Originally a specialised garrison force, the 7th Infantry Company hailed from Hellmire. They were recruited from the most adept guardsmen of the former capital and distinguished themselves in unarmed combat against the enemies of humanity.
After purifying the frontier colonies of Terminids, they were elevated to the status of Helldiver. They became known galaxy-wide for their courage against impossible odds and their excellent teamwork. Their once-great chant echoed: "For Democracy. For Super Earth. For Hellmire."
For many years, the company lay frozen beneath the sand in cryostasis pods, waiting for the day they would be activated to defend their beloved home against the impending threat of undemocratic forces. At that time, Hellmire was known for its docile Terminid nests, which were kept in check with shackles and processing facilities so that E-710 could be farmed along the planet's tropical oases. This led to incredible capitalistic profits, as the planet served as both a holiday destination and a petrochemical haven.
When the traitorous fools who deceived the loyal patriots of Super Earth lost control of Meridia, the Terminids mutated severely due to the Termicide used there. This resulted in the formation of "The Gloom" and huge incursions by the Terminids into colonial space. A small malfunction—likely of traitorous intent—resulted in the warning system failing to alert the 7th Infantry Helldivers in their stasis pods.
It was not until a month later that the Divers awoke, triggered by the underground facility losing its independent power storage. Commander Welshie was the first to exit his pod, the first to load his AR-23 Liberator, and the first to step onto the surface. He was met by a desolate wasteland; swarms of Terminids basked in the sand and ruins of the once-great city above him.
An automated message repeated a warning of the Gloom, demanding an immediate retreat from the Terminid frontier. The Commander returned underground to awaken the rest of his force. Poised and well-rested, they ascended to the surface and cleared a path to the spaceport, where they signalled nearby evacuation cruisers and escaped on a series of damaged Pelican landers.
As they flew away, the Commander and his officers saw the pale monstrosity Hellmire had become. The once-lush, tropical planet was now a dry and dusty cesspit of Terminid activity. Not a single person had survived the onslaught; the great megacities of the paradise planet lay bare, the bones of families picked clean by Terminids feeding their young.
Although they had been frozen for many years, the 7th Infantry knew their families should have been cared for by a Helldiver's wages. To realize that everyone they had ever loved was reduced to biomass sparked a righteous rage.
Commander Welshie approached Super Earth Command with his company ready, filled with a fervour fuelled by the anguish of loss. Because the damaged ships brought containers of E-710 back to High Command, the 7th were viewed as an essential strategic resource.
Super Earth Command knew these Helldivers would fight harder than any other company in the fleet; consequently, they awarded them a small fleet of Super Destroyers and branded them the 7th Infantry Crusaders.
With the Gloom eventually peeling back a couple of years later, the battle-hardened Crusaders found their calling: the Reconquista of Hellmire. It was a long and bloody fight against those who had taken their families, but they fought with their galactic brothers at their backs.
Knowing this war would not end at the reconquest of Hellmire, but only with the purgation of all non-human life, the 7th Infantry Crusaders continue their crusade across the galaxy.
They carry the names of their lost loved ones carved on the inside of their breastplates—proof that although the enemy may take their homes, their lives, and their voices, the enemy will never take their Liberty.
For Democracy. For Super Earth. For The Crusaders.
