An Empire Inherited

[RESTRICTED FIELD ENTRY – PERSONAL LOG | KYRELL, J.]
Location: Outer Rim – Garros V Outskirts
Date: 3 ABY, Approx. 0210 hrs local
Entry #: 1

Tallis says I should start writing these down.
"For the archive" she said, as if that would mean anything to anyone out here.
But fine. Maybe if I get spaced one day, someone’ll find this and go, “Wow, he really didn’t know what the hell he was doing.”

So - today was recon again. Same as yesterday. Watch the comms tower, count patrol rotations, note any changes in uniform or gear. Sounds easy. It is easy. But it’s also freezing.

Tallis doesn’t talk much, but she’s sharp. She’s older, maybe 17? 18? She carries herself like someone who’s seen things too, but she’s not mean about it. Today she gave me half her ration bar and told me not to chew so loud. I think that’s her way of being nice.

Anyway, tomorrow we’re pulling back to the treeline and transmitting the logs. Command says they’ve got something bigger planned for this outpost. I’m hoping it’s someone else’s problem. I didn’t sign up to fight the blistering wind. I just wanted to do something.

[RESTRICTED FIELD ENTRY – PERSONAL LOG | KYRELL, J.]
Location: Outer Rim – Garros V Outskirts
Date: 3 ABY, Approx. 0415 hrs local
Entry #: 2

We pulled back like Command said, but something’s off.

The logs uploaded fine, but Tallis didn’t move for almost a full minute after the transmission. Just stood there, staring at the sky like it had an answer she didn’t want to hear. I asked her if everything was okay. She said, "Yeah. Just... listening."

She does that a lot, pauses, like she’s halfway between saying something and swallowing it instead.

A freighter passed overhead not long after. Civilian markings. Too clean. Didn’t match anything we logged earlier. Tallis clocked it too. We’ll track its flight path in the morning, see if it loops near the tower.

I can’t sleep. Kept hearing something outside the tent. Probably just local wildlife. Or my nerves. I’ve been jumpy since that patrol yesterday, still not sure how I spotted them so early. I just knew where they’d be, then I saw the shimmer of their lenses through the trees.

Tallis says it’s "good instincts." Said it like she meant it, too. That felt... weirdly good to hear.

Anyway. She’s asleep now. Light sleeper, though. Keeps the blaster half under her sleeve, even when she’s out. I’m not stupid. I keep mine close too. But she’s calm about it. Like the danger isn’t a threat, just a fact.

I wish I had that.

Maybe I will, one day.