Overview of Heeth
Heeth is one of the seven planets in the Orion Sector. A frozen, desolate tundra, it was originally home to a mothballed Super Earth Armed Forces (SEAF) training facility, which was later repurposed as a campground for the Democratic Youth Scouts.
Topography
Heeth is the sixth planet in a remote system of the same name. From orbit, it appears to be a lifeless, ice-covered world, dominated by glaciers, frozen plains, and intense blizzards. Due to its great distance from its native star, Heeth experiences perpetual sub-zero temperatures, often dropping as low as -60°C at night and even lower during extreme blizzards.
Despite these conditions, Terminids have managed to infest Heeth’s ice caves, demonstrating extreme resistance to the frigid environment. The planet’s harsh weather and rugged terrain make it a formidable battleground, often requiring specialized cold-weather gear and high-caliber weaponry for effective combat.
History
Heeth holds the record for the longest operational victory streak in the Second Galactic War, with the Helldivers successfully defending it from the very start of the war on February 8th, 2184, until its fall on January 13th, 2185. Throughout this period, Heeth was a strategic stronghold in the war against the Terminids, frequently serving as a defensive bastion and a rallying point for counteroffensives.
During the early days of the war, SEAF forces constructed a training facility on Heeth, taking advantage of its remote location and challenging climate to test the resilience of new recruits. However, as the war escalated, this facility was eventually shut down, with the site later converted into a training ground for the Democratic Youth Scouts.
Heeth played a critical role in multiple operations, including Operation Valiant Enclosure, which saw it as one of the first planets affected by the Special Military Operation that preceded the war. Following a Terminid outbreak at Heeth’s E-710 farms, SEAF and Helldiver forces were deployed to contain the infestation, marking the first Helldiver engagement in over a century.
With the development of the Terminid Control System (TCS), Heeth enjoyed a brief period of peace, as the newly-engineered Termicide kept Terminid forces in check. However, this tranquility was short-lived, as the Terminids evolved immunity to the chemical through hormesis, allowing them to reproduce at 20 times their normal rate. This failure triggered the rapid fall of the Barrier Planets, with Meridia transforming into a Terminid Supercolony and plunging the galaxy into full-scale war.
As the war escalated, Heeth remained one of the few planets still standing despite frequent Terminid offensives. It was a vital defensive point during Operation Enduring Peace, as Helldivers and SEAF forces held the line against waves of Terminid forces attempting to break through to Moradesh. This campaign ultimately culminated in the deployment of Dark Fluid on Meridia, resulting in the destruction of the Terminid Supercolony and the creation of a black hole.
Following its continued defenses, Heeth’s SEAF training facilities were officially shut down, marking the end of its role as a major recruitment center. However, it was still considered a vital asset, and when the Terminids renewed their offensive in November 2184, Heeth once again found itself at the heart of the conflict. A major battle on November 5th saw Helldivers prioritize its defense, ensuring it remained in Super Earth hands.
However, with the resurgence of the Illuminate in December 2184, SEAF forces were stretched too thin to properly defend all fronts. The Terminids capitalized on this weakness, launching a massive spore-driven offensive from the Gloom that culminated in the fall of Heeth on January 13th, 2185. Despite this defeat, Helldivers continued to fight, managing to extract as many survivors as possible before retreating.
The Helldivers would not allow Heeth to remain in Terminid hands for long. A small contingent of 10,000 Helldivers remained behind, supporting SEAF ground forces in a guerrilla-style resistance effort. Their campaign was bolstered by the reactivation of the Democracy Space Station, which periodically provided orbital support between major Illuminate raids.
Then, on January 18th, 2185, an unprecedented planetary storm swept across Heeth, devastating Terminid forces and reducing resistance levels from 2% to 1% overnight. This freak weather event became a turning point, allowing SEAF and Helldiver forces to mount a full-scale counteroffensive.
By January 19th, 2185, Heeth was officially liberated—not due to any major order, but because the Helldivers chose to act. This moment was a testament to their unwavering commitment to freedom, proving that even without direct orders, they remained the ultimate force for democracy in the galaxy.