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Char Aznable has declared Automatons (Helldivers 2) is to be renamed to Automatons (Helldivers) for the following reason(s): Name of the franchise Please discuss it on the talk page for this article. "I told you I am not Casval, I am Char Aznable."  ✓
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| “ | HEART. STEEL. WE. KILL. IRON. WILL. ONTO. WAR. CYBERSTAN. CAN'T KEEP HER DOWN. LEGION GO. A NEW DAWN. CYBERSTAN. CAN'T KEEP HER DOWN. LEGION GO. A NEW DAWN. | „ |
| ~ Automaton marching cadence |
The Automatons are one of the main antagonist factions in Helldivers 2 and the primary faction on the left side of the known galaxy. They are a socialist empire who rebelled against the Federation of Super Earth after their predecessors, the cyborgs, were enslaved on Cyberstan to mine various minerals under its surface. Originally seeking to avenge their predecessors/forefathers, it is speculated by Super Earth that they wish to use their vast resources and numbers to destroy Super Earth, especially it's elite "Helldiver" unit.
Overview[]
The Automatons are a legion of steel machines seeking to expand, and assimilate the forces of the Federation of Super Earth. Appearing on the fringe of the Galaxy, the Automatons have pushed from the edge of the galaxy and Into Super Earth space. They are allegedly socialist, at least that is what is said by Super Earth propaganda.
When the threat of them arose, Super Earth deployed their specialist military units, the Helldivers to contain their threat, and stop them from pushing into Super Earth Territory. The war with them has had heavy losses on both ends, with the death of many Helldivers, destruction of many automatons, and worlds shifting ownership between the two factions.
Origin[]
| “ | We, the collective from Cyberstan, unanimously assert our independence from Super Earth. We have the right to defend our home from the brainwashed Helldivers. Our children, the automaton will not suffer as we have under the oppression of Super Earth! | „ |
| ~ Translated message relaying the origins of the Automatons |
The Automatons are the descendants of the Cyborgs from The Collective of Cyberstan, one of the original factions from Helldivers. After their defeat in the first galactic war, the Cyborgs were defeated, and sent to work in the mines of Cyberstan for the rest of their existence.
It is unknown what happened that ultimately caused the rise of the Automatons. Some speculate escaped Cyborgs managed to build the Automatons after the first galactic war. After the war ended, the Automatons began to build their own empire on the edge of Super Earth space. After a great many years, they gathered their strength, and began their onslaught against Super Earth.
It is implied in game that the Automatons are not entirely machine. Various pieces of in game evidence imply that the Automatons are humans that had their brains or consciousness transferred into an automaton body, be it willingly, or by force. In automaton camps, Helldivers can find bodies of Super Earth citizens in cages, some of which are missing their heads. Sometimes, Automatons can be heard shouting things such as "They are making me do this!" and "Help me" when engaging Helldivers, some have even heard them saying "Thank you." on their destruction. Some have noticed that automaton heads explode in blood when their head is blown off, implying that their may be a human brain inside.
Philosophy and Goals[]
| “ | WE HAVE ELIMINATED INEQUALITY | „ |
| ~ Automaton propaganda message |
The Automatons are speculated to be socialist. At least that is what is told by Super Earth Propaganda. Automatons occasionally launch propaganda broadcasts, which Helldivers must eliminate. If one looks at these broadcasts, the phrase "WE HAVE ELIMINATED INEQUALITY" is set in front of a mob of automatons. This further proves that the Automatons are assimilating humans against their will into their cybernetic collective. In addition, Helldivers have observed that when some Automotons March, they shout out the words: "HEART, STEEL, WE KILL, GET UP, ONTO WAR. CYBERSTAN, CAN'T KEEP HER DOWN. LEGION GO, A NEW DAWN, CYBERSTAN."
The Automatons end goal is not currently know, but by in game clues, it can be speculated upon. From their marching cadence and origin, it is implied that they may seek to conquer Cyberstan from the Federation of Super Earth, and either avenge, or liberate their Cyborg forefathers from the planet.
With their rampant conquest of Super Earth space, it is speculated that they also seek to completely eradicate Super Earth from space.
Tactics[]
Unlike Terminids, Automatons use more advanced technology to disrupt/eliminate Helldivers.
The Automatons have a variety of units designed to take out Helldivers as efficiently as possible. According to the Super Destroyers ship master, the majority of Automoton's physiology consists of "little more than bits of metal welded to a gun and CPU, with a single overriding directive: kill." Automatons are transported to Helldivers primarily via "dropships", which can be shot down with Helldiver's technology such as the Spear, or the Recoilless Rifle.
The lowest ranks of Automaton consist of the Trooper and Commissar. These are humanoid-like robots who have a gun welded to them, and the Commissar has the additional option of a thousand degree knife to close in on enemies. From there, medium size units are manufactured or Automatons may get additional upgrades. The Scout Strider is a mobile unit that has two turret cannons which, if aimed with great precision, can cause chest/internal bleeding or if the Helldiver has light armor, possibly a one shot kill. Several Scout Striders have been seen which carry heavy armor to protect them from the support weapons Helldivers use, and also wield additional mounted guns. The Berserker is an extremely aggressive Automaton unit that has chainsaws in place of arms, and likes to decorate itself with the skulls of several fallen Helldivers and/or SEAF soldiers.
From there, the heavy/specialist units are manufactured/upgraded from existing medium units. The Devastator is the lowest rank of these heavy units. Standard Devastators are equipped with cannons and are gifted superhuman punching strength, while heavy devastators are equipped with metal shields and machine guns, and rocket devastators have shoulder-mounted rocket launchers, which if aimed can one-shot Helldivers with a hit to the face.
With some heavy units, there are dedicated factories to manufacturing them. For example, there are gunship factories, which as the name implies produce "Gunships", which are flying ships which patrol the map and engage within any Helldivers, firing rockets and their turrets on them. They have a critical weakness within their internal systems, which can be taken out with most support weapons in addition to overheating them using laser cannons. In several "Heavy" class automaton bases, laser machines can be seen repairing or producing Tanks, from which there can be several classes. For example, the annihilator is a standard tank equipped with a heavy cannon, shredder tank has heavy class armor in the front and has four laser cannons, while the barrages is a specialist rocket tank that aims upward, wishing to reach it's aerial havoc on unfortunate Helldivers. Automaton Hulks are the most aggressive unit of Automaton, mercilessly chasing Helldivers until their target is dead, optimized to deliver the most amount of firepower. There are three classes of Automaton Hulk: these being Bruiser (dual equipped with energy cannons), scorcher (equipped with a flamethrower and buzzsaw), and obliterate (equipped with rocket launchers). The alpha, or Apex of the Automaton units is the Factory Strider. These serve as a mobile base of operations, able to manufacture devestators and deploy them within a quick period of time. Not only do Factory Striders have a deadly heavy class cannon on the top, but they also have dual mini-guns which almost always results in an instant death for any unfortunate Helldiver within its range. SEAF/Helldiver Units are heavily advised to have a full squad with them to take them out.
In addition to having mobile units, there are several stationary units/tactical assets of the Automatons. Around each Helldiver squad's designated mission area, several "cannon turrets" which charge up and knock helldivers back several feet, with some circumstances they may be able to kill Helldivers with light/medium armor. For some Helldiver's designated missions, they may be dedicated to taking these units out entirely. The detector tower is a watchtower like machine that when a shadow is detected within it's bright light, it will send dropships down to the last known location of the target. The mortar emplacement drops mortar shells on its victims, while the Anti-Air emplacement stops a Helldiver's designated "Eagle" (fighter jets which the Helldiver can send out to eliminate/deploy tactical shells on the battlefield) from operating within it's radius. The most notable of these is the "Stratatgem Jammers", which disrupt a Helldiver's "Stratagems" (ball-shaped technology that when a input sequence is entered and thrown, can summon a variety of equipment, ranging from support weapons to offensive tactics either from the ship or from an Eagle.)
Command Bunkers, Air Bases, and Orbital Cannons serve as a primary base of operations within a planets area, providing communication networks to Automaton units. Each command bunker is equipped with three heavy class turrets that, when a Helldiver is the victim of them may cause internal chest bleeding and/or death. An Air base lacks the defenses of a command bunker, although it provides communication to air based Automoton units such as dropships and gunships within the area. Orbital Cannons prevent Pilots of "Pelican" units from arriving to their destination, or create extreme danger in the area for any airborne SEAF units, with them firing every 5-10 seconds. To take out these units, Helldivers must generally use the strongest stratagems they have on them or their only option may be to use a "Hellbomb", a nuclear device that requires special permission from the Ministry of Defense for use.
Gallery[]
Trivia[]
- The Automaton logo is the exact same icon used by the Cyborgs from Helldivers, Albeit with a gear on the outside.
- Over time, the appearance of the Automaton's homeworld/designated base, "Cyberstan", has been noted to have terraformed/changed in appearance by the Ministry of Defense.
- Pre "Reclaimation" (when automatons organized a second attack within the Valdis and neighbouring sectors), it was a desert and desolate planet.
- Post "Reclaimation", Cyberstan is now a extremely cold planet grey in color, with Earthquakes appearing every now and then.
- The Automotons most notable attack on the Helldivers and their families is with the brutal battle of a planet known as "Malevelon Creek". A lush jungle planet, it was under siege by the Automatons from February 8, to April 2nd, 2184. Many Helldivers lost their lives fighting on the planet, with it being one of the most difficult planets for Super Earth to reclaim against the robot invaders.
- On April 3rd, 2184, the President of Super Earth made a galactic wide web broadcast, declaring the day "Malevelon Creek Memorial Day". Surviving Helldivers were granted a cape called "Fallen Heroes Vengeance". The planet since exists as a memorial to Helldivers lost, with several monuments being erected on the planet dedicated to them.
- As of 2184-09-22, 3 Super Destroyers are remaining on the planet to monitor/carry a guard of honor.
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 Villains
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