The hum of machinery surrounded her, a stark contrast to the silence that weighed heavily on her heart. It had been weeks since she and her Inferno Squad teammate had turned their backs on the Empire, and the reality of their actions pressed down on her like an anchor.

Iden had always been a imperial, trained to follow orders without question. The Empire had been her life, her purpose. She had risen through the ranks, leading her team into countless battles. But that one day changed everything.

The moment she had decided to abandon Empire - her world had shifted. She could still hear the haunting echoes of her betrayal, the faces of her fellow soldiers flashing before her eyes, each one a reminder of the loyalty she had shattered.

The Empire had promised order, security, and strength. She had witnessed the true cost of that power. The screams of the innocent echoed in her mind, drowning out the propaganda that had once filled her ears.