Abstergo Industries

"We change the world. Every day, in a hundred different ways. Did you know that every single breakthrough of the last millenia, be it medical, mechanical, or philosophical, has come from Abstergo, or its predecessors?"

- Warren Vidic to Desmond Miles

Abstergo Industries is one of the largest multinational corporations in the world by the year 2012, serving as a front for the Templar Order. They are the employers of Dr. Warren Vidic and Lucy Stillman, the captors of Desmond, and the company that funds the Animus.

Even though Abstergo is outwardly labeled as a company working in the field of Medicine and Science, Dr. Vidic boasts of their accomplishments in fields beyond these; going so far as to claim their involvement in every huge progressive movement within last millennium. He claims that either Abstergo or its predecessors were responsible for every scientific accomplishment for the last 1,000 years, though Abstergo chooses who gets credit for the accomplishments very carefully. However, these achievements are not purely of their doing, as when Desmond asks who created the Animus' technology, Dr. Vidic cryptically replies with "Those Who Came Before."

Desmond discovers Abstergo's identity as the modern-day embodiment of the Knights Templar while being held at their laboratory. He does so after reading several e-mails, particularly one viewable in the conference room, wherein Alan Rikkin writes to Vidic: "May the Father of Understanding guide you to success," a phrase long used by the Templar Order.

Abstergo has also been hunting the last of the Assassins left in the world, hoping to end their enemies' way of life, thus eliminating any chance of their own failure. Vidic's e-mail reveals Abstergo and Assassin presence in many events throughout history, such as the Tunguska event. The emails also discuss the Philadelphia Incident, in which the USS Eldridge (which was stationed in the Philadelphia Naval Shipyard) was allegedly rendered invisible for several seconds, and sent forward in time. Experiments with the artifact related to this incident were halted, with Abstergo citing concern about paradoxes.

Mitchell-Hedge's communicators are also mentioned, along with an abstract reference to the 13 Incan Crystal Skulls that were supposedly discovered by the gentleman adventurer of the same name in the 1920's. New Age theorists state that the Crystal Skulls enable telepathy between their wielders, and therefore, the term "communicators" implies that Abstergo either has these skulls or is able to communicate using them. This communication is likely also undetectable by any modern-day Assassin.

Through the e-mails, 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 held in suspicion because of it. This is the reason behind the December 21, 2012 launch of their Eye-Abstergo communications satellite, as afterwards, they risk being immobilized by having their assets frozen. The 12/21/2012 launch is also significant, as it marks the end of the Mayan Long Count, 12th baktun cycle - the date set by many to be the end of the world.

Abstergo was also involved in an accident under the Denver International Airport, at Abstergo's satellite manufacturing (and possibly launch) facility. E-mails show that a member of the project apparently went insane, using the Apple present to kill almost everyone at the facility, ultimately destroying himself and the Piece. This loss caused Abstergo to capture Desmond Miles, in order to search for a replacement Piece.

Products
Vidic mentions that Abstergo invents everything to enhance everyday life, and it is also stated by Lucy that they produce anti-depressants. Henry Ford and Thomas Edison were past Abstergo employees, making Abstergo responsible for popularizing the assembly line and electricity. During World War II, the Atomic Bomb's creation was directly linked to Abstergo, with "O" (J. Robert Oppenheimer) being given the go ahead by an unnamed Abstergo employee.

Past History of the Company
In July 22, 1944, an unknown member of the company sent out a memo to fellow members. He or she mentioned using the assembly line to control both capitalists and workers, and credited Ransom "Ranny" Olds and Henry Ford for its creation. This person further added that he or she hoped that in the future, the company would not have to use such "ugly chains". He or she mentions that Abstergo's founders designed the "Plan" in 1910. This individual also brought up the Communists and said it was Abstergo's duty to save them (neutralize) and their followers. The reasons given were that they were to be allowed to eat and to reproduce. He or she furthers elaborates on Abstergo's goals, stating to his fellow Templars that their duty was to "shepherd those beneath us through life, even if force is required". The unknown member mentioned other Templars known only by the initials "H." and "S." who brought on the "turmoil and fear". Towards the end of this memo, he or she brought up the "successful ruse of Rockefeller's dimes". .

Current employees

 * Alan Rikkin – C.E.O. at Abstergo.
 * Warren Vidic – Head of Research for genetic memory and the Animus project.
 * Nancy Nilop – Unknown position, possibly Leila's (former) boss.
 * Jane Birkam – Unknown position, friend of Warren Vidic.
 * Audrey Jacobs – Alan Rikkin's assistant.
 * Richard – One of the three men that threatened to kill Lucy Stillman, before being stopped by Vidic.

Former employees

 * Lucy Stillman
 * Leila Marino (deceased)

Trivia

 * Abstergo is a Latin verb, meaning "I cleanse."
 * In the Truth file regarding Apollo, scanning the symbol on the shuttle shows the Abstergo logo, suggesting that Abstergo Industries was behind the moon landings. Similarly, scanning the American flag planted on the moon reveals the Templar cross.
 * During Ezio's visit to the Vault, the Abstergo logo can be seen on several images projected by Minerva.
 * In the concept art for The Vault, what looks like the Abstergo logo can be seen on the floor of the circular room in which Ezio fights Rodrigo.
 * Abstergo's Animi room has a wall with a large window in the shape of the Templar cross.
 * The doors within the laboratory are marked with blue lights in the shape of the Templar cross.
 * In Assassin's Creed: Project Legacy, the player is an Abstergo employee. However, the player does not seem to be aware of the company's association with the Templar Order or their war against the Assassins. However, it is implied that the player is descended from Assassins, thus their motives for secrecy might not be so mysterious.
 * Abstergo has a Twitter page for Project Legacy.
 * The Multiplayer mode of Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood is played from the point of view of Abstergo employees undergoing training in the Animi.
 * The Abstergo Industries facility in which Desmond was initially held, and later escaped from, was located in Italy. During his escape, Desmond saw several signs written in Italian.

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