- "Whatever it takes, Betruger is going to start doing things OUR way."
- ― Elliot Swann as he arrives on Mars [src]
Counselor 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 to investigate the facility. He is accompanied by his personal bodyguard, Jack Campbell. For the first two thirds of the game, Swann appears as a somewhat suspicious character, appearing to have goals that conflict with those of the protagonist.
Background
Not much is known about Swann's background or past. The only thing known is that he has been authorized by the UAC board to invastigate the situation at hand with complete control given and that he before was in contact with Delta Lab's research director Elizabeth McNeil who requested his presence on mars in the first place due to her concerns. Determined and skeptical, he is supposed to pin down Dr. Malcolm Betruger and investigate the accidents and strange happenings that have been plaguing the Mars Facility as of late. Swann is a methodical and practical thinker, keeping his own emotions away from ruleing his judgment and dismissing the starry-eyed visions of the overall future presented to him by Betruger. He sets straightforward, plausible goals and does whatever it takes to accomplish the objectives laying in front of him.
Doom 3
Jack Campbell and Elliot Swann
Swann first appears disembarking from the Phantom Dropship, accompanied by Campbell. Expressing annoyance about having to come to Mars he vows to make Dr. Betruger meet up to his own demands.
Shortly after, Swann meets up with Betruger in a nearby conference room, discussing the recent accidents and transfer requests off mars by employees. Unsatisfied with Betruger's attitude, he then proceeds to leave the conference room with Campbell to make his way to the Delta Labs.
Shortly after the demonic invasion begins, 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 and Campbell opens up a suitcase with a BFG in it followed by the words "Plan B."
Swann's plan by that point is to exterminate all communication channels connected to Earth in an attempt to keep the invasion quarantined on Mars, until he and Campbell can successfully mitigate it. This goes against the Marine's mission, 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 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 communication 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 do it.
The Marine then decides if he should either send or cancel the transmission:
If the Marine sends the transmission, Swann will berate him for jeopardizing Earth. He will then leave to the Delta Labs to try to stop the transmission, before telling 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 reach the Delta Labs, however, Swann and Campbell are getting ambushed by Sergeant Kelly, who is now possessed. Swann ends up critically injured in the process, leaving him no choice but to have Campbell go after Kelly all by himself.
Shortly after sealing off the main portal in the Delta Labs, the Marine finds Swann injured on the floor, who is surprised that he is still alive. He then explains to the Marine what happened to Kelly, and that another portal to hell is active in the caverns and if not closed before the Fleet arrives, the demons will overwhelm them to take their ships back to earth. Swann provides the Marine with his own PDA, counting on him to subdue the invasion before the Fleet's arrival. The Marine eventually succeeds in doing so and is later discovered unconscious by the Recon Zulu Squad, who arrives 5 days after the final battle with the Cyberdemon, and is taken through the bioscan security checkpoint to his freedom after being woken up. However, Swann is found dead, succumbed to his own injuries after telling the Marine at their last meeting that he would make it on his own.
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.
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 cancels the transmission of the distress call, but then tries to resend it afterwards (as per Kelly's orders), the computer terminal stops and announces an "Error, No Data" and states that the transmission data has been erased by "UAC Administration User: E.Swann".
- In the beginning of the game, Swann expresses discontent about having to come to Mars because of Betruger. Ironically, in his PDA, an email from Betruger also states that he 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 the Delta Labs.
- A Sergeant Swann was included in the lore of Doom II: The Official Strategy Guide, as one of the guide's "narrators".