Killzone 2: Back Story

The loyalist Helghan peoples leave Vekta on a trek to the harsh and unforgiving world of Helghan. Long seen as a chemical and mineral storehouse, now Helghan must be tamed – but it changes the Helghan as much as they change it – if not more. This era covers the early days on Helghan.

1. THE EXODUS (2204-2210)

The ISA Governor General of Vekta responds to the growing terrorism by clamping down harder and harder on the local Helghan population. Finally, in desperation, many prominent Helghan families pool their wealth to purchase the old colonizing ships and get them space worthy again. The community appoints a representative to speak with the ISA Governor and request permission for the Helghan to resettle on the planet of Helghan – joining those few souls who escaped there from the transfer station. The ISA Governor agrees and the Helghan exodus begins, shuttling millions of disaffected Helghan from Vekta to the growing Helghan colonies.

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Neither the ISA nor the UCN want to foot the bill for establishing this colony, preferring to leave the Helghan to either survive or die on their own merits. In order to legitimize the operation, the UCN formally recognizes the Helghan Administration as a sovereign nation and declares the planet of Helghan to be their territory in perpetuity – subject to ISA blockades and restrictions until diplomatic relations are normalized.

2. THE SURFACE OF HELGHAN FORMALLY SETTLED

The bleak existence on Helghan is a far cry from the paradise of Vekta. Initial casualties due to illness, storm damage and starvation are very high. Within ten years, though, the death rate subsides as the Helghan begin to adapt to their surroundings. Slowly, a civilization arises from the refugee camps, and token industry and food production starts again.

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2. HARDSHIPS (2220)

In 2220 the heads of the various refugee camps come together for the first time to reform the Helghan Administration. 90% of the refugee camps agree to collectivize their resources and labor, in order to cooperate in the rebuilding of their civilization.

Disturbing medical problems are found to be common throughout the colony – high gravity, exotic radiation and storms have serious effects on the longevity of the human being. Medical support from the ISA is non-existent, and indigenous facilities are too primitive. The wearing of masks for those who work in the outdoors becomes mandatory. Mask wearing becomes the sign of having a working class profession. Even with masks, ‘lung burn’ (as the settlers call it) becomes the primary cause of death in Helghan over the age of thirty.

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On a positive note, however, vast mineral resources are discovered by the settlers. Mining fast becomes one of the more common jobs on Helghan.

3. HELGHAN APPROACHED BY THE ICSA (2223)

As the colony on Helghan begins to reform the Helghan Administration and secure the basic infrastructure and facilities needed for life, the ICSA (Independent Colonial Strategic Alliance) approaches them offering membership and support. The ICSA is an unaligned version of the ISA, created to allow worlds that decide to go it alone have some sort of support. Despite the ICSA making few demands and offering much help, the Helghan are now paranoid of outside influences and strongly decline the offer.

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4. THE EARLY HELGHAN ERA (2223-2305)

ISA trade sanctions force the Helghan to trade on unfavorable terms for over a decade, and initial growth of wealth is slow despite the unexpected addition of a trade in minerals. Life is short, hard and painful for the majority of Helghan, as they fight to cope with poor nutrition, poor environment and grueling work conditions and practices. Frequent austerity drives and a Spartan approach to existence allow the Helghan to survive (and even profit) under these harsh conditions, but the more things improve, the more the Helghan become angry at the restrictions imposed upon them by the ISA and meekly accepted by the cowed Helghan Authority.

5. CONSTRUCTION OF THE ISA DEFENSE NETWORKS BEGINS (2304)

Several of the richer ISA forces begin construction of elaborate orbital defense facilities in favor of maintaining an extensive fleet. The Vektan ISA High Command decides to stand down the blockade of Helghan in favor of a smaller customs fleet and its own orbital defense network around Vekta.

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6. THE INHERITORS (2306)

The third generation of indigenous Helghan are beginning to be born. Helped along by basic genetic conditioning and the harsh environment, they are more suited to the heavy gravity. They also feature lungs that are more efficient against the pollutants on Helghan, and cells that are more resistant to the high radiation levels.

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7. THE BIRTH OF SCOLAR VISARI (2307)

The man who would one day be Autarch is born to a wealthy family of diehard Helghan nationalists. Rumored to be descended from one of the original Helghan Directors, Scolar Visari shows great early promise as a thinker and leader.

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8. THE GREAT DEPRESSION (2330-2350)

Vekta’s monopoly of the Helghan trade allows them to develop great wealth, at the expense of reinvestment on Helghan. As the Helghan population increases, more and more of their own wealth is diverted to the feeding and protection of their civilians. This leads to a series of industrial accidents, where expensive machinery is not serviced sufficiently to cope with the harsh Helghan conditions. The resulting downtime that occurs while Helghan pays for the servicing and replacement of its old machinery causes a severe economic downturn that lasts almost 20 years.

Helghan economists blame the depression on greedy Vektan exploiters. Vekta has its own troubles with the collapse of the lucrative black-market trade in Helghan minerals and can spare no resources for a relief effort.

For the first time since 2220, citizens of Helghan die of starvation in the cities.

Next Page: Helghast Era