FOXHOUND
 | This article describes a work or element of fiction in a primarily in-universe style. |
 | This article's plot summary may be too long or excessively detailed. |
High-Tech Special Forces Unit FOXHOUND (or FOX-HOUND) 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
FOX - Force Operation X (1964-1970)
The FOX (Force Operation X) unit is the precursor to FOXHOUND. Founded by the CIA in 1964 to execute the "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 due to the unit revolting against the US government some time after Snake defected from the unit (in the events of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops).
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 (1970-1995)
Big Boss, renowned (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) fortified nation of Outer Heaven, to destroy the Metal Gear and rescue its creator, Dr. Drago Pettrovich 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. Madnar, 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)
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 infiltrating Shadow Moses, Solid Snake defeats Liquid Snake and most of the other members 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, interrogation specialist and gunfighter Revolver Ocelot, sniper and dog 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 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 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", 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 game. Template:Endspoiler
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 (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 Cunningham, 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 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.
A parody of Foxhound can be found on the website Gigaville.com which chronicles the missions of Foxhound leading up to the events of Shadow Moses.
| Games |
| ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Characters | |||||||
| Music | |||||||
| People | |||||||
| Related | |||||||
