Helldivers 2: Strain of Vengeance.
The 24 Hour mourning Period for Angels Venture has come to a close and all 7 year old workers and above are ordered for a 48 hour Mourning Recoupment Phase.
When the new mining network was planned out, it had discovered many previously unknown tunnels that were not made any Super Earth citizens, and after confirming the Tyrannical Squids were also not the architects of said tunnels, it was a mystery, and Super earth did not like mysteries. Or mysteries that were considered 'unneeded distractions'.
Thus it was decreed that any interest in these alien ruins was to be considered Undemocratic and any and all questions were instantly quashed by the loyal citizenry. Despite that however, there was still something unearthed by the miners, something that would alter the course of the Second Galactic War even as small as a mere virus. Super Earth Colony STP-1908 would be the foundation.
At first it was simply attributed to a burning desire for Angels Venture to be avenged, workers working well beyond what was expected of them, their constant toiling pleasing the Liberty Overseer. Especially those who worked outside, they seemingly enjoyed the cold planet, those who worked in cold mining tunnels, or harvesting ice plants for experimental cost saving measures for toothpaste. They were working with an efficiency and grace that was putting Stor Tha Prime ahead, even if it was just one colony city so far. It was actively encouraged, one less planet meant those who picked up the slack could expect compensation from the Ministry of Expansion.
However, even by Super Earth standards, some things began to seem amiss. For one, outside workers began to forgo winter clothing, the coldness of the planet seemingly no longer affecting them. In fact, the opposite was true, those inside constantly complained about heat, and taking it as an opportunity to reduce heating costs, there was little fuss about turning down the thermostat.
Secondly, the workers all seemed oddly coordinated with each other, as if each one knew what the other needed the moment it became an issue. Extra hands for a particular task, or in one case when a burgeoning Cult of the Orb started forming, they were quickly turned over. There was a few isolated reports of 'golden eyes' but this was dismissed as 'Undemocratic slander towards character built eyes'.
Thirdly, any mention of Illuminate began to elicit increasingly hostile reactions, ranging from Undemocratic Decorum via snarling in rage, or outright Pre Democratic curses. Given the severe morale hit Angels Venture had incurred and lingering fears of Moradeshs fate, it was overlooked. Helping of course, was the ever growing production of the miners, which was continuing to exceed expectations, and quickly on the path to earning the planet a whole extra day off.
The only stipulation that was still applied was that they were not permitted to enter the tunnels, something which the Liberty Overseer of the local city was secretly becoming increasingly paranoid about. At least, until some dust was left scattered in his dwelling and gradually all voiced complaints became silent, and the Complaint Officers breathed a sigh of relief for marginal less work.
Then something happened, something overlooked due to the Miracle of Bekvam III and the Automatons foiling themselves with an ill conceived software update. One day, the growing number of people in the colony had the urge to go underground, to the forbidden tunnels that had remained undisturbed, but now with no one to raise complaints, they disappeared and never reemerged.
Their disappearance however, was quickly overlooked when vast quantities of valuable minerals and ores began flooding from the mines. How this was being achieved with minimal mining equipment being used was counted as a "Miracle of Productivity'.
Of course, it was in part to keep eyes away, after all the war effort always needed resources and a sudden influx of support was hardly going to be questioned. Especially after the Liberty Overseer himself started complaining of the heat.
As Moradeshs luck finally ran out, there were reports that Super Earth Colony STP-1908 had not had a single confirmed visual sighting of another human in several weeks, only the voice of the Liberty Overseer assuring that everything was fine. Had the Federation not been so distracted things might never have progressed to the next stage.
The first sightings of six eyed aliens was dismissed as Illuminate hoaxes, rumors meant to undermine the war effort through Tyrannical fear mongering. Even as other Colonies began to go through the same cycle on the planet, each and every overseer always reported all normal, and the exponential resource production soothed any would be prying eyes.
Soon, all was reported normal on Stor Tha Prime. The complaints soon dried up and resource production was the highest in the Galactic West, as was the highest food consumption.
Deep below however, another group was preparing to make their entrance, changing once loyal Super Earth Citizens into their soldiers and menial workers. However unlike the Voteless, they were more willing for the change this time around.
For both citizenry and the force that was altering them shared one thing in common: They both wanted the Illuminate exterminated, and both new and old grudges formed an Undemocratic Alliance.
For now their voices were quit enough to avoid detection by the Squids, but soon enough, the Illuminate would hears their voices once more, and they would scream for Vengeance.
Hello there. Yet another Helldivers Idea I had mulling inside my head. Sure wish I wrote it before Stor Tha Prime was Squid invaded but eh. And taking the Strain idea for the Predator and Gloom strains, only my own laziness to blame for that.
This is interesting for me because I only discovered resistance recently and while it's not mindblowing, I really enjoyed it, especially the Chimera, love their lore and designs. And while looking at their different types, I just couldn't help but think to myself 'I wish these guys were in Helldivers'.
So, here we are, and for once Super Earth isn't the main enemy of this group of aliens.
And here's hoping we get a crossover Collab with Resistance one day. It IS owned by Sony after all.