Overview of Spherion
Spherion is one of the five planets in the Quintus Sector. Once a remote yet thriving colony of Super Earth, Spherion found itself drawn into the chaos of war as the resurgent Illuminate launched a relentless campaign across the galaxy.
Topography
Spherion shares many similarities with planets such as Baldrick Prime, Irulta, Regnus, and Oasis. It features a diverse landscape with arid plains, rocky canyons, and patches of fertile land that supported its early settlements. The planet’s climate is relatively temperate, allowing for a mix of agriculture and industrial development. Its urban centers were constructed in scattered clusters, blending into the planet’s rugged terrain.
Though initially considered remote and difficult to reach due to its position in the Southwestern Galactic Rim, Spherion’s strategic value increased significantly as conflicts spread across the sector.
History
Spherion was one of the last colonies settled during the Great Democratization, having been discovered during the First Galactic War but left untouched due to logistical challenges. Once colonized, it flourished in peace for decades, with its citizens using their wealth to develop prosperous urban settlements. Unlike many frontier worlds, Spherion’s history was largely uneventful—until the war reached its doorstep.
When the Automatons invaded the Xzar and Severin Sectors, the Colonial Overseers of the Quintus Sector took swift action. Recognizing the threat posed by the mechanized invaders, they severed all FTL connections that could potentially lead to Tibit, ensuring that the Automatons would be unable to spread further into Quintus. This decision ultimately proved effective, as the Automatons were later eradicated from the sector and defeated at Tibit.
However, while the threat of the Automatons had been contained, another, more insidious enemy lurked in the darkness. The Illuminate—an ancient foe of Super Earth long believed to be extinct—had returned to wage war once more. Their resurgence began with the assault on Calypso in December 2184, followed by a relentless “planet-hopping” campaign that saw them raid colony after colony in rapid succession.
The timing of their offensive was particularly devastating, as the Democracy Space Station had been taken offline for critical repairs due to suspected sabotage. This left many worlds vulnerable to attack, as the Helldivers were stretched thin across multiple fronts. For a month, the Illuminate continued their raids largely unchallenged, striking various colonies every 12 to 16 hours.
On January 17th, 2185, Spherion became one of their targets. The attack occurred just hours after the Illuminate suffered a major defeat at Rasp, prompting them to shift their focus toward a new prize. The Helldivers, still heavily engaged in the ongoing liberation campaign at Heeth, struggled to mobilize reinforcements in time. While several Super Destroyers were redirected to Spherion, they arrived too late to prevent the Illuminate from making significant territorial gains.
Despite a valiant defense, the invading forces managed to overrun several key settlements. For 12 hours, the battle raged as the Helldivers attempted to push back the Illuminate, but the enemy had already achieved their objective. By the time the fighting ended, the Illuminate had successfully plundered Spherion’s resources and abducted civilians before withdrawing from the planet.
Though Spherion remained in Super Earth’s control, the scars of war ran deep. The Illuminate’s attack served as a grim reminder that no colony—no matter how peaceful—was truly safe from the horrors of the Second Galactic War.