Elliot Swann

Councillor Elliot Swann (Identification Number: 7992-13) is a major character in Doom 3. A high-ranking representative of the Union Aerospace Corporation, Swann was sent to Mars, always accompanied by his personal bodyguard, Jack Campbell to investigate the facility. For the first two thirds of the game, Swann appears as a somewhat suspicious character, having goals that conflict those from the player Marine.

Background

Not much is known about Swann's prior background or past. However, his role as the Councillor of the entire UAC shows how seasonal and strict he is in regards to his position, earning him respect from many fellow UAC employees, including Elizabeth McNeil. Determined and skeptical, Swann was sent to Mars Base by the Board of Directors to pin down Dr. Malcolm Betruger and investigate the accidents that have been plaguing Mars as of late. Swann is a methodical and practical thinker, keeping his own emotions away from ruling his judgment and dismissing the starry-eyed visions of the overall future. He sets a more straightforward, plausible goal, and does whatever it takes to accomplish the objectives set before them.^[1]

Doom 3

Swann first appears disembarking from the Phantom Dropship, accompanied by Campbell. Expressing annoyance about having to arrive on Mars, he vows to make Dr. Betruger meet up to his own demands.

Shortly after, Swann meets up with the doctor in a nearby conference room, discussing about the recent accidents and requests from employees to transfer off Mars. Unsatisfied with the discussion he had with Betruger, he then proceeds to leave the conference room along with Campbell.

Shortly after the demonic invasion begun, Swann is found in the Administration Complex, arguing with Betruger through a telecam about the current predicament they are in. Finally accepting the fact that Betruger will not cooperate with him, Swann turns off the telecam before ordering Campbell to initiate "Plan B."

Swann's plan by that point is to exterminate all communications from Earth in an attempt to keep the invasion quarantined on Mars, until he and Campbell can successfully mitigate it. This goes in conflict with the Marine's goal, in which he is ordered by Sergeant Thomas Kelly to send a distress signal to Earth for reinforcements.

Swann proceeds through the Enpro Facility to confiscate the transmission card from the down Bravo Team, before giving up and moving to the Communications Tower to sabotage the main communication relay. His plan nearly works, up until the Marine makes his way to the Satellite Control room, the only remaining communications device left intact. With the transmission card he obtained from a wounded Bravo Team member, the Marine prepares to send the distress signal. Swann notices this and instantly contacts the Marine through a communication terminal, warning him not to.

The Marine then decides if he should either send or cancel the transmission:

If the Marine sends the transmission, Swann will berate him for possibly jeopardizing Earth. He will then leave to the Delta Labs to try to stop the transmission, before asking the Marine not to interfere.

If the Marine cancels the transmission, Swann will commend him for making the right decision, and decides to set a clear path to the Monorail for the Marine to meet him and Campbell in the Delta Labs to help mitigate the invasion (The second choice will be negated by Betruger, who will alert the Fleet later on).

By the time they reached the Delta Labs, however, Swann and Campbell gets ambushed by Sergeant Kelly, who has now sided with the demons. Swann ends up critically injured in the process, leaving him no choice but to have Campbell go after Kelly himself.

Shortly after sealing off the main portal in the Delta Labs, the Marine later finds Swann, who is surprised that he is still alive. He then explains to the Marine about what happened to Kelly, and that another portal to Hell is active in the Caverns; if not closed before the Fleet arrives, the demons will overwhelm them to take their ships back to Earth. Swann provides the Marine his own PDA, counting on him to subdue the invasion before the Fleet's arrival. The Marine eventually succeeds and is later taken through medevac by the Fleet who arrived moments later. However, they discovered Swann dead, succumbing from his injuries.

PDA Contents

Audio Logs

Heading to Communications Facility

This is the audio log of Councillor Elliot Swann, dated November 15th, 2145.

This entire research facility is in chaos. There's at least a 90% death rate among civilian personnel. Whatever Betruger unleashed is literally consuming the base. People have been turned into some sort of undead creatures that are relentless.

Campbell and I are making our way towards the communications facility. We must stop all communications. If a distress call leaves the base, then everyone here and on Earth is doomed.

Heading to the Caverns

This is the audio log of Councillor Elliot Swann, dated November 16, 2145.

Campbell and I were unable to reach the main portal in the Delta Complex, but that portal may be inconsequential to a more disturbing discovery. We have uncovered reference to another portal, created by the demons themselves - a passageway between Hell and Mars. We suspect it resides within the cavern somewhere near the archeological dig.

The fleet is on its way. Campbell and I will attempt to move there and somehow either shut it down or destroy it. That... that... hellhole must be closed before the fleet arrives.

Email

Mars Research Post (09-23-2145)

Dear Councillor Swann,

The Board has unanimously approved a resolution for a full operations review of the Mars Research Facility. You've been designated as our official representative in this matter and we suggest full preparation begin today.

We expect a complete appraisal of all research developments. Both current and future directions must be brought inline with the Board's expectations. We must be able to control Dr. Betruger. His extra-dimensional research is a potential risk to the teleportation experimentation, which we can not afford. The Board considers teleportation the UAC's single most important scientific endeavor and is not willing to jeopardize it's dominance in this area of research.

Anticipate a formal briefing and itinerary in the next few days.

Sincerely,
UAC Board Chairman

Looking forward to your arrival (10-02-2145)

Councillor Swann,

I was pleased to hear of the Board's decision to have you investigate the current state of the UAC on Mars. I've become more and more worried about Dr. Betruger's research direction and my hope is that this intervention will bring much needed changes. I've also learned that I've been reassigned by Dr. Betruger to a post back on Earth. Although this is disappointing I do fear for my own safety and sanity if I were to stay here.

I hope your intervention won't be too late. I look forward to meeting with you back on Earth once your visit is concluded.

Sincerely,
Elizabeth McNeil

UAC Board Review (10-03-2145)

Councillor Swann,

I've been extremely patient with the Board to date, but the decision for a full operations review is hard for me to stomach.

There is no need for you to come to Mars and there is no need for this review. All I need is more money and more time. The research being conducted here will change mankind in ways no one can imagine. Our research is beginning to yield amazing results which I cannot allow to be compromised.

Don't waste your time coming here, Swann. You will only get in my way and impede the outstanding work we're doing here.

Sincerely,
Malcolm Betruger

Trivia

• When the Marine chooses to trust Swann and cancel the transmission of the message, but then tries to resend it afterwards (as per Kelly's orders), the computer terminal stops and announces an "Error, No Data" and messages that the transmission data has been erased by "UAC Administration User: E.Swann", indicating he couldn't take any chances in case Kelly or the Marine decided to use it later.
• In the beginning of the game, Swann expresses discontent about having to arrive on Mars because of Betruger. Ironically, in his PDA, an email from Betruger also states that the latter doesn't want him to come.
• In the novelizations of Doom 3, Swann is depicted as being somewhat cowardly and even unreliable, as he was forced by Campbell to accompany him to Delta Labs.

Behind the scenes

A Sergeant Swann was included in the lore of Doom II: The Official Strategy Guide, as one of the guide's "narrators".