FOXHOUND
High-Tech Special Forces Unit FOX-HOUND (or FOXHOUND) is a fictional 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. 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.
Template:Spoiler 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
Force Operation X (1964-1971)
The Force Operation X unit (usually just called "FOX" for short) is the precursor to FOXHOUND. Founded by the CIA in 1964 to execute "Virtuous Mission" and, subsequently, "Operation Snake Eater" (both of which are depicted in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater, it is commanded by Major Zero, and is the unit Naked Snake belonged to. It is disbanded by Major Zero in 1970, and replaced by FOXHOUND in 1971.
Its members include field operative Naked Snake, commanding officer Major Zero, medical specialist Para-Medic, and technician/signal analyst Sigint.
Under Big Boss's command (1971-1995)
Big Boss, renown (among those who are aware of his activities) as one of the greatest soldiers of the twentieth century, founds FOXHOUND in 1971, after Force Operation X is disbanded in 1970. FOXHOUND under Big Boss's command performs a number of classified missions for the US Government, until the "Outer Heaven incident", in 1995.
In the Outer Heaven incident, FOXHOUND is ordered to infiltrate the (fictional) fortress nation of Outer Heaven, to destroy the Metal Gear and rescue its creator, Dr. Drago Petrovich Madnar. Big Boss betrays his unit, however, capturing the first team member, Gray Fox, and misleading the second, Solid Snake, via radio. Despite Big Boss's betrayal, Solid Snake completes his mission, rescuing Gray Fox and Dr. Petrovich Madnar, and leaving Big Boss for dead. After this mission, Solid Snake retires from FOXHOUND.
Agents of FOXHOUND during this period include Big Boss himself, his executive officer Roy Campbell, Frank "Gray Fox" Jaeger, and Solid Snake. Presumably, tactical expert and drill instructor Master 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).
Under Col. 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. Snake fails to rescue Dr. Marv, but does disable 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 Kessler, an arms expert and veteran of the Zanzibar Land Independence War, joins FOXHOUND during its time under Col. Campbell's command.
Under Liquid Snake's command (2000-2005)
After Col. Campbell's retirement, Liquid Snake takes 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 infitrating Shadow Moses, Solid Snake kills Liquid Snake and most of the other member of FOXHOUND, and destroys the Metal Gear REX. After this, both Col. Campbell and Solid Snake retire once again, and FOXHOUND is formally decommissioned.
Liquid Snake's FOXHOUND team consists of himself, gunfighter Revolver Ocelot, mystic and machine gunner Vulcan Raven, sniper and dog trainer Sniper Wolf, psychic profiler and telekinetic Psycho Mantis, and espionage expert and mimic Decoy Octopus. All but Revolver Ocelot are killed during the Shadow Moses incident.
Post-FOXHOUND (2005-?)
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 control 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 control of the United States. His commanding officer, referred to only as "the Colonel", as well as the support messages he receives from what seems to be his girlfriend Rosemary, are actually messages from this AI.
Alternate versions
While they don't all fix into the Metal Gear series continuity, several of the non-canon 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 non-canon 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 (who is revealed to be an imposter), demolitions expert Nick Myer (who is killed in action), and espionage expert "Jennifer".
In Snatcher, another game developed by Hideo Kojima, Benson Cunnigham, the chief of the anti-Snatcher unit JUNKER, notes that he was once FOXHOUND's strategist, during the 2020s.
In Metal Gear Solid Drama CD, an audio-drama adaptation of Metal Gear Solid released only in Japan, additional members are added to FOXHOUND. Allen Iishiba, a survivor of the Delta Force unit that attempted to infiltrate Shadow Moses (who is killed in action while helping Snake escape, and as such is made an honorary member of FOXHOUND after his death), and Mark Cortez are added to FOXHOUND's roster.
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