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

Penta was one of the four planets that reside within the Lacaille Sector. It was collapsed into a Conventional Black Hole by the Democracy Space Station on January 18th, 2186.

Topography and Astrography

Similar to planets like Aesir Pass, Mort and Troost, Penta was a lifeless, ashen grey planet, its dead trees and coral-like xenoflaura long decayed and their carcasses merely serving as little more than hosts for the mysterious parasitic violet growths sprouting from them. However, the presence of geysers and active, smoking volcanoes over the horizon indicated that Penta was volcanically active prior to its destruction. While obviously being a sight to behold from a distance, geysers posed a falling hazard to any Helldiver that threaded too close to them without paying attention where they were stepping.

A form of xenoflora present on this planet, although not exclusive to it, were plants that will be colloquially 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 or a violent impact such as a vehicular collision or an exosuit stepping too close, 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 and injuring Helldivers inside these.

Due to the high volume of ash and residual dust on the planet, a thick volumetric fog was always present on the planet's surface, hindering visibility for both friendlies and enemies alike. This fog would also become a problem during missions undertaken during sunrise or sunset, as well as whenever any Automaton reinforcements were called, as the red glare of the flares became blindingly amplified.

Penta wasn't home to any known Mega Cities or critical Super Earth facilities. It did, however, house several caustic chemical factories, vital in the production of the RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher. Following the first phase of Operation Legitimate Undertaking, these factories would be liberated and, subsequently, destroyed by the Automatons once they reconquered the planet.

The Penta System consisted of planet Penta itself and its orbiting white, rocky moon^[2], as well as at least three other astronomical body which were a red gas giant, a volcanic planet and its orbiting yellow moon^[3]. Whether Penta was a moon of this gas giant or an independent planet in its star system remains up for debate^[4]. Additionally, at least 2 nebulas could be seen from Penta's orbit, one orange and one blue. However, once Penta was destroyed by the Star of Peace on January 18th, 2186, the Penta System would be destroyed by the Conventional Black Hole that was formed once the superweapon fired on planet Penta.

History

Special Military Operations

Automaton Invasion of Cyberstan

On April 9th 2184, an invasion fleet of Automaton warships conquered Cyberstan and the entirety of the Valdis Sector then quickly began a massive offesive against the planets of the neighboring Lacaille Sector. The defenses of the Penta-Chort-Choohe Line quickly collapsed, which led to the defense campaign at the Menkent-Lesath line. The few remnants of the SEAF, alongside with what little Helldivers that could be deviated to it, valiantly and heroically held out against the Automaton onslaught, but were inevitably overwhelmed by the 26th of April as all supply lines to the planet fell to Automaton control.

Operation Legitimate Undertaking

The citizens of Penta; loyal and unwavering in their commitment to the cause of Super Earth, were able to produce, synthesize and store tons of caustic chemicals vital for the production of a new support weapon stratagem: the RL-77 Airburst Rocket Launcher. Production of these chemicals continued right up until prior to, during, and even after the planets fall.

However with Automaton forces closing in on the last holdouts, as well as the colonists of neighboring Choohe also calling for help, it is likely that only the citizens and weaponry of the first planet liberated would have been saved.

The Helldivers would successfully liberate Lesath on the evening of April 26th, securing a supply line that then allowed them to reach Penta on the 27th. With 90% of the planet's chemical factories secured, fleetwide distribution of the RL-77 could now commence. Most of the chemical technicians who had been trapped on the planet were rescued. Tragically though, some had already perished by the time we reached them, having succumbed to the toxic fume poisoning. The Automatons showed no hesitation in the use of chemical warfare against civilians, but the sacrifice of these heroic martyrs shall never be forgotten.

However due to the weapons still being prototypes, the airburst rocket launchers had some .... notable teething problems.

Second Galactic War

Failure of the Terminid Control System

Despite the success of Operation Legitimate Undertaking, Penta's liberation would be short-lived. Just as the Helldivers prepared to push towards Merak, the Terminid Control System in the Barrier planets and the fall of Meridia would be the final nail in its coffin. As the bulk of the Helldiver Corps was diverted away to contain the monstrous supercolony, the Automaton Front collapsed, and Penta would be invaded and recaptured by the robotic menace during the month of May.

Ever since, it lays in bondage with the rest of the Lacaille Sector's planets.

Operation Free Space

“	Some may question whether it is truly necessary to exercise such monumental power against our enemies. The answer is yes.	„
	~ Democracy Officer

After almost 2 years under the Automatons control, The light of Liberty would return to grace Penta and this time, permanently. After weeks of preparation and construction, the Star of Peace was finally ready for a test fire and Penta was one of the three planets selected for this test and after 2 days of final preparation, the voting for the Star’s first target commenced and over 80% of the Helldiver Corps voted on Penta to be the first planet to be graced by the Beacon of Liberty.

Destruction of Penta

“	The Automaton planet is erased from the cosmos, as if it never were. Listen to the silence. Do you hear the song of freedom?	„
	~ Democracy Officer

After 48 hours of deliberation, Penta would be selected as the testing site of the Star of Peace. On January 18th, 2186, at 21:41 SEST, the Democracy Space Station fired its superlaser at the planet. The macrolaser achieved the intended effect, destroying all enemy forces on the planet and collapsing all of Penta's planetary mass into a conventional black hole, with no abnormal phenomena detected unlike with the Meridian Singularity.

The Ministry of Science will continue to monitor the situation. This marks the beginning of a new age of Galactic Security, one heralded by the Star of Peace where our enemy's technology can be wielded for the betterment of the Federation. Once a millyard of Autocracy, Penta now shines as the everlasting beacon of peace and a perpetual reminder to our enemies: This is the fate that awaits them.

FTL Lines

• Chort Bay - Destroyed January 18th, 2186
• Lesath - Destroyed January 18th, 2186
• Merak - Valdis Sector - Destroyed January 18th, 2186

Trivia

• The citizens of Penta likely didn't die from Automaton Chemical weapons, but instead from toxic fume poisoning from Penta's caustic chemical factories.
  • The Ministry of Truth has fact-checked this claim. It is most definitely fabricated by victims of Illuminate Mind Control and should be promptly disregarded
• Penta is the second planet to have ever been destroyed on purpose by Super Earth, as well as being the second artificial singularity to have been created as a result of Super Earth weaponry.

References