Faction TAC | Friends by Firelight

[Valin Zenth]

LOCATION:​

Hurikane

TAGS: Fynch Strill Securities A'Runda Dracken Pryce Ekkeke Shale Balun Dashiell Sayno Clawe Fervos Kej Arjen Herrix

After receiving false reports that reinforcements were on the way, the TAC made the difficult decision to retreat, hoping to live and fight another day. Unbeknownst to them, their intel had been wrong.

Following the intense battles on Lothal and Moncala, the Tingle Arm Coalition finally found a much-needed moment of respite. Though the Empire of the Lost had held their ground, it came at a heavy price—their emperor had fallen, and their super star destroyer lay in ruins. The Phoenix Wing had even rescued some of the enemy's soldiers from the shores of Moncala, offering assistance. Disillusioned by how easily the Empire had discarded them, a few of those soldiers chose to join the Coalition's cause.

The Coalition had fought fiercely and now, after the chaos, they had earned a rare moment of peace, a chance to reflect. Seated on logs and crates, they savored this brief reprieve.

Around a crackling campfire in a quiet, remote clearing, the Coalition members gathered. The night air was cool, and the stars above shone brighter against the backdrop of their recent campaign. The smell of burning wood hung in the air, as glowing embers floated up into the night sky.

A Jedi Knight, still nursing the injuries he and his partner had sustained on Moncala, stirred the fire with a smirk. "We've all been through the grinder, but we're still standing—and the Empire's licking its wounds." He poured himself a glass of Tihaar, raising it slightly before taking a sip. "I'll happily drink t' that!" he declared with a grin, savoring the moment. Then, with a playful glint in his eye, he added, " Balun Dashiell was it? How about it; what's on yer mind lad? " He passed the bottle to Fynch , looking to lighten the mood.

 

[Balun Dashiell]

Valin Zenth

"We lost Rossisai Linsla… one of the key leaders of the Lothal Protectorate."

Balun spoke quietly, casting a glance over his shoulder at the group gathered around the campfire.

"We were stationed at Forward Base, just outside Capital City. I couldn't tell how many there were, but we came under sniper fire. I saw her... right in front of me—her head was blown apart."

The sniper? A ghost. The name Ivixa Nera'kas had never surfaced in any battle report, leaving Balun to believe it was just another Imperial agent or recon trooper. Whoever it was, they had zeroed in on the Protectorate and Coalition leadership with brutal precision.

"I couldn't even sense them, whatever ammunition they were using. It wasn't plasma—nothing traceable. There wasn't a damn thing I could do to stop Linsla from being hit." His voice trailed off, weighed down by the memory. "It was a complete chit-show."

Balun exhaled heavily, his eyes falling back to the flickering flames.

In war, there are no true victors.

The Imperials may have taken the upper hand that day, but losses bled from both sides.

The Coalition endured.

 

[Valin Zenth]

TAGS: Balun Dashiell

Valin frowned as Balun shared the gruesome memory, his voice softening with genuine concern.

"Hey, are you feeling okay, kiddo?" Valin asked, his tone gentle. It was clear that the weight of what Balun had witnessed was crushing him. Valin wanted to make sure he wasn't carrying it alone.

"You did what you could, and that's what matters," Valin continued, his voice reassuring. "Don't carry the blame for the terrible actions of others. It's easy to get lost in questioning what you could've done differently, but hindsight always has a way of making things seem clearer than they were in the moment."

He paused briefly, gauging Balun's response before continuing. "It's natural to feel like you should've done more, like you could've stopped it. But war... it's chaos. We can't control everything, no matter how much we wish we could."

Valin's expression softened as he added, "I've seen my fair share of loss. The fact that you're still standing, still fighting, means you did everything you could. You couldn't have predicted this, and you have to remind yourself of that. It wasn't your fault."

He glanced toward the flickering campfire, his tone becoming reflective. "We honor those we've lost by continuing forward, not by drowning in regret. It's okay to mourn, but don't lose yourself in it. Survival isn't just fighting; it's accepting what we couldn't change and pushing forward in their memory."

Valin offered a faint, reassuring smile. "And if you ever need to talk or vent, I'm here. We carry these burdens together."

 

[Sayno Clawe]

Hurrikane

Tags: Valin Zenth Balun Dashiell

The defeat on Lothal was a blow to morale all across the ground troops. Sayno couldn't blame anymore other than himself. Imperial intel had indicated a weak defense, and yet their reinforcements had forced them back. The Lost Battalion would stay Lost for now.

Still, Sayno would not give up.

"Fight another day. Win another victory. Survive a day more." He said as he entered the room, looking rather stoic. Yet, Valin Zenth could feel the turmoil beneath the surface. A man frustrated by their own failure.