Thomas Hickey

"You're just some blind fool who's always chasin' butterflies, whereas I'm the type of guy who likes to have a beer in one hand and a titty in the other. Thing is, boy, I can have what I seek. Had it, even. You? Your hands will always be empty."

- Thomas Hickey.

Thomas Hickey (unknown - 28 June 1776) was a member of the Templar Order. During the French and Indian War he served as a soldier in the British Army and would later join the Continental Army during the American Revolutionary War but was more prominently involved in an underground black market for the Templars.

Early life
Hickey was an Irish born soldier in the British Army. He came over to Colonial America in 1752 and was stationed in Boston where he was assigned as an assistant to William Johnson. In 1754, the French and Indian War began, Hickey served under Johnson's command and the two joined the Templar Order.

Templar beginnings
Hickey and Johnson were recruited by Haytham Kenway in his mission to find the mysterious precursor site. Hickey's spies were unable to find any leads. Johnson sent Hickey to retrieve his stolen research on the Kanien'kehá:ka nation for leads. Hickey tracked the research to a compound occupied by bandits.

"Don't need no expidittin' - don't need none of your fancy London-speak, neither."

- Hickey to Haytham.

Haytham and Charles Lee soon after arrived. They attacked the bandits, entered the compound and successfully retrieved the research, returning it to Johnson at the Green Dragon Tavern.

Johnson and Haytham soon after concluded that they would need to befriend the Kanien'kehá:ka in order to gain more information on the land, to which Hickey suggested to them that they kill Silas Thatcher who had been enslaving Kanien'kehá:ka people. Haytham and Lee gathered the remaining recruits, Benjamin Church and John Pitcairn. With everyone assembled at the Tavern, Haytham proposed a plan to infiltrate Southgate Fort.

Hickey and the others proceeded to ambush a slave cart, killing the escorts, disguising themselves in their uniforms and escorted the cart to the fort. Inside the fort, Haytham stealthily freed the slaves, however this caused Silas to raise the alarm. Hickey and the others triggered a battle, fending off the soldiers while Haytham and Church killed Silas, allowing them to free the remaining slaves.

A year later, Haytham had been in contact with a Kanien'kehá:ka woman, Kaniehtí:io, and the two formulated a plan to kill General Edward Braddock. Hickey assisted in the attack of Braddock's expedition, allowing Haytham to kill Braddock. After discovering the Precursor Site, Haytham changed the overall plans to focus on establishing permanent bases, as well as expanding power and influence throughout the colonies.

Over the next several years, Hickey maintained a low profile, leading an underground black market for the Templars, primarily focusing on forging counterfeit money and providing information through espionage. As the American Revolutionary War began, Hickey left the British Army and joined the Continentals, he was stationed in the Connecticut Militia as an officer.

Assassination plot
In 1776, Hickey was given orders by Haytham to murder George Washington, Commander-in-Chief of the Continental Army, in order to replace him with Charles Lee. Hickey joined Washington's private guard during the latter's campaign to take New York from the British.

"Ain't s'pposed to be none of your kind left. Suppose I'd best be rectifyin' that, then."

- Hickey to Connor.

The Assassin ,Connor, discovered the assassination plot after killing John Pitcairn and learned from Benjamin Tallmadge of Hickey's counterfeit ring in New York as a lead. Connor traveled to New York and tailed one of Hickey's subordinates to a hideout. Hickey recognized Connor as an assassin, thus fled while Connor chased, but the both of them were arrested and imprisoned for counterfeiting.

Hickey was approached by Haytham and Lee who reprimanded him for his recklessness. They informed him that they could not pardon his release due to the investigation against him by Tallmadge. Instead, Hickey was moved to a more comfortable and private cell.

Connor was later able to steal the prison warden's key and went to kill Hickey in his cell, only to find the murdered body of the warden and was ambushed by both Hickey and Lee. They revealed to Connor that he will be trialed and executed for the murder of the warden and attempting to assassinate Washington. Lee's plan not only framed Connor but would allow Hickey an opportunity to murder Washington who would personally attend the execution.

Death
"Ya just had to be a hero, didn't ya? You and Georgie both. Now you'll see what it gets ya: a pine box and l'il else."

- Hickey to Connor.

Hickey escorted Connor to the gallows after Haytham and Lee omitted the supposed trial. While being hanged, Connor was rescued by the aid of the Assassins, forcing Hickey to make a desperate attempt to kill Washington as he rushed through the crowd. However as Hickey attacked Washington's bodyguards, Connor was able to catch up and delivered a fatal strike with his tomahawk.

As Hickey died, Connor demanded answers regarding the Templars' plans, however Hickey revealed nothing with his final words and only mocked Connor. With Hickey's death and intent to kill Washington exposed, Connor was able to prove his innocence.

Personality and Characteristics
"They can sing their songs about mankind and its troubles. They can make their plans and spring their traps, don't bother me none. They paid me so I said yes. Didn't bother to ask who or how or why. Didn't care."

- Thomas Hickey, regarding the Templars.

Hickey was a slack, self indulgent and lecherous man, he often lazed about in taverns, drinking much alcohol and enjoyed the company of women. Hickey took his orders and duties lightly hence was often reprimanded for his reckless and unprofessional behavior. Hickey was blatant, shameless and arrogant. This was evident by his lazy, improper and disrespectful behavior towards even his superiors and his enjoyment in mocking and belittling Connor.

Hickey had very little care and commitment to the Templar's vision of a New World Order, instead he served only as a means for personal profit and power. As a result, similar to Juan Borgia, Hickey died with little to no regret, content that he had already fulfilled his desires and earthly pleasures, even to the point of being almost nonchalant about the fact that he was about to die.

Final words
Connor briefly looked away in disgust, and then turned solemnly back towards Hickey.
 * Thomas: Dammit. I thought I'd at least live to see another day. Shame.
 * Connor: I want answers. Why did Johnson try and buy my people's land? Why was Pitcairn targeting Adams and Hancock? What purpose would Washington's murder have served? Why does your order support the British?
 * Thomas: How should I know? The Templars. Lee. The big man, Haytham. They 'as the money. They 'as the power. That's the reason I threw in with 'em. That's the ONLY reason. Sure, they 'ave some sort of vision, for the future too. I didn't give a damn about any of that. They can sing their songs about mankind and its troubles. They can make their plans and spring their traps, don't bother me none. They paid me so I said yes. Didn't bother to ask who or how or why. Didn't care.
 * Connor: You chose to side with men who would rob us of our humanity simply because it was more profitable?
 * Thomas: What else is there? I'm not some blind fool who'd give up all I've got on principle. What IS principle anyway? Can ya bring it to the bank?
 * Thomas: Don't look at me like that. We're different, you and I! You're just some blind fool who's always chasin' butterflies, whereas I'm the type of guy who likes to have a beer in one hand and a titty in the other. Thing is, boy, I can have what I seek. Had it, even. You? Your hands will always be empty.

Trivia

 * It was possible to kill Hickey by using him as a human shield.
 * Although Hickey was Irish, he spoke with a strong cockney accent.

Reference

 * Assassin's Creed III