The Phantom

### Occupation

Army Marksman (former) Criminal Enforcer (former) Mercenary (former) Syndicate Operative

## Biographical information

### Place of death

Newfoundland, Canada

The Phantom was an infamous mercenary and Syndicate operative. In the early 1980s, a young Phantom joined the US military and distinguished himself as a marksman. He later began working as a hired gun, known to have been active in South America and North Africa. In 1988 he was hired by The Salesman to eliminate Boris Nilsen and his colleague The Accountant. However, he was unaware that his targets were under the protection of the elite SOAR unit and Syndicate member Anderson. His attempt to kill the Accountant in Suez failed and he failed once again in Istanbul, resulting in his capture by SOAR. Although they initially planned to kill him, Anderson spared his life and handed him over to the Middleman. In exchange for his life, the Phantom gave up information about his employer and was ordered to kill him as a test of loyalty to the Syndicate. He complied, assassinating the Salesman in Dublin. Over the next decade the Phantom went on to work for the Syndicate and became one of its most talented assassins. In June 1999, Phantom was ordered to kill his long-time associate the Redeemer and was shaken by the betrayal. This allowed Steven Browning to get the upper hand in their firefight in his compound in Canada, severely wounding the Phantom with a hunting rifle. Despite his injuries he attempted to pursue the fleeing Steven and bled out in the Canadian wilderness.

### Early Life

Phantom was born in New York, United States in 1964. At a young age his father frequently took him hunting, developing a talent with a rifle in the process. In the early 1980s, Phantom joined the US military and became a distinguished marksman. It was during this time he acquired his *nome de guerre* "The Phantom", although the exact origins are unknown.

### Mercenary Work (1983-1988)

By 1983, The Phantom had been discharged from the military and began working as a hired gun for criminal organisations in the South-Western United States and Mexico. Eventually, his reputation grew and he joined the paramilitary group *Armas Fantasma Asesino* (AFA). As an American citizen, he proved valuable for AFA during jobs in the United States. Through his connections at AFA, Phantom was introduced to Oscar Ordoñez - the two collaborating frequently over the years. By 1987 he had risen the ranks and become the group's de-facto leader despite his young age.

In December 1987, Phantom was contacted by prominent Irish businessman "The Salesman" to assassinate two of his competitors - Boris Nilsen and "The Accountant". On 31st December 1987, Phantom attempted to shoot Nilsen whilst he was celebrating New Year's Eve at his home in Oslo but was unsuccessful. However, AFA had gathered intelligence via contacts in Egypt that The Accountant would be in Suez in the following days. Phantom gathered AFA forces in Suez to prepare an ambush.

On the 6th January 1988, a convoy of SOAR operatives along with Syndicate agent Anderson escorted The Salesman to his extraction in Suez. Despite outnumbering the SOAR forces, the AFA's attack was repelled with both sides suffering casualties. Determined to avenge his men and fearing punishment from The Salesman for failure, Phantom tracked down The Accountant to a Syndicate safehouse in Istanbul a few days later. During the subsequent raid, an AFA soldier killed The Accountant and The Phantom killed the SOAR unit's commander Agent Guile. When Anderson assumed command of the unit and wiped out the remaining AFA forces in the area Phantom was forced to retreat. During his escape he was confronted by Anderson himself, narrowly avoiding being shot before being tackled to the ground by Agent Morel. Phantom pleaded for his life and was spared execution by Anderson's orders, in exchange for information about his employers.

### Syndicate Operative (1988-1999)

After the meeting in Bucharest, Phantom was handed over to the senior Syndicate official "The Middleman". Over the next five days Phantom was interrogated by Middleman, allegedly medicating him with an experimental drug to make him more compliant. After a brief meeting with Markus Vohlt, Phantom was successfully indoctrinated into the Syndicate and was ordered to kill The Salesman to prove his loyalty. Upon completion, he joined Anderson and SOAR on the raid of the Austrian Resort which led to the deaths of several of The Salesman's co-conspirators. Tensions were high but Phantom began to build trust when he saved the life of a SOAR operative from a resort security guard.

### Death

Three days after Ordoñez's assassination, Steven Browning arrived at The Phantom's compound in Newfoundland disguised as a Syndicate agent. Due to his heavy drinking to cope with his guilt, Phantom was unable to immediately see through the charade but managed to deduce Browning was there to kill him on orders from Nilsen. After a brief firefight Browning gained the advantage over the weakened Phantom and seriously wounded him. Feeling anger towards the Syndicate for forcing him to kill his old friend and realising his wounds are fatal, he informs Browning of the charity event in Florence the next week before lunging at him. In self defense, Steven Browning shoots him twice with a hunting rifle - killing him.

### Legacy

The next day Agent Shaw launches an investigation into the Phantom's murder. Accompanying him is Agent Edwards, who tells Anderson over radio that Phantom is dead. He also adds that the body will have to be cremated and the compound cleaned of all DNA evidence. The only evidence Browning himself left behind was some blood spilt during the fight.

### Appears In

* The Gateway
* The Hideout
* The Test
* The Agreement
* The Execution
* Leviathan
* Witness
* Identity
* Father
* The Re-Emergence
* The Rendezvous
* The Philanthropist
* The Denouement
* The Redeemer
* The Huntsman