Overview of Cirrus
Cirrus is one of the seven planets in the Orion Sector. Once a thriving colony, it became a major battleground during the Second Galactic War, enduring multiple Terminid invasions before ultimately falling.
Topography
Cirrus shares many similarities with Nivel 43, featuring rugged landscapes, dense coral-like flora, and an overcast sky shrouded in mist. The planet’s rocky terrain and scattered deep ravines create natural chokepoints, making it both defensible and treacherous. Its moist atmosphere and frequent heavy fog often hinder visibility, making engagements unpredictable.
History
Cirrus was one of the earliest planets to fall during the Initial Terminid Outbreak in February 2184. By March 2nd, it had been completely overrun, forcing the Helldivers to launch a major counteroffensive to contain the rapidly escalating infestation.
After its liberation, Cirrus enjoyed a period of peace from March to May, as its distance from the Barrier Planets kept it insulated from further Terminid aggression. However, this changed when the Terminid Control System failed, leading to a massive resurgence of Terminid forces, now bolstered by the Supercolony at Meridia. As part of a desperate push, the Terminids overran Heeth before launching a surprise attack on Cirrus on May 28th, 2184, in an attempt to reach Moradesh before the Helldivers could neutralize Meridia.
Despite this renewed offensive, the Helldivers successfully defended Cirrus within 12 hours. Just days later, on June 2nd, 2184, the Supercolony at Meridia was destroyed, significantly weakening the Terminid advance.
Following this, Cirrus was designated as one of three key processing sites—alongside Terrek and Angel’s Venture—for millions of colonists displaced by The Gloom. However, with no direct Terminid assaults on its neighboring planets, Cirrus remained safe and secure, allowing its citizens to continue their daily democratic lives without disruption.
This peace would be short-lived. As the Illuminate launched their resurgence in December 2184, Super Earth Armed Forces (SEAF) were spread thin, leaving multiple fronts vulnerable. The Terminids took full advantage of the chaos, using Gloom spores to launch a massive offensive into the Farsight and Umlaut Sectors, as well as Erata Prime.
While the Helldivers repelled most of these offensives, they were forced to abandon Erata Prime, which enabled the Terminids to pivot their assault toward Heeth. This rapid escalation led to a dual strike on Cirrus and Angel’s Venture.
Due to limited manpower, the Helldiver Corps was forced to prioritize one of the two planets, ultimately choosing to defend Angel’s Venture. Cirrus fell on January 14th, 2185, and the Terminids immediately attempted an invasion of Moradesh. However, this final push was repelled, halting the Terminid advance in the Orion Sector.