| “ | Today the mysterious cloud of spores known as the Gloom finally showed signs of slowing its growth. The cloud, which began emanating from the core of the Terminid Quarantine Zone last week has doubled in size almost every day and now encompasses near a dozen solar systems. All attempts to peer into the Gloom so far have failed, and military probes sent inside have all quickly ceased broadcasting. Experts speculate that the Gloom could be some kind of "mutation incubator" supercharging the already extremely high rate of terminid evolution. Currently efforts are underway to construct a sturdier probe by insulating it in several layers of aluminum foil. | „ |
| ~ Coretta Kelly - The Gloom - News Broadcast |
The Gloom is a 
Terminid spore cloud that resides in the Eastern parts of the galaxy. Originally discovered in the vicinity of planet Enuliale before spreading to other planets, experts within the 
Ministry of Science are calling it: "An interstellar Terminid spore cloud of unusual size and density", or more simply "The Gloom". The interstellar spore cloud has continued to grow at an unprecedented rate, now encompasses several star systems, and is growing more every day.
While Terminids are known to send spores between planetary space, nothing of this magnitude has been previously seen. Genetic analysis indicates a possible connection of new Terminids to the interstellar spores. Additionally, following the end of Operation Lighthouse, it has also been noted that the spores also accelerate the spread of Terminids to planets in its vicinity.
History[]
| “ | The Gloom is estimated to be about 20 parsecs in diameter. So if we do the math, that's means 350 octadecillion spores. | „ |
| ~ Ship Master, on the apparition of The Gloom - Helldivers 2 |
Second Galactic War[]
Efforts are underway to determine the source and nature of this threat new. Analysis of spores from Socorro III show a genetic connection to samples from The Gloom, indicating that it may have been the source of these new Terminids. The expansion of the cloud will likely spread these new Terminid variants to other planets within its vicinity. Furthermore All vessels sent into the Gloom, both manned and unmanned, have ceased radio contact within minutes. None have returned. Thus Super Earth is left with but one remaining course. The 
Helldivers must procure samples of Terminid organic matter from the planets closest to the Gloom.
Unfortunately whilst Operation Prometheus was completed much sooner than expected, Super Earth High Command soon detected a large batch of counterfeit samples within the delivery of the last Major Order. As is customary, Medals were awarded to all Helldivers who honorably performed their duties, whilst the ones who submitting false samples have had their pet fish summarily executed. Laboratories all across Super Earth space are attempting to filter out the false samples, but the expected scientific advances to combat the spread of The Gloom have decreased significantly.
With efforts to research the growing Terminid spore cloud hamstrung by sorting counterfeit from genuine samples, Super Earth scientists discovered little of use to restrict its growth. By the 21st of August, the cloud encompassed nearly a dozen systems, and showed no sign of slowing. If it continued at this rate, the entire galaxy would be consumed in a matter of weeks. Even so the Super Earth Armed Forces would not allow a mere lack of scientific understanding to thwart decisive action by deploying every weapon in it's arsenal. The source and nature of the Gloom may not be clear, but the mass extermination of its tyrannical spawn will send a clear message to the mindless bugs: Freedom will not be intimidated.
The galaxy would bear witness to the horrifying effects of The Gloom first-hand on February 15th, 2185, with the Helldiver corps and the 
SEAF forces on Fenrir III and Erata Prime doing battle with a mutated subtype of Terminids dubbed "The Predator Strain". Despite massive human casualties, the Helldivers managed to push the evolved Terminid swarm off both planets.
Gloom Research Expedition[]
| “ | The Gloom may hold the key to stopping the Illuminate from moving the Meridian Singularity. A scientific expedition is being conducted to this planet, at extreme cost and risk. The Helldivers must secure every scrap of useful data on the Gloom.
|
„ |
| ~ Gloom Research Expedition Description
|
| “ | The Gloom may hold the key to stopping the Illuminate from moving the Meridian Singularity. A scientific expedition is being conducted to this planet, at extreme cost and risk. The Helldivers must secure every scrap of useful data on the Gloom.
|
„ |
| ~ Gloom Research Expedition Description
|
On February 18th, 2185, continued xenobiology research, and the recent incursions with the Predator-strain Terminids gave the Ministry of Science the required data for spacecraft to safely traverse Gloom-infested space. In light of these developments, a join expedition was organized by the 
Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Science and 
Ministry of Expansion with the objectives of liberating Fori Prime, beating back the Terminid hordes, collecting data on The Gloom, securing research stations, and most importantly: research The Gloom's enriching effects on E-710.
This week-long expedition would eventually conclude on February 23rd, 2185 and is considered a massive success on all fronts. Unfortunately the equipment enabling the Helldivers’ Gloom expedition was designed to withstand low spore levels only, and so when The Gloom began to thicken over Fori Prime, the planet's loss was inevitable. Even so the Terminids were culled heavily from the planet, and a plethora of related research material was retrieved from the Gloom, with the Ministry of Science hopeful that this will lead to further advances against The Gloom and the development of a solution for the situation with the 
Meridian Black Hole.
Gloom-resistent polymer coating[]
On the 30th of July, 2185, experimentation by scientists of Turing xenoentomology center would discover that the reason the gloom prevents FTL travel is because Gloom spores coat FTL drive components, fusing to them at high temperatures and causing catastrophic meltdowns. Working in conjunction with the AM factory hub on Achernar Secundus, a new synthetic polymer coating would be developed using protein structures derived from Terminid exoskeletons, which has shown promise in disrupting Gloom spore surface cohesion.
At around the same time Spore Strain Terminids would be sighted outside gloom for the first time, quickly overrunning many worlds already dominated by the Terminids, which included Gacrux, Pandion-XXIV, Phact Bay, Gar Haren, Darius II, Achird III and Crimsica. Whilst undoubtedly a grave threat to Federation security, the outbreak also presented a golden opportunity to gather biological samples of Terminids from within the Gloom to mass-synthesize effective Gloom shielding polymers.
By August 5th the Center of Science would successfully design a process by which to mass-produce Gloom-resistent polymer coating thanks in no small part to the security and Terminid tissue provided by the Helldivers. Existing military spacecraft would begin rotating out of commission to retrofit them with Gloom-resistant coating immediately with High Command already planning extended expeditions into the depths of the Gloom.
Future scientific expeditionary teams will be primarily made up of junior and intern scientists who are eager to be the first to explore the unknown depths of the Terminid spore cloud. The assault of the Spore Burst Strain underscores the ongoing threat presented by the Gloom. Tyranny cannot be allowed to fester within, occluded from the watchful eye of Super Earth. Soon, its depths will be revealed, and whatever threats are found within will be destroyed.
Operation Righteous Reclamation[]
Great Expedition Poster[1]
Following the massive Tripartite Invasion by the Terminids, 
Automatons and 
Illuminate in the latter half of August 2185, as well as the loss of dozens of worlds and millions of citizens, High Command would declare that a defensive posture was no longer sufficient and that the Gloom had to be destroyed. Although the DSS was still not yet capable of traversing the Gloom, research into Gloom-resistant polymer coating had paid off, with all Super Destroyer FTL systems received a minimum of two layers -- finally allowing them to operate within the Gloom.
Officially dubbed Operation: Righteous Reclamation -- or the Great Expedition -- the newly expanded Super Destroyer fleet and Helldiver Corps would lead a massive expedition into the gloom to cut out it's heart in the most literal sense. To send off the expedition, Super Earth Children's Choir sang a stirring tribute to those lost in the New Hope City massacre.[2] Following this the Helldivers would return to Hellmire in order establish a forward operating base as part of the first phase of the operation, once Hellmire was liberated, the Gloom completely dissapeared around the planet.
This outpost would be dubbed Outpost Alpha and would be vital for followup operations, as it allowed the Helldivers full fleet of spore-resistant Super Destroyers will be able to refuel, resupply, and scrub their spore filters within the Gloom, mitigating the logistical challenges the extreme spore levels would otherwise present. So long as this vital research and resupply base stood, the Helldivers would be able to operate within the gloom.
Stage two would take place on Oshaune, as spore flow readings from Outpost Alpha points toward an potential Gloom source and a virgin world ripe for annexing. The Helldivers would at first be ordered to conduct initial reconnaissance of the Hive World and secure research samples from it, in order to understand the unique flora and fauna endemic there as well as how to annihilate it for good. However whilst deployed to Oshaune, the Helldivers would encounter yet another new strain of Terminid, which would break generations of identified attack patterns, but favoring subterranean movement. This new strain would be quickly dubbed the 
Rupture Strain.
Additionally the source of the Gloom would finally be discovered: the Spore Lung. First encountered on Oshaune buried deep within Terminid cave systems, these large subterranean fruiting bodies contain millions if not billions of larval Terminids which produce the Gloom spores. These spores are then pumped by the Lung itself it into the exosphere through (presumably) skyscraper sized spore towers, and from there flood out into deep space. Naturally the destruction of Spore Lungs is of top priority, although their subterranean nature means that Helldivers have to delve deep into the Hive and detonate a Hellbomb within to eradicate the Spore Lung.
The researchers attached to the expedition would also discover new form of E-710-like substance on the Hive World, which would soon be dubbed Element-711. With it, scientists would successfully synthesize Dark Fluid, for the first time in human history. With this magnificent breakthrough, no longer would the power of Dark Fluid and it's technological potential be withheld from the 
Federation of Super Earth by the miserly Illuminate.
Perhaps the most concerning development from the entire expedition wouldn't just be the bloodshed from the new Rupture Strain. Troubling evidence had come to light, with a new form of flying Bile Titans dubbed the Dragonroach patrolling the skies. Worst of all, an old foe thought extinct had resurfaced- the Hive Lord. A monstrous, tall, hulking mass of tyranny, the Hive Lord was present on Terminid worlds during the First Galactic War, and was universally thought to be eradicated fully. However, amidst the beginning of the operations on Oshaune, on-field Helldivers reported that Hive Lords were unthinkably erupting from the surface, crushing Helldivers on the ground with their size and spewing deadly bile to eliminate Helldivers immediately. High Command would officially corroborate these findings on September 6, indicating that these Titan-class foes indeed resembled the Hive Lords in the First Galactic War.
Unfortunately, despite these monumental discoveries, the Helldivers braving the deepest depths of the Gloom were violently mobbed by waves of monstrous Terminid mutants. Forced to fight for Life and Liberty, the Helldivers were unable to meet target sample numbers, with the second stage of Operation Righteous Reclamation being a technical failure. Never the less, Outpost Alpha remained safe and secure, keeping the path to the Hive World open and allowing the operation as a whole to continue unabated... or at least it would have, had the Gloom itself not started expanding for the first time since the end of its initial expansion.
Second Gloom Expansion[]
On the 9th of September, 2185, multiple Gloom-adjacent planets would come under heavy Terminid attack. Not only that but there were also worrying signs the Gloom itself may be expanding, for the first time since the end of its initial expansion. Not only that but multiple mutated Terminid strains, previously confined to the Gloom -- such as the Dragonroach and Rupture Strain -- would be reported on the battlefield.
Seeing this as a violation of the unspoken ceasefire between Gloom and non-Gloom territories, High Command called the Helldivers to the immediate defense of all besieged planets. Holding these territories is likely critical to preventing the further expansion of the Gloom, lest the infestation propagate further into our Galaxy.
Liberation of Oshaune[]
The Gloom, post Oshaune liberation
After weeks of preparation, on the 28th of October the Helldivers would launch a major operation to liberate the Hive World of Oshaune. This would test the skill, grit, and speleological acumen of the entire Corps as they braved the Hive World's depths, grappled mightily against its Hive Lords. Dive, kill, and dive again. Not relenting until the 4th of November when a great victory had been won.
The blood, sweat and tears shed proving themselves to be worth it as the Terminid infestation had been purged from the planet. S.E.A.F. spelunking crews would be deployed to map its extensive tunnels, and identify any remaining E-711 reservoirs, whilst the massive carcasses of Hive Lord's were butchered and transported to off-world processing and research facilities. Most importantly, 99% of the planet's Hive Lungs would be destroyed, which would have dramatic effect on The Gloom as a whole.
Immediately the Gloom density in the local Oshaune system was drastically reduced, with the Gloom also receding from Overgoe Prime, Fori Prime, Partion, Bore Rock, Estanu, Erata Prime and Azur Secundus, as though burned by the hot embers of Managed Democracy. Evidently Hive Worlds and their expansive Spore Lungs are critical for maintaining the Gloom and it's expanse, meaning when one of the Hive Worlds are taken and their infernal lungs are destroyed, the Gloom will recede like the tide.
| Galaxy POI | |
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| Moving POI's |
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Documented Effects[]
The Gloom is a fog-like organic substance that is capable of shrouding entire star system in its influence. Systems under The Gloom's blanket are completely obscured from galactic observation, leaving Super Earth largely in the dark as to the situation within Terminid space. It is not 100% known what exactly composes The Gloom, but it appears to have some form of autonomous defense mechanism as every previous attempt by Super Earth to probe Gloom-infested space has ended in failure. It also appears to have some hyper-evolutionary effects on the terminid collective; it is blamed for the resurgence of the Impaler strain from the first galactic war, and future incursions with the Terminids would eventually reveal it's true nature. Quite interestingly, it is also known that The Gloom also greatly increases E-710 yield of Terminid corpses by as much as 436%, which has piqued the interest of Super Earth command to exploit this recently-discovered precedent.
On February 18, 2185, the first excursions into Fori Prime, a planet previously made unreachable by The Gloom, has revealed that The Gloom has drastically terraformed the planet's atmosphere and terrain to suit the Terminids' needs, with the environment resembling the mutated state of the planet Meridia before it's destruction. The air has become thick with spores, all vegetation have disappeared, and the land has been upheaved from Terminid burrowing efforts. Much of the Super Earth infastructure have remained mostly intact, with several military, industrial, and intelligence assets still functional, a testament to the enduring will of liberty. Predictably and unfortunately however, there are no survivors from the original outbreak. It can be assumed that other planets and colonies still under The Gloom's influence have met a similar, gruesome fate.
Experimentation by scientists of Turing xenoentomology center have also revealed that the reason the gloom prevents FTL travel is because Gloom spores coat FTL drive components, fusing to them at high temperatures and causing catastrophic meltdowns. Working in conjunction with the AM factory hub on Achernar Secundus, a new synthetic polymer coating would be developed using protein structures derived from Terminid exoskeletons. After it's mass production existing military spacecraft would be rotated out of commission to be retrofited them with Gloom-resistant.
Spore-Burst Strain[]
The Terminids themselves have emerged changed from months of concentrated exposure. They have grown pale and their carapaces have become gnarled and started sprouting horn-like growths. Dubbed the "Spore-burst strain", upon their their deaths, nearby Helldivers would soon be blasted by disorienting and mildly harmful clouds of gas, released from the Terminid creatures visibly affected by The Gloom. So far, these effects have only been observed with: Scavenger, Hunter, and Warrior beasts.
These do not appear to have augmented their abilities, in the same case as the Predator strain-creatures, but this new defense feature does discourage point-blank combat due to the aforementioned gas. It is likely this is a mutation induced by the terminids' innate ability for adaptation to their environment, similar to the bile-strain terminids seen when the TCS was deployed.
For most of their existence, Spore Burst Terminid Strain would only be sighted on Gloom covered planets, until the 30th of July, 2185, when Spore Burst Terminids originating from Fori Prime would be sighted outside gloom for the first time. This development was concerning though high command also considered it an opportunity to collect biological samples of Terminids originating within the Gloom and fast-track mass-synthesis of effective Gloom shielding polymers.
One possible explanation as to why the Spore-Burst strain was seen outside The Gloom (aside from the Terminids indisputable hatred of all things free and democratic) could be the Minor Order: Impaler Rampage. In support of the ongoing public relations campaign, on the 25th of July High Command would order an short-term expedition to Fori Prime on the outskirts of the Gloom, in order to exterminate 5,000,000 Spore Burst Warriors using the Stalwart.
Based on the results of the TCS, the Terminid research initiative as well as experimentation with collected Gloom spores, Terminids tend to mutate when put under external pressure -- whether natural or unnatural. As such, it's likely that the brief expedition to Fori Prime was the catalyst for the Spore Burst Strain mutating in such a way that it could survive and spread outside of The Gloom.
Predator Strain[]
On February 15, 2185, strains of Gloom-enhanced hunters and stalkers were first sighted during the defense of Fenrir III, which was referred to as the 
Predator Strain. These strains are far more aggressive, and also evolved unique mutations not seen in the original strains, making them a significant threat in the battlefield. After their crushing defeat, the Terminids attempted to take over the nearby Erata Prime instead, but were also thwarted from this front.
Furthermore, this strain was not encountered en-masse during the expedition of Fori Prime, only at the final day of the campaign. There were also no other creatures encountered that exhibited the same abilities as them, and in turn, the Predator strain did not exhibit the same changes found on those simply exposed to The Gloom. This would indicate that this strain is a tailored evolutionary path, made for a specific purpose that the Terminid collective can unleash on command, rather than a simple happenstance adaptation to their environment.
Swarm Intelligence and Communication[]
| “ | Terminid scientists say the Gloom facilitates bug communication across the vastness of space. Nothing complicated - just simple signals, like "food here" or "danger," or "I hate freedom." Stuff like that. | „ |
| ~ Ship Master |
Despite the claims of the 
Ministry of Truth to the contrary, swarm intelligence does exist, with even regular Super Earth ants able to solve some group puzzles faster than scientists (which is why those ants have all been exterminated). No single bug is smart by itself, but by coordinating as a whole, they can exhibit surprisingly sophisticated behavior, as though they are all individual neurons making up one giant brain.
Xenobiologists specializing in the Gloom believe that the galactic spore cloud facilitates bug communication across the vastness of space. While the process is still ill-understood and these signals not particularly complicated -- more than likely being as simple as the location of food, danger and their undeniable hatred of freedom -- the fact that they can communicate at all allows the Terminid Swarm to coordinate. Whether in respond to incursions by the S.E.A.F. or to attack the Federation across an entire battlefront.
List of planets affected by The Gloom[]
Currently afflicted[]
- Diaspora X
- Enuliale
- Epsilon Phoencis VI
- Gemstone Bluffs
- Omicron
- Erson Sands
- Zagon Prime
- Navi VII
- Nivel 43
- Esker
- Socorro III
Formerly afflicted[]
Timeline[]
- August 6th, 2184: An interstellar
Terminid spore cloud appears around the planet Enuliale. - August 7th, 2184: The spore cloud affected one planet Epsilon Phoencis VI.
- August 8th, 2184: The spore cloud affected one planet Gemstone Bluffs.
- August 9th, 2184: The spore cloud affects three planets Diaspora X, Zagon Prime and Omicron.
- August 10th, 2184: The spore cloud affects three planets Erson Sands, Oshaune and Nabatea Secundus. The spore cloud is named The Gloom. Diaspora X is hidden behind The Gloom on the Galactic map.
- August 11th, 2184: Omicron is hidden by The Gloom on the Galactic map.
- August 14th, 2184: The Gloom affects Navi VII and Azur Secundus. Epsilon Phoencis VI is hidden by The Gloom on the Galactic map.
- August 16th, 2184: The Gloom affects four planets Nivel 43, Hellmire, Crimsica and Fori Prime. Zagon Prime and Oshaune is hidden by The Gloom on the Galactic map.
- August 22nd, 2184: The Gloom retreats from Crimsica after it is liberated.
- August 27th, 2184: Erson Sands, Nivel 43, Hellmire, Fori Prime, Enuliale, Gemstone Bluffs, Nabatea Secundus, Navi VII and Azur Secundus are hidden by The Gloom on the Galactic map.
- September 2nd, 2185: The Gloom is completely dissipated around Hellmire, making the planet habitable again.
- September 11th, 2185: The Gloom affected one planet Gacrux.
- September 12th, 2185: The Gloom affected one planet Overgoe Prime, retreated from one planet Gacrux.
- September 15th, 2185: The Gloom affected one planet Esker. Overgoe Prime is fully covered by The Gloom.
- September 16th, 2185: The Gloom completely covers the Socorro system.
- September 30th, 2185: The Gloom affects two planets Estanu and Partion.
- October 6th, 2185: The Gloom fully covers two planets Estanu and Partion.
- October 9th, 2185: The Gloom affected one planet Erata Prime.
- October 13th, 2185: The Gloom lightly affected one planet Crimsica during an enemy invasion of the planet.
- October 15th, 2185: Erata Prime is fully enveloped in The Gloom.
- October 23rd, 2185: Erata Prime is liberated. The Gloom begins to decrease within its atmosphere.
- October 24th, 2185: Gacrux is defended, removing the light Gloom spores from within its atmosphere.
- October 28th, 2185: Light Gloom spores appear within Bore Rock's atmosphere.
- November 4th, 2185: Oshaune is liberated. The Gloom completely disappears from within its atmosphere immediately, along with the planets Fori Prime, Azur Secundus, Overgoe Prime, Partion, Bore Rock, Estanu, and Erata Prime.
Trivia[]
- Strohmann news Gloom Spore Cloud: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iB4WfUk8RHw
- Whilst Strohmann News claims that "almost a dozen" systems have fallen to the gloom, by the time of the news story being released, the number of systems covered by the spore cloud was thirteen -- a bakers dozen.
- Strohmann news Gloom Expedition: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OpzW8Cni-S4
- The AF-02 Haz-Master Armor was Developed by the Ministry of Science while investigating the phenomenon known as The Gloom, this armor is non-permeable and squeak resistant.
- According to the Ship Master, the Gloom was estimated to be about 20 parsecs in diameter and consisted of about 350 octadecillion spores prior to The Great Expedition. This means that the Gloom was approximately 6.171361e+14 Kilometers (4,125,300 Astronomical Units) wide prior to its reduction after the victory at Oshaune.