Assassin's Creed: Initiates

"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.

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 standard.

September 1–15, 2012
 1===1 September 2012===

Kidnapped
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower near 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, 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, 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===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===3 September 2012===

Preliminary Analysis
At 11:24am, the results of Desmond's medical examination came up, with the medical examiner reporting that no problems were found, consequently clearing "Subject 17" for continued study.

4===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===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]

6===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===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===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===9 September 2012===

Assassin's Hideout
At 12:38pm, Lucy and Desmond arrived at an Assassin safe house in Rome, located within the industrial zone.

10===10 September 2012===

Failure to Report
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in, , 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===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===12 September 2012===

Gunfight
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in, , 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===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===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===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. The isolated location had been used by the Brotherhood as a base for two centuries, including during World War II, when Assassins aided local cells in their resistance against the Germans.

September 16–30, 2012
16===16 September 2012===

Roadblock
At 1:01am, a roadblock set up by the 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===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===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, California, R. e-mailed V. asking whether a scientific study that was published in a journal and reported in an  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. 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. 19===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===20 September 2012===

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

21===21 September 2012===

Abstergo's Top Operative
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower in Philadelphia,, in the USA, at 5:52pm. 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===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===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===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===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===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.

28===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 published an article about an unusual  of the Buddhist deity. The article claimed that the 1,000-year-old statue was carved from a rare that fell to Earth between 10,000 and 20,000 years ago. The statue was looted from before World War II by Adolf Hitler's, but resurfaced in 2007. Also noted on the e-mail were Nancy Nilop and E., whom R. reminded to "get it back."

29===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===30 September 2012===

Heathrow Airport
After William arrived at London, 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===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===2 October 2012===

Gare de Valence
At 2:28pm, William sent an SMS from the in the town of  telling Harlan that he was "Blending in southern France."

3===3 October 2012===

Flughafen Zürich
At 6:48pm, William sent Harlan an SMS message from in Switzerland saying that William would see Adriano the following day.

4===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===5 October 2012===

Roaming the High Seas
The following data was recorded from somewhere in the 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===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===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.

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===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===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===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===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===13 October 2012===

Death of a Siren
The following data was recorded from a cell phone tower near 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===14 October 2012===

Funeral for a Friend
Lucy Stillman was buried in Marino, Italy.

15===15 October 2012===

Private Jet
Rebecca made arrangements for the team to leave Rome.



October 16–30, 2012
16===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===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===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.

19===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===21 October 2012===

Roughing It
At 1:57pm near Anfo, Italy, William's team discussed Desmond's importance.

22===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===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===24 October 2012===

No News is Good News
At 2:04 am, in the Caribbean Sea, aboard the boat called Altair II, Gavin received a message from Adriano in Morse code, which said that William had not made contact, and that he should go to New York.



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 led to the  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 later  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: published his Philosophiæ Naturalis Principia Mathematica.
 * 1688: of England was overthrown in the.
 * 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 put an end to the.
 * 1881: Czar Alexander II of Russia was killed by the Assassins of Narodnaya Volya.
 * 1901: The, which witnessed the expansion of the British Empire, ended with the death of.
 * 1908: The Tunguska explosion occurred in Siberia.
 * 1914: of  was assassinated, sparking the.
 * 1917: The Russian Revolution ended the.
 * 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 depicting image. This is a nod to the Star Trek: The Next Generation series, as it's the registy number of the USS Enterprise-D.