The American Dream: An American Officer ISOTed to the Revolutionary War

[okmangeez]

AN: Hello! I'm okmangeez and I've just recently joined. I've been active on a few other forums, such as SpaceBattles and Alternate History, and decided to jump onto this forum to look around as well.

I've been working on an alternate history story for a while now and wanted to share it with this forum to get some feedback and to entertain (hopefully) some readers. Criticisms/comments are always welcomed. If there are problems with the font, narrative, characters, or the such, feel free to leave your thoughts down below. I have used multiple sources for various battles, events, and characters. As such, the numbers/characterization might not be the exact replica of what you would expect. There will be some initial handwaving in order to make sure the MC isn't shot/murdered in the beginning, but please comment and criticize me if I am wrong about historical events/facts.

So without further ado, here is the first chapter of the story

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When First Lieutenant Samuel Kim came to, he was no longer in his rather comfortable room in Camp Pendleton. Instead, he was tied to a chair inside a small and plain tent. That was not the only fact that surprised him, as he realized that he dressed in his dress uniform for the Marine Corps instead of his sleepwear. Shaking off his surprise caused by the sudden changes, the US Marine looked at his surroundings to analyze the situation. The interior of the tent was bare, with only a small table with a lantern and a stool beside his own chair. Outside, the lieutenant could hear the sounds of shouting and pounding, though he could also make out several voices that were speaking directly outside of the tent he was in. Struggling against the bindings futilely, Lieutenant Kim yelled loudly enough for his captors to hear, "Who's out there and what do you want?"

The voices outside the tent suddenly ceased and two figures walked through the tent flaps to greet the Marine Corps officer. The first one that entered was a man that was fairly short in stature but had an air of authority surrounding him. He looked like he was in his late-40's, with streaks of grey hair that stood out from his auburn hair. The man wore an old-fashioned colonial hat with an outfit that consisted mainly of the colors brown and white. The second man that entered was taller and his face looked more weathered. The taller gentleman looked a decade older than his counterpart and strode into the tent with confidence. His outfit was more sophisticated; he wore a wig, and a colonial officers uniform that Lieutenant Kim had seen in textbooks. Both men looked tense as they approached their captive cautiously.

"How did you manage to get past all of my men and come to the top of this hill with all your luggage with you?" The younger man asked accusingly.

The uptimer stared at the man, having no answers to the man's question. "I do not how I ended up here either. I was thinking that this was a prank made by some of my subordinates, but I don't think they would go this far for a mere prank."

The senior stepped up towards the bound officer to question him. "You said "subordinates," does that mean you are part of a militia? Or perhaps, a member of the redcoats? Judging by your way of dress, I would assume you are a soldier employed under an elite British unit."

"Redcoats? Do you mean the British?" Lieutenant Kim inspected the two people in front of him once more and shook his head. "Then I'm guessing you are colonials fighting against them? I assure you, I am not a loyalist or a member of the British military. My name is Samuel Kim. I am a First Lieutenant of the United States Marine Corps."

"United States Marine Corps. May I ask where this "United States" is? Is it an Asian nation that has lent mercenaries to the British to assist them in the colonies? After all, your features suggest that you come from the Asian continent."

The US officer shook his head, "No, the United States is something far greater than some nation in Asia that is employed by the British. If my hunch is correct, it is the nation that you are trying to create. The United States of America, with the first thirteen states being the thirteen colonies in North America."

That caught the attention of both of the colonials as the younger one nearly grabbed the bound officer by the collar, "What do you mean by that? You claim to be an officer of a nation that does not yet exist?"

"Yes, because I'm an officer of the United States in 2018. Which would be around 240 years ahead of your time. May I ask the current date and where I am exactly?"

"It is the 17th of June, in the year of our Lord 1775. You are currently sitting on Breed's Hill, overseeing the city of Boston." The older man coolly answered before his younger compatriot could answer. "If you are from the year 2018 as you claim, then you are 243 years ahead of our time. That is quite a bold claim, Lieutenant Kim."

The words of the older gentleman did not hold any malicious intent, but he and his partner both looked dubious of his bold claims. Lieutenant Kim closed his eyes and hoped that whatever brought him to this place would have at least brought him some items of use to verify his identity. "You told me before that I arrived with some luggage. May I request you bring them to this tent? The luggage may contain some items that may verify that I am from the future."

"Colonel Prescott, have someone fetch this man's luggage from the other tent and bring it here with due haste." As the younger man left, the older man turned back to his captive with a different look in his eyes. Before, he looked professional and indifferent to the lieutenant's words, but with the colonel gone, the colonial looked eager and even hungry. "You said that this "United States" would consist of the thirteen colonies of North America. Does that mean we achieve victory? Do we win the war against the redcoats?"

Lieutenant Kim blinked at the sudden change of atmosphere but welcomed it. "We do. We will declare our independence next year, in the year 1776. Afterward, we will win a string of victories against the British that will bring the French to our aid. After receiving French aid, we will begin to push the British back further and further, and the war will end with the surrender of General Cornwallis at Yorktown in 1781. The British will formally recognize our independence in 1783 and from there, we will expand to the west and the United States will span from the Atlantic to the Pacific. In the year 2018, the United States is the world's sole superpower. We do not have an empire, but we are a democratic republic that stands for equality and justice with a military that kings and conquerors of the past would envy."

The colonial soaked in every word the officer said and looked celebratory when his small speech ended. "And many told me that we would only suffer defeat if we challenge the might of the British military! If what you say is true, good sir, then we should gladly fight for our nation's future! Excuse me for being a bit rude earlier, but I am Major General Israel Putnam of the Continental Army."

"I have read about you in our history books, general. And since today is June 17th of 1775, I would assume that you are about to fight the British in one of the most famous battles in American history: Battle of Bunker Hill."

General Putnam looked confused at the remark. "Are we forced to retreat from our current position early on? Our plan is to defend Breed Hill and to withdraw to Bunker Hill if we are breached."

"No general. The majority of the battle does take part in Breed Hill, but the name "Battle of Bunker Hill" sounded more appealing to historians I suppose." Lieutenant Kim replied. "However, if it is not too late, I do have some suggestions to inflict more casualties on the British and to secure a complete American victory…"

As he was speaking, Colonel Prescott and another colonial walked into the tent with a large travel bag with wheels, a military backpack, a rifle, and a pistol. They were all placed onto the table in the tent and the colonial that assisted the colonel left the tent. General Putnam went over to the table and inspected the rifle with great interest. "Is this weapon also from the future then? This looked remarkably well crafted and seems to fire projectiles other than balls."

"That weapon is considered outdated from the year I come from, but was widely used in the early 1900's. However, that weapon is still years ahead of anything your militia or the British army has. The rifle is called the M1 Garand, a rifle that is able to fire repeatedly without needing to inject the "bullet" directly into the gun. The end of the rifle has a small opening where you can place a clip of bullets into the rifle directly, allowing a continuous stream of fire. Each clip holds eight bullets, so in a span of a minute I can most likely shoot around 40 to 50 accurate shots towards the enemy."

General Putnam picked up the Garand and weighed the rifle in his hands. "The rifle seems to weigh about the same as our muskets, but it is it seems considerably shorter. But you say that this can fire 40 to 50 shots per minute?"

"Yes, general. And the range for the Garand is several hundred yards and also has a sight to assist in aiming. If used correctly, I would assume that rifle could change the tide of an entire battle." Lieutenant Kim answered. "But before I get into any more specifics, may I ask that you open the small pouch at the very front of the bag and pull out the small booklet that is in it? It will help clear up any doubts about my claims."

While the general was still looking over the rifle, Colonel Prescott opened up the front pouch and pulled out a small black booklet. The very top of the booklet had the word "PASSPORT" emboldened onto it. The center of the cover featured an eagle that held arrows in its left claw with an olive branch on its right claw. The very bottom line of the booklet cover adorned the words "United States of America."

Curious, the colonel opened up the booklet and was greeted with a large picture eagle, with a somewhat familiar flag flying in the background. He read out the words that were written next to the eagle to his superior, who had also taken notice of the booklet. "We the People of the United States, in Order to create a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution of the United States of America."

"General Putnam, Colonel Prescott, I know it is hard to believe what I am telling you. Even in my times, the thought of someone going back in time and changing history is only in works of fiction. However, I have somehow traveled back 243 years into the past. I do not know how, but what matters more is that I am here with knowledge about the future. You may not trust me because I am a stranger, but my presence may change the course of this battle, war, and our future nation. So please, I ask you to trust me and let me help you win against the British. I can save dozens, if not hundreds of lives today if you do." The Marine Corps officer pleaded. Even though he was far away from home, his mind was racing with improvements he could bring upon the United States now and beyond.

Surprisingly, it was Colonel Prescott that spoke first. "While I still have my doubts, I believe that we should allow this man to assist us, general. His speech makes it clear that he is not British and he seems fiercely loyal to the United States, which is the cause we are fighting for if this man is correct. We will need to speak to him in greater detail, but for now, I believe he can be trusted."

The older colonial adjusted his wig and looked at the rifle and then the booklet. "I spoke with him briefly while you fetched his luggage and I am inclined to agree. If he does have knowledge that can assist us in the upcoming battle, then I see no reason to keep him bound and useless while the British overwhelm us. Unbind him."

In a few seconds, Colonel Prescott untied the rope and Lieutenant Kim rose from his chair unsteadily. He held out his hand to the general for him to shake. "Then let us fight for the future of our nation."

General Putnam took his hand and shook it, "We must. If shots are fired today, then there will be no peace until the end of this war."

 

[okmangeez]

"This here is a layout of the battle, which will commence around 3 PM later today." Lieutenant Kim showed the Colonials an accurate map of the battle through his laptop. He had managed to skim through the content of his equipment before starting the strategy meeting and found his laptop buried in his combat backpack. Despite being on for about half an hour, the laptop's battery did not fall a single percent and had the entirety of Wikipedia and various history textbooks downloaded into it. "As you can see here, the fortifications on Breed's Hill will provoke an aggressive response by the British and they will attempt a frontal assault to dislodge us from our positions."

In front of the uptime officer was the two colonial officers that had interrogated him before. General Putnam wanted to reveal the lieutenant's presence to the rest of the camp to inspire them, but Lieutenant Kim advised against such actions to limit rumors that may spill to the British. Instead, the Marine Corps officer stood in front of the colonel and major general to exploit their situation and change the battle's outcome. The officers were in awe of the laptop in front of them, still wondering how the machine worked. Thankfully, they were equally captivated at the vast and detailed map on the glowing portion of the machine.

"However, in the world where I come from, the stand at Breed's Hill led to a number of problems. It was harder to supply Breed's Hill with men and supplies due to the distance. While the distance is not too significant, it did hinder reinforcements from assisting the main forces stationed at the hill. Many regiments decided not to advance in face of British bombardment and stayed put on Bunker Hill. Additionally, Breed's Hill had more gaps on the sides that led to troops being diverted elsewhere. The battle managed to force the British to play their hand and inflicted severe casualties upon the British troops, but it also came at the cost of losing the battle and a retreat from Charlestown and surrounding areas."

"So what changes do you advise order to win this battle?" General Putnam asked, his eyes fixated on the map.

Lieutenant Kim smiled and used Paint to draw over the map. "The best course of action is to provoke a response in order to draw out the battle and then withdraw to a more defensible position. I have researched a bit on the battle and the British officers that we will be facing. If my thinking is correct, then the British will attempt to completely envelop and destroy us if we feint a retreat after their first assault. We should finish some fortifications on Breed's Hill, but focus more on the fortifications of Bunker Hill. A small force, consisting of some of the best disciplined and skilled regiments, will hold Breed's Hill and the surrounding flanks to delay the British advance. The regiments will blunt the first British assault, then retreat towards Bunker Hill in order to make the British believe that we are low on ammunition or that our lines are breaking. Once the British troops take the bait and move in towards Bunker Hill, we will play to our defensive advantage and inflict massive casualties on the British troops. After several volleys of fire, the British will either attempt to reinforce their assault with additional troops or retreat hastily back to the beaches. Since we will have a steady flow of reinforcements arriving at Bunker Hill, we should be able to fend off the British even if they received additional support. Once the British start retreating, we will advance and retake Breed's Hill and fire at them while they retreat. From there, we will be able to refortify Breed's Hill and gain the tactical advantage once again."

By this point, the lieutenant had altered the map to fit his battle plan and the final drawing he made was a large arrow that pressed towards Morton's Hill. Finishing his suggested plan, Lieutenant Kim turned to Colonel Prescott and Major General Putnam for his reply.

"It's a bold move, but considering the information we have now, it is a very sound plan. I am usually not a general that likes to consider the specifics and troop numbers, but even I think this is a fairly logical course of action." General Putnam replied after a moment of silence.

Colonel Prescott nodded his head. "This plan might be the key to our victory, but I must ask this. If the British believe that they will lose a large number of men assaulting Bunker Hill and choose to fortify Breed's Hill, what will we do?"

"I have already accounted that possibility into the plan, Colonel. If the British troops decide to not press forward, then we will flank them with the regiments placed in Charlestown itself as seen on the map." The lieutenant highlighted several small boxes that occupied the edge of the town. "As in the original battle, if we have several regiments stationed within the town and have them hide from the British, we can use them to flank the British position and cut off any reinforcements from reaching Breed's Hill. Once these regiments begin the attack, we will move forward with our main forces and retake Breed's Hill by force if necessary. We will take more casualties, but a flanking maneuver will make the British either split to fight two sides or to retreat completely."

With that explanation, the colonel looked more at ease. "I still have a few minor worries about this plan, but I do not object to this plan."

Before the two Continental officers could say anything, Lieutenant Kim interjected his thoughts into the conversation. "It is a dangerous plan and requires everything to go according to plan. Because of this, I volunteer to be at Breed's Hill with the Garand to assist the regiments there."

"No." General Putnam instantly replied," I apologize if I may sound rude, but you hold valuable information that can change the course of history. We can't risk losing you in this minor battle when instead, you can alter entire wars in the near future. I insist that you stay behind at Bunker Hill and oversee the battle from there."

"That may be so, general. But I will not be out in the open and firing my Garand like the others. Since the Garand has a further effective range and better accuracy than all muskets and rifles, I will be in an entrenched position on the hill and fire at the British to help push back the first assault. Unlike in the original battle, there will be fewer men up on Breed's Hill and I can't guarantee that they will succeed in driving the British back. But if I am firing with a Garand at the hill, I can ensure that at least the first wave will be decimated." The Marine firmly stated. "If there are any signs of dangers, I will make sure to retreat along with the others."

General Putnam looked conflicted, but he let out a sigh and straightened his uniform. "Even though I do not want to admit it, your suggestion makes sense. Even though I can have one of my best marksmen use your weapon, you are more used to this rifle than any of my men. And you were an officer for the United States military in your time. If you insist on being at Breed's Hill during the initial attack, then I will give you an officer's commission to lead the regiments defending the hill."

"Sir. Even though he may be an officer from the future and have valuable insight, I do not think it is appropriate to immediately appoint him as an officer. All the regiments that we currently have already have officers leading them. It would be unwise to have a regimental commander removed and replaced right before a crucial battle such as this one." Colonel Prescott looked at the uptime officer apologetically. "I do not doubt your skills or abilities, Lieutenant, but these men are not professional soldiers. Many of them are led by people they are familiar with or lived nearby. Changing commanders will affect morale and spread discontent amongst the militiamen."

The commanding colonial general drummed his fingers onto the table. "Then perhaps there is a way to avoid that problem entirely. If we are to hold Breed's Hill for some time with a minimal amount of troops, then we should have our most disciplined and skilled marksmen to occupy the hill. Out of the 1200 militiamen we currently have, we can find 400 men suitable for the task and place them under your command. We can assure the men that this will be an important task for our defense and guarantee that we will come to their aid should they be overwhelmed. It is important to make sure that they are not to be seen as sacrifices, which they will not be. Instead, they should be seen as the very best we have to fight against the British troops."

Lieutenant Kim nodded in agreement. "I can assure you that I will do my best to wreck confusion in the British lines so that they will have to retreat after their first charge. I will make sure to do enough damage to deter them for some time, but not enough to cripple them to the point where they retreat in a disarray. Our goal is to defeat them utterly to the point where they are unable to withdraw the men they land. Otherwise, those same soldiers will come back to haunt us elsewhere, in New York or even Quebec."

"Quebec? Will we take Quebec?" Colonel Prescott asked with confusion over his face.

With a grimace, the Korean-American shook his head. "No, at least, not in the future I come from. We take Montreal but fail to take Quebec. That could also change, but we must focus on the battle at hand."

"I believe it is settled then. Mr. Samuel Kim, I formerly grant you the commission of Colonel of the Connecticut Militia. You will be assigned a regiment of 400 men, a "Marine" regiment if you will. You will take up position on Breed's Hill and defend the position until the planned retreat. You are to bring victory not only for the colonies but for our future nation of the United States of America."

Shockingly, as General Putnam said those words, the insignia on Lieutenant Kim's uniform began to change. The emblem changed from a single silver bar to a silver eagle with arrows clutched in its claws. Colonel Prescott noted the oddity first and the other two men in the tent watched the transformation complete.

Silence reigned in the room for several seconds before Colonel Kim cleared his throat. "In the future, we have a saying that says "God is a Yankee." Perhaps that is why I was sent here and why he is still watching over me."

 

[okmangeez]

Colonel Samuel Kim stood on a box in front of the 400 men that was loaned to him. The militiamen were finishing up the defenses on Breed Hill, which under the officer's command, primarily consisted of trenches and stakes to protect the defenders and slow down direct charges. The men in front of him were not soldiers, but civilians in arms. He suspected that most of them were ordinary farmers or frontiersmen that had experience in shooting, which was logical as they were more likely to use their muskets and rifles to hunt or fight against Native American tribes. Regardless, even if they were all more "experienced" than other militiamen, they were a far cry from the professional soldiers that the United States would field in the coming centuries. It didn't help that the United States didn't even exist as of yet and the men under his command identified themselves with their colonies.

"Alright!" Colonel Kim raised his voice to draw the attention of the men that were whispering amongst themselves, "Some of you may be wondering why you are now under my command for the upcoming battle. I have no doubts that you are more surprised at the fact that I, a man of Asian descent, will be your officer for the time being."

Mutters and nods were widespread throughout the ranks, with some looking skeptical at the colonel that was dressed like a British officer. He grimaced, but looked upon the crowd determinedly from his position, "That is because I am here to fight for your colonies, your homes, and your loved ones. I may look like a stranger, and to an extent, I am a stranger. However, I have been given the task to help defend your lands from the Redcoats, and I will carry out that duty to the end."

"All you most likely have varying reasons for joining your militias and fighting against the Redcoats. Some of you believe that the Lobsters are invaders, entrenching themselves in a land that is not theirs. Some of you might be here because you seek glory or fame. Others may be here because you were forced or convinced by your neighbors or loved ones. Regardless, all of you are standing here today, united under the banner of defeating the invading Redcoats. And in the end, that will be all that matters."

The Asian-American stepped off the box and stood face to face with the men at the front, "If you think for a moment that the British will stop after seizing Boston, then rid yourself of such delusions immediately. If they defeat us today, the Redcoats will seize Boston and march into surrounding colonies. They will occupy your homes, force you to quarter them, and punish you for daring to fight against the Crown. No matter the reason for your presence here today, you will be fighting not for your own reasons, but for your lives. Your lives to exist and live. The 400 of you have been gathered from the surrounding colonies and are unfamiliar with one another, so I do not expect you to act friendly to one another immediately. However, for the time being, we have a common cause to fight for and all of you here have selected for being the very best that your colonies have to offer."

Colonel Kim noted that some of the men straightened their postures and looked proud at the statement. He let out an internal sigh of relief at the sight. If he was going to lead these forces into battle, he needed them to understand what they were fighting for and remain solidly under his command. They had precious little time before the British started their assault, so he quickened his speech. "So men of New Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Connecticut let us fight! Let the Redcoats underestimate you, for that will be their greatest mistake! None of you here are professional soldiers, but you are fighting for a cause greater than the cause of the Redcoats: for the livelihood of your colonies, your people, and yourself! So come unite together and fight! And even if I am a stranger, let us come together and resist! Show them that none of you are to be trifled with!"

Surprisingly, most of the men raised their entrenching tools and weapons and cried out affirmatively. The men looked up to the colonel with a determined gleam in their eyes and newfound respect. He grinned at the men under him and pulled out his own rifle. "For this battle, you will be part of the First Marine Regiment, the first regiment to have men from differing colonies stand united! We are the first line of defense and you have been told our plan for defense! We will make them pay for every inch of Breed Hill and be the hammer to break them once they retreat! So men of the First Marine Regiment, take your positions! Prepare yourself for battle and resist! For victory!"

"For victory!"

After his speech, the group scattered and began to take their positions within the trenches, as Colonel Kim instructed them. He was aware of the line battles that were common in this period, but the militiamen were not soldiers and he did not want them to take unnecessary casualties. The trenches would protect them from naval fire and small arms fire and help the militiamen steady their aim while firing. As he instructed several of them to spread out evenly throughout the trenches, a militiaman dressed in modest clothes and a colonial hat came up to him, "That was some speech, Colonel. I had my reservations before, but now I'm beginning to believe that you are the right man for the job."

The colonial stuck out his hand for the officer to shake, and Colonel Kim shook the hand firmly, "Colonel William Kim, unofficially part of the Connecticut Militia. May I ask for your name?"

"Doctor Joseph Warren. I was commissioned to be a major general but today, I am fighting as a private with the Massachusetts Militia,"

At the man's reply, Colonel Kim's eyes widened. He was well aware of who the man was and knew of his fate in the original Battle of Bunker Hill. "A pleasure to meet you, Mr. Warren. Let us hope we achieve victory together on the battlefield today."

Just then, an explosion rocked the surrounding area as a crater materialized in front of the trenches. When the two men looked towards the shores, they saw the British slowly unloading from their boats and forming ranks. Oddly, Warren chuckled and gripped his musket tightly, "When you spoke to the men back there, were you speaking truthfully, Colonel? About standing united against Britain and fighting for our future?"

"I meant every word of what I said, Dr. Warren. Hopefully one day, the colonies will be able to unite as one and realize the true threat to their livelihood." Colonel Kim answered, his thoughts wandering to the formation of the United States.

"Then we are in good hands. I am proud to be part of this "First Marine Regiment" and fight alongside you, Colonel Kim. And I'm sure all the men here think the same," Warren bowed respectfully before moving into a position within the trenches.

"Please wait a moment, Dr. Warren," Colonel Kim placed the Garand down on the ground and rifled the bag he was given by General Putnam. He pulled out a battle flag and attached it to a pole that was provided to him. The flag displayed the original Marine flag design, but with the words stating "First Marine Regiment of America." "If would like for you to be the standard barrier for the regiment. Hopefully, this flag will fly on even after this battle ends."

Warren looked at the flag intriguingly but nodded his head. "It will be my honor."

After the major general/private left to walk through the trenches waving the flag, the Marine officer looked through his supplies as the British bombardment picked up. For the Garand, he had 20 clips of ammunition, good for 160 total shots. In his mind, he was already thinking of aiming at the senior officers and infantrymen in order to throw the British in disarray. In addition to this, he had five frag grenades, a flare, and a medkit for emergency treatment. On top of all this, there was a single note written on a piece of paper. The paper addressed Colonel Kim directly and held some answers to his presence in the past. He had read the paper before, but he read it again for reassurance.

"To Lieutenant, now Colonel, Kim of the United States Marine Corps,

Undoubtedly, you are confused about how you were brought to the past and why you have been thrown into the midst of the Revolutionary War. All I (and you may choose to imagine who "I" am) can inform you about this matter is that you have been tasked to change the United States for the better. The United States was a nation founded on many promising and great ideals, yet those ideals were exclusive and America was neither the home of the free or the brave for all for the longest amount of time.

You have been given tools (and you will receive more tools as time goes on) to help change the fate of the United States. You are aware of your nation's history and the tragic mistakes it will make, sometimes intentional and sometimes accidental. Your task is to change the United States so that it is a land for every one of its citizens as early as possible, and become a "Watcher" for the nation as it moves into the future. Help change the lives and views of those around you, and proceed to expand your influence across all the colonies. As I said, you will be given the necessary tools (weapons, clothes, etc) to achieve this. Your first test will be here, at Breed Hill.

It will be difficult and a long, painstaking process. But I am hopeful that you will change America and help her throughout the ages, changing not only America's destiny but the world's destiny.

I will be watching carefully. And as you said, perhaps God is a Yankee."

Folding the note into his pocket, Colonel Kim prepared his gear and stepped into the trenches along with his men. The bombardment continued for half an hour longer before the British began their march towards the hill.

Looking around, he saw that several of the men have been rattled from the bombardment and looked uneased by the lines and lines of British soldiers moving towards them. Even though the defenses he made had prevented any of the colonials from being maimed or killed, the bombardment was shaking their morale. Colonel Kim raised his voice and shouted, "Do not be afraid! You are not alone! You have 400 fellow militiamen with you and thousands more waiting back at Bunker Hill! Hold the line and hold your fire until my command!"

Immediately, Colonel Kim watched carefully as the British began to move closer and closer. As they were within a certain range, the bombardment halted and only the sounds of movement on both sides were heard.

Once the Redcoats were within 300 meters of Breed Hill, the Korean-American officer yelled out his command, "Fire!"

Hundreds of musket shots rang out in unison, along with several shots fired by Colonel Kim's Garand. He saw three officers fall from his fire and dozens of additional Redcoats fall from the militiamen's fire. Expectedly, he heard shouting amongst the British as the British troops reformed ranks and returned fire.

He ducked into the trenches and gritted his teeth. The Battle of Bunker Hill had begun.

 

[okmangeez]

"Fire!"

The muskets of the First Marine Regiment cracked in near unison as numerous Redcoats towards the front fell from the steady fire of the colonials. For every volley the colonials fired, Colonel Kim fired four shots at British officers and NCOs. Some of the militiamen in the vicinity looked at him in awe as he shot continuously towards the British lines, firing steadily and surely and downing the British leaders.

Even though he had superior weaponry that could potentially kill every British officer that he could see, he was preserving some ammunition in case the battle turned awry. While he wanted to crush the British right away, he knew that if the Redcoats turned into a disorganized mess without leadership, it could result in a free for all between the colonials and the British. And as of right now, he could hardly afford to engage in melee against the British troops. No, the Patriots needed a solid victory utilizing every militiaman, including the ones at Bunker Hill, and gain a morale boost from delivering a blow against Britain.

By now, the battle had been raging on for nearly half an hour. Casualties had been relatively light amongst the men of the First Marine Regiment so far, with only several men dying from British fire. The defenses that were prepared before the battle had paid dividends and had protected the untrained militiamen significantly. Meanwhile, Colonel Kim witnessed over a hundred British troops laying on the ground completely still or in pain. Despite the lack of training, the militiamen were decent shots and the trenches and stakes allowed them to rest their muskets and steady their aim.

After another volley, the British assault withered and the Redcoats retreated to regroup. This was the moment that Colonel Kim had been waiting for.

"Marines! Remember the plan! You have done excellently and showed the British your resolve! Now is the time to gather the wounded and retreat back to Bunker Hill to join our fellow militiamen! Together, we will march forward and defeat the British!"

The response was muted from the sound of renewed bombardment, but the men spread the word quickly amongst themselves. Within minutes, the survivors of the battle grabbed their weapons and belongings and began to "flee" towards Bunker Hill as a loose unit. The wounded were carried by some of the militiamen and a few recited a quick prayer for the fallen.

While grabbing his bag of supplies, the colonel spotted flag bearer Warren, who was still flying the flag of the Marine Regiment proudly. Colonel Kim trotted up to him and grinned, "Good to see that you are doing well, Dr. Warren. The men put up one hell of a fight."

"Yes, they did, thanks to your leadership. We lost some good lads, but we inflicted heavy casualties on the British," Warren replied, waving the flag while motioning the others to move along, "Now let's hope that our fellow allies at Bunker Hill are able to do the same."

The two of them began to retreat towards Bunker Hill with the others when the Marine officer spotted an African American man on the ground. Colonel Kim clearly remembered that the man was fighting relentlessly and unwavering during the entire battle. The man was clearly alive and was wounded with a noticeable gash on his leg, yet he was alone on the ground with the other colonials moving past him. Colonel Kim frowned at the sight and moved towards the man. Pulling out his medkit, he began to yell at the men in the vicinity, "Why are you not helping this man?"

"We're prioritizing the more important wounded, sir. He's only a Negro." A colonial stated matter of factly.

Colonel Kim's blood began to boil as he glared at the men surrounding him. He began to treat the wounded man with caution, applying rubbing alcohol to his wound and then wrapping with a gaze. Once he finished his emergency treatment, he turned to look at the militiamen under his command, "Whether if someone's white, black, brown, or purple, I do not give a damn. This man fought with you and was wounded. He did not flee upon seeing the enemy, nor did he cower during the fight. Yet you treat him differently because of his skin color. By your logic, if I were to be shot on the battlefield, you would leave me behind because I am not white."

Some of the men began to spout objections, but Colonel Kim continued as he helped the African American man up onto his feet, "We are rebels, gentlemen. We can't pick and choose who we fight with, and we sure as hell will not leave behind men that are willing to fight with us. So do not look at their skin color, but look at their spirit and bravery. If I had 1000 men like this wounded gentleman, then I will be able to take on the entire British Army with them."

As he was holding up the wounded man, the colonel nodded to the doctor and moved forward back to Bunker Hill. The other men followed, albeit a bit more reluctantly this time. Some of them looked livid at the colonel's remarks, but others looked like they were contemplating silently.

When they reached Bunker Hill, General Putnam personally greeted the return of Colonel Kim, "Colonel Kim! Good to see you alive and well! How goes the battle?"

"The British have suffered hundreds of casualties and I managed to take out at least two dozen NCOs and officers. The British have been blunted, but they were regrouping to lead another attack on Breed Hill while we left. They'll start advancing soon, general. Are the men in Charlestown ready?"

General Putnam nodded, "They are ready on your mark, colonel. I see that this Negro is wounded, does he need treatment?"

"No general. I patched him already using my medical supplies. There are a few others that are wounded as well that most likely need treatment," He asked Dr. Warren to carry the wounded man to the medical tent and ensure his well-being before turning back to the general. He pulled ou the medkit and handed it to the general, "This is a medical kit that can help the wounded avoid being diseased from their wounds and ensure they are treated properly. If there are any doctors in the vicinity that can help the wounded, please instruct them to use the rubbing alcohol in the medical kit over the wounds to cleanse it from disease and then apply the bandages and such. If they have any questions regarding the medical supplies, they can always ask me."

"Very well. Thank you, colonel," General Putnam replied, "Lad! Take this to the doctor and tell them to use the rubbing alcohol to clean the wounds of the wounded and then apply the bandages!"

A man from the Connecticut Militia took the box and ran off towards the doctors. The militia general looked towards Breed Hill, which was picking up with activity, and then gazed over the militiamen around him. "Some of the militiamen turned back after the British began to bombard Charlestown Neck, but we still have around 1,200 men with us. An additional 400 are hiding out in Charlestown, under the command of Colonel Prescott. Once the Redcoats start pushing, we will prepare ourselves in the trenches and fight accordingly."

Colonel Kim looked around to spot the men from his unit and found them towards the front of the militiamen. Despite only engaging in one battle, the men looked much more focused than before and held their muskets closely. It seemed like the skirmish with the British had instilled some sort of discipline into the men. He noticed that while the Marine Regiment was hiding in the trenches and prepping for battle, the more raw militiamen were out of the trenches and readying themselves on open ground. Shaking his head, he began to inspect the British troops coming towards him with a pair of binoculars.

From what he saw, he saw at least 2,000 British troops moving down from Breed Hill and towards Bunker Hill. From a militiaman's standpoint, the British soldiers probably looked intimidating and terrifying. Like on Breed Hill, the British bombardment was rattling the hill and to an extent, the men on the hill as well. Some of the men that were outside the trenches were killed instantly when the artillery fire struck home. As the British began to march closer and closer, he saw some of the men panic and flee, despite barking orders from General Putnam and other colonial officers.

When loud booming sounds came from the peak of Bunker Hill, Colonel Kim and the others turned to look at the source of the noise. On the hill were six artillery pieces, all firing towards British lines. From the distance, Colonel Kim was able to see a man with a peg leg loading up another volley to fire upon the British. Seeing this, the Marine officer could, quite literally, feel the spirits of the militiamen lift tremendously. And when the British came into firing range, the colonel did not hesitate to call out his order to the Marine Regiment, "Fire!"

The other officers echoed his order and over a thousand muskets let loose a volley towards the advancing Redcoats, along with several scattered shots from himself and nervous militiamen. Most of them missed, but a good amount of the shots struck the British lines. His shots struck true and hit several of the British officers once more. Unlike Breed Hill, there were over a thousand men on Bunker Hill and they were able to somewhat match the British in terms of volume, and Colonel Kim was hitting the British lines without restraint. When the British returned fire, the few men within the trenches were safe from British fire, though some of the unfortunate militiamen that remained in view of the British were struck down.

Once he saw that the Marine Regiment was ready to fire once more, Colonel Kim pointed towards the enemy, "Fire!"

In addition to the regiment's fire, Colonel Kim pulled out a frag grenade and pulled the pin, counting two seconds before throwing it accurately towards the British lines. After a few more seconds, a small explosion erupted in the British ranks. Immediately afterward, he threw the remaining frags toward the enemy, achieving the same results. With just the five grenades, he saw dozens of British soldiers go down from the fragmentation. As more and more British soldiers were cut down, suddenly, the Redcoats began to turn tail and march away from the battlefield.

Unfortunately, while he was about to pull out his flare gun and call for a charge, he saw that despite the British retreat, some of the colonial units were fleeing as well. That's when he noticed that there were dozens of dead militiamen on the ground. While his regiment remained fairly unscathed, the colonial units that refused to utilize the trenches and fought the British with line formations suffered heavy casualties and were on the run.

Suddenly, he felt a burning sensation in his pocket and he pulled out the piece of paper from before. The previous message on the paper had disappeared and was instead replaced by a single sentence, "Rally the men by singing the song."

For a moment, Colonel Kim was extremely confused at the wording of the sentence. What did the messenger mean about "the song?" Suddenly, his mind drifted that song that seemed relevant to the situation. Somehow, he got the feeling his assumption was correct.

He cleared his throat and recalled the verses before singing,

"Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men.
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes.

Will you join in our crusade?
Who will be strong and stand with me?
Beyond the barricade is there a world you long to see?
Then join in the fight that will give you the right to be free!

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men.
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes.

Will you give all you can give so that our banner may advance?
Some will fall and some will live.
Will you stand up and take your chance?
The blood of the martyrs will water the soils of Our Land!

Do you hear the people sing?
Singing a song of angry men.
It is the music of a people who will not be slaves again!
When the beating of your heart echoes the beating of the drums,
There is a life about to start when tomorrow comes!"

He had no idea why "God" wanted him to sing that song, but the song was short and seemed to have an effect on some of the colonial soldiers that were near him. Initially, the militiamen looked at him strangely but had a changed expression on their face as they listened to the lyrics. After he finished the song, he saw that many from his own regiment and from other regiments were singing along as well and began to direct their attention towards him.

It was now or never.

"My fellow militiamen! The British are on the retreat and are fleeing! We are able to cut them off and encircle them with our forces in Charlestown! So move forward!"

Colonel Kim fired his flare gun into the air to signal Colonel Prescott in Charlestown. Immediately, he and his own unit began to move forward with hundreds of the remaining militiamen join in on the charge.

His goal was to move his forces forward and get within firing range to fire at the British if they turned back, or at least divert their attention while the men in Charlestown moved up. The militiamen fired upon a few stragglers that were behind the main retreating force, but it seemed like they had caught the British troops in a full rout. When they climbed Breed Hill, the charging militiamen witnessed hundreds of additional militiamen flanking the British troops and catching them completely by surprise.

The first surrender came several minutes later. While some of the British soldiers were able to return to their ships and boats successfully and flee to the warships in the harbor, hundreds of them surrendered once it became clear that they were stranded and surrounded.

"May I speak to the gentleman in command?" One of the British officers asked as he looked at the surrounding militiamen nervously.

"I am Colonel Kim of the 1st Marine Regiment. Do not worry, your men will be unharmed and will be treated fairly," Colonel Kim replied, giving a stern look to his unit and to the militiamen around him, "I will need to speak to General Putnam about procedures regarding prisoner exchange, but I'm sure you will be returned to Britain in due time."

The British officer looked humiliated, but nodded glumly, "My name is William Howe, General of His Majesty's Army."

Colonel Kim blinked.

+++++

AN: The first British assault (the one that Kim and his regiment fended off) was different than the British assault IOTL's Battle of Bunker Hill. ITTL, the British officers attacked through a direct frontal assault to establish superiority and dominance by force as they believed the colonials were on the verge of running from the battlefield (as only 400 men were on Breed Hill, leading them to mistakenly believe that taking Breed Hill would be an easy task).

 

[okmangeez]

"...the Battle of Bunker Hill was one of the most prominent and important battles in American history. Not only was the battle an overwhelming victory for the colonies, but it also rattled the confidence and image of the British Empire. The ramifications of the battle were enormous...

The official figures revealed that 86 men under the colonial militias were killed with an additional 192 men wounded. In contrast, 419 British soldiers and officers lost their lives, along with an additional 841 soldiers and officers wounded. Additionally, 212 men (which did include a number of the injured soldiers) were captured by the colonials, including General William Howe, who would be forever disgraced for being part of the disastrous battle...

Not only did the British lose hundreds of men, but they also lost over a dozen artillery pieces and left behind a considerable amount of weapons and ammunition for the colonial militias to scavenge...

According to official reports, upon hearing the disastrous British defeat at Bunker Hill, King George became visibly outraged and declared that there would be no peace in the colonies until the rebellion was crushed. This would lead to King George's Proclamation of Rebellion on July 15th and the "official" beginning of a military conflict between Great Britain and the colonies. General Thomas Gages was sacked from his position as the Commander in Chief and was replaced by General John Burgoyne, one of the few British officers in the area that did not participate in the Battle of Bunker Hill...

Another important noteworthy result of the Battle of Bunker Hill was the emergence of General Samuel A. Kim as an important national figure. The battle allowed then-Colonel Kim of the 1st Marine Regiment to gain recognition and admiration from militias in the northeastern colonies. The mysterious Asian officer's heroics and leadership were crucial to the American victory at Bunker Hill, and he would earn the nickname "Yellow Marshal" from his peers...

The growing popularity of Colonel Kim in the northeastern colonies and support from the Continental Congress, along with his leadership in the Invasion of Canada, would only cement his legacy in the annals of American history..."

 

[okmangeez]

Colonel Kim watched as the bodies of dead militiamen and Redcoats be carried away by several of the colonials. The officer's white dress hat was in his hands as he solemnly watched the departure of the fallen. The men of the First Marine Regiment stood closely behind, also removing their hats to pay their respects for the dead. Several militiamen from other colonial militias and prominent officers were in the crowd as well, among them being General Putnam, Colonel Prescott, and Colonel John Stark. Amongst the dead were ten of the original four hundred members of the regiment and their names were written down by Colonel Kim as the bodies were identified.

After the colonel read all ten names, he gave an appreciative nod to one of the militiamen carrying out the bodies of the dead. The man stared at Colonel Kim's face but returned the nod with a shadow of a smile on his face. After a few moments of silence, the Marine officer turned to the members of the regiment and spoke, "Ten brave men from our regiment died today on the battlefield, with an additional seventy brave men from other regiments killed as well. Any of us could have been laying on the cold, hard ground. Yet luckily for us and unluckily for them, we escaped death and are now hailed as heroes, while they lay lifelessly on the ground."

"That is why we will not forget their names as we soldier on. This battle is only the first battle of this war, gentlemen. Let us not forget that. We have forced the British to flee and saved the city of Boston. But mark my words, the British will return to the colonies with a vengeance and will seek revenge for their loss on Bunker Hill. Which is why we must continue to fight the good fight and make sure that the deaths of our fellow militiamen are not in vain. More than ever, we must train and prepare to resist."

Standing in front of the members of the First Marine Regiment, he saluted the men and generously took the regiment's flag from Warren's hands, "I understand the battle is over and you all have your own lives and duties to return to. Even so, I could not have asked for any braver men for the battle. You may not be soldiers, but you showed those Redcoats hell. It was an honor fighting alongside all of you, even if it was only temporary."

The reactions from his men were mixed. Some looked surprised at the man's words, while others looked uncertain. A single voice rang true from the crowd, cutting through the colonel's words, "And who said we leaving, sir?"

A single individual limped up to the front of the crowd and Colonel Kim recognized him as the African American militiamen he had treated earlier. The African American militiamen earned a few curious stares and glares from the others, but the crowd was silent as he spoke up, "I thought you was going to remain our leader, sir. I don't know about the others, but I am going to follow you and fight under you till the end."

"Well, I would be honored to continue leading the regiment. But frankly, Mr..."

"Poor. Salem Poor."

"Mr. Poor, I was planning to travel to Philadelphia to receive an official commission from the Continental Congress, but until then, I will be unable to provide for any of the troops."

Even after hearing Colonel Kim's response, the injured man remained undeterred, "I left behind my wife and family to fight, sir. I knew what I was going to fight for and die for. And if you didn't choose to save me on that hill sir, I would've most likely died or been taken prisoner. I owe you my life, and many of us here probably can say the same. With you as leader, I'll gladly follow."

"Hear, hear!" Several of the militiamen cried out.

General Putnam cleared his throat, "I have decided that for the time being, I will assign my duties to one of my fellow officers and travel with Colonel Kim to Philadelphia. Those stubborn fools at Philadelphia will most likely try to deny him a commission, so I will go with him to convince them. Additionally, General Washington is on his way to Boston, so he will be able to take command during my absence. Those of that want to stay in the First Marine Regiment, you have my word that the regiment will become an official part of the Continental Army."

After several minutes of debate and activity, the remaining members of the regiment were officialized. Approximately 200 men of the original regiment opted to remain under Colonel Kim's command, which included men like Salem Poor and Joseph Warren, and an additional 100 men pledged their service to the First Marine Regiment. Colonel Kim caught a few names of the ones that joined and recognized a number of them. The most notable individuals of the newest regiment members were Major Andrew McClary (who was supposed to be dead) and Captain Thomas Knowlton (one of the first intelligence specialists of the Continental Army). Even though the regiment shrunk in size, it was still a decently formidable force and the men were determined due to their victory at Bunker Hill.

However, before he could speak to his reformed regiment, he felt a familiar burning sensation in his pocket. The colonel pulled out the "messenger sheet," as he called it, and read the content of the paper, "Go to the Cemetery near Charlestown and locate the structure that is out of place. You will find supplies there."

The Korean American officer's eyes widened as he read the message and he pulled General Putnam to the side to show him the message. The general read it carefully and grinned slyly, "You are truly blessed by the Lord himself. Let us go with the men, colonel, and see what the "benefactor" has to offer."

"We should do our best to prevent the others from knowing my secret, with the exception of certain individuals. If word gets out that I am from the future..."

"Then you will be a walking dead man. Do not worry, I have already warned Colonel Prescott and my own lips are sealed."

With that reassurance, the colonel called for his regiment to gather and led them towards the cemetery near Charlestown. Upon arriving at the cemetery, the members of the First Marine Regiment discovered a large barn in front of the dozens of graves. Strangely, it seemed as though the other colonials in the area were simply overlooking the barn or unaware of the barn at all.

Colonel Kim took a deep breath and pushed open the doors of the barn. When he walked inside, he came face to face with an unbelievable amount of supplies for his regiment.

Clean uniforms and caps that looked similar to his own were stacked by the hundreds on the side of the barn, along with boxes of various insignias. On the opposite end of the barn were rows and rows of backpacks, not too different than the military backpacks he used in the battlefield, but definitely styled to look more like colonial packs. When he looked inside of them, he found food items, spare clothes, flasks, rain gear, flint and stone, tolietries, supplements, blankets, and even additional ammunition. An entrenching tool and bayonet also hung off the sides of each pack. He gulped as he realized that the sheer quality and amount of supplies in this barn would make his regiment the best equipped and best-prepared regiment in the entire Continental Army.

"We will assign ranks later on, but for now, grab a uniform, a hat, and a pack. They will be yours to keep and maintain from now on, so take good care of them. These were given to us by... my benefactor. There are enough supplies for us to march to Philadelphia, so we will begin our trek once we are ready to depart."

The men eagerly seized up on the chance to grab their gear. While the men were busy grabbing their own equipment, Colonel Kim took note of some supplies that he didn't spot beforehand.

On the wall farthest from the barn door was an array of modern pieces of equipment. He found ten more frag grenades, twenty additional clips of ammunition (he had expended fifteen clips during the Battle of Bunker Hill), additional rounds for the flare gun, a hydro flask with water filters, three field medkits, several smoke grenades, a variety of blueprints, and a backpack that was similar to the ones issued for the other marines. In addition to this, he also found a small pouch next on the side. It was seemingly empty at first, but a note materialized within when the colonel stuck his hand in it. He pulled out the note and read the words on the paper.

"This pouch will be directly connected to the US Gold Reserve in Fort Knox from the future. Every time you reach into this pouch, you will be able to pull out one troy ounce of gold. Currently, Fort Knox has 147.34 million try ounces of gold. You do the math. With the amount of gold you are able to pull from this pouch, you can severely devalue the price of gold around the entire world. The only limitation of this pouch is that you can only pull three hundred ounces from this pouch per day. Regardless, I am sure you (and only you will be able to utilize this pouch) will be able to use the pouch wisely. After all, while your knowledge and skills are important, I'm sure some of the leaders of the Continental Congress will be... much more flexible to negotiations if you have a seemingly large amount of money. And you will need money to maintain your regiment's standards as well.

So carry on, Colonel Kim. Let us see how history will remember you."

In the future, Colonel Kim would deny allegations that he suddenly collapsed onto the ground while his men were getting ready, despite his men's insistence. However, only one thought ran through his mind after he finished reading the message:

What in the God damn hell.

 

[okmangeez]

The members of the 1st Marine Regiment came to a halt approximately two kilometers out from Boston. Despite Colonel Kim's wishes to travel immediately after gathering their belongings, he allowed the marines to celebrate in Boston with the locals. Hundreds of locals celebrated and threw festivities due to the British retreat, which the unit was invited to join. The colonel recognized that the unit needed some time to unwind before their long march, and permitted them to take the night off and enjoy themselves (without their uniforms or bags), although he gave them stiff warnings against excessive drinking and causing fights with others. In addition to this, he told them to return to the barn area by one in the morning as they had a long march ahead of them.

While most of the marines celebrated, the colonel himself reviewed the various supplies he had at hand and took inventory. The number of uniforms and bags exceeded the number of men he had under his regiment by 50, and he recognized that they were most likely spares. In addition to the uniforms, bags, and his own supplies, he discovered a sizeable stack of additional medical supplies, various books, water filters, weapons, and ammunition hidden away in a room towards the back of the barn. The most important items he found from the pile were the boxes filled with hundreds of vaccines for smallpox and cholera. Additionally, there was a sizeable amount of antibiotics and medication to treat common diseases such as influenza and malaria. The medication and vaccines weren't 100% effective, but they would go a long way to help his regiment stay healthy and functioning. He also made a mental note to write down information about the production of smallpox vaccines for future reference.

When he finished up taking inventory of the items, Colonel Kim pulled out150 ounces of gold from the pouch for finances and asked General Putnam to convert them into currency and to buy some needed supplies for the regiment (horses, wagons, additional ammunition to be used for training, camping gear, and etc). After revealing how he had gotten the money, General Putnam inspected the "magic pouch" for a few minutes but left shortly after to acquire the supplies the regiment needed. The colonial militia general returned to the barn two hours later, with eight horses, four wagons, and more perishables and supplies than expected. Apparently, when General Putnam asked around to trade for currency and buy supplies, locals that were sympathetic to the patriot cause and colonial militiamen donated food items and scavenged ammunition, though the horses and wagons were bought outright. Additionally, the general traded the remainders of the gold for large amounts of the Spanish dollar and the British pound.

Afterward, he ordered some of the marines that remained behind to start pitching tents and to set blankets. By the time everyone had returned, most of the sleeping gear was already set up and the regiment was told to sleep after the last few men returned. Thankfully, he did not hear a peep of complaint from the locals and the men readied themselves rapidly after the Asian officer woke them at eight o'clock sharp. The wagons were loaded up and the regiment was well underway towards New York by nine.

Colonel Kim was at the head of the group and saw that some of the men were already winded from the march. The regiment would need several months to even reach the physical and combat capabilities of boots (new marines joining a unit). Additionally, he suspected that not all of the men would accept his forms of training and spent the majority of the previous night planning a new training regimen and manual for the marines. While the new physical training was much more relaxed (to some degree) compared to the one he was used to in the future, it was still physically taxing, especially with the amount of marching the troops would need to carry out. Even so, he viewed the training as necessary to instill discipline and to build up the marines' endurance and strength.

But he would take things slowly, for the time being.

"Alright," Colonel Kim stated as he looked around the group, "We've been marching for barely over half an hour, yet I see some of you are already tired. I hope you are aware that the march to New York will take approximately a week, even if we march eight hours a day. Unfortunately for you that hate physical exercise, you will be doing much of that under my command."

"As your commanding officer, I will inform you of our training regimen, my expectations for all of you, and the words you will live by as marines. Now for some of you, you may think you're ready or capable enough to become a professional right away, but even those of you that fought on Bunker Hill will find yourself pressured from the expectations I have set. I will warn you now, the training will be physically and mentally demanding. You will be required to run early in the morning, which is separate from the march. You will be required to exercise your arms and chest and improve your hand to hand combat capabilities. You will be training with your muskets daily and will be forced to learn drills, formations, and tactics. For those of you that are illiterate, you will be taught how to read and write. Some of you will be more ready than others in various areas. However, after three months of training, I expect every one of you to meet the minimum standards."

As he had expected, he saw several of the men looking skeptical and even downright petrified at what he was listing. Even so, he carried on as he knew what he was about to state would change many of the skeptics' minds. "However, you will not go unrewarded for your services. For the enlisted men, you will be paid £3 per month (nearly double of what the Continental Army regulars are paid). The officers, once they are assigned, will be paid £6. As time goes on, I will make a comprehensive list of all the payments for all the ranks, but for now, that will be the standard pay. I will also personally use my own money for all your equipment, supplies, and pay. You will never go hungry under my command. And I have medications that will make you immune to smallpox and treat most diseases as well. If you endure my training and exceed my expectations, you will not only enjoy the benefits I have listed above but be rewarded with bonuses and honors as well."

Now that certainly did grab the attention of his men. While the more hardened and patriotic soldiers remained unwavering even before he announced the pay rate, nearly everyone was surprised and jubilant at the amount of money they were going to earn per month. In addition to this, the notion that Colonel Kim himself would pay for their supplies, food, and well-being, and even make them immune to smallpox was a complete shock to all the soldiers in the regiment. The atmosphere of uncertainty and skepticism was replaced with determination and hope.

He paced in front of them back and forth, inspecting the uniform and looks of the marines in the front, "Under my command, I promise that you will become even better soldiers than any soldiers the British have to offer. My expectations are set sky high so that you can exceed the abilities of a typical Redcoat at a faster rate. As you may already be aware, I am not a very traditional or ordinary officer. I will not train you orderly or fancily as the British Army trains their soldiers. I do not fight "gentlemanly," because my job is to train you to become a professional marine and to train you to stay alive so you can become a professional marine. My way of running this unit will be completely different than any other units, but because of these reasons, we will become an elite unit that will ruin any British soldiers that face us."

"Now before we begin our march to New York once more, I will like to make sure to do your best to remember everything I will tell after this moment. Because I will now explain our motto and our main regiment rules. Do not worry, I will have them printed for your convenience in the future, but for now, listen carefully."

"Semper Fidelis will be our motto. In Latin, this means "Always Faithful." You will remain absolutely faithful to three things while you are in the marines: to the marine's fighting cause, to the marine regiment, and to your fellow marines. As stated, remain faithful to our fighting cause, because we are fighting for not only ourselves or our unit, but for the people of the colonies as well. Remain faithful to the regiment, even in times of great hardships. Remember that if you decide to abandon your duties or turn tail, you will affect the capabilities of the entire regiment. No matter how small your role is, neglecting your role can cause our entire regiment to fail or crumble at the worst times. And most importantly, remain faithful to your fellow marines. No matter where they are from, no matter what their beliefs are, and no matter what they look like, over time, you will learn that they will always fight by your side and watch your back. Adding on to this, while you are now "soldiers," remember what we are fighting for. If civilians are in need of our assistance, we will help them. While winning battles are important, we must also win the hearts and minds of the people to truly win the war."

Colonel Kim scanned the faces of the men with his eyes to see if the men were paying attention. Upon noticing he had the attention of nearly everyone, including General Putnam, he continued, "My rules for the regiment are strict, but also fair. You are not to drink while we are "deployed." This means if we are involved in a campaign or near a battlefield, you will not be allowed to drink. Smoking will be tolerated, but that will be out of your own pocket. You are expected to carry out any daily duties and tasks assigned to you, which will range from cooking to washing clothes. You will carry out every duty with the maximum amount of effort, even sleeping. You will call your superior officers "sir" and any enlisted men by their rank. All of you are expected to be well-groomed, though beards and mustaches will be allowed. I expect all marines to wash their hands several times a day and take a bath at least twice a week."

"You will not shoot any soldiers that are surrendering and treat any prisoners with respect, regardless of their rank. You will not harass any civilians at any given time. You are to look after your fellow marines and ensure their well-being; you do not leave any marines behind. You are to care for all the wounded, even wounded enemies. You will not fire upon any medical personnel or structures. You are not to loot any dead bodies, civilians, or cities, but I will provide you with according bonuses to ensure that you are properly rewarded. You will not steal either."

"The reason why there are many rules that you have to follow is simple," Colonel Kim stated to the crowd, "If we are formally commissioned by the Continental Congress, we will be a military unit directly representing the struggle against the British. Like any other officially commissioned units, we will become the faces of the colonial cause. By now, the word of our regiment will be spreading throughout the northeast and while most will not know our individual names, they will be aware of our unit's existence. That means we must act and look professional. Above all else, we must remain disciplined and show our enemy that we are able to become more disciplined than them, even if we are just "colonial rabble."

A few scattered laughs rang out the crowd as the commanding officer of the regiment smiled, "That is all I have for right now. We will keep marching. Training will officially begin tomorrow and I will explain your daily schedule at a later time. For now, let us move forward. Onward, marines!"

Instead of the loud "Oorah!", he heard hundreds of times per day with the future marines, these marines were silent.

"From this point on, our battle cry will be "Oorah!" You will say it when we charge into battle and in normal settings like this when I give out a group command. Now again: onward marines!"

"Oorah!"

 

[okmangeez]

"Again. Fire!"

The targets were dummies made of hay and old clothing that was formerly worn by the men of the 1st Marine Regiment. When he gave the command, a few dozen muskets roared in reply. Some of the shots struck the practice targets that were set in front of them, the impact of the musket balls rocking the dummies. However, many of the targets remained untouched and were only battered due to the previous group's practice.

Colonel Kim wasn't disappointed, but he frowned and looked at the men on the firing range, "All those targets that are still "alive" are Redcoats that will be able to fire back at you and kill you. Your muskets are not perfectly accurate, but make sure to stabilize your aim and aim at the torso of the targets. Getting shot is not exactly a pleasant experience, so even if your targets aren't dead, they'll be laying on the ground in pain. Reload with due haste, and prepare to fire again."

The group was the last company assigned to the firing range for the day. The other companies were exercising and training under their new officers to improve their group unity. In the past few days, Colonel Kim sorted the 300 men under his command into categories that were similar to that of the modern military structure. He separated the 300 into 3 battalions, 6 companies, and 30 platoons, with each of the groups having a number significantly less than that of the battalions, companies, and platoons during his time. Regardless, it allowed the regiment to have an organized hierarchy that helped with assigning duties and training. The 3 battalions were led by recently promoted Lieutenant Colonel Warren, Major McClary, and Lieutenant Colonel Daniel White, a militiaman that was formally part of the Massachusetts militia. Under them were a number of officers and NCOs that were ranked by their performance in training and their abilities based on what Colonel Kim saw in the past few days. The structure wasn't perfect, but it would make do for the time being.

The regiment was just outside the city of New York and was finishing up their daily training before night fell. They had arrived at the port city just hours prior and the men had been greeted by a number of enthusiastic locals that were aware of their victory on Bunker Hill. Apparently, messengers on horses were sent to Philadelphia to report on the Battle of Bunker Hill, so the Continental Congress was most likely aware of his existence. Due to this, he wasn't in a huge hurry and was taking his time to train the troops during the march. Even after just a week, many of the men were showing improvements and working better as a unit.

On the edges of the field where the 1st Marine Regiment was making their camp for the night, a number of curious and interested onlookers watched on. The civilians were a diverse group, consisting of men, women, and children. While the colonel was usually wary of people watching training, he was allowing it for the time being so the men worked harder due to the crowd. Eventually, he would need to be more cautious to avoid espionage, but for the time being, he was fine with it. A few New Yorkers requested his permission to join, and he allowed them, swelling his numbers to around 330. They were assigned to their platoons with little issue and began training with the regiment, though they lagged slightly behind the other marines.

"Come on lads! Do you think the Lobsters will wait for you to finish reloading and wait for you to fire at them before shooting at you?" Colonel Kim shouted, prompting several of the men to furiously fight with their muskets, "By the time you finish reloading, I would've fired four shots!"

It wasn't a fair comparison, as he could easily reload his rifle and fire continuously, but it worked well to motivate the men to finish readying themselves as they were still unaware of the full capabilities of his personal weapon. After twenty more seconds, the members of the 6th Company were all ready to fire once more.

"Remember, all Marines are Marksmen! I do not care if you want to be an artilleryman, a horseman, an officer, or a drummer! All Marines are Marksmen and all of you will train till you are the very best shots that the colonies have to offer! Fire!"

The field echoed with the sounds of muskets firing as the 7th Company unloaded their weapons. This time, there were more dummies struck by the musket balls than before, though several of them were still untouched. Colonel Kim grunted in approval and waved at them, "Right Shoulder Arms!"

There were a few ripples of inconsistencies amongst the 50 men standing, but the command was obeyed within two seconds. "While you practice like this at the firing range, remember that it will be much different in an actual battle. You will be moving constantly, firing behind cover, and firing at the enemy without hesitation. This is just to improve your aim. Later on, when you manage to actually hit all the targets, you will learn to train in a "combat environment." Otherwise, splendid work 6th Company. Company officer, what is your company's evening schedule for today?"

"Sir!" An African American man adorning a gold bar on the side of his uniform stepped up to the front. He saluted the colonel and then turned to his men, "We are assigned to kitchen duties for dinner and then education lessons immediately after. After that, we are to enjoy the rest of the evening before sleeping at 2200 hours."

Colonel Kim gave a respectful nod to First Lieutenant Poor, "Very good, lieutenant. 6th Company, you are dismissed."

"Oorah!" The members of the 6th Company jogged after their officer and moved towards the "kitchen" parts of the camp.

His decision to make Salem Poor an officer was... controversial at first. Thankfully, the man was literate and a fast learner, so despite some grumblings between the men, the members of the 6th Company accepted the man as their leader. The Asian officer was harsh on some of the more vocal members, so even if there were any remaining dissidents in the group, they kept silent and followed the lieutenant's commands.

"He's a good lad, even if he's a Negro," A voice rang out from behind. General Putnam was also wearing a Marines uniform, despite not being an official member of the regiment. It was mainly for aesthetics, as the man had taken a liking to the clean and professional uniforms that were unlike the colonial uniforms. Colonel Kim didn't mind and thought the uniform suited the man. "I mean no offense, Colonel Kim. I know how you feel about working with Negros and the likes, especially since you are not a white man yourself. But I never imagined a Negro would ever be able to become an officer, let alone a professional soldier."

"No offense taken, general," Colonel Kim assured the man. "I do not believe the color of someone's skin should determine their worth. In fact, I would say that the most dangerous and best soldiers would be slaves fighting for their freedom, for they would fight with their freedom on the line. Nobody should dismiss non-whites simply because they are "inferior." If you let them prove their worth, they will not fail you. Lieutenant Poor has shown to be more than capable of his duties, he simply needed a chance, sir."

General Putnam took off his hat and inspect it, "I am beginning to agree with you, colonel. It'll take some time, but eventually, I'll come around. Now if you'll excuse me, I want to see what the lieutenant and his men are preparing for dinner."

Colonel Kim let out a hearty laugh, "By all means sir. I am curious about that myself."

Before he or the general could make their trek towards the kitchen, a guard that was stationed on the perimeters of the camp ran up to him and saluted, "Sir! General Washington and his men are approaching, and I have received word that he wishes to speak with the leader of our regiment."

The colonel was surprised but recalled that Washington went through New York before marching towards Boston to lead the Siege of Boston in the other history. He thought that Washington would stay put in Philadelphia or begin gathering men elsewhere since there was no siege up in Boston at the time, but his assumption was wrong. "Inform the men to arm and ready themselves so we can impressively welcome an important guest coming to our camp."

"Yes, sir!"

After the guard dashed away to camp, General Putnam smiled at Colonel Kim, "It looks like our first president has arrived."

"Let's hope that he comes in peace, for the last thing I want to do is fire on the man that became America's Father in the other history," Colonel Kim muttered as he straightened his uniform and walked to the entrance of the camp.

Despite the suddenness of the situation, the marines gathered themselves quickly at the word of General Washington's arrival. Within a span of several minutes, the entire regiment, including General Putnam, was lined up neatly near the gates, splitting into two groups to greet the leader of the Continental Army. Colonel Kim himself was standing in front of the entrance, silently staring at the Father of the United States as he approached.

George Washington looked similar to the portraits the colonel saw in his history books. He was tall and solidly built, and he rode his horse gracefully in front of hundreds of shuffling soldiers. At the colonel's command, 19 muskets fired blanks into the air to welcome the man's arrival. Upon seeing the only Asian man amongst the marines, the general beckoned his horse forward and stopped in front of the colonel, "Colonel Kim, a pleasure to meet you. I have heard of your heroics at Bunker Hill and I am here on the request of the Continental Congress to escort you and your men back to Philadelphia."

Colonel Kim nearly stuttered before answering, being awed by the man's presence, "Thank you, General Washington, the pleasure is all mine. Please, I insist that you stay in our camps for the night and enjoy some dinner. The sun is setting and I'm sure some rest and food will ensure the men are ready for tomorrow's march."

"Then I thank you for your hospitality, colonel." General Washington motioned for his men to carry on and the few hundred members of the Continental Army walked in between the lines of marines. The looks of awe and envy were present on the faces of all the arriving soldiers as they looked at the still men by the entrance. The Marines remained stoic and unmoving, their muskets held at port arms as their fellow patriots walked by.

"Your men seem certainly professional and disciplined, colonel. I can see why you managed to pull off a victory at Bunker Hill despite the odds." General Washington commented as he moved alongside Colonel Kim into the camps.

"My regiment was not formed officially until after the battle, sir. But they have been training and working tirelessly for the past several days. I am proud to be their commanding officer"

The leader of the Continental Army slowly nodded and inspected the marines, "Are all their supplies and uniforms paid by yourself, colonel?"

The colonel had to fight to keep down a grin as he answered, "Yes, I am a... fairly wealthy man with connections. May I suggest that we retire to my tent for the time being as dinner is prepared? There are some things that I need to discuss with you in private."

On their way to his personal tent, Colonel Kim invited General Putnam to join him for "the talk." Upon entering, Colonel Kim took in a deep breath and spoke, "My name is Colonel Samuel Kim, sir. And I am from the future."

 

[okmangeez]

After about half an hour, Colonel Kim finally managed to finish his tale. He explained to the commander in chief about his life in the future, his sudden appearance at Bunker Hill, his "mission" given to him by his "benefactor," his special tools and supply drops, and the future of the United States. To General Washington's credit, he looked calm and collected throughout the ordeal. He only raised an eyebrow when the colonel showed him the laptop and the various history articles stored within. When the Korean-American finished, General Washington shook his head disbelievingly, "So you are an officer of the "United States Marines" in the future, sent back into the past by the Almighty, and now you are here, fighting for your country's future and seeking to change it."

"That would be the simplest way to put it, sir."

"And what you told me is true? This "United States" we are fighting for will one day eclipse Britain and I will become the "Father" of the country?"

Colonel Kim nodded, "It is the truth, sir. The United States will become the world's greatest power by the mid 20th century and become unchallenged before the century's end. You were the nation's first president and many historians believe that without your guidance and your firm precedent, the nation might have struggled even more so after our independence."

General Washington remained silent for a few moments. His eyes glanced at the glowing screen of the laptop, and then back at Colonel Kim, "I have always believed that the Almighty had a presence on Earth and was involved in the daily lives of people. Although you have told me that you are unsure of what your "benefactor" is, I believe your presence is a sign of the Creator or some being that is related to him in some way. Since you are here under his blessings, I will support your endeavors, colonel. If the Divine Author wishes to rewrite the history of the United States through you, then I will follow his wishes and ensure the history of your world does not come about."

After saying this, General Washington bowed to the Asian officer, shocking both Colonel Kim and General Putnam. Colonel Kim shifted in his seat uncomfortably and cleared his throat, "I am surprised you took my tale well, general. To be frank, I thought there would be many more complications due to my unique circumstances."

"I will confess and state that I am... discomforted about the future generations revering my name and treating me like the Almighty himself. Yet it is humbling and it is a reminder that every action that I take from now on will affect the future generations of Americans. While your presence is surprising, I have accepted that the reasons for your travel are beyond my comprehension." The general stated as he straightened his back and came to a normal sitting position. "Now, what is your plan for the future, colonel? I assume you wish to win the war first and then reassure the values that the United States was founded on?"

The colonel pulled out some maps from his laptop to show the commander in chief his plan. "Yes, sir. I already have several plans in the works for the immediate future and then some long term plans I hope to accomplish over a long period of time. My immediate plans are to push the British out of the north completely and ensure they no longer pose a threat to the northeastern colonies. I am constructing a plan where I utilize my troops to invade Quebec and attempt to form an alliance with the Six Nations neighboring New York, seizing Montreal and Quebec to deny the British an invasion point to threaten New York. The second part of that plan is to have another army, or my regiment, invade the Maritime provinces shortly after, with their objective being Nova Scotia. In another history, Nova Scotia and Quebec were often the staging points of invasions and raids against the northeastern colonies. This time, with Boston no longer under siege, we will have the flexibility to counterattack the British and bring the war to their colonies. Since the British suffered heavy losses at Bunker Hill, they will be unlikely to hold both objectives and be forced to focus on one front or divert their forces. If we are able to seize our objectives, the northeastern colonies will be secured and we will be able to dig in to defend our positions. Additionally, with the northeastern colonies secured, we will be able to assist the south with greater vigor and have a bigger influence in the south throughout the war."

"I see, and with this, we can possibly win the war much earlier or even acquire the support of other European powers like in your history," General Washington nodded approvingly, "While I do not disagree with your plan to work with Indians, I must ask, what will you attempt to offer them to convince them to join our cause?"

"I understand it'll be a long shot to convince Congress, but I will attempt to explain to the representatives of the Continental Congress about my situation and convince them to allow the Six Nations to form a state in the Union."

Instead of General Washington answering, General Putnam cut into the conversation, "That will be a difficult and bold move, colonel. While I understand your reasons, I'm not sure if the Continental Congres will allow "savages" representation. It will mean slicing away a portion of New York and Pennsylvania and handing them to the Indians."

Colonel Kim tiredly sighed, "It will be a battle, but I do have leverage. I can offer them millions of pounds worth of gold, a fully equipped and battle-ready regiment, future knowledge about technology and inventions, and much more. While I do not wish to force anything upon the Congress, I can not let the atrocities that befell upon the Native Americans in my history happen in this history. Additionally, the Six Nations can be a valuable ally and with their assistance, we can take Quebec with far fewer losses and harass the British in their western territories. I can, quite literally, agree to pay off all of New York's and Pennsylvania's debt if they agree to release a small portion of their western territories to the Native Americans."

"And if that fails?" General Putnam asked.

"Then I negotiate with the Native Americans on my own. I'll offer them weapons, supplies, and money to convince them to fight for us."

"While I do see the value in allying with the Indians, I must warn you that this issue may divide Congress and your actions may turn them against you." General Washington warned.

The Marine officer looked at the leader of the Continental Army with fire in his eyes, "Which is why I will need your help, General Washington. You have greater sway with the Continental Congress than I do and Congress needs to see that we must avoid the mistakes the United States made in my history. Otherwise, it'll be an eternal stain upon our future nation. I believe the issue with dealing with Native Americans, slavery, and equal rights will be our biggest conflicting points, but those are issues I am unwilling to yield from."

General Washington looked deep in thought as he listened to the colonel's words. "They certainly will be difficult, but I will do my best to support you, colonel. You have my word. As a show of support, I will also free my own slaves and allow them to work on my farm with pay and lodging."

Even though the colonel was aware that General Washington was more agreeable than expected, he was surprised at the general's comment, "Just like that, sir?"

"I have now learned of the vile stain slavery leaves on our nation: the "Civil War," my own failures to even attempt to abolish slavery as the president, and the barbaric treatment of slaves by future slave owners. It is better to get rid of ourselves the institution now so that our future generations are not corrupted or mistreated from the practice."

A messenger called out from outside the tent, announcing that dinner was ready. Colonel Kim rose from the box he was sitting on and turned to his fellow officers, "For now, let us grab some dinner, sirs. We can discuss this at a later time. For now, let us enjoy some good food and relax. We can discuss the fate of our nation afterward."

+++++

AN: I researched a bit about Washington's background and he wasn't a deist, he was far more religious than some of the other Founders. However, he was extremely tolerant of other religions and was a champion of the "freedom of religion" for all Americans. Regardless, he was still a fairly committed Christian and believed that God influenced the daily lives of people.

Also, he's more willing to free his slaves simply because by this time, he was actually losing money from his slaves than gaining from it. He didn't treat his slaves the best, but he was far more tolerant and humane compared to other slave owners. He also came to become a fairly staunch abolitionist later on IOTL, so I felt like, with foreknowledge about what slavery does to the United States, he would be much more willing to end slavery early on. He won't be equal rights, at least initially, however. Decades of bias and stereotypes won't go away in a day...

 

[okmangeez]

"South Carolina will never accept this... abomination of a proposal!" Representative Edward Rutledge yelled as he glared at Colonel Kim.

Colonel Kim, General Washington, and their men arrived in Philadelphia on July 2nd of 1775, 15 days after the Battle of Bunker Hill. When the two men arrived with their units, they were welcomed into the town as heroes, with inhabitants of the city looking at Colonel Kim with a mix of confusion and celebration. Shortly after their arrival, General Washington, Colonel Kim, and General Putnam were privately escorted into the Pennsylvania State House by the representatives of the Second Continental Congress. Their men made their way to the outskirts of the city to set up camp, as their stay was expected to take some time.

On the way to Philadelphia, General Washington became a close confidant and friend of Colonel Kim. The two men, despite their vastly different upbringings, found themselves agreeing with a number of subjects such as the issue of slavery and religion. They also shared an interest in theater, strangely enough. Apparently, General Washington enjoyed watching plays and performances, which led to Colonel Kim showing him some plays and movies from the future on his laptop. Colonel Kim showed him several plays such as Shakespeare and Les Miserables and movies like Patriot, The Crossing, and Glory. General Washington took a particular liking to these movies and regularly visited Colonel Kim's tent to discuss their future course of action and watch movies.

Both men agreed to work together in order to establish a better future for the United States and cooperate militarily, even if Colonel Kim was not offered an official commission. Additionally, General Washington reassured the colonel that he would not institute a ban on black soldiers as the other history and copy the British tactic: allowing blacks to fight for their freedom. As a show of goodwill, Colonel Kim administered the smallpox vaccine to Washington's men and his own men, warning the general about the importance of hygiene and how the Continental Army was devastated due to diseases in the other history.

Overall, the two established a good, working relationship. Unfortunately, a number of representatives in Congress were hostile to some of Colonel Kim's proposals.

The marine officer revealed his secret to Congress and with the support of General Washington and General Putnam, gained their confidence in his tale. After hearing the history of the United States and the heights it achieved in just two centuries, the pro-independence faction was galvanized and with the knowledge that a Declaration of Rebellion was to be announced soon, took the winds out of many of the pro-peace faction's sails. The representatives debated and discussed the Declaration of Independence and Constitution, but Colonel Kim interjected to reveal the changes he sought to make if the United States "reformed." Up until this point, things were seemingly fine until Colonel Kim raised the three key issues he desired to settle. The first two issues he raised were the issues of slavery and equal rights.

Needless to say, that raised an uproar from the North Carolina and South Carolina representatives to Congress.

Benjamin Franklin, who was one of the few representatives to remain calm and level-headed through Colonel Kim's explanation, replied in his stead, "Gentlemen, Colonel Kim has explained his intentions and has explained to us the reasoning for his proposal. If slavery is to bring civil war upon the "United States" and cause decades of suffering for both Negros and whites alike, then should we really continue to the institution? Additionally, as General Washington has stated, the colonel has access to technology and inventions that can assist with the development of the southern colonies to make up for their losses of slaves and it will allow the south to have greater representation, should the proposal of the United States go through. We must make a decision here gentlemen and together as a whole. We must be hanged together, or we must be hanged separately."

Colonel Kim had to fight down a smile as he recognized the quote immediately but scowled as he turned towards the man that was pointing at him, "This is not just about slavery, esteemed representative. This is about the United States and everything she stands for. All of you here will one day be revered by the future generations for declaring independence and founding a nation that was both revolutionary and ideal. But the stain of slavery and the false promises of equality to all will last for an eternity. Additionally, the issue of slavery, if not resolved now, will inevitably lead to conflict and as seen in the other history, civil war. We must settle this matter now, esteemed representatives, or else it will lead to a division that can not be fixed easily in the future."

"It is God's will..."

"If you are using the Almighty's name to justify your claims, Mr. Rutledge, do remember that Colonel Kim here was sent by the Creator himself to rewrite the past. The Almighty has showered Colonel Kim with gifts and supported his endeavors, and if Colonel Kim is advocating for the end of slavery and the beginning of equality, I believe that he is carrying out the Almighty's will." General Washington declared, answering in Colonel Kim's stead, "I have seen images of the future, and Colonel Kim is correct. The lives of millions are now at stake, gentlemen. Perhaps the entire world."

That brought silence to the entire room, not because General Washington spoke, but because General Washington was speaking highly of Colonel Kim and supporting his proposal. Representative Rutledge collapsed into his seat, looking outraged and embarrassed.

"At the beginning of next year, Britain will promise slaves freedom if they take up arms against their masters and fight for Britain. Even if you refuse on an abolition clause, the British will do everything to turn slaves against the southern colonies and free them. It is estimated that nearly 15%-20% of all slaves in the southern colonies either fled into freedom or defected to the British. While I do not wish to threaten the esteemed representatives of North Carolina and South Carolina, they currently are at a crossroads. Either they will be remembered and celebrated as liberators and freedom fighters, while also receiving compensation for their losses and additional wealth from future technology. Or they refuse."

The colonel rose to full heights and walked in front of the representatives, "I am not demanding you to turn over all your slaves and free them into the wild, representatives. I am humbly asking you to free them, treat them as humans, and give them pay for their works. They can continue serving their owners, provided they get rights, fair treatment, and payment. It is a difficult choice, but your respective colonies will see much improvement in the long run. So I ask that you consider the request and debate amongst yourselves."

John Hancock, who was presiding over the Congress, tapped his gavel to gain the attention of the representatives, "May I also remind the representatives that if what Colonel Kim has told our Congress so far is true, then the king will declare the colonies open rebel within this month. If that is the case, then we must act unitedly and decisively. Additionally, the king is most likely aware of South Carolina's presence in this Congress. He will not treat that fact lightly."

The 10 representatives from North Carolina and South Carolina rose from their seats but were more subdued than before. North Carolina Representative William Hooper glanced at the other representatives and frowned, "I will discuss the matter with the members of the Committee of my state. As Colonel Kim requested, we will keep his situation a secret for the time being. But there will be demands if you want our colonies to join, gentlemen. And those demands will be long and contentious. If they are not met, then we may have many problems against the other colonies."

They existed as a group, bringing silence to the room. Colonel Kim rubbed the back of his neck in frustration and sighed, "I apologize for bringing disunity to the Congress, representatives. But I am firm on this issue and it is an issue I will not relent on."

"I'm afraid nothing can be done about that, Colonel Kim," Thomas Jefferson said as he stood up to speak to the remainders of Congress, "Even with the representatives of the Carolinas being discontent and leaving, we must remember that we have knowledge and power on our side. We now have a means to constantly finance this war, we have the means to invent technologies greater than anything the British have, and we have the potential to bring upon this world a fair and ideal republic. A republic that is not corrupted by slavery and selectivity, but of equality and liberty. I am still uncertain about the Constitution, as that is another matter to discuss entirely. But independence? I believe our time to make that declaration is drawing closer, and we will need to decide if we will repeat the tragedies of Colonel Kim's history, or rectify them."

Jefferson gave a reassuring smile to Colonel Kim and motioned to him, "This man is proof, living proof, that the United States will one day live up to its ideals. That in years beyond our time, the mistakes we were to make were changed and fixed, but at greater costs than we could have possibly imagined. His views and beliefs may be starkly different than ours, but they are a derivative of what we will develop in the future. Perhaps God himself was dismayed at our failures and mistakes and sent him back to our times to fix things, but regardless, we have been given an impossible opportunity. An opportunity we must seize without hesitation. I can not say I agree with everything Colonel Kim has to say, but I am willing to compromise and to listen in order to build a more prosperous future for ourselves and our future nation."

"My apologies Colonel Kim, please continue with your speech."

"Thank you, Pr...Mr. Jefferson," Colonel Kim said as he took back the spotlight, "The other issues are the Native American tribes, specifically the Six Nations, and Canada. I believe I have a proposal to help the Six Nations join our cause and turn them against the British."

Intrigued mutterings began to break out between the representatives as Hancock banged his gavel again to allow the colonel to continue, "We allow them possession of their current homeland, which unfortunately includes parts of New York and Pennsylvania, offer them representation in Congress and in the United States, allow them to seize Niagara, and give them weapons to fight for our cause."

And another round of debates and discussions began, though this time with considerably less hostility.