Thyrsian Sentinels

The Thyrsian Sentinels were a splinter faction of the Thyrsian Sun Guard, founded by the rogue Thycani Commander Velli Kal in the midst of the Clone Wars. Whilst originally splitting only to protest the abandonment of their mercenary nature and their brethren's service to the Confederacy of Independent Systems, the Sentinels soon became a clandestine resistance movement during the Galactic Civil War.

This would lead to the Sentinels joining with and providing their men to the Rebel Alliance, and later the New Republic.

The Schism
The seeds of the schism that would divide the Sun Guard were planted in early 23 BBY on Kashyyyk, when Velli Kal and his men were deployed by a Trandoshan-led invasion to capture or kill two Jedi Padawans in the shadow of the YT-2400 freighter ''Star Runner. ''The losses from this skirmish were appalling; it led to Velli Kal questioning the wisdom of the alliance with the Trandoshans, and by extension, the CIS.

Further doubt was sown in the council chambers of the Thycani Dictators, where the realization would slowly creep in on his mind that his superiors were truly blinded to the harm done by the Guard with the alliance with the Confederates. Finally, in the last month of 23 BBY, Kal gathered the men of the 1st and 4th Regiments, heading for the ancient Thyrsian fortress of Kaas Strokai.

It was in the halls of Kaas Strokai that the regiments's officers would swear loyalty to Kal, and the distinctive white triple sun flag of the Sentinel would be designed. For the next few years, Kal and his armies would spend much time rebuffing the Sun Guard's attempts to stomp them out.

Going Underground
As the Clone Wars came to a close, the 501st Legion would be sent to assault Kaas Strokai, led by Commander Appo. In the battle that followed, the Sentinels were forced to retreat from the fortress, nearly being routed in the process. This would not, however, be the end of them.

Kal and his officers would disperse into the urban centers of Thyrsus, slowly building up cells of loyal followers and making minor attacks on Imperial facilities on the planet. This period of covert operations would lead to the Sentinels making contact with the burgeoning Alliance to Restore the Republic- and a deal was struck between the two factions. In exchange for ordnance and financial backing, the Sentinels would provide the Alliance with men and training.

This arrangement would continue into the days of the New Republic and Galactic Alliance, with Kal's descendants even acquiescing to allowing the New Jedi Order recruiting from their ranks.

Equipment and tactics
In the years immediately following their split from the Sun Guard proper, the Sentinels would fight and be equipped in a matter rather similar to their parent organization. Choosing to paint their armor white instead of the traditional black, the Sentinels also experimented with reducing how heavily armored it was as well- experiments that would serve them well during the Galactic Civil War.

The standard weapon for most Sentinels in both the Clone Wars and the Galactic War were a matching set of two Thyrsian Solblades, with the Sentinels training extensively in two-weapon fighting as a result.

As their species began to join the Empire's ranks, the Sentinels would also modify their armor for their new role- reducing the weight and armoring significantly to allow for less restricted movement, adding personal shielding, and incorporating stealth field generators.

This new armor would supplement their new tactics centering around hit-and-run attacks and ambushes well, and the Sentinels would often strike from seemingly out of nowhere.