What's what in the world of Metal Gear?
Unit FOXHOUND
A Special Forces unit formed to deal with local insurgencies, regional conflicts and counter-terrorism. They're a shadow unit employed secretively in politically sensitive operations where the overt introduction of military assets would be otherwise impossible. All members of the unit are masters of airborne, underwater and survival operations as well as experts in infiltration missions. the first commander of the unit was legendary soldier, Big Boss. Already aware of the importance of standard soldiers in guerrilla warfare, he decided to form an elite unit of high-tech soldiers after viewing the power and efficiency of high-tech missions in the Gulf War.
After the "Outer Heaven Revolt", Campbell, who had been the sub-commander, became the commander of the unit and did away with the codename system. He began to put his own personal stamp on Unit FOXHOUND, adopting even more high-tech equipment such as spy satellites and the like.
Next Generation Special Forces
Reserve members of Unit FOXHOUND selected after undergoing genetic map testing. They were originally members of a counter-terrorist Special Forces group, but after the death of Big Boss, the mercenaries employed by "Outer Heaven" were purchased by the government and added to the group to form the Next Generation Special Forces. Although most of the soldiers had no real battle experience, after undergoing intensive gene theorapy, they were trained with Force XXI, the Army's 21st Century soldiers, in wargames designed to simulate conflicts which were likely in the next millenium, and therefore are highly capable soldiers. They are also nicknamed "The Space SEALS".
MetalGear
A nuclear-equipped walking battle tank. it's main selling point was its ability to launch a variety of nuclear warheads toward anywhere on Earth from any location. It had the ability to more independently and instead of using a standard nuclear launch module, it was equipped with a weapon, which allowed it to launch a nuclear weapon with no external support. Since it could operate from regions, which were up to that point not on the world's nuclear strategy map, it was a weapon that destroyed the sensitive balance of nuclear deterrence and represented an enormous threat to the entire world.
Outer Heaven
A heavily fortified nation formed deep in South Africa in the late 1980s. It was actually a large-scale mercenary dispatchment company created by Big Boss. Although it nearly achieved military supremacy through the development of MetalGear TX-55, the nuclear-equipped walking battle tank. Outer Heaven was destroyed along with Big Boss by Solid Snake, the hero sent by Unit FOXHOUND.
1997 Zanzibar
A fortified nation in central Asia ruled by an ethnic minority group. Although the superpowers of the East and West became involved in its 1997 war for independence, it was the activity by Zanzibar's mercenaries collected from all over the world which played played the largest role in its victory. For this reason, the war became know as "The Mercenary War" and it gave rise to a whole new generation of professionals who made a business of war.
Big Boss
An extraordinary man who worked as a mercenary for numerous countries during the 1960s. He achieved nearly mythic status during his lifetime as the famous "Legendary Soldier". In the 1990s, he secretly created "Outer Heaven" while officially serving as commander of Unit FOXHOUND, but he was defeated by Solid Snake. Later, he formed the nation of Zanzibar, but his plans were once again foiled by Solid Snake. his remains were preserved by the military as a genetic sample of the "Greatest soldier that ever lived".
Grey Fox
Real name Frank Jaeger. the only man with the honour of receiving FOXHOUND's highest codename, "Fox". During the "Outer Heaven Revolt", he was the first member of FOXHOUND sent to infiltrate Outer Heaven. He was captured while gathering information about MetalGear TX-55, but was rescued by Solid Snake. After Big Boss left the military, Grey Fox mysteriously disappeared as well. Later, in Zanzibar, he fought against FOXHOUND, alongside Big Boss as he declared war against the rest of the world. Acting on orders, Snake was forced to defeat him.
Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
A government agency charged with the mission of researching various technologies for use in military applications.
Armstech Inc.
A military weapons manufacturing company with its main office in Seattle, Washington. It achieved rapid growth during the Cold War, in what was a boom time for the arms industry, and became the second largest arms manufacturer in the world. It was involved in the development of SDI and the rail gun, but when those projects were terminated they suffered an enormous financial loss. Moveover, although they led the world in the development of stealth technology, they have recently experienced tremendous economic difficulty as a result of their failure in their bid to manufacture USAF's next line of main fighter planes.
ATGC Inc.
A leading company in the field of bioengineering. ATGC is an acronym for adenine, thiamine, guanine and cytosine. The Next Generation Special Forces gene theorapy was a joint project between the Department od Defence and the ATGC Company.
MEMS MicroElectro Mechanical System (Nanomachines)
The machines created by means of MEMS technology. Used in ultra small transmitters and medical DDSs. Although the size is on a micrometre scale, they are referred to as Nanomachines because their single electronic transistor and synergy ceramics employ nanoscale technology. Snake begins the operation on Shadow Moses Island after having recieved an injection of Nanomachines, which include a transmitter, radar and anti-NBC defence systems.
Gene Theorapy
The process by which a person's genomic information is analysed and a copy of the useful genes are inserted into a subject cell. Unsing this process, advantageous genes were inserted into Soldiers to create Genome Soldiers with strong battle skills. these became the Next generation Special Forces.
Stealth Camoflage
After years of refining stealth technology, ArmsTech created this new type of camoflage. it makes the object blend into the background by performing real-time optic refraction processing in ored to render the object as invisible as possible.
Powered Exoskeleton
Essentially an artificial externally equipped skeleton designed to raise the wearer's fighting abilities as high as possible. By inserting a cybernetic module into the body at a skeletal level, it became possible to create a cybernetic organism capable of incredible feats of strength and skill. Problems, which had hitherto prevented advances in this technology such as stress concentration and rejection reactions, were overcome through the process of gene theorapy.
PAL
Permissive Action Link. A safety control system built into all nuclear missiles and warheads. It is impossible to launch or lock a nuclear mission without using the PAL.
Start
A strategic nuclear missile reduction treaty. To date, Start1 and Start2 have been ratified and the strategic nuclear arsenal of both the US and Russia have been reduced to between 3,000 and 3,500 warheads. "Heavy" ICBMs and MIRV-ICBMs (Multiple Independent Re-entry Vehicles) have been completely abolished. The Start3 treaty is scheduled to be signed in the near future.
TMD
Theatre Missile Defence. Defensive technology developed after the termination of the SDI project, designed to deal with the spread of missiles and other weapons of mass destruction. While SDI was intended to be used against long-range strategic missiles, TMDs are designed to intercept short-range tactical missiles.
CTBT
Comprehensive Tests Ban Treaty. A treaty negotiated in the Geneva Conference on Disarmament by the United Nations and the Arms Control and Disarmament Agency. It abolishes all forms of nuclear testing including undergorund nuclear tests.
NPT
Non-Proliferation Treaty. A treaty theoretically designed to prevent the spread of nuclear weapons to countries other than the "Big 5", US, Russia, Great Britain, France and China. In practice, it had little effect.
