The next day, Achilles and Victor met up with David. "All that remains is the Master Templar John Hopaase," Achilles said. "Victor, go and find Sergeant Hawkins, we need him. I'll go find the rest of the Assassins in New York. David, you must prepare."
Months passed before they met again. By then, it was March in 1743. David, Achilles, Victor and Sergeant Hawkins met in Victor's residence. "My men are leading the reinforcements from the Caribbean to here as we speak. There is a Spanish Assassin ally, a ship Captain called Miguel, who has brought the Assassins from the Caribbean over," Victor said.
David's eyes widened and Sergeant Hawkins asked, "You know that Miguel lad?" David nodded. Victor continued, "There are four Assassins, three lads and a woman. Abraham, Ronald, Mark and Kylie, I think. Ah Tabai has also come to help supervise this important operation."
Minutes later, the five Assassins entered the room and took a seat. "I'll explain the operation to everyone, but the Mentor will be supervising this mission, is that understood?" Victor asked and everyone nodded. "Well then, I'll begin. Master Templar John Hopaase leads all the Templars in the entire Middle Colonies. John Hopaase has built himself a fortress in the countryside. We'll proceed to a town nearest to the fortress. There we will plan our operation."
One week later, the eight Assassins reached the town that was closest to John Hopaase's fortress. The eight Assassins found lodging in a medium-sized inn. Ah Tabai announced to the Assassins, "I have come up with a plan. Master Hopaase has posted Templar guards around the perimeter of his fortress. When night falls, David, Sergeant Hawkins, Ronald, Mark and Abraham will silently take out five guards at the perimeter. They will strip them of their uniforms and hide their bodies somewhere where they will not be found easily. After you're done with that, you five will pretend to have captured Achilles, Victor and me, putting us in fake chains. Once we all get into the fortress, we will spring our trap and get to Master Hopaase's quarters, on the top floor of the main tower of the fortress."
"Reasonable plan, Mentor," commented Ronald. The rest of the Assassins agreed with Ah Tabai's plan. "Very well then, we shall start this operation tonight."
When night came, the five Assassins split into two groups, David and Sergeant Hawkins in the first group and the other three Assassins in the second group. They went to the castle perimeter to take out their targets. About fifteen minutes after they split, the Assassins met at the rendezvous point. Achilles, Victor and Ah Tabai were already waiting at the rendezvous point when the five Assassins arrived.
"Are you ready?" Ah Tabai asked. The five Assassins nodded confidently. Ah Tabai then nodded. "We shall begin then."
Achilles, Victor and Ah Tabai were shackled with fake chains. The five Assassins escorted the three 'captives' to the castle. Two sentries stopped them at the castle gate. "Declare yourselves!" the first sentry ordered.
David stepped forward and looked at the sentry. He must have been wearing the uniform of a high-ranking officer, as the sentries were showing some respect to him. "Sir, please declare yourself and your men," the first sentry said.
Nodding, David explained, "We five were having a drink in town when one of my men spotted the black Assassin outside. We followed the old man to his lodgings and immediately raided the place. Other than this Assassin, we found another two of them. Maybe Master Hopaase will be delighted to see the captives."
Both sentries nodded in reply. "Good job, sir. I am sure Master Hopaase will be elated," the second sentry commended. He then shouted, "Open the gates!"
The gates opened and the eight men entered the castle. The group went to where John Hopaase was, with the help of a low-ranking Templar. John was currently at the barracks. At the entrance of the barracks, the trap was sprung. The three 'captives' shook off the fake chains and released their Hidden Blades. Ah Tabai swiftly killed the two soldiers guarding the barracks entrance.
Perhaps their timing had not been well. Inside the barracks were fifty or so soldiers. The eight Assassins took their weapons out and stormed into the barracks.
David released his Hidden Blade and drew his sword at the same time. Parrying an attacking soldier's strike, David stabbed the soldier's heart with his Hidden Blade. The soldier fell and David took a moment to look around. It was total chaos. David and the four Assassins were dressed in the soldiers' uniform and the fifty or so soldiers could not identify who were the five Assassins. But for the three 'captives', they were not wearing the soldiers' uniform thus they were easily identified. Abraham, Ronald and Mark were fighting alongside Achilles, Victor and Ah Tabai. Sergeant Hawkins was a few metres away from David, engaging with five soldiers. David quickly rushed to Sergeant Hawkins's aid.
Plunging his sword into one of the soldier's back, David ducked from a second soldier's swipe. He pulled the sword out of the soldier and kicked the second soldier hard in the stomach. The second soldier faltered for a moment or two and David seized the opportunity, killing him quickly. While David was helping out Sergeant Hawkins, he could hear John shouting out commands to his soldiers. "Find and kill the Assassins!" Then a few seconds later – "Soldiers! To me! Protect my arse!"
David finished off the fourth soldier attacking Sergeant Hawkins and turned to the fifth one. The fifth one was pulling his sword out of Sergeant Hawkins's head. David mercilessly killed the fifth one before kneeling by Sergeant Hawkins's side.
"Don't bother me, lad. Go and kill the damn Hop'arse lad. You'll be letting my soul have peace by doing that," Sergeant Hawkins's eyes fluttered and closed forever.
Getting up, David put away his Hidden Blade and rushed to John Hopaase. Seeing David, John smiled a little. "At least someone cares to protect me! Soldier, you'll be getting a promotion after this bloody battle! Now, get me out of here."
David sneered and kicked John hard in the chest. Then John realised who David really was. "Shit! Go screw yourself, little lad! You'll not be killing me today!" John drew a pistol and aimed it at David.
He moved so quickly, that by the time John blinked, he was already dead. With a quick motion from his hand, David pulled out his Queen Anne pistol and shot John in the shoulder blade. John fell and used his uninjured hand to clutch his bleeding shoulder. David took a last look at John before killing him.
The soldiers, seeing their dead commander, lost their morale quickly and surrendered. The seven Assassins retreated and escaped the castle.
Back at the town, Ah Tabai told David, "It has been a tough time for you, David. I recommend you to retire from the Order." David agreed. "I will retire, but I will be ready to rejoin the Order when it needs me. I shall part ways with you all now. Goodbye."