After Antonio's thieves had set up bonfires for the Flying Machine and with time growing shorter, Ezio Auditore finally decided to fly across the night skyline of Venice to rescue the Doge from a Templar murder plot, causing much astonishment to civilians and guards alike. Ezio used the aid of the bonfires to increase his speed and altitude whenever it became necessary to do so, and often kicked archers from rooftops to prevent them from shooting flaming arrows at him. By the time he reached the Palazzo Ducale, the Flying Machine had been set alight, so he quickly jumped off it, watching as it crashed and fell into Venezia's waters. Ezio then stealthily made his way into the Doge's private room, where he was playing chess with Carlo Grimaldi. Unfortunately, Ezio was too late, and the Doge had already drank the wine, poisoned with cantarella supplied by Silvio Barbarigo. While Carlo tried to escape, he informed all the guards that Ezio had killed the Doge, resulting in them attacking him. Ezio, however, successfully evaded the guards, and eventually chased down and assassinated Carlo.
Dialogue
Antonio warning Ezio of the archers.Leonardo:It's time. You did it! It's beautiful!
Antonio: Sì (Yes)! Now let's hope your idea works. Because we're nearly out of time.
Leonardo:Listen closely Ezio, you're going to want to fly from fire to fire. The heat of each one you pass over should lift you back up into the air.
Ezio:Bene (Good).
Antonio: Be careful! there's archers out on the roofs tonight. Avoid those arrows, or it'll be a short trip.
Ezio:I wish there was some way for me to use my sword while flying this thing.
Ezio flying towards Palazzo Ducale
Leonardo:Well... you do have your feet free. If you get close enough without taking an arrow in the head, maybe you could kick them of the building?
Ezio:Nice.
Antonio: It's now or never, amico mio (My friend).
Ezio leapt of the roof with the flying machine.
Guard: Ma cosa (What the)?! Shoot! Shoot the flying demon!
Ezio landed on the roof of the Palazzo Ducale.
Mocenigo:What was that?!
Carlo:Probably just kids with firecrackers. Come, it's your move.
Ezio jumped through the window.
Ezio: STOP! Signore, don't drink that!
Carlo:You're too late, the Doge is dead.
Ezio warning the Dodge.
Mocenigo:What? Carlo...?
Carlo:Apologies Signore, but you should have listened to me when you had the chance. Seems you failed, Assassin.
Ezio: Forgive me, Signore. I tried...
Mocenigo: Why...? What was it all for...?
Carlo ran out into the courtyard.
Carlo: Assassino! Assassino! He's killed the Doge! The Doge is dead!
Ezio assassinated Carlo.
Ezio: It takes one Assassin to kill another, it seems.
Carlo's final moments.
Carlo: We kill thinking it's best for us, do we not, Messer (Sir) Ezio?
Ezio: I do this not for myself. Compio questo sacrificio per il bene superiore. (I make this sacrifice for the greater good.) Requiescat in Pace. (Rest in peace).
Mocenigo stumbled out into the courtyard.
Mocenigo:You... You killed me. You killed ME!?
Mocenigo dropped dead.
Outcome
The first Flying Machine was destroyed, and the Templars succeeded at killing Giovanni, the Doge, but also lost one of their own.
Trivia
This is the only memory in Assassin's Creed II (not including the DLCs) in which you can get the achievement "Fly Swatter".
In the cutscene where Ezio abandons the burning Flying Machine, you can see a Brute and a Seeker on the rooftop.
In the E3 demo of Assassin's Creed II, the Carnevale is already underway during this mission.
The Venetian rooftops lit by Antonio's thieves.
Ezio preparing for the flight.
The flying machine shot down by the archers.
Ezio assassinating Carlo Grimaldi.
Doge Mocenigo after being poisoned.
