Desmond Miles is the Animus user who connects the modern stories in the first five main Assassin's Creed games.
Desmond is abducted by Abstergo Industries and forced to use the Animus, a machine that lets a person experience genetic memories inherited from ancestors. He first relives Altaïr's memories, then accesses the lives of Ezio Auditore and Ratonhnhaké:ton, also known as Connor.
His modern-day storyline expands from personal escape to a conflict involving Abstergo, the Assassins, and the ancient First Civilization. Desmond's memories help locate important artifacts and reveal information about an approaching global catastrophe.
William Miles is Desmond's father and an Assassin leader, not the central Animus subject. Clay Kaczmarek is Subject 16, whose recordings and memories influence later events. Desmond's playable role ends in Assassin's Creed III, released in 2012.