illuminate (helldivers)

The Illuminate are one of the many enemy factions in the Helldivers games.

In the first game, they were introduced as an advanced Alien race with an enlightened society they favor intelligence and the use of nano machines. Despite the Illuminate trying to have peaceful relationships with Super Earth, the Super Earth government instead launched an unprovoked attack on the Illuminates on the false narrative that the Aliens were secretly hiding weapons of mass destruction to secretly attack Super Earth, forcing the Illuminate to defend themselves.

The Illuminate returns in Helldivers 2 where it was revealed that after Super Earth conquered their homeworld, the aliens were forced to not only give up their technology to the humans but were forced into exile where many of their race were genocide by Super Earth despite promises of safe passage. Angered and wanting revenge for what Super Earth did to their race, The Illuminate returns during the later stages of the 2nd Galactic War with their new mind control powers where they capture Super Earth citizens and turned them into mindless zombies called "Voteless". While they initially attack Super Earth colonies with large cities, during the "Heart of Democracy" event The Illuminate launches a surprise attack that catches the humans off guard and invade Super Earth itself.