On the fringes of the Outer Rim territories and famous for being the one-time location of the Rebel Alliance, Hoth is a frigid world marred with fissures created from the tidal pull of Hoth’s three moons. Blanketed in a frozen ocean, massive oceanic currents beneath the southern hemisphere are the cause of constant seismic activities that result in a constantly shifting landscape of tunnels and caves.

Buried into the side of a fissure reaching hundreds of meters into the core of the planet is a network of tunnels leading into a cave. Its sole entrance is suspended within the wall of the fissure, requiring one to rappel down the dangerous crevasse and into the tunnels; one small miscalculation could send explorers descending the rest of the unmeasured height deep within the planet’s core.

Insulated under several hundred meters of ice in all directions, the cave is protected against the gale force winds and the intense snowstorms that sweep along the planet’s surface. As a result, the cave is warmer than most of Hoth’s unforgiving cold with melting icicles dangling precariously overhead. In turn, this allows for more life to grow in addition to being a promising habitat for the hulking wampas that have been trapped this far below the surface. Beginning to thaw, it is obvious that this cave will eventually fall victim to seismic activity and disappear into the sheets of ice that surround it. Illuminating the cave’s interior with a dull blue glow, the luminous forms of lichen have taken up residence among the bones of the creatures unfortunate enough to be trapped here.

Caution must be exercised if one is to navigate the slippery slopes of the cave as melted icicles drip onto the cavern’s floor surface. In one corner of the cave, the ocean water has accumulated to form a large pool, providing sustenance to the rare lumni-spice growing within the crystalline complex, never to see the blue-white sun.

It was fitting that Laren Uscot had been dispatched to the icy world of Hoth. The howling winds and unforgiving landscape of the backwater world perfectly represented the perceived state of the Brotherhood. The Grand Master had seemingly disappeared, and silent chaos now reigned in its place, with Inquisitors and other agents being dispatched to every corner of the galaxy. Some pursued enemies of the Brotherhood or undesirables. Others searched for transponders, obscure clues, anything tangible that could allow one of the Dark Councilor's an upper hand against the other amid all the uncertainty. Survival was paramount in the mind of the Sith.

The mercenary had originally scoffed at the idea of traveling to notorious ice world, though he had quickly learned that the Headmaster never made a decision without cause. He was searching for a transponder - similar to a black box found on some fighters or starships - that contained potentially vital information from a now-dead Inquisitor about the Brotherhood's current situation. After rappelling into the deep cavern and traversing its murky depths, the mercenary had tracked the transponder signal to its source. However, when he arrived at the edge of a deep pool of glacial melt, he was surprised to find a curious robed figure already crouched over the body. He had not been expecting a guest on his mission. Though the newcomer's back was turned, Laren noticed he had a diminutive build and was dressed in plain, dark robes that spoke of a preference for function over fashion.

"I suppose I'll give you the benefit of hearing my voice before I shoot you in the back," Laren growled as he raised his blaster carbine.

Pulling the trigger, Laren hoped that the cerulean bolt would meet its mark. He was never sure among those associated with the Brotherhood - assuming this person was such. Half were Sith, a quarter Jedi, and the rest were as insane as a raging gundark, though they were all deadly. But which one was his new companion?

The individual - a male Anzat, he noticed - activated a silver lightsaber, pivoting on limber feet to effortlessly deflect the shot with mere moments to spare, almost as if to prove a point.

"I wondered when you would arrive," the Anzat said smoothly. "Though in truth, you are not the mercenary I was expecting."

"It seems we have each other at a disadvantage," Laren spat back, his DC-15 still pointed at the man.

Through the dim light of the cavern, Laren could see a faint smile touch the lips of his adversary. "Perhaps I'm a shadow," he said coolly before a hardened disc went flying toward Laren's head.

The Pantoran managed to dive out of the way, but the quick assault had distracted him enough that he lost sight of the Anzat. Laren recovered from his somersault then quickly took cover behind a broad, fallen stalagmite. He activated his light amplification goggles, desperately searching the surrounding area. Nothing.

"You're a cautious one," Laren called to the darkness. His voice was calm, but touched with arrogance. He hoped to draw out his opponent from whatever hole he had decided to climb into - unless he was talking to the darkness and he had fled. But that distinct feeling of being watched was almost palpable. No, he was not alone.

"Neither of us will escape this cold hell alive if you don’t hand over that transponder," Laren spat, attempting to goad his unseen adversary.

Unlike most, Laren’s knowledge of battle and tactics was broad in scope rather than specialized. However, he knew enough of the basic tenets of warfare to realize that his opponent was likely observing him, attempting to discern Laren's most vulnerable points. Therefore, Laren decided he wouldn't give him the chance.

He looked up, observing the conical, icy stalactites that dotted the cavern sealing, some so ancient that they were almost sharpened to a point by eons of erosion. The mercenary aimed his blaster carbine at the distant rock formations and began to fire. The cavern rumbled, and debris began crashing down from the wide ceiling in front of him. A grin broadened across his face as he continued to shoot, firing with pin-point accuracy with the hopes of sending them all crashing down. One fell, and then another in quick succession, the smaller formations shattering on impact, while the others made a deafening boom throughout the cave. Would it be enough to make him reveal himself? It had to be.