Major Orders serve as the main objectives in Helldivers 2. Players have to complete time-limited community goals in order to make progress in the Second Galactic War. Due to this dynamic nature of the game, major orders can have various consequences for the Galactic War depending on whether players succeed or fail to complete them.
The FREEDOM Act and Its Implications
The greatest casualty of the Illuminate campaign of terror has been our citizens' sense of safety. They fear their colony will be next to be attacked, or that their loved ones will be twisted into the Voteless. They trust the Helldivers to protect them, but against this enemy, firepower is not enough on its own.
To restore our citizens' safety, the Super Earth Government has unanimously voted to enact the Freedom & Readiness to Enable Effective Defense & Obstruction of Mind-Influence Act of 2184, or FREEDOM Act. The FREEDOM Act will give the Ministry of Unity the tools it needs to keep our citizens safe from external and internal threats. It will create a new security force dedicated to loyalty enforcement, and empower them to find and interdict Illuminate mind-influence, dissidence, and other serious crimes.
To ensure these tools are use to maximal effect, the Act additionally authorizes construction of the Center for Citizen Surveillance & Safety on planet MASTIA. MASTIA is currently occupied by the Automaton Legion, making it certain to be free of traitors. This will also allow the containment of Automaton influence, which has spread in recent weeks. The Helldivers are ordered to secure MASTIA to facilitate the construction of the new Center.
Outcome: The Center for Citizen Surveillance & Security has been completed. The FREEDOM Act is fully implemented, marking the auspicious beginning of a new era of safety and unity. Already, thousands of loyalty-challenged individuals have been identified and apprehended by the new Unity Corps. Information campaigns are enabling citizens young and old to inoculate their minds from indoctrination through daily Patriotism Reinforcement Exercises.
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Inspiringly, Super Earth citizens are taking the fight into their own hands, forming Neighborhood Watch & Constitution Study groups. Millions of citizens have opted-in to install surveillance in their homes, ensuring that if they fall victim to Illuminate mind-influence, their neighbors will be protected. The threat of Illuminate attack remains as great as before. But thanks to the Helldivers, our citizens feel safer than ever.
Terminid Outbreaks and Strategic Sacrifices
The Xenoentomology Center on Turing has detected a sharp increase in Terminid spore outflow from the Gloom, cascading throughout all Terminid-occupied worlds and greatly accelerating bug expansion. Multiple outbreaks have already been detected in the Farsight Sector. The Helldivers must respond immediately to stem further outbreaks.
The Terminid Outbreak Risk Level is currently "Very High." New outbreaks are far more likely on all Terminid-adjacent worlds. Full Terminid infestation of new worlds could precipitate additional outbreaks, exacerbating the situation. Rapid containment is of the highest priority. Citizens in threatened worlds have been issued evacuation-standby orders, with off-planet transport on standby for high-priority civilians and their tallest children.
Contain the ongoing wave of Terminid outbreaks as much as possible. Defend against 5 attacks from the Terminids.
Outcome: Terminid spore flow from the Gloom has subsided, and the resultant bug expansion has been fully contained by the valiant Helldivers. The Helldivers were forced to make difficult choices to ensure the security of the Federation. The rapid Terminid advance left them with no choice but to sacrifice Cirrus in order to save the citizens of Angel's Venture.
Illuminate Invasions and Dark Energy
The Democracy Space Station has been returned to operational status, following a systemwide breakdown during the initial Illuminate invasion. Following a thorough review, the failure has been attributed to multiple failures to follow safety protocols-undoubtedly a result of Illuminate interference. Staff surveillance systems have been revamped to prevent future sabotage.
While the station was offline, Ministry of Defense engineers implemented a number of operational adjustments:
- The Planetary Bombardment Tactical Action has been taken offline, until adjustments to optimize certain undesirable externalities can be completed.
- The Heavy Ordnance Distribution Tactical Action has been added, which will augment Helldiver loadouts on the orbited planet.
- The engines of the DSS have been overhauled to allow movement 6 times more frequently than before.
Use the repaired DSS to repel the ongoing Illuminate invasions.
Outcome: The Illuminate campaign of terror continues unrestricted. Even the resurgent DSS, deployed with unassailable precision by the Helldivers, was not enough to repel the tide of xeno-autocracy. Millions of colonists have perished, and untold more have been corrupted into Voteless servants. Reports from DSS technicians indicate no significant negative impacts to the system following the implementation of increased movement frequency. The faster movement is now standard operating procedure for the station. Performance reviews and additional improvements are ongoing.
The Illuminate remain hidden. There can be no doubt that some larger scheme is at work, but it has yet to reveal itself.
The Meridian Singularity is moving. Given its current course, it is at high risk of reaching ANGEL'S VENTURE. Over the past weeks, the Ministry of Science has shed light on the Illuminate's plans. They appear to be attacking our worlds for the sole purpose of gathering Dark Energy. Now, we know why: Dark Energy must somehow be powering the motion of the Singularity. According to projections, the more of this energy the Illuminate are able to gather, the faster the Singularity will move. The Helldivers are ordered to end any Illuminate invasion attempts as quickly as possible.
Priority: Quash any Illuminate invasion attempts as quickly as possible, to stop the Illuminate from gathering the Dark Energy they need for moving the Meridian Singularity.
Result: ANGEL'S VENTURE has been torn apart by the gravitational pull of the Meridian Singularity. This is an incalculable loss. The land cultivated by generations. The lives of the Super Earth citizens whose evacuation could no longer be completed in time.
Automaton Jet Brigade and Strategic Maneuvering
Intel from the Staging Grounds for the Automaton Jet Brigade on Choohe has finally been deciphered, and the source of the violent unit identified. The Factories that produced the robotic marauders is located on CHORT BAY. Veteran Helldivers will never forget the Jet Brigade's reign of terror that nearly prevented the construction of the Democracy Space Station.
The bot unit was ultimately routed by the Helldivers, but the subsequent Illuminate invasion gave the Automatons the chance to retreat and recover. Intel analysts have understood the Automatons to be intent upon the reconstruction of the Jet Brigade; projections indicate that the unit is likely partially rebuilt. Striking now, deep into Automaton territory, will help prevent the recovery of the unit's full strength. Our citizens finally have been afforded the opportunity for justice-for citizens murdered and material value destroyed.
Liberate the designated planet to destroy the Automaton Jet Brigade Factories.
Outcome: The Automaton Jet Brigade Factories on Chort Bay have been destroyed. The Automatons no longer possess the means to rebuild the aerial marauders that destroyed so many lives. While the factories may one day be rebuilt, it would come at a heavy cost to our enemies. For now, our citizens may rest easy, knowing no jetpack-assisted robots will descend from the skies to murder their families.
The Automaton Jet Brigade has launched a powerful assault on LESATH as anticipated. The enemy clearly aims to trap our forces on CHORT BAY, capitalizing on the extended position of our forces following the destruction of the Jet Brigade Factories on Chort Bay. However, the crudely-laid Automaton trap was easily seen through by the Helldivers. The DSS blockade of Menkent, where the Jet Brigade was gathering, delayed their attack and weakened the unit. The battle is far from won.
Hold Chort Bay until the designated time to allow the SEAF forces deployed there to withdraw.
Outcome: The bulk of our deployed S.E.A.F. soldiers on Chort Bay have been withdrawn to safety. They owe their lives to the valiant defensive action of the Helldivers, holding against the resurgent Jet Brigade until the last. Only skeleton forces remain, supporting ongoing Helldiver operations. Chort Bay's fall may be unavoidable. But the Automatons will find no valiant soldiers there to murder; only the ashes of their former Factories.
Helldiver Archetypes and Their Impact
To put it in perspective, there are 4 main Helldiver Archetypes:
- Casuals: The largest Helldiver base. Don't care about the MO. Might have 5-10 hours worth of dives a week. Very minimal impact on the war effort. Highly likely to skip planets with negative effects and move to planets with low Helldiver populations and 0% impact towards liberation. Can often be found behind enemy held supply lines finishing an op they started days to weeks prior on a planet with 0% liberation status. "Who's Joel?"
- Knowingly or Unknowingly Starship Troopers: Exclusively Bug Mains, bigoted towards Helldivers that fraternize with the idea of automaton elimination. Claim they care about the MO, but they really don't. May scream Starship Trooper quotes. Will spend 90% of their time on the same 3 bug planets and have done so for 2 months thinking they contribute to the war effort. Pat themselves on the back for defending Estanu. Wont move on to another planets defense, but will move to liberate a 0% liberated bug planet instead of continuing the MO on a bot planet. Some will remain on a planet that is 100% liberated to finish an OP and watch as the liberation points are Thanos snapped into the Aether. Most will head to Omicron the moment Oshaune is liberated, lose Oshaune, remain on Omicron with cut FTL lanes, and wait for Omicron to reach 0% liberation before moving to retake Estanu which fell while they were on Omicron. I ♥♥♥♥ you not, 60% of the bug crushing Helldivers are on Omicron right now. Have no concept of containment strategy, move to the next sector at 0% liberation and leave behind a sector at 25% or less liberation, leaving themselves vulnerable to the aforementioned cut FTL lanes. Hate fighting bots because those MF'ers shoot back. Hate Creekers because Creekers held bots in place in the Severin sector, protecting Draupnir and Xzar sector, and Creekers were primarily responsible for the elimination of the bots. Ignored Operation Swift Disassembly for reasons above. Will unjustly court martial wearers of the Creek Cape. Potentially secret automaton sympathizers, or if one can believe, the literal embodiment of the Turing Test. Have heard of Joel.
- D&D RP Strategists: Bot Mains, may fight bugs occasionally, but know they don't need to because 80% of the Helldiver population is already doing so. Constantly trying to come up with partial solutions to 5 pronged dilemmas that have no good solution, only momentarily less bad ones that may end up as further strategic dilemmas in the future, hence there is no good solution. i.e. retake the Menkent line or stop the bots from traveling south. Either way, the bots will advance from one salient towards Super Earth. "If OnLy We HaD mOrE hElLdIvErS aLoNgSiDe OuR rAnKs. SaY, 50% Of EsTaNu EnThUsIaStS?" Will follow the MO with the exception of Creekers and Menkent Liners, who knowingly or unknowingly do god's work in containing bot spread. Occasionally visit E-710 farms to pet the contained bug menace before dropping into a bot held fortress to spill oil. Operation Swift Disassembly gave them the feeling of either vindication or absolution for ignoring the bug-oriented MOs for decision to keep the bots contained. Will fight Joel until their fingertips bleed and their fingernails fall off.
- Meta Gamers: People who REALLY don't care about the MO because the reward is meaningless to them. Sits on 50k slips, 250 medals, 500 commons, 250 rares, 100 supers, and their sole goal in life is search for yellow beacons, conex containers, or buddy bunkers for super credits. Will return to ship upon collecting 30-50 super credits, might finish the objectives, who knows it's a coin toss if they think they'll find another stack of super credits. Only care about buying the next warbond or superstore release. Probably dropped fat stacks on the John Wick and Eminem Fortnite skins and emotes. Will court martial Helldivers unwilling to travel 3 minutes across a drop zone to meet up at a buddy bunker so the next Helldiver joining lands their Hellpod next to them. Will also spam "Follow Me" at said bunker with no other attempted means of textual or voice communication and likewise court martial those who are completing objectives.
High Command Transmission: Kicked: A Primer for the Incompetent
Trooper, your recent performance reports are...dismal. Let's call it "enthusiastically chaotic" and leave it at that. Here's a quick rundown of why you might find yourself staring down the barrel of a court-martial and a one-way ticket to Re-training Camp (Motto: "Basic Training...But More Humiliating!"). Remember, Soldier, ignorance of regulations is no excuse...especially when those regulations involve not getting blasted by your own side.
- Article 54: "Lone Wolf Syndrome" You, yes YOU, Private Shiny, with the tendency to wander off like a lost scout with a faulty compass. Helldivers are a TEAM. Sticking close to the glorious orange glow emanating from your fearless Leader (that's ME, Private) is not just protocol, it's a matter of survival. Don't go Leeroy Jenkins on us. We will NOT send a rescue squad for your singed remains.
- Article 12-B: "The Art of Not Being a Jerk" This one's pretty self-explanatory, Magnolia. Trolling, team-killing (accidents happen, but five "accidents" in a row raise eyebrows), and generally being a nuisance are all express tickets to the Kicking Zone. We fight for Super Earth, not against our own comrades (unless it's a particularly brutal training exercise).
- Article 27: "Open Mic Shenanigans" Listen up, Rookie. We appreciate your enthusiasm, but nobody wants to hear Timmy wailing for his juice box in the background. Open mics are for tactical communication, not domestic disputes. Mute that mic, or prepare to be muted...permanently (by the nearest cliff edge).
- Article 99: "The Buddy System...It's Not Just for Kindergartners" This one's for you, Maverick. Just because you haven't unlocked the "Most Kills" trophy yet doesn't mean you should abandon your squad to chase glory (or Kobalt). We fight, WE DIE (hopefully not), and WE WIN (hopefully) as a team. Remember, teamwork makes the dream work...the dream of a successful mission and a shiny medal, that is.
Heed these warnings, or prepare to face the consequences. Re-training Camp is a harsh mistress, filled with lectures on proper grenade deployment and the finer points of not being a liability.
Hell Divers 2 court martial
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