FOXHOUND

For other uses, see Foxhound (disambiguation).

File:FOXHOUND.jpg

The FOXHOUND emblem from the Metal Gear Solid series.

High-Tech Special Forces Unit FOXHOUND or FOX-HOUND (ハイテク特殊部隊フォックスハウンド, Haiteku Tokushu Butai Fokkusuhaundo) is a fictional elite special forces unit in the Metal Gear series, specializing in solo covert infiltration missions. In 1971, FOXHOUND is founded by the United States government under the command of Big Boss, in order to cope with local revolutions, regional complications, and global terrorist activities - although they were given too much of a free reign over what they allowed to do, and became power hungry mercenaries. This unit specializes in black ops, carrying out top-secret operations within "unauthorized" combat zones which are too politically-sensitive to intervene in through conventional means.

Each of FOXHOUND's members is a preternaturally skilled soldier, and the members of the unit have dabbled or even specialized in unusual subjects such as mysticism or psionics. Whether specialized or not, each of the members of FOXHOUND has a broad range of special forces and espionage training, and is capable of operating either on their own or together as a team, as appropriate.

In the fictional world of the Metal Gear series, the existence of FOXHOUND became known worldwide after the "Outer Heaven Crisis" at Garzburg in 1995 (the events of Metal Gear), and once again during the "Zanzibar Land Riots" in 1999 (the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake). Their success inspires other, similar units, such as Dead Cell. The unit is disbanded, however, in 2005 when Liquid Snake leads the unit in a defection (the "Shadow Moses" incident, depicted in Metal Gear Solid), and most of its members are killed in battle by Solid Snake.

History and membership

FOX - Force Operation X (1964-1970)

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The FOX unit's logo from Snake Eater and Portable Ops. It is the same design used by the actual Kojima Productions logo.

The FOX (Force Operation X) unit is the precursor to FOXHOUND, founded by the veteran British intelligence officer Major Zero. Operating under the supervision of the CIA, FOX was designed with the sensitive climate of the Cold War in mind. After Major Zero proposed FOX to the CIA, in 1964 the chance came for him to demonstrate its effectiveness. He flew deep into Soviet territory to organize a daring hostage rescue called the "Virtuous Mission". Zero entrusted Naked Snake as his agent, in hopes that his success would lead to FOX officially being organized. When Virtuous Mission ended in complete failure, Snake and Zero were both accused of treason and forced to participate in "Operation Snake Eater" to clear their names. Snake operated under Zero's direction, who functioned as FOX's commander, and saw the mission to its end. Following this, the Director of Central Intelligence became interested in the potential of FOX.

FOX is disbanded by Major Zero in 1970, and replaced by FOXHOUND in 1971 due to the unit revolting against the US government some time after Snake defected from the unit during the events of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops.

Its members in MGS3 include field operative Naked Snake, commanding officer Major Zero, medical specialist Para-Medic, and technician/signal analyst Sigint.

In MPO, Snake and his support crew are no longer with FOX. Instead, the unit is now comprised of leader Gene, interrogation expert Cunningham, ESP expert Ursula, field operative Python and brainwashed assassin Null (later revealed to be a teenaged Frank Jaeger, the future Gray Fox).

Under Big Boss's command (1971-1995)

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The original "cartoon" style FOXHOUND logo was first introduced in the original Metal Gear and featured prominently during the loading screens in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake.

Following a sudden insurrection by the FOX unit in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops, Big Boss is faced with the task of stopping the revolt. Renowned for his exploits and his successorship of the "Boss" mantle, Big Boss wins over enemy soldiers and convinces them to defect. In doing so he gradually forms his own opposing unit behind enemy lines to "hunt down" the rogue FOX unit (forming the precursor to FOXHOUND).

Upon the mission's success, Big Boss is recognized as one of the greatest soldiers of the 20th century, and founds FOXHOUND in 1971, after the disgraced Force Operation X is disbanded in 1970. FOXHOUND under Big Boss's command performs a number of classified missions for the US Government, up until the "Outer Heaven incident", in 1995.

During the Outer Heaven disturbance, FOXHOUND is ordered to infiltrate the fortified nation of Outer Heaven, a base founded by and for mercenaries. The objectives are to destroy the prototype Metal Gear and rescue its creator, Dr. Drago Pettrovich Madnar. As commanding officer, Big Boss oversees the mission, but is also secretly the leader of Outer Heaven forces and the person bankrolling Metal Gear's development. Conspiring against his unit, Big Boss first sends his most trusted man, Gray Fox, into Outer Heaven only to have him captured. He then sends an inexperienced agent, Solid Snake, and attempts to mislead him via radio. Solid Snake is imprisoned along with Grey Fox, but manages to escape. Despite Big Boss's best efforts, Solid Snake completes his mission, rescuing Gray Fox and Dr. Madnar, destroying Metal Gear, and leaving Big Boss for dead. Sometime after this mission, Solid Snake retires from FOXHOUND.

Agents of FOXHOUND during this period include Big Boss himself, his executive officer Roy Campbell, and field operatives Gray Fox and Solid Snake. Presumably, tactical expert and drill instructor McDonell Miller was also a member of FOXHOUND during this time, as he trained Solid Snake (who is a new recruit at the time of the Outer Heaven incident), although neither him nor Colonel Campbell were directly involved in the Outer Heaven mission (Operation: Intrude N313).

Under Col. Roy Campbell's command (1995-2000)

After Big Boss's betrayal and apparent death, his executive officer, Col. Roy Campbell, takes over FOXHOUND in his stead. Campbell's FOXHOUND is more technology-savvy, relying more heavily on communication equipment, signal intelligence, and spy satellites than when Big Boss was in charge of the unit. Under his command, members of FOXHOUND less-frequently use code names, although Solid Snake retains his out of habit.

Under Col. Campbell's command, FOXHOUND is involved in the "Zanzibar Land incident", when soldiers from Zanzibar Land (a fictional country unrelated to the real-world region of Zanzibar) kidnap Dr. Kio Marv, a scientist who developed a revolutionary algae that excretes petroleum-grade hydrocarbons. Col. Campbell brings Solid Snake out of retirement for this mission, and Solid Snake infiltrates Zanzibar Land, charged with rescuing Dr. Marv and destroying Zanzibar Land's stockpile of nuclear weapons. Snake discovers that Zanzibar Land is, in truth, led by Big Boss, who has constructed a second Metal Gear, Metal Gear D. Snake fails to rescue Dr. Marv, but succeeds in retrieving the plans for OILIX hidden in a MSX game cartridge, disables the new Metal Gear and kills Big Boss with an improvised flamethrower. After this mission, Snake retires, once again, and, sometime thereafter, Col. Campbell also retires.

George Kasler, an arms expert and veteran of the Zanzibar Land Independence War, joins FOXHOUND during its time under Col. Campbell's command. He and Master Miller formed part of Snake's initial support crew during Operation: Intrude F014.

Under Liquid Snake's command (2000-2005)

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FOXHOUND during the Shadow Moses incident, February 25, 2005.

After Col. Campbell's retirement, Liquid Snake took over command of FOXHOUND. Under his command, members of FOXHOUND tend to use code names and choose specific specialties, and the unit flourishes, until it goes "rogue."

In 2005, in the "Shadow Moses incident", FOXHOUND, under Liquid Snake's command, takes control of the Shadow Moses facility, a nuclear weapons disposal facility that is actually being used to test the latest model of Metal Gear, the Metal Gear REX. They declare their intent to hold the facility (and the world, given the nuclear strike capabilities of Metal Gear REX) hostage until they are given the remains of Big Boss.

Col. Campbell and Solid Snake are brought out of retirement to answer this threat, and, after infiltrating Shadow Moses, Solid Snake defeats most of the other members of FOXHOUND, and destroys the Metal Gear REX, and Liquid dies, infected with FOXDIE. After this, both Col. Campbell and Solid Snake retire once again, and FOXHOUND is formally decommissioned.

Liquid Snake's FOXHOUND team consists of himself, interrogation specialist and gunfighter Revolver Ocelot, sniper and wolf trainer Sniper Wolf, mystic and machine gunner Vulcan Raven, psychic profiler and telekinetic Psycho Mantis, and espionage expert and mimic Decoy Octopus. All but Revolver Ocelot (eventually, liquid survive thanks to his arm) are killed during the Shadow Moses incident.

After this incident, the FOXHOUND unit is disbanded.

Under the "Colonel's" command (2009)

While FOXHOUND is disbanded in 2005, during the "Big Shell incident" in 2009, Raiden is mistakenly under the impression that he is part of FOXHOUND, and under the command of Col. Campbell. In fact, he is being deceived by the AI "GW" to control his actions, to serve the interests of the Patriots, an Illuminati-like organization in, what seems complete, control of the world. His commanding officer, referred to only as the "Colonel", is actually a guise of GW.

Under Meryl Silverburgh's command (-2015)

In the E³ 2006 trailer of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots, it appears that FOXHOUND has been reinstated under Meryl Silverburgh's leadership. It remains to be seen what role Meryl and the new FOXHOUND will play in the upcoming video game.

Alternate continuities

While they don't all fit into the Metal Gear series continuity, several of the uncanonical spinoffs and sequels also feature FOXHOUND, due to its important role in the first Metal Gear game

In Snake's Revenge, the English-language-only uncanonical sequel to Metal Gear, FOXHOUND is a four-man team of infiltrators. Solid Snake (apparently promoted to lieutenant, and occasionally referred to as "Lt. Snake"), leads a team composed of himself, infiltration expert John Turner, demolitions expert Nick Myer (who is killed in action), and espionage expert "Jennifer".

In Snatcher, another game developed by Hideo Kojima, Benson Cunningham, the chief of the anti-Snatcher unit JUNKER, notes that he was once FOXHOUND's strategist, during the 2020s. Meryl Silverburgh's namesake in Policenauts was also a FOXHOUND operative and like her Metal Gear counterpart, wears a paint tattoo of the unit's cartoon-like logo.

In Metal Gear Solid Drama CD, an audio-drama spinoff of Metal Gear Solid released only in Japan, additional members are added to FOXHOUND. The first is Allen Ishiba, a Delta Force operative that helped Snake look for Meryl in the hostile nation of the Basra Republic. Allen is killed in action while helping Snake and Meryl escape, and as such is made an honorary member of FOXHOUND after his death.

The second is Mark Cortez, the commander of the Estaria Armed Forces who formerly served FOXHOUND with Campbell under the codename of "Falcon" before Solid Snake joined the team. While serving the Estaria Armed Forces, he conspired to revolt in Estaria with SVR operative Sergei Ivanovich (a friend of Revolver Ocelot). He is backstabbed and killed in the end by Ivanovich.

In Metal Gear: Ghost Babel, Col. Roy Campbell reveals that he retired because he was forced to lead an operation to eliminate "Black Chamber", a second Black-ops group that operated under FOXHOUND's shadow, that killed all but 5 of the members. He brings back the retired Snake back to "Outer Heaven" now named Galuade to stop Black Chamber and GLF from using Metal Gear GANDER. Mei Ling has the same role she had in Shadow Moses, along with help from Brian McBride from the Africa desk in the CIA & Ronald Lensenbrink aka "the Weasel", a mercenary. Also, Chris Jenner, from Delta Force, helps Snake take on "General" Augustine Equabon & Black Arts Viper.

It has been confirmed that the FOX symbol from Metal Gear Solid 3 will be Snake's symbol in Super Smash Bros. Brawl.

As A Rank Foxhound is also the highest rank earned in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, when the player beats the game within certain conditions, such as no alerts and taking very minimal damage the player, shall then receieve the rank known as Foxhound when they beat it within these certain conditions:

Foxhound Rank: Alert Mode: 0 times Damage: under 10 life bars Kills*: 0 humans Saves: under 25 Continues: 0 Life Medicine Used: 0 Play Time: under 5 hours

• Humans are the only things that can be considered dead. The animals in the game that are able to be killed count as food.