Like many, many others, Ailyn Valee Brenko was born within the Dragon's Teeth, a sprawling group of cities located on Gollanta Prime that had merged centuries ago into a singular mega-city that encompassed the entirety of the planet. What one could consider her "childhood" would be described as repetitive and routine work in the numerous factories within the citadel, for even children were expected to work for their own share of the bland synthetic food required for survival.
Still, Ailyn knew better than to complain of the unfortunate world she had been born into. She had wised up from a young age, having heard of plenty "protesters and activists" simply disappearing. They were traitors to the state, or so the propaganda drivel disguised as news had told them.
By adulthood, however, Ailyn would have a new purpose in life. The Empire had found itself at war once again, and her home planet had been a hot bed for manpower. Though it was in no shape her choice or or by voluntarism, Ailyn left Gollanta Prime as another nameless soldier sent to front lines on some planet whose name she could never pronounce.
War, as one expected, was hell. Some of her close friends wound up on the wrong end, being chopped and hacked apart by the "bug-eyed freaks" that they were ordered to fight. With the causality rate heavy and continuing to increase, it hadn't been long before Ailyn had been promoted to an officer to fill the empty ranks despite how little time she had spent on the battlefield.
It would be a promotion that would bring Ailyn down the path of ruin.
Following her promotion, Ailyn was put in charge of taking a rather entrenched hill that proved to be almost impossible to take. This time, though, her superiors claimed to have found a loophole that they could exploit, and gave Ailyn resources and manpower that she could only describe as "inadequate". Forced to make do with what she had, Ailyn proceeded with the operation, knowing with certainity that it would likely mean their deaths.
As the operation took place, Ailyn realized that she was right to worry. The so-called loophole had been a trap set by the enemy, who blocked off their retreat and cut down anyone that tried to run. Thankfully, Lady Luck had smiled upon Ailyn, who struggled against her own willpower and limped back to base through the chaos, wounded and seemingly the only survivor.
Reaching the outskirts of the forward base she had been attached to, Ailyn then passed out, unable to push on any further. Her last memory would not be the shouting for medics, but the smile of relief across her face, that her duty was done.
