Robert Getas (dude with glasses behind a laptop) is an American entrepreneur, who thought himself to be a world-changer. He was either an employee or an associate of Abstergo Industries, with ties to their Lineage Discovery and Acquisition department.

Around 1998, Robert took an interest in the British National Space Centre's expeditions, and this contacted one of its scientists, Vanessa. After the promise of a great deal of money, the two began working together for over five years, though they only communicated indirectly, and never met

In 2003, after the supposed failure of the Mars Express mission, Robert and Vanessa met at a café. There, Vanessa handed over the data and control codes from the Beagle 2, which she had intercepted.

Robert eagerly asked what the spacecraft was truly up to, and Vanessa informed him that it would be taking soil samples and sending out probes. After assuring Vanessa that the payment had been deposited in the agreed upon account, and that he would handle any suspensions about the large amount, the two left the café.

Outside, Vanessa laughingly mentioned that she was a descendant of Charles Darwin, which immediately caught Robert's attention. Knowing her genetic memories would be highly useful in Abstergo's Project Legacy, he suggested another deal for her to fly out with him, and work at his office.

Vanessa was alarmed at his sudden interest, as well as the further need to work, since the money she had been promised was enough for retirement. However, Robert merely nodded to his associate - a large man who had been standing behind Vanessa - who held a cloth to her face, causing her to fall unconscious.

In terms of appearance, Robert was a very ordinary man, and seemed to blend naturally into a crowd. He was polite and amiable, and insisted for Vanessa to call him "Rob", even upon their first face-to-face meeting.

However, he was also very cautious and deceptive, and despite his years working with Vanessa, Robert never revealed his true allegiance or intentions.

The Beagle 2 was a landing spacecraft launched by the European Space Agency to search for evidence of life on Mars in the year 2000. It was named for the HMS Beagle that Charles Darwin sailed on.

Two years prior, Vanessa, a worker at the British Landing Operations Centre was bribed by Robert Getas so she could quit her job and spend more time with her children.

When the Beagle 2 landed on December 25th 2003, Vanessa routed all signals to her laptop, causing her fellow employees to assume the landing was a failure. Using the holidays as an excuse to leave early, she then handed over the laptop to Getas. Getas subsequently thanked her by having a man from Abstergo's Lineage Discovery and Acquisition division kidnap her, after she had mentioned she was actually descended from Charles Darwin.