Assassin's Creed: Initiates

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. This template should be removed from the article three months after release.

"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." It is currently in an open beta stage.

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.

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

123456789101112131415

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 190lbs. 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.

• 
  Security camera footage of New York.
• 
  Security footage of the hangar.
• 
  Security camera footage of the victim.

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.

• 
  The interior of the Abstergo Industries facility.
• 
  The Animi room, containing the Animi used in the Animi Training Program.
• Animus Explained.
  Animus Explained.
• The Farm.
  The Farm.

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.

• 
  Preliminary analysis of Subject 17.

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.

• Access Codes.
  Access Codes.

5 September 2012=

Case File #1394

On the 4th and 5th of 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]

• 
  Lucy Stillman's e-mail.

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.

• 
  The coded message.

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.

• Rescue Attempt.
  Rescue Attempt.

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.

• Eagle Vision.
  Eagle Vision.
• Escape from Abstergo.
  Escape from Abstergo.

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.

• 
  The interior of the hideout, showing the Animus 2.0.
• 
  Close-up of the Animus 2.0.
• 
  The interior of the hideout, showing Shaun Hastings' desk.

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.

• Bleeding Effect.
  Bleeding Effect.

12 September 2012=

Gunfight

The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Whistler, Canada, at 9:21am.

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.

• 
  Missing person poster of Desmond Miles.
• Lost Teams.
  Lost Teams.

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.

• 
  Adriano's e-mail to William.

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.

• Under Attack.
  Under Attack.

September 16–30, 2012

1617181920212223252627282930

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.

• 
  The roadblock order at Grosseto, Italy.
• The Sanctuary.
  The Sanctuary.

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.

• 
  Adriano's subsequent e-mail to William.

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> 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.

• 
  William's e-mail to Adriano.

20 September 2012=

Signal Detected

At 3:03am, a mobile phone signal emanating from cell tower grid 43KP11FP in Monteriggioni was detected.

• 
  Details on the detected signal.

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."

• 
  Erudito's e-mail to Desmond.

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.

• 
  Rebecca being watched by someone.

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.

• 
  Vidic's reply to Lucy.

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, Sao Paolo, Osaka and Denver.

• 
  Rebecca's e-mail to her teammates.
• 
  The first part of William's e-mail on the status of Assassin teams in Moscow, Sao Paolo, Osaka and Denver.
• 
  The e-mail's continuation.

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."

• 
  Rikkin's e-mail about the Iron Man statue.
• 
  The statue bore a swastika, an ancient symbol later adopted by the Nazis.

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.

• 
  Shaun's e-mail to Lucy.
• 
  Lucy's reply.
• 
  Shaun's reply.

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

12345689101112131415

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.

• 
  The newspaper.

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."

• 
  William's text messages.

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.

• 
  William's text messages.

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.

• 
  Vidic's e-mail to Lucy.

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

• 
  The Assassins' boat.

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.

• 
  William's e-mail to Shaun.
• 
  The second part of William's e-mail to Shaun.

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?

Advertisement

For those who thirst for energy

Herne +
Energy supplement without aromas or taste: the push you need to get out of the ordinary!

Powered by Abstergo.

• 
  The newspaper.

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.

• 
  "William"'s e-mail to Lucy.

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."

• Discovery.
  Discovery.
• 
  Shaun's message to William.
• Il Colosseo.
  Il Colosseo.
• Under Capitoline Hill.
  Under Capitoline Hill.
• Santa Maria in Aracoeli.
  Santa Maria in Aracoeli.
• The Temple of Juno.
  The Temple of Juno.
• Lucy's Death.
  Lucy's Death.
• Life Support.
  Life Support.

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.

• Assassin or Templar.
  Assassin or Templar.

12 October 2012=

All You Can Be

At 6:02pm in Rome, Abstergo Industries begin with the second stage of their Animi Training Program.

• All You Can Be.
  All You Can Be.

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.

• 
  Lucy's grave.

15 October 2012=

Private Jet

Rebecca made arrangements for the team to leave Rome.

• Private Jet.
  Private Jet.

October 16–31, 2012

161718192122232425262728293031

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."

• 
  William's message to Harlan.

17 October 2012=

Trip To Rome

The following data was recorded from Philadelphia, USA at 4:32pm.

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 a unknown destination.

• 
  Proof of passage.

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.

• Roughing It.
  Roughing It.
• 
  The Assassins' van.

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.

• 
  Rizzo's e-mail to Vidic.
• 
  The e-mail's continuation.
• 
  Vidic's reply to Rizzo.

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.

• 
  Rizzo's e-mail to Vidic, informing him that Cross had disappeared.
• 
  Vidic's reply to Rizzo.

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.

• 
  The Altair II.
• 
  Gavin, no news yet. Expecting update from W. soon. Can you make it to NY? Adriano.

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.

• 
  William's message to Harlan.

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.

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!

• 
  Satellite imagery showing the Templars' plan of action.
• 
  Harlan's report to William.

28 October 2012=

Templar Privileges

At 8:53pm, a promising Templar recruit was promoted, and given more power and freedom.

• Templar Privileges.
  Templar Privileges.

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".

• 
  Rebecca's e-mail.
• 
  William's e-mail.

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.

• Awakening.
  Awakening.
• 
  The Grand Temple.
• 
  The Grand Temple, from a different angle.
• 
  More of the Grand Temple.
• 
  William's e-mail to Desmond, Shaun and Rebecca.

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.

• 
  Juno.
• 
  Shaun's e-mail.

November 1–15, 2012

123456891011121415

1 November 2012=

Haytham's Amulet

At 3:07pm, Shaun sent a message to the team, informing them about Haytham's amulet.

• 
  Haytham's amulet.
• 
  Shaun's e-mail 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'd 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 email from Rebecca, saying that he was coping well with the Bleeding Effect, and that Subject 16 may have been something to do with it. However, she noted that he should still take frequent breaks, just to be safe.

• 

6 November 2012=

Father and 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.

• File:Assassin's Creed Initiates - Father & Son

8 November 2012=

Top Gun

At 17:37pm in Rome, Italy, Abstergo Operation Division evaluated Otso Berg, a promising Abstergo recruit.

• 
  Otso Berg's evaluation.

9 November 2012=

According the 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.

• 
  William's e-mail to Shaun and Rebecca.

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.

• 
  Daniel Cross' medical report.

12 November 2012=

Connected

At 2:18am in Turin, inside the Grand Temple, Juno contacted Desmond for the first time via e-mail.

• 
  Juno's first attempt.
• 
  Juno's message to Desmond.

14 November 2012=

Leave Him Alone

At 1:20am, Juno sent a e-mail to Shaun, telling him that he was to leave Desmond alone, and not interfere in matters that did not concern him.

• 
  Juno's message to Shaun.

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 Hasek, informing him about a security breach and asking him if he could send Otso Berg to Manhattan.

• 
  E.'s e-mail to Ctibor Hasek.

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:
  • 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.
  • The Siege of Masyaf, a Templar assault, was stopped by skilled Assassin tactics.
• 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 Auditore and Leonardo da Vinci began their long friendship and collaboration.
• 1488: Niccolò Machiavelli was 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.
• 1525: 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.
• 1776: The United States of America's Declaration of Independence was signed by representatives of the 13 colonies.
• 1779: George Washington encountered Ratonhnhaké:ton during the American Revolutionary War.
• 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."
• The registry number of the boat Altair II (No News is Good News, October 24) is NCC-1701-D, as seen above the bridge windows in the depicted image. This is a nod to the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, as it is the registry number of the USS Enterprise-D.

References

• Assassin's Creed: Initiates - The Desmond Files
• Assassin's Creed: Initiates - Timeline