The Lone Sharpshooter

is an article written by John Breasly about a sharpshooter in the British Army, under a special operations unit being used in an on-going war against Spain and it's ally (at the time), France. He operates mostly in the New World. While on a mission to assassinate a French commander holding a strong fort in the Louisiana territory, the sharpshooter is separated from his team, who are caught in a fire-fight off the coast of Florida. The sharpshooter must complete his task alone, if he wants the British to be able to succeed in entering Louisiana.

Chapter I - Assignment
"Gentlemen, welcome. As you well know, I am Captain Richard Spark, general of the British Army's Ranger division. We have met on occasion before," said the tall, intimidating man before me.

I stood shivering in the tall tent, and rubbed my hands together. Another bloody mission. I figured it'd be the same mumbo-jumbo I always get: "You need to clean up a loose end while everyone else does the real work." If only I knew what I was getting into back then, I may have had a different attitude towards it.

"For this mission, you all are going to divert from the usual missions in Spain and France, and take a nice little trip to the New World," said Captain Spark. A trip to the New World? Why us?

Captain Spark continued, saying, "Your target is Alexandre Bayre, the French commander of Fort Swampmouth. It's a tactical position overlooking a small delta that leads into the Louisiana territory. And we need in. Take out the commander, and our boys in the water can do the rest." I stood in a sort of stupor. I had never been on a mission like this. I knew how to kill, but... someone this high up? Someone this important? Everything ran through my head at once. Security, angles, wind speed, noise, the whole nine yards. Deep in my thoughts, I barely felt the hand on my shoulder.

"Black, by God, you look positively sick... are you coming down with something in this cold?" Reginald whispered. Good old Tess always looking out for us. I brushed him off.

"I'm fine, just a little chilled," I replied, trying to keep my gut calm. I took a deep breath and continued listening. Captain Spark went on.

"We have arranged for an East Indiaman to take you to Oranjestad. From there, you will be smuggled to a Spanish town along the coast of the gulf. You will make your way to Fort Swampmouth, and carry out your mission. We have little intellegence of the fort, so I would suggest you attempt to blend in around the town, and try to survey the fort."