SEQUENCE SIX: DAMN YANKEES
*ANIMUS AUDIO TRANSLATION: ON*
EDO: 1853
Kasumi sat on a rooftop overlooking Uraga Harbor as gulls darted around in the sky. Some of them flocked toward her as she removed some stale rice bread from a pouch on her robes' belt. Just then, she heard a cry from below. Looking toward the harbor, she saw large black ships approaching the shore. They resembled ones that she had seen in Hong Kong.
Kasumi leapt down from the rooftop, landing on the canopy of a vendor's stall. Navigating the growing crowd, she noticed one ship deploying smaller rowboats. As they landed, she watched as the local constabulary took the crew in. She approached one young man, bedecked in a navy blue uniform.
"Kun je spreken Nederlands?" (can you speak Dutch?) Kasumi asked in that language.
The young man was silent.
"Français?" (French?) Kasumi asked again.
Silence.
"English?" Kasumi asked a third time.
"Yes." the man answered.
Just then, Kasumi heard Akihiko whistle for her. Approaching her Mentor, Kasumi awaited new orders.
"Kasumi, we are going aboard one of those black ships." Akihiko announced.
"When?" Kasumi asked.
"Tonight." Akihiko answered.
That night, Kasumi and Akihiko climbed into a rowboat and went out to the largest of the vessels. Coming around the back, Kasumi deftly leaped out of the smaller boat and onto the ship's stern. Scaling it, she climbed onto the deck and was promptly surrounded by armed men.
"Oy! They've sent a boarding party!" one man shouted.
"Damn you, Commodore Perry! I knew the Japanese would try somethin' funny!" another yelled.
Just then, a larger man approached them.
"Mister Gibson, care to explain why you wish to see me damned?" the man asked.
"Sorry sir! Won't happen again, sir!" Gibson exclaimed.
One of the other men approached Kasumi and clapped a pair of handcuffs on her wrists.
"What shall we do with the boarder?" Gibson asked.
"Throw 'im into the sea!" a trio of marines enthusiastically yelled.
"Put the boarder in the brig. We don't want to start a war." Commodore Perry ordered.
Amidst the trio's boos, hisses, and assorted jeers, Kasumi was escorted to the brig of the USS Susquehanna. Upon arriving there, she was led into a cell and locked up.
"Let me out!" Kasumi yelled in Japanese, Dutch, and English.
In his quarters, Commodore Perry poured a glass of whiskey from a bottle with a triangular logo. Turning around, he noticed a man with auburn hair and a handlebar mustache.
"Permission to speak freely, sir." the man requested.
"Troy, you can speak freely to me in private." Commodore Perry replied.
"Commodore, I have reason to believe that our boarder is a member of the Brotherhood." Troy began.
"Troy, you're forgetting that I'm not acquainted with whatever secret society you're a member of." Commodore Perry replied.
"Sir, she's a member of the Assassin Order." Troy summarized.
A long pause ensued.
"What makes you think our boarder is a she?" Commodore Perry asked.
"Just a hunch based off experience." Troy answered.
Another long pause.
"Troy, you have my permission to visit her in the brig." Commodore Perry announced.
Meanwhile, Akihiko was scaling the stern. Upon arriving on the deck, he was surrounded by marines.
"We're being boarded again!" Gibson shouted.
The marines raised their rifles. Akihiko smirked.
"Don't try anything funny or I'll blow yer head clean off!" Gibson announced.
Akihiko extended his hidden blades.
"I believe that you have a saying that what can be best attributed to ignorance should not be attributed to malice." Akihiko deadpanned.
"What's that supposed ta mean?" a marine asked.
"I'm a member of the Assassins." Akihiko answered.
Two of the marines charged at Akhihiko and were promptly relieved of their rifles.
"Give 'em back!" one of them yelled.
Akihiko tossed the guns overboard.
"That's gov'ment property!" a sailor yelled.
Gibson charged with a Bowie knife in hand. Yawning, Akihiko casually disarmed the marine and threw him onto the deck.
"As you say, cry uncle." Akihiko demanded.
Just then, Troy emerged onto the deck.
"What's with the noise?" Troy demanded.
"We got ourselves another one!" Gibson explained, pausing to spit out the blood from the beating he had just received.
Troy looked over the man.
"Mentor, these men know not what they do." Troy whispered.
"I know." Akihiko replied.
"We have opened the door to the Orient for all now." Troy stated.
"That means the Templars will come." Akihiko swore.
"We will be ready for them, Mentor." Troy replied.