| “ | Mars is a terrestrial planet with a surface that consists of minerals containing silicon and oxygen, metals, and other elements that typically make up rock. | „ |
| ~ Official Description |
Mars is one of the two inhabited planets that reside within the Sol System. It is the fourth planet of the Sol System and, before its razing by the 
Illuminate in 2185, it was the location of the training facilities where the 
Helldivers were trained, before receiving their cape and being assigned to a Super Destroyer.
Topography[]
Mars is a terrestrial planet with a surface that consists of minerals containing silicon and oxygen, metals, and other elements that typically make up rock. One of the most striking aspects of the Martian surface is the contrast between the southern and northern hemispheres. Most of the southern hemisphere is high-standing and heavily cratered, resembling the battered highlands of the Moon. Most of the northern hemisphere is low-lying and sparsely cratered.
Mars possessed no known forms of native life prior to human exploration, mainly due to its extremely cold, thin atmosphere and sterilizing radiation. This changed after its colonization and terraforming by 
Super Earth, as not only can humans now walk on its surface without dying from radiation or asphyxiation, but small amounts of desert shrubbery could even be seen around the Helldiver training facilities by recruits. Some 
Terminids were also kept in captivity at the aforementioned facilities, mainly for use as target practice by Helldivers in training. These Terminids were closely monitored and safely contained behind razor wire, moats, concrete walls and automated sentry guns, making the chance of one escaping into the wild extremely low.
Mars Training Facility[]
"See you on the other side."
Mars housed the training facilities where new recruits were guided by General Brasch - the instructor for the "real deal" Helldiver training test, the test that proves them as ready for service as Helldivers and grants them their first cape they can don on the battlefield as they exterminate Liberty's enemies.
"While the Helldiver training program is undeniably infallible, Helldivers are able to repeat their training if they deem it necessary." - Loading Tip
Following the emergence of the Illuminate Great Host on May 13th, 2185, Mars itself would come under direct threat of invasion. Because of this, Helldiver training was moved to a new, undisclosed tropical island on another planet. This would prove to be a prudent move as Mars would be razed by the Illuminate on the 20th of May in an act of infamy now known as the Razing of Mars.
Razing by the 
Illuminate[]
"Avenge Mars!" - Super Earth poster[1]
No less than an hour after the fall of New Haven on the 20th of May, 2185, the Illuminate Great Host entered the Sol System and struck at Mars. Like the tentacled cowards they are, rather than stage an offensive, the Illuminate chose to raze the planet, burning its surface and everything on it to ash. All remaining Helldiver training sites across the planet, where rigorous, thorough, and safe training of the Galaxy's Elite had long occurred, were destroyed.
Fortunately, thanks to the foresight of High Command, the planet's Helldiver training facilities and shipyards had been relocated to an undisclosed planet, though a number of personnel were killed in the attack, among them the expert and seasoned facility PA operators who had once facilitated the training facilities. Though the destruction of Mars was a devastating blow, it was only a prelude to the real horror: with the Illuminate in the Sol System, the Battle for Super Earth itself began.
After a 10-day battle, the 
S.E.A.F. successfully repelled the Illuminate invasion of Super Earth and forced the aliens to retreat from the Sol System. With the crisis averted, reconstruction efforts began on both Super Earth and the devastated Mars. In time, the surface of the red planet will be healed.
Trivia[]
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- The Helldivers Training Facility being based on Mars could possibly be a reference to Halo's ODSTs (also known as the Helljumpers), who are headquartered on Mars.
