Overview of Veld
Veld is one of the seven planets in the Orion Sector. A lush and vibrant world, its thick tropical forests make it a unique biome within the sector. Despite its natural beauty, it has faced the horrors of the Terminid Front since the earliest stages of the war. From its involvement in early containment operations to its survival during the Supercolony Crisis, Veld has endured multiple conflicts but has remained under the banner of Managed Democracy.
Topography
Veld’s terrain is similar to Malevelon Creek, characterized by dense, humid jungles, towering vegetation, and an expansive tropical canopy. The planet is teeming with diverse flora and fauna, many of which have been flagged by the Ministry of Science as potentially hazardous. Citizens are reminded to remain cautious, as the aggressive wildlife and undemocratic plant life have been known to pose significant threats to colonists and Helldivers alike.
Despite these dangers, Veld remains an invaluable asset to the Orion Sector due to its abundant natural resources and arable land. Before the war, the planet was a thriving agricultural and logging hub, supplying the Federation with vast quantities of lumber, exotic crops, and pharmaceutical compounds derived from its unique plant life.
However, this natural paradise became a battleground when the Terminid menace emerged, forever altering Veld’s place in history.
History
Veld was one of the first planets to experience the devastation of the Terminid outbreak during the Special Military Operations preceding the Second Galactic War. Shortly after the Automaton Expedition began, Terminid spores made landfall on Veld following the liberation of Heeth and Angel’s Venture. This resulted in the planet being among the earliest to require Helldiver intervention in March 2184.
The liberation of Veld was conducted without incident, with the Helldivers successfully containing the outbreak. In the following weeks, Super Earth High Command authorized the installation of the Terminid Control System (TCS) across the Umlaut Sector, including Veld. This network of towers was designed to deploy Termicide, an experimental compound engineered to exterminate Terminids while remaining harmless to humans.
For two months, the TCS ensured that Veld remained at peace, shielding it from the horrors faced by other colonies. However, this reprieve was not meant to last. In early May 2184, the TCS began to fail. Through a process later identified as hormesis, the Terminids developed a resistance to Termicide, rapidly adapting to its effects. The failure of the system culminated in the transformation of Meridia into a Supercolony—a catastrophic escalation that would send shockwaves across the entire front.
The collapse of the TCS and the rise of the Meridia Supercolony ignited one of the largest Terminid offensives recorded in the war. Super Earth High Command launched Operation Enduring Peace on May 28th, 2184, in a desperate attempt to contain the spread of the infestation. While the SEAF braced for an assault on the Barrier Planets, Veld found itself targeted in a Terminid invasion alongside Cirrus, an unconnected planet within the Orion System.
The battle for Veld saw Helldivers valiantly fighting to push back the overwhelming insectoid forces. By the early hours of May 29th, the Helldivers had successfully contained the outbreak, securing another victory for Democracy. Analysts remain uncertain as to why the Terminids targeted Veld, with leading theories suggesting that the insects sought to use the planet as a launching point for an attack on Moradesh. This would have disrupted the deployment of Dark Fluid, the ultimate weapon that was being prepared to annihilate the Supercolony at Meridia.
Ultimately, the efforts of the Helldivers ensured that the Dark Fluid could be delivered as planned. On June 2nd, 2184, the Supercolony at Meridia was eradicated as the Dark Fluid collapsed it into a black hole. Veld’s role in securing this victory cemented its place in history, proving that even the thickest jungles could not hide the enemies of Democracy from the might of Super Earth.
Though Veld has remained largely untouched by further large-scale conflicts, its significance as a frontline colony remains evident. The scars of war linger in its forests, but the planet stands resilient, a symbol of Super Earth’s unwavering commitment to the fight for freedom.