Overview of Angel’s Venture
Angel’s Venture was one of the seven planets in the Orion Sector. Initially a sparsely populated world, it later became a major training ground for the Super Earth Armed Forces (SEAF) following the declaration of the Galactic War on Tyranny. However, this facility was eventually shut down, and the planet was repurposed as a campground for the Democratic Youth Scouts.
After enduring tremendous suffering during Operation Enduring Peace, Angel’s Venture earned the honorable title of the “Heroic Diamond of the Orion Sector”, given by dedicated members of the Helldivers Corps. However, on February 12th, 2185, the Meridian Singularity reached critical momentum, making its destruction inevitable. By February 13th, 2185, at 14:37 SEST (UTC), Angel’s Venture had been completely torn apart by the singularity, leaving behind a dead planetary core and an asteroid belt—a solemn reminder of the devastation brought by tyranny.
Topography
Angel’s Venture was a boreal world with a permanent winter climate, yet mild enough for comfortable habitation. The planet was covered in continent-sized forests, featuring towering trees, mountain ranges, and vibrant vegetation. The dominance of red, orange, and green leaves across its landscapes gave the planet a distinctly colorful appearance, making it one of the most aesthetically rich worlds in the Orion Sector.
Despite its harsh winters, Angel’s Venture thrived economically, relying on mining, timber, and agricultural exports. Unlike highly urbanized colonies, Angel’s Venture maintained a largely rural population, with a peak of around half a billion people. Many of its inhabitants preferred farming and forestry over industrial development, cultivating the land of their ancestors for generations.
This lush natural beauty was violently disrupted by the emergence of the Terminids, whose hideous, rock-like hive structures scarred the planet’s once-pristine terrain. Early damage estimates from Terminid infestations ranged between 20% and 60%, prompting conservation efforts by Colonial Authorities to restore its ecosystems—though these efforts would ultimately be rendered meaningless by the planet’s untimely destruction.
On February 13th, 2185, just over a year after the war began, the Meridian Wormhole, in an act of Illuminate terrorism, engulfed Angel’s Venture. The gravitational pull of the singularity completely tore the planet apart, leaving behind nothing but its dead planetary core and a scattered asteroid field.
History
Angel’s Venture played a pivotal role throughout the Second Galactic War, being one of the first planets to face Terminid invasions, yet standing resilient in the face of destruction. Its fall marked one of the most devastating losses in the entire conflict.
Angel’s Venture was at the heart of the early Terminid outbreaks, facing a massive infestation in February 2184. Alongside Heeth, it was overwhelmed by spores, forcing colonial militias and SEAF forces to mount a desperate defense. Thanks to the valiant efforts of the Helldivers, the Terminid menace was successfully repelled.
In the late weeks of April and the first week of May 2184, Meridia tragically became a Terminid Supercolony due to the failure of the Terminid Control System. Though the rest of the TCS was quickly dismantled, massive outbreaks began on planets close to Meridia, Angel’s Venture among them. The Helldivers were sent to these planets in order to contain the breach. While Angel’s Venture, Heeth, and Veld were successfully defended, the containment operation was unsuccessful, as Acamar IV could not be cleansed.
The Galactic War on Tyranny was officially declared on May 15, 2184, in response to the Terminid and Automaton threats. Angel’s Venture was selected as one of four planets to host SEAF training bases, alongside Heeth, Vernen Wells, and Aesir Pass. This decision was crucial to bolstering recruitment, as millions of volunteers rushed to join the war effort.
During the battle known as Operation Emancipator, Angel’s Venture faced another Terminid siege, but the Helldivers successfully repelled the assault despite being diverted to Varylia 5 to secure its critical Petrafactory. This tactical victory reinforced Angel’s Venture as a fortified stronghold in the Orion Sector.
Operation Enduring Peace marked one of Angel’s Venture’s most critical battles. It was chosen as one of three key planets (alongside Fenrir III and Turing) to serve as a defense point for a secret Illuminate weapon, which was ultimately used to collapse the Meridia Supercolony into a black hole. This success cemented Angel’s Venture’s legendary status among Helldiver-controlled worlds.
With the collapse of the Supercolony, Angel’s Venture was converted from a military stronghold into a recreational training ground for the Democratic Youth Scouts, signaling a temporary reprieve from war.
As the Gloom expanded, Angel’s Venture, alongside Cirrus and the recently reconnected Terrek, became one of three sites chosen to process and relocate millions of displaced colonists to the Democracy Space Station in order for them to staff it. As such, this major order designated them as targets to be held throughout the duration of it. However, since the Terminids never got to any planets connected to Angel’s Venture, it wouldn’t see any need for protection, allowing its colonists to continue their daily democratic lives in unimpeded freedom.
Angel’s Venture would continue to go undisturbed. However, its peace would only last for the remainder of the year. Following the resurgence of the Illuminate, the S.E.A.F. was thrown into disarray and the front lines began to crumble, as the Terminids began several offensives thanks to a surge in spore outbursts from within the Gloom. The Helldivers would struggle to contain the invading insects and, after the fall of Heeth on January 13th, the Terminids immediately launched 2 consecutive attacks onto both Cirrus and Angel’s Venture.
With the Illuminate raids constantly drawing away a significant portion of Helldivers, the main fleet would be unable to defend Cirrus, instead deciding to concentrate their defenses on Angel’s Venture despite strategic advisory from High Command recommending a counterattack on Heeth. Despite this, the Helldivers successfully defended the heroic planet once more, preserving its pristine perennial forests from the ravenous horde once again.
By February 12th, 2185, the Meridian Singularity reached critical mass. Initially considered a theoretical hazard, the singularity had been gradually accelerating due to Illuminate sabotage. With no viable options to halt its progress, Super Earth scientists confirmed that Angel’s Venture would be the first planet to be consumed.
On February 13th, 2185, at precisely 14:37 SEST (UTC), Angel’s Venture was completely torn apart, its once-thriving forests and settlements obliterated in seconds. All that remained was a dead planetary core and an asteroid belt, serving as a haunting monument to the devastation wrought by tyranny.
The loss of Angel’s Venture was one of the most tragic moments in Helldiver history, marking the first complete planetary destruction of the war. Though the planet itself was gone, its legacy endured in the hearts of every Helldiver who had fought to protect it.