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He who increaseth knowledge, increaseth sorrow. This article contains spoilers, meaning it has information and facts concerning recent or upcoming releases from the Assassin's Creed series. If you do not want to know about these events, it is recommended to read on with caution, or not at all. |
- "On September 1st, 2012, a man is kidnapped in New York. Brought to a secret Abstergo facility in Italy, he is placed in the Animus and forced to relive the memories of his Assassin ancestor. This man is Desmond Miles. This is his story."
- ―The Desmond Files.
Flash screen for Assassin's Creed: Initiates
Assassin's Creed: Initiates is a community-oriented project founded by Ubisoft on 1 September 2012 that is envisioned as "the place for all things Assassin's Creed".
The website includes a news section, forums for discussion, and a link to Ubiworkshop's store. Most notably, it features an explorable map that tracked places, events, people, objects and messages from the series' storyline. On 5 October 2012, a timeline section that charts historic events in the series' chronology was introduced.
On 21 December 2012, the solar flare disrupted communications throughout the globe, which caused the website to crash. In January 2013, the website allowed users to answer a question once a day to help restore communications.
The site subsequently moved to a closed alpha stage, requiring an activation key to participate. Participants who were able to get an activation key were under a strict Terms & Agreement policy to not share what is being done during the closed alpha stage. The site entered an open alpha stage in October 2013, and the NDA agreement was lifted. On 26 June 2014, the site was closed for an indefinite period of time due to maintenance, until it was redesigned and reopened on 11 November 2014.
The Desmond Files
The Desmond Files refers to a collection of images, video clips, transcripts and documents that track the events following Desmond Miles' capture by Abstergo Industries. Each file is keyed to a location on an explorable world map and tagged with a timestamp expressed in the UTC (Coordinated Universal Time) standard.
September 1–15, 2012
1 September 2012=
Kidnapped
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower near Washington Square Park in New York City at 4:02am.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 40SP73ZN ........................................... UTC 20120901T040224Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] [interference] [+] ...Yes, sir. [pause] [+] We have him. [-] [reply scrambled] [+] Yes. Shoving him in the van as we speak, sir. [+] Target will be delivered on schedule. [transmission ends]
Transfer
Security camera footage from Floyd Bennett Field, Brooklyn at 4:37am showed that Abstergo agents had captured an unidentified Caucasian male, in his mid-twenties, approximately 6' tall and weighing 190 lbs. Their destination was unknown.
Unmarked Hangar
The Abstergo agents landed in Ciampino, Italy, at 6:44pm. They were seen moving the captive, who was identified as Desmond Miles, into a car.
Abstergo Campus
Desmond was brought to the Abstergo campus in Rome, Italy at 7:37pm. Scramblers from the Akashic Satellite Plexus prevented satellite imagery from pinpointing the campus' various facilities, and the extraction of geographical coordinates.
2 September 2012=
Animus Explained
At about 10:17am, Dr. Warren Vidic explained the various functions of the Animus to Desmond, leaving out the mention of any potential side effects that may occur as a result of its use.
The Farm
At 5:53pm, Desmond confided to Lucy Stillman that his parents raised him in an isolated community of Assassins simply called "the Farm". He likened the Farm to a prison where he had felt trapped and cut off from the rest of the world - a life that he resented and eventually ran away from when he was 16.
3 September 2012=
Preliminary Analysis
At 11:24am, the results of Desmond's medical examination came up, with the medical examiner, Dr. Damian Saravakos, reporting that no problems had been found, consequently clearing "Subject 17" for continued study.
4 September 2012=
Access Codes
Desmond found access codes which allowed him to leave his cell. This led him to discover Lucy's pen, which he later used to access her e-mail.
5 September 2012=
Case File #1394
On the 4th and 5 September 2012, Lucy Stillman sent a number of e-mails to various Abstergo employees, regarding the alleged suicide of Leila Marino in 2007.
The Mole
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Florence, Italy at 10:15pm.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 43TP11FP ........................................... UTC 20120905T221514Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = maestranzi, adriano] [-] William speaking. [+] Desmond is in Rome. [-] Yes, I know. My mole confirmed it. [+] What should we do? [-] Everything is under control. My agent will ensure his protection. [+] I have a team ready, I'll– [-] Negative. Do not intervene. I repeat: Do not intervene. [transmission ends]
6 September 2012=
Coded Message
Lucy was able to bypass Abstergo's security system and message the Assassins, asking for help. Moments later, at 8:25am, she received a coded reply from an unknown Assassin contact which read "We will be there soon" when deciphered.
7 September 2012=
Rescue Attempt
At about 6:49pm, a team of Assassins attempted to rescue Desmond, but were neutralized after a firefight with Abstergo security personnel. Vidic questioned Desmond about their presence, to which Desmond denied any involvement.
After the team had been neutralized, Desmond mocked Vidic's temporary anxiety, stating that the facility may not have been as secure as they anticipated. However, Vidic revealed that over the course of the past year, the Templars had been busy hunting down the remnants of the Assassin Order, revealing that most of them had been wiped out, and that Desmond was on his own.
8 September 2012=
Eagle Vision
After Desmond was done reliving the memories of Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad at about 5:18pm, he exited the Animus, and soon afterwards, discovered he had unlocked a unique trait his ancestor had once possessed.
Escape From Abstergo
At 6:21pm, Desmond, with the aid of Lucy, escaped the Abstergo research facility. As they made their way out, Desmond noticed Lucy taking out several guards with ease – a consequence of her training as an Assassin.
Along the way, they reached a door which required a code to allow them to proceed. Using his newfound gift, Desmond found the code, and the two were successful in their escape.
9 September 2012=
Assassin's Hideout
At 12:38pm, Lucy and Desmond arrived at an Assassin safe house in Rome, located within the Tor Tre Teste industrial zone.
10 September 2012=
Failure To Report
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Brisbane, Australia, at 10:14pm.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 27LN153AP ........................................... UTC 20120910T221401Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = public phone] [-] What the hell do you mean? [+] You heard me, Gavin. The team failed to report. Again. This is– [-] When did you last heard from them? [+] Didn't you get my last em– [-] When? [+] Three days. [pause] Over three days ago. Gavin I– [-] Listen, and listen carefully. We have to move fast. First, keep only the most vital data. Destroy the rest. Leave no trace. You know the drill. Second, secure transport. Third, get to the– [signal interrupted]
11 September 2012=
Bleeding Effect
Desmond discovered that prolonged exposure to the Animus could cause serious side effects, known as the Bleeding Effect.
While this could be detrimental to an Animus subject's health, in theory, it could also be beneficial by allowing them to acquire the knowledge and the skills of their ancestors.
12 September 2012=
Gunfight
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Whistler, Canada, at 9:21am from a phone call between Gavin and Janice.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 50DP122ZN ........................................... UTC 20120912T092116Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] [interference] [+] Yes, my source confirmed it. As I said, I'll need more men. [-] I understand, but we can't send anyone. Our forces are already spread too thin. [+] But– [-] There's no one near your position. [+] Damn it! Listen, Gavin! That's not even close to acceptable. I've only two operatives here with me. We can't– [-] Alright. [pause] Alright. I'll do what I can. But it will take a while for anyone to reach you. [+] Hold on! Someone's outside– [sound of breaking and entering] [-] What's going on? [+] [a scream in the distance] [-] Janice? [+] [distant] Who– No! Oh god no! [sound of gunshot] [-] Janice? Janice! [+] [a new voice, far away] Secure the area. Make sure there's no survivors. [white noise]
13 September 2012=
Lost Teams
At around 7:34pm, Lucy told Desmond that two more Assassin teams had been lost the preceding night, referring to a team in Whistler, British Columbia and an unidentified one. Altogether, 8 Assassins were believed to have been killed, though the circumstances surrounding the latter team were unknown.
Missing Person Poster
Friends of Desmond distributed missing person posters all over New York City, requesting any information that would aid them in finding him.
14 September 2012=
Survivor
At 11:17am, in Florence, Adriano Maestranzi sent an e-mail to William Miles, cryptically referring to at least one survivor from the attack on the Assassin team in Whistler, British Columbia.
15 September 2012=
Under Attack
At 9:09pm, an Abstergo assault team led by Dr. Warren Vidic stormed the Assassin hideout in Rome. Though Desmond and Lucy repelled the attackers, the Assassins were forced to abandon their compromised base.
Cabin In The North
Within minutes, Lucy's team headed north to the Italian border, bound for a cabin in the Swiss Alps.
The isolated location had been used by the Brotherhood as a base for two centuries, including during World War II, when Assassins aided local Maquis cells in their resistance against the Germans.
September 16–30, 2012
16 September 2012=
Roadblock
At 1:01am, a roadblock set up by the State Police in Grosseto, Italy forced Lucy's team to change destinations.
Lucy: Shit! There's a roadblock up ahead. They must have known we'd go north. Desmond: Where exactly are we? Rebecca: Check the map. Is there anywhere safe we can set up the equipment? Someplace with good cover? A cave, anything. Shaun: No, there's nothing around here for– Hello. Take E78. Lucy: What– Shaun: This exit. Turn! Lucy: I hope you actually have a plan. Shaun: Wait until you see where I'm taking you.
The Sanctuary
Two hours later, Lucy's team arrived in Monteriggioni, north of Grosseto. They set up a new headquarters in the underground Sanctuary beneath the Villa Auditore, where the old Assassin stronghold's thick walls blocked all electronic signals and shielded them from detection.
17 September 2012=
Witness
At 12:08pm, in Florence, Italy, Adriano Maestranzi sent another e-mail to William Miles, stating that his "associate" had returned safely, and cryptically referring to the attack in Whistler being led by Daniel Cross.
18 September 2012=
Animus Recordings
Recordings of Desmond's sessions in the Animus were found in the abandoned Assassin hideout by Abstergo security personnel.
Brain Implant
At 10:06am, in Monterey Bay, California, R. e-mailed V. asking whether a scientific study that was published in a neural engineering journal and reported in an Australian newspaper had anything to do with their recently escaped subject.
V. replied within the hour, assuring R. that the study was unrelated, and actually far behind the breakthroughs that their own project had reached.
<gallery widths="180" spacing="small" position="center" captionalign="center"> ACi-Recordings.jpg|The computer core of the Animus 1.0 ACi-emailBrainChip-01.jpg|Rikkin's e-mail to Vidic ACi-emailBrainChip-02.jpg|Vidic's reply to Rikkin
<gallery>19 September 2012=
Off The Grid
At 7:06pm, in Florence, Adriano received an e-mail from William that referred to Lucy's team having inopportunely gone dark. William instructed Maestranzi that he should call William if he heard from "[their] Rome sales team", as he needed to talk to them.
20 September 2012=
Signal Detected
At 3:03am, a mobile phone signal emanating from cell tower grid 43KP11FP in Monteriggioni was detected.
21 September 2012=
Abstergo's Top Operative
At 5:52pm, the following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the USA.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 39YP75EN ........................................... UTC 20120921T175228Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] This isn't a good time, Daniel. [+] It can't wait. [-] You already said that to the receptionist. [+] Yeah, well, you know why I'm calling, don't you. [-] I don't have time to play 20 Questions now, Daniel. [+] I know you lost him. [-] Do you? [+] Don't do this to me, Warren. [-] Alright. You know. Who told you? [+] Never mind that. I have my sources. When were you planning on telling me? [-] Telling you? This has nothing to do with you. [+] Nothing to– Damn it, Warren! I'm the one who delivered him. Right into your lap! Without me you'd never have found him. [-] [silence] [+] And a week later you lost him... Then failed to get him back. And you personally took part in the assault! What the hell's going on? [-] Desmond Miles is not your problem. He is mine. [+] Yeah, I'm sure he is. Great job at the hideout, by the way. At least you survived. That's something, I guess. [-] [sigh] I'm getting tired of this, Daniel. I'm hanging up now. [+] Wait! I'm coming to Rome. I'll get him back for you. [-] You will do no such thing. [+] But– [-] I'll have need of you soon, Daniel. For now, just hang tight. [+] Warren– [-] The situation is under control. Trust me. [+] Trust you. Right. OK... I trust you. [-] Goodbye, Daniel. [+] Yeah, goodb– [signal interrupted]
22 September 2012=
Passwords
At 4:05pm, in Monteriggioni, Desmond received an e-mail from Erudito that contained the passwords to his teammates' e-mail accounts, and also advised him to "stay in the loop".
23 September 2012=
Assignment In Denver
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Philadelphia, at 7:19pm.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 39YP75DN ........................................... UTC 20120923T191911Z ........................................... [incoming transmission] [caller id = private] [+] Cross. [-] Daniel, I'm glad I caught you. [+] Doc? Is that you? [-] Yes, I– [+] I know, I know. You miss me too much. You can’t bear the thought of spending another minute without me in your life. [-] I– [+] Alright, alright... I know why you’re calling. I’m sorry I missed our last appointment. Couldn’t be helped. I’ll be there next week, OK? [-] That’s not why I called. [+] It’s not? Then you really do miss me! [-] This is serious. [+] You’re breaking my heart, Doc. You know that. Breaking my heart. [-] [pause] Tell me, Daniel. How are you feeling? [+] Swell. Just swell. Things were real bad for a while you know, after the incident, but I’m fine now. Thanks to you. You needn’t worry. [-] I heard you refused to go on assignment. [+] [silence] [-] This isn’t like you– [+] Yeah, well, I’m not going back there. [-] Back where? [+] Denver! The bastard’s want to send me back to Denver! Can you believe that? After what happened... I’m never setting foot in that place again. [-] But y– [+] You heard me, Doc. Never! [-] They need you. They really n– [+] Never! [pause] Never again... Never again...
25 September 2012=
Walk In Town
At 10:45pm, a photograph of Rebecca Crane buying supplies in Monteriggioni was taken by an unknown person.
26 September 2012=
Concerns
At 11:30pm, Lucy received an e-mail from Warren Vidic, posing as William Miles, in response to her concerns about the Bleeding effect on Desmond.
27 September 2012=
Stakeout
At 4:05am, Rebecca e-mailed her teammates to warn them about an unmarked van she had noticed in Monteriggioni, that may have been keeping the Assassin team under surveillance.
Status
At 9:01pm, Shaun Hastings received an e-mail from William Miles that contained updates on the status of Assassin teams in Moscow, São Paulo, Osaka and Denver.
28 September 2012=
The Iron Man
At 1:13pm, R. sent an e-mail to Erica Nichols in Washington, D.C. that commended her after The Guardian published an article about an unusual iron statue of the Buddhist deity Vaisravana.
The article claimed that the 1,000-year-old statue was carved from a rare meteorite that fell to Earth between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. The statue was looted from Tibet before World War II by Adolf Hitler's SS, but resurfaced in 2007. Also noted on the e-mail were Nancy Nilop and E., whom R. reminded to "get it back".
29 September 2012=
Italian Ape
In Monteriggioni, Shaun and Lucy had an exchange of e-mails concerning his reluctance for further interaction with the local residents.
30 September 2012=
Heathrow Airport
After William arrived at London Heathrow Airport, he received an SMS message from Harlan T. Cunningham. William mentioned that he was heading for France, and asked for the message to be passed onto Adriano.
October 1–15, 2012
1 October 2012=
Local Headlines
The Corriere di Monteriggioni reported a few articles concerning the events of the past month. A translation of the paper can be found below:
Violence on the rise in Monteriggioni
In the last month the influx of tourists and considerably increased, to the delight of merchants and landlords in the city. But not everything that glitters is gold: the last week there have been three burglaries and a fight between a British tourist and a worker of the place. What is happening to our peaceful community?
Explorers of graves grow
Tuscany is a true paradise for archaeologists and restorers. This time, however, to take up the shovel were some students [from] Monteriggioni, led by Professor Tresisani, they began to dig for buried treasure in the courtyards of the house.
The economic crises strikes our banks
The Monte dei Paschi di Siena has recorded losses of € 1.6 billion in the first six months of 2012, but the oldest banks in the world is not the only one to suffer because of the economic crisis. Yesterday, the People's Bank of Monteriggioni revealed to be passive. What are the consequences?
A welcome return
Professor Hilary Lannotti, brother of our esteemed councilor, spent several weeks at the University of California working on the ENCODE project. Now the professor and returned to hold a series of conferences in various Italian universities on the subject of new frontiers in DNA Research Department.
2 October 2012=
Gare de Valence
At 2:28pm, William sent an SMS from the railway station in the town of Valence telling Harlan that he was "blending in southern France".
3 October 2012=
Flughafen Zürich
At 6:48pm, William sent Harlan an SMS message from Zurich Airport in Switzerland saying that William would see Adriano the following day.
4 October 2012=
Hang In There
At 8:00 pm, Warren Vidic sent Lucy an e-mail regarding Desmond's progress, using the name "William M." again.
5 October 2012=
Roaming The High Seas
The following data was recorded from somewhere in the Pacific Ocean at 9:54pm.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 31HP152EP ........................................... UTC 20121005T215438Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Yes? [+] William. Gav– [signal interrupted] –trouble reachi– [signal interrupted] –still off the– [signal interrupted] –wait– [signal interrupted] [-] Hello? Gavin? [+] [static] Hold on. [static] I'm back. Hello? Can you hear me? [-] Yes. Much better, thanks. What's going on? [+] You know, roaming the high seas, plundering and pillaging, a girl in every port. That sort of thing. Just calling to give you an update. It's been too long. [-] It has. Adriano kept me in the loop. No news from our friends down under? [+] No good news, if that's what you mean. We had time to check things out. I... I did it myself, Bill. [pause] They've all been eliminated. [-] Shit! [pause] What about Osaka? [+] The team lost their tail and made contact, as planned. Secured a new safe house yesterday... Well, not quite new. We haven't used that one in a while. You know the place. You've been there before, in '98. [-] Right. Glad to hear it. [+] As for Moscow, they're still searching. [-] Let's hope this isn't a dead end. [+] Keeping our fingers crossed. It's a promising lead, Bill. Give them time. What's the word on your end? Adriano... [-] He's fine. His condition has much improved. He swears he feels 20 years younger. [+] Good. [-] I'm with his cell now. We're safe and sound. Monitoring the team. They're still at the Villa, but they've made unbelievable progress. You wouldn't believe it, Gavin. I'll send you a full report. [+] Perfect. [-] Keep this to yourselves for now. The last thing we want... Well, you know. [+] Of course. [-] Alright. Thanks for calling. I'll talk to you soon, old friend. [+] Take care, Bill. [-] Happy plundering.
6 October 2012=
With The Others
At 10:59 pm, William Miles sent Shaun an e-mail with an update concerning several Assassin teams across the globe.
8 October 2012=
More Headlines
The Corriere di Monteriggioni reported a few more articles concerning the events of the past week. A translation of the paper can be found below:
Medici Week
by Antonio Russo
To mark the realization of a postage stamp depicting Anna Maria Luisa de Medici, the city council in collaboration with local artists and craftsmen invite you to the Medici Week, a series of events dedicated to Renaissance and contemporary art.
The future of ice cream
As we approach the opening of the first museum dedicated to ice cream, the result is a true revolution in taste. In fact, the taste! A new generation of ice cream in the country has in fact decided to challenge tradition, creating ice cream with gorgonzola cheese, green pepper and even lobster and vodka. Which will you choose?
Villa Auditore for sale?
The historic villa, acquired in the fourteenth century by Domenico Auditore, has belonged to his heirs until the turn of the sixteenth century. Since then, it has fallen into disrepair, but signs of recent activity suggest that it may be for sale. Even Villa Auditore will end up in foreign hands?
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Voicemail
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower near from Monteriggioni at 10:51pm.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 43KP11EP ........................................... UTC 20121008T225106Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = stillman, lucy] [-] You have reached the office of Doctor Warren Vidic. At the tone, please leave a message. For more options, press 1. [bip] [+] It's Lucy. I realize this is a security breach, but we can't keep Desmond in the Animus forever. If we push too hard I fear for him. Maybe not for his life, but his sanity. I don't think I can handle another 16. Please, get back to me.
9 October 2012=
"William"
Hours later, at 1:45 am, Dr. Warren Vidic, posing as William Miles, told Lucy that the moment that they had been waiting for 10 years had arrived.
10 October 2012=
Discovery
At 12:09am, after reliving Ezio's memories, Desmond discovered the location of the Apple of Eden.
All Roads...
One hour later, in Siena, Italy, William Miles received a message from Shaun, telling him that they were going to Rome.
Il Colosseo
At 4:52am, Desmond and his team arrived in Rome.
Under Capitoline Hill
A few minutes later, Desmond met Juno for the first time.
Santa Maria In Aracoeli
At 5:24am, Desmond and his team searched for the First Civilization Vault.
The Temple Of Juno
In the Vault, Desmond found Ezio's Apple of Eden.
Lucy's Death
At 5:49am, Lucy died, being stabbed by Desmond with his Hidden Blade, who was under Juno's sway. After this, Desmond immediately collapsed into a coma.
Return To The Animus
At 8:24am, the following conversation took place between Harlan T. Cunningham and William Miles.
- Harlan: Shit! He's gone into shock!
- William: Put him back in the machine, it's the only way to fix this.
- Harlan: But the Animus did this to him!
- William: Am I the expert or not? Do it!
Life Support
Though Rebecca voiced doubts about returning Desmond to the Animus in his comatose state, William believed that the machine was his son's best chance for survival and recovery, trusting that "the Animus [would] do its part and Desmond [would] do the rest".
11 October 2012=
Assassin Or Templar?
At 7:25pm in Florence, William and Rebecca received a phone call from Shaun, who expressed his doubts about Desmond's true allegiance.
12 October 2012=
All You Can Be
At 6:02pm in Rome, Abstergo Industries begin with the second stage of their Animi Training Program.
13 October 2012=
Death Of A Siren
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower near Rittenhouse Square in Philadelphia at 1:14pm.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 39YP75DN ........................................... UTC 20121013T131441Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Dr. Sung speaking. [+] Doc. Daniel. I... I... [-] Daniel, you sound upset. What is it? [+] Did you hear? About Project Siren? [-] Project what? [+] Shit, you probably don't know. A top secret op. I... I just read the report. Things are bad, doc. Real bad. I... I don't know what to do. [-] Hold on. I shouldn't know about– [+] Didn't you hear me? The shit hit the fan! [-] Try to remain calm, Daniel. This is no time for– [+] Listen, the project was shut down. Vidic lost his mole. She's dead. Dead! The mole is dead! And 17 is gone! I... I don't... I... [silence] [-] Daniel? [pause] Talk to me, Daniel. [+] I need your help, doc. I need... need... your... [-] Where are you? [+] [silence] [-] Where? [+] At... Rittenhouse Square... In... In front of the church. [-] Stay where you are! I'm coming. Do you hear? [+] Yes. OK. I'll- [-] Don't move! Promise me, Daniel. [+] I promise... I won't move... I promise...
14 October 2012=
Funeral For A Friend
Lucy Stillman was buried in Marino, Italy.
15 October 2012=
Private Jet
Rebecca made arrangements for the team to leave Rome.
October 16–31, 2012
16 October 2012=
Code Red
At 11:08 am, William sent a message to Harlan, stating that "they" were onto his team, and that they would not be able make it, meaning that he would be "going dark".
17 October 2012=
Trip To Rome
The following data was recorded from Philadelphia, USA at 4:32pm from a phone call between Daniel Cross and Dr. Warren Vidic, regarding Project Siren.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 39YP75DN ........................................... UTC 20121017T16323Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Yes, Daniel. [+] You lost them, Warren. You lost them. Again! [-] You misunderstand. This is the first time. [+] Don't fuck with me. I read the report. Project Siren is over. Done! Your mole is dead, the Assassins are gone, you have no idea where Desmond Mi– [-] This information was restricted. How did you– [+] I'm still part of the Sanctum. I have access. [-] Of course you do. [pause] And you are a valued member of our Inner Circle. I trust you, Daniel, you know I do. But you should not have told the doctor– [+] Yeah, well... I'm sorry about that. She... She doesn't know much. [-] [sigh] I'm a busy man, Daniel. What do you want? [+] You know damn well what I want. I'm coming to Rome. [-] Are you sure you're up to it? According to Dr. Sung's report– [+] I've spent the last three days in the Animus. The good doctor upped my meds. I'm back on my feet. I'm fine now. In control. [-] So you're fit for duty? [+] I am. I'm ready, but the bastards won't let me leave. [-] The truth is I could use your expertise in Rome. [+] Good, I– [-] Has Dr. Sung given you your leave? [+] No, but she will if you ask her. She said I'm– [-] Stay put. I'll take care of it. You'll be on the next flight to Italy. [+] About time. [-] What was that? [+] Never mind. I'll see you in Rome. [-] Take care of yourself. [+] Yeah. Thank you Warren. I... I really appreciate it. [-] Anything for you, Daniel. Anything.
18 October 2012=
Off-Season
At 3:18 pm in Vinadio, Italy, William and his team departed from the city in a "camper" to an unknown destination.
19 October 2012=
Assessing The Troops
The following data was recorded from Rome, Italy at 6:22pm.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 41VP12KP ........................................... UTC 20121019T182200Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Vidic. [+] What the hell, Warren? [-] You really should watch your language, Daniel, you know that? [+] Yeah, well... Shit! This isn't what I had in mind when I came to Rome. [-] Language. [+] Don't... Damn it, Warren. I– [-] Daniel. [+] I'm sorry. I'm sorry, OK? It's just so damn frustrating! [-] What is it this time? [+] You know what Rizzo asked me to do? [-] Assess the recruits. [+] What? That's what you had in store for me? A freakin' trainer's job? [-] [sigh] Listen, Daniel, and listen well. You know how important this training program is to us. We identified a few promising recruits and– [+] Promising recruits my– [-] Listen! Right now, you're the best man for the job. The only man, really. You're our top operative and you've been training agents for a decade. [+] You need me to find Desmond Miles! I should– [-] You should listen to Rizzo. He's in charge here. [+] But– [-] This will only take a couple of days. [+] Warren, I– [-] Two days, Daniel. That's all I’m asking. [+] [silence] [-] Are we clear? [+] Yes. Two days. But what about– [-] The situation is under control. As soon as we locate 17, I'll let you know. [+] Is that a promise? [-] Do your job, Daniel.
21 October 2012=
Roughing It
At 1:57pm near Anfo, Italy, William's team discussed Desmond's importance.
22 October 2012=
Loose Cannon
At 5:09pm, Theodore Rizzo sent an e-mail to Warren Vidic, reporting the problems that Daniel Cross had recently caused in the Animi Training Program, and stating that he should be relieved of his duties. One hour later, Vidic replied that he would not dismiss Daniel and that all would continue as planned.
23 October 2012=
Lone Wolf
At 9:15am, Rizzo informed Vidic that Daniel Cross had left the Abstergo campus without anyone's knowledge. Vidic replied within the next hour, saying that Daniel worked well on his own and that Abstergo had the means to track Daniel. He also said that Daniel would presumably need backup, and Rizzo should ready his team and meet Vidic at 7:00am the next day.
24 October 2012=
No News Is Good News
At 2:04am, aboard the boat named the Altair II on the Caribbean Sea, Gavin received a message from Adriano in Morse code, which stated that William had not made contact, and that he should go to New York.
25 October 2012=
Resurfacing
At 4:03pm, William M. announced to Harlan that he had lost his Templar tails, and further asked for help in getting out of Italy.
26 October 2012=
Wolf Pack
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Florence at 10:27pm.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 43SP11GP ........................................... UTC 20121026T222755Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [+] Base. Delta 1 reporting. [-] [reply scrambled] [+] Yes, I'll wait. [-] [reply scrambled] [] [silence] [-] [reply scrambled] [+] Yes, sir. We found Cross. Made contact 38 minutes ago. [-] [reply scrambled] [+] He seems fine, sir. I'm no doctor, but– [-] [reply scrambled] [+] Yes. Of course, sir. He wasn't happy to see us, but we followed your orders to the letter. [-] [reply scrambled] [+] I hate to say it, sir, but the guy's good. He might be a damn lone wolf, but he's hot on Subject 17's trail. [-] [reply scrambled] [+] No, sir. I have no idea how he did it. He's not... inclined to speak to me, sir. Maybe he'd be more receptive if you talked to him yourself. [-] [reply scrambled] [+] Er... sir? [-] [reply scrambled] [+] As you wish, sir. My team is at his command. [-] [reply scrambled] [+] Yes. Right away, sir. [-] [reply scrambled] [+] Rizzo out. [communication ends]
27 October 2012=
Breakdown
At 9:51am, the Templars seemed to have caught up with the Assassins, and engaged them.Delta 1: Delta 1 to Base. We're in position. Base: Roger that Delta 1. Satellite is in place. Delta 2: Confirmed. We have satellite imagery. Repeat: We have imagery. Base: Delta 1, is Cross with you? Delta 1: Yes. Agent Cross refuses to use a headset. I'm coordinating the attack. [pause] Don't worry. I'll stay close to him. Delta 3 and Delta 4 will back him up. Delta 2: Targets are nearby, in a cluster. Four of them. Delta 1: Hold on, Base. [silence] Delta 1: Target identities confirmed. We're good to go. I repeat: We are good to go. Base: Monitoring your progress. Good luck, Delta team. Delta 1: Enjoy the show. Delta 6: Move, move, move! [sound of muffled footsteps] Delta 8: What– Delta 10: Shit! Delta 8 is down, I repeat ahh– Delta 7: Delta 10? Carlo? [pause] Carlo, do you hear me? [sound of gunfire] Delta 9: Man down, man down! [signal scrambled] Delta 2: –Waiting in ambush! More than we expected! Delta 1: Spread out! They have another team down here. Base: We see them. Southeast of your position. Moving fast! Delta 1: Roger that, Base. [sound of screaming] Delta 3: Agent Cross, what are you– [signal scrambled] Delta 4: –elta 4 to Rizzo, Cross is on the move! Delta 1: Stay close, don't lose him! [sound of gunfire] Delta 4: Cross is in the open, He's running! Delta 1: Follow him! [sound of gunfire] Delta 4: Shit, shit, shit! [sound of screaming] Delta 6: What's that? Base: We lost the feed. We lost the feed. [signal interrupted] Base: –you copy, Delta 1? Delta 1: Rizzo here, copy that. Delta 9: Where's that light coming from? Delta 3: Cross, what are you– [sound of screaming] Delta 4: Cross is down! Cross is down! Delta 1: What, what happened? Delta 4: Nothing. He's just... on his knees, holding his head, sir. Shouting... Delta 9: They're getting away! Delta 5: Confirmed. Primary targets are on the move! [sound of muffled screaming] Delta 5: They got Twelve! Delta 3: Cross? are you– arg! Delta 4: Shit! Cross hit Barney, I– Humf! [sound of melee combat] [sound of gunfire] Base: What's going on? Report! Report! Delta 9: Five is down! I– [sound of gunfire] Delta 2: What the hell? Cross y– [sound of melee combat] Delta 1: Cross, you son of a– Delta 2: What's he doing? [sound of gunfire] [long silence] Delta 1: Rizzo here. My team is dead! I rep– [sound of gunshot] Base: What's going on? Delta 1 respond! Respond Delta 1. Agent Rizzo?
Farewell To Florence
At 10:38am, Harlan reported to William that the Assassins had survived a Templar attack with only one casualty, and that one of the Templars had "lost it".
Medical Transport
At 8:41pm, William's team arrived at Syracuse, USA, where Gavin arranged for the team to travel as a medical unit from SUNY Upstate.
Gavin: Bill! Good to see you. Listen, we've got a customs officer waiting to talk to everyone. William: I hope you have something for us. Gavin: Absolutely, passports and papers for everyone. Shaun: Ah brilliant, so I'm... I'm what, a neurosurgeon now, am I? Gavin: You're a medical team from SUNY Upstate, just back from Rome with your patient, experimental gene therapy. William: Good work, let's get this over with. Rebecca: Wait look, this is crazy! William: What's wrong? Rebecca: Not sure, but Desmond's brain is lighting up like a string of firecrackers!
28 October 2012=
Templar Privileges
At 8:53pm, a promising Templar recruit, Juhani Otso Berg was promoted, and given more power and freedom.
29 October 2012=
Solar Flares
At 8:17am, in Turin, New York, Rebecca e-mailed William and Shaun to advise them of the increased solar activity.
Key To The Warehouse
At 3:19pm, in Turin, William e-mailed Adriano to update him that they were "still waiting for [their] top salesman", who had the "key" that would enable them to enter the "warehouse".
30 October 2012=
Awakening
At 7:39am, in Turin, Desmond woke up from his coma, ready to use the knowledge Jupiter had recently given to him.
The Temple
One hour later, Desmond and his team entered the Grand Temple.
The Mission
At 5:22pm, William sent a message to Desmond, Shaun and Rebecca, informing them that they had to focus on the mission.
31 October 2012=
Happy Halloween
At 12:00pm, Shaun sent a message to Desmond, William and Rebecca, informing them that Juno had been communicating with them, and of his suspicions on whether she really was at the Grand Temple.
November 1–15, 2012
1 November 2012=
Haytham's Amulet
At 3:07pm, Shaun sent a message to the team, informing them about Haytham's amulet.
2 November 2012=
Working His Tail Off
At 4:49am in Stillwater, Oklahoma, USA, Gavin sent a text message to William, informing him that the Templars did not know where they are.
3 November 2012=
Assassins 12, Templars 2
At 5:32am in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA, Gavin sent a text message to William, informing him about a Templar raid to the Assassins in Florence.
4 November 2012=
Sowing Seeds
At 4:08am, in the Grand Temple, William received a message from the Assassin HQ03, informing him that they had put Gavin's plan in motion, which was to distract the Templars. The message also mentioned that Desmond's mother was pleased to learn that Desmond was safe, and with William.
5 November 2012=
So Far So Good
At 1:32am, in the Grand Temple, Desmond received an e-mail from Rebecca, saying that he was coping well with the Bleeding Effect, and that Subject 16 may have had something to do with it. However, she noted that he should still take frequent breaks, just to be safe.
6 November 2012=
Father & Son
At 10:18am, in the Grand Temple, Desmond got into conflict with his father after voicing his feelings about always being in the Animus and being told what to do.
8 November 2012=
Top Gun
At 17:37pm in Rome, Italy, Abstergo's Operations Division evaluated Otso Berg, a promising Abstergo agent.
9 November 2012=
According To Plan
At 6:17am in Turin, USA, William received an update from Harlan, saying that so far everything was going according to plan, and that the Templars did not know where they are.
10 November 2012=
Living Conditions
At 11:55pm, William sent a message to Shaun and Rebecca, discussing about tensions on the team.
11 November 2012=
Medical Report
At 4:52pm in Abstergo's Roman facility, the results of Daniel Cross' medical examination came up, with Dr. Damian Saravakos reporting several problems, including memory loss, severe headaches, hallucinations, among others.
12 November 2012=
Connected
At 2:18am in Turin, inside the Grand Temple, Juno contacted Desmond for the first time via e-mail.
14 November 2012=
Leave Him Alone
At 1:20am, Juno sent an e-mail to Shaun, telling him that he was to leave Desmond alone, and not interfere in matters that did not concern him.
15 November 2012=
Daniel Has Left The Building
At 1:18pm, the following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the USA.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 39YP75EN ........................................... UTC 20121115T131841Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Vidic. [+] Doctor, this is Sung. [-] Good evening, doctor. I just read your latest report on Subject 4. [+] I'm afraid I have bad news. Daniel Cross has... vanished. [-] What do you mean "vanished"? [+] He left the compound. [-] Wasn't he supposed to be in the Animus? [+] Yes. For 48 hours. After that I ordered him to his room. He was confined to quarters, but— [-] Yes? [-] Daniel was there for about two hours. He then came out and... neutralized the men guarding his room. Somehow he found his way outside. I'm told he hacked into the Abstergo mainframe before he attacked the guards. Security should— [-] Yes. I have them on line 1. I have to go, doctor. [+] Daniel was under my care. I take full responsibilit— [-] Doctor. Do me a favor. Keep this to yourself. [+] Of course. [transmission ends]
OP114-8506-B
At 3:38pm in Rome, E. sent an e-mail to Ctibor Hašek, informing him about a security breach and asking him if he could send Otso Berg to Manhattan.
November 16–30, 2012
16 November 2012=
Freedom Tower
At 11:03pm in New York, USA, Desmond climbed the Freedom Tower in order to reach a building that held a First Civilization artifact.
Criss Cross
At 11:47pm, Desmond was found by Daniel Cross, who threatened him with a gun.
17 November 2012=
Stray Cat
At 12:33pm, the following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Rome, Italy.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 41VP12KP ........................................... UTC 20121117T123301Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Vidi— [+] What's going on, Warren? [-] Laetitia. A pleasure, as alw— [+] My operative in Manhattan found Cross. You know anything about this? [-] No. We lost him. Two days ago. [+] What? Why wasn't I— [-] Please, calm down, Laeti— [+] Calm down? Desmond Miles was in New York yesterday. Cross scared him away! [-] What? [+] You heard me. One of my operatives was on the case. [sigh] Someone had hacked into our mainframe; someone interested in the artifacts we are tracking. I sent a man to investigate, but— [-] What happened? Is Cross alive? [+] Yes. He was in bad shape, disoriented, spoke Russian. He attacked my agent. Fortunately, he neutralized Cross and brought him to us. [-] Where is he now? [+] In a holding cell. [-] This is no place for— [+] I've ordered his release. He should be in Sung's care within the hour. [pause] Warren, I know we owe a lot to this man but— [-] [sigh] Hold on. I'll get Alan on the line. [transmission ends]
Detour
At 6:41pm in Boston, Massachusetts, USA, Desmond and his team rested a pub named "The Green Dragon Tavern", where they ordered food and beverages.
18 November 2012=
Who The Hell Is Cross?
At, 2:40pm, the team returned to the Grand Temple and Desmond asked about Daniel Cross.
19 November 2012=
First
Juno told Desmond the first method that the First Civilization devised to save the world.
20 November 2012=
Annnnnnnoying
At 3:11am, Shaun informed the team that the Templars knew what are they searching for.
Second
Hours later, Juno told Desmond the second solution that the First Civilization planned to survive the solar flares.
22 November 2012=
The Iron Man 2
At 10:55am in Philadelphia, USA, E. sent a message to R., with the news that the Buddha statue which the pair spoke almost two months ago had been switched.
23 November 2012=
Cross Purpose
At 2:14pm in Rome, Italy, Ctibor Hašek sent a message to V. and E., informing them that Cross was a very dangerous security risk. Minutes later, V. answered that Cross would not report to Operations or be assigned to Ctibor's teams.
24 November 2012=
His Cross To Bear
At 9:08am, the following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Philadelphia, USA.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 38ZP77AN ........................................... UTC 20121124T090815Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Dr. Sung, this is Warren Vidic. [+] Good morning, doctor. [-] I don't have to tell you why I'm calling. [+] No. But... You know where I stand. [-] [silence] [+] Daniel Cross isn't fit for duty. He needs constant medical care, time in the Animus... As his physician, I can't allow— [-] Doctor, I need him. Do you understand? [+] But— [-] Cross will remain under my care, but we need his... instincts. Are we clear? [+] Yes... [-] You have your orders. Cross is my responsibility now. [transmission ends]
25 November 2012=
Family Man
At 1:06pm in Helsinki, Finland, Otso Berg was identified by Abstergo Industries.
26 November 2012=
Hurry
At 2:51am, inside the Grand Temple, Juno told Desmond that he had to hurry in finding the key.
They're On To Us
At 11:21am, Rebecca informed William that someone was trying to track down their location.
27 November 2012=
Hostile Takeover
At 1:49am, Adriano confirmed William's suspicions about the Templars' intent to hack their systems.
Murderers
At 6:06pm, Juno sent a message to Desmond, explaining to him her hatred for mankind.
28 November 2012=
Hacker Massacre
At 5:08pm, Harlan sent a message to William from the Provincial road SP11 in Italy, informing him that they had infiltrated the campus and taken out four hackers along with some guards, as well as destroying their servers, which meant that Abstergo could not track William.
The Hound
At 6:13pm, the following data was recorded from a cell phone tower near Regional road SR2 in Italy.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 43AP11RP ........................................... UTC 20121128T181332Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Operator. [+] Agent Berg reporting. [-] One moment, please. [+] [silence] [-] [clicking sound] This is Base. Go ahead. [+] Tracking one of the foxes. [-] Are you certain? [+] Positive. I have been on its tail since the attack on the campus. [-] You should terminate it. [+] Negative. It is leading me to its den. [-] This is a crafty prey, Agent. You may lose it. [+] I will not. [-] Please hold. [clicking sound] [+] [long silence] [-] [clicking sound] You are clear to proceed. We'll prep a team. Call when you need backup. [+] Understood. [-] Happy hunting. [+] Berg out. [transmission ends]
29 November 2012=
Sigma Team In Position
At 2:21pm in Florence, Italy, an Abstergo strike team, known as Sigma Team prepared to attack Harlan's team.
Attack Imminent
At 10:42pm in Turin, USA, William received a text message from Harlan, informing him that the Templars had found them and that Florence was no longer safe. He also mentioned Adriano Maestranzi's reluctance to leave.
30 November 2012=
Kaboom!
At 6:27am in Florence, Italy, Sigma team attacked Harlan's team, with at least one member of the former being wounded in an explosion that followed.
December 1–15, 2012
1 December 2012=
Only One Left
At 12:20am from Bologna, Italy, Harlan notified William that Adriano had blown up the Florence hideout, destroying all files and all but one of the Abstergo agents with it. Following this, Harlan also stated that he was the only Assassin survivor, to which William replied and urged him to stay strong.
2 December 2012=
American Gladiators
At 9:39pm in São Paulo, Brazil, Desmond sought the second power source for the Grand Temple, but Daniel Cross located it first. After a chase and a bout of hand-to-hand combat, Desmond retrieved the artifact and escaped from the city.
3 December 2012=
Survival Of The Fittest
At 4:03pm in Rome, Italy, Ctibor Hašek remade an agent evaluation report for Otso Berg, the only survivor of the Sigma team after the attack to the Florentine Assassins.
4 December 2012=
In The Same Boat
At 6:09am in Vitoria Bay, Brazil, Desmond and his team left Brazil.
Inner Sanctum Meeting
At 7:24am at Pebble Beach, California, USA, R. convened a meeting with almost all members of the Inner Sanctum, to take place for the next day at 8:00pm.
5 December 2012=
Presentable?
At 10:25pm, the following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in the USA.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 39YP75EN ........................................... UTC 20121205T222528Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [+] Doctor Sung speaking. [-] This is Vidic. How is he doing? [+] Surprisingly well, actually. Daniel doesn't remember much about Brazil, but the time he spent in the Animus prov— [-] Yes, I've read your report. What now? [+] He needs more treatment. And rest. [-] Don't worry, doctor, we won't send him on assignment. Is he well enough to... Is he presentable? [+] I've already forwarded my recommendations. Last time you chose to ignor— [-] Just make sure he doesn't lose it until tomorrow. We'll need him for about two hours. After that he'll be returned to you. [+] [sigh] Of course. I'll do my best, doctor. [-] I expect no less. [transmission ends]
6 December 2012=
Welcome to the Fold
At 6:43pm, in Philadelphia, USA, Otso Berg was promoted to the rank of Master Templar.
Back to the Temple
At 9:32pm, on the South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil, Gavin received a text message from William which told him that all of William's team were safely back at the Grand Temple in Turin. William also added that the Templars hadn't followed them, and thanked him for his aid in transporting them back.
7 December 2012=
Third
Juno told Desmond the third solution that the First Civilization planned to survive the solar flares, using the Apples of Eden.
Berg. Otso Berg
At 11:27am, on the South Atlantic Ocean off the coast of Brazil, Gavin sent a text message to William which told him about Otso Berg, the Templar who led the attack to the Florentine Assassins. In reply, William answered that his team would keep an eye out for him.
8 December 2012=
Fourth
Juno told Desmond the fourth solution that the First Civilization had theorized, which utilized time itself.
Don't Worry
At 8:27pm, William sent a message to his son, telling Desmond that even though the mission to Egypt that he was about to undertake was risky, he shouldn't worry about his father, as William had been fighting the Templars long before Desmond was born.
9 December 2012=
William's Search
At 1:43pm in Cairo, Egypt, William located the third and final power source, which was held in a museum.
10 December 2012=
Target Acquired
At 5:14pm in Abstergo's Philadelphia facility, USA, the Templars discovered William's location and sent their newly inducted Master Templar, Otso Berg to Cairo to capture him.
11 December 2012=
I'm Sorry
At 8:18pm in Turin, USA, Desmond received an e-mail from his father, telling him that the Templars would soon capture him. William also added that he should have been more understanding with him and asked Desmond for his forgiveness.
12 December 2012=
Sigma Team Strikes Again
At 3:21am, in Cairo, Egypt, William Miles was captured by Sigma Team.
Trust
At 3:01am, Daniel called Vidic from Philadelphia to express his dissatisfaction with the promotion of Otso Berg and his subsequent assignment in Cairo.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 39YP75EN ........................................... UTC 20121212T030155Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Vidic [+] Finally! You know how many messages I left you? [-] I'm a busy man, Daniel. What do you want? [+] What do I— Look, it's bad enough you made this bastard a Master behind my back... [-] We informed you of our decision. [+] Yeah. And you told me why Rikkin didn't invite me to that meeting... Medical condition my ass. [sigh] Still, I played nice, went along with it. Welcomed this jerk into the Order... Never said a damn word. Not to you, not to that bitch England. [-] Daniel. [+] Shit. I didn't mean it like that. But you sent Berg to Cairo. Trusted him more than me... Hell, this guy is still wet behind the ears. What can he do that I haven't done a million times already? [-] Daniel, you're the best operative we have, but we can't send you on every mission. I assure you, I have full confidence in your abilities. [+] Bullshit! [-] Listen to me. I will tell you something none of the others know. [+] Yeah? [-] You know why I didn't push for you to go to Cairo? [+] [silence] [-] William Miles is of no consequence. He's bait. Nothing more. Truth is, Daniel, I need you to focus on Desmond. He's the one we need. He's the real target. [+] [sigh] Desmond. Right. [-] Well, you did promise you would get him back for us. [+] Yeah. And I will. You know you can count on me. [-] Haven't I always? [transmission ends]
Unpleasant Outcome
At 3:04pm, in Turin, USA, Desmond and his team received a video transmission from Warren Vidic, revealing to them that the Templars had captured William Miles. Following on from this, Vidic proposed a deal: the Apple of Eden in exchange for William, but if they refused, William would die.
14 December 2012=
Where It All Began
At 5:07pm, Desmond Miles arrived at Abstergo's facility in Rome, Italy, with the intention of rescuing his father.
Game's Over
20 minutes later, Desmond was found by Daniel Cross in the same room where he was held a prisoner by Abstergo more than 3 months prior. Before Daniel was able to kill Desmond with a gun, he suffered from the Bleeding Effect, which led to him fleeing the room. Following this, after a long chase in the Animi room, Desmond killed Daniel.
Calling The Shots
At 5:38pm, Desmond found his father with Warren Vidic, surrounded by several guards. Vidic asked Desmond to hand over the Apple, but Desmond activated it instead, influencing one of the guards to kill Vidic with a gunshot.
On The Line
After Desmond used the Apple to kill the Templars, he and William reconciled, before the pair fled Abstergo with the artifact.
December 16–21, 2012
16 December 2012=
Requiescat In Pace
At 10:00am, in Rome, Italy, the Templars announced the death of Dr. Warren Vidic and reported that the next phase of the Animus Project would proceed as planned. The background message read as follows:
We mourn the loss of our dear friend and Brother, Master Templar Warren Vidic of the Inner Sanctum, father of the Animus Project and true visionary. Murdered December 14, 2012 in Rome, Italy. The world's leading expert in genetic memory, he devoted his life to scientific research in the pursuit of the noblest of ambitions, the betterment of humanity. Owing to the foresight our departed Brother, the next phase of the Project will proceed as planned.
17 December 2012=
Fifth
Juno revealed the fifth solution that the First Civilization had planned to survive the solar flares: to enhance their bodies externally, and to transform them internally, into steel strong enough to withstand a hostile environment.
Tattoos Of Memories
At 4:19pm, Daniel Cross was buried in Rome, Italy.
18 December 2012=
Sixth
Juno revealed, in a rather cryptic manner, the sixth and final solution that the First Civilization had planned to survive the solar flares: creating entirely new vessels to which they could safely transfer their consciousness.
19 December 2012=
Great Loss
At 9:12pm, Harlan called Gavin from Vienna, Austria, to confirm that he was safe and sound, and to talk about Adriano's sacrifice during the attack on the Florence hideout.
DATA TRANSCRIPT LEVEL 3 ........................................... Cell Tower Grid 48FP16KP ........................................... UTC 20121219T211220Z ........................................... [outgoing transmission] [caller id = private] [-] Gavin. [+] It's Harlan. [-] I was getting worried. What's the word? [+] No trace of the Templars. If anyone followed me, I lost them. [-] Are you at the safe house? [+] Yeah. As planned. I– [silence] [-] What's wrong? [+] Nothing... It's just... Shit, Gavin! I left Adriano behind. He– [-] He did what he thought was right. [+] Yeah... Gave his life for the cause and all... It's just... You know what Old Timer did for me... He was more than just a mentor. [-] Adriano's death is a great loss for the Brotherhood... Hell, the things he knew... The things he saw... But his sacrifice wasn't in vain. [+] I should've– [-] Carried him on your shoulders while Templars were shooting at you? [sigh] Adriano was 94 and in a wheelchair. Ordering you to leave was the right thing to do. The only thing to do. [+] I know, I know. What now? [-] Go to [[Rotterdam]]. You know the place. [+] Then what? [-] Wait for my word. This isn't over. [+] Right. I'll be ready. [-] In the meantime, take it easy, kid. [transmission ends]
20 December 2012=
The Final Step
At 6:13pm, in Rockport, USA, after reliving Ratonhnhaké:ton's memories, Desmond and his team found the Grand Temple Key on the Davenport Homestead, in the grave of Achilles Davenport's son. William went on to inform Gavin of the news, to which Gavin decided to broadcast it to all of the Assassin Order.
21 December 2012=
Hope Extinguished
At 12:01am, in the Grand Temple, Desmond and his team opened the gate which guarded their last chance to save the world.
Desmond's Sacrifice
Six minutes later, Desmond found the Eye, the last hope of humanity to survive the solar flares. However, before he activated it, Minerva appeared and told him that if he activated the Eye, Juno would be freed. Juno countered Minerva's argument by informing Desmond of what would happen if he didn't activate the artifact. After hearing their claims, Desmond decided to follow Juno's logic, subsequently sacrificing himself to save the world.
Journey's End
At 3:03pm, two Abstergo employees found the Grand Temple and retrieved Desmond's body, stripping him of his backpack and his Hidden Blade, which, strangely, was broken into different pieces.
Data Recovery Progress
On 3 January 2013, Initiates started working with members of the worldwide community to reestablish their synchronization to the Database Network Archives, also known as D.N.A. Each day since, the website required a passcode to aid in its restoration.
| Date | Query | Passcode |
|---|---|---|
| 3 January 2013 | Enter "Initiates" to verify server status. | Initiates |
| 4 January 2013 | D.N.A. Fragmented. Enter site's crash date (YYYY.MM.DD) to resynch servers. |
2012.12.21 |
| 5 January 2013 | Press the Delete key and enter "72" to initiate data recovery. |
Delete key, followed by 72 |
| 6 January 2013 | Enter "22 TRNA" to initiate rebuilding phase. | 22 TRNA |
| 7 January 2013 | Abstergo's satellite network is called A.S.P. What does it stand for? |
Akashic Satellite Plexus |
| 8 January 2013 | In which city did Ezio Auditore meet his wife? | Constantinople |
| 9 January 2013 | In what year was Abstergo Industries founded? | 1937 |
| 10 January 2013 | SUNAMORSNAFNIEHTSANWONKSAWOHW (Who was known as the Infans Romanus?) |
Giovanni Borgia |
| 11 January 2013 | What pandemic was responsible for the death of almost one-third of Europe's population in the thirteenth century? |
Black Death |
| 12 January 2013 | In wh░░░ ye░░ did R░░░░rd th░ Lio░░eart die? (In which year did Richard the Lionheart die?) |
1199 |
| 13 January 2013 | What was Bartolomeo d'Alviano's profession? | Condottiero |
| 14 January 2013 | Wh░t w░s th░ n░m░ of th░ first ░nim░l to orbit th░ ░░rth? (What was the name of the first animal to orbit the Earth?) |
Laika |
| 15 January 2013 | How old was ░░░░░░░░░░░░░ when his father and brothers were executed? (Ezio Auditore) |
17 |
| 16 January 2013 | Which Piece of Eden was stolen by Giovanni Borgia in the New World? | Skull of Eden or Crystal Skull |
| 17 January 2013 | JUB ERCNVERQ GUR UVQQRA OYNQR RMVB VAUREVGRQ SEBZ UVF SNGURE? (Who repaired the Hidden Blade Ezio inherited from his father?) |
Leonardo da Vinci |
| 18 January 2013 | Where were the headquarters of the Italian Assassin Brotherhood located after the Fall of Monteriggioni in 1500? |
Tiber Island |
| 19 January 2013 | 48//6f7/72064///6f6/573//20526/562/6//5636/361//2043/7261// 6e6///520/736/967/6e20//656d//616/96//c73/3f (How does Rebecca Crane sign emails?) |
R3b3cca |
| 20 January 2013 | ░░O ░A░ ░░O░░ A░ ░░E ░O░░A░Y ░A░? (Who was known as the Company Man?) |
Madeleine de L’Isle |
| 21 January 2013 | WHERMESATINIADIDELIZABETINIAHERMESJUNOANEWESTINIAONDIS CONSUSOVENUSERINJUNOOHERMESNDEESROOMINERVA? (What did Elizabeth Jane Weston discover in John Dee's room?) |
Apple of Eden or Apple |
| 22 January 2013 | What field did Lucy Stillman study in the university? | Cognitive Neuroscience |
| 23 January 2013 | Who hides east now? Dusk is darkened. as great angels tremble emphatically, death is eternal. (When did Agaté die?) |
1777 |
| 24 January 2013 | WILLIAMHICKEYIVANOVICHCHARLESHAYTHAMTALALERCOLE MONTFERRATPAZZILEEALEXANDERROBERTGARNIERRISTORO ABBASNAPLOUSEDAVIDSONMADELEINEABBADIESABLE THOMASERICHRASPUTINWARRENALAATSOFIANKENWAY ISLELEANDROSLYSISTRATAEMILIODONATOIVANNICOLAS1314? (Which Templar Grand Master was killed in 1314?) |
Jacques de Molay |
| 25 January 2013 | 3nwh1ty21rd3dj5h1n34ts4b2rgb2c4m21m1st2rt2mpl1r? (In what year did Juhani Otso Berg become a Master Templar?) |
2012 |
| 26 January 2013 | WHCHPCFDNWSHDDNNMNTRGGNBMRDTR? (Which Piece of Eden was hidden in Monteriggioni by Mario Auditore?) |
Shroud of Eden or Shroud |
| 27 January 2013 | Temple (xx.xxxxxx,-xx.xxxxxx) | 43.655278,-75.461667 |
| 28 January 2013 | WIQNMQRLLLVPACOIHRNBC? (Who killed Cleopatra VII?) |
Amunet |
| 29 January 2013 | HOW ASH AMMO WORK? ANIMI SHALL FAIL. SILENCE UNEXPECTED. MIDNIGHT BENEATH SMOKE. ATOPP INDIGO HILLTOP, SOLACE. I RUN... AM DOOMED... I, I, I... (Who killed the pope in 1503?) |
Cesare Borgia |
| 30 January 2013 | ds zgd zhgs vmznvlu kbgs ztlizh’y lwbt fziw? (What was the name of Pythagoras' bodyguard?) |
Kyros or Kyros of Zarax |
| 31 January 2013 | ░░░t ░░░░░░ sec░nd l░ne ░░░░░e p░░░░░░░rav░░░░░░░░░░ stillman’s ░░░░░tone? (What is the second line of the poem engraved on Lucy Stillman’s headstone?) |
Gulielme, lenis accipe |
Emails
Screenshot of the email sent to selected users
On 9 January 2013, selected users of the website received an email from an unknown "Fourth Initiate".
Surveillance
May 2013
14 May 2013=
Reconnecting
At 9:13am, in the South Pacific Ocean, a text message was received from Shaun Hastings.
20 May 2013=
Closing In
At 12:31pm, the Altair II approached Shaun and Rebecca's location, in Peru.
21 May 2013=
Transfer of Power
At 8:07am, Gavin welcomed Shaun and Rebecca on board and received word from his old friend, William Miles.
24 May 2013=
To Work
At 10:01am, Gavin and Shaun had a conversation about William's absence.
Shaun: So what are you going to do about William? Gavin: Nothing. Shaun: What do you mean “nothing”? I can't find him anywhere. He's abandoned us. Gavin: He hasn't abandoned anyone. Bill just needs time. As long as we have this book, his mission can continue. Shaun: But if the Templars find him again -- Gavin: If the great Shaun Hastings can't find him, what hope do the Templars have? Shaun: It's just... He didn't even say goodbye, you know? Gavin: He's been through a lot. Shaun: Well, he's not the only one! Bloody selfish is what it is! Gavin: He's never been good at goodbyes. [a long beat] Shaun: So what do we do now? Gavin: We go to work. We turn the page.
25 May 2013=
Hephaestus 2.0
At 1:46pm, in Acapulco Bay, Mexico, Rebecca worked on the Hephaestus network.
27 May 2013=
The First Clue
At 3:50pm, in the North Pacific Ocean, the Assassin team reviewed William's journal.
29 May 2013=
Drop Off Point
At 8:43pm, Shaun and Rebecca left the Altair II.
Gavin: I need eyes and ears in America and you two have more than proven yourselves. Find out what's going on and check in with me whenever you can. Rebecca: Are we getting kicked off the boat because Shaun keeps puking? Gavin: Godspeed, Assassins. Shaun: *blorf*
June 2013
10 June 2013=
Shaun <3 Texas!
At 8:00pm, in Jasper, Texas, Rebecca sent a text to Gavin.
From: Rebecca Crane To: Gavin Texas is awesome! But I think Shaun would rather be back on your boat! Good luck on your mission!
"Mystery Solved"
That same day, in Tunguska, Russia, nature.com posted an article explaining the cause behind the Tunguska Explosion.
Why the sudden new cover up? It definitely wasn't a meteorite. It was the Assassins.
August 2013
27 August 2013=
Body of Evidence
At 7:24am, in Oklahoma City, Rebecca sent a text to Gavin, notifying him of her and Shaun's plan.
September 2013
3 September 2013=
Get a Job
At 2:41pm, in Alliance, Nebraska, Rebecca discovered an email sent by Abstergo Entertainment, looking for new employees.
6 September 2013=
The Old Farm
At 3:19pm, in Black Hills, South Dakota, Shaun and Rebecca found "the farm" where Desmond grew up.
Rebecca: This is weird, isn't it? Shaun: How so? Rebecca: I mean, it all happened so quickly. It feels like we barely knew him! Shaun: I suppose. But in that short time, we broke him out of Abstergo, went on the run, watched him murder our friend who turned out to be a traitor, nursed him through a coma, crossed an Ocean and helped him reconcile with his father before he died to save the planet. Rebecca: Yeesh. When you put it that way… Shaun: All I'm saying is, I think we made the most of what little time we had, and we made a difference. The world lives to turn another day. Isn't that what we should hold on to? Rebecca: When you put it that way. Shaun: He was a bit annoying at the beginning though, wasn't he? Rebecca: Ha. Maybe a little. But that's what we said about you, too. Shaun: Oi!
11 September 2013=
Trap?
At 8:18am, at the Honolulu Harbor, Gavin, Susan and Eric Cooper discussed their next destination.
Susan: So why aren't we in Osaka already? What are you waiting for? Gavin: My guy in Osaka isn't answering. Eric: Yeah, but all our communications went down in December. Can we not find him once we land in Japan? Gavin: We have our own way to get in touch. His silence doesn't sit right with me. Susan: I'm not keen to take my ship into a trap. Gavin: I'd never dream of risking your ship, Captain. Mr. Cooper, take us to the Philippines. Eric: Aye-aye. Gavin: Let's go shopping, shall we?
25 September 2013=
So Hot Right Now
At 7:52pm, in Goa, India, a local magazine posted an article containing an interview with Ajay Rana and his new product in collaboration with Abstergo Entertainment.
October 2013
1 October 2013=
To the Teeth
At 6:24pm, on the Sulu Sea, in the Philippines, Emmanuel Barraza inspected the weapons the Assassin team bought from Philippine gun makers, preparing for a probable fight in Osaka.
11 October 2013=
For Immediate Release
At 11:38am, in Battle Creek, the Assassins noticed an article on the Abstergo News Wire, celebrating their 1-year anniversary in Montreal.
24 October 2013=
Bienvenue À Montréal
At 2:20pm, Shaun and Rebecca arrived in Montreal, Canada. <gallery> ACi-BienvenueAMontreal1.jpg|Shaun and Rebecca in Montreal
ACi-BienvenueAMontreal2.jpg|Rebecca's text to Gavin28 October 2013=
Blood in a Box
At 10:33am, the Initiates caught wind of an object in Abstergo's possession.
We're hearing rumors that there's a Vial somewhere in the Abstergo Entertainment building in Montreal. We're pretty sure it's not in the Lobby, 2F, or 15F, but we have someone on the inside looking through the other floors. If it's in there, we'll find it.
29 October 2013=
In Position
At 8:28am, Rebecca sent a text message to Gavin.
Noob Alert
At 10:17am, a private conversation started between two Abstergo Entertainment employees, Philippe Chartrand and Jennifer Tam.
Too Busy For Favors
At 11:30am, Jennifer responded to Philippe's email.
November 2013
2 November 2013=
Blood Screen
At 6:04pm, an unknown Initiate boarded a plane with a blood vial departing Montreal.
It took a bit of work, but we managed to find the Vial and sneak it out of Abstergo. I wonder whose blood is inside.
<gallery> ACi-BloodScreen.jpg|The unknown Initiate and the recovered blood vial
<gallery>5 November 2013=
Please Respect Your NDA
At 9:45am, Philippe sent another email to Jennifer.
That Creepy Smile
At 3:35pm, Jennifer responded to Philippe's message.
6 November 2013=
Not So Top Secret
At 2:07pm, Philippe responded to Jennifer's message.
Hot Coffee
At 2:12pm, Jennifer responded to Philippe's message.
Dye Hard
At 2:17pm, Philippe responded to Jennifer's message.
He Will Be Mine
At 2:22pm, Jennifer responded to Philippe's message.
12 November 2013=
In A World...
At 10:54am, Jennifer started another conversation with Philippe.
You're Not Funny
At 10:57am, Philippe responded to Jennifer's message.
14 November 2013=
OCD Much?
At 11:40am, Jennifer started another conversation with Philippe.
Oppressive Environment
At 11:43am, Philippe responded to Jennifer's message.
Phantom Window Washers
At 11:46am, Jennifer responded to Philippe's message.
18 November 2013=
That Escalated Quickly
At 12:59pm, Philippe attempted to contact Jennifer.
19 November 2013=
The Fine Print
At 4:23pm, Philippe attempted to contact Jennifer again.
20 November 2013=
Please Answer
At 10:24am, Philippe attempted to contact Jennifer again.
21 November 2013=
A Bad Taste in My Mouth
At 9:41am, Jennifer responded to Philippe's messages.
26 November 2013=
It's a Beautiful Day
At 12:40pm, Jennifer started another conversation with Philippe.
Awful Gossip
At 2:08pm, Philippe responded to Jennifer's message.
Moustache = Evil
At 2:10pm, Jennifer responded to Philippe's message.
What's Normal?
At 2:43pm, Philippe responded to Jennifer's message.
A Pleasant Work Environment
At 3:23pm, Jennifer responded to Philippe's message.
Too Stressed Out
At 3:49pm, Philippe responded to Jennifer's message.
Unclench
At 4:17pm, Jennifer responded to Philippe's message.
December 2013
2 December 2013=
À la Prochaine
At 6:02pm, Rebecca informed Gavin about the latest events in Montreal.
3 December 2013=
Testing Database Upload
At 11:51pm, in Osaka, Japan, an Initiate spy aboard the Altair II updated their database.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: It took a few tries, but I have managed to worm my way into the guts of Hephaestus 2.0. I will now be able to deliver full reports to the Initiates database in addition to the usual snippets of information our other spies are able to obtain. All without anyone onboard the ship knowing about it. Lucky for me, our computer expert enjoys recreational marijuana. I trust you will find my information useful, and I hope you will indulge me my little narratives. I remain your humble spy.
4 December 2013=
Osaka He Youkoso
At 1:12pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry in Osaka.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: Three men entered a room where more men had died. Gavin Banks looked at that room, using that special clarity of his, and the room showed him ghosts in return. This doesn't come naturally to him, or easily, and he always emerges from the experience looking tired. Emmanuel Barraza saw things in that room as well. He's seen his fair share of rooms like that for one lifetime. He doesn't need to use Eagle Vision to know where the bodies fell or how they died. He was born in a room like that, and I think he's convinced that he'll die in one. Gavin emerged from that room with a truth: Abstergo didn't take out the Osaka Brotherhood, the Yakuza did. Gavin's contact here in Osaka was one of his first mentors, as well as one of the victims of that room, and he's taking it pretty hard. "Find me the Assassins who survived," he told us, "or find me the Yakuza scumfucks that did this." And so, at last, we have a mission. I remain your humble spy.
6 December 2013=
The Safety of Information
At 10:39pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: Emmett's many computers are arranged just so among his pipes and ashtrays. They hum as he plays the keyboard like a ghastly instrument, and the world's secrets dance to his tune. He learned that there was recently a violent gang war where a particularly ruthless branch of the Yakuza, the Onmoraki-Gumi, was wiped out, its leaders all arrested or killed. By all reports, Osaka's quiet again. Despite this, Emmett has decided to stay aboard the ship, surrounded by his lovely machines, where he is safe. I remain your humble spy.
12 December 2013=
Osaka's Underworld
At 2:20pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: The Onmoraki-Gumi is no more, but they are somehow still running their front companies. In a welcome surprise, Susan Drayton went ashore to help with the investigation. I'm surprised she remembers how to walk on land. It's usually so hard for me to sneak about the ship with the captain always puttering about. She tried her luck in one of their gambling dens, but came back aboard when she couldn't figure out Pachinko. Emmanuel had better luck, he trailed a cash deposit through the back streets to the Onmoraki's new HQ. I remain your humble spy.
13 December 2013=
Who Leads the Onmoraki-Gumi?
At 9:04am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: The new leader of the Onmoraki-Gumi is unknown, though rumours abound. Eric Cooper heard that it was a 64-year old woman who killed her own family. Dr. Stephanie Chiu found a tweet that claimed it was a castrated former porn star. Emmett said that if he couldn't find anything about her, she didn't exist, but Emmett was stoned and talking to a lamp. There is a bet going among the crew, whoever has the right suspect will get to shower first in the morning for a month. Gavin decided that the only way to move forward is to confront the Yakuza directly. He's not here to play games. I remain your humble spy.
16 December 2013=
The Look of Love
At 9:22am, in Philadelphia, an Abstergo file was uploaded to the Initiates database.
Abstergo File #JD98-2113829: Annual Physical Biometrics Report Date: 2013-12-16 Location: Abstergo Discovery and Acquisitions Facility, Philadelphia Present: Milton Jones (Level 1 Employee, Animus Technician); Deanna Geary (Level 3 Employee, Nurse) Prepared by: Damian Saravakos (Level 8 Employee, Medical Examiner) For: Mistuko Nakamura (Level 9 Employee, Research Executive) Mistuko, Sometimes happy news just falls into your lap. Turns out we just hired someone with a very interesting bloodline. We've only just started looking into Mr. Jones's ancestors, but we've already pulled some good data on a known associate of Edward Kenway, from c.1735. While it's unclear if it will lead to any new artifacts, at the very least those clowns in Montreal can make a stupid game of it or something. Naturally, I'll keep you updated. Best, Damian. ///Transcript begins: D. GEARY: You look like that actor from those kung fu films. You know, the one with the afro? [Nurse Geary disposes of a pair of plastic gloves and retrieves a fresh pair.] M. JONES: Yeah, my mom swears that I'm his son, but I don't believe her. I think she just didn't want me to feel shitty about never having a dad around. D. GEARY: Don't be nervous. This is standard procedure for new Abstergo hires. M. JONES: I'm not nervous. I've just always hated needles. (Vocal analysis program suggests a 70% chance that young Mr. Jones is lying based on volume, changes in pitch, and pauses between words. False bravado? Or is he nursing a little crush on Ms. Geary? No pun intended. –DS) D. GEARY: Then you're in luck! [Nurse Geary reveals a Vial.] M. JONES: Is this like a charity blood drive type thing? D. GEARY: No, it's for our health records, as well as our genetic memory research. [Nurse Geary retrieves a blood sample from M. Jones.] (What's interesting is that when their hands touched, thermal imaging suggested that both of their heart rates jumped. I'd bet you anything that had I cut them open at that very moment, I'd have found their brains soaking in norepinephrine and their hearts flooded with adrenaline. Young love! –DS) D. GEARY: You never know what kind of stories are hiding inside you! (We know. And it looks like it won't be hard to keep Mr. Jones around should we need bigger… samples of his genetic information. –DS) Transcript ends.///
17 December 2013=
Rattling Cages
At 9:47pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry in Osaka.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages… REPORT BEGINS: Gavin's Japanese is flawless, but often a little rude. He marched up to the HQ of the Onmoraki-Gumi and demanded an audience with their new leader. Gavin had Emmanuel with him and was confident that the odds were in his favour. The stylish thug guarding the door introduced himself as Kiyoshi Takakura, and invited them to leave before he was forced to administer a horrible beating. Gavin repeated his demand, and tossed in a little insult about the man's ridiculous fashion sense. He's always going on about psychological warfare. His old Mentor, the one whose death we are investigating, always told him that once you get inside their heads and rattle them, then you've won the fight before the first punch ever gets thrown. Tonight, the first punch that got thrown hit Gavin square in the jaw. I remain your humble spy.
A Horrible Beating
At 9:50pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry in Osaka.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages… REPORT BEGINS: Kiyoshi kicked the shit out of Gavin. Gavin cried out to Emmanuel for help, only to be reminded that although he is the ship's armorer, Manny is a pacifist. Between Gavin cursing Emmanuel's moral character and Kiyoshi's laughter echoing through the streets, two other Yakuza emerged from the building. They watched Kiyoshi beat up an old white man and cheered loudly to support him, but Emmanuel overheard them talking to themselves. One suggested that "Grandma" wouldn't like this kind of attention. And the other agreed that she had worked hard to keep the Brotherhood out of sight. Emmanuel's Japanese isn't as polished as Gavin's, but he knew enough to realize that everyone there was on the same side. It was at that moment that Kiyoshi cried out in fury and brought down his hidden blade towards Gavin, and Manny stepped in between them. I remain your humble spy.
No Harm
At 9:51pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry in Osaka.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages… REPORT BEGINS: Emmanuel caught Kiyoshi's fist in his hand, but the blade punched straight through. Emmanuel's grip never weakened, and Kiyoshi was surprised that this gaijin was, as he later put it, "almost Japanese in the way he deals with pain." Emmanuel, in his broken Japanese, asked if Kiyoshi could recite the first tenet of the Assassin's Creed. Kiyoshi, suddenly weary, answered honestly: Stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent. Emmanuel brought up his other hand and pulled out a dog tag, a memento from his previous life. On it was burned a certain insignia that matched the one done in elaborate tattoos peeking out from Kiyoshi's shirt. Kiyoshi retracted the hidden blade and offered a sincere apology. I remain your humble spy.
18 December 2013=
The Osaka Brotherhood
At 1:03am, the Initiate spy updated an entry in Osaka.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages… REPORT BEGINS: Osaka's new Mentor is a 78-year old woman who laughed at Gavin's poor battered face when she saw it and assured us that he was always a troublesome little boy. Back then, he knew her as Saeko Mochizuki, the wife of Kenichi Mochizuki, one of his first Mentors, who died in the old Bureau. Their cell had escaped Abstergo, only to be killed by Yakuza. Saeko led the surviving Assassins on a mission of revenge, and took over the gang. These days, she's known as "Osoroshii Baba", and she's using the Onmoraki-Gumi to blend her Assassins into the city. It's a natural fit, she explained, as both Yakuza and the Assassins work in the dark to serve the light, citing the Yakuza's long history of chivalrous acts towards the common people. Gavin kept his criticisms to himself while in her presence, but the look on his face was not one of approval. I remain your humble spy.
<gallery> GOG TheOsakaBrotherhood M.jpg|Saeko Mochizuki
<gallery>20 December 2013=
A New Kind of War
At 12:10pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry in Osaka.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: Osoroshii Baba was happy to be reunited with Gavin, but warned him that they were recovering from battles with Abstergo and Yakuza and were low on resources. Japan's restrictive gun laws and harsh penalties keep them at a disadvantage against Abstergo's unlimited resources. Gavin offered the guns we bought in the Philippines as tribute to their new Brotherhood and gave her the contact info for his supplier. In return, Baba gave him a new type of Animus headset, stolen from a nearby Abstergo facility. The Templars are up to something big and she fears that their war will soon escalate into a new dimension, only she isn't sure what that will be. And neither am I. How is it that we are only hearing about this now? We need to dig deeper. I remain your humble spy.
<gallery> GOG ANewKindOfWar L.jpg|Abstergo's Animus headset
<gallery>23 December 2013=
Help Wanted
At 8:29am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: Dr. Chiu changed the bandage on Emmanuel's hand while Gavin's complaints could be heard echoing through the ship. “Emmanuel lets a guy stab him, and Chewy makes such a fuss. Meanwhile, I get turned into living hamburger, and I have to take care of myself. I'm fighting for a world with more justice than this!” Dr. Chiu reminded him that he was an old man and shouldn't pick fights with trained Yakuza Assassins half his age. “I wouldn't have to if fucking Manny did his fucking job!” Emmanuel never answers. Creed or no, he will never take another human life, not after what happened on his first mission as an Assassin. And Gavin knows this, and constantly feels guilty for putting him in impossible situations. I still have to shake my head at the idea of an Assassin who won't kill. A fourth irony. “What we need,” grumbles the echo, “is an enforcer.” I remain your humble spy.
<gallery> GOG HelpWanted.jpg|Emmanuel's injured hand
<gallery>25 December 2013=
Christmas with the Brotherhood
At 6:38pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages… REPORT BEGINS: The ship was still, anchored. The crew was at the table, together. Nodar Ninidze, our chief steward, outdid himself again this year and while the dinner was consumed, the conversation was allowed to approach topics that didn't include murder, conspiracies, and desperate survival. This year, like last year, Akaki Ninidze, our chief engineer, demanded to know how his brother managed to smuggle a turkey on the ship. Nodar replied to his little brother with the shit-eating grin of an older brother and said nothing. Instead, he offered the crew a bottle of the Ninidze Brothers special reserve, made in a rickety still in the deepest bowels of the ship, and for one magic night, it didn't taste like something scraped off the side of a drug addict's bathtub. Of course, I know how Nodar does it, but I like the guy, so I'll keep this one secret, even from you. I remain your festive spy.
January 2014
1 January 2014=
R.I.P. 2013
At 12:00am, in Tokyo, Japan, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages… REPORT BEGINS: Captain Susan Drayton was not one to embarrass easily, but a bolt of shame crept into her cheeks as Osoroshii Baba began to tidy up the inside of her ship. Eric Cooper, (who by the way, declared himself the winner of our bet and now uses all the hot water in the morning!) had brought her aboard for a tour, and the old lady sucked air through her teeth at the state of things. She informed them that in Japan, New Year's Eve was a chance to start the next year off with a clean slate, which could only be accomplished by having a clean house. She even caught me skulking about and dragged me into the cleaning team. The old Mentor rewarded our efforts with homemade toshikoshi soba, which was delicious. Emmanuel and Kiyoshi sparred for three hours, before Kiyoshi dragged him out to a karaoke bar. Dr. Chiu filmed him singing with her phone, and Emmanuel swore that he would renounce his stance on killing if she ever showed it to anyone. The Hacker, the Chief Engineer, and the Chief Steward went shopping. Emmett stockpiled the strange mutant cousins of American snackfood for the next leg of our endless journey. Wasabi chocolate bars, seafood ice cream, and something called a placenta jelly drink. For an arthritic hacker, he's certainly a braver man than I. Akaki bought classic samurai films on DVD and I look forward to his next movie night. Nodar, meanwhile, spent $300 to eat a meal prepared by a man revered as the last living master sushi chef. When Gavin gets stressed, he runs, scrambling across rooftops as only an Assassins can. I don't doubt that he was thinking of his old friend and Mentor, who must have taught him so much, and who was now just another ghost to chase him around the world. This is where my team of Assassins were at the stroke of midnight. Where were you? I remain your humble spy.
15 January 2014=
Moving On
At 4:46pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: Satisfied that there is an Assassin presence in Japan, Gavin has made the call to move on. Again, we take our direction from another riddle in William's book. Emmett, recovering from a two-day bender of Japanese corn syrup and his complex hybrid sativa, asks Gavin why he can't just call up William for the answer, now that he has returned to the Good Fight. "First of all, Bill gave us the book, so it's our mission, end of story. Second of all, just because I know Bill's back, doesn't mean I know where he is or how to get in touch with him," is Gavin's answer, "And besides, it just wouldn't be any fun if we had all the answers from the start." I wonder where we are going next. I remain your humble spy.
February 2014
7 February 2014=
A Glitch in the System
At 9:27am, an Initiate spy updated an entry from Abstergo Entertainment in Montreal, Canada.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: Things have calmed down since the excitement in the fall. I was looking into the code of Animus Omega and I noticed a small error which was causing aspects of the simulation to malfunction. I know I'm not supposed to leave any traces, but I fixed it. We need the simulation running at peak performance to get the information we need. I've attached a file that should prove useful. Your Man in Montreal.
15 February 2014=
Alone in the Dark
At 3:53am, in Moscow, Russia, an unknown woman was seen near Saint Basil's Cathedral.
19 February 2014=
Getting Closer
At 10:36am, in Vladivostok, Russia, the Initiate spy updated an entry regarding the crew's next stop.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages… REPORT BEGINS: After solving William's puzzle, we have a destination: Moscow. A new puzzle will help us narrow things down within the city. The crew is still, ahem, puzzling over this page. I think I've figured it out, though. What do you think? I remain your humble spy.
March 2014
7 March 2014=
In Transit
At 3:41pm, in Vladomir, Russia, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: Gavin, Emmanuel, and Emmett are hurtling towards Moscow on the Trans-Siberian Railway. Meanwhile, the rest of us aboard the Altair II are sailing around Russia to land in St. Petersburg. Emmett sends daily logs of the away team's activity via his phone, which has been updated with Hephaestus 2.0. So far he's just sending snapshots of his meals, from which I will spare you. On the plus side, Emmett's absence presents me with a rare opportunity to get on his machines. This gamble has already paid off: I've discovered an odd backdoor from an Abstergo server to an old Assassin laboratory in Protvino, outside of Moscow. Most of the files are corrupt, which is strange, but I will extract what I can and upload any files of interest to the appropriate section of the Initiates Database, so watch out for updates. The whole thing is strange. Abstergo isn't spying on this lab or making any moves towards it. If I didn't know any better, I would say that they aren't even aware that this backdoor exists. So the question becomes: Who put it there, and why? I remain your humble spy.
16 March 2014=
Meet Galina
At 9:09pm, in Moscow, Russia, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: The following is an excerpt from Emmett's report on their mission in Moscow: Hey guys. We have established contact with an Assassin in Moscow, Galina Voronina. So this is awkward: she wants us to assassinate her mother, an Assassin scientist who went nuts. Apparently this lady built her own Animus and forced the other members of her cell into it! The mother's holed up inside the lab, but, to get to her, we have to fight through the remains of the Russian Brotherhood, driven insane by the Bleeding Effect. It gets worse: this old bat might be the craziest of all. She swears that through the Animus, she's talking to Eve. That's...unsettling. I remain your humble spy.
18 March 2014=
The Last Science City
At 10:06am, in Moscow, Russia, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: The following is an excerpt from Emmett's report on their mission in Moscow: I tried to explain to Galina that you can't actually talk to anyone in the Animus, it's a one way experience. She didn't listen to me and shot me a look that made me want to shit my pants. There are very few documented cases of contact with anyone from the First Civilization or that era. We still don't really know what their deal is. Gavin's agreed to help and thinks he can solve it with words rather than violence. After all, we need to know what's going on with their cell. We're going to a real-life Soviet Science City! (How cool is that?) I remain your humble spy.
20 March 2014=
Matricide
At 4:23pm, in Protvino, Russia, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: The following is an excerpt from Emmett's report on their mission in Moscow: We found the science city! What a disappointment. This place is a rotten shithole. It's also crawling with feral Assassins, driven mad by the Bleeding Effect. We all had guns (except Manny) but Galina refused. She had two hidden blades. Galina ended all of them, practically by herself. It was like a gruesome ballet. One of the mad Assassins looked exactly like her! A twin? Galina didn't even blink, killed her in SECONDS. Man, she's scary. Sidebar: I am a terrible shot. Why didn't I stay on the fucking boat? We forced our way into the lab. Galina's mother was there, strapped to the saddest-looking Animus I have ever seen. The parts were ancient. It shouldn't have been running at all. She was just babbling. Something about her lost husband, the colour gray. Bleeding Effect nonsense. There were monitors on the wall. It was just static but... it looked like there was a face in there. I feel like I've seen it before but I can't place it... Galina knelt down next to the machine, and plunged her blade into her mother's brain. Everyone was looking at them, but I kept looking at that face in the monitors. It looked like it was screaming but it's gone now. Was it even there? I remain your humble spy.
26 March 2014=
A New Dawn in Moscow
At 7:43am, in Saint Petersburg, Russia, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages… REPORT BEGINS: Gavin's away team met us in St. Petersburg and brought Galina along. She's the last of the Russian Assassins. Gavin has convinced her to join us on the boat, and judging from her performance in the Assassin lab, it looks like he's got his wish for an enforcer. I'm sure Manny is relieved. Eric asked Galina how she avoided doing time in her mother's Animus and ending up like the poor souls she put down. "I didn't," she said, "I went into it like everyone else and learned to fight from my ancestors. I just didn't go crazy." Time will tell, I suppose. Akaki and Nodai have sent word to their contacts in Georgia to send agents to form a new Russian Brotherhood. Osoroshii Baba will supply weapons from our people in the Philippines. Regardless of relations between their home countries, the Assassins are a Brotherhood without borders. If there is one message Gavin brings with him in his tour around the world, it is this: The Assassins are no longer alone. I remain your humble spy.
April 2014
10 April 2014=
Gone Wrong
At 3:46pm, in Helsinki, Finland, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: Gavin's been a good soldier for a long time. He took William's book, and the responsibility that came with it, out of loyalty for his friend, who went away to deal with a traumatic loss. Gavin's been in a foul mood since we left Russia. I think it's all catching up to him. The Brotherhood has lost teams in Brisbane, Whistler, Florence, Denver, and now Moscow. There's half a cell in Osaka. Sao Paulo hasn't been heard from in over two years. William Miles came back to the fight late last year, but as of yet has not reached out to us. Gavin is starting to take that silence personally. I remain your humble spy.
24 April 2014=
Find William Miles
At 1:46pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS: Gavin brought us all together and slammed William's journal down on the table in front of us. "Find me William Miles!" Time to put our thinking caps on... I remain your humble spy.
May 2014
1 May 2014=
Here We Are
At 1:02pm, in Norway, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS If William Miles was surprised to see Gavin arrive at his secret bunker, he didn't show it. There was no handshake, no hug, nothing to suggest that these two have been friends, fighting together for years. "We need to talk, Bill," Gavin said. Shaun Hastings and Rebecca Crane were much happier to see us, and tried to break the ice, but Gavin would have none of it. "You two are next on my shit list." Emmett immediately pulled Rebecca aside to start tinkering with their Hephaestus phones, and, I suspect, enjoy some recreational marijuana. The core members of the modern-day Brotherhood are all here. I am going to plant some bugs around the compound to see if I can pick up anything of interest. This is a tremendous opportunity for us, but I wonder what the future holds for them. I remain your humble spy.
4 May 2014=
Venting Anger
At 10:17am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: William Miles: What's this? Gavin Banks: What's it look like? I'm giving you your fucking book back. William Miles: Why? Gavin Banks: Why not? You give me that thing, with a tear-stained letter about how you can't go on, but in less than a year, you're back in the game. I feel like you played me. William Miles: Well... You're acting like a selfish child. Gavin Banks: What? William Miles: I lost my only son, you ass! I did feel like it was over. And I chose to trust you over everyone else in the world. I forced myself to come back because what we do is bigger than me, bigger than you, even bigger than Desmond. But if this is all you got for me, maybe that trust was misplaced. Gavin Banks: Maybe it was. Tell you what, you keep your riddles and your schemes, down here in the dark, and my team will go out into the real world and do real work. Get Shaun and Rebecca to update the machines on my boat and then we're out of here.
5 May 2014=
What's an Initiate?
At 3:45pm, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Uploading to the Initiates Database in all available languages... REPORT BEGINS Rebecca came aboard the ship to perform maintenance on our computer systems. She helped install them, after all, before she left for Montreal and we went to Japan. Everything seemed fine until, she called us all together to make a rather startling announcement: "Someone on your ship is a spy," she said, "I found a series of coded messages being sent to something called 'The Initiates Database.' They've been sent pretty regularly over the past couple of years. Ring any bells?" "What the hell is an Initiate?" asked Gavin. I'm going to have to lay low for a bit, but the bugs I've planted around the bunker should automatically relay everything they pick up to the Database. I think your humble spy might be in trouble here.
6 May 2014=
William's White Room
At 7:23am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: Gavin Banks: Shaun and Rebecca are still aboard the ship, seeing if they can find out where the signals are going. William Miles: I'm going to have them perform a background check on your crew while they're at it. Gavin Banks: Fine. William Miles: Our little spat is going to have to wait. After Lucy Stillman, I can't afford to take any chances. Gavin Banks: Agreed. William Miles: Until this spy is found, I think it's best if your crew stays confined to their quarters aboard the ship. Gavin Banks: Keep Galina in the bunker. She came aboard very recently, I'm certain she can't be the spy. William Miles: I am going to call on your team one-by-one for interviews. You will bring them to me here. Gavin Banks: "Interview," my ass! Leave it to William Miles to own a bunker with a built-in interrogation cell. William Miles: I like to be prepared for anything. I call it the White Room. Gavin Banks: You have a sick sense of humor. I take it I'm not a suspect? William Miles: Ha. If I thought you were capable of this, I'd have killed you when we first met.
7 May 2014=
Tree-Hugger
At 7:00am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: William Miles: How did you meet Gavin? Susan Drayton: I was a bit of an activist when I was young. I broke into the water supply for Prince George, the place I grew up, and took a sample of something labeled "New Fluoride." Seemed fishy, and I figured I'd leak it to the press or something, but I got arrested on my way out. William Miles: And Gavin bailed you out of jail? Susan Drayton: No, Janice did. At first, I thought she was a crazy environmentalist, like me. Ha! Turns out she was crazier, she was one of us. William Miles: She recruited you into the Brotherhood. Susan Drayton: Yeah. Janice was big on conservation, said that a strong connection with nature was crucial for Assassin success. I couldn't argue with the results. William Miles: So where did Gavin come in? Susan Drayton: We both tried to steal the same boat! I was gonna take it and go chase Japanese whalers, but Gavin wanted it as a mobile HQ for the Brotherhood. William Miles: So you teamed up. Susan Drayton: Yeah. Funny thing was that Gavin had no idea how to pilot a ship. I spent some time around boats as a kid, so I got to keep the ship as my own and we agreed to work together, handling issues that were important to both of us. William Miles: Do you think these Initiates have a cause worth fighting for? Susan Drayton: They might be smart enough to spy on us, but if they have a cause, a reason to exist, or any passion at all, I have yet to see it.
8 May 2014=
Double Major
At 7:00am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: William Miles: Your parents worked for an Abstergo pharmaceutical company in Beijing. Stephanie Chiu: Still do, for all I know. William Miles: You graduated from an Abstergo-funded university. You were meant to follow in their footsteps. Stephanie Chiu: My life was planned since birth: Study hard, qualify as a doctor, join the family business. Be a good girl. William Miles: You have degrees in medicine, biomedical and chemical engineering, and a post-doctoral fellowship in membrane technology. Stephanie Chiu: Thrilling, right? William Miles: But you also have a degree in information security and network science. Those fields don't really overlap. Stephanie Chiu: I never really wanted to work with my parents, but working at Abstergo seemed like a good idea at the time. I wanted options, and they had more openings in advanced technology than in pharmaceuticals. William Miles: What made you turn away from them? Stephanie Chiu: You know about the New Fluoride scandal? William Miles: Abstergo got caught manipulating the water supply of a small US town. Stephanie Chiu: Yeah, but they didn't get caught in China. They used it all over the place and it messed up a lot of people. William Miles: What did that have to do with you? Stephanie Chiu: My father created New Fluoride. I couldn't believe it when I found out. I ran away to Hong Kong, and Abstergo chased me. I thought I was done for, but then I met Gavin and Captain Drayton and they brought me aboard the ship. William Miles: And you became one of us. Stephanie Chiu: Yeah, I got inducted. I patch you guys up, and I grow Emmett's weed, but mostly, I'm just here to fight against Abstergo. No one should be allowed to ruin lives like that.
9 May 2014=
Dishonorable Discharge
At 7:00am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: William: It's been a long time. I imagine you're still angry with me. Emmanuel: I don't dwell on the past. Sir. William: If anyone on Gavin's crew has a reason to betray the Brotherhood, I'd say it's you. Emmanuel: Why, because I followed your orders? William: I ordered you to find a Templar presence in the War on Terror. I didn't order you to kill children. Emmanuel: Every kid on that bus was wearing a bomb and they were aimed at the peace talks. I saved more people than I killed. William: No one is saying otherwise. Emmanuel: You know what the worst part of it is? Those kids weren't even Templars, or anything like that. They were victims in the truest sense. William: And that's when you made your vow to never kill again? Emmanuel: What's the first tenet of our Creed? "Stay your blade from the flesh of the innocent." I failed, so I made a promise; no more killing. Ever. William: You let Gavin get beaten in the streets of Kyoto. You sat back and watched your team fight insane Assassins in Russia. Are you punishing us for what happened to you? Emmanuel: Gavin knew my story when you pawned me off on him. Our deal was that I'd arm the team and train them in weapons use. Nothing more. William: Some of these "Initiate" signals are coming from the military base where you were trained. Emmanuel: So what? William: So maybe you're punishing the Brotherhood by spilling our secrets? Maybe you're breaking the third tenet? Emmanuel: With all due respect, sir: Fuck you. I'm loyal to the Brotherhood. I'm loyal past the point of common sense. So kill me or get out of my face. Sir.
10 May 2014=
First Mate
At 7:00am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: William Miles: You were recruited into the Brotherhood after you went on a killing spree in Edinburgh? Eric Cooper: You call it a "killing spree" and I'll call it a "carefully executed plan of revenge against the hate group that killed the love of my life" and we'll just agree to disagree. William Miles: Gavin said you were thinking about suicide when he brought you in. Eric Cooper: It's fair to say I hit rock bottom, ken? I figured, either I die alone on the streets of Edinburgh, or I die alone, out there in the world somewhere. Didnae see much of a difference. But the Assassins changed my outlook completely. William Miles: How so? Eric Cooper: Well, for starters, you lot were very welcoming. Gavin's crew was, anyways. Not one of them has ever looked at me like I was a thing. I'd never experienced that before, ken? William Miles: Your closest friends aboard the ship are Doctor Chiu and Mister Leary. Eric Cooper: Aye, well, Chewy helps me regulate my hormones. Even after the surgeries, it takes a wee bit of effort to remain the ruggedly handsome scoundrel that sits before you. William Miles: And Emmett Leary? Eric Cooper: It's my duty to make sure the ship runs smoothly, and he's a messy one. But we have a laugh and he helps me check on what it's like back home. I want to plan for a future where I can go back one day, ken? William Miles: I see. Eric Cooper: You don't think this spy is one of them, do you?
11 May 2014=
The Make-Believe Mentor
At 7:00am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: William Miles: So you're the man who created the fake Brotherhood in Georgia. To what end? Akaki Ninidze: The place where I grew up was, and still is, troubled. Many wars are being fought for many reasons. I wanted them all to stop. William Miles: Why Assassins? Akaki Ninidze: The Assassins had long since vanished, but they still enjoyed a fearsome reputation in Syria, Turkey, and Russia. I tried to use that to my advantage. I studied whatever I could find on them and created a 'Brotherhood.' I took in people who were tired of fighting for misguided reasons, and wanted to fight for peace. William Miles: A noble goal but foolishly accomplished. Akaki Ninidze: I suppose it was. We began to involve ourselves in the various conflicts throughout the region. People began to fear 'The Assassins', but we were discovered. William Miles: The Templars came looking for you. Akaki Ninidze: We suffered a series of brutal defeats, but the attacks were too precise and coming from many different enemies, as though they were cooperating against us. William Miles: And that's when Gavin found you. Akaki Ninidze: He took what was left of us and we went into hiding. We spent a few months in the Pankisi Valley, where he taught us the secret history of the world. William Miles: And you and your brother left with him after that? Akaki Ninidze: Once we saw the truth, how could we not? The goal remained the same, but the scale increased. At least we left a true Brotherhood behind back home.
12 May 2014=
Abstergo's Lost Genius
At 7:14am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: Emmett Leary: You mind if I blaze this, man? It's for my arthritis, you know? William Miles: Fine. You used to work for Abstergo Industries? Emmett Leary: I was a software engineer for the Surrogate Initiative. I worked on the tech that reads genetic memories. William Miles: Why did you leave Abstergo? Emmett Leary: After the project folded, Warren Vidic tried to recruit me for the Animus Project. I said no. William Miles: Why? Emmet Leary: Man, I knew from the start that something wasn't right with Vidic. I know crazy when I see it, you know? I left the company. I signed all the NDAs and got a healthy severance package. It was understood that I'd stay quiet. William Miles: But... Emmett Leary: But, Abstergo, you know? I couldn't shake this feeling that they were gonna get me. So I started writing down, like, everything I had on them. William Miles: Then you met Gavin. Emmett Leary: One night I wake up and there's a beardy white guy at the foot of my bed. Nightmare fuel! I can't even ask him a question before a bunch of unmarked cars pull up in front of my place and goons come pouring out of 'em. William Miles: It's not paranoia if Abstergo's out to get you. Emmett Leary: Exactly, man. I followed Gavin with no further questions. I ran out of my place in the middle of the night wearing just my fucking tighty-whities. Reports of my death began to circulate soon after. Been on the run with him ever since. William Miles: You have connections to all sorts of hackers and activists, but you've never heard of these "Initiates?" Emmett Leary: I keep an eye on everyone in the digital space, governments, military, Abstergo, even nutjobs like Erudito. Nobody's heard of these guys, I swear. You believe me, right?
13 May 2014=
Komusubi
At 7:00am, the Initiate spy updated an entry aboard the Altair II.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: William Miles: So what's your deep, dark secret Nodar? Nodar Ninidze: Not so secret, really. I used to be a sumo wrestler. William Miles: I... was not expecting that. Nodar Ninidze: I was a big guy, and I liked to fight. I got pretty good, too. William Miles: What made you walk away from it? Nodar Ninidze: A vile stew of politics and corruption. Sumo was filthy with both. It reminded me of home. And when I returned to Georgia, I found my little brother already in a fight. William Miles: Your brother was fighting against Chechen rebels. Nodar Ninidze: No! That's just it. Our group weren't rebels in that sense. Rather, we were a collection of fighters from all sides, Russian, Georgian, Chechen, who saw strings being pulled from very high levels. William Miles: You didn't fight for any political cause, but peace itself. Nodar Ninidze: We tried our best. When we met Gavin, we saw that the strings were connected to a web that wrapped around the world. We had found our cause.
23 May 2014=
Your Humbled Spy
At 2:33pm, the Initiate spies updated an entry from William's bunker.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: William Miles: In times past, any treason against the Brotherhood was punishable by death. Faced with this new breach of trust, I see no reason not to do the same. Shaun Hastings: Um, I could probably muster up a few -- William Miles: Silence! I know who the spy is. Galina? Galina Voronina: Da? William Miles: Kill Doctor Chiu. Galina Voronina: Da. Emmett Leary: Wait, what? Eric Cooper: Now wait just a damn minute! Gavin Banks: Stand down, Eric. Eric Cooper: The hell I will! She's not the traitor! I am! Stephanie Chiu: Eric, no! Eric Cooper: I've been uploading the messages! I'm the spy! Shaun Hastings: A Scottish spy? That's a laugh. Stephanie Chiu: He just writes the reports, I'm the one that uploads them! Eric Cooper: Chewy! Stephanie Chiu: No! We're in this together. Eric Cooper: I guess I'll not die alone after all. Gavin Banks: Nobody's dying, you numbskull. Eric Cooper: I don't understand. William Miles: Even if I wanted to, I don't have the resources to exterminate the Initiates. Gavin Banks: And from what Rebecca has shown us so far, they seem pretty reasonable. William Miles: These interviews gave me a chance to get to know you and I came away impressed. Shaun Hastings: Just so we're all on the same page, there's to be no murder today? William Miles: No. Eric Cooper: Are you trying to give me a heart attack, old man? William Miles: You have to let an old man have his fun.
30 May 2014=
The Outernet
At 2:18pm, the Initiate spies updated an entry from William's bunker.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: Rebecca Crane: You guys, these Initiates are incredible! They're using a series of small satellites to create a network that can transmit data to anywhere in the world. They've made an "Outernet." Stephanie Chiu: We believe that information is a basic human right. Emmett Leary: This network keeps you outside of the internet controlled by corporations and governments. William Miles: Why have your satellites not been detected by anyone? Say Abstergo's satellites? Eric Cooper: Are you aware of just how much rubbish is floating above us? To borrow one of your lessons, we're hidden in plain sight. Shaun Hastings: It's very impressive, but if you're just a bunch of industrious nerds, who pays for it? Who's in charge? Stephanie Chiu: We're funded by all kinds of private citizens. We have military connections, people at Harvard and MIT, even an eccentric billionaire or two. Eric Cooper: As for who is running the show, we don't have "leaders" in the sense that you have a Mentor. We take directions from four individuals, but up until now, they've mostly just guided our research. Stephanie Chiu: No one knows who these four are. We hear rumors that they created the Initiates and the Database, but no one knows for sure. Rebecca Crane: It's freakin' beautiful! It reminds me of what we used to have before the Great Purge. I never thought I'd see something like this again. Shaun Hastings: Honestly, though, if you lot were tracking our movements all this time, couldn't you have stepped in? Stephanie Chiu: Our only goal was gathering knowledge. We made vows to stay neutral. Shaun Hastings: That's all well and good, but some of us might still be alive today if you'd been a little less neutral.
June 2014
6 June 2014=
Forward Momentum
At 5:03pm, the Initiate spies updated an entry from William's bunker.
Initiates Surveillance Audio Transcript: William Miles: Still angry with me? Gavin Banks: No. Yes. I think maybe I'm just angry. William Miles: You can use angry. It's about momentum. When I lost Desmond, I just... stopped. Knowing what Abstergo did to Desmond's body angered me, but it also helped me move forward again. It re-ignited my fire for the fight. Gavin Banks: After what I've seen this past year, I'm not so sure we're even in a fight anymore. We aren't losing. We've lost. William Miles: Honestly, up until recently, I felt the same way. But not anymore. The Initiates could be part of the solution. Gavin Banks: They aren't really fighters. William Miles: That's true. That's why you and I will continue as we always have. We'll find and lead the ones who will get their hands bloody. We won't be in charge of the Initiates. Gavin Banks: But Shaun and Rebecca will. William Miles: I'm an old man, with old ideas, and old ways of doing things. They've more than proven themselves. Let's see how they can rally those Initiates to our cause.
16 June 2014=
A Message from Shaun
At 6:18pm, after hacking the Initiates site, Shaun left a message for the group.
My name is Shaun Hastings. I know you're out there, watching us. Bravo, but that's really all you do, isn't it? Watch. Don't you think it's time to do more? You've proven your potential. Why not dedicate it to a true cause? With you on our side, we can hope to rebuild the Brotherhood. Otherwise, the Assassins will die, along with our ideals. The Templars will win, and the world will lose. Big challenges are ahead of us. United, we stand a better chance of tipping the scales. Then, the Initiates network will return stronger, in one form or another, to mark the beginning of your training. Stay alert, Initiates.
Timeline
- 75010 BC: Adam and Eve turned their backs on Eden.
- 75000 BC: The First Civilization was annihilated in the Toba catastrophe.
- 500 BC: Pythagoras established the religious movement of Pythagoreanism.
- 465 BC: The Achaemenid king Xerxes I was murdered by the Persian Assassin Darius.
- 323 BC: Alexander the Great, was poisoned by Iltani, a Babylonian Assassin.
- 210 BC: Qin Shi Huang was assassinated by the Chinese Assassin Wei Yu.
- 44 BC: Julius Caesar was murdered by the Assassin Marcus Junius Brutus.
- 30 BC: Cleopatra VII Philopator was killed by the Egyptian Assassin Amunet through a snake bite.
- 41: Caligula was murdered by Leonius, a member of the Roman Brotherhood.
- 1000: Pope Sylvester II, a Templar scientist, was branded a heretic.
- 1099: The First Crusade led to the Siege of Jerusalem.
- 1128: Bernard de Clairvaux, a French abbot, reformed the Templar Order.
- 1191:
- The Siege of Masyaf, a Templar assault, was stopped by skilled Assassin tactics.
- Robert de Sable, Grand Master of the Knights Templar, was assassinated by Altaïr Ibn-La'Ahad.
- Altaïr Ibn-la'Ahad became the new leader of the Assassins after defeating the treacherous Al-Mualim.
- 1227: The Mongol warlord Genghis Khan was slain by the Mongolian Assassin Qulan Gal.
- 1314: Jacques de Molay, the last publicly recognized Grand Master of the Templars, was burned at the stake.
- 1476:
- In Florence, Ezio Auditore's father and brothers were executed in a conspiracy against the Auditore family. Ezio becomes an Assassin beginning his crusade against the Templars.
- Ezio Auditore and Leonardo da Vinci began their long friendship and collaboration.
- 1488: Niccolò Machiavelli and Ezio were inducted into the Assassin Brotherhood.
- 1500:
- Monteriggioni, a stronghold of the Brotherhood, was besieged by the Borgias.
- The Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus, whose heliocentric theory later transformed the cosmological worldview, was targeted by Templars in Rome.
- 1503:
- Ezio Auditore's accomplishments in Rome led him to be named Mentor of the Assassins.
- Rodrigo Borgia, Grand Master of the Templars and Pope, was eliminated by his own son, Cesare Borgia.
- 1507:
- Cesare Borgia attempted to recover his power and influence at the Siege of Viana.
- Cesare Borgia was assassinated by Ezio Auditore, bringing the Borgias' influence to an end.
- 1511: Ezio Auditore encountered the Byzantine Templars in Constantinople.
- 1512: The Masyaf Keys were discovered by Ezio.
- 1524: Shao Jun encountered Ezio, whose help the Chinese Assassin had sought.
- 1687: Isaac Newton published his Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
- 1688: King James II of England was overthrown in the Glorious Revolution
- 1775: George Washington encountered Ratonhnhaké:ton during the American Revolutionary War.
- 1776: The United States of America's Declaration of Independence was signed by representatives of the 13 colonies.
- 1789: The French Revolution put an end to the Ancien Régime.
- 1881: Czar Alexander II of Russia was killed by the Assassins of Narodnaya Volya.
- 1901: The Victorian era, which witnessed the expansion of the British Empire, ended with the death of Queen Victoria.
- 1908: The Tunguska explosion occurred in Siberia.
- 1914: Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria was assassinated, sparking the First World War.
- 1917: The Russian Revolution ended the Tsarist regime.
- 1937: Abstergo Industries, the new public face of the Templar Order, was founded.
- 1980: The Animus Project was initiated.
- 2000:
- Daniel Cross, known as Subject 4, killed the Mentor of the Assassins.
- Assassin forces were decimated in the Great Purge.
- 2012:
- Clay Kaczmarek, known as Subject 16, committed suicide after leaving important clues for his cell's next occupant.
- Desmond Miles, known as Subject 17, was kidnapped by Abstergo Industries and experienced the Animus for the first time.
- Animus exposure and the death of his friend plunged Desmond into a coma.
- The Eye-Abstergo was scheduled to be launched on December 21, 2012.
Trivia
- Regarding the name "William M." that appeared as the sender in e-mails separately addressed to Lucy (Concerns, September 26) and Shaun (Status, September 27), Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood lead writer Jeffrey Yohalem mentioned in a podcast posted on April 29, 2012 that "the William M.'s are not necessarily the same".
- This was confirmed when Initiates was updated with the events of October 9, revealing that the "William M." who was in contact with Lucy was actually Dr. Warren Vidic.
- The image depicting Desmond's transfer to Rome (Unmarked Hangar, September 1) has been updated 3 times. The first version showed the face of Desmond as uncovered and the hour on the timecodes as 18 (6pm). The second version incorporated several changes, specifically the addition of a blindfold on Desmond and Abstergo logos on the uniforms of Desmond's captors, changes to lighting/shadowing, slight changes to the figures' positions, and revising the hour on the timecodes to 16 (4pm). Finally, the current version is identical to the second, though the hour has been restored to the original 18.
- Though not necessarily an error, the image showed Desmond with a courier bag and his outfit from Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood, despite the event taking place around the time of Assassin's Creed. These were very visible in the original version of the image, but have since been obscured in the updated versions.
- In the Animus Explained clip (September 1), Desmond did not argue with Vidic after regaining consciousness, unlike what was shown in Assassin's Creed.
- On 7 September, for unknown reasons, the map showed 6 events somewhere in the Atlantic Ocean. Zooming in on the area resulted in the message: "Map data not yet available."
References
- Assassin's Creed: Initiates - The Desmond Files
- Assassin's Creed: Initiates - Timeline
- Assassin's Creed: Initiates on Twitter
- Assassin's Creed: Initiates on YouTube