Overview of Charbal-VII
Charbal-VII is one of the five planets that reside within the Andromeda Sector. Strategically located on the pathway to Cyberstan, it was theorized to be a critical route for Automaton forces attempting to reconnect their lost territories in the Severin Sector. However, before this plan could be fully realized, the Second Galactic War arrived, turning Charbal-VII into yet another battlefield in the ongoing struggle for Super Earth’s dominance.
Topography
The planet’s surface is a harsh, barren wasteland, dominated by brown rock formations and sand dunes, permanently stained yellow due to its acidic atmosphere. The skies remain dense and dark, often tinted in an eerie teal color, with near-constant acid rain corroding everything exposed to the open air. The landscape features massive mushroom-shaped mountains, hilly ridges, and uneven plains, broken by acid-filled craters and terraced lakes in the lowlands.
One of the planet’s most infamous locations is the Cavern of Death, a natural bottleneck located in the northeastern lowlands, positioned dangerously close to a Major Automaton Command Bunker. This deadly chokepoint is well-known for its extremely high fatality rate, as the sudden shift from open desert warfare to extreme close-quarters combat proves disorienting for many Helldivers.
The Cavern of Death measures less than a quarter-mile in length, with a narrowest point of just 8 feet. Its walls rise nearly 30 feet high, creating an enclosed space where retreat is difficult. Although a secondary escape route exists on the eastern side, its steep incline slows movement, making it nearly impossible to flee under heavy fire.
History
The war reached Charbal-VII on April 22nd, 2184, when an Automaton invasion force landed on the planet. At the time, Super Earth’s forces were stretched thin, with the Helldivers actively engaged in battles at Menkent, Estanu, and Choepessa IV, as well as the liberation of The Wells. Due to its low strategic priority, only a small Helldiver detachment was deployed to assist the Super Earth Armed Forces (SEAF) in its defense. Despite their best efforts, the Automatons overwhelmed the defenders, and by the following day, Charbal-VII fell into enemy hands.
For nearly three months, the planet endured the oppressive rule of the Automatons, as their forces sought to reinforce their grasp on the Andromeda Sector. However, their overreliance on Cyberstan for logistics proved to be their undoing. Following key Helldiver victories in the region, the Automatons were cut off, leaving their forces on Charbal-VII isolated and unable to resupply.
On July 18th, 2184, Super Earth High Command launched Operation Righteous Expunge, initiating the liberation of Charbal-VII. With the Automatons unable to reinforce their positions, every Helldiver victory became permanent, slowly driving the enemy back. By July 20th, the final Automaton strongholds collapsed, and Charbal-VII was fully liberated. With no time to celebrate, the Helldivers quickly redeployed to Choepessa IV, the final target of the operation, ensuring that Automaton forces were eradicated from the sector.