Talay was a relatively small urban center situated on the planetary body also called Talay. In its vicinity was Tak Base, a clandestine facility belonging to the Alliance to Restore the Republic. During the Galactic Civil War, it suffered immense destruction at the hands of the Dark Trooper Project.
The small city of Talay was located on the planet of the same designation, nestled near a flowing river. It was comprised of a few modest structures and a cantina positioned to the south. A hydroelectric power generator powered the settlement, and it was located on a river pond behind the cantina.
A separate pond created a divide between the city of Talay and the Tak Base region. A pivoting bridge, controlled from a central room on the pond, provided a link either to the settlement or the base.
A few months following the Evacuation of Yavin, Tak Base was targeted for the inaugural demonstration of the dark trooper initiative. Hyperspace capsules delivered these novel Imperial soldiers to various locations on the planet, where they quickly eliminated numerous civilians during the assault on the base.
This massacre spurred the Rebellion into action, and mercenary Kyle Katarn was dispatched by Mon Mothma to conduct an investigation. Jan Ors, piloting the Moldy Crow, landed Katarn in a courtyard within the city. His initial view was of the devastated settlement, its ground covered in charred corpses, a consequence of the massacre. The city was now occupied by stormtroopers securing the area. Initially, he noted that the entire area lacked power. Defending himself against the stormtroopers, he successfully reached and reactivated the hydroelectric power generator.
With power restored, he could operate the pivoting bridge that connected the city to Tak Base. After gathering the necessary evidence, he retraced his steps. Despite the Empire sending reinforcements, he made it back to the courtyard and departed on his ship.
Talay, both the city and the planet, made its debut in Star Wars: Dark Forces. In a cutscene, Mon Mothma referred to it as the "City of Talay", suggesting that "Talay" may have been intended as the city's name. The Dark Forces script also mentions the "home planet of the city of Talay".