45 SEST, the Helldivers prioritized the defense of Acrux IX, which had been invaded a few hours earlier than Gemma. The planet was struggling to hold on, and the Rupture Strain had begun fiercely proliferating throughout the entirety of the sapphire world.
The final nail in the coffin would then arrive at 06:08 SEST on April 2. With the Helldivers on the brink of turning around the near-defeat on Acrux and heading for victory, the Terminids of Gar Haren launched a brutal invasion of the Factory Hub on Achernar Secundus. Given that the Helldivers had just freed the planet a few weeks prior, and given how crucial the Factory Hub is to Super Earth's defense production, the defense of Achernar would be prioritized over Gemma. With 3 other planets having taken precedence over Gemma, the colonial defenses would not be able to withstand this many blows in the form of a lack of support.
At 13:06 SEST on April 2, Gemma had fallen to the Rupture Strain, which had now taken control of the entirety of the planet. The few Helldivers who were stationed on Gemma began to leave, deploying elsewhere to aid the defenses of Achernar Secundus and the new invasion of Acamar IV.
Gemma's involvement wouldn't be over just yet. At 20:04 SEST, the Rupture Strain used Gemma as a launching pad to strike deeper into the Ursa Sector by assaulting Acrab XI. Luckily for Acrab, the Helldivers would prioritize the planet early on, finishing off the Terminids on Achernar Secundus before turning to Acrab with the DSS in tow to decimate the invading Rupture Strain, bringing newfound hope to Gemma's beleaguered civilians.
FTL Lines
- Grand Errant - Farsight Sector (Established on April 1st, 2186)
- Acrab XI (Re-established on April 1st, 2186)
- Acrux IX (Re-established on April 1st, 2186)