Independence
July 1st, 1776, Greer Plantation, Virginia
Eighteen-year-old James Greer sat down in his parlor, playing around with a knife. He was bored. Terrorizing his father's niggers only brought so much excitement. He threw the knife and scored a direct hit to the wall, only an inch away from an unfortunate slave's ear. He laughed wildly and got up to go outside, his shoulder length fiery hair swishing behind him. He decided to do something else for fun today.
Visit a certain prissy girl named Relena Peacecraft.
He mounted a horse in the stables and rode off toward the Sank Manor-it was not a very far ride.
He knocked on the door, his green eyes narrowed upon seeing who answered-a slave.
"Is Relena here?"
"No. Leave." The slave warned.
"How dare you talk to me that way nigger!" He screamed as he pulled out a pistol.
Lucrezia Peacecraft intervened.
"Miss Peacecraft is in Philadelphia with her uncle. Do NOT ever threaten anyone around here again." Lucrezia glared at the arrogant James Greer, whom she never liked. It was awful that he had his eye on Relena, poor girl. She thought sadly of her sister-in-law.
"My apologies, madam." James replied hesitantly. He re-mounted his horse and left.
July 2nd, 1776, Philadelphia
It was early in the morning on a hot summer day. A horse drawn carriage carried two distinguished citizens through the city. The young woman in the carriage was silent much of the way.
"I see you are not happy that congress removed the condemnation of the slave trade from the declaration." Thomas Jefferson said to his niece.
"No, not a bit!" She huffed.
"I'm sorry Relena, I did try my best. The delegates from South Carolina and Georgia insisted that it be removed, and we have to present a united front against King George."
"I'm sure you did try." She sighed.
"I can't tell you how angry I was. Those men tore through what I worked so hard on. I hope it will be presentable when something is finally agreed upon."
"Don't you find it hypocritical, Uncle Thomas that a group of slave owners, yourself included, are fighting for freedom?"
Thomas did not answer her for quite a bit. Finally he sighed. "It's a shame you weren't born a man, Relena." He smiled at her. "What a statesman you would have made."
Relena was startled by her uncle's words. "I...what about Milliardo?"
"Milliardo is too aggressive. He doesn't possess the judgment that you have. He is tempestuous, and I think, somewhat on the fiery side. He does have his qualities; he is loyal, and committed to his cause. But no, he is not a statesman. Your brother is doing his job as a soldier in the Continental Army; it is better suited for him."
Relena struggled to find her words. Thomas chuckled.
"I see that you like it here in Philadelphia." He tried to change the conversation. He'd be talking about the declaration all day long and he wished for some time to talk about everyday things.
Relena smiled. "Yes. There's so much to do. It makes me feel alive. I find I'm growing more and more bored at the Sank Manor. Thank you for sending for me."
He chuckled again. "I needed someone to keep me company other than those men who wrecked my work in congress."
"I would love to meet Mr. Franklin though. He's on that committee with you right?(1) The man who tamed lightning! Couldn't you introduce me?"
Her uncle frowned. "He's an old man who is known to have inappropriate thoughts about young women such as you. A wise man yes, a pure one? I am not so sure. Stay away from him."
Relena wrinkled her nose. "I can take care of myself. What's a seventy-year-old man going to do? The only delegate you introduced me to was that Mr. John Adams from Massachusetts, and while I enjoyed talking with him about the big things...he seems a little on the dull side. I also believe he has somewhat of a temper." She pouted.
"Franklin will try to charm you. Stay away from him." Thomas warned again as their carriage pulled up to the Pennsylvania State House.(2) Thomas dismounted from the carriage and helped his niece down. It was then that he saw a certain Benjamin Franklin approach them.
"Mr. Jefferson, we were expecting you. The committee is prepared to meet concerning the declaration and new revisions." It was then that the wise Benjamin Franklin noticed Thomas Jefferson's niece. "And who is this lovely young lady?" He asked with a glint in his eye. "I am Benjamin Franklin and you are?"
"Relena Peacecraft." Relena giggled. Yes, she did get to meet him after all!
"Well, Relena Peacecraft. How do you know Mr. Jefferson here?" Benjamin kissed her hand.
Relena began to squeal with laughter. She was obviously enjoying herself. To think, she was being hit on by the statesman, scientist, and inventor, perhaps the most famous man in North America.
The fact that he was seventy and she eighteen somehow made it cuter.
"She is my niece." Thomas answered for her. Thomas was never happier to see the approaching form of John Adams. He clearly was getting angry at his colleague's casualness.
"Mr. Franklin, Mr. Jefferson, we really must get started on the day's business." He tried his best not to seethe at Benjamin's actions.
Composing himself, Benjamin's eyes glistened again. "Good day, Miss Peacecraft, I hope we may meet again."
Thomas kissed her cheek as she was laughing. "Take care. Stay out of trouble."
She nodded with flushed cheeks as she watched her uncle walk off with his colleagues. Relena gave one last smile as she saw the doors close and walked off to do some shopping.
"So, do you think congress will give us the much needed supplies?" Trowa asked Heero as they emerged from a meeting with one of the financiers of the whole revolution, a Mr. Robert Morris.(3)
"They better, no army means no revolution." Heero answered in monotone.
Trowa nodded as they continued to walk. They were sent by General Washington to assure new supplies. In order to get his request, Washington wisely sent two of his star officers.
"I'm off to do a few things. We still have some time left in Philadelphia and we might as well enjoy it." Trowa stated and then walked off without waiting for his friend's reply.
Heero merely watched him walk off, then he wondered what the hell he was gonna do until Trowa got back. Perhaps he'd just go get a drink and then groom Zero. Heero slowly walked down the street. When he walked in front of a shop he felt someone bump into his side, the person fell to the ground, dropping all of the merchandise that had been purchased on the street. Heero bent down to help the person pick up the things.
What emerged from all of the scattered merchandise was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen.
She appeared to be his age with honey blonde hair and big, expressive, gorgeous cerulean blue eyes. The outfit that she wore did absolutely nothing to hide her lithe, slender figure.
The first thing Relena noticed was the man's dark, stormy eyes. She had never seen eyes like that before. His wild brown hair gave him a handsome, dangerous aura. The fact that he was a soldier that looked damn good in that uniform only enhanced that image.
"I...I'm terribly sorry." Relena blushed as the man helped her up.
"Hn." Heero grunted as his eyes reverted back to their usual air of indifference.
"My name is Relena Peacecraft."
"Major Heero Yuy." Heero said in his usual monotone.
Relena then remembered the letter her brother sent her some months ago about Heero Yuy and the dragoons. This was that man. But she decided not to talk about that at this present time.
Why was Heero shutting down? He'd had plenty of experience with the opposite sex, in fact, too much. Being the most eligible bachelor in New York made women flock to him pretty much his entire life.
"You're a soldier." Relena finally said after a few moments of silence.
"You have great observational skills." Heero said sarcastically with a slight smirk.
"I mean-why are you not with the army in New York?" She smiled shyly.
"General Washington sent me here on a supply mission. That's all I will say."
Relena stood in shock that she would ask for such sensitive military information. 'Sorry.' She mouthed at Heero.
Heero began to walk away, but then turned back. He had nothing else to do, so why not?
"Do you need some help carrying that?" He walked up to her.
"Uhhh...I'd like that, thank you." She smiled as Heero took the heavier merchandise.
"Where are we taking this to?"
"To my uncle's townhouse. He is a delegate to the Continental Congress and called for me to keep him company, so I am staying there at the moment."
"Which delegate is he?"
"Thomas Jefferson of Virginia." Relena answered.
"Author of the Summary View of the Rights of British America?" Heero asked in surprise.
"Yes, that's him. I see his work has spread to other colonies." She did not dare tell him what her uncle was currently working on. She had her own secrets to keep, just as he did.
"It was a favorite of my father's." Heero answered.
Heero continued to walk with Relena, after dropping her purchases off at her uncle's townhouse (which Relena took up herself, for it would be inappropriate of him to go in there with her alone), he found them walking through Philadelphia engaged in conversation.
Heero was surprised at this girl. She very well knew the theories of Locke, Hobbes, and Montesquieu.(4) She was an ardent Patriot and Heero found himself growing to admire her resolve for the rights of British America, as her famous uncle so eloquently penned. Heero even found himself talking to Relena about his stint in the Gundam Dragoons. Then they got into discussion over Negro slavery. To say that Heero was shocked at Relena's position was an understatement.
"So you see, slavery is cruel, inhuman, and morally wrong. I can't tell you how many times I have heard the blood curling screams of those people being whipped, as well as the desperate cries and pleas of those being separated from their families. It is horribly hypocritical of a slave owning nation to be fighting for liberty! We have the perfect opportunity now to get rid of this vile institution."
"The negro is not ready for freedom." Heero immediately insisted. He was critical of the institution of slavery, but more from an economic efficiency standpoint rather than any humanitarian motive. How can one expect people who are enslaved to be good workers? Not much will get done in an air of fear.
"Wrong, Major Yuy. We have done great injustice to them. They may be freed and with some assistance, they may be productive members of society just as we are."
"All of this coming from a slave owner such as you are, Miss Peacecraft?"
Relena hmphed. "I inherited those slaves. I would emancipate them immediately if I could, but my brother legally controls my estate until I marry. It's ridiculous if you ask me."
"And with a woman such as yourself I assume you have many suitors."
Relena hmphed again. "Yes, but I hate every one of them. I wish they would just leave me alone."
For some reason, Heero felt wonderful upon hearing that she wasn't interested in anyone...that she was...available.
"Fortunately, my brother and his friend Treize chase them away most of the time." She smiled. "But it has been difficult seeing as they're away fighting in the Continental Army now."
"Colonel Treize Khushrenada? I've met him before."
"Have you?" Relena smiled. "My brother fights as the second-in-command of his regiment. He is Lieutenant Colonel Milliardo Peacecraft."
"Hmmm." Heero grunted, thinking. "I have seen him before during meetings of the officers, but I've never spoken with him. Is he the one with the very long platinum hair?"
Relena laughed. "Yes, that's him."
Heero continued to engage in pleasant discussion with Relena until he was interrupted.
If there were any time he did not want to see Trowa, it was now.
"Heero! Urgent news!" Trowa noticed that he was with a woman and was instantly curious, but he could get the information out of his friend on the ride to come.
"What, Trowa?"
"A British armada has been spotted in the Atlantic, and they are approaching New York! So far, 110 sail has been counted! We must hurry back at once!"
Heero's face instantly went back to his cool, soldier's mask. The British were going to, at last, invade his home city.
"A pleasure meeting you, Miss Peacecraft." Heero said as he took off with Trowa toward Zero and Heavyarms.
Relena watched as the two sped away toward war. She hadn't even had the chance to say good-bye. Two days later, Relena heard the sound of bells and guns all day throughout the city.
Independence had, at last, been declared.
July 9th, 1776, New York City
Heero, Trowa, and the rest of the Gundam Dragoons were listening at their posts. General Washington had ordered his troops be read a copy of the new Declaration of Independence.
Heero's father was visiting, as well as Catherine and Daniel Bloom, who, as one of Cornelius' shipmasters, did not join the Continental Army.
"The history of the present King of Great Britain is a history of repeated injuries and usurpations, all having in direct object the establishment of an absolute Tyranny over these States. To prove this, let Facts be submitted to a candid world." The man who had been assigned to read the document read with emotion each of the facts.
Cornelius nodded with anger. Everything that this wonderful Declaration said, he had been fighting for over ten years.
"We, therefore, the Representatives of the united States of America, in General Congress, Assembled, appealing to the Supreme Judge of the world for the rectitude of our intentions, do, in the Name, and by Authority of the good People of these Colonies, solemnly publish and declare, That these united Colonies are, and of Right ought to be FREE AND INDEPENDENT STATES." The soldier reading screamed in emphasis. "That they are Absolved from all Allegiance to the British Crown, and that all political connection between them and the State of Great Britain, is and ought to be totally dissolved; and that as Free and Independent States, they have full Power to levy War, conclude Peace, contract Alliances, establish Commerce, and to do all other Acts and Things which Independent States may of right do. And for the support of this Declaration, with a firm reliance on the protection of divine Providence, we mutually pledge to each other our Lives, our Fortunes and our sacred Honor."
"Yes, we do pledge our lives, fortunes, and sacred honor to make sure that are free for good." Wufei stated with hardness.
"Hey, wait a minute!" Duo said as he saw a huge statue of King George on a horse. "Why do we have a statue of that tyrant in OUR country?!" Duo shouted.
This got many people's attention.
"TOPPLE IT!" Someone, a civilian, yelled.
"We'll topple it and use it for musket balls for our soldiers!" Cornelius yelled, trying to get control of the civilians who came to hear the Declaration.
The crowd's mind was made up. Trowa smirked and quickly joined them. Daniel followed suit.
"Not going, Heero?" Catherine asked.
Heero's eyes moved to glance at Catherine. "I'd rather concern myself with the British fleet than a statue of our former king. Statues don't kill people. Those British men-o'-war(5) will."
Catherine smiled. "I think the musket balls may come in handy though."
Heero laughed out loud. (Think his maniacal laugh here) "I suppose so, shooting redcoats with metal that used to be a statue of their king is a comedic irony."
Heero suddenly found himself thinking about Relena Peacecraft again. He had only spoken to her for an hour or so, so why could he not get her out of his mind? She was so...different from other girls, and more beautiful than any he had seen. He regretted not getting any further information on her. Perhaps he could have written her, as Trowa was writing Midii, that girl he met in Boston.
Heero sighed. He probably would never see her again. He would not inquire to Colonel Khushrenada about her, and most certainly not Lieutenant Colonel Peacecraft. There were much bigger things to be concerned with.
His thoughts were interrupted by a loud crash and thousands of cheers.
The statue was toppled.
August 27th, 1776, New York City
Colonel Treize Khushrenada, in command of the newly reorganized Second Continental Regiment, waited. He had been assigned by Major General Nathanael Greene(6) to help with the protection of the village of Flatbush in Brooklyn. Treize had a very bad feeling about this battle. He had insisted to General Washington that the possibility of defending New York, a city of islands and rivers, with no navy, while the British had the best navy on earth, was unfeasible, but Washington insisted that this is where they must make their stand.
Treize was also uncomfortable with Major General Israel Putnam leading the defense of Brooklyn while Washington remained in Manhattan. Although he had a hard-fighting, stellar reputation, enhanced by his actions at Bunker Hill, Treize felt that his own divisional commander, General Greene, would have been a better choice, that is, if he had not fallen ill at the most inopportune time. Instead, his division was now commanded by Major General John Sullivan, a man he was also uneasy with.
Lieutenant Colonel Peacecraft rode up to his friend.
"Our men are ready."
"Good, take command of the left flank, make sure the officers are ready to rally their men on a moment's notice."
"You have a bad feeling about this battle, don't you?"
"That is an understatement."
Milliardo looked solemnly at his friend. He too, did not like the present arrangement.
"Go." Treize commanded.
Milliardo nodded and shook Treize's hand as he went to take his command. Treize was clutching the last letter that Anne had sent him. 'Firm resolution creates miracles.' She had ended it with.
A miracle might be farfetched. In addition to the naval problem, most of the units here were militia, and the resolve of militia when faced against a devoted charge by British regulars was notoriously slim, not to mention that Treize knew that Hessian mercenaries would also be involved. He took his sword in hand and prepared for battle.
Trowa had just finished reading the latest letter from Midii. He liked that girl greatly, and wondered when he would be able to see her again. She had, in May, come down to New York to visit him.
Heero looked on with increasing tension.
"This pass is too lightly defended." Wufei said from atop Altron, perched right next to Heero atop Zero.
"Let's hope the redcoats don't find it."
The Gundams were acting as a screening force and had been assigned to the Jamaica pass. If the British marched through here they would outflank the army. They had to make sure that didn't happen.
Hessian mercenaries were approaching Treize's position at the Flatbush pass.
"FIRE!" Treize shouted.
His troops opened up a musket volley from their entrenchments. A few Hessians went down but they kept approaching.
"RELOAD!" He watched as his troops went through the motions of reloading the smoothbore muskets that they held. The Hessian troops got in position and fired. A few of Treize's men went down, but Treize raised his sword and commanded his regiment to remain firm.
The roar of Knox's artillery filled the air of the battle. Treize watched as some of the solid shot balls plowed through the ranks of the Hessians, severing limbs, putting huge, gaping holes through chests, and taking heads off, bouncing death anywhere they went. Treize felt an air of sadness. The Hessians were once his allies while he was in Prussia, learning under his second uncle, who was fighting for King Frederick. Now they were his enemies. Such was the nature of war.
Milliardo, on the left flank of the regiment rallied the men, galloping on down the line, directing his troop's fire, and even firing a few pistol rounds toward the Hessian lines, hoping they would hit something. One line of Hessians fired and approached Treize's line, bayonet charge.
The cannon thundered, the muskets crackled, black powder smoke filled the air. The Hessians got dangerously close to the American lines. Treize signaled his regiment to hold its fire, earning him puzzling looks.
"Get down in your entrenchments!" He ordered.
When the Hessian regiment opposing him came within twenty yards, Treize gave the order to fire.
What ensued was a bloodbath. Point-blank musketry was always carnage, and the Hessian regiment went down and began a withdrawal.
Suddenly, Milliardo, on Tallgeese, chased them down. He fired a pistol round into a Hessian's chest and drew his saber. In a stunning array of horsemanship, and with bullets from an enemy line further back whistling past him, he drew his saber and began to cut down the Hessians. One of them tried to raise a bayonet, but Milliardo moved away and sliced his throat.
He then galloped back to his regiment, they were cheering him wildly.
"Impressive." Treize galloped up to him on Epyon. "Don't ever do that again." He said with hardness in his eyes.
Milliardo smirked and went to reform his line as Treize galloped back toward the right flank. Later that night, the Hessians began a cannonade on the Flatbush pass, Treize directing his troops to take cover.
The Continental lines were holding for most of the day, Heero had heard. Night was now in full force.
Suddenly, the sound of marching feet was heard. It was about 9 P.M.
Redcoats, thousands of redcoats were coming.
"Dismount and form a line, fire a volley and retreat." Heero ordered.
The Gundam Dragoons formed two firing lines. One was kneeling and the other was standing. They attacked the British from 300 yards and reloaded. Heero was firing both of his rifles at the same time. Although some of the redcoats were cut down, they kept on coming.
"Standing line, remount." Heero ordered.
Trowa was commanding that line and signaled the men to follow him.
Private Duo Maxwell took careful aim at a British lieutenant and fired. Direct hit. He then began to re-load the musket but was interrupted by Heero's orders for the kneeling line to remount.
Heero rode forward and fired his Buster, one barrel after the other, then reloaded. The others frantically rallied to his side as the British were firing at him. Heero heard the musket balls zip past him and Zero as he took careful aim and fired his right rifle at a British musketeer aiming at him, sending the redcoat's round high up into the air as he went down. Heero lowered the levers of the Buster and began the re-loading process. Suddenly, a British cavalry officer rode toward him, saber drawn, aiming for his neck.
Heero quickly pulled out a pistol and fired into his heart. He went down and the horse kept frantically running. Trowa raised his Brown Bess and fired into the approaching British line. His round hit a redcoat. The redcoats got within one-hundred yards. Heero saw an infantry officer's sword coming down.
The British fired a musket volley at the Dragoons. Heero watched two of his men fall down and four horses get hit.
He had just suffered his first losses.
"Sir!" Wufei rode up as he fired one of his two pistols into the approaching British line. "We have to retreat!" He yelled as he saw that the infantry already assigned to guard the pass were running away.
"FALL BACK!" Heero ordered as he raised the Buster and fired one last time for good measure.
"Retreat!" Trowa yelled as he fired his second Kentucky rifle, the round rifling through a redcoat's head.
The dragoons retreated, those who still had rounds made sure they were out of musket range to get a few last hits in.
At around 9 A.M., of August 28th, 1776, Treize knew the battle was lost. The British had used the Jamaica pass, and fired two guns to signal a synchronized assault with the Hessians.
The Continentals had been outflanked.
"Milliardo!" He rode up to his friend. "We have to get out of here now, before we are completely enveloped!"
Milliardo nodded and quickly rallied the left flank in an orderly withdrawal. He was everywhere on Tallgeese, zigging and zagging among the lines, and directing them to the fortifications at Brooklyn Heights.
Luckily, in large part because of Lieutenant Colonel Milliardo Peacecraft, most of Treize's regiment was able to make it out.
But the units stationed at Battle pass were not so lucky. Many of them were bayoneted to death by the Hessians.
"I see you were forced to retreat as well, Major Yuy." Treize remarked as he saw the major and his unit at Brooklyn heights. "Where were you stationed?"
"The Jamaica pass. There must have been thousands of redcoats approaching."
"Yes. They've turned our flank. Thanks to Milliardo here, our regiment was able to make it out before they and the Hessians completely enveloped us."
Heero looked upon Lieutenant Colonel Peacecraft and instantly had flashes of his beautiful sister. What was going on? They had a battle on their hands and here he was thinking about a girl!
"Major Yuy, it's a pleasure." Milliardo offered his hand to Heero, who was startled out of his thoughts and shook it. Thoughts of the Lieutenant Colonel's sister again flooded Heero's mind until he was interrupted by an angry Treize.
"That Sullivan(7) is a fucking moron!" Treize seethed. "He should have assigned more units to guard the Jamaica pass! It is such a curse that General Greene had to fall ill! He would have known!"
"Even my men couldn't hold the pass against such an overwhelming force." Heero stated as he got his thoughts back on track.
"Well, it appears that the British have stopped. They're probably expecting a surrender."(8) Milliardo observed.
"We have to get back to Manhattan." Heero stated as indifferently as he could. "We're trapped like sitting ducks here."
"How will we go about doing that?" Treize asked. "The British, if you've noticed, have an armada not far from here." Treize reached for the letter in his pocket. It really would take a miracle for the Continental Army to survive intact.
On the night of the 29th and early morning on the 30th, the miracle that Anne had written Treize about occurred. The fog was a godsend. Under its cover, and under the skill of Colonel John Glover(9) the army, horses, munitions and cannon were evacuated from Brooklyn and safely reached Manhattan.
Lieutenant Colonel Milliardo Peacecrat's actions during the battle were becoming well known, and were perhaps the only bright point the Continental Army had to talk about. The troops already were affectionately calling him 'the Lightning Count,' because he rode Tallgeese and directed battle at the speed of lightning.
In a disastrous series of battles and after a great fire in which nearly a quarter of the city's buildings was destroyed, the British had taken New York.
Heero continued to retreat from his beloved home city. Thankfully, his father, Doctor Jay, Catherine, and Daniel, had made it out safely. The British military force was overwhelming.
What did Independence mean?
At this point, nothing.
1. The Committee of Five. The group selected by the Continental Congress to draft the Declaration of Independence. Consisted of Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, Roger Sherman, and Robert R. Livingston.
2. Independence Hall, as it was known in these times.
3. Known as the Financier of the Revolution, because of all his work securing finances to fund the revolution.
4. Philosophers of the Enlightenment. Locke in particular was the major figure in American political thought. Hobbes, it should be noted, is much different than Locke or Montesquieu.
5. Warships in the age of sail. The biggest were known as Ships of the Line.
6. A self-taught yet capable soldier and an able general, and the only general other than Washington to serve the entire eight years of the war. He was struck ill before the Battle of Long Island.
7. Sullivan replaced Greene's command; he did not pay heed to the Jamaica pass as Greene probably would have.
8. A common tactic in the 18th century was to pause in the battle and allow the enemy to surrender.
9. A fisherman before the war who was adept at amphibious activities, it was thanks to Glover that the Continental Army made it out of Brooklyn.
(A/N: Yeah, footnotes got kinda long in this chapter. Maybe I'm just getting into this story too much.)