The conflict on Hoth I

[Sorry, I completely forgot this story. Late upload, still have some stockpiled for this. After I run out of the stockpile, I'll let you guys know.]

This Commander Jesir seems like a much more mellow man than Commander Trev. "I heard that the Grandmaster herself was going to handle this mission. I've been a big fan of your work since the Jedi first started helping in the war." I look at him, confused and slightly surprised. I don't know if he was trying to flirt with Satele or not, but people don't talk to Satele like that very often. He looks at me and gives a small smile. "This must be your padawan, Nathan." He holds out his hand, and I shake it.

He turns around after shaking hands with me and heads over to the console. He inputs commands, and a hologram of a person appears. A woman, to be exact. "This is the republic spy that has been helping greatly on Hoth. She is actually an Imperial defector. She doesn't want anything to do with the empire and its ways, but she is more useful to us as a mole." He sounds like a sith when he says it like that. Someone should choose to be a spy in the empire for the republic. Not forced.

Satele walks up to the console and takes the data chip out. She puts it in her belt and turns to me. "We must move, Nathan. Time is of the essence." She begins to walk away but looks back at Commander Jesir. "Thanks for all the help, Commander. I'll holo you if we need any more assistance." He gives a salute and turns back to his work. We walk out of the command center and exit into the cold environment. "Let's get on the speeders and get to the last known location of the spy. It's an old excavation site 3 kilometers out." We quickly make our way to the speeders and climb in.

I let Satele pilot since I'm already losing feeling in my fingers. "Master... Do you sense that too?" I want to know if she can sense the powerful sith lord here on Hoth.

She looks at me and slowly nods her head. "It's probably a Darth under the direct command of a dark council member. Whoever he is, he is strong. If we encounter him, I'll expect you to handle any backup he has. Taking a Darth on isn't as easy as a Lord." I nod my head and bring my fingers under my armpits. There are no heaters on this speeder type. I don't know why there are none, but I got to fight through it. Satele isn't complaining, and I shouldn't either.

Satele has taught me a lot in the short time we've been Master and padawan. Her lessons on lightsaber combat really help me focus on my weaknesses and improve where I fall with the lightsaber. "When we get close to the old excavation site, be ready for combat. I wouldn't doubt Imperials have taken a foothold in the place. Since the spy lost contact in that area, she was likely found out." We don't even know the name of the woman.

I nod my head, acknowledging the order from Satele. I close my eyes as the cold winds and air blow on my face and numb it. I take a deep breath and immerse myself deep in the force. I want to clear my head some before we get into combat. All sound fades, and so does the cold air hitting my skin. I feel the force fill me and clear my muddled thoughts, and I'm now immersed in a deep calm. Meditation helps me a lot and focus when I'm not.

The Jedi forbid many things, and some strictly follow those rules. Others don't follow religiously and form their own rights and wrongs after reaching certain points in their lives. Satele is one of those people, she has a son, and I can sense she deeply misses him. I expand my focus and sense planetwide potential force users. I sense some weaker force users, some not even aware of their power.

I also sense the powerful sith residing on this world. I can feel his hate, anger, and fear. He deeply fears his master and failing him. I'm suddenly pushed away from his signature. He sensed me, and I've lost his presence. I keep searching the feelings and positions of force-sensitives around the planet. I can feel other Jedi on their own missions and sith acolytes and lords as well. I stop my search and pull back into myself.

The interest in this world will only get bigger from both sides. The ship graveyard and other points of interest are likely missions and locations the spy was assigned to investigate. I should try and sense her as well. Even if she isn't force-sensitive, I should try. I feel through as many as I can, but too many aren't force-sensitive. It's like trying to slug through a brick wall. I try and focus on the ones who are in pain. She is probably getting tortured.

I feel many suffering, both imperial and republic forces. Nothing I do can locate her. I take a deep breath and pull myself out of meditation. I immediately feel the cold and numbing wind against my skin as my senses return. "Were you able to find anything, Nate? Anyone with a sense of the force could feel you poking around." I shake my head no and take a slow breath. The Darth on this world isn't here for what I thought he was.

He is on a personal mission for his Master, and we won't be running into him. At least, I think so. We travel the rest of the way at high speed to reach the excavation site faster. I can see it coming into view. It's an ancient-looking mining station. Hoth does have kyber crystals, but the sith don't like naturally forming kyber crystals like you find on Ilum and here. They create their's with sith alchemy and break them with their will.

That's how they turn red in color. I could never forcefully break something bonded to me like a kyber crystal. I can feel my connection to my lightsaber right now. If that were twisted, I wouldn't be able to sleep right at night. "We'll pull off behind that rock formation." Satele points to a small cliff out of view of the site. "We'll scout and see the situation. There are people here. I can sense them. There are some sith too. They are protecting this place with a heavy force. Follow my lead, Nate." I nod my head as Satele brings the landspeeder behind the cliff.

We both hop out, and I can't help feeling bad for Satele. She isn't wearing the proper clothes for this climate. She is the Grandmaster, though. She knows techniques that block such things out, like the cold. She doesn't even look fazed. "I can sense 3 sith, Master. They are strong, from what I sense. Would it be wise for me to avoid them?" She looks at me as we make a stealthy approach to a well-covered area with a good look into the site.

Once we reach the spot, we begin to look around the area. "No, Nate. It's time you faced a sith in real combat. It's going to be hard. I know you can do it though, you have grown so much in the time I've been teaching you. Know that I'll be helping, and you can rely on me if it becomes too much." It looks like I'll be facing my first sith soon. I can't lie to myself. I'm nervous about it. I can't let my fear control me though, I'm a Jedi, and it's time I start taking on the responsibilities.