(Episode II - Balmorra) The Smoke in the Air

Datalog, Sgt. Fenri Kel Freedom Fighters, Commando Squad Besh "Yima's Raiders"
First time we've deployed since we joined up with the Federation. It's weird; with my record, you'd think I'd feel like joining meant "selling out". But this 'Federation'...it's as ragtag as it comes. Buncha volunteers. Grassroots effort, farmers and workers and vets. It's not shiny or stuffy, like the Republic or Empire, or even a Corpo. Seems grounded. Honest. Besides, it was the Admiral who suggested we go from well-meaning mercs to a residency gig, and, well, kriff. I trust him with my life. We all do.

I've gone from pirate, to gangster, to Merc, to...well, kind of above board. Who woulda thought? The Admiral's a bad influence.

Joining up with FFS means there's a couple of new folks in the units. They've got the right look about them, seems like there's plenty of experience there. Hell, one of them was squad buddies with Carler in the Alliance, fought with him back on Rhen Var. A few of them have more traditional backgrounds. Warrior types, bit theatrical for my taste. But if they can fight, I'm not gonna complain. One's some kind of droid freedom fighter, but he's fit right in. Has a lot to say, but insists that because he's more durable than organics, he should take point. I won't argue with him.

We were shipping out to Balmorra, closer to the Core than we'd been since Jakku. We were turning privateer for the Republic again, fighting for a cut that would go to funding Federation supply runs to the new colonies. Good use of our skills. Two mynocks with one stone. Balmorra is an arms foundry, an entire planet where they make blasters and war droids. It's a damn tragedy—place looks like a dump even from orbit. I hear the atmo is minimum 30% chemical smoke at all times. A non-conco Remnant, the Central Authority, has control of the planet. Our job was to kick them out. But the Admiral had a specific mission for Besh, too: we got a distress call from a factory town, bunch of civies there trying to throw off the shackles. Remnant is building huge war droids, never a good thing. The plan is to go in and run support, put some muscle behind their bid for freedom, and make sure those factories never churn out a droid again.

I hear these poor factory rats are former Seppies, ended up on Balmorra to do time for fighting the Republic, and the Empire was grandfathered in as their new warden. No wonder the Admiral is sympathetic. Can't blame him for repping his old colors. Either way, tomorrow's their last fight for freedom. We'll get the job done.

We're dropping in with chutes—low-tech, to get past any sensor sweeps. Should work a shine. Just have to make sure not to fall into one of the hundreds of smokestacks. It'll be good to fight with Gelp again. Hell, it'll be good to shoot stormtroopers again. Never gets old.

BeeZee, encrypt and archive, would ya? Thanks.

END RECORDING