Assassination Attempt on The Custodian

Event | Backstory

The Assassination Attempt on The Custodian was an attempt made on The Custodian's life in 1994 by agent Katie Downes. After learning the truth of The Custodian's shady dealings, Katie went to confront him in his office, both to stop him, and to seek an explanation for his actions.

Background
Events
Aftermath

Background

In the months prior to 1994, Prospero agent Katie Downes had begun to notice inconsistencies in the organisation's records, specifically involving mission reports either having details altered or omitted, or even outright not being recorded in the database. As a result, she began to look more closely into The Custodian's operations. During her investigation, she managed to discover a whole heap of incriminating evidence. She learned that he was performing off-the-books 'cloak and dagger' style operations to recover objects without any official record being filed within Prospero. He was also authorising a small selection of agents to use highly unethical, and in some cases illegal, methods to accomplish these operations. Furthermore, she also learned that she was not the only agent to wise up to The Custodian's actions, and that those who had in the past - including some she'd considered friends - had actually been killed at The Custodian's order, rather than being transferred as per the public line.

Events

After learning the truth about The Custodian, Katie Downes recognised the need to take action. She wanted to stop him, but she also realised that she could not stall much longer out of fear for her own safety. Her friend, Sarah Williams, recognised that something was up, however Katie did not wish to involve her in order to protect her. She told Sarah that she was attending a meeting with The Custodian, and then set off to his office on the top floor of Prospero Headquarters. When she arrived at the offices floor, she crept down the hall in order to take a covert look into his office. She noticed him sitting at his desk, speaking to agent Cody Davis, and so moved to take advantage of the window of opportunity. However, as she lined up the shot, she was subdued by agent Alex Carter, and dragged into the office. She eventually awoke and found herself sitting before The Custodian's desk in a chair. The Custodian sat at his desk, with Carter and Davis on each of his flanks, both pointing their pistols at her. Both she and The Custodian had a venomous conversation about what she had learned, and he informed her of the true fate of the agents that had come before her. She asked him why he was doing what he was doing as he must have had a good reason, however his vague responses served only to taunt her further. Though he did not vocalise as such, he gestured to Carter and Davis to lower their weapons, so as to allow Katie to make the first move. As they did, she noticed a pistol attached to the underside of The Custodian's desk, well within arm's reach. Katie sensed that her life was forfeit whichever way, and saw Carter and Davis lowering their weapons as an opportunity to escape, rather than the intentional trap which it was. She grabbed the pistol from under the desk and entered into a battle with Carter and Davis. Though outmatched and outnumbered, she managed to put up an impressive fight, and disorientated them both, presenting her with a window to aim upon The Custodian himself. However, before she could pull the trigger, she was executed by Carter with a bullet to the head. With Katie dead, The Custodian saw fit to dispose of her body. He also modified her personnel file, and put out a public version of events that she had been sent on a highly classified mission. She was later formally marked as missing in action.

Aftermath

The attempt upon his life greatly affected The Custodian's attitude towards his own safety. He was no longer as confident as he once was, and thus decided to retire Carter and Davis from front-line operations in order to serve as his personal bodyguards. Though not intended, this decision would have a grave knock-on effect in the soon-to-be-launched Operation: INCLEMENT STRIKE, where Carter and Davis' absence almost certainly ended in the failure of the mission. The greatest aftermath of the event was upon Sarah Williams, who developed a level of mistrust in The Custodian. Sarah was close with Katie, and knew that she was not experiencing any personal issues, nor that she would leave on a lengthy mission without saying goodbye. She knew that Katie was meeting with The Custodian, and that her meeting was likely the last thing she did before disappearing, thus meaning The Custodian was responsible. Sarah, however, could not prove anything, and all she could do for the moment was keep a close eye upon him, rather than take any action.

Preceded by

Death of Henry Bouer

Followed by

Operation: INCLEMENT STRIKE