Alan Rikkin

Alan Rikkin (1951 – 2016) was the Chief Executive Officer of Abstergo Industries and a member of the Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order.Assassin's Creed: Revelations – Abstergo Files: "File.0.17\Ins_InnerSanctum" He held the positions of Grand MasterAssassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization – and Guardian within the Order, answering directly to the General of the Cross and the Council of Elders.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Database: 10. Reconnaissance Memo
==Biography==
===Early life===
An Englishman, Alan Rikkin was born around 1951. At some point he established himself as a member of the Templar Order, rising to the rank of Grand Master, and as a highly positioned employee of Abstergo Industries. Rikkin eventually married and, in 1980, he and his wife had a daughter together: Sofia. Around this time, he also initiated what would become a thirty year project with the Abstergo Foundation Rehabilitation Center to seek out the means to suppress humanity's free will and bring the world under the total control of the Templars while purging the planet of the Assassin Brotherhood.
Rikkin became a widower and single parent after Sofia's mother was killed by the Assassins in 1984. With the loss of his wife, Rikkin turned into a colder man. He was a distant yet controlling father who tightened the security at their homes, ensured Sofia had a private education under governesses, and forbade his lonely daughter from playing with "ordinary children". Sofia would wake up at night screaming, afraid that the Assassins would make her an orphan but Rikkin was too busy running Abstergo to be present.
===Templar career===
Work at the Abstergo Foundation brought the company closer to tracking down a specific Apple of Eden that the Order had been chasing for centuries, which they believed would bring about the Templar endgame. They learned that the object, known amongst themselves simply as "the Artifact", had once been held by Aguilar de Nerha, a 15th century Assassin from the Spanish Brotherhood. However, over the years de Nerha's bloodlines had eventually died out except for one, that of Mary Lynch, an Assassin in her own right.Assassin's Creed (film)
In 1986, Rikkin led a strike-team to capture Mary Lynch in Baja California, Mexico. Intending to put the Assassin into an Animus to uncover clues to the whereabouts of the Artifact, they arrived too late. Though they captured her husband, Joseph, Rikkin was unable to prevent Mary's suicide or stop the escape of her son, Callum.
At the turn of the millennium, Rikkin was among those informed by Warren Vidic that Daniel Cross had returned to Abstergo's facility in Philadelphia after Cross had assassinated the Mentor of the Assassins.Assassin's Creed: The Fall – Issue #03 In 2010, Clay Kaczmarek was tasked by William Miles to hack Rikkin's personal computer in the hope of learning more about the Animus Project.Assassin's Creed: Revelations – The Lost Archive – Abstergo (memory)
Rikkin succeeded the previous CEO of Abstergo Industries after their death in January 2012. In a tape, Rikkin's predecessor encouraged him to stay on course after all he had learned from the previous Grand Masters, and reminded him that the free market would soon collapse, and that he needed to establish the New World Order before all turned to anarchy.Assassin's Creed: Brotherhood - Rifts: Cluster 10, Puzzle 5
Later that year, Abstergo was hit by a scandal over the testing of their New Fluoride product; the United States government threatened to freeze Abstergo's assets, which coupled with the loss of an Apple of Eden in the DIA satellite accident, forced them to hasten the completion of the Eye-Abstergo satellite.Assassin's Creed – Warren Vidic's email – September 6, Subject line: "Daily Headlines"
===Animus Project===
Rikkin oversaw the Animus Project supervised by Vidic and Lucy Stillman. On 5 September 2012, after Stillman starting poking around Leila Marino's case file, Rikkin told Vidic to get her to quit and that she was his responsibility, after sending her a seemingly automated response about being out-of-office.Assassin's Creed - Subject header: "Re: Case File #1394 [Leila Marino]" The next day, in response to the recent New Fluoride media scandal, Rikkin emailed Vidic blaming the pills department and that the Eye-Abstergo satellite was being delayed until 21 December so the coverage area could be improved, all the for the good of the customers.Assassin's Creed - Subject header: "False Alarm"
On 7 September, Rikkin, emailed Vidic concerned about the progress with the current subject, he became frustrated that it was taking a few days for Desmond Miles—Abstergo's seventeenth subject in the program—to synchronize with the memory they needed to map the locations of Pieces of Eden, one of which they hoped would replace the Apple needed to power the Eye-Abstergo satellite. Going so far as to supply David from the Acquisitions department with a courtesy copy of their email to look for potential alternatives. Despite resolving issues at the , a problematic baggage handler leaked sensitive information, prompting Rikkin to suspect possible Assassin involvement. Uncertain about internal leaks, Rikkin considered terminating Subject Seventeen unless results were promptly delivered or a replacement introduced to the Animus.Assassin's Creed - Subject header: "Additional Subjects?"
Less than a couple of hours later, Rikkin sent Vidic another email after having reviewed the data obtained from Subjects 12-16. emphasizing the continued importance of the Piece of Eden (no. 3) as the top priority. Acknowledging the reliance on the satellite for assistance, Rikkin highlighted the necessity of addressing individuals resistant to its effects. While praising efforts to find an alternate artifact after the DIA Satellite Accident, he expressed understanding for delays in Subject Seventeen's Animus interfacing. Anticipating a critical update in 24 hours, Rikkin prepared an extraction team, emphasizing the urgency of unlocking the final memory for vital information. Regarding the Philadelphia Project, data from Animus Subject Twelve indicated a brief manifestation of the ship in a future state. Administration, citing paradox concerns, maintained the containment policy for objects manipulating time, and the artifact would be moved to secure storage. The Tunguska Incident, now attributed to an Assassin assault, resulted in the destruction of the research station and the artifact. Although alternate wave generation devices lacked sufficient data for research initiation, the Lineage Discovery and Acquisition Division aimed to locate descendants for continued exploration. The Grail was removed from objectives due to insufficient evidence of its existence, and Subject Seventeen's examination suggested literary or Piece of Eden origins for Christ-related artifacts, deeming them negligible for current use. Mitchell-Hedges Communicators' analysis confirmed functionality, providing a secure communication channel post-launch. Due to limited availability, only essential facilities would receive them. Rikkin underscored the urgency of concluding Subject Seventeen's mission, emphasizing its crucial role in the team's objectives, as the success of their endeavors relied on retrieving the locations from Subject Seventeen's memories.Assassin's Creed - Subject header: "Analysis"
Rikkin, David Kilkerman, and Henry Liman came to the Animus Project laboratory in Rome the day after an unsuccessful attack from the Assassins. Vidic had obtained the necessary memory, to which Rikkin responded he would send teams to collect all of them, should anyone else obtain one and cause trouble in the Templars' New World.Assassin's Creed: The Essential Guide Rikkin also ordered that Desmond be terminated, but Stillman retorted, saying that they needed him to obtain any more information on the sites from his genetic memory, so Rikkin deferred to her judgment.Assassin's Creed – Modern day
In October, details of the Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order were made available to recruits of the second stage of the Animi Training Program. Kept in a dossier of Abstergo Files, the one pertaining to the Inner Sanctum was entitled "File.0.17\Ins_InnerSanctum" and included the names and positions of all its members, Rikkin being one of them. Revealing his position as the CEO of Abstergo Industries.
On 17 November,Assassin's Creed: Initiates – The Desmond Files: "Stray Cat" Rikkin contacted Laetitia England after she reported that Desmond Miles had stolen a Precursor power source in Manhattan.Assassin's Creed III – Modern Tower
===Managing Abstergo===
Rikkin later became acquainted with Olivier Garneau, the CCO of Abstergo Entertainment, and contacted him in 2013 about his progress regarding the Observatory.Assassin's Creed IV: Black Flag – Modern day He also had a hand in the development of Abstergo's game Liberation.Assassin's Creed III: Liberation
On 21 January 2014, Rikkin sent a message to Melanie Lemay, congratulating her for her role as CCO of Abstergo Entertainment. Because of her hard work, Rikkin offered her a raise and personally stated that he was looking forward to working with her in the future.Assassin's Creed: Unity – Database: 02. Letter of Promotion
At some point, Rikkin wrote a memo to Álvaro Gramática regarding his concerns with the Observatory. In the memo, Rikkin wrote that his position as the Guardian required him to confer with 2 other Guardians before passing the information to the General of the Cross, who would apprised Gramática within a week. He also wrote that if Gramática may proceed with his plans if he did not receive any updates from the General of the Cross and that he would contact the Cuban, Mexican and American Grand Masters to get a grip on the situation.
On 17 October 2015, Rikkin had a conference with Isabelle Ardant. He was later contacted by Álvaro Gramática after Violet da Costa retrieved a Shroud of Eden from the vault under Buckingham Palace and the Phoenix Project was accelerated.Assassin's Creed: Syndicate – Modern day
===Spying on Hathaway===
In October 2016, Rikkin conducted the induction of Simon Hathaway into the Inner Sanctum. After the ceremony, Rikkin granted permission to Hathaway when the Templar historian told him about his new project: to explore the genetic memories of Templars to rediscover lost secrets. Hathaway planned to explore the memories of his ancestor during the Hundred Years' War to learn more about Jeanne d'Arc's personal Sword of Eden and Rikkin gave him a deliberately tight one-week schedule to prove the usefulness of his approach.Assassin's Creed: Heresy – 
Rikkin was keen to stop Hathaway prying too much into the history of the Sword, once wielded by the revered Templar Grand Master Jacques de Molay, believing that learning about de Molay's influence would interfere with his own ambitions for the Order. Hathaway managed to evade Rikkin's efforts and present his findings to the Inner Sanctum which inspired at least some of its members to re-evaluate how the Templar Order operated in the 21st century.
In response, Rikkin privately set about activating Omega Team, a clandestine task force that operated within Abstergo without even the Inner Sanctum being aware, to prepare moving against the entire Sanctum if needs be. However, he was preoccupied by events in Spain, so left Omega on standby to await his return to London.
===Endgame===
Rikkin arrived in Madrid to assist Sofia with locating "the Artifact": Aguilar's Apple of Eden. After learning of Callum Lynch's conviction for murder, the Templars faked Lynch's execution and brought him to the Abstergo Foundation Rehabilitation Center to find the Apple once possessed by his ancestor Aguilar de Nerha via the Animus.
After learning that Aguilar had entrusted the Apple to Christopher Columbus for life before his voyage in search of the New World, Rikkin traveled with Sophia and Ellen Kaye to Columbus' burial site in the Seville Cathedral, where they found the Apple in his grave. In the same timeframe, Callum escaped from the facility with two other imprisoned Assassins, Lin and Moussa. They travelled to Holborn Hall in London, where the Templars held a ceremony to celebrate Rikkin's discovery of the Apple. As Rikkin presented the Apple to the crowd, Callum assassinated him in front of the assembled Council of Elders, before absconding with the Piece of Eden.
==Personality and traits==
Rikkin could be a rude and vulgar individual. Despite both being members of the Inner Sanctum, his emails to Vidic were often disrespectful and impatient.Assassin's Creed - Warren Vidic's email However, in an email written for him with other Abstergo executives, Rikkin showed the intelligence and charisma necessary to head a company.Assassin's Creed – Emails: "Project Lead #9"
Lucy Stillman once emailed Rikkin, requesting information on a deceased friend and ex-employee, Leila Marino. The only response she received was an out-of-office notice, despite the fact that Rikkin continued to manage his other emails during the time he was supposedly away, even sending Vidic a message warning the doctor to keep Lucy from asking difficult questions.
Rikkin was also ignorant of historical facts, proven when he mistook who Guy Fawkes was, believing Fawkes was involved in the French Revolution. When corrected by Caroline Grey, he snapped at her, claiming "We are making history here, the past is largely irrelevant".James Morse's email – Subject line "RE: Guy Fawkes"
==Behind the scenes==
Alan Rikkin is a character introduced in the 2007 video game Assassin's Creed. Despite having a minor speaking role, his voice actor is uncredited. He later appeared in the 2016 film also titled Assassin's Creed, where he was portrayed by Jeremy Irons.
The production team behind the Assassin's Creed movie tweeted Rikkin's business card. By calling the numbers on it, fans would receive a voice message by Jeremy Irons as Rikkin.
In Assassin's Creed 6: Leila, Rikkin is identified by Laetitia England as the Leader of the Templar Order.
Alan physical appearance differs greatly between the original Assassin's Creed video game and the film. In the video game, he is bald, obese, and has a dark beard, while in the film he shows signs of aging and is noticeably thinner. In the non-canon Les Deux Royaumes comics, he appears to have the same hair style as in the movie.
==Gallery==
ACMovie Francisco Rizi's Grand Inquisition in Council of Elders' meeting room.jpg|Alan meeting Ellen Kaye
Ellen and Alan Rikkin.png|Rikkin reporting to Kaye
ACMovie - Cal and Rikkin.jpg|Alan walking with Callum
Rikkin family.jpg|Alan with Sofia
ACM Apple of Eden Rikkin.jpg|Alan holding Aguilar's Apple of Eden
ACmovie Callum killing Rikkin.png|Callum attacking Alan from behind
ACMovie Callum assassinates Alan.png|Callum assassinates Alan
==Appearances==
*Assassin's Creed 
*Assassin's Creed: The Fall 
*Assassin's Creed (Les Deux Royaumes comics) 
*Assassin's Creed: Revelations 
**The Lost Archive 
*Assassin's Creed III: Liberation 
*Assassin's Creed: Rogue 
*Assassin's Creed: Unity 
*Assassin's Creed Unity: Abstergo Entertainment – Employee Handbook 
*Assassin's Creed: Initiates 
*Assassin's Creed: Syndicate 
*Assassin's Creed: Heresy
*Assassin's Creed (film)
*Assassin's Creed: The Official Movie Novelization
*Assassin's Creed: Origins 
*Assassin's Creed: Conspiracies 
==References==
de:Alan Rikkin
es:Alan Rikkin
fa:Alan Rikkin
fr:Alan Rikkin
hu:Alan Rikkin
it:Alan Rikkin
nl:Alan Rikkin
pl:Alan Rikkin
pt-br:Alan Rikkin
ru:Алан Риккин
uk:Алан Ріккін
zh:艾伦·里金
Category:1951 births
Category:2016 deaths
Category:Individuals
Category:English people
Category:Medical doctors
Category:Abstergo Industries employees
Category:Rikkin family
Category:Templars
Category:Guardians
Category:Inner Sanctum of the Templar Order
Category:Individuals who held Pieces of Eden
Category:Grand Masters