Abstergo Industries
Employers of Dr. Vidic and Lucy, captors of Desmond, as well as the company which funds the Animus. Dr. Vidic boasts of their accomplishments in more than just medical and scientific fields, but any huge progressive movement within the world.
Vidic claims that Abstergo is responsible for every scientific accomplishment for the last 1000 years, saying Abstergo chooses who gets credit for the accomplishments very carefully. Later Desmond figures out that Abstergo is the modern-day embodiment of the Knights Templar. When Desmond ask who created the technology, Dr. Vidic mysteriously replies with "Those Who Have Gone Before".
Abstergo is also a Latin verb, meaning "I cleanse".
Abstergo has also been hunting the last of the Assassins left in the world, hoping to end their enemy's way of life, thus eliminating any chance of failure.
Through the emails we learn that Abstergo is being investigated for something called "New Fluoride", which they tested on an isolated community, were caught, and are currently being investigated for. This is the reason behind the Dec 21/12 launch of their orbital platform, as afterword they risk being immobilized by having their assets frozen.
