What enemy army invades the Fairy Glade in Rayman 2?

An army of robotic pirates invades the Fairy Glade in Rayman 2: The Great Escape. The invasion is part of a wider assault on the Glade of Dreams by interstellar pirate forces.

The pirates have already devastated other worlds before attacking Rayman’s home. Their campaign destroys the Primordial Core, the source of the world’s energy, and scatters that power into Lums. Many defenders are captured, Rayman loses his abilities and the surviving characters organize resistance against the machines.

The wording can cause a small geography mix-up: the Fairy Glade is one important area in the game, while the Glade of Dreams is the broader setting being invaded. Livingstones are enemies from the original Rayman, Darktoons are also associated with the first game, and Hoodlum soldiers belong to Rayman 3: Hoodlum Havoc. Robotic pirates are the specific invading army in Rayman 2.