Overview of Aurora Bay
Aurora Bay is one of six planets in the Valdis Sector and served as a critical battleground during the Second Galactic War. It was the second planet in the sector to be liberated during the Reclamation, allowing Helldivers to fight deep within Automaton territory. However, with the fall of Choohe at the beginning of 2185, Aurora Bay was once again sealed off from Super Earth’s reach, leaving it under Automaton control.
Topography
Aurora Bay’s terrain remains largely unknown, but its strategic positioning within the Valdis Sector suggests it holds key FTL pathways that could provide access to Cyberstan, the Automaton stronghold. Many Helldivers speculate that its liberation could serve as a stepping stone to reclaiming Cyberstan, crippling the Automaton defenses in the region.
History
Aurora Bay remained untouched by the war until April 9, 2184, when a new Automaton fleet launched an FTL invasion, taking over the entire Valdis Sector overnight and undoing previous Super Earth victories. With SEAF defenses overwhelmed, Aurora Bay fell within an hour, marking its occupation by the ruthless machines.
After months behind enemy lines, Aurora Bay saw its first liberation attempt on December 5, 2184, following the fall of Choohe. With the Automatons retreating from their defeated stronghold, Helldivers pursued them to Aurora Bay, initiating Operation Crop Dust—the first campaign to free the planet from tyranny.
Despite being temporarily accessible, Aurora Bay’s liberation efforts stalled due to major conflicts in the Galactic South, particularly the reappearance of the Illuminate. With Helldiver forces spread thin, the Automatons seized the opportunity to launch invasion fleets across the Lacaille Sector, culminating in the fall of Lesath on December 27, 2184.
With SEAF forces focused on battling the Illuminate at Sirius, the Automatons struck again, launching a massive invasion on Choohe at the start of 2185. Without enough reinforcements, Choohe fell on January 2, once again severing all access to Aurora Bay and the Valdis Sector, leaving it in Automaton control once more.