The Shot Heard 'Round the World
April 11th, 1775, Yuy Estate
Cornelius stood over the grave of his late wife, Jane Yuy, holding his tricorn hat in his hand. Cornelius heard footsteps behind him and he turned.
"Here again?" Heero asked. "There was nothing you could have done..." He trailed.
"Perhaps, Heero, but I did neglect her in her illness. I was so intently focused on politics that I neglected my family." He laughed sadly. "In many ways, I still am."
"Don't speak of such nonsense." The seventeen-year-old young man tried to reassure him.
Cornelius put his hat back on. "Never forget your mother, Heero. Never let her become mere childhood memories. And remember, when you do meet that woman that captures your soul, always keep her first in your thoughts, even when there are Huns at the gate." He walked off.
Heero looked back at his mother's gravestone one last time before he followed his father. It read Jane Yuy, beloved friend, wife, and mother. June 8th, 1733- October 29th, 1772. Heero closed his eyes and finally followed his father back into the house.
April 14th, 1775, Lexington, Massachusetts
Duo Maxwell, a tough man of the militia from rural Massachusetts waited, musket ready. He hid in a hedge and watched as the redcoats arrived. The sun had rose a mere minutes before. He and his wife, Hilde Maxwell had been informed by a rider that the British were on their way toward Concord to take their arms that they had stored there.
Duo then saw a British officer ride forward and heard him yell.
"Disperse, you rebels; damn you, throw down your arms and disperse!"
There was confusion all around. He could faintly hear the British officers telling their men to hold fire, but he was not sure if the orders were understood. And then Duo swore that he saw a mounted British officer point a pistol at one of his comrades. The officer's trigger finger was beginning to tighten and Duo knew he was about to fire. Duo decided to beat him to it.
He fired. The round lead ball did not miss its target as the officer tumbled from his horse, holding his chest that was leaking a stream of blood.
Hostilities were joined.
Duo immediately began the painstaking process of reloading his musket. He could hear a smattering of shots from both sides and smelled gunpowder. It was then that the British regulars began to fire a well-coordinated series of volleys. Were they just firing powder?
No. Duo saw one of his fellow militiamen go down not six feet away from him. The militia began to run for their lives as the British initiated a bayonet charge. Duo finally got his musket reloaded and took aim at the British officer who had commanded them to disperse. Duo's shot hit the officer's horse just as another round did. The poor animal screeched its agony for all to hear.
As Duo then broke out into a full run from the field, he heard a drummer in the distance and saw the British fire a victory volley, reforming their ranks. Duo ran as fast as he could toward Concord.
Several hours later, Duo watched the British enter the town of Concord. The redcoats began to march toward the North Bridge, near where the Patriot militia was stationed. The British regulars fired shots toward the bridge as the militia began to march there.
Duo got in position and fired over a fellow's head. Several shots later, he saw that the regulars on the bridge began to flee, even leaving their wounded.
"They must be fleeing toward the other companies still in the town." Duo said to no one in particular.
The rest of the day was chaotic, as the British began to realize how outnumbered they were, they began to retreat toward Boston. But the fighting became more intense. Duo looked down the barrel of his musket and fired with deliberate aim at the back of a retreating redcoat. He fell.
Duo continued to run around, as he had been doing all day, at the behest of his militia officers. Duo could swear that every time he looked, more and more militia were joining the fray, coming from all over the state, and indeed, Duo was beginning to hear, from throughout New England.
General Gage, the military Royal Governor of Massachusetts, had ordered troops to build defenses, but as the militia continued to come in, they abandoned them and retreated back to Boston. General Heath, the commanding officer of the militia that day, decided to station the militia in Cambridge and prepare for a siege of Boston.
Duo sat that evening, contemplating what had just transpired. Blood was shed, and he had fired the first shot that started the whole thing. The powder keg that was the colonies, especially Massachusetts, had just exploded. There was absolutely no turning back now.
Revolution had settled down, and it looked like it was going to stay.
June 21st, 1775, Sank Manor
Thomas Jefferson and his wife, Martha had come over to celebrate the wedding of Milliardo Peacecraft to Lucrezia Noin, which had taken place earlier that day. Milliardo had proposed as soon as he had heard that fighting had broken out in Massachusetts, because he had a strong feeling he would be at war soon. Lucrezia accepted, and had just moved herself in. The party was winding down and Milliardo stepped away from his sister as he, his uncle, and Treize went into the kitchen to confer privately.
Relena sighed; she knew exactly what the three of them would be talking about. She was soon whisked away by her new father-in-law, Richard Noin, who had asked her for a dance.
"The Continental Congress has created a Continental Army for the purposes of the common defense of all colonies." Thomas spoke as he sipped his whiskey. "They've appointed Colonel Washington as commander-in-chief."
Milliardo smirked. "Not surprising, he was the only one there with any military experience, and the fact that he's from Virginia will further unify the colonies, signifying that this is not just New England's war."
Thomas nodded, taking another sip.
Treize smiled. "There were also rumors that he wore his military uniform to every meeting."(1)
Treize and Milliardo were vaguely familiar with Colonel, now General George Washington, having spoken to him a few times during their meetings in the House of Burgesses. Washington had even come to Treize's estate one time to discuss use of the Potomac River, as Treize owned land that was on the banks of the river that was just upstream from Washington's Mount Vernon home.
"He is an agreeable man." Treize continued, taking a sip of whiskey. "And I believe him to be an honest and noble one."
"Now that there is a Continental Army all that we need is a Continental Army." Milliardo stated cryptically.
"Treize. Do you intend to join?" Thomas asked. "With your background, you'll be a colonel tomorrow, maybe a general by next week."
Treize took another sip of whiskey. In 1762, at the age of 13, Treize had ventured to Europe as a military apprentice to his relative, General Catalonia, a general in the Army of King Frederick II of Prussia(2) in his ongoing war with France, Austria, and Russia(3) and had stayed through the war's duration and into the end of 1764, when he returned to America and married his childhood friend, Leia Barton.
Treize's grandfather, a Prussian nobleman, had immigrated to Virginia. As General Catalonia had a daughter, Dorothy, Treize-his closest male relative, had received his second uncle's proposition for a military apprenticeship and accepted. Treize had even met King Frederick on several occasions, had learned about drill and tactics first hand from Prussia's ruler and was presented a sword from Frederick before his return to America. Although Treize despised the idea of royalty (he was an ardent republican, despite his background), the lessons were useful.
"I will join. If I can do some good for my country I wish to do so."
"If you join I will be joining as well." Milliardo stated firmly. "It is time to put actions behind all of our words."
"Well then, my boys." Thomas said as he poured each and himself another shot of whiskey. "To freedom, and to our country."
The next morning, Treize rode up to the Sank Manor, carrying the sword given to him by King Frederick. He looked on as Milliardo emerged, flanked by his new wife and his sister. Lucrezia gave him a tearful kiss good-bye and Relena hugged her brother as he mounted his finest cream-colored horse, Tallgeese. Treize gave him a determined look, sitting atop his own finest horse, Epyon.
"I'll be back with you in just a second." Milliardo informed Treize as he rode toward his uncle, who was watching from a distance.
Milliardo shook Thomas's hand.
"I promise I'll keep an eye on them." Thomas assured Milliardo, speaking of his wife and sister.
"Thank you."
"Good luck."
Milliardo smiled lightly and walked off. A minute later, he and Treize raced away to war.
Relena's hair glinted gold in the morning sunlight. She knew her brother and Treize would join as soon as she heard of the Continental Army's creation, it was a mere matter of time.
"I'm going inside to see that breakfast is ready." Lucrezia said as she wiped her tears away and went in.
Relena stayed outside for a few moments longer. Her hair began to blow like a sheet of gold in the wind. She was so lost in thought she did not see her uncle put an arm around her shoulder. She startled and then smiled up at the tall man.
"Your brother will be fine. The soldier in him wants, no, needs to fight for the great cause in which we are now engaged."
"Yes, I know that." She sighed. "But the bloodlust in his eyes scares me greatly. When I first saw him this morning he had such intensity in his eyes that it looked like he wouldn't even fear his own death."
Thomas closed his eyes. "That Milliardo is willing to die for our cause I do not question. I do, however, question the fear of his own death, especially with his being a newly-wed."
Relena sighed again. "What do you think is going to happen with him?"
Thomas stared out into the fields of the Sank Manor. "Treize, with his background, will immediately be made a top officer. He will then put your brother directly under his command. Don't think he's going to be put on the front line marching in step with a musket."
Relena laughed. "No, I never thought that."
Thomas smiled at her. "Come, we ought to eat our breakfast."
Relena followed her uncle inside.
July 3rd, 1775, Cambridge, Massachusetts
Duo Maxwell was sitting outside his tent. He jerked his head up when he heard a horse approaching his position.
The man was very well dressed, in a full military uniform, right up to his cockade tricorn hat, in stark contrast to his comrades-in-arms, who were shoddily dressed at best. The man looked down with a skeptical, and even shocked look upon his face. Duo's eyes met the man on horseback's for a split second before he rode off, but that split second was rife with intensity, Duo instantly felt like he had something to prove.
And he would prove himself.
July 3rd, 1775, Yuy Estate
"What did you want of me, father?" Heero asked after returning from the city.
"I think you'd better sit down."
Heero's eyes showed wonder as he sat down in front of his father.
"Were you planning to join the Continental Army?"
"Yes." Heero stated. Better to be honest.
"There was no reason to believe you wouldn't be." Cornelius said. "Now; You weren't planning on being infantry were you?"
"What?" Heero asked, surprised. "What else is there?"
"I've received a letter from William this afternoon." Cornelius referred to his friend, William Floyd(4) of Brookhaven, who was currently serving as a delegate from New York to the Continental Congress. "The Continental Congress has authorized the recruitment of a company of 100 dragoons(5) using rifled muskets. William brought up your surveying experience, which, you as I, know might be important, commanding a horse unit."
Heero had gone on numerous other surveying expeditions, including another, shorter one, in Ohio since his first.
"The Continental Congress approved and is offering you command of the company, with the rank of major."
Heero looked up in wonder at his father. "A lot of people are just going to say I got the position because I'm your son."
"Yes. That's what many of the men there accused William of doing at first. But then he brought up your surveying experience and excellent horsemanship. Not to mention your shooting abilities on those numerous hunting parties we've all gone on together."
"And?"
"And congress accepted, as should be obvious by now."
"I'll do it." Heero answered.
"Then I think you'll want to go over your guidelines." Cornelius said as he handed Heero an unopened envelope. "You go show what you're made of, boy."
Heero got up without saying another word, turning the envelope over in his hand as he walked out of the room.
"I can select my own officers." Heero said to Trowa later that night in their downtown New York pub.
"I see. So the Gundam Dragoons, as congress is calling the unit, is to act as a combination of shock troops, intelligence, and cavalry. Of course, our rifled muskets will make us much more accurate, adding to the 'shock' part."
"By your saying 'our' you imply that you will join." Heero took a sip of his beer.
"Of course. I will join as your captain."
"Good. I was beginning to think you wouldn't."
"Why would you think that? I have to practice what I preach. Besides, somebody's gotta watch your back." Trowa grinned mockingly.
Heero smirked and took another swig of his beer. "We're to report to General Washington in Cambridge as soon as we're at full strength."
"Understood." Trowa replied as he finished his beer, contemplating the recently-named commander of the Continental Army. The only thing Trowa really knew about George Washington was his famous stint in the French and Indian War during the Battle of the Monogahela.(6)
The two youths and soon-to-be army officers' conversation and thoughts were then interrupted by a loud crash at the opposite end of the pub.
"I think this slanted-eye mongrel just insulted you." One clearly drunken man said.
"What are you anyway, some kind of yellow nigger?" Another drunk yelled.
"I think this slanted-eye nigger thinks he's tough."
One of the men made way to attack the man they were taunting, but he was kicked away. Another attacker was then swept to the floor by the person they were trying to attack. Now on the floor, a drunk tried to use a barstool to hit the person in question, but he rolled away, letting the drunk he had just swept get hit instead. The man with the barstool was then kicked in the temple and instantly went down.
At this point, a few more drunks came up to join the fray.
Heero pulled one of them to the floor by grabbing his shoulders from behind. Heero then delivered a few kicks to the temple. Trowa, who had always been acrobatic, flipped in front of two and punched them both in the face. Heero pushed the last one away and knocked him in the face with a nearby beer mug.
"You all right?" Heero asked as he walked over to the man who was under attack.
"I never asked for your help." The man growled.
Hard Prussian blue eyes met equally hard obsidian ones. The man had short black hair with a short black ponytail in the back.
"Wait a second! We're not finished here!" One of the drunken men stumbled up.
"I beg to differ." Trowa said behind his stoic face as he pulled out a pistol. He cocked the flint back. "Get."
The man ran out of the bar, followed by his friends that were not knocked out.
"You're not from around here, are you?" Trowa stated more than asked as he walked toward the man and put his pistol away.
The man hmphed. "My parents brought me here from China when I was less than a year old. They were traders with the British East India Company. I consider myself from this continent and not from China."
Heero remembered then, he himself was of mixed blood. While he was three-quarters English, his grandfather on his father's side was a Japanese merchant that was trading in the Spanish Philippines. Heero's grandfather, after whom he was named, decided to come to America when he learned that Heero's grandmother, Elizabeth, was pregnant. They wed as soon as they returned. Cornelius was born from their union in 1720. Fortunately, no one had found out that Elizabeth was with child before their marriage.
"What is your name?" Heero asked.
"Wufei Chang. And I know who you are. Everyone in this city knows you."
Heero scowled as Trowa introduced himself.
"You seem like you know how to handle yourself, Mr. Chang." Heero stated later.
Trowa immediately knew what his friend was up to.
"Let me ask you. Are you a Patriot?"
"Of course. Those men accused me of being a Tory."
"Were you considering joining the Continental Army?"
"I can't say I'm not suspicious of such an ambitious military force...but it seems we have no other choice if we are to defeat the British. Why do you ask?"
"The Continental Congress has authorized the creation of a dragoon company within the Continental Army. I was given its command. Trowa is my right-hand. We need to start recruitment immediately."
Wufei pondered the idea for a few minutes. "Do you mind going over the details with me over a drink?" He asked, intrigued.
Heero nodded and the three went back to the bar.
July 12th, 1775, Cambridge Massachusetts
Treize went inside a tent. The man who he had come to see was sitting down.
"Colonel Treize Khushrenada, reporting for duty, sir." He said with a salute.
General George Washington returned the salute. "Have a seat."
Treize sat down.
"Well Colonel Khushrenada, when was the last time we saw each other? Nearly a year ago, I believe."
"Yes sir."
"Well, I am glad to have you here. We need someone of your experience in this army. Now, tell me what you think."
"Shall I be blunt sir?"
"Yes."
"This is not an army. It is a gaggle."
"Yes, I know that which is why I need you. You went over drill and discipline with King Frederick of Prussia, correct?"
"It was mostly with a relative of mine, General Otto Catalonia. But yes, I did meet the king himself on a few occasions. I am even wearing the sword he gave to me before I returned to America."
"Good. You will be taking direct command of the 1st regiment of the 3rd division, but I want you to observe the entire army more closely and array your assessments on what ought to be done to me directly. Your friend, Lieutenant Colonel Milliardo Peacecraft can assist you."
Treize gave a light smile. "I taught him everything I know."
"Well, get your regiment familiar with you and then do as I've ordered. I will be expecting a report from you in a couple of days. That is all."
Treize saluted his general and left.
September 2nd, 1775, Doctor Jay's office, New York City
"Now my boy. I am your initial supplier. Your men will be using a shorter version of the Kentucky Rifle(7) that will be more useful for fighting on horseback. The barrel is around thirty-inches in length. It shoots a .60 caliber musket ball, and in good hands should be accurate to around 300 yards. I've also modified the rifle so that it will now accept a bayonet, with each of you getting one. Each man will also carry two pistols that use the same .60 caliber ball. It will make logistics a lot easier. To augment your troops for melee combat on horse, you will each be getting a saber as well."
Heero looked over the weapons carefully, gripping his own saber that hung on his hip.
"Now you know General Washington would like dressy uniforms, but I, as you surely do, suspect that you will be doing much fighting from afar and in concealed places. Therefore, these darker, navy uniforms with grey shirts and pants will be better than the bright blue of the Continental Army regulars."
"If they actually had them." Heero grinned, inserting a little humor into the serious problem of lack of proper uniforms for the Continental Army.
"Each man will carry thirty rounds of ammunition, and the basic ration of food that the Continental Congress set. Your men will also carry equipment to make your own musket balls in the proper caliber, should the need arise."
Heero took a rifle that was laying around and proceeded to handle it, looking to see if it was good to make his own.
"Oh no." Doctor Jay interrupted his process. "I have something special for you."
Heero looked in curiosity as Doctor Jay went into his workroom and returned a minute later.
What he was carrying was the oddest looking gun Heero had ever seen. It appeared to be two muskets locked together.
"This is what I was telling you about. I've been working on making this for four years!" Doctor Jay said excitedly. "As you can see, it is double-barreled. This trigger is for the left barrel, this one for the right." Doctor Jay pointed to each. You can fire them simultaneously or in succession, or only one if you wish. Or if you prefer." Doctor Jay stopped as he separated the two barrels by pulling them apart, Heero's eyes bulged for a split second before returning to their usual coolness. "You can fire each individual musket separately. Useful in an ambush, if I do say so myself." Doctor Jay was really getting excited now. "A simple click of this small link will put them back together again." Doctor Jay demonstrated as he easily fit the two guns back together. "Of course, the barrels are rifled and are as long as the Kentucky rifles the rest of your men will use. In the right hands, it is accurate at 300 yards. And I know you have the right hands. You can attach your bayonet to either barrel as you please. I call this weapon the Buster Rifled Musket." He stated with glee.
(A/N: Yes, I know, a lame ass attempt to create an 18th century version of Wing Zero's Buster Rifle, lol.)
"But the most ingenious mechanism is the loading. To load each musket, all you need to do is drop its lever." Doctor Jay said as he lowered the elongated trigger guard of the right musket. "This action will expose the breech. Pour powder into the breach and then put the ball in, then raise the lever, which will close the breech and place the ball and powder in the barrel. Cock the hammer and pour another bit of powder into the lock, then you are ready to fire." Doctor Jay demonstrated all of it with ease. "You should be able to get off five rounds in a minute, which if you count both muskets together should you decide to use it that way, is ten."
Heero actually gaped. This weapon was awe inspiring.
"Take it my boy, and familiarize yourself with it. The Buster takes the same .60 caliber ball as the Kentucky your men will be using."
Heero took the weapon and turned it over in his hand. He immediately ran out of Doctor Jay's office and practiced with it in all of its fashions until dusk.
The next day, Heero got up and put his uniform on, right up to his tricorn hat. Heero walked out his front porch, carrying the Buster, his two pistols, bayonet and saber. He mounted his favorite horse, Zero, and rode toward where his new company was gathered. Heero knew he was expected to make a speech, but he hated doing such things. He rode up next to Trowa, who was mounted on Heavyarms, his own favorite horse.
"Men of the Gundam Dragoons, this marks the start of our journey together. Our journey will be to free this land from the tyranny of King George of Britain. We will show that we are all free men."
The men began to cheer.
"I will never ask you to do anything I am not willing to do myself. I'm a man of my word, but more importantly, a man of action. Now, to the theater of war. For our country, for our rights, and for our honor!"
The men cheered again.
"Company! Move out!" The company first sergeant, Wufei Chang ordered, perched atop his horse, Altron.
Heero looked at Trowa, who looked distinguished as an officer. All except the wide-brimmed hat that he wore. Trowa had always thought that the tricorn was too dressy for a guy like him. Trowa was carrying more muskets than the regimental amount. He carried two shortened Kentucky rifles and a long smoothbore Brown Bess Musket used by the British regulars. Where Trowa had gotten it from Heero had no idea. Trowa also seemed to be carrying at least four pistols.
"Trying to carry an armada of weapons on your person?" Heero asked in a taunting manner.
"No, just trying to have a semblance of rapid fire competition with that damn Buster rifle Doctor Jay gave you." Trowa's eyes glinted.
"Ride on ahead. I'll catch up to you in a second."
Trowa nodded and rode to catch up with the men. Heero rode up to his father and dismounted, giving him a hug good-bye.
"I'll come back." Heero said with hardened intensity in his eyes.
"Yes, I know you will. Now, go out there and give those redcoats all the hell the devil has to offer."
Heero smirked and remounted Zero, riding off to catch up with Trowa and the rest of the men.
Tears of pride filled the eyes of Cornelius Yuy as he watched his son ride off to rejoin his men.
His boy had just become a man.
1. George Washington wore his military uniform from the French and Indian War to all the meetings of the Continental Congress he had attended.
2. More commonly known as Frederick the Great.
3. The Seven Years' War, also known as the French and Indian War.
4. A signer of the Declaration of Independence.
5. A military unit trained to fight both as dismounted infantry and cavalry.
6. At the battle, Washington distinguished himself by being cool under fire and organizing an orderly withdrawal, in what else would have been a military disaster.
7. The famous long rifle that made itself known in the American Revolution, especially at the Battle of Saratoga.