| “ | The lifeless grey of this planet is interrupted only by violet flowers that grow from strange, parasitting outcroppings | „ |
| ~ Official Description |
Ain-5 is one of the five planets that reside within the Hanzo Sector.
Topography and Astrography[]
Super Destroyers in orbit over Ain-5.
Similar to Alaraph, Alderidge Cove and Skat Bay, Ain-5 is an ashen moorland planet. While Ain-5 only has one supercontinental landmass that spans the majority of the planet, this landmass is greatly jagged, its polar shores having multiple sharp geographical accidents and with many lakes and gulfs scattered all across the planet. The high density of ash on the planet creates a thick volumetric fog that hinders visibility for both friendlies and enemies alike. The terrain is very rough, featuring very pronounced hills and ridges, all dotted by dead jungle trees and coral-like fauna. The only living form of flora on the planet are the mysterious violet flowers that appear to be parasitically growing out of the dead plants on the planet.
The Murky Basins of Ain-5
Multiple rocks, bushes and geysers cover the undeveloped wilds of Ain-5, spewing a constant column of hot steam and posing a danger to any who thread unaware around them. Falling inside one of these geysers is not only lethal but will also leave any samples, gear and supplies carried by the person trapped within the geyser with no form of recovery. However, these geysers can be used as an improvised explosive by simply throwing a frag grenade into them, which will make the geysers explode violently.
A particular form of xenoflora found on Ain-5, although not exclusive to this system, are plants that will be conjecturally referred to as "Shrapnel Bushes". These bushes consist of one central stem from which multiple spiky fruits sprout. Should these plants be disturbed by any kind of munitions, they will violently release the thorns contained within the fruits, such release being as violent as the explosion of a Frag Grenade and being capable of immediately disabling vehicles.
Ain-5 is not home to any Mega Cities or important facilities. but its surface is dotted by collections of urbanized settlements that house the majority of its population. Besides these settlements, the wilderness of Ain-5 is dotted by scattered 
S.E.A.F. bases, E-710 storage facilities and detached dwellings inhabited by only the bravest frontiers-people on the planet.
Ain-5 is the fifth planet of the Ain System. Besides Ain-5 and its orbiting moon, there is at least one other astronomical object on Ain-5, which is a yellow gas giant in close proximity to Ain-5. By itself, the Ain System lacks much strategic importance, if it even has any. It's distance from the rest of the Hanzo Sector, the lack of important urban centers or facilities and its relative isolation due to its low number of FTL lines make Ain-5 lack much importance in the broader Galactic War. Regardless, every planet defended from the 
Illuminate is a planet saved from the appendages of xenophobia.
History[]
Second Galactic War[]
Operation Debt Collector[]
For much of its history, Ain-5 was a peaceful, bustling colony in the Galactic South. Its small yet numerous cityscapes across its surface provided sprawling environments by which its colonial settlers took great advantage, turning Ain-5 into a profitable colony for 
Super Earth.
It was these large population centers and peace in the Galactic South that the Illuminate would grow to hate. From December 2184 to April 2184, they raided planet after planet in the South, kidnapping more and more families to be converted into Voteless while they devastated the rural and urban infrastructure across Rasp, Alamak VII, Hesoe Prime, Hort, and dozens of more systems. Strangely enough, Ain-5 was one of the few planets that the Illuminate had never targeted, leaving Ain in peaceful prosperity amidst the horrors surrounding it.
Following the 
Helldivers' victory in the Battle for Super Earth, the Illuminate retreated to several hideouts in the Galactic South. They were discovered across Mog, Bellatrix, Hydrobius, and Haldus. The Helldivers were ordered to liberate these worlds but ultimately failed to liberate 2 of the 4 designated planets by the end of the operation. Illuminate operations were still ongoing on June 10th, but were eventually postponed by High Command due to a massive offensive launched by the 
Terminids. The Helldivers were ordered to stage a defense against the bugs, leaving the Illuminate to continue their highly un-democratic activities.
Some weeks later, the Illuminate had begun twisting the Galactic South into their own empire, their egos clearly bruised by their defeat a century ago. They had twisted the Mega Cities on Alamak VII and Alairt III into totalitarian strongholds, and though the Helldivers launched a tenacious attempt to liberate these worlds, they would only be able to liberate Alamak as the Illuminate held onto Alairt III.
To boost the morale of the Helldivers after their difficult defeat on Alairt just an hour prior, High Command issued a new Operation, ordering the Helldivers to collect long overdue war reparations by killing both Illuminate forces and Terminids by the millions and the billions respectively.
On June 25th, near the end of the Operation, Illuminate forces landed on Ain-5 for the first time during the war, intending to capture the planet to add to their despotic domain. Even with a relatively small invasion fleet and a relatively significant Helldiver force on the planet, Ain-5's defenses would eventually crack after roughly 30 hours of battling, falling into Illuminate hands. Despite an effort to re-take the planet, these efforts were forced to go on pause as the 
Automatons launched an insurmountable, massive attack on Curia and Bekvam III, leaving the Illuminate to continue their undemocratic schemes on Ain.
War on Dissidence[]
Ever since its fall on June, Ain-5 would remain under Illuminate occupation. With the Battle of Super Earth and the Great Expedition, little to no opportunities for Ain to be liberated would appear. However, come November 2185, the situation would soon change in Ain's favor. Following the expansion of the 
Centre for Civilian Surveillance and Safety, the dissidence crisis that began early in the month would soon be discovered to be worse than it had been initially thought. All domestic planets, except for Super Earth itself, were showing signs of dissident activity. As such, the Government of Super Earth immediately declared the War on Dissidence, designating all domestic planets as warzones and ordering the Helldivers to liberate Afoyay Bay so that a new Mega City-sized Center for the Containment of Dissidence could be built on it.
With the loss of Iro to the Illuminate on November 26th, Valmox was no longer accessible and as such, the quickest available route to Afoyay Bay would be through Ain-5, itself only accessible through Illuminate-controlled New Stockholm. After a lengthy 3-day campaign to liberate New Stockholm, the Helldivers immediately advanced towards Ain-5 in full force, the first forces making planetfall on the night of November 29th.
FTL Lines[]
- Afoyay Bay - Gallux Sector (Established on June 17, 2185)
- Herthon Secundus - Ferris Sector (Established on June 17, 2185)
- New Stockholm (Re-established on June 17, 2185)
FTL Timeline[]
- February 8th, 2184: Ain-5 is connected by FTL to New Stockholm.
- June 13th, 2184: FTL line to New Stockholm is destroyed.
- June 17th, 2185: FTL line to New Stockholm is re-established, plus new lines to Afoyay Bay and Herthon Secundus.