It's a turbulent time to be a Helldiver. Not only have the cowardly Illuminati returned after centuries of disappearance, but they are also kidnapping citizens of Super-Earth and turning them into horrific monsters known as the Voterless. That doesn't even begin to cover the plans of the other two factions: the Automatons, who are approaching the Super-Earth, and the Terminids, who are generating tons of mysterious, evolution-inspiring spores. But worst of all, we're, well, pretty sure we can't trust anything Super Earth tells us. I think they might be telling a few lies.
The Illuminati showed up in a surprise drop immediately after the Game Awards concluded, and Helldivers headed to the planet Calypso to fight them. This one world was under siege by the Illuminati and players managed to fulfill the great order in the final minutes of the campaign.
Super Earth subsequently sent a small status update that reads:
The resurgent Illuminati were repulsed by the Hell Divers. Order has been restored on CALYPSO. It is believed that a small cell of the Illuminati forces survived their destruction at the end of the First Galactic War and has remained hidden to this day. The Democrats' recent activity could make their discovery imminent and trigger the latest attack. […] SEAF reconnaissance units will soon locate any remains. Once found, they will be eradicated.
A small cell? Well, that sounds reassuring. The Illuminati disappeared for a full day after Operation Ancient Vengeance on Calypso, and Helldivers felt a sign of relief. But then in Operation Squid Game we were given new marching orders. This time the Illuminati are attacking several planets, most notably the world of Genesis Prime. Super Earth explained this with a mission text that reads:
It is unknown how they escaped detection over the past century. However, their ability to do so is an indication of the cell's limited size. Their number is limited. This attack is an opportunity to complete the eradication of this xenophobic threat and secure the galaxy once again.
As I play against the Illuminati, I notice something worrying. They field a much smaller roster than the other two factions, but there is no equivalent to the Bile Titans or the Factory Striders either. No matter what difficulty you play on, you will get the same players: Voteless, Overseers and Harvesters. It's quite likely that more squid will show up. If you check Illuminate ranks from the beginning Hell diverThere are some frightening possibilities: The Obelisk, the Illusionist, and the Great Eye could all appear in one form or another.
Super Earth seems pretty chill about this whole thing, but I can't stress enough that I think they might be wrong. Helldivers 2 is full of narrative surprises, and I don't think anything will change. If you think the walking Harvesters are bad, hold on to your ass: I guarantee you the Illuminati will only get scarier.
