Traitor

The Order

I'm a colonial scout for an armed resistance against the tyranny of General Gage and the British Crown.

    Paul Revere's words echoed through Captain Thomas Preston's head as he paced around the room where General Gage had requested to meet with him. Were they right? The Captain of the British Military in Boston was seriously questioning that. He had seen the sacrifices that they make and the hardships that they endure. Preston admitted that he did think that Thomas Gage could be very brutal at times, but was he a tyrant? The colonists of Boston certainly thought so. And after learning that the richest man in Massachusetts, John Hancock, gave up all of his fortunes for the revolution, Preston knew that they were serious about getting independence. But where did he stand?

    The wooden door creaked open as a man dressed in a British officer's uniform and a white powdered wig entered with a smug expression on his face. He silently walked over to his desk without giving a glance at his captain and sat down calmly, but Preston knew all too well that he was not calm.

    "We seem to have failed to capture Samuel Adams and John Hancock," he said softly with his British accent, looking Preston in the eyes.

"Uh, yes sir. The rebels proved that they were... exceptionally strong."

General Gage nodded and sucked in a breath. "So this group of colonial farmers were able to hide the ammunitions and kill the majority of your entire regiment!" General Gage slammed his fist on the table. "You were a magnificent captain during the war and these farmers who have no military experience beat you!"

Preston hesitated. "It was only a minor setback, sir."

"A minor setback? What do you think would happen if the king found out about this?"

"I'm sorry sir," Preston said, at a loss for words. General Gage reached into his coat pocket and handed him a folded piece of parchment. Preston unfolded the note and silently read it.

"Lord North wants us to try to capture Hancock and Adams one more time. My better judgment tells me not to give this assignment to you, but I have other affairs that need tending to and I certainly do not trust my other officers with this task. Arrest Hancock and Adams so they may be brought to me and tried for treason. Do not fail again."

Preston put the note in his pocket and nodded to the general. "Yes sir. I will not fail." As Preston turned to leave the room, he couldn't help but wonder if he could really go through with such a thing, especially if the rebels could be right.