Victor Reynart-Metal Gear Solid V-Kingdom of The Flies-V2.2 - (2021) - SD

By Victor Reynart
Based on the works of Konami for the Episode 51,

Hideo Kojima's game
Kingdom of The Flies, from the
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
V. 2.2
USER MANUAL FOR THE .PDF GLOSSARY
FOR THE FULL DOCUMENT: ABBREVIATIONS REGULARLY USED IN THIS BOOK:
THE BACK ICON: . Present at the beginning of each section. It leads directly to the Table of contents. – Merc: Mercenaries. Former soldiers under the orders of the highest bidders, operating across the world.
– Lt.: Lieutenant (military rank).
THE UNDERLINED WORDS: They are clickable and lead either to an image at the end of the .pdf (which you – AMV: Armored Vehicle. Armored wheeled vehicles used by the military, but which are not tanks.
can click to return to the page you were reading1), or to a web page that will open in a new window of your – OP: Operation (military jargon).
default browser (these pages are mainly musics on Youtube and Deezer: websites with secure connections). – Side Ops: Side Operations (name of secondary missions in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
– ASAP: As soon as possible.
– Dr: Doctor (profession).
FOR THE "MISSION 51 - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES" NARRATIVE PART ONLY: – NGO: Non-governmental organization. It's an non-profit association, of public interest, which does not
come under the jurisdiction of the State or of international institutions. They can have a geographically
THE NAMES OF THE CHARACTERS: The first time a character appears in the story (for the novel only), his localized or international action. Amnesty International or the WWF (World Wild Fund) are NGOs.
name is clickable and sends to a dedicated part, with a photo and a short description of him. – UN: The United Nations intergovernmental organization. Its main objectives are the maintenance of
international peace and security, promoting the protection of human rights, sustainable development and
THE DIALOGUES IN ITALIC: Used for a sentence spoken outside the place of the scene's location: by a the guarantee of international law. It also provides humanitarian aid/assistance and has specific powers,
phone's speaker, a television, a person behind a wall or at a distance, etc. such as the establishment of international sanctions and military intervention, through its Department of
Peace Operations and their UN peacekeepers's soldiers/police officers/civilians (often referred to as Blue
THE ASTERISKS: This sign: *. One means a change of character and/or location (the equivalent of a cut Berets or Blue Helmets because of their light blue berets or helmets).
for a movie), but it can also indicate a small ellipse within the same scene, in which a character moves from – MSF: Militaires Sans Frontières (meaning Army Without Borders). The name of Big Boss's private military
one place to another, close. But if there are three or five of them, between two empty lines, it's an ellipse: company in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), founded in the early 1970s.
short for three (a few minutes), long for five (a few hours). – DD: Diamond Dogs. The name of the private military company led by Venom Snake and founded by
Kazuhira Miller in the early 1980s, in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
THE HIGHLIGHTED TEXT: Whenever an original element of Mission 51 (from documentary or official
documents) is used in the text (mostly dialogues), they will appear with that light red color in the background.
1 If several links leads to the same page, there are several different back links, each with the corresponding page number.
6 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) TABLE OF CONTENTS 7
TABLE OF CONTENTS
10 – THE PHANTOM MISSION

10 – The project and writing technique
12 – SUMMARY OF THE STORY
12 – 1: The Boss
23 – 2: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)
52 – 3: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006)
72 – 4: The Patriots
74 – 5: Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010)
111 – 6: Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014)
122 – 7: Between Ground Zeroes (2014) and The Phantom Pain (2015)
125 – 8: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)
264 – 9: Venom Snake
271 – THE REFERENCES
271 – 1: Godzilla (1954), by Ishirō Honda
279 – 2: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (1851), by Herman Melville
296 – 3: Kagemusha - The Shadow Warrior (1980), by Akira Kurosawa
304 – 4: Lord of the Flies (1990), by Harry Hook
313 – 5: Pontypool (2008), by Bruce McDonald
315 – 6: Sacco e Vanzetti (1971), by Giuliano Montaldo
324 – 7: The Sons of Liberty
8 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) TABLE OF CONTENTS 9
328 – THE MISSION 51: KINGDOM OF THE FLIES 472 – [Cutscene 8] The lust for revenge
330 – Short summary of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) 474 – [Cutscene 9] Death from above
333 – [Cutscene 1] The prisoner 477 – Part 12: Who lives by the sword…
336 – [Cutscene 2] Back to Mother Base 481 – Part 13: Credits
341 – [Tape 1] Ghosts in the Graveyard 484 – [Cutscene 10] It's not over yet
342 – [Cutscene 3] Ready to go 485 – [Cutscene 11] The remains of the beast
345 – [Tape 2] The Medical Arm 491 – [Cutscene 12] A new course
348 – EPISODE 51: KINGDOM OF THE FLIES 504 – EPILOGUE: SEPARATE WAYS
350 – [Cutscene 4] Arriving shortly at LZ 506 – [Cutscene 13] The mess we made
354 – Part 1: The Crimson Lake 507 – Side Op N°158: Leave no (dead) man behind
365 – Part 2: Makat Island 520 – [Tape 3] Find Eli
373 – Part 3: The Kingdom of the Flies 521 – Side Op N°159: Ouroboros
392 – Part 4: The hiding spot 538 – [Cutscene 14] One will, two ways
398 – Part 5: The high ground 544 – POST MISSION 51
403 – Part 6: The Red Devil 547 – Mission 46: Truth's final cutscene
415 – Part 7: The cavern 550 – Bonus: Last Day in Outer Heaven (2015)
420 – [Cutscene 5] The Castle Rock 552 – Annex 1: Characters
425 – Part 8: A desperate run 560 – Annex 2: Image Gallery (Part I)
429 – [Cutscene 6] The orange cloud 588 – Annex 3: Image Gallery (Mission 51)
431 – Part 9: The Final Standoff 615 – Annex 4: Creations
431– A: Run in chaos 622 – Annex 5: Animals
434 – B: Unexpected support 629 – Annex 6: Kingdom of the Flies official artworks
437 – C: A quiet run 635 – Annex 7: Novel's tape list
439 – D: Hellfire 645 – Annex 8: OST Kingdom of the Flies
443 – E: Even in death 649 – Annex 9: The Skull Face tape
449 – F: Seppuku 650 – Annex 10: The game's soundtrack(s)
457 – Part 10: The mind parasite 652 – Annex 11: Tribute to Sean Connery and Sean Paul Gillespie
461– Part 11: Race against the clock 655 – Annex 12: A real Venom Snake arm
466 – [Cutscene 7] The Fallen King 656 – Annex 13: Hyperlinks/Sources
10 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) THE PHANTOM MISSION 11
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), with its final twist, let
the player build the legend of Big Boss as he wants, with his body double,
Venom Snake, and a very complete gameplay to play quietly or brutally.
After everything that happens in the game, the Mission 51 was to be the
last step in building the Big Boss legend, with an epic climax.
So, the idea here was to finish the unfinished and already existing Mission
THE PHANTOM MISSION 51. No room for personal thoughts or writing technique here: only very few
minor changes to the story, but only to keep overall consistency with the
whole series. The result is a novelized version of a long main mission of the
game, divided into multiple cutscenes and alternating gameplay parts, in
the narrative style of the game: like the fact that Venom Snake can only talk
during the cutscenes and get information about his surroundings through
The project and writing technique. Kaz, Ocelot and/or Code Talker by radio, on the field. I also added a many
additional notes and tapes to find, including one with a recording of a
character's voice that adds a bit of context to the story. And a few more
The idea was to use all the official details: like some Side Ops and cutscenes taking place after the Mission 51.
information leaked in the Metal Gear For the latter, the main part, I used the game's gameplay and added some
Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)'s new features it they were consistent with it and interesting to add, as I
artbook, unfinished scripts, and the imagined the mission as if it could really be played, with many objectives
special video dedicated to this Mission 51 and different ways to complete them. So I thought of this mission as a DLC:
of the bonus Blu-ray disc included with everything (including the few Side Ops) takes place in one large area only,
its Collector's Edition, to write a novel where Eli Eli went to hide with the child soldiers and the Sahelanthropus.
and put a final dot to the game's story. So There is only one landing zone for the Mission 51, and the player must go
I studied and listed all the content of the through different environments before reaching Eli's location. As if this is
finished parts, before filling in the gaps. a place located in a different country than the African region of the game, I
I also checked and analyzed the stories also added some new animals that could be caught with a tranquilizer gun
of all the games with Big Boss to avoid or animal cages. Finally, I didn't added new stuff but looked for any official
any mistakes, along with the main Hideo unused stuff, to include them if possible. So there is the "red cloak grown
Kojima's inspirations for MGSV's story. The official artwork I used for the book's cover. up Chico" and a sequence with the Battle Gear, controlled by the player.
12 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SUMMARY – 1: THE BOSS 13
lover. Together, they had a child. Wounded, in the middle of an operation,

The Boss gave birth by cesarean, which left her a big scar. But her child,
SUMMARY OF THE STORY named Ocelot, was taken away from his parents by the Philosophers.
Note: In the Metal Gear Solid series, the Philosophers are an influent and
1: The Boss. secret group of people that lead the world in the shadows. It's a group of
(Back to summary.) (Back to page 101.) people which was created by both China, United States of America and
Russia at the early XXth century. At that time, the Russian Philosophers
Note: Before the part dedicated to the Metal joined the Philosophers because they feared the communism. And together,
Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) events, I they fought the Nazis during WWII. That's how the Cobra Unit was formed
wanted to make a special part about the
character of The Boss, based on the cassette In 1947, two years after the end of the war, The Boss disbanded the
tapes of Metal Gear Solid : Peace Walker Cobra Unit, due to tensions with the American and Soviet Philosophers,
(2010), in which EVA explains to Big Boss/ and because of the secret natures of the operations her unit was involved,
Naked Snake the hidden truth about her: the which included the Nazi's V2 rockets (long range ballistic missiles) and the
soldier and woman who trained him before Manhattan Project (the creation of the first nuclear weapons, leaded by the
he had to kill her at the end of Metal Gear United States of America).
Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004). Before her death She remained an American secret agent after those events tho, and in
and her last meeting with Snake, The Boss told 1951, she was involved in the nuclear testing at the Nevada Desert. The
everything that follows to EVA, and asked her Artwork of The Boss, by Yoji Shinkawa. radiations made her infertile.
to repeat it to Snake, one day. It was around this peridod she met Snake (named Jack then) for the first
time. He was only 15 but they immediatly had a strong relationship and
The Boss started her career as a secret American agent. After working she started to train him for a few years, until 1958, the year she got a secret
as an US military advisor for the SAS, where she met the Major Zero for mission that prevented her to see him again for many years, and changed
the first time (a main character of the Metal Gear Solid series). In 1942, her life forever.
she formed the Cobra Unit, composed of Soviet agents only but leaded by In 1957, the Soviet Union launched the first artifical satellite: Sputnik 1.
an American one. With them, she leaded many secret operations during At that time, the United States of America were suddenly afraid, because
against the Nazis during World War II, and had a relationship with one of the they thought they were leading the arms race. And because if they could
member of the unit, codename The Sorrow: a Soviet agent who became her launch a satellite, the Soviets could technically launch a nuke in space.
The next year, in 1958, the United At that time, the Soviet Union was believed to possess more nuclear
Stated of America launched their weapons that the United States of America and could free themselves from
own satellite: Explorer I. Just after nuclear deterrence.
that success, they created the NASA
and started the Project Mercury. The Note: If both opponents have the same amount of nuclear weapons, the
goal was to send a man into the Earth nuclear deterrence avoid a launch, because both nations would be entirely
orbit and return him safely. A group destroyed. But if one of the two sides have more nuclear weapons, there is
of seven astronauts was formed, the a missile gap disadvantage for them, which would transform an attack of
"Mercury Seven". its opponent into a suicide, without getting rid of its target. So free from
After the successful launch of the nuclear deterrence, the part who possess more nuclear weapons can
Explorer I, the United States of just launch an attack whenever it wants, because they have more firepower.
America faced several successive
failures. So a secret mission was set For the mission, and because the CIA wasn't able to get any information
up: steal the Soviets' technology and until now, The Boss decided on her own to establish a contact with the Soviet
sabotage their Space program. The astronauts, known as the "Mercury Seven". Philosophers (the part of the Philosophers who kept and raised her child,
In June 1959, the CIA didn't get any information and the president Ocelot, and who also didn't like Communism). They had a lot of informa-
himself, Dwight D. Eisenhower (a veteran high ranking WWII's officer), tion about her, so it was very risky, but she managed to get their sympathy
designated someone to lead the operation from now. Someone who could after providing them money and services in Berlin. With their help, The
be trusted and would do everything for the United States of America. And Boss managed to put a sleeping agent in OKB-1 (the premier design bureau
because of her famous status of WWII hero and physical skills, The Boss of the Soviet Union leaded by Sergueï Pavlovitch Korolev, the founder of
was designated to lead the secret mission. The president didn't asked their the Soviet Space program). With the help of the sleeping agent, The Boss
opinion to the CIA about this choice, what they didn't like. That choice quickly learned that the information about a bigger possession of nuclear
started an opposition between the United States Department of Defense weapons by the Soviet Union was just bluff and that, in reality, they were
and the CIA. focused on the Space Race.
At the end of 1959, with the technical data that they managed to steal to
Note: In the Metal Gear Solid series, a lot of events comes from that opposi- the Soviets by the sleeping agent, the United States of America launched
tion between the Defense and the CIA. The United States of America a capsule with a rhesus monkey aboard: Sam. The capsule and Sam were
political part and the secret operative one. And in the middle, the military recovered intact, in the Atlantic Ocean. The mission was called Little Joe 2
equipment, the nuclear weapons, and the Metal Gears. and was the first step of the Project Mercury: to send a man into space.
Back in 1957, after the success of In the beginning of 61, The Boss infiltrated OKB-1 and discovered that
the launch of Sputnik 1, the Soviets her sleeping agent was a double agent and sent fake news to her and the CIA,
launched Sputnik 2 the month after, because he had been discovered and turned by the Soviets, who offered him
with a female dog aboard: Kudryavka more money than the Americans to send fake news to its CIA contact. That
(Laïka). But the dog was meant to contact also get some money but not enough for this risks he took, so the
die in the process, because while Soviets also paid him and they knew everything about the CIA mission. She
the territory of the United States of then discovered that the ejection device she spotted on Sputnik 5 was the
America got a many seas or oceans solution that the Soviets found to keep a human crew come back alive from
where their space capsules could Laïka, in her space suit. a flight: juste after the capsule enters the atmosphere, the pilot is ejected
land, the Soviet Union only had the Artic Ocean and the Sea of Okhotsk, ans use a parachute to land safely, while the capsule lands on its own on
too cold for that kind of military operations. So the Soviets had to find a the ground. Then, The Boss immediately informed the NASA about her
way to make their capsules land on the ground, on the USSR territory. They diccovery. The Soviets disinformation plan was a success and there were
were geographically disadvantaged. about to send a man in space first.
In 1960, after the American successful and safe launch of the rhesus The CIA failed because of The Boss's
monkey Sam in spacen the Soviets launched Sputnik 5, with several animals contact, but they didn't want to have
aboard, including mouses, rats, a rabbit, some flies and plants, and two dogs the responsability of their failure.
(Belka and Strelka), who came back alive this time. After the success of the Meanwhile, John F. Kennedy
launch, the sleeping agent of OKB-1 told The Boss and the Americans it took office and became officially
was a mystification, and that the Soviets didn't possess the technology to the 35th president of the United
send humans in space. But The Boss didn't believe him and by studying the States of America. The CIA took the
shematics of the Sputnik 5 he provided her, she spotted a strange ejection opportunity to blame The Boss and
device on the capsule. The NASA replied to her that it was probably just to the sleeping agent she chose, to clear
eject the flight recorder, in case of an accident, and that didn't matter. their name. Kennedy wasn't aware
Just after that, with the fresh election of a new president, the CIA retired of the details of the operation and
The Boss from the mission and took all the glory from her work (because neither linked to the Philosophers
the sleeping agent in OKB-1 was placed by both The Boss and the Soviet and didn't know the secret networks
Philosophers, not by them). The Boss asked them to dig more, but they The Boss used for her mission, so he
didn't want her anymore in the operations. So she left for USSR on her own, just saw her as a traitor, according to
once again. what he learned. The official portrait of John F. Kennedy.
Then, Kennedy promised to catch up the Soviets in the missile gap. But Note: The Vostok 3KA was launched
if the USA lost the Space Race, that promise would worth nothing. from the Baikonur Cosmodrome
The Boss was made responsible for the trahison of the sleeping agent and (a spaceport located in an area of
the failure of the mission. And she was assignated to the Mercury Project, southern Kazakhstan and leased
to served as the guinea pig of the NASA's human spaceflight program. After to Russia, still today; and already
the success of the launch with the rhesus monkey Sam aboard, there was a by the Soviet Union at that time)
lot of tests to make for sending a human in space. And the "Mercury Seven" at 09:07 (local time). The Mercury
were celebrities in the medias. So The Boss was chosen for the early tests. At flight from the Metal Gear Solid
any moment, she protested. Her loyalty for her country came first and the series was launched at 01:30 in Cape
only thing she was interested in was to serve it well. So she joined the NASA Canaveral (local time). By taking
and worked hard. So well that she ended up named the "Mercury Lady". into account the time difference,
Soon, a new parameter was added to the conception of the capsule which Mercury was launched at 10:30 in
be used to send her into space: a window/hublot. The Soviets added one in Baikonur. And like the flight of the
one of their capsules and the US government wanted to be at an equal level Vostok 3KA lasted 108 minutes,
of quality as their opponent. And the Space Run was political and a sort when Mercury reached space, it was
of propaganda. What was the purpose of sending a man into space if he already up there since 83 minutes. The launch of Vostok 3KA.
couldn't see outside the capsule to tell what he saw? But adding it was risky
and there were low range to come back alive from a flight with a capsule With the sunrise, The Boss saw the Earth from space. She described it
including a window, that weakened the capsule and exposed the pilot to the as "a world without borders, a perfect jewel". And all of the sudden, the
cosmic rays. So The Boss was chosen for the test. She accepted and helped nations, the ideologies and the Cold War seemed meaningless. At the end
the design team to modify the capsule. of its flight, the Vostok 3KA and its only passenger, Youri Gagarine, landed
Without warning, the United States of America intel services learned safe. But The Boss's capsule had a technical issue because of the window
that the Soviet Union was about to start their mission Vostok 1 and launch and crashed in the ocean. She managed to reach the surface but her body
their Vostok 3KA spacecraft imminently. The launch was planned for the was injured and burned by the radiations. After being retrieved, she felt into
next day.: April 12, 1961. The NASA had to hurry up for launching their a coma. Beaten by a few minutes by Gagarine, he declared to the medias:
spacecraft first and skipped some important tests. "The Earth was blue…", and the whole world saw him as a hero.
April 12, then, the NASA's Mercury capsule launched from the Cape The Soviet Union won this battle, but not the war. But both the NASA
Canaveral Air Force Station entered space, at 01:30 a.m.. The trajectory of and the CIA decided to hide The Boss's mission to the world and erased all
the spacecraft was East, to let a possibility for the pilot to see the sunlight. traces of her participation in the Mercury Project too.
After that mission, as she were still in her coma, the military also said as mission. There, in Tselinoyarsk, she met the Soviet agent that turned the
an alibi, and to destroy her reputation, that The Boss participated to the Bay sleeper agent she put in OKB-1 with the help of the Soviet Philosophers:
of Pig's invasion, that took place between April 17 and 19, 1961; another her former lover and the father of her child Ocelot, The Sorrow. They didn't
CIA failure. know their respective roles in that operation. The finality of that meeting
Six months after the Mercury failed launch, The Boss woke up from her was the death of one of them, or their child would be killed. So they talked
coma, but because her reputation was destroyed, the army didn't want to about the situation and chose together that it was him who had to die. So
take her back. So she had to go underground. In the public eyes, she still she killed him.
was the WWII hero, but for the politics and secret services, she was no When she came back to US, she was alone with nothing left and had
longer anyone. While Gagarine was invited around the globe to told people nowhere to go. She was Washington's scapegoat for the failure of her mission
what he saw, she was doing some black ops. for the CIA. This was at this moment that an old friend from SAS, the Major
May 5, Alan Shepard, one of the Zero, contacted her. She joined him for the creation of the FOX unit.
"Mercury Seven", participated to In 1963, the Soviets continued their space program and launch Vostok 6,
the mission Mercury-Redstone 3 and with the first woman in space aboard: Valentina Terechkova.
made a successful launch aboard the
Freedom 7 spacecraft, thanks to The
Boss failed one's lessons. His mission
was publicized by the medias.
Later, in 1962, the Soviets found
out about the sleeping agent The
Boss and the Soviet Philosophers
put into OKB-1. But the American
never knew, neither from the Soviets
or the Soviet Philosophers. For The
Boss, the only explanation was either
that the pro-communism Soviet
Philosophers intervened, either that Alan Shepard in his spacesuit.
the anti-communism ones were turned. And that situation didn't suit the
American Philosophers at all when they learned about it. To clean the name
YOURI GAGARINE AND VALENTINA TERECHKOVA, IN MOSCOW, IN 1963.
of the whole Philosophers, The Boss was sent again in USSR for a special
22 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SUMMARY – 2: METAL GEAR SOLID 3: SNAKE EATER (2004) 23
Note: As you can see, the combat suit The Boss wears in Metal Gear Solid
3: Snake Eater (2004) is hugely inspired by the US astronauts' spacesuits.
2: Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater's events:
The story of the game took place

in 1964. the year Naked Snake
integrated the FOX unit, a CIA
counterpart unit created and led by
Major Zero (real name David Oh).
And with it, he also created the XOF,
an unconventional support unit
working in the shadow of FOX (to
provide support, intel on the field
and clean up behind them).
THE BOSS'S UNIFORM.

Note: Skull Face, also a former
In 1964, with the FOX unit, The Boss prepared the Virtuous Mission, with SAS member, was appointed XOF
the young soldier she trained before her mission in USSR: Naked Snake. Commander by Zero, which he led
until his death, in Metal Gear Solid
V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
In Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), the introductory sequence,

the Virtuous Mission, was part of a larger mission led by the CIA Director
to recover the Philosophers' Legacy: a one hundred billion dollars slush
fund. The money came from various war treasures including Nazi gold,
for example, and all the data about this fund were stored in a microfilm,
after a pact of the three parties of the Philosophers (a secretive and very
THE FOX UNIT LOGO. influent organization, working, among other secret services, with the CIA):
China, United States of America To recover the Philosophers' Legacy, the CIA sent The Boss on a mission.
and Soviet Union. The one who was With the help of the Philosophers's network, she quickly succeded to infili-
responsible for this microfilm was trate the ranks of the GRU3, in which Volgin served as a colonel, to try to
named Boris Volgin. When he died, find a way to recover the Legacy's microfilm from him. At the same time,
his son Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin2 she got intel about Sokolov's work and warned the United States of America
illegaly inherited the microfilm. that his secret weapon was almost completed. So the CIA decided to create
Meanwhile, a Soviet researcher a new mission, the Virtuous Mission, to recover Sokolov before he finished
named Nikolai Stepanovich Sokolov, his weapon, during some nuclear tests to come while he would be outside
who previously worked for the Soviet OKB-754, for a moment.
space program, was designing a new Before the Virtuous Mission
type of weapon for the Soviet Union started, the XOF, sent on the field,
in the OKB-754 Design Bureau: found the Sokolov's location. The
the "Shagohod" nuclear tank. The CIA then sent Naked Snake, the new
Philosophers learned about the FOX agent, to start the mission. The
creation of the weapon and the CIA OKB-754 Design Bureau was near
organized a mission conducted by the area the mission took place:
the Major Zero, because Sokolov Tselinoyarsk4. To infiltrate it, Snake
had warned them: he was afraid performed the world’s first HALO
by its own creation and wanted to Sokolov, by Yoji Shinkawa. (High Altitude-Low Opening)
defect to the West, with his family; which happened in 1962, with the help jump, by jumping from a MC-130E
of the CIA. But after that, the Cuba Missile Crisis occurred: the United Combat Talon. Due to the aircraft's
States of America deployed missiles in Turkey and the Soviet Union in fuel capacity, Snake had a four hours
Cuba, which created a high international threat of an impending nuclear window to complete the mission.
holocaust. But after some negociations, the Unites States of America agreed From above, by radio, the Major
to send Sokolov back to the USSR and the crisis ended. Sokolov returned Zero and the FOX's medic named
to his homeland to work on the Shagohod for the Soviet Union, back in the Para-Medic assisted him. Naked Snake, by Yoji Shinkawa.
OKB-754 Design Bureau. 3 Glavnoye Razvedyvatel'noye Upravleniye, or the Main Intelligence Directorate: a Soviet secret service
which operated between 1942 and 1992. Composed mainly of Spetnaz, its mission was to eliminate, amongst
2 Volgin, who would later become the mysterious antagonist called the "Man on Fire" in Metal Gear Solid others things, nuclear weapons systems.
V: The Phantom Pain (2015). 4 A ficional region located in the mountains, created for the game.
At the start of the mission, Snake was contacted by radio by The Boss. documents about his weapon, the Shagohod. Sokolov thought at first that
It was the first time they had spoken together in five years and they had a Snake was a member of an anti-Khrushchev GRU Spetsnaz section led by
long conversation, during which The Boss briefly evoked her spatial secret Volgin, the GRU colonel who owned the microfilm of the Legacy. Volgin's
mission, before explaining him that a soldier must be loyal to its country, plan was to overthrow Khrushchev in order to place Leonid Brezhnev and
not to people, and is just a tool of politics, nothing more. There are only Alexei Kosygin at the head of USSR, instead of him.
missions that must be accomplished, and no enemies. Snake, from his
perspective, was more into completing missions to defeat his president's Note: From 1958, Khrushchev began a peaceful international policy with
enemies. The Boss replied him that presidents, values and enemies change the United States of America. But on November 22, 1963, Kennedy was
over time and that he shouldn't have personal feelings for his brothers in assassinated and Khrushchev's position was weakened. Some Soviet policies
arms, like one last lesson as her former trainer: a warning for what was then succeeded in dismissing him.
about to happen during his mission. Located aboard a submarine in the
Artic Ocean, she told Snake that she would assist him by radio during his And for this plan, Volgin also
mission, before talking about the CQC with her former student. wanted to find Sokolov to use the
secret nuclear weapon technology
Note: In the Metal Gear Solid he was working on, in OKB-754,
series, The Boss is considered as the by forcing him to work for him in
mother of special forces. Along with his own design bureau: OKB-812
Naked Snake, she also created the (located in Graniny Gorki, initially
CQC (Close Quarters Combat), the a prison that Volgin turned in a
famous fighting techniques that Big design bureau with the Philosophers'
Boss and Solid Snake uses in every Legacy's funds). Like the CIA, Volgin
games of the series. wanted to capture him during the
nuclear tests, while he wasn't in his
With the XOF intel, Snake quickly design bureau. Snake told him he
reached the location of Sokolov: was from the CIA and was sent by the
Rassvet, a former abandoned factory, Major Zero to help him escape. As
which was well protected by KGB Snake contact the Major to tell him
guards. He finally met the researcher, he found Sokolov, he learned that
who was, upon his arrival, burning The Boss and Naked Snake, by Yoji Shinkawa. contact with the boss had been lost. Ocelot, by Yoji Shinkawa.
When Snake and Sokolov left the out what had just happened. Volgin
abandoned factory, they were spotted suddenly unveiled a device he used
by the KGB guards, but a member to control electricity as a weapon, but
of Volgin's GRU unit intervened, The Boss said she would take care of
Revolver Ocelot (The Boss's son Snake and threw him off the bridge.
raised by Soviets Philosophers). Just before his fall, Snake grabbed
Ocelot killed the KGB guards and the Boss's bandana and held it in his
confronted Snake, calling on GRU hand, until falling into the water.
Promotional artwork of the Shagohod. members to help. Thanks to the Snake ended up lying on a water
CQC, Snake got rid of Ocelot and his men. During the confrontation, stream's shore and was woken up
Sokolov ran away, but Snake managed to cacth up with him. At the same by a radio call. Severely injured,
time, Snake saw with his binoculars the weapon the Soviets were testing far he healed himself with the help of
from their position: the Shagohod (the early versions of the future Metal Para-Medic advices and used The
Gears). Then, they moved on and crossed a bridge to reach the extraction Boss's bandana as an arm strap.
point. But on the bridge, they encountered The Boss, who was carrying a Once he felt better, the Major Zero
large rectangular military suitcase in each hand. She was supposed to be in told him they were going to get him Volgin, by Yoji Shinkawa.
a submarine, in the Artic Ocean, but she was there, standing in front of her back. While Snake waited, he saw a group of five Soviet helicopters in the
former student, and captured Sokolov on an helicopter with the help of the sky, towing the Shagohod. One of those was Volgin's, with Ocelot, some
former member of the Cobra Unit (composed of Soviets agents and led by GRU members and a woman they captured during the mission aboard,
The Boss during WWII), reunited and then led by Volgin, who suddenly described by Ocelot as "Sokolov's lover". Volgin suddenly took the nuclear
appeared behind The Boss on the bridge. The Boss announced to Snake she launcher The Boss had given him and fired a nuke at Sokolov's OKB-754
defected from both the United States of America and the CIA for the Soviet Design Bureau. He said to Ocelot that The Boss would bear the blame, as a
Union, to join Volgin, and then gave the two suitcases to Volgin, which each American deserter agent.
contained an M-388 Davy Crockett portable nuclear warhead, manufac- After the nuclear explosion, Khrushchev called the president Johnson
tured since 1961 by the United States of America (from which she stole them and told him that one of their military plane (the one the Major Zero and
before defecting). A gift to gain Volgin's trust, to pursue her own mission: Para-Medic were on board) had been spotted by the Soviet surveillance
to recover the Philosophers' Legacy. The Boss and Snake fought briefly and the day it happened. Khrushchev, as with Kennedy, still didn't want to start
The Boss took the lead. Then Volgin said he had to die, because he saw his a war and Johnson started to explain him his version of what happened.
face, and that his unit and his plan would be finished if Khrushchev found He told him The Boss (that Khrushchev himself had already heard of
before, as a WWII legend) defected from the United States of America and The drone was dropped by the M-21 near the mission area and Snake was
stole them two portable nuclear warheads that she gave to Volgin (which evacuated from it before it crashed, to land on his own with a parachute,
Khrushchev had also heard of before, as close to Brezhnev, who wanted that opened very close above the ground. For this mission, Snake wore The
to overthrow him). He also explained that the United States of America Boss's bandana5. The KGB also let the FOX unit use one of their satellites to
had nothing to do with these events, to which Khrushchev asked why his communicate (and spy on what they said) during the mission. They would
radars had spotted an American military plane. Johnson continued to deny also help Snake with two Americans defectors from the NSA who worked
US involvement, but Khrushchev told him that his power over the Soviet for them, named ADAM and EVA. ADAM had infiltrated Volgin's ranks
army had weakened after both Kennedy assassination and that nuclear and could provide Snake a way out, once his mission done.
explosion, and that he would need a solid proof of the innocence of the For this mission, Snake's objectives were to find Sokolov, learn what the
United States of America in this event to ease the situation. Khrushchev Shagohod became, destroy it and kill The Boss, along with Volgin. The Major
gave Johnson a week to recover both their former defector agent, The Boss, Zero and Para-Medic assisted him once again for this mission, alongside
and the remaining nuclear warhead she stole from them, before proving Sigint, a new FOX member: an expert in weapon and equipment techno-
their innocence by killing her, and Volgin, if they have the opportunity. If logy. According to Zero, ADAM, one of Snake's KGB contact, would be
the mission failed, it could marked the starting point of a new world war. waiting for him at the abandoned factory where he found Sokolov during
the Virtuous Mission. The password for their meeting would be: "Who are
One week later, on August 30, the Patriots?" & "La Li Lu Le Lo."
1964, Naked Snake was sent back Snake began his mission and
to Tselinoyarsk by the Major Zero, quickly reached the point of impact
for the Operation Snake Eater of the M-21 drone he used to come.
(referring to The Boss's Cobra Unit). A horse stood beside it, The Boss's
But without performing a HALO horse. She met him to warn him,
jump this time, because surveillance advising him to go back to the A Patriot fanart. It's a customized version of the real
spotted Zero's plane the last time United States of America. Before American XM16E1, with a shortened barrel, the stock
removed, and a special double drum magazine.
and has been reinforced in the area taking out her assault rifle, known
since the Virtuous Mission's events. as The Patriot6, and destroyed the crashed drone to create a diversion. This
This time, Snake was placed inside is the first of many times she would discreetly help her former student in
a Lockheed D-21 drone, carried by a fulfilling his mission. Snake was still confused about her defection, and she
Lockheed M-21 (the two-seat variant 5 This bandana is an important symbolic object in Big Boss's story.
6 A very symbolic name, regarding the game's thematics. It also refers to The Patriots, the group that the
of the Lockheed A-12). Illustration of a M-21 carrying its D-21 drone. Major Zero will found, next to the story of this game.
asked him to whom was his loyalty EVA gave Snake a .45 pistol
going, his country or her? She also equiped with a suppressor, with a
broke his gun and noticed he wore scientist's outfit to infilitrate the lab
her bandana, before telling him that where Sokolov was still working on
if he can't forget the past, he won't the Shagohod, for Volgin. She then
live long. told she would provide him intel by
radio. After that, Snake rested while
Note: Defecting and betraying Snake EVA stood guard.When he woke
was part of The Boss's mission to up the morning, EVA was about to
recover the Philosophers' Legacy. But leave, but four GRU members and
after Volgin unexpectedly launched Ocelot arrived near the factory. EVA
the nuke, she knew the United left the place through a secret trap
States of America had decided that on the ground, while Snake made a
she would be sacrificed to clear their diversion to let her to left the place
name. And she accepted it, as a part with her bike. But Ocelot grabbed
of her mission. But Snake didn't her and threatened her with a knife,
know all the details of their respec- as Snake came out the factory. EVA, by Yoji Shinkawa.
In this artwork, The Boss is wearing her combat suit,

tive missions at this moment, and
which is reminiscent of NASA's spacesuits. just thought she betrayed him. Note: During this cutscene, Ocelot has a Colt Single action Army. When
they first met, he had a semi-auto pistol that jammed. Snake, to taunt him,
After this encounter, Snake reached the abandoned factory and met a advised him to get a Colt, which he did. Snake noticed it and said: "– It's a
woman on a motorcycle, not ADAM. When he asked her the password, nice gun, I'll give you that. But the engraving gives you no tactical advantage
she couldn't gave it. But some KGB scouts heard the noise of the motorcy- whatsoever.". In a short cutscene from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom
cle and interrupted them. As they were focused on Snake, the unknown Pain (2015), Ocelot is training Diamond Dogs' soldiers and one of them
woman could kill them with a Chinese copy of a German C96 Mauser gets his pistol jammed. Ocelot explains the soldier why and repeats Snake's
pistol. Then, she introduced herself as EVA. line to him: "Engraving… Give you no tactical advantage whatsoever.".
There's another reference to a line Snake said, during their first meeting, in
Note: This character is actually a Chinese secret agent send for a similar Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008): "– You're pretty good.". At
mission than The Boss: recover the Philosophers' Legacy that Volgin stole. the end of the final fight, Liquid Ocelot says it to Solid Snake, before dying.
Ocelot was still a rookie at that time and didn't notice he already shot before sending the nuke on OKB-754:
six shots. Used to his semi-auto Makarov, with 8 bullets in the magazine, Tanya. Volgin injured her with her
he didn't noticed it. And when he tried to shoot Snake after six shots, he electric device to forced Sokolov
couldn't. EVA took the opportunity to escape him and managed to reach her to pursue his work. Then, Ocelot
motorcycle. She also drew her gun, but Snake prevented her from shooting joined them, followed by The Boss,
Ocelot. He seemed to have some kind of sympathy for the young GRU who told Volgin that The Pain
member. EVA then left the area and Snake started a long way to reach the died. Volgin went mad and ordered
lab where Sokolov was being held prisoner. Along the way, EVA contacted The Boss to kill Snake before the
Snake by radio, and as he warned her about the presence of The Boss, EVA Shagohod's final test. Then, The
told him that they were getting along well, which surprised Snake. Fear and The End came out of the
warehouse to join The Boss, who
Note: All the information of the previous section, dedicated to the early sent The Fear after Snake.
life ot The Boss, came from tapes that EVA sent to Big Boss in Metal Gear After infiltrating the warehouse,
Solid: Peace Walker (2010). This is during this game The Boss told EVA Snake finally reached Volgin's
everything about her former instructor. Graniny Gorki lab: OKB-812.
Disguised with the scientist outfit The Pain, by Yoji Shinkawa.
Still on his way to the lab, Snake met Ocelot again, along with GRU EVA had given him in the abandoned factory, he reached the office of the
members and KGB agents. Armed with two Colt this time, he asked to his head of the laboratory: Aleksandr Leonovitch Granin (self-proclaimed the
men to face Snake alone, but their duel was interrupted by the arrival of a "foremost weapon scientist of the Soviet Union").
swarm of hornets. Ocelot's men were stung to death while, apart, each on
a side of a crack, he and Snake managed to escape. Ocelot by running away Note: In the game, Granin says he's the one who achieved the development
and Snake by jumping into the crack, before ending up in a cave. Snake of the SS-1C Scud-B missile, which entered service in 1964. In reality, this
walked a while and encountered the man who sent the hornets, one of the missile was created by the OKB Makeïev.
Cobra Unit members who was able to control bugs and made them attack:
The Pain. Snake killed him and left the cave. Granin explained to Snake that Sokolov took his place as head of the
Above him, he saw a group of Soviet soldiers, patrolling in the air, aboard bureau thanks to his Shagohod, because he has worked on a bipedal tank
Soviet flying platforms. prototype but failed to construct it. He showed Snake some blueprints of
He then finally arrived at the Ponizovje warehouse, where he found what he called himself a Metal Gear, and told him that since the Soviets
Sokolov, along with Volgin and the woman he picked up in his helicopter weren't interested anymore, he would sent them to an American friend.
Note: During the cutscene of this discussion, we can see a framed photo Unit member The End would be
in which appears Granin, next to Hal Emmerich's father: Huey. And the waiting for him in the jungle located
blueprints he showed Snake were thoses of the Metal Gear Rex. at the foot of the mountain. After
a difficult battle, The End being a
Granin then said that a what a new weapon needs is legs, not a rocket like talented sniper, Snake killed him
the Shagohod, and said to Snake that Sokolov was able to use the money of and left the jungle. Now at the foot
the Philosophers' Legacy. It was the moment that Snake learned about them of the mountain, Snake reached the
and the Legacy. Snake also learned that Shagohod's final test would take tunnel that led to the top and climb
place at Groznyj Grad, Volgin's own military fortress, which he builtd with a ladder to reach the top.
the Legacy's funds. Sokolov was also moved there. Besides the project of a
new nuclear weapon due to Sokolov's Shagohod, Granin told Snake how to Note: Climbing this ladder is
get into Groznyj Grad: through an underground tunnel, whose entrance is memorable for anyone who played
in a nearby mountain. He aslo gave him a key. the game. It is extremely high and
On the way to the mountain, Snake you need several minutes before
encountered The Fear, another reaching the end of it.
Cobra Unit member who had the The End, by Yoji Shinkawa.
ability to become invisible and was a At the top of the mountain, Snake had to sneak into a Soviet military base
specialist of poisonning. Snake was before reaching the ruins, where EVA was waiting for him. She told him a
poisoned whet they met but healed few things: first, the Phase 2 tests of the Shagohod was imminent, then that
himself before defeating The Fear. Khrushchev had sent his military and Volgin was ready to strike back, and
On the way to the mountain, finally that Sokolov was in the West wing of the weapons' lab. She also told
Snake got a call from EVA. She told Snake he would need a Colonel level pass to enter the secured building, and
him that she was in Groznyj Grad. that he would have to recover the one from the Major Ivan Raidenovitch
Snake explained her his plan to join Raikov7. Then, she gave him the good key to open the entrance of the tunnel
the fortress but she told him that the that leaded to Groznyj Grad, close to the ruins, and told him about a lake
key Granin gave him won't work, around the base, where she hid a Bartini Beriev VVA-148 for them, to escape
and arranged to meet him in ruins once there mission would be done.
located on the top of the mountain.
7 It's a reference to the character of Raiden, from Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001).
She also warned him that the Cobra The Fear, by Yoji Shinkawa. 8 A Soviet wing-in-ground-effect aircraft developed in the 70s.Its presence in the game is a anachrinism.
With his binoculars, Snake observed the base from above, and saw Volgin Snake finally reached Groznyj Grad via a ladder from the tunnel that led
in a courtyard, killing Granin after torturing him. Ocelot witnessed it, and to the courtyard where Granin had just been killed. He reached the East
disapproved Volgin's methods once again, such as launching the nuke on wing of the weapons lab, consisting of a main building and two wings: West
OKB-754, during the Virtuous Mission. But Volgin reminded him who and East, and obtained Raikov's uniform and pass, to fetch Sokolov in the
was in charge, before Accompanied by Tanya, The Boss joined them to West wing. Just before picking up Sokolov, he saw Tanya getting a microfilm
talk about the spy Volgin wanted to find in his own ranks. She also taught from him and left the room where they were speaking. Sokolov had learned
Volgin that the United States of America wanted to destroy the Shagohod Snake that Shagohod’s Phase 2 tests had already been completed. Phase 2
and recover the Philosophers' Legacy, whic he wasn't aware of until now. consisted of adding a rocket booster to its frame, using a similar technology
She then told that she was going to take care of Snake, before heading off to than the Vostok rockets, to allowed the Shagohod to reach speeds of 300
pick up the remaining ad M-388 Davy Crockett. Everyone left the courtyard mph, to be able to launch the latest generation of ICBM (InterContinental
but Ocelot was suddenly suspicious about Tanya. He smelled some perfume Ballistic), larger than before, in a range of 6,000 miles.
from her and saw that one of her boot was worn on the top.
Note: Unlike the Metal Gear, which can walk and launch a nuke while
Note: During the first cutscene in standing still, the Shagohod needs a runway of 3 miles to gain enough
which Snake encounters EVA, she speed to launch.
was wearing her motorcycle helmet
and Ocelot noticed that she was This high launch range would have allowed the Shagohod to strike any
perfumed, as he was holding her. American city from anywhere in the Soviet Union's territory. In addition,
And in the cutscene leading up to the he couldn’t have been spotted by any spy plane or satellites. Volgin intended
one above, Snake noticed the worn to start mass production and deploy Shagohods all over the Soviet Union
boot of EVA, which was shown to and all countries in the Eastern bloc, as well as some third world countries,
the player to make it clear that she to arm enemies of the United States, not equipped with nuclear material,
rode her bike a lot. and end the nuclear deterrence between the two superpowers. Snake then
asked Sokolov how he could destroy both the Shagohod and the base to end
Snake then reached the tunnel that Volgin’s plan, to which the researcher replied that the Shagohod rockets’
led to Groznyj Grad and met The liquid fuel was stored in a tank which could be sufficient to blow the entire
Fury, a Cobra Unit member who hangar where the Shagohod was stored, if it was destroyed with C3. Sokolov
was wearing a spacesuit and used a explained that they were C3 in the base but a female spy stole it, Tatyana.
flamethrower; and killed him. The Fury, by Yoji Shinkawa. Snake understood she was EVA and learned she was Volgin’s lover, not
Sokolov’s, who was still faithful to his wife. EVA infiltrated the base for a While hitting him, Volgin made a transmettor fall from Snake’s combat
few weeks, before the Virtuous Mission, and Sokolov said to Snake she told suit. The Boss told that she put it on him (during their first meeting, near
him that Khrushchev sent her, and that he gave her a microfilm with all the D-21’s drone crash site), in order to help the Cobra Unit locate and
data about the Shagohod. Volgin interrupted them and, although disguised, track him. Volgin couldn’t tolerate it and asked The Boss to cut her former
spotted Snake with an unusual technique, before shooting a bullet in each apprentice's eyes, to prove her loyalty to him. She was about to do it, but
knee of Sokolov for his betrayal. Snake took the opportunity to disarm Tatyana stopped her. Ocelot came close to her and, suscpiscious, recognized
Volgin, but The Boss entered the room and they began a hand-to-hand her smell and understood she was a spy. With Volgin's approval, he played
fight, using CQC. She beat him and managed to stop Volgin from shooting Russian roulette on her with his two Colt, having a bullet loaded in one of
him. Then, The Boss left the small room where Volgin beat Snake badly, them. Snake intervened and pushed Ocelot while he fired the bullet, that
with his electric device. damaged Snake's right eye. The situation then calmed down and Volgin and
Sokolov and Snake ended up hanged by their hands in a torture room. Ocelot left the torture room. The Boss then shot a bullet in Snake’s left hip
Volgin questioned Sokolov until he died without telling him anything to prove her loyalty to Volgin, and left. Tatyana finally approached him and
whispered in his ear the escape plan she had prepared for both of them, and
Note: It is not explained in this game of the series, but Sokolov used a fake that she had his equipment, which she would return to him later. Then, she
death pill to fake his death, for The Boss to help him escape Groznyj Grad. left and two guards brought Snake to a cell.
But he was later captured by the KGB and had to wait in a prison camp,
until a FOX agent, Viper, rescued him so he could be reunited with his After escaping from his cell and reaching the sewers of the base, Snake
family, in the United States of America. managed to escape through an exit, tracked down by Ocelot’s unit and their
dogs. Stuck at the edge of a waterfall, Snake stopped, but Ocelot arrived and
After his failure with Sokolov, Volgin started to torture Snake. Ocelot was began his Russian roulette game. After a failed shot, Snake jumped into the
next to him during the process and The Boss finally enters the torture room water. He followed the stream until being able to walk again, in a shallow
with Tatyana. While asking Snake about his mission’s objectives, Volgin stream. Suddenly, in the middle, in front of him, a hooded man emerged
assumed he was there to recover the Philosophers’ Legacy, before telling from the water. The last member of the Cobra Unit: The Sorrow.
him that it was safe, in the underground vault of Groznyj Grad.
Note: As a reminder, The Sorrow and The Boss had a relationship and a
Note: Following that revelation, EVA and The Boss shares a knowing look. child together, years before this mission. The Soviet Philosophers raised the
In the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) tapes, we learn that they talked child, Ocelot, but in 1962, after her complicated and failed space mission
a lot during this mission and like they were both looking for the Legacy, it for the CIA, The Boss was sent on a mission to the USSR, for which she met
can be assumed by this look that they decided to cooperate to recover it. The Sorrow. One of them had to die. The Sorrow accepted.
Note: The Sorrow is a particular While waiting for his call, EVA finally contacted Snake and arranged to
character who have the powers of meet him in a nearby cave, located under a waterfall. He arrived first and
a psychic. But at this moment, The she joined him on her bike, dressed as Tatyana, which was the moment of
Boss already killed him two years ago. the confirmation of her mission's second identity. While they were talking,
Here, he's just a ghost that follows a butterfly9 passed in front of Snake's head and he failed to catch it, due
her former lover in her last mission. to his recent missing eye. Then, EVA removed a transmitter from Snake's
In the sequence where Snake meets body in a very strange way, and gave him the C3 she stole at Groznyj Grad,
him in the water stream, he forces and explained him how to use it, in order to destroy both the four fuel tanks
the American soldier to face all the and the Shagohod, stored in the base's hangar. EVA's C3 used a timer, that
corpses of the men and animals he gave Snake 20 minutes to place the bomb and leave. EVA also gave him a
killed during the missions he has key to open a locked door of the East wing, to access the hangar.
made, including the members of After EVA left the cave, Snake used the high ladder he took the first
the Cobra Unit. The ghosts in this time he infiltrated Graznyj Grad, and ended up in the courtyard where
sequence are very reminiscent of Granin was killed, again. With the key EVA gave him, he managed to reach
Death Stranding (2019)'s floating the Shagohod's hangar. While Snake was planted the second bomb, EVA
The Sorrow, by Yoji Shinkawa. humanoid BTs: the Gazers. called him and said she had planted a bomb on a bridge they would have
to take to escape, to avoid their opponents following them, and that she
After walking between the ghosts of the lives he took, Snake drowned had finished to set up their escape out. After Snake planted the last bomb,
himself in the water, before coming back to life and reaching the shore. His Volgin called him. Ocelot was next to him, with EVA, lying on the ground.
fight against The Sorrow was mental, and when Snake found the energy in The Boss was there too and, due to Snake's blind spot, beat him again. Then,
him to continue his mission, The Sorrow disappeared. Volgin explained that EVA was found near his safe in the base's basement,
along with the microfilm of the
Note: Several times in the game, we can see that Snake is much less Philosophers' Legacy, and her radio.
experienced as a soldier than the ones he fights. And like the Cobra Unit
was led by The Boss, we can wonder if they were not following her will by Note: In this cutscene, The Sorrow
knowing what was in stake and, like her, accepted to sacrifice themselves sometimes appears behind Volgin,
to avoid a nuclear war, by letting her last apprentice, Snake, kill them and holding a sign showing the time
become the leader that will carry The Boss's will. The mental fight against remaining until the C3's explodes. Volgin holding the Philosophers' Legacy.
The Sorrow's ghost seems to go that way too. 9 Butterflies are an important symbol for the character of Big Boss, in this game and the following ones.
Volgin explained to Snake that the Philosophers' Legacy was a secret fund Before the duel began, Volgin lowered a platform
raised during WWII by China, the USSR and the United States of America, that Snake found himself alone on, and sent a strong
in order to defeat the Axis powers (Nazi Germany, Italy and Japan). Volgin's electric shock which burned his clothes and revealed the
father inherited of it after the end of the war and laundered the money all special red suit he was wearing underneath: his electric
over the world. Before he died, he talked about the microfilm that contained device. Volgin then jumped up to face Snake and, from
all the data about the Legacy to Volgin, who used it, to create OKB-812, with above, Ocelot, who still wanted his revenge, returned
the help of Brezhnev, and the Groznyj Grad's fortress. But Granin failed with Snake his gun and his knife. After a difficult first part of
this nuclear weapon project and Volgin had to get Sokolov in his lab. As a the battle, Volgin, weakened, ordered Ocelot to shoot
Colonel of the GRU, he didn't have the power to attack Sokolov's lab on his Snake, which he did not. And because he refused,
own, and used the Philosophers's networks to contact The Boss and suggest Volgin tried to injure him with an electric shock. Ocelot
her to defect and join him. The Cobra Unit, also a part of a Legacy (as a replied by shooting six bullets at him, which Volgin
WWII combat unit composed of American and Soviet soldiers), was also stopped. Ocelot suddenly said that he promised The
supposed to help Volgin. The Philosophers's plan was to use the Shagohod Boss to not kill Snake. Then, a voice coming from a
to end the nuclear deterrence and unite the world. After his monologue was speaker announced that bombs had been found in the Volgin's red suit.
over, Volgin gave the microfilm to The Boss and asked her to keep it safe. hangar and that everyone inside should evacuate immediately. Volgin then
She left with EVA, as Ocelot was about to face Snake, but Volgin stopped ordered Ocelot to find the bombs, which he did this time. The fight between
him to face their enemy himself. Snake and Volgin entered its second part, at the end of which Snake came
out victorious. He escaped the platform where they fought and left the
Note: In the following cuscene, hangar, along with the remaining soldiers and Ocelot.
Ocelot points a Colt on Volgin and Outside, EVA picked him up with her bike, transformed into a sidecar.
Snake, but Volgin threats him by As they started to walk away, the hangar exploded. Still in the base, they
shooting a bullet with his hand. stopped to watch the explosion and EVA told Snake that The Boss let her
His electric device gives him many go and was already at the lake, where the two of them were supposed to
abilities, including shooting high escape, alone. The Boss was waiting for him over there. Another explosion
speed bullets. This is a personal from the hangar interrupted them. Volgin, piloting the Shagohod, came
observation, but I think this ability out of it to pursue Snake and EVA.After an eventful chase to get out of the
is an early version of the rail gun base, EVA had the idea to luring Volgin towards the bridge by the runway,
technology used by both Metal Gear before detonating it, to make the Shagohod fall into the water. Meanwhile,
An official artwork of the Metal Gear REX, by Yoji
Shinkawa. The Rail Gun can be seen of the left of it. ZEKE, REX, and the Sahelanthropus. Ocelot joined the party and chased EVA and Snake with a motorcycle.
They managed to escape Ocelot and reached the Shagohod's runway, Unfortunately, EVA's plan failed and the Shagohod managed to get out of
located next to the base. The Shagohod followed them and Volgin, in his the water, and went up the lowered half part of the bridge leading to the side
madness, destroyed a Soviet helicopter because it was in front of him. of the bridge where it joined Snake and EVA. Snake then told to EVA she
With the runway cleared, Volgin could use it to track his target. Pursued would have to drive when he would face the tank with his RPG-7 (a rocket
by Volgin and a few soldiers aboard sidecars, including Ocelot and his launcher). Snake aimed at the pair of augers, fixed to runners mounted on
morotcycle, Snake and EVA managed to stay away from them. On his way, the Shagohiod's hydraulic-actuated arms, to immobilize it and be able to
Volgin destroyed a big Soviet plane on the runway, before activating the shoot the rear armor's weak point of the tank's module. Once the Shagohod
Shagohod's rocket system to gain speed and catch with up Snake and EVA. was damaged, Volgin got out of it and used his electric device to grab some
This operation disturbed Ocelot, who was driving along the Shagohod and cables through the armor of the tank, to make it work again. EVA drove
had to abandon the chase, not to end up burned. Volgin was then about to and served as a bait, while Snake shot Volgin, now out and over the tank.
catch up with EVA's sidecar but she turned to get off the runway, to reach As he managed to hit him, a storm came and Volgin was hit by lightning,
the bridge. Volgin had to stop abruptly and followed them. They crossed as he was using his electronic device to make the Shagohog move. For a few
the bridge before he reached it, and Snake lay down on the ground, with seconds, he was burned alive, before he died.
EVA assisting him as a spotter, to use a sniper rifle and shoot the two C3 But no time to waste, because Soviet soldiers arrived from the base, aboard
charges she planted under the middle of the bridge. When the Shagohod both flying platforms10 and sidecars. They followed Snake and EVA through
reached this point, Snake shot the bombs and it fell into the water. Ocelot, a forest, to the lake, before which they managed to get rid of their pursuers.
late, was stuck on the other side of the bridge, due to its destruction. However, in a bend, the sidecar hit a fallen tree trunk on the road, from
which they ended up below. Snake was fine but EVA was badly injured by
Note: When the Shagohod falls into a branch on which she felt, that pierced her lower abdomen. After Snake
the water, there is an aerial shot in healed them both, they walked through the rest of the forest, to the cliff
which it can be seen disappearing leading to the lake.
amid a gigantic splash, and a loud Next to the lake, they saw the WIG that EVA placed here to escape, but
scream can be heard. t's a personal Snake had one last task to accomplish his mission: kill The Boss.
thought, but I'm wondering if it's Snake found her in a field of white rain lilies (Zephyranthes candida). She
a reference to the movie monster told him that she wanted the world to be whole again, like at the end of WWII,
Godzilla, born because of nuclear just before the start of the Cold War. She reminded Snake that soldiers are
weapons. The shot with the destroyed A shot from the first Godzilla movie, from 1954. It's tools of politics and enemies only defined by time. So in the end, there are
bridge, seen from the sky, recalls the taken from the scene where he dies, while uttering his 10 The Soviet flying platforms that appears in the game were inspired by the real 1955 American Hiller VZ-1
famous scream. Like the Shagohod, Godzilla was a Pawnee prototype. In the game, it is explained that Granin pursued and perfected its design, after the United
genre of disaster movie. monster created because of men's nuclear weapons. States of America abandoned the project.
no such things as enemies. She said operations: one of them about the Nazi's V2 rockets. She was also pregnant
that, if the Philosophers could be with her child during this time, and after giving birth on the battlefield, the
reunited, they would no longer be Philosophers took her child: Ocelot.
enemies. That, was The Boss's will. She then announced to Snake that he had 10 minutes to achieve his mission
She wanted to use the Philosophers' and kill her, before the MIGs she called in arrived and blew up the place.
Legacy for this purpose. She also With the experience he gained during his mission, Snake managed to beath
talked about her exposure to nuclear The last battle's field of white rain lilies. his former mentor. And before she
radiations, during tests in Nevada, in 1951, and those of Snake, during tests died, lying on the ground, on her
at Bikini Atoll. This is something they both went through and the reason back, she gave the Philosophers'
she trained him. And because she was irradiated, she was chosen and sent Legacy's microfilm to Snake, before
to space by the NASA in 196111, because the pilot of the capsule was in he took her gun, the Patriot, to shoot
danger of being exposed to radiations through the window. So it didn't and kill her. The Boss's horse joined
matter, for her. And from above, she saw a world without borders, which them and remained next to her. The iconic shot of that tragic sequence.
changed her mind about the Cold War and the war itself, which suddenly Snake then joined EVA to depart with the plane, but as they began to take
became meaningless. She also evoked her participation in the Invasion off, Ocelot, aboard a flying platform, damaged a jet engine of the plane,
of the Bay of Pigs, still in 196112. She explained that, after that, she went before getting on board, by jumping from his platform. A first, they fought
underground and that the Pholosophers gave her the mission to kill The in a hand-to-hand combat, before each grabbing one of Ocelot's Colt, both
Sorrow. The Boss then broached an important point: she was the last child empty. Ocelot then took out the bullet14 he always kept on him, to start a
of one of the founding members of the Philosophers. They were formed in game of Russian roulette. He put the bullet in one of the Colt and began to
the early XXth century, and by the 1930s, all their founding members were juggle, before putting them on the floor, between him and Snake. Before the
dead. But their legacy survived them and became war itself13. With no one game started, Ocelot told Snake his real name, Adamska15. Snake replied
in charge, its money ended up in the war industry. When her father told her him his was John16. Then, Snake and Ocelot each grabbed a gun and the
about them, the Philosophers killed him. Then, trained by them to become game started, until the bullet was finally shot.
a soldier, she operated with the Cobra Unit during WWII, in some covert
14 A bullet attached to a necklace that Ocelot kept on him constantly, after his first encounter with Snake,
11 In a desesperate and hasty attempt of the United States of America to send a human into space before the during the Virtuous Mission. In this first encounter, a bullet got stuck in the barrel of Ocelot's Makarov when the
Soviets, with Yuri Gagarine. latter jammed and made Snake win. However, it is not the same bullet, because the Colt's caliber isn't the same
12 In the tapes of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), we learn that she didn't participate in this mission as the Makarov's one. This bullet is symbolic.
but the CIA claimed that she did to ruin her reputation, after the failure of the launch of her capsule, to get rid 15 Which made him the ADAM that should help Snake for the mission. In the end, he never hurt him
of her. Here, she hid a part of the the truthfrom Snake to preotect him, because if was still a CIA agent. during the mission and even helped him against Volgin, before their duel. But Ocelot seemed to have developed
13 Like the Philosophers' Legacy that Volgin recoverd. It represents the power that the Philosophers managed a friendly rivalry for Snake, somehow.
to muster, and after them, without a shrewd head to rule, it was used to wage war by its heirs. 16 A fake name, as we know by The Boss his real name was Jack.
Note: The bullet was a blank. The player therefore has four possibilities agent. She infiltrated Volgin's ranks as a KGB agent, but The Boss knew
here: to have the empty gun, to have the loaded one and shoot Ocelot, to who she was the moment she saw her. After the war, she was an instructor
have it and miss his shot, or not to shoot. In any case, no one is hurt. in one of the Philosophers's charm schools and understood who EVA really
was. But she didn't warn Volgin and even told her all the truth about her
After this, Ocelot jumped off the plane and EVA and Snake managed to real mission: recover the Legacy and be killed by her former student: Snake.
take off, with difficulty. Once in the air, they encountered the MIGs that The only thing she asked EVA in return for her help was to promise not to
The Boss had called before she died. But they received a direct order from kill Snake and to tell him the truth, when the time came. EVA also learned
Khrushchev, asking them to cancel their mission. Once they left, the Major Snake that The Boss remained loyal to her country and that her deffection
Zero contacted Snake and told him that he had sent someone to meet him and his mission to kill her were set up by the United States of America to
in Alaska, at the Galena Base. He also told Snake that the CIA Director and clear their name and recover the Phlisophers's Legacy.
the President would be waiting for him in Langley, when he returned. Snake then met the President Johnson, the CIA Director and the FOX unit
After a long flight, Snake and EVA landed in Alaska and rested in the members in Langley. The President decorated Snake with the Distinguished
Base, in a small wooden cabin. And the morning after an intimate night, Service Cross and bestowed on him the title of Big Boss, before shaking his
Snake woke up, alone. EVA left him an audio tape where she explained him hand. Snake didn't do the same with the CIA director.
who she really was. Snake then went to Arlington
National Cemetery, and left the
Note: The first things she said are about the fact that the first spy in history Patriot gun and a bunch of white
was a snake: the Bible's one. He tempted Eve with the forbidden fruit. Here, rain lilies at The Boss's grave.
the microfilm is the fruit and Eva tempted Snake with it. During a call to the KGB, Ocelot
said that Groznyj Grad and Graniny
She also let Snake the photography she took when they met in the cave, Gorki were destroyed with the
Big Boss saluating The Boss for the last time,
behind the waterfall, and kept as a mean of pression on him, just in case. remaining Davy Crockett launcher in front of her grave.
As she no longer needed it, she left it to him. In the tape, EVA explained and that The Boss was dead. And right after, he called the CIA Director to
she wasn't a former NSA agent who defected, neither a KGB agent, but a say it again, adding that it was The Boss who destroyed Groznyj Grad17. He
Chinese agent working for the People's Liberation Army. With both the then said EVA got a fake microfilm, and the one that Snake picked up only
Philosophers' Legacy's microfilm (not Snake's, as we can see in the cutscene) contained the half of it18. Finally, he informed him that he also obtained
and the Shagohod data, China could also create its own nuclear weapons. from Granin the blueprints of what will become the Metal Gear REX.
EVA said she was a Philosophers's agent, formed in one of their "charm
17 This happened just before her last fight with Snake.
school", a joint American-Soviet-Chinese facility, to become a sleeper 18 In the next games, it is explained that Ocelot kept the other half for himself.
52 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SUMMARY – 3: METAL GEAR SOLID: PORTABLE OPS (2006) 53
Campbell explained that he and his men were sent here by the CIA, because
the base was active again. Upon arrival, they discovered that a group of
3: Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops's events: rebels from the FOX unit had taken control of the site. But they were caught
and killed by them, except Campbell, who was imprisoned before Big Boss
was also caught by Cunningham, a former FOX member.
In November 1970, six years after
the Operation Snake Eater, Big Boss Note: Naked Snake got the title of Big Boss in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake
decided to defect from the FOX unit. Eater (2004), but in this game, he doesn't want to be called like that. When
But after he left the United States of he meets Roy Campbell, at the beginning of the game, he asks him to call
America, he ended up imprisoned in him Snake (after the latter recognized him and called him Big Boss).
the San Hieronymo Peninsula prison,
in Colombia, and was questioned by With information provided by Campbell, Big Boss reaches the station
the lieutenant Cunningham. about radio of the site, alone, because Campbell had a injured leg. Big Boss
the missing half of the Philosophers' managed to contact Para-Medic, who informed him that the Major Zero
Legacy (that Ocelot recovered after had been placed under arrest and that the CIA had accused him and the
the Operation Snake Eater). But Big Major of leading the FOX rebellion. She also explained that the rebel FOX
Boss didn't know anything about it unit had stolen a prototype nuclear weapon from the CIA and that many
and was tortured by Cunningham, FOX members who didn't take part to the rebellion were killed. Para-Medic
who failed to get him to speak. then contacted Sigint, who now worked for the ARPA, who spoke to Big
Later, Big Boss managed to escape Boss and told him that the FOX rebel unit wanted to use the prototype they
his cell and met in one nearby the had stolen to put pressure on the two superpowers, in order to force the
only survivor of a Green Beret unit: two nations to let it create a military state on the Soviet site. Sigint finally
Roy Campbell. They started talking explained to Big Boss that he couldn't receive any support, but that he could
and Campbell told Big Boss that the try to persuade and recruit Soviet rebels present at the site, to help him stop
San Hieronymo Peninsula was the site of an abandoned Soviet missile silo the leader of the FOX unit19. If he succeeded, his, Para-Medic, Sigint and
that the Soviet Union had started building during the Cuban Missile Crisis Zero's names would be cleared and Zero would be released by the CIA.
of 1964. But they had to stop construction during the Détente and only a 19 This explanation sums up the main novelty of this game (which can also be found in Metal Gear Solid:
few Soviet soldiers remained here, abandoned by the Soviet Union who Peace Walker (2010) and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015): recruiting soldiers that the player meets
and building a small army. And the player can also play as these soldiers, who each have specific abilities, or
could no longer help them without being spotted by the Americans. And assign them to specialized units to treat injured soldiers, complete missions or develop weapons, for example.
After picking up Campbell from Before reaching the lab, from a distance,
the jail, Big Boss escaped with in a courtyard, Big Boss saw Gene, the man
him and they stole a truck, which behind the FOX unit rebellion, walking
Campbell drove, to explore the site. with the Lt. Cunningham by his side. Big
Sneaking into a minor area of Boss overheard them talking about a secret
the site, Big Boss encountered two military prototype called Null: The Perfect
soldiers who were talking about the Roy Campbell, Jonathan and Big Boss, in the truck. Soldier. During the discussion, Big Boss
stolen US nuclear weapon they didn't know much about, headed at the witnessed a curious event: a young female
Soviet Union to threaten the nation. He then quickly captured his first soldier who escorted Gene warned him
Soviet soldier, named Jonathan20, and brought him back to the truck. He before heavy materials fell on him, from a
and Campbell explained to him that they were there to stop the leader of scaffolding. A soldier apologized to Gene,
the FOX rebel unit: Gene. Jonathan told them that, years ago, the Soviet who then gave a brief, invigorating speech
soldiers at the site were abandoned by the Soviet Union, which also cut to his men about his plan: to offer them a
off their supplies and communications. If they accepted Gene as their new nation and free them from their condition
leader, it's because he promised to give them a nation built by and for the of political tools. After seeing Gene avoid
soldiers, not a nation that would use and abandon them. Jonathan therefore falling matter and his "hypnotic" speech, Big
told his captors that he would not follow them. And Big Boss repeated him Boss thought he was using ESP (extrasen-
what The Boss told him before he killed her, about politics changing with sory perception). A 3D render artwork of Gene.
time and loyalty. And when Jonathan heard the name of The Boss, which he With the information he heard from Gene and still on the search for
knew, he deduced that the man in front of him was Big Boss, the legendary medication for Campbell, Big Boss reached the area where the hospital's
soldier. Big Boss then told him what Sigint had taught him about Gene's equipment was stored, as well as the Perfect Soldier's culture tank. It was
threat, both to the United States of America and to the Soviet Union, and there that he met a young doctor called Elisa, whom he recognized as the
that the weapon he was using could destroy all major cities of the Soviet young woman who escorted Gene. But she told him that he saw her sister,
Union. Jonathan then decided to join him and Campbell. Ursula, a member of the FOX unit. She explained that they were both raised
Big Boss suddenly discovered that Campbell had malaria, and went to get in a lab in East Germany, due to their ESP abilities, and that Ursula's powers
some medicine for him. But he found nothing in the site hospital and had were higher than hers, which made her one of the most powerful communist
to go to a laboratory where all the medical supplies had been transported. psychics. Gene saved them both four years earlier on a FOX mission for the
CIA: recruit ESP into the Communist bloc. She then gave Big Boss some
20 In this game, this soldier will symbolize the mutual respectful relationship that each soldier has with Big
Boss, the leader they have chosen. information about the Perfect Soldier, lying in his tank next to them: he
was trained to feel nothing, and his After these unexpected encoun-
memory was erased. The only thing ters, Big Boss began to search the
he could remember were the fighting warehouse and found a few boxes of
techniques. The tank was used to military equipment marked "Made
readjust him after each mission, by in USA". Thinking they should
enabling his five senses and erasing contain the nuclear prototype Gene
his memory, to start a new mission Gene and Ursula. The Colonel Skowronsky in cell, talking to Big Boss. stole from the CIA, he opened a few,
from scratch. Finally, Eventually, guessing Big Boss's goals with her psychic but they were all empty except some still containing ammunition and bullet-
abilities, she gave him some chlorine medication to cure Campbell and proof metal plates, which confirmed that they contained the prototype,
showed him a way to escape to reach the site port, where he will find "what before being moved from the place.
he's looking for." After this discovery, Big Boss was contacted by radio, by a mysterious
man who called himself Prividyenie ("Ghost", in Russian). He overheard
Note: The way to this port is a long journey before the player can reach the conversation Big Boss just had with Campbell and started talking about
it, with a lot of successive side missions. Once they are all completed, the Volgin, explaining that the Shagohod
security blocking the bridge to the harbor is lowered and the place can was only capable of launching a
finally be reached. single nuclear missile but could not
threaten an entire country (that's
When Big Boss reached the harbor's warehouse, he found a FOX member why Volgin intended to start mass
called Python, speaking with Colonel Skowronsky, who ran the site before production), but since, the United
Gene. The Colonel got mad and shoot at Python with his AK-74, but a States of America has developed
device similar to Volgin's (using ice instead of fire) stopped the bullets. He MIRV (Multiple Independently
then froze the colonel's gun and told him he was searching for the intruder targeted Reentry Vehicle) techno-
everyone was looking for, hoping it was one of his old friends called Snake. logy, which allowed a single missile
He then put the colonel in a cell and froze the lock, before leaving the habor. to carry several nuclear warheads
After finding out that Python was still alive, Big Boss reached the Colonel's that could each hit a different target.
cell to talk to him. The latter said Gene arrived four weeks ago and robbed Prividyenie told Big Boss that
him of command of the site. He also explained that Gene had succeeded in the prototype that Gene had stolen
putting everyone under his control at the site, using the fears of the soldiers. was a mobile tank which could be The first American missile equipped with MIRV, the
LGM-30G Minuteman III. Here, its 3 W78 thermonu-
He finally said he was a pilot during WWII, before Big Boss freed him. equipped with MIRV missiles. clear warheads on the left, and its shroud on the right.
Note: This is the logical continuation of the Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater and the Operation Snake Eater. He was deadly injured during a covert
(2004) events. Prividyenie recalls in this cinematic dialogue that when operation, and his body lost his capacity to regulate its temperature. That
Volgin was working on the Shagohod, Granin was working on his Metal is why he wore this ice device, filled with liquid nitrogen, which constantly
Gear, from which he sent the bluprints to Huey Emmerich, in the United cooled his body. The CIA saved him, but he was forced to join the FOX
States of America, before being killed by Volgin. After the Operation Snake unit and was sent on assassination missions, to be trained and become an
Eater, the United States of America wasted no time and built their own "anti-Snake", in the case of Big Boss, the man who killed The Boss, would
Metal Gear, which was later stolen by Gene. be out of CIA's control. Python was also haunted by all the lives he took and
lost his mind, and joining Gene to kill Big Boss would have been the only
Prividyenie added that Gene stole the Metal Gear, but it was still in the way for him to end this cycle of murders and be at peace.
preparatory phase, and that he had to equip it with nuclear Soviet warheads After being defeated by Big Boss in a fight to the death, Python told him
stored in the site's nuclear warehouse (which would work because the that the soldiers needed a hero they would follow, even to hell. If he wasn't
original blueprints of the prototype were Soviets). Big Boss understood ready to become that man yet, he wouldn't stand a chance against Gene.
that he had to prevent the nuclear warheads from being transferred from Python died but managed to derail Big Boss's mission by freezing his
their warehouse to the Metal Gear's one, to derail Gene's plan. Prividyenie explosives, and the soldiers of the site were able to transport the nuclear
helped him because he couldn't let Gene destroy the Soviet Union21. warheads to the Metal Gear warehouse. Campbell told Big Boss that, at this
Big Boss then had to found the warheads's point, their last chance was to destroy the Metal Gear, but that they had
warehouse and destroy it. He found his location on to find its location first. When he thought back to his radio conversation
a map he found in the site's security base. with Prividyenie, Big Boss remembered that the latter had told him about
Big Boss then reached the nuclear warheads's a high-ranking government agent who had been hiding near a tarmac.
warehouse and infiltrated the machine room to make Once the airport was located by his spy units, Big Boss infiltrated the
it blow with explosives, to shut down the elevator airport and found the government agent, who informed him that the
that soldiers should use to transport the warheads. nuclear warheads had been brought to a silo to the east of a ravine, where
But when he was about to press the explosives Campbell thought the Metal Gear should be too. From what they could see
remote, it didn't work. Python appeared. He froze from the sky, the silo was underground but the entrance had to be above.
the explosives and the remote control signal could Big Boss then reached the silo entrance and began his infiltration, but
no longer work. The FOX unit member said their last encountered Null, the Perfect Soldier. Armed with a military machete,
meeting was around nine or ten years ago, during he managed to dodge Big Boss shots and they began to fight. Null didn't
the Vietnam War, just before the Virtuous Mission understand how Big Boss could stay alive facing him, and the latter finally
21 Which gives the player an idea about his true identity. A 3D render artwork of Python. recognized him. He met Null when he was still a young boy, in Mozambique,
a few years ago. But no time for them to end their Gene said the CIA would no longer be useful with these treaties, signed
dual, as Cunningham and a few soldiers arrived shortly after the United States of America developed MIRV. But this regula-
and grabbed Big Boss. When the lieutenant told tion of nuclear weapons would become unnecessary with the appearance
him his mission was over, Null looked confused of Metal Gears in the armies of the two superpowers. With the CIA plan,
and took several seconds to obey. the war would continue and the intelligence services would be maintained.
Gene explained that the FOX unit was sent unofficially by the military to
Note: This is the point in the game when the protect the Metal Gear while it was being transported, but officially by
recruited soldiers feature has a new use: the player the CIA to steal it, before leaving the country with it to reach the Soviet
plays one of the Big Boss's soldiers to save him. site. Then, Gene learned Big Boss that he was the result of an experiment
conducted by the Federal Government of the United States of America: the
Campbell then sent a team of soldiers to the Successor Project. His goal was to create the ultimate battlefield comman-
silo, to save Big Boss. While they were still looking der (based on The Boss), to lead troops. His voice has also been altered and
for him, elsewhere, Big Boss was asked again by adjusted, to inspire soldiers when they hear him, to facilitate his ability to
Cunningham about the Philsophers's Legacy, lead them. Gene then left Big Boss, alone, in his cell.
and still could not answer. Gene joined them
and Cunnigham left the cell, to let Gene speak A 3D render artwork of Null. Note: Troop leadership is one of the main themes of this game. Gene and
with the prisoner, alone. The latter admitted that his whole plan here, at Big Boss are two versions of the Boss's will: a world without borders that
the Soviet site, was just a setup, an idea coming from the CIA: to give the would free soldiers from politics and avoid a global armed conflict. Gene is
military Metal Gear to the Soviets, so the Cold War can continue. the violent version, created to lead with force at any cost, while Big Boss, as
The Boss's latest apprentice, wants to make nuclear weapons disappear and
Note: The Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT) was free the soldiers from the will of politicians. The game is a kind of psycho-
signed July 1, 1968 and came into effect March 5, 1970 (a few months before logical opposition to Gene's rhetoric and speeches, based on the fear of the
the events of the game), and represented a big step towards the internatio- abandoned soldiers, while Big Boss is an inspiration to them. They are like
nal demilitarization, that would gradually lead to the end of the war. And, two sides of the same coin.
in 1969, negotiations for the ratification of a new treaty began. It ended with
the creation of two treaties: the SALT (Strategic Arms Limitation Talks) I, The soldiers questioned by Big Boss's ones eventually learned that their
to limit certain strategic offesive systems, and the ABM (Anti-Ballistic leader was being held prisoner in a guesthouse. They also learned that the
Missile), to limit ABM systems. The two were signed in 1972. soldiers guarding the bridge leading to the harbor were the same guarding
the guesthouse, so they decided to interrogate them and find its location.
On his side, Gene, escorted by Ursula, got a call from Ocelot22. They worked in the dark, with the spot of his flying platform23. Cunningham said that,
together but Ocelot was not on the site. This operation was a betrayal of the without Ursula, who warned him about Big Boss's escape, they would have
Philosophers, according to Gene, who found it strange and was clearly not managed to leave. Trapped, the small group didn't move and Cunningham
aware of all the details of the operation Ocelot had let him carry out. At asked Big Boss one more time about the Philosophers's Legacy, and threate-
the end of the call, two soldiers entered the room in panic, followed by the ned to kill his soldier one by one if he didn't answer him. After two murders
Perfect Soldier, who killed them with his machete. He was troubled by the and no response, Cunningham betrayed himself by speaking briefly about
fact he didn't kill Big Boss, the target of his last mission, which he couldn't the Pentagon, as he was supposed to work for the CIA, as a member of the
mentally finish for that reason. As Gene told him his mission was well over, FOX unit. Big Boss noticed that, but before Cunningham could shoot him,
four of his soldiers attempted to stop the Perfect Soldier, but were killed in Elisa got aboard Campbell's truck and hit Cunningham's flying plaftorm,
a blink. Then, as he tried to kill Gene, the latter easily got rid of him and before picking up Big Boss and one of his soldiers, who survived a shot.
took on his special voice, which forced the Perfect Soldier to obey, before Elisa then drove Big Boss to the assembly plant and explained that she
pulling him out. Null was then escorted to his tank by two soldiers, and betrayed Gene because, even though he had saved her and her sister, he was
Ursula left Gene to follow them. like everyone else and just wanted to use his ESP capabilities on a battle-
In the guest house, Ursula's sister, Elisa, came to Big Boss's cell and offered field. Like Big Boss, she and her family were victims of a nuclear explosion
a meal to the faction soldier, before entering the cell to talk to the man who (the Kychtym disaster, in 1957, in which she lost her parents, who worked
defeated the Perfect Soldier she took care of. To avoid getting caught by the there as nuclear physicists). Elisa and her sister suffered the aftermath and
guard, Elisa used telepathy to tell him that Gene had started the prepara- quickly developed their ESP abilities. And also like Big him, the explosion
tions for the ballistic launch of the Metal Gear and ordered the nuclear made her sterile. After their discussion, they reached the plant and Elisa
warheads to be stored in it. She also confessed to Big Boss that she thought told Big Boss that without her, the Perfect Soldier wouldn't be operational
Gene wanted to use the Metal Gear even if he won the negotiations, to build for a few days. And she warned him about Gene, who was created to be used
his own military state. Before leaving the cell, she told him that the Metal by the CIA to lead the Perfect Soldier and couldpotentially be stronger than
Gear was about to be transported from the port to the assembly plant, in the latter, as the fighting skills he learned were based on those of The Boss.
order to load the warheads. Then, they headed to the plant.
Eventually, Campbell's unit found and delivered Big Boss, which surprised Two Big Boss's soldiers joined the duo at the plant and they all began
the latter, but they explained that they saved him because he was their to search the Metal Gear. Once they did, Gene arrived with a unit of
leader now. He repeated them about the location of Metal Gear, and as they soldiers, aboard a helicopter. And as it had just landed, the Metal Gear was
were escaping the guest house, the Lieutenant Cunningham spotted them activated by the former head of the site Big Boss saved earlier: the Colonel
Skowronsky. With the Metal Gear's miniguns, he got rid of Gene's soldiers.
22 Who was in possession of the missing half of the Philosopher's Legacy at the end of Metal Gear Solid 3:
Snake Eater (2004) 23 Reminiscent of those from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004).
And as the miniguns stopped to Once Big Boss managed to destroy the Metal Gear skids, he fell to the
work, Big Boss took the opportunity side and couldn't fly anymore, but could still fire missiles. And now that its
to trap Gene, who then shared his missiles launchers were uncovered and in range of fire, Big Boss could fire
"trump card". As he asked Ursula to with his RPG-7 rocket launcher and get rid of the mobile tank. The Metal
wake up, Elisa seemed to be having a Gear exploded with Elisa inside, under the desillusioned gaze of Gene's
seizure and her personality suddenly soldiers, who saw his dream of a military nation fade away in front of them.
changed. In reality, the two sisters Big Boss then turned to Gene, who briefly mentioned Ocelot, before the
were only one person. Ursula's mysterious Prividyenie (Ghost) contacted him by radio. The latter appeared
personnality, the most powerful, next to him. It was Sokolov. He told Big Boss that the RAXA was just a test
but emotionless, appeared when An artwork of the Metal Gear RAXA. model and Gene was surprised by this betrayal, because he was the one
Elisa was trained to develop her ESP abilities, in East Germany24. Using who freed him from the Soviet prison camp he was placed in, while on a
psychokinesis, Ursula threw the Colonel out of the Metal Gear cockpit and mission for the FOX unit. Sokolov told him that he couldn't stand that one
took his place, to control the mobile tank. of his creations was used to destroy his homeland. Above everyone, three
helicopters were carrying the final version of the RAXA (the one equipped
Note: The prototype that Gene stole from the US Army, called Metal Gear with the nuclear warheads). Gene then used his special voice to deliver a
RAXA, was an improved American version of the Soviet Shagohod, mixed speech to his soldiers. He explained that, as the United States of America
up with Granin's blueprints. But it was still a prototype and needed a psychic were engulfed in the Vietnam War, the Soviet Russia would soon no longer
to be controlled. Metal Gear Solid Ops (2006) introduced the concept of a be able to keep up with the financial demands of its army. And that with
Metal Gear controlled by a human with psychic abilities, such as, later, the end of the Cold War, nuclear materials would be sold all over the world,
the Sahelanthropus from of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), via the black market, redefining the world order. He thus confused his
controlled by Tretij Rebenok (futurely Psycho Mantis). soldiers's minds with their greatest fear: the end of the Cold War and the
Soviet Union's supremacy. The exhausted soldiers, manipulated by Gene's
Big Boss then had to take on voice, ended up shooting each other. Big Boss tried to make them stop,
the Metal Gear RAXA, whose legs without success. Gene said to him that he was abandoning his men before
looked more like helicopter skids leaving the plant, just before Jonathan25 standed in front of Big Boss and
and could take off vertically, thanks took several stray bullets, to protect him. As Gene departed in an helicopter,
to two jet engines, while firing Big Boss crouched down for a few seconds with his knees on the ground,
A fan view of the RAXA, opening his wings to shoot. missiles at him. holding Jonathan's corpse, surrounded by the corpses of Gene's soldiers.
24 Elisa is the synthesis of the game's history: two possible paths, one violent and one human. 25 The first soldier the player recruits in the game.
After Big Boss left the plant alone, Campbell told him that the real Metal CIA influence had grown since the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion and the Vietnam
Gear should be in the underground silo. They both found a way to infiltrate War, and the Department of Defense has felt threatened by the influence of
it, by cutting off the power supply to have a small window to enter, before intelligence services. A conflict of interest arose, and as the Détente slowly
the auxiliar power came on. led to the end of the Cold War, the CIA enlisted Gene to steal the Metal
Just after he put the explosives equipped with a timer on the power Gear RAXA from the military (the Defense), to give it to the Soviets and
supply, Big Boss encountered some Gene's soldiers facing off against the make the war continues. But Gene betrayed the CIA and changed the plan,
Perfect Soldier, who was supposed to be still in readjsutment. His encoun- threatening to launch nuclear warheads from the secret Soviet site at the
ter with Big Boss deeply disturbed him and he couldn't stop looking for Soviet Union, instead of simply giving them the Metal Gear as the CIA
him, without knowing why. After he killed the soldiers, Big Boss met him intended, to force the two countries to talk about his request to transform
and told him that, four years ago, in Mozambique, he was a child soldier the site into a military nation. Cunningham also explained to Big Boss why
fighting with a guerrilla group in the struggle for independence, and that his he agreed to follow Gene, betrayed the CIA and worked for the Defense: he
name, that he had forgotten when he became Null, was Frank Jaeger26 (the wanted revenge on the CIA for how they treated him in the past, after being
"Frank Hunter", in German, because he spoke a little German). But event injured during 'a mission. Cunningham then showed Big Boss a portable
with these revelations, the brainwashing of his program made him attack nuclear launcher, similar to the American M-388 Davy Crockett27, but
Big Boss, who defeated him. After the battle ended, Jaeger remembered Soviet-made, which he was planning to use to destroy the site after Gene
everything. In Mozambique, Big Boss stopped him and took care of him by would have used the Metal Gear, to erase all evidence of their presence.
taking him into a rehab facility. But Big Boss guessed that the Philosophers Finally, he told Big Boss why he had brought him here as a prisoner, at first.
had surely got their hands on him to turn him into the Perfect Soldier. As the good soldier that he was, he would stop Gene and force him to use
Then, he helped Jaeger to left the place and blew up the power supply. the Metal Gear prototype. And once that was done, Gene should have used
During the five-minute window after the explosion, Big Boss managed to the real one and launched his nuclear attack. So at this point, the mission
infiltrate the silo, then reached the large elevator that led to the underground that the Pentagon gave Big Boss was over and Cunningham offered him to
warehouse of the silo. As he climbed leave the silo before Gene launched the warheads, to be free and remain the
on it, Cunningham suddenly legendary soldier he was until them in the eyes of the world28, but the latter
appeared in the air, aboard his flying refused. For himself, only, not for The Boss or someone else. They fought
platform equipped with a minigun. to death and Big Boss damaged Cunningham's flying platform, so the latter
He told Big Boss that he did not wanted to use his portable nuclear launcher, but the platform exploded
respond to Gene or the CIA, but only before he could and the launcher fell in front of Big Boss's feet.
to the US Department of Defense. Cunningham, aboard his fying platform. 27 The model that Volgin and The Boss used in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004).
28 As in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), Big Boss was again used as a politic's tool, but by the US
26 Lately known as the ninja Gray Fox in Metal Gear Solid (1998). Department of Defense this time, and not the CIA.
Big Boss reached the control room of the underground warehouse up by the United States of America. He offered Big Boss to join him, as he
where the Metal Gear was stored, and found Gene. Big Boss brought up saw that he was still lost and without a cause. Big Boss refused and Gene
Cunningham's double play with the Defense but Gene wasn't surprise. He was about to launch the warheads, but Elisa, who survived the Metal Gear
had known everything from the very start of the operation, when he stole RAXA prototype explosion, appeared in front of them, levitating, after
the Metal Gear, but used everyone to set up his real plan: launch a nuclear blowing up the control panel. of the missile. As she said nuclear weapons
strike not on the Soviet Union, but on the United States of America. Its two should never be used again, the voices of her two personalities mingled, as
targets are both in Langley: the George Bush Center for Intelligence (the if they had come to an agreement. Something they shared to coexist. As a
CIA headquarters) and the Pentagon (the headquarter of the Department of highly trained soldier, Gene managed to stab her in the heart. Before she
Defense). "The Philosophers's twin lairs", as he described them. While the died, she told Big Boss that the missiles were already ready to be launched
two superpowers were in the process of discussing a deal for this situation and that she had had a vision, which was different depending on which of
since Gene betrayed them both, as he and Big Boss were speaking, he believed her two personalities had experienced it, but which was actually the same:
that even a nuclear strike on the Soviet Union would not maintain the Cold he would destroy the Metal Gear, but build another; and his children, "Les
War, and even if Cunningham would have blown up the place, they could Enfants Terribles", will both bring the world to ruin and save it.
still have found evidence anayway. His idea was to create chaos to divide the Big Boss caught up with Gene, but the latter announced that Metal Gear
United States of America and ended its supremacy. But the Soviet Union was already in launch mode. As they were now sure of their own intentions,
would also be trapped, because the warheads would have been launched one of them had to die, because "the world only needs one Big Boss".
with a Soviet-designed device, from a Soviet secret site in Colombia, which Defeated, Gene saw his beliefs crumble, as the ultimate battlefield comman-
would force the other countries of the USSR to stop supporting Russia. der of The Successor Project, and, before he died, accepted Big Boss as The
Gene wanted to do all of this to free the world from the control of the Boss's true successor. The winner of this tragic duel then attempted to stop
Philosophers and create a new world order. As well as his military state, but the launch with a control panel, but Gene explained that there was no way
only with the best soldiers, and not in San Hieronymo. His nation would be to do it, and told Big Boss to quickly escape, all by handing him a microfilm
an organisation of shadows, shapeless, and that would act underground, to containing data on the equipment, personnel and funds he raised to create
interfere in conflicts around the world. Its name should have been Army's his Army's Heaven. Except for the
Heaven. His way of pursuing the Boss's will: to make the world whole two of them, no one knew about it.
again, free from the politics's will29. As Gene brought up The Boss, Big After inheriting the title of The Boss,
Boss became moved because he still felt guilty for killing her. Gene then Big Boss then inherited his will too.
told him that the Virtuous Mission and the Operation Snake Eater were set He was then contacted by Sokolov,
29 Other than the idea of using only the best soldiers in the world, Gene's plan was quite similar to what who explained to him that the Metal
would become Big Boss's Outer Heaven. And, in the end, Big Boss would become more or less like Gene, after
the events of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). Gear could no longer be stopped. Big Boss versus Gene.
Note: The actual Metal Gear RAXA that Gene used for the launch is ultima- Still on American territory, Big
tely just a legless unit mounted on an empty ballistic missile, parachuted Boss disembarks from a C-141
from the sky to launch its warheads above its objective. The RAXA was just Starlifter cargo plane. The CIA
one of the early drafts of future Metal Gear bipedal tanks. dropped the charges against him and
Zero, and officially stated that Big
Big Boss tried to fire an RPG-7 rocket at the Metal Gear unit, based on Boss had just been sent on a mission
Sokolov's advice, but his armor was too thick. Above him, on different floors to destroy a Soviet missile base, and
of the silo, Soviet soldiers began to fire at the unit with AK-47s, to help the hid the rest. As he spoke with his A Lockheed C-141 Starlifter cargo plane.
man who had just saved their homeland. Seconds before the missile was friends and former members of the FOX unit, some Soviet prisoners left
launched, Big Boss attempted to fire another RPG-7 rocket, but the missile the plane and greeted him, before he was awarded a new medal for doing
managed to take off. However, after reaching the stratosphere, it was too his duty.
damaged and the deployment of the Metal Gear unit did not work, and fell After this official reunion, Big Boss found himself alone in a room and
in pieces in the ocean. called Campbell, who told him he was still in the hospital he had left him
In the United States of America, at the George Bush Center for Intelligence, in before he got on the plane, along with Frank Jaeger. , who was really in
and with what remains of the FOX unit still in Colombia or busy repairing bad shape. And then he asked him what he was going to do now. Big Boss
the damage, Ocelot was able to meet the Director of the CIA, who was replied that he realized that from now on he would want to choose what he
accompanied by his two bodyguards. He introduced himself as ADAM30, fought for and stop following orders from ranked people.
and notified the director of the launch of the Metal Gear unit launched For his part, Ocelot received a call from Zero. He really realized that the
directly at the United States of America. The director was already aware of entire San Hyeronimo Peninsula operation they organized together, using
it and was heading for a nuclear shelter, holding in one hand a briefcase Gene, Big Boss, and the FOX unit to recover the Philosophers's Legacy from
containing documents about the Philosophers and the locations of parts the CIA, wouldn't have could only be performed by the Major. Zero seemed
of the Legacy hidden around the world, which Big Boss found during the interested in the Perfect Soldier data and gene manipulation, for a project31
Operation Snake Eater. With this data protected, the Philosophers could be he had in mind. Ocelot agreed to give him the data on one condition, that
born again, even if the country were reduced to ashes. After hearing this, Big Boss join them, to form the Patriots.
Ocelot killed the two bodyguards. As a philosopher member, the director
didn't get it and Ocelot told him he was going to "end them". He wanted
to recover the half of the Legacy the United States of America stole to the
Soviet Union, to pursue The Boss's will. Then, he killed the director and left.
30 His codename during the Operation Snake Eater, in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004). 31 The project "Les Enfants Terribles", who will give birth to Solid and Liquid Snake.
72 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SUMMARY – 4: THE PATRIOTS 73
The same year, Big Boss participated in a mission to rescue EVA to Hanoi,
who later joined him in the Patriots (to become Solid and Liquid Snake's
4: The Patriots: future surrogate mother).
In 1972, Big Boss left FOXHOUND, the
Patriots, and the United States after learning
Note: This short part is about the Patriots, a small group of influential of Major Zero's Les Enfants Terribles project.
people which at the heart of the Metal Gear Solid series. In the storyline, Tired of being used as a tool, even by the Major
its creation took place between the events Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops whom he thought was his friend, Big Boss went
(2006) and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). underground and did a lot of black operations
with groups of mercenaries in Vietnam, with
In late 1970, after the events of whom he ended up formed a small army.
the San Hyeronimo Peninsula, the After Big Boss left, Major Zero became more
FOX unit was disbanded and the paranoid and the Patriots split into two halves,
Major Zero founded the Patriots with different goals: Major, Para-Medic and The twins David and Eli.
with Ocelot, , thanks to the integral Sigint on one side, and Big Boss, Eva, and Ocelot. on the other side.
Philosophers's Legacy which the Later, still in 1972, Big Boss and his army were hired by the Colombian
latter managed to recover. He also government to ambushed guerrilla leader Kazuhira Miller and his men that
recruited Big Boss (at the request of they all wiped out, except him.
The founding members: Big Boss, Para-Medic, the Ma-
jor Zero and Sigint. Only Ocelot doesn't appears here. Ocelot), Sigint, and Para-Medic. Big Boss then created his own group of mercenaries:Militaires Sans
In 1971, following his decision to choose for Frontières (Soldiers Without Borders, in French), and recruited Miller as
himself why he wanted to fight, Big Boss founded his second in command.
and led FOXHOUND: an official elite black ops EVA left the Patriots right after giving birth to Solid and Liquid Snake,
unit of the United States Army. and Ocelot became a spy for both halves of the Patriots.
On his side, still in 1971, the Major Zero created Para-Medic then worked on genetics experiments and Sigint on AI for
his own private organization named Cipher, and DARPA. Major Zero became more influential in the political decisions of
turned the XOF unit (still active after XOF was the Oval Office and converted a US naval base at the southern end of Cuba
disbanded), still led by Skull Face, into Cipher's into a black site, Camp Omega, to torture prisoners of war33.
covert strike force32. The FOXHOUND logo. At this moment, Big Boss wasn't yet an enemy of the Patriots or the US.
32 Then transforming the XOF unit, operating in the shadows, to a foreground unit. 33 The one where Big Boss found Paz and Chico in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014).
74 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SUMMARY – 5: METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER (2010) 75
Note: In the captions, the soldier calls Big Boss "Vic Boss". It seems to refer
to the legendary soldier's past victories, but it could also be a poor transla-
5: Metal Gear Solid V: Peace Walker's events: tion of the Japanese version. In Spanish the pronunciation of the word "Big"
can sound very similar to "Vic", as a "B" at the start of a word can sound a
lot like a "V" if followed by an "I", and a"G"at the end of a word can look
On November 4, 1974, during a like a"K".
rainy day on the Baranquilla Coast,
back in Colombia, where he establi- The group of four entered the
shed a small camp for his group of wooden caban to start talking, and
mercenaries named MSF (Militaires Miller introduced the Professor
Sans Frontières), Big Boss stopped Ramón Gálvez Mena to Big Boss,
next to a small wooden caban and who worked at the Costa Rican
got off his bike34 to join his men on University for Peace (UPEACE).
the beach, for a combat training Gálvez told Big Boss that an armed Paz, Gàlvez, Big Boss and Miller.
session35. As he walked in their group had been spotted in Costa Rica, which was unusual because according
direction, he took off his military to their law the country could not have its own army. Big Boss thought of
shirt before reaching them36. the Nicaraguan rebels as a border country, but Gálvez denied.
After gently manhandling a few
of his soldiers, a jeep arrived with Note: In 1972, the Nicaraguan President Anastasio Somoza Debayle, elected
Kazuhira Miller on board, his second in 1967 and whose mandate ended the same year, gave way to a triumvi-
in command, and two "guests". rate composed of three close collaborators, because according to the law, a
Miller gave Big Boss a coat and a president could not have two successive terms of office. But, on December
soldier thanked him, calling him 23, 1972, a huge earthquake destroyed part of Nicaragua's capital: Managua,
Big Boss, but the latter still wasn't and the country went into crisis. Still in a high-ranking position, Somoza
comfortable with that appelation and asked him to call him Snake. The took advantage of the situation to enact martial law and regain power.
soldier, confused, then still called him Big Boss again, before saluating him. International aid came from all over the world, but he kept most of it for
34 An important element linked to the character, like his cigars. himself. Somoza was re-elected in 1974 and then acted increasingly as a
35 This short introductory sequence is used as a gameplay tutorial and to set the scene. dictator. The country has gradually lost all its support, including the United
36 Probably a reference to his first codename, Naked Snake, but also to the way the game showed the player
the scar that Big Boss has on his chest in this game, similar to The Boss. States of America and the Catholic Church. The opposition then rose.
Gálvez explained that the authori- Gálvez informed them that his
ties in San José, the capital of Costa government could co-operate
Rica, believed it was a multinational unofficially, and Miller asked him
security company hired by CODESA to provide them with a helicopter
(Corporación Costarricense for transport. Big Boss tried to offer
de Desarrollo = Development Gálvez a peaceful solution, with the
Corporation of Costa Rica). But help of a negotiator he knew38, but
he thought this information was Gálvez told him that he hadn't come
incorrect because the mercenaries on their behalf, but as an educator
had purchased advanced weapons who taught peace for twenty years,
and equipment and feared the with his pupil, a sixteen-year-old
CIA was involved. Gálvez then blonde girl wearing a red cape, who
explained that the United States of came with him to study peace: Paz
America viewed South America as Ortega Andrade. Big Boss noticed
their backyard and that, after the that her first name, Paz, meant
events of 1961 in Cuba, Costa Rica "Peace", in Spanish; to which Miller
was able to maintain good relations added that his first name, Kazuhira,
with them. So they could enter the had the same meaning, in Japanese39.
country whenever they wanted, and Gálvez then informed Big Boss and
his government couldn't put them Miller that the mercenaries had a
out because the people there were Kazuhira Miller, by Yoji Shinkawa. Paz Ortega, by Yoji Shinkawa. supply port north of Puerto Limón,
not allowed to carry weapons. When he heard this, it reminded Miller of a coastal town. A few days earlier, Paz stumbled upon it while looking for
Article 9 of the Japanese Constitution (signed after WWII), which prevented a lost friend and was captured there. Gálvez said she had been tortured but
them from going to war or having an army. Gálvez eventually comes at why managed to escape from the place, and that she was an orphan and lost her
he came to MSF: to hire them as a deterrent and make the firm leave Costa mother, she was young, and her grandparents during the Civil War40. The
Rica. In return for the help, he couldn't pay so much but offer an offshore reasons that made him hate war like no other. She then approached Big
plant in the Caribbean37. Miller accepted because he wanted to leave Boss and asked to help both of them, but he refused.
Colombia, and told Big Boss that their little army needed a real place to settle. 38 Maybe he's referring to Ocelot or Major Zero here. Surely a member of the Patriots, anyway.
39 Which definitely makes peace the main theme of this game.
37 Which will become the first Mother Base, destroyed in Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (2014). 40 To overthrow the dictator Somoza.
A short moment later, after Gálvez As they started to speak, Big Boss went straight to the point and Gálvez
and Paz left the caban to wait out confessed that he worked for the Soviets and explained their plan to Big
front, Miller spoke with Big Boss Boss and Miller: Central America was the link between the two sides of
and said the offshore plant could be the America and the USSR's main target. If they took control of it, they
a chance to expand MSF. Big Boss could throw nuclear weapons at both. So their first move was therefore to
replied that they were nomads and overthrow the Somova's pro-American regime in Nicaragua, by arousing
didn't need a play to stay. He was anti-Somova sentiment and providing assistance to the SNLF (Sandanist
afraid of becoming the warmon- National Liberation Front). They used the revolution in order to turn the
gers if they did, but Miller brought Nicaragua into a socialist state. And he confirmed that the mercenaries sent
to him the reality of their situation: to Costa Rica were working for the CIA. But, according to him, the Americans
they weren't really mercenaries or also had a plan, but he didn't know which one and wanted Big Boss to find
a foreign legion, but a new kind of out, adding to drove them outside the country. After these revelations, Big
business. And in order to remain Boss and Miller were even more suspicious and wondered about Paz's story.
independent and choose why or for Gálvez confirmed that this was true and that she was not affiliated with the
whom they would fight, they needed KBG, and that the friend who had been captured before her didn't make it.
to develop. Big Boss understood but He then presented a tape of Paz's friend, which the latter retrieved before
assumed that the CIA was behind escaping, and played it on a portable cassette player41. After hearing calls
what was going on in Costa Rica, from a Quetzal and learning from Gálvez that Paz's friend was an ornitho-
and Gálvez to be a KGB agent. logist, the small group of four heard a voice: The Boss's voice, also featuring
By this point, Big Boss had left another young woman's voice and a
the Patriots and was neither on Big Boss, by Yoji Shinkawa. song in the background, a hit from
bad terms with them or the United 1973. Big Boss was shocked then,
States of America. But if they helped and Miller warned him. He thought
a Soviet agent, they would be seen it was a trap. So Gálvez wanted to
as enemies by both. burn the tape and Big Boss grabbed
Then, they had a second discus- it before he could. Finally, Big Boss
In this shot, the red hand of the professor reminds
sion with their two guests. After agreed, but said he would only do the "V" used in some of the promotional photos for
Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
he entered, Gálvez lit Big Boss's the mission for Paz.
The professor's artificial hand reminds Venom Snake's
one, in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). cigar with his red prosthetic hand. 41 A Sony TPS-L2 walkman, the first portable cassette tape player ever made. Japanese made.
After this first meeting in Once returning from his mission, Miller contacted Big Boss, who said he
Colombia, Miller moved to the could see the locations of the mercenary bases on the map he found, but
offshore factory with MSF mercena- not the roads to access them. Miller reminded him that Gálvez had told
ries, while Big Boss landed in Costa them about the SNLF rebel group, the Sandinistas, and that he should try
Rica on November 10, near the to contact his "Comandante" to get some information on the area. Miller
coastal town of Puerto Limón. explained that Costa Rica signed the Treaty of Tlatelolco (or Treaty for the
Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the Caribbean),
Note: As Big Boss approaches the created to avoid a new Cuban Missile Crisis, on February 14, 1967. He
base, Miller tells him, over the radio: feared that, if the information reached them, OPANAL (Organismo para
"– Finally, we can leave all that crap la Proscripción de las Armas Nucleares en la América Latina y el Caribe =
in San Hyeronimo behind." This Agency for the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in Latin America and the
has to be a reference to the history The logo of MSF (Militaires Sans Frontières). Caribbean) would be forced to act, and that would lead to an international
of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006), on which Hideo Kojima didn't crisis. Miller said it was urgent to find out what the CIA was planning to do,
worked and had an unnecessary complicated plot with a lot of twists. and Big Boss asked him how repairs to the offshore plant had progressed,
but Miller confessed the place was in pretty bad shape. But it will give them
After encountering a few CIA mercenaries, Big Boss reached Puerto del complete freedom of action, away from lands and politics. He then told
Alba ("Port of Dawn" in Spanish): the shipping area north of Puerto Limón, Big Boss that he had modified his radio to allow him to contact Paz. When
where Paz had been imprisoned. Arriving at a facility, he overheard a radio he called the latter, she said that she was with Professor Gálvez at Ciudad
operator talking about cargo loaded on board a barge. Once the discussion Colón, the University of Costa Rica for Peace where the professor worked.
was over, Big Boss asked the mercenary about the barge's destination. The She said she could provide him with information about Costa Rica43. Miller
latter replied to Irazú, a place located in a mountain. Big Boss then shocked then announced his next mission to Big Boss: find the SNLF Comandante,
him with an electric baton and saw, through a window in the room, a flying but he learned that their base had been attacked, so he had to hurry.
machine pass over the installation, playing a weird quiet music composed
with some computer-modified humans "la-la" hums. In the room, he took a Note: The player can choose which character he plays, a feature that was
map, and a radio with which he contacted Kaz. Big Boss told him the place already present in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006), as well as the
was full of film badges42 and that the radio man carried one of them on him. Fulton device, to pick up new soldiers on Mother Base. And like in Metal
Besides, on the radio, he named the cargo "spears", which made Big Boss Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), Big Boss uses a helicopter to travel.
believe that the CIA was carrying nuclear weapons in Costa Rica.
43 As in all games of the Metal Gear Solid series, secondary characters can be contacted by radio for informa-
42 an instrument used to measure the radioactive dose received by a person exposed to radiation. tion on various topics.
Big Boss moved to another part of She saw it sailing towards Irazú, but she said that this area was dangerous,
the coast and crossed swamps, before because of a "monster", that killed her father, making her the new Comandante
reaching the boathouse where the of the SNLF. But Amanda explained that she didn't have enough influence
SNLF ended up being held prisoner. to be called that. And while they were talking, the "monster" appeared in the
And it was in the attic of a wooden sky: the flying machine that Big boss spotted near the harbor, still playing
house that Big Boss found the small its disturbing music. The machine guns killed many of the small group's
group of rebels. He showed them rebels, before Amanda tried to respond with a M72 LAW rocket launcher,
a photograph of the Comandante, but the machine aimed at her and Big Boss saved her just in time by jumping
nicknamed Valenciano, but a young on her to lay her down on the ground. The flying machine then deployed
woman told him that he was dead, two drones, but Big Boss took Amanda's rocket launcher and destroyed
her daughter: Amanda Valenciano them. The machine's attention suddenly focused on him, and when he tried
Libre44. He offered her a cigar to fire a rocket at it, he dodged it extremely quickly. Amanda told Big Boss
and they started talking. Big Boss it was an "unmanned weapon", a "robot". The robot then deployed other
introduced himself as a Colombian drones, equipped with a cable that they can pull to grab targets and pull
bird photographer. Amanda didn't them up45. One of them grabbed Chico (real name: Ricardo) and Amanda
really buy it and started talking took a gun to shoot the drone, but Big Boss stopped her because Chico,
about her situation. The area was full already in the air, wouldn't have survived the fall. Amanda then called on
of soldiers, more mercenaries than her "compas46" to follow the robot. Alone, Big Boss contacted Miller, before
from private security. When Big Boss following Amanda, to get more information from her.
told her what Gálvez thought: that On the way, he crossed the bridge
they had been hired by CODESA, The Comandante, by Yoji Shinkawa. It's hard not to Amanda had told him earlier,
compare him to Big Boss, as an authority figure.
Amanda disagreed. She thought and reached the sorting center at
they worked for UCLA (Unilaterally Controlled Latino Assets). And with Bananal Fruto de Oro ("Golden Fruit
all the advanced weaponry they had, she didn't think they were just there Banana Plantation", in Spanish).
to send the SNLF back to Nicaragua. She spoke to Big Boss about a factory In the banana plantation, Big Boss
to the north, across a bridge. And the latter asked her if she had seen the encountered mercenaries, and a
The LAV-Type G is a variant of the American LAV-25
barge he had seen at the port crossing the Rio del Jade, a nearby stream. unit of them aboard a LAV-Type G. Light Armored Vehicle, manufactured by General Dy-
namics Land Systems. This is the first boss of the game.
44 The real name of the Comandante is never known, just his last name: Valenciano. Libre was his wife's last 45 An operating system very similar to the Fulton device.
name. Their children therefore chose them both as their last name. 46 Short word for the Spanish word "Compadres", which means "Friends", in English.
After getting rid of the mercenary unit, Big Boss found the flying "robot". telling him it wasn't for children.
Amanda was there, alone, and one of the "robot"'s drones spotted her, before He then asked the young man about
pulling one of her cables to catch her. She managed to cut it with a knife, the cargo, and Chico explained how
but broke her ankle when she fell and hit the ground. The drone pulled a they were transporting stuff up the
second cable but Amanda couldn't cut it, so Big Boss used a rocket launcher mountain. After crossing the stream,
to destroy the drone. Amanda fell onto her back and was seriously injured. they loaded it into trucks heading
Now safe, he joined her. Amanda was worried about Chico, because she to a train station, before taking a
wanted to protect him by withholding information from him, once again, tunnel leading up to the mountain.
and they had had an argument. Before they arrived in Costa Rica, their group But Chico didn't know what was in
was driven out of Nicaragua by Somoza's "guard" and they had to cross the front of this tunnel, as a local belief
Rio San Juan, and ended up here. They were only able to stay thanks to the said that it was guarded by a giant
banana factory, which was actually a drug refining plant the KGB had set up monster: "El Basilisco", which was
to help them, and support their rebellion in their anti-American campaign. 25 meters tall and had legs. Big Boss
The money the rebels got from the sales was used to buy guns and food. then talked about how his group
The Comandante never told his group about it but everyone knew, except made their money, but guessed that
Chico. The leader wanted to expand his group to reclaim Nicaragua, but Chico already knew, which was the
he died before he could. And after that, the CIA took over the factory from case. The drugs were sold to North
them. Amanda then told Big Boss that her comrades and Chico should Americans, he explained, and also
be in Irazú. Desperate, she asked him to promise her to end Chico's life if admitted that he planned to set it
he couldn't save him, to prevent him from giving to his comrades; but he on fire, but ultimately gave it up. Big
refused and offered to come to Mother Base while she healed. She passed Chico, by Yoji Shinkawa. Boss didn't blame him for that, as he
out and Big Boss contacted Miller to get her back. just saw a poor twelve-year-old kid lost after his father's death. And when
he saw Chico afraid to join his comrades, he also guessed that he had told
Note: From there, the player can call her anytime, like Paz. She can provide the CIA where they were hiding. Chico was suddenly totally lost and in
information, on American bases or on the mercenary unit. pain, and Big Boss offered to kill him right away, and pulled a gun at him.
Chico closed his eyes, ready to die, but it was just a bluff and Big Boss shot
Big Boss headed the small village turned into a prison camp on the a picture of him that he had on him, to symbolically kill him and let him
mountain, and found Chico, alone, in one of its houses. He updated him be reborn as a man, and forget all the wounds of the past. He then offered
on his sister and gave him a cigar, just before picking it up after he lit it, to fight for him on Mother Base, and extracted him with a Fulton device.
When Chico arrived at Mother Base, he contacted Big Boss by radio and Once inside the base, Big Boss
told him about his passion for UMAs (Unidentified Mysterious Animals). found plenty of trucks parked at the
Big Boss then spoke to Amanda, asking her to stop treating him like a kid. entrance, including the one he was
following. It was empty.
Note: From here, the player can call him anytime, like Paz and Amanda. He then move forward and
He can provide information, about UMAs. arrived in a big room with several
floors. Above him, at the top of
Big Boss then reached the coffee the stairs, he overheard a conver-
plantation, and the train station, sation between CIA Station Chief
where the truck with the nukes for Central America Hot Coldman
was entering the tunnel. He lost it and Dr Huey Emmerich, sitting in
and encountered a second unit of a wheelchair. They had a different
mercenaries with a T-72 Ural, which on Huey's creation, which was
fired on its arrival and blocked the The small unit with the tank behind them.
supposed to be the perfect deterrent,
tunnel's entrance with the explosion. You can also see a wagon on the right. but Huey didn't want to use it, unlike
After he defeated the unit, Big Boss contacted Chico to get information Coldman. The latter reminded Huey
on how to find a new way to reach the mountain, now the entrance of the of the three principles of deterrence:
tunnel was blocked. He told him to return to the village where he had found owning a nuclear weapon, never
him and head north to find a bridge connected to the mountain road. But being the first to use it and using it in
access to the bridge was also blocked and Big Boss would have had to blow response to an attack. But Coldman
it up to pass. Miller added that he had received information on the location Coldman, by Yoji Shinkawa. wanted to skip the second phase to
of several crater lakes around the mountain, which must have been used launch a massive nuclear launch, the last. Huey disagreed47 but Coldman
by the Costa Rican government to build hydroelectric power plants. They threatened him by pushing his wheelchair over the edge of the stairs, but he
abandon the project due to restrictions in the nuclear materials law, but the stopped him before he fell. They briefly talked about the fact that the scienti-
base was still there, underground, where the CIA transported the nuclear fic bipedal creation, the Peace Walker, was based on technology stolen from
weapons. Miller developed C4 explosives at Mother Base, to help Big Boss the Soviets48. Coldman promised Huey fame, if he obeyed, and said his plan
detonate the barricade. After the latter did, he took the bridge leading to would help him regain his status as CIA Director. But the scientist protested
the ruins of an ancient fortress that surrounded the underground entrance 47 Which brings us back to the theme of the scientist dispossessed of his creation for bad ends, as in the
movie Godzilla (1954).
to the mountain, in front of which Big Boss found a truck. 48 That indicates to the player he's about to see a new Metal Gear, after the Shagohod and the RAXA.
and Coldman pushed him down the After the battle, Huey joined Big Boss and introduced himself, before
stairs. He fell from the wheelchair explaining everything about the Pupa, but not only. It was a prototype of
and ended up on the ground, while a unmaned weapon created by him. And regarding the nuclear weapons,
Coldman left the place in a chopper. the thermonuclear warheads, they were loaded on the Peace Walker, which
Big Boss quickly joined Huey had just left the warehouse. And with it, Coldman's project entered its
for questioning and learned that final phase. Huey presented the other AI crafts he made: the Chrysalis,
Coldman was about to drop a nuke, the flying one Big Boss saw before, and the Cocoon, a treaded one. Unlike
before entering a large outdoor Shagohod or ZEKE, they were all controlled by an AI. The CIA, or rather
circular hangar where he briefly Coldman, had recruited Huey a year earlier for his "Peace Walker Project".
saw the Peace Walker, towed by the The idea was to deploy a new type of nuclear weapon along the Caribbean
unmanned flying "robot" that nearly coast of Latin America: a mobile, unmanned nuclear platform. They could
grabbed Amanda, with Coldman's be operational automatically and equipped with stealth shields to avoid
chopper. They disappeared in the detection of radars and satellites. Without a pilot, it could strike in any
Huey Emmerich, by Yoji Shinkawa. sky as he arrived. situation and could not be destroyed by a nuclear strike. But the main
Immediately afterwards, the Pupa issue was the weapon's mobility, so Huey came up with the idea of adding
entered the warehouse from above: legs to this mobile tank. However, Coldman needed a lot of them to create
a heavy amphibious AI attack craft49, sufficient deterrence, and therefore needed the money. This is the reason
similar to the flying one. With the that drove him to want to launch a nuclear attack, but also to prove his
help of Huey, by radio, Big Boss superiority over the CIA. Deterrence involved human action to retaliate
destroyed the Pupa by disabling its after the enemy attacked, but with an unmanned weapon, a strike would be
AI module, before blowing up its useless and retaliation guaranteed. So, attacking this new type of weapon
hatch to mount it and remove some would result in suicide. And it is this hole in the theory of deterrence that
of the AI memory cards, before the Coldman wanted to use. Huey agreed to work for him because he longed
A 3D render artwork of the Pupa. With the AI pod on
pod's ejection. As Huey suggested, the upperleft corner. for peace, and Coldman was going to end nuclear deterrence with his plan.
these memory cards could be used later to build a new AI weapon. Big Boss But also because his father worked on the Manhattan Project50 and was
quickly left the pod before it was ejected, and the latter was propelled into involved in creating this theory of nuclear deterrence, which established
the air by a rocket motor and disappeared in the sky through the upper a fragile peace that Huey wanted to end. Finally, he was born with the
warehouse door.
50 The name given to the American nuclear research project during World War II, which made the United
49 Its look is very reminiscent of the Shagohod, in a lighter and faster version. States of America the first to possess nuclear weapons.
inability to walk, so he had to spend his time sitting down working on he used the mule as a decoy. On foot
nuclear technology. So giving Peace Walker legs was pretty much how the again, Big Boss crossed the jungle
way he found to "stand up" against his father's creation. Huey told Big Boss and encountered a mercenary unit
that the Peace Walker's final test would take place five days later, but also disembarking from a Mil Mi-24a
that it wasn't finished yet, as his AI wasn't finished. When he created the chopper, at the cliff 's foot he had to
first prototypes, like the Pupa, Huey equipped them with a "Reptile Pod", pass to reach the lab. A Russian Mil Mi-24a from 1976.
a basic AI that Huey compared to the human cerebellum, which follows He got rid of the unit and the
basic orders. But the Peace Walker needed an AI capable of thinking for helicopter, and arrived at the
itself to analyze a situation and decide whether or not to launch a nuclear entrance to the Mayan ruins, where
attack on its own. He then gave Big Boss the location of the research lab he met Paz's friend: Cécile Cosima
where the Peace Walker had been transported, north of the base. The new Caminades52, leaning against a
AI was developed there by Dr Strangelove51, another researcher recruited tree. She was the ornithologist who
in the United States of America. Huey lended Big Boss his ID card to enter accidentally recorded The Boss's
the lab, along with a letter for Strangelove. Then they left the warehouse and voice on the tape Paz picked up. Cécile
reached the top of it. From that point on, they saw a large forest and Mayan told Big Boss that she was captured
ruins in the distance where the lab was located, and Big Boss offered to join by Strangelove, who took care of
Huey at Mother Base. They left the warehouse and Huey landed at Mother her. She said that there was another
Base, where he joined the R&D team to develop new weapons. woman in the lab, whom she only
heard because she was blindfolded
Note: From here, the player can call him anytime, like Paz, Amanda and all the time. She managed to steal an
Chico. He can provides informations, about weapons and electronic brains. ID card and saw an AI module in a
room in the lab, from which a voice
Returning to his mission, Big Boss used a mule to reach the lab and came saying: Jack. She eventually
entered a misty jungle. Miller warned him that Coldman was aware of left the lab and lost her ID, after the
MSF's presence in the area and has stepped up security around the lab, guards chased her down and found
including the Chrysalis, patrol helicopters and some scouts in the jungle. herself in the jungle. Big Boss then
As he was speaking, the Chrysalis passed over Big Boss and spotted him, but Cécile Cosima Caminades, by Yoji Shinkawa. extracted it with a Fulton device.
52 His name is a play on words referring to Hideo Kojima. In Japanese, it is pronounced "Kojima
51 This name refers to that of the movie Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Kaminandesu", which means "Kojima is God". in English. Besides, the character was based on the real Cécile
Bomb (1964), by Stanley Kubrick. A satirical comedy about nuclear deterrence during the Cold War. Caminades, who was the Communications Manager of Konami Paris, from 2001 to 2011.
Note: From here, the player can call her anytime, like Paz, Amanda, Chico Then, Strangelove took Big Boss to a lab's room, where the AI pod Cécile
and Huey. She can provides informations, about birds. told him about was stored. A music played while they faced it, the same
that Cécile recorded on her tape. And it started to talk. Big Boss recognized
Big Boss eventually found the lab access door, but Huey's ID card didn't The Boss's voice. Strangelove called her AI the Mammal Pod (complemen-
work, possibly because Strangelove disabled it after he left the lab, according tary to the Reptile pod). For the Peace Walker, she wanted a cold thinking
to the latter. The two had not parted on very good terms, which was even machine that would just attack a target based on logical information only,
the reason Huey had given Big Boss a letter for her. Miller explained that the but Coleman wanted an AI that could think about the past, the future and
guards outside did not have an ID card to enter the lab, so Big Boss asked all the other aspects of a situation, like a human being, so Strangelove chose
Cécile where she lost her ID before The Boss as a model, and asked to the CIA every data about the WWII hero,
she escaped, and the latter replied to implant them into the Mammal Pod. She said that was the "only one
that a guard with an orange jacket person who could be entrusted with the fate of the entire human race". She
took it from her. It had happened also said that, after studying her entire life, she wanted to clear her name,
near a Quetzal nest. Miller then because he couldn't believe a soldier like The Boss could betray her country
informed Big Boss that Cecile had like she did, before being killed by her last apprentice. On his side, Big
told him that she had never met Paz, Boss was still persued that she betrayed both him and the United States of
and that he found this story strange America, and approached the Mammal pod, of which the armor was raised,
in all ways, because Cecile was about and entered it, before the armor went down. Inside the pod, with the AI
ten years older than her. repeating sentences with The Boss's voice, he started to take off the memory
Back in the ruins, Big Boss found boards to desengage the pod, until, from the outside, Strangelove noticed
the guard and retrieved the ID a weird reaction of the AI, before shutting down the pod. Trapped inside,
card, to finally reach the laboratory Big Boss, in the dark, fainted and had a dream of his dual with her former
entrance, located in a Mayan temple. mentor in the white lilies field, especially about what she said that day.
When he entered it, he met a
white Andalusian horse, along Note: Psychologically, a human being can be logically stuck inside a memory,
with the Dr Strangelove. Directly, due to the intense feelings he had the moment it arrived. These feelings
she questioned him about why he cause the person to focus on the precise moment it arrived and blurs its
killed The Boss, which disturbed past and future, as well as what surrounded him, preventing him from
Big Boss, that was still not aware of seeing the big picture. This is a common problem with soldiers exposed to a
the truth about her, at this point. Dr Strangelove, by Yoji Shinkawa. traumatic experience, similar to what Big Boss is experiencing here: PTSD.
When Big Boss woke up in a field After this battle, on November

of white lilies, outside the Mayan 21, Big Boss reached the rock
temple and in the back, he saw a quarry, riding the white Andalusian
chopper pass above him, towing horse55 he had seen in the temple
the Mammal Pod. So he got up, before meeting Strangelove. From a
near an empty rocky place. After the distance he saw a huge unmanned
chopper disappeared, the Chrysalis prototype, and just as he got to the
attacked Big Boss. Like the Pupa, A 3D render artwork of the Cocoon. quarry entrance, a drone spotted
it was equipped with a Reptile pod A 3D render artwork of the Chrysalis. him. Immediately, a small unit of snipers appeared all over the large circular
and armed with rocket launchers, Chain Guns53 and a rail gun54. cavity that served as the entrance to the quarry.
After he destroyed it, he took its memory boards before the AI pod was After getting rid of them, the Cocoon initialized itself and attacked him
ejected, like for the Pupa. Then, using information from Huey, Miller told to defend the quarry. It was by far the biggest of the unmanned protoype,
Big Boss that the latest Peace Walker tests would be done at a location fifty but it looked more like a regular tank than a Metal Gear. Much larger and
miles north of the lab: an underground facility disguised as a rock quarry. more armed, however, especially with a special mechanized arm fitted with
But after Big Boss failed to destroy the Mammal Pod earlier, Miller admitted a rotating chainsaw as an attachment,which he used to ward off enemy
that he feared Big Boss wasn't able to do it, due to his trauma that followed infantry who could position themselves under the vehicle or climb aboard
The Boss's death. Miller added that, at this point, he left everything he had the outer frame, which had a very large area.
and was behind, except The Boss. And it was time for him to let her go too After a complicated battle, Big Boss neutralized and reached the AI pod,
and move on, to destroy the Mammal pod. Following that discussion, and from where he took the memory boards, before, once more, it was ejected.
after Strangelove's revelations, Big Boss started to questioned the debrie- Big Boss was then finally able to enter the quarry and infiltrated the
fing of the CIA that followed the Operation Snake Eater, in 1964. underground base, still in alert after his confrontation outside. He walked
through a large warehouse where new unmanned prototypes were stored,
Note: The human brain needs a reason when he doesn't understand then through a few corridors that led to Peace Walker's warehouse. There,
something, and he prefers a bad one to fill the blank than none. And here, he found Coldman and Strangelove, in front of the Mammal pod, for its
without the real reasons of her betrayal, Big Boss still prefers to think she final tests. As they spoke, Big Boss quietly reached for the pod. In front of
was a traitor than there was another reason for her behavior. the cold metal replica of The Boss, Big Boss stopped and started talking
55 In the game's official information, it is said that this horse is very similar to The Boss's one in Metal Gear
53 Special machine guns using an external power source. This prevents the weapon from jamming. And Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), but it's not confirmed if it was hers. For her work, Strangelove discovered that The
unlike Gatlings and Miniguns, it only uses one barrel. Boss's horse (that only her could mount, which reminds me Shingen's horse in Kagemusha - The Shadow Warrior
54 After the Pupa which had treads and looked like the Shagohod, the Chrysalis has the rail gun, which (1980)), the only witness to her battle with Big Boss, survived after the nuclear explosion of Groznyj Grad, and
makes the prototypes (including the Peace Walker) each look like a part of the Metal Gear ZEKE. was later brought to a British horse market, where she found and bought him, to finish her study of The Boss.
with it. He asked The Boss if she had Note: The incident mentioned by
any regrets about her final mission56, Coldman is the story of the Russian
on September 30, 1964, Big Boss B-59 Foxtrot-class. On October 1,
specified57. But the AI replied that it 1962, this submarine left the Kola
had no record of this missionn58. And Peninsula for the Caribbean Sea,
during the time he wasted talking, along with other ships, to escort the
Coldman and Strangelove, along transport of Russian nuclear weapons
with a small unit of soldiers, came to Cuba (Operation Anadyr). On
to Big Boss. Strangelove explained The B-59, which surfaced near Cuba with a US Navy the way, between October 2 and 5,
chopper circling overhead, circa October 28–29, 1962.
that the AI has a special response, a storm slightly damaged the B-59.
which only seems to happen when On October 20, the flotilla encountered several American ships but managed
Big Boss is around. That's how they to avoid them, until October 27, when the B-59 was spotted by the Americans.
Coldman's tattoo, with the quote "Homo Homini Lu-
knew he was there. When he faced pus" ("Man is a wolf to his fellow man."), underneath. They dropped depth charges (light charges used in training), more intended
Coldman, Big Boss recognized the tattoo he had on the back of his head, to force them to surface for positive identification than to destroy them.
calling it a coyote. Coldman called it "Lobo"59, and revealed that he was Isolated and without recent communication with Moscow for a few days, the
the one who set up the Operation Snake Eater, as the CIA director. But crew did not know if a war had broken out. Its captain, Valentin Grigorievich
once The Boss was eliminated and the situation calmed down, he was fired Savitsky, was tired from the last stressful weeks underwater, and wanted to
by the CIA and sent to manage the CIA's Latin America operations60. So launch a T-5 nuclear torpedo before the Americans attacked, but the launch
Big Boss thought his plan was to reclaim his place as CIA Director, but required the three senior officers of the submarine to agree. He managed to
Coldman's goal was more about a New World Order. He said that since the convince the captain to wait for the reception of orders from Moscow. The
Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962 and the many laws or treaties that followed, next day, the submarine ran out of
the Cold War had changed and that his Peace Walker would be a major fresh air and its batteries were very
asset. Coldman then referred to an incident in which a Russian submarine weak. So he surfaced in the midst
failed to launch a nuclear torpedo and saved the world from nuclear war. of American warships and used his
diesel engine to escape them until
56 From there, Big Boss starts to stop seeing his former mentor as a traitor and asks about her take on the
mission, which shows he's starting to change his mind about what happened. his batteries were recharged and the
57 Which shows that this memory is particularly strong in his mind, as he remembers all the little details
about it. air renewed. Finally, they dived and
58 Because the CIA didn't provide it to Strangelove, the latter wanting to hide the truth about her. headed for the USSR, and managed
59 "Wolf ", in Spanish. The man who saved the world:
60 This is why Big Boss did not meet him when he returned from his mission, in 1964. to come back unharmed. Vasily Arkhipov, and his wife: Olga Arkhipov.
Coldman mentioned this event to prove that humans cannot destroy In his cell, Big Boss used a tiny saw that was hidden in the scar on his chest,
themselves, even in a situation like this. That's why he wanted an AI for the which was actually a fake. After crossing the lock on his cell door, he left
Peace Walker, to create the only real deterrent. With the tactical superiority the base's detention center and contacted Miller, who told him that Paz was
of the Peace Walker, Coldman hoped the CIA would use Central America missing from her school in Colombia. So Miller sent someone to find Gálvez,
as a new command post for the next stage of the Cold War, with Peace but the people at the school he was supposed to be with Paz told him they
Walkers deployed throughout the Caribbean coast. With neighboring hadn't been here for a long time. Big Boss then returned to the warehouse
countries within range, including the United States of America, Coldman where he failed to destroy the Mammal pod. When he arrived, he found
would be the new leader of the entire continent. But he also explained that Strangelove, and Coldman, holding Paz. Coldman said the Mammal pod
the Peace Walker would be a deterrent to hire, which he compared to Big had been completed and the Peace Walker activation sequence had started.
Boss's MSF's mercenaries. And because he wanted to lend his Peace Walker, Strangelove explained that Big Boss remained loyal to The Boss until the
MSF had to disappear so as not to interfere in its affairs. As he was about end, even under torture, not to let her finish the Mammal Pod, even though
to let his men kill Big Boss, Strangelove said she needed him to achieve the he still believed The Boss had betrayed him. Strangelove understood that: if
Mammal pod's AI. Coldman agreed but told her to hurry, as the SALT II his mission was to kill her, hers was to be killed by him. Which she did, for
treaties were about to be signed, as they spoke. Big Boss then attempted to her country. Once that missing peace was restored, the AI was complete and
escape and managed to kill one of Coldman's soldiers, but was grabbed by Coldman announced that the Peace Walker's first target would be Mother
the others and imprisoned. Base, as the trade winds would disperse the fallout across the Caribbean.
Tied by the hands, suspended above the ground, Big Boss was brought All living creatures would die and many locals could be employed to aid in
out of another dream of his last conversation with The Boss; by receiving the mass production of the Peace Walker. But before the launch, Coldman
on his face the contents of a bucket of water thrown by Strangelove. Armed wanted to show the CIA that the Peace Walker could run a place on its own.
with two electric batons, she began to question him about The Boss's latest Its versatility would let hit a target on any type of terrain. Since the start of
mission, to find out if she had defected or died for her country. Big Boss told the Cold War, many countries other than the United States of America and
him the CIA version, the only one he knew, but Strangelove didn't buy it. the Soviet Union had obtained nuclear weapons, and Coldman wanted to
She gave him a first electric shock, before noticing that he was still wearing stop this arms race before it even started with the Peace Walker, to bring
The Boss's bandana. She found it odd that he was wearing something that peace by starting a new Cold War61, this time based on the threat of the use
belonged to someone he then considered a traitor. She then noticed Big of Metal Gear rather than nuclear weapons. And this new war had to start
Boss' scar on her chest, similar to the one The Boss had after giving birth with a first strike, to show the world its power62. Then Coldman, along with
to Ocelot. Strangelove wanted Big Boss to admit that she died for a country Strangelove and Paz, left the place, followed by Big Boss.
that had betrayed her several times, but he disagreed. So she increased the 61 Which explains the names of the project and the Peace Walker.
62 As the Cold War sort of started with the nuclear explosions in Hiroshima and Nagasaki, in 1945. The fear
baton's tension and gave him another shock, which caused him to pass out. of a nuclear holocaust arose from these two events.
Big Boss then reached the roof of Amanda told Big Boss that the
the underground quarry base, which Peace Walker entered the Rio San
the Peace Walker, equipped with Juan river. On its other side, there
both the Reptile and Mammal pods, was Nicaragua. The nuclear tank
reached by a large lifting platform. was heading west, to reach the
The bipedal nuclear tank began to border, at Lago Cocibolca (the Lake
walk to reach the coast, but Big Boss Nicaragua). Miller added that there
fired a bullet at it, which activated was a US military supply base on the
the Peace Walker's defense mode: A map of the final sequence of the game's area. southeastern shore of the lake, and
if it was attacked, it would stop that since the earthquake two years earlier, the whole area belonged to them.
its main objective to destroy the It was in this base that Big Boss should find the Peace Walker. Amanda told
small targets around. The Peace Big Boss he could cross the border with the help of a captain she knows in
Walker, in addition to its nuclear A 3D render artwork of the Basilisk (or Peace Walker). the area, who could provide him with a small boat. Miller then warned Big
warhead launcher, had missile launchers, mines, a paralysis beam, and a Boss that the launch was to take place two days later, on November 23: the
flamethrower between its legs, to strike nearby enemies. During this battle, day after the meeting between the United States of America and the Soviet
the Peace Walker only used his Reptile pod and a digitized human female Union, in Vladivostok, about the SALT II Treaty. And they wondered if
voice announced all of his actions, before he did them. Coldman wanted to interrupt them, or negotiate with the two superpowers.
Big Boss damaged the bipedal tank, until Coldman, in his chopper, with After the call, Big Boss returned to where The Boss's horse fell, and shot
Strangelove on board, fired at the Mammal pod with a few bullets, to become him to shorten his sufferings63.
the new primary target of his own weapon, in order to drive it on the coast
by himself and avoiding Big Boss. The Peace Walker then entered another Note: At this point in the game, a cutscene shows some scenes from Metal
mode to follow Coldman and began to walk on its four mechanical legs. Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), with a background vocals from bands EVA
On The Boss's horse, Big Boss followed the Peace Walker. Miller reminded sent to Big Boss, during the events of this game. There are many informa-
him that Paz was on the chopper and, as an MSF client, needed protection. tion in these tapes and this cinematic is a summary, in case the player has
On the way, Big Boss had to dodge missiles launched by the Peace Walker, not listened to it, or to remind him of their content. You can find in this
which eventually reached the Nicaraguan-Costa Rica border after climbing book a full section dedicated to The Boss, base on those tapes's information.
a rocky slope. Big Boss tried to catch up with it but his horse fell because
the slope was too steep. So Big Boss climbed on his own and reached the
63 In the cutscene, there is a parallel made with the one from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), in
top of a mount and saw the Peace Walker, below, in the water. which Big Boss (then still Naked Snake) killed The Boss.
Big Boss headed the US military supply base by hiding in a box, aboard a As Big Boss pointed his assault rifle at Coldman, unexpectedly, Gálvez
delivery truck that entered the base. Once inside, Miller informed him that appeared behind him. He and Coldman worked together, but Gálvez
there was an airfield on the other side of the base, on the northwest shore betrayed him at that exact moment. Coldman's mercenaries then pointed
of the lake, from where he believed the launch would take place. There their guns at him, and Gálvez explained that he had provided the techno-
was also a tall communications tower in the base, from where he believed logy, Coldman the money and the land, and that he no longer needed him
Coldman would control the Peace Walker. Big Boss was worried about the now that the Peace Walker was complete. His plan was to have the CIA
launch's destination, Mother Base, and asked Miller if he could evacuate drop a nuclear bomb on Cuba, an ally of the Soviet Union, from a US
in time. But Miller said he and the MSF troops believed in their leader, so base backed by the pro-US regime of Nicaraguan President Somoza64. The
they would stay put. However, Amanda, Chico and Cécile were evacuated world would then be against the US and the Soviet Union would win the
from Mother Base and taken to safety. Cold War. Gálvez then took Paz in his arms and gave her a gun, asking
Big Boss reached the communications tower monitor room. He saw Paz on her to shoot Coldman. The professor then revealed his real Russian name
a screen and they were able to communicate through microphones. As they to Paz, Vladimir Aleksandrovich Zadornov, specifying the meaning of his
began to speak, Paz said Coldman left the tower to "entering the final data". first name: "Sovereign of Peace". Gálvez reminded Paz of what Coldman
Suddenly an alarm sounded and Big and his men did to her when she was captured, but she couldn't pull the
Boss thought he had been spotted, trigger. So Gálvez grabbed the gun she was still holding and did it for her,
but the base went on alert as MSF thus hurting Coldman. A non-lethal shot, because he still needed him to
troops were approaching the coast enter the code to launch the nuclear strike. Gálvez then took control of the
from the east, aboard UH-1D base and ordered Strangelove to change the coordinates of the launch. He
"Huey" Iroquois choppers, and boats, then turned to Big Boss and told him that he had been watching him since
including an aircraft carrier. The MSF fleet on the way to the coast. the start of his mission in Costa Rica. By letting him become the leader of a
Big Boss then faced off against CIA mercenaries, drones, and a chopper, small group of weak rebels he transformed into an organized army, Gálvez
before heading to the control room on the top floor of the airport's control made him a hero figure that he would turn into a hero killed by the CIA.
tower, where he found Coldman and Paz. Upon entering a circular room, After his death, the Nicaraguan guerrieros would rise up and overthrow the
surrounded by mercenaries, Coldman said he had already entered the fake pro-American regime in Somoza. "Dead at age 39… Just like El Che65.", he
data into the Peace Walker. As a deterrent weapon, it couldn't attack first, so told Big Boss, who would then become a fallen legend, sacrificed to become
he sent it information about a false Soviet nuclear launch on US territory, to a martyr. The final step of his plan would be the Cuba nuclear strike.
trigger a nuclear retaliation on the most relevant target, from a list. Coldman 64 The game's story is reminiscent of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006). But Hideo Kojima didn't
reverse engineered this list to make Mother Base the N°1 target. Everything directed the latter and, adding to the little jibe about it when Big Boss arrives in Costa Rica, we can assume that
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) is an enhanced version of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006) for him.
was ready and Coldman just had to enter a code to trigger the launch. 65 Che Guevara was a huge inspiration for Big Boss in the Metal Gear Solid series. Here is a comparison.
But as Gálvez was on the verge of success, MSF soldiers arrived, along with prove to the CIA that humans weren't able to retaliate on their own, and
Amanda and Chico, who opened fire on Gálvez's mercenaries. Amanda that machines were superiors for them in such situations. So he was sure
and Chico arrested him, and one of the rebels eventually called Amanda Washington would not retaliate, as the US President being in the midst of
Comandante, after all she had done, each time on the front lines with her SALT II talks. The decision would then be passed on to the next person in
men. Everyone chanted the name of Big Boss and, in the distance, aboard the chain of succession. But with the Vice President by his side, the speaker
the aircraft carrier, Huey witnessed the victory of MSF. would then be the person who would have to take the decision to retaliate.
Miller then landed near the airport, in front of the control tower in a Coldman was convinced that people would rather not retaliate so as not
helicopter, to get Paz back, and also brought injured Gálvez and Coldman to be remembered as the man who destroyed another entire nation. He
on board. Big Boss, him, stayed in the base to destroy the mammal pod and thought that what people valued the most was their reputation.
draw a line for it once and for all. In the truck, Big Boss suggested warning someone at NORAD, and
After Miller too off, Strangelove Strangelove told him that the Peace Walker had a connection to them and
arrived next to Big Boss, driving a could even be watched, with the right equipment.
military truck, and told him that On board the aircraft carrier, Huey immediately contacted them, while
she wasn't forced to bring her back they were spotted the false signal from the nuclear warheads on their radars.
to life throught the Mammal pod, In the chopper, Coldman admitted he was the only one who knew the
and that that the only reason why abort code. On the brink of death, he had nothing more to lose and whether
she had done it was to find out the Washington retaliate or not, he wouldn't be there to see it. He just hoped his
truth about her. The Basilisk (or Peace Walker)'s quadrupedal form. vision of peace through the use of the Peace Walker was right, before dying.
Together, they made their way to the Peace Walker, as Miller left the place In the truck, Strangelove said the only way left to stop it all was to destroy
with everyone aboard the chopper. While speaking with Paz, Coldman, the Peace Walker, to stop the transmission of fake data.
injured but still in possession of the laptop that controlled the Peace Walker, Then she reached the airfield where the Peace Walker was inactive, until
entered the activation code. But there was a trick, when it was activated, Coldman activated it. Big Boss got out of the truck to face it, to damage
the Peace Walker sent NORAD (North American Aerospace Defense it enough and stop the launch. But NORAD still received the data about
Command) the false launch data over Cuba, with a spread spectrum MLF 1,500 Soviet MIRV IBMs heading for the west coast of the United States of
signal that could not be blacked out by EMP, and visible on radar. The Peace America. Big Boss stopped the Peace Walker from moving, but to avoid the
Walker's signal would make the NORAD think that the nuclear wareheads nuclear holocaust, he had to shut down the Mammal pod. And withtout
would have been launch by the Soviets. They would then have to transmit Coldman's abort code, the only remaining way was to destroy it. Huey tried
the fake data to the National Military Command Center, and Washington to contact NORAD to tell them about the false signal as they were discus-
would have to decide whether or not to retaliate. Coldman's plan was to sing about retaliating, before the end of the twelve minute signal countdown.
Big Boss wanted to destroy the Mammal Pod, but it was designed to without its head. She therefore suggested to Big Boss to destroy the Reptile
withstand a nuclear launch. So Huey, as a designer, came up with the idea pod, which took over control of the Peace Walker after the Mammal pod
ofdipping it into the lake. With the pressure of the water, it should open up was deactivated. Damaged, and barely standing on its feet, the Peace Walker
small cracks and the water could flood the innards. But the Peace Walker stood up, ready to launch its nukes, but. Big Boss damaged it as much as
weighed 500 tons, so there was no way to transport it. Big Boss then asked he could, but time was running out and the quadrupedal tank moved into
Miller to contact NORAD for him, and managed to speak to Mr Chairman firing position. The launch was imminent, but the Mammal pod finally
and explained him that the signal was false. But Chairman was skeptical managed to reactivate itself and regained control over on the Reptile pod,
about the identity of the man he was talking to, and Big Boss reminded to move the Peace Walker. The song Sing, by The Carpenters, started to play,
him the ceremony he was giving a medal from the president Johnson, after and the Mammal capsule led the Peace Walker into the lake. The pressure
the Operation Snake Eater. That day, he refused to shake hands with the opened small cracks in the armor of the Reptile pod and water flooded
CIA director, and everything that happened during that ceremony was the innards, which interrupted the false signal's transmission, after being
classified. And when Chairman asked him why, Big Boss replied "Because abruptly replaced by many signs of peace and love that appeared. all over
I knew where my loyalty belonged.". believed him because he was in the the world map on NORAD radars's screens. With The Boss's fully digitally
room that day, as the Army Chief of recreated AI, finding herself in a
Staff, standing right next to the CIA similar situation to Operation Snake
director. Chairman trusted him Eater, she came to the same conclu-
and called off the retaliation, but sion as the real one: sacrifice herself
high-ranking NORAD members to save the world from a nuclear
pointed guns at him. The situation war. When he witnessed this, took
was complicated, but the Mammal off her bandana, which he had kept
Chairman and the CIA director, after Big Boss ignored Big Boss throwing away The Boss's bandana, as Stran-
pod suddenly lifted and opened, as him, in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004). gelove's watches the Peace Walker plunge into the lake. on him, and threw it in the lake.
The Boss's voice called out Big Boss by his real name: Jack. The latter did Afterwards, Miller joined Big Boss,who said that he was done with
not wait and entered the pod to take all of his memory boards. While doing searching for the truth. Now he knew the one about her former mentor
so, Big Boss could hear many sentences The Boss spoke during his lifetime, and had mourned it, he still felt betrayed because she put down the guns
stored in the AI's memory, played randomly. But it didn't work. At NORAD, and rejected her entire life, including him, in addition to hiding this truth
But that did not work. At NORAD, the false signal always appeared on their from him. He said he wouldn't make the same choice as her and would have
radars, and Big Boss lost his mind: hitting the capsule with his fists, begging a different future. And he asked Miller, from then on, to call him Big Boss.
for an answer from his former mentor's AI. Over the radio, Strangelove He finally accepted the title because he disagreed with The Boss's will66.
then told him that sometimes a body could still continue to work, even 66 Big Boss will change his mind later, but here was the logic he used to overcome her death and move on.
Later, after the events in Costa She started speaking with Big Boss through the bipedal tank's speakers
Rica, Gálvez left Mother Base and and told him that she had modified it a bit to be controlled by a human
Big Boss had to bring him back67. pilot. Huey couldn't even pilot it remotely. Miller suddenly understood that
Meanwhile, on Mother Base, Gálvez's fake escape was a diversion69. Paz then revealed that she was going
Huey and Strangelove together to take the ZEKE back to Cipher, who she worked for under the code name
built Metal Gear ZEKE, with all Pacifica Ocean. After The Boss died, Major Zero and the Big Boss wanted to
the parts, materials and memory pursue her will, and formed the Patriots for this purpose. But they ended by
boards Big Boss collected from the A 3D render artwork of the Metal Gear ZEKE. having a different vision of it, and from this division born Cipher and MSF.
Pupa, Chrysalis, Cocoon, and Peace Walker68. With the ZEKE, armed with MSF was about a world without borders, through an army free from any
a nuke, MSF unofficially became the world's seventh nuclear power. political wills, with the main objective of ending nuclear deterrence and the
Kaz later called Zero. He said the United States of America did not choose use of nuclear weapons; whereas Cipher was about unified global control via
what to do about MSF, but believed they should use them rather than AIs. As the end of the Cold War approached, this technology was booming
destroy them. He also said he agreed with Sigint, one of the Zero's Patriots and Zero took the opportunity to use it first. Paz told Big Boss that, until the
who participated in Operation Snake Eater, along with Big Boss, about the AIs took over the world, Cipher offered MSF to be its deterrent. If he did,
use of AIs. They spoke briefly about the Les Enfants Terribles project and they would let him run MSF and use ZEKE. But Big Boss was once again
Miller wondered how Big Boss would react to it. He then told Zero that at odds with Zero and his desire for control via AI. After he refused, Paz
he was only interested in the business angle of MSF and that he was just a decided to trigger a nuclear launch on the east coast of the United States of
business partner. Neither ally, nor enemy. America. If Zero couldn't bring Big Boss back on his side, then he would
One day, Gálvez pretended to escape again, but Big Boss found him on turn him into an enemy and let the United States of America get rid of MSF.
Mother Base, in the shooting range. Armed with a pistol, he threatened Big But Big Boss managed to stop her70, by severely damaging the ZEKE. Before
Boss but missed him, and the latter shot him with an assault rifle, with a his cockpit exploded, Paz told Big Boss, through ZEKE's speakers, that
bullet in the chest. Gálvez fell to the ground and tried one last shot, firing with the path he had chosen, his will for peace through the end of the use
with his artificial hand equipped with a small reactor, but he missed again, of nuclear weapons would never materialize, and that he would continue
and died. to be used as a tool by politicians, until they decided he should die when
Meanwhile, at another location on Mother Base, Miller spotted someone they no longer needed him, like The Boss. And as Coldman intended to do
aboard the ZEKE. Once out, on the platform of the warehouse where it was after made him the leader of the SNLF, in Costa Rica. Then, Paz was blown
stored, that Big Boss reached, the latter faced Paz, in control of the ZEKE. away by the explosion in the ocean.
67 This happens six times after the last mission, and ends up looking like like a running gag for the player. 69 Which also surprised the player, as he expected to accomplish a seventh ordinary secondary ops.
68 In this game, you can send teams of MSF soldiers to accomplish certain special missions. Once Metal 70 During the battle, a song named Koi no Yokushiryoku ("Love Deterrence", in Japanese) is played, sung by
Gear ZEKE is complete, it can join them in the field. Nana Mizuki (who did the Japanese voice for Paz).
110 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SUMMARY – 6: METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES (2014) 111
Miller then joined Big Boss and they had a conversation. He admitted
that he had known Gálvez and Paz's true identities from their first meeting
in Colombia, but used them. Paz was a triple agent, working for the CIA, 6: Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes's events:
KGB, and Cipher, but Miller took the job for the money. Unlike Big Boss, he
saw MSF as a business and it was a golden opportunity. As Paz said, Miller
knew the Cold War was about to end, and an era of regional conflict and Before Paz tried to steal Metal
terrorism was about to begin; and MSF could be a major actor of this new Gear Zeke from Mother Base, she
war economy, if he was well prepared and funded for it. For him, MSF was informed Cipher of its existence.
the first of its kind. Big Boss understood his point and added that the whole The following year, 1975, instead
world now knew MSF and the CIA of the Peace Walker, which changed the of attacking MSF after Big Boss
world order forever. As an isolated mercenary nation being the only one refused to work for them, they told
with nuclear technology that surpassed that of the superpowers, they would the IAEA (International Atomic
be driven out. Soon. As they changed the course of history with the Peace Energy Agency), which then contac-
Walker incident on the Nicaraguan border, their main enemy would not ted Mother Base to come and do an
be a nation, an ideology or an army, but time. In the end, it was what they inspection. If they confirmed that
possessed and represented that would be driven out, not MSF personally. a group of mercenaries possessed
Their main goal then was to survive as long as possible to remain the new a nuclear weapon, the information
world superpower. Business would be secondary, for Big Boss71. would change the global balance72.
So Huey, Big Boss and Miller decided
Note: Right after finally saying goodbye to The Boss and accepting his title, to hide Metal Gear ZEKE at the time of the inspection, to show the IAEA
Big Boss is betrayed by Paz and his former friend Zero, and begins to have that they weren't a threat. In a rush, they hid the bipedal tank underwater
a disagreement with Miller over the nature of MSF. From that moment, and were temporarily under-equipped and weakened.
his Outer Heaven begins to move more towards hell than towards heaven. Meanwhile, in Cuba, Amanda was helping the Sandinistas free the
Which will be confirmed in the following games fourteen prisoners held there. She discovered that Paz had survived her
fall into the ocean and had been imprisoned by Cipher at an American base
After the incident, Paz was not found and, later, Big Boss learned that south of Cuba, because they believed she had betrayed them.
Chico was secretly in love with her. Meanwhile, Huey fixed the ZEKE, with Chico learned it and headed the camp to free Paz, but ended up imprisoned
help from Strangelove. They also started a relationship. too. A radio message was received by Mother Base to inform them about it.
71 Which is the opposite of what Miller thinks. We can notice here the roots of a conflict between them. 72 What Big Boss guessed and feared at the end of Metal Gear: Peace Walker (2010).
– Omega Camp. and that she had not suffered for

long, as he had promised. He then
Note: The game is an introduction to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain returned a tape he had taken earlier
(2015). The short story takes place in only one location: Omega Camp. to him, and mentioned that he had
betrayed his comrades73; before
leaving as Chico began to listen to a
song on the tape. The man in black
then left the place and climbed into a
military jeep, as a helicopter passed
over him and his men.
Note: From there, the song Chico is

listening to plays in the background:
Here's to you (1971), composed by
Ennio Morricone and sung by Joan
Chico, by Yoji Shinkawa. Baez for the movie Sacco e Vanzetti
(1971). The song refers to the two innocent Italian revolutionaries sentenced
to death by electric chair, in the 20s of the twentieth century. In the game,
they can be compared to Chico and Paz.
Note: The sequence that follows show the way the man in black took to the
chopper, as the player overhears a radio conversation between Miller and
AERIAL MAP OF THE AMERICAN PRISON CAMP AND ITS LOGO.
Big Boss. Miller says MSF received information that Paz was still alive ten
days ago. She was rescued by a Belizean fisherman who found her adrift in
On March 15, 1975, in the former US naval base transformed by the the Caribbean. Cipher thinks she is a double agent working for the KGB
Major Zero into a prison camp, a mysterious man dressed in black reached and interrogated her at the camp. He thinks that this sudden return of Paz
the individual cage of prisoner No. 471892 in an outdoor space, in rainy has something to do with the IAEA inspection on Mother Base, so he tells
weather, escorted by guards with Rhodesian Ridgebacks. The man in black him that they have to bring her back alive. With Chico, imprisoned too.
then stands in front of the prisoner: Chico. He told her that Paz had confessed 73 Which sadly reminds what Chico did it in Costa Rica, when he was imprisoned by the CIA mercenaries.
At the end of the ride, the man Chico looked up and Big Boss walked into his cell, but when he approached
in black, an XOF member74, got the teenager, the latter panicked and started screaming, In the other cells,
out of the car and walked towards the others prisoners, who, unlike Chico, all had their heads covered by a
the chopper, a UTH-66 Blackfoot75, black cloth bag, heard him screaming and began to ask Big Boss for help.
marked with the letters "XOF" in Chico, disturbed, then threw himself on Big Boss, who had to use CQC
stenciled font. He removed them to calm him down. He suffocated him just long enough for him to pass
The man in black, with his hat. from the body of the helicopter with out, which made the other prisoners silent once they stopped hearing him
a UV device and told his close guard that his "pirate crackdown" had just screaming. Big Boss then contacted Miller, to tell him that he had Chico,
begun. His guards first boarded and he joined them before the helicopter but that Paz was not there. Miller
took off, along with three others. then asked if Chico could walk,
but as Big Boss checked his body,
Under the four choppers, as they were leaving he saw screws and bolts attached
the camp, Big Boss saw them going away, before to the backs of his ankles, near the
reaching the top of the southern cliff. Then, as tendons. So Big Boss had to hold
he was stepping forward, crouching, to observe him to extract him by chopper, so he
the camp from above, two more helicopters could be questioned by Miller about
flew overhead. Miller informed him that Chico where Paz was. As they approached
and Paz were being held in an old unused part the rendez-vous point, Chico started
of the coumpound, to the northeast. The camp to cry and said that Paz was dead,
was guarded by forty US Marines, and some of which he deduced from what the
them were watching the area from watchtowers man in black had told him, before
equiped with searchlights. returning his tape. Big Boss then
Big Boss managed to reach the outer cells and put him down on the ground and
retrieved Chico. The latter didn't hear him coming asked him where was Paz's body,
as he was listening to music on his portable cassette and Chico lent him his headphones.
player, so Big Boss used his flashlight to give him On the tape he was listening to, there
two brief light signals, pointing it at his face. Big Boss, by Yoji Shinkawa. was an audio recording of Paz's
74 This information is revealed by a patch the character is wearing, which the player can see as he's looking torture, which Big Boss listened to
himself in a car rear view mirror.
75 Strongly inspired by the real American helicopter: the Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. The iDroid. for a few seconds, before handing
his headphones back to Chico. The latter then gave him the tape and put Big Boss eventually arrived to the facility where
his headphones back on. Big Boss put him in the chopper and listened to Paz had been held: a huge warehouse where a few
his tape, with the little device that he used to see the camp's map and others fuel tanks were stored. At the end of it, there was an
features: the iDroid. He then returned to the camp to find Paz's body. isolated room, with a fence and a screen door. Big
Boss took the lock and entered. He found the young
Note: The player can hear multiple tapes of what happened in Omega woman, alive, but in a very bad state: hair shaved,
Camp with the iDroid, and their content is quite horrible. Like Metal Gear injured around the leaver and and hanging by the
Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), this introduction is very dark, especially arms against a wall, knees on the ground. Big Boss
compared to Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). The latter's story left cut her ties and grabbed her on his back to get her
Big Boss at the head of MSF, now a nuclear power with Huey Metal Gear out of there. After a short distance, he spotted two
ZEKE, and freed from his past with The Boss, letting him know the truth marines having a discussion. Two more were due to
about her. But in the end, the betrayal of Paz and Major Zero, added to the arrive soon to check on Paz's condition, so Big Boss
fact that Miller was working with Cipher behind his back, were warnings hid and waited for them, to neutralize them before
of his coming downfall, the first chapter of which is Metal Gear Solid V: leaving the camp with Paz. Big Boss then reached the
Ground Zeroes (2014). rendez-vous point and made Paz board, before going
Paz, by Yoji Shinkawa. up in turn, to leave the camp with her, and Chico.
Based on what Miller heard in Chico's tape recording, Miller was able On board, Chico was surprised but reliefed to see that Paz was still alive.
to hear the sounds of a vehicle and a flag being blown by the wind, which When he approached her, he noticed a large scar under her prisoner uniform,
gave Big Boss some clues about the place where Paz was held. Big Boss then and warned Big Boss about it. The latter called a combat medic who was on
reached a place where an American flag waved, and hid in a truck driven board the chopper, who then inspected the young woman. He checked her
by a marine, which reached a secluded and secure part of the camp, the abdomen with his hands and felt a solid object under her belly's skin. Big
administration building, whose entrance was protected by a secure portal Boss figured out it was a trap, and the doctor said he needed to remove the
that only authorized personnel could pass. Once inside the building, Big hidden thing off, but didn't have time to anesthetize her. While Big Boss was
Boss quietly got off the truck and started looking for Paz. holding Paz, with Chico's help, the doctor cut the threads of a newly sewn
wound in a "V" shape. The doctor had to dig deep behind her intestines to
Note: From there, the player can turn off the power to the administration find a package surrounded by dark brown cloth and marked with symbol
building. This is only an option, but it turns off lights and cameras, and of peace and love. Under the fabric, a small flashing red light indicated
makes infiltration easier. the self-timer of what turned out to be a bomb. Big Boss then opened the
helicopter's left side airlock and threw it over the ocean. Luckily, Paz didn't
suffer any major injuries from the process and the medic closed her up. As a soldier started to shot on Big Boss's chopper, but the latter replied. The
they approached Mother Base, Big Boss received a call from Huey, who enemy helicopter then moved away and Big Boss landed on the platform,
told him that the IAEA inspection had started. He informed him that all to rescue his men and comrade. The enemy chopper suddenly came back
documents relating to ZEKE had been destroyed and that its warehouse but Big Boss shot an uncovered soldier, sitting in the open airlock on the
had been decontaminated. The AFVs (armored fighting vehicle) had been right side. The pilot was disturbed by the gunfire and the aircraft fell on
hidden and the ZEKE was on the seafloor, with its nuclear weapon. He told the platform. Big Boss then shot a soldier from the group who was facing
Big Boss that when he returned to Mother Base, the inspection would be his men, and the latter fired a rocket before falling dead to the ground. The
done and MSF cleared. rocket exploded near Miller and Big Boss, killing and injuring MSF soldiers.
Later, as they were reaching the offshore factory, radio contact could Then, Big Boss dodged another rocket launch by killing another foe, and
not be established. So Big Boss opened the airlock on the left side of the helped Miller reach his helicopter with the help of two MSF soldiers, as the
helicopter and saw a flaming boat below. He grabbed an AM MRS-4 assault platform was collapsing. One of the two soldiers took a bullet and died just
rifle and looked at some Mother Base's platforms, in flames. in front of Big Boss, before falling to the ground. The MSF leader then shot
on a small group of foes in front of him, before throwing his empty gun and
grabbing Miller's hand to board the chopper. They then flew off, watching
the platform sink and the other platforms explode one after another76.
Shocked and seated, Miller said the IAEA inspection was just a smokes-
creen, in preparation for the attack. Furious, he turned to Paz, to question
her brutally, while insulting her. She suddenly woke and stood up in a panic,
as the chopper's medic took Miller away from her. Big Boss told her to calm
down and that they had removed the bomb from her belly, but Paz opened
the left side airlock. Big Boss spotted an approaching enemy helicopter
behind Paz, who said there was another bomb, before falling back into the
ocean. Boss tried to catch up with her, but it was too late and the second
bomb exploded, as Paz fell two or three yards under the helicopter. The
explosion hit it on the side and the medic moved in front of Big Boss, to
ARTWORK OF BIG BOSS WITNESSING THE FALL OF HIS MOTHER BASE.
protect him from the explosion. Then, the helicopter lost its balance and
On one of the platforms, Big Boss witnessed several explosions and spotted fell while turning, until it entered the enemy helicopter.
Miller with a unit of MSF soldiers, cornered by assailants. He opened fire
76 A sequence particularly painful to watch for those who have played Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010)
with short controlled bursts, as an enemy helicopter took off. On board, before, as all of those platforms that get destroyed are the ones you have built throughout the game, one by one.
Note: After the last information mentioned in the previous page, presented
in the form of texts in the credits of the game, we can hear the man in black's
voice, talking about Chico tape's song: Here's to you. His favorite song,
about two innocent immigrants killed by the government of the United
States of America. At that time, their death was being used as a message for
anarchists77. And that's what he made here too, by killing Chico and Paz, or
even destroying Mother Base. He sent a message.
Note: After the previous voice recording, and the end of the following part
of the credits, there is another one of the man in black, the XOF member.
He says that no one had seen the Major Zero in years and that they now
only receive orders delivered by proxies. We then understand that this is a
recording of the torture sessions of Paz, while he asked her where Zero was
hiding, as one of his closest spies. He promised her it could save Big Boss
ARTWORK OF THE DESTRUCTION OF MOTHER BASE.
if she told him, so she did.
This tragic event was then known as the "Ground Zeroes Incident". The
smoke from the exploded Mother Bases's platforms could be seen from
the coast of Central America, and the medias blamed MSF, holding them
responsible. Things got worse when they found out that the United States
of America was one of MSF's main clients. But, to clear their name, the
Secretary of Defense publicly stated that "neither the United States nor its
allies had any hand in the incident".
Subsequently, there were reports that mentioned the IAEA inspection,
but the UN and IAEA insisted that "no such inspection took place".
Other countries, which were on the organization's client list, avoided
comment the incident altogether.
ARTWORK OF A CHOPPER SEARCHING FOR SURVIVORS, THE DAY AFTER THE INCIDENT.
Reports said there were no survivors, but in the moments before and after
the incident, several unidentified military helicopters had been spotted in
the area. 77 What they were, too.
122 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SUMMARY – 7: GROUND ZEROES/THE PHANTOM PAIN 123
He then told him that after they took revenge on the XOF leader with Big
Boss, they would come and get him. But Zero didn't care and told him he
7: Between Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014) couldn't find him, anyway.
and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). – 1976: After Big Boss left the Patriots, Zero made everything to stay
in hiding and only gave orders via proxies, focused on his "Les Enfants
Terribles" project. On the other hand, Skull Face was tired of remaining
There is a gap of nine-year between the fall of the first Mother Base, in Zero's eternal underlying, first as secret FOX support unit's leader, and then
1975, and the awakening of Venom Snake, in 1984. Here are some of the as Cipher's elite strike force's one. So when he found Paz, Cipher's last spy
important events that occurred during this period: to meet Zero in person, he captured and questioned her to find out where
he was hiding.
– 1975: The Major Zero heard about the fall of Mother Base. He wasn't Around this time, Skull Face discovered the research of a man named
linked to the attack by the XOF members but suspected them of being Code Talker, who had the opportunity to study The End78's dead body after
behind it. So he launched a rescue plan and called EVA to execute it. She the Operation Snake Eater. Skull Face found him and forced him to work
then directed an operation to move Miller, and Big Boss and the combat for him, by threatening his people: the Navajo.
medic who was on board of the chopper, both unconscious, from Colombia Once Skull Face recovered the parasites, he sent
to a safe hospital in Cyprus. Zero then set up a plan to protect his old Zero a very close copy of a Winged Dagger pin that
friend Big Boss, in a coma, by transforming the chopper's medic, also in a belonged to The Boss, on whose body he recove-
coma, into Big Boss's "Phantom" (double body), through hypnotherapy and red the original. He laced it with a strain of the
plastic surgery, with the help of Ocelot. vocal cord parasite79 that left Zero in debilitating
After this was decided, Zero called Miller, who was in a private room at pain, after stinging himself with it. The best doctors
the hospital and was unaware of Big Boss and the medic's condition, and couldn't help him and he resigned himself to his
provided him with intel about XOF and their leader, named Skull Face, and fate, so he contacted Strangelove, who left Mother
offered him financial assistance to build a new Mother Base and a military Base a week before its attack and was now working
independant force: the future Diamond Dogs. The only thing he asked in for DARPA, to develop an AI network80 to lead the
The SAS pin, with their motto
return was to wait for Big Boss to wake up for the base to become active, Patriots in its place. "Who Dares Wins".
which Miller agreed to. The pass code for his awaken would be "V has come The same year, the "Les Enfants Terribles" project was abandoned.
to". But Miller wasn't aware that "V" refered to Venom Snake and not the 78 A boss from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004).
real Big Boss. However, he did not trust Zero and took him responsible 79 A first version of the one he used for his plan in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
80 The network at the center of the stories of Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) and Metal Gear Solid
for the attack, because XOF was under his authority when it happened. 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008).
124 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SUMMARY – 8: METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN (2015) 125
– 1977: As his health deteriorated, Zero ultimately handed over command

to Sigint (Donald Anderson), who then oversaw the creation of AI JD,
which ruled the rest of Strangelove's AI network. Zero also gave him advice 8: Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain's events:
on how to avoid the failure of the Mammal pod, at the Nicaragua border. (Back to summary.) (Back to page 330.)
– Still in 1977, Zero paid Big Boss, still in a coma, one last visit to Cyprus. Note: This game's story has a huge
He wanted to say goodbye to his old friend and wanted to bury the hatchet plot twist: the identity of its playable
between them81. character. To make things more clear
After that, his succession secured and sensing his end coming, Zero for this summary, I unveil here that
orchestrated his demise so that no one could find him, and later went he's not the real Big Boss, but the
completely into a vegetative state and was relegated to life support, in a combat medic who protected him
very secretive location that no one could find82. in the chopper, during the destruc-
tion of Mother Base, in Metal Gear
– 1980: Huey Emmerich and the Dr Strangelove had a baby, named Hal. Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014). So I
won't call him Big Boss, but Venom
– 1984: At the beginning of the year, Strangelove died before implemanting Snake. This plot was inspired by the
several human traits into her AIs (such as compassion)83, and Sigint ended story of the movie Kagemusha - The
the network by himself. Shadow Warrior (1980). I wrote a
At the same time, Skull Face finally managed to take control of Cipher, dedicated section about this movie.
and Sigint was pushed away. But Skull Face was only interested in their
resources and money, not their AIs. He didn't trust it, especially after the On February 26, 1984, nine years after the fall of Mother Base, orchestrated
failure of the Peace Walker's Mammal Pod. And as Zero's plan, he despised by Skull Face, Venom Snake woke up from a coma at the Cypriot military
it and wanted to destroy it to erase all traces of Zero's life from History. Dhekelia SBA Memorial Hospital84. As soon as it happened, a coded message
Later that same year in Afghanistan, in the Serak Power Plant, Huey, for his awakening was broadcasted to those concerned: "V has come to".
who went underground since the "Ground Zeroes Incident", was about to
complete a new bipedal tank project for Skull Face. Note: The prologue: Awakening, is an introductory sequence that could be
81 Those informations can be learned by listening a tape, in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). compared to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014): it's chronologically
82 Until Big Boss does, at the end of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008). separated from the rest of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
83 Which will have the catastrophic consequences seen in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) and
Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008). 84 Located in a British sovereign military base, outside the Cyrpiot jurisdiction.
– Prologue: Awakening. The doctor also announced that his mental and physicals abilities would
decreased, but that his current condition was not life threatening. Finally,
On February 29, three days after he added a third radio on a X-ray board placed in front of Venom Snake,
Venom Snake woke up, the Dr which revealed him his cut arm. He then looked at it and panicked again,
Evangelos Constantinou and the so the nurse gave him another shot of sedative.
nurse Alexandra Pikrammenos On the night of March 11, Venom Snake was awakened by a heated discus-
came to his ward to have a first sion between the doctor and the nurse. The doctor then walked to him and
contact with him, and told him he told him that his old enemies were still there, outside, and that they needed
had been in a coma for nine years. The doctor on the right and the nurse on the left. to change his appearance with plastic surgery for his own safety.
Once done, the doctor then placed the mirror again in front of Venom
Note: That sequence is used as a tutorial and is the moment when the player Snake's face, which had changed.
can choose and customize the face and the name of his playable avatar,
which will, later in the game, be revealed as those of the combat medic who Note: This sequence can be a little confusing at first. As the doctor places
became Venom Snake, the Big Boss double. the mirror in front of Venom Snake for the first time, the player can see
the reflection of Big Boss's in it, which is disturbing because, after his face
When he heard that, Venom Snake panicked and the nurse gave him a is changed with surgery (which the player can briefly see when the medic
sedative, as the doctor held him down to keep him from injuring himself. shows him his new face in the mirror), the character has Big Boss's face
Four days later, the nurse came to take care of him85, along with the again (when the medic holds the mirror in front of him a third time, just
doctor, who gave Venom Snake more details about his condition. He lost before the player can start playing). Later, when the true identity of Venom
weight when he was in a coma, but they used massages, CPM therapy86 Snake is revealed in the Mission 46: Truth, this short sequence is different
and EMS87 to maintain his muscles. The doctor then showed him X-Rays and, on the mirror, the face of the avatar appears first, then be changed to Big
of his thorax and head. After he was examined, 10888 foreign bodies were Boss's one. No third time, and it's logical this time. It is a trick that Kojima
found in his body. Most of them had been removed, except some near the used to let the player create the identity of the combat medic during the
heart and skull. One of them, particularly large, was stucked deep in his prologue, and use it during the final revelation. Another possible explana-
cerebral cortex. It couldn't be removed as it would cause a brain hemorrhage. tion (which gives this weird illogical impression) is Ocelot's hypnotherapy,
85 During this short scene, the player can move the camera and see a vase of white lilies. But they are meant which he used to mentally manipulate the combat medic after the Ground
for Big Boss, who is in the next bed. It's an easter egg.
86 Consisting of using a Continuous Passive Motion (CPM) machine, which uses passive motion to move Zeroes incident, while he was at the hospital. The first Big Boss reflection
the joints gradually and slowly, without engaging the patient's muscles. of the prologue would therefore be a fake addition of Ocelot in his memory
87 Electrical Muscle Stimulation, which involves generating muscle contraction using electrical impulses.
88 The number 108 is considered a sacred number in Hinduism, Buddhism and the yogic tradition. to make him believe that he was the real Big Boss.
In addition to his new face, the doctor told Note: In this sequence, Big Boss is wearing a
Venom Snake that his name was Ahab89 from that bandage to hide his face from Venom Snake.
point on and that he should forget the real one This bandage had an history during the game's
and his past. As he was speaking, behind him, a promotion. Known as the Joakim Mogren's mask,
woman in a black military uniform strangled the it was created for an interview of the false Swedish
nurse with a wire. Too weak to speak, Venom Snake video game development studio named Moby
witnessed the murder but was unable to warn the Dick Studio's head CEO: Joakim Mogren. A fake
doctor, who was showing him two photos taken logo and Youtube channel were created for the
at Mother Base. On one of them, he could see Big fake studio, which was supposed to develop the
Boss, Miller, the pilot, Morpho, and himself, the game. "Joakim" was an anagram of Kojima, and
combat medic. The doctor then put the photogra- Moby Dick referred to the book of the same name,
phy and the murderer approached him by behind, which was a huge inspiration for the game's story
as he was showing his face to Venom Snake in a and themes (I made an analysis of it in another
mirror. The doctor was suddenly strangled too section of this book). But it was a communication
and tried to defend himself by drawing a pistol, operation and Kojima revealed it a few days later,
The murderer, in her XOF uniform, Big Boss in his green hospital
but was unable to survive the attack. Venom Snake by Yoji Shinkawa. gown, by Yoji Shinkawa. for the game's reveal at the GDC91 2013.
fell from his bed to the ground, from which he saw him die. The mysterious
woman then contacted someone by radio, before coming to Venom Snake Venom Snake, on the ground, raised his left arm and looked at the hooked
and grabbing the doctor's gun to kill him. But Big Boss, who had stayed in proesthetic that was equiped on his cut arm. Big Boss then joined him and
the room's second bed since waking up, to watch over his double, interve- Venom Snake asked him what happened to the woman92. Big Boss made a
ned and jumped on her to prevent her from shooting. They fought and joke as an answer and introduced himself as Ishmael93. As they're speaking,
the killer get rid of him, before pulling out a knife. Big Boss threw medical an explosion occured outside the hospital, so Big Boss helped Venom Snake
gears at her, and a bottle, which covered her uniform with an flammable to get up, to leave the place. Still weak and with atrophied muscles, Big Boss
liquid. She threw her knife in his shoulder and, Big Boss now unable to gave him a shot of dixogin94, to help his body to move.
move, approached Venom Snake to choke with with her bare hands90. Big 91 Game Developers Conference.
92 Calling her "woman" and not "killer" or just "she" or "her" makes Venom Snake like if he's concerned
Boss then lit a zippo and set her on fire. She tried to attack again, but Big about her, which is interesting to notice when you know what their relationship will become, later in the game.
93 Ahab and Ishmael refers to the Herman Melville's book Moby Dick (1851). In the book, Ahab is the
Boss threw another bottle at her. She screamed and fell through a window. captain of his whaler, the Pequod, and Ishmael is a crew member and the narrator. This announces the respec-
89 The character has multiple names, Venom Snake, Punished Snake, and the code name Ahab. tive roles of Venom Snake (Ahab) and Big Boss (Big Boss). Besides, after Venom Snake asked Big Boss who he
90 As he's fainting, we can see some colors in the room turning blue. This is one of the after effects of the was, the latter answered "You're talking to yourself ". It's one of the several clues of the game's plot twist.
foreign bodies that Venom Snake has in his skull, changing some of the colors he sees under certain circumstances. 94 Used in heart failure. It strengthens the heart contraction, and slows down and regulates the heart rate.
Venom Snake then followed Big Boss, by silent pistol. The soldier then grabbed his
crawling on the floor for a few minutes95. ID card to check his identity, and walked
As they were walking down a corridor, a away. Big Boss then started to move and
young and still boy, with shoulder-length Venom Snake followed him, but, lying on
red hair, a black gas mask and a straitjacket the floor, another patient grabbed his leg,
with detached sleeves, appeared at the end begging for help. The XOF soldier heard
of it. He began to levitate as the ends of his him and came back, to shoot him in the
sleeves started to burn, and disappeared back, before grabbing his leg to drag him
through the ceiling, as an elevator was away from the bed, as he was screaming,
reaching the floor, just behind him. Its to finally kill him with three other shots in
doors exploded and the blast sent Venom the back96. The soldier then left the room,
Snake and Big Boss onto their backs, and set for good this time, and Venom Snake was
fire to the latter's hospital gown. A strange able to join Big Boss. Then, then entered
man then went to them from the exploded another corridor and saw a nurse holding
The floating boy, by Yoji Shinkawa. elevator. He was on fire and dressed with a a injured patient, asking for help, to an An XOF soldier, by Yoji Shinkawa.
long military trench coat. The fire sprinkler system was then activated by the helicopter outside through a window. But it was the XOF and a soldier on
explosion's fire, and the water immobilized him by falling on him. The two board shot both of them with an assault rifle97, before flying away. They
enemies then disappeared in a smokescreen generated by the watered fire. then crouched walk down the corridor, glued to the windows, to avoid
Big Boss then helped Venom Snake to move, and the drug began to work, being spotted by the helicopter's searchlight. Behind them, in the corner of
so he could stand on his feet. Then, they arrived near a window from which the corridor they had come from, a patient was walking backwards, illumi-
they saw a chopper patrolling outside. Big Boss saw Venom Snake standing nated by the flashlight of an XOF soldier's assault rifle, who killed him
in front of the window, and made him bend down,before, once sit, put his with a burst. Venom Snake, still slower than Big Boss, saw the murder and
dislocated right elbow back. They then witnessed XOF troops deployed sprinted to join him at the end of the corridor, of which Big Boss close the
in the hospital from the helicopter, and another group, already inside, double door after he passed it, to then block with a heavy metallic closet.
arrived near them in their corridor. Big Boss headed a small room to avoid
96 This sequence has the same raw violence that was already present in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
them, with Venom Snake. They bent down to start crawling and entered (2014). I think this choice was made to make Skull Face and the XOF true war criminals and memorable antago-
nists in the Metal Gear Solid series. An aspect that wasn't as much shown with the previous games's villains. And
another room with medical beds, underneath they hid, while a coughing as one of the game's main themes is vengeance, this writting technique makes Skull Face and XOF the worst
and injured patient encountered an XOF soldier, who killed him with a human beings ever, and increase the willing of revenge for the player.
97 That graphic violence was also a way to show a reality of the war not always shown in fiction. Especially
95 This is the moment where the player can take control of the character for the first time. the massacres of innocent people or civilians, a part of wars's casualities.
There, in a large stairwell, they encountered a patient, who fled as the XOF Venom Snake had just left arrived in the
soldiers arrived on the other side of the double door, and began to cut its corridor, behind them. One of the soldiers
handle with a circular saw. The patient went upstairs and encountered an coming from the exit suddenly pointed
XOF soldier who killed him, while Big Boss and Venom Snake descended his Grom-11 rocket launcher at the other
to reach the lower floor, when they joined a group of the hospital staff side of the corridor, as his comrade was
and patients, waiting in a small room between the stairwell and a corridor still shooting corpses, but lowered it when
leading to an exit, from which XOF soldiers appeared and began to shoot he saw it was other XOF soldiers. The four
people. Big Boss and Venom Snake then left the corridor with a part of the slowly approached Big Boss and Venom
group to try another exit, to a adjoining room, but others soldiers appeared Snake, lying motionless on the ground
and shot through the bars of the door. So they abandon the group and since their arrival. A soldier then noticed a
entered a medical room with four compartments equiped with two beds liquid under his military boot, and looked
each, separated by green curtains. Two XOF soldiers arrived and entered down. He saw an IV bag on which Big Boss
each compartment one after the other, to kill the patients still there. Big Boss was lying on, then spotted Venom Snake,
and Venom Snake, hidden under the beds, waited for the two soldiers to left who looked at his assault rifle flashlight,
the room, and Big Boss returned to the opened door where they entered the The man on fire, by Yoji Shinkawa. as he was pointing it at him. As the soldier
room. He overheard the two soldiers speak of someone they were looking was about to shoot, the mysterious floating boy Big Boss and Venom Snake
for, before they came back into the room, for another inspection of the encountered before appeared briefly behind all of them, and disappeared.
compartments. Big Boss then joined Venom Snake and they left the room Behind him, at the exit door, the man in flame reappeared too, surrounded
by its other entrance, which led to a corridor with windows looking out. by fire. The soldiers started shooting at the man on fire, but it was ineffec-
The ground was covered with a trail of red blood and the corpses of a part tive. He responded by setting one soldier on fire, who screamed and fell
of the group they joined before the through a window. Another soldier threw a grenade at their target, but the
massacre, between which they had man on fire seemed to absorb the explosion. The soldier who got the rocket
to crawl to escape the XOF soldiers. launcher then crouched down in front on him and fired, but the same thing
But at the end of the corridor, in happened. The man on fire then leaned forward slightly, and released the
the exit, two others soldiers arrived. bullets and the explosions he absorbed, in a powerful blast that killed the
They began to shoot the corpses to three remaining XOF soldiers. The blast also injured Venom Snake on the
confirm the killings98, as the soldiers right knee. From the outside, the XOF patrol helicopter approached the
inspecting the room Big Boss and The XOF soldiers in the corridor. corridor and a soldier on board shot at the man on fire, who then turned to
98 A military technic to ensure that the targets are not just unconsciousness, but well dead. the helicopter, which rotated to face him and fire missiles at him. Big Boss
didn't wait and grabbed a silent pistol Boss shot,which resulted in Venom Snake getting a silent pistol as well.
on the ground, before standing up Behind them, an explosion set fire to the door they had just reached. So
and telling Venom Snake to move. Venom Snake shot on a extinguisher to turn off the fire, and joined Big Boss.
Behind them, the helicopter fired a In a corner, they met two XOF soldiers and killed them, before reaching the
salvo of missiles on the man on fire, end of the corridor, the exit of which is plunged in smoke. They eventually
who absorbed their huge explosion, arrived at the first floor of the hospital entrance hall: a large damaged room
which made his trench coat partially filled with smoke and the floor of which was covered of rock debris
disappear and partially destroyed from the ceiling, small burning objects, and corpses. A few XOF soldiers
the corridor, before sending it back were there too, still. Big Boss then created a diversion by throwing a tubular
to the helicopter, which, hit, crashed object in their direction, below, before running towards the stairs exerting
below, in the central courtyard of a cover shot, before jumping to take cover, on the ground floor. A soldier
the hospital. Meanwhile, Big Boss reached the jumping point by climbing a few steps. Venom Snake, in cover,
reached a door but turned around, took the opportunity to kill him quietly, before getting rid of the other
to cover Venom Snake, injured at soldiers. He then reached the ground floor too, and headed straight for
the knee, that the man on fire was The man of fire and the chopper, by Yoji Shinkawa. the exit. He saw Big Boss outside, through a window, who went to steal an
starting to walk towards. But he stopped as he saw on the celing the same ambulance, to escape with him. From his position, Big Boss saw a STOUT
fire sprinkler system that stopped the man on fire, the first time they met IFV-FS, an AMV (Armored Modular Vehicle), drawn towards the entrance
him. Once activated, he disappeared again in a smokescreen and Venom of the hall by an invisible force, as well as a wreckage of the helicopter cabin
Snake took advantage of this lull to heal his injured knee99. that the man on fire had destroyed earlier, from the corridor. Still inside,
Venom Snake hid and saw objects starting to levitate. Others XOF soldiers
Note: Once he healed himself, Venom Snake has another issue with colors, arrived behind him, and turned around, to face the floating boy, who threw
and the red on screen turns to a pale blue. big rocks at the entrance to create a small landslide of debris that blocked it.
Trapped, the soldiers then faced the man on fire, who arrived behind them.
They then came back to the stairwell they took earlier and descended to With his special abilities, he used his right hand as a flamethrower and set
the lower level, where Big Boss opened a close door and entered a corridor, two soldiers on fire, before the others started shooting at him. He absorbed
followed by Venom Snake100. They encountered an XOF soldier that Big the bullets and sent them back to their shooters, who all died in a blink.
99 The player must press the △ button to heal the character: a feature that will sometimes be used throughout
the game when the player's character would had take too much damage and suffer a serious injury. If this He then looked at Venom Snake, who ran to the exit which was now partly
happens, the player's movements are slowed and he dies if he take one more damage. But if he hides and press cleared by the explosion, but as he arrived, from outside, the AMV attemp-
△, the character use a healing spray that heals him entirely.
100 From there, the colors that Venom Snake sees return to normal. ted to enter the hall by pushing the helicopter cabin's wreckage which was
on its way. Venom Snake took cover, as other XOF soldiers entered the As they were leaving the hospital, the man on fire released a blast of
hall. They shoot on the man on fire and the floating boy, but, behind them, bullets that passed through the ambulance's body, while fire trucks came in
the chopper wreckage was levitating and its blades began to spin, cutting the opposite direction, to extinguish the hospital in flames. The trucks took
them all in a split second. Then, the AMV entered and stopped in front the full blast of the explosion and entered the wall of the hospital entrance.
of the man on fire, to fire a shell directly at him. He absorbed it and sent Away, on the road, Big Boss and Venom Snake passed others trucks, but
the shell firepower straight back to the damaged tank which, damaged, the flaming carcasses of the first ones were thrown by the man on fire from
turned around to gain momentum and rush towards him, in an attempt the hospital, and fell in front of them, on the road. A few yards further, they
to smash him against the stairs. Venom Snake took the opportunity to encountered a second XOF chopper, which faced them and opened fire
escape through the entrance, completely clear this time. Outside, a massive with its two side chain guns. The bullets damaged the ambulance's engine
explosion occurred behind him, from the AMV position, and the explosion and shattered its windshield. Big Boss lost consciousness and Venom Snake
knocked him to the ground, just under a statue of a horseman, on fire. took the wheel, to enter a tunnel. The helicopter turn around and fired a
Venom Snake turned around and grabbed a XOF soldiers's machine gun rocket as the tunnel's entrance, but missed the ambulance. The tunnel wasn't
which was standing next to him, to shoot on the man on fire, who was long and on its other side, the ambulance encountered an XOF roadblock
passing the hall's entrance. Once he arrived near him, the latter was hit by with barricades and a military jeep, equipped with a stationary machine
the ambulance that Big Boss picked up, to then crush him against a wall, gun. The soldiers started shooting at the ambulance, which hit the jeep. The
before backing up to pick up Venom Snake and board him. shock knocked Venom Snake and Big Boss's ambulance off the road, and
after it rolled over, they both ended up unconscious.
A short moment later, when Venom Snake awoke, he was alone in the
ambulance. He unfastened his seatbelt and fell head first on the ceiling of
the ambulance cabin, which ended up on its roof after the rollovers. He
came out through the hole in the broken windshield and the XOF helicop-
ter appeared in front of him. The floating boy popped up between them,
and a giant fire whale101 appeared too in the sky, behind the helicopter,
before engulfing it in a violent explosion. Then, from the explosion's smoke
cloud, a flying horse with a flaming horn appeared, ridden by the man on
fire. Venom Snake, still on the ground, got up and started running back to
the road, where he met Ocelot, riding a white horse. Ocelot told him that
he was on his side, before helping him to get on his horse.
ARTWORK OF THE HOSPITAL IN FLAMES, WITH THE MAN OF FIRE AND THE STATUE.
101 This fire whale only appears here during the game. It's another reference to Moby Dick (1851).
The flying horse then landed on the As he reached the shore, Venom Snake encountered the floating boy, and
road, behind them, and a chase started. saw the man on fire on his horse, on the border of the bridge that lightning
As Ocelot was riding, Venom Snake used destroyed not long before, but they vanished102 as Ocelot reached him and
his shotgun to shoot at the man on fire. helped him to get up. Taking advantage of this moment of calm, Ocelot
Through a forest, the latter set fire to the introduced himself to Venom Snake, whom he called Big Boss. He told him
trees and attacked them, by sending bullets that Miller had sent him to rescue him and that the whole world wanted
with his own body. Ocelot managed to him dead103. He announced him that he would have to work with Miller
distance him and made his way to a bridge again and build another mercenaries army like MSF, on a new Mother Base.
leading to a lighthouse, on the Cypriot But before that, they would have to save him first, because he was being
coast, but lightning struck the bridge held prisoner in Afghanistan, as the moment they were speaking. Four
just in front of them and made Ocelot's years before, in 1980, the Soviets invaded the country, but the people there
horse fall into the water with them, below. were still fighting them, with the support of the West. Miller was training
Fortunately, no one was hurt and they were Mujahedin rebels before being captured by the Soviets. He would be interro-
all able to reach the shore of the creek into gated the following days and would end in a camp, or killed, if they didn't
Ocelot, by Yoji Shinkawa. which they fell. rescue him. Then, they reached a whaling ship104 to leave Cyprus.
ARTWORK OF VENOM SNAKE AND OCELOT APPROACHING THE WHALING SHIP.

102 They disappear at Ocelot passes in front of them, fom the player perspective, so it's unclear if it's a Venom
Snake's vision or the reality.
ARTWORK OF VENOM SNAKE AND OCELOT REACHING THE BRIDGE. 103 Speaking mainly of Cipher and the United States of America.
104 Another reference to Moby Dick (1851).
– What happened to Ishamel (the real Big Boss)? – Chapter 1: Revenge.
Note: In the game, what follows is revealed in the Mission 46: Truth. But I On the way to Afghanistan, sailing the
add it right now to simplify the summary. Besides, in a tape that the player Mediterraen and the Red seas, and after
obtains after the mission, he can hear a discussion between Ocelot and crossing the Suez Canal in a container,
Miller, in which Ocelot tell Miller that truth. To make the story more unders- Ocelot helped Venom Snake to recover
tandable, I chose to place this discussion just after Miller was brought back and gave him a damaged white bionic
by Venom Snake, after his first mission, a little later in this summary105. arm, an eye patch, a uniform, a cassette
tape player and a radio. He helped him to
At the hospital, Big Boss woke up before Venom Snake, but stayed in regain weight and muscles with medicine
their room to watch over him. With Ocelot's help, they achieved Zero's and a specific intense training, and told
plan to create a double of him, for his protection. But after the ambulance him that the XOF led the attack of Mother
crashed, Ocelot, who remained loyal to Big Boss, helped him to get out of it Base in 1975 and that he suspected Huey. Venom Snake, by Yoji Shinkawa.
and brang him to an secluded place where he provided him a bike and fake On March 21, both riding a horse, they approached the Spugmay Ruins106
IDs, which used the combat medic's face and identity. Then, Ocelot left the during a sandstorm, in northern Kabul107. Ocelot took off his sunglasses
place and went to recover Venom Snake, while Big Boss was leaving Cyprus and explained that the area was under Soviet control and Miller prisoner
to launch his plan to create Outer Heaven, which would no longer be an for ten days already. As the sandstorm stopped, they entered the ruins
ideology but a place: a military fortress dedicated to him and his army. and Ocelot gave Venom Snake a gourd, which he awkwardly caught with
his repaired bionic arm repainted in red108. They stopped at the border
on the ruins, which dominated the
whole desertic area, below. Ocelot
gave Venom Snake an iDroid109,
and indicated that Miller was held
prisoner at the Soviet outpost of
Da Ghwandai Khar, to the north of
their position. Ocelot giving Venom Snake his iDroid.
106 A fictional location, inspired by real ruins (like all places of the game).
107 One of the two main maps of this open world-like game.
BIG BOSS AND HIS THE VENOM TRIUMP BONNEVILLE T100, WHICH WAS REALLY BUILT. 108 Which reminds the aspect of Gálvez's prosthetic hand, in Metal Geace Solid: Peace Walker (2010).
105 But when this discussion occurs is not specified in the game. Here, it's a personal choice. 109 The same that Big Boss had in Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (2014).
Note: At this point, Ocelot asks Note: This is the moment when the player
Venom Snake to add a marker on the discovers the state Miller has been in since
outpost, on the iDroid's map. This the attack on Mother Base nine years
sequence is a tutorial to learn how earlier. He lost his right arm, his left leg,
to use the iDroid and the binocu- and just lost an eye while being tortured
lars/Int-Scope, which Ocelot asks by the Soviets, just before Venom Snake
Venom Snake to use to spot a distant retrieved him. The name of the game is
village in front of them. Once done, The binoculars/Int-Scope. a direct reference to this two characters's
he tells Venom Snake that he can call him anytime for intel about anything lost limbs and endless pain. There is also
he sees while using the binoculars, by pressing L1: a new feature in the game. an Easter Egg here: if you take too long
to rescue him, Venom Snake find Miller
Before leaving to let him accomplish dead. Here is the short dedicated cutscene.
the mission alone110, Ocelot told Venom
Snake that Miller's bodyguards were all
found dead after he was captured, along Miller prisoner, by Yoji Shinkawa.
with his sunglasses, that he then gave him. Near the extraction point, Venom Snake
After a ride on his horse111, Venom asked for a chopper to recover them by
Snake reached the Da Wialo Kallai village, radio, but a cloud of mist appeared around
where he found intel files that gave him them and didn't let the helicopter approach
the exact location of Miller. the ground. So it gave Venom Snake a new
He made his way to the Soviet outpost meeting point and left the area, as a group
and found Miller, handcuffed to a metal of four strange super soldiers appeared
pipe and with a cloth bag on his head. near Venom Snake and Miller: the Mist
Venom Snake removed the bag and saw Unit112. Venom Snake put Miller on the
his injured left eye. After unfastening his back of D-Horse and left the area ASAP.
handcuffs, he gave him back his sunglasses Suddenly, the mist cloud disappeared
D-Horse. and carried him on his back to leave. and the super soldiers too. Venom Snake
110 This is a classical rescue mission with little risk. A good way for Venom Snake to return to the field and was then able to reach the new meeting A Mist unit soldier, by Yoji Shinkawa.
be again the Big Boss he was physically and mentally prepared to become again by Ocelot, in the hospital.
111 Named D-Horse. 112 One of the Skull units (or Parasite unit), leaded by Skull Face. The one that wiped out Miller's team.
point and departed the place by As they were landing on the platform's
chopper, with Miller on board. helipad, Venom Snake looked at the big
The latter made up for lost time by white tarpaulins covering some parts of it,
evoking the attack on the Mother still under construction. He then helped
Base by the XOF, and introduced to Miller to get off the choper, while a small
Venom Snake their new mercenaries unit of Diamond Dogs's soldiers came
army, named the Diamond Dogs. The Diamond Dogs logo. with a medical bed to carry him. Ocelot
was with them. Before a soldier gave him a
As they were approaching the new Mother Base, located in the Seychelles, crutch, Miller announced to Venom Snake
aboard the chopper, Miller told Venom Snake about his phantom pain and that everything they would done on this
his desire for revenge against Cipher, with whom he regretted doing business. new Mother Base would be for revenge
Two helicopters escorted them to the base's Command Platform113. on Cipher114. Finally, he lay down on the
medical bed and a soldier put an oxygen
mask on his face, before taking him away
Ocelot on Mother Base, by Yoji Shinkawa. for treatment.
Note This short dialogue ends by Venom Snake saying "– This isn't about
the past. We're fighting for the future." As Miller only wants to take revenge
on Cipher, Venom Snake, the former combat medic, is more into the future
and how the Diamond Dogs could be put to good use.
Now alone with Ocelot, the latter gave Venom Snake a Fulton recovery
device, to begin recruiting and bringing back soldiers on Mother Base,
during his next mission115.
Equipped, he left Mother base by calling a support helicopter, piloted by
a soldier named Pequod116.
114 This is the origin of the "V" in the title: vengeance.
THE COMMAND PLATFORM, THE MAIN ONE OF MOTHER BASE, CODENAME D-001. 115 At this point, there is only a small group of soldiers on the Command Platform.
STILL UNDER CONSTRUCTION, ON THE RIGHT. 116 This is another reference to Moby Dick (1851). Pequod is the name of the Captain Ahab's whaler. And in
113 At this point, like in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), this is the only and main platform and the the game, this is the one of the pilot of the chopper that Venom Snake will use each time he will have to reach a
player has to build the base throughout the game, by getting funds and building the others platforms one by one. destination for a mission, throughout the game.
Note: The three new main missions available from this point are more Venom Snake then found a
trainings to let the player discover the Afghan region and the gameplay. Russian and a Pashto interpreters120
on the field and brought them back
Meanwhile, on Mother Base, Ocelot had a discussion with Miller, as he to Mother Base. They then worked
was recovering117. He told him that the man who just saved him was Venom for him and translated in real time
Snake, the former combat medic, and that the real Big Boss left them to the Soviet soldiers's discussions
create his own military nation: Outer Heaven. Until it would be achieved, Venom Snake holding D-Dog. during his future missions.
he and Miller would have to support Venom Snake, a decoy that the USA At the start of the first of his two next missions, Venom Snake encounte-
and Cipher would chase. Miller felt betrayed but agreed to follow the plan, red a one-eyed wild wolf/dog baby that he extracted with a Fulton device.
by using Venom Snake, the Diamond Dogs and the new Mother Base to Once he came back to Mother Base, Ocelot arrived with the baby dog,
take his revenge on Cipher. Ocelot, on his side, was already thinking about which he named DD, for D-Dog (or Diamond Dog). The little animal went
the time where Big Boss's "sons", born from Zero's Les Enfants Terribles straight to the man who found him in the wild and greeted him enthusias-
project, will have or want to kill Venom Snake, since they were created tically121. Ocelot promised to raise and train him as a combat dog, while he
for that purpose. Miller then rejected Big Boss and said that he accepted would be gone on missions.
his role, but would make Venom Snake and his sons stronger than him. As he began to recruit new soldiers on the field, Mother Base began to
Ocelot then pointed the fact that "they're only room for one Big Boss", so be able to create multiple teams, including the R&D one, which allowed
like The Boss and Naked Snake before, the "sons" would face him and only Venom Snake to develop new weapons or accessories122.
one of them would survive, to inherit the title of Big Boss. And if Miller Venom Snake then accomplished a sabotage mission123, to weakened
would support one of them, Ocelot would support the other one. Miller the Soviet outposts's communications. The mission was requested by an
agreed and, from here, they began to cooperate but were called to become anti-Soviet group, close to the Mujahedin rebels. Miller wanted to focus on
enemies118. Ocelot also explained that he would use self hypnosis to make his revenge on Cipher in priority, but the Diamond Dogs needed money
himself believe that Venom Snake is the real Big Boss (to lie with convic- to grow, so the contract was a good opportunity for that, and destroying
tion, if questioned), along with a trigger to end the hypnosis, in due time. the communications could be useful later, for future missions. With the
Venom Snake then accomplished his first solo mission: neutralizing a mission's money, Ocelot built a base development unit platform124.
Spetsnaz Commander in the Afghan region119. 120 These are the Side Ops 1: Extract Interpreter (Russian) and 2: Extract Interpreter (Pashto).
121 Along with the 108 foreign bodies in his bodies, of which one forms a black horn on the right of his
forehead, and his missing arm replaced by a red bionic arm, his dog is one of the key pieces that slowly build the
story of Venom Snake throughout the game, and gradually detaches him from the real Big Boss.
Note: From that point, the first Side Ops are available. 122 Like in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006) and Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), recruited
117 This discussion can be heard as a background discussion, after the end of the Mission 46: Truth. soldiers have each different abilities and can be assigned to the different teams, which have different purposes.
118 Which will lead to Miller's death at the beginning of Metal Gear Solid (1998). 123 This is the mission 4: C2W.
119 This is the Mission 3: A Hero's Way. 124 Which was used for material refinement and platform construction.
Note: In addition to money and soldiers, Venom Snake started collecting Note: From there, with the help of the engineer (Spying Harrier), the player
materials on the field, to create a stock for Mother Base to develop weapons can develop variants and upgrades for the bionic arm, througout the game.
and grow.
THE EIGHT DIFFERENT BIONIC ARMS'S VARIANTS: STUN, HAND OF JEHUTY,

ROCKET, BLAST, MEDICAL, FIRE, PARASITE AND ARCHAEAL.
THE FIVE MATERIALS BOXES THAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE GAME: FUEL, BIOLOGICAL,
COMMON METALS, MINOR METALS AND PRECIOUS METALS.
Note: Once each main mission is completed, the player gets a rank according
As that time, the Diamond Dogs were a perfect opportunity for Miller to its performances (from E to S, with a specific codename that can change
to enter the war economy. With the onset of attacks, hostage-taking and with a similar rank, depending on the way of playing (more action or infiltra-
terrorism that he saw coming years ago125, mercenearies and/or privates tion oriented, for example), Heroism points (a feature already present in
forces were hired by the highest bidders around the globe, so his army Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010)), and money (GMP128 in the game).
would quickly find its place in the new world126. Venom Snake was then It can also increase the link with the player's selected partner: D-Horse, or
sent on another mission127 and rescued a Soviet engeneer who attempted later: D-Dog, or Quiet. Side Ops only provides money.
to defect but ended up a prisoner at the Wakh Sind barracks. He managed
to contact Mother Base and offered his skills against his freedom. This was Back in the field, Venom Snake received a radio call by Miller, who told
the man who created the bionic arm, so the only one capable to repair/fix it. him that Langley had contacted them to recover a new US military hardware
125 He mentioned it in the final discussion of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), with Big Boss. that gone missing in the Afghan mountains129. Miller accepted the job and
126 This information comes from one of the many tapes that can be unlocked throughout the game and
listened to at any time by the player. They are as a summary of the events of a previous games as detailed reports sent Venom Snake to the area indicated by the client.
about each missions of the game. And by knowing that Venom Snake is not the real Big Boss, it can also be seen
as a way for Ocelot to learn him everything about Big Boss's life from scratch, through the tapes. 128 Short for Gross Military Product.
127 This is the Mission 5: Over the Fence. 129 Which reminds the triggering event of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006).
Venom Snake began the Langley's contract130 to recover the codenamed Note: The prisoner can be recovered
"Honey Bee" American weapon, that was stolen to the Mujahedin, to whom before the jeep reaches the base. If it's
they wanted to sent the weapon. The latter were massacred, but the weapon done, there is a short cutscene where
was still hid in their former base: the Da Smasei Laman fort. As Venom Venom Snake shows him a picture
Snake began his mission, the Soviets were searching for the weapon too, of the stolen weapon's box, before
with the help of a rebel survivor whom they led to the base by jeep. Venom the prisoner, mute132, mimicks what
Snake first reached a Soviet relay base, that led to the isolated fort. the weapon is: a rocket launcher. He Venom Snake showing the picture to the prisoner.
can be exfiltrated with a Fulton device and give the exact location of the
"Honey Bee", once at Mother Base.
Venom Snake got rid of the fort soldiers and reached the weapon's
location133, in the ruins. In the box, he eventually found it: a Dual-Detector
Seeker Missile Honey Bee SAM-81. A man-portable surface-to-air missile
intended to help the Mujahedin destroy Soviets's HP-48 Krokodil helicopters.
THE RELAY BASE.
The fort was located in old ruins and only had one entrance: a short
THE "HONEY BEE".
tunnel carved into the rock, guarded by a Soviet soldier in a guard tower.
An helicopter was also patrolling above this entrance, so Venom Snake had Once recovered, Miller made it clear to Venom Snake that the weapon
to stealthily infiltrated the place. Some Soviet soldiers were already there, shouldn't be used, in order to study it. He then left the fort, and mist began
searching for the weapon. When the Soviets's jeep arrived, the prisoner was to appear. Once back at the entrance to the fort's ruins, he encountered the
brang into the ruins to lead the soldiers to the hidden weapon131. floating boy, before being captured by a giant mechanical hand.
132 Which explains how he survived (because exposed to the vocal cord parasites which killed his comrades
130 This is the Mission 6: Where do the bees sleep? too, but they need the host to speak to grow. Details about the parasite will be explained later in the summary).
131 The prisoner is killed once the Soviets find the weapon. It's one of the secondary objectives to save him. 133 If the player waits too long and doesn't pick it up: mission fails. There's even a dedicated cutscene (02:45).
When he woke up, Venom Snake Venom Snake then accomplished a few missions to help Mother Base get
was upside down, held by his feet some money. One of them137 was to eliminate three Soviet commanders
and facing the man who sent him who met at Wialo Village. But once done, there was a backlash: the Soviets
to the hospital nine years ago: Skull felt threatened and sent reinforcements (men and equipment) to the area138.
Face134. He spoke briefly to Venom Meanwhile, on Mother Base, Ocelot built the Medical Team, to take care
Snake, as the Soviet soldiers in the of the injured soldiers, the sick ones or those suffering from PTSD. He also
ruins's entrance were killed one by Skull Face and Venom Snake. started the construction of a new platform dedicated to this new unit139.
one by the Mist unit, that he led, and transformed into "zombies". Then, the Back in the field, Venom Snake was requested by a client to get rid of
mechanical hand, which seemed to belonged to a giant machine, dropped a Soviet Colonel140, posted in the Sakhra Ee village, who wanted to make
Venom Snake, as Skull Face disappeared with it into the mist. the Da Smasei Laman fort, where the Mujahedin hid the "Honey Bee" and
Venom Snake then managed to leave the place135 with the "Honey Bee" were eliminated, his new headquarters. He also planned to bring a tank unit
and reached a meeting point to depart by chopper, to return to Mother there, but nothing was done yet. As the redeployment date wasn't known,
Base. He and Miller understood that Cipher was in Afghanistan, seeking Venom Snake fulfilled the contracy without delay and managed to exfiltrate
for the "Honey Bee" too, and that they would have to find out why. the Colonel and destroyed his tank unit, before they left the village.
After the mission, Ocelot announced that he created an intel unit on After this mission, Ocelot built the Combat Unit. Divided into small
Mother Base, to send soldiers on the field and get information to Venom units of merceneraries, they could be sent to complete small contracts and
Snake, while he was on a mission136. bring back GMP, materials and medical plants to Mother Base. He also
Back on Mother Base, Ocelot came to Venom Snake at the helipad, along announced that the sick bay was finished, on the Medical Team plaftorm.
with the D-Dog puppy. He then took him with him, while Big Boss went
to take some rest.
Note: I take the opportunity here to make a short summary about the
Mother Base features, to summarize all the things the player can do while
wandering on it. He can meet the soldiers he recruited on the field, complete ALL THE MEDICAL PLANTS OF THE GAME: BLACK CARROT, WORMWOOD, GOLDEN CRES-
CENT, HAOMA, TERRAGON, AFRICAN PEACH, DIGITALIS LUTEA AND DIGITALIS PURPUREA.
"Target Practice" Side Ops (to get easy GMP, if you run out of money), and
137 This is the Mission 7: Red Brass.
walk around the base (on foot or by jeep). 138 Which makes the enemy better equiped and with better abilities, from that point of the game.
134 Still wearing an XOF patch, but on his black waistcoat this time. 139 In the game, there are several teams for the Mother Base's soldiers. Each of them has a dedicated main
135 Here, the player can either kill the Mist unit with the "Honey Bee", or run away. platform, then accompanied by smaller ones, which increase the level, equipment and number of members.
136 When we know that Venom Snake is Big Boss's double and that Ocelot carries out his plan, the fact that Besides, there is also a dedicated menu to assign each soldier to the unit the player wants, a feature already present
he's the one who create all new teams or platforms can let think that Venom Snake is not the one who truly in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010).
decides. Same thing with Miller, he created the Diamond Dogs and the new Mother Base's Command Platform. 140 This is the Mission 8: Occupation Forces.
Venom Snake then landed on the Medical Venom Snake visited her six times to show her pictures from the first
Unit main platform and entered one of Mother Base, and she talked about all the characters present there, before
the sick bay's room141 where he found Paz, its destruction: Gálvez, Strangelove, Cécile, Amanda, Chico, Huey.
sat on her bed, reading a book written by
Gálvez. Her hair were shoulder-length Note: The second half of this series of Side Ops is available once Skull Face
and she had a V scar on the belly. is killed, during the Mission 31: Sahelanthropus.
Note: Paz's presence in the game and what After Skull Face's death, Venom Snake visited Paz. Her condition worsened
happens during the several times Venom after Miller told her about Skull Face. Adding to her memory problems, she
Snake visits her in this room is secondary, no longer spoke and her V scar, still closed, began to bleed for no reason144.
so I make a summary of it here. In fact, Later, Venom Snake showed Paz the four other pictures, and they had a
Paz is actually dead but the former combat little chat for each, again145.
medic has a trauma about the fact that he Once done, he found a picture
wasn't able to save her. It's a mental residue of a blue morpho butterfly146 on
that survived the Ocelot's therapy to turn Paz, by Yoji Shinkawa. a wall, outside Paz's room, which
him into Big Boss. The last trace of his initial personnality. reminded him what truly happened
to Paz. She died in the chopper and
As he saw Paz, Venom Snake had a memory of what happened in the he finally accepted it. As a former
chopper, and pictured a version of that memory where he could have save medic, he couldn't forgive himself
her. By examining his belly after removing the first bomb, he took off the for her death, but finally did and said
other one from her uterus with his hands and saved her life142. When he first goodbye to his last own memories.
met her, Miller and Ocelot were there and Ocelot explained that Paz thought
she was still in 1974 and forgot everything that occured afterwards143. Note: There are tapes about Paz. In
141 Which can be done after the player completes the Side Op 51: Extract the Wandering Mother Base one of them, we discover that her
Soldiers 01. This is the first in a series of ten missions where the player must find and exfiltrate a lost soldier who and Strangelove had a relationship. Venom Snake found peace. Artwork by Yoji Shinkawa.
lost his mind after he survived the attack of Mother Base, in 1975. Each time one of them is recovered, the player
unlocks an old picture of events that happened on the first Mother Base and are linked to Paz. And each time, 144 Which is a metaphor of one of the messages from the game's story. Taking revenge on Skull Face just
the player can visit her and show her the picture to have a quick chat with her. re-open old wounds and didn't solve anything, mentally speaking.
142 This is the way the former combat medic's brain chose to find an explanation to the presence of Paz on 145 By writing this, I'm wondering if those short memories could in fact be ones the former combat medic
Mother Base. And for the explosion of the second bomb inside Paz's body, he mentally replaced it by a rocket and Paz shared on the old Mother Base, during medical visits, maybe? That would explain why he's never
fired by an XOF soldier in the chopper they crashed into. mentioned in her stories, and why they are brief, and all happening in a medical room.
143 Once again, all of this is mentally created by Venom Snake to add explanations to the presence of Paz. 146 Morpho was the codename of the helicopter's pilot in Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (2014).
Venom Snake then left the Medical Unit main platform and was sent
back to the field to help the Mujahedin, by destroying Soviet vehicles that
were about to be sent in reinforcements for a battle147. With his horse
and explosive equipment, he got rid of many AMVs, an attack helicotper,
and tanks. For his mission, the most he was able to destroy, the most the
Diamond Dogs got money. And during the latter148, he also found a new
kind of missile launcher in the back of a truck: the CGM 25.
A CGM 25, A MULTI-LOCK HOMING MISSILE THAT CAN LOCK UP TO FOUR DIFFERENT
TARGETS SIMULTANEOUSLY AND FIRE EIGHT GUIDED MISSILES AT ONCE.
After this mission, a unit dedicated to the medical plants recovering was
built149 on Mother Base, along with a new platform: the zoological one.
Note: Earlier in the game, the player is informed that an NGO asked to the
Diamond Dogs to rescue some animals in danger, because living in areas
that have become combat zones. They should welcomed them but didn't
have a place yet, so Ocelot built a dedicated platform. The animals can be
found in the wild or captured with capture cages. Here is the animals's list:
147 This battle takes place out of the game's map. The Mujahedin are never shown, only mentioned.
148 This is the Mission 9: Backup, Back Down.
149 It's a helpful automatic system that give the players medical plant without having to grab it himself. ALL THE WILD ANIMALS THAT CAN BE FOUND IN THE GAME.
After his contract to help the Mujahedin, Venom Snake fulfilled another After the last mission, the Diamond Dogs got the information that a
one150 requested by a dying father, asking the Diamond Dogs to rescue his highly skilled sniper called Quiet was very active in the Afghan region
son, called Malak ("Angel", in Hebrew) by his brothers in arms. He was recently. This sniper killed many Soviet officers, always on the same spot,
captured by the Soviets and kept in the Lamar Khaate Palace's ruins. but they could never catch him. Miller believed the sniper was an agent
Malak's family was killed in an airstrike on their former village. By radio, working for Cipher and wanted his head, but Ocelot preferred to bring the
before he landed, Miller told him that they were other prisoners with him sniper back alive on Mother Base, for questioning151.
and each one he would save would earn them a bonus. At the same time, the Diamond Dogs also interceded a message coming
Once recovered, Malak told Miller that he never heard about the client from a scientist who wanted to defect from the east: Huey Emmerich, who
claiming to be his father, and that his village was destroyed long ago before wasn't aware of who was leading the Diamond Dogs. At that point, he was
he was taken prisoner. Hit with some sort of illness, the village was then the N°1 suspect for the attack on Mother Base, nine years ago. Miller wanted
burnt to ashes. Malak was on a mission at the time. When he came back, he Venom Snake to take this chance to bring him back, to get explanations on
saw XOF soldiers wandering near the village. Later, he was captured by the what happened that day, and gave him his location: the Serak power plant.
Soviets and when Cipher learned about it, they hired the Diamond Dogs to Back in the field, Venom Snake encoun-
bring him back to them, before he spoke. But Malak warned Miller before tered the mysterious sniper, Quiet, as he
being handed to Cipher, so the latter decided to keep him on Mother Base reached the Aabe Shifap Ruins (artwork on
and told the client he was dead. Miller also noticed that the event was very the next page): the only way to the power
similar to what happended with the Hamids at the Da Smasei Laman fort. plant. It was a large place with a stream and
different levels, covered with columns and
Note: Prisoners can be found, as secondary objectives in many main remains of ancient buildings, including a
missions, and as the main objective in a series of Side Ops. They're also the huge rock gate with a pointed dome, on
case for Side Op 112: Intel Agent Extraction. In this one, the player must which the female sniper took position.
return to the Soviet camp where She was particularly precise and hard to
he rescued Miller in the Mission 1: hit, and once spotted or injured, moved
Phantom Limbs. But this time, the to another position with an outstanding
prisoner is… Hideo Kojima himself! speed. Venom Snake managed to weak
Of course, he's an high-ranked her enough and defeat her, and found her
soldier, with an S Rank for Intel and lying on the middle of a place whose floor
A+ one for R&D (the higher ones). was covered with ancient paintings. Quiet, by Yoji Shinkawa.
The mysterious prisoner.
150 This is the Mission 10: Angel With Broken Wings. 151 A different between them, once again.
As he approached, Venom Snake Later, approaching from Mother Base and flying above the ocean, the
pulled out a pistol and pointed it Venom Snake's chopper was spotted and attacked by a enemy warplane.
at Quiet, lying on the ground. By To not led it to Mother Base, Pequod, the pilot, began maneuvers to get rid
radio, Miller ordered him to kill her, of it, but it opened fire with its machine guns. The fighter aircraft's pilot
as Ocelot told him to bring her back missed and made another passage, to fire a missile on the chopper, that the
on Mother Base. He finally sheathed pilot avoided with countermeasures. The fighter made a second passage and
Venom Snake about to kill Quiet. his gun and decided to call for the this time fired a laser-guided missile (LGM), that couldn't be avoided with
chopper and put her on board152. decoy flares. So Venom Snake opened the left side door of the chopper and
He put handcuffs around her wrists and covered her with a military coat, grabbed the minigun to open fire on the missile before the collision, but
but she suddenly woke up, got rid of her handcuffs and threw the coat on the chopper moved too much while trying to avoid the fighter and Venom
him. He just has a fraction of second to saw her eyes circled by what looked Snake fell twice, trying to grab the minigun. He suddenly saw two hands
like a stain of black ink. As he was blinding by the cloth, she disappeared appearing and grabbing the minigun's grips in front of him, before the rest
from the chopper's cabin, and Venom Snake left the place without her. of Quiet's body appeared as well. He discovered that she had the ability to
make herself invisible, and that she had been in the chopper since they left
152 The player has the choice, but for this summary, I decided that Venom Snake wants to bring her back. Of
course, the mission can be redone and the choice changed. It is not definitive. Afghanistan. Using her skills, she managed to hit the missile before it reached
the chopper, at few meters from the latter, and then grabbed her sniper rifle,
while Venom Snake took his position and the minigun. The fighter made a
fourth pass and as it were coming straight to the chopper, ready for another
missile fire, Venom Snake began firing at him, while Quiet concentrated to
make an impossible shot, as the fighter's pilot was waving horitonzally to
avoid the minigun's bullets. She shot once. The fighter immediately entered
a straight direction and slowly lost altitude, until passing through the
chopper. As he was passing, Venom
Snake and Quiet spotted the impact
on the front of the fighter's canopy,
and the task of blood at the end of it
too, behind the pilot's helmet. The
fighter crashed into the ocean and
the chopper reached Mother Base. Quiet, about to shoot the fighter aircraft.
Back to Mother Base, two choppers escorted Venom Snake's one to the a large flat tracked transporter. Venom
Command Platform, each with an armed soldier seated in the open side Snake came closer and overheard a discus-
door, with an assault rifle directly pointed at Quiet153. Above them, on sion between two men: Huey Emmerich;
the helipad, Miller was surrounded by a group of soldiers and Ocelot. He who was wearing a special gear he had
warned Venom Snake not let her land on Mother Base, as a Cipher's agent. designed himself, mechanical legs that
Quiet then looked at him from above, and jumped into the void, disappea- allowed him to walk, instead of using a
ring briefly, before landing next to the helipad, on the platform, behind the wheelchair; and Skull Face. They were
soldiers. She then became visible again, and got rid of her handcuffs, once talking about the new Metal Gear, the
again. The soldiers positioned themselves in a semi-circle around her and Sahelanthropus, and that its final tests had
pointed their guns at her. So she disappeared once again and Ocelot ordered just been done. Huey said the AI wasn't
his soldiers to use their thermal binoculars. They found her quickly, and she operational yet, but Skull Face replied he
reappeared. Ocelot ordered to cease her, then Miller to kill her. But Venom didn't want it, and that it was Coldman's
Snake arrived and told to put her in a cell for now. The soldiers took her mistake to use it155. Finally, annoyed by the
away, as Miller told Venom Snake he was making a mistake, because now scientist's complains, and warned by one
she knew their location and could inform Cipher. Venom Snake was aware of his guards about Huey's secret message Skull Face, by Yoji Shinkawa.
of it and knew they, he, would have to kill her one day, but not today. to be rescued, Skull Face pushed him down the stairs, which broke his
Ocelot then put her in a cell on the Medical platform, to study her abilities. mechanical legs. Now that the new Metal Gear, was done and his own, Skull
After this unexpected encounter, Venom Snake returned to Afghanistan Face didn't need Huey anymore, but kept him alive just in case156.
and headed the Serak power plant to recover Huey154. There, he reached Then, an XOF soldier grabbed Huey
the northern section of the plant and, as he was passing through a door with the arm of a Walker Gear157, another
of which he just picked the lock, an weapon designed by him, to carry him to
electric gate opened on his left and another Soviet base.
a truck enter the hidden area of the Skull Face then left the hangar with
plant: a very small road leading to a the truck, and Venom Snake saw the
huge hangar dug in the rock. Inside, Sahelanthropus being moved from it.
he saw XOF soldiers and a new type An artwork of a Walker Gear. Finally, he left the hangar too.
155 He evokes here the Peace Walker's Mammal pod incident of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010).
The Metal Gear, at the back of the hangar. of Metal Gear, the ST-84, placed on 156 At this moment, Skull Face kneels to grab Huey by the neck and tell him: "I may dwell in the dark, but I
153 We can deduce here that Miller gave that order, and show once again that Venom Snake isn't really in refuse to be juged by your statements, traitor!" As Huey's guilty in the attack of Mother Base is never really prove
charge of Mother Base and the Diamond Dogs. in the whole game, I think this is the best proof of it.
154 This is the Side Op 82: Make Contact with Emmerich. 157 The real USAF's Beetle robot, designed by Jared industries, could have been an inspiration for its design.
Skull Face took a helicopter to left the On the way to the meeting point,
plant and reach the base where Huey was Huey began to defend himself against
moved158, and Venom Snake began a long the charges of treason against him,
drive to reach it: a large base, with dozens during the AIEA inspection nine
of Soviet soldiers, snipers, a helipad and years earlier. Huey blamed Venom
AMVs159. He headed for the warehouses Snake (who he think was the real Big
located to the northwest of the base and Boss) for having nuclear weapons
entered the main one. He found Huey, on Mother Base, which caused the
and, as he was approaching, a voice came inspection163, and also complained
from the Mammal pod160, on his left. that he had been forced to create
bipedal weapons for the Soviets164.
Note: There is another clue about the When they reached the meeting
identity of Venom Snake here. When it point, the chopper started to
spotted him, the pod said "Snake?" and descend, but a massive object fell
Huey Emmerich, by Yoji Shinkawa. "It's not you.". It just spoils the final twist. from the sky, near it, in a large
Sahelanthropus, by Yoji Shinkawa. With a painting of a
skull on the front of its face, which reminds Skull Face. screen of dust. The helicopter took
Huey, from his desk, then told him it was just a machine, thinking it was a off and the floating boy slowly emerged from the dust screen. Along with
random soldier. He had fixed his mechanical legs, and stood up to face him. the Sahelanthropus, just behind him. The Metal Gear slowly stood up in
After a few seconds that he spent to look at him, wondering who was in front of Venom Snake and Huey, on its two heavy and powerful mechani-
front of him161, Huey recognized who he thought was Big Boss. But, without cal legs. Huey didn't understand how it could be functional, because he
warning, the latter put a black cloth bag over his head and cut an important didn't finished it, and Skull Face appeared, standing on the big right hand
cable of his "legs" to prevent him from running away, before taking him of the Metal Gear. He told him that he was no longer useful, before an XOF
on his back. Miller then contacted Venom Snake by radio and told him he chopper arrived near the Sahelanthropus, of which right hand put Skull
was sending a chopper to the meeting point, to bring Huey back to Mother Face aboard, leaving Venom Snake and Huey to face the Metal Gear.
Base. And Huey suggested that Venom Snake use the Walker Gear that the The meeting point changed and Venom Snake had to reach it ASAP, distan-
Soviet soldier used to bring him here, and turned it on162. cing the Sahelanthropus and avoiding its surveillance mines: hunter-killer
158 This is the Mission 12: Hellbound.
159 Present in the outer part of the base, but unused. explosive probes that seek out targets to relay the results to the Metal Gear.
160 The one from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), with The Boss AI inside. 163 If we look at the big picture, he's right, about the possession of nukes. But here, he only refutes the charges
161 This hesitation is another clue about the true identity of Venom Snake, the fake Big Boss. against him by accusing his accuser, as a defense. Which doesn't prove anything and doesn't innocent him.
162 The player can choose to use it, or keep D-Horse or walk to bring Huey to the chopper. 164 But he could also have went underground after his betrayal, to work for them of his own will.
Note: The Sahelanthropus's head Awakened by water thrown over his face with a bucket, Huey, tied on his
has sensors with small lights. Their still mechanical legs for six hours, still defended himself from the charges
colors indicates the threat status: against him, and accused Miller of having been in contact and working
blue: none, yellow: detecting one, with Cipher, nine years ago. The latter, sit behind a table, facing Huey, stood
red: threat detected and on attack up and joined him, telling him that everyone lost something in the attack
mode. During the battle, as long as of Mother Base, except him. Angry, he pushed Huey to the ground and
they are red, the player can't leave. Sahelanthropus, with its head sensors's red lights. grabbed the remote control of his mechanical legs, to lift its left knee's joint
forward until Huey's leg nearly broke, but he stopped before it happened
Once he was far enough from the Sahelanthropus165, Venom Snake was and left the room; leaving Huey alone with Ocelot, who had previously
able to reach the chopper. He put Huey on board and went up in turn to tried different types of truth serums to get him to talk, in vain. Miller
leave. But the Metal Gear spotted them and headed in their direction. Not joined Venom Snake outside the room and told him the the serums weren't
yet high enough to escape, the bipedal weapon fire surveillance mines at working, surely because Huey had undergone special treatment training
which Venom Snake had to fire, by grabbing the chopper's left minigun. to be immune to them. He then lend a cassette tape of the interrogation to
Once destroyed, the Sahelanthropus jumped to strike the helicopter with Venom Snake, who told him that they would need proofs to judge him, and
its hand, but Venom Snake fired at its head and hit an explosive point. The that his presence here should be kept a secret. Miller agreed and said from
Metal Gear then fell on its back, on the ground, inactive. As he was watching, now on, he would continue his research here, for them. Ocelot then joined
Huey said a line about the meaning of the Sahelanthropus's name166, to them and said that Huey told him why Cipher just stopped their operations
which Venom Snake answered by putting back its cloth bag on his face, to in Afghanistan: their funding started to go in Central Africa, where they
avoid him seeing where the new Mother Base was located, during the trip. were about to pursue new research. Huey didn't know why but told Ocelot
Back to Mother Base, Huey was transfered in an interrogation room, the that Sahelanthropus on its own wasn't enough to cause a Revolution in
"Room 101"167, to face Miller and Ocelot. Military Affairs (RMA), and that Cipher was going to make "a weapon to
165 If the player can choose to use walking, D-Horse or the Walker Gear to carry Huey, D-Horse is clearly surpass Metal Gear" in Africa.
the better choise for this boss fight.
166 It refers to a Man's ancestor of the same name. He could have been the first to walk.and is a major Miller then began to investigate and learned that Cipher had made contact
candidate for the missing link of the chimpanzee-human divergence, according to Darwin's theory of evolution.
The facts that it's unsure that he is the link between chimpanzee and men, and may have been bipedal, is interes- with an African private forces operating in the Angola-Zaire border region.
ting because the Sahelanthropus of Skull Face has kind of the same role in the Metal Gear Solid whole story, along Ocelot knew that Zero hadn't seen in public for ten years by then, and
with his plan, and will also be erased from History for a long time, after the game's events and Skull Face's death.
167 It is a reference to the book 1984 (1949), by George Orwell. In the book, the Room 101 is where all the came to the conclusion that the attack of Mother Base of 1975 must instead
dissident prisoners of the Big Brother's Angsoc party are sent not to be questioned, but rather to be brainwashed
before being able to reintegrate Oceania (the book's city), and its totalitarian regime. Here, the room has more or have been led by the XOF and its commander, Skull Face, whom they just
less the same purpose. Many prisoners and soldiers captured by Venom Snake are questioned by Ocelot, surely met, for the second time. He suspected it but was now sure, and told Venom
in this room. And one feature of the game is for Ocelot to "convince" exfiltrated soldiers to join the Diamond
Dogs. We have an idea how. Besides, there's a poster in the game which makes a reference to this book. Snake that the Cipher they were chasing was not Zero's anymore.
Note: It can happens sooner if the player made a lot of Side Ops or played With new intel, Venom Snake was sent to the Angola-Zaire border region
randomly in the Afghan map, but the full grown D-Dog buddy is operational to fulfill a mission, and investigate on Cipher's presence over there.
around this point in the game. Now an adult, he can accompany the player The mission168, requested by an NGO, had for target the Mfinda oilfields,
in missions and get several useful features: the main one is to spot enemies upstream of the landing point. A pipeline that crossed the Munene river
from a distance, which makes the missions easier and avoids to be spotted failed, which covered the shore in crude by a spill. Villagers downstream had
by a guard in a corner of a building. Like with D-Horse, there is a bond no more drinking water because of the leak. Venom Snake's objectives were
level system that can allow the player to get new features and commands to destroy the facility that used the pipeline to stop the leak. The Mfinda
for distracting, injuring of even killing enemies. But also different colors of oilfields were outdated and had been abandoned by the MPLA169 for a long
fur and equipments to unlock: like a shocking knife, a regular one, or even time, until the rebel group UNITA170 moved in to kickstart operations.
a Fulton device gear to make him extract enemies for the player. D-Dog can Miller accepted the job because he found it suspicious that they recently
also save Venom Snake from the attack of a wild animal. Finally, the player rapidly modernized their arsenal with US military weapons. And from
can pet him anytime by pressing the △ button. what he could learn, the broker was a Cipher's front company.
ARTWORK OF VENOM SNAKE'S HELICOPTER, ABOVE THE MUNENE RIVER.
168 The is the Mission 13: Pitch Dark.

ARTWORK OF D-DOG AND VISUAL IN-GAME. ON THE LEFT UPPER CORNER, WE CAN SEE HIM 169 Movimento Popular de Libertação de Angola, or People's Movement for the Liberation of Angola.
WITH AND WITHOUT HIS EYE-PATCH. A FEATURE LET THE PLAYER TO GIVE IT A GLASS EYE. 170 National Union for the Total Independence of Angola. Founded in 1966, UNITA fought the MPLA
during the Angolan Civil War (1975-2002), just after the Angolan War of Independence (1961-1974).
Note: This mission is the one with which the player discovers the second Note: At this point of the game, the children can't be extracted with the
and African region of the game. In the story, it's also the beginning of the Fulton device, but the player have the possibility to bring them back one by
track of both Cipher and Skull Face. one to the chopper, to do so. Extracting four of them is one of the secondary
objectives of the mission (always hidden during the first playthrough).
Accompanied by D-Dog, Venom Snake landed on the shore of the oil-co-
vered river, and walked away of it to reach a coastal desert village: Bwala ya After he passed the village, Venom
Masa; turned into a supply center. There, he encountered UNITA soldiers Snake stole a jeep to reach the oilfield.
and a group of child soldiers in a training session. Miller told him that he found who
owned the oilfield: the South African
Note: Miller gives here a speech to Venom Snake about what the mercena- Natural Resources (SANR): an oil
ries have been up to over the nine past years, and that he was about to enter company that had drilled oil wells
this war industry with MSF, before the first Mother Base was destroyed, but One of the dead bodies, floating on the surface. across the region. Once each well
sees it now with another look. Cold War soldiers became dogs of war, sent was empty, they abandoned the facility and the crude oil inevitably spilled
to war zones all over the world as mercenaries or private forces, without out, so the UNITA's arrival in the region was the perfect cover for them.
a cause but for money, to survive in a After sneaking into the facility, full of, surprisingly, non-UNITA mercena-
world they no longer belonged too. He ries equiped with Walker Gears, Venom Snake managed to shut down the
also says that with the imminent end of oil transfer pump to stop the leak. As soon as he did so, dead mutilated
the Cold War, ressources exploitation and locals's bodies with visible lungs on their chests appeared on the surface
tribal clashes, the demand of mercena- of the oil processing tanks. Venom Snake then destroyed the oily water
ries and private forces was high in Africa. separator tank with C4. The massive explosion brought nearby soldiers and
Developed countries (mainly the United Venom Snake had to dodge them to leave the area171.
States of America and the Soviet Union)
took the opportunity and also sell surplus Note: In this mission, the soldier who watch the child soldiers can be a
of weapons, which fuel armed conflicts. transport specialist. If brought back to Mother Base, he unlock the Cargo
The movie Lord of War (2005), inspired 2 upgrade for the Fulton device, which allow the player to extract contai-
by lives of real arms dealer, tells the story ners172. This specialist can also be one of the prisoners of the Mission 10
of one of them. I recommend you to and/or Mission 15, or a volunteer, after completed the Mission 16.
watch it's introductory scene, "The life of 171 Of course, the player can also face them. Besides, extracting the four soldiers's Walker Gears is one of the
secondary objective of the mission.
a bullet", and its main theme: Warlord. The official poster of Lord of War (2005). 172 That is a crucial feature for obtaining ressources and expand Mother Base.
After the mission, Miller managed Then, the interpreter left the small house with another soldier, in a jeep,
to get more intel about the owners and headed the location where the other British prisoners were being held,
of the oildifled: the SANR. It was a camp nearby: the Kiziba Camp, built on the coast of a big swamp. The two
them who recruited the group of others prisoners, a bald man and a blonde woman, admitted that giving an
mercenaries that restarted and information obtained from an anonymous source was suspicious, but they
guarded the facility, the CFA, and wanted to make money, as businessmen/mercenaries. They also said that,
not the UNITA. Then, they claimed in the first place, they didn't wanted to hide the information from their
they were the victims, which went The logo of the SANR. comrades, the CFA, but that the Viscount asked them to do so.
back to the NGO that hired the Diamond Dogs. Furthermore, the SANR's
head office in Johannesbourg was just an empty room, rented in a multi-te- Note: At this point, the player understands that the Viscount and the other
nant building. In fact, the SANR no longer existed. prisoners belonged to the CFA, but betrayed them. The Viscount, co-foun-
A new job offer then came to the der of the CFA, set up a plan with a small team to manipulate the CFA so
Diamond Dogs173. It was about to that it sides with the MPLA (pro government) rather than the rebel group
rescue a British prisoner known of UNITA, so that he could secure the rights to the MPLA's oilfield for
as the "Viscount", captured by the himself. But the CFA found out and, after he tried to blamed the British
Contract Forces of Africa (CFA). and left, they captured him and his team. Then, he managed to contact the
But to question him, they had to Diamond Dogs and asked them to rescue him, and only him.
wait for an Afrikaans interpreter. The logo of the CFA.
As he landed, Venom Snake used the informations the Intel Team obtained Later in the mission, the interpetor and the soldier who accompanied
on the field to reach the location where the interpreter was spotted. When him made their way to a meeting point, where they eventually met the
he found him, the latter was with a group of soldiers and a prisoner, who Viscount. The latter didn't told them who was his anonymous informer. He
wasn't the Viscount174. Then, they reached another prisoner held in a small then tried to make a deal, but the CFA refused. Then, about to be killed by
house, a British one, and the interpreter questioned him about how he got his former comrades, Venom Snake managed to rescue and extract him,
the information about the MPLA's oilfield rights. The prisoner answered that before leaving the area.
the source was anonymous and told him to question the others prisoners.
On his side, Miller learned that it was the Viscount himself who offered Note: At that time, in the game, three (fictional) private forces occupied the
the job, through a representative, which suddenly made him suspect. Angola-Zaire border region: CFA (operating mostly in its western regions),
Zero Risk Security (linked with the SANR) and Rogue Coyote (the smallest).
173 This is the Mission 14: Lingua Franca.
174 He can be extracted. If done, he gives informations about other prisoners's locations (except the Viscount).
Note: Like in the Afghan region, Venom Snake can't understand the conver- Note: From this point, Quiet can join Venom Snake in missions. The player
sations between the local soldiers, and need here the help of two interpre- can give her orders to infiltrate an enemy outpost, to scout enemy positions,
ters. If he didn't extract the Afrikaans's one in the last mission, he can find or to attack enemies. But not from the start. Like D-Dog and D-Horse,
one with the Side Op 3: Extract Interpreter (Afrikaans), and one other (for there is a bond level that increases as she accompanies the player, which
the second language) in the N°4: Extract Interpreter (Kikongo). unlock new outfits and equipments, including a tranquilizer sniper rifle,
and later a deadly and a tranquilizer equiped with a supressor, which turns
Once the Viscount was brougth back to Mother Base, he was questioned into a legal cheat that makes the missions much easier.
and told Miller that the CFA and another group of mercenaries had bought
Walker Gears: a Soviet technology that was still a prototype. The first one Following the Walker Gear's
that he and Venom Snake saw was in Serak power plant's hidden Soviet lead, Miller noticed that one of the
base, so Cipher was well behind the oilfield leak. But Miller wondered why. latest Diamond Dogs job offers178,
On Mother Base, Venom Snake visited Quiet in her cell for the first time requested by the MPLA, had a link
since he bring her back, on the Medical Unit main platform175. Ocelot was with it. He then sent Venom Snake
there too and explained him what they found about her, along with the to the Ditadi Abandoned Village,
scientists. She didn't speak, sweat or or breathe, and didn't want to wear where the Rogue Coyote mercena-
clothes that covered her body, except the ones she was already wearing ries were stationed. Venom Snake
before she arrivaved. The reason was that she could only breathing through infiltrated the village and extracted
photosynthesis, and if her skin was covered by clothes, she would suffocate. the mercenaries's four Walker Gears
Same thing if she was submerged, so she could only take showers, during by Fulton, before leaving the place.
which she drank through her skin, what immobilized her during the process. After the mission, a ressupply call
She didn't eat either, thanks to the photosynthesis. Ocelot mentioned a for Walker Gears was made from The logo of Rogue Coyote.
member of the GRU's Cobra Unit who had this ability176. Finally, he said the Ditadi village to CFA headquarters. The CFA then contacted the SANR,
that she wasn't contagious, but that her presence on Mother Base affected the "owners" of the Mfinda Oilfield. So Miller had the confirmation that
the soldiers's morale177. Venom Snake asked Ocelot if she could go on the SANR was indeed a front for Cipher. The resupplying would take time
missions, and the latter answered not alone, because it would be too risky, and he found out that the Walker Gears were transported from of the Nova
but maybe with him. Venom Snake then left her cell and took the helicop- Braga airport. It appeared to have a distribution network and Miller decided
ter to go back on missions. to trace the money of the transactions, to trace back to Cipher, with the help
175 This is the Side Op 111: Visit Quiet. of Mother Base's Intel Team.
176 He doesn't say the name, but he refers here to The End.
177 There are old beliefs and superstitions that said that a woman aboard a boat brings bad luck. 178 This is the Mission 15: Footprints of Phantoms.
Based on reports from the Intel Team, Miller noticed a convoy passing Before the escort of the truck arrived180,
through the savannah regularly. He was officialy carrying ressources for the Venom Snake infiltrated the airport and
government, but Miller found its security far too heavy. Venom Snake took reached the truck's location. After he got
the mission and left for Africa. rid of the guards around, he approached it
Once landed, Venom Snake began his mission179 and headed straight to but, before he couldn't get on board, four
the Nova Braga Airport, to steal the convoy's truck. enemies came out. Mist suddenly surroun-
ded the place and Venom Snake quickly
Fultoned the truck, before leaving the
place to escape the Armor unit. Unlike the
Mist one, they were equiped with a heavy
armors and did heavy melee damages.
Note: Later in the game, they can be

killed181 easily with upgraded guns, but at
A 3D render artwork of an Armor unit soldier. this time, running away is the best option.
Once arrived at Mother Base, the truck was searched. Two components
were found: malachite, a common copper ore; and a shielded container,
which contained yellowcake, the raw material used for building a nuclear
weapon. Miller thought it might have something to do with the "weapon to
surpass Metal Gear" that Huey evoked earlier, but there was not enough of
it in the truck for this purpose, so nothing was sure at this point.
As the mission was done, the Diamond Dogs received an emergency call
MAP AND ARTWORKS OF THE NOVA BRAGA AIRPORT. about two Intel Team agents that undercovered the CFA, who were discove-
red and captured. Venom Snake only had a few hours to rescue them before
Note: The first time the player completes the mission, it can be useful to they were executed. Miller then deduced that Cipher knew they were there.
reach the outpost N°14 to find some intel. It provides the player with the 180 Two AMVs. The player can extract the truck before they reach the airport, or wait for them to come and
convoy's route, from the outpost N°18 to an area outside the mission map. Fulton them. Besides, a jeep with a small unit of Zero Risk Security mercenaries wait for the convoy on its route.
They can be neutralized before the latter arrives.
179 This is the Mission 16: Traitors' Caravan. 181 This is one of the mission secondary objectives.
Venom Snake wasted no time and headed to the location where the two Before going after the commander, Venom Snake fulfilled another
agents were held prisoner to rescue them182. Before he arrived, one of them contract185: to eliminate six former rebel Mbele soldiers, to avoid them to
escaped the camp and contacted the Diamond Dogs, but he told them he talk. The client was their former general. Venom Snake first reached the
was surrounded, before contact with him was cut off. The helicopter landed Bampeve Plantation, where he found and extracted one former rebel Mbele
near the last known location of the agent, and Venom Snake reached it to soldier186. Miller then told him that the others were at the Kungenga Mine.
begin his investigation. The prisoner was escorted by CFA mercenaries,
along a dry stream in the middle of a forest area. Venom Snake got rid of
the mercenaries and rescued the first agent, who told him where the other
was: at the Kiziba camp183, which was located nearby. As he was on the
way, Ocelot warned Venom Snake that heavy reinforcement were on their
way to the camp, so he had to find the agent quickly. Which he did, but
the latter was injured and could not have survive a Fulton extraction, so
Venom Snake carried him on his back and reached a meeting point where
a chopper came to extract them. Before they reached it, the prisoner talked
about a disease and that the UNITA group from the Masa Village184 were
planning to take revenge for what the Diamond Dogs did there.
As the two agents received treatment at Mother Base, Miller examined the
last job offers and stopped on one of them, about a group of mercenaries's
commander talking about getting into the nuclear industry. He thought it ARTWORK OF THE KUNKENGA MINE.
could be linked with the yellowcake they found in the truck, earlier. When he arrived there, Venom Snake discovered a large bowl-shaped mine
where the CFA was mining diamonds. An helicopter and many mercena-
Note: Around this part of the game, the player can complete a mini series ries guarded the area. Venom Snake managed to sneak around and reached
of three Side Ops (N°107, 108 and 109), which all have the same objective: the interior part of the mine, by picking the lock of the entrance gate.
extract the Legendary Gunsmith. The first two are apprentices and the last
allows the player to customize his weapons, and add a supressor on some Note: Rough diamonds can be found both in the Afghan and the African
of them, like with sniper rifles. The series is reminiscent of the missions to regions of the game. There are two sizes of them: small (which brings the
find Gálvez, in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). player 10,000 GMP) and large (which brings him 100,000 GMP).
182 This is the Mission 17: Rescue The Intel Agents.
183 Where the Mission 14: Lingua Franca took place. 185 This is the Mission 18: Blood Runs Deep.
184 The village that Venom Snake crossed in the Mission 13: Pitch Dark. 186 He can also be killed, but I chose this option for the summary.
Once inside the mine, Venom why he brang them back, because he didn't like kids with guns. To prove
Snake didn't encountered anyone, why, he gave a small tap on the kid's right shoulder with his crutch, and
until he reached a cell. He picked the latter immediately grabbed Venom Snake's assault rifle to point it on
the lock of its gate and found the Miller, who then suddenly snatched it from the hands of the frightened kid
other five targets: five young child and gave it back to Venom Snake. Then, the injured kid was placed on the
soldiers. One of the children lend a medical bed and the soldiers left the helipad with the child soldiers, while
diamond to Venom Snake, through Miller told Venom Snake that Mother Base had been expanded since the
the gate. The latter came closer and last time he came here, so the kids could have their own quarters, separate
took it to examine it, before putting from the soldiers's ones. Miller said that they would learn to read, write
it back in the palm of the boy's hand. The five children, known as "The Mbele Squad". and do basic jobs, to rehabilitate and reintegrate them. Venom Snake said
Then, the others each lend diamonds to him in their turn. Miller told Venom no more guns for them, but Miller replied that guns were part of the job,
Snake that he had a contract and that they were still recording, so the latter on Mother Base, which implied that the kids couldn't stay there for long.
shot into the cell to make the client believe that he had killed the children. Once the kids were safe, Venom Snake left Mother Base to search for the
But it was fake and the record of the mission officially stopped just after he Rogue Coyote commander who wanted to enter into the nuclear industry,
fired. Then, he picked their cell's lock and escorted them outside the mine, called the "Major". The mission189 objective was to eliminate him. One of
carrying one of them on his back because the latter was injured. They were his subordonates, who was working undercover with the CFA, was about to
several mercenaries on the way, a swamp and a river leading to an isolated make contact with him. The Intel Team had found his location and gave it
high spot, so Venom Snake had to gave the children orders187 to stop or to Venom Snake, who then followed him, driving a jeep to meet the Major,
move, depending on the situation. Eventually, everyone reached a helicop- in an isolated location. Venom Snake waited a moment and listened to their
ter at a meeting point, and Venom Snake put the five children on board188, conversation. He overheard that the CFA didn't know how the mercenaries
before embarking in turn and leaving the area. died at Bwala Ya Masa190 and that their recruits spoke about "evil spirits".
After a long trip, the children arrived at Mother Base with Venom Snake. Then, they talked about a "sickness", slave trading and the Zero Risk Security
When they landed on the helipad, Miller and Diamond Dogs soldiers were private forces who had for mission to kill an old man, which had a link with
there, with a medical bed on casters. The first kid to get off the chopper, the "nuclear weapons trading". The subordonate thought it was dangerous
looked at the soldiers facing him, and started to walk backwards, until he to get nukes, but the Major thought that a little deterrence could stop a lot
bumped into Miller, with whom he fell on the ground. A soldier helped of blood from spilling in the area. Venom Snake then trapped and extracted
Miller to get up, and he faced Venom Snake and the kids, asking his leader them all, before leaving, as a chopper was on its way to extract the Major.
187 The player has to use that feature to reach the extraction point with the children safe. But he must be
careful because they can't hear him if they're too far, so he must also stay close to them all along the way. 189 This is the Mission 19: On the Trail.
188 Because the Fulton extraction was still too dangerous for them, at that point of the game. 190 The coastal village Venom Snake crossed in the Mission 13: Pitch Dark.
Once on Mother Base, the Major was questioned and admitted that his The place was mist shrouded ravine, which separated the previous area
nuclear arms business was just a rumor he had been paid to spread. He didn't from a wild plain, further and above. A bridge was there, but destroyed, so
even know who paid for it, which made Ocelot think Cipher was behind Venom Snake had to descend to follow the very shallow creek. He crossed a
this. This fake trading was linked to the yellowcake. The Major thought it small group of mercenaries posted here, not in an outpost though, and was
too, which is why he had investigated on Zero Risk Security. Ocelot also finally able to climb195. He was then able to cross an old damaged tunnel and
reminded about the old man that the Major had spoken of while talking arrived in the abandoned Ngumba Industrial Zone, guarded by a grid and
with his subordonate, whom he was about to investigate on his own. consisting of an unfinished warehouse, two water tanks, a fuel one, and a
Back to Mother Base, Venom Snake visited Huey in the Room 101191. building in the background, higher, near a precipice. The place was isolated
The scientist took his mug and showed him his blueprints of a Metal Gear and the tunnel the only entrance.
inspired mobile tank: the Battle Gear. With the recent acquisition of Walker
Gears by the African PFs, Miller thought it would be helpful to get in support
of the Diamond Dogs soldiers on the field. Its development began there.
Right after he left the Room 101, Miller told Venom Snake that one of
the child soldiers he saved told him about a friend who, like some other
prisoners from the mine, disappeared for a place called the Nzo ya Badiabulu
(The Devils House). The SANR was linked to this and the kid asked Miller
if the Diamond Dogs could rescue his friend192.
The child to rescue was called Shabani and was the leader of the children
who worked in the mine. Venom Snake landed in a nearby area where Nzo
ya Badiabulu was located, and then passed the only way193 to reach it: the
Munoko ya Nooka (Snake's Mouth) outpost. He then arrived in a large
open area which only included a smaller guard post, which he bypassed
to finally arrive at the guarded entrance of the remote area where Nzo ya
Badiabulu was. Two mercenaries were there and the gate was locked, but
Venom Snake picked up its lock and entered194.
191 The questioning room. Later in the game, cutscenes dedicated to the development of the Battle Gear will
take place in a hangar on the R&D main platform. But there is a mystery about this, which I will come back later.
ARTWORK OF THE NGUMBA INDUSTRIAL ZONE.
192 This is the Mission 20: Voices.
193 That is what Miller says, but there is another passage in the north with no enemies that leads to another
lesser guarded outpost, located before the entrance of the area where Nzo ya Badiabulu is. 195 Climbing can allow the player to reach the other side of the broken bridge. It leads to the valley, but the
194 This time, the gate is really the only way to reach the mission's destination. latter is not in the mission's area and cannot yet be reached at this point of the game.
Venom Snake eventually entered the warehouse and reached his final Note: While doing this summary, I realize that this sequence is reminiscent
destination: Nzo ya Badiabulu. In the entrance of the small one-story of the Cypriot hospital one, with the medical beds, the green curtains, the
building, a trail of blood covered a long hallway, a few corpses were lying corpses and the return of the floating boy, along with the man on fire. But
on military beds, covered with khaki fabrics, and there were also radios that this time, in addition, Skull Face is there.
broadcasted discussions. The corridor led to a small room filled with other
corpses, and a man lying on an individual bed. Venom Snake approched At the end of the room, Venom Snake found Shabani, tied to a table with
him: his chest was covered with a little green medical fabric. He spotted two black straps, unconscious. Several small areas of his torso and the left
a white bandage on the front of his neck and removed it, only to find an side of his face appeared to be contaminated and he appeared to have a
incision in which a cable had been put into. He took it off and discove- fever. In his right hand, Venom Snake found a necklace and took it, before
red an earphone, placed in the man's throat. He brought it to his ear and cutting his ties. In the next room, behind other green curtains and with a
heard a recording of someone speaking. He then followed the headphone's single occupant, Skull Face arrived, armed with his sawed-off shotgun. He
cable with his flashlight and found that it was plugged into a cassette player knelt down and made a farewell prayer in Hungarian, before shooting the
hanging from an IV pole. He then removed the green fabric from the man's man in the head, which woke Shabani, who panicked. Venom Snake tried
chest and saw two bulging translucent growths, through which the lungs to calm him down, gesturing for him not to make a sound. Shabani asked
were partially visible196, covered with a thick transparent fluid. Venom Snake him to kill him, and Skull Face spotted them. He didn't shot though, and the
then turned back and crossed a green curtain to enter another larger room, floating boy appeared briefly behind him, before the man on fire appeared
full of many other locals. near Venom Snake and pounced on him. But suddenly, he stopped his
attack and Venom Snake saw the floating boy near Shabani, who was dying
from a fire started by the man on fire. Then, the floating boy reached the
still body of the man on fire and the latter moved again, to chase Venom
Snake, who began to run desperately to get out the building.
Once outside, Miller told Venom Snake that he sent a chopper to the end
of the tunnel he took to enter the Industrial Zone, but once he reached its
entrance, it collapsed. So he had to face the man on fire and managed to
defeat him by destroying the two water tanks, which fell on his enemy and
stopped him. The chopper then had a short window to pick up Venom
Snake in the Industrial Zone, and left under the man on fire attacks.
ARTWORK OF ONE OF THE NZO YA BADIABULU'S ROOM. After the mission, Miller said that with the recording, the Diamond Dogs
196 Like the corpses of the Mfinda Oilfields, in the Mission 13: Pitch Dark. would begin to analyse what Skull Face was doing in that building.
Then, back at Mother Base, Venom Snake landed After a short break, Venom Snake returned on the field and reached the
on the child soldiers quarter's platform, to see the Nove Braga Airport, for its inspection by the arms dealer. For this mission198,
child who told Miller about Shabani, and gave him Venom Snake had for objective to eliminate the high-ranking CFA official
his necklace. Then, Miller told him by radio about a who supplied weapons to the UNITA and organized the inspection. Venom
western arms dealer who was about to inspect a CFA Snake arrived before the arms dealer and sneaked into the airport, to find
outpost. He was involved in the nuclear weapons a discreet location and spy on the reunion. The arms dealer eventually
development in the area and Miller thought that he arrived by chopper and landed on the helipad, on top of the airport's main
Artwork of Shabani's necklace. was connected with Cipher. building. In the latter, he met the CFA executive.
Note: Anytime, when the player is on Mother Base, he can make his charac- Note: After he landed, the arms dealer's chopper gain altitude and watches
ter take a shower. During missions, if injured, he can be covered in blood the inspection from above, before picking him up once done. During the
and the shower washes his outfits and face, and puts him back in shape too. whole time of the mission, the player has to deal with it, surveillance cameras,
Not taking a shower for too long can have several effects: like lowering the Walker Gears and many mercenaries dispatched all over the airport, which
duration of the Reflex Mode197, the Fulton device recovery rate, the damage makes the mission very tricky the first time.
resistance and the weapon's sway, but also making flies appears around the
character, making that enemies spot him because of his smell, and make The arms dealer first entered the building and had a brief conversation
Diamond Dogs soldiers and DD wince when the player approaches them, with the executive, during which the latter thanked the SANR, to which
because of the smell too. Additionally, a hidden cutscene can play as the the arms dealer was affiliated, for the success of the CFA in Central Africa.
player lands on Mother Base, in which Ocelot gives him an impromptu They also brought up a rumor that Big Boss was apparently the responsible
dousing, because he stinks. Finally, there's another hidden similar cutscene for what happened in the Mfinda Oilfields199, which caused them lose some
with Quiet: if the player has the max bond and goes on Side Ops with her, men, initially hired to face under-equipped mercenaries. Then, they started
and gets dirty on the field (or stay the inspection and headed first the south hangar, very large and almost
there for a long time or smokes the empty, in which they had a very short conversation before taking a truck to
Phantom Cigar many times (which reach the south one. The latter was similar to the one in the north, and they
speeds up time)), he'll take a shower had another discussion there. The arms dealer told the executive that he and
with her the next time he comes the CFA would be usefult to the SANR, for what he called "the next phase".
back to Mother Base, in her cell. Artwork of the Phantom Cigar. Nukes would be sold from here, that's why he needed the airport hangars.
197 A feature similar to the Bullet Time. When the character is spotted by an enemy, time freezes for a few
seconds, giving him time to neutralize the enemy without triggering the alert. That feature can be disabled. It's 198 This is the Mission 21: The War Economy.
also often seen as a newbie feature by gamers. 199 During the Mission 13: Pitch Dark.
He also said that the nukes could be assembled there, without specialized The man he answered to was under the orders of Skull Face, but they hadn't
equipment or facilities. The SANR wanted to use the tensions between been in touch for a long time. In fact, he knew next to nothing about the
the UNITA and the MPLA to sell them nukes and establish deterrence in SANR, even what its president looked like.
the area. They hoped to obtain many mining rights against the nukes, to Meanwhile, still on Mother Base, the production of the Battle Gear had
get oil and blood diamonds, which sold well in civilized countries like the started. Venom Snake visited Huey in the weapon's hangar203 and saw the
United States of America. The arms dealer noticed that the money of this main parts of the walking tank, with a mug resting on it, marked with the
market was used by the African sellers to buy weapons from the countries inscription "I <3 DD - Diamond Dogs" on one side and the Diamond Dogs
they were selling the diamonds, or to hire mercenaries, to make war; which logo on the other one. Huey appeared briefly from the tank's cockpit.
was quiet ironic. The executive told the arms dealer that he agreed to be Venom Snake then left Mother Base, but had to return in emergency
taken to Kinshasa200, for his new job offer. According to their deal, he would because a group of mercenaries took possession of the Mother Base's R&D
be replaced here, at the airport, and would entered the SANR business. main platform. Miller immediately contacted Venom Snake, to ask him to
Then, they walked back to the main building and had a last discussion. The eliminate their commander, known as "Mosquito", to break their chain of
executive asked about a disease emerging around Bwala ya Masa, which was command204. Then, he and the Diamond Dogs could stop the rest of them.
on UNITA's territory. Everyone died there and a man called "Gunsmith" They wanted to wait for Venom Snake because the mercenaries took hostages,
was now occupying the place, with his men. He specified that none of them and the commander threatened the Diamond Dogs that they would kill
were sick. The arms dealer wondered why he was asking questions about them if they tried to intervene. So, far from the base, Venom Snake could
it, to which the executive replied with another question, to know if it had land without being spotted by the commander. Pequod dropped him on a
something to do with the experiments made in Nzo ya Badiabulu201. The low and safe part of the platform, before flying away, under enemy fire. On
arms dealer said the less he knew the better, and that he was about to leave his own, the leader of the Diamond Dogs managed to neutralize many men
Africa, so he better just forget about it. Then, they walked to the chopper, of the commander, before finding him, on top of the gigantic and empty
that Venom Snake destroyed at this moment with a rocket launcher202, platform's open-air warehouse. He captured him, and Miller immediately
before neutralizing them both and extract them. He then left the airport. told it to his men, through speakers, before asking them to surrender.
Once the executive and the arms dealer arrived at Mother Base, they were Once all arrested, they were all questioned. The commander, Mosquito,
questioned. The executive said he was agree to work for the Diamond Dogs. was a member of MSF, nine years ago. He survived the XOF attack but had
The SANR wanted that the war between the UNITA and the MPLA to to hid and was afraid to be killed by a clean-up squad since. He lived for
continue and he was against this idea, but couldn't intervene. Mother Base years in isolation and fear, until receiving a rumor that pretended that Big
was then an opportunity for him. The arms dealer, him, was imprisoned. Boss was behind the attack of Mother Base and sold his comrades to hide.
200 The capital of the Democratic Republic of Congo. 203 On the main R&D Platform according to the cutscene text. But some players have discovered that while
201 The house where Venom Snake found Shabani, in the Mission 20: Voices. its access was well on this platform, the hangar was on the command platform. One of the game's mysteries.
202 The player has several possibilities. This is the one I chose for this summary. 204 This is the Mission 22: Retake the platform.
He believed it because Big Boss was returning from the Omega Camp of Note: At this point in the game, the Fulton
Cuba, as the attack began. So he set up a team and wanted to take revenge device is still not effictive enough to extract
on his former leader. Victim of misinformation, and following PTSD from the child soldiers, and kill one of them
the attack, Miller was forgiving and let Venom Snake decide of his fate. immediately ends the mission.
After the incident, Miller told Venom Snake that he wanted to create a
Security Team to protect Mother Base from possible future similar attacks. After putting several child soldiers to
Adding to that, he wanted to create a Forward Operating Base (FOB), to sleep with his tranquilizer weapon, Venom
increase the staff and materials of the Diamond Dogs. Snake reached the carcass of a boat with a
broken and opened hull. While searching
Note: This mission is in fact an introduction of the FOB online PvP mode of inside, he found the White Mamba in the
the game. In this one, each player has their own base that they hadvedeve- first floor, inside the damaged cabin. He
loped from this point of the game, and can attack the base of other players. was seated in a white plastic chair, with a
Many features are unlockable to build the Security Unit and the defenses of conch attached to the left side of his khaki
the player's base, and a dedicated amount of PIM and materials are created shorts, in front of which a pig's head was
especially for this online mode, as the platform is built. If the player is Eli, or the White Mamba, by Yoji Shinkawa. resting, on two small wooden boxes .
206
playing single-player mode while logged in online, another player can attack Venom Snake started talking to him in Kikongo, but the young child, almost
his base anytime, and if he doesn't come back quickly, he can lost many a teenager, a white and blond boy wearing a khaki military jacket, didn't
ressources and PIM. Later in the game, the player can build or dismantle answer and rose from his chair to attack him with a machete207. After a
nukess: this is one of the most important points of the game's story and difficult hand-to-hand fight, the boy being tough, Venom Snake managed
gameplay mechanics, on which I'll come back later in that summary. to beat him and tied his hands with a rope, which he himself cut himself
only after reaching he helicopter, to extract the child. While on the ground,
When the situation solved, Venom Snake returned to Africa, on a mission Venom Snake lent his hand to help him get up, but the boy was fierce
to capture the commander of the child soldiers of the region, known as the and did so on his own, still not saying a word. Venom Snake also climbed
"Black Mamba", and bring him back to Mother Base. The latter took posses- aboard and sat down, before nodding to get him to sit down as well.
sion of the abandoned Bwala ya Masa coastal village205 and since, neighbo-
206 These are two of the several game references to William Golding's book Lord of the Flies (1954). I wrote
ring villages have been victims of their raids and brutality. Following the a dedicated section about the book, one of its cinematographic adaptations and the game.
207 While doing this summary, I reminded of a short cutscene (02:58) in one of the trailers of the game where
same logic that ended the attack of Mosquito on Mother Base, Venom the White Mamba used this white chair to attack Venom Snake, before taking a knife that his opponent managed
Snake had to capture the child soldiers's leader to stop them all at once. to grab by using CQC. But that was changed in the final version of the game and is no longer part of the cutscene
where Venom Snake finds Eli, but a possible QTE in the playable combat that follows, during which the player
205 Since Venom Snake destroyed the Mfinda Oilfields, in the Mission 13: Pitch Dark. can press R2 to avoid a hit and disarm him, before punching him back.
Once they came back to Mother tried to escape alone, on feet, but was quickly found by the mercenaries
Base, they landed on the Command who noticed that he was missing. Venom Snake rescued him first, and
Platform helipad, where the Mbele then his female colleague, in one of the outpost's military tents. Once done,
Squad joined them, along with Venom Snake left the area.
a small group of Diamond Dogs Once they arrived on Mother Base, the two specialists were put in quaran-
soldiers. Venom Snake got off the tine on the Medical Platform, as a precaution. Miller thought that, if they
chopper first, and held out his hand Venom Snake using CQC on the White Mamba. were sent to Nzo ya Badiabulu, it should have been by Cipher and not the
again to the White Mamba, who refused again and got off on his own. NGO. They surely wanted to use them for their experiments before killing
Venom Snake then told him "Welcome to Outer Heaven", patting him on them, so they accepted the Diamond Dogs's protection. They worked there
his back, which got him mad. He rushed over to Venom Snake and grabbed for some time and examinated the sick locals every day, and said they had
a combat knife he was carrying. The latter neutralized him with a catch of to listen voices on tape, but none of them were English, precised the man.
CQC, then put him on the ground and dislocated his elbow to teach him After this mission, Venom Snake landed on the Mother Base's Command
a lesson. The White Mamba tried to catch the knife that had fallen to the Platform, and witnessed an incident. As three soldiers were chatting during
ground, but Venom Snake pushed it away with his foot, before crouching a break, another suddenly jostled them, frightened. They approached him
down next to him and teaching him the main rule of Mother Base: "Never and, fell to the ground, on his back, he gestured to Quiet, who was walking
draw a weapon at a fellow soldier". He then put the child's elbow back in straight on them. The soldiers didn't really liked her and stood in front of her
place and told him that they would teach him to use his head, at Mother to protect their comrade, but Quiet gave a heavy punch straight to the torso
Base. Once done, he would be free to go. Finally, the young and angry child of one of them, and grabbed the other two by the collar, and squeezed until
left the helipad with the Mbele Squad, under the watch of the soldiers. they pass out, before dropping them to the ground, unconscious. She then
After that, the Diamond Dog received a job offer from a medical NGO reached the remaining soldier, on the grond, and pulled out a knife before
that wanted to rescue two civilians, a man and a woman, held prisoners jumping directly at the soldier on the ground and attempting to stab him by
in an outpost southwest of Ngumba Industrial Zone. Some time ago, two aiming his mouth. The latter clenched his teeth, and began to bleed, while
specialists were sent in the region by the NGO, to investigate on infectious some of his incisors shattered under the pressure. Venom Snake intervened
diseases. According to the details of the mission208, they had information and pulled Quiet away from the soldier. She then tried to hit him with her
about the experiments made at Nzo ya Badiabulu209. The outpost wasn't well knife, but he avoided the blow and made her drop her weapon thanks to
guarded, but as Venom Snake approached, the Intel Team informed Miller the CQC. He then pinned her to the ground and blocked her arm, and the
that a unit of mercenaries was on the way. Meanwhile, the male specialist soldiers came to help keep her down, while Ocelot arrived with a syringe
of tranquilizer. She fell immediately asleep and Venom Snake brought her
208 This is the Mission 24: Close Contact.
209 The house where Venom Snake found Shabani, in the Mission 20: Voices. back to her cell, while the soldiers tended to their injured comrade.
After the incident, that everyone thought being a vengeance about the Miller then called Venom Snake and told him that small worms had been
mistreatment that some Diamond Dogs soldiers inflicted on Quiet, the found in the blisters on the soldiers's chests212, but none were adults. No
security of her cell was tightened. one on Mother Base had an idea about the contamination process and these
Miller then talked to Venom Snake about Zero's 1972 Les Enfants Terribles parasites yet, but Miller came to the conclusion that this was the "weapon
project, and knew that one of the two children had disappeared in Africa, to surpass Metal Gear" that Huey talked about, earlier. After the call, on his
in 1979. He thought that the White Mamba, real name Eli, could be him. iDroid, Venom Snake checked the profiles of his soldiers to find a common
But he wanted to do a DNA test to be sure, and compare his to the one of point that could explain how the contamination works. During its incuba-
Venom Snake210. It would take some time to get the results so he would tion period, there was no sign of infection, which rapidly increased the
warn Venom Snake as he got them. number of patients. Meantime, the Diamond Dogs soldiers missions have
Venom Snake then left for another mission. A group of child soldiers also been suspended. Only Venom Snake could go on mission.
defected from the Mbele rebels and captured their former XO (Executive
officer), an adult: the Mbele general's number two. The mission211 was to Note: Here, the player can access a new feature of the iDroid to put any
bring back both the children group's commander and his prisoner. Venom soldier in quarantine. At that point, he has no information about the parasite,
Snake snuck into the village where they were stationed and captured the but the element that triggers the infection is the Kikongo language213. So,
targets, and five other child soldiers, before leaving the zone by stealing a as the languages each soldier speaks are mentioned in their profile, if the
jeep, because the Fulton device couldn't extract the child commander, and player put all the Kikongo speakers on quarantine, they can be treated and
the prisoner, who was injured. may survive. If nothing is done, soldiers seems to be randomly infected and
After the mission, Miller lied to the client to protect the two soldiers, and suddenly die one by one214. So if the player put them in quarantine in time,
told him that there was strong resistance on the field, and that the prisoner they can survive long enough, until a solution is found in the following of
was killed during the mission and the commander didn't want to be taken the game's story.
alive. The client didn't pay, but now on Mother Base, the Mbele rebels N°2
joined the Diamond Dogs and the commander the other child soldiers. Following that incident, a new job offer arrived215, to eliminate the human
After this mission, a Quarantine Platform was urgently built near the trafficker who brought Shabani and the other subjects of Cipher's experi-
base, but kept separate from it and only accessible by chopper. Ocelot then ments to Nzo ya Badiabulu216, also a logistics officer for Rogue Coyote.
called Venom Snake to inform him that many soldiers had been sent there, According to the nature of his work, catching him could be an opportunity
as they had fallen ill, which seemed like a common cold at first, but then, to get a lot of information about the disease.
212 The same blisters that the local test subjects had, at Nzo ya Badiabulu.
blisters appeared on their chests and it got worse with time. 213 It can be found by the player if he takes a close look at the profiles of the nine soldiers put in quarantine.
210 For Zero's project, the DNA of Big Boss was used to create clones of him, in case he defected from The 214 These same soldiers that the player has extracted from the field since the start of the game.
Patriots. However, at this point, the player doesn't know that Venom Snake is not Big Boss. 215 This is the Mission 26: Hunting Down.
211 This is the Mission 25: Aim True, Ye Vengeful. 216 The house where Venom Snake found Shabani, in the Mission 20: Voices.
As Venom Snake landed on the field, the trafficker was on the run, protec- Meanwhile, Miller investigated about a member from the Intel Team
ted by his bodyguards. His itinerary wasn't known and the only lead was an that went missing. The latter contacted Mother Base to told them he had a
encrypted transmission sent from the Ditadi Abandoned Village217. Miller serious lead on the outbreak, but was then captured by Rogue Coyote and
thought that it was the target security plans, but an encryption key was taken to the guard post of the western end of the mine.
needed to read it, which must have been in the communications facility Without wasting any time, Venom Snake reached the area220 and headed
of the village. Venom Snake went straight to the village, where he found the guard post, but along the way, the Intel Team informed Miller that they
and extracted a prisoner: a civilian that the trafficker captured. Once on saw a truck leaving the guard post, driven by the target. Venom Snake then
Mother Base, the latter told Miller that the trafficker was trying to get in had to find the truck, but the prisoner had an accident and there was an
touch with an human rights NGO, and wanted them to guaranty his safety explosion when he crashed, that both Venom Snake and the mercenaries in
in exchange of a list of his clients. Miller wondered why. Venom Snake the area saw. Then began a race against the clock between them, to find him
eventually reached the facility without being spotted, and stole the key to first. Venom Snake found him near the place of the accident and carried
discover the target's destination: the Kiziba camp218. him on his back until reaching the helicopter, before leaving the area.
Unfortunately, the prisoner died before reaching Mother Base, but insisted
Note: After the Quarantine Platform construction, the soldiers die there one on speaking until his last breath. He spoke of the "pathogen", and an "old
by one until the solution to the contamination arrives. This fact adds some man" who knew how to treat it, named "Code Talker". He also gave his
pressure at this point in the game that makes the player want to continue location, before his last breath.
the main story without delay, to save his soldiers. Back to Mother Base with the prisoner, Venom Snake landed on the
Command Platform, where he met Eli who was speaking with another
In the large wilderness separating the two guard posts, Venom Snake child soldier. The latter then mentioned his father, which made Eli angry221.
found the trafficker and his bodyguards, whom he got rid of, before extrac- He started to become hostile and a soldier who passed by approached to
ting the trafficker for questioning. calm Eli. The latter didn't like to be called by his real name and suddenly
Once on Mother Base, he was very "talkative", according to Ocelot. He grabbed his combat knife to face him. The soldier used CQC to beat him,
called the civilians he led to Nzo ya Badiabulu "Guinea Pigs". When he but Eli managed to get the upper hand and knocked him down, his own
did, he saw a lot of things in the building, and Skull Face, too. The traffic knife to his throat. Ocelot then arrived and put his hand on Eli's to move
was lucrative but his instincts told him to retire. And when he saw what the knife away from the soldier's throat. Confident after a first victory, Eli
happened to the guinea pigs, he wanted to warn an NGO and change his faced Ocelot, but the latter beat him easily. Still furious, Eli raised his fists,
identity. He finally said that the "specimens219" came from "deep the forest. ready to fight, but Ocelot knocked him down in the blink of an eye.
217 In which the Mission 15: Footprints of Phantoms, took place, 220 This is the Mission 27: Root Cause.
218 In which the Mission 17: Rescue The Intel Agents, took place, 221 Due to the fact that Eli was aware of his genetic connection with Big Boss, and the other kid talking about
219 It's how he calls the parasite causing the contamination. his father suddenly got him thinking about it and pissed him off.
Following this event, Ocelot gave a call to Venom Snake to tell him that Snake managed to beat the four super soldiers226 and was able to reach the
Eli hadn't accept yet his defeat against him, and that, because he only entrance of the forest. He found no enemies there, until the latter's border,
understood things by the victory/defeat prism, he asked him to teach him where the stream separated the forest from the next part of the valley. At
another lesson222. Venom Snake reached the R&D main platform and beat this location, there was a small empty enemy camp, before a wooden bridge
Eli once again, who then just left the platform without saying a word, which that led to where the mansion was located.
suggested the worst for the future.
Note: After that Side Op, the player can develop a new version of the Fulton
device, which allows him to extract child soldiers during missions.
After fixing the little problem with Eli,

Venom Snake hurried to where Code
Talker was223. It couldn't be reached by
chopper, because isolated in the Lufwa
Valley, in a mansion beyond a forest, with
no place to land. So Pequod let Venom
Snake and Quiet224 below, near a stream
and a slope leading to the forest. From
what they knew about him, Miller was
sure Code Talker was involved in Cipher's
ARTWORK OF THE MANSION.
research and that security would be high.
Once he almost climbed the slope, As he approached the place, Venom Snake received a transmission from
as Quiet took up her position on the the soldiers there, who have just been made aware of the incident with the
heights, the place became covered in mist Camouflage Unit. From his position, Venom Snake spotted many mercena-
and the Camouflage Unit appeared: four ries on the various floors of the mansion. He then reached its entrance and
snipers225. With the help of Quiet, Venom A Camouflage unit soldier, by Yoji Shinkawa. infiltrated the building, while Quiet remained outside. It was an empty
222 This is the Side Op 113: Eli's Challenge. luxury villa full of mercenaries. After interrogating many of them, Venom
223 This is the Mission 28: Code Talker. Snake finally found the position of Code Talker: in the mansion basements.
224 The player can choose the buddy he wants. That choice is just more interesting with the mission's story.
225 Their leader has a slightly different skin, with two short black armors plates on her chest. 226 The player can also run away, but it's very tricky.
Note: The location and Code Talker maturity, they mate. Prolonged exposure to
were guarded by Zero Risk Security. particular sounds, words, triggered copula-
The last remaining private force in tion. The consequence is that the larvae that
the African region of the game. are born go directly to the lungs, on which
they feed, which ends up killing the host. As
After reaching the door that led to he was explaining the parasite's reproduc-
the basement, Venom Snake entered tive mechanism, he gave Venom Snake a
a brick hallway strewn with barrels test tube containing an adult parasite. Code
and candles leading to a room with Talker added that the parasite could be
The logo of Zero Risk Security. the door locked. sensitive to different languages, and didn't
He picked the lock and entered. Inside, at the very back, behind candles know which one triggered the contami-
scattered around the room, he found the old man: Code Talker. On guard, nation on Mother Base. He then handed
Venom Snake drew his gun and made a few step, before stopping in front of Venom Snake a pipe containing a plant that
him. The old man was sitting cross-legged Artwork of the vocal cord parasite. killed the parasites. He smoked and started
on a carpet. As he said he was waiting for to caugh, which showed that he was also infected. Venom Snake then
Venom Snake to come, the latter sheathed could speak safely, and asked the old man if there was a cure, but the latter
his weapon and showed him pictures of answered that once the larvae had reached the lungs, it was already to late.
the infected on Mother Base. Code Talker But he also said there was a way to prevent the infection. As Venom Snake
replied him to stay quiet and sit down. stood up, to ask him to help, Code Talker said Skull Face had forced him to
What Venom Snake did, before the old man work for him by taking his people in hostage: the Diné. He then accepted to
gave him information about the parasite. help, for fixing the mistake he was forced to make, and black tasks appeared
The pictures he brought, which showed around his eyes withwhitish cornea. So Venom Snake put him on his back,
the bulgings on the lungs, contained the as he was unable to walk, and left the room. Before leaving the mansion,
larvae, he explained. They entered the Cold Talker spoke a bit about how Skull Face planned to use the vocal cord
throat of the host and attached themselves parasites. He wanted to use them as an "ethnic cleanser". Spread parasites
to their vocal cords. They could mimick in a country to kill everyone who speak the local language: "a weapon to
the membranes, which is why they were surpass Metal Gear". When he heared this, Miller thought back to Nzo ya
impossible to spot, even with modern Badiabulu's experiences and concluded that Skull Face wanted to wipe all
Code Talker and his wheelchair,
medical equipment. And once they reach by Yoji Shinkawa. languages except english from the face of the earth.
Outside the mansion, too old for a Fulton extraction, Venom Snake had helicopter and found himself on the airport runway, covered in mist. Code
to walk Code Talker back on feet to the chopper, passing through an area Talker, who wore a seatbelt, was still alive, like Quiet229. Venom Snake helped
full of mercenaries equipped with an AMV, which led to an isolated upper him to get out and, meanwhile, Quiet also got out of the chopper, to support
place of the valley. Quiet covered him and joined them in the chopper. Venom Snake from a higher position. Because of that mystery orange cloud
Once on board, Venom Snake got a call from Miller, who told him that that melted metal, no support helicopter could approach to extract them,
the bodies of two missing members of the Intel Team, who helped to find so Venom Snake put the old man to safety, under the wreckage, and faced
the location of the mansion, had been found in the Lufta Valley (which he the Skulls Armor Unit. Before attacking him, they turned the CFA soldiers
just left with Code Talker). Still in the chopper, Code Talker told Venom who were in and around the hangar into zombies230. There was an army of
Snake how to stop the parasite from spreading on Mother Base. The solution the dead that came straight to Venom
was in the adult parasite that he put in the test tube he showed him in the Snake and Code Talker. From above,
mansion. This parasite was carrying a microbe that turned females into Quiet took down zombies231 while
males, which prevented reproduction. But the microbe also altered the Venom Snake engaged the Armor unit.
host, which would then become sterile227. Then, Venom Snake asked if the
Skulls had also been created by him, but Cold Talker replied that they were Note: During the first battle with them,
the result of another branch of the parasite, called "the one that covers": it the Unit only used G44K bullpup
covered the skin of the host and gave him strenght, in exchange of a huge assault rifles and Archaea machetes.
amount of food. Code Talker was unaware that this branch had been used by But here, they can also summon archea
Skull Face. He then suddenly asked Venom Snake about the XOF vehicles, from the ground. Its explosive proper-
he and Miller immediately thought of the truck that contained the yellow- ties and the Skulls's telekinetic abilities
cake. But Code Talker asked about "Metallic Archea", before turbulence allow them to give the Archea a shape
rocked the helicopter and interrupted their discussion. Up front, Pequod of spike or boulder, which explodes
spotted a cloud of dark orange smoke, made of Metallic Archea228. once they hit the target. This boss battle
The cloud melted the chopper metal parts and some of them hit Pequod, is a pretty hard one. A Skull summoning and molding Archea.
who died instantly. Then, above the Nova Braga Airport, the aircraft started 229 Quiet doesn't appear in the cutscene. It's an addition here to link the last mission to this one, the following
a descent and ended up crashing on its main runway, in front of its south one, the Mission 29: Metallic Archaea.
230 Like the Mist Unit did at the Da Smasei Laman fort, in the Mission 6: Where do the bees sleep? According
hangar. Stunned by the shock, Venom Snake woke up because of Miller to something Code Talker says in the chopper, the Skulls appear to be controlled by Skull Face, as if they have to
obey him because of the branch of the parasite they were contaminated with. So it must be the same thing that
speaking in his earpiece. He emerged from the wreckage of the crashed happens to the soldiers turned into zombies in that sequence. That's why they must obey the Skulls. And that
227 Which truly ended Venom Snake's physical transformation into Big Boss, who was also sterile. Besides, would explain the special armor/equipment the Skulls units have to wear to stay alive.
Venom Snake didn't say he already was, which was another clue for the player that he was not the real Big Boss. 231 When the game was released, in 2015, there was a major bug that could erase the game save if you chose
228 A fictional artificially altered subculture of single-celled organisms called archaea, made by Code Talker. Quiet as a buddy for this mission. And that bug made it harder, until the bug was fixed.
Like all the Skulls, they had a very high speed and Venom Snake had Back on Mother Base, the chopper directly reached the Quarantine
difficulties to got rid of them, but did it with the help of Quiet and her Platform and Code Talker began to work on the outbreak. The contamina-
12.7mm high-caliber232 and anti-material rifle: a Brennan LRS-46 (Brennan tion started if the infected said some particular words233, and he immediately
Long Range Sniper Type 54). The mist then disappeared and Venom Snake informed everyone that the Kikongo strain was responsible for it234. While
was able to pick up Code Talker. Ocelot informed him by radio that he was some medics continued to burn the coffins of the dead Diamong Dogs's
arriving with another chopper, and landed just near the crash site, on the infected soldiers, Code Talker gave to the medical team his infected parasite,
airport main runway. a type of wolbachia: a parasitic bacteria that colonized the parasite235 and
Everyone got on board and left the place. Along the way, Code Talker turned males into females. They began to cultivate it to then inject them
announced that Skull Face was no longer in Africa. He also evoked a nuclear into the bodies of contamined soldiers. Soon, the Quarantine Platform
test that took place five years ago, in 1979, southern Indian Ocean. Miller emptied and those who did not yet have larvae in their lungs survived the
was surprised because no one spotted it this year, but Code Talker said contamination, which then ended, after 48 hours of hard work.
that the test was actually about the non-explosion of the nuke, on which Miller, who stayed away during the operations, could finally landed of
Skull Face eventually managed to gain control, by implementaing inside the Quarantine Platform by chopper and brang Venom Snake, Ocelot and
a small amount of Metallic Archea that deactivited the nuke. The nuclear Code Talker back to Mother Base's main facility.
weapons he was about to sell, in Africa first, were similar and he would have In the room 101, along with Ocelot, Miller questioned Huey another
control over them all. For his business, to avoid getting caught, he carried time. Ocelot, silent, brought a syringe full of Metallic Archea. Huey thought
small quantities of uranium along with larger quantities of Metallic Archea, it was a truth serum, again, but Ocelot took off his glasses and put a drop
which enriched the uranium until weaponizing it. Those nuclear weapons of the liquid on one of its branch, which immediately fell, after the acid
were intended to be loaded on all-terrain bipedal machines. The combina- had eaten away at the metal, at the point of contact. Ocelot wanted to know
tion of the nukes and these bipedal machines could turn any nation, no where the Skull Face's Sahelanthropus was. With to the nukes under his
matter how small, into a nuclear power. That new traffick was controlled by control, he only needed to mass-produce the Sahelanthropus to start his
Skull Face and intended to replace the guns black market, to create a global business. The final step of his plan was to unveil the Metal Gear to the
deterrent, in order to make the two superpowers powerless. world, in Afghanistan. From there, everyone would want one and he would
be the only seller. And once the world order would be shaken, he would
Note: After this mission, and with the research of Code Talker, the R&D spread the vocal cord parasite, his "ethnic cleanser". Huey didn't want to
Team of Mother Base can develop a Parasite Suit. It gives the player the answer, but Ocelot's patience was reaching its limits, and he placed another
abilities of the Skulls and requires Skulls parasites that can be obtained by 233 The movie Pontypool (2008) was Hideo Kojima's inspiration for the vocal cord parasite. Like the other
extracting them after beating them, in the missions where they appear. games's references, I wrote a dedicated section later about it, in this book.
234 The player learns it here, if he didn't found out himself before.
232 Powerful sniper rifles used by the military to damage AMVs or tanks. 235 Which makes him a hyperparasite.
Metallic Archea drop on Huey's metallic chair leg, which broke instantly and died at the Soviet base camp Huey told about. No trace of combat, Skull Face
knocked Huey to the floor. Ocelot then approached the metal joint of Huey passed with the Skulls to reach OKB Zero, accompanied by his troops. All
mechanical legs's right knee, and the latter finally replied: Sahelanthropus the base's Soviet soldiers were dead and Ocelot believed that the XOF used
was beyond the Afghan Soviet base camp, in OKB Zero. A lab built by the a Russian strain of the vocal cord parasite237. The area being isolated, the
Soviet Philosophers. But he still had no idea how Skull Face could pilot it. Russian vocal cord strain wouldn't spread. Then, just before they reached
OKB Zero, the XOF sent its personal a fake chemical weapon leak alert and
Note: In a tape of Huey's interrogations, which takes place before this make everyone leaving the facility before their arrival, to secure the site.
cutscene, he explains that the Sahelanthropus was initially designed to be Before leaving, Miller briefed Venom Snake and told him to eliminate
controlled by a human, but he failed to miniaturize the AI enough to be Skull Face, in order to get rid of him once for all and eliminate all traces of
placed under the armor, unlike the Reptile pod of the weapons he made for his existence. Aboard a new chopper238, with a new pilot and accompanied
Coldman, in Costa Rica. Strangelove had worked on the Sahelanthropus by D-Dog239,Venom Snake began his trip to Afghanistan. To support him,
with Huey and was the one who should have finalised it, but she hadn't the a second chopper with Miller, Huey and Eli240 aboard came along.
chance to do so. The idea of AI was put aside then, to make room for a pilot, The chopper flew over the empty Soviet camp base and dropped Venom
and Huey focused on the bipedal features of the weapon. Finally, Skull Face Snake and D-Dog in a deserted area, next to the gate leading to OKB
rejected the idea of implanting an AI into the Metal Gear, and took it from Zero241. Venom Snake walked through an empty area and arrived at the
Huey once he completed the bipedal feature. He didn't know either how he empty outpost in front of the heavy
made it walk, because he didn't know about the floating boy236. open metal gate that led to OKB
Zero. There was an earthy path that
In possession of the information, led directly to it. The road ran along
Miller immediately left the cell, a ravine overlooking the sea below.
while Ocelot couldn't resist to gave As he approached, Venom Snake
the compulsive liar another lesson, had to be careful, as the area before
by lifting his legs a little and putting OKB Zero's front door was littered
the seyringe between the floor and with claymores, hidden in the grass,
the mechanical legs,before leaving Huey, with Ocelot's syringe under his left knee.
on both sides of the road. A 3D render artwork of a claymore.
the room. 237 We can imagine here that the arrival of the XOF should have had that macabre tone that the Cypriot
hospital introductory sequence also had.
On the Command Platform, Miller had joined Venom Snake and gave 238 Because the one he took usually crashed at the end of Mission 28: Code Talker.
him the location of the Metal Gear. He also just learned that everyone had 239 Again, the player can choose the buddy he wants for the mission. This is just my choice for the summary.
240 The latter snuck into the cargo of the helicopter and was found when the latter approached Afghanistan.
236 Later known as Psycho Mantis, in Metal Gear Solid (1998). 241 This is the Mission 30: Skull Face.
Note: During the mission, the OST track The Last Road, composed by
Ludvig Forsell, plays. An atmospheric and discreet track, but if you listen
carefully, you can hear notes of the game's main theme: Sins of the Father.
In the base's final section, on a Walker Gear guarded the base lab's gate.
Venom Snake waited for the helicopter to go away and entered the section
from the upper level and descended discreetly to the gate, where he sent
D-Dog to lure the enemy by creating a diversion, as he was entering244.
D-Dog then left the base, to be later recovered by the Intel Team245. Then,
Venom Snake climbed the lab's entrance stairs that led to the rooftops246.
ARTWORK OF VENOM SNAKE APPROACHING OKB ZERO. WE CAN ALSO SEE THE HELIPAD
WHERE THE SKULL FACE'S CHOPPER LANDS, IN THE UPPER RIGHT CORNER.
Ocelot told Venom Snake that he was preparing reinforcements at Mother

Base, before Miller reminded him that Skull Face was at OKB Zero. D-Dog
assisted his owner by indicating him the position of nearby XOF soldiers,
except the sniper posted at the gate, too far away. Venom Snake crouched
down and crawled for a moment, to get around them and their searchlight.
The idea there was to avoid engaging the enemy and infiltrating the place,
to stop Skull Face242. With the help of D-Dog, he managed to pass the ARTWORK OF AN AERIAL VIEW OF OKB ZERO ROOFTOPS, WITH ITS HELIPAD, ON THE LEFT.
well-guarded three outdoor sections243 that led to the base's core. 244 This is one of the many gameplay possibilities, the one I have chosen for this summary. The section is
guarded by many patrolling XOF soldiers, a sniper and a soldier with a searchlight.
245 Once again, it's a gameplay element I added here for the coherence of the summary.
242 Of course, the mission can be played in several ways: infiltration, neutralize enemies and extract them, 246 I won't cover them here, but there are plenty of theories as to what OKB Zero could really be (beyond
or go Berzerk and make the base a warzone. just the villain base). There could also have been an extra part of the mission in which Venom Snake should have
243 Above which a helicopter patrols for the duration of the mission. It can be shot down. infiltrated the base's underground lab. Or a large-scale clash between the Diamond Dogs and the Skull Face army.
Just before he reached the base lab's rooftops, Miller told Venom Snake He explained to Venom Snake that Zero needed a system that would unite
that Skull Face had just landed on the helipad. Before he acted, as a precau- America and the entire world, using the English language. He then spoke
tion, Miller also reminded him that they had to get him to talk before a bit of himself. He lost his native tongue, Hungarian, when his country
they killed him. Venom Snake looked up first, and saw Skull Face heading was taken by foreign soldiers, as he was still a child. Then, torn from his
towards his chopper, so he walked towards it, but the floating boy appeared elders, he had to speak the foreigners's language. It has happened several
in front of him, before immediately disappearing, while Skull Face turned times and he explained that speaking another language has several effects:
to face him. Skull Face's close guard then got off the helicopter and stood it changes personnality, thoughts, how to see right and wrong. The war also
in front of him, to protect their leader. The masked man didn't seemed changed him, physically and mentally, and all those changes of culture and
surprised or disturbed to see him here. He remained calm, as usual, and language disturbed him. He then quoted the philosopher Emil Cioran: "It
told Venom Snake that he was about to show his the Sahelanthropus. Then, is no nation that we inhabit, but a language. Make no mistake; our native
he had to walk between Skull Face and his close guard. By radio, Miller told toungue is our true fatherland." And his was stolen from him when the
him to follow him without trying anything yet. If things turned out badly, foreign soldiers took his country. All of these explanations led to the heart
he and the Diamond Dogs were ready to step in, even just threatening to of Skull Face's plan: to get revenge on those who took his past, his true
do so, as a "deterrent", because as he was about to start his nuclear business, identity and his mother tongue. So, when the Major told him about his
Skull Face didn't want to start a war now. Along the way, the latter told project of creating an AI network to control everyone and unite the world,
him that whatever Code Talker had told him was wrong. His plan wasn't using codes (informatic, genetic, information…) and English language, he
to use the parasites to destroy all languages except english. He also briefly saw the perfect target for his revenge: the most powerful man in America
reminded his origins: XOF leader since 1964, for the first FOX mission, the and his AI network. English was about to wipe out all other languages, like
Operation Snake Eater, he had since been close to the Major Zero, who, Skull Face's one when he was a child. He saw Zero as a parasite, and revealed
a year before Big Boss247 defected from the Patriots, in 1972, created his his plan's true final phase, opening a small tubular container with three
own organization to protect America: Cipher. And Zero wanted for it a test tubes each containing a vocal cord parasite's English strain. Skull Face
system that would use information, defined it as a "liberator", and not an "ethnic cleanser" like Code Talker248.
words. They then took an elevator Without lingua franca, the world would tear itself apart, before being free.
that brought them back to the third After losing English, people would suffer from what he called "a phantom
section of the base, where a jeep pain", until they find a new common langage, nukes, through his future
was waiting for them. They got on Metal Gears. Each nation could have access to it and the world order would
board, as passengers. On the way, be changed forever, with no one left behind. "War is peace", he finally said.
Skull Face did a long monologue. Venom Snake facing Skull Face in the jeep. 248 Ironically, Skull Face understood the danger of the Patriots's AI network and wanted to destroy it before it
was launched, which Solid Snake and Liquid Ocelot will do, thirty years later, in 2014. This point makes us think
247 I use this name here because it's Big Boss he's talking about, unaware that he is speaking to his double. about the role of antagonist that Skull Face built in the game's history, because he also wanted Zero's death.
Note: This is a bit complex to be summarize here, but this line is a reference
to the George Orwell's 1984 (1949) book. It's the first of the three slogans
of the totalitary English Socialist Party (INGSOC) of Oceania (the false
novel's country): "War is Peace; Freedom is Slavery; Ignorance is Strength".
There are many concepts in the book, but the main one is the mind control
that the INGSOC exercises over Oceania's people, to prevent them from
thinking, learning and rebelling. One of the main mind programs of the
Party was called "double thinking", or doublethink, which "describes the act
of simultaneously accepting two mutually contradictory beliefs as correct,
often in distinct social contexts." Since Skull Face mainly talks about the
power of words and language in this sequence, and how it can change an
individual's worldview, that reference to 1984 (1949) is perfectly suited
to the situation, in which he wants to bring the world towards peace by
unleashing chaos with nukes. It also reminds the name and role of the
"Peacewalker" Metal Gear, in Costa Rica, in 1974. The final answer of the
Metal Gear Solid series to this nonsense will come at the end of Metal Gear ARTWORK OF THE SERAK PLANT POWER'S HANGAR, WITH THE SAHELANTHROPUS INSIDE.
Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008), just before the real Big Boss dies, with
his line: "The world would be better off without snakes.", which means the XOF soldiers were guarding the hangar and the Sahelanthropus, which
world would be better off without war. War is not peace, war is just war. was back on its large flat tracked transporter. Skull Face got out the jeep
first, followed by Venom Snake, escorted by his close guard.
Note: After this monologue, there is a two minute section where no one is
speaking, during which the game's main theme is playing: Sins of the Father. Note: At this moment, Skull Face tells to Venom Snake: "Remember the
Alamo…" It’s a major American History's quote, which General Sam
As they arrived at the Serak Power Plant giant hangar249, where the Houston used after the last stand of the Texian and Mexican Tejano soldiers
Sahelanthropus actually really was, Skull Face said too that once it would at the Alamo mission, from March 6 to 19, 1836. Someone said it during this
have been revealed to the world, Zero's plan would be over. Then, the jeep battle and it remained, to then become the rallying cry for Texas indepen-
slowly drove in front of the hangar's entrance, and stopped250. dence. Here, said by Skull Face, it's a reference to Volgin, who said it just
249 Where Venom Snake saw it for the first time, at the end of the Side Op 82: Make Contact with Emmerich. before he fired the nuke, in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), and a
250 Initially, this sequence could have taken place in the underground lab of OKB Zero, but the lack of
development time would have made the final fight take place at the Serak Power Plant. An already existing decor. reminder for his guards to stay sharp, even though they captured "Big Boss".
Above them, the second mission's Diamond Dogs's helicopter, piloted There, he got the codename Tretij Rebenok (третий ребенок, in Cyrillic,
by a soldier codenamed Queequeg251, with, among others, Miller on board, meaning "Third Child", in Russian). He sensed his desire for revenge on Big
was patroling, ready to intervene. The pilot told it to Venom Snake by radio. Boss and, like he knew where the latter was, took possession of his body to
Then, Skull Face stopped near the Sahelanthropus, and spoke to Venom make it move again, as the man on fire. Then, they burned down the lab and
Snake about someone else, another person for whom, like them, only revenge reached the Cypriot hospital, that they burned too, before meeting Skull
was left: the man on fire. The floating boy then appeared behind him, right Face. Tretij Rebenok found a deeper desire for revenge with him, against
in front of the Metal Gear, then, next to the latter, the man on fire, still, began Cipher. He followed him and joined the XOF, using the man on fire for him.
to move as the boy seemed to take possession of him252. Skull Face and his But in this cutscene, he senses Eli's willingness to take revenge on Big Boss,
men backed away, as the man on fire walked slowly towards Venom Snake, much stronger as a boy, and left Skull Face and the XOF for him.
who grabbed an assault rifle from the jeep. About to fight under Skull Face's
satisfied gaze, something unexpected happened. The man on fire stopped Then, the man on fire started moving again, but this time to walk towards
moving and the floating boy moved away, as the Diamond Dog’s chopper the Sahelanthropus, as its transporter was rolling in his direction, until its
passed above the hangar. He then reached the ceiling and disappeared, to heavy wheels ran over him, in a blast of fire. The Metal Gear then moved, and
reach the aircraft, attracted by something emanating from Eli. one of its mechanic leg crushed an XOF soldier who was near its transpor-
ter. Skull Face couldn’t understand what was happening and, before his
Note: In fact, the man on fire is the corpse of Yevgeny Borisovitch Volgin, close guard took him away, could only say: "Wait… Who is doing this?
the main antagonist and owner of the Shaghod, in Metal Gear Solid 3: Such a lust for revenge… Who?".
Snake Eater (2004). In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), the They left the hangar while a XOF
floating boy, like Elisa/Ursula in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006), is a soldiers's unit covered them and
psychic, who can sense the thoughts and feelings of others: that's why he's started shooting at the floating boy,
wearing a special gas mask, which turn them off. His presence at the Cypriot on whom the bullets were ineffec-
hospital was fortuitous, because, earlier, on February 26, 1984, while being tive and went through him. The
transported to a Moscow research lab from Czechoslovakia via a plane, he latter then disappeared as Venom The floating boy avoiding the bullets.
sensed Big Boss and Venom Snake wanting of revenge as the plane passed Snake took cover, as a soldier who had spotted him tried to shoot him.
over the Cypriot hospital, so he made it crashed nearby. However, the The Sahelanthropus then moved again and one of its leg crushed the
Russians picked him up and transported him to the Soviet lab where he group of XOF soldiers. Those who remained left the hangar, as the Metal
was originally sent, the one where Volgin's comatose body was also located. Gear began to walk, until he stopped right in front of Venom Snake. Its head
251 Another reference to Moby Dick (1851). Queequeg is a crew member of the Pequod. was low, near the ground, and pushed a powerful mechanic and primitive
252 Because in the cutscene, he can be seen mimicking the movements of the floating boy's arms, which
reminds what happened at Nzo ya Badiabulu, when he stopped moving as the floating boy was killing Shabani. scream, as it opened and unveiled the empty seat of its cockpit.
The Metal Gear then came out a desperate move and ran towards a
of the hangar, while Venom Snake still intact jeep to escape, under the
ran as fast as he could253. But it was Sahelanthropus's gatling guns fire.
blocked by two large rocks on both As he reached the back of a tank, to
sides, which Venom Snake could hide himself, the Metal Gear used its
pass under. The latter stopped and leg to crush the front of it, which lifted
The Sahelanthropus in his bipedal position. looked at the Metal Gear, which the rear of the tank, which fell heavily
abruptly shifted from its initial posture to the bipedal one, by raising its on Venom Snake. Thinking he was
upper part. It then damaged and stepped over the rocks blocking its way, dead, the Metal Gear then turned to
and Venom Snake crossed the door of the hangar's gate to then take cover, Skull Face, blocked and holding his
where a unit of XOF, with Skull Face, were waiting for the Sahelanthropus, container of English parasite strains.
with several tanks and choppers. They all opened fire on the bipedal tank, Trapped and resigned, Skull Face
which responded with the two gatling guns mounted on its head unit, made a last short monologue, on his
which instantly neutralized some tanks. Venom Snake walked away, as the victory over Cipher: even if he was Artwork of the parasite English strains container.
Sahelanthropus unsheathed one of its two archaea blades: flexible nano-fi- about to die, he had already managed to infect its upcoming system with
ber blades lined with archaea manipulators254. It used it to hit the ground, both the Sahelanthropus and his desire for revenge, that from the non-En-
from which a line of archeae rocks emerged, before detonating XOF jeeps glish speakers who were about to be enslaved by the Patriots AI system.
and damaging tanks. The XOF chopper then attacked and fired missiles at The Metal Gear heard him and came to him, to smash the fallen electronic
it, but the Metal Gear armor was designed to withstand a nuclear strike, so pylon on Skull Face. By radio, Miller told Venom Snake, who survived, to
it wasn't effective. The Sahelanthropus used its blade to to stab the helicop- move, and the latter took the jeep to escape. The Sahelanthropus heard him
ter vertically, in its center. The aircraft then began to spin around for a few and started chasing him. Miller said that Skull Face's plan would succeed if
seconds, before the Metal Gear sent it off. It crashed into an electric pylon the world knew about Sahelanthropus. Its existence would spread fear of a
which fell to the the ground, near where Venom Snake was hiding, before nuclear holocaust around the world. The jeep managed to outrun the Metal
making an impressive jump to catch up with him. With one of its leg, it hit a Gear, which then used his archaea blade to summon a line of rocks from
damaged tank to send it over Venom Snake, who moved fast enough to avoid the ground, which eventually hit Venom Snake's jeep, from the front. The
it. Behind the Metal Gear, Skull Face found himself trapped between the just vehicle rolled down a small slope and Venom Snake jumped off it, before it
fallen electricity pylons and burning vehicles. Venom Snake then attempted exploded. He then get out a cloud of smoke behind him and, with no other
253 This is the Mission 31: Sahelanthropus. The full cutscene is cut in half between the missions 30 and 31. choice now, faced the Metal Gear255.
254 Which can directly damage metal on contact and summon archaea from the soil, in order to create a line
of big rocks that emerge from the ground, to then explode. A feature similar to the Armor Unit's abilities. 255 As Tretij Rebenok controls the Metal Gear by Eli's will, it is an indirect confrontation with the latter.
The combat zone was circular, with a lower and upper part, linked by the From above, Miller's helicopter was firing at the Metal Gear with its
slope on which Venom Snake's jeep drove, before exploding. Without his miniguns, to distract it. The latter then unleashed an impressive amount
weapons, Venom Snake had to run256 to the area's lower part, to hide from of Metallic Archaea in the air, which turned orange
the Metal Gear who immediately began attacking with one of its Archeae and forced the helicopter to fly away so as not
blade, to create lines of explosive rocks behind its target, who managed to to end up destroyed, leaving Venom Snake
dodge them. Empty XOF tanks and AMVs werehere and there, and Venom alone. By radio, the bipedal tank's
Snake entered into one of the tanks to fire at the Sahelanthropus, as a supply designer, Huey, told him to now
drop was sent by a Diamond Dogs's plane. Venom Snake was able to fire a aim at its huge fuel tanks on its back,
few shells before, unable to move the tank fast enough, get out of it as the and the smaller in front of its pelvis257.
Metal Gear was about to hit it with its blade, instantly destroying the vehicle With its blade ready to hit the ground
in a loud explosion. Now on the deserted road, with no cover, Venom Snake again, Venom Snake quickly fired another
reached for the rocky part in the middle of the area. There, Miller told him salvo of missiles at its pelvis, and destroyed the
that his chopper was about to distract the Metal Gear. He arrived immedia- two smaller fuel tanks. The Sahelanthropus was destabi-
tely and flew above the Metal Gear to get its attention, staying far enough lized for a moment and knelt, before suddenly leaping back to isolate itself
to avoid any fatal attack. Meanwhile, the supply drop of Venom Snake on a high spot of the area. He then curled up in its original position, pulled
arrived: a CMG 25 missile launcher. He began by firing at the spherical out and armed his rail gun, pointed directly at Venom Snake, who immedia-
radome of the bipedal tank, located over its left shoulder, which controlled tely took cover behind the central rocky part of the area. The loud, progres-
its missiles which he was then firing at the helicopter with its launchers, sive sound of the rail gun increased, until firing a powerful shot that made
located in his thighs. The helicop- the big rock trembled. The Metal Gear then jumped to come back on the
ter launched countermeasures and road, and walked towards Venom Snake, while Miller's helicopter came
had to retreat for a while, before the back and fire at him, with rockets this time. The cloud of smoke around
Metal Gear took the eight-missile the Sahelanthropus's head made it launch a few of its surveillance mines258,
salvo from Venom Snake's launcher, several of which caused significant damage to the helicopter, which had to
which destroyed the radome, but leave the area. On his side, Venom Snake took the opportunity to approach
wasn't very effective on its armor the Metal Gear from behind and fired another salvo or missiles at its rear
though. It then focused on Venom fuel tanks, which exploded and caused a huge explosion on its chest, before
Snake, who was quickly reloading making the bipedal tank falling on its back, ending the confrontation.
his launcher, for another firing. Artwork of the Sahelanthropus's radome.
257 The one that powers the flamethrower.
256 What follows is a novelized version of the boss battle, using many of the game's features. 258 Small explosive probes equipped with cameras, that made them recognize a target before heading there.
When the confrontation ended, in Miller's chopper, Eli brutally came to As Venom Snake was about to finish him off by aiming his head, the shotgun
himself, as Tretij Rebenok was levitating beside him. ran out of ammo. He dropped the empty gun on the ground and Miller
The helicopter then flew over the cloud of dust raised by the Metal Gear, told him "Do it yourself!", before leaving with Venom Snake, as Skull Face
and landed next to it, close to Venom Snake. Miller held out his hand and was trying to catch his gun with his remaining arm, but, unable to do so,
helped him on board. The chopper took off again and silently made its begged them to kill him. But they didn't, and returned to the helicopter,
way to the nearby spot where Skull Face had gotten stuck before the battle. then passing Huey, who walked over to Skull Face and reloaded a round
After landing, Venom Snake and Miller got off the aircraft and found him, into his gun, only to shoot and kill him, before joining them.
with bloodstained legs, crushed by the debris from the electric pylon the Once back on Mother Base, every
Sahelanthropus had knocked down on him. Huey got off too, but stayed Diamond Dogs's aircraft led the
away, looking at them. Skull Face was still holding his parasite container R&D Main Platform. Venom Snake's
and,when Venom Snake and Miller approached, tried to reach his sawed-off helicopter landed first and everyone
shotgun, but Venom Snake pushed it aside with his right foot, before taking one aboard got off: Venom Snake,
the container to open it, only to find that one of the three strains was missing. Miller, Huey and Eli. Many soldiers
He asked Skull Face where it was, but he didn't answer him. Venom Snake awaited them, along with Ocelot, The Sahelanthropus, facing everyone.
then sent the remaining two in a small fire behind them, but Tretij Rebenok Quiet, Code Talker and D-Dog. The latter began to bark as four heavy
briefly appeared, unseen, and picked up one of them with its telekinetic helicopters carrying the damaged Sahelanthropus brought him towards the
abilities, before vanishing. Mortally wounded, Skull Face asked his former platform's huge and deep open-roof hangar. The feet of its heavy legs hit
victims to finish him off, and Venom Snake grabbed his shotgun on the the hangar's ground first, and pushed AMVs parked there. The Metal Gear
ground, to point it at the XOF leader. This is the moment they have been painfully got to its feet, to then stop moving, in front of everyone's gaze.
waiting for since leaving this Cypriot hospital: a chance to avenge all the MSF Finally, after this mad quest for
soldiers that died nine years ago. Miller was silent and watched carefully. vengeance crowned with success,
Venom Snake shot Skull Face three Venom Snake and Miller obtained
times in the limbs, before Miller the Sahelanthropus as a reward. But
put his arm over the one Venom they still felt the mental phantom
Snake used to shoot, and fired the pain that Skull Face left them.
following shots with him, which Everyone, looking at the Sahelanthropus. After everyone had moved away,
cut off Skull Face's left leg and right Eli stayed on the platform to observe the Metal Gear. Next to him, Tretij
Venom Snake on the verge of revenge. arm259, and dropped his black mask. Rebenok appeared and gave him the English strain of the parasite he saved
259 The limbs Venom Snake and Miller lost during the helicopter crash. from the fire, before levitating to go and hide somewhere, on the base.
– Chapter 2: Race. Note: After the Mission 31, the second half of the game contains 19 missions
(for a total of 50), but the missions 33, 34, 36, 37, 39, 40, 42, 44, 47, 48, 49
Note: The first half of the game was focused on Miller and Venom Snake's and 50 are in fact some of the first 31 with a higher difficulty or special
thirst for revenge, as well as the player's of course. At that point, the latter conditions to accomplish. So the second part of this summary will focus
killed Skull Face, defeated Cipher, reclaimed the Sahelanthropus, achieved only on the missions 32, 35, 38, 41, 43, 45 and 46 (very briefly for this one,
a new Mother Base and built a new army: the Diamond Dogs. He got his because I have already summarized it in the first part, with the Prologue).
classic Hollywood blockbuster ending and, from there, the story could go
deeper. The second half is a reversed version of the first, where most of what Galvanized by their recent success, Miller wanted to expand the Diamond
was obtained is lost: the Sahelanthropus, Eli, the child soldiers, Quiet… Dogs, like he already did with MSF, at the time.
Even the mission 43 makes the player lost some of his soldiers because of Back on the Command Platform by helicopter, with D-Dog on board,
the English strain of the parasite: the last sucker punch from Skull Face. Venom Snake was greeted by a small unit of soldiers, and Eli, who gave
him a defiant look, before leaving without saying a word262. He then got a
On Mother Base, Miller gave a speech in front of his men. Even though call from Miller, who told him that Ralph, one of the child soldiers, died263,
Skull Face was dead, the fallen brothers of the first Mother Base haven't crushed by a pipe in their quarter.
been avenged yet, as Cipher was still active, even without the XOF leader260. Once rested, Venom Snake returned on a mission264 with D-Dog, to find
He told them that there might be some of their spies among them and asked and exfiltrate a missing CIA mole that worked for the XOF and Skull Face.
his soldiers to remain vigilant and observe all suspiscious behavior, even He went into hiding with the Mujahedin during the vocal cord parasite
among their friends. "It's the only way to protect ourselves", he said261. incident, but may have gone to OKB Zero once the Soviets took it over, and
may have been infected with the vocal cord parasite. Venom Snake landed
Note: It is interesting to note that it's Miller who gives this speech and not near the Da Shago Kallai Village, headed north, and passed the outpost
Venom Snake, who is supposed to be the Diamond Dogs's leader. Another N°22 to reach the Leke Desert, where the CIA mole was, alone. Four Soviet
proof that he's the puppet of Miller and Ocelot, on the real Big Boss's orders. soldiers were there, too, equiped with Battle Dresses and Walker Gears,
searching for him. Venom Snake found him first, with the help of D-Dog,
From there, the feature of building or dismantling nuclear weapons is but the Walker Gears were closer and reached him first, so he stayed on
added to the gameplay. Like this second chapter's name suggests, this is the the heights to looked from afar, to spy on with his binoculars. The soldiers
beginning of a new global arms race, both for nukes and Metal Gears. It is notified their HQ that they found the prisoner, which replied they were
the new main theme of the game, after vengeance in the first one. sending a vehicle to bring him back. Still close the prisoner, Venom Snake
260 No one was aware of Major Zero's fate at the time, who was in a coma because of Skull Face. 262 Eli is at the center of this second part of the game.
261 From there, back on top, Miller became paranoiac and wanted to control everything to avoid another 263 One of those he recovered during the Mission 25: Aim True, Ye Vengeful, not from the Mbele squad.
Ground Zeroes Incident. At any cost, even freedom. 264 This is the Mission 32: To Know Too Much.
used his tranquilizer sniper equipped with a supressor to shoot the four Note: After completing the Mission 32: To know too much, a series of fifteen
soldiers, who quickly fell to the ground, asleep. He then ran to them and Side Ops (from 128 to 142) named "Eliminate the Wandering Puppets"
extracted them and their Walker Gears, and left the prisoner there because are available. Each has the same goal: free an outpost or a base from the
the jeep sent by HQ was coming, but also to find out who was after him. The presence of soldiers once controlled by the Skulls, who look like zombies.
driver spotted the absence of the soldiers and warned the HQ, before taking It is a clue of the remaining presence of the latter. As these missions take
the prisoner into the jeep with the help of another soldier, and leaving the place across all of the game's Afghan and African maps, it can be useful to
place. Venom Snake followed the vehicle and watched it reaching the Lamar use a gameplay feature of the game: the cargo landing zones. The player
Khaate Palace with his binoculars. The jeep stopped near the two outdoor must have selected the Cardboard box in his mission's items, and use it
holding cells placed near the palace, and the driver took the prisoner a little before placing himself on one of this zones. Once done, he must press the
further. He was suspected of being infected with the vocal cord parasite, △ button, which opens the map menu and let him choose another destina-
so the driver got orders to avoid contact with him, and leave him alone tion (having a cargo landing zone too) to fast travel. Once the destination
in the empty barracks, near the cells. He was also suspected of colluding selected, the sound of a truck's engine can be heard and the player immeda-
with the West. If he did anything suspicious, the soldiers had the right to tely arrive at the other destination (and must be careful that no one is there).
kill him. The fact that he was alone then was an opportunity that Venom
Snake took, but he had to hurry. As he reached the barracks, the Intel Team
informed Miller that someone had just left the observation post north to
the palace with a vehicle, heading for the palace. Venom Snake neutralized
some guards and recovered the prisoner, to then extract him by Fulton, and
waited for the Soviet soldier who wanted to kill him. He neutralized it and
extracted him too, to then leave the area with the latter's jeep.
As he arrived on Mother Base, the CIA mole told that he had betrayed
his Soviets comrades by giving information to who he thought was Langley,
but got scared after he learned that it was XOF, which used the vocal cord
parasites. He felt guilty because his comrades could die because of his
betrayal, and feared that the CIA would also use parasites, but the XOF
wasn't working for them. After he spent time with the Mujahedin, he wanted
to cut his ties with the US and return to the Soviet army, at OKB Zero, but
the XOF followed him and he had to hide again. He didn't know anything
A SOLDIER NEAR A CARGO LANDING ZONE.
about the parasites but Miller preferred to keep him on Mother Base.
Back on Mother Base, Venom Snake visited Huey in the Battle Gear's Once he left the hangar, Miller gave Venom Snake a call because he had
hangar, to witness its final test. The multi-legged tank was up, and its rail a lead on the suspiscions about Huey, and asked him to recover the AI pod
gun was activated, lighting up the room with the blue color of its electric in the Soviet base camp where he found Huey, earlier265.
arc. Still in the hangar, Venom Snake got a call from Ocelot, who told him As he was about to leave Mother Base, with D-Dog in his chopper, Venom
that the Battle Gear hadn't been tested on the field yet. He offered to Venom Snake saw the Mbele Squad, Ocelot and a Diamond Dog soldier from
Snake to assign it to a Combat Unit, to test it in a Dispatch mission. above, on one of Mother Base's platforms. He landed and joined them,
as Ocelot and the soldier were keeping the children away from a vat of
chlorine disinfectant266. The child soldier who Venom Snake gave Shabani's
necklace to was still persistent and Ocelot had to pull him away and explain
to him why it was dangerous, before asking all the children to return to their
quarters. Venom Snake then arrived, along with Miller, and the child told
Venom Snake that Shabani's necklace was in the vat, but Ocelot explained
that the chlorine inside would make him suffocate instantly if he inhaled it,
so, for now, it couldn't be recovered. Miller asked the child how he could let
it fall in, but the latter remained silent. In the distance, atop a thin control
tower, Eli was watching them. Discreetly, with her abilities, Quiet arrived
there, right at the edge of the vat, and jumped in. Venom Snake reached the
edge of the vat while ordering to sound the alarm, before Ocelot took him
away from it, to protect him. Everyone waited in silence, thinking Quiet
was dead, until her left hand, covered by a black leather glove, suddenly
ARTWORK OF THE BATTLE GEAR.
reappeared on the edge of the vat. The children approached to help her, but
Note: The Combat units can accomplish several type of missions, each with Venom Snake took them away, and helped Quiet to get out alone. She was
a higher or lower success percentage. Some has for objective to destroy the holding Shabani's necklace in her right hand, and dropped it to the ground.
enemy equipment stocks (it can have the effect of removing helmets or Her body was covered with smoldering burns and Venom Snake quickly
gas masks from enemies the player encounters in the field).Others aim to reached his chopper to bring her to the medical platform. Meanwhile,
recover resources, materials, of qualified personal. And the last type is: the Ocelot picked up the necklace and gave it back to its owner, before leaving
Key Dispatch Missions. There are twenty of them, with a low percentage of the place with the children, as Miller stayed for a moment, thoughtful.
success, and take longer than the others to achieve. For missions 16 to 20, 265 In which the Mission 12: Hellbound, took place,
266 This is not explained, but we can imagine that all Mother Base's platforms were desinfected with chlorine
the Battle Gear is needed. From here, the player can do them. after the incident with the vocal cord parasite, as a precaution.
Note: After this cutscene, Quiet is unable to go on missions as a buddy for After it launched, Miller told Venom Snake that they would trace and
a very short time, but she recovers quickly, thanks to the parasite, and can recover the pod. Ocelot then informed him that he got a new report from the
be selected again for a mission shortly after the incident. Intel Team, about the man on fire. After being crushed by the Sahelanthropus,
his body was recovered by the Soviets, after taking over OKB Zero. They
Back in the chopper, Venom Snake went to search the AI pod, as Miller brought his body to the Yakho Oboo outpost, where Venom Snake had to
asked him267. He reached the Afghan Central Base Camp and sneaked into go to secure it. After what Skull Face told about him, before his Metal Gear
the large Soviet base, until returning to the secure warehouse where he found crushed him, Ocelot deduced that he could be their "old friend Volgin".
Huey. The Mammal pod was there, covered in photographies and repeating Venom Snake then called his chopper and quickly reached the supply
random sentences. Venom Snake used one of the room's computers and outpost, south of the base268. There were only a few soldiers, and Venom
activated the pod. Its engine ignited, to then suddenly rose into the air and Snake took control of the outpost without difficulties. D-Dog then easily
out of the warehouse through a glass ceiling, before taking off. spotted Volgin's corpse in the large central courtyard, the base's main part.
THE AI POD LEAVING THE BASE, AS SOME PHOTOGRAPHIES FLY AROUND. ARTWORK OF VENOM SNAKE FINDING VOLGIN'S CORPSE.
267 This is the Side Op 143: Extract the AI Pod. 268 This is the Side Op 144: Secure the Remains of the Main on Fire.
Venom Snake walked over to While the Diamond Dogs sought to uncover the information the Mammal
Volgin, lying on a fabric blanket pod contained, Venom Snake went on a mission to recover two containers,
and partially covered in black dust, loaded by the mercenaries company Zero Risk Security with Code Talker's
to attach a Fulton device to him. research materials271. They were hidden in the Lufwa Valley's jungle, south
The body rose slowly in the air, until of the mansion272. Venom Snake's chopper landed near the latter, as XOF
exploding and disappearing. Venom choppers were on the way, so he had to hurry to recover the containers
Snake shielded his face from the The real appearence of Volgin, before his death. before Cipher get its hands on it. Then, he descended and avoided the
blast with his hands, and when he looked back at Volgin, he saw him in the mercenaries, while the latter went on alert to tighten the security around
air, on his horse on fire. The horse then reached the ground and moved away the containers, for the operation. He crossed the wooden bridge that led
from Venom Snake. The latter drew his assault rifle as the horse returned to both to the small outpost and the jungle, and entered the latter in search
its normal appearance, with his white skin. The man on fire had descended of the containers. With the sharp flair of D-Dog, he found them quickly.
from it. His lively body smoked lightly, and slowly walked over to Venom They were in two different locations and each guarded by a heavily armed
Snake, until he faced him and put him on the floor, above the blanket where and armored Zero Risk Security unit. Pressed for time, Venom Snake had
he was still lying a short time ago, to start strangling him. Venom Snake to create a diversion, and used smokes to decrease their visibility and took
briefly saw Volgin with his former appearance269, but he suddenly stopped the opportunity to extract the containers with Fulton devices. Once done,
strangling him and rose, as his horse, which had returned to its original and he left the area as the XOF choppers was reaching it, too late.
normal appearance, fell down, dead270. Right after, bullets fell from Volgin's As the containers arrived at Mother Base, the Code Talker research
armor and he also fell on the ground. Venom Snake then faced Volgin's materials were immediately stored in a secure location, on the Quarantine
lying dead burned body, as the chopper landed beside him to recover it. Platform. The staff used it for their research on the vocal cord parasite.
His mission over, Venom Snake got a call from Miller. Along with disinfec-
Note: What happens between the failed Fulton extraction and the chopper ting Mother Base with chlorine, Code Talker examined everyone on Mother
landing seems to be just a dream/vision of Venom Snake, as if one of the Base with an RMI, to verify that no one was infected with the vocal cord
memories of the real Big Boss came back to him at this time, mixed with parasite. Only Quiet was273, but the strain she was carrying wasn't known.
the reality of the moment that had triggered it. Venom Snake then returned to Mother Base and headed to the Room
101, where Quiet was being questioned by Miller and Ocelot. She had a
Back to Mother Base, Volgin's corpse was put in an isolated cell, on the black cloth bag over her head and was handcuffed to the chair she was
Quarantine Platform. sitting on. A Diamond Dogs soldier cranked a small generator set on a
269 His real face and body, with his special armor, like in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004). 271 This is the Mission 35: Cursed Legacy.
270 The horse's death reminds the one of Big Boss white Andalouisan's, at the end of Metal Gear Solid: Peace 272 Where Code Talker was held prisoner, in the Mission 28: Code Talker.
Walker (2010). 273 The reason why she had always remained silent, also the one behind her code name.
table, before picking up the two metal sticks plugged into it, to put its ends added, before leaving the room. Venom Snake agreed and demanded that
on Quiet's chest and inflict her two long electric shocks. After Ocelot, once she be released. Miller was upset and shoved him with his shoulder, before
again, got silence for answer to his question "You're ready to talk?", the leaving too. Venom Snake then nodded to the soldier, who followed Miller.
soldier reloaded the generator with the crank, as Miller entered the room, He then cut Quiet's ties with a knife, which he put away before leaving the
followed by Venom Snake. The soldier grabbed the sticks again, but met room as well. Quiet was now alone in the room with Code Talker. The latter
Miller's gaze, and put them back on the table. Miller wanted intel and was rolled his wheelchair up to her, and began speaking to her in Navajo. She
tired of waiting. He asked Quiet directly who infected her with the parasite, spoke it too and explained him that Skull Face asked her to use the English
and then the soldier to show her the x-rays of her lungs that the RMI took: strain of the parasite she was carrying on Mother Base, to kill everyone276.
they had been burned once, and traces of rubbing alcohol were found on But she hadn't spoke English since she arrived, and never would.
her alveoli. A White Star-of-Bethlehem's petal, stored in a small plastic Outside of Room 101, on the Command Platform's 1st deck, Venom
bag, was even found adhered to her lungs, intact. Miller made the connec- Snake got a call from Miller. He told him about a new job offer and child
tion with the Cypriot hospital and deduced that she was the killer sent by soldiers who escaped from Mother Base. It had a link with the recent death
the XOF to end Big Boss. Code Talker, who was still present but silent until of one of them: Ralph. The Intel Team was working to find them ASAP.
then, was surprised and said that he was the only one who could apply the
parasite therapy to someone, until the XOF stole it from him. Miller wanted Note: From this point, there are five child soldiers to recover, and five
to know why she was still on Mother Base, since Venom Snake brang her dedicated Side Ops (145 to 149). As the player completes them, he obtains
back alive, to know if she was still on a mission for Skull Face or if she wanted new tapes with information about Eli, who's planning something and
revenge on Big Boss after what he had done to her, in the hospital. Still silent, building his own "army" with the child soldiers. He also asks to talk to his
Miller motioned to the soldier, who grabbed a bucket full of salt water and "dad" (Venom Snake, but referring here to Big Boss). This leads to another
poured it over her274. Ocelot had had investigation for Miller, who sees plots everywhere since Skull Face's death.
enough and poured water from a
gourd to rinse Quiet's skin from the When he returned to Mother Base, landing on the Main Command
salt water covering it. He said that if Platform, Venom Snake saw Code Talker on his wheelchair, who took the
she had to kill Big Boss, she would sun at the edge of the platform, using photosynthesis to regenerate. He
have done it already275. She just fell repeated aloud sentences brought back to him by his parasites, and when
in love with his legend and stayed Venom Snake interrupted him, giving him a light tap on the shoulder, he
Quiet, surrounded by the steam emanating from the
salt water burn, after Ocelot has poured water on it. on Mother Base for that reason, he told him to beware of Kazuhira277. Code Talker then left the platform.
276 This is the first time the player can hear Quiet's voice, voiced by the real actress Stefanie Joosten, who
274 It seems to create a chemical reaction, like a burn on her skin. Too much salt water could also kill her. also served as a model for the in-game character's motion capture.
275 Or she would have left the base after Skull Face died. 277 Miller's first name.
Venom Snake then went for the mission Miller told him about278 before It was raining when the duo arrived at Mother Base. Quiet opened the
rescuing the children. By using a blur photograph obtained by an informant's left side door of the chopper before, like the day she first arrived at the base,
final transmission, he had to retrieve a film canister containing classi- jumped off the aircraft to land on the platform. With no one outside, she
fied information about the upcoming Skull Face's plans that the XOF was enjoyed the rain and spun around, before removing her black boots and worn
pursuing279. The informant hid in the Spugmay Ruins before he died, and a stockings. Her body covered of water, she then lay down on the wet ground
KGB Spetsnaz squad was already there to find the film canister. Venom Snake and took a break, before Venom Snake, whom chopper landed meanwhile,
took Quiet with him, to cover him from the heights surrounding the ruins. joined her, holding her boots in his hands. She suddenly disappeared and
he lent her her boots, on which she put her hands, before reappearing. She
then splashed him with water from the ground, using feet and hands, until
Venom Snake put the boots on the floor and counterattacked, to start playing
with her and fighting gently in what
appeared to be a mix of confronta-
tion and seduction. Venom Snake
ended up grabbing her by the arms
and the rain suddenly stopped. He
then let go of her hands and she
picked up her boots, before leaving
Venom Snake and Quiet. That cutscene is a milestone
the platform280. in the budding romantic relationship between them.
With the information the Diamond Dogs found in the film canister retrie-
ved by Venom Snake and Quiet, they discovered that the CFA armored
VENOM SNAKE IN THE RUINS. column was assembling north of the Nova Braga Airport 281. Quiet joined
Once Venom Snake arrived, the Spetsnaz were already there and he Venom Snake once again, but with her "Sinful Butterfly" sniper this time282.
started looking for the film canister, as Quiet was taking down the small Before landing in Africa, Miller informed Venom Snake that the column's
unit's soldiers one by one, with the tranquilizer sniper rifle she had taken Commander had served in the 5 Commando and then in South Africa's 32
for this mission. Reinforcements arrived in a jeep, but Quiet took care of
280 During this poetic and dialogue-free cutscene, we can only hear an instrumental version of the Quiet's
them as well, just before Venom Snake found the film canister. Then, they Theme, sung by Stefanie Joosten in the normal version. Besides, throughout the game, if the player selects her as
a buddy for the missions, he can hear her hum the main melody of this theme, sometimes. Finally, Donna Burke,
both immediately left the area and returned to Mother Base. who sang the main theme of the game, Sins of the Father, also made a cover of it in the special game's CD Metal
Gear Solid ~Vocal Tracks~ (2015).
278 This is the Mission 38: Extraordinary. 281 This is the Mission 41: Proxy War Without End.
279 Even though he died, the XOF still existed and pursued his plans. 282 This is the nickname of her Brennan LRS-46 12.7mm anti-material rifle.
Batallion283, so he was a seasoned veteran. At the beginning of this mission, made an unexpected move at the
the tanks were all scattered near the airport and had to meet, so the duo had same time, and the chopper moved
a short window to take them down separatly. As soon as they landed, with away, heading towards the Nova
the help of the Intel Team, Venom Snake and Quiet approached the two Braga Airport. Now free to move,
closest and created an ambush in their path284. As Quiet positioned herself Venom Snake and Quiet hurried
high up, Venom Snake put ATB-Mines285 on the ground and prepared his to reach the last tank location. As
rocket launcher. The first vehicle, an escort AMV, was instantly destroyed Quiet fired on it, to repeat the duo's
by the blast of the mines, as the tank behind it left the road as Quiet shot combat pattern, and unlike the first
it once. Venom Snake then showed up and launched a eight-missiles salvo two times, the latter accelerated and
with his CGM 25 missile launcher. The tank was destroyed and its crew died rotated the tank's turret to locate the
in the explosion. The duo quickly moved to another location, where they shooter, while still moving. It also
found another tank reaching the meeting point near the airport, alone. They The Commander, codename Sunny Platypus. reached a position where Venom
did a similar move as with the first tank and Quiet fired first, to damage the Snake couldn't aim, so the latter had to run to follow it until having another
tank and act as a decoy, before Venom Snake shot a salvo of missiles. After shot opportunity. The tank's pilot quickly spotted Quiet, and fired a shell at
that, on the way for the remaining her, with the main cannon. She had to move and couldn't shoot anymore,
tank of the column, they encoun- as the pilot, who seemed to be receiving information by radio, understood
tered an enemy chopper which just her strategy. She could still act as a decoy, however, and Venom Snake
witnessed the attack of the second could catch up with the tank, which was moving in a circle in an open area.
tank. The aircraft opened fire and He aimed at him and locked the vehicle, before firing a salvo of missiles,
Venom Snake took cover, while which alsmost hit the target. Heavily damaged, the tank responded with
Quiet took position and aimed with its gatling, which opened fire on Venom Snake, who had to hide while
her extreme precision, to shoot Quiet finally had a window to shoot the tank's fuel tanks, which blew up its
the pilot with a single bullet286. back and immobilized it. Venom Snake then reloaded his missile launcher
She only missed because the pilot A 3D render artwork of an ATB-Mine. and delivered the coup de grace. From there, the only remaining target
was the Commander's chopper. Venom Snake and Quiet headed for the
283 The 5 Commando was a battalion-sized commando unit of the British Army during World War II,
formed in July 1940 and disbanded in February 1947; and the 32 Battalion was a light infantry battalion of the airport, and he asked her to cover him from the outside. He then snuck
South African Army founded in 1975 and disbanded on 26 March 1993. The 32 assisted UNITA during the
Angolan Civil War. the well-guarded airport and made his way to the Commander, who was
284 Once again, this is a novelized version of a mission, which can be accomplished in a number of ways. impressed that he managed to reach him undetected, and realized that
285 Anti-tank mines.
286 As with the fighter aircraft's pilot, in the cutscene following the Mission 11: Cloaked in Silence. the the legend of Big Boss was true, after all. He offered no resistance and
agreed to leave the CFA to join the Diamond Dogs. Once extracted, Venom in one corridor's corner. He tried to shoot him, but the latter disappeared
Snake told Quiet to shoot the helicopter. She aimed at the pilot first, but, and reappeared in the room. So he fired again through the broken glass's
still on the helipad and waiting for his Commander, she decided to lift her overture, but the bullets passed through the floating boy. Heavy, muffled
sniper and aimed at the rotor, which fell apart when the bullet hit it. Scared, screams were then heard, and a massive shape moved through the cloud of
the pilot left the helicopter's cabin and met Venom Snake, who was with the smoke that covered the impact area, at the back of the room. Venom Snake
Commander. The latter ordered him to follow them, and the four gathered helped Miller to his feet, and they saw the Sahelanthropus's head, whose
on the airport's main runway, where Pequod took them aboard his chopper. cockpit opened to let Eli settle in. He then said goodbye to his "father",
On the way back to Mother Base, Miller shared with Venom Snake his before the Metal Gear left the room. Venom Snake stepped over the broken
latest findings regarding the children's escape. It turned out that Eli was the glass opening and ran to the edge of the platform's bridge, followed by
mastermind behind it and was plotting an uprising against the Diamond Ocelot. But the Sahelanthropus, now equiped with a large and heavy metal
Dogs. Miller suspected him to hide something else and asked Ocelot to shield, was already above the ocean, thanks to Tretij Rebenok's abilities, as
questioned him, before asking to Venom Snake to come back quickly. a Diamond Dogs chopper appeared between it and Venom Snake. He saw a
After leaving the Commander and his pilot to Mother Base's jail, and group of five child soldiers holding the pilot in play, before the latter pulled
taking a shower with Quiet, Venom Snake reached the Room 101, where the aircraft away from the base. At its
Ocelot was questioning Eli. He found Miller in the corridor and they back was the Mbele Squad, and one
watched them through its two-sided glass. Ocelot told Eli that his "father" of the kids waved a hand at the trio.
wasn't on Mother Base, but that he could see his comrades and Big Boss287 As they were witnessing the Metal
soon. First, he wanted to know what he had sent the children to do, when Gear flying away, Miller wondered if
they escaped. Eli replied that they wanted to return home, but Ocelot wasn't Ralph's death wasn't just Eli's way of
fooled. So he added that they all had someone to take revenge on: militia motivating the kids to take revenge
Ocelot, Miller and Venom Snake looking at the Sahe-
leaders, mercenaries, armies who killed their families… Their escape could on adults, telling them lies288. lanthropus and the chopper leaving Mother Base.
have been an opportunity to do so. Suddenly, as he was speaking, Ocelot Immediately after the incident, Miller and Ocelot put everyone on the
heard a loud noise coming from outside. Eli then took a confident pose in search for the Sahelanthropus, the chopper, and the children, but Ocelot
his chair and laughed, as heavy shocks hit the back wall of the room, behind notified Venom Snake that they hadn't find anything yet, and didn't even
him. A massive shock then destroyed the wall and the explosion blew up know if the pilot was still alive. He also gave Venom Snake a tape that he
the corridor's window, which knocked everyone to the ground. Venom made to record Eli's DNA test results. They were negative. He and Venom
Snake stood up and drew his pistol, to then saw Tretij Rebenok above him, Snake weren't related, so Ocelot confirmed that he wasn't his son or clone,
which adds confusion to the situation.
287 As Ocelot has kept in touch with the real Big Boss since he and Venom Snake escaped the Cypriot
hospital, perhaps he intended to bring Eli to him after the interrogation? 288 This cutscene was the last step that was supposed to prepare for the game's final mission: the Mission 51.
Note: As we know from the other games of the series that Eli is Liquid Miller sent a team but they never returned and could no longer be contac-
Snake, one of the two clones from Les Enfants Terribles project, this DNA ted by radio. All they were able to recover was a team security tape, who had
test, like the Mammal pod which didn't recognize Venom Snake earlier, is found bloody corpses of medical staff in the lab, who suddenly woke up and
another proof for the player that he doesn't play the real Big Boss. And since attacked them. Venom Snake landed on the Command Platform, where he
it's known that Ocelot is still in contact with the latter, since the escape from reunited with Miller, who told him that a second team was ready to go. But
the Cypriot hospital, it can be assumed that he did another test with his he replied that he would go alone, because he didn't want to lose anyone
DNA and told him that Eli was one of the clones made by Zero's Cipher. else. Miller reluctantly agreed and warned him that he should check the
extent spread first, before rescue intervenes once they have enough intel.
As misfortune never comes one at a time, Miller called Venom Snake Venom Snake immediately called a chopper and reached the Quarantine
about a videotaped incident that took place on the Quarantine Platform. Platform289. There, an isolation tent was placed to secure the lab's entrance.
Another vocal cord parasite infection happened in its lab, but there were
no details about the strain and how it happened, so they locked it down.
ARTWORK OF THE ISOLATION TENT.
ARTWORK OF THE QUARANTINE PLATFORM, WITH THE LAB (THE MAIN WHITE BUILDING). 289 This is the Mission 43: Shining Lights, Even in Death.
Miller informed Venom Snake that one of the lab's researchers had Note: As during the first outbreak, whenever a Diamond Dog soldier or
successfully isolated the parasite responsible for the outbreak and that staff member dies during this mission, the player can hear a voice message
Code Talker was analyzing the data he sent from the closed lab. The latter from the iDroid, which says "Staff member has died", and causes him to
didn't understand why the Wolbachia290 he had inoculated to everyone no lose 30 Hero Points. In this mission, it will be heard many times.
longer worked, and suspected the presence of a new strain. That assump-
tion increased Miller's paranoia, who immediately thought of a spy who Venom Snake eventually caught up with the rescue team member he had
brought the strain on Mother Base. Venom Snake reached the security just encountered, in an open room. He didn't wore a mask and was scared,
device that had been installed in front of the entrance to the laboratory, but still conscious, so Venom Snake let him here and keep moving forward.
to which only its isolation tent allowed access. Before entering, Miller
brodcasted to Venom Snake a voice recording of a medical staff member
he had just received, coming from inside the lab. He then told Venom Snake
to find this man, because he might have information about the outbreak. A
soldier also gave him a respirator mask, and he was ready to enter the lab.
As he entered, Venom Snake
noticed a sweet scent, even through
his mask. Miller replied that the
rescue team had noticed it as well.
Code Talker added that if he came
across someone infected, he should
kill them to prevent the spread of
the infection. In the lab's corridors,
he found only corpses and traces of VENOM SNAKE DISCOVERING THE INFECTED CORPSES IN THE LABORATORY'S CORRIDORS.
blood on the floor, until meeting a

soldier from the rescue team who Venom Snake then entered a locked room, in the same corridor, and met
shouted not to approach him, while another rescue team member wearing a gas mask, hidden there, behind the
firing without aiming in his direction. metal frame of a bed that he overturned and transformed into a barricade.
He then met other infected medical Meanwhile, Code Talker got the first information from the researchers's
staff, who died in front of his eyes. Venom Snake's wearing a respiratory mask. data: even some infected began to develop symptoms, even though they
290 The parasitic virus that turned all male parasites into females, to prevent their reproduction. had barely spoke. He therefore thought of a mutation of the parasite.
As he climbed the floors, Venom Snake found more and more corpses. Behind Venom Snake, drawn to the
He then finally reached the quarantine facility: a large room with a heavy noise, three soldiers entered the
locked metal door. He opened it and found there the man who had sent room. He shot them and took the
the voice recording, sitted against a wall. He then slowly approached and dead researcher's goggles, to inspect
reached the researcher, who was bleeding from the mouth and wearing the soldiers he might encounter.
special binoculars. He also had a knife stuck near his stomach and, just
before he died, said "I'm no snail291", with a satisfied facial expression. Code Note: When meeting infected
Talker was the only one who understood those last words, and gave Venom soldiers, the player must shoot
Snake a very specific order not to let anyone with symptoms out of the lab. them. For each, he gets the iDroid
He explained that one of the symptoms of the infection seemed to trigger an vocal message "Staff member has
The researcher's special nocturnal vision goggles. They
overwhelming urge to get outdoors, as the parasite was controlling its host's make the parasites appear in yellow through the lens. died", and loses 60 "Hero Points"292.
will. And once outside, the birds would feed on the corpses and spread the
parasite around the world. A grid leading to the outside was next to the dead Miller explained to Venom Snake that they would have to burn the entire
researcher, on which crows began to land. And suddenly, behind Venom facility down if he didn't kill the infected soldiers. So each time he met
Snake, repeated blows were struck on the room's armored door, and two an wounded one, he checked his throat his the goggles. All were infected.
infected rescue team members entered. He managed to stop one, but the Venom Snake had to kill his own men, those he encountered on the field and
other one ran to the grid. Once he neutralized the first and sent him to the joined the Diamond Dogs293. Huey then joined Miller and was outraged at
ground, he shot the second in the knee, who also fall on the ground. But what Venom Snake was doing. The latter didn't listen to him and accompli-
another group of seven rescue team members arrived. Three of them held shed his horrible mission to save all the others soldiers of Mother Base,
Venom Snake to keep him from moving, one stayed around, and the other descending the floors one by one, cleaning them of its occupants.
reached the grid. An infected soldier finally opened it and the small group He finally reached a small closed
reached the Platform's deck. In a fast move, Venom Snake drew his pistol room. He picked up the door's
and shot the three soldiers holding him in the stomach, before shooting the lock and found a group of infected
still one, now on the way to the grid, with a bullet to the head, as he was soldiers. Once inside, they resist
walking next to him. He then turned to the grid, and before he could act, a the parasite and saluated him with
napalm bomb landed on the small group, who died and burned instantly. a final effort, to fulfill their last duty:
291 The meaning of this line requires a few explanations: snails can be infected by the parasitic flatworm to die at the hands of their leader. The infected soldiers and medical staff, ready to die.
named Leucochloridium paradoxum (or green-banded broodsac). This parasite grows in the body of the snail 292 The Hero Points mechanic grows throughout the game and increase Big Boss double's fame.
and one of its tip goes into the tentacles of its head, in which it lodges and moves to attract birds, with its flashy 293 Their codenames also appear above their heads, which is difficult for the player because he doesn't have
colors. Then, after the birds have eaten the snails, the parasite uses them as an intermediate host to spread. to kill nobodies, but soldiers he has extracted during previous missions, throughout the game.
Note: During this short sequence, in the room, a radio station is playing a Note: During the cutscene, there
music: METAL GEAR SOLID PEACE WALKER Main Theme. The soldiers is a shot where the player can see
were about to kill themselves before Venom Snake arrived, but they let Venom Snake with a big horn on his
him decide their fate: "We live and die by your orders, Boss". Additionally, forehead. It's a game mechanic that
the player can hear them hum the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010)'s involves lengthening it if he chooses
theme melody. It brings a lot of memories of what the initial Carribean a violent way to beat the game. For
Mother Base was at the first place, with MSF. It's a particularly testing each missions, the player can choose Venom Snake's horn.
mission for the player. And it's also worth noting that, in the first part of his weapons and equipment, and if he uses lethal weapons and kills every
the game, Venom Snake accomplishes the real Big Boss's revenge on Skull enemy soldiers, the horn grows. Along with Hero Points, there is a system
Face, but that, right after, he faces all of its consequences (including those of "Demon Points" that the player gets if he plays this way. But if he doesn't,
arising from being a copy of Big Boss's personality) and slowly becomes the horn remains normal. In this scene, it's a way to show the demon that
a new character. This mission, where he must kill his own men with the Venom Snake has become since he left the hospital, built his army and took
theme of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) playing in the background, his revenge on Skull Face. He had changed and from now, he he has to deal
is a tragedy for the old combat medic which this passage definitively puts with issues that even the real Big Boss couldn't handle, symbolized by this
an end to his old profession, and emerges as the symbolic death of MSF and horn, which represents his sins and the blood he shed on the way.
the pre-Big Boss personality of the Ground Zeroes Incident that Ocelot put
in his head, whose lack of vigilance led to the destruction of the first Mother
Base. But while Big Boss gave up and went into hiding to build his Outer
Heaven fortress, Venom Snake will overcome this ordeal and learn from it
to then properly lead the Diamond Dogs, who will be stronger than MSF.
After killing them all, Venom Snake found a rescue team member wearing
a mask at the back of the room, still alive. Miller told him to take him back
to the entrance of the lab, and get out of here. But as they reached the door
and that Venom Snake asked the soldiers outside to open it, the one he was
carrying asked him to wait. So he put him down and checked his throat
with the goggles, only to find that he was also infected. He had to kill him
too. Once done, shocked, he returned in the main corridor and looked at
the corpses, among which he fell to his knees, and screaming in despair. TOO MUCH TO BEAR, EVEN FOR A LEGENDARY SOLDIER'S DOUBLE.
After Venom Snake left the lab, the place was cleaned upand the corpses Venom Snake considered them as diamonds, not ashes, and demanded
placed in coffins, covered with a khaki cloth marked with the Diamond that they be turned into diamonds. Everyone would wear one, so as not to
Dogs logo. A funeral ceremony was then organized for all soldiers and forget the fallen comrades and bring them into battles with them. Miller
medical staff who died during the day, and all the coffins were burned one agreed and said: "A shining light, to our-brothers-in arms. Even in death…"
after the other. During the ceremony, Venom Snake stood in front of the
flames until all cremations were complete. Note: The cutscene ends with Venom Snake saying "We are Diamond Dogs."
Later, at sunset, once the ashes of the victims placed into funeral urns, It's interesting to note that he is the one who say it, this time. Which makes
Venom Snake was gazing out at the ocean, on the edge of a Mother Base's him the main protagonist during this cutscene, while Miller stays in the
plaftorm. Miller was there, along with a few Diamond Dogs soldiers, and background and Ocelot just appears to stop Huey. If he symbolically killed
Huey. The latter went directly to Venom Snake and blamed him for the the MSF in the Quarantine Platform's lab, that moment is when he truly
deaths of his men. Miller reacted, but Venom Snake agreed with Huey. becomes his own version of Big Boss, with his own vision.
Ocelot then approached him quietly and put his hand on his shoulder, to
calm him. Miller told Venom Snake that he might have killed them, but it Miller was moved by the death of the soldiers and gave a call to Venom
was better than ending up burnt alive. He then nodded to two soldiers, who Snake, as he was out of the base, aboard a chopper. This made him realize
then walked towards their leader. The first one was carrying an urn, and the that he was too obsessed with his revenge and too suscpicious, because the
other a black Diamond Dogs Burial Flag294. As the first one was about to phantom pain never went after all296, even with Skull Face dead, and just
open the urn to throw the ashes into the ocean, Venom Snake put his hand got worse. He also understood that Venom Snake had realized this from
in front of him, and took the urn. He then knelt down at the very edge of the the moment he woke up in the Cypriot hospital, but still did his job. So he
platform and opened it, to do it himself. But he stopped, and said: "I won't respected him for that, and called him Big Boss for the first time297.
scatter your sorrow in the heartless
sea." He then stood up and put his Note: After this mission, the
right hand into the urn to cover Diamond Dogs soldiers each wear
one of his finger with ashes, which on their uniform a diamond made
he then licked. He then covered his from their fallen comrades's ashes.
hand with ashes, to scatter them on Venom Snake has one too, that the
the right side of his face.295. Venom Snake covering his face with ashes. player can see shine at any time, in
294 In the United States of America, whenever a soldier who served honorably in the army dies, a Burial Flag
is provided by the U.S. army at no cost to drape his casket or accompany his funeral urn. The flag is generally The shining diamond on Venom Snake left's shoulder. the chopper and/or in-game.
then given to the next-of-kin, as a keepsake. 296 The one from the Ground Zeroes Incident.
295 It might sound strange, but it's one way to keep a trace of him with him. As he says during the cutscene: 297 Which shows that he also changed after the Quarantine Platform incident, that he's now truly under the
"I'll always be with you." and "Plant your roots in me.". He finds it too crude to just throw their ashes in the ocean. command of Venom Snake, who has become a true legitimate leader in his eyes, like the real Big Boss was, before.
A little later, with a calm mind despite everything, Miller resumed to Miller announced that the pod was Strangelove's gravestone, and a voice
Venom Snake his investigations on Huey and the parasite that had mutated. recording of her locked inside was then played by the pod, as Miller threw
Soon, Ocelot and the soldiers, in a thirst for the truth about what claimed to Huey the photographies that were placed on it, before it took off from
the lives of many of them, discovered the whole story. But they captured the Afghan Central Base Camp's hangar. Miller was able to access all of
Huey and were about about to go to trial, so Miller warned Venom Snake the pod's data with the help of technicians. He also learned that Huey once
to intervene before it was too late. had put his son, Hal, in the cockpit of the Metal Gear. So Strangelove had
In the middle of the Room 101 (repaired after Eli's escape), many soldiers hidden him to protect him, and in return, Huey locked her in the pod299.
and Ocelot surrounded Huey. Ocelot reminded that he was involved in the But Huey made up a convenient version of the story, claiming that she had
first Mother Base attack, and worked for Skull Face. There was also evidence committed suicide. Miller then pursued with the 1975 attack of Mother
that he conspired with Eli to fix the Sahelanthropus, and that he used beta Base. He thought that Huey agreed to the inspection in exchange for Cipher's
rediation to mutate Wolbachia, which freed the vocal cord parasite from guaranty to be spared. Huey tried to defend himself, but Miller interrup-
its mating restriction and caused the epidemic. Finally, he was also accused ted him and and charged him guilty of all the points he had just listed.
of killing a member of his own family, the Dr Strangelove, and hiding her The soldiers's spirit was heated and all demanded his death. Ocelot then
body. Huey tried to defend himself, but Miller approached and called a fired a bullet to calm them down, and Miller turned to Venom Snake and
witness. A crane attached to the ceiling then towed the AI pod to them298. demanded an order. The Diamond Dogs's leader then walked to Huey and
requested that a life raft be prepared, for one person, with food and water
aboard. Miller lost his temper and reminded that Huey was responsible
for everything, and again insisted on the fact that he was the only one who
hadn't lost anything. Venom Snake agreed and said that he just wasn't one
of them, but also that it wasn't for them to judge him.
Once Huey was in the raft, it was
lowered with a winch to the ocean's
surface, as he said it wasn't his fault
and that he tried to avoid the worst300.
He then had to threw his legs into
THE AI POD. the ocean, too heavy, and began to
298 The Mammal pod from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), with the AI of The Boss, is stored in
Mother Base prior to this cutscene, in the center of the main R&D Platform's open-roof hangar. When the player drift, under everyone's gaze. The Diamond Dogs watching Huey leaving the base.
gets closer, he can hear The Boss's voice saying random lines from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2003) and 299 All of these events are detailed in several tapes that the player can listen to.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). One of its lines, "The quick brown fox jumps over the lazy dog", is one 300 Since there is a lot of evidence but gambling is also about information manipulation, it is difficult to say
always used for all fonts presentation documents, as it contains all the letters of the alphabet. whether he is lying for everything or not.
Meanwhile, during the trial, Quiet had disappeared. She used her abilities As Venom Snake approached
to sneak in a chopper that left the base, and remained invisible during all the palace, night had fallen. He
the trip. But the chopper she took could be identified and her destina- saw movement from afar, near the
tion known: Afghanistan. Miller told Venom Snake to find her because she barracks and the two outer metal
knew their location and they didn't know what she intended to do301. He cells. Quiet, dressed in a prisoner's
also reminded him of what he said the day she arrived on Mother Base302. uniform that made it impossible for
Venom Snake immediately left Mother Base to reach Quiet's last known Quiet, dressed in a prisoner's uniform. her skin to breathe306, came out of the
location303: the Aabe Shifap Ruins's East Guard Post. There, he found only left cell, followed by three Soviet soldiers. One of them grabbed her, and she
seven Soviet soldiers, but not Quiet. However, an intel file in one of the pushed him away, shaking her shoulder, which annoyed him. So he threw
guard post 's old stone houses, a prisoner's transport log, gave him a lead. his assault rifle to the ground and grabbed her again, dipping her head back
With the file, he learned that she was held prisoner at the Lamar Khaate into a metal container filled with water. He wanted to drown her and, as the
Palace ("Palace of Sunrise", in Pashto), and reached it by chopper with water allowed her to regenerate, she pretended to, the time she recovered.
which he left the guard post304. Ocelot found out that she had killed many The soldier then undid his belt and zipper, ready to rape her corpse, but she
Soviets soldiers, but didn't understand why she had let her be captured. had already regained all her strenght and abilities. The black task on her
Code Talker then took the radio to reveal to everyone that Quiet carried the face briefly appeared and she used her right leg to grab the soldier's head
missing third English strain of the vocal cord parasite. She was Skull Face's and press it against the container, to then stand on top of him, before using
ace if his attempt to kill Venom Snake failed. But he added that she chose not both of legs to stick them against his neck and lean on him to swing back,
to speak, and also refused to be treated with the Wolbachia, because part of in order to throw him over her. The soldier landed on one of the other two,
her still wanted revenge on Venom Snake, after she ended up burning and who had remained behind, and by the time that happened, Quiet rushed
falling from one of the Cypriot hospital's windows305. Eventually, she left to hit them both with a powerful kick that knocked them back. She then
because the recent unexpected mutation of the vocal cord parasite made jumped around the third soldier's neck and threw him to the ground with
her feel dangerous on Mother Base. Ocelot assumed that she was gone her right leg, and turned to one of the two other soldiers, who had stood
before it happened, while Miller, still a little paranoid, thought she might up and picked up his weapon. She slid forward in his direction and hit his
also be gone to infect the whole world. In any case, she couldn't be left alone feet, then stood up with a back flip, kicking his face in the process. She then
outside. Miller told Venom Snake that the mission's targets were Quiet and bit his left ear and tore it off, and he collapsed to the ground. She spat out
the parasites, and that if he couldn't bring her back, he should kill her. the ear and the third soldier, the one who was about to rape her, paralyzed
301 Huey knew the location too, but they didn't seem to mind that he could speak, after he was gone.
302 He said that they will have to kill her one day, and when the time comes, he'll pull the trigger. and sitting on the ground, took a heavy blow from the heel of Quiet's boot,
303 This is the Side Op. 150: Secure Quiet. which let blood flow on the floor through his pants, level of his pubis.
304 This is the Mission 45: A Quiet Exit.
305 We can note here that it is the real Big Boss and not Venom Snake who did this. 306 In the cutscene, she has very pale skin and blue lips.
Venom Snake joined her then, and was about to cut her ties with a knife, as Now stripped of the clothes they were suffocating her and with her
Soviet soldiers and tanks were heading towards the palace, in the distance, recovered equipment and guns, a Brennan LRS-46 and a Grom-11 rocket
in the vast desertic area facing the palace. But the three soldiers got up and launcher, Quiet exited of the barracks. She gave the rocket launcher to
Quiet pushed Venom Snake for him to avoid being injured, and ran straight Venom Snake, and watched as the Soviet soldiers and tanks approached.
towards them. With her high speed abilities, she could dodge the bullets One of the tank fired a shell at the duo, which passed close by them and
and kicked the left one directly in the chest, before jumping with the recoil shattered the barracks. Ready to fight, Quiet took position on the heights
and grabbing onto the second's neck, in the middle, with her legs, who then of the palace, while Venom Snake did the same, behind a line of hand bags.
opened fire and touched the third, on his left, while turning on himself.
The first soldier, who had lost his gun with the kick, took out his knife and Note: The missions consists in resisting and beating waves of Soviet soldiers
wanted to stab Quiet, but she used her balance to turn and cause him to cut and vehicles. During this long fight, the player can see a life bar of Quiet
her ties, to then jump from the shoulders of the soldier she was hanging on appear on the upper left corner of the screen. He must also protect her.
to those of the one with the knife, which she took from his hands to strike
him on the neck with five times, before jumping again to return to the first There was a vast desertic area in
soldier, on who she landed backwards, and hit him several times between front of the palace. On its right, a
her legs, only to leave the knife stuck there. Two more soldiers then came low and opened part with a road
out of the barracks, but Quiet stood up and used the soldier she just stabbed that passed in front of the palace to
as a shield, and took and unpin a grenade he was carrying. She then pushed continue on the left of it. In between
him and entered the barracks with him, until the grenade exploded. The was a small rock ledge that looked
soldiers inside were just blown away, and when they stood up, faced Quiet out onto a higher, flat sandy area.
Map of the area. 1: Palace. 2: Road and rocky ledge.
who, in a fury, walked from side to side of the room, and punched them And on the left were higher dunes. 3:Road's left side. 4: Road's right side. 5: Middle dune.
until they were stunned. In the barracks, crates of material caught fire with In the distance, the tank was following the road, surrounded by soldiers.
the explosion and the small building caught fire, with Quiet inside. Venom Snake waited for it to fire307, and stood up to launch a Grom-11
Outside, Venom Snake witnessed rocket on it. The tank stopped in a cloud of smoke, while Quiet began to
the scene, and took a Soviet soldier's shoot at the soldiers. One of the tank's crew member then readjusted the
assault rifle to shoot the water tank cannon's position and fired at the palace, before moving forwards again.
right next to the barracks, which Quiet had to move and couldn't cover Venom Snake, as he was reloading.
extinguished the fire. A soldier, who Once done, he moved and reached the road, when the tank couldn't hit
survived, tried to escape, but took a him, because in the hollow between the road and the area's sandy part.
bullet from Quiet's sniper rifle. Quiet, who retrieved her equipment. 307 Once again, for this last main mission, this is a novelized version of it, made for this summary.
Then, some soldiers approached and making it a perfect target for Quiet,
Venom Snake switched weapons who started firing at it several time,
and took his assault rifle to take out until Venom Snake had reloaded
a few, as Quiet could now aim the and fired missiles at it to finish it.
tank again. She shot the rear engine The mission's Soviet tanks:'s model: TT77 NOSOROG. With the Intel Team information,
of the tank, which caught fire. It then went off the road and wanted to join an Miller warned them that another
AMV close to his position, at the top of the middle dune, but Venom Snake wave was coming, so they took
took his rocket launcher and aimed for its tracks, which finally destroyed it. position. Quiet moved, still on the
The AMV then approached and palace, and Venom Snake stayed on
sarted firing at Venom Snake with the road, hidden behind the small
its heavy maching gun, and Quiet rocky ledge leading to the dunes.
fired at it to start damaging its Miller also sent a supply drop of
armor with her anti-material sniper ATB mines to Venom Snake, who
The mission's Soviet AMVs's model: ZHUK BR-3. rifle. The heavy damage slowed the A 3D render artwork of Venom Snake's Battle Dress. quickly placed a few on both sides
vehicle down and allowed Venom Snake to get rid of a few Soviet soldiers of the road, near the palace. Soldiers arrived first, along with a tank, to the
reaching the road. Afar, in the scope of her sniper rifle, Quiet spotted left of the dunes, and had to face Quiet's sniper rifle, while an AMV arrived
another tank, at the end of the right of the road. Venom Snake saw it too from the right of the road and rushed towards the palace, but ended up
and took cover, asking Miller for tactical support, the largarge of a CGM 25 being destroyed by mines. Venom Snake, covered by Quiet, could fire on
missile launcher and a Battle Dress, as well as a bombardment on the tank the tank with two missile salvo, which destroyed the tank. At the same time,
afar308. As Quiet finished destroying the AMV, a heavy rain of bombs fell another AMV arrived on the left of the road. Fortunately, the mines he
on the tank, which also ended up destroyed. placed on this side covered him, again, and badly damaged the tank, which
A short lull ensued, during which Venom Snake had time to equip himself Quiet shot once to finish it off. But she then had to move, because many
with his Battle Dress and his more powerful missile launcher, while Quiet soldiers had had the time to get out the AMV before it exploded, and with
was taking out the last soldiers wandering the dunes. Finally, a last tank the others arriving from the dunes, they all targeted her. Venom Snake took
arrived on the left side of the desertic area, and Venom Snake and Quiet his assault rifle and helped her, by shooting the soldiers who had just come
fired at the same time, with a eight-missile salvo and a sniper bullet, which out of the AMV, and Quiet could then eliminate the remaining soldiers on
instantly destroyed the tank, next to which another AMV arrived, from the dunes. An AMV and a tank then arrived by the right end of the road.
behind a dune. It fired at Venom Snake, but remained on top of the dune, So Venom Snake climbed the ledge and fired several times on the vehicles.
308 Asking for a bombardment (or air strike) is a gameplay feature, which costs a lot of GMP. Not all the missiles hit it, but they were badly damaged.
Still from the palace's rooftops, through the dunes nearby. Venom Snake, still hidden in the road, under
Quiet saw that Venom Snake was the rocky ledge, had to pull back to the palace and join Quiet on the middle
able to handle them on his own, and floor. Through its destroyed windows and holes in the walls, he could aim
checked the top of the middle dune, at the two vehicles with his missile launcher and damage them, while Quiet
where she saw a tank-mounted was killing soldiers crossing the road, towards the palace's entrance. But the
multiple rocket launcher arrived. It chopper forced her to move and prevented her from firing, especially with
stopped and launched a rocket salvo its blinding searchlight. So she went back to the roof and reached its highest
The mission's Soviet tank-mounted multiple
directly at Venom Snake's position, rocket launcher's model: ZHUK RS-Z0. point, to target the pilot and kill him with one perfect shot. The chopper
exposed. She immediately fired on the ground next to him, to get his crashed near the palace's entrance, killing soldiers in the explosion. Now
attention, and warn him with a wave of her hand. So he returned behind the rid of it, with the crash's smoke screen and his upper position, Venom
rocky ledge to take cover, as the missiles hit the ground and exploded. The Snake could easily aim and fire both at the AMV and the tank, which he
explosion's smoke allowed him to hide without being seen and, afar, as the managed to destroy. Afar, after the chopper crash's smoke cleared, Venom
rockets's smoke lines disappeared in the sky, Quiet saw behind it a chopper Snake and Quiet saw two tanks, one atop the middle dune and the other at
coming in their direction. She wanted to quickly fire at the pilot, but it was the right end of the road, on the way to their position. Venom Snake asked
still too far away, and stopped to let soldiers got off and land on one of the for a bombardment which detroyed the one on the dune, and destroyed the
dunes. As the "rocket launcher tank" on the dune was now running out of other one by firing a missile salvo at it, as Quiet used her sniper to finish it
ammo, she let Venom Snake destroy it with his missile launcher, while she off. Miller then told Venom Snake that there was no sign of reinforcements.
aimed at the chopper, which, after taking a bullet, began a maneuver for Now without cover, the last remaining Soviet soldiers on the dunes
approach the palace in a circular path, to avoid Quiet's shots. retreated, as Quiet leaped from the palace's roof to join Venom Snake, in
Meanwhile, the AMV and the tank Venom Snake damaged from a long front of the buildin. Relieved, he wanted to shake hands with her, and she
distance had followed the road and eventually reached the palace, but the landed her hand too, but to grab his rocket launcher and fire at a tank they
AMV hit one of the remaining ATB mines on the road. Behind it, the tank had missed from above, located at the left end of the road, behind Venom
then changed its course and left the road to roll over a dune, in the direction Snake. Unfortunately, the tank had time to fire too, and the shell's blast
of Venom Snake. The latter fired a missile salvo on it, while Quiet, unable flattened Venom Snake on the ground. When he got up, he saw Quiet lying
to fire the moving chopper and under fire from enemy troops, could only on the ground, unconsious. He crawled up to her, half stunned, and said her
shoot at the airborned soldiers who were approaching the palace. But the name to wake her up, but she only had the strength to lift her right thumb,
chopper reached it first and opened fire on its roof, forcing Quiet to move to to reassure him. He then wanted to call for a chopper to extract them, but
the lower levels. At the same time, another AMV arrived on the left side of a sandstorm was coming right over them and jammed the communica-
the road, where there were no more mines, followed by a tank which came tions of his iDroid. Now without sun or water, Quiet couldn't regenerate
and Venom Snake had to carry her on his back to extract her. After a few He then woke up, unable to move. Quiet, her, stood above him, healthy.
tries, Miller managed to inform his leader by radio of an extraction point, On Venom Snake's iDroid, Pequod, from the recovery chopper flying above
and the arrival of another mechanized unit in their direction, despite the the sandstorm, tried to contact him by radio to get their location, using his
sandstorm. Hidden in the sand, Venom Snake easily avoid them and ran code name: Ahab. Quiet took it and answered, in Navajo, but Pequod didn't
as fast as he could over the dunes to reach the extraction point. But on the understand and asked her to repeat, in English. But if she did, her parasites
way, Quiet started to move and made him lose his balance. She ended up on will start to grow, so she put the iDroid on the ground and grabbed Venom
the ground, and Venom Snake spotted a bloody wound on the right of her Snake to straighten him, against the boulder. But she understood that to
belly, probably caused by internal bleeding. She struggled to keep him off save him, she would have to speak English. So she picked up the iDroid
his back, from the pain, so he put his arms under hers to pull her, instead. and spoke, in English. Unable to give Pequod their exact location, she led
They finally reach an isolated spot, near a large boulder. The Soviet column him using her special abilities, which allowed her to sense their presence
of vehicles and soldiers were just behind the it, so Venom Snake prefered to from afar and know exactly where
wait a moment there to let them pass, before continuing to move. However, they were. Once Pequod arrived, she
a soldier approached the boulder, and Quiet panicked because of the pain of waved her hands in his direction, so
her injury. Venom Snake calmed her down, as the soldier cocked his assault that he could see her. The helicopter's
rifle and slowly approached in their direction. He finally stopped and fired searchlight pierced the sandstorm
a few bullets, only to hang the corpse of a cobra he had just killed at the and appeared above them. Venom
end of the barrel of his gun. He then put the corpse back on the ground and Snake collapsed again. Pequod above the location of Venom Snake and Quiet.
walked away, but a second cobra walked over to Venom Snake and Quiet, When he woke up again, a medic was there, in front of him. He said that
who panicked again from the pain. Venom Snake, who was holding her, he gave him an anti-venom for the cobra bite.
placed his arm between her and the snake as the latter attacked, to protect
her. He was bitten, but took the opportunity to pull the cobra violently Note: This anti-venom can be seen as the result of the character's evolution,
bang its head against the boulder, which killed it, before throwing it away rid of the thirst for revenge against Skull Face's venom (at the origin of his
from them. The Soviet soldier, who nickname), which the real Big Boss put in his head via Ocelot, and who
was still near them, heard the noise ultimately sacrified himself to save Quiet, takes him back to what he did in
and turned around, but the other the chopper to save Big Boss, as a combat medic. He's now free from that
soldiers called him from the road, past which isn't his and that the real Big Boss let him handle and accomplish
so he finally left. Then, due to the for him. Moreover, the fact that it's a cobra which bites him reminds The
poison, Venom Snake fainted, with Boss's Cobra unit: the origin of Big Boss's story. Skull Face was already in
Quiet in his arms. The cobra biting Venom Snake's right arm. its shadow then, since the Virtuous Mission.
Venom Snake asked to the medic where was Quiet. But he didn't answer Note: After this mission, The Diamond Dogs had lost almost everything they
and just said that they had to go and helped him up, but Venom Snake had gained since the arrival or Venom Snake from the Cypriot hospital, the
slowly pushed him away, to walk by himself. The soldier then returned spoils of revenge: Huey, the Sahelanthropus, Eli and the child soldiers, many
to the chopper, followed by the others, who covered him while he treated soldiers (in the Quarantine Platform), and Quiet. Only D-Dog, Code Talker
their leader. Venom Snake stayed outside and looked confused. He then and a few nuclear weapons were left on Mother Base, since the feature was
saw footprints in the sand, and followed it until reaching the top of a small available (after the Mision 31: Sahelanthropus, and the end of the Chapter
dune, near a dead tree. The track stopped there, but he found an audio 1: Revenge). Two other key story elements take place in the game after
cassette tape hanging from a branch of the tree, tied with a cord. He took the Mission 45. The Mission 46: Truth (but I have already summarized its
it and listened to it. She explained, in English, that she didn't choose to events in the Prologue's section; however, the ending cutscene takes place
become Quiet. It was revenge that pushed her towards Cipher and the XOF, several years after the events of Metal Gear Solid: Phantom Pain (2015)),
but that revenge, which became the only language she could use as Quiet, and the Nuclear Disarmament Ending. I added them in the part following
gave way to gratitude as she spent time with him, and made her give up her Mission 51, because in terms of temporality, they take place after. But if you
revenge and want to remain silent so want to read them now as a reminder, you can go to the dedicated section.
as not to spread the parasite. She had
recorded it before leaving the place,
to avoid infecting other people and
go and hide in a safe and lonely place,
now that the parasites had started to
grow in her throat. Quiet before she disappeared, to avoid a pandemic.
After the mission and Quiet's disappearance, Code Talker obtained the
results of the parasite treatment that saved herlife, after being burned at the
Cypriot hospital. The parasites had replaced all of her burned skin, and her
pulmonary respiration by a cutaneous one. The organs she lost were also
replaced, and fed through photosynthesis. And it was during this therapy
that Skull Face infected her with the vocal cord parasite's English strain.
Note: After this mission, obviously, Quiet is no more available as a buddy THIS IS WHERE THE PLAYER ENDS THE GAME, IN THE CHOPPER'S CABIN.
A PLACE WHERE HE SPENT A LOT OF TIME. THIS IS THE GAME'S MAIN MENU,
for the player. It stayed that way until a game update allowed the player to WHERE HE CAN'T MOVE BUT USE THE IDROID TO MANAGE MOTHER BASE,
get her back, by completing seven times the Mission 12: Cloaked in Silence. CHOOSE A LANDING ZONE, SELECT A MISSION, AND/OR PLAY ONLINE.
264 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SUMMARY – 9: VENOM SNAKE 265
– 1985-1995: Over the years, as the leader of the Diamond Dogs, Venom
Snake was deeply involved in the global nuclear disarmament.
9: Venom Snake: Shortly before his death, he learned the truth about his true identity and
recalled his past as a combat medic. Still, he completed his last mission and
remained faithful to his former leader and friend: Big Boss.
Who is the Big Boss that the player plays in Metal Gear Solid: The Phantom
Pain (2015)? After the Mission 46: Truth, he discovers (if he hadn't guessed
it before) that he is his double. Here is a little summary of his life:
– 1975: During the attack of Mother Base, Big Boss returned from the
Camp Omega with Paz, Chico, the pilot, Morpho, and a combat medic on
board. The latter removed a bomb from Paz's body, but there was another.
As she jumped out of the chopper to save everyone, the bomb exploded and
the combat medic got between her and Big Boss, to protect him.
– 1984: After nine years in a coma, Big Boss and the combat medic woke up
at the Dhekelia SBA Memorial Hospital, in Cyprus. The doctor Evangelos
Constantinou told to the combat medic that during the explosion, 108
foreign bodies ended up in his body, and that he lost his left arm.
Ocelot then used hypnotherapy as the combat medic had just woken up,
to put Big Boss's memories in his mind and turn him into a double of him,
VENOM SNAKE IN OUTER HEAVEN, THE DAY HE LEARNED THE TRUTH ABOUT HIS IDENTITY.
for the latter's protection and on his demand. HE'S WEARING AN OUTER HEAVEN'S PATCH ON HIS UNIFORM'S RIGHT SHOULDER.
After getting rid of the Major Zero, Skull Face took control of his organi-
zation, Cipher, and learned of the Big Boss awakening. With the help of the – 1995: In his Outer Heaven fortress, South Africa, on the orders of the real
latter, who kept his face covered, the combat medic, now fully convinced Big Boss who had recently revealed the truth to him about his true identity,
that he was the real Big Boss, left the hospital during an XOF assault. Venom Snake accomplished his last mission for him: to die, killed by one
The combat medic, now known with the code name Venom Snake and of Big Boss's "sons": Solid Snake.
who inherited of the title of Big Boss, as his double, became leader of the
Diamond Dogs with Miller and Ocelot, and developed his Mother Base to
build an army to track Skull Face, until revenge on him and kill him.
Along the way he met Quiet, whom he had feelings for, which was mutual.
– A Big Boss's double: the risky bet of Hideo Kojima. When they entered the ship, they found a huge room full of eggs on the
ground, and with that giant extraterrestrial. But they didn't have time to
How do you deal with the main elements of a story's mythology that fans explore or analyze, because one of them was attacked by a Facehugger,
have already made their own? You can't. I can't tell if this has a name, but which came out one of the many eggs in the room. Following this event,
it is that.ose mysterious part.s of some stories that stimulate your imagina- the crew member will die and a xenomorph will grow and kill everyone on
tion and, without official explanation about it, let you fill in the gaps. The board, except the main protagonist: Ellen Ripley (Sigourney Weaver).
main example that can be given about this is that character: The thing is that no further information are given by the movie about
what will be later called by the fans the Space Jockey. When they were in the
room, the characters saw a severe wound on its chest, similar to the one that
the Chestburster will leave when exiting the chest of one of their own. So it
died there, but why sit on that seat? Looking through a telescope? Why its
ship was carrying xenomorphs's eggs? Where was it going? Many questions
that had no answers, and left the spectators, after having faced the graphic
violence of the film during the first viewing, imagine the rest.
And that leads to the question of the creator who fills in the gaps in his
own story after a too long delay. 33 years after Alien (1979), in 2012, Ridley
Scott directed Prometheus (2012). The movie was intended to be a prequel
to the original movie and provide explanation of the origin and purposes
of the Space Jockey's species. When it came out in theaters, the spectators,
who had already imagined their version and read many theories and fanfic-
tions, had to deal with an official version that almost everyone rejected309.
There was a similar case with midi-chlorians, in Star Wars: Episode I –
The Phantom Menace (1999). In the original trilogy: Episode IV, V and
VI, the Force that the Jedi Knights use is not explained and appears as
magic. But in the prelogy, Georges Lucas, the creator and writer of the six
H.R. GIGER - PILOT IN THE COCKPIT (1978).
movies, introduced the concept of blood cells that could be measured with
That character, created for the movie Alien (1979), directed by Ridley Scott, computers and gave an idea of a Jedi's potential. Unhappy, many fans were.
had no background at first, and was just a crew member of the crashed ship 309 Especially because the movie's story was based more on symobles (especially religious) than logic.
However, discussing the movie with a lot of people since its release, I noticed that the people who didn't like it
that sent an SOS message that the protagonists's ship, the Nostromo, received were mostly those who were familiar with the series and expected something specific before seeing the movie.
That said, back to Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), Hideo So instead of just showing an official and generic version of the downfall
Kojima had to deal with the turning point of his Metal Gear Solid game of Big Boss that all players had already imagined, he created the concept of
series's main character: Big Boss. Initially, it was Solid Snake. In the first a double, which had two objectives:
game of the series, Metal Gear (1987), the latter defeated Big Boss. And – Provide a logical scenaristic reason of the two deaths of Big Boss, in Metal
once again in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990). The following names even Gear (1987) and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990).
have the Solid added to the title. But Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) – Let the player build his own version of the legend of Big Boss, by giving
changed everything. him all the tools to achieve this goal.
After the two first Metal Gear games, Hideo Kojima began to really develop The gameplay of the game gives the player the possibility to play like a
the huge mythology of the series, especially with Solid and Liquid Snake, warrior or a strategist, by killing or just neutralizing the enemies. And the
the two clones of a legendary soldier from the Cold War: Big Boss. They are fact that, with the final revelation about his true identity, everything that
the main protagonist and antagonist of Metal Gear Solid (1998), Metal Gear the player did during the game becomes what the double, Venom Snake,
Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2002) and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots officially did, make him the creator of this half of Big Boss's story.
(2008). What's interesting is to see that, in each of those three games, Solid In addition to that, there is the nuclear weapon building or dismantling
Snake appears in a different way: as the main playable character in the first, feature which goes in the same direction. From one point in the whole story
playable only for the prologue of the second, and playable as an old man in of the series, Big Boss turned from a man who wanted to free the world from
the third. But to complete his background and that of the game series, there nuclear deterrence to a mercenaries army's leader about to enter a nuclear
was Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), which introduced the story of conflict with the United States of America, to quench his thirst for revenge
the cloned Cold War hero, the legendary soldier: Big Boss. From this game after the attack of Skull Face on Mother Base (from which he never recove-
began a second series of games inside the Metal Gear Solid series. One half red), and which ultimately had to be stopped by Solid Snake. Hideo Kojima
is dedicated to Solid Snake's story, and the other to Big Boss's one. The three gave an understandable and relatable cause to the roots of this change with
games about Big Boss are Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), Metal the events of Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (2014), which also justified
Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014)310, and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom the bloody vengeance of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), but
Pain (2015) should have been the third, because it takes place in the period also let Big Boss mentally destroyed and kept a part of mystery about the
when the character becomes the demon, the antagonist that Solid Snake evolution of his character between 1984 and 1999, which players can thus
will have to kill in the two games of the series where they are enemies: Metal continue to fantasize, while having a lot of facts at their disposal.
Gear (1987) and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990). So the game was the last The player couldn't play as an antagonist, so Hideo Kojima found a third
stone of the whole thing, and required a really subtle treatment. way than playing him or not: involving the player in the writting of the
But Hideo Kojima saw it coming. legend as Big Boss's double: Venom Snake. Like the prologue's quote says:
310 There was also Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006), but it wasn't made by Hideo Kojima. "There are no facts. There are only interpretations." - Nietzsche.
270 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) REFERENCES - 1: GODZILLA (1954), BY ISHIRŌ HONDA 271
The player can accept or reject the idea. That's why the game divided so
much, but the intention was interesting. And Venom Snake had exactly the
same purpose in the game as in the latter's communication and story: to THE REFERENCES
act as a decoy to protect Big Boss. Physically in the game, and his myth in
real life. The Mission 46: Truth is litterally a direct message to the player,
who then decides whether to accept the game's proposal that made him the – 1: Godzilla (1954), by Ishirō Honda.
co-writer of the Big Boss's lLegend during the time he just played the game,
or is angry at Kojima who lied about the protagonist's identity, like Miller is The movie begins with a little ship,
angry against Big Boss in the game, when Ocelot tells him about the double. the Eikō-Maru, which sails near a
small island, Odo. In the distance,
fallout from a nuclear explosion
destroys the ship. This event refers to
an actual event that occurred eight
months before the film's premiere:
on March 1st, 1954, the United
States of America detonated one of
a 76 nuclear devices that they tested
at Bikini Atoll311 (located in the
Pacific Ocean, southeast of Japan):
a hydrogen bomb with a yield of
15 megatons. The fallout reached
VENOM SNAKE, WITH HIS SHRAPNEL "HORN", AND BIG BOSS.
a nearby fishing boat called "Lucky
Note: The following part is dedicated to the cinematographic/literary/ Dragon 5" and its chief radioman
historical references of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). But died seven months later, from the radiation. In addition to that, after their
if you want to go directly to the Mission 51, click here: defeat in 1945, the US were still present in Japan, for a political transition.
The Japanese were then still shocked by the nuclear explosions in Hiroshima
START MISSION 51: KINGDOM OF THE FLIES and Nagasaki, and tired of the American presence on their territory. The
movie, directed by Ishirō Honda, was born in this climate.
311 The incident that made Big Boss infertile, in the Metal Gear Solid series.
Ishiro Honda was a soldier during By the way, in this movie, the
World War II and taken prisoner of Rhedosaurus has been trapped
war in China, before returning to in the ice for 100 billion years,
Japan. When he did, he visited the which makes him a dinosaur (like
ruins of Nagasaki and what he saw Godzilla). In the movie's story, it's
shook him deeply. With Godzilla a nuclear explosion of a test that
(1954), at first, he wanted to make a takes place in the Artic Ocean,
movie about the effects and after-ef- named Operation Experiment, that
fects of a nuclear explosion. But he wake him up. I cannot help but see
couldn't, because of the post-WWII a similarity with the plot of At the
Japanese political climate. But, in Mountains of Madness (1936), by H.
1954, the Toho312 wanted to make P. Lovecraft. In this book, a group of
a movie with a giant monster, explorers go to the Artic Ocean and
following the success of The Beast discover a moutain where they find
from 20,000 Fathoms (1953), the ruins of a city built by an ancient
released the previous year. And civilisation. In this city, they find an
following the nuclear test of Bikini ancient creature, before escaping. The book's cover of a 1985 edition.
Atoll, Honda's idea ofthe effects of End of contextualization.
nuclear weapons mingled with the When nuclear bomb exploded in Nagasaki, the shock After the Eikō-Maru ship is wounded by the explosion , two boats are
wave "left" the shadow of many people on
"giant monster" movie. several walls across the city. sent successively to rescue them but are also destroyed. Following what,
Honda then changed his initial idea the inhabitants of the Odo island no longer catch fish in the ocean. Some
and thought of a Kaiju for a physical journalists begin to investigate by reaching the island by helicopter, and
metaphor of nuclear power. And he start talking with the locals, who speak about an old belief: a sea monster
used The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms called Godzilla. During a night, they hold a exorcism ceremony on the
(1953) structure: the first movie that beach, but the monster attack them and destroys several houses. Back at
introduced a giant monster woke the Tokyo's National Diet Building (the parliament), witnesses testify to the
up by a nuclear explosion, before presence of a giant monster. Due to this problematic situation, and at the
The Rhedosaurus, the prehistoric monster from
The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953). attacking a big city. request of a paleontologist/zoologist, the professor Kyohei Yamane, they
312 The Toho Co., Ltd. is a Japanese film, theater production and distribution company. decide to send a team of scientists to investigate.
On the island, the professor While they thought Godzilla was probably dead, a boat is attacked in
discovers many traces of radioac- Tokyo Bay overnight. Politicians ask the professor if he knows a way to kill
tivity and giant footprints, which him, but the latter answers them that, with the amount of roadioactivity
remind him of the legendary Big he has absorbed, nuclear weapons would be useless and it would be more
Foot, in the Himalayas313. He also important to study him first, to understand him and how to kill him.
finds a trilobit, a creature that has Here, the second part of the movie's
been extinct for over 250 million story starts. A reporter, Hawigara,
years. After that, his team encoun- wishes to interview a colleague of the
ters Godzilla. Before they run away The first appearance of Godzilla. professor Yamane: the Dr Daisuke
and leave the island, the professor manage to take a picture of him. Serizawa. To help him, he meets
Back in Tokyo, the professor presents what he found in the parliament. He Yamane's future son-in-law: the
assumes that Godzilla is a prehistoric sea monster. The recent nuclear tests lieutenant Hideto Ogata. Serizawa
would have take him out of the cave he had been hidding so far, which the has a thing for Emiko, the daughter
bombs might even have destroyed. He uses the trilobit as evidence, as welle of the professor, and accept to meet
as the fact that the sediment in Godzilla footprints' contains large amounts her. But when they do, Serizawa
of strontium-90: a component of atomic bombs. Soon, the information learns she is already engaged with
of the presence of a giant and dangerous monster becomes political and Ogata, and that she's even about to
half of the parliament wants to hide the truth from the public, while the marry him. So he's disappointed but
other one doesn't314. It is censorship against the truth, which was exactly still accepts to show her his work,
the situation in Japan at that time, with the presence of the United States of asking her to keep it secret. His work
America in their politic life. scares Emiko315. Emiko and Serizawa, wearing an eye patch…
After discovering the photography of the monster, Tokyo politicians The following night, another attack by Godzilla occurs near the Tokyo
decide to send army warships to kill the monster. Still in the capital, the coast. The military retaliates and the professor Yamane, near a bridge blocked
professor Yamane is against the idea: he thinks they should study Godzilla by the army, tells a soldier not to use a light on Godzilla or it will get mad,
to understand how he survived for so long and how radioactivity changed but the soldier doesn't listen and drives him off the bridge for his safety. To
him. But the attack is launched and bombs fire underwater, without results. see and aim him, the military use huge spots, which make Godzilla attack
313 We have here a reference to a cryptid, lie the Loch Ness monster. In the Metal Gear Solid series, the
character of Chico says he has a passion for that. And dreams to se the Mokele-mbembe: a cryptid which would and destroy a bridge and a train, before returning to the Bay.
live in Zambia and would have the appearance similar to a diplodocus.
314 This is censorship against the truth, which was exactly the situation of the Japan at that time with the 315 He put a metal marble in an aquarium and the result of its action remains offscreen, but Emiko can be
presence of the United States of America in their politic life seen screaming, scared.
After the attack on the Tokyo coast, international scientists came from From his laboratory, the Dr
across the world316. Politicians decide to build a high electric fence around Serizawa hears everything on the
the Bay to defend the city from the monster. At the same time, people are radio. At the same time, follow a short
being evacuated around the Bay. sequence in the shelter where the
Meanwhile, the professor Yamane, Emiko are Ogata are at home. Emiko civilians are hiding, with an imagery
and Ogata plan to get married and Ogato is about to ask Yamane for it, but reminiscent of the Hiroshima and
the professor is obsessed by Godzilla and the fact that the politicians wants Nagasaki bombings318. This shot is also reminiscent of planes bombings.
to kill him, and not study him. When he goes to talk with him, Ogato says Due to the gravity of the situation, Emiko breaks the promise she made
he agrees with the army and that Godzilla must die. Yamane does not agree to Serizawa to tell Ogata about the technology he's working on and she
and ends the discussion. Ogata is then unable to ask for his daughter's hand. saw in action: a small metal marble dropped into an aquarium that killed
In the Bay, Godzilla is back and big spots are pointed in his direction. This instantly every fish in it.
causes him to attack and the military begins to shoot him with cannons and Then, they go to his lab and ask the Dr if they could use his technology
heavy machine guns. They do nothing to him and he destroys the fence by to kill Godzilla. He refuses and returns to his office to burn his reasearch
melting its metal with his atomic breath317. Godzilla then enter the city and documents. After Ogato and Serizawa fight, in a first time, the Dr explained
begins to burn houses and people in the streets. Army tanks are melted or to Emiko that his technology destroys all oxygen nearby, and everything dies
crushed by the monster's feet. The army is overwhelmed and part of the city of asphyxiation. It transforms the oxygen atoms into fluids and liquefies the
is transformed in what the reporter Hagiwara describes as a "sea of fire". bodies which are in contact with what he calls himself the "oxygen destruc-
Then, the survivors have to hide in a shelter, and Godzilla attacks a metal tor". When he started his research, all he wanted was to study the element
tower from which Hagiwara was oxygen, but those research led to finding a new unknown energy. He says
commenting the attack. Godzilla that if it's dropped in the ocean, it could kill everything319. Emiko asked him
destroys the tower and the reporter "What if it was used by someone evil?". He wanted to improve that techno-
dies. The monster is still out of logy and use it later, when he would have find a form that could be useful
control, until a squadron of war for humanity320. That’s why he didn’t tell anyone about it. A new kind of
planes arrives and begins to attack weapon powerful than nuclear would alter the world balance321.
Godzilla by launching missiles at
318 Precisely what Ishirō Honda wanted to do in a first place, in a realistic war movie about the horror of
him. He can't retaliate, so he go back nuclear bombs.
319 Like the atomic bomb. Before being used, scientists couldn't be sure that it won't cause a chain reaction
into the water and leaves. Godzilla destroying Tokyo. that would destroy the entire universe.
316 But when we see planes landing at an airport of Tokyo, we only see an American one. And the movie was 320 It is reminiscent of what scientists like Sokolov or Huey says in the Metal Gear Solid series: they created
made at a time they were not welcome. In addition, they are not useful for events following their arrival. something to help people in the first place, but it ended up bieng used as weapons by the military.
317 An ability the director gave Godzilla to show rhe effects of nuclear fallout). 321 Like the Metal Gear bipedal nuclear weapons-equipped tank.
278 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) REFERENCES - 2: MOBY DICK; OR, THE WHALE (1851), BY HERMAN MELVILLE 279
The Dr Serizawa has a dilemma: if he reveals his technology, the army will – 2: Moby-Dick; or, The Whale (1851), by Herman Melville.
want to use it. And even if he destroys his research documents, he would (Back to summary.) (Back to page 129.)
have to redo them while working for the army. So if he want anyone but him
to use his technology, he would have to die322. But as he's thinking, Serizawa A: The story.
sees the destruction Godzilla made in the city on his television, and accept
to use his technology against Godzilla. But only once, for that purpose. He For this summary, I'll be using the
then burns his research documents and they all leave the laboratory. story from the 1956 movie, directed
The Dr Serizawa, Ogato, Emiko and the professor Yamane are all on by John Huston, but with a few
the military boat sent by the army to search and destroy Godzilla. They comparisons of the changes that
manage to locate him quickly with a Geiger counter, and Serizawa asks for were made with the original book.
a swimsuit, to dive in and use his weapon. Ogato joins him and they dive. The story takes place in the XIXth
They descend near Godzilla and Serizawa arms his weapon, while Ogato century. Ishmael, (the narrator in
rises to the surface. After confirming that his weapon was functional, he cut the book) wants to become a whaler.
his rope with a knife to die with Godzilla, underwater, so that his weapon
would never be used again. Note: At that time, whaler was a
Then, Godzilla briefly appears on prestigious profession, as whale's
the surface and utters his famous oil was the main source of energy
roar, before sinking into the water in cities, before petroleum was used.
and dying, turned into a skeleton
before being completely disinte- After he heards about Captain
grated by the oxygen destructor. Ahab, injured during a confronta-
On the boat, Yamane then says tion with a giant white sperm whale, A poster of the 1956 movie.
that he doesn’t believe that Godzilla Moby Dick, at an inn where he meets many sailors, including a cannibal
was the only survivor of his kind and The skeleton of Godzilla underwater. named Queequeg, who quickly becomes his friend. After dark, they both
that if nuclear tests continue, there will be others Godzilla. And without reach Nantucket harbor and are engaged as sailors and posted to the Pequod,
Serizawa's technology, we suddenly understand why he said that politics the Captain Ahab's whaler. But just before boarding, a strange and unknown
should have study him, before killing him. man called Eli warn them about terrifying events that will happen later323,
322 This was never confirmed by Ishirō Honda, but Robert Oppenheimer, who worked on the first nuclear on their trip, before he leaves the harbor.
bombs during the Manhattan Project, refused to work on the H-bomb after the war had ended. It was a profes-
sional suicide and he ended blacklisted. 323 Those things will happen at the end of the story, so it can be seen as a flashforward/spoiler/prophecy.
The Pequod was an old whaler After this, everyone is focused on

and all of its damaged parts, lost in chasing Moby Dick. While having
whaling, were replaced with whale a discussion with Starbuck, Ahab is
bones, as Captain Ahab's prosthe- pointing Bikini Atoll on the map326,
sis made from a whale jawbone where they should find Moby Dick.
replaced one of his leg, which Moby Ahab reveals his deep desire for
Dick ate324. There are also whale's revenge and Starbuck begins to warn
teeth adorning the railing, which him about it, and about his behavior
sets the tone325. too. And Ahab said this line:
On the Pequod, the crew is made
up of men from all over the world. – The Melville's book version:
The Chief, second and third mates
each have their own harpooner, "All visible objects, man, are but as
and the most important of them pasteboard masks. But in each event
is the Chief mate, Starbuck. He's — in the living act, the undoub-
wise, experienced and the Captain's ted deed — there, some unknown
closest member of the crew. There's but still reasoning thing puts forth
The cover of the book. also a carpenter and a blacksmith. the mouldings of its features from
In the 1956 cinematographic adaptation, Gregory Peck
The ship then leaves Nantucket to hunt whales, but Ishmael never meets behind the unreasoning mask. (Ahab), with his scar, reminds Venom Snake.
the Captain. He just hears his bone's leg hitting the wooded floor of his If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can the prisoner reach
cabin overnight. After a first successful whaling, Ahab faces his crew and outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the white whale is that
gives them a speech about his willingness to kill Moby Dick. They all agree, wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there's naught beyond. But 'tis
and then, he plants a golden Spanish doubloon on the main mast of the enough. He tasks me; he heaps me; I see in him outrageous strength, with
Pequod and says that the first man to point out the white whale will have it an inscrutable malice sinewing it. That inscrutable thing is chiefly what I
as a reward. That announcement unites everyone in Ahab's quest, without hate; and be the white whale agent, or be the white whale principal, I will
any questions from them, even though his personal revenge has little to do wreak that hate upon him. Talk not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the
with their initial job: bringing whale's oil. sun if it insulted me.327"
324 Like Venom Snake, he has lost a limb and has both a phantom pain and a desire for revenge. 326 The place where Big Boss became infertile after the nuclear test. I don’t know if it’s a coincidence or not.
325 It is reminiscent of the Skull Face's shotgun, equipped with a bone grip and based on the custom rifle 327 This is quoted from the book, not the movie. Also, the way Gregory Peck taliks in the movie is very
Steve McQueen used in the Wanted: Dead or Alive (1958-1961) television series, nicknamed Mare' Leg. reminiscent of Skull Face's emphatic and calm way of speaking.
– The movie version: They spend the following days tracking the whale, which they lost sight
of, while rowing in their barks to tow the motionless whaler.
"Speak not to me of blasphemy, man; I'd strike the sun if it insulted me. The wind finally returns and Ahab gives the golden doubloon to the
Look ye, Starbuck, all visible objects are but as pasteboard masks. Some sailor that spotted Moby Dick, and promise a lot more to the crew, who are
inscrutable yet reasoning thing puts forth the molding of their features. The pumped up.
white whale tasks me; he heaps me. Yet he is but a mask. 'Tis the thing behind On the tracks of Moby Dick again, they encounter another ship, the
the mask I chiefly hate; the malignant thing that has plagued mankind since Rachel, and its captain gives Ahab some information. They are looking for
time began; the thing that maws and mutilates our race, not killing us a fellow whaler who has been tracking the white whale, who has the Rachel
outright but letting us live on, with half a heart and half a lung." captain's son aboard. Ahab refuses to help them with the search and leaves.
After that, the Pequod faces a terrible typhoon. Starbuck tells Ahab to
Suddenly, they find a pod of hundred of whales and start hunting them leave the area, but he doesn't listen. Starbuck realises that Ahab's obsession
for oil, and the Pequod encounters another ship, the Samuel Enderby, whose is contagious as the crew follow his captain's orders without protesting, and
captain lost an arm because of Moby Dick, gives Ahab information about then returns to his cabin, to grab a gun he keeps on him.
the whale's sailing direction328. SoAhab tells his men they leave immedia- One day after escaping the typhoon, one sunny day, Ahab and Starbuck
tely. They answer they were hired to find whale's oil and bring it back to the have a discussion on the bridge. And as they speak, Starbuck point his gun
cities, but Ahab orders them to give up the hunt. at him when he turns his back, but cannot shoot. Ahab barely reacts to this
Following this event, Starbuck has a private meeting with the second and murder attempt and Starbuck ends up following the Captain in his mad
third mates and tells them that, according to their code, a captain can be quest, like the others.
removed from office if he doesn't fulfill the assigned mission. The other two As they're on the tracks of Moby Dick again, Ishmael repeats to Ahab
disagree with the idea and prefet to follow the Ahab's desire for vengeance. the prophecy of the strange man he met with Queequeg, before they left
Later, while on the trail of the whale, a crew member falls off a mast and the harbor: Eli. Right after, they find Moby Dick and start chasing him
ends up in the water, and dies. aboard the whaler's four barks. The whale dives but reappears and they
After this, the Pequod comes a long way without meeting anyone. throw harpoons at it. Moby Dick destroys a bark, and then another, Ahab's
Queequeg, the cannibal, practices visions with bones and has a vision about one. The Captain manages to climb on the whale with the ropes of the
what is to come. Therefore, he stops feeding himself and asks the carpen- already thrown harpoons, and wounds Moby Dick several times with a
ter to built a coffin, without logical reason. The crew slowly start to go mad harpoon he's holding. The whale dives again and when he reappears, Ahab
during this never-ending journey, until, one night, they finally find Moby barely budges, stucked in the ropes. Ishamel then tells the two remaining
Dick. But the wind stops as they start chasing him, aboard the barks. barks to continue the attack, and Moby Dick destroys them, before rushing
328 In the book, he doesn't help him and the finding of the whale's pod doesn't happens at the same time. head first towards the Pequod, whose hull he breaks. The whaler sinks and
Ishmael uses the floating coffin as a lifeline. The only survivor, he remains C: The Bible.
on the ocean for a day before a ship finds him, the Rachel. He's recovered329.
The references mainly relate to characters who had a life similar to those
Note: In the movie, Ahab fights one last heroic battle with his target, to in Hermann's book:
create a climax. In the book, he falls overboard and ends up in the ocean, – Ahab: An evil king of Israel who worshipped idols. He was considered
and there's no fight. His fate remains unknown by Ishmael, but he found unholy due of his marriage to Jezabel and the building of the temple of Baal
what he wants. Action wasn't the point of the book. The same was done for which he made for her (Baal was a Phoenician god).
the 2012 movie trilogy adaptation of The Hobbit (1937). Bilbo passed out – Ishmael: The first son of Abraham and his maid Hagar, chased by his
before the last battle, as the real point of the book was Thorin's obsession father when he had a second son, Isaac. In the Bible, the latter is against
of recovering the arkenstone, a gem that symbolizes the wealth and power all nations and all nations are against him. So mankind rejected him. In
he lost, the reason which the whole adventure of the book begins. Melville's book, Ishmael is a young man who wants to leave earth to sail.
– Elijah: The English name of the prophet Elie, and opponent of Queen
Jezabel, wife of Ahab.
B: The real story behind the book. – Jonah's story: Sent to Nineveh by God, to tell people to change their
behavior because it didn't suit God, he refused and reach the nearest beach
Behind the adventures of the Pequod are those of the Essex, which took to take a boat to flee and sail. He ended up sallowed by a whale for three
place in 1820: a real whaler that sinked after being destroyed by a large days, before being vomited by the giant beast, back to the beach from which
sperm whale. The crew ended up on a desert island, before departing and he left. Then, he completed his sacred mission and God forgave everyone.
drifting aboard three barks, for about eighteen weeks. In the end, they were
starving and had to engage in acts of cannibalism. They were eventually
found by a britannic ship, the Indian, and brought back to Nantucket, where D: The philosophy.
they left from. Later, three crew members that stayed on the desert island
were found by a ship, informed about their location by the survivors, and The book is a novel rather than a maritime encyclopedia. Moby Dick's
brought back as well. whaling takes place in the last three of the thirty-five chapters. Some of
Herman Melville heard about that story in 1841, and met the son of one the chapters are narrative and others that can be compared to long studies,
of the members of the Essex's crew. mainly about whales. And in the middle of that: philosophy. There are
A movie has been made about the adventures of the Essex: In the Heart different analyzes about the text, but I will focus this part on comparing the
of the Sea (2015). story with Plato's allegory of the cave. A inverted version of it, to be more
329 This is how he could become the narrator of the story, in the book. specific.
Note: Just a reminder of Plato's allegory of the cave: a group of people are What Ahab actually hunts is that "malice" behind the mask that the whale
in a cave, turning their backs to the entrance where the sunlight (which represents. And the "wall" he's talking about can be seen as the entrance
symbolize knowledge and questioning) comes. In the cave, where they feel of the cave. But instead of passing it to reach the outside world, he wants
protected, they live in fear of the outside world, and all they can see are to destroy it and enter the cave. Perhaps Ahab is a man who had never
their shadows moving on the wall: a part of the reality. Turning around and encountered the trials of life before he meeting the whale.
seeing outside the cave, the light, is exploring the unknown, the scariest The book is even the source of the expression "white whale": something
thing for a human being. And leaving the cave to explore the outside world you are willing to destroy at any cost, even your life. After being injured by
symbolizes the philosophical questioning of the world. This allegory is the Moby Dick, Ahab has only one goal: to destroy him for revenge.
first step for any human being who enters philosophy. Ahab is determined and obsessed with his vengeance, which narrows the
scope of his thoughts, but Ishmael is still "out of the cave" and still has a
Ahab is a free man, a captain of a whaler, who does one of the most critical approach to the situation and Ahab's revenge plan. This is why he's
prestigious and useful professions of his time: bringing back energy for the narrator. In a discussion with Ahab, he says that they can't kill a beast
city dwellers. But his first encounter with Moby Dick will put an end of like Moby Dick, and Ahab agrees but can't abandon his plan. His wound is
this era of glory and freedom, to make him enter into a desire for revenge too deep and killing the whale has become his reason for living, his ideal.
that will lead him to the dephts of the ocean, which can be compared to the Without it, he's nothing, he doesn't exist as a person of thought anymore.
Plato's cave. In Moby Dick (1851), Ahab is the man who enters the cave, and In this book, the idealism (of Ahab) is treated as a danger, the same
the whale represents everything horrible and vile in life. Here is the book danger than can lock people in Plato's cave by compartmentalizing or
version of the Ahab's quote I put in the previous story's summary: restricting this thought with precepts. I think here of the Spanish golden
doubloon Ahab offered as a reward to whoever spot the whale first. The
"All visible objects, man, are but as pasteboard masks. But in each event— crew don't want revenge, because they were not harmed by Moby Dick,
in the living act, the undoubted deed—there, some unknown but still but the reward becomes the motivation that make them follow Ahab's plan
reasoning thing puts forth the mouldings of its features from behind the without questions.
unreasoning mask. If man will strike, strike through the mask! How can And everyone then slowly enters the "inverted cave", as they approach
the prisoner reach outside except by thrusting through the wall? To me, the whale. But when they find it, especially for Ahab, there is no answer or
the white whale is that wall, shoved near to me. Sometimes I think there’s truth to be found with this revenge. Even for Ishmael, the only survivor. He
naught beyond. But ’tis enough. He tasks me; he heaps me; I see in him has no lesson to learn from this story. Or, to be more specific: the lesson is
outrageous strength, with an inscrutable malice sinewing it. That inscru- that there is nothing to find by taking revenge. The other main idea of the
table thing is chiefly what I hate; and be the white whale agent, or be the philosophical aspect ot Moby Dick (1851), which it's time to talk about in
white whale principal, I will wreak that hate upon him." more detail.
The book was published at the end of the German Romantism movement, E: The references in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
following its idea of breaking away from old academic methods of creating
art. Think less, and feel more. In this movement, there's also a huge connec-
tion with nature, poetry and nostalgia (among others). For Moby Dick In summary, Moby Dick tells the story of a whaler captain obsessed with
(1851), we find the exploration oh the human feeling of vengeance, in an revenge, who wants to kill a white sperm whale that has injured him. A plot
adventure on the sea, mixed with the nostalgia for this time when the stories quite similar to the story of Venom Snake, who wants revenge on Skull Face
led to a conclusion full of certainties and purely rational lessons: the main after his attack of Big Boss's Mother Base, nine years before the events of
reason for a reader to read a book, discovering a story until its climax, its the game. But in both cases, it's necesseray to dive into the murky waters of
lessons, its truth. This is where philosophy comes in, because philosophy those two dark stories to capture all of its themes and subtleties.
is to question oneself, and not to give definitive answers. First of all, the names of the charac-
Here, we have a main character that goes in the opposite direction. At ters. In the game's introductory
a time when knowledge, science, technology and philosophy started to sequence, in the Cypriot hospital,
weaken religions' old belief about the world, people began to look for a Big Boss calls himself Ishmael and
spiritual ideal elsewhere. And this loss of the essential pillar that religion Venom Snake Ahab. It's a way of
was reminds the story of Ahab: the story of a wounded and lost man in a telling the player that he's playing
quest of finding something transcendent thought his vengeance: a new goal the one who's depicted by the United Two promotional photos for the 1956 movie and the
in life, a truth. But the book misleads the reader by using the concept of States of America as a mad captain game, using a similar pose for the main characters.
"pursuit of freedom through vengeance", an important and deep American seeking revenge, after being wounded by Cipher, Skull Face and the XOF, in
belief borned just before the signing of the Declaration of Indenpendance, Metal Gear Solid: Ground Zeroes (2014). Additionally, Ahab lost a leg and
where the Americans settlers had to take revenge upon the Crown (the Venom Snake an arm. And they both kept scars of their encounter with
UK)'s abusive authority to become independant330. Like the reader, Ahab their opponents on their faces.
expects a satisfying climax in finding the whale, but finds nothing. And In the book, the story is told by Ishmael, which is the narrator and one
that's the point of this story. It shows that nothing comes from this old way of the passengers of the Pequod. In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
of thinking: revenge. (2015), it should have been Huey, but because the story continued after he
The novel is also an exercise in experimental literature on the quest and was kicked out by boat from Mother Base, it had to be someone else and
the art of telling the truth, which, in this case, is: not to find it by revenge. it sounded more logical that it was Big Boss himself, telling the story of
And, more generally, that this inhability of finding the truth is instructive, Venom Snake, with the help of Ocelot and Miller. Huey is also an american
and not only skeptical or disillusioned. and on the United States of America's side, according to his betrayal that
330 I explore this belief in mor detail in a section that follows. leaded to the first Mother Base destruction, so he couldn't be Ishmael.
For who or what is Moby Dick in the game, it's more complicated. Of And more generally, Moby Dick is the United States of America. What
course, the fake swedish development studio Moby Dick Studio Hideo confuses everything here is that Big Boss injured the US before Cipher's
Kojima used for the first game's presentation reffered to it, but let's look at attack on his Mother Base. Twice: first alone, with the Metal Gear RAXA in
who Moby Dick is in the game. The main thing to understand here is what Metal Gear Solid: Portable OPS (2006), and with the MSF, with the Basilisk,
Moby Dick, the giant white sperme whale, represents. Back in the time in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). So, according to this interview
when the book was written, in the mid-XIXth century, fishing whales was of Kenji Yano, from which I took some of the ideas/references listed in this
a main and presigious activity, and the sperm oil was sold a higher price, section, both Big Boss/Venom Snake and Skull Face/XOF/Cipher/the US
because its proprieties and uses were different, and the beast harded to catch. are both an Ahab or a Moby Dick. Both hurt the other and were hurt by
Ordinary whale oil was the main source of energy, especially for using oil him too. Even Mother Base, a powerful thing in the middle of the ocean,
lamps and for making soaps, among others things, in the early industrial can make you think to Moby Dick.
societies. And whaling has also contributed to a better knowledge of the And to finish on the sperm whale,
oceans through cartography. The whale was the main energy source at that there is another reference to him
time. It was present everywhere in the life of people, until petrol replaced in the game, right after the escape
it (later in the XIXth century). of the hospital, when a fire whale
Still in the XXIth century, later however, another source of energy emerged: briefly appears into the sky, before
nuclear. The main subject of the Metal Gear Solid series (where the AI of the the horse chase with the "Man on
Patriots will finally outshine it). And in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom fire" begins. The fire whale.
Pain (2015), some details from Moby Dick (1851) are used in comparison For the other book characters' names, we have Pequod, which is the name
to the whale, an energy source that drove some of the characters crazy, as of the whaler in Melville's book and the one of the helicopter's pilot of
they tried to put the hands over it. Venom Snake in the game. And I will speak briefly about Ahab's three
Whoever controls the main source of energy of his time defines the world chief mates. In the game, Ocelot and Miller can be seen as Venom Snake's
as he wishes. A major source of energy becomes that of many battles and chief mates. And Starbuck: the First Chief mate, is the only one to oppose
retaliation until one wins over the other. And once he does, the winner defines to Ahab in the book, and he's even about to kill him in one scene, before
the world as he wants and can rewrite History, to hide all the betrayals, plots ending up to follow Ahab's mad plan in the end, like the rest of the crew.
and massacres that it involved to win. And, of course, when it happens, the Maybe Quiet can be considered the game's version of him? She's against
winner is described as the good one and the looser as barbarians, in the him in the beginning and had the order to kill him, which she doesn't do,
History books. before finally joining Venom Snake's will. By the way, maybe Starbuck's
Moby Dick, then, would logically be Skull Face, who wants to get his name is the reason behind Miller's and Code Talker's cryptic burger tapes?
hands on Sahelanthropus, the Metal Gear (the next mais source of energy). The biggest mystery of this game.
Now we come to the main part of this section: the plot twist of Mission others. With this trick, Big Boss's story remains the one all players knew
46: Truth - The Man who sold the world, about the true identity of Venom until then, but also let each of them build their own version of the legend.
Snake. The idea was to let the version of Big Boss depicted by the United And the nuclear weapons game mechanic allowed the player to write his
States of America (as an enemy) being Ahab and free both the real Big Boss own version of the legend of Big Boss with two possibilities: owning a huge
(who is no longer the leader of MSF) and his double from this role, in the nuclear force and becomes what Big Boss wanted to destroy at first, a strong
eyes of the player. army (close to Miller's Diamond Dogs, born from his will of revenge), or
By doing this, Hideo Kojima let the player realize the sacrifice Venom dismantling them all and leave a world free of nuclear weapons (which is
Snake was forced to make (until learning the truth about himself with the more close to The Boss's will, her former mentor, and the MSF).
tape, in his Outer Heaven base), erasing his personnality to let the Big Boss Each player has a different take of the story after the plot twist, which is
the United States of America depicted as an enemy alive, to protect him why, like the real one, the world of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
while he's creating his Outer Heaven's base. And suddenly, everything the (2015) will never be free of nuclear weapons; which links to the quote from
player has done looks different, because he did it thinking he was Big Boss, the Mission 46 cutscene: "Just another day in a war without end." Free the
like Venom Snake, thanks to Ocelot hypnotic suggestion, but they were world from nuclear weapons cannot happen until a new source of energy
both used to accomplish a revenge that didn't concern them in the first will replace it.
place (or indirectly, because the medic was in the helicopter in Metal Gear And not to leave the player alone in his corner, Hideo Kojima added the
Solid: Ground Zeroes (2014), and the player played Big Boss in the game). game mechanic of creating or dismantling nukes, or stealing them from
This revelation also changes our take on Big Boss, who forced one of his other Mother Bases, with the online F.O.B. mode.
loyal soldiers to end his own personnality to become a copy of him, as he Finally, there is the case of language. With the philosophical aspect of
also abandoned Miller. Moreover, I remember that I had a small moment Melville's book and his desire to transmit more a philosophical lesson than
of confusion after this mission. The feeling was strange when I played as to write a story ending in a memorable climax, language became the vector
Big Boss and I started to play with other characters (in the game, you can of this idea of sometimes finding nothing in a quest for revenge (also the
choose the one you play among all the soldiers of your Mother Base). And main theme, at first, of Metal Geat Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), with its
by not playing a Big Boss avatar, we gradually take ownership of the game, red V in the title (color that symbolizes blood, passion, love, violence, etc.)),
far from the main storyline of revenge on Skull Face. And exploring the which can even bring a man to a state similar to the men in the Plato's cave.
Afghan and African regions has a different taste, as you now focus on the In the game, the English language, through the tapes in particular, is the
other aspect of the game after Mission 46, now prioritary: building or medium to convey that whole thinking about where it leads to take revenge,
dismantling nuclear weapons. followed by what to do with the legacy of this thought. Like in Metal Gear
Hideo Kojima knew that all the possibilities he could try for this game on Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001) and Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots
Big Boss character approach would have pleased some players and displease (2008), the idea is that the next generations will be able to change things,
and it is the duty of Venom Snake and the people of his generation, who Snakes. Solid, Liquid, Solidus, Venom, and himself: Naked Snake. If Big
made the error of follow the path of revenge, to inform the next ones and Boss was considered as the best soldier of the XXth century, and used as a
show them the way, to pursue the fight that Big Boss gave up. genetic basis for Major Zero's project Les Enfants Terribles, snakes would
Later in the Metal Gear Solid storyline, the Ahab that Venom Snake be a reference here to super soldiers, the political tools that destroy the
represented (even after he learned the truth about his true identity) will be world. That's what that line means. But also because he was the one who
killed by Solid Snake in Metal Gear (1987). The United States of America killed The Boss, on the orders of the CIA and the US government. The Boss
will finally get their revenge, but the real Big Boss will still be alive, until had a peaceful will which she tried to pass on to her latest and greatest
Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990). Solid Snake will arrest him and he will be student. But after being used as a tool several times, by the US government
kept in an artificial coma by machines, until Solid Snake will destroy the first and his friend Major Zero, Big Boss drowned in a anti-peace vision of
Patriots' AI in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008). Finally, able the world and created his Outer Heaven base.
to live again, and before dying from the FOXDIE virus implated in Solid Venom Snake was the part of him that Big Boss wanted to stay alive. This
Snake's body (a virus created in a lab to kill only specific people), Big Boss leader we can see in the scene of "ashes", with this greatness of soul and this
has the time to realize that lesson Melville's book learned: there's no point speech about his fallen soldiers: Those he had to killed just before, infected
in taking revenge. And that's how Big Boss translates it, in one sentence: with the vocal cord parasite. Free from some of Big Boss's past, he could be
able to learn the lesson after taking revenge on Skull Face.
BIG BOSS, NEXT TO THE BOSS'S GRAVE. "I WON'T SCATTER YOUR SORROW TO THE HEARTLESS SEA."
296 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) REFERENCES - 3: KAGEMUSHA (1980), BY AKIRA KUROSAWA 297
– 3: Kagemusha - The Shadow Warrior (1980), by Akira Kurosawa. As Shingen's brother's thief trains, he becomes more credible as the
(Back to summary.) (Back to page 125.) Warlord's double, to serve as his Kagemusha. Nobukado looked a lot like
his older brother and served as his double sometimes, but the trick only
In this jidaigeki331, which takes worked if he stayed a sufficient distance from his men during a battle. That's
place in the XVIth century, three why he needed the thief, who learned to behave and speak like Shingen,
clans fight to rule over the Province until forgiving his true identity. But one night, still in training, he discovers
of Kai. In the introductory scene, Shingen's corpse in a funeral jar.
the warlord of the Takeda clan,
named Takeda Shingen, hires a thief Note: The scene where he finds out about Shingen's death occurs when he
who his brother Nobukado saved breaks a funeral jar. And I'm 100% sure that the actor's gesture during that
from execution, because he looked scene was a major inspiration for the Johnny Depp's Jack Sparrow character.
exactly like Shingen. The latter asks
Nobukado to train the thief and
teach him good manners, in case he
would need a double in the future332.
After a serious injury received
during an attack on his fortress by
a lone soldier, Shingen reunites his
family members and closest soldiers
and asks them, if he dies, to hide his
death for three years, during which A poster of the movie.
his double will take his place, as a Kagemusha (a political decoy). For his
EVEN WITH THE WAY THEY PLAY WITH THEIR MUSTACHES.
safety, Shingen is quietly exfiltrated from his fortress but dies on the way.
Note: During the sequence where the real Shingen dies, his medic is Right after this discovery, Shingen's relative announces him that they
mentioned succinctly. He may have been an inspiration for the doctor who were about to tell him, but he found out the truth just before they could.
transformed Venom Snake in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). At first, shocked, the thief refuses the mission that Nobukado gave him
and leaves the group, but attends the funeral of Shingen, from afar, hidden
331 A particular genre of fictions in Japan, which mostly takes place during the Edo period (1603-1868).
332 Which, of course, will happen later in the story. by the lake where Shingen's body is thrown, inside his burial jar. The thief
joins Shingen's relatives and suddenly has some sort of revelation, before Note: I think there is a parallel to be made with the scene where the former
standing on the ground in front of them, to beg them to accept him as thief decides to become the Kagemusha, near the lake, and the latter, when
Shingen's Kagemusha, now that he has accepted and wants to play his role. he reaches the sea and briefly appears to be him again, before dying . And
adding to that, his white sand covered face really looks like Venom Snake's,
Note: I think it's symbolic, but he's half in the water when he's begging, and when he covers his with the dust of one of his fallen soldiers, on Mother
that's the exact moment he ceases to be himself to become the Kagemusha. Base, in front of Miller and some Diamond Dogs's soldiers.
The now Shingen's Kagemusha then pursue ands ends his learning to
speaks and behaves like Shingen, in the Takeda clan's fortress, but in some
scenes, we can see his inner self struggling to erase his own personnality,
even for a cause more important than him.
Then, he has to act and talk like Shingen for many years, until a major
battle during which he can't just pretend anymore and has to act like a
warlord, on the battlefield. He leads his army and wins the battle.
Later, after a stupid mistake he made, people from the Takeda's fortress
finds ou that he's not the real Shingen. He tried to ride Shingen's horse
(which could only be ridden by the latter), to really pretend to be him,
and the Kagemusha fell in front of everyone. And because the three years
SHINGEN AND VENOM SNAKE.
period during which the real Shingen death had to be hidden was already
over by then, the clan no longer needed him. He is therefore expelled and
Katsuyori, Takeda's third brother, becomes the clan lord. That's it for the summary. Now, there are a lot of the movie's elements
After this, the former thief and Kagemusha lives like a beggar but can't that we can also find in Metal Gear
manage to recover his former personnality, and follows the clan's army in Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
every battles, until its last, which was also a defeat: the Battle of Nagashino Like the fact that the Kagemusha
(1575)333, where the Takeda clan loses against the two other ones. The uses a horse to roams long areas,
Kagemusha ends up running among the corpses covering the battlefield, and take strongholds. And his beard
armed with a spare, before being wounded several times by arrows and and hair are reminiscent of the look
marching towards the sea, where he dies, after being briefly himself again. of Venom Snake. Some horsemen in a desertic area.
333 A real battle. The movie is inspired by true events.

We can also notice some visual references, like the visual similarities
between the introductory scene and the very ceremonial encounter between
Venom Snake and Code Talker in the game. The cross-legged position, the
darkness, the candles…
THE SET OF THE TWO SCENES SHARE SOME SIMILARITIES.

VENOM SNAKE'S MAN BUN REMINDS THE SAMURAIS'S CHONMAGE (HERE, SHINGEN).
And Shingen's samurai armor is very reminiscent of the Battle Dress that
Venom Snake can wear in the game. Some shots during a battle, in the middle of the film, are also very violent
in their color, with a play of silhouettes and a red background.
RED IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT COLOR IN THE GAME.

WITHOUT THE HELMET, THE TWO ARMORS LOOK SIMILAR.
About the characters now, it is interesting to note that the two brothers A last word about the medic in
of Shingen behave differently in the presence of the Kagemusha, during the game, which saves Big Boss
his reign. Nobukado immediately accepts the double as the new leader of and becomes Venom Snake. At
the Takeda clan, while Katsuyori is frustrated at not inheriting the role. We any moment, he has a personnal
can see a similarity with Ocelot and Miller here. After Venom Snake's true thought about his situation. But
identity is revealed, a discussion between the two can be heard during a maybe that, unlike the movie, those
credits sequence, in which Ocelot announces to Kazuhira that they will now thoughts are made by the player, in Venom Snake break the mirror (and the fourth wall).
have to obey Venom Snake, as Big Boss wants. Ocelot fully accepted the Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). The only reaction of the
idea of a Big Boss double with the arrival of Venom Snake at the start of the medic is to break the mirror after hearing the Big Boss tape about his true
game, while Kazuhira felt betrayed by Big Boss, as his former second (at the identity. But he accepts the situation and his role, and sacrifices himself
time of MSF ), and is suddenly replaced by Venom Snake, whom he must for a greater cause. In Kagemusha (1980), the character doesn't want to
obey. Her reaction is similar to that of Katsyyori. In Kagemusha (1980), become Shingen'double at first, but when he understands what it means, he
there is a scene where the latter is angry with his father because he didn't changes his mind and starts to change. But we can see his old personnality
name him as his heir, which could be compared to Miller's situation, with filters with the side storyline of Paz and Venom Snake in the game (which
the Diamond Dogs and the new Mother Base. But, finally, both Katsuyori represents the guilt of the medic, who couldn't save her, something that
and Miller accept their position. even Ocelot's hypnotherapy couldn't erase from his memory). The medic
is formed by Ocelot and Miller, who could be compared to Nobukado (the
moderate one) and Katsuyori (the angry one) respectively. Both he and the
Kagemusha are no longer masters of their destinites and lives, as doubles of
superior characters and causes. They become the shadows of someone else.
Note: One last thing, the director

of Godzilla (1954), Ishirō Honda,
worked for Kurosawa on this movie,
as an assistant director.
Akira Kurosawa and Ishirō Honda on the set

NOBUKADO AND KATSUYORI, DURING A PUBLIC APPEARANCE OF THE KAGEMUSHA. of Kagemusha (1980).
304 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) REFERENCES - 4: LORD OF THE FLIES (1990), BY HARRY HOOK 305
– 4: Lord of the Flies (1990), by Harry Hook (1990). the blond boy Jack Merridew335: the
(Back to summary.) (Back to page 191.) leader of the boy choir group, who
did not vote for Ralph. This event
In this movie, an adaptation of the already announces the split of the
eponymous 1954 novel by William group into two bands, which will
Golding, a group of children ended become more and more problema-
up on a remote island of the Pacific Jack Merridew (Chris Furrh). tic as the story goes.
Ocean, after the aeroplane they were As the group begins to organize itself, Peggy becomes the whipping boy,
in crashed. Only one adult survived when Ralph calls her Piggy in front of everyone, something he asked her
the accident334, but he won't be to keep to himself when they first met. After apologizing to him, and as a
important in the story. The main leader now, Ralph's first idea is to explore the island to get more informa-
character, Ralph, alone near the tion, before setting up a camp and building tents; a task for which Simon
beach at first, meets Peterkin Gay, will be responsible: a young boy who will also become responsible for the
nicknamed Piggy by other children: youngest children of the group. Then, Ralph has the idea of starting a fire
an overweight, bespectacled child (with Peggy's glasses to ignitate it, with the rays of the sun) on the most
who will become his right-hand visible spot on the island, to warn any boat or plane that might pass near
man from that point on. Before the island, to rescue them. He also assigns a team to keep the fire alive, as
meeting other children, Ralph finds Jack and the choir's kids he leads go hunting pigs.
a conch shell, an important object in As everything begins to be in order, some of the children become lazy
the story. Soon, they find other kids, A poster of the movie. and others start to be afraid of the presence of an animal on the island. Jack
and during their first reunion, the takes the opportunity to make a promise to all the scared children to kill the
conch is chosen as the object that beast and organize a hunt. Ralph disagrees but let them go. Then, still on
everyone must take to have the right the beach, he sees a boat near the island and runs towards the fire, to make
to speak, to avoid confusion during signals. But when he reached it, the fire was dead. The team responsible for
the debates. After some discussion, keeping him alive left with Jack, to hunt the beast. The boat doesn't stop.
Ralph quickly becomes the leader of When Jack returns from his hunt, with a dead pig, Ralph confronts him
the group, having been elected by a for letting the fire die. Quickly, tensions rise and Jack ends up attacking
Ralph using the conch.Besides, the first use of the ob-
ject is to gather all the children scattered on the island. show of hands against his only rival, Piggy and breaking one of the lenses of his glasses, before apologizing.
334 In the book, no adults survived. The kids are on their own. 335 His hair is red in the book, so Eli's main inspiration was clearly the Jack from that movie.
Ralph walks away from the group, Like the twins, they rush to camp and Jack summons an assembly, in an
followed by Piggy, and is about to attempt to knock down Ralph, especially with the fact that he was scared
relinquish his leadership position as and was about to turn around before finding the beast. But the children
no one seems to want to keep the do not follow him and he leaves the group to form his own band, with the
fire burning to warn boats or planes. boy's choir he leads. Then, Roger, who saw Ralph's fear as they searched
But Piggy manages to convince him for the beast, leaves his group to join Jack, along with many other children.
to remain the leader, as he is afraid Once established in Castle Rock, Jack's group continues to weaken Ralph's
of what would happen if Jack were by promising everyone feasts of cooked pig. As Ralph focuses his efforts on
the leader. keeping the fire alive and trying to warn anyone who might see him from
One night after these events, an the ocean, his band has nothing but fruits to eat.
air battle took place on the island One day, Simon, who sometimes needs to isolate himself in a place he is
and a plane was shot down. The the only one to know, sees Jack and some of his followers nearby, raising an
pilot ejects from his plane and lands offering to the beast, near a cave: a head of pig mounted on a sharp stick,
on the island with his parachute, but which soon swarmed with scavenging flies.
dies in the operation and his body Peggy wearing his uniform. After the election of Ralph
ends up tangling in a tree, on top of as the leader, the group split into two: Ralph's group, Note: The following event only occurs in the book. After Jack places the
who remained civilized, and Jack's, wilder and violent,
the island's mountain. who remained shirtless and only hunted. head, Simon, nearby, calls him The Lord of the Flies336 and have an imaginary
Near the landing spot, two children, the twins Sam and Eric, are sent dialogue with it: "Fancy thinking the Beast was something you could hunt
to keep the fire going. When they arrive, they see the pilot's corpse in the and kill!", "You knew, didn't you? I'm part of you? […]" and "I'm warning
tree and take it for the beast, before quickly returning to the camp, to warn you. I'm going to get angry. D'you see? You're not wanted. […] We are going
everyone. Once again, this situation creates tension between Ralph and to have fun on this island. […] Or else, said the Lord of the Flies, we shall
Jack. The latter wants to form a small group to lead them to where he thinks do you? See? Jack and Roger and Maurice and Robert and Bill and Piggy
the beast is hiding: a mountain of stones that he will later call Castle Rock. and Ralph. Do you. See?". This dialogue is important because it explains
Ralph agrees to follow him with a boy named Roger, and they reach the that the beast that the boys hunt is inside of them all, not a monster that
mountain together immediately. lives on the island. And that Simon, like Ralph and Piggy, among others,
As they are about to reach the place where the twins saw the body of the represents the soul of man, who cannot cohabit with the savagery of Jack
dead pilot, Ralph, frightened, is about to turn around, but suddenly they all and his followers. Simon then leaves the scene and finds the pilot's corpse
see the body, whose head rises via the wind. All frightened this time, they on the way, so he rushes to Castle Rock to warn the others.
leave the scene and are now convinced that the beast exists. 336 "Lord of the Flies" is the traduction of one of Satan's latin name: Beelzebūb.
One night, starving, Ralph's supporters decide to accept Jack's offer Later, as Jack sets up a new pig hunt, his followers wonder how they're
and join his group to eat some cooked meat. Ralph and Piggy, alone, also going to start a new fire. Soon the idea of stealing Piggy's glasses comes out
eventually accept the offer and join everyone around a campfire, where and they wait until nightfall to act.
Jack's followers, who had covered their faces in war paint, begin a sacrifi- Ralph and Piggy, alone with the twins Sam and Eric in the camp by the
cial rite to the beast. They begin to dance around the fire, screaming, before beach, are assaulted during the night and Jack's supporters get their hands
lightly hitting one of them to mimic a sacrifice. on his glasses, before returning to Castle Rock.
At the same time, Simon enters The next morning, Ralph heads for the rocky mountain with Piggy,
the cave behind the pig's head with and the twins, taking the conch, to recover the glasses. The small band is
a green glow stick and finds the stopped at the entrance by the guard but, as an adivsed leader, Ralph takes
corpse of the adult who survived the out the conch to start a dialogue. But Jack says the conch no longer makes
accident with the children, before sense and glasses have replaced it as a symbol of power and authority. And
quickly going mad and disappea- he orders his followers to capture and bind the twins. Then, Jack comes
ring337. Frightened by what he saw, down from the entrance of the mountain to join Ralph and fight with him.
Simon leaves the cave and rushes to As the situation becomes chaotic, Piggy tries to calm the situation down
Castle Rock to warn everyone. But, Simon. and blow the conch shell, which still has an effect, and stops the fight. As
in a trance, the group of children panic when they hear someone coming Jack's followers throw pebbles at him, Piggy reminds everyone that if they
towards them screaming in the dark, and they attack Simon338, before are not saved, they will stay on the island for a long time, possibly their
realizing what they have done. Ralph, Piggy and their followers then leave entire lives: a fact that everyone seems to have forgotten at this point. And
Castle Rock and return to the camp, on the beach. as he's saying they can't keep acting like children, Roger, at the top of the
The next morning, as Ralph and Piggy reflect on what happened last mountain entrance, uses the branch's lever to throw a stone at him. Piggy
night, Roger, who left Ralph's party for Jack since the night he saw the is hit on the head and falls into the ocean, dead. Ralph, helpless, is threate-
pilot's corpse with Ralph and Jack, walks into Castle Rock. Things get worse ned by Jack and must leave Castle Rock alone. The twins, Sam and Eric, are
and at the entrance to the rocky area, a child calls him. He's a guard and tortured and end up joining Jack's group.
doesn't let everyone pass, as Jack asked him to. Upon joining him, Roger Now alone in the island forest, Ralph manages to secretly contact the
finds that he has also set a trap for any unwanted visitor: a large boulder twins, but they warn him that Jack and Roger want him dead. So he leaves.
that can be knocked over with a large branch serving as a lever. The next morning, Jack and the others reach the forest and light a fire, to
337 In the movie, this event replaced Simon's imaginary dialogue with the pig's head and his discovery of the
pilot's corpse. The absence of the imaginary dialogue between Simon and the "Lord of the Flies" is the biggest hunt him. The forest is almost burnt to the ground, and as Ralph is forced
negative point of the movie (along with the presence of an adult, which weakens the concept of the book: how a out, he meets a British naval officer, who has landed on the island with his
group of kids manage to survive on their own in an unknonw territory, without adults?).
338 In the book, Ralph and Piggy also joined them. In the film, they stay behind and away from the group. men because they saw the fire. Then the children are evacuated.
So much for the summary. The story is based on the opposition of two adults taught him. On the other hand, Liquid is in a personal vengeance
visions of how to rule a group of people, through the perspective of children. with his "father", Big Boss, through his plan consisting to use the Metal
Ralph tries to copy what adults would do, with rules and votes, while Jack Gear REX, which could be compared to Jack wanting to rule the island and
lets his animal instinct speak for itself. One look to the future and the other kill every kid that remains loyal to the rules the grown ups taught them.
to the past. One wants to lead to leave the island, the other to stay there, This comparison between Liquid and Jack is even more evident with Eli
to reign there. And we can see a lot of similarities with the Metal Gear in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). As a kid in this game, he
Solid series, starting with Metal Gear Solid (1998). Basically, the game's really looks like the actor in the movie:
story is about a group that settles on an isolated island and the opposition
between two brothers: Solid Snake, who follows orders from his superiors,
and Liquid Snake, who has taken control of the island to carry out a plan
that will give him power. Even if we compare the children of the movie's
appearence with the characters of the game, we can see the resemblance:
JACK MERRIDEW AND ELI.
On top of that, there's also a pig's head in the game (two to be precise, one
on a stick and another on the boat where Venom Snake first meets Eli):
JACK, LIQUID SNAKE, RALPH AND SOLID SNAKE.
In the game, Solid Snake is a soldier sent to the island to complete a

mission, following orders from his superiors, which could be compared to
SIMON ON THE LEFT, ELI ON THE RIGHT.
Ralph trying to find a way to escape the island by following the rules that
312 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) REFERENCES - 5: PONTYPOOL (2008), BY BRUCE MCDONALD 313
The armed tribe that Jack created in – 5: Pontypool (2008), by Bruce McDonald.
Lord of the Flies (1954) was brought (Back to summary.) (Back to page 205.)
back into the game via the Mbele

squad led by Eli. Child soldiers have The movie is basically a "huis-clos"
always been an important theme with a simple story, slowly developed
for Hideo Kojima in the Metal Gear to its end. It's an adaptation of Tony
Solid series. Burgess's novel Pontypool Changes
Finally, Mother Base can be seen Everything (1995).
as a reference to the conch shell. It is A new radio host, Grant Mazzy,
the symbol of Big Boss's power and begins working at the radio of
the mercenaries answer its call. Pontypool, a small city of the
That's why it's a shame that the Candian Ontario provincy, with a
Mission 51 wasn't included in the friend of his: Sydney Briar. Right
game in the end, because this mission after his arrival, people on the radio
with Eli and the kids on a remote start to receive testimonies about
island would have been a perfect strange events happening in the
final hommage for this story which city339. People seem to get sick and
is clearly one of the main inspira- The original cover of the 1954's book. slowly go mad, according to early
tions of the Metal Gear Solid series. reports. Until some of them, who
look like zombies, hit the radio. One
Note: I found this artwork in the of the radio workers ends up being A poster of the movie.
game's artbook. We can see the infected with the mysterious disease and, with the help of a researcher, Dr
inspiration of the 1963 movie, Mendez, who has come to the radio just before the arrival of the infected,
directed by Peter Brook, where the Grant and Sidney understand that the infection seems to be triggered by
character of Jack Merridew was the voice, and in particular by certain English words. As it seems that the
wearing a black beret. infection is a biological attack from another country, the two protagonists
An artwork of Eli wearing a black beret, which manage to stay alive, and I'll stop here about the story to let you discover it.
reminds those who wore the kids in the movie.
339 Everything that happens in the city is not shown, but told by a man who works for the radio and whose
voice can only be heard: Ken Loney. The action takes place only in the radio station.
314 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) REFERENCES - 6: SACCO E VANZETTI (1971), BY GIULIANO MONTALDO 315
This film was Hideo Kojima's – 6: Sacco e Vanzetti (1971), by Giuliano Montaldo.
inspiration for Skull Face's vocal
cord parasites. But, unlike the movie,
the mechanics of the infections are The movie starts during one of the
clearly explained in Metal Gear Solid Palmer Raids340, during the First Red
V: The Phantom Pain (2015); mainly Scare341, into an area of New York
by Code Talker, who was forced by City mainly populated by Italians
Skull Face to use them to create the members of an anarchist group: the
English strain, before being picked Galleanists. A jeep equipped with a
up by Venom. Snake and brought gatling gun arrives with dozens of
back to Mother Base. police officers, and they begin to
For Skull Face, parasites are "a beat up and arrests some locals, and
weapon to surpass Metal Gear". His find Karl Marx and/or Communist
way of ending Zero's plan of develo- posters, that they tear down from
ping AI and using Cipher to control the walls and rip off. The leader of
the world via IT, wiping the English the the Galleanists, Andrea Salsedo,
language off the face of the earth and is arrested. Nicola Nicola Sacco and
letting Metal Gears become the only Bartolomeo Vanzetti were there too,
new way to a nation to gain power The original cover of the 1995's book. but managed to run away. A poster of the movie.
over others, and let the world enter a new world order, free from zero and Some of the men are taken to the Justice Department's Bureau of
from the supremacy of the United States of America and the Soviet Union. Investigation (BOI) offices at 15 Park Row, New York City, including the
Skull Face lost his identity due to several wars which forced him to change leader, Andrea Salsedo, who stays there eight weeks. On May 3, 1920, his
countries several times, and his mother tongue because of English. After dead body is found on the pavement, in front of the Bureau: he felt from
serving in several armies, he ended up in the SAS (where he met Zero). the 14th floor and it is not known whether it was suicide or homicide.
This is also why Skull Face tells Huey that he doesn't want an AI inside Two days after this incident, May 5, 1920, the police arrests Sacco (shoema-
Sahelanthropus, as he uses the English language through the computer ker) and Vanzetti (fish peddler), aboard a train. They both carry guns and
340 Named after the United States Attorney General Alexander Mitchell Palmer's name, who served from
code and was "Coldman's mistake" (which he used with the Basilisk, in 1919 to 1921.
Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010)), and prefers to use Tretij Rebenok's 341 A period from 1919 to 1920, during which the United States of America was afraid of Communism and
anarchists, especially because of the Russian's Ocotober Revolution of 1917, which had an international reach
telekinetic abilities, to maintain human control over his new weapon. among the anarchists, and some of those anarchists bombings on their territory.
were on a police suspects list for a With this new technical information, a reconstruction of the crime scene
long time, due to their affiliation is organized at the shoe factory, and several problems are noted with the
with Salsedo's group, as anarchists. testimonies, which the witnesses find difficult to cope with.
But they are arrested because two
hold-ups occured in the state of Note: In the middle of the film, there is a scene whit a debate focusing on
Massachussets: December 24, 1919 immigration and no longer on the case itself. The trial becomes political.
and April 15, 1920; and the main
suspect are the Galleanists. The first Sacco and Vanzetti, during their trial. While being questioned, Vanzetti has to explain that on the day he was
failed but two people died in the second, at the shoe factory Slater & Morril arrested, along with Sacco, they were carrying propaganda stuff from
on Pearl Street, and $ 15,000 were stolen (the hold-up happened on a payday a member of the Galleanists, because they feared another raid on the
and the money was the employees payroll). anarchists, after the body of Andrea Salsedo had been found in front of the
The first trial begins and the two suspects are charged with the two investigation office of the Ministry of Justice, two days earlier. And when
homicides and the hold-up of 15 April, 1920. The testimonies of the his lawyer Fred Moore asks him why he had a gun that night, he replies
factory's witnesses aren't very precise, with new versions or additional that he doesn't know how to shoot and never did. To which Sacco, then
details added to each questioning. Finally, on August 16, 1920, Vanzetti questioned, adds that they took the guns to get rid of them. This is also why
alone was sentenced, even though some Italian shoe factory workers said the police found several bullets of different caliber in Sacco's pockets.
he was not there that day. Sacco was able to prove he was at work this day.
On May 9, 1921, those close to Sacco and Vanzetti set up a defense Note: During his interrogation, Vanzetti says that anarchists aspire to "a
committee which managed to raise a fund of 300,000 dollars over the world without borders", which reminded me of the vision of The Boss, in
following seven years342. This money will allow them to hire California the Metal Gear Solid series. Sacco and Vanzetti lived in the United States
lawyer Fred Moore, who specializes in political trials, to defend the two of America, but came from another country, and they had a critical eye on
defendants, for the second trial which will begin at the end of the month. the latter. Something similar to Hideo Kojima's take on this country, as a
On May 31, the second trial begins. A ballistics expert (a new discipline Japanese; which is, I think, the main interest of the Metal Gear Solid series,
at the time) is hired by the prosecution and concludes that a .38 caliber created by a man fascinated by the United States of America but who also
pistol like the one the police found on Vanzetti was stolen from one of the highlights its worst aspects, especially through armed conflicts. Each game
hold-up victims, and that the bullets found in the two victims's bodies focuses on a small group of characters and develops philosophical thoughts
could have been fired by Sacco's .32 revolver, depending to their caliber and about what being a soldier, a patriot, and/or a human being in general
the rifling of the gun's barrel. means. The action takes place in a specific area, in abandoned places or on
342 Until the execution of Sacco and Vanzeti. battlefields. And the only people we meet are soldiers, never civilians.
Still being questioned, Sacco must confess that he fled to Mexico in 1917, While the duo are in jail, their attorney, Fred Moore, meets some of the
like other men at that time, because as anarchists they were against the prosecution witnesses on his own and finds out that they were lying, mainly
war and at odds with the American institutions that sent to death young because some of them had issues with the law and get a reward for lying.
Americans in a country on another continent. Sacco also said he worked But when the lawyer presents the signed papers of these witnesses, who
with some Germans before the war and did not want to kill them during the admitted to lying, the court refuses them because the lawyer obtained them
war. Then, when the prosecution asks him why he returned to the United by intimidating the witnesses. His request for appeal is therefore dismissed.
States of America after the war, if it was not for money, Sacco replies that After his failure, the lawyer leaves the town but lets someone else replace
he worked hard to learn his trade and that, yes, he couldn't get paid well for him: William Thompson.
that in Mexico, but also because he didn't want to waste all the effort he put On June 10, 1924, an international demonstration for the liberation of
into his learning. And most of all, he loves the United States of America, Sacco and Vanzetti was organized, without success.
the country he chose to live in, but he didn't agree with the war. In November 1925, an inmate
On July 14, 1921, the trial came to an end and, without solid evidence of Dedham Jail named Celestino
to prove their guilt, Sacco and Vanzetti were still found guilty of the two Madeiros talks to Vanzetti343 and
homicides (adding to the hold-up during the first trial, for Vanzetti) and tells him that he knows who made
sentenced to the prison. They are then imprisoned in Dedham prison. the hold-up, because he was part of
A few days after their improsenment, a manifestation occurs in front of it, but was arrested with no money
the prison, before the Mounted Police get rid of it, in a violent assault. on him so not charged. He then
Sacco, in his cell, doesn't want to become a political martyr and just want testifies to the police he made the
to live. But when he can see his wife and son, Dante, at the parlor, the latter robbery with the Joe Morelli's gang.
is afraid of him, which turns Sacco into a deep depression. Then the police, along with William
The following night, the crowd Thompson, go to a place that
repeats "Libera Nick e Bart" in front Madeiros told them about. There
of the prison, and Sacco cracks. they just find a girl who knew him
He no longer wants to be released before his arrest, who tells them that
because he was found guilty, which he gave her $ 2,800 before disappea-
frightened his son. He can no longer ring: a fifth of the money stolen in
forgive his country for this. Sacco's son, Dante, reminded me of Chico in the hold-up of April 15, 1920. The real Celestino Madeiros.
He was eventually transferred to Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014). Besides, in
that cutscene, Chico is listening to a tape of Here's to 343 In fact, Madeiros spoke directly to the police, not to Vanzetti. The latter joined Sacco at the criminal
the criminal asylum of Boston. you (1971), by Joan Baez, the main theme of the movie. asylum of Boston in early 1925.
Still in Dedham prison, Vanzetti sends a letter to Sacco344, to cheer him what Thomspon comes to claim too. He asks him for a review of the trial,
up and that he continues to fight for their freedom. after the two appeals, but the governor answers no.
For his part, William Thompson, the new lawyer in charge of the Sacco On April 9, 1927, the death sentence was confirmed for Sacco and Vanzetti.
and Vanzetti case, slowly discovers new evidence that clears them. He visits Sacco isn't able to speak, Vanzetti does345:
the ballistics expert hired for the second trial and the latter tells him that
the bullets found on the bodies of the two victims could have been fired by "If it had not been for these things, I might have lived out my life
any US Colt .32 (the model Sacco had on him during his arrest), but also talking at street corners to scorning men. I might have died, unmarked,
by a model of Steyr, or even the Spanish Star: a gun that was used by one of unknown, a failure. Now we are not a failure. This is our career and
the guys who did the hold-up, according to the testimony of the Madeiros. our triumph. Never in our full life could we hope to do such work for
As his investigation progresses, the lawyer William Thompson discovers tolerance, for justice, for man's understanding of man as now we do by
that some evidence about the case is missing (some police documents or accident. Our words — our lives — our pains — nothing! The taking
the Star pistol of the Morelli gang member). of our lives — lives of a good shoemaker and a poor fish-peddler —
With all of this new evidence, Thompson attempts to get a new trial with all! That last moment belongs to us — that agony is our triumph."
a first appeal on May 12, 1926. But the Supreme Judicial Court found no
error in the second trial judge's final decision and denied a third.
A second appeal was made on April 5, 1927, this time based on the
Madeiros's testify, but the Supreme Judicial Court judge Webster Thayer, who
didn't like both Italians and anarchists, argued that Madeiros's testimony
came from a prisoner sentenced to death, and rejects his testimony, before
announcing that the case will still not have a third trial. Disappointed and
annoyed by this decision, William Thompson replied that he was quitting his
job because, faced with this obvious injustice, he had nothing but contempt
for his colleagues and his profession.
Sacco eventually returns to Dedham Prison, where he is warmly welcomed
by Vanzetti and the other inmates.
On his side, William Thompson plays his last card by meeting the governor
of Massachusetts, Alvan Tufts Fuller, who at the same time receives petitions ON WAY BACK TO DEDHAM JAIL, SACCO AND VANZETTI (10 APRIL, 1927).
from all over the country to free Sacco and Vanzetti in his office; exactly
344 Vanzetti had already joined him in the asylum in reality, but it was written that way for the film. 345 And says his famous speech.
After this decision and an international appeal for pardon, William Note: Fifty years after their execution, to the day, Sacco and Vanzetti were
Thompson writes a letter to the governor, which only Vanzetti signs, because officially rehabilitated by Massachusetts Governor Michael Dukakis, on
Sacco gave up the fight a long time ago. Vanzetti then meets the Governor, August 23, 1977.
who says him directly he will refuse the pardon, because the problem now
is that the case became international, and if two anarchists are released, the
United States of America will be considered as a weak nation. After being The main musical theme of the movie.
accused by the governor of being violent, as an anarchist, Vanzetti answers:
The main theme of the movie, Here's to you (1971), composed by Ennio
"[…] I repeat to her that the society in which you force us to live, and Morricone and sung by Joan Baez, was featured in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns
which we want to destroy, is all built on violence. Begging life for a loaf of the Patriots (2008). Or a cover, ot be more precise, arranged by Harry
of bread is violence; the misery, the hunger to which millions of men are Gregson-Williams. Slower, more orchestral and melancholic.
forced is violence; money is violence; war. And even the fear of dying, In Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014) and The Phantom Pain
which we all have, every day, when you think about it is violence!" (2015), this is the original version that was featured.
They will never agree politically, but the governor wanted to get Vanzetti's Here are the lyrics of the song:
point of view on the situation before publicly announcing his final decision.
The governor finally says no, and Vanzetti tells Sacco that he did well "Here's to you Nicola and Bart
by not asking for anything, because they are only assassins in the eyes of Rest forever here in our hearts
American justice. And Vanzetti also gives up the fight. The last and final moment is yours
Finally, 22 August, 1927, Sacco, Vanzetti and Celestino Madeiros are That agony is your triumph."
transferred from the Dedham Jail to the Charlestown Jail, near Boston,
Massachusetts; where they will be all three executed the same night, by It doesn't seems to be a direct connection between the song and the
the famous chief executioner known as the "New York State Electrician", events of Sacco and Vanzetti with those of the Metal Gear Solid series. As
Robert G. Elliott. Before dying, Sacco writes a hopeful letter to his son Skull Face says in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014), this is Paz's
Dante, in which he asks him to keep his inner child alive forever and to favorite song, and she and Chico can remind us of Sacco and Vanzetti: two
remain open to the world around him, and to fight for future generations. innocent revolutionaries who died for crimes that they didn't commit. But
I think being judged and killed for what they symbolized and not for what
Note: There is a similar message from Big Boss and Solid Snake in the Metal they did, and deaths of people who fight war and injustice, is the real link
Gear Solid series, about what to bequeath to the future generations. between the story of Sacco and Vanzetti and the Metal Gear Solid series.
324 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) REFERENCES - 7: THE SONS OF LIBERTY 325
– 7: The Sons of Liberty. – 1756-1763: The Seven Years' War. The British American colonies faced
New France and won, before annexing the French colony to their territory.
It was during this war, in 1760, that George III became King of the UK.
Note: This is not a movie, but an important piece of the Unites States of After the war, the Native Americans asked the UK that the British
America history to which the Metal Gear Solid series makes some references. Americans that came to their territory during the war leave. They also asked
to get their own state, next to the American original 13 colonies. This Native
A familiar name for those who knowns the Metal Gear Solid series. The American state was a problematic because the American colons wanted to
one of the small group of opponents that Raiden and Solid Snake have to explore the western continent to earn money after their enormous loss
face in Metal Gear Solid 2: Sons of Liberty (2001). But like a lot of things during the war.
in this series, it's a reference to a real thing: a small but crucial part of
American history. Here is a small contextualization: – December 1765: The Stamp Act imposed a tax to the settlers, giving them
the right to use only stamped papers produced in London, for everything
(legal documents, magazines, newspapers…). A month after the act was
– 1492: Although there were previous sailors that reach America before him, enforced, Boston stamped paper provider, Andrew Oliver, received a letter
Christopher Colombus is, historycally speaking, the man who discovered from a small group of merchants and craftsmen, asking him to publicly
America (as he was initially intended to reach the East Indies). The coloni- resign. What he did the next day. The group that sent the letter, then known
zation of America started a few years after his journey (but truly with the as the Sons of Liberty, was initially a secretive group of nine Boston-based
British British Pilgrim Fathers, much later, in 1620). Patriots346 who called themselves the Loyal Nine. Then, many other chapters
were formed across the 13 colonies. Their main objective was to push the
– 1750: For about 150 years, settlers from Western Europe colonized East moderate American colonial leaders
America, settling along side the Amerindians who lived there. On the east to a confrontation with the Crown
coast of the continent, the settlers created 13 colonies which were under (UK). The Stamp Act events were at
the control of the United Kingdom. Divided in two parts: North (who lived the origin of the future American
through fishing market) and South (a land suitable for growing cotton, War of Independence.
tabacco and rice). In the south, the owners were rich and were the ones who The two main faces of the Sons
bought slaves to work for them, thanks to Triangular Trade. These thirteen of Liberty were Samuel Adams and
colonies were bounded by the Appalaches, and beyond this moutain range, John Hancock347. Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
was the French colony: New France. A big one, which lived mainly because 346 The name given to the large group of people of the 13 colonies against the UK authority and wanted
America became independant
of fur market. 347 In Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), Big Boss and Ocelot are also known as John and ADAM.
326 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) REFERENCES - 7: THE SONS OF LIBERTY 327
– May 1773: The Parliament’s adoption of the Tea Act. Another event that – April 19, 1775: Begin of the American War of Independence. The American
led to the American War of Independence. The Act was intented to help Patriots against the rule of the United Kingdom.
the struggling British East India Company, by allowing them to sell their
tea without paying taxes. English tea was then sold at a lower price than the – September 3, 1783: End of the American War of Independence.
illegal one (more than 80% the American settlers consumed came from the
Netherlands), but the buyers still had to pay taxes, in America. It was an
unfair move and both the Patriots and the Sons of Liberty didn't like to be The connection with Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) lies
forced to buy tea that would enrich the UK. Because if their tea was cheaper, in vengeance. In the history of the United States of America, there is a
people in America would obviously buy it. Many American merchants who deep belief in the pursuit of liberty through vengeance. A central theme of
didn't receive their tea from UK would also be threatened by this Act. Herman's Melville book Moby Dick (1851), one of the main inspirations of
At first, in Boston, people wanted to send back the tea to England, but the game, to which came back in details in a previous section.
the merchants sho shipped the merchandise disagreed as they would lose
to much money in the process.
If the tea was unloaded and sold on American soil, people would buy it
and the Bostonians members of the Patriots and the Sons of Liberty would
have lost their credibility. Their contempt for British authority fostered an
American tradition of grassroots activism that many groups applied over
the following centuries.
– December 16, 1773: After months of resistance not to let British shiphs
land their tea on American soil, the Sons of Liberty carried out their biggest
action, the "Boston Tea Party" .They destroyed 92,000 pounds of British
tea, in Boston Harbor. Disguised
as Native Americans Mohawk,
settlers boarded the ships and threw
the chests of tea into the sea. This
was another major milestone that
leaded to the American War of
Independence, two years later. Ed Vebell - Boston Tea Party. VENGEANCE: THE REASON BEHIND THE GAME'S TITLE V.
328 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) TITLE 329
THE MISSION 51
KINGDOM OF THE FLIES

330 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SHORT SUMMARY OF METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN (2015) 331
– Short summary of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). The first part of the game led to
Venom Snake and Miller's revenge
on Skull Face, by killing him and
Note: If you didn’t read the full version of it, here’s a short one: recovering his Metal Gear: the
Sahelanthropus. It was built by
– 1975: With the XOF of which he was the head, Skull Face attacked and Huey Emmerich and controlled by a
destroyed the real Big Boss's first Mother Base, in the Caribbean. Big Boss, young boy with telekinetic abilities:
Skull Face in the hand of his Metal Gear, with Tretij
Venom Snake, Kazuhira Miller and Huey Emmerich survived. Rebenok (futurely Psycho Mantis) under its head. Tretij Rebenok.
– 1984: Big Boss's double, Venom Snake (unaware he was at the time), During this first part, Venom
woke up from a coma in a Cypriot hospital. He escaped with the help of Big Snake also met and recruited the
Boss and Ocelot, and arrived at the new Mother Base that Miller built in mysterious silent female sniper,
the Seychelles while they were still in hospital. He also founded the private Quiet, and had to face the vocal
military company Diamond Dogs, and Venom Snake became its leader, cord parasites created by Code
with Miller and Ocelot as close advisors. Meanwhile, with Ocelot's help, Big Talker: an old man forced to work
Boss went into hiding in Africa to begin to build his Outer Heaven fortress. for Skull Face. These parasites began Venom Snake and Quiet, who arrived on Mother Base.
to develop in its host's throat and lungs as soon as the host began to speak a
specific language, and eventually killed it. Skull Face created several strains
of the parasite and one of them was brought to Mother Base and caused an
outbreak: the Kikongo strain. Venom Snake then quickly found and brought
back Code Talker to the base, to end the outbreak. In Africa, Venom Snake
also met child soldiers, including a special one: Eli (future Liquid Snake).
In the second part of the game, Eli
prepared a long plan with the child
soldiers on Mother Base to steal the
Sahelanthropus, still controlled by
Tretij Rebenok (who had followed Eli
since their meeting in Afghanistan),
and escape the base with the childs,
Eli escaping Mother Base. The last part of the game's
MILLER, VENOMS SNAKE AND OCELOT, ON MOTHER BASE. Eli arc, which should have ended with the Mission 51. aboard a helicopter with its pilot.
332 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 1] THE PRISONER 333
Then, Venom Snake had to face a new outbreak of a mutated strain of

the vocal cord parasite. After numerous investigations, Ocelot and Miller
discovered that Huey was responsible for almost everything that had
happened to them since 1975: the Ground Zeroes incident (destruction [CUTSCENE 1]
of the first Mother Base), the creation of the Salehanthropus for Skull Face
(which followed his betrayal to join him and Cipher), the secret repairs of THE PRISONER
the Metal Gear on Mother Base for Eli, the latter's escape with the child
soldiers, and the second epidemic he had caused by mutating the parasite
with technical equipment made available to him by Mother Base staff.
After Huey was then just kicked out of Mother Base, Quiet left it too, CONDITIONS TO UNLOCK:
because as the owner of the third English strain of the vocal cord parasite348, (After downloading the DLC349, and if the player had finished the Mission 45: A Quiet Exit,
she would rather die than risk spreading it by accident. After the second and 46: Truth350, this cutscene would play the first time he launch the game. Otherwise,
outbreak, she knew that the parasite she was carrying could mutate unexpec- he would have to meet all of these conditions and relaunch the game for it to start.)
tedly. So she wanted to prevent that, even if it meant dying, alone.

Venom Snake went looking for her and found her in Afghanistan. He saved Ungama Bay, Kenya
her but, near the extraction point, was bitten by a cobra to protect her, and August 25, 1984 09:27 a.m.
passed out. She then recovered and

saved him by speaking English to On a sunny morning, a chopper was finishing its long flight from the
contact a Diamond Dogs helicopter Seychelles to the Kenian Coast351. A white Diamond Dogs's logo was visible
and guide it through a sandstorm. on both sides of its tail. It slowed down its speed and began to lose altitude,
Then, her parasite activated, she approaching the coast, flying over its azure waters. In front of it, on the
preferred to disappear, and left a beach, two giant furrows in the sand led to the edge of a forest, where the
"goodbye" tape for Venom Snake. Venom Snake recovering Quiet's tape. pilot saw broken mvule trees352 creating a wide path among the others. At
their feet, three armed mercenaries with a cheche were crouched around
Note: What comes next follows that exact moment. After Venom Snake lost something the pilot couldn't see from his position. Beside them, standing,
many men in the second outbreak, Eli, the child soldiers, the Sahelanthropus, a fourth motioned to him, waving his arms in a semicircle above his head.
349 This novel should be seen as a DLC, with lots of detail to optimize its integration into the original game.
Huey, Quiet, and just returned to Mother Base. 350 The player doesn't need to finish the 45 to unlock the 46. So here, he should have done both to unlock
348 Skull Face infected her with the first, Venom Snake destroyed the second just before killing him, and this cutscene and then the Mission 51.
Tretij Rebenok managed to get the third back at that point, as Venom Snake wanted to destroy the remaining 351 About 1,060 miles west of Mother Base. With a max speed of 186 mph, the flight lasted about 6 hours.
two in the fire. This third strain should have been a major key part of the story of the Mission 51. 352 I have used this list of Kenian trees for those mentioned in this novel.
334 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 1] THE PRISONER 335
* – Where are they? His comrade soldier asked the pilot.

The chopper eventually landed near the four mercena- – Water… You have water? Asked the latter, with a deep broken voice.
ries, on a flat and sandy part of the beach, close to the The Diamond Dog soldier frowned at the local mercs leader, while the
water. As its pales blasted the sand in the air, around second medic took and opened his gourd, to give it to the dehydrated pilot.
them, a group of three Diamond Dogs staff members – We'll take care of him, now. He said. Thanks for having contacted us.
with gas masks: a soldier, and two medics wearing a white – Your employers offered a nice reward for that. Many of us have heard
armband marked with a red cross around the upper part about your "problem" in the area, but we were the first on the spot. Said
of their left arm and white gloves; got out of the aircraft the merc leader, before loading a bullet into his weapon. We'll continue to
to join the mercenary who waved to the pilot, near one follow the tracks deeper in the forest and keep your people informed. You,
of the furrows and carrying an SVG-76U assault rifle. you should leave ASAP, before what happened here caught someone else's
– What happened here? Asked the Diamond Dog soldier. attention. He warned them, before nodding to his soldiers and leaving the
– Follow me. He answered, with a slight African accent. place with them, by entering the forest by its recently made path.
All of you. He then added by pointing them successively The pilot, apparently here for a long time, had difficulty breathing.
Artwork of a
with his right index finger. Diamond Dog soldier. – Where are they? Asked the soldier. Where are the children?
The soldier and the two medics followed him, along the left furrow leading – We have… A situation. He said. I must, talk… To the Commander Miller.
to the three other mercs, at the edge of the forest, also armed with assault The soldier looked at the medic next to him, who shook his head, showing
rifles, who got up and moved away at they approached. him that the pilot was in bad shape and needed urgent medical care.
– He's one of yours, right? The soldier escorting the Diamond Dogs asked,
pointing at someone with the barrel of his rifle. Extradiegetic music n° 1:
In front of them, seated in a damaged helicopter seat, lay a pilot wearing (Youtube link) Furrows (Bandcamp link)
his helmet and uniform, except for his bomber jacket which he held in his By Victor Reynart.
hands. The seat had been placed against one of the crushed tree trunks.
– Yes… Answered the Diamond Dog soldier, looking at the seated man. – Well, we'll patch you up first. You'll call him aboard. You two, give him a
– We found him right here, last night, tied to this seat with vines and duct hand, we gotta go! Ordered the soldier.
tape. Said the soldier, giving a small tap on the seat with his right foot. The two medics each grabbed an arm of the pilot and carried him to the
– And what about the chopper? Wondered the soldier. Where is it? chopper, while the soldier, still crouching, ran his right hand along the
– It crashed, 50 miles away, west, but someone brang your friend back there. furrow and followed it with his gaze, up to the crushed trees, wondering
– Are you alright? One of Diamond Dog's two medics asked the pilot, before where this path could lead. He then got up and catch up with the medics
kneeling down and pulling a light out of his pocket to inspect his eyes. to the chopper, which then left the coast to directly return to Mother Base.
336 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 2] BACK TO MOTHER BASE 337
– I'm sorry about her. I know it's still fresh, but she made the best choice.
Venom Snake remained silent, and exhaled.
– We have to talk. Added Miller.
[CUTSCENE 2] – What now?
– Come on, we're expected. He said, before turning around.
BACK TO MOTHER BASE
***
Seychelles Waters, Mother Base
CONDITIONS TO UNLOCK: "Room 101", Level 1, Warehouse 1, Command Platform
(First time the player would reach MB after the previous cutscene has been played.) August 25, 1984 04:58 p.m.
Indian Ocean, Seychelles Waters, Mother Base After the corridor leading to it,
Medical Unit main platform Venom Snake entered the small dark
August 25, 1984 04:43 p.m.353 room, while Miller closed the door
behind him. In the room, Ocelot
Leaning on the platform guardrail, was standing next to a table with
the first yellow bar of which supported two empty chairs, his hands behind
Miller and Venom Snake, in the corridor
his red bionic arm, Venom Snake leading to the "Room 101". his back. On his right, Code Talker
was smoking his phantom cigar, was there too, in his wheelchair. Everyone was silent. Miller then walked
slowly humming the short melody past Venom Snake and stopped to the left of Ocelot.
that Quiet also hummed during – Everyone's here. Boss… The latter said, pointing with his right hand at
their missions, in his earpiece. As he Venom Snake lightening his phantom cigar. the empty chair in front of him, to invite him to sit down.
was staring at a half of Mother Base, on which he had a full view from his Venom Snake looked at him and sat down, to then look as papers and maps
position, he stopped humming and took a puff, before the sound of a crutch scattered on the table. With his bionic arm, he grabbed a photo showing the
coming towards his position, behind him, caught his attention. two furrows from the beach where the Diamond Dogs unit recovered the
– Boss. Said a familiar voice. pilot of the chopper Eli stole when he left the base, from that same room.
He put out his cigar and put it in one of his pockets, before facing Miller. – Boss, about Eli and his boys. Miller said.
353 This scene would take place after the soldiers returns, so 6 hours later (+01:00 with the time difference). – You know where they went? He asked, before putting the photo down.
338 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 2] BACK TO MOTHER BASE 339
– We're still working on it, but the chopper pilot they had fly them out of Said Miller, hitting the table with his fist. And if they beat us to it, they'll be
here is back. He answered, while resting his crutch against the table, to then getting more than that… Eli's carrying the English strain of the vocal cord
sit down in the remaining chair, facing Code Talker. parasite. He announced.
– And? – What? Asked Venom Snake, surprised. How? I got rid of them all!354
– He said when Sahelanthropus and the chopper got out of sea, they split – Before we kicked him out of here, Huey confessed to me. Explained
up and headed in different directions. He said, before taking a map of the Ocelot. Do you remember that floating boy? With red hair?
Kenyan coast from the table and turning it over, so that it was facing his – Yes… Said Venom Snake, apparently disturbed by the latter's evocation.
interlocutor. The chopper headed straight for Africa. They made it about 50 – He saved the third test tube from the flames, the day you both killed the
miles inland before running out of fuel. The kids used vines and duct tapes man without a face. He said, looking at them one after the other.
to tie the pilot to his seat before they disappeared. He was almost dead from – We're awaiting more information from the Intel Team. Added Miller. I'll
dehydration when the medics found him. keep you all informed as soon as I know more.
– Is he alright? Asked Venom Snake, the eyes still on the map, as he was – All right. Said Venom Snake, before looking at Code Talker, silent since
discovering on it the place where the pilot had been found. he entered the room. And you, why are you here? He asked him.
– The medics from the rescue team took care of him. He's out of danger. – As a reminder. Answered the old man, with his slow diction. The metallic
– Fine. archea used to build the Sahelanthropus can be turned into nuclear energy
– They left him alive on purpose. Indicated Miller, crossing Ocelot's gaze. at any time, and become as powerful as a nuclear warhead.
– Yeah. Said Venom Snake. They're calling us out. They want to settle this. – Correct. Said Miller. That's why we got to find them first, and quickly.
– The Intel Team is using the direction Sahelanthropus headed and the Before the XOF or someone else achieves Skull Face's plan by revealing its
direction the kids took off in the narrow down the search area. Explained existence to the world. Or before Eli turns it into a walking nuke.
Miller, pointing to the area he was talking about on the map. And with HEC – Skull Face… Said Venom Snake.
helping out, it won't be long before we know where Eli is. There's just one – Even dead, this son of a bitch is still a pain in the ass. Growled Miller,
thing that bothers me. before getting up from his chair and taking back his clutch, to then walk
– What's that? Asked Venom Snake. and stop next to Venom Snake.
Miller sighed and bowed his head for a split second. – We'll find them first, Boss. He said, confident, before reaching the corridor.
– Apparently, they are already men going around the nearby villages asking Ocelot got up and grabbed Code Talker's wheelchair handles to help him.
witnesses of the "giant in the sky". – Wait. He said to Venom Snake, as was about to get up from his chair too.
– Damn it, already? Venom Snake worried, raising his head. After taking Code Talker to the corridor, the latter left the room 101 and
– It's clearly business as usual for Cipher, even with Skull Face gone. They Ocelot came back, closed the door, to then sat down, facing Venom Snake.
must've been dying to get Sahelenthropus back ever since Afghanistan. 354 At the end of the Mission 31, he threw the last two into the fire, but Tretij Rebenok retrieves one.
340 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [TAPE 1] GHOSTS IN THE GRAVEYARD 341
– Well… Said Ocelot, putting his hands on the table, joined, while crumpling
the red leather of his gloves. Since the death of Skull Face, an old friend of
yours has returned to the game. He said, raising his right index finger in
the direction of Venom Snake. Donald Anderson. [TAPE 1]
– Sigint?
– You may remember that, like us, he's a founding member of the Patriots. GHOSTS IN THE GRAVEYARD355
After you left, he became closer to Zero. So close that the latter named him
leader of Cipher instead of him.
– Why? And how do you know that?
– It's my job. Replied Ocelot, with a certain satisfaction in his voice. I stayed CONDITIONS TO UNLOCK:
on good terms with him, unlike you, who cut ties for good. He didn't know (After the previous cutscene would have been played, the player would receive a call from
why Zero made this offer to him, or didn't want to tell me. Anyway, it wasn't Miller the same day, at nightfall356. It would then be available as a tape, via the iDroid.)
for too long, because Skull Face wrested control of Cipher from Anderson.
– Until he died. Miller: – Boss! Our Intel Team in Kenya357, based on our pilot's leads, headed
– You got it. Said Ocelot, raising his right index finger towards him again. west to the coast, to track down Eli and his "men". And the situation is more
– Anything to worry about? complex than we expected. After passing the chopper's wreckage, 50 miles
– Well… Said Ocelot, putting his two hands flat on the table. Anderson has from the coast, they found out that they had taken refuge on an isolated
a thing for AIs and unmanned weaponry. So, I guess he's very insterested and difficult to access island, 250 miles away, across which they spread the
by the unfinished Metal Gear. It could save him… Years! Of research. parasite. It won't affect you if your voice hasn't broken, so they're safe, for
– Mh… now. And Eli's driven all the locals adults off the island. Recess is officially
– I tried to make a deal, but now that he's at the top of the scale, he wants in session. His own version of Lord of the Flies. Only instead of a pig's head,
to play solo. As Miller said, we have to find Sahelanthropus first. During Sahelanthropus. And it's swarming with something worse than flies. They've
my investigation about Huey, I found out that he was in frequent contact presented one demand in exchange for the nuke. Big Boss's body. Those kids've
with the ATGC, an American private bio-tech company that worked for got a lot to learn… Of course, we need more intel and we can't operate at
the DARPA. Anderson and Strangelove have worked there before, on AIs. night, but if we know, so will others. Boss. Get back to Mother Base ASAP, I
And now that he's at the head of the XOF too… He didn't tell me, but I bet have to brief you. We'll leave at dawn. It's time to end this.
that he already ordered them to recover the monster. 355 It's the name of a variation of the Hide-And-Seek game that takes place outdoors, at night, and in the
– We better hurry then. dark (here reffering to the long track that led the Diamond Dogs to the location of Eli and the kids).
356 The time it takes for the Intel Team to find Eli, the child soldiers, and the Sahelanthropus.
Ocelot nodded, and they both left the room in silence. 357 Soldiers from the Intel Unit are already present in the African map of the game, so they're quickly on site.
342 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 3] READY TO GO 343
– I recorded this when you were

gearing up. Here it is. Said Ocelot,
giving him a tape. All details are
[CUTSCENE 3] on it. Time saving. You'll listen to it
during the flight and… Hey! He said,
READY TO GO as D-Dog shoved him, bumping
Artwork of the Medical Arm. his left leg to join Venom Snake.
The dog, who who wore tactical
equipment for the mission, joined
CONDITIONS TO UNLOCK: Venom Snake and walked beside
(After the player would get the previous call, come back to Mother Base and wait for the him, as they were talking.
day to break, this cutscene could be launched by leaving Mother Base by chopper.) – Oh, I almost forgot. Here's to you,
Boss. Said Ocelot, by giving Venom
Seychelles Waters, Mother Base Snake a respirator mask. The R&D Artwork of D-Dog's mask respirator.
Command Platform team also made that. He added, giving him another mask for D-Dog, while
August 26, 1984 02:37 a.m. the latter tilted its head to the right. No more worrying about parasites.
– Much appreciated. Said Venom Snake, taking the mask.
Near the helipad, in the cold night, Venom Snake was about to leave – Today is the day, Boss. Said Miller in turn, aloud, as they stopped walking
Mother Base, wearing a Battle Dress at the entrance of the helipad. From what we know, Eli had spread the
and equipped with an assault rifle parasite on an isolated salt island, but fortunately it's now confined on it
on his back and his new Medical because, as you may remember, the parasite doesn't really like salt359.
Arm358. His two advisers were there – I remember. He replied, by looking him in the eyes.
too, behind him: Miller to his left – Clever boys…360 Added Ocelot. Bring them back alive. He said, calmly.
and Ocelot to his right. – Boss… Said Miller. Our Intel Team there said no one has been spotted
– I don't even know how it works… around the island yet, but hurry up. The sooner the better. We’ll drop you
Venom Snake wearing the Battle Dress,
Said Venom Snake, as he was looking in the Sortie Prep screen. off the island, to the south, so as not to alert Eli.
as his white bionic arm, opening and closing its hand several times, like it – Uh… If you get there on time. Said Miller, not confident on this point.
was the first time he was doing it. 359 This is an allusion to the Quiet interrogation, in which Miller poured salt water on her, which put her life
in danger, just before Ocelot in turn poured him normal water on it, to rinse off the salt.
358 It wasn't included in the final game, but an artwork of it can be found in the artbook. 360 It shows Ocelot's interest for Eli, as a warrior, that he will choose to join later, in Metal Gear Solid (1998).
344 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [TAPE 2] THE MEDICAL ARM 345
– What? What do you mean? Asked Venom Snake, turning around.

– It get worse. Said Miller. Listen, here's the tape when Eli took off.361
He nodded to Ocelot, and the latter then took a cassette player out of his
pocket, put the tape into it, and pressed play. [TAPE 2]
– *cough* Where is he? Asked Eli.
– I told you, you're father's not here. Answered Ocelot. THE MEDICAL ARM
– He's back.
Ocelot stopped the play and took a step back.
– His voice is starting to change. Resumed Miller. Meaning he's almost a
man. So if he's carrying the English-language strain… Well, if he starts CONDITIONS TO UNLOCK:
showing symptoms, it's over. He explained, in a serious tone. (After the previous cutscene would have played, the player would be in the chopper's
Venom Snake sighed, visibly worried, according to his facial expression. cabin, the game menu (also called the Aerial Command Center (ACC)). He could here
– Oh, and before I forget… Said Ocelot. Boss! I was wondering… Now that listen to the tape that Ocelot had just given him, named "The Medical Arm", via the iDroid.)
Huey is gone, can we finally get rid of that creepy-chatty-metal cylinder362?

– There are bigger issues right now. Said Miller. Why talk about it now?
– It's time to end this, right? Asked Ocelot to him, then left a short silence363.
I'm just finishing cleaning up the mess. And I thought it was a good idea to
keep informing each other. He said, looking at Miller. As long as possible.
– Get rid of this thing. Ordered Venom Snake. We don't need it anymore.
He then turned around and boarded the chopper, watched by Miller and
Ocelot, standing next to each other, Ocelot to the right.
– We'll need to have a serious discussion after this. Adamska364.
Miller looked at Ocelot, grunted, and jostled him on the shoulder before
leaving the helipad's entrance, as Ocelot was slowly raising his hands in
front of him, with an annoyed smile on his face. Above them, in the sky,
Venom Snake's chopper was en route for Africa.
361 The moment he left Mother Base with the Sahelanthropus, Tretij Rebenok and the child soldiers. VENOM SNAKE IN THE CHOPPER, WITH HIS MEDICAL ARM.
362 The AI pod. THIS UNOFFICIAL 3D MODEL AND SCREENSHOT WERE MADE BY SOLIDCAL.
363 This is the last sentence of the last Miller's radio call to Venom Snake, showing Miller that he is bugged.
364 Ocelot's real first name. A way for Miller to show him that he has many information on him too. Obtained Cassette Tape [The Medical Arm]
346 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [TAPE 2] THE MEDICAL ARM 347
Note: As the player would be in the chopper, the following tape play automa- Note: After the Ocelot tape would have been played, the player would
tically. It would then be added to the tape list of the iDroid, and the Mission receive a call from Miller.
51: Kingdom of the Flies to the Mission List.
– Boss! Said Miller, by radio. Our men there have finished preparing for the
"− Boss, the R&D and Medical units worked together and made you a new operation. They will guide you to the shore of the salt lake leading to the island
arm. Said Ocelot. A medical one. It can save you when your health reaches a and will give us more details once there, just before you'll land, to avoid any
critical state, by injecting in your left arm a dose of adrenaline by through a bad surprise due to possible radio surveillance by the XOF. If you have urgent
syringe directly linked to the junction between your bionic and real arm. There things to do, hurry up. Soon, we won't be the only ones in the know.
is another syringe that can come out of its index finger, to inject morphine
and treat an injured or uncouncsious soldier, or a very recently dead one, if Mission List Updated:
the death wasn't due to a gunshot365. But chances are weak in this case. The New Mission Added
syringes are retractable and a device inside your arm disinfects it after each
use. The arm is also equiped with a defibrillator. With the kids being on their Note: From there, the Mission 51 could be selected via the iDroid Mission
own for days now, I thought it would be useful for this mission, as we have List. The player could launch it immediately, but would then reach the
no information on their physical condition. Like any regular defibrillator, it new and third area of the game's DLC, and the Mission 51 is quite long.
needs two shock points for the heart to return to a normal pace. So you'll find So a small warning message with a "yes/no" confirmation choice would be
a patch attached to your arm with a retractable cable, which you'll have to displayed after selecting the mission. The player could also here come back
hold, to place on one side of the unconscious body's chest, before sending an to Mother Base for a training about the Medical Arm with Ocelot, and the
electric shock with your hand, put on the opposite side. During the process, mission would start as he would put an end to the training session, but he
you'll need both hands and won't be able hold a weapon, and it can be used couldn't go on missions anymore (excepting the 51). He could also stay in
only once at a time. However, its battery can be recharged in a few seconds the chopper's cabin for a very short limited play time, to finish developing
by kinetic energy generated by your natural motions, such as with your Stun some items, customizing weapons, etc. But in this case, when the game's
Arm. If you listen to that, you just left so… You can still come back to train clock would reach 03:00 a.m.366, Miller would contact Venom Snake and it
on Mother Base with… Volunteers. Or if you're ready, check your iDroid and would automatically launch the mission.
launch the OP. We're all waiting for your order, Boss. For my part, I'm supervi-
sing reinforcements right now, if needed, as Miller is collecting information – Boss! Said Miller. Something new has just happened. Time to go! You should
from the Intel Team." rest during the flight, Pequod will wake you up if I have any new intel.
365 As Ocelot would provide explanations to the player, images of the arm in use would appear on the upper 366 For this novel, to help me in the calculation of the distances between two places around the world, I used
part of the screen, to visually clarify his words. the very practical website https://www.timeanddate.com/).
348 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021)
–
350 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 4] ARRIVING SHORTLY AT LZ 351
– Photographs of the real Ol Doinyo Lengai stratovolcano.
[CUTSCENE 4]
ARRIVING SHORTLY AT LZ
Kenyan (Kajiado County)/Tanzanian (Arusha Region) Border Region
Gregory Rift Valley367, Lake Natron Basin (click here to see the mission's map)
August 26, 1984 09:05 a.m.368
The chopper was reaching the operation's area from the south, flying over
the Engaï369 volcano's crater370 surrounded by small white clouds. On board, THE CRATER AT THE TOP OF OL DOINYO LENGAI, WITH ITS CONES, INACTIVE.
Venom Snake was watching it through one of the chopper's window, and
saw cold, silvery lava crackle and
come out of cones. He then put on
his mask and took D-Dog's one, put
on the bench he was sitting on. DD
was staring at him, still and curious,
with its military gear: a Stun Knife,
a Fulton Recovery system device
and a tactical black suit that almost
completely protected its body. Artwork of D-Dog with its full equipment.
367 The real inspiration for the mission's map. The Gregory Rift Valley is located in the East African Rift
System (EARS). Beside, it is this rifting that is at the origin of the volcanic activity of this region.
368 Local time, taking into account the one hour time difference between Seychelles and Kenya (-01:00 hour
in Kenya) and the seven-hour helicopter flight from Mother Base to the Lake Natron Basin.
369 Engai, or Enkai, is the name of one of the two main gods in the Maasai religion.
THE OL DOINYO LENGAI STRATOVOLCANO.
370 Inspired by that of the stratovolcano Ol Doinyo Lengai ("Mountain of God", in Maasai). Photos next page:
352 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 4] ARRIVING SHORTLY AT LZ 353
– Boss! Said Miller. As I told you a few hours ago now371, our Intel Team in – Random informations about the Lake Natron Basin.
Zaire spotted a huge convoy of heavy armed military vehicles heading east.
We don't know why yet, but it stopped near the edge of the forest leading to
the lake, miles away. For a while now. He said, before sighing. Well, we were – The Lake Natron Basin site was declared a Ramsar one374 (the
wrong. Cipher found Eli first. Pursued Miller, as Venom Snake put its mask N° 1080) on July 4, 2001, due to its unique environment and
to D-Dog. Our Intel Team spied on the convoy's coms and learned that an fauna (especially birds). More information on this point on the
armed research team had already been sent to the island yesterday, but they've RAMSAR official website. Ramsar logo.
lost contact with them. That's why our men here didn't met them, last night.
– We're reaching the bay, get ready Boss! Said Pequod, from the cockpit. – The Basin is located in the Rift Valley, nestled at the foot of Mount Gelai
Venom Snake grabbed an AM (in northern Tanzania), at an altitude of 609 meters. The red water of its
D114-9372 pistol in his left hand, put lake is very alkaline, with a pH varying between 9 and 10.5375. This alkali-
on the bench, next to him, and put nity comes from the high salinity of the lake, due to the large quantities of
it in his holster with the right one. natron it contains: a mineral which is a mixture of sodium bicarbonate and
He then took his AM MRS-4, put soda. Anything that ends up in this water ends up badly burned and can
vertically against the bench, loaded a even die. Its water supplies are solely due to precipitation, that falls directly
magazine, and cocked it373. He fixed into the lake or feeds a few rivers that flow into it, such as the Ewaso Ng'iro
a silencer at the barrel's end, near its river (flowing into the lake from the south).
flashlight, and waited to land. An AM D114-9.
– No one lives there or nearby. There are only Maasai who live in the area,
and curious tourists who come to see this isolated place. In 2006, the
Tanzanian government and Indian company Tata Chemicals planned to
built infrastructures to extract soda ash from the lake water, via a network
of pipes. But Taka Chemicals left the project in 2008, and in March 2018,
the Tanzanian government abandoned the site and changed its location to
Engaruka (about 30 miles (48 km) south of the Lake Natron).
AN AM MRS-4 EQUIPED WITH A SILENCER. 374 A Ramsar site is a protected wetland, under the Ramsar Convention. This intergovernmental treaty was
signed on February 2, 1971 by eighteen countries in Ramsar (Iran) and entered into force on December 21, 1975.
371 He would have told Venom Snake during the flight, but the repetition is here for the player. The activity of the Ramsar organization is mainly to identify wetlands of international importance, in particular
372 This 9mm pistol is equiped with bullets that can penetrate armors and helmets, depending on its grade. those which provide waterfowl habitat, but it can also carry out advisory missions to send some of its members
373 Those two weapons were chosen based on the official documentary for the Mission 51, in wich we can to certain threatened sites, to carry out an on-site assessment and/or provide assistance, sometimes financial.
see Venom Snake using an similar AM MRS-4 and an AM D114 (the -9 is an enhanced version). 375 7 is neutral and that of the human body is 7.35 - 7.45. The lower it is, the more acidic it is.
354 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 1: THE CRIMSON LAKE 355
The chopper flew over the red

waters376 of the southern part of the
endorheic salt lake377, and stopped
over a bay southwest of the lake. It
then slowly descended, as Venom
1 - THE CRIMSON LAKE Snake stepped away from the bench
and opened the chopper's left side
door, to sit on the cabin's ground.
Once about a meter above the bay,
Note: The mission really starts here. Like all the others, it starts with Venom D-Dog jumped first, followed by
Snake's point of view in the chopper, with D-Dog facing him, near the its owner. Venom Snake's black
pilot's cabin. But here, he's holding his gun in one hand, flat on his thighs. miltary boots gently hit the yellow
ocher earthen floor, and he took a
Venom Snake was looking at his iDroid, on which appeared a photo of Eli few steps, as Pequod left the bay.
sent by Miller, next to whom appeared others of the ten boys who deserted – Be careful down there, Boss!378 Said
with him, and one of the Sahelanthropus. The Lake Natron's red water. the pilot, by radio.
– Okay, Boss. Said Miller. The objective is to recover Sahelanthropus and the
children, Eli included. Once you're in the air, we'll hit the island with napalm. Note: From there, the player could control Venom Snake.
Can't let those things spread.
Extradiegetic music n° 2:
Mission info updated: Africa Phase - Sneak Day379
Recapture Sahelanthropus By Ludvig Forssell.
Eliminate the English vocal cord parasite
376 While searching for a location for this mission, the Lake Natron, with its salt lake and particular red color,
Rescue the children (0/10) a major symbolic one in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), was a perfect match for this novel.
377 In the real valley, the red water is to the south of the lake. But for the novel, I put it to the south for two
reasons: to match the official mission's artworks in which we can see Venom Snake reaching the island from
He then turned off the iDroid, as the helicopter began to lose altitude. the south by feet, walking through clear blue water, and because I found the red/blue colors symbolics interes-
ting. Red represents vengence in the game, and as you get closer to the island, the water turns bluer and bluer,
representing the character's psychological advancement during the game's second part, after Skull Face's death.
Note: There would be a short cutscene here, like the one that opens the 378 The line that Pequod tells the player each time he leaves the chopper to go to the field.
379 It's a music of the game that can be heard in the African region. Here, it would add a slight tension in the
Mission 13: Pitch Dark, the first time Venom Snake has landed in Africa. background for this mission.
Venom Snake started running with D-Dog along the bay: an empty area ground, to then turn around and
of empty earthy soil with small plants scattered all over the place. start backing up using his arms, still
– Head north of that bay, Boss. Ordered Miller. During your flight, our guys lying on the ground, on his back.
in the field prepared a means of transport for you, to reach the island. Coming out of the forest in their
To the left of the duo, a few meters turn, two XOF soldiers faced him,
from the red water, a dense forest each wearing a white hazmat suit,
of Silver Oaks, delimitated the bay, black gloves and boots, equipped
on its left side to its northern tip, A Maasai warrior wearing a shuka. with helmets and respirator masks,
leading back to the lake. and armed with UN-ARC assault rifles equipped with a 4x Variable Zoom
– The Intel Team also gave us some Booster scope and a Red Dot Sight 2, and GEIST P3 handguns. They walked
new information. Added Miller, as A forest of Silver Oaks (Brachylaena huillensis). slowly, and threatened the young warrior with their guns pointed at him.
Venom Snake was heading north. After they learned that an XOF research – They're already there… Said Venom Snake
team had entered the island, they began to inspect it from afar. They spotted in a low voice, a few meters afar, aiming them
a makeshift camp on its beach, along with two corpses of XOF soldiers tied with his assault rifle. No, they're just scouts…
to trees with ropes, at the entrance to the jungle just behind the camp. Their Maybe survivors from the research team.
masks had been removed, but cloth bags now cover their faces. – Dammit! Miller exclaimed. Try to find out
– It's a warning. Added Ocelot. These infected soldiers serve as an invisible what they want from this poor devil…
barrier, preventing any adults from entering Eli's "kingdom380". – They must interrogate the villagers nearby,
while waiting for reinforcements. Said Ocelot.
Note: The bay would take a short while to cross, and once Ocelot would
be done speaking, a short cutscene would launch. There would also be a Note: End of the cutscene.
cassette tape to find on the bay: Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes.
Out of their field of vision, Venom Snake
As Venom Snake was walking, D-Dog suddenly stopped and began to took his binoculars and used its microphone
sniff the ground, to then growl towards the forest, on their left. As Venom to listen as the soldiers interrogate the young
Snake was quickly walking near a tree to hide, a young Ol Morani Barnoti381, Maasai, who appeared to be begging for his
wearing the tribe's red shuka cloth, came out of the forest and fell to the life. But Venom Snake couldn't understand
380 It's a reference to the William Golding's book Lord of the Flies (1954), a main inspiration for this Mission what he was saying382. Artwork of a Mission 51 XOF soldier.
51 and the whole Metal Gear Solid series, in particular on the opposition between Solid and Liquid Snake.
381 The name of class of junior Maasai warriors. Morani means "Warrior", in Maasai. 382 Even with the two Afrikaans/Kikongo interpreters found in the Angola-Zaire border region.
– Of course… People here speak Maa383. Said Ocelot. Boss, we don't have an – Hurry! Said the senior XOF soldier. We have to go back to the meeting
interpreter for this. Focus on what the XOF says. point to wait for the others. They'll be here soon now.
– Really thought you could outrun us, uh? Asked the senior XOF soldier. – Soon? Asked Miller. How? The convoy is still on the other side of the forest.
So, what does our friend is saying? He then asked to the other soldier. The Maa speaker then cocked his assault rifle to kill the young Maasai,
– It's… Confused. The latter replied. Talking about, an "army of children"? while the other turned north and took his radio, strapped to his suit.
– What? The other asked, looking at him. Impossible that our team have – We finally got new intel. He said. We're joining you. Gather everyone. He
been wiped out by kids. Asked him if he has seen any adults with them. added, before putting his radio away and turning around385.
And how many there are. Before he completely did, Venom Snake walked silently, crouched down
– Hey! I'm not fluent. with D-dog beside him, and put his rifle on his back to grab the senior from
– I can see it, but we need reliable intel before the second OP begins. behind, and pulled out his knife to stab him in the heart. Meanwhile, D-Dog
The soldier who spoke a little Maa asked another question384 to their pulled out his Stun Knife and ran at the Maa speaker to shock him386. He
young prisoner, who first answered "no" about the adults by quickly shaking fell to the ground and Venom Snake joined him and woke him up with a
his head, and then sat and raised slowly his two hands and ten fingers. kick, and grabbed him, his knife against his torso, to question him.
– Ten? Man… Where do they come from? He asked to the Maa speaker. – Spit it out!
The latter then translated the question, but the prisoner didn't know. – Who are you? Asked the soldier. Uh… Everyone died but us. This forest…
– He doesn't know… Is hell! Traps, and shadows moving in the grass, everywhere!
– Never mind, take him down and note the location. The "cleaners" will – This kid never ceases to amaze me. Said Ocelot, about Eli.
take care of him after the OP. – Where are your friends?387 Asked then Venom Snake.
– Out of the question! Said Miller. Boss! Get rid of them. It might alert the – On the way. The Rome plows are creating a path for our armored vehicles.
reinforcements but… They're already on their way, anyway. So… And we can't take the forest, so they planned to reduce it to ashes.
– Or you can wait and leave without being spotted. Added Ocelot. It's up to – I contacted the Intel Team. They were focused on the reinforcements and
you, Boss. But forget about extracting them, don't want those rats on board. missed that. Said Miller. OK, we know what we need. Get rid of him, Boss!
And if you go Miller's proposal, don't forget that they're two and wear helmets. Venom Snake then put his knife into the heart of the XOF soldier through
For the safety of the Maasai, I guess it's time for good ol' CQC here. his suit388. The latter then fell on his right, dead389.
385 It would be a playable part. When the player is very close to a soldier, there is a short window where he
can make a move and grab him from behind without being seen or triggering an alert, by pressing R2.
Mission info updated: 386 Another possibility would be for the player to use one of the CQC features to knock out the first one,
which would trigger a slow motion, during which the player could chain by grabbing the other one nearby.
Save the young Maasai 387 Both of this questions can be asked by the player to an enemy soldier, while he's holding him.
383 The language of the Maasai, a tribe that lives in the Great Rift Valley, including the the surroundings of 388 This is one of the various possibilities the player can choose, while holding an enemy.
the Lake Natron. Here, the player couldn't find a Maa interpreter and get what the Maasai is saying. 389 Equipped with a AM D114-9 for the mission, the player could also shoot the soldiers through their
384 Initially, I wanted to add the lines in Maa in the text, but it's too specific so I preferred not to add them. helmets: a feature of this pistol. It doesn't have a supressor, but since they're alone on the bay, no risk to be spotted.
Note: Here, a short cutscene would launch if the player saved the Maasai. If Note: The cutscene would end there and a text would appear on the screen
he didn't, he would miss minor story information and a trophy/achievement. to instruct the player on how to use the Medical Arm to heal someone392.
Selecting it from the weapons menu would cause a syringe to pop out of
Near Venom Snake, the Maasai was still there, sitting and watching him. the index and put the character in a specific pose, unable to use any other
– He's still there? Asked Miller, surprised. Why didn't he run away? weapon. Then, pressing R2 next to an injured character, it would launch a
– He's injured. Venom Snake replied, seeing a wound on his right ankle. quick animation (2-3 seconds long, during which the player couldn't move
He approached him slowly, but the young man was afraid and started to his character), during which the player would administer a morphin shot.
back up on his forearms, as with the XOF soldiers. It would have for effect to lower the pain of an injured character393. After
– He's in shock. Said Miller. doing it, a short cutscene would end this sequence with the young Maasai.
– Wait! Said venom Snake, raising his right hand to him, the palm facing
the young Maasai390. The Maasai was getting better after Venom Snake disinfected his wound
He looked him in the eye, and lowered his hand and index finger to his and added a white bandage around it, to then grab a branch fallen from a
own right ankle, to point it out. tree nearby, and snap off its leafy tip to turn it into a makeshift cane, to gave
– I can help you. He added, raising it to the Maasai. The latter got up and made a slow and respectful movement
his Medical Arm in front of his face. of the head, before returning to the forest to join his still alive relatives394.
The Maasai seemed to recognize
the small blue Star of Life visible Note: End of the cutscene.
on the Medical Arm, featuring the
Rod of Asclepius in the center391. It – I guess it meant "Thank you". Said Miller. Alright, head north now! You
calmed him down, but he suddenly must find a blue tarp there. Your means of transport is hidden underneath.
moaned and grabbed his ankle with Venom Snake, with D-Dog, then moved and reached the bay's northern
both hands, because of the pain. tip, where he found the tarp above the red water, under some treetops.
– He looks in bad shape… Said Miller. – Well, you're reached the north of the bay… Announced Miller.
392 This mission is the final of Venom Snake's story in 1984. And as the Mission 46: Truth must be completed
Boss, use your arm to heal him. The blue Star of Life and the meaning of its 6 branches. to unlock it, the player is aware of his former identity as a combat medic. The healing features of the Medical Arm
390 A gesture emitting a reassuring signal. create the perfect balance here for him, as the legendary soldier Big Boss double and a former combat medic.
391 The Maasai have been in contact with several European civilizations since the colonial period, so a young 393 If done to a random injured soldier, it would put him to sleep and restore his extraction chances to
one could recognize the medical logo,. This one, trademarked in the 1970s by the National Registry of Emergency normal. In-game, if the player extracts an injured soldier, the latter has more chances to die during the process.
Medical Technicians (NREMT), was then used wordlwide. After a long migration to southern Kenya and many 394 For this novelized version of the mission, I had to make a choice for all in-game/gameplay events, but
conquests upon other tribes, followed by the human and animal plagues (Maasai breed cows) of the 1880s and here, for example, the player could simply listen to the discussion and leave. The Maasai would be killed and the
the 1890s, the Maasai were weakened and needed time to restore their stocks and reform their cattle. So when XOF would return to the forest and disappear there to join the rest of their team. And if the player kills them, it is
the British arrived in Africa, lack of troops and money, they decided to create an alliance with the Maasai to help the Maasai who would return to the forest. Beside, if the player knocks out one of them and try to exfiltrate him
each other instead of starting a conflict. This alliance lasted from 1895 to 1905, when their interests diverged. with a Fulton, the action would be stopped and he would hear Ocelot say:"Don’t want those guys over there.".
Note: Short cutscene. The controls of the airboat would be: △ to board it, the R2 button would
be used to move forward and the L2 one to go backwards. The left analog
Venom Snake removed the blue would be used to move and the right one to control the camera, like usual.
tarp and discovered an old Hurricane The binoculars could also be used while sailing (without stopping the
Aircat airboat below. airboat to move). The player couls also find five music tapes397 in the small
– It's not firsthand395, but it should areas. Here is the list:
do the job. Said Miller.
– No time to take a dip, uh? – Status Quo - In The Army Now (North-West)
– The lake's heat can reach 140 °F. – Soft Cell - You Only Live Twice (South-West)
Explained Ocelot. You don’t want to – Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark - Enola Gay (South-East)
swim in it. A Hurricane Aircat with a machine-gun. – Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This) (East)
Venom Snake untied the airboat rope that held it to a tree, and climbed – Giorgio Moroder - Chase (North-East)
aboard, followed by D-Dog, who sat down facing the pilot's seat. He then
started the engine, ready to sail over the lake's red and still surface, mingled During the trip, a short dialogue could be heard:
with the blue reflects of the clear sky's color, toward the salt island leading – Do you see that crimson shade? Asked Code Talker.
to the main one, where Eli and the kids were hidden. This is due to some cyanobacteria's photosynthesis
inside, turning the lake into a real living organism.
Mission info updated: – Photosynthesis? Said Miller. Don't like that word398…
Reach the salt island with the airboat – Unfortunately, this is a deadly place for other life
forms. Added the old biologist. The lake also contains
Note: End of the cutscene. From there, the player could navigate freely396 on a large amount of soda and salt, causing the creatures
the lake until reaching the salt island, but only in the parts where the water that fall inside to calcify, perfectly preserved, as they dry
is red. If he would go too far, the game's "You are about to leave the mission up. Sometimes, when the water level drops, the petrified
area." message would appear on the screen. When the latter appears, if the skeletons of unlucky animals that attempted to go into
player keeps advancing, the mission will fail. On the shores of the lake, the lake can be observed. They look like stone statues.
the player could find five small areas to moor by pressing the △ action A calcified dove, taken by – Pretty macabre… Said Ocelot.
Nick Brandt. The remains
button. With the absence of stream, the airboat wouldn't move once docked. were staged for the photo. – How do they even end in there? Asked Miller, then.
395 This airboat model was used by US marines during the Vietnam war, but then re-used across the world. 397 Like the first one mentioned before, to be found on the bay, I chose all these tracks in link with the game's
396 This sequence is a reference to the swampy area from Resident Evil 5 (2009), which also takes place in story and characters. More details in the dedicated section.
Africa, where the player can also freely navigate the area, to find secret spots and treasures. 398 He's referring here to the Skulls and Quiet, that he doesn't really appreciate.
364 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 2: MAKAT ISLAND 365
– The surface of the lake is extremely

reflective, comparable to glass.
Explained Code Talker. Birds can be
confused and disoriented from above,
causing them to crash into it399.
– We better tell Pequod before he 2 - MAKAT401 ISLAND
picks you up, Boss. Said Ocelot. Maasai near the carcass of the helicopter.
– Yes. Agreed Code Talker. But this dangerous water is also a chance for you:
no vocal cord parasites spreading, and it can also damage armored vehicles.
For now, it limits the infection and the Sahelanthropus's scope on the island. Note: As soon as the player would reach the objective's destination in the
– Mh… Said Ocelot. You're right, until this psychic kiddo use his powers to southern part of the island, a short cutscene would play.
make it levitate once again, and go who knows where.
– Ah… You got me on this one. Admitted Code Talker. After a short trip across the lake
– It's true, Boss. Said Miller. That weird boy, Tretij Rebenok, you'll have to aboard the airboat, Venom Snake
take him down first, when you'll reach the Sahelanthropus, or you'll be good reached the southeast of the long salt
for another round…400 Remember it, once on the island. Do not, rush. island402. The island led to the lake's
shallowest part, to the north, where
Note: If you stay too much time on the lake, aboard the airboat, a short the water was salt-free, blue and at
dialogue would launch to bring the player back to the mission. The bay northern tip in the lower left corner, normal temperature. D-Dog got off
and the salt island's objective mark in yellow,
as they would appear on the iDroid map, in-game. first, followed by Venom Snake.
– Well… Boss, The XOF won't be here for a while, but they will eventually – There’s no stream. Said Miller. You can leave it there, it won’t move away403.
arrive. Said Ocelot.
Note: End of the cutscene. The airboat wouldn't be used again. What follows
would be a narrative sequence during which he wouldn't be able to run (for
the first run only), unlike D-Dog. Also, the island would be very long, so it
399 On December 6, 2007, a group of eight wildlife documentary makers, including two Australians (the
cameraman Ben Herbertson and producer Jeff Sibbery), set off in a military helicopter over Lake Natron to film would take some time to cross it, to let the player soak up its atmosphere.
flamingos for an African wildlife documentary. But due to the strong reflection of the lake's surface, the pilot
ended disoriented and the aircraft crashed. Fortunately, everyone escaped unscathed and were able to exit the 401 E-makat means "the salt" in Maa.
chopper and then reach the coast before the water began to attack the metal of the helicopter. Moreover, nearby 402 The player can moor to the island by a long marked part of its border (in the yellow circle), but the
Maasai spotted the crash and helped them recover. cutscene would bring him and the airboat back to the point indicated on the map.
400 Miller evokes here the Sahelanthropus boss battle of the Mission 31: Sahelanthropus. 403 Miller would have already said the line if the player had docked in the small areas by the lake.
– This is the main place where they

Extradiegetic music n° 3: give birth, and the pink color of
(Youtube link) Makat Island (Bandcamp link) their feathers comes from the lake's
By Victor Reynart. cyanobacteria: the spirulina407. Said
Code Talker. You see, their long legs
– Boss! Said Miller. I asked to some of our men here to take up positions on are resistant to the lake's water, like
the heights, on the mountains behind the main island, just ahead. If they spot their specialised down-curved bills,
anything, it will immediately be added to the map of your iDroid. which allow them to filter the lake's
– Reinforcements are also on standby, if things go wrong. Ocelot added. mud to feed on algae.
– Biologist and ornithologist. Said
Note: Here, if the player uses his binoculars and look towards the mountains Ocelot, amused. Another secret
Miller is talking about, in front of him, he may spot a little light shining Two lesser flamingos. passion, maybe?
intermittently afar. Its place would change randomly for each mission's run – Nature, is fascinating. Answered Code Talker. This lake was an interesting
and announces a character that the player would encounter later. subject for my research on photosynthesis, to better understand the photosyn-
thetic parasite, before injecting it into my own body.
– That salt island reveals itself when the water's level drops. Explained Code – Lemme guess, this parasite came from a very old man, eh? Asked Ocelot.
Talker. It's made of a mixture of salt and minerals called natron, which gave – Correct. I only knew him as… The End.
the lake its color and name. Due to its particularities, it has an endemic – Boss? Said Ocelot to Venom Snake. Does this name sound familiar to you408?
fauna: some fish such as alkaline tilapias, capable of withstanding the water's
temperature, hypersalinity, and alkalinity; but above all: Phoenicopterus Note: There would be many empty flamingos's nests on the ground of the
minor. Lesser flamingos404. He said, with enthusiasm in his voice. island, made of salt. The player could reduce them to dust by stepping on
As he was talking, D-Dog barked and ran towards a flock of these pink them. In one of them, he could also find a tape, Michael Cretu - Samurai (7''
birds, which flew away at its approach. He then came back to Venom Snake, Version): a reference to Venom Snake's Battle Dress that looks like samurai
with something in the mouth405. armor, but also to the movie Kagemusha - The Shadow Warrior (1980), a
– A flamingo feather… Said Ocelot. Mh… Bring it back, Boss. I'll give it to huge inspiration for the game and its concept of a double as a protector.
the R&D team. I've an idea for that406. 407 A blue-green algae with red pigments.
404 The player could capture one or more of the island's many flamingos with a tranquilizer weapon, but only 408 The End was a Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)'s boss. A very old and talented sniper. After the
after completing the mission once. By doing this, he would also be able to run during this sequence. Operation Snake Eater, Code Talker studied his body. His unnatural longevity and the photosynthetic parasites
405 D-Dog would drop it in front of the player, at his feet. He would then have to press the ○ button to grab were linked. Besides, I added this Ocelot's question here because I noticed that he always asked Venom Snake
it. It would be considered a special item and wouldn't take up ane place in the player's inventory. if he remembered, before evoking an old event that the real Big Boss experienced. It looks like a mental trigger
406 After the mission, a camo blueprint based on its texture would be added to the iDroid to be developed. technique to forcibly implant a new information about Big Boss into his brain, now as one of his own memories.
Note: On the island, the player could – Speaking of the Maasai, Boss. Said Miller, who, until then stayed out of the
also encounter a few marabou storks, conversation, focused on the mission. They're out of danger, since they don't
one of the flamingos predators. The speak English, but some of them may have been infected with the parasite. I'll
only one able to reach the island at send out a Medical Unit after we're done here, to treat them before it spreads.
this time of the year, then surroun- – Those two guys from XOF were lucky to meet a young one. They are great
ded by water. It could be captured warriors, even with just spears and shields. Mentioned Ocelot. You know, I
after completing the mission once. A marabou stork attacking a flamingo. did some research and… The island you're about to reach is important for
them. They call it Morani Island. "Moran" is the Maasai word for "warrior".
As Venom Snake was walking on the salty white ground, under a bright The island is mostly made up of a hostile forest where a group of selected junior
sun, a Marabou stork flew away with a baby flamingo in its bill. warriors, called Ol-Barnot, have a chance to become a senior, an Il-Morijo,
– There is no way to live on this island. Said Code Talker. But it is here during a ritual where they're on their own: the Eunoto Ceremony. Before
that the youngest flamingos are born and grow up, before taking off to more they go, the elders place sacred item related to their god Enkai412 through the
welcoming territories409. Hundreds die, but thousands succeed. They will forest, and the juniors each have to bring back one of them to succeed. It may
return the following year, to give birth in their turn to a new generation, on seem tough, but they are well prepared and, long ago, to prove his worth as a
the ashes of their ancestors's skeletons, mixed with the lake's salt. He added. warrior or to protect the group's cattle, a Morani might have to fight and kill
– On the island, salt gives birth. But in the water around, it kills. Noted a lion on his own. But as the lion population diminished over time, and with
Ocelot. Salt can be found in a lot of religions as a purifier, which can save the growing presence of foreigners, this practice turned into "olamayio", an
lives, or kill, for this purpose410. It has inspired respect around the world since organized lion hunt made by a group, which reaped all the glory with only a
the dawn of time. The Maasai are aware of this. According to one of their single victim. Eventually, with the British colonization and new politics, the
legend, flamingos are made from the water's salt, and are the lake’s children. practice died out and turned into a safe ritual ceremony413.
– Yes, their scientific name, Phoenicopterus, "Crimson Wing", in latin, also
refers to the red color that the lake's algae give them. Precised Code Talker. Note: These dialogues would play during the time the player would cross
– A name reminiscent of the Greek crimson-winged Phoenix, of which the the island, and would be available as tapes after completing the mission for
flamingo is said to be the inspiration. Added Ocelot. The Phoenix is an ancient the first time, as "Lesser Flamingos" and "The Maasai Tribe" tapes.
symbol of transformation and rebirth. At the end of its life, it's consumed by future Liquid Snake, and even Venom Snake with the concept of rebirth of the Phoenix. During the game, the
revenge-seeking Big Boss that Venom Snake was meant to become gives way to another, more focused on the
fire and… Reborn from the ashes411. You know the story… safety of his own soldiers and detached from Big Boss's personal cruisade against the United States of America.
409 This line can also be compared to what will happen to Eli and the other children during this mission. 412 The Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano was named after this god (Enkai = "rain") and is supposed to be its home.
410 Code Talker acts here as a biologist, and Ocelot as an anthropologist. During the game and his missions, 413 In reality, Maasai organize the Eunoto Ceremony every 15-20 years, in one of their camp called "manayatta".
he gives a lot of details about History, conflicts and civilisations to Venom Snake (and therefore to the player). And they don't have to find sacred items on their own. Here, I just wanted to blend their more tribal and tough
411 Here, these long dialogues would serve to fill the void of crossing the long island, on which a lot will past with the mission's map, also to associate a form of this fake ritual to Eli and the children, but also to Venom
happen later in the mission. And what is brought up has a double meaning about Eli on the way to becoming the Snake, who will have to reach the island and accomplish things there, before coming out of it grown up.
Note: After a long walk, Venom Snake would eventually reach the short Note: As he would arrive at the island (see the map here)'s beach, a Goliath
junction of clear water between the Makat/salt and Morani islands. As soon Heron would fly off a rock and leave the area. It would still be on the same
as he would enter it, he would be able to run again and Miller would resume spot and possible for the player to put it to sleep with a tranquilizer gun to
the conversation, returning to the main mission. capture it, but only after completing the mission once.
– Boss! Said Miller. Our guys near your position catched up one of the XOF Once on the beach, Venom Snake headed to its northeastern part and
Rome plows. They moved fast and are very close now, about two miles west passed the tents at Eli's makeshift camp, made with large branches and
and on the way to the bay. The convoy also started moving from the edge of pieces of sand-colored fabric salvaged from the helicopter wreck, which
the forest, and our Intel Team spotted four choppers, along with two AVLBs were damaged and full of holes made by small animals. A few small yellow
(Armoured Vehicle Launcher Bridge). I think they want to use it to quickly supply crates, open and empty, rested on the surrounding sand, and small
create a bridge for their vehicles to cross the salt water. You better hurry up! rocks were arranged in a circle next to them, with cold ashes in the center.
– Yes. Added Ocelot. I thought about creating an ambush to at least destroy
those bridge tanks, but it would be too risky for our men and they're not not
equipped for this type of mission. Boss, you have to stop Eli before they arrive.
Venom Snake then quickly reached the northern end of the island, and
entered the short clear and azur water part leading to the Morani Island, the
shallow depth of which allowed him to run there, with D-Dog by his side.
Note: On this part of the map, once the mission completed a first time,
and equiped in his inventory, the
player could use capture cages to get
soda cichlid, one of the lake's three
endemic fish species.
Eventually, his feet trod the white

ARTWORK OF THE BEACH'S MAKESHIFT CAMP.
sands of the Morani island's whale
tale414 leading to its beach. The Marino Ballena National Park's whale tail. Note: In the remains of one of the camp tents, the player could find a tape
414 It's inspired by the real Marino Ballena National Park of Costa Rica. In the novel's map, the lake's salt and of a song: New Order - The Beach415.
hot water would have formed it over time. It's also a reference to Herman Melville's novel Moby Dick (1851): a
huge inspiration for the game's story and themes. 415 This is the B-side and an instrumental from the 12'' single of Blue Monday.
372 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 3: THE KINGDOM OF THE FLIES 373
Beyond the camp, among the African palm trees lining the beach, Venom
Snake saw the two where the unmasked XOF soldiers had been tied with
ropes, around their trunks. They were each on one side of a narrow ravine
at the bottom of which flowed a low stream, leading to the forest's entrance.
Note: A short cutscene would launch here, to create a transition between 3 - THE KINGDOM OF THE FLIES
the map's two outer and inner parts, and let the console update it, and save.
D-Dog was sniffing the ground and stopped at the foot of one of the
trees, the left one, as Venom Snake approached, slowly, to remove the cloth Extradiegetic music n° 4:
covering his head from the attached dead soldier. He was no longer wearing (Youtube link) The Green Maze (Bandcamp link)
a mask and was shot to death in the head, as evidenced by the blood-clotted By Victor Reynart.
hole on the left side of his forehead.
– Their skills are increasing quickly. Said Ocelot. Be careful in there… Note: This would be the start of a long gameplay sequence in which the
Venom Snake then grabbed his assault rifle and followed the stream. player would have to recover the ten kids who fled Mother Base with Eli.
After following the stream for a

few yards, with D-Dog splashing
water around it by his side, Venom
Snake reached the forest: a massive
cluster of trees shrouded in darkness
from the thick leaves of their heads.
There were mostly fever trees for the Artwork of the forest of the island.
taller ones, with thin trunks and lots of leaves at the top, and toothbrush
tree shrubs416. These were low in height and had bushy foliage, making
them a great place to hide for the many several small animals that lived
there417. D-Dog slowed down and entered the forest first, walking along a
CONCEPT ART OF THE MISSION'S ISLAND, WITH THE BEACH IN THE LOWER RIGHT CORNER, 416 These two trees, like the others or the plants mentioned in this novel, grow naturally in the Great Rift
LEADING TO THE FOREST'S ENTRANCE. THIS BOOK MISSION'S MAP WAS INSPIRED BY THIS Valley or on a type of land similar to that of the island, its coastline or its forest, like floodplains or riverbanks.
ARTWORK AND THE ISLAND FROM THE WILLIAM GOLDING'S BOOK LORD OF THE FLIES (1954). 417 Like gerbils, four-toed hedgehogs or rainbow agamas, present and catchable in the original game.
path created with machetes, judging by its manmade appearance and the equipped with a screen, buttons,
clean cuts visible in the trees bordering it and fallen branches to the ground. and two control sticks, which he
Suddenly, the sound of several helicopters was heard in the sky. held in his two hands. The mecha
– Boss! Said Miller. You lost the lead. We just saw the four helicopters of the was made in a dark grey armored
XOF convoy. They stopped over some of the small areas of the forest overlooking metal and covered on the front with
the sky, and each dropped a big metal crate the size of a man, along with a several bags filled with kevlar fibers;
squad of… Four soldiers, near your position. I don't know what you're going especially its left one, which served
to have to face, Boss. Stay sharp. I've added the XOF units drop locations on to protect itself or someone else
your iDroid418. One is very close to you, do some recon before trying anything. with great freedom of movement.
The right arm, on the other hand,
Mission info updated: was fitted with an integrated .50
Reach the XOF unit drop point caliber barrel. Finally, its flat "head"
was made up of a mini-camera at
– OK, the choppers are gone. Said Miller. They its center, used to provide video
must return to the convoy. feedback on the pilot's remote
3D artwork of the Pathmaker, created by Jordan La-
Venom Snake continued to walk along the marre-Wan. The inspiration for the XOF scout robots. control screen and to lock targets
path, which led to a small open-air area, with for the unmanned mini-missile launchers located above the camera419.
an opened rectangular metal crate at its center. – What is that? Asked Miller.
He stopped and took his binoculars to observe – Huey… You sneaky bastard. He should have designed this while he was
it. The front of the box was lying on the grass. working for Skull Face. Guessed Ocelot. Look at the legs, it looks like an
Beside, under the sunlight filtering through enhanced Walker Gear, without a seat. And according to the pilot's remote,
the opening at the top of the forest, a motion- it doesn't seem to be AI equipped. Skull Face didn't trust this. But it still has
less two-legged mecha of human shape and to be a prototype, with Huey away. I guess it was an asset he planned to use
size was there, near four XOF soldiers. One of after supplying the African militias with Walker Gears420.
them, behind the mecha, wearing a bulletproof – Mh. It won't be easy, Boss… Said Miller. Your current weapons won't be
vest and a helmet under the hood of his suit, enough for those armored materials. But now that the choppers have passed,
plugged a cable in the mecha and activated it, I think Eli and the kids are on their toes, so no need to keep playing soft.
Alternative artwork of a Mission 51's
to then control it with a black remote control XOF soldier, wearing a bulletproof vest. 419 This XOF mecha is inspired by an unused concept of Metal Gear Online 3 (2015). Here, for the novel, its
specificities are created from scratch and adapted to the needs of the mission.
418 The four locations where the XOF left their units would here appear on the map of the iDroid. 420 Skull Face planned to supply local militias with some, along with nukes over which he still had control.
If you need equipment, ask for a Venom Snake then asked for a supply drop, to get an FB MR R-L MK-II
supply drop. But remember that with (Falkenberg Multi-Role Rocket Launcher). Meanwhile, the XOF unit began
treetops, we can only send them to to move east and entered a deeper part of the forest.
specific points, like the one near you.
– Boss, do you see the positioning of the
unit? Asked Ocelot. The pilot is busy
with his scout mech, while the others
are covering his blind spots. The two
on the sides are just wearing a regular
suit, unlike him, and this big guy on
the back's wearing a full armored
suit. He uses a flamethrower421 and
must be one of those "cleaners" this Unused concept art of a flamethrower suit for Metal
soldier was talking about, on the bay. Gear Online 3 (2015), by Jordan Lamarre-Wan.
– Right. They planned to burn the forest to ashes. Reminded Miller.

– Ashes… The only thing that XOF left behind. Stated Ocelot. ARTWORK OF XOF SOLDIERS IN SEARCH OF THE CHILDREN AND THE SAHELANTHROPUS.
Venom Snake quietly approached the XOF a few paces away. Note: The forest (see the map here) would be a large area with rough terrain
– Remember, they are ten of them! Said the scout mecha's pilot. Once this covered with grass and thin-trunked trees, which the player could pass
section is cleaned, we'll reach the nearest unit. Let's move! between (as in the forest in Mission 28). It would be fully open and would
– You heard that, Boss? Asked Miller. They're also looking for the kids. contain 4 sections with major spots and mini story events (with short
– Speaking of that… Added Ocelot. See those cannisters on the flamethrower's cutscenes), all separated by impassable areas made up of trees, vegetation
guy back? I'm sure a well-placed bullet would make a nice firework. But pay and liana mazes. A more or less marked main path would guide the player.
close attention to his surroundings. And he seems to stay at a safe distance
from the others, so the explosion may not reach them. You could also consider As the mecha was walking awkwardly through the forest424, it activated a
a more low-key approach. Remember Tselinoyarsk422, Boss? Asked Ocelot. It booby trap and a heavy tree trunk studded with sharp wooden spikes fell
may be time to become one with nature again, Venom Snake423. to its top. Slightly damaged, the mecha immediately pulled back, placing its
421 They would be named Dragons in the game. left arm in front of the pilot, and raised the right into the attack position.
422 The region where the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) took place. – Contact! Said the mecha's pilot.
423 This would be the only time Ocelot would use this name, as an allusion to Naked Snake, the codename
for the real Big Boss during the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004). 424 As a prototype, it would walk on the grassy ground with some difficulty, like the Atlas of Boston Dynamics.
The unit then found itself under enemy fire. The shots were coming from Note: Of course, they would be a lot of possibilities to defeat the XOF unit
a place in front of them. Venom Snake, afar, took his binoculars and looked here, like tranquilizers weapons, smoke grenades, etc.
for the shooter in the forest. He eventually found him425: a kid armed with
an SVG-76U assault rifle. His face was covered with a giant leaf mask with Venom Snake changed position and took his assault rifle to aim at the
two eye holes, which made him harder to spot among the vegetation. two soldiers's chest, and killed them with a burst each. The pilot then found
himself alone with his mecha, under the kid's fire. Behind him, and because
of his bulletproof vest and helmet, Venom Snake had to shoot him in the
legs, causing him to fall to the ground and drop the mecha remote, which
then remained motionless. After this, the kid vanished in the forest.
– Alright. Said Miller. Let's take stock. You can't extract that mech from here
because of the treetops, and there's no way to move that thing. But you have
to destroy it so that no one can use it. Use explosives, or ask for a supply drop.
– And why not using your Medical Arm? Suggested Ocelot. I guess a good
electric shock could end this thing for good.
Mission info updated:
Destroy the XOF scout mechas (0/4)
ARTWORK OF THE LOOK OF THE CHILDREN IN THE MISSION 51 ON THE LEFT, Note: Here, the player could use heavy explosives like C4 or a grenade/
AND A BEHIND-THE-SCENES PHOTO FROM THE MOVIE LORD OF THE FLIES (1963).
rocket launcher to destroy the mecha by behind, where it's less armored.
– It's your chance, Boss! Said Miller. Use his diversion to take down the XOF. Or he could use the Medical Arm to give an electrical shock to its electro-
The mecha then began firing with its .50 caliber canon, as the kid took nic part, on its back, where the remote control is plugged in. He would have
cover, helpless. Venom Snake took his rocket launcher and aimed at the to select the Medical Arm, then press the L2 button to trigger a very short
Dragon, the flamethrower trooper with a black armored suit still covering animation during which Venom Snake would take out a patch connected
the unit's back, before it got too close to the child, and fired a rocket that to the arm by a retractable wire, which would normally be placed on one
hit his fuel cannisters and made them explode. He died instantly and the side of an uncounscious human thorax to revive it, while the hand, also
two soldiers next to him, out of range of the explosion, turned and fired charged with an electric shock, would be placed on the other side. But here,
at Venom Snake's position, while the mecha's pilot was covering the front. the character would place the patch and hand on the back electronic part
425 This would add a green marker on the map for him, as it would for the prisoners. Red are for the enemies. of the mecha to destroy it, with a small dedicated in-game animation.
Venom Snake reached the mecha, ended its pilot, and used his Medical Venom Snake then set out in search of the lonely kid and, at first, encoun-
Arm shocking device to burn its control system's electronic circuitry426. tered many macabre installations similar to the one at the entrance of the
– Perfect. Said Miller. Only three left. Now, the kid. forest, where the corpses of soldiers from the XOF research team served as
– He may have the home advantage and good camouflage, but he can't escape decorations. He met many victims of the children's booby traps.
D-Dog's keen flair. Said Ocelot. With its gas mask, the field of its sense of
smell is reduced, but still large enough to spot the children before they do.
– Boss. Added Miller. Don't forget that the kids are under Eli's influence.
– In their eyes, you're the incarnation of the enemy. Said Ocelot. A true demon.
– He's right, Boss. So… How are you going to proceed? Asked Miller.
Note: A short cutscene would launch here.
Venom Snake grabbed his cassette tape player and hit the record button.
– Ralph died because of Eli. He said in Kikongo before stopping the recording
and starting another one. Shabani died because of the floating boy.
He then hit the play button and used the speakers to listen to it, once.
ARTWORK OF THE CHILDREN'S BOOBY TRAPS, WITH DEAD XOF SOLDIERS.
– So you want to use… Truth, as bait, uh? Asked Ocelot. Careful with that.
– Yes. Agreed Miller. They'll take it as propaganda meant to pit them against As Venom Snake was walking through the trees and the tall grass, D-Dog,
each other. It could work with a loner, but forget about it if they're in a group. next to him, suddenly stopped and began to growl428.
– Wait! Said Ocelot. Your partner smelled something. You just passed traps
Note: End of the cutscene.Two tapes would then be added to the iDroid. It triggered by the XOF, but there are others, ready to stab you right through429.
could only work with a lonely kid, depending on his affinities. The Shabani Observe carefully, and throw small objects to trigger it from a distance.
tape would work with the Mbele Squad and the Ralph one with the others.
If played with the speakers, it would make a kid drop his weapon and reach Note: The player would have to go through narrow and trapped passages
the player, saying "– I want to leave this place…", in Kikongo, to be extrac- in the forest, and could use throwable items to trigger the traps from a
ted without a fight427. But if he chooses the wrong tape, or use it when the distance, like a grenade (any type), or an empty magazine (a basic item
kids are in group, he/they would run away, shouting "– Liar!" in Kikongo. always integrated into the player's inventory, with unlimited ammunition).
426 Once the mecha would be neutralized, Miller and Ocelot would get in touch with Venom Snake. 428 The usual in-game's animation when it spots an enemy or threat, near the player's position.
427 The concept is similar to the one used in the game with the Wandering Mother Base Soldiers, which the 429 These traps would be trunks that would fall on the player, or thin branches cut into spikes with barbs
player can bring to their senses by playing the Koi no Yokushiryoku (Love Deterrence) tape, with the speakers. made with a knife. It wouldn't kill him instantly, but would severely injure him and could alert nearby enemies.
After avoiding a few traps, Venom Snake came to a fork and took the left As he spoke, Venom Snake picked up the child on his back and returned
path, to reach a small circular enclosed area with tall grass, surrounded by to where the XOF unit was dropped, to use a Fulton device and extract him.
trees and with a semi-circular rock wall delimiting the part of the bottom, – That makes one! Said Miller.
where the kid was hiding. D-Dog spotted him immediately430 and Venom
Snake approached cautiously, crouching and therefore hiding in the grass. Note: Each time a kid would be floating, about to fly through the air with
the Fulton, he would say: "– We did everything adults would do. What went
Note: There would be many ways to catch the kids without harming them, wrong?", in Kikongo. It's a reference to the Peter Brook's movie Lord of the
like using a tranquilizing weapon. D-Dog would also be equiped with a Flies (1954). This quote is often attributed to Piggy, in the Chapter 8 of the
stunt knife and a Fulton device for the mission, and could be sent to shock William Golding's book, but upon checking, I only found this similar line:
and knock them out, and/or extract them, once neutralized. The player "– I dunno, Ralph. We just got to go on, that’s all. That’s what grown-ups
could also approach them discreetly, and confront them, to force them to would do." I think the movie line has replaced the book one in everyone's
use their machetes and use CQC to disarm and knock them out. mind, like the "– Luke, I'm your father." line from Star Wars: Episode V –
The Empire Strikes Back (1980); the real one being "– No, I am your father.".
Venom Snake first tried playing one of the tapes he had recorded a short
moment before, and selected the Ralph one. Venom Snake then turned around
– Liar! Shout the kid, in Kikongo, a few meters away, before firing blindly and joined the fork, to take the right
a few bullets and changing position. path this time, which led to the
– Bad pick, Boss… Said Ocelot. He must be from the Mbele Squad. second section of the forest434. A
Venom Snake then began to crawl on the ground and quickly reached the small one, like the first, in the shape
kid431, from behind, only to point his pistol at him. of a gut, and also the darkest.
– Hands up!432 Said Venom Snake. – Wow. Good luck finding someone The Night Vision Goggles used in-game.
The kid dropped his gun, but grabbed a machete and turned to attack in there… Said Miller.
him. Using CQC433, Venom Snake managed to dodge his blow and disarm – Boss, D-Dog won't be enough to help you in this place. Added Ocelot. Use
him, before chaining a series of light blows to knock him out. your NVGs (Night Vision Goggles).
– Boss. Said Ocelot. I think you already guessed it, but you have to reach an Venom Snake took Ocelot's advice and put on his goggles435. Everything
open-air area to extract the children. then turned green, yellow and black. There were still a few booby traps in
430 The player could aim at the kids with a lethal weapon, but couldn't shoot. If he would try, Miller could
say: "Are you out of your mind? Bring him alive !", or Ocelot "What are you doing? That's not what we do, Boss.". 434 The sections of the forest would each be separated by a small passage of thick vegetation through which
431 So from the Mbele Squad, the one with the green scarf and crossed straps. the player would have to sneak to pass and progress.
432 One of Venom Snake's lines, once he surprised an enemy from behind while aiming at the latter. 435 In the game, the player can do it by holding down D-Pad left and moving the right analog, to select and
433 Reflex Mode would trigger here, if enabled in the game's option menu. equip it from the additional item menu.
the area, but Venom Snake walked cautiously, crouching, and dodged them Note: A few rules for the kids recovery: whenever the player would enter
with D-Dog's help. But suddenly, a small flash of light appeared next to him one of the four sections of the forest, the children and the XOF unit would
and forced him to remove his goggles, as this light remained and increased pop. He would have limited (but sufficient) time before the XOF found and
in intensity, until it became blinding. He then saw a small fire in the dark. kill them. If one were to die, the mission would end. But once the XOF unit
– XOF… Guessed Ocelot. of the area eliminated, the child(ren) would stay hid for an unlimited time.
The second unit of XOF soldiers
and their scout mecha emerged from Venom Snake rounded the XOF unit in the grass, as they were throwing
the dark, into the fire's light, and other incendiary grenades at one spot. D-Dog then spotted a child soldier
Venom Snake took the opportunity and his position, near where the XOF was throwing grenades.
to observe them with his binoculars. – You can't escape us forever! Said the mecha's pilot.
He spotted some red grenades436 – Dammit! Said Miller. They're about to get one of them, Boss! Hurry up!
attached to the belt of one of them. The red grenades of XOF troops, seen here from a – Wait! He could be very close to them Boss, be careful! Added Ocelot.
screenshot of the leaked footage. However, there was
– Incendiary grenades? Asked Miller. no information on the nature of these grenades. Venom Snake reached the team and remained hidden in the tall grass, to
– M14s. Precised Ocelot. Avoid then throw an empty magazine on the Dragon's armor. He turned and took
them like the plague, Boss. It uses its a few steps forward, to then shoot flames in front of him, a short distance.
own reserve of iron oxyde to generate The other two soldiers, covering the pilot, turned around at the noise. Now
flames, so it can also work underwa- that the Dragon was away from the rest of the unit, Venom Snake, slightly
ter. Forget the dip if you get caught, on his side, fired a rocket at his weapon's cannisters to make them blow.
and stay out of the explosion's range He died instantly, projected forward, and the other two opened fire in the
until it ends, about 30 seconds. direction the rocket was coming from, a shrub, so they fired blindly. Venom
Snake lay down and crawled over to the soldier on his right, only to get up
Note: The player should absolutely and chain the three remaining soldiers, including the pilot, with CQC. All
avoid those grenades. Some objects down, he finished them off with his assault rifle and then destroyed the
in fire can burn him in-game, but mecha with his Medical Arm, to avoid an explosion that could hurt the kid.
with these grenades, it would be – Perfect. Said Miller. Now the kid.
instant death. But its scope would Venom Snake then approached from the two soldiers's bodies and grabbed
be limited and small. He could also their incendiary grenades437.
A real American AN-M14 TH3 incendiary grenade. shoot at it to burn his owner. – Now you're on an equal footing. Said Ocelot. But use them with caution.
436 In fact, they are stun grenades, but incendiary grenades are more suited to this mission, in a forest. 437 The player could take them here, adding to their main weapon (the only thing he can take in the game).
Venom Snake walked over the kid's position, but he was impossible to Note: Castle Rock is a reference to a place in the William Golding's book
catch or hit with a tranquilizer weapon, so he sent D-Dog to knock him out, Lord of the Flies (1954). This is the name the children give to a high, rocky
but he flew away again, without firing. Venom Snake began chasing him to part of the island, in which there is a lot going on at the end of the story. In
the section's open-air area, near the XOF mecha's open metal crate. the latter, a group of children ends on an island after their plane crashed. No
adults survived and they are on their own. Quickly, two characters emerge:
Note: A short cutscene would launch here. Ralph, as leader of the entire group, and Jack, as leader of the hunters. But
soon, the situation gets worse and faced with Ralph's strict adult and socially
The kid finally got out the tall inspired rules, Jack's savagery and tribal way of life ends up dividing the
grass, also wearing a leaf mask. It entire group in two. Here, in the Mission 51, Eli has two groups of five child
was the Mbele Squad's shirtless one, soldiers with him: the Mbele Squad and his militia. Here they are:
with a short afro cut. He aimed his
assault rifle at D-Dog, which froze.
Venom Snake then lowered his gun
when he saw the Shabani's necklace The kid on Mother Base, wearing Shabani's necklace.
around the kid's neck, and approached him. So he aimed at him, breathless.
– Shabani's best friend, huh? He asked in Kikongo, pointing at his necklace.
The child, shocked and destabilized, opened his eyes wide.
– Where is he? Asked Venom Snake, calmly. Where's Eli?
The child's hands trembled. He dropped his gun and took off his mask.
– He went mad. He said. He’s hiding in the North, in the Castle Rock.
– The Castle Rock?
– This is a hiding place surrounded by rocks. Perfect for defense.
– Ok. Where are the others? Can you gather them here?
He shook his head.
– They are loyal to the King. We all are… But I'm… We disagreed and I was
punished and sent here. He said, in a weak voice. And I'm… I'm starving.
– Ok, I’m taking you back to Mother Base. Said Venom Snake. I’ll bring
back the others too, I promise.
The kid nodded and bowed his head, before Venom Snake fultoned him. TRETIJ REBENOK, ELI AND HIS MILITIA, AND THE MBELE SQUAD.
– The Castle Rock, then. Said Miller. Well, it's time to meet the king. Rid of the albino mamba, Venom Snake went through the exit and arrived
Venom Snake passed the open-air area and continued to move forward, to in the third section of the forest, the largest. Here, there were fewer trees
reach the funnel-shaped exit of the forest's second section. He approached and lots of very small open-air areas that let the sun's rays filter through the
the thin entrance, a short natural corridor between two tree trunks on top treetops The main one of these areas was where the XOF unit was dropped,
of which were falling branches and lianas. The corpse of an XOF soldier in the middle of the southern and northern parts of the section, separated
was there, sitting against the tree trunk on the left, his head turned in the by a large maze formed by dense vegetation. The place was bright and full
direction of Venom Snake. of empty places between the trees, with only low grass.
Note: Near the soldier's corpse, the player could find a tape of a song (with Note: There would be several animals to capture in the Mission 51, especially
the actual album cover art on it): Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil. in the forest, like leopard tortoises, African civets and/or rock hyraxes.
Mainly with capture cages, but also with tranquilizer weapons.
As Venom Snake was about to reach the exit, D-Dog growled and froze438.
He ignored its warning and took the exit, but a snake jumped on him, from With D-Dog in the front line, Venom Snake first headed the southern
behind the XOF corpse. In a reflex, he wrapped it around his Medical Arm part of the section, and began to search for the XOF unit and the children
and took out his knife with his free hand to cut the snake's head439. potentially present there, but found nothing. He avoided a few traps in some
– You're alright, Boss? Asked Miller, worried. tall grass, and stopped when he heard an object flying in the air nearby.
– Waow… Said Ocelot. That's an albino black mamba. What a coincidence440. – Boss, get down! Ordered Miller.
– It's one of the Sahelanthropus
Note: After his first run, normally surveillance mines. Said Ocelot.
forced to kill it, the player could use Now I understand how their research
a Sleep gas grenade to capture the team was wiped out. This place is a
snake. Its name in the animals list real nightmare…
would be Apophis441: an Egyptian Lying in the grass, Venom Snake
The Sahelanthropus surveillances mines. They float
deity who embodied chaos. Its let the probe pass over him. in the air and search for targets. before exploding.
name, Aapep (in ancient Egyptian), Cat Killing a Serpent (c. 1295–1213 BC). – You better not be spotted by any of them. Warned Miller. Don't forget that
meant "giant" or "giant serpent". It was represented as a giant snake in art. they relay intel to the Sahelanthropus when they do.
438 It would sense a threat but no red marker would appear in-game or in the iDroid's map. – Well… With the XOF around, Eli must already be on his guard, anyway.
439 This would be a QTE (Quick Time Event) sequence, during which the player would have to press R2. And Boss, don't forget the old saying: "The enemy of my enemy…" Said Ocelot.
440 The White Mamba is Eli's nickname that the kids gave him in Africa.
441 Some legendary animals have a special name in the game, such as the jackal called Anubis. You're not the only target of these probes, keep that in mind.
Note: Being spotted by one of the probes wouldn't end the mission, but it As Venom Snake turned around to track down the Dragon, a surveil-
could injure the player and attract or alert nearby enemies. lance mine passing nearby, attracted by the noise of gunfire, entered the
area through its only western entrance, and flew over the grass, looking for
A little further on, Venom Snake heard explosions and entered an enclosed targets. Venom Snake crouched down and, hiding in the grass, searched for
tall grass area where the XOF unit was after two kids. They already threw the Dragon with D-Dog, and eventually found him, still, in the middle of
some incendiary grenades and some spots were on fire. the east side of the area. The probe was still there, wandering around, and
– Kumonana442! Said one of the kids. Venom Snake used a few empty magazines to make noise and attract it in
– Mbeni443! Added the other one, before they started firing on the XOF. the direction of the Dragon. When it reached him, he spotted it and the
With D-Dog's help, Venom Snake quickly obtained the position of the Dragon shot at it with his flamethrower. The probe exploded and hit him
members of the XOF unit facing him, or more accurately three of them. badly, detonating his weapon's cannisters, killing both enemies at once.
– We've got the mech and the wingers, but where's the big guy? Asked Ocelot. – Nice. Said Ocelot, slowly and proudly.
– They changed their formation… Guessed Miller. The three are in line and With the kids safe and the XOF unit wiped out, Venom Snake left the
pushing the kids back. The fourth must be waiting for them somewhere else, southern part of the section and headed north. He then entered its heart, a
ready to put the grass on fire444. Boss! You must evacuate the children before circular maze with two exits: a northern, and an eastern one leading to the
facing him. And if you have to, do it out of this grass, or you'll end up toasted. next section of the forest, to the northeast. The maze was full of tall grass,
Venom Snake crouched down and advanced slowly, as the kids wearing traps and surveillances mines, but no humans447. On the way, Miller called.
their leaf masks were facing the XOF, hooting regularly445, as signals for – Boss! He said. The two kids you just recovered were from Eli's militia, and
a strategy that allowed them to seriously injure an XOF soldier. But the are faithful to their "king". We couldn't get anything from them, but the two
mecha then opened fire and they had to hide by lying down. Venom Snake others, from the Mbele Squad, were more cooperative. They told us about
arrived behind the remaining winger first, grabbed him, bent down to hide, something I thought was important to let you know. The Squad often spent
and killed him by stabbing him in the throat. He could then do the same time in a cave near a stream, north of that maze. But after a clash with Eli,
with the robot's pilot, focused on the kids, and used his Medical Arm to these two were assigned to the entrance to the forest and could no longer
neutrliaze the robot while ordering D-Dog to stun one of the kids, before contact their mates. You should check out the place, the others might be there.
then doing the same with the other one. He quickly grabbed one of them
and looked for a sufficiant open-air area446 to fulton him, then the other. Mission info updated:
– All right, they're safe. Said Miller. End the XOF now. Inspect the Mbele Squad's hiding spot
442 "Contact!", in Kikongo.
443 "Enemy!", in Kikongo. These two lines could also be heard when the children would spot the player.
444 The area would be a dead end and the XOF would push the kids to the bottom, towards the Dragon. Venom Snake then first headed north, to find the cave.
445 A means of communication used by Ralph to hunt, in William Golding's book Lord of the Flies (1954).
446 There would be many small areas of that kind in this section of the forest. 447 There would also be a tape to find and pick up here: Demis Roussos - Lord Of The Flies.
392 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 4: THE HIDING SPOT 393
The place was dry, empty and almost cold. Venom Snake didn't spot any
guns, so he showed up in the entrance.The Squad's leader turned and saw
him. He seemed shocked and got up, to run towards him. D-Dog growled
and Venom Snake was ready to strike back, but the kid grabbed his belt and
pulled him in, before letting go and falling back. Right after, a bullet hit the
4 - THE HIDING SPOT left side of the entrance, from the inside, and D-Dog entered the cave too.
– What is that? Asked Miller. A lone gunman?
– He got us stuck there yesterday. Explained the leader, in Kikongo, before
mimicking a sniper rifle with his hands while closing his left eye.
Out of the maze, by its northern exit, Venom Snake arrived in a flat area – A sniper… What about your friend? Asked Venom Snake, pointing his
with low grass on the ground, gradually becoming a more and more rocky right hand index finger to the injured kid.
one. No-one around, and there was only a shallow stream running through The leader walked over to his
the place, coming from the east through the trees of the forest, as its narrower comrade and knelt beside him.
width suggested. Venom Snake therefore headed west and followed it with Venom Snake followed him and
D-Dog. He eventually found a large cave's entrance with no vegetation met the eyes of the kid in yellow,
and a small ravine inside, with the stream flowing through its middle. He before raising his hand towards him
entered and followed it until hearing faint cries coming from his right. the same way he did when he was
leaving Mother Base in the chopper.
The kid in yellow raising his hand to Venom Snake,
Note: A cutscene would play here. The leader then lifted the right side during the cutscene where Eli leaves Mother Base.
of the injured kid's raincoat, to reveal a gunshot wound to his abdomen. He
Venom Snake, ready to use his assault rifle, approached very slowly while was in a bad condition, pale, sweating a lot and breathing with difficulty.
walking through the water. He soon reached the entranceto a darker part of – Looks pretty bad. Stated Ocelot.
the cave, which he leaned against to listen. He heard kids talking in Kikongo, Venom Snake inspected the wound with his hands449, and quickly noticed
and one of them was moaning. So he took a discreet glance and saw the three that the bullet had hit the right side of the kid's stomach but came out.
remaining Mbele Squad's kids together, without leaf masks, near the cave's wall. – The bullet passed through him without hitting the organs, but he lost a
The leader, wearing a tank top and with the larger afro cut, was near the little lot of blood. He concluded. And he's pretty dehydrated.
one with a yellow long-sleeved shirt and beanie. They were sitting next to their Against the wall, the injured kid's head dropped, and he stopped moving,
friend, wearing a black raincoat and red boots, sitting against the cave wall448. so Venom Snake carefully laid him down on the floor, on the right side.
448 Unfortunately, they don't have official names, so I used their different outfits here to describe them. 449 Similar to how the combat medic inspected Paz in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014).
Venom Snake put his right hand Note: The cutscene would end here and the player would have to use the
against the kid's throat to feel his Medical Arm to save the child.
pulse, and it was pretty weak. He
then took his gourd and ran a little – Every second matters Boss, hurry up! Added Ocelot.
water on the dry skin of the kid's
face, then a trickle in his half-open Note: A 30 second timer would appear here. In real life, there is a maximum
mouth, so that he wouldn't choke. The gourd that Ocelot gave him in Afghanistan. time interval of 10 minutes to revive someone with defibrillators, and the
– What is the use of giving water to a dead man?450 Asked the leader451. best chance (up to 75%) is around 3 minutes. But here, to mark the urgency
– He's not dead… Said Venom Snake. Just unconscious. of the situation, the player would have a very short time to act. The Medical
The leader then looked at his comrade lying down with sad eyes. Arm would be already charged and ready to use here. The player would have
– It's my fault… He complained, lowering his head. to select it in the weapons menu, press L2 to take out the patch, and press
– No. All of this happened because of that floating boy. He said, before R2 to launch the in-game animation, where Venom Snake would put it on
pausing. Sorry to tell you that now, but he's the one who killed Shabani. one side of the kid's chest, and his hand on the other one, before shocking
The kid's face scowled and he clenched his fist. Venom Snake noticed it. him with a discharge of 150 joules. The small diod visible on the right side
– Hey! Keep your feelings here for now. Said Venom Snake, by gently posing of the arm's artwork would turn from green to red after shocking, until
his right fist against the kid's chest. I put the other two to safety, and I need being recharged. Once revived, the kid's marker (so far invisible) would
you here. Your comrades, need you. He said, before pointing his hand at reappear, blue (the color of a unconscious/sleeping soldier/character).
the kid in yellow, scared and curled up against the wall, nearby.
He sighed and joined his friend with D-Dog. They petted it while Venom – Okay. Said Miller, reassured. But it's not over. You still have to exit that
Snake cleaned the wound holes, to put a bandage around the kid's stomach. cave with them, and there's a sniper outside…
But the pressure and long bleeding suddenly stopped his heart from beating. A brief sound was heard at the cave's entrance and a shadow briefly passed.
– No! He said, while D-Dog barked, before putting his right hand against his – You heard that, Boss? Asked Miller.
throat again. I stopped the bleeding, but his heart stopped! He announced. Venom Snake walked over to the entrance and saw a gun on the ground.
The leader heard him and got up. He and the kid in yellow looked at him. – A sniper rifle? But how… Wondered Miller.
– All right. Said Miller. Use your Medical Arm. D-Dog was unable to spot the far away enemy, so Venom Snake took the
– And what? He couldn’t stand an extraction in his condition. sniper452, a MOLOTOK-68, and crounched down to reach the entrance's
– First things first, Boss. Replied Miller. Revive him. Shock him, now! right side, to watch the end of the ravine's heights through his rifle's scope,
450 This is a translation of a line from Lord of the Flies (which I added to my notes for this novel, from a and spot a small bright light afar: an XOF soldier lying on the rocks, still.
French version that I read/see), but I couldn't find if I saw/heard it in the book or one of the two movies.
451 Still in Kikongo, because the child soldiers don't speak English. 452 Instead one of his main weapons, the assault rifle or the rocket launcher. He can't carry more than two.
– Wait. Said Ocelot. And if we send you a stretcher, Boss? He would be

stabilized during the flight.
– It's risky, but we're out of options, and you don't have time to bring him
back to the beach. Said Miller. Okay, I'm sending you a supply drop with a
THE MOLOTOK-68 ISN'T CUSTOMIZABLE, AND ITS SILENCER ISN'T VERY DURABLE453. stretcher. There's an open-air area near the cave. Get the kids over there, Boss.
– He must be a survivor of the XOF research team. Guessed Ocelot. Contact
had been lost with them. If he's there since yesterday without sleeping, his aim Mission info updated:
must be lessened. Be careful, though. Reach the open area of the section to extract the injured child
Venom Snake came out of the cave following the stream and headed
for the open-air area, north of the section. On the way, something briefly
appeared behind him for a split second, and his sniper rifle disappeared.
– Again? Asked Miller. What is that thing?
– A guardian angel, surely. Replied Ocelot. But one that only lends, apparently.
Venom Snake first extracted the two healthy kids, and then waited for the
stretcher hanging from its parachute to land, right in front of him.
Note: A short cutscene would play

here, right after the player would
press △, the action button, near
OFFICIAL ARTWORK OF A SNIPER IN THE MISSION 51.
the stretcher, which would launch
Venom Snake then lay down on the ground and aimed at the sniper, took it. There would be a black screen for
his time, and fired once. After the shot's heavy sound, silence returned in a few seconds, with sounds of straps
the cave and he got up, to join the injured kid and take him on his back. The being pulled and fastened. A Vietnam War era combat stretcher.
other two and D-Dog followed him, and they finally got out of the place454.
– Well, I can't see him bearing a Fulton extraction. Stated Miller. And I can't The kid strapped to the stretcher, Venom Snake attached a Fulton device
send a chopper to your position… to it, and he rose slowly and silently into the air, before suddenly taking off.
453 It's a special weapon of the game, usable only in the online FOB mode. In the game, a weapon's silencer
breaks after several shots, depending of its durability.
454 Here, the player could use the same commands with them as in the Mission 18: Blood Runs Deep. Note: The cutscene would end there.
398 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 5: THE HIGH GROUND 399
Venom Snake finally got out of

the maze, and came to the entrance
of the fourth section. It was a small
and flat place, with low grass and
a small group of XOF corpses on
5 - THE HIGH GROUND the ground. There was also a group
of Striped Hyenas there. They flew
when Venom Snake arrived, with
D-Dog barking at them. But one
The kids safe and sound, Venom Snake could return to the cave with of them, more reckless, remained
D-Dog, to recover the weapon he had left at its entrance after taking the and faced them, while taking an A Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena).
sniper455, then returned to the maze and avoid the Sahelanthropus's probes, attacking position and growling. It then charged towards Venom Snake,
to reach its east exit this time, and access the fourth and final forest's section. but D-Dog jumped on it and grabbed its throat with its mouth457.
Note: The trick with this maze would be, from its start, to always stay on Note: There, or before the hyena would attack, the player could use a tranqui-
the left side to reach the north exit, and on the right one for the east one. lizer weapon and put the animal to sleep. But not during his first run.
It would work the same for the two other entrances, follow one side would
lead to one of two exits. After D-Dog killed the wild animal, it and Venom Snake continued to
advance and passed the entrance of the fourth section. They entered a first
– Boss. Said Miller. The kids are alright. Besides, the two from Eli's militia area, similar to a large and long plant tunnel filled with trees and grass. After
finally talked to us, about something… Weird. They both talked about a… avoiding some booby traps there, Venom Snake arrived at the open-air area
Red devil, living in the forest. Shetani mwekundu456, they called him. He's not where the XOF unit landed, at the end of the "tunnel", and crossed the
with them or Eli, and has never attacked so far. They've just see him roam mecha's metal crate. There, on his left, he had an overview of the main part
the forest for a few days now. It may just be their imagination, or attempted of this section: a large forest area with open terrain and almost no grass. The
intimidation, but stay sharp. tops of the trees were thinner there than elsewhere and the light penetrated
– I heard rumors about a red coated killer active in Zaire, recently… Indicated them better, which offered good visibility. Venom Snake passed through
Ocelot. I'll check that right away. it fairly quickly, encountering activated booby traps but no enemies or
probes. He then arrived at the northern end of this area: another open one
455 Now that the sniper would have mysteriously disappeared, the inventory would have an empty slot.
456 "Red Devil", in Swahili. 457 An action D-Dog can do in the game, with Side-striped Jackal, African Wild Dogs or Grey Wolves.
400 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 5: THE HIGH GROUND 401
with less trees, overlooking a rocky plateau on the heights, with no access Venom Snake took his binoculars and looked at the plateau's heights. The
point and made of natural rock formations, but dotted with sharp parts and children saw the missile salvo coming, and walked away from the minigun,
a few massive trees, which made it inaccessible by parachute or helicopter. which ended up being destroyed.
– Alright, Boss. Said Miller. You're almost there. Make some recon. – Uh, they're safe… Said Miller, reassured. But the XOF can reach them now.
The three remaining kids were positioned on the plateau, equipped with
light tripod machine guns on the ground recovered from the XOF research Note: The player could immedately intervene as he arrive, but the idea here
team, according to the corpses lying on the ground at the bottom of the would be for him to remain hidden and wait for the supply drop, and act.
plateau, stilghtly filled with water. The XOF unit was there, in cover behind
a small rock formation. They were exchanging gunshots with the children – Boss! Said Miller. The supply drop
and the situation seemed stuck for a while now. arrived. Take what's inside. You can
reach the children safely with it.
Note: Using the binoculars, the player could also spot a minigun positioned Venom Snake opened the box459
on the plateau's heights, used by one of the Eli militia's kids. and found a black Ballistic Shield.
– XOF first. Added Ocelot.
– Be careful, Boss. Warned Ocelot. They recovered one of the miniguns from Venom Snake lay down on the
our chopper, before it crashed. Even the XOF seems to be in trouble. ground, approached discreetly, and
Blocked behind the rock, the XOF finally attempted a maneuver458. threw an incendiary grenade at the
– Cover it! Said the mecha's pilot. Artwork of the basic Diamond Dogs's Ballistic Shield. XOF unit grouped behind the rock.
The two soldiers armed with assault rifles then fired towards the heights, Everyone died but the Dragon460. Caught in the crossfire, he couldn't move,
while the Dragon remained in cover, unable to act. With his cannisters but with the mecha without pilot, the kids were now shooting at Venom
exposed and the distance, he was totally useless at the moment. The mecha Snake's position. The latter rose quickly and took his shield to advance at
then moved undercover and the pilot aimed at the kids's minigun. cover behind it, crouching. He reached the Dragon, stucked, and stayed out
– They seems to have an idea for the minigun. Said Miller. I send you a supply of the range of his flamethrower. He then stopped and used his pistol to fire
drop, just in case. Make sure that they don't hurt the children meanwhile. at his cannisters, until making them blow461. Rid of the unit, he could finally
The mecha advanced and stopped, its right arm ready to shoot. But with reach the plateau's bottom, under cover of ths shots. He put the shield on
the continuous and heavy enemy fire, it wasn't able to aim properly, so the his back, and used one of the cracks in the rock to climb and joined the kids.
459 When the player ask for weapon or equipment via a supply drop, it arrives in a green box, in which he
pilot used its camera to lock the minigun and fired unmanned mini-missiles. has to enter by pressing the △ button, to update his weapons/equipments menu and select the ordered one.
– No! Said Miller. 460 The grenade burns at 4,000 degrees Fahrenheit. But here, the Dragon armor would stand up to it thanks
to a NASA material designed to withstand that kind of temperature in space.
458 If the player doesn't stop them. If he does, it would be harder to reach the kid, under the minigun's fire. 461 When using a shield, the player can stay behind and use a secondary weapon that only requires one hand.
402 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 6: THE RED DEVIL 403
Note: D-Dog being unable to climb

the cracks, the player would have
to deal with the kids alone and find
them without D-Dog's flair. The
cracks would be the only way to reach
the place, where Tretij Rebenok put 6 - THE RED DEVIL
the kids earlier with his telekinetic
Venom Snake climbing a crack, in the 2014's
The Phantom Pain's 20-minute gameplay demo. abilities, as well as with the minigun.
On top, Venom Snake had to find Note: A cutscene would launch here.
the three remaining child soldiers,
hidden among the plateau's network Approaching the forest's exit,
of small natural trenches dug in the D-Dog walked past and could in
ground. Some several large-headed turn enjoy the daylight filtering
umbrella thorn acacias and an through the mist, before entering
An umbrella thorn acacia (Vachellia tortilis).
extinguished fire camp were there. This tree can grow in sandy and stony soils. an open and circular place which
Venom Snake took his shield and stepped forward cautiously. He used the led to the rocky part of the island.
Ralph tape to get one, but the other two jumped on him by surprise462. He Venom Snake was walking behind A male blood (or blood-red) acraea (Acraea petrae).
knocked them down with the shield and fultoned them all before descending. it, slowly, and a blood acraea, a red butterfly, passed in front of him. With
a good reflex, he catched it with his right hand, and opened it slowly to let
Note: Somewhere on the plateau, near the extinguished campfire, the player the butterfly go.463 He then move forward and stepped on something that
could find a tape of a song: The Ventures - Green Leaves Of Summer. caught his attention. He lowered his head and felt a metallic object under
his foot, which he picked up after bending down: a Skull's machete. D-Dog
– Finally… Said Miller, sighing. Now you can focus on the Sahelanthropus. came back next to his side and Venom Snake grabbed his assault rifle, ready
– Don't forget Eli's bodyguard, Boss. Recalled Ocelot. Rebenok. to open fire. As he walked slowly in the mist, he met a Skulls's Mist Unit
Back at the forest ground level, Venom Snake reunited with D-Dog and corpse, from which emanated black smoke and aqua-colored particles464.
463 It's a reference to a cutscene of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004) (03:01), in which the real Big Boss,
they headed west together, passing through a vast empty area filled with who just lost his left eye, is unable to catch a brown butterfly passing in front of him. The butterfly is here red
probes and spaced trees leading out of the forest, and plunged into mist… to match the game's violent themes and dominant colors, and to create similarity with the scene and Big Boss's
memory, but with a slightly difference to mark that betwen Big Boss and Venom Snake.
462 Like the kids in the southern part of the third section, they would hoot to communicate. 464 This is what happens once they're defeated in the game, lying on the ground.
– The XOF couldn’t reach the rocky fortress by foot, so… Said Ocelot. I guess – Why? He asked. Why me?
they first tried with the Skulls. – You know why, Snake. He said,
– So they can die finally… Added Miller. But who did that? Eli? pulling a rusty machete out of a
Venom Snake crouched down near the corpse, to inspect it. holster behind his back, to the left.
– I don't think so. Replied Ocelot. This body is full of cuts. Blunt instrument. – He's about to attack! Warned Miller.
Venom Snake got up and made a few steps, only to find two more corpses Take him down!
near the first one, surrounded by some red flowers covering the ground. Venom Snake shot at him, but he
– Mh… Said Ocelot, worried. They're only three of them. jumped off the rock very quickly and
– The mist is still there, Boss. The fourth must be nearby. Supposed Miller. landed next to him. With his machete,
Still walking cautiously, ready to he ejected the rifle from Venom
shoot on sight, the mist gradually Snake's hands, before ridding him of
vanished and a field of Red spider his other weapons, which fell to the
lilies appeared under Venom ground. D-Dog tried to bite him, but
Snake's feet; and a rock made from a only grabbed the cloak, so the man
fragment of black marble465 sticking used the handle of his machete to
Artwork of an unused character of
out of the ground too. On it, crossed- A field of Red spider lilies, a Japanese flower. knock it out, and threw it away. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
leg, a dark figure appeared to him. They are symbolic of life, death and resurrection. – No weapons, no tricks. He said. Just you and me. Blade, against blade.
Their presence in Africa doesn't make sense, it's only
– There he is! Said Miller. a question here of aesthetics and cinematography. – Alright then… Said Venom Snake, before pulling out his Skull's machete.
– No… Replied Venom Snake, pointing his weapon on it.
The mist eventually disappeared completely and left Venom Snake with Note: End of the cutscene.
a full view of the area : a circular field of red flowers with that black rock at
its center. An individual wearing a red cloak was sit on it, motionless. Mission info updated:
– He must be the red devil the kids were talking about. Said Miller. He's real… Defeat the Red Devil
– Who are you? Asked Venom Snake out loud.

No answer. The unknown got up slowly, putting his hands on his knees. Extradiegetic music n° 5:
– I'm looking for someone. He finally said, with his male voice. You. He (Youtube link) Hell Unites466 (Bandcamp link)
added, pointing his right end at Venom Snake. By Victor Reynart.
The latter then noticed a grappling hook in this hand.
466 It's an allusion and a negative of the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010)'s main vocal theme Heavens
465 A kind of rock that can be found in Kenya. Divide. This boss music also contains a portion of the main melody of this theme.
Note: D-Dog would be next to the flower field, where the duel would take – We were children. He said. You had
place, with a blue STN sign above its head. The player wouldn't be able to a responsability! He added, before
wake it up during the battle. If he would try, Miller and/or Ocelot would tell throwing a hatchet at Venom Snake.
him to let it recover and to focus on his opponent. In addition, the player
couldn't recovero or use his weapons during the fight: they would be on Note: The hatchet would be the
the ground but the option to take them would be disabled. He would only enemy's long range attack. It would
have a machete as main weapon, and the weapons and accessories menu do medium damage to the player,
wouldn't be accessible. Finally, as the previous cutscene would end, a red and the enemy would have to pick it
health and blue stamina bars would appear above the enemy's head, like up from the ground to use it again.
with the Skulls's units. Emptying either would end the fight.
– What is he talking about? Asked
– It's been a while, Snake… Said the enemy. I waited for this! He added, Miller, pissed off.
before throwing the hook he was holding in his right hand on Venom Snake. – Skull Face, you monster… Said
Code Talker. I didn't think he would
Note: The hook would be a mid-range attack of the enemy. He would use it The back of the character's outfit. really do it…
to grab the player and bring him to him, to stab him with his machete. But – Do what? Asked Miller.
it would be easy to avoid with a quick dive, pressing the □ button. And it – Long before I created the Skulls with the parasites, he brought me a subject
would be possible to avoid the final heavy blow by pressing R2. for a first try. He explained. A young boy with a mutilated body, about to die.
– When? Asked then Miller.
– He's a highly skilled warrior, Boss. Said Ocelot. It won't be easy. Especially – April, 1975. Answered Code Talker.
if he's the one who killed the Skulls here. Miller remained silent.
Venom Snake managed to endure the fight with his Battle Dress, and hit – Rumors were true then… Said Ocelot. Sorry Boss, I heard things but I
the enemy a few times, before the latter leaped back onto the rock where he couldn't believe it without proof. And I never thought it could be him…
was earlier, out of reach. He then turned his back on Venom Snake to show – Boss… Said Miller, his voice moved. The man you're fighting right now…
him the white Peace Sign emblazoned on his red cloak. Is Chico467.
– I’m wearing your lies on my back, Snake! He explained. You now must
pay for your sins… Note: All those lines would be played while the player would fight against
– That symbol… Said Miller, confused. the mysterious enemy, suddenly revealing his identity to him.
The enemy returned to ground level to face Venom Snake again. 467 The young boy who died in the helicopter explosion, in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014).
– Do you consider yourself a hero? Asked Chico. "[…] Real heroes are never – Boss! Said Miller. What are you doing?
as polished as the legends that surround them." Remember that, Snake468? – It's very noble to you, Boss. Said Ocelot. But you still have to stop Eli.
– He told me that the boy's life would be euthanized after the tests. Said Without your Battle Dress, one hit, and you're done.
Code Talker. He wanted totally obedient subjects, but with what this one had
endured, there was no way to do it. You don't know what I had to try on him.
I really wish he was dead… But Skull Face kept him alive, somehow.
– Do you think you could help him if we brought him back here? Asked Miller.
– I'm sorry… Replied the biologist. If you've ever known this boy, there's
nothing left of him. He's just an obedient automaton now.
– Damn you, Skull Face! Screamed Miller.
Note: Once the player has emptied half of Chico's health or stamina bar, a
cutscene would launch.
Chico paused, and looked at Venom Snake. He then unrolled his hook's
ARTWORKS OF CHICO WITHOUT HIS RED CLOAK ON THE LEFT, AND TWO OF NULL. CHICO
strap from his arm and let it fall to the ground, and got rid of his cloak, HERE REMINDS NULL (THE PERFECT SOLDIER) IN METAL GEAR SOLID: PORTABLE OPS (2006).
which landed above the red lilies469. His hair was short and brown, and he
wore a dark gray military uniform with long black sleeves partially covering Note: From there, the player would have to face Chico and counter a few of
his hands, and a worn yellow scarf covering the lower part of his face. He his assaults by pressing R2, like with the Skulls. But he would be too fast to
frowned and now only had his machete left to attack470. let the player make a counterattack. One hit would be fatal for the player.
– Let's finish this. He said.
Venom Snake agreed, then stripped off his Battle Dress to drop it to the – Wait. Said Ocelot. Didn't you say he shouldn't be able to obey?
ground, to face him on an equal footing. – He was too unstable with the trauma of his accident. Explained Code Talker.
He was always drawing that peace sign that we saw on his cloak, repeating a
Note: End of the cutscene and return to combat. But from there, the blue name in a low voice, especially while I was doing my painful tests on him: Paz.
and red bars of Chico would disappear from above his head. – But from what I've learned, he was active before Skull Face died. And now
468 It's a line that the real Big Boss told Chico, when he first met him in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). he's here, to kill the Boss. Wondered Ocelot. How is it possible?
469 When Big Boss fights against The Boss in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), the battle takes places – Maybe Skull Face brainwashed him for him to obey? Asked Code Talker.
in a field of white lilies, which turned red when The Boss dies. It's a reference to that event here.
470 In every Metal Gear Solid games, there is a duel with a ninja-like boss. – Boss! Said Ocelot. Use your binoculars to find something unusual. Anything!
Note: The player would have to take advantage of a time out, after avoiding Note: The inspiration for this damaged
a hit from Chico for example, to use the binoculars and spot the steel blue grown-up version of Chico was the oni: a
cassette tape player surrounded by brown and worn bandages hanging from kind of yōkai associated with demons and
Chico's chest, and his white earpieces. A small bright light emanating from the devil. They eat humans and are often
these two elements would help him find them more easily. They would be a depicted with a red or blue skin, three eyes,
small yellow light and a specific sound when they would be spotted by the horns (which by the way were an inspira-
player, such as when spotting an element of a major mission, in any main tion for that of Venom Snake) and with a
missions. Ocelot would also give a lead by saying "– Did you notice? He metallic war-club called kanabō (金棒)
has never answered you since you met. Maybe he lost his hearing that day?" (which became a machete, for Chico). Before
getting this devilish physical appearence, oni
– Mh… Said Ocelot. What is he listening to? Boss, cut the cables of his were ghosts or spirits symbolizing invisible
earpieces, maybe by hearing your voice you can bring him to his senses471. forces that cause natural disasters, disease
and all other dramatic events that happen
Note: The fight would continue, but a new option would be added. From to humans. Devil Priest (18th century).
there, pressing R2 to counterattack would make the player cut Chico's left
earphone and would end the fight472. A cutscene would launch then. – His face was badly damaged when he was brought to me. Said Code Talker.
The parasites didn't fully work on him.
Chico pushed Venom Snake away with his arms, and took a step back. – I'm 4, 7, 1, 9, 8, 2. Said Chico, saying each number one by one.
Visibly confused, he stared at the ground, motionless. Venom Snake looked confused and didn't understand.
– Chico… Said Venom Snake empathetically, lowering his machete. – Boss… Said Miller. It was his inmate number. At Omega Camp…
Hearing him, Chico suddenly looked at – No. Said Venom Snake, walking towards Chico dropping his machete on
him, aggressively. He then slowly removed the ground. Your name is Ricardo473. Don't you remember?
his damaged earpiece and black scarf, Hearing this name, Chico firmly squeezed the handle of his machete.
revealing his burnt mouth. Burn scars were – I am 4, 7, 1, 9, 8, 2. He repeated, with less conviction.
visible on both sides of it and gave him a – Let me help you. Said Venom Snake, before removing the remaining right
demonic smile. They stared at each other earpiece of Chico with his bionic arm's hand, to hear what came out of it.
without speaking for a few seconds. Chico's damaged face. – "He was responsible for you and Paz. Said Skull Face's voice. If she died, it’s
471 Voices, tapes and earphones/earpieces are important elements in the game. because of him. Avenge your beloved! Kill the man responsible for her death.".
472 This would be too complex and not enough intuitive for a video game's player, but would add intensity
and storyline events to the combat, using gameplay elements. 473 Chico ("boy", in Spanish)'s real name is Ricardo Valenciano Libre.
Venom Snake, with a slight expression of disgust on his face, then dropped
the earpiece, which was then hanging from Chico's chest.
– You couldn’t save her, Snake. Said Chico. You couldn’t protect Kaz, or
even your men. You’re less than nothing…
– That's enough. Said Miller, exhausted according to his voice. Let me talk
to him, Boss. Give him one of your earphones!
Venom Snake did so right away, and got closer to Chico, who took the
earphone and heard Kaz's voice for the first time in nine years.
– You hear me? Asked Miller. Chico?
– Kazuhira… He said, with a trembling voice.
– Hey son, how are you?
– I… He said, confused. I still hear her screaming sometimes…
– I know. This is one of the poisonous gifts that Skull Face left us all. ARTWORKS OF CHICO'S CASSETTE PLAYER IN METAL GEAR SOLID V: GROUND ZEROES (2014).
– He made one of his men rape her in front of me to force me to talk…
– I know, we had to listen to your tapes474. You don't have to… – Right sentence. Wrong person. Said Chico.
– He forced me to do it too… And even to torture her to make her speak… – What? Asked Venom Snake, frowning.
But I couldn’t… So he put me back into my cage. He broke us. Chico then jumped into the forest and disappeared.
– …475 – What did he mean? Asked Venom Snake.
– Where was he then? Asked Chico. Where was the Big Boss? – No idea… Said Miller.
– I am sorry. Said Venom Snake, looking at his red and wet eyes. Sorry I – His mind was confused by Skull Face's propaganda. Said Ocelot. Did he
couldn't protect you both that day. listen to that damn tape all the time? Every day? Poor boy… I'm afraid there's
– Wait, you're not… Said Chico, surprised, looking at Venom Snake. nothing we can do for him now, Boss. He added. And no time to chase him,
– I am! He insisted. Really, sorry. you have to stop Eli476!
Chico suddenly jumped back and landed on the black rock's top. During Venom Snake then took a few steps and recovered the tape that Chico had
the process, the tape he was listening to came out of its cassette player and dropped during his jump, as well as his red cloak, still on the red flowers.
fell on the ground.
474 While he was prisoner, Chico recorded some torture events that he experienced with Paz. They can be
listened to by the player both in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014) and Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom 476 They quickly dodge the question to get back to the mission, but they both know that Chico understood
Pain (2015). that he wasn't talking to the real Big Boss. It's not specified in the game if the discussion in which Ocelot is telling
475 Miller is moved in this sequence because Chico's death influenced him to try to rehabilitate child soldiers, the truth about Venom Snake's identity to Miller takes place before of after the game's events, but for this novel
as he did with the Mbele Squad. I made the choice to have it happen right after Venom Snake brought Miller back to the new Mother Base.
414 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 7: THE CAVE 415
Note: You can hear this tape (that I made) here, or read its content here. In
the game, it would be added to the tape's list and called "The Last Infamy".
And the cloak would be added as a new outfit in the Sortie Prep menu after
completing Mission 51, under the name "Red Scar", and could be worn by
all playable characters.
7 - THE CAVERN
– You're alright, Boss? Asked Miller.
– Yeah, I'm fine… He answered. You two, get in touch with his sister Amanda.
– I'll take care of it right away. Said Ocelot, immediately. To be completely
honest, Boss, she was the one would told me about this killer in Zaire477. After Venom Snake arrived at the end of the forest area of the island. His boots
her little brother died, she couldn't get his body back and I thought she just left the grassy soil of the grove for a rocky one, where he faced the south
couldn't move on. I was wrong. He admitted. face of the high and large circular rocky wall surrounding the Castle Rock.
Venom Snake sighed and joined D-Dog, still uncounscious, extracted – No way to climb this thing. Said Miller, speaking of the impractical relief
it and looked at it, flying away, before turning to recover his weapons that of the wall. You have to cross it through the cavern at its foot.
Chico made fall to the ground, and took the Skull's machete he had used. Venom Snake then walked towards the cavern's entrance.
Note: End of the cutscene. Note: A very short cutscene would play here.
– Well… Said Miller. I don't want to rush you, but our Intel Team told me the Venom Snake entered the cavern and took his rifle, to use its flashlight.
XOF convoy will reach the bay very soon. You're almost there, Boss! Something then flew out and came out of the dark place, passing overhead.
Venom Snake then walked through the field of red flowers and faced a – Bats. How original. Said Ocelot.
wild area with trees and tall, dense grass covering the ground. – A Rüppell's horseshoe bat… Said Code Talker. Make sure you never get
– That's what I call a green wall. Said Miller. Eli should have use the psychic's bitten by any of them. They carry a family of viruses known as the corona-
abilities to reach the north. Use your machete to clear your way in there. virus: "the virus with a crown479".
Venom Snake then cut trunks and made his way through the deep forest, – Is it that bad? Asked Ocelot.
until reaching a less wild and larger area: a grove with low grass. It led to a – You don’t want to know. Specified Code Talker, without further details.
new area covered with a thin layer of water, leading to a cavern's entrance478.
477 This is inspired by unused official game's content: Chico in fact survived, having ended up in Zaire, but Note: End of the cutscene.
Miller and the others consider him dead. Later on, Amanda discovers Chico in Zaire and asks Snake to kill him.
478 There would be no enemies or probes on the way. And it would be very silent. 479 You have the reference.
The slope led to a medium-sized

Extradiegetic music n° 6: cavity spanning several floors.
(Youtube link) The Cavern480 (Bandcamp link) Venom Snake got there feet first and
By Victor Reynart. landed crouched on the ground.
When he rose his head, he saw an
Venom Snake entered the cavern481 and advanced with caution, due to the unexpected sight: a fossil of what
limited visibility inside. The place was really dark and some group of bats appeared to be a giant feline, similar
A researcher holding the Simbakubwa kutokaafrika's
were there, on the ceiling, and flew away at his approach482. jaw fossil, at the Nairobi National Museum, Kenya. to an old stone statue and lit from
above, by daylight coming from an opening at the top of the cave's highest
Note: The following sequence in the cavern would have a survival-horror floor. Its posture was majestic, with both front legs raised and mouth wide
vibe, with holes leading to rocky peaks that the player shouldn't fall into, open, staring at the opening from which the light was coming.
as well as small obstacles to climb with the △ button. The path wouldn't
be too long and without enemies, but plunged into darkness and without Note: End of the cutscene, with the camera focused on the fossil, low angle.
buddy, to let the player feel a rise in tension. When the player would reach
the middle of it, Miller would contact him, as he would hear loud noises – Waow… Said Code Talker. I wouldn't have expected to meet one of its kind
outside the cavern. in this place.
– You know what it is? Asked Miller.
– Wow, Boss! Said Miller. There's a lot of movement around you. The XOF – It just looks like a big lion to me. Said Ocelot.
choppers are back. They're deploying troops near the Castle Rock. You should – You were close! Said Code Talker, amused. It's an ancestor of the king of
meet them after getting out of this cavern. Be ready. beasts. Simbakubwa kutokaafrika483. Some remains, mainly a piece of lower
Venom Snake kept moving forward and eventually came to a slope that jaw, were found recently, between 1978 and 1980, here in Meswa Bridge,
led to the deepest part of the cavern, three floors below. in Kenya. At 23 million years old, the beast was estimated way bigger than
today's lions, reaching for the shoulders of an adult man. This one should have
Note: The player could no longer move forward and would have to press been trapped a long time ago by the salt water of the lake, when it was higher.
the △ button, which would launch a short cutscene. While giving his explanation about the fossil, Venom Snake had to climb
three heights to reach the ground level of the island, which led to the exit of
480 I had planned another music here (Bandcamp), the melody of which was in part inspired by New Order's
Elegia, and each instrument of which would have been added as the player progressed in the ascent of the rocky the cavern. Once he climbed the first one, he passed next to the stone fossil,
enclosure leading to the place where Eli was. But finally, I replaced this phase by exploring the cavern's enclosure. and spotted something purple shined in its abdomen. He took it.
481 See the map here.
482 Of course, the player could tranquilize and recover some of them, after completing the mission once. 483 In Swahili, simba means "lion", kubwa "great/big/mighty", and kutokaafrika "from Africa".
– A tanzanite… Said Miller. It’s surprising to find one that

far from Kilimanjaro. It’s the only known place where it
can be found, due to the particular volcanic activity that
shapes it. How did it ended up there? This feline seems to
have been through a lot. Anyway, as Diamond Dogs, we
won’t have any need of it, but I know a lot of people who
would spend a fortune for it. Good find, Boss484.
Venom Snake then climbed the other two floors and
reached a path leading out of the cavern, where he
A tanzanite. found daylight and could finally reach the Castle Rock.
Note: A custscene would launch here.

A 1970 CATERPILLAR D7E FITTED WITH A ROME PLOW MODEL KG7ED.
THESE PLOWS WERE VERY SHARP AND USED DURING THE VIETNAM WAR TO CHOP DOWN
From above, smoke rised in various spots around the island. TREES AND CLEAR THE PATH, BEFORE THE REMAINS OF THE FORESTS WERE BURNT.
Two XOF Rome plows eventually arrived north of the OP area's bay, at its
thinnest spot between the forest and Makat Island. They cut the last trees in
their way and stopped near the red water, before starting to cut trees on their
sides and leave the path they'd just created, to let the convoy pass. Only one of
them passed though, an M60A1 AVLB (Armored Vehicle Landing Bridge),
and stopped in front the water to begin deployment maneuver of its bridge,
the end of which heavily landed on
Makat Island's salty surface. It then
joined a Rome plow to let the convoy
take up position on the island. The
airlock of its first AMV opened as
ARTWORK OF OF AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE MISSION 51 ISLAND'S FOREST.
it crossed the bridge, and an XOF
soldier stepped out. An M60AI AVLB. It has been in service since 1963.
484 The player could sell it after completing the Mission, for 1,000,000 GMP. In comparison, small diamonds
are worth 10,000 GMP and large ones 100,000 GMP. – We're ready. He said, over his radio.
420 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 5] THE CASTLE ROCK 421
Note: The player would stop moving when the conch would be heard and a
zoom on hiw followed by a black fade would mark a transition to a cutscene.
[CUTSCENE 5] Venom Snake slipped sideways into the narrow passage and took a few
steps, ready to open fire. There was some vegetation there, and he quickly
THE CASTLE ROCK arrived to a rock he hid behind, to observe the place and discover the island's
main secret part, now Eli's fortress: a large, circular, and empty open-air
rocky cavity, with a ground covered with a thin layer of water485. Trunks
with knife-cut, pointed ends had been placed all over the place to create
Note: When starting this project, I didn't know it would be that long, so this a barrier behind which hid the Sahelanthropus, sitting against the area's
mission would be split in half, and the player could freely choose both of rocky enclosure, motionless, in the shade of the foliage of the trees above. A
them after selecting the Mission 51 in the mission's list menu (after finishing small, extinguished campfire was there too, between its feet, on the ground.
it once). The second part woud focus on the battle with the Sahelanthropus.
And it would start with a short gameplay sequence followed by a long
cutscene (an official one, from the documentary of the Mission 51).
Passing the exit of the cavern, Venom Snake took his rifle and found
himself in a small rocky ravine leading to the Castle Rock's main circular
area, when Eli was in hiding. On the ground, he saw a fine, shallow stream
that passed next to the cavern's exit to flow into the forest, below. He avoided
it by walking along it, but it widened and the ground was then covered with
a thin layer of water, so he walked carefully so as not to not make noise.
– Boss! Said Ocelot. The XOF has arrived and is taking position on the salt
island and… Well, I don't understand what they're doing exactly, but… ARTWORK OF THE CUTSCENE'S AREA, WITH ELI AND THE SAHELANTHROPUS.
– Hurry up Boss! Added Miller. Take down the Sahelanthropus and get Eli Another conch call was heard, and Venom Snake took his binoculars to
back ASAP. And be careful, their airborne troops must be close to your position. look at the Sahelanthropus's cockpit. Eli was inside and was blowing the
Venom Snake then reached the narrow end of the ravine, and heard in conch he always kept on him486 to call his "army". But no one answered.
the distance the heavy sound of a conch, comparable to a wind instrument, 485 It is the final destination of the young Maasai warriors sent for their initiation on the Morani Island. The
water there comes from some streams flowing into it from the northern heights.
which caused a flock of birds to fly near him. 486 On the left of his shorts, see this 3D render of the character.
422 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 5] THE CASTLE ROCK 423
The sound was played through the Metal Gear's He then stood up and, taking advantage of the best window of fire to take out
powerful speakers, so that it could be heard from Eli, slowly aimed at him through his UN-ARC assault rifle's Range-Finder E
anywhere on the island487. With no results, Eli scope, equipped with a Flash-Light CB at its barrel's left, a Laser-A-Module
ended up by putting away his conch and putting CB sight at its right, and a ARC Type stock. But the moment he fired, Tretij
on his respirator mask, to then open the cockpit. Rebenok, floating in the air, appeared in front of Eli and shielded him from
He put his arms behind his head and, sitting, the shot. The XOF soldier then opened fire and three of his comrades using
assumed a relaxed air as he waited for the cockpit machine guns stood up, to fire at will on their common target. The unit to
to fully open. Once done, he got up and remained Venom Snake's right then opened fire too. Then, two soldiers from the left
standing, observing the surroundings488. He was unit were called by the leader as reinforcements. They were armed with
wearing an XOF protective mask and white helmet, GROM-11 rocket launchers and fired at the Metal Gear. The right unit had
as well as a red protective pilote suit. Venom Snake, two soldiers using it too, and they also fired in turn. When the smoke from
ready to take the opportunity to stop Eli, got up the rockets explosions disappeared from in front of the Sahelanthropus
and made a few steps, but suddenly stopped and face's, Tretij Rebenok was still there, the Metal Gear was intact, and Eli wasn't
pointed his rifle afar, beside Eli. Behind and to the injured. The latter then jumped to sit back in the cockpit which immediately
left of the latter, on the heights of the enclosure of Artwork of Eli's red pilot suit. closed, and the Sahelanthropus was reactivated by Tretij Rebenok, ready for
the area, Venom Snake spotted a unit of four XOF soldiers approaching, action. It stood up and opened fire on the ground units with its twin gatling
equipped with ALM 48 machine guns, itself equipped with two accesso- guns mounted on its head unit. The one to the right of Venom Snake first,
ries: a Flash-Light CB on the cannon's left and a Laser-A-Module CB sight then the one to his left. They almost all died instantly, and the Metal Gear
on its right489. Another unit arrived on his right, further ahead, in front then aimed at the unit positioned on the heights. Some of its members were
of him, made up of six soldiers. Like a third to his left490. Venom Snake killed and the others fled. The Sahelanthropus then began to walk towards
stepped back and returned to hide behind his rock to observe the scene. the survivors of the grounds units, and jumped towards one of them, the
The XOF plan was to take down Eli and recover the Metal Gear. They one to the left of Venom Snake, to land noisily on some soldiers, which
walked cautiously and took up positions, crouched behind the sharp tree ended up being crushed under its massive metal legs. Now a few feet away
trunks on the ground. A soldier from the team positioned to the left of from him, Venom Snake had to get up and run out of his hiding place, while
Venom Snake, presumably their leader, gave the other five a thumbs up. the Sahelanthropus used the flamethrower at the front of its pelvis to burn
487 This is a reference to the William Golding's book Lord of the Flies (1954), in which Ralph, and then Jack, the wounded XOF soldiers still alive. As they screamed in pain as they died,
two kids designated as leaders of a group of kids, must hold a conch to speak, to avoid confusion during debates.
488 In the documentary's cutscene, child soldiers are at the foot of the Sahelanthropus, but it was unfinished Venom Snake, away from the flames, turned and saw the Metal Gear lower
work and planned that the kids would have to be recovered before reaching Eli. That's what I chose for this novel. in front of him, before its cockpit opened, lowering itself. Eli was then a few
489 These equipments are the same as those of the official cutscene, with their game's names.
490 As before with the flamethrower units, the XOF choppers dropped four teams of four soldiers here. feet above Venom Snake, sitting and looking at him.
424 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 8: A DESPERATE RUN 425
– I knew you’d be through there491.

Said Eli, pointing his right finger at
Venom Snake.
– You’re not a kid anymore. You call
your own shots. Said Venom Snake
in turn. But at this rate you’ll be dead 8 - A DESPERATE RUN
before you have a chance.
Screenshot of the official unfinished cutscene,
– I’m free to die however I wish. with Eli in the Sahelanthropus, and Venom Snake.
Specified Eli. Yes… Free.
– Are you going to fight the whole world? Ocelot asked him, throught Venom Venom Snake stood still, in front of the Metal Gear fighting the XOF494.
Snake's radio speakers, as with Chico. – You don't stand a chance here, Boss. Said Ocelot. And the Sahelanthropus
– And what’s wrong with that? … Fighting the whole world. Replied Eli. flamethrower could turn this place into a field of flame any time. Go back to
You don’t get the last word, father. I’ll break the curse of my heritage. And the beach, I'm sending the reinforcements. Hang on! He announced.
to do that… First I will kill you492! He said, pointing to him again.
The Sahelanthropus cockpit then closed, and it stood up, ready to attack493. Mission info updated:
But the four XOF HP-48 KROKODIL choppers were back and dropped four Return to the beach
other units of soldiers on top of the area's enclosure. And this time, the
choppers stayed to attack the Sahelanthropus too. The latter then turned Extradiegetic music n° 7:
and grabbed the handle of the giant metal shield he took before leaving Sahelanthropus Dominion495
Mother Base. The object, lying flat on the surface of the water, rose into the By Justin Burnett.
air, dripping large streams of water. The Metal Gear used it to counter the
helicopter's missiles and soldiers's bullets, and was ready to counterattack. Under thunderous explosions, Venom Snake hurried back into the narrow
passage connecting the Castle Rock to the small ravine and passed it. He
Note: End of the cutscene. reached the cavern's entrance and took a path on its left496, which led directly
to the other side. Along the way, he heard the Sahelanthropus's heavy and
491 Reminiscent of "He'll be through here. I know it" from MGS1. Also, "There you are" comes from the primitive screams and the XOF choppers flying and firing missiles, above.
original REX battle. 494 The player could fire at them, but any life bar would appear for the Sahelanthropus and only the XOF
492 These last two lines also references to Metal Gear Solid (1998). soldiers could die, not choppers.
493 This is a reference to the final battle against the Metal Gear Rex in Metal Gear Solid (1998), and where 495 The second part of the track would be used and looped down to the beach. Its rhythm is really fast and
the official cutscene ends. In the documentary, a text explains that right after, combined Diamond Dogs forces sounds powerful and majestic. It woulf fit perfecly that "run for your life" sequence.
attack the Sahelanthropus (surely assisting the player in an epic boss battle). But here, I changed this. 496 That the player could have spotted after crossing it. It's be a shortcut leading straight to the other side.
426 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 8: A DESPERATE RUN 427
– Boss! Said Miller. XOF soldiers are dead and their choppers retreat, Note: Along the way, from time to time, the Sahelanthropus could use its
presumably to lure Eli to Makat Island. They deployed a huge armada there… flamethrower, or one if its leg could land near the player, and he would
– Stay focused, Boss! Said Ocelot. For now, reach the beach. I sent you a have to press R2 to dodge it, if too close. The XOF choppers would also
Walker Gear in the flower field outside the cavern. Use it to cross the forest! sometimes attack the Metal Gear on the way, to lure it towards the beach.
As he exited the cavern, Venom Snake saw the XOF choppers pass through And if the player forgot any traps on the way, the way back would be harder.
the sky, heading south. He passed the grove and quickly reached the red
lilies field. The Walker Gear was there, waiting for him.
Note: A cutscene would start when the player boards the Walker Gear.
The Sahelanthropus's legs landed just in front of Venom Snake, right in

the middle of the flower field. It then turned to him.
– You won't escape me! Shouted Eli, through the Metal Gear's speakers.
Note: End of the cutscene.
Venom Snake slipped through the

Metal Gear's legs with his Walker
ARTWORKS OF CHOPPERS ATTACKING THE SAHELANTHROPUS.
Gear and ran as fast as he could
towards the forest, closely followed Venom Snake finally reached the small ravine at the entrance to the forest,
by the Sahelanthropus gatling guns's leading to the beach facing the Makat Island.
bullets. Once inside, at cover under the
treetops, he headed east and passed the Note: A cutscene would launch as the player would exit the small ravine.
plateau. The Sahelanthropus jumped
on it and fired guided missiles at him. About to reach the beach, the explosion of a guided missile fired by
Once avoided, Venom Snake walked the Sahelanthropus threw Venom Snake out of the ravine, destroying the
through all forest's sections, under the Walker Gear in the process. He landed abruptly on the beach, face down
Metal Gear's flames which sometimes on the ground. Growling in pain, eyes closed, he struggled to get up and
passed through the treetops. 3D render of Venom Snake in a Walker Gear. crouched down. Opening his eyes, he saw the XOF armada in front of him
428 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 6] THE ORANGE CLOUD 429
in the distance, on Makat Island497.

There, the four choppers, which had
reached it, turned around behind
the top of an immense fence placed [CUTSCENE 6]
at the northern limit of the island,
about thirty feet (ten meters) high, THE ORANGE CLOUD
and remained stationary. The fence
consisted of large metal pylons
An M977 HEMTT. Set in service in 1982, it has its
connected by electrified cables. own crate and can transport jeeps and/or tanks. Note: A cutscene would launch here.
It was transported here by a M977 HEMTT (Heavy Expanded Mobility
Tactical Truck), a cargo truck, which had placed its many pillars in the salty Venom Snake stood up and ran to hide in front of a tank positioned there.
ground with its crane, and was now stationed south of the island. Behind He then rose his head and saw its canon risepointed at the Sahelanthropus
the fence, through the pylons, Venom Snake could distinguish tanks and walking towards the island. Everyone was waiting. The loud sounds of the
other armored vehicles. But as he was observing, the heavy sound of the Metal Gear were the only thing that could be heard. It arrived at the level
legs of the Sahelanthropus, which had just leapt from the forest, echoed of the fence, and looked at the XOF armada facing it, below499. It then
behind him, causing the ground to vibrate. Venom Snake turned and faced continued to walk and one of its legs made contact with the electric cables
the Metal Gear, which crouched down and roared loudly in his direction. of the fence. It screamed in pain and took a few steps back, then curled up
and went into "REX-mode". Its railgun's cannon began to electrify itself
Note: End of the cutscene. At its end, the camera would follow Venom Snake intensely. Venom Snake saw it coming and started running between the
turning around, before lifting up slightly to create a low angle highlighting tanks. No one paid attention to him
the Metal Gear's head, before it roared. The player could then play again. and he managed to get far enough
away, before the Sahelanthropus
– Boss… Said Miller. Run! fired with its railgun at the base
– The fence was made for the Sahelanthropus, but you should be able to pass of the fence's central pillars,
underneath. Added Ocelot. Dive in as you get there and find a place to hide. which exploded. It threw them
Chased by the Metal Gear, Venom Snake crossed the shallow clear water violently into the air and created
Godzilla burning the bottom of the pylons
part leading to Makat Island, and dived down to pass under the fence498. a breach sufficient to let it pass500. with its atomic breath, in Godzilla (1954).
497 A close-up shot would be focused on Venom Snake's face and expression as he stood up, and stop as he 499 There would be a bird's eye view from the rear side of the Sahelanthropus head, to show its superiority.
opens his eyes, to then rotate slowly past his head, before rising slightly to provide a full view on the XOF, afar. 500 It's a reference to the movie Godzilla (1954), a main inspiration of the MGS series, in which the giant
498 By pressing the □ button. kaiju uses its atomic breath to destroy electric pillars. There would be a slow mo for the fence's explosion.
430 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 9A: RUN IN CHAOS 431
It then got up and put one foot on

the island. As it did it, all tanks and
choppers pulled back and retreated,
while the four Skulls from the
Armor Unit, who remained behind,
arrived leaping and bounding 9 - THE FINAL STANDOFF
quickly, to finally stop in front of the
Sahelanthropus, which brandished
its shield and planted its pointed
bottom end in the ground, ready A: Run in chaos
to face them. Venom Snake, who
followed the movement of the tanks – Not good… Noted Miller.
to stay hidden in front one, saw an – Reinforcements will be there shortly, Boss. Said Ocelot. But for now, keep
orange cloud of metallic archaea 3D render of three Skulls from the Armor Unit. heading south. Let's hope the XOF will hold the beast back until then…
forming around the unit and the Sahelanthropus. Soon, they all disappeared Venom Snake then ran through the tanks and AMVs. Some of them
in it. Sounds of metallic shocks rang out, and brief flashes of explosions were flying in the air, kicked by the powerful mechanical legs of the
appeared through the cloud, as well as one of the Sahelanthropus's nano-fi- Sahelanthropus, which slaughtered XOF vehicles. It also used its archea
ber archaea blade's tip. It screamed furiously, and everything suddenly blades's special ability: to summon metals into the soil and create metal
stopped. The cloud cleared and the silhouette of the Sahelanthropus pylon lines, that Venom Snake had to avoid along the way, when too close.
emerged, standing. Its shield fell forward, to the right side, and sank into
the island's salty soil, covered with still reddish cuts made with the corrosive Note: The camera would here be focused on what's happening behind the
archeon edges of the Armor Unit's machetes. The cloud then disappeared player's back and he would't be able to see what's in front of him. This
and Venom Snake could see the cut Skulls's corpses on the ground, around would be a classic video game chase sequence, in which the player would
the Metal Gear which then began to move forward. Immediately, choppers have to escape a giant enemy (only seeing the bottom of its legs advancing
and tanks opened fire and flooded the metal gear under heavy missile and behind him), while avoiding obstacles in his path, here stationary vehicles,
shell fire, which only slightly damaged its heavy armor. It then stood still in or some falling to the ground. This type of video game sequence was surely
the smoke's cloud and, when it cleared, unsheathed its second archea blade. inspired by The Boulder Chase scene, from Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981).
Note: The cutscene would end there. – It smashed all the tanks… The choppers are trying their luck… Said Miller.
432 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 9A: RUN IN CHAOS 433
left the island by jumping on the vehicle to smash it with its legs, before
taking it with one hand and throwing it away in the forest, to the west. It then
returned to the island, where everyone was now condemned to stay with no
way out, jumping behind Venom Snake502. He then looked at the south of
the island and saw there another row of tanks and armored vehicles, some
of which began to move forward, escorted by the two remaining choppers.
Note: End of the cutscene. Now the camera would be framed on the row of
vehicles advancing towards the player, with a huge, high scaffolding behind.
Venom Snake was running, followed by the Sahelanthropus. A first

ARTWORK OF SOLDIERS FACING THE SAHELANTHROPUS ON A CHAOTIC BATTLEFIELD.
tank shell was fired in front of him, and passed above him. Lines of
Sahelanthropus's explosive rocks then appeared on his sides, destroying
Note: Here, the Sahelanthropus would stop, surrounded by the four vehicles as he was about to reach the row, and it fired guided missiles. No
choppers, above it: one in front, one behind, and the other two on its sides. way for the tanks to avoid them. Many of them exploded on the spot.
– We have to get Eli out of this thing! Said Miller. Alive. So we can't destroy
Venom Snake could finally distance the Metal Gear and saw it skewer the the Sahelanthropus head. Too risky. But by studying Huey's plans after Eli left
two choppers on its sides with its archea blades and threw one away, into the the base, we may have found something.
red lake, and the other in front of it, onto the island. It passed near Venom – Unlike Basilisk or Zeke503, Sahelanthropus has a bust, and arms. Said Ocelot.
Snake, which had to dodge it by rolling aside501. The Sahelanthropus, still And the joint that Huey added between its legs and upper body to make it
far away, then launched guided missiles at the two remaining helicopters, bipedal is thinner and less protected than the rest of the armor, to let it move
but they launched countermeasures and moved away towards head the freely. This tactical advantage is also its weak point.
south of the island, to join the rest of the convoy positioned there. – It reminds me of elephants. Said Code Talker. Giants! Which crush everything
in their path. But if you cut its feet's tendons, it turns into food for predators.
Note: A short cutscene would launch here. – Sahelanthropus is a walking tank. Said Miller. We have to cut its legs, Boss!
The choppers passed above Venom Snake, who reached halfway across Note: From a certain point, a fade to black would launch a cutscene.
the island and saw the tank's bridge on his right, afar. The Sahelanthropus
502 The Sahelanthropus's metal armor would also be vulnerable to the salt water of the lake.
501 The player should here press the R2 button to make the move. He would die if he didn't do it in time. 503 The two Metal Gears prototypes from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010).
434 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 9B: UNEXPECTED SUPPORT 435
– That rifle… Said Ocelot.

– Is it? Asked Miller.
B: Unexpected support Venom Snake turned to the
unknown and rested his right arm
Venom Snake was escaping the on its left shoulder, but the latter
Metal Gear, until he felt a sniper immediately pushed it away with
bullet graze him504. He then hid its left hand covered with a black
behind the wreckage of a destroyed leather glove. It then turned its
tank, blackened by flames. Using his head to Venom Snake, and the latter
binoculars, he saw the four snipers could saw its green eyes, surroun-
from the Skulls's Camouflage Unit ded by two black tasks.
become visible505, afar, positioned – Quiet… Said Venom Snake, with
with XOF soldiers on the three levels some emotion in his voice.
of a military scaffolding trailer. 3D render of the Skulls from the Camouflage Unit. Artwork of mine of the Mission 51's outfit of Quiet. She put her left index finger on
– They really put all they had left… Said Ocelot. her mouth and nodded towards the scaffolding.
– Boss, stay where you are! Said Miller. You're exposed on this island. You'll – Two against four, the bets are off. Said Ocelot.
be dead in a second if you move from there.
– The reinforcements are almost there, but… Said Ocelot. Note: End of the cutscene.
As he was talking, someone
appeared near Venom Snake in – Alright, she'll cover you. Said Miller.
the same manner as the Skulls506, But wait a second! Our AWACS507 up
wearing a brown military suit and a there just spotted something on the
cheche scarf covering its head. It was top of that scaffolding. Can you use
crouched and positioned against the your binoculars to a look? The Intel
tank, with its yellow ochre Molotok- Team is too far away and we need
A Boeing E-3 Sentry, with its distinctive rotating
68 sniper rifle pointed at the scaffol- I couldn't find a real military scaffolding trailer, but visual confirmation. radar dome (rotodome), visible above the fuselage.
this one is the closest I imagined for this sequence.
ding where the Skulls were standing. This is the Concept Scaffold DXMD, by Martin Sabran. 507 Airborne Warning & Control System. While playing Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), I
504 In the cutscene, the bullet would be shown in a sideways shot, in slow motion. always wondered how Miller and Ocelot could see what was on the field and what Venom Snake was seeing, as
505 One of the Skulls's abilities is to become invisible or visible at will. they instantly reacted to what was happening during the mission. And the most likely explanation is the use of
506 Understand here: to become visible. such planes, which provide real-time intel to HQ. That, or a Lockheed U-2, smaller and that could fly higher.
436 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 9C: A QUIET RUN 437
Venom Snake took his binoculars and observed the top floor of the scaffol-
ding, on which he spotted the Camouflage Unit's leader, next to a missile
launcher mounted on the scaffolding's metallic structure. C: A quiet run
– Bingo! Said Miller508.
– It's a Hellfire tripod launch unit. Explained Ocelot. Even the Sahelanthropus Extradiegetic music n° 8:
armor couldn't take it. The XOF really wanted it back, it was them or no one… (Youtube link) A Quiet Run (Bandcamp link)
– Almost all of their tanks are down! Said Miller. Reach this unit to stop Eli! By Victor Reynart.
Mission info updated: Venom Snake had to run again, to cross the last part of the island leading
Reach the Hellfire launch unit to its southern tip, as Quiet dashed around him and fired at the Skulls.
– So it was her in the forest… Said Miller. She's tough, I'll give her that.
Note: From there, the player's objective would be to run straight to the
scaffolding, and Quiet's to cover him by firing at the Skulls that she would Note: For this sequence, the screen
kill one by one along the way. Besides, after completing the mission once, would be split in half, vertically. It's
the player could here choose to play as her for this short sequence. Her a reference to a boss fight sequence
gameplay would have specific moves, like dashing very fast to a point of Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the
selected by the player. Markers of spots would frequently appear next to Patriots (2008), in which Solid Snake
her and he would only have to press on a dedicated button to get to it faces Gekkos, while Raiden fights a
quickly. The spots would either be in the middle of the path, or on wrecks of duel to the death with Vamp. Only
The old Snake facing the Gekkos on the left side
destroyed tanks/AMVs. The player could also activate a special mode while Solid Snake is playable here, though. of the screen, and Raiden and Vamp on the right.
dashing, a "Reflex Mode"-like509 in which Quiet could act at a normal speed
while reaching the spot (the player could also stop it at any time). For the The former duo, reunited for the
Camouflage Unit, they would use BRENNAN LRS-46s (anti-material rifles) occasion, did a good job again and
and Quiet a Molotok-68, which makes way more damages. Last thing about got rid of the Skulls, for good this
the Skulls, as they would be here to damage the Sahelanthropus, only one time, before arriving at the bottom
of them would focus both on Quiet and Venom Snake at the same time. of the scaffolding trailer, in front
508 As the player would spot the missile launcher, a yellow light would surround it for a fraction of second of which were park sand-colored
and a specific sound could be heard, to confirm that he spotted it. XOF wheeled tanks, and the M977
509 A slow motion mode during which the player has time to kill or neutralize an enemy who has just spotted Artwork of an unused wheeled tank. You can see a
him. It avoids to ruin an entire mission for just one small mistake and is considered as non-pro by many players. fanmade 3D model version here, made by Max Pyane. HEMTT which carried the fence.
438 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 9D: HELLFIRE 439
Note: A cutscene would launch here.
As they reached the trailer, Quiet began to caugh violently. Venom Snake D: Hellfire
grabbed her right wrist, but she pushed him back and walked away.
– Boss… Said Ocelot. Note: A cutscene would launch hear.
– Leave her, she won't make it anyway. Said Miller. The parasites must be
eating her from the inside out right now. Use that launch unit Boss, now! At the top of the scaffolding,
Venom Snake looked at Quiet, sitting down to recover. She waved her Venom Snake reached the Hellfire
flat right hand to point towards the trailer, so he left her and reached the launch unit, but the missile wasn't
trailer's bottom ladder, on its left, leading to the first of its three floors. loaded. Two khaki rectangular boxes
were beside it, and one of them was
Note: End of the cutscene. The player would there have to climb the three opened, with the missile inside.
floors to reach the launch unit, while getting rid of a few XOF soldiers. He – Dammit! Said Miller. It was loaded
wouldn't be able to rotate the camera and it would be placed behind the when you looked at it from below!
scaffolding, following the player in a vertical movement only, giving a 2D – Orders should have changed.
look to the sequence, with the remaining tanks/AMVs and two choppers Guessed Ocelot. An AGM-114 Hellfire missile tripod launch unit.
from the XOF in a last stand against the Sahelanthropus, in the background. – They let us clean up their mess… Concluded Miller. Bloody cowards.
Venom Snake observed the Sahelanthropus in the distance, and saw the
– Boss. Said Miller. The XOF is almost decimated… last XOF chopper crash beside it, in flames. It then walked slowly towards
– Reinforcements in position in two minutes! Said Ocelot. the scaffolding, its two burning archea blades in hand.
– You're the last. Said Eli throught the Sahelanthropus's speakers, from afar.
Note: A 2 minutes timer would appear on the screen from here. You'll die here and alone, Father! He added, shouting.
– Quick! Said Miller. Load a missile in there and shut that little brat's mouth!
Venom Snake reached the first floor. A soldier was there, hiding behind a Venom Snake took the missile, which was heavy and hard to handle, but
supply crate and firing from cover, so he lay down and crawled up to him, the Metal Gear was already there, ready to chop the scaffolding to pieces.
to throw him over the guardrail, using CQC. He then took the ladder to – This is Pequod, arriving shortly! Heard Venom Snake in his earphones.
the second floor and encountered two soldiers. With his rifle, he shot one Hang in there, Boss! Said the pilot. I have a visual, opening fire on the target!
and ran to the other one to throw him over the guardrail too. Then, on the Pequod's chopper passed over Venom Snake and fired a salvo of missiles
third floor, he found a last XOF soldier, whom he shot to clear the place. on the Sahelanthropus, to distract it before flying around it.
440 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 9D: HELLFIRE 441
– Who's alone, now? Asked Miller. Note: A cutscene would launch here.
– I think the little tyrant's reign has come to an end. Said Ocelot. Boss! The
tanks will repel the target. Hurry to shoot it down! The Sahelanthropus radome immediately
Five more Diamond Dogs's helicopters then flew over over Venom Snake. detected the Hellfire missile, so it jumped back
They hoisted tanks and lost altitude to drop them off on the island, before to get away from the Diamond Dogs vehicles.
taking off again and turning around, heading back south. It first launched probes as a countermeasure to
– They'll come back with more reinforcements shortly. Said Ocelot. The tanks The Sahelanthropus's radome. detonate the missile on contact, but its guidance
below will be enough for now to cover you while you fire the missiles. And systems made it recalculate its trajectory to avoid them and go straight to
Pequod will stay here to assist them. the Sahelanthropus. The latter then raised its left blade to strike it full force
– Hurry up load this thing and stop Eli! Added Miller. before it did, but the HEAT ammunition cut the blade near its base and
kept passing through it, then destroying the Metal Gear's spherical radome
Note: End of the cutscene. The player could rotate the camera as he wants on its left shoulder, thus depriving it of its guided missiles and probes's
again, from here. And he would have the first missile in his hands and be guidance system, as well as sensors warning it of external threats.
able to play again. He would walk very slowly510 and have to press the △ – Dammit! Screamed Miller.
button near the launch unit to load the missile. He could then aim at the – The shot isn't completely a failure,
target and would have to press the △ button a second time to fire. Boss. Nuanced Ocelot. Its radome is
down now, so it won't be able to dodge
– These missiles are equiped with HEAT511 ammo. Explained Ocelot. And the next one easily. But you only have
they're "fire and forget". Once fired, it will reach the target by itself. One hit one chance left. Don't miss it, your
on the Sahelanthropus's weak point and it's cut in half. Aim well, Boss. men here are counting on you.
As the tanks and Pequod were firing at the Metal Gear to repel it, Venom The Sahelanthropus, afar, then
Snake loaded the missile inside the launch unit and used the black and white turned into its REX mode.
screen above it and the buttons next to the latter to lock512 the Sahelanthropus – Oh, no… Said Miller. You can't
pelvis's joint: it's weak point. Once locked, all four red angles of the aiming aim at its weak point in that form!
system appeared around the target, and a beep was emetted by the unit. – Boss! Warned Ocelot. Eli's gonna
Venom Snake then fired. use the rail gun on the scaffolding
510 The real missile weights 45 kg. It was produced from 1982 until 1989. In addition, it's an air-to-surface
missile, used by aircrafts, so it would be accurate to use it from the heights of the scaffolding for a target below. from its position! Fire at it, now!
511 High Explosive Anti-Tank: special ammo designed to pierce shields.
512 I couldn't figure out how the Hellfire tripod launch unit works, so I imagined here a locking system using
simple gameplay mechanics similar to multi-lock homing missile launchers, like the CGM 25 of the game. Note: End of the cutscene. 3D render artwork of the Sahelenthropus's REX mode.
442 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 9E: EVEN IN DEATH 443
As the tanks moved away to stand out from the rail gun's path, its electric
blue light shone in the distance, gradually increasing in intensity. Venom
Snake opened the second missile box and took it, placed it into the launch E: Even in death
unit, and aimed at the Metal Gear's rail gun this time, to eventually fire it513.
Note: Here, there would be a short playable sequence.
Note: A cutscene would launch here. An alternative editing would show the
path of the missile and Venom Snake rushing down the scaffolding floors Venom Snake put his ankle back514 in a moment of pain, then stood up
(using the game's "rapid ladder descent" action, pressing the Ⅹ button). to look at the Sahelanthropus afar.
The missile left the unit and Venom Snake hastily left the scaffolding, as Note: A cutscene would launch here.
the Sahelanthropus was about to fire at it. And just before the missile hit
and pierced the rail gun, the latter fired its hypervelocity projectile which The Sahelanthropus had stood still since the missile hit it, with black
hit the scaffolding's base, which then began to fall back towards the lake. smoke coming from its damaged radome and rail gun. Venom Snake was
Venom Snake had just enough time to reach halfway and gripped the side looking at it, like all the Diamond Dogs tanks's pilots, but turned around
of the guardrail facing the island with both hands, to resist the shock. as he heard the choppers coming back behind him, approaching the island.
– Boss! Said Miller. One of them hoisted the Battle Gear, and the others two Walker Gears each.
– Jump! Added Ocelot. You'll die if you fall in this salt water!
Venom Snake then stepped over the guardrail and put his feet to the edge
of the void, his hands behind him, holding the guardrail. He waited a little
for the scaffolding to fall and lose altitude, to decrease the height to cover,
then jumped with a loud cry while the scaffold was entering the water,
before landing on the surface of the island, a few meters below, rolling, and
dislocating his right ankle during the operation. He moaned in pain, sat
down on the floor with his legs flat on it, in front of him.
– You're out of danger for now. Said Ocelot. Put your ankle back in place
before the rest of our troops arrive. I prepared something special for you.
Note: End of the cutscene. 3D RENDER ARTWORK OF THE BATTLE GEAR.

513 This whole Hellfire sequence was inspired by this official artwork of the Mission 51. 514 To do this, the player would have to press the △ button, like in a passage of the Prologue of the game.
– The Battle Gear has proven itself in the field now. Said Ocelot. It's fully – The Battle Gear is an armored weapon developed to take on hostile bipedal
ready for use in combat. Now, you have the advantage, Boss. Its rail gun will weapon systems. Explained Ocelot. You can alter its maneuverability by
make it through the armor of the Sahelanthropus. But this is our last option. changing its posture. In travel mode, it's as nimble as a horse, whereas in
The first chopper of the unit slowed down and landed the Battle Gear in fire mode you can move while keeping an eye on the area in front of you. It's
front of Venom Snake. The other four then dropped eight Walker Gears armed with a railgun and a light machinegun.517 You can use the machinegun
around, and as many Diamond Dogs soldiers disembarked from helicop- while in travel mode, but railgun requires you to be in fire mode, standing.
ters to land on the island. As they did, they all crouched down and ran The Battle Gear was on its default mode, the fire one. Venom Snake
their hands over the white, salty ground to cover their faces with it515, and activated the travel one and its mechanical front legs518 swung forward as
all turned to Venom Snake to say in chorus, saluting: its rear rose to stand upright and become bipedal.
– Even in death, Boss!
Then, they climbed into the Walker Gears, ready to escort their leader and
his Battle Gear. Meanwhile, the Sahelanthropus moved againand stood up to
stand erect, its last archea blade in its right hand, ready for its final standoff.
It gave a shy roar first, then pushed a powerful and agressive metallic simian
scream. Eli's hatred seemed like it could no longer be quenched and he was
ready to face the Diamond Dogs, starting with the row of six helicopters
that had lined up to head straight for him.
Note: The cutscene would end here. There would be a pre-boss battle
sequence, with the Sahelanthropus fighting the choppers in the distance, in
which the player could learn to control the Battle Gear with Ocelot's help.
– The choppers will occupy it for a little while, but their weaponry can do ARTWORK OF THE FIRE AND TRAVEL MODES OF THE BATTLE GEAR.
517 Here, some indications would appear on the screen for the player to activate the travel and fire modes,
nothing against the Sahelanthropus's armor. Said Ocelot. Let me brief you and to use the railgun and the machinegun. Besides, this advices were found as an audio file by data miners.
on how to use the Battle Gear, okay Boss? Get in! Moreover, the official text's line ended with "and a heavy machinegun". But according to the Battle Gear artworks,
it looks like, instead of its rail gun, it could have been equipped with a GATLING 30mm, a missile launcher, or a
Venom Snake entered the Battle Gear516 and awkwardly maneuvered it. POWER-ARM. So here, I only equipped it with the rail gun and a light machingun similar to the game's tanks.
518 According to some game's data, the Battle Gear should have used magnetic levitation technology, such
515 This is a reference to when Venom Snake covered his face with the ashes of a dead Diamond Dog soldier, as maglev trains. But a magnetic levitation train requires a specific network of tracks and can't take conventional
in the Mission 43: Shining Lights, Even in Death. sections that already exist, or move freely. So here, for the novel, let's say that the Battle Gear has four mechani-
516 The player would be just in front of the Battle Gear and have to press the △ button to board the tank, as cal legs equipped with tracks for fire mode and two similar legs to the Sahelanthropus in travel mode. Of course,
with all drivable vehicles in the game. I imagine there were explanations for this Battle Gear's magnetic levitation technology, but I couldn't find them.
– Boss, one last word about the rail gun. Said Ocelot. Huey miniaturized it Growling and waving its archaea blade at the helicopters flying around it,
for the Battle Gear. It's thinner than that of the Sahelanthropus, but just as the Sahelanthropus was then hit by small missiles fired by the row of four
powerful, and even faster to charge. But it still requires not to move during CFA-WG Type-C and four CCCP-WG Type-C Walker Gears.
use, to withstand the recoil. And due to the Battle Gear's smaller size, he also
equipped it with a wave shield that activates while using the rail gun, to protect
it and its pilot. Take the Sahelanthropus down, and end this carnage519.
3D RENDER ARTWORKS OF CFA-WG TYPE C AND CCCP-WG TYPE-C WALKER GEARS.
The Sahelanthropus then turned to them and took the blade it was holding
in its right hand with its left, to cock the black pylon arm under its right
wrist. It then aimed at one and hit it with the pylon while releasing it, which
instantly destroyed it. It then took one of the six grenades strapped to its
ARTWORK OF THE BATTLE GEAR AND ITS WAVE SHIELD, WHILE USING ITS RAIL GUN. thighs, unbuckled it and threw it at the Walker
Gears. A cloud of orange smoke then rose520.
Note: As the player would have tested the Battle Gear, he would have to join – One down. Everyone, back off! Said Ocelot. It's
the formation of eight Walker Gears facing him. As he would approach,they corrosive archea, one touch and your gear melts.
would also advance and stay in front of him in a semicircle, until reaching – Diamond Dogs! Shouted Miller to all the
the Sahelanthropus position. There, a short cutscene would launch. pilots. Stay away and get its attention until the
Boss cuts off its legs! This is your chance to avenge
our fallen comrades. Let's destroy this monster! The pylon arm and a grenade.
519 The player could get off the Battle Gear, but Ocelot would tell him by asking him what he is doing and
that he goes back in to destroy the Sahelanthropus. The Battle Gear's rail gun would be the only way to beat it. 520 These grenades would create a cloud of orange smoke that would disappear after a few seconds.
Note: With the size of the island , this boss battle would be like playing in a
giant sandbox, in which the player would have to run across an expanse of
white sand strewn with wreckages of the XOF tanks and AMVs, and wait
for his soldiers to catch the attention of the Sahelanthropus, to be able to fire
at it with its rail gun. The latter would have a sight equipped with a locking
system of its target similar to those of the Killer Bee and CGM 25. Once
locked, the Battle Gear would stop moving, activate its wave shield and the
rail gun would follow its target's movements, until being fully charged and
firing. The upper part of the Battle Gear could rotate at 360° horizontally,
and its rail gun at 90° up, so the targets couldn't escape its rail gun522.
Already surrounded by the fly-like choppers flying around and the

remaining tanks afar, the Sahelanthropus now had to deal with the small
ARTWORK OF THE SAHELANTHROPUS AND THE BATTLE GEAR IN ITS TRAVEL MODE. mechs crawling on the ground like bugs. So it used its pelvis's flamethrower
FOR THIS BOOK, I CHANGED THE BOSS BATTLE LOCATION OFF THE ISLAND.
to keep the Walker Gears at bay and threw archaea grenades at the tanks,
Note: The cutscene would end here. A red Sahelanthropus life bar would destroying one, before spinning its blade to try to hit the choppers above,
appear in the screen's upper left corner, like in Mission 31: Sahelanthropus. thus covering the island's surface in flying dust, black smoke and flames.
Venom Snake, afar, ran into travel mode and took position, switching to
Extradiegetic music n° 9: fire mode. He then locked the Metal Gear, which saw it and hit the ground
Kingdom of the Flies - The Final Standoff521 with its blade to summon a line of metal pylon, heading towards him.
By Ludvig Forssell. – Boss! Said Miller. Don't stay there, move!
Venom Snake listened to him and canceled the rail gun shot523 to escape
Note: Another detail: from there, Diamond Dogs soldiers aboard choppers the lines of pylons and move nearby.
(except Pequod), tanks and Walker Gears could die at any time, under the – You must wait until you have a firing window, or he won't give you a chance.
Sahelanthropus attacks. Whenever this would happen, the iDroid's voice Advised Ocelot. Wait until you are out of its field of vision.
would say "– Staff member has died." and the player would lose 30 Hero 522 During the game's development, the Battle Gear was expected to be playable in all areas of the game
(Afghanistan and Africa), but testing showed a huge imbalance between player and enemies. But for this novel,
Points, like in the Mission 43: Shining Lights, Even in Death. A way to I thought that it could at least have been used in the Mission 51 and I imagined that the rail gun could have
involve the player and make him want to protect his soldiers. rotated to hit any target in front of or above it, including helicopters.
523 A dedicated command should have been included to cancel a rail gun shot anytime, if needed. Or the
521 It's an unused official Mission 51's track, released in the Metal Gear Solid V (Extended Soundtrack) (2015). player could get stuck, unable to move, as an enemy approaches or is about to shoot him.
450 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 9F: SEPPUKU 451
Venom Snake switched into travel mode and ran with the Battle Gear to
bypass the Sahelanthropus. As he was moving, the Metal Gear destroyed a
chopper with its blade, before turning its massive head towards two Walker F: Seppuku
Gears close togther and shooting at it with its twin gatling guns. Destroyed524,
it tried to destroy another one with its pylon arm, but it failed. Meanwhile, The Sahelanthropus's legs were severely damaged and began to stagger.
Venom Snake had time to bypass the Sahelanthropus, and stopped to switch The joint of its pelvis was strewn with the four impacts of the Battle Gear's
into fire mode and locked it with its rail gun, which began to charge, until rail gun, and electric arcs flickered there at times. It took a few steps away
firing a first high speed bullet, which badly damaged525 the pelvis joint of from the Diamond Dogs, and then collapsed526 near the lake's water. Its left
the Sahelanthropus, which uttered a loud, shrill cry, before turning to him knee and hand, holding its blade, on the ground, and the right hand resting
and launching a series of metal pylon lines that Venom Snake had to dodge on the other knee. It stood up with difficulty in a mixture of squeaks and
by switching to travel mode and running. metallic clashes, growling painfully, to face Venom Snake. It then proudly
– All right, it works… Said Miller, relieved. raised its metal microbe blade above its head.
– You can't protect anyone!527 Screamed Eli through the Metal Gear speakers.
Note: While running around the Sahelanthropus, the player could hustle – What is he doing? Venom Snake heard Miller say, through his earphones.
Walker Gears with his Battle Gear, but this would be harmless, such as Realizing it was over, Eli initiated the self-destruct sequence by stabbing
when hustling an ally or prisoner, on foot. the metal parasite blade into the Sahelanthropus's stomach, above its pelvis,
committing seppuku528. It then began enriching its depleted uranium armor.
The battle continued for a few minutes, during which part of the choppers, – Not good… Said Ocelot. Boss! Eli wants to turn the Sahelanthropus into
tanks and Walker Gears of the Diamond Dogs ended up in pieces or in a nuclear bomb! He announced, as a light began to shine where the blade
flames on the island's soil. had been pushed in. Huey should have told him about the Sahelanthropus's
– How could it have gone that far… Lamented Miller. That stupid boy! trump card. At the request of Skull Face, its armor was crafted from depleted
Eventually, after four Battle Gear's rail gun hits, the Sahelanthropus's uranium so that it could become a nuclear weapon itself, using built-in uranium
mechanical legs were increasingly weakened and it was no longer able to enrichment archaea, to quickly melt parts of its own armor and extract the
walk and function properly. uranium-235 at a high concentration, the end result being highly-enriched
weapons-grade uranium. Huey claimed that if it self-destructs, the nuclear
Note: The boss battle would end when the Sahelanthropus's life bar reaches yield of the explosion would be around 15 kilotons529.
526 Fixed location, so regardless of where the fight ends, it ends up in this spot.
zero. There, a cutscene would launch. 527 This is a reference to a line from Metal Gear Solid (1998).
524 The events here are scripted for the novel, but that would depend on how the player plays. 528 The seppuku (切腹, "cutting [the] belly"), was a Japanese ritual form abolished in 1873 of male suicide by
525 A rail gun hit would remove 25% of the Sahelanthropus's life bar, but would take a bit of time to perform. disembowelment with a saber, in the samurai class, to die with honor rather than fall into their enemies's hands.
The vehicles weapons would damage it too, but very little and very slowly. 529 Little Boy, the atomic bomb dropped on Hiroshima August 6, 1945 had a power of 12-15 kilotons.
– Aside on "how an atomic bomb works": – Schematics of Little Boy and Fat Man atomic bombs:
The power of an explosion of 15 kilotons is equivalent to 15,000 kilos of

TNT. It's that of the atomic bomb "Little Boy" used by the USA on Hiroshima
in 1945, and the Sahelanthropus. Atomic bombs use nuclear fission:
– An atom, the building block of all matter in the world, is made up of a
nucleus containing protons and neutrons, with electrons orbiting around it.
Electrons have a negative charge and protons have a positive one. Neutrons
are used to maintain a balance between the nucleus's positive protons which
repel each other. The addition of protons and neutrons makes up the mass
of the atom. For example, that of hydrogen is 4: 2 protons and two neutrons.
For nuclear bombs, Uranium 235 (atoms which has a mass of 235, so very
heavy) is used, or Plutonium 239 (made from uranium and which has a mass
of 239). The nuclear fission used to making them explode causes a chain
reaction that breaks all the atoms it contains. When a nucleus breaks, the
balance between the positive protons provided by the neutrons stops and
they immediately repel each other, in a rapid movement suddenly creating
a large amount of energy. The explosion of the atom then projects neutrons
onto those around it and will in turn shatter them, creating a chain reaction
that will lead to the nuclear explosion. Two examples:
– Little Boy - Hiroshima (August 6, 1945): the fission was obtained with a
small explosion at the top of the interior compartment of the bomb, above
a piece of uranium 235 which was suddenly thrown on a larger one below.
The shock initiated nuclear fission which then generated the explosion.
– Fat Man - Nagasaki (August 9, 1945): This bomb was oval and contained
a spherical device, in which explosives surrounded a sphere of plutonium
239. The explosives detonated simultaneously, and under pressure, the
fission was triggered and caused the explosion530.
530 Among several sources, I used this video (french only) to understand how it worked and write this page.
The bright shine from the Sahelanthropus armor's stomach crack gradually Venom Snake aimed at the Sahelanthropus through the scope of the Battle
spread to its entire body. Gear's rail gun, and had to wait a few endless seconds for it to be charged,
– When Sahelanthropus's LIFE reaches zero531, its body explodes! Precised to finally fire533.
Ocelot. And it would wipe out anything within a 2 miles radius. This whole
lake area would suddenly disappear and the fire from the bomb would spread Note: As he would fire a successful shot, a cutscene would launch.
through the forest for acres around.
With everyone still motionless in front of the shining Metal Gear, which The rail gun's bullet hit the Sahelanthropus's pelvis joint and made it
has started to enrich its depleted uranium armor, the latter turned around explode, which cut the Metal Gear in half534 and stopped the uranium
and headed west, towards the lake's bay, to flee in the forest. enrichment of its armor. Its lower part instantly fell vertically into the lake,
– Oh no, you're not going nowhere! Said Miller. Diamond Dogs, open fire! while its upper part was thrown forward, towards the bay. It crashed into it
The last choppers and Walker and kept moving forward, scraping the ground for dozens of yards, creating
Gears fired at the Sahelanthropus, a path through the forest. Venom Snake saw it all
as its massive legs entered the red from the island, and got out of the Battle Gear,
corrosive water and walked with observing the double trail of black smoke emanating
difficulty, then sank a few meters, at from the explosion spot in the sky. There, he saw
the level of its knees532. Tretij Rebenok emerge, facing the bay. His black
– Its legs will melt in there… Said straitjacket had burned in the Sahelanthropus's
Miller. What is he thinking about? explosion and his skeletal torso was now visible,
Tretij Rebenok then appeared Godzilla escaping from Tokyo Bay after attacking it. only covered by the suspenders of his black canvas
above the Metal Gear and levitated it, out of the lake. Its calves and feet pants. His hands were also appearing for the first
lightly eaten away by the red water which streamed from them, it then rose time, hitherto hidden under the long sleeves of
into the air and followed an upward and straight path towards the bay. the camisole, and were covered with black gloves.
– Boss! Said Miller. Last chance! Cut in it half before it's out of reach! Its pelvis He then turned to look at Venom Snake, before
is almost broken, hit it one last time with the rail gun! approaching Makat Island, levitating, in a descen-
ding motion. The Diamond Dogs helicopters and
Artwork of an alternate outfit
Note: End of the cutscene. The player would still be in the Battle Gear, and of Tretij Rebenok. vehicles then turned to the floating boy and fired
would have to lock the Sahelanthropus's and fire with the rail gun once. 533 As the rail gun features a homing locking target system, this sequence would be impossible to miss.
531 "(internally)", specified the official text. 534 There would be several shots showing the Sahelanthropus explosion from different angles. It was often
532 The Sahelanthropus is 24 m high. This is a reference to a scene from Godzilla (1954), in which the monster made in 80s movies, because the explosions were made with practical effects (before CGI) and they were
leaves Tokyo Bay which it has just set ablaze, by the sea, under a rain of missiles fired by the army's fighter planes. expensive. It was a way of making them profitable by showing them well, from all possible points of view.
456 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 10: THE MIND PARASITE 457
at him, but the bullets went through him. Venom Snake, standing on the
Battle Gear, watched him slowly approach, until he stopped a few feet away
from him, above and still, looking at him. He then raised his left medical
arm, closed fist, and everyone stopped firing. He then lowered it, feeling
the Battle Gear start to slowly levitate, lifted by Tretij Rebenok.
– This kid is too dangerous… Added Miller. You have to shoot him down! 10 - THE MIND PARASITE
– No. Replied calmly Venom Snake, looking at the red-haired boy now
facing him, still, as the latter had raised the Battle Gear to his level.
– I know it's a kid, but you know how psychics are used by the military535,
Boss… Said Ocelot. Extradiegetic music n° 10:
As he was speaking, Tretij Rebenok raised his right arm and slowly (Youtube link) The Floating Boy537 (Bandcamp link)
approached Venom Snake, levitating. He then removed his right glove with By Victor Reynart.
his left hand, and as he was just in front of him, ready to put a hand on his
head, he suddenly backed up to avoid the firing of a Walker Gear from the Note: This wouldn't really be a boss fight, and the player should had payd
ground. The floating boy looked at the shooter and focused on him, losing attention to the latter cutscene to "win" it. However, a red life bar with the
the telekinetic hold he had on the Battle Gear, which fell like a stone several name of Tretij Rebenok would appear on the screen, to fool him.
meters away, before crashing to the soil of the island from which it had
risen. The shock shattered its four "legs" joints, and it could no longer move. Mission info updated:
As Venom Snake took the shock, rolled onto his side and fell to the ground, Defeat Tretij Rebenok
the choppers, tanks and Walker Gears then aimed at Tretij Rebenok, about
to open fire, but the latter raised his arms outstretched, palms out, and used Standing again, surrounded by all the vehicles immobilized on the ground
his powers to immobilize everyone536, before descending to float above and in the air, Venom Snake had to face the boy who was floating above
Venom Snake, who pulled out his assault rifle, ready to defend himself. him, while advancing slowly towards him, without moving his limbs.
– Dammit! I told you! Said Miller. Get rid of him, Boss!
Note: The cutscene would end there and a boss battle would begin. – Yes! Agreed Ocelot. Even he must have a weak point. Find it, and quick!
535 This is a reference to the character of Elisa from Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006). A young woman You still have to go see if Eli's still alive, so we can get the Sahelanthropus back.
with high ESP and psychic abilities, as well as two personalities (Elisa and Ursula) one of which (Ursula) was
used by the game's antagonist: Gene. She also controlled the Metal Gear RAXA, which was incomplete, in the Venom Snake started running to get away from Tretij Rebenok, and
same way that Tretij Rebenok controls the Sahelanthropus here, using telekinesis. aimed at him with his gun, but he kept advancing towards him, like a ghost.
536 The vehicles would all be immobilized. The helicopter blades would move but the aircrafts wouldn't be
able to move; they would be frozen in the air. 537 The music would be slow and atmospheric, to give the player a hint about the situation and what to do.
458 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 10: THE MIND PARASITE 459
Venom Snake then opened fire, but the kid avoided the bullets and moved Tretij Rebenok took off his right glove again, putting one foot on the
away from him slightly, before floating in his direction again538. ground, then the other. Facing Venom Snake, who stood still, arms swinging.
– What the hell… What does he want? Asked Miller. He doesn't even attack! The boy raised his bare hand as high as he could to reach the top of Venom
– Is it a test? Wondered Ocelot. Or is he just playing with you? Snake's head, but had to levitate slightly to get there, lifting his feet until
Venom Snake tried other weapons, smoke grenades, even the immobi- their tips lifted a few inches off the ground. Venom Snake's eyes closed as
lised Battle Gear rail gun539, but nothing worked. Tretij Rebenok put his hand on his head.
Note: If the player couldn't figure out what to do here, Ocelot would give Note: There would be a black screen here, followed by a special cutscene.
him clues about it in some lines of dialogue: Here, Tretij Rebenok would delve into Venom Snake's memories to look
– Well… Said Ocelot. There is still some good news in all of this. This strange for something in his past. He would eventually discover his true identity
boy serves the hatred of his host. First Volgin, then Skull Face, and now, Eli… in his subconscious and then detach himself from Eli's will of revenge,
So if he's still after you, that means that this stupid blond kid is still alive… since he's not his target (not the real Big Boss). Confused, he would then
Or: leave the place, alone. To translate Tretij Rebenok's intrusion into the mind
– Boss. Said Ocelot. Do you remember when you were on the Battle Gear? of Venom Snake, I thought it might have been interesting to break the
In the air? He was about to put his hand on your head. Maybe he wanted to fourth wall by referring to the Metal Gear Solid (1998) fake bugs during the
read your mind? It's just a guess, but… boss fight against Psycho Mantis, with a cutscene in which Tretij Rebenok
would go to the console menu to search for the Metal Gear Solid V: Ground
Venom Snake then faced Tretij Rebenok and stopped attacking him. The Zeroes (2014) save in the save menu, and open it; which would launch the
kid then approached and stopped about three feet (a meter) in front of him. game's opening cutscene, with ellipses and real-time pauses for important
– Mh… Said Ocelot. He doesn't seem to want to fight. Maybe it's time to put moments in game events, until reaching the chopper's explosion moment,
the guns away, Boss540. where the Mission 46: Truth's cutscene reveals the true identity of Venom
Venom Snake put his assault rifle behind his back and found himself Snake: the combat medic. Once in possession of the information, there
unarmed, facing his opponent541. would be a return to the game, and Venom Snake would open his eyes, with
Tretij Rebenok flying away in front of him. However, to prevent the player
Note: After a few seconds, a black fade would lead to a cutscene: from thinking that his console is bugging, there would be a small "HIDEO"
538 This is what he would do everytime the player would try to shoot him. Go away, then come back. in the screen's upper corner at the very start of the cutscene. In addition,
539 Although impossible for the player to move it now, he could still enter in it and use its weapons.
540 This would be the last piece of advice from Ocelot, indicating to the player to deselect his weapon. This the player wouldn't really need a save of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
boss would be a reference to old video games from the PS1-N64/PS2-Gamecube era, with their sequences or (2014). The cutscene would be the same for everyone. It's a way of represen-
bosses without help/indications that made players tear their hair out.
541 The player should let him approach and be disarmed to end the boss fight. ting Big Boss and Venom Snake's memory, who, them, lived these events.
460 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 11: RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK 461
– Boss? Said the voice of Miller. Answer, Boss! Boss!

Now out of his mind control, Venom Snake slowly opened his eyes, and
saw Tretij Rebenok floating above the red lake, in front of him. He was
heading towards the forest, but not in Eli's direction from which a large
black cloud of smoke was emerging, a little further south. Around Venom
Snake, Diamond Dogs choppers, tanks and Walker Gears were also able 11 - RACE AGAINST THE CLOCK
to move again. But some helicopters were maneuvering while they were
immobilized, and had difficulties to stabilize.
– I'm here. Said Venom Snake to Miller. Looks like he's running away.
– Why? Asked Ocelot. It doesn't make any sense. Note: The player would have to reach the airboat first, then the bay. A
– Nevermind. Replied Miller, while Venom Snake was still watching Tretij yellow dot would appear on the mission map to indicate him where it is543.
Rebenok disappear in the distance. One problem solved. And I'm afraid we
have another one right now… Out Intel Team just tell us that XOF troops are Extradiegetic music n° 11:
coming from the west, towards the forest leading to the bay. Infantry only. (Youtube link) In A Rush (Bandcamp link)
They spot the Sahelanthropus explosion in the sky and are now on the way to By Victor Reynart.
its head's crash site. You must secure the place so that we can get it back before
they do. And Eli is still inside, possibly unconscious, or injured. Maybe both. Mission info updated:
You have to protect him from the XOF. They must not come into contact with Reach the Sahelanthropus head crash site
him! Insisted Miller. He carries the English strain of the parasite.

– The XOF surely had a back-up plan for this operation. Guessed Ocelot. We – You just neutralized the walking nuke, Boss… Said Miller. More than to
still don't know how many they are. Boss, our men can't reach the bay ,and avoid a global outbreak and we can finally leave this place…
neither can you. The XOF bridge had been crushed by the Sahelanthropus and – Boss? Said Ocelot. I just left with the flight. We'll be there in a few minutes.
our choppers are damaged. I just called them back. But the airboat you used The fate of Eli is now in your hands.
to reach this island is still at its southern tip. Use it. I'm sending the choppers Venom Snake rushed to the south of the island as fast as possible, to board
extraction flight542 to recover the Sahelanthropus right now, and would be the airboat that the XOF scaffolding's fall spared, and start it to head for the
aboard one of them. Announced Ocelot. It's time to bring the beast home. bay, alone. He quickly docked north of it, where he first found the airboat.
Note: The cutscene would end here. Note: A cutscene would launch here.
542 A flight is a military unit generally composed of three to six aircrafts. 543 In case the player doesn't remember, as it would be a long mission.
As Venom Snake was mooring the airboat, an XOF soldier silently

emerged from the forest, his assault rifle pointed at him. But he spotted him
and pretended not, before turning around, drawing his handgun to shoot
without aiming at the soldier, who wasn't hit but dropped his weapon,
before rushing towards Venom Snake, grabbing him by the neck with both
hands. Venom Snake dropped his pistol and tried to shake off the soldier's
grip, using both arms to injure one of his. But the soldier pushed him back
and used his legs to knock him down. Venom Snake fell on his back near
the edge of the bay, his head above the burning water of the lake. The soldier
still held his grip around his neck and slowly slid him down into the water,
but Venom Snake placed his left bionic arm in the low water, which began
to melt it superficially, to stop moving back towards the water, and he pulled
ARTWORK OF THE DAMAGED SAHELANTHROPUS HEAD, WITH XOF SOLDIERS NEARBY.
his knife out of its holster with the right, holding it blade down, to try to
slit the throat of the soldier who was wearing a bulletproof vest, but missed
his shot. The soldier stepped back, and loosened his grip, allowing Venom Note: What follows is part of the official revealed content of the Mission 51.
Snake to immediately deliver a second blow by bringing his arm to the right
to cut the straps of the soldier's gas mask. He then grabbed it with his right Coming from its now open east side, Venom Snake entered the circular
hand and pulled it out by sliding it upwards, then used his left arm still in clearing: an empty spot with grass covering its earthy, rocky ground. The
the water to throw himself forward and put his bionic hand still covered Sahelanthropus's head was there, in front of him, resting on its right side
with the lake water on the now uncovered soldier's face. The latter began to and its cockpit open. Its "face" was heavily damaged and its mechanical
scream as he felt his skin burn, then Venom Snake grabbed him with both interior partially visible. Sparks shoot out of it. The rest of the upper body
arms to throw him into the lake. The soldier swallowed a mouthful, and the was behind the head, and black smoke rose from the two to form a column
water burned his throat and lungs. Soon, he was floating on his stomach, on above, serving as a benchmark for the XOF. With his assault rifle in hand,
the shimmering red surface of the lake. Rid of him, Venom Snake recove- crouching, Venom Snake walked towards the head and hid behind a piece
red his pistol on the ground and ran towards the wide path carved in the of the Metal Gear armor that had fallen on the ground, to his left, to observe.
forest by the head of the Sahelanthropus, when it fell from the sky. Many
tree trunks had been crushed to the ground and the grass covering the Note: From there would be a special first person view scripted sequence,
latter had been torn for several meters, until a small clearing near the bay, during which the player could slightly move the camera around the
in the center of which the head of Sahelanthropus had finished its course. predefined axis of the character's vision, and also act at a specific point.
Eli appeared in the head's cockpit, in his red pilot suit, white helmet and escape the explosion and was thrown by it, and now exposed. As he was
black respirator mask. As he climbed out of it, two XOF soldiers came to struggling to get up, his vision became hazy and the explosion's shock trigge-
the south of the clearing, to Venom Snake's left, through the trees in the red his color blind problem, just like in the Cypriot hospital544. He could
forest. The one on the left had an assault rifle and the other a light machine no longer see the color red, but spotted two more XOF soldiers reaching
gun. When they spotted Eli, they opened fire on the cockpit. Eli managed the Sahelanthropus head, coming from his left. So he first aimed at the two
to get out and fell to the ground on his back, unharmed and out of the soldiers already near Eli and shot them, before eliminating the two others
soldiers' fire. But the shock took his breath away and he remained nailed to who had just arrived545. However, by the time he recovered from the grenade
the ground. The XOF duo approached, walking quickly, and stopped beside explosion, Eli got up and grabbed a gun on the ground. He was crouched
him. From his position, Venom Snake drew his pistol as the soldier with the among the soldiers and aiming in Venom Snake's direction, so the latter
assault rifle handed it to his comrade, before a third soldier joined them, shot him in the heat of the moment, due to his vision problem: Eli's red suit
arriving from the north, to the right of Venom Snake. The soldier who had appeared to him as grey white, like the soldiers's, and he mistook him for
discarded his assault rifle pulled a pistol equipped with a silencer from its one of them. Eli screamed, and then fell to the ground, with a shrill scream.
holster and aimed at Eli. Venom Snake intervened and pointed his gun at
the trio before Eli was killed. Note: Hearing the scream, the Venom Snake's vision problem caused by
the shrapnel in his skull would disappear, and he would see the red again.
Note: Here, a short "Reflex Mode"
sequence would have been activated, Venom Snake took his eye away from his gun sight, looked at the person
during which the player would have he had just shot, and got up to walk towards Eli, realizing what he had done.
to kill the three soldiers in a row. – No. He said, out of breath and walking, still a little stunned. No…
The sequence is part of the official He then picked up the pace and joined Eli, still lying on the ground,
footage revealed, and I guess the squirming very slightly. He fell to his knees, to his right, and put his hands
Screenshot of the sequence in first person view. player fails if he doesn't kill them all. on the helmet that covered his little head, leaning to the right side, and put
it upright to see his fixed gaze, eyes open. Venom Snake lowered his head
Rid of the trio, two other soldiers came to Venom Snake's right. Still for a second, lifted it up, looked briefly at Eli, and lifted it up again.
hidden behind the large piece of metal, he finished emptying his magazine – Nooooooooo! He yelled, in a powerful and heartbreaking cry.
with a blind suppressing fire in their direction, only exposing his right arm
for a very short time. He then took cover to reload and, ready to fire again, Note: A black fade would make a transition here.
saw one of the XOF soldiers unpin and throw a grenade in his direction, 544 During the prologue of the game, just after the man on fire destroyed the helicopter in one of the hospital
hallways and Venom Snake had to put his right ankle back in place.
which landed a few dozen inches from him, at his feet. He jumped back to 545 Once again, it would be up to the player to eliminate them.
466 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 7] THE FALLEN KING 467
The medic crouched to Eli's right, to

remove his helmet using both hands, while
Venom Snake took a few steps to move
[CUTSCENE 7] and stop about three feet in front of Eli.
The medic then took off the kid's respira-
THE FALLEN KING tor mask. He was alive, moving his grumpy
face. The medic then slightly lowered the
zipper of his red suit which had a hole to the
left of the heart made by the bullet Venom
Note: This cutscene is from the mission's official revealed footage. Basically, Snake had fired, and everyone discovered
everything that was written before was supposed to lead to that already the presence of a ballistic vest underneath,
existing final part, with minor adjustments to homogenize everything. Artwork of Eli's ballistic vest. which had stopped it546.
– He’ll be all right. Said the medic to Venom Snake, after briefly inspecting
The heavy-lift choppers from reached the site of the Sahelanthropus head the point of impact on Eli's torso with one hand. The vest took the bullet.
crash. One of them landed in the clearing, the blades still rotating and ready Another soldier arrived and crouched to Eli's left.
to go. As its crew got out of it, some choppers left the formation and headed – Get him on the chopper. Said Venom Snake. We’ll patch him up at base.
for the lower body of the Metal Gear, still in the lake water near Makat The second medic put on and activated the special goggles that could
Island, while others headed for the head and the few small parts scattered detect the vocal cord parasite and inspected Eli's throat. He approached,
on the clearing's ground. Six Diamond Dogs soldiers got out the chopper slowly, and stepped back abruptly, uttering a cry of surprise as he stood up.
that had landed, then Ocelot. They were all wearing respirator masks and – Boss! He said, pointing his right index finger at Eli. He’s showing symptoms!
Ocelot was in the center of the group, escorted by three soldiers on each Ocelot unit's soldiers turned to Eli, ready to use their assault rifles. The
side. To their right, another helicopter approached the ground, near the first medic got up like the other and walked away from Eli, who burst out
Sahelanthropus's head, guided by a few soldiers on the ground, who had laughing, but a cough interrupted him. Venom Snake knelt in front of him.
just disembarked from it. Ocelot's group of seven joined Venom Snake and – I was created by Cipher. Eli said, looking at him. And I was the flaw. He
Eli. After shooting him, he moved and put him in a sitting position against added, looking away. My fate was written in my genes. I’m the loser. He
the piece of metal behind which he had eliminated the soldiers who wanted complained, hitting the ground with his right hand. You. All because of
to kill Eli, earlier. The medic from Ocelot's group reached them first. you! I’m not me. He said, raising his right hand. I’m just a copy of you. He
– Gimme some room. He said, putting his left hand on the right shoulder realized, putting his hand on the ground.
of Venom Snake, who stood up and walked away a little. 546 Venoms Snake's AM D114-9, can penetrates some armors and helmets, but not this vest, heavier.
Venom Snake learned the truth – Nobody nearby? Asked Venom Snake, worried.
about Eli at this very moment, – Except the XOF? Ocelot replied. No… No locals. Our guys in the field
and turned to look at Ocelot, who moved them away from the forest during the mission.
seemed less surprised547. – All right, then. Said Venom Snake in approval.
– I will surpass my father… Said Eli. – Sanitize every square inch. Ocelot then ordered everyone. Prepare to
Destroy my father… He added, as drop. He added, before the soldier wearing the goggles briefly saluted him
Venom Snake looked at him again. Screenshot of Venom Snake looking at Ocelot. in response. We’re pulling out! Move! He finally said, raising his voice,
Destroy… You! He yelled, gripping his bionic arm with his right hand. I’ll turning to the chopper, and making a sign to everyone with his left hand.
kill all of Cipher. I’ll destroy your precious world. – Code red! Code red! Said a soldier, following him.
Ocelot then approached Venom Snake and put his right hand on his right The whole unit then immediately followed Ocelot to the aircraft, while
shoulder, as Eli was seized with another coughing fit. Venom Snake stood Venom Snake stayed there, facing Eli and pulling his pistol from its holster.
up and turned to Ocelot. – Live… Said Eli to himself,
– Code red! Code red! Announced a soldier by radio. We need to go fast. exhausted, as Venom Snake was
More XOF troops have been spotted in the west, they'll be here soon. How is pointing his gun at him. Live!
it going over there? He asked the team to look for the Metal Gear lower part. – You’re one hell of a soldier. Said
– There's nothing you can do for him now… Said Ocelot to Venom Snake. Venom Snake. I give you that. But
A soldier joined them both. yet, we're not blood related.
– Island’s completely contaminated. He announced. And the bay could be Screenshot of Venom Snake pointing his gun at Eli. – What? Asked Eli, surprised.
too, now. Orders are to use napalm to sanitize… – You said Cipher created you, but… We made a blood test while you were
Ocelot then turned to Venom Snake. on Mother Base, and our DNAs don't match. He revealed. I’m not the one
– We recovered all our vehicles from salt island, Boss. He said. As well as the you’re looking for. He added, marking a pause. And you know what? I'm
lower part of the Sahelanthropus in the lake. The upper one here… He added, afraid you’re just chasing a ghost.
pointing at the soldiers placing cables on the head of the Sahelanthropus, a – Liar… Said Eli, yet unable to receive this revalation. That's a lie! They
little further. And you. Now, we're ready to go and bomb the place. created me from you! It's because of you that I'm alive!
547 At this point of the game, Ocelot only told to Venom Snake that he wanted to make a blood test to – You're not a copy of me! Said Venom Snake. And even if you were, we're
compare his DNA with Eli's, but because it didn't match, said it was nothing important. He knows that Eli is Big
Boss's clone, and that this Venom Snake is really just an avatar. He had been watching Eli to see if they could all more or less faithful copies of our ancestors DNAs.
use him to help thwart Zero's plan, and if he could be brought over to their side, but here he decides to cut him
loose. Logically, like Big Boss, Venom Snake knew that he was cloned because it was the motive for his parting Eli bowed his head, and looked confused548.
ways with Cipher, in 1972, but he had no idea that Eli was one of the clones. But Big Boss, him, knew it. A tape 548 This exchange about Eli's DNA, that I added to this cutscene, refers to the main problematic of the charac-
from the "Truth Records" unlockable after the Mission 46: Truth, called "Les Enfants Terribles", reveals a discus- ter and Metal Gear Solid (1998): that only DNA, our genes, define who we are. Idea from which Solid Snake
sion between Ocelot and the real Big Boss. They talk about David and Eli, the two clones of Zero's project. manages to break away at the end of the game, unlike Liquid Snake (Eli).
– It's not the only thing that defines you, Eli… Said Venom Snake. Move
on. And try to leave in peace, at least.
– I will kill you! Eli yelled, raising his head, with a rage still intact despite
his condition.
Venom Snake then stood still for a few seconds, and brought his pistol
back to him to remove the magazine, which he stowed away in one of the
left back pockets of his fatigue pants.
– All right. He said, before removing the last loaded pistol's bullet from the
gun chamber and grabbing it with his bionic hand. Don’t blame yourself.
Blame me, if you want. But you're not a copy of me. Someone lied to you. Or
to me… Suddenly wondered Venom Snake. But anyway, I'm not responsible
for what Cipher did. For your information, I disagreed with their project.
SCREENSHOT OF ELI LOOKING AT THE FLIGHT LEAVING THE PLACE.
With the weapon emptied, its hammer lowered and slide recessed, Venom
Snake put the bullet back inside the barell and the slide came back in place.
He then turned around, as Eli was raising his right arm in his direction, and BONUS:
turned back, crouched down, and put the loaded gun on the ground, at a
safe distance from Eli, and walked
over towards Ocelot's chopper, to
leave the place. Eli began to crawl on
the ground to reach for the gun and
took it with his right hand. He aimed
at Venom Snake a few seconds, but
finally let his hand holding the gun Screenshot of Eli aiming at Venom Snake.
fall to the ground, and put his head down. He then got up, while the helicop-
ter carrying Sahelanthropus' head took off behind him. With a look full of
helplessness and hatred, he watched the helicopters flight fly away in the air,
heading south, quickly joined by Venom Snake and Ocelot's one.
ARTWORK OF THE SCENE, WITH VENOM SNAKE FACING ELI, WHILE THE DIAMOND DOGS
Note: This cutscene doesn't end right here, but I made a cut for this novel. RECOVER THE REMAINS OF THE SAHELANTHROPUS IN THE BACKGROUND.
472 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 8] THE LUST FOR REVENGE 473

(Youtube link) Третий Ребенок (Bandcamp link)
[CUTSCENE 8] By Victor Reynart.
THE LUST FOR REVENGE – Sir, we've found the boy. Said a muffled voice behind the shirtless boy
watching the two animals, standing near a tree. No, the psycick… Got it.
Two XOF soldiers passed him by chance on their way to the Sahelanthropus
head crash site. Their were hidden behind a tree and observing Tretij
Note: This cutscene is an addition that would takes place between the Rebenok. One of them was a regular soldier and the other a Dragon, a
previous and next official cutscenes. flamethrower trooper. The soldier took out a syringe filled with a powerful
tranquilizer with his right hand and hid it behind his back, before nodding
A little further northwest of Eli's position, a green Ghost Mantis on a to the Dragon, and leaving their hiding place.
branch was moving very slowly its slender legs covered with membranes – Hey! He said to the kid, walking towards him. Let me help you! I'm part
simulating foliage. Suddenly, the sticky tip of the tongue of a Yellow-crested of the reinforcement unit, I'll get you out of here. Where are the others?
Jackson's Chameleon stuck without warning to the right of its body and, Tretij Rebenok didn't move, answered, turn around, or react.
in a split second, pulled it into the mouth of the green-skinned predator – There, slowly… Thought the soldier, ready to use his syringe. A little closer…
which was standing motionless on another branch, behind the mantis and Tretij Rebenok "heard" his thoughts, and turned suddenly, with a quick
at its level, a few inches away. And while the chameleon was chewing it and movement. Caught off guard, the soldier tried to plant the syringe, but
about to swallow it, the orange reflections of the glass eyepieces of Tretij Tretij Rebenok froze him in place, the syringe a few inches from his bare
Rebenok's mask549 began to move in turn behind them, to observe this chest. Unable to speak, he then saw the boy take off a few inches from the
macabre spectacle of nature550. ground and back up a few feet, slowly levitating in front of his eyes, while
hearing the loud, heavy mechanical footsteps of the Dragon trooper's armor
Note: The cutscene would be a tracking shot with a shallow depth of field, approaching from behind, to finally stop close to him. In the distance, the
and an extremely blurry background, which would move forward slowly. flames created by the fire of the Dragon's flamethrower burning the soldier
The three elements would appear clearly, one after the other. reflected off the glass eyepieces of the child's mask. Screams followed by an
549 I took for model the Russian mask PMK-1 from TambovMash created in 1980, with its eyeglass unit and
trapezoidal curved lenses. explosion that interrupted them ensued, followed by the crackling sound
550 The idea was to show predators specializing in camouflage, from the least to the most dangerous. As well of flames burning some grass on the ground. Tretij Rebenok then fixed his
as making a reference to Tretij Rebenok's futur codename: Psycho Mantis. As a reminder, "Tтретий Ребенок",
his first one in this game, means The Third Child, in Russian. gaze in a distant direction, and rose above the trees.
474 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 9] DEATH FROM ABOVE 475
Venom Snake watched the remote's diode turn green, then Ocelot.
– We'll have to come back to clean up our mess. He said.
Ocelot nodded in agreement, as the bombers passed over them.
[CUTSCENE 9] *
From the clearing of the forest, near the bay, Eli was watching the five
DEATH FROM ABOVE aircrafts552 flight pass over Morani Island, followed by their bombs's lines of
flames and black smoke rising in the air, killing all life on the island. Alone,
exhausted, sick and resigned, he
lowered his head and looked at the
Note: This part would consist of two cutscenes, with one playable event. Venom Snake pistol he was holding
in his right hand, and slowly raised
Sitting on the bench at the back of it to stick the tip of its barrel to his
the helicopter hold, to the right of right temple. But, ready to end his
a soldier, Venom Snake was facing Screenshot of Eli about to kill himself. life, anyway doomed to imminently
Ocelot, seated across from him on burn in the flames of the napalm, his rage resurfaced like a backfire and he
another bench, also seated next to remained motionless, staring at the aircrafts moving in the distance, in the
a soldier of his unit. Venom Snake sky, initiating a maneuver to turn around. Eli still had the will to live, and
looked disappointed. Screenshot of Ocelot and Venom Snake in the chopper. Tretij Rebenok, back from the forest, appeared behind him, called back by
– We're ready. Announced Ocelot, by handing him a small square khaki Eli's ever-strong lust for revenge. He immediately made him lower his gun,
green remote control at the top of which glowed a small red diode. Just give and teleported in front of him. Very slowly, he raised his right arm towards
the order, Boss. Let's finish this. Eli, whom he levitated a few inches off the ground, and brought his gloved
– Is it true? He asked. Eli is one of them? What about the DNA test? hand to the front of his chest to extract the vocal cord parasite and its about
– From what I know, one of the kids would only have gotten your recessive to hatch eggs by teleporting them out of Eli's lungs. His body then slipped
genes. That's why the test was inconclusive, I guess…551 through the psychic's hands and collapsed to the ground. At the same time,
Venom Snake growled and suddenly grabbed the remote. the vocal cord parasites landed next to Eli, who squashed them with the
butt of his gun. Tretij Rebenok then passed on the left of Eli, who turned
552 Considering their overall shape in the official cutscene, they look similar to the aircraft that Quiet shot
Note: Here, the player would have to press the △ button to give the order. in the cutscene following the Mission 11: Cloaked in Silence. But I don't know if it was planned to use another
551 Liquid Snake thinks he got them, in Metal Gear Solid (1998), but it was actually Solid Snake. This lie model for this mission. And since the aircraft of the Mission 11 is based on the BAe/McDonnell Douglas Harrier
could come from there, created by Ocelot after Venom Snake discovered the truth about Eli. Besides, EVA, Eli's II, which is a multirole combat aircraft (MRCA), including bomb drop, I kept this model for this scene (even if
surrogate mother, is blonde. He must have inherited the dominant genes from Big Boss, but also some of hers. the McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet would be the more accurate aircraft at that time, for a napalm strike).
476 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 12: DOOMED BUTTERFLY 477
around, and held out his right hand

to him, which Eli grabbed with his
left, and created a protective barrier
around them. Finally, they rose into
the air553 as the aircrafts bombarded
the bay and the clearing to destroy 12 - WHO LIVES BY THE SWORD…
the parasite for good. Screenshot of the flight about to bomb the place.
Note: According to the official Mission 51's text files, this cutscene should
have end like this (after Tretij Rebenok and Eli disappeared from the screen Venom Snake's chopper lost altitude and slowly approached an open area
from above, I guess): "Fire fills the screen." of the forest. Its green leafy trees led to a row of dead ones, with greyish,
bare trunks, delimiting the area. Its ground was covered with short grass
* yellowed by sunlight, on which a line of footprints had been traced, crushing
Venom Snake, a few hundred yards from the island, seated in his seat, it at regular intervals. This line led to a body wearing the Diamond Dogs
was silent and thoughtful, and suddenly snapped out of his self-reflections Intel Team's uniform, lying on the ground, face down. The chopper landed
by the soldier seated to his left. on the grass, close to the body, and Venom Snake got out of it, alone.
– Boss! He said, turning his head towards him and raising his right arm
to the round window of the helicopter's left sliding side door to point Note: There would be a short playable part here, the last of the mission, in
something in the distance. which the player wouldn't be able to select a weapon/item and/or run.
Venom Snake stood up and walked past the soldier to observe what he
was pointing at. He seemed surprised when he find out what it was. – Boss, be careful! Warned Ocelot. He's one of us, but he may be infected.
– Wait, slow down! He said to the pilot. Land here, now! Venom Snake slowly walked towards the body, and stopped next to it.
– Got it, Boss! The latter replied, in search of a landing point. Sit down!
Ocelot didn't argue about Venom Snake's order, but wondered what he Note: The player should press the △ button to end the cutscene.
and the soldier had seen outside.
(Youtube link) Doomed Butterfly (Bandcamp link)
By Victor Reynart.
553 Eli always has the gun in his right hand when they do.
478 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 12: DOOMED BUTTERFLY 479
Venom Snake crouched down, looked at the still body, and used his bionic Venom Snake got into a firing position, then Quiet pulled the hem of her
arm to to turn it gently towards him, pulling it by the left shoulder. cheche scarf with her right hand, revealing the lower part of her face and
– Quiet? He said, with a low and surprised voice, seeing part of her face. her mouth with slightly bluish lips. Venom Snake stopped.
Her skin was dry and turned crimson gray, and, because of the mutated – Sorry555… She said, in a broken and almost inaudible voice.
parasite she was carrying, the cornea of her eyes was starting to turn white554, He then pulled the trigger.
surrounded by the black stains that increased her abilities.
– She survived? Ocelot wondered. Mh… Boss! You know what this means… Note: Here, a cut would show a flock of small black birds taking off from the
– Yes. He replied. dead trees surrounding the grassy area556, with the loud sound of Venom
He wanted to pick up his pistol, but felt its empty holster with his right Snake's sniper rifle shot in the background.
hand, remembering that he'd left it on the clearing, for Eli. In a moan of
pain, Quiet pulled out her yellow sniper rifle, which she had fallen on, and Ocelot watched Venom Snake lower his arms, and got back into the
placed it on her chest for Venom Snake to take it. He did so, taking the gun helicopter to came out of it a few seconds later, holding a folded khaki tarp
from her hands, and, her face half covered, she nodded; so he got up. in his right hand. He then joined Venom Snake, motionless next to the
– Well, at least, she's cooperative… Said Ocelot, from the chopper. corpse with what was left of its head after the shot, his eye riveted on it.
– Hey, Boss. Miller here. Said the latter. Sorry to have broken off contact, I – I have nothing better but… He said, holding it out. It's better than nothing.
was busy organizing the repatriation of the Sahelanthropus's remains. Venom Snake took it and wanted to swap it with Quiet's rifle.
He marked a pause. – No! Said Ocelot, stepping back. Leave it there, it can be contaminated too.
– Ocelot just informed me. Is it true? He asked. Is she still alive? Venom Snake then put back the sniper rifle on the corpse of Quiet, and
– Right in front of me. Venom Snake answered, looking at her in the eyes. used the tarp to cover it, while Ocelot got back in the chopper, giving his
Ocelot saw the difficulty of the situation and got out of the helicopter. boss a few seconds to mourn.
– Boss. He said, standing a few feet away, ready to help. *
Venom Snake then slowly pointed the sniper at Quiet's face. – Alright! Said Ocelot inside the chopper, ready to go. Mark the spot! And
send the coordinates to the bombers.
Note: Here, the player would have to play, and press the R2 button to shoot. Behind him, Venom Snake entered the chopper and silently sat back in
It's a reference to the similar sequence of the Mission 11: Cloaked In Silence. his place, facing him, his head bowed.
It would be the last player's action of the mission. The background music I
made for this scene would be a loop of the first notes of the Quiet's Theme, Note: The following cutscene was in the official footage of the Mission 51.
to sound like something that is still alive but can't restart anymore. 555 This would be the second and last time that the character would speak English (the first being during the
cutscene at the end of the Mission 45: A Quiet Exit), to prevent the development and spread of her parasite.
554 These skin and eye colorings are the same as those of humans infected by the Skulls. 556 It's a reference to the first line of the Quiet's Theme lyrics.
480 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 13: CREDITS 481
*
In the chopper, flying over the burning forest in the distance, the soldier
to the left of Venom Snak, standing in the left opening of the cargo hold,
was looking at it. He eventually came back in and closed the sliding side
door, before sitting down in his place. Venom Snake then moved for the first
time since they left the area, and saw his reflection in the door's glass. He 13 - CREDITS
saw his face on it. Blood started to
flow from Venom Snake's long black
horn, eye, nose, and the corners of
his mouth. It was the face of the Note: The mission would end at the end of the previous credit sequence,
demon he unwittingly became for and the rewards screen would appear, followed by the mission end one, and
Big Boss, with all of his revenge on the final cutscenes.
Cipher and the XOF, which ultima- Screenshot of Venom Snake's "demonic" reflection.
tely ended on this island. Now, with Skull Face's plan aborted and everyone
he was close to lost, rid of his past and venom, he truly became the Boss
and had to be the enemy of USA and the world from now on.
Note: The mission would end here and there would be a three-minute
sequence with the camera focused on Venom Snake's pensive and bloody
face, with partial credits written in white on the screen, with this music
playing in the background:

Nuclear
By Mike Oldfield.
AN EXEMPLE OF A MISSION END SCREEN.
Note: The rewards screen will then appear (see content on next page):
482 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) PART 13: CREDITS 483
Note: Here's what would be the mission's rewards list. After its appearance
would come the end screen, with the total points and the player's rank,
followed by the GMP screen, and finally the Heroism one.
Target Secured
Objective Complete
Extraction Flight Arrived at Mother Base: The "Crimson wing" camo would look like this.
Sahelanthropus x 1 This is a close up of flamingo feathers.
Development Requirements Met [INCENDIARY GRENADES]
Development Requirements Met [ARCHAEA MACHETE]
Development Requirements Met [MOLOTOK-68]
Development Requirements Met [CRIMSON WING]
Development Requirements Met [CHECHE] *For Quiet
Development Requirements Met [DOCTOR] *For Quiet
Obtained Cassette Tape [Nuclear] Quiet with the Molotok-68. Despite the events of the Mission 51,
Artwork of Quiet's doctor coat in the she could still be selected as a buddy after completed it,
Obtained Cassette Tape [Radioactivity] Cypriot hospital, unused in the game. and could use this sniper rifle.
Obtained emblem part: [Front: Fly]
Obtained emblem part: [Front: Hyena]
Obtained emblem part: [Front: Horsehoe Bat]
Obtained emblem part: [Front: Chameleon]
Fame Increased [Heroism + 10000]
Note: Of course, after completing the mission at least another time, the
The Fly, Hyena, Horsehoe Bat and Chameleon emblem parts
captured animals list would be added here. (The Hyena and Chameleon are unused ones from the game).
484 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 11] THE REMAINS 485
[CUTSCENE 10] [CUTSCENE 11]
IT'S NOT OVER YET THE REMAINS OF THE BEAST
Lake Natron Basin Note: The following cutscene is the second part of the Nuclear Disarmament
Forest Ending, that the player can unlock by dismantling all of his nukes. I put it
August 26, 1984 06:12 p.m. here because it follows the Mission 51 well, also happens at the end of a day,
like the previous cutscene, and could take place here in the game's story557.
Kingdom of the Flies - It's Not Over Yet Seychelles Waters, Mother Base
By Ludvig Forssell. Medical Platform
August 26, 1984 07:17 p.m.558
As the sun began to set, the island

was shrouded in smoke. Now at a safe Venom Snake, partially covered in
distance from it, Eli trudges along blood from Diamond Dog soldiers,
an earthy path, until collapsing to exited a building of the platform,
the ground, tired. He remained on followed by Miller. Silent, they took a
his knees, bent forward, for a few few steps and stopped in front of the
seconds, then raised his head and Screenshot of Eli and Tretij Rebenok. platform's yellow guardrail, facing
stood up, followed by Tretij Rebenok, levitating behind him, a few tens the sun setting on the horizon, over Miller and Venom Snake, looking at the horizon.
of centimeters above the ground. Eli now out of danger, the floating boy the surface of the sea, as a small group of birds passed over one of the
suddenly disappeared, and the real Big Boss's little clone walked alone, bridges connecting the various platforms of the base, to their left.
thoughtful and more determined than ever. 557 I'm even assuming that it was a Mission 51's cutscene originally (more details in a next section).
558 Considering the seven-hour flight for helicopters not carrying the Sahelanthropus (heavy load) like
– Not yet. He thought. It's not over yet. Venom Snake's, and the time difference, these two sunset scenes would take place at the same time.
Note: Here, in the game's cutscene, they are silent and we can hear a few – Finally. Said Miller. I thought that we'd never see the end of this Jigoku-tabi.
lines from Miller in voiceover. To sum it up, he tells Venom Snake that – This what? Asked Venom Snake, confused.
soldiers were injured during the way back559, because the remains of a – Sorry, it's a… Japanese expression561. Precised Miller. It means "A Journey
nuclear warhead leaked and exposed them to radiations as they recove- To Hell". I found it quite appropriate for what happened today. He said,
red it during transport. But they were stabilized and Miller described them with a bit of bitterness in his voice. And everything since Omega Camp…
as "Heroes. Every one of them." The warhead was then dismantled and its – Mh… Said Venom Snake, resting his forearms on the guardrail. How are
nuclear material vitrified560 and sealed away, but would take at least 30 years our men doing with the Sahelanthropus?
of cold storage before being safe. For this novel, let's assume this cutscene – Its armor and radioactive parts have been completely disassembled and
taks place right after the Mission 51, as Venom Snake returns on Mother are on the way to our vitrification equipment562. It will take weeks to make
Base and joins him on the Medical Platform. Following the already existing it, but we'll finally get rid of it soon. And its remains had been stored in the
lines, the cutscene could here be the same, replacing the term "warhead" by hangar of the R&D platform. He explained, marking a pause. Hm, by the
"Sahelanthropus", and the official lines would be about the soldiers wounded way Boss. Some information came to me while you were in the field, but I
on the way backfrom the Lake Natron Basin because of the Metal Gear. I've wanted to wait for the right moment to tell you about it.
also added here a discussion between them, in the form of a debriefing – Something serious ? Asked Venom Snake, by raising his arms from the
about recent events and thoughts on the future. Besides, I managed to find guardrail and placing himself in front of his interlocutor, facing him.
the .pdf of a scan of an official report about a Nuclear Waste Vitrification – Could be. Said Miller, before turning to him.
Project from May 1979. I wanted to find data about the duration of the Miller sighed and bowed his head for a fraction of a second.
process to know if it could have been done a few hours after recovering – The traitor has spoken. He said.
the Sahelanthropus, but just the dismantling of nuclear waste takes a few – Kaz, I told you not to563…
weeks, and the vitrification a few hours, so it wasn't possible for Miller to – I know! Said Miller, on the defensive. But I haven't been at peace since he
say exactly the lines from this cutscene for this sequence of the novel. left. And I have to watch your backs, it's part of my job here.
– Mh… He complained, pulling out his phantom cigar to smoke. All right
559 The Sikorsky MH-53 Pave Low, the model used as a reference for the Diamond Dogs heavy-lift choppers,
can fly up to 600 miles (1,110 kilometers), and the Lake Natron Basin is located 1,300 miles to Mother Base, in then, go on. He added, bringing the cigar to his mouth.
the Seychelles. In-flight refueling can lengthen the flight time, but here, with the weight of the Sahelanthropus,
it would need at least two refueling on the way back. An exceptional recovery, therefore. – I couldn't let him wandering alone without keeping an eye on him, so
560 Vitrification of nuclear waste is a process commissioned in France in 1978 and became the benchmark I deployed a small team to spy on him. He returned directly to the nest.
process internationally in 1982. It consists of collecting nuclear waste and mixing it with glass-forming materials
in high-temperature melters, at 2,100 degrees Fahrenheit. The idea is to confine the radionuclides (the atoms ATGC, the biotech company that created your clones for Zero. They have
that cause radioactivity in waste, those that emit radiation) in the glass by melting them together, and not just by
coating them. "Vitrification thus enables waste to be trapped in a safe material, the longevity of which is greater 561 Kazuhira Miller has American and Japanese nationalities.
than the duration of harmfulness of the incorporated radioactivity. Another advantage of glass: it resists many 562 Since Mother Base is equipped to build or dismantle nuclear weapons, it can be assumed that Miller has
types of attack and does not deteriorate under the effect of radioactivity or the heat of the waste." also equipped the platform that takes care of it with a vitrification system.
Source of the previous quote: https://www.sfen.org/rgn/vitrification-dechets-radioactifs-procede-francais. 563 In the tape Picking Up Emmerich's Work, Venom Snake asks Miller not to follow Huey anymore.
connections with DARPA, which Donald Anderson worked for some time, lost. What is a captain at the head of a stationary boat, after all?
before taking over Cipher's management, after we killed Skull Face. – A dead man. Reluctantly admitted Venom Snake.
– That's how the XOF got those mechs on the island? Thanks to Huey? – Outer Heaven was a noble dream, Boss. But why not make it a reality?
– He works for them now. But our real problem is that he gave our location. Miller asked with enthusiasm. A real fortress. A place for all the "soldiers
– What? Venom Snake said, frowning. Mh… Well, you told me so. without borders564".
– You gave him a chance he didn't take. He can go to hell now. But like him, Venom Snake smirked, narrowing his eyelids slightly.
after all that has happened today, we should stay in the shadows for a while. – Did you told Ocelot about your idea? He asked.
If Cipher has no reason to come and get us, we can buy some time. – Yes. He agreed and we came to the same conclusion: our future is not on
– So you think we should leave Mother Base? the ocean, Boss.
Miller remained silent for a second. – Mh… He said, smoking his cigar. And I guess you already have a plan?
– Not immediately, but I've already thought of a solution that would get us – I got some intel from Angola. There’s an isolated location, about 120 miles
out of trouble. Something I'd been thinking about for a while, to be honest. north of Galzburg, in the southernmost tip of South Africa. It would take
He paused for a fraction of second and quietly took a deep breath, before time, but we could build a military base over there565.
launching into his explanations. – Mother Base will then become a decoy?
– I think we have to learn from the past. And as practical as this base is, – You got it. Now all we need is an architect. And someone told me about
away from everyone, that doesn't prevent it from being vulnerable. Skull a man named… Kyle Schneider566. He could do the job, but I need your
Face taught us that. He said seriously, before briefly meeting Venom Snake's approval before I get in touch with him or start anything.
gaze. And I won't even mention the costs of air and sea transport, and the – You have it. And you're now in charge of the development of this base.
impact of isolation on the morale of the soldiers. – Cipher's eyes will soon fly over us because of Huey… Dammit, I told
– So what's your idea? you to kill that… He interrupted himself, before resuming. Nevermind…
– Now that our reputation is established in Afghanistan and Africa, and that We could empty Mother Base as we build the new one, so as not to attract
we have raised sufficient funds, we could build a land base in an isolated attention, and leave a few guys and equipment visible from the sky here.
region, and live on small contracts, even recruiting more soldiers there. – And what about the Sahelanthropus? Wondered Venom Snake.
564 The English translation of Militaires Sans Frontières (MSF), the first PMC of the real Big Boss. This name
– I don't know… Venom Snake said, glancing at the base to his right, above was itself a reference to the vision that The Boss had when she was in space during her secret mission for the
the guardrail. I'm used to this place. It helps me see clearly, far from it all. USA: "one world without borders". Vision that came The Boss's will after her mission.
565 This base will later become the one where the game Metal Gear (1987) takes place, in 1995. Besides,
– A peaceful place, right? Asked Miller, as an answer. Well, I think it was Galzburg is a fictional region imagined for the game.
566 This is the architect who created the plan of the Outer Hevan base in Metal Gear (1987). The character
useful to you for a while, like this. He said, slamming his crutch against a was forced to work for Big Boss and then helped Solid Snake during the Operation Intrude N313. He was back
bar of the guardrail. But unlike me, you have to part with it to return to the in Metal Gear II (1990), but fought against Solid Snake and died at the latter's hands. Curiously, with the Metal
Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)'s plot twist and the two Big Bosses, it makes perfect sense. And finally,
field. Or the peace of this place will become an illusion in which you'll get the "someone" who told Miller about him would be the real Big Boss, via Ocelot.
490 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 12] A NEW COURSE 491
– It wasn't in my plans, but now that it has been emptied of all its nuclear
material, it's just a heap of unfinished and unusable junk. We could leave it
in its hangar and trap it. He proposed. If someone breaks in to steal it, the
platform explodes and the remains end up on the ocean floor567. [CUTSCENE 12]
– Sounds good for me. Venom Snake said, about to leave. And, Kaz… Next
time, tell me first. I want to be the first to know from now on. A NEW COURSE
– You lead, Boss. Replied Miller, closing their discussion.
Note: This cutscene would play just after the previous one, even if there is
an ellipse.
Seychelles Waters, Mother Base
Main Command Platform
August 27, 1984 10:48 a.m.
The next morning, Venom Snake was heading for the platform, following
a group of Diamond Soldiers also on their way to Miller's speech. Wearing
a regular khaki uniform, unarmed, he was walking loudly, slamming the
thick soles of his boots on the metal floor of the bridge leading to the
THE FINAL SHOT OF THE OFFICIAL CUTSCENE COULD REMAIN THE SAME HERE. platform. As he reached it, he saw Ocelot come out of a small building,
pushing Code Talker. He hadn't seen Venom Snake, but D-Dog, following
Note: Moreover, in the official cutscene, Miller says "Humanity, […] has him and surrounded by four of the Mbele Squad children, barked and drew
chosen the path of nuclear disarmament. […] And each step forward makes his attention to the leader of the Diamond Dogs, coming to his left, as he
it more solid." And I can't not think about Solid Snake, who's the one who ran towards him with its tongue hanging out, between the soldiers. When
defeat both Big Bosses and achieve that long goal at the end of Metal Gear it joined his master, the latter crouched down and petted it.
Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008). – Hey, how are you buddy? Said Venom Snake, reassured.
567 Since it never appears again in games set later in the series's timeline (which makes sense since Metal Gear Seeing him, Ocelot blocked the wheels of Code Talker's chair.
Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) is the last one released, in 2015), we can imagine that someone once attemp-
ted to recover the Sahelanthropus and triggered the trap. – I'll be right back. He said to the old man.
Code Talker nodded without turning it, while slowly raising and lowering Note: The international non-governmental organization Save the Children
his right arm, in approval. was established in 1919 in the United Kingdom and Hungary by the British
– You. He then said to the childen, pointing them successively with the philanthropist Eglantyne Jebb, in response to children's suffering from
right index finger. Help him reach the helipad. World War I. It then grew more and more until it could act on an interna-
They nodded and two of them grabbed both handles of the chair, while a tional scale. Eglantyne Jebb, ahead of her time, claimed that all children
third pushed from the back of it to help Code Talker move forward. should have rights, and helped shape the UN Convention on the Rights
– He has recovered well, but it will take a little while before he can return to of the Child: an international treaty signed on November 20, 1989. By the
duty. Announced Ocelot, talking about D-Dog and joining Venom Snake. way, it was this treaty that put an end to the child labor in the whole world
The latter stood up and Ocelot motioned and hissed for D-Dog to join (for the countries that signed it), by giving to the children the right not to
Code Talker and the kids. He then looked at Venom Snake, who was silent. be compelled to any work likely to compromise their education. or harm
– A clone, uh? Then said Venom Snake. their health or development. Finally, at the time of this novel, in 1984, the
Ocelot raised his hands. INGO was particularly active in Africa to come to the aid of the population,
– I know. I was also fooled by the test. At least, we tried to help him. especially children, who were suffering from famine caused by a drought
– No… We failed. in the Horn of Africa in Ethiopia and a civil war in Somalia.
Ocelot nodded slightly.
– He couldn't be saved. He said. He had this burning rage in him. The same
we had for Skull Face. This… Venom. Which ended up killing him.
Venom Snake marked a pause, looking away at the children.
– Eli mustn't resign us. He said. We'll have to be more careful with the other
one, if we find him. And with them too. He added, pointing to the kids with
his bionic arm. How's the one who was injured? He's not with them.
– He's a true fighter. He's recovering, slowly. You did pretty well with him.
– Mh… Said Venom Snake, raising and looking at his medical arm. I did
more for mankind in a few hours with this thing, than in years with guns.
Ocelot turned and looked at them.
– Yeah… I know a woman, a child psychologist568. She’s working for an
INGO: Save the Children. They're currently in Ethiopia and Somalia. Food
crises. I’ll see if she can help them, they can’t stay here anymore.
568 It's not a reference to a character of a series, just a psychologist Ocelot would know. EGLANTYNE JEBB.
– Yeah, we should move on, right? Asked Venom Snake, looking at Ocelot. – Miller's speech.
– Miller told you?
Venom Snake nodded.
– I thought he would make the right choice… Apologized Ocelot. According
to our spy unit, he decided to take care of his son now, and finally became
the father he was meant to be. Everyone's in their place now, I guess.
Venom Snake stood still, looking down.
– What is done is done. Said Ocelot. Let's go, Boss. Don't keep Miller waiting.
– Yeah… Said Venom, starting to walk.
– Oh, one last thing. Said Ocelot, behind him.
Venom Snake turned to him.
– I got rid of the Pod, and… Miller decided that The Boss was entitled to a
monument worthy of her legend.
– A monument?
MILLER FACING DIAMOND DOGS SOLDIERS, THREE MBELE SQUAD KIDS AND CODE TALKER.
Ocelot raised his right hand and showed him the way towards a stairway
leading to building's roof of the main platform's uppermost floor where Note: This part is the first of the Nuclear Disarmament Ending. In this
Miller was going to give his speech, facing the Diamond Dogs soldiers cutscene, Miller says that all nuclear weapons in the world have been
who had just reached the helipad below. Already arrived at an intermediate dismantled; but first, it's technically impossible, and then, they are a lot of
floor, the Mbele Squad, pushing Code Talker, was about to join them. nuclear weapons in the other games of the series, which takes place years
– Some kind of memorial, he told me. He'll reveal it to us over there. Said after this one. So for this novel, I chose to have Venom Snake dismantle
Ocelot, his face turned to Venom Snake. the nukes the Diamond Dogs possessed on Mother Base, as a message to
The latter saw the kid from the Squad who wasn't pushing Code Talker's show the way to other army leaders around the world, especially the United
chair separate from the group to discreetly climb the stairs leading to the States of America (and Cipher/Zero). It's utopist and naive, but it's more
roof alone, crouching. of a visualisation of the ultimate and unattainable goal of Venom Snake:
– Come on. Said Ocelot, turning his head and walking past him. free the world from nuclear deterrence. The one that the real Big Boss had,
He then walked over towards the roof where Miller was waiting for them, before going the opposite way. The game is Venom Snake's story after all, so
followed by Venom Snake. I gave him an ending here that matches his character built throughout the
game. He has to be Big Boss's double, something he doesn't know at this
moment, and as a former combat medic, ends with a peaceful goal.
Venom Snake and Ocelot arrived at the helipad ramp, and D-Dog, the The kid took the flowers and looked at the tarp, his mouth open, before
Mother Base's mascot, petted by a Diamond Dog soldier, barked when he closing it and nodding at Miller, who then nodded to Ocelot, who took a
saw them arrived, and ran straight towards Venom Snake. few steps and removed the tarp from the memorial. It was a pillar of gray
– No, D-D! Ocelot complained, pointing to the helipad to send it back. stone, on which there were some inscriptions:
– That's alright. Said Venom Snake, before whistling to keep it close to him.
Ocelot gave D-Dog a superior and jaded look, and sighed. Then, they all
climbed up the stairs and reached the rear of the platform's higher spot,
part of which emerged from the lower floors and rose a few meters above.
About to reach Miller in the front part of it, Venom Snake spotted the kid
hiding there, crouching against the left part of the emerging part of the
roof, both hands resting on its wall. He stopped and Ocelot turned to him.
– I'll join you. He said. D-D, go!
Ocelot joined Miller with D-Dog, while Venom Snake joined the hidden
child, the one with a yellow long-sleeved t-shirt and a matching beanie.
– The view is better from above, uh? Asked Venom Snake
– Oh! Said the kid, turning to him, surprised.
– Come on. He said, nodding.
The kid got up and followed him, his head bowed. They finally reached
the roof 's front part, near a small flag bearing the Diamond Dogs logo, and
joined Miller, who was standing near the middle of the yellow roof guardrail,
ARTWORK OF THE MEMORIAL.
carrying a bouquet of white lilies in his hand, which also holding the handle
of his crutch. Behind him, against the center of the wall of the emerging – On the top: "IN COMMEMORATION OF A WORLD FREE OF
part of the roof, was a rectangular object about four meters high, covered NUCLEAR WEAPONS."
with a white canvas tarp. To the mysterious object's right and Miller's left, – On the middle: "As of this day, the nuclear flame set alight on the planes
Ocelot was there, along with D-Dog. Miller turned to Venom Snake as he of Alamogordo569 in July of 1945 has been extinguished."
arrived, and saw the kid, afraid of being punished for being on the roof. But – At the bottom, a quote from The Boss: "We have no tomorrow, but there's
Miller approached and stopped in front of him to hand him the bouquet. still hope for the future. - Tselinoyarsk, 1964", followed by "Here lies proof
– Take it, and when I give you a sign, approach to put it down, at the foot of the virtue of a mother as validated by her sons."
of this. He said, looking at the memorial, covered by the tarp. 569 A city in the New Mexico's state, where the first nuclear test in History, Trinity, was made by the US Army.
To the right of Venom Snake, D-Dog, standing, growled and moved into
an attack position as the tarp flew in the air before landing on the ground.
– Stay570. Venom Snake told it in a low voice, to calm it down.
Miller looked at the memorial, cleared his throat, and took a few steps to
reach the guardrail and speak to the soldiers, who salutated him.
– At ease! Ordered them Ocelot, to make them lower their arms, before
moving away from the memorial to stand, motionless, to its left.
Everyone was silent, in the late morning sun.
– The Sahelanthropus had been stopped! Began Miller. But, while we can
rejoice, we must never relax. It has been dismantled and deactivated: that is
a fact. But the knowledge that built it is still out there571. He added, before
starting to walk to his right, still looking at the soldiers below. How long
the world remains bibedal nuclear tank-free is up to us. Will this moment THE KID, OCELOT, VENOM SNAKE AND MILLER573, NEAR THE MEMORIAL574.
persist? He asked, before turning to the memorial, which he now faced, and
making a sign to the kid, who joined him. Or will human ambition cast Note: At that time, as the world entered the global nuclear disarmament,
us into the flames once more? He asked, as the kid placed the bouquet of initiated by the SALT I (1972) and SALT II (1979) Treaties, and followed
flowers on the square wooden plinth of the memorial. by the creation of the European Nuclear Disarmament (END) in 1980, the
Miller then turned and stood a few paces to the left of the memorial, as Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces Treaty (FNI) in 1987, and the START
the kid joined Venom Snake and D-Dog. He marked a pause. I (1991) and START II (1993) Treaties, the Diamond Dogs decided here to
– Our duty is to pass on what we've learned to the next generation. He follow this movement and, as with the Sahelanthropus, dismantled their
resumed. The memories, the experiences… The sins572. remaining nukes and nuclear material. They take responsability for future
Venom Snake turned to Miller as he said this word, and looked at him. generations, as Miller says, and find their place in the world, as Metal Gear
– Only when our children show the wisdom not to forge new spears… and nukes hunters, as long as they can despite having to keep a low profile
Only then, will be truly triumphant. Concluded Miller. after what happened in the Lake Natron Basin. The kind of events they
As he finished saying this, a swarm of little black birds flew out from the would like to avoid in the future by preventing another Sahelanthropus or
emerged part of the roof. Ocelot and the kid looked at it, while Venom Snake other Metal Gear models from being built, always with the idea of preven-
gazed thoughtfully at the bouquet of lilies, at the foot of the memorial. ting the Skull Face plan from happening, still applicable although he's dead.
570 Whisteling, "Go!" and "Stay." are three D-Dog commands in the game. 573 At the beginning of the official cutscene, Ocelot appears to Miller's left, then to his right. It makes me
571 He might be talking about Huey here, the one who built the Sahelanthropus. think even more that this cutscene wasn't finished and possibly intended for Mission 51.
572 The sins of the father(s), which gave its name to the game's main musical theme. 574 It can be seen on the main Command Platform after the Nuclear Disarmament Ending cutscene.
– Thoughts on the third cutscene of the Nuclear Disarmament Ending. Besides, following the cutscenes,
several white texts appears on a black
In the original game's cutscene, following the part with Venom Snake and screen, evoking nuclear weapons in
Miller only, there is another small one in which we can see Ocelot aboard the world and some treaties such
a chopper, a sniper rifle in hand, ready to go on a mission, flying over the as START II, signed in 1993, and it
R&D platform with other aircrafts. It was in its large open-air hangar that ends with this text: "However, as of
the Sahelanthropus was stored the first time Venom Snake recovered it. In 1998, there still exist 26, 000 nuclear Screen of the text from Metal Gear Solid (1998).
the cutscene, the hangar is closed and Ocelot is looking at tanks on its top. warheads in the world." This is just a guess, but as the development of the
Mission 51 was cancelled just before the game's one started, maybe that the
Nuclear Disarmament Ending was in fact the Mission 51 one and that the
concept of creating/disamble nukes in the game came from the impossibi-
lity of making the Mission 51. If you replace all the "nuclear weapons" with
"Metal Gear" or "Sahelanthropus" in this cutscene's lines, it fits perfectly.
And finally, as a complement to create a link with a following sequence, I
would use this short cutscene without Miller's voice-over, and with Ocelot
getting a call, aboard his chopper:
– Yeah it's me. Ocelot Said, taking the call. You got it575? He Asked. They
did fast… Yes, the Outer Heaven project is launched, Miller has done his
part. Construction will begin soon. Yours as well. So, Cipher will soon be
just a bad memory. Yes. Keep me informed on this. Oh, and…Boss. I have
to warn you of something. He said, pausing. Well… He's alive. It was really
OCELOT LOOKING AT THE TANKS ON THE R&D PLATFORM, FROM HIS CHOPPER. him there, but I wanted to check before confirming576. And he was pretty
pissed of, so… Be prepared. Over. He concluded, looking at the ocean.
But it doesn't really makes sense to show tanks when Miller, in voice-over,
is talking about nuclear disarmament. So my guess here is that it was initially Note: Here, the credits would scroll, without post-credit audio sequence,
a cutscene of the Mission 51, like the other two, and that they were all collec- but followed by a black screen announcing the epilogue: Separate ways.
ted, assembled and slightly modified to create the Nuclear Disarmament Some elements closing the game and series with two main Side Ops.
Ending. I'm sure that, in this cutscene, Ocelot was actually looking at the
575 He would be talking about the AI pod here.
gaunt remains of the Sahelanthropus, cut in half, stored in the hangar. 576 He's talking about Chico, and is of course to the real Big Boss.
THE PHANTOM MISSION 503
504 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) THE PHANTOM MISSION 505
506 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SIDE OPS N°158: LEAVE NO (DEAD) MAN BEHIND 507
[CUTSCENE 13] 14 - SIDE OP N°158:

THE MESS WE MADE LEAVE NO (DEAD) MAN BEHIND
CONDITIONS TO UNLOCK: Note: As soon as the player would be in the chopper (the ACC), the Side Op
(After completing Mission 51, the next time the player would board the helicopter.) would be added to the iDroid's mission list, and Miller would warn him:
Seychelles Waters, Mother Base – Boss! He said. The team is ready to take off. I'm sending you the coordinates.
Main Command Platform Venom Snake then checked his iDroid and received the details of the
August 27, 1984 11:36 a.m. helicopter flight's destination.
As Venom Snake was about to depart by chopper, Miller intercepted him. Note: The player could now select the mission, the Side Op N°158577.
– Boss, wait! He said, picking up the pace with his crutch to join him. The
situation with Eli is over now, but we still have to clean up the mess we Kenyan (Kajiado County)/Tanzanian (Arusha Region) Border Region
made. With your approval, I'll send a team to recover the bodies of those Gregory Rift Valley, Lake Natron Basin
we've lost, and erase any remaining traces of our presence there. Makat Island
– Tell me when. I’ll join them. Said Boss, as he got into the helicopter. August 27, 1984 06:51 p.m.578
– No, they don't need you. Ocelot will lead the operation anyway.
– I want to be one of those who put our comrades's bodies in the chopper. Extradiegetic music n° 16:
– All right, Boss… Replied Miller. I'll send them soon, get ready! Elegia579
He closed the door and sat down, before Pequod started to gain altitude. By New Order.
Mission List Updated: 577 The last of the game is the N°157.
578 Taking into account the time difference. The flight would depart from Mother Base around 11:45 a.m.
New Mission Added 579 Only a looped version of the intro of this song would be played throughout the mission.
After a long flight, shortly before sunset, the seven Diamond Dogs This is where the mission would begin. And here's what Miller would say:
choppers flight arrived at the south of the Makat island, passing over the – He told me that, on that day, as they landed, the XOF was already there.
scaffolding which had fallen into the water and was eaten away by it. The They met, but no one spoke. They just, looked at each others sometimes, as
island's ground was covered with the wreckages of the vehicles destroyed they were both recovering the bodies of those they’d lost. Still, no one spoke. The
during the last stand of the Sahelanthropus. To the north of the salt island, island's white soil had turned brown, looking like mud in which blood, black
the top of its giant shield marked with cuts and half buried in the ground powder and smoke mixed withthe salt. So much blood spilled for nothing…
on its right side, was there, shining in the glare of the sun, near the remains What a waste. He said, marking a pause. No one spoke. Because there was
of the destroyed electric barrier that the XOF built at the end of the island. nothing more to say.
There were also four helicopters already landed on the island, west of its
central part, marked with the white XOF inscription on their tails's side. Note: The voiceover would end when the camera positions itself behind
– Boss! Said Ocelot over the radio, from another chopper. Venom Snake. The player should then pick up Diamond Dogs soldiers
In his helicopter, Venom Snake, mask on, stood up and approached a corpses around the place, by keeping the ○ button pressed to carry them
porthole to observe. XOF soldiers wearing white protective suits and black on his back, to then bring them one by one to the helicopter581. Each time he
masks were recovering material and the bodies of their dead on the island. would bring one, the player would gain 10 points of Heroism. There would
– We're here for the same reason… He said, before addressing the other be ten of them to find, among the wreckages. The Diamond Dogs and
helicopters by radio. Let three of us in flight while the others land and XOF soldiers would be positions's markers of friendly or enemy corpses.
proceed with the operation. They're outnumbered, they won't try anything. Besides, it wouldn't be possible to run here, and they would be several tapes
– Got it, Boss. Replied Ocelot. Four and seven, with me!580 He ordered then. to collect near the corpses as well as on the ground, mainly about peace
Pequod then decelerated and landed east of the XOF, close to the lake. (more details about those songs in the part dedicated to the novel's tapes):
– The Carpenters - Sing
Note: Here, there would be a Miller voiceover, as the player would see – John Lennon - Imagine
a descending shot centered on the XOF recovering corpses above, from – Akira Ifukube - Prayer For Peace
the point of view of Venom Snake in the landing helicopter, The camera – Joan Baez - Diamonds and rust
would then stabilize, and make a 180° rotation to focus on Venom Snake, – Sting - Russians
who would descend from the chopper and stand still, looking at the XOF. – Hi-Finesse - Zenith (Feat. Natacha Atlas)
Soldiers disembarked from the other choppers would arrive from both – Garbage - Not your kind of people
sides beside him, as the camera approached him, up to his eyes, before – Nana Mizuki - Koi no Yokushiryoku
moving away and rotating 180° again, to place behind him, slightly above. 581 The idea here is to use the gameplay to make the player aware of the consequences of a military mission,
by having him pick up the bodies of his fallen comrades himself. And it's still in this guideline of the past of
580 These would be the numbers assigned to two other helicopters of the flight for the mission. combat medic of Venom Snake, who comes here to recover the corpses of his own men himself.
Looking in the distance, Venom Snake saw the Sahelanthropus's shield Note: A fade to black would mark
and the Morani Island, behind, scorched up like dead wood582; like the bay, an ellipse here. And a little aside
to the west. Three choppers were stationary above him, facing the XOF. He about the Dr Clark (or Para-Medic
then roamed this new wasteland and recovered dead soldiers, encountering in Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
XOF soldiers doing it too or placing cables over their wreckages to recover (2004)). After the events of this game,
them with their choppers. Diamond Dogs soldiers did the same, to recover she became a founding member of
their helicopters, AMVs and Walker Gears destroyed during the battle. the Patriots in 1970 and remained
with Zero and Sigint after Big Boss
Note: Once the objective done, a cutscene would launch, ending the mission. defected. Ocelot is more or less in
touch with them, since Zero helped
Venom Snake walked into the chopper's cabin and put down the last him create Venom Snake, and the
body with the other nine, before staring at them for a few seconds. latter isn't affiliated with them. Clark
– We're done here. He said over the radio to the other choppers. Everyone would look at him suspiciously, but
up there, come give us a hand with the vehicles. Artwork of mine of the Mission 51's outfit of Dr Clark. wouldn't be able to break his secret.
– Don't you want us above anymore? Asked Ocelot. Just in case…
– No… No shots will be fired today. ***
– Alright, Boss. You heard him! Four and seven, we're landing! He ordered.
The three stationary choppers then landed and more masked soldiers In the bay's clearing, near the
came out of it to place cables on the wreckages, as Ocelot joined Venom opened right side of his helicopter,
Snake. He nodded, and they looked on one of the XOF helicopters. Someone Ocelot was motionless, arms crossed
came out of it, joining the soldiers: a woman in her late fourties, with short and looking at Venom Snake, in
brown hair and black glasses, a long white medical gown with long sleeves, front of him. Five of his six soldiers
matching gloves and black military boots covering her legs up to her knees. unit were behind him, assault rifles
She suddenly froze at the bottom of the ramp, her eyes riveted on them. in hand, pointed at the ground. The
– Clark… Said Ocelot softly, looking at her. Been a while, Doctor… last one, near the helicopter, was The Nikon F was released in 1980 and used in war pho-
tography. Igor Kostin used two in a helicopter flight
Venom Snake looked at her too, but said nothing. The three founding taking photographs of the location over the Chernobyl power plant on April 26, 1986.
members of the Patriots looked at each other for a few seconds, and returned with his Nikon F3 camera. And, his chopper close to Ocelot's, Venom Snake
to their occupations, giving orders to their respective soldiers. was walking alone among the scorched and ash-covered rocky ground of
582 This last part is from the last chapter of Lord of the Flies (1954), after the children burnt part of the island. the spot where the Sahelanthropus's head fell and he left Eli.
– Boss? Asked Ocelot. We got everything back and the XOF is gone now. The soldier quickly boarded
Time to go! the chopper and came out with a
– I can't find it. He said, looking for something on the ground. yellow Biohazard plastic bag. Ocelot
Ocelot made a few steps in his direction, and stopped. nodded at him in the direction of
– Your handgun? The napalm must have destroyed it with the rest, let it go. Venom Snake, so he reached him
– No. Said Venom Snake. It would have just burned it, not melted it. But to recover the Maasai's shuka, then
maybe the XOF recovered it and his body before us… He said, as he froze. sealed the bag before joining Ocelot.
– Well… Clark, was with them. She "created" this boy. That's the reason – It's a great gift. He said, taking it.
she was here, I guess. But our Intel Team here couldn't find any trace of Eli I'll see with the old man if we can
before we all got there. treat it and give it back to you, Boss.
– So he could be alive? Venom Snake asked, turning to Ocelot. Venom Snake looked at the Maasai
The latter sighed, and put his two red-gloved hands on his hips. and lowered his head, but the young
– Honestly, I don't see what could kill this boy. man's face then took on a panicked
Venom Snake smirked. A modern yellow Biohazard & Waste Disposal Bag. look, as he looked towards Ocelot.
– But what about his parasitic strain? He suddenly wondered. – Gimme that! He said, snatching his camera from the hands of the soldier
– I'll ask our Intel Team to continue the research. in charge of the photographs. Don't. He added, before giving him back.
Venom Snake then returned to his chopper. As he did so, Ocelot's soldiers – Uh… Yes, sir! Said the soldier, before saluting Ocelot.
raised their weapons in his direction, pointed at something behind him. – There is an old belief in the Maasai tribe. He said, looking at the young
– It's alright! Said Ocelot, raising both arms towards his men. Everyone, injured warrior. They think that, if you take a picture of them, you trap their
lower your guns. It's just a local. A Maasai. The one you saved, right Boss? souls inside584. So, let's keep this meeting as a souvenir, right?
Venom Snake turned and raised his red bionic arm583 for a second, before The soldier put his camera in one of his uniform pockets and joined
taking a few steps towards the young warrior, wearing his red shuka and his unit. The Maasai bowed his head to Venom Snake and returned to the
walking with the makeshift cane he had made for him the day before, at the forest, as the latter was looking at him. Ocelot joined him.
start of his mission. The Maasai walked up to him and they faced. He then – Their sacred island will be affected for years now. Venom Snake complained.
untied the knot of his shuka, on his shoulder, and took it off to hand it to Nothing will grow there anymore.
Venom Snake, who raised his right arm, before Ocelot interrupted them. – I know. But that was that, or condemn a part of mankind. Replied Ocelot.
– Boss, wait! It can be contaminated. He said, before turning to one of his I asked the Intel Team to told the Maasai to avoid the island for a while.
soldier. Bring me a bag!
584 This belief was strong at the start of the 20th century, but has declined over the years and has practically
583 He would have changed it, according to the nature of this mission. disappeared today.
– How did they take it? Asked Venom Snake, looking at Ocelot. – Napalm: PCCW and Protocol III.
– They replied that if their god, Enkai, wanted the plants to grow back on
the island, then it would happen. And they'll return there for their rituals. The United Nations Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons
– Mh… We still have some lessons to learn, uh? (CCW or CCWC)586 was concluded at Geneva on October 10, 1980, and
– Don't worry, the volcano in this region sometimes does its own thing. entered into force on December 2, 1983 (thus shortly before the events of
They're used to this kind of situation. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)). That year, after the UN,
– But not of this magnitude. And we did that, not the damn volcano. He twenty-five countries signed the treaty, and became depositaries upon its
said, crouching to take some ashes in his right hand, to rub them with his entry into force. For example, France signed the treaty in 1981 and became
fingertips. Do you think anyone can trace it back to us, because of this? depositary on July 18, 2002, and the USA signed it in 1982, ratified it in
– What, napalm? Asked Ocelot. Well… As a PMC, we’re not subject to the March 1995 and became depositary on January 21, 2009.
Protocol III585, but this bombing will attract a lot of curious, even if this Its main purpose was "to prohibit or restrict" the use of certain too
place is away from everything. dangerous conventional weapons (mines, booby traps, incendiary devices,
– So we better prepare for the backfire. remnants of war, blinding laser weapons, etc…) in armed conflicts, especially
– Yeah, but… Said Ocelot. Cipher was there, and the United States aren’t in living areas.
subject to the treaty. People will fill in the gaps themselves. End of story. The Protocol III is about incendiary
– Another lie, then… Said Venom Snake, looking at the ashes. weapons, such as napalm B, mainly
– Half-one. Admitted Ocelot. Sometimes needed. And Boss! Now that this used by France and the USA during
is all over, we better stay off the radar until it calms down. the Vietnam War (1955-1975). A
– Yeah, Miller had the same view. Said Venom Snake. It will also give us picture of Phan Thị Kim Phúc, taken
time to think. Maybe we should consider this Protocol III too, in the future. in 1972, showed the world the reality
He stood up and Ocelot nodded to him. He then headed straight to his of this type of weapon587.
chopper and climbed aboard, while Ocelot and his unit did the same with But there is a problem with this Nick Ut - Napalm Girl (1972).
theirs. The two aircrafts took off and headed east, towards Mother Base. In treaty: it only prohibits weapons whose sole and main function is incendiary,
the air, Venom Snake took one last look at the Sahelanthropus shield sunk but others, whose incendiary aspect is secondary but still present (like
on the salt island, with flamingos standing on its left side's edge. smokes or phosphorus flares), can be used. And napalm B is a bomb before
– What we did here is now part of the history of this place. Said Ocelot. being an incendiary weapon, so it could still be used after the treaty entered
– Yeah… Venom Snake answered, sitting down on the helicopter bench. into force, on military targets and in non-living areas only though.
I have one last thing to do here, I'll see you at Mother Base. He concluded. 586 You cand read/download the .pdf of the original text of the treaty here (in all the languages of the signato-
ries at the time): https://treaties.un.org/doc/Treaties/1983/12/19831202%2001-19%20AM/XXVI-2-revised.pdf.
585 The Protocol on Incendiary Weapons of the Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons from 1980. 587 This photo won its photographer the Pulltizer Award, in 1972.
– Napalm: Use. – Napalm: Operation.
In Vietnam, the napalm B (also The name Napalm is a mixture of the gelling agent and the petrochemical
known as Super napalm) wasn't used volatiles of the first version of 1942 = co-precipitated588 aluminium salts of
to burn all forests. and wouldn't have naphthenic acid and palmitic acid. The napalm B has a different chemical
been effective as a military strategy composition (including polystyrene derivatives) but the name remained.
(too high cost, uncertain results Here is the bomb that the US was equipping with napalm for their attack:
and much too long delay conside-
ring the territory of the country that
its forests represented). Originally,
A test of a forest burned with napalm B. the first version of napalm was an
herbicide invented in 1942 by Louis F. Fieser and briefly used during World
War II. But quickly, a new formula (very different of the original, but the
name remained), much more effective, was used in Vetnam to disorganize
the Vietcongs and destroy their crops, in order to starve them. Repetitive
strikes cause forest and desert areas to recede, so this was the better way
DETAILED SHEMATIC OF A BLU-1B NAPALM BOMB (LINK).
France and United States of America found to weaken their opponents,
as the CCW treaty doesn't specifically prohibit the use of napalm or other These bombs contains several components and chemical elements, such as
incendiaries against military targets, but only against the civilian population. a lanyard attached to the bomb rack and a cable between its two ends. When
After the Vietnam War, the napalm B was phased out and the United dropped, the lanyard triggers a reliable igniter (thermite) to start napalm
States government then comple- B's combustion, by switching on an electric current flowing through the
tely eliminated it from U.S. military cable. Once this chemical reaction is triggered, the bomb only has to touch
arsenals in February 1995. But old the ground, moment during which an arming pin sets off the explosive
stocks must have been sold because charge it contains, and explode to project the burning napalm gel that sticks
napalm was used in several conflicts to everything around and burn it. The contact of white phosphorus589 with
after this date, as in the Yugoslav the air suddenly increases its burning and the projection of napalm590.
588 Co-precipitation is a chemical reaction generated by two (or more) substances coming into contact.
Wars (1991-2001), in Turkey in 589 Water can’t be used to stop the reaction of the burning white phosphorus.
2018, or in Syria (2011-ongoing) in 590 This is a summary of how napalm works. Here are the sources I used: https://journals.openedition.org/
rga/3266?lang=fr, https://forum.cartridgecollectors.org/t/napalm-canisters/12875/17 and https://www.hrw.org/
2013 and 2019. Explosion of a mixture of napalm B. fr/news/2018/11/14/mythes-et-realites-sur-les-armes-incendiaires.
* Note: After the end screen of the mission, before returning to the ACC, a
A few minutes later, Venom Snake's chopper landed in the burnt area black screen would appear and the player would hear Ocelot say:
where he left the corpse of Quiet the day before, which he covered with a – Code Talker gave me a tip for the young warrior gift. Our goggles didn't spot
tarp. A military shovel in his right hand, he quickly found it, or rather the any parasite eggs on the fabric, but he gave me a treatment for the fibers, to
mass of blackened limping flesh that remained. The tarp was gone, burnt, be sure. I wanna be as good as him at what I do when I'm his age… Anyway,
and her sniper rifle was a few feet away from her, charred and partially you can drop by to pick it up the next time you pass through Mother Base.
melted, but still in its original shape. Venom Snake dug a hole near a tree
and put Quiet's charred body in it, then covered it with freshly turned dirt
and planted his rifle through the barrel in it, turning it into a battlefield
cross. A blue morpho butterfly then came on the top of the end of the rifle
stock, and left, as Venom Snake returned to his chopper to depart.
VENOM SNAKE SHUKA OUTFIT (PERSONAL PHOTOMONTAGE).
Note: The shuka would then be available as a uniform that could be worn
by all playable characters. No development would be necessary.
EXAMPLE OF A BATTLEFIELD CROSS: SOLDIER'S MEMORIAL AT NORMANDY, WORLD WAR II. Note: The Battle Gear could have been repaired at this point, and perhaps
THEY ARE USED TO MARK THE LOCATION OF A BODY, TO RECOVER IT AFTER A BATTLE.
could have been used in-game by the player, but the test of the developing
Note: That would be the end of the mission. The player would get three team's concluded that it destroyed the balance between the player and the
tapes, as a reward: New Order - Elegia, Ludvig Forsell - For Sean and Killing enemies, and we can also assume that it would have been tricky to control
Joke - Love Like Blood. Details about these songs in the dedicated section. in some mountainous or forest areas of the two game regions.
520 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) SIDE OPS N°159: OUROBOROS 521
[TAPE 3] 15 - SIDE OP N° 159:

FIND ELI OUROBOROS
Note: As the player would be back in the chopper menu (the ACC), he Note: It would be the Side Op N°159: Ouroboros; the last part of this novel.
would have a new tape in his iDroid's tape list: I'd always thought about it since I started writing it but, strangely, the
location was still vague. It was when I was about to reach this part of the
Ocelot: – Well, the good news is that, Eli is no longer infected. Before I sending book that the answer to this question became clear to me: Omega Camp.
the research team looking for him, I asked them to follow the tracks of a red Considering what happens in this last part, I don't know what I didn't think
haired boy. He alone could have gotten him out of there before the bombing. of right away. The game's and Big Boss stories end where they started.
Tretij Rebenok is still with Eli, from what they told me, wandering around
Africa. And by observing him from afar with our special goggles, they noticed
that he was no longer carrying the parasite.
Venom Snake: – How is that possible?
Ocelot: – I don't know! This psychic boy have special abilities, you know.
Maybe he found a way to get it out of his body. In any case, Eli is not a threat
to the world anymore. I mean… Not because of the parasite.
Venom Snake: – That's it already… And for the Maasai?
Ocelot: – A medical team was responsible for injecting them with the wolbachia.
Everything is under control, Boss. Now, they just have to wait for time to heal
the wounds.
Venom Snake: – So do we.
Obtained Cassette Tape [Find Eli] THE CHARACTERS AT OMEGA CAMP THAT DAY NEVER REALLY LEFT IT.
Note: Shortly after the previous Side Op, returning from a mission aboard Note: The player couldn't run and use his weapon in this first part of the
the helicopter, the player would see a black screen and hear Ocelot speaking mission. If he reached the cavity, an R2 icon would appear and he could press
to someone, over the radio: it to crouch and trigger a flashback with a very short footage and sounds
– Boss. He said. I've heard that the XOF lost contact with Omega Camp, but of Chico's extraction from Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014). This
Cipher doesn't seem to care. I think you get what that means… is a feature that was used in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008),
when Big Boss faces the grave of The Boss. While saluting her, the player
Southernmost tip of Cuba can press R2 and there is a small flashback of him doing the same from the
Omega Camp - United States Naval Prison Facility ending cutscene of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004).
September 1, 1984 10:33 p.m.
Big Boss made a few steps and

Note: As this text would appear on a black screen, reached the cavity, remembering
the sound of rain and thunder could be heard by what happened that day. He crouched
the player, later accompanied by that of a helicop- down and put his right hand on the
ter, high up, and someone putting both feet on the rocky and damp ground.
ground. There would be no music. Image would – Chico…
then appears, showing Big Boss from behind, still, He then stood up and faced the
Morpho arriving on site to extract Paz and Big Boss,
on the small accostable part of the cliff to the east of in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014). path that led to the camp, before
the camp (from where the player extracts Chico and walking along it and hearing music to his left, afar, coming from the old
Paz in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014)). prison camp where he found Chico.
The following sequence would be a playable one. – This tune… He said, grunting and resting his right hand on his corres-
ponding temple.
With the Caribbean Sea water lashed by the
pouring rain behind him, Big Boss, a regular AM Note: Here, the player could press R2 again to see a flashback of the Chrysalis
MRS-4 assault rifle in the back, was facing the cliff AI weapon in Costa Rica, during his mission in Metal Gear Solid: Peace
cavity where he had put Chico, before evacuating 3D render of Big Boss, in Met- Walker (2010), broadcasting the music he would be hearing.
al Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes
him, nine years earlier. (2014). But here, he would have
– I'll come back to extract you at your signal, Boss! a sneak suit similar to Venom Mission info updated:
Snake's in Metal Gear Solid V:
Said the helicopter's pilot, before leaving the place591. The Phantom Pain (2015). Find the source of the music
591 The player could rotate the camera and see it fying away and disappear, in the sky.
– I'll take that for a "Welcome."… He said, taking the tape.

Extradiegetic music n° 17: He then left the prison camp and walked back to the path leading to the
Inside the AI Pod592 base. On it, he saw the corpse of one of Cipher's American soldiers assigned
By Various Artists593. to the base, tied with a rope to one of the many six-light searchlights poles
scattered throughout the base.His clothes were covered with cuts and blood,
Following the loud sound of the music, Big Boss headed south and arrived and his bloody, motionless head was tilted to the side, while his right arm,
at the old prison camp with its twelve cells. The screen door to the east594 which a piece of the rope held up, pointed north of the base. A puddle of
was unlocked, so he walked in to go straight to cell N°2457595. blood was at the foot of the pole.
– Little pebbles, uh? He said, looking north. Alright…
Note: From there, the player would be able to run and use his weapons.
Mission info updated:
Reach the north of the base596
Along the way, he encountered other soldiers also tied to searchlights

poles, in the same position as the first,their right arms pointed north of
the base597. He finally made his way to the helipad's entrance, where he
witnessed a scene of horror: like the dead tied to the poles, all the soldiers
on the base had been killed and the majority of them were there, gathered
in a pile of corpses598 in the center of the helipad and lit by the searchlight
ARTWORK OF THE OLD PRISON OF OMEGA CAMP.
poles. The light rain had mixed with the blood of the corpses and covered
The music was emitted from here, from a cassette radio station placed in the concrete ground with a large reddish stain around the pile.
the center of the cell, the door of which wasn't locked and opened, shelte-
red from the rain. The sound had been set to maximum volume. Big Boss Note: The player would have to reach the pile and should press the △
approached and took the tape, which stopped playing. button to call Chico, which would launche a cutscene599.
592 This track was played by the AI pods in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). The game where Chico 596 As with the first objective, the zone to be reached would be displayed in yellow on the iDroid's map.
appeared and Big Boss met him, then brought him back to the first Mother Base to save him, and his sister. 597 There would be eight (with this one), scattered around the southern half of the base, to guide the player.
593 Since this is an unreleased track, I couldn't find which composer of the soundtrack made it. 598 There would be thirty-two corpses here, and eight tied to poles. There were forty soldiers at Omega Camp,
594 The one that the player must use to enter, in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014). in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014).
595 The one Chico was locked in, in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014). 599 Before that, he could explore the entire base if he wanted to.
– Get down from there and let's talk! Proposed Big Boss.
– An angel doesn't stoop to the level of a snake… Get ready!
– An angel? What are you talking about?
The light eventually went out and he saw Chico leap onto the watchtower's
roof, a regular UN-ARC assault rifle in hand. He'd been wearing the same
outfit since meeting Venom Snake: a dark grey uniform with sleeves partially
covering his hands and a yellow scarf600 covering the lower part of his face.
– Paz was your angel of peace. He said. I've been his angel of death601.
– From whom? Skull Face? Guessed Big Boss. Snap out of it! He's gone!
– You're wrong. You know that too, right? He's still there… Said Chico,
putting his left index finger against the left tip of his head.
– Chico… Said Big Boss, taking a step towards him.
The young man took a khaki remote control from his pocket with his left
hand, and raised his arm to bring it up to his head.
– I'm disappointed, but not surprised. He said.
ARTWORK OF OMEGA CAMP'S HELIPAD.
Big Boss didn't understand and frowned.
– Snakes are said to be nyctalopic… He said, amused. Yet, you missed the
– Chicooo! Shouted Big Boss, in the freezing silence of that stormy night. mines I laid all around you.
A few yards from him, to the north, a searchlight came on from the Big Boss looked at the ground, but it was too dark for him to see them.
northeast helipad watchtower, and aimed at him. Big Boss brought his right – Maybe this will help you. Chico said, pressing a button on the remote.
hand in front of his face and narrowed his eyes, trying to guess who was Many points of red leds began to flash on the ground, around Big Boss.
moving the light between the gaps of his slightly splayed fingers. – Now they're activated. He announced, putting the remote back into a left
– Do you remember that night, Snake? A slightly broken young man's voice back pocket of his uniform. Be careful where you crawl, Snake…
asked via the base's speakers, from the watchtower. Her screams? The pain? – So I have no way to bring you back anymore? He asked, as a last resort.
Big Boss frowned and slowly lowered his hand. – You're my last target. Said Chico, raising his arms. My salvation! My way
– Where were you when we needed you? He resumed. We were children! to silence the voices of the dead in my head. It's your death, or mine. He
You were responsible for us! said, pointing to Big Boss, then him. But it all ends here for me tonight.
– Chico? Asked aloud Big Boss towards the tower, blinded by the light. 600 The FSLN, of which Chico was a part, wore a yellow scarf in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010).
601 With the brainwashing, Chico would repeat phrases from the tape Skull Face recorded, for him to
– You killed her! He accused him. By doing nothing! Where were you then? constantly play it when he sent him on a mission.
Note: The cutscene would end here, with Chico atop the watchtower, and his He then jumped on a white container near Big Boss and now had a clear
red life bar with his name appearing in the upper left corner of the screen. firing angle to shoot him. But Big Boss took aim and opened fire first. Chico
He would immediately jump out of it to land on another part/element of took a few shots that his parasites allow him to withstand before jumping
the helipad. He would always remain on top in this part of the fight, using on the roof of the administration building, west of the helipad.
the speed and special abilities of his parasites. – It was right under my feet that she was tortured. He said. But you weren't
there, Snake! He added, before throwing a line of explosive rocks on the
Mission info updated: ground towards Big Boss, which detonated several mines in the process.
Defeat Chico Big Boss used his aiming and fighting skills to dodge the young fighter's
shots and attacks, and hit him repeatedly, until he jumped back on the roof
Extradiegetic music n° 5Bis: of the watchtower from where he appeared.
(Youtube link) Hell Unites (Bandcamp link)
By Victor Reynart. Note: The player would have to lower Chico's life bar by half to complete
this phase of the fight and launch a cutscene.
Big Boss drew his assault rifle602 and took cover behind the pile of corpses,
carefully watching the ground to avoid mines. Chico started shooting at Chico, seriously injured, dropped his assault rifle on the roof, then slowly
him but the bodies stopped the bullets. So Big Boss took the opportunity took a few steps to sit on its edge, toward Big Boss, his face downcast,
to shoot certain mines from a distance to detonate them, to widen his field dripping with raindrops, and his eyes closed.
of action on the ground and to be able to join the path he took to enter the – You're no longer under his influence. Chico! He's dead! Forget it and live!
helipad, and try to leave it. Tried Big Boss. Your sister, Amanda, is still alive and…
– Don't tell me about her! Where was she too, when I was there? Uh?
Note: The red mines leds would flash slowly, but the player could equip his – She was the one who told us about Paz! And found out that you were
night vision goggles to see them more easily. They would appear highlighted jailed here after you disappeared to find her on your own, instead of joining
in yellow in-game. her! She did all she could for you!
– Enough! Shouted Chico, before getting up.
Chico guessed his plan and used the powers of his parasites to create a With his right hand, he slowly unsheathed a machete from its black
solid non-explosive archaea rock blocking the entrance to the path bridge. leather holster, located to the left of his pelvis, then lifted it and pointed it
– You're not going anywhere!603 He cried, from his position. at Big Boss.
602 It would be the player's only weapon, and he couldn't ask for any form of support. – It's a tissue of lies invented to avoid assuming your responsibilities. He
603 He would do and say the same thing each time the player would try to run away from the helipad, trying
to take one of its exits. said. You know you're wrong. Your presence here is proof of that.
– What do you mean? – Where are you going with that?

Chico jumped from the watchtower, a few yards in front of Big Boss who Asked Big Boss.
got into a attacking position, ready to aim at him and open fire. – After searching for you, your
– My last mission for Skull Face was to kill you if he ever failed himself. double or whatever he is, set me free,
I was his backup plan. A guarantee. He began to explain, walking slowly and the first thing I remembered was
towards Big Boss, through the mines, his machete in hand. So I tracked this canvas. I knew you'd come here.
down and found you, but it was another you. He added, marking a pause. I didn't even have to look for you.
And when he ended that voice in my head, cutting off one of my earpieces. Just come here, and wait. Because
He said, putting his left fingers near his right ear, where it was. I could think A representation of Ouroboros. it's your curse, Snake, as Big Boss.
by myself again and figured out who he was. So I left. By the way, what do Big Boss remained silent.
you expect to accomplish with this trick? Is this some kind of redemption? – It all started with her, right? Asked Chico. The Boss. One day, on Mother
Or one of your selfish plans, to protect yourself by sending him to death for Base605, Miller told me that you didn't want to, but you had to kill her. It was
you, like your soldiers, while you stay holed up in a hole, Snake? your mission, and her last wish. Killed or be killed, because "There's only
– He'll contribute to the fulfillment of my future plans. Replied Big Boss, room for one Boss. And one Snake.606"
raising his gun because Chico was only a few feet away from him now. He paused, and Big Boss's left eye twitched.
– As what? A decoy? A reservoir of your lost illusions about peace? We already – And because of that, it will happen again. Resumed Chico. And again. And
died here, Snake. Me in the cage where you found me. He said, pointing his again… Until someone kills you, breaks and ends the cycle she's trapped
machete in its direction, to the southeast. And you in that chopper. What you in by having you kill her to fulfill her will, then becoming the new Boss
pitiful beings we are. Puppets. Ghosts… Phantoms. He said, stopping. It and bearer of the cursed legacy behind that title. He said, marking a pause.
was the second time I could think by myself since I became… This. He said, I could do it tonight and make it stop, but if I can't, i'll die in peace, because
looking at his arms. Two years ago, during one of my first missions for Skull I won't be the one stuck in this loop of death and suffering.
Face, in Nigeria, my earpieces were broken by the blast of an explosion. – No. That wasn't what The Boss wanted. You didn't know her.
Suddenly, all I could hear were the screams and crackling flames surroun- – I pity you, Snake… Big Boss. No matter your name. She condemned
ding me. And I walked through a village that I'd just destroyed, in dead you to live this foolish life for her. A world without border… He quoted,
silence. In a small wooden hut with a straw roof, I saw this old man, covered giggling. Only someone who has given up fighting can see it this way…
in dust and blood. Dead, like the others. But if I remember it, is because, Borders, are very real. He said, in a serious tone. And to ignore them is not
above him, was a fabric canvas of one of their deities: Onshumare was its to see them coming to you.
name there. Ouroboros: the snake that bites its own tail604.
605 He would evoke here the first one, which Skull Face destroyed.
604 Ouroboros is used in some Satanist symbolism. Which here refers to Big Boss, who has become a demon. 606 This is the last phrase The Boss said before Naked Snake (Big Boss) killed her.
After what he'd just said about The Boss, Big Boss looked at him badly.
– You seem to have learned a lot about The Boss over time, but not so much Extradiegetic music n° 18:
about me. Said Big Boss. I gave up on her will the day Paz and Zero double- (Youtube link) Blood Rain (Bandcamp link)
crossed me. I may have inherited her title, but I'm leading my own fight, By Victor Reynart.
with my own ideologies.
– Your… Plans, right? Built with corpses as bricks and blood as a binder? As if resigned, Chico only used bladed weapons and no longer his parasites.
– What do you want me to say? Shouted Big Boss, mentally overwrought. But as Big Boss used the CQC, which he learned from and with The Boss as
– Nothing. Chico realized, smiling, before taking out the remote control- he was his student, as she was still developing it, he quickly took advantage.
ling the mines to deactivate them by pressing a button, before putting it They both received light stab wounds that reddened the damp ground as
back in one of his pockets. their fight progressed, but Big Boss was the first to deliver a fatal blow,
Big Boss took a look at the red diodes stop flashing on the ground. hitting Chico in the neck through his scarf, severing his carotid artery.
– Just add another brick to the pile. He said, raising his machete and rushing
over to Big Boss, to attack him. Note: This hit's little in-game animation would occur when the player
Seeing him move, the latter tried to shoot him, but Chico used his speed empties the remaining half of Chico's life bar, also ending the fight. A fade
to dodge the bullets and tried to hit him with his machete, so Big Boss used to black would transition to the next cutscene, with a scream from Chico.
his gun to counter his attack, which ended up being thrown away. He then
drew his combat knife and take an attacking position, ready to end it. With his left hand resting on his neck, in the center of the helipad's main
courtyard, Chico staggered and took a few steps back, before turning and
Note: The cutscene would end here, with Chico, still, facing Big Boss. This walking straight ahead, until he stopped and falls to his knees. Big Boss put
would be a fight without dialogues and with knives only. The gameplay his knife away, then joined him, walking slowly, his arms at his sides.
would consist of running, dodging Chico's attacks/jumps with R2 (which – I'm sick of all this… Said Chico, before coughing up blood.
would also give the possibility to counterattack), and the knife would He then fell to the ground, but Big Boss caught up with him before it
become a player's equipped secondary weapon. Big Boss would have it in happened, and crouched down next to him, his head resting on his left leg,
hand at all times and the player should press L2 to enter combat mode, then whose knee was touching the ground. Big Boss looked at him, silent, and
only being able to move slowly (in all directions). He could also block with pulled out a zippo lighter and a cigar from one of the front pockets of his
R1 and/or attack with R2. While blocking, he would cross his arms behind black suit. He took the cigar in his mouth, and used one hand to shield it
him and could still move, slolwy, but could no longer attack. This would from the rain and the other to light it, before bringing it to Chico's mouth.
decrease the damage from Chico's hits. Also, like during his fight against – I guess you're old enough now…607 He said, in a comforting voice.
Venom Snake, he could throw hatchets from a distance, sometimes. 607 When they first met, in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), Big Boss didn't let him smoke one.
As he was drawing on the cigar, Big Boss saw a red stain from the spot Mission info updated:
he had hit with his knife spread over Chico's scarf, gradually causing it to Carry Chico's body to the pile of corpses
change color. The young man exhaled white smoke and coughed, harder
this time, so Big Boss pushed the cigar away a bit. Big Boss walked towards the pile of dead Cipher's soldiers, and stopped
– Any last words, soldier?608 Asked Big Boss. right in front of it.
– Don't tell Amanda about what I'd become, Snake. Asked Chico. Please.
– Understood. Note: The player would have to press the △ button to launch a cutscene.
Big Boss felt Chico's body shiver, so he put his left arm around him and
squeezed it a little. Extradiegetic music n° 19:
– Chico, I'm not The Boss. He said. I'm Big Boss. (Youtube link) The Last Farewell (Bandcamp link)
– I know. He said, in a strangled voice. And I really wish you to find how to By Victor Reynart.
break the cycle by yourself. Before it's too late. But I don't think that… He
added, clearing his throat. I don't… Big Boss looked at Chico one last time, still in his arms, and placed him
Big Boss handed him the cigar back and Chico drew on it again. He then gently on the ground, in front of the soldiers at the bottom of the pile.
felt his body contract, then relax, before seeing smoke coming out of his
half-open mouth. Big Boss then took the cigar again and put it back in the Note: There would be a point of view shot from where Big Boss would put
mouth, before bringing his right index and middle finger to the right of the body, which would make the screen black when he put the body there.
Chico's neck, to take his pulse. He had no more. Big Boss lowered his head, This would make a transition to him opening a closet, elsewhere in the base.
then stared at him for a few seconds, before brushing against his earpiece
cable with his fingers. Curious, he took it and brought it to his left ear, and Big Boss, his assault rifle on his back and his cigar in his mouth, then
heard the peaceful melody of a song609. He then took it out and let it fall, searched for cans of gasoline in the camp, which he found in a closet.
hanging around Chico's neck. With his left arm placed behind Chico's Transparent whites. He took four, two in each hand, and waited for the
shoulders, Big Boss brought his chest forward slightly and put his right arm rain to stop to walk back to Chico's dead body to sprinkle it with gasoline,
under his legs, at the knees, only to stand up carrying him in his arms. before taking his cigar in his right hand to throw it on it, which set it on fire.
Note: Here, the player would have a small action to do, with Chico's corpse Note: There would be a shot from behind Big Boss here, showing his figure
in his arms. in front of which Chico's corpse would be burning. This is a reference to the
608 This is another line from their first meeting, A question that Big Boss asked to Chico too, but without the scene where the Diamond Dogs soldiers are cremated in front of Venom
final "soldier". A way to show him that he considered him as this now.
609 The Eagles - I Dreamed There Was No War. Snake, at the end of the Mission 43: Shining Lights Even in Death.
Note: This last Side Op would end here, followed by the results screen and
Extradiegetic music n° 20: the rewards one.
We'll Meet Again
By Jim Capaldi. Objective Complete
Big Boss then turned around and took his radio. Development Requirements Met [JOAKIM MOGREN’S MASK]612
– It's done. He just said, before putting it away. Development Requirements Met [SKULL FACE MARE’S LEG]613
He then walked to the cliff east of the camp, where his pilot had left him
on his arrival. The latter wasted no time to arrive, illuminating the sky with Obtained Cassette Tape [I Dreamed There Was No War]
its green and red front LEDs, and decelerated to lose a little altitude and Obtained Cassette Tape [We'll Meet Again]
place its left side as close as possible to the edge of the cliff, with the side Obtained Cassette Tape [Everybody Wants To Rule The World]
door open. Big Boss climbed aboard and sat down on the bottom of the
door, watching the corpses's fire burning in the distance, to the north. The SPECIAL 'BIG BOSS' TAPES614
helicopter then gained altitude and headed east. Obtained Cassette Tape ["Metal Gear Solid" Main Theme (Metal Gear Solid 3 Version)]
Obtained Cassette Tape [Don't Be Afraid]
Note: A black screen would end this sequence, with Big Boss making a call. Obtained Cassette Tape [Way to fall]
Obtained Cassette Tape [Calling To The Night]
– I know, it's been a while. Um… Yes, it was him. No. He said, before marking Obtained Cassette Tape [Heavens Divide]
a pause. It wasn't possible, I'm sorry. He… Wasn't himself anymore, but his Obtained Cassette Tape [Zanzibar Breeze]
last words were for you. (silence) Yeah, with honor. I kept my promise…610 Obtained Cassette Tape [Used To Love Her]
(silence) Amanda, remember who he was, not what he'd become. Your Obtained Cassette Tape [We Ride Tonight]615
people will always need someone to believe in. A martyr. And he suffered
enough to inherit this title, despite what he may have done. (silence) Yeah, Note: Once completed, the player could then select this mission from the
"never as polished"611. His body is in this camp, in Cuba. You'll find his ashes iDroid missions list.
in the helipad courtyard, to the north, in front of a pile of soldiers he killed
before I arrived. (silence) We won't see each other for a long time. No, I
612 This was the mask used for the promotion of the game, before it was released, and it's also the one that
don't know when. Nothing… I'm just gonna be very busy. Adiós, Amanda. Big Boss wears in the Prologue of the game, as Ishmael.
610 It's a reference to a dialogue between them in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). 613 The signature weapon of Skull Face.
611 It's a line Big Boss said to Chico the first time they met: "– Remember, real heroes are never as polished as 614 These tapes would be all main themes and songs related to the games of the series with Big Boss.
the legends that surround them." This allusion would show the player that he would have repeated it to Amanda. 615 As with the tracks from the previous Side Op, more details about these in the dedicated section.
538 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) [CUTSCENE 14] ONE WILL, TWO WAYS 539
– No. Replied Venom Snake. Not soldiers. Combat medics616. A unit

detached from Mother Base and the Diamond Dogs. They would just help
the medical units in the field, especially in asymmetric warfares617.
[CUTSCENE 14] – Healing phantoms… Said Miller. We could turn it into an INGO. They
would be protected and could operate legally internationally. We could also
ONE WILL, TWO WAYS fund it. No way to trace it back to us, the donations would be anonymous.
Ocelot looked dubious and looked at Venom Snake with a stern gaze. The
latter walked past them and put a hand on the yellow upstairs guardrail, to
look at Mother Base from above.
Note: After the end screens of the last Side Op, there would be a fade to – Colombia, Caribbean, Afghanistan, Africa…618 He listed. We can't
black leading up to the last cutscene of the game. continue to be part of conflicts that take place so close to civilians. That
wasn't the plan.
Seychelles Waters, Mother Base Miller bowed his head slightly.
Main Command Platform – Wars can't be stopped. Admitted Venom Snake. Only the bleeding…
September 4, 1984 07:37 a.m. Sometimes. So be it. He said, pausing. It will be my legacy, as Big Boss. He
said, looking at Miller. That of the Philosophers was money and war. He
Early in the morning, Ocelot and Miller, standing and motionless, watched added, looking at Ocelot. Mine will be a bandage on the world they made
Pequod slowly maneuver his helicopter down above the platform's upper bleed with it. No matter the nation, no matter the ideology, they'll be there,
helipad, without landing on it. The left side door opened from the inside in the shadow of the soldiers they will try to save from a meaningless death.
and Venom Snake, returning from a mission, stepped out, eqquiped with Ocelot got his point and nodded, while Miller looked at Venom Snake,
his medic arm. He joined his two advisers as Pequod left the helipad. seeing that spirit the real Big Boss had lost, and didn't contradict him.
– You seem to be used to it, don't you? Ocelot said, pointing at it with his – It doesn't interfere with our land base plan. I'll find the funds. Miller said.
right index finger. – And me to spread the word on the field. Added Ocelot.
Venom Snake slowly raised his left arm and rotated it slightly, opening Then, they left and Venom Snake looked up, towards The Boss's memorial.
his hand and looking at it. 616 Combat medics have a special status in wartime and are protected by the Geneva Convention. Shooting
or killing any of them is a war crime. But they also mustn't carry a weapon of take part in combat. Yet, they've
– Since we have to go underground, I thought… This arm. It could be become more or less legally authorized to carry small-caliber firearms such as 9mm pistols, to defend themsel-
ves or the wounded or sick soldiers who are in their charge.
more. He said, closing his fist before lowering his arm. I thought of a private 617 Name of the armed conflicts between a professional army and a group of poorly equipped resistance
medical unit to send all over the world, to the battlefields. fighters, which results in carnage.
618 The locations of the Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006), Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) and
– Like… Soldiers helping random ambushed units? Asked Ocelot. Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) events.
Note: This last part would alternate between the two Big Bosses. Note: As he would finish speaking, it would be Big Boss's turn to have
his monologue. The camera would slowly rise from his feet until it fully
Once on the highest small building of the Command Platform, Venom showed him, from behind.
Snake took a few steps and stopped in front ot The Boss's memorial, with
the flowers that one of the Mbele Squad's kid put at its feet, a few days Union of Soviet Socialist Republics - Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic
earlier. They were beginning to wither, and he crouched down to push with Tselinoyarsk, secret location
his right hand the brown petals that had detached from the white lilies. September 4, 1984 09:08 a.m.619
Note: I cut the last part of the Nuclear Disarmament Ending in a previous Big Boss passed several soldiers in khaki uniforms, helping with the
section, in which Venom Snake has a little monologue addressed to The construction of the base. He eventually entered a large hangar and headed
Boss. I wanted to keep it and use it here, for a cross-edit with the real Big for an open spot, where he stopped in front of a large cylindrical object
Boss facing the AI pod that Ocelot had sent him, completed with also a short covered with a large brown tarp. Heremoved it with his right hand and
monologue from him, to finish the game with the two different directions dropped it to the ground, unveiling the AI Pod, with its flashing red light.
that the characters sharing the same title take after the events of the game.
We would see Venom Snake stand up, before starting to speak in front of Note: As he would look at the Pod, the player could hear his thoughts.
the memorial, arms at his sides. And after "farther away." (see below), the
cutscene would cut at the feet of Big Boss walking in the corridors of a – War, is inevitable. You can't… End it. As long as there are men, there will
military base under construction, in Tselionarsk. Venom Snake would be be wars. Conflict is at the very heart of humanity. Everything it does comes
"filmed"/shown from his right profile, while the Big Boss's boots would from that. So we can just sometimes calm the right person in time, to avoid
advance to the left. This would mark an opposition between the two charac- too much damage. Right, Major? And for that, I need more than an army. I
ters, and symbolically, the right represents the future and the left the past. need a nation. He said, taking a badge out of his pocket.
– I haven't forgotten what you told me, Boss. Said Venom Snake. We have Note: Here, a vertically split screen would display on the right his badge (in
no tomorrow, but there's still hope for the future. In our struggle to survive his right hand), and on the left, Venom Snake's bionic hand holding that of
the present, we push the future farther away. Will I see it in my lifetime? his future combat medic unit. Then, they would put them in their pockets.
Probably not. Which means there's no time to waste. Someday the world 619 I calculated the times of this last cutscene taking into account the 7,600 miles journey between Cuba
(from where Big Boss left on September 1, at around 11:00 p.m.) and Tselionarsk (based on its location in the
will no longer need us. No need for the gun, or the hand that pull the trigger. series (more details in the next page)), traveled in about forty-one hours by Big Boss's chopper with a cruising
I have to drive out this demon inside me, build a better future. That's what speed of 186 mph (based on that of the Sikorsky S-70, a real model that served as inspiration for the UTH-66
Blackfoot from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015)), with in-flight refueling of course, as well as the
I… What we, will leave as our legacy. Another mission, right, Boss? time difference (+08:30 hours from Cuba to Seychelles and +10:00 hours from Cuba to Tselinoyarsk).
– Outer Heaven and Tselinoyarsk.
For this novel, and in order to create a link between Metal Gear Solid V:
The Phantom Pain (2015) and Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990), I stuck to
the official information by finding all the possible connections that could
served to make everything coherent. But for the Outer Heaven base of Big
Boss's location, from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990), it was trickier.
MY LOGO OF VENOM SNAKE'S INGO (AVAILABLE IN HIGHER RESOLUTION ON THIS PAGE), In Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
AND THE TWO VERSIONS OF THAT OF BIG BOSS'S OUTER HEAVEN620.
(2004), Tselinoyarsk is located in
the southwest of the Soviet Union,
Extradiegetic music n° 21: from which Sokolov wanted to
(Youtube link) The Boss's Legacy (Bandcamp link) defect, near the border. And in
By Victor Reynart. Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990),
the Outer Heaven fortress is located
Map of the Soviet Union after its dissolution.
Note: The camera would here revert to Venom Snake, then to Big Boss. in Zanzibar Land, a rogue nation Kyrgyzstan is the small country in orange to the south.
between the former Soviet Union, China, Pakistan, and Afghanistan. Set in
In front of the memorial, Venom Snake took The Boss's bandana621 out of 1995, the game could take place in the Kyrgyz Soviet Socialist Republic (a
his pocket, looked at it for a moment, then put it away, before saluting her. landlocked country located southeast of the territory of the former USSR,
For his part, Big Boss pushed a button that deactivated the AI Pod for good. now Kyrgyzstan, which became independent on September 9, 1991, after
the dissolution of the Soviet Union (1988-1991)).
Note: That would be the end of this cutscene. There would be a black screen, Finally, I found this information (here) in the novelization of Metal Gear
and a last reward for the player. Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008), by Itō Keikaku:
"[…] As the Soviet military had invaded Afghanistan, the Russian armed
620 In the first version of it (on the right), there was a swastika, one of the oldest symbols in the world, a forces were detached to the territory of Tselinoyarsk. Yet the child state,
symbol of peace among other things, but which, due to its use by the Nazis (reversed, but which kept the same certainly no major military power, somehow prevailed in the conflict.
name), here has a double meaning on the direction taken by Big Boss with his Outer Heaven fortress/nation.
621 In Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015), the player can develop the item "Bandana", described as: According to rumor, one man had organized a mercenary army, supplied a
""Her" bandana, salvaged from Lake Nicaragua and lovingly repaired." It's just an item (which can lower serious
injury occurrences), but also a way to end The Boss and Big Boss arc, with, here, Venom Snake carrying her will torrent of arms, and provided training on the ground. The newly independent
of a free nuclear and peaceful world, by recovering her bandana: the symbol of this will that Big Boss gave up at people named their country Zanzibar Land."
the end of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), before going completely the opposite after Metal Gear Solid V:
Ground Zeroes (2014), which will lead to his demise in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990). So for this novel, I mixed the location of Tselinoyarsk and Zanzibar Land.
544 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) POST MISSION 51 545
Note: It was the last developed idea I had for this novel. Of course, other
Side Ops could have been considered on the map of the Lake Natron Basin,
to make it profitable. What follows is a list of features that could had been
added to the game with the Mission 51's DLC:
POST MISSION 51 • At one point, Ocelot could have call Venom Snake to tell him that a box
had been added to the Animal Conservation Platform for D-Horse. It would
then have been possible for him to go see it and ride it on Mother Base.
– Be careful not to fall into the water, Boss. I don't want to send a rescue team
Note: The game's story ended with the previous cutscene. Still, there would to fish you out. You have a reputation to uphold now.
be a last Side Op, taking place on the Mission 51's map. Miller would make There could also have been two tapes to pick up from D-Horse's box, once
a call to Venom Snake to warn him of something happening there, after he Venom Snake had taken it out: Night Wandering (BC) and Lone Rider (BC).
would come back from a mission.
• For the silly/fun side of some features of the Metal Gear Solid series, I
– Boss? We've had some testimonies from Maasai saying that "demons" were thought of a boomerang with a metallic edge (or incapacitating, by giving
roaming the ruins of their sacred island. So we sent a spy plane to do some recon an electric shock on contact?). The weapon would have neutralize with one
and got some interesting photos. Apparently, a small group of Skulls survived, hit and return to the player's hands if missed. It would have had an medium
but Cipher and the XOF can't return there, after all that has happened. Do range and could be developed under certain conditions, and upgraded four
you think you can handle it? Tell me when you're ready. times. Each time, the number of transportable boomerangs would have
been increased, up to 5, enough to neutralize all a guard post's soldiers.
Note: After that, the Side Op 160: "End the Skulls" would be added to the
iDroid's mission list. The player would be dropped off by chopper on the • At some point, Ocelot would talk to the player about a special volunteer:
cliff 's plateau (where some child soldiers were hidden during the Mission – Boss, someone wants to join us on Mother Base. And uh… She looks pretty
51), near the forest. He should descend through the cliff 's crack and reach familiar. She's also very talented. Check her profile on your iDroid.
the forest plunged into mist, in which a unit composed of one Mist, two A female Venom Snake (Miguel Mercado - Only time will tell (2015)).
Armor and one Camouflage (sniper) Skulls would be positioned. All access
to other parts of the island would be blocked by piles of burnt trees. The • Some animals could have been added to the Afghan and african map. I
idea was to add a mission where it would be easy for the player to collect found a lot of unseen animal logos in the unused content of the game. They
all types of parasites at once, before leaving the island by the plateau. could have been captured in the wild or with capture cages. Here's the list:
546 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) MISSION 46: TRUTH'S FINAL CUTSCENE 547
– Mission 46: Truth's final cutscene. (Back to summary.) (Back to page 263.)
Note: Taking place after the Metal

Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
(2015)'s events, I added this cutscene
here, for chronological consistency.
After the Mission 46, where the
player finds out that Venom Snake
was actually the former MSF combat
medic who protected Big Boss when
the chopper exploded during the
attack of the first Mother Base, in
The Venom Snake's Outer Heaven logo, with the horn
1975, and was turned into a Big hole in the skull (which differentiates it from the one of
Boss double, there's a short cutscene the real Big Boss, which doesn't have one). If the Dia-
mond Dogs had changed their logo for a dog's head,
taking place just before the events Big Boss kept MSF's skull for the Outer Heaven ones.
of Metal Gear (1987), in which Solid Snake is sent on a mission to Outer
Heaven to stop Big Boss. Between 1985 and 1995, once Outer Heaven was
completed, Ocelot and Miller persuaded Venom Snake to dismantle the
Diamond Dogs and his INGO medical unit to transfer its personal there.
South Africa
Near Galzburg, Outer Heaven fortress
1995622
622 The location and date aren't specified in the cutscene, but since there's an allusion to Operation Intrude
N313 (the codename for Solid Snake's operation in Metal Gear (1987)), it can be assumed that Big Boss sent him
the tape just before the operation was started, to let him know the truth just before he died. This also suggests
that Big Boss orchestrated this operation in the shadows, probably to make Cipher/Zero and the world believe
that he was dead, by letting his double be killed in his place, in order to gain time with his real Outer Heaven
base (where the events of Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990) will take place four years later, in 1999). I'm not a fan
of plot twists, but I found the concept of the Big Boss double installed in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
(2015) interesting because it turns the Big Boss that Solid Snake kills in Metal Gear (1987) into Venom Snake,
THE COMPLETE LIST OF UNUSED ANIMALS THAT COULD HAVE BEEN ADDED IN THE GAME. while the one in Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990) remains the real Big Boss.
548 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) MISSION 46: TRUTH'S FINAL CUTSCENE 549
As a distant battle could be heard outside, Venom Snake, alone in a small Note: Venom Snake could have gone mad upon learning the truth about
rom, with the face partially covered in blood, looked himself in a mirror. himself, but according to his smirk at the end of the recording, it seems
He then looked at a cassette tape player and took it with his bionic hand, he's okay with his situation and happy with it. We can assume that, as a
to take off it the tape it contained, titled "The man who sold the world623", former combat medic for Big Boss, he's flattered that the latter had enough
in black ink. He put the tape on a small shelf under the mirror, and moved confidence in him to entrust him with this role, to ensure his protection
closer to look at his face. The reflection had the face of the combat medic, (which was already his role as a medic) without even letting him know.
and he had a flashback of what happened just before the explosion of the
chopper, during the destruction of the first Mother Base in the Caribbean. Venom Snake then took off the
He remembered that he was standing between Paz and Big Boss, and had tape and flipped it. On its B-side,
taken the blast head-on to protect him. He then came to himself, put the tape there was another title: Operation
back in the player, and hit the play button. It then played a voice recording Intrude N°313. He then put it on this
of the real Big Boss624. side into an ordinary tape player,
– Now do you remember? Who you are? What you were meant to do? (silence) and the sound of an MSX627 turning
I cheated death, thanks to you. And thanks to you, I've left my mark. You have, Venom Snake facing his truth and breaking his legacy. on was then heard, to the left of the
too. You've written your own history.625 You're your own man. I'm Big Boss, tape player. Venom Snake then looked at him again in the mirror, and saw
and you are, too… No. He's the two of us. Together. Where we are, today? We a reflection of his demon face628, that of the real Big Boss who lost the way,
built it. This story, this "legend", it's ours626. We can change the world, and but smashed it with his bionic hand as he'd just learned that he wasn't that
with it, the future. I am you, and you are me. Carry that with you, wherever man. Not that part of him. And he appeared in empty areas of the broken
you go. Thank you… My friend. From here on out, you're Big Boss. mirror, before he began to walk in a black place surrounded by smoke.
623 The name of the song that opened the game's Prologue. But it's a cover, by Midge Ure. Which was the
first clue about Venom Snake's true identity: a cover, too, in another way. Note: Breaking his reflection is a way for the character to free himself from
624 According to the first line :"Now do you remember?", we can assume that Venom Snake has just heard the face of Big Boss that he has to wear in spite of himself, and becoming
the beginning of the recording, clicked on pause, the time to absorb the revelation, before listening the rest of it.
625 At this moment, there's a movement of the camera, that focuses on Venom Snake's left shoulder, showing Big Boss's true essence: a leader who inspires his soldiers. After breaking
the Diamond Dogs patch he still wears here.
626 With this game, Hideo Kojima's intention was to give the player the chance to write to write the legend of the mirror, Venom Snake appears both on its remaining parts and in the
Big Boss himself with Venom Snake, a double. His way of playing during the game allowing him to embody the hole he just made by smashing it, in which the camera enters to follow him
Big Boss that he had imagined with the previous games of the series. So this line of dialogue is as much intented
for Venom Snake as for the player. It also reminds me of a Miller line in the cutscene following the Mission 31: walking in a dark and smoky place. This is the end of the character's duality,
Sahelanthropus = "– This pain, is ours.". This line shows what the two characters are focused on: blind revenge
for Miller and a larger-scale plan against Cipher/Zero's drifts for Big Boss. Both bore the legacy of Skull Face's who now knows who he is and goes his own way from there, before dying.
actions, but unlike Miller, who lost limbs, Big Boss was still physically able to fight and continued with his
anti-nuclear plan, even though he needed Venom Snake and became what he wanted to destroy, in Metal Gear 2: 627 It's a nod to Metal Gear (1987), which was released on MSX.
Solid Snake (1990): a nation with nuclear weapons posing a threat to the world, despite its anti-nuclear ideology. 628 His face covered in blood, and with the big black horn.
550 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) BONUS: LAST DAY IN OUTER HEAVEN (2015) 551
– Bonus: Last Day in Outer Heaven (2015).
A fan of the Metal Gear Solid series, Cody Shaw, made a

strip of a fancomic that would take place after Solid Snake
defeats Big Boss in Metal Gear (1987), with updated informa-
tionsfrom Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
The strip is available in high resolution here, and another

fan of the series, CitizenFive, made a full animated video
base on this strip, using the game's characters models.
The scene shows Venom Snake, gunshot wounded after his

lost duel against Solid Snake. After the latter left the fortress,
Big Boss, outside it, has a last discussion with him, by radio,
during which he uses their codenames: Ahab and Ishmael. THE END
He thanks his double for his sacrifice, and also evokes the
location of his own Outer Heaven fortress, in Zanzibar
Land629. Before he dies, Big Boss frees Venom Snake from
his codename, and for a short moment, he can go back to
being the combat medic he was before the Ground Zeroes
Incident, in 1975, for a brief moment. Big Boss then leaves
the place too and, smoking a cigar, Venom Snake enjoys his
last moments, until seeing a vision630 of Quiet coming in
his direction and stopping right in front of him, which is
probably the "light" he sees before he dies.
629 Located in Tselinoyarsk, the fake mountainous region where the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater
(2004) took place.
630 I say vision because at the end of the Mission 45: A Quiet Exit, Quiet speaks in English and triggers the
hatch and growth of her vocal cord parasites, so she probably died since 1984. And I made her die in this novel.
552 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 1: CHARACTERS 553
ANNEX 1: CHARACTERS
Kazuhira (Kaz) Miller
A soldier who became the right arm of Big Boss and then of Venom Snake.
Big Boss (Punished "Venom" Snake)

An old combat medic transformed as a double of the legendary soldier Big Boss. Revolver Ocelot/Shalashaska/ADAM/Adamska
Former member of the GRU, son of The Boss, member of the Patriots and friend of Big Boss.
Quiet
An old XOF soldier send to kill Big Boss who ended up joining Venom Snake. Code Talker/George
An American / Navajo biologist who worked on the vocal cord parasite for Skull Face.
Eli/Liquid Snake Skull Face

One of the two clones of Big Boss from Zero's project Les Enfants Terribles. The leader of the XOF who destroyed Big Boss's Mother Base in 1975.
Dr "Huey" Emmerich Donald Anderson/Dr Sigint

A mechanical engineer who turned the Russian Shagohod into bipedal nuclear walking tanks. A former member of the FOX unit, then of the Patriots and again after Cipher.
The Sahelanthropus Major Zero/David Oh

The unfinished but operational Metal Gear that Huey made for Skull Face. Former soldier of SAS, MI6, co-leader of the FOX unit, and leader of the Patriots and Cipher.
Dr Strangelove Tretij Rebenok/ The Floating Boy/Psycho Mantis

An AI research scientist who worked for the Mercury Project and built the AI Pod. A Russian boy endowed with powerful telekinetic powers who controls the Sahelanthropus.
D-Dog/DD The End

Wolfdog (undetermined species) found and bred by Venom Snake, and assist him on the field. The legendary "Ancient Sniper" of the Cobra Unit.
Pequod The Mbele Squad

Codename/Callsign for some of the Diamond Dogs helicopter pilots. A group of child soldiers rescued by Venom Snake in Africa.
Eli's militia Big Boss (Ishmael/Vic Boss/Naked Snake/Jack/John)

A group of child soldiers exfiltrated from Africa by Venom Snake and loyal to Eli. Member of the FOX unit, leader of MSF and former member of the Patriots.
Chico/Ricardo Valenciano Libre Amanda Valenciano Libre

Former child soldier fighting in Nicaragua in the FSLN unit, led by his father. Former soldier fighting in Nicaragua in the FSLN unit, led by his father. Sister of Chico.
Dr Clark/Para-Medic
Physician, member of the XOF, The Patriots, and a key one in the project Les Enfants Terribles.
560 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 2: IMAGE GALLERY (PART 1) 561
ANNEX 2: IMAGE GALLERY (PART I)
A COLT MODEL 1873 SINGLE ACTION ARMY REVOLVER.
AN MC-130E COMBAT TALON.
A MAKAROV MP.
AN M-29 DAVY CROCKETT M388 LAUNCHER.

A 1955 AMERICAN HILLER VZ-1 PAWNEE PROTOTYPE. A BARTINI BERIEV VVA-14 WIG.
SOME GAZERS IN DEATH STRANDING (2019).

THE FRAMED PHOTO WITH GRANIN AND HUEY EMMERICH.
AN RPG-7 ROCKET LAUNCHER.
THE REAL CÉCILE CAMINADES.
A M72 LAW ROCKET LAUNCHER.
A T-5 NUCLEAR TORPEDO.

THE XOF PATCH THE CHARACTER WEARS ON HIS BLACK JACKET.

AN UH-1D "HUEY" IROQUOIS.
BIG BOSS IN METAL GEAR SOLID: PEACE WALKER (2010), AND CHE GUEVARA. AN XOF'S UTH-66 BLACKFOOT, AND BIG BOSS'S ONE.
A SIKORSKY UH-60 BLACK HAWK.
THE PICTURE WITH THE PILOT, MILLER, BIG BOSS AND THE COMBAT MEDIC, ON THE RIGHT.
AN AM MRS-4.
THE JOAKIM MOGREN’S MASK, HELD BY HIDEO KOJIMA.

THE XOF AMV: A STOUT IFV-FS.
THE FAKE MOBY DICK STUDIO'S OFFICIAL LOGO.
THE XOF SOLDIER ROCKET LAUNCHER: A GROM-11.
VENOM SNAKE'S CASSETTE TAPE PLAYER.

MILLER'S SUNGLASSES: THE J. F. REY KAZ GEAR (WHICH WERE REALLY CREATED AND SOLD).
AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE GAME'S AFGHAN AREA.
THE RED BIONIC ARM OF VENOM SNAKE.

ARTWORK OF THE SUPPORT HELICOPTER.
OCELOT'S SUNGLASSES: THE J. F. REY OCELOT GEAR (WHICH WERE ALSO CREATED AND SOLD).
THE FULTON SYSTEM DEVICE. ARTWORK OF THE DA SMASEI LAMAN FORT.

ARTWORK OF AN HP-48 KROKODIL.
ARTWORKS OF THE COMBAT MEDIC AND THE PILOT OF MSF, IN 1974, BY YOJI SHINKAWA.
THE PICTURE OF BLUE MORPHO BIG BOSS RECOVERED ON THE WALL.
CAPTURE CAGES.
ARTWORK OF THE LAMAR KHAATE PALACE'S RUINS.
THE PAINTINGS ON THE RUINS'S GROUND.

THE BEETLE HAD A LARGE ELEVATABLE CABIN MOUNTED ON PISTONS,
IN WHICH A PILOT COULD SIT, AS WELL AS TWO REMOVABLE ARMS.
THE POSTER WE CAN FIND ALL OVER MOTHER BASE,

AND A PROPAGANDA POSTER INSPIRED BY THE BOOK 1984 (1949).
AN AERIAL VIEW OF THE GAME'S ANGOLA-ZAIRE BORDER REGION AREA.
THE EQUIPMENT OF D-DOG: A TACTICAL KNIFE AND A MEDICAL INJECTOR

(WHICH SHOULD HAVE BEEN AVAILABLE WITH A MED OUTFIT FOR D-DOG,
THAT WAS FINALLY NOT INTEGRATED INTO THE GAME).
HUEY'S MUG. THE "I <3 DD" LOGO REMINDS THE REAL "I <3 NY" ONE,
MADE BY MILTON GLASER IN 1977.
HUEY'S BLUEPRINTS OF THE BATTLE GEAR.

ARTWORK OF VENOM SNAKE LEAVING THE MANSION WITH CODE TALKER ON HIS BACK.
(Back to page 102.) THE ARCHEA MACHETE OF THE ARMOR UNIT. (Back to page 403.)
A G44K. A BRENNAN LRS-46.

STEFANIE JOOSTEN AND QUIET.
THE SAHELANTHROPUS, IN ITS INITIAL POSTURE.
ARTWORK OF THE MODEL OF JEEP THAT VENOM SNAKE TOOK: THE APE T-41LV. THE PARASITE IN THE BACK AND THE LEFT TENTACLE OF A SNAIL.
588 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 3: IMAGE GALLERY (MISSION 51) 589
ANNEX 3: IMAGE GALLERY (MISSION 51)
MVELE (OR IROKO, MVELE IS ITS COMMON NAME

IN EAST AFRICA) TREES (MILICIA EXCELSA).
THE UNGAMA BAY, ON TOP RIGHT.
A DIAMOND DOG CHOPPER, WITH THE LOGO, VISIBLE ON ITS BODY.
AN SVG-76.
ECOchallenge
DATA ON A SELECTION OF IMPORTANT AND RECOMMENDED SPECIES

INDIGENOUS TREES TREES NATURALLY OCCURRING IN KENYA
Scientific name Common name Some vernacular name Zone Growth rate Primary uses Other key features
Acacia abyssinica UMBRELLA THORN Njora rahisi, Mugugu, Munyinya U Medium Woodfuel, edible gum Shade, ornamental, common W Nyanza
Acacia nilotica EGYPTIAN THORN Mgungu, Ol'kiloniti, Sertwet M Medium Woodfuel, bees Woodborer danger
Acacia polyacantha FALCON'S CLAW Mgunga, Mtopotopo, Musewa M Medium Posts and tools, medicine Resinous, needs water table, termite proof
Acacia senegal GUM ARABIC Kikwata, Mgunga, Mwera, SA Slow Resin is Gum arabic Wood is hard, pods are good fodder
Acacia seyal WHITE THORN Mugaa, Muaa-Mweo, Oriang M Medium Edible gum, medicinal Hardy v drought
Acacia xanthophloea FEVER TREE/NAIVASHA THO R Mgunga, Olerai, Murera M-U Medium Woodfuel, fodder Brittle branches
Afzelia quanzensis POD MAHOGANY/LUCKY BEAN Mbambakofi C Slow Timber prized for carving Durable in salt water, v thick branches
Albizia gummifera PEACOCK FLOWER Mkingu U Rapid Timber prized for furniture Decorous, deciduous
Balanites aegyptiaca DESERT DATE Mjunju, Muhoromo, Mulului SA Slow Timber, fodder, gum Wood durable;edible fruit; termite resistant
Brachylaena huillensis SILVER OAK Muhuhu, Ol Magogo, Muhugu C/U Medium Good for carving; Hardier when mature, wood is tough
Calodendrum capense CAPE CHESTNUT Muraraci, Ol 'larashi, Mpisili U Medium Timber, tools, poles, Semi-deciduous, wood is strong, flexible
Cordia africana CORDIA Makobokobo, Mringaringa M/U v Rapid Timber, edible fruit, gum Attractive white flowers
Croton macrostachyus BROAD-LEAVED CROTON Mukinduri, Mbali, Mlalai U Rapid Timber, poles, medicinal Heavy leaf fall; good pioneer species
Croton megalocarpus CROTON Muthulu, Ol'nrergoit, Musine U Rapid Woodfuel (smoky), shade Pioneer species for forests; fine shade tree
Ekebergia capensis CAPE ASH; DOG PLUM Mununga U Medium Timber tough Excellent shade tree
Ficus natalensis BARK CLOTH FIG Mugumo, Ol'endeti, Kiumo, M Medium Bark cloth, medicinal Often sacred, similar to F. thonningii
Ficus sur CAPE FIG Mukuyu, Ol ngaboli M/U Rapid Edible fruit, medicinal Traditional ceremonial, fruit prone to insects
Ficus sycomorus SYCAMORE FIG Mukuyu, Ol gngaboli M Medium Timber, fuel, edible fruit Excellent tree for birdlife
Ficus thonningii STRANGLER FIG Lubuli, Lutoto, Mrumo, Simotuet U Rapid Often germinates on other tree Excellent tree for birdlife
Juniperus procera CEDAR (Af pencil) Mutarakwa, Ntorokya, Nso M/U (Dry) Slow Timber, posts, furniture Straight when young, over-exploited
Kigelia africana SAUSAGE TREE Mwegea, Ol'darboi M Medium Multiple medicinal Unripe fruit poisonous
Kigelia moosa SAUSAGE TREE Mwegea, Ol'darboi U Medium Multiple medicinal Used in beer making
Markhamia lutea MARKHAMIA Muu, Siala, Mabet, Lusiola U Rapid Poles, timber, tobacco Coppices with care, good for agroforestry
Melia volkensii MELIA Mukau, Muramarui, Mukowe M/ SA Slow Hard red Timber, mulch, Goats like the fruit
Milicia excelsa MVULE Mvule M/C Slow Superb timber Easy germination, threatened
Newtonia buchananii NEWTONIA Mukui, Mkufi M/U Rapid Boat-making, furniture Fine ornamental; pods and leaves fodder
Ocotea usambarensis CAMPHOR Muithaithi, Muzura, Mukongo U Medium Excellent timber Fast initial grow, termite prone; over-exploited
Olea capensis ssp. Welwitsch ELGON OLIVE Mucarage, Muukuru, Ol'giloni U Rapid Prized timber for furniture Pale hard wood, termite resistant
Olea europea ssp. Africana WILD OLIVE Mutamaiyu, Mlamuru, Muthata M/U Slow Prized timber; high quality charcoal Fruit edible (but no oil unlike European relative)
Podocarpus falcatus EA YELLOWWOOD Ol pirripirri, Muthengera U Medium Furniture, boxes, poles Very good timber, a conifer (but NOT a pine)
Podocarpus latifolius EA YELLOWWOOD Muthengera U Medium Plywood, medicinal Very good timber, a conifer (but NOT a pine)
Polyscias fulva PARASOL TREE Mborori, Yaroro M/U Rapid Boxes, beehives, plywood Both Parasol trees are fine ornamentals
Polyscias kikuyuensis PARASOL TREE Mutati, Mborori, Yaroro U Rapid Boxes, beehives, plywood Wood is odourless, poor fuel, good mulch
Pouteria adolfi-friedericii MUNA Muna U Medium Timber, latex sap, fruit Towering tree in highlands
Prunus africana RED STINKWOOD Mkonde-konde, Muiri, Mutimailu M/U Medium High value bark for medicine Excellent timber, forests and margins
Tamarindus indica TAMARIND Mkwaju, Moya, Muthithi, Roka SA Slow Boat-building, furniture, Wood hard; fruit used for a drink; medicinal
Terminalia brownii TERMINALIA (Red pod) Mbarao, Mpoke, Onera SA Medium Timber, handles, fodder Drought-resistant; popular in dryland agroforestry
Trichilia emetica CAPE MAHOGANY Muwamaji, Mururi, Mtutu U Medium Furniture, poles, fuel, Timber is light, seed oil for soap, seed poisonous
Vepris nobilis TECLEA Munderendu, Olgelai, Kuriot M/U Medium Roof beams, sticks, bows Leaflets in threes
Vepris simplicifolia TECLEA Muderendu U Medium Timber, fuel, medicine Simple leaved
Vitex keniensis MERU OAK Mfuu, Mhuru, Moru U Rapid Furniture Timber much prized, fruit edible
Warburgia ugandensis AFRICAN GREENHEART Muth(a)iga, Ol msogoni M/U Medium Furniture, glue resin Leaves and bark peppery and v medicinal
Zanthoxylum gillettii AFRICAN SATINWOOD Sagawoita U Medium Boat-building, carpentry Wood hard and scented; highly medicinal
EXOTIC TREES TREES INTRODUCED TO KENYA FROM OTHER COUNTRIES

Scientific name Common name Local names Zone Growth rate Primary uses Other key features
Acacia melanoxylon AUSTRALIAN BLACKWOOD U Rapid Hard timber Needs wet upland; prone to blight
Albizia lebbeck WOMEN'S TONGUE Mcani mbao, Mboromo, Kirongo U Rapid Many medicinal, fodder, Ceremonial values, very widespread
Artocarpus heterophyllus JACKFRUIT Mfenesi (mfuu) C Rapid Fruit, gum, timber World's biggest fruit, now naturalised to EA
Azadirachta indica NEEM Mkilifi, Mwarubaini kamili C-M Rapid Multiple, esp medicinal Hardy on coast; many uses (insecticide etc)
Casuarina cunninghamiana CASUARINA Mvinje U Rapid Windbreak, woodfuel Nitrogen-fixing, prickly seed
Casuarina equisetifolia CASUARINA Mvinje, Moinga C/SA Rapid Soil stabiliser, firewood Nitrogen fixing
Ceiba pentandra KAPOK TREE Msufi, Kafamba C Rapid Valuable fibre from seeds Layered branches
Eucalyptus camaldulensis RED RIVER GUM SA Rapid Dense timber; warps easily Coppices well; termite resistant
Eucalyptus globulus TASMANIAN BLUE GUM Mkaratusi, Mbanya U v Rapid Timber, plywood, poles Timber very hard, straight stem
Eucalyptus grandis / saligna SYDNEY BLUE GUM Mtimbao, Muringamu, Mbanyi U v Rapid Important woodfuel Massive, straight, adverse to crops
Grevillea robusta SILKY OAK Mgrivea, Meresi, Mukima U v Rapid Furniture, plywood Good agroforestry tree; likes deep soil
Mangifera indica MANGO Mwembe, Maembe C-SA Medium Fruit, fuel, boat-making Growth slow in uplands; many varieties
Persea americana AVOCADO Mparachichi, Mwembe mafuta U v Rapid Fruit rich in protein & oil Many varieties; toxic to livestock
Psidium guajava GUAVA Mpera, Mubera C-U Medium Highly edible fruit, wood Naturalised to EA
Schinus molle PEPPER TREE Mukombokombo U Rapid Fuel, medical, bee forage Very drought resistant, spice mixes, shade
Syzygium cuminii JAVA PLUM Mzambarau U Rapid Timber, poles, tools Naturalised to EA
Terminalia mantaly TERMINALIA C/SA/U Rapid ornamental shade tree Drought resistant, spreading layers
NATURALISED: An exotic tree which produces seed and has gone wild in Kenya. Most vigorous exotics (wattle, eucalyptus, grevillea) are now naturalised.
Key
Most trees will grow outside their optimum climatic/altitude "zone" but growth will be slower and overall performance poorer. Optimum zones are indicated per:
UPLAND BEST AT 1600 m AND ABOVE Best in wet highlands, need rainfall above 1000mm, withstand chill
MID-RANGE GENERALLY 1000-2000m Not ideal for extreme hot, chill or dry; do better than "upland" trees in drier highlands (eg 800-1200mm)
SEMI-ARID GENERALLY BELOW 2000m Well adapted for areas of low rainfall eg 400-600mm
COASTAL BELOW 1000m Require high humidity, warm temperatures, good rainfall (parts of Lake Basin similar)
MULTIPLE RANGES SEE ZONE COLUMN Tolerant of wider range of zone conditions
Within zones, rate and size of growth is dependent on soil quality and, above all, on rainfall (x2 rain = x4 growth rate). Some species require permanent water table
This species data summary is one of many special guideline/information documents produced by Total Kenya for the TotalEco Challenge .
Selection and data guided by Mark Nicholson and other active tree professionals and scientists. Total species in Kenya number approx.2000
A LIST OF INDIGENOUS AND EXOTIC TRESS PRESENT IN KENYA (LINK (DEAD)). AN AERIAL VIEW OF MOTHER BASE, WITH THE QUARANTINE PLATFORM, APART.
SILVER LAVA FLOW FROM THE VOLCANO.
AN UN-ARC EQUIPED WITH A 4X VARIABLE ZOOM BOOSTER SCOPE AND A RED DOT SIGHT 2.
THE GREGORY RIFT VALLEY, MODIFIED AND DOWNSCALED FOR THE MISSION'S MAP
A GEIST P3 HANDGUN.
AFRICAN FAN PALMS (BORASSUS AETHIOPUM).
TWO MARABOU STORKS IN SEARCH OF FOOD, ON A LARGE SURFACE AREA OF THE LAKE
NATRON, COVERED WITH THE EMPTY NESTS OF LESSER FLAMINGOS WHICH LEFT
THE PLACE WITH THE SURVIVING HATCHLINGS.
AN ILLUSTRATION OF A MAP OF THE LORD OF THE FLIES (1954)'S ISLAND.
A FB MR R-L MK-II (FALKENBERG MULTI-ROLE ROCKET LAUNCHER).
THE NORTHERN KRUGER NATIONAL PARK PAFURI CAMP'S

FEVER TREE (VACHELLIA XANTHOPHLOEA) FOREST, SOUTH AFRICA.
THE FOREST OF THE MISSION 51 WOULD BE SIMILAR TO THE ONE OF THE MISSION 28.
A TOOTHBRUSH TREE, OR MUSTANG TREE (SALVADORA PERSICA).

A ALM 48.
THE COVER ART OF THE ROLLING STONES'S ALBUM BEGGARS BANQUET (1968).
AN UN-ARC WITHOUT ACCESSORIES.
3D RENDER OF ELI, WITH HIS CONCH IN FRONT OF HIS LEFT THIGH.

AN HP-48 KROKODIL.
THE SAHELANTHROPUS HOLDING AN ARCHEA BLADE.
ALL THE TANKS AND AMVS FROM THE METAL GEAR SOLID V: THE PHANTOM PAIN (2015).
A LINE OF METALLIC PYLONS SUMMONED BY THE ARCHEA BLADE.

A LOCKHEED U-2 DRAGON LADY.
THE SAHELANTHROPUS HOOKING UP A CHOPPER IN THE MISSION 31 INTRO CUTSCENE.

A LINE OF METALLIC PYLONS SUMMONED BY THE ARCHEA BLADE.
THE LITTLE BOY ATOMIC BOMB USED IN 1945.

ARTWORK OF HOW VENOM SNAKE SEES ELI'S RED SUIT AFTER THE SHOCK.
THE FAT MAN ATOMIC BOMB USED IN 1945. DIAMOND DOGS HEAVE-LIFT HELICOPTERS.
A GREEN GHOST MANTIS (PHYLLOCRANIA PARADOXA). A RUSSIAN MASK PMK-1 FROM TAMBOVMASH.
A TRIOCEROS JACKSONII XANTHOLOPHUS CHAMELEON. THE PLANE FROM THE MISSION 11:CLOAKED IN SILENCE'S CUTSCENE.
A BAE/MCDONNELL DOUGLAS HARRIER II.
A MCDONNELL DOUGLAS F/A-18 HORNET. IGOR KOSTIN IN 1986, WITH HIS NIKON F3 AND ORANGE PROTECTIVE SUIT.
THE TWO LINES WHERE AMANDA ASKED BIG BOSS TO END THE TORTURE OF CHICO, WHO
IGOR KOSTIN'S PHOTOGRAPHY OF THE FOURTH REACTOR THAT EXPLODED AT THE CHER- HAD BEEN CAPTURED, TO PREVENT HIM FROM SPEAKING, IF HE COULDN'T GET HIM BACK.
NOBYL POWER PLANT, ON APRIL 26, 1986. THE HISTORIC HBO DRAMA MINISERIES CHERNO-
BYL (2019) TRACES THESE EVENTS IN DETAIL, WITH A LOT OF TECHNICAL EXPLANATIONS.
BIG BOSS WITH THE JOAKIM MOGREN MASK, IN THE PROLOGUE OF THE GAME
THE SKULL FACE'S SHOTGUN.
MIGUEL MERCADO - ONLY TIME WILL TELL (2015). (ARTSTATION LINK).

614 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 4: CREATIONS 615
ANNEX GALLERY:
ANNEX 4: CREATIONS
–HUMANITAS INGO LOGO:
A BOEING B-29 SUPERFORTRESS.
A VIRTUAL PATCH OF THE LOGO.

616 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 4: CREATIONS 617
The central element of the logo Finally, the black bands visible
comes from the "H" painted on the between the two HUMANITAS
helipads. It's used to be easily recogni- words recall the barcode motif of
zable from above (and is reminis- the Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker
cent of helicopter landing skids, also (2010) logo. In the latter, they
seen from above (although these represent the business side of war,
have two horizontal bars, unlike the and with the peace symbol made
letter H). The H also makes think to with a bomber, the logo represents
the word "Hospital": it suggests both the peace through war, at the center
the idea of flying anywhere in the of the business it is631. It perfectly
An heliport seen from above. world and of saving people. The Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) logo. represents how Miller sees MSF.
The H is here white, which symbolizes the purity of the action of the For its part, the Big Boss logo of Outer Heaven keeps the skull of that of
INGO, but because it operates on the battlefields, it's surrounded by the MSF, and the HUMANITAS logo keeps the barcode motif of that of Metal
black color which here symbolizes death, and surrounded by a red outline, Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). Big Boss focuses on murder and death,
which represents the blood shed in combat. This color is also used by the and Venom Snake on care in the business of war. Their two visions of The
combat medic for the red cross of their uniform, because visible from afar. Boss's will diverge, and these two "armies" would be their concretizations.
The word "humanitas" is the latin word for "humanity". And the latter's
very roots are: wars and care. Life
and death. As the members of the
INGO are both soldiers and combat
medics, the use of a Latin word, at
the origin of a similar one in several
languages, is a means of making it
understood to as many people in the
field thanks to a common etymolo-
gical root. Continuing on from this
idea, the logo's font is the Universe, The MSF logo and the Big Boss's Outer Heaven one, from Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990).
to allude to the fact that the INGO

631 The logo doesn't appears in-game in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010), but Chico is wearing a white
has an international scope. The HUMANITAS logo, without effects. homemade version of it on his red cloak, on the artworks of the Mission 51.
622 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 5: ANIMALS 623
ANNEX 5: ANIMALS
628 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 6: KINGDOM OF THE FLIES'S OFFICIAL ARTWORKS 629
ANNEX 6: KINGDOM OF THE FLIES'S

OFFICIAL ARTWORKS
PICTURE: A KENYAN LION SKULL AND A SIMBAKUBWA KUTOKAAFRIKA LEFT JAW.
AN ILLUSTRATION OF THE PREDATOR, BY MAURICIO ANTON.

634 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 7: NOVEL'S TAPE LIST 635
ANNEX 7: NOVEL'S TAPE LIST

(Summary.) (P. 363.) (P. 509.) (P. 518.) (P. 537.)
Note: For this list of tapes the player could have find on the map of the Mission
51, I thought of something that Hideo Kojima did for the soundtrack of the
game, using covers of famous tracks, like the one of The Man Who Sold The
World, by Midge Ure, that opens the game, while Venom Snake awakes in
the hospital. The idea of cover is relevant comparing to Venom Snake's role
in the game, even in the meaning of the word, cover = protect (Big Boss in
his case). I also thought of some B-sides tracks (which are like secret songs
sometimes only present on some releases of a single, as a bonus track).
– 1: New Order - The Beach.

Release year: 1983.
Details: The band is a main musical inspiration of Hideo Kojima, like we
could see it with their track Elegia, used in one of the game's trailers. Of
course, its name is a reference of the place the tape can be found: the beach.
– 2: Demis Roussos - Lord Of The Flies.

Release year: 1971.
Details: The track is not defined as a reference to the William Golding's
book. But I decided to add it here to refer to it, which is a reference for the
Mission 51 and some elements of the Metal Gear Solid series.
– 3: Eagles - I Dreamed There Was No War. – 7: Pet Shop Boys - It's A Sin.
Release year: 2007. Release year: 1987.
Details: By writing this section, I just found out that this song in from 2007. Details: This song's lyrics are more about religion, but I added it because of
I discovered it a few years ago and always thought it was a song from the the word "Sin", that refers to the musical theme of the game sung by Donna
80s. I let it here because it sounds like an old song, and because I liked the Burke: Sins of the father. And because it's a famous 80s track, too.
idea of Chico dropping a tape of this song. It fits the character's evolution,
like an old souvenir of who he was before the tragic events of Metal Gear – 8: Status Quo - In The Army Now.
Solid: Ground Zeroes (2014). It can also refers to Paz and the theme of Release year: 1986.
peace, some major elements of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). Details: Aside from the fact that the song sticks to the 80s tones of the
game's bands, its title and sarcastic lyrics are mostly about the Vietnam
– 4: Mike Oldfield - Nuclear. War and the US military. Like a slogan that a soldier would remember
Release year: 2014. after some time in the army and the absurdity of war. Finally, there is an
Details: This song was featured in one of the game's trailers. Recorded in extended version of this song made by Pip Williams, with the addition
2014, it has this 80s rock vibe, with nuclear as a central theme. The song of a short rock part with an electric guitar instead of the synthetiser, and
fits perfectly the game but wasn't feature in it, in the end. Here, I chose it as another short part with choirs (that reminds military choirs).
the credits song of the Mission 51. And to add the tape of the instrumen-
tal version of it. – 9: Tears For Fears - Everybody Wants To Rule The World.
Release year: 1985.
– 5: Killing Joke - Love Like Blood. Details: The song's are about the human's desire for power. In the game, Big
Release year: 1985. Boss, Skull Face and the United States of America are in the centre of the story
Details: This track fits the 80s tracks we can fing in the game. But it's also and wants to have power among the others, through the Sahenlathropus.
a reference to the Venom Snake/Quiet impossible romance. The game is
about him in the end and I thought it was a way to give him his own story. – 10: Soft Cell - You Only Live Twice.
Release year: 1984.
– 6: Orchestral Manoeuvres in the dark - Enola Gay. Details: James Bond was an important inspiration for Hideo Kojima, for
Release year: 1985. Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004). The main theme of the game, Snake
Details: This song's name refers to the one of the Boeing B-29 Superfortress Eater, and its introduction are the most obvious proofs of this. Here, the
that dropped the Little Boy atomic bomb on Hiroshima, August 6, 1945. I cover of the main theme of You Only Live Twice (1967), originally sung by
found it pretty relevant with the game's themes. Nancy Sinatra, refers to Big Boss and his double Venom Snake.
– 11: Frankie Goes To Hollywood - Two Tribes. – 15: The Ventures - Green Leaves Of Summer.
Details: This anti-war song lyrics refers to the Soviet Union and The United Details: This is an instrumental cover of the movie Alamo (1960)'s main
States of America tension's peak. Its video features a wrestling match theme, composed by Dimitri Tiomkin and written by Paul Francis Webster.
between the US President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet General Secretary The line "Remember the Alamo!" is told both by Volgin and Skull Face, and
Konstantin Chernenko. The addictive bassline could be the only reason the real events recounted in the movie are a major part of the United States
why I added this song in this list. of America's history. This instrumental also has these western vibes that
stick to the atmosphere of the game.
– 12: Michael Cretu - Samurai.
Release year: 1985.
Details: This song is a reference to the movie Kagemusha - The Shadow Note: The two tracks that follows are from two trailers of the game:
Warrior (1980), which was a main inspiration of Hideo Kojima for the
game. It has no direct link with the music, tho. The lyrics can also makes – 16: Hi-Finesse - Zenith (Feat. Natacha Atlas).
think about the sacrifice of the medic who turned into Venom Snake. Release year: 2015.
Details: This song was featured in one of the game's trailers. Besides, I used
– 13: Eurythmics - Sweet Dreams (Are Made Of This). it in the trailer I made for this book (FRST version: here).
Release year: 1983.
Details: Another hit from the 80s. The "dreams" of the vague lyrics could – 17: Garbage - Not Your Kind Of People.
refers to the ideologies of Big Boss, who, like the lyrics says, "traveled the Release year: 2012.
world". The line "Some of them want to use you" can also makes think of Details: This song was featured in the GDC 2013 trailer.
the way the United States of America used The Boss and Big Boss.
– 14: Giorgio Moroder - Chase.

Release year: 1978.
Details: This famous instrumental electronic theme from the Alan Parker's
movie Midnight Express (1978)'s soundtrack would fit perfectly the long
wanderings through both the Afghan and African regions of the game, to
accomplish some Side Ops.
Note: The tracks that follows are linked to the real Big Boss, who would – 21: Elisa Fiorillo - Don't Be Afraid.
appear in the final cutscene of the Mission 51. Release year: 2004.
Details: Once again, it's a track from Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004).
– 18: Jim Capaldi - We'll Meet Again. It plays during the night Naked Snake and EVA spend together after the end
Release year: 1974. of the mission, before Snake inherit of the title of Big Boss. An important
Details: This track is particular. First of all, it's the hidden track of the album moment in the life of the character, so does EVA.
Whale Meat Again (1974). This title refers here to Moby Dick (1851), the
main inspiration for the game. It's a short cover of an old WWII era Vera – 22: Starsailor - Way to fall.
Lynn's song. WWII reminds the character of The Boss, so to the origins of Release year: 2001.
the Metal Gear Solid series. Adding to that, this song was featured in the final Details: This song was played during the credits of Metal Gear Solid 3:
scene of Stanley Kubrick's 1964 movie Dr. Strangelove, which is a nuclear Snake Eater (2004). It was not created for the game, but fits the situation of
holocaust. Strangelove is the name of the AI research scientist that worked Big Boss at the end of the game, after losing both The Boss and EVA.
with Huey on the design of the early Metal Gears. Finally, the title "We'll
Meet Again" refers to the fact that the player will see again the characters – 23: Natasha Farrow - Calling To The Night.
from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) in the following games Release year: 2006.
of the series; as this game is its last and the junction between Metal Gear Details: The main theme of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006). A part
Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004)and Metal Gear (1987), that title is perfect. of Big Boss's story.
– 19: The Sherbs - We Ride Tonight. – 24: Donna Burke - Heavens Divide.
Details: This song would refer to The Boss. Daft Punk sampled it for their Details: The main theme of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). There
track Contact, that uses some recordings from the NASA. So this original is already an instrumental version of it in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom
version is a indirect reference to the mission of the Boss for the NASA. Pain (2015), but I added here to complete the whole list of music.
– 20: Harry Gregson-Williams - "Metal Gear Solid" Main Theme (Metal – 25: Mutsuhiko Izumi & Takahide Ayuzawa - Zanzibar Breeze.
Gear Solid 3 Version). Release year: 2007.
Release year: 2004. Details: This song is from the Metal Gear 20th Anniversary ~ Metal Gear
Details: The famous theme from the chonologically first game of the series, Music Collection (2007) album and is a remake of a Metal Gear 2: Solid
which turned its TGS 2004 trailer into one of the best trailers of all time. Snake (1990)'s track. The game where Solid Snake defeats the real Big Boss.
– 26: Guns N' Roses - Used To Love Her. Note: All the following tracks (except Elegia) are tapes that could be find
Release year: 1988. on dead Diamond Dogs's soldiers corpses. There are all about peace and/
Details: I discovered this song a few years about the release of Metal Gear or love, what those soldiers wants to fight for as Big Boss's soldiers.
Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) and it always made me think of Big Boss
and The Boss, and the way their close relationship ended. – 29: New Order - Elegia.
Release year: 1985.
– 27: The Rolling Stones - Sympathy For The Devil. Details: I already evoked it twice before in this section, but as a major
Release year: 1968. success from the 80s and one of the trailers's songs, I found it a shame that it
Details: In 1961, before the events of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), was not included in the final version of the game. Actually, the song was an
and after those of Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006), during the year elegy written in memory of Ian Curtis, the lead singer of the band's former
1972, Big Boss did a lot of covert ops in Vietnam. This song is one of the incarnation, Joy Division. Here, it's used it the Side Ops where you recover
most iconic from the era and the title translates well the point of the game: Diamond Dogs's soldiers corpses, as a musical tribute to them.
having sympathy for the one we took for the devil, Big Boss: Venom Snake.
– 30: The Carpenters - Sing.
– 28: Kraftwerk - Radioactivity. Release year: 1973.
Release year: 1976. Details: This song was featured in Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010).
Details: The reworked version of 1991 refers to the nuclears incidents of Associated with the character of The Boss, through the AI Pod that used
Hiroshima (1945), Tchernobyl (1986), Harrisburg (1979) and Sellafield all the data about her person, because Strangelove had to build it upon the
(1957). Tchernobyl occured one year after the game's events, but the original best soldier the United States of America ever had. In the end, the AI comes
version, from 1976, didn't mention those incidents and was percieved as to the same conclusion than The Boss: Peace. And the Basilisk plays that
propaganda pro-nuclear, especially because the band made some promotio- song just before its AI chooses to commit suicide by drowning in the lake,
nal photographies on which they were dressed like scientists, inside a nuclear to avoid launching nukes and start a nuclear holocaust.
central. This is the co-founder member and singer of the band Ralf Hütter
who re-wrote the lyrics of the track for the 1991 version. And the original – 31: John Lennon - Imagine.
lyrics took on another meaning: "Radioactivity, it’s in the air for you and Release year: 1971.
me, tune in to the melody". Besides, a "Stop" was added before the word Details: There was a novelisation of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010),
"Radioactivity, which turned the track into an anti-nuclear one. in Japan only and written by Hitori Nojima. In it, the song Sing was replaced
by Imagine. This anti-war and utopian song invites the listener to imagine
a world without border and violence, where everyone is united.
644 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 8: KINGDOM OF THE FLIES EP 645
– 32: Nana Mizuki - Koi no Yokushiryoku.

Release year: 2010.
Details: This song is played when Big Boss faces the Metal Gear ZEKE, in
the final mission of Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010). Paz took control
of it and her voice actor sang this song, the Paz's theme.
ANNEX 8: OST KINGDOM OF THE FLIES
– 33: Akira Ifukube - Prayer For Peace.
Release year: 1954.
Details: This song comes from the original Godzilla (1954) movie. It's
played during an important scene, where the Dr Daisuke Serizawa is faced
with an internal conflict and must make a choice: give his secret formula
that could kill Godzilla, or hide it. But on television, a host announces that a
nationwide prayer will be made after Godzilla's two attacks on Tokyo.which
is obviously an allusion to the explosions of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
– 34: Sting - Russians.

Release year: 1985.
Details: Written during the Cold War, a few months after the beginning
of the second détente initiated by Mikhaïl Gorbatchev, the song lyrics are
a warning about the balance of terror established by the United States of
America and the Soviet Union. it's a humanist song. A call for peace between
the two superpowers.
– 35: Joan Baez - Diamonds And Rust.

Release year: 1975.
Details: This song has no link with peace or nuclear in his lyrics, but Joan
Baez is known for being anti-war and has one of the sweetest voice ever. It's
a sad love song that fits pretty well Quiet and Venom Snake.
THE ILLUSTRATION FOR THE SOUNDTRACK, AVAILABLE ON YOUTUBE AND BANDCAMP.
646 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 8: KINGDOM OF THE FLIES EP 647
For this novel, I made an album632 of musics inspired by some of its scenes: – The Cavern: That track wasn't made for this project initially, but I found it
suited well the cavern before the island's Castle Rock. Ambient and spooky.
– Furrows: This track was thought as an introductory/trailer track, short,
with a quick progression, and heavy bass to mark the importance of the – A Quiet Run: In this track, I used synths that I'd already used for Hell
gigantic furrows made in the sand and forest by the Sahelanthropus feet. Unites, and added part of the melody of the Quiet's Theme from the game
soundtrack, but slightly modified in a more dramatic tonality.
– Makat Island: This track was meant to be played in the sequence where
the player would have to cross the island by feet, with no enemies around. – The Floating Boy: In this novel, I wanted to make a transition between
So it's an ambient and relaxing track, to let the player soak up the beauty of Tretij Rebenok and the future version of himself: Psycho Mantis. Since
the place. The calm before the storm. he wasn't very present in the game, he's more in the Mission 51, as Eli's
right-hand man. Here, the melody of the Psycho Mantis Hymn from Metal
– The Green Maze: I wanted an ambient track for the forest of the island. Gear Solid (1998) can be heard diffusely, among the layers of other synths
One of the inspirations for it was the track V, from the Costa Rican band and the weird beat accompanying the strangeness of the scene.
Fros EP Canvas. A second part came out as I was finishing this project. The
loud but not to present bass synth symbolises the threat of the place, and – In A Rush: That track has no particular melody. It's rather a background
the others synths (aerial or crackling ones) are here to simulate sounds that music with a strong beat supposed to underline the urgency of the scene.
could be heard in a forest (made by animals, or trees).
– Третий Ребенок: It's the scene of the "birth" of Psycho Mantis. Detached
– Hell Unites: The most important theme of this soundtrack. I've searched from the hatred of Eli, he wandered, but facing the hatred of adults he meets,
for many synths in Logic Pro (the software I use to create music) that sounds will choose of himself to join Eli again, remaining faithful to him until his
like the soundtrack of the game. And once I got a beat, the idea was to death, in Metal Gear Solid (1998). So I translated this with a light piano
include part of the chorus of the vocal theme of Metal Gear Solid: Peace version of the Psycho Mantis theme, followed by an increasing bassline
Walker (2010), Heavens Divide, as the music is the one of the fight against symbolizing his transformation, until the explosion with the choirs, similar
Chico, who was introduced in this game and turned him into a demon to the hatching of a cocoon. The end is calm, the transformation being over.
after the tragic events of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014). Here,
the remains of this melody are both powerful and sad, with the horns and – Doomed Butterfly: While searching for sounds, I found a synth that
the strings. I also added a flute for the samurai-like sword fight and ancient reminded me of the track Old Snake, used in the Main Title Screen in
warrior appearances of Venom Snake and Chico during this fight. Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008). In this game, as the credits
632 Available on Youtube (also in this individual tracks playlist) and to listen/download on Bandcamp. show the cemetery where the game ends, I found an echo with the scene
648 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 9: THE SKULL FACE TAPE 649
of this track, in which Quiet dies. This background synth creates a raw/sad
ambiance and I looped the first notes of the Quiet's Theme, to make it sound
like something that try to start over and over again, but can't do it anymore.
Finally, I found a synth that sounds like casings falling to the ground, to
remind the sniper rifle of Quiet: the character's symbolic element.
ANNEX 9: THE SKULL FACE TAPE
– Blood Rain: This one is like the B-Side of Hell Unites. It's an ambient and (Return to summary.) (Return to page 414.) (Available to listen on Youtube here.)
sad version of the melody of Heavens Divide. I also added rain and thunder
sound effects in the background, to give the listener an feel of the scene, at
Omega Camp. THE LAST INFAMY
– The Last Farewell: This one use the melody of Here's to you, composed "– 471892… The last fallen angel633 from Big Boss’s lost paradise634.
by Ennio Morricone and sung by Joan Baez. Chico had a tape of it that Paz was his angel of peace. You’re my angel of death.
we could hear in the introductory cutscene of Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Sounds like one of those old Penny Dreadfuls635…
Zeroes (2014). The Skull Face arc therefore begins and ends with this song. I found you when your dead body was drifting in the ocean.
And I brought you back to life, with, parasites, put in your dying flesh.
– The Boss's Legacy: This short music takes the most famous part of the I saved your life, and turned you into a super soldier. Never forget it.
main theme of the Metal Gear Solid series, with a small broken alteration, You already know your main target: Big Boss.
to translate the state of Big Boss. This is the character's farewell to The Boss, Yes… He survived too.
before becoming the demon he had fought until then. And like you, his body still bears the marks of his failure.
But is Big Boss, still Big Boss? Who is the one that lift this bionic arm?636
– Night wandering and Lone Rider: These two tracks were created as Kill him, and I will set you free. Or die trying.
background music by riding D-Horse in the game's Afghan and African He was responsible for you and Paz. If she died, it’s because of him.
maps. Night Wandering for the night and the day for Lone Rider. Avenge your beloved! Kill the man responsible for her death."
633 In reference to Satan. Chico's appearance is inspired by Japanese demons.
– The Castle Rock: I used melodies of existing songs linked to the game, like 634 In reference to Adam and Eve driven from paradise. And so to Outer Heaven and the first Mother Base.
635 The name of ancient horror stories in 19th century England, sold as little penny books, hence the name.
Elegia's for bass and strings. Initially, I pictured this part of the mission as And Skull Face was part of the SAS with Zero.
a small rocky place to climb to reach the other side, where Eli was hiding. 636 These two questions are taken from a monologue by Captain Ahab then in full deep self-reflection, in
Moby Dick: the book and the 1954 film with Gregory Peck (the actor with a voice that strongly resembles that of
But it ended up being a cavern, so I used another song. Skull Face). But here Ahab's name (also Venom Snake's codename) is replaced by Big Boss's.
650 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 10: THE GAME'S SOUNDTRACK(S) 651
ANNEX 10: THE GAME'S SOUNDTRACK(S) THE FOUR COVER ARTS OF THE PARTS OF THE OST, IN ORDER OF RELEASE.
A year later, on August 10, 2017, fifteen game's tracks were unofficially
released by one of its composers, Justin Burnett, on his personnal website.
The development of the game was long and complex, which is why the But today, there's only one left: Sahalen Boss Battle Yall.
Mission 51 was finally cut off from it. And that can also be seen with the
soundtrack of the game. Its first part was released the day after that of the Finally, here's the list of the licenced songs featured in the game:
game, September 2: Metal Gear Solid V Original Soundtrack (2015). With – a-ha- Take on Me - (1984)
its two CDs and 50 tracks, it contains the main vocal songs of the game, as – Asia - Only Time Will Tell (1982)
well as with its main instrumental tracks composed by Ludvig Forssell. – Billy Idol - Rebel Yell (1983)
On the same day, another soundtrack album was released: Metal Gear – The Cure - Friday I'm in Love (1992)
Solid ~Vocal Tracks~ (2015). It contains the eight main vocal themes of the – Dead or Alive - You Spin Me Round (Like a Record) (1984)
series, as well as four covers of some of them, sung by Donne Burke. – Europe - The Final Countdown (1986)
Later that same year, on December 23, a third part of the soundtrack was – Hall & Oates - Maneater (1982)
released: Metal Gear Solid V Extended Soundtrack (2015). It contains 114 – Japan - Quiet Life (1979)
tracks, mostly backgrounds or ambient, including those present in Metal – Joy Division - Love Will Tear Us Apart (1980)
Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014), and even 2 unused tracks made for the – Kajagoogoo- Too Shy (1982)
Mission 51: Kingdom of the Flies: The Final Standoff and It's Not Over Yet. – Kim Wilde - Kids in America (1981)
Finally, the following year, on March 30, a fourth part of the soundtrack – Laura Branigan - Gloria (1982)
was released: Metal Gear Solid V Original Soundtrack - The Lost Tapes – Midge Ure - The Man Who Sold the World (1985)
(2016). All tracks were composed by Ludwig Forssell and some can be – Spandau Ballet - True (1983)
found in tape for the iDroid, in-game. There was also a limited edition of – Thomas Dolby - She Blinded Me with Science (1982)
it, with the CD and a real special tape with a design similar to those in the – Ultravox - Dancing with Tears in My Eyes (1984)
game, which is playable and contains all the tracks of the CD.
652 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 11: TRIBUTE TO SEAN CONNERY AND SEAN GILLESPIE 653
Sadly, he passed away on October 31, 2020, at the age of 90. At his home
in Nassau, Bahamas637.
He was an actor that I have always appreciated. I remember the first
movie that I really liked in all its aspects (themes, story, actors, music,
action, dialogues, etc.) was The Untouchables (1987), that I saw when I was
ANNEX 11: TRIBUTE TO SEAN CONNERY quite young. For a while it was my favorite movie and I really liked old wise
Sean Connery's acting. It gave him a sneaky, funny side that shone in The
AND SEAN PAUL GILLESPIE Rock (1990), an action movie with a military theme central to the story,
about how the United States of America treats its soldiers after the wars638.
Of course, he was also the first actor to portray James Bond in a movie639,
in 1962. And he's played so many other memorable roles, in The Name of
A: Sean Connery (1930-2020). The Rose (1986), Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade (1989), The Hunt for
Red October (1990), or in Marnie (1964) by Alfred Hitchcock, etc.
Sir Sean Connery. Yes, Sir. Mr. Connery was knighted by Queen Elizabeth
II on July 5, 2000. Here's a link to a video of the event. And if I'm writing these lines about him, it's because Sean Connery was
clearly the main inspiration for the Big Boss from Metal Gear II (1990):
637 The Bahamas are particularly linked to the James Bond franchise. It is therefore a very symbolic place
that has a lot of meaning for the end of the actor's life.
638 A pretty much Metal Gear "Solidish" narrative theme.
A PHOTOGRAPH OT THE ACCOLADE, DURING THE CEREMONY. 639 Because Barry Nelson portrayed OO7 in a TV adaptation of Casino Royale, in 1954.
654 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 12: A REAL VENOM SNAKE ARM 655
B: Sean Paul Gillepsie.
Sean, born in 1993, was a huge

fan of video games, and a Metal
Gear Solid one too. During the
development of Metal Gear Solid V: ANNEX 12: A REAL VENOM SNAKE ARM
The Phantom Pain (2015), he was
battling cancer and doing intensive
chemotherapy. In December 2014,
Hideo Kojima received a support In late 2020, Konami and Open Bionics worked together to create and
email from the young man which supply a one-handed gamer, Daniel Melville, with a bionic arm similar in
he shared with the development design to Venom Snake's, in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
team. At this point, they were in the A short video presents the final product. And here's a picture of it:
hardest part of development and
the message motivated everyone to
finish the game. Sadly, Sean passed
away in February 2015 and never Photography of Sean.
got to play it, but had a huge impact on its creation for its developers.
Beside, the composer of the soundtrack, Ludvig Forsell, even composed
a special track dedicated to him, named For Sean, available in the extended
version of the soundtrack.
Hideo Kojima also visited his family for the game's release.
DANIEL MELVILLE WITH HIS NEW BIONIC ARM.

656 METAL GEAR SOLID V - KINGDOM OF THE FLIES (2021) ANNEX 13: HYPERLINKS/SOURCES 657
– Vostok 3KA.
https://image.isu.pub/150304133830-b0d7b344b52681d0c502f8bd7c653d3d/jpg/page_16.jpg
– Alan Shepard.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e7/Alan_shepard.jpg/1200px-
ANNEX 13: HYPERLINKS/SOURCES Alan_shepard.jpg
(WARNING: the links below may lead to unsecured sites.) – Youri Gagarine and Valentina terechkova, in moscow, in 1963.
https://cdnfr1.img.sputniknews.com/img/103087/41/1030874177_0:89:3000:1712_1000x0_80_
– Artwork of Eli (and all the others from Metal Gear Solid V: The Ground 0_1_9025bef8954cb9e68d6e2b5354d4044f.jpg.webp
Zeroes (2014), Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) and the Mission
51: Kingdom of the Flies). – Artwork of The Boss #2, by Yoji Shinkawa.
The Art of Metal Gear Solid V (2015). https://64.media.tumblr.com/5de15791f34e292a6f5c6d94a9fbb366/tumblr_nia8zuRz6W1su-
jc3eo1_1280.jpg
– Artwork of The Boss, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/26/2e/82/262e828f3d687be79fee2bd797d71162.jpg – Cover art of Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004).
https://datafr.files.wordpress.com/2012/12/mgs3-cover.jpg
– The "Mercury Seven".
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f7/Original_7_Astronauts_ – Artwork of Sokolov, by Yoji Shinkawa.
in_Spacesuits_-_GPN-2000-001293.jpg/800px-Original_7_Astronauts_in_Spacesuits_-_ https://i.pinimg.com/originals/55/ad/db/55addbc824c87516aa4bf82af2d158d3.jpg
GPN-2000-001293.jpg
– Artwork of Naked Snake, by Yoji Shinkawa.
– Laïka. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/55/c9/a8/55c9a81f594de35543c172277c19ef79.jpg
https://laikanotebooks.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Sputnik.png
– Artwork of The Boss and Naked Snake, by Yoji Shinkawa.
– John F. Kennedy’s official portrait. https://ih1.redbubble.net/image.535414526.7313/mp,840x830,matte,f8f8f8,t-pa-
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/2/21/John_F_Kennedy_Official_Portrait. d,1000x1000,f8f8f8.u1.jpg
jpg
– Artwork of Ocelot, by Yoji Shinkawa. – Artwork of EVA, by Yoji Shinkawa.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/3f/04/07/3f0407164a904f7dc3db17cd4077ad50.jpg https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/5/55/Metal_Gear_Solid_3_Cast_Eva.
jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130120022529
– Promotional artwork of the Shagohod.
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/0/0a/MetalGear28.jpg/revision/ – Artwork of The Pain, by Yoji Shinkawa.
latest?cb=20120112184053 https://i.pinimg.com/originals/39/a0/39/39a039f8edfd0816d567d16fb1dc3e55.jpg
– Artwork of Volgin, by Yoji Shinkawa. – Artwork of The Fear, by Yoji Shinkawa.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/91/8d/d5/918dd50e431782debbda4ca96d99cba2.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/originals/77/7d/d8/777dd8921dd8d7b708bfeba649cfcdc3.jpg
– Illustration of a M-21 carrying its D-21 drone. – Artwork of The End, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/YAaRkxFUaArgVYiK4Tkjq1HoFVieJ5pVvl0B-6_ https://i.pinimg.com/originals/28/77/14/28771424349fe005a5be57d524d4db88.jpg
R5G2RnVZfj0CdUeIMLVrjY5Ia7F238NeQl-9xp4RGEOqZk3MxXvVX
– Artwork of The Fury, by Yoji Shinkawa.
– The Patriot. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d0/61/38/d0613804fb2d3cf387de741823e2b9a0.jpg
https://images-wixmp-ed30a86b8c4ca887773594c2.wixmp.com/f/8c4a82d0-bd20-425d-
a5c1-d251aab439d2/d2fgd50-43d99b7d-1122-4b52-ac78-a1dd02fed605.jpg?token=ey- – Artwork of The Sorrow, by Yoji Shinkawa.
J0eXAiOiJKV1QiLCJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiJ9.eyJpc3MiOiJ1cm46YXBwOjdlMGQxODg5O- https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b2/f8/5b/b2f85b6ef50ad550608939ae031b7709.jpg
DIyNjQzNzNhNWYwZDQxNWVhMGQyNmUwIiwic3ViIjoidXJuOmFwcDo3ZTBk-
MTg4OTgyMjY0MzczYTVmMGQ0MTVlYTBkMjZlMCIsImF1ZCI6WyJ1cm46c2Vyd- – Volgin holdin the Philosophers’ Legacy.
mljZTpmaWxlLmRvd25sb2FkIl0sIm9iaiI6W1t7InBhdGgiOiIvZi84YzRhODJkMC1iZ- https://youtu.be/3_OdA6tygiQ
DIwLTQyNWQtYTVjMS1kMjUxYWFiNDM5ZDIvZDJmZ2Q1MC00M2Q5OWI3ZC0xM-
TIyLTRiNTItYWM3OC1hMWRkMDJmZWQ2MDUuanBnIn1dXX0. – Artwork of the Metal Gear REX, by Yoji Shinkawa.
me8g_kxwe2Uw7hqZNeXAvO9ZHRURBgjFYHq1gcPKQC4 http://pds25.egloos.com/pds/201212/03/02/c0012102_50bca75756dd2.jpg
– The Boss. – Volgin’s red suit.

https://giantbomb1.cbsistatic.com/uploads/original/12/127694/2389812-theboss.jpg https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/vsbattles/images/b/b7/VqVujG9.png/revision/latest/
scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20170123233549
– Godzilla’s death, from the 1954 movie. – LGM-30G Minuteman III.

https://wondersinthedark.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/godzilla-skeleton.jpg?w=500 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/18/W78_MK12A_RV_Minuteman_III.
jpg
– The last battle’s field of white lilies.
https://cdn.gamer-network.net/2015/usgamer/Snake-vs-The-Boss-MGS3-Fight.jpg – Python.
http://www.imfdb.org/images/5/59/Pythonmgspo.jpg
– Snake pointing the Patriot at The Boss.
https://www.metalgearinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/Snake-Points-Patriot.jpg – Null.
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/9/9b/Null.jpg/revision/latest/
– Big Boss saluating the Boss. scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20110222221834
https://youtu.be/pEBSp-fkNog
– Metal Gear RAXA artworks.
– Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006) cover art. https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/9/92/RAXA_specs.png/revision/
https://cdn.thegamesdb.net/images/original/boxart/front/3926-1.jpg latest?cb=20080422192000
– The majority of the screenshots from Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops – Metal Gear RAXA, by Ben Nicholas.
(2006). https://www.artstation.com/artwork/xzJeX2
Metal Gear Solid : Portable Ops - GreatPlay, by GreatOne14 (playlist link).
– Big Boss versus Gene.
– Gene. https://www.jeuxcapt.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Naked_Snake_vs_Gene.jpg
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/3/37/Render-Gene.jpg/revision/latest/
scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20091018041114 – Lockheed C-141 Starlifter.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/78/C-141_Starlifter_58-4561.jpg
– Gene and Ursula.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/a/ab/Gene_and_Ursula.jpg/revision/latest/ – The Patriots.
scale-to-width-down/480?cb=20120330200746 https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/a/a9/Halved_patriot.jpg/revision/
latest?cb=20100603175715
– The Colonel Skowronsky in cell, talking to Big Boss.
https://lparchive.org/Metal-Gear-Solid-Portable-Ops/Update%2010/24-image062.png
– The twins David and Eli. – LAV-Type G.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/8/84/Young_Twin_Snakes.jpg/revision/ https://cdn.hobbyconsolas.com/sites/navi.axelspringer.es/public/styles/480/public/media/
latest?cb=20111006174512 image/2015/01/437310-capitulo-1-pais-ejercito.jpg?itok=a04e5MOn
– Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) cover art. – Chico, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://image.jeuxvideo.com/images/jaquettes/00031811/jaquette-metal-gear-solid-peace-wal- https://idata.over-blog.com/2/52/19/55/pw/metal-gear-solid--peace-walker-9.jpg
ker-playstation-portable-psp-cover-avant-g.jpg
– T-72 Ural.
– The majority of the screenshots from Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker https://i.ytimg.com/vi/pHwm5J4qEwE/maxresdefault.jpg
(2010).
Metal Gear Solid : Peace Walker - GreatPlay, by GreatOne14 (playlist link). – Coldman, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7a/4b/f5/7a4bf5da4e6c3365d628f56da3119b67.jpg
– Kazuhira Miller, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/35/1b/69/351b69a8f6b13a9b3ccb63d3c71740f2.jpg – Huey Emmerich, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/cf/9c/64/cf9c645c3509ff4fd9e7cd4d5069cf68.jpg
– Paz Ortega, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/1/1d/Mgspw-paz-ortega-andrade.jpg/ – The Pupa.
revision/latest?cb=20091020140003 https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/e/e1/Mgspw01212010image3.jpg/revision/
latest?cb=20100122234352
– Big Boss, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b2/a7/34/b2a73479d05bccfbc3697ddd5c37fb2c.jpg – Mil Mi-24a.
https://aviationsmilitaires.net/media/pictures/Mi-24A_Russian_Helicopters.jpg
– Logo of MSF.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/fb/12/b2/fb12b2dfc126435c99900546ea949547.jpg – Cécile Cosima Caminades, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/9/93/Mgspw-cecile-cosina-caminades.jpg/
– The Comandante, by Yoji Shinkawa. revision/latest?cb=20091020135402
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/c/cc/Sandinista_Comandante%2C_Peace_
Walker.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/540?cb=20121218162850 – Dr. Strangelove, by Yoji Shinkawa.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/8f/0d/ae/8f0daeeb1651f865e0a0a9f3336260dc.jpg
– The Chrysalis. – Metal Gear ZEKE.

https://www.metalgearsolid.be/images/mgs_peace_walker_g_art_035.jpg https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/smashbros/images/e/e8/Art_Metal_Gear_ZEKE_PW.png/
revision/latest?cb=20190331151203&path-prefix=fr
– The Cocoon.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/aa/82/b2/aa82b2beec46a13377a1573a1674cd30.jpg – Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014) cover art.
https://cdn.dsmcdn.com//ty83/product/media/images/20210315/17/71422268/15158961/1/1_
– Coldman’s tattoo. org_zoom.jpg
https://www.brandsoftheworld.com/logo/homo-homini-lupus?original=1
– WWII SAS pin.
– B-59. https://britishmilitarybadges.e2ecdn.co.uk/Products/0aayzhghjgfjhf9999848_10.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/96/Soviet_b-59_submarine.jpg jpg?w=547&h=547&quality=85&scale=canvas
– Vasily and Olga Arkhipov. – Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015) cover art.
https://kpbs.media.clients.ellingtoncms.com/img/croppedphotos/2012/10/19/SOD_ https://rouroune.files.wordpress.com/2015/06/metal-gear-solid-5-the-54f71952e6bbd.jpg
VasiliArkhipovAndOlga_t800.jpg?90232451fbcadccc64a17de7521d859a8f88077d
– All screenshots from Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015).
– The Basilisk. Let's Play by At0mium (playlist link).
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/9/92/Basilisk.jpg/revision/
latest?cb=20110826030558 – Venom Triumph Bonneville T100.
https://acidmoto.ch/cms/sites/default/files/img/delta/v/venom-triumph-bonneville-vtb1.jpg
– Lake Nicaragua.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lake_Nicaragua#/media/File:Lake_Nicaragua_2.jpg – Ocelot, D-Dog and Venom Snake.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/-tg6D72g7LA/maxresdefault.jpg
– Basilisk’s quadrupedal form.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7a/55/10/7a5510d5759b08fca0af23712ea47f23.jpg – Medical plants.
https://metalgear.fandom.com/wiki/Medicinal_Plants_in_Metal_Gear_Solid_V:_The_
– Chairman and the CIA director, after Big Boss ignored him, in Metal Phantom_Pain
Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004).
https://youtu.be/tm7lhCY2fck
– Hideo Kojima in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain (2015). – Venom Snake in his chopper.
https://www.jeuxactu.com/datas/jeux/m/e/metal-gear-solid-5-the-phantom-pain/vn/ https://imgix.kotaku.com.au/content/uploads/sites/3/2015/09/04/1414702343369806153.
metal-gear-solid-5-the-55e81ddf8823a.jpg jpg?ar=16%3A9&auto=format&fit=crop&q=65&w=1280
– Venom Snake about to kill Quiet. – Venom Snake in outer heaven.

https://kiwifarms.net/attachments/maxresdefault-1-jpg.1385774/ https://youtu.be/6jz_zKkl0y0
– The Sahelanthropus standing upright. – H.R. Giger - Pilot in the cockpit (1978).
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/ygw3QxXgN6Q/maxresdefault.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/originals/18/43/31/184331e0c1ca58c61df4b13e95ede128.jpg
– Poster of Lord of War (2005). – Venom Snake.

https://fr.web.img6.acsta.net/medias/nmedia/18/35/94/63/18437102.jpg https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/9/99/Venom_Snake_TTP.png/revision/
latest/scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20171205195222&path-prefix=fr
– Big Boss facing Skull Face in the jeep.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/_MUI3s4_O4g/maxresdefault.jpg – Big Boss.
https://jeuxvideopaschers.fr/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/maxresdefault-1-1.jpg
– Sunny Platypus.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/3/33/Ui_face_645_0.png/revision/ – Original Japanese poster of Godzilla (1954).
latest?cb=20160304184842 https://machinemeandotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/godzilla7.jpg
– The infected soldiers and medical staff, ready to die. – Shadow on a wall, at Nagasaki.
https://youtu.be/LjDISdda1KE https://www.thesun.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/2440067.main_image.jpg?strip=all
– Map of the Lamar Khaate Palace. – The Beast from 20,000 Fathoms (1953).
https://www.supersoluce.com/sites/default/files/node/70565/mgs-v-mission-45-une-sortie-en- https://live.staticflickr.com/4788/38928930630_b4029e739b_b.jpg
silence-005.jpg
– At the Mountains of Madness (1936).
https://149349728.v2.pressablecdn.com/wp-content/uploads/2011/02/0*yZDWa9qzijGQNqhI.
jpg
– The first appearance of Godzilla. – The fire whale in the Prologue of Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain
https://p1.storage.canalblog.com/20/68/110219/121232129_o.png (2015).
https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/875251016705325434/2C6E6FC-
– Emiko and Serizawa. DB33C71B0ED94D2B2DEF29B62ECB3ED84/?imw=1024&imh=576&ima=fi
https://i.pinimg.com/474x/d0/a4/fd/d0a4fd9747a7c62877210a5d8e3a0d15--gojira-kaiju.jpg t&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true
– Godzilla destroying Tokyo. – Big Boss’s final speech, in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008).
https://machinemeandotorg.files.wordpress.com/2017/01/godzilla2.jpg https://youtu.be/wBLCS46OkYo
– Shelter scene. – Venom Snake carrying the urn of the ashes of a dead Diamond Dogs’
Godzilla (1954). soldier.
https://youtu.be/VofQjhpkJpY
– The skeleton of Godzilla.
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/villains-deafet/images/8/89/Death_of_Godzilla_1954.jpg/ – Poster of Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980).
revision/latest?cb=20181110221322 https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080979/mediaviewer/rm3907533056/
– Poster of Moby Dick (1956). – Shingen.

https://image.tmdb.org/t/p/original/7tC06TiUjvewQpEb2IEckhaEN0e.jpg https://eng.cinemacity.org/media_lib/files/kagemusha1.jpg
– Cover of one of the editions of the book Moby Dick (1851). – Jack Sparrow.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c9/68/93/c9689340a6745f6c1decc6ba6e4746d9.jpg https://youtu.be/eox13vNIQGM
– Gregory Peck as Ahab, in Moby Dick (1956). – Horsemen.

https://fr.web.img2.acsta.net/r_1280_720/medias/nmedia/18/65/31/17/18871109.jpg https://youtu.be/Fvn3giWYZTg
– Promotional picture of Gregory Peck as Ahab, in Moby Dick (1956). – Shingen’s chonmage.
https://a.ltrbxd.com/resized/sm/upload/tq/3u/oq/s8/mobydick-1200-1200-675-675- https://www.cinelounge.org/imgfull/229967.jpg
crop-000000.jpg?k=f76ec5b620
– Venom Snake promotionnal art. – Piggy.

https://fr.web.img3.acsta.net/r_654_368/newsv7/19/12/05/11/32/4355546.jpg https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/lotf/images/7/7e/Piggy_1990.jpg/revision/latest/
scale-to-width-down/340?cb=20181216213617
– The black samurai armor of Shingen.
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080979/mediaviewer/rm4243077376/ – Simon.
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/classical-literature/images/5/56/Simon1990.jpg/revision/
– The Battle Dress of Venom Snake. latest?cb=20190527202004
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4e/c4/65/4ec465a67095e7cabc738a4c0612b2d6.png
– Jack and Ralph.
– Kagemusha: The Shadow Warrior (1980) intro scene. http://www.dvdbeaver.com/film5/blu-ray_reviews_67/lord_of_the_flies_1990_blu-ray_/800__
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080979/mediaviewer/rm710618368/ lord_of_the_flies_03_blu-ray__blu-ray_.jpg
– Big Boss and Code Talker. – Liquid Snake.

https://youtu.be/ZppHaydOKmk https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/5/5f/Liquid.jpg/revision/
latest?cb=20100131173904
– Venom Snake in Outer Heaven.
https://youtu.be/ADIhrL8f5sY – Solid Snake.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/6/60/Solid_Snake%27s_sneaking_Suit.jpg/
– Akira Kurosawa and Ishirō Honda on the set of Kagemusha (1980). revision/latest?cb=20100131174520
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0080979/mediaviewer/rm3634601985?ref_=ttmi_mi_all_bts_46
– Eli.
– Poster of Lord of the Flies (1990). https://youtu.be/E-c62vXHgXc
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0100054/mediaviewer/rm3441399553/
– Simon and the pig’s head.
– Ralph using the conch. https://assets.rebelmouse.io/eyJhbGciOiJIUzI1NiIsInR5cCI6IkpXVCJ9.eyJpbWFnZSI6Imh0d-
https://livingdreams.tv/wp-content/uploads/2016/09/zwei.png HBzOi8vYXNzZXRzLnJibC5tcy8xMTY3ODE1MS9vcmlnaW4uanBnIiwiZXhwaXJlc19hd-
CI6MTYwNTgyMTQ3MX0.SDa9J5OlcxcVa_TcExRt7AOYE7TmZtaYXXEXeNIZayU/img.
– Jack Merridew. jpg?width=980
https://images.static-bluray.com/reviews/11782_4.jpg
– Eli and the pig’s head. – Celestino Madeiros.

https://i.redd.it/ncv62e52le711.jpg https://www.newbedfordguide.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/09/Celestino.jpg
– Lord of the Flies, by William Golding (1954). – On way back to Dedham Jail, Sacco and Vanzetti (April 10, 1927).
https://i1.wp.com/www.raptisrarebooks.com/images/88811/lord-of-the-flies-william-golding- https://www.digitalcommonwealth.org/search/commonwealth:5q47sw256
first-edition-rare.jpg?fit=1000%2C800&ssl=1
– Samuel Adams and John Hancock.
– Tom Chaplin as Jack. https://www.history.com/.image/t_share/MTY2MzEwMzEwMTY3MTkzMjMw/sons-of-liber-
https://vignette.wikia.nocookie.net/classical-literature/images/a/ac/Jack1963.jpg/revision/ ty-samuel-adams-john-hancock-composite-gettyimages-51160349.jpg
latest?cb=20190527214337
– Ed Vebell - Boston Tea Party.
– Poster of Pontypool (2008). https://www.gettyimages.fr/detail/photo-d'actualit%C3%A9/painting-depicting-political-pro-
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1b/79/30/1b793023ddcacf67f894dbffaaf37b09.jpg test-by-the-sons-of-photo-dactualit%C3%A9/489850671
– Pontypool Changes Everything (1995) book cover. – Miller, Venom Snake and Ocelot on Mother Base.
https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71lY5ZmU-5L.jpg https://images2.alphacoders.com/823/823156.jpg
– Poster of Sacco e Vanzetti (1971). – Skull Face in the hand of his Metal Gear, with Tretij Rebenok (futurely
https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0067698/mediaviewer/rm3201502720/ Psycho Mantis) under its head.
https://youtu.be/t4kjMogsguU
– Bartolomeo Vanzetti and Nicola Sacco.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/8/89/Sacvan.jpg – Venom Snake and Quiet, who arrived on Mother Base.
https://youtu.be/7lTe7OrJgnE
– Sacco and Vanzetti during their trial.
https://www.tap-poitiers.com/wp-content/thumbnails/uploads/2014/07/saccovanzetti-tt- – Venom Snake recovering Quiet’s tape.
width-1200-height-1067-crop-1-bgcolor-000000.jpg https://youtu.be/40seGTThlHg
– Chico, in Metal Gear Solid V: Ground Zeroes (2014). – Venom Snake lightening a phantom cigar.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/5d/c1/c7/5dc1c7a5a21f0b29109fe65768b8f23d.jpg https://i.ytimg.com/vi/JKdgKU7hn-A/maxresdefault.jpg
– Venom Snake wearing the Battle Dress. – Star of Life.

https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/255969629390560386/ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/Star_of_life_parts.svg/1024px-
DCC7DCAD360C87C6C49F48564E17B7B0CBBE7D6D/ Star_of_life_parts.svg.png
– Medical arm. – Hurricane Aircat.

https://staticdelivery.nexusmods.com/images/1091/38775980-1479665638.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/originals/23/46/a2/2346a2f08e7e26c8b50f46ed94552220.jpg
– Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano’s crater. – A calcified dove, taken by Nick Brandt.

https://steemitimages.com/DQmbyc26dPn1ukPWkqCUKHjppFTGi6A6Q5aQ2sU2LZeSQtV/ https://www.nickbrandt.com/portfolio.cfm?nK=14260&nS=5#image-15
oldongyo-1.jpg
– Lake Natron helicopter crash site.
– Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano. https://youtu.be/GwJcPU6S1r4
https://www.voyageafricain.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/09/Oldonyo-Lengai-.jpg
– Two lesser flamingos.
– AM MRS-4. https://1.bp.blogspot.com/-zqz3hlnPh6I/V48M67p6a_I/
https://vignette1.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/a/a5/AM_MRS-4_Rank_1.jpg/revision/ AAAAAAAAGpI/9DvvrXMpYeseWAroLt0-EXkUrkbv28BUQCLcB/s1600/
latest?cb=20150921211420 Lesser%2BFlamingo.jpg
– Ramsar logo. – Marabou stork attacking a Lesser flamingo.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/63/Ramsar_logo. https://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2016/01/08/10/2FE7EF2200000578-3390114-
svg/1024px-Ramsar_logo.svg.png image-a-28_1452250407098.jpg
– Silver Oaks (Brachylaena huillensis). – Uvita's Whale Tail at the Marino Ballena National Park.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/Eadb0qtXsAACH7p?format=jpg&name=900x900 https://ticotimes.net/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/Uvita-DSC_6961-b.jpg
– Maasai warrior. – Pathmaker, by Jordan Lamarre-Wan.

https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/i57uUFYw3BEWeEne-rUB_ZAlEJOCety https://www.artstation.com/artwork/LEyDK
5THtepZeUvMYDwtbMeayzTT-Dlk6cuUyMNXvGVs7O1FgVdGEXkKto5f1PlNX
b=w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu
– Unused concept art of a flamethrower suit for Metal Gear Online 3 (2015), – Vietnam War Era combat stretcher.
by Jordan Lamarre-Wan. https://cdn11.bigcommerce.com/s-y397cv9qf6/images/stencil/original/
https://www.artstation.com/artwork/n6PwK products/3986/13757/5354-2-side-view__28605.1586622860.jpg?c=2
– Leaf Mask from Lord of the Flies (1963). – Striped Hyena (Hyaena hyaena).
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/d1/a8/85/d1a88503c48afa3db1bdf10db5550871.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/ca/%D0%9F%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B
E%D1%81%D0%B0%D1%82%D0%B0%D1%8F_%D0%B3%D0%B8%D0%B5%D0%B-
– The Night Vision Goggles, used in-game. D%D0%B0_5.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/Rdi8iW85mWg/maxresdefault.jpg
– Venom Snake climbing a crack.
– American AN-M14 TH3 incendiary grenade. https://i.jeuxactus.com/datas/jeux/m/e/metal-gear-solid-5-the-phantom-pain/xl/metal-gear-
https://image.invaluable.com/housePhotos/donley/47/633447/H5675-L155051809.jpg solid-5-the-55784cfa3d03a.jpg
– Cat Killing a Serpent (c. 1295–1213 BC). – Umbrella thorn acacia (Vachellia tortilis).
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-pQ2qlb2UoOk/VAnQJGEBmZI/AAAAAAAAAig/jUPlcye_T84/ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/7/76/Acacia_tortilis_1.JPG
s1600/cat%2Bkilling%2Ba%2Bserpent%2C%2Btomb%2Bof%2BSennedjem.jpg
– Blood acraea (Acraea petraea).
– Sahelanthropus’s surveillance mines. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/01/c7/5e/01c75e719c474fa5d86871e8e0d13a05.jpg
https://youtu.be/reMEGluulIc
& – Field of Red spider lilies.
https://youtu.be/i7JtDcFn3O0 https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/bf/Lycoris_radiata_-_
Kinchakuda_Plateau%2C_Hidaka%2C_Saitama.jpg/1920px-Lycoris_radiata_-_Kinchakuda_
– The kid in yellow waving his hand to Venom Snake, during the cutscene Plateau%2C_Hidaka%2C_Saitama.jpg
where Eli leave Mother Base.
https://youtu.be/1jaw9ZoTTJs – Null, in Metal Gear Solid: Portable Ops (2006).
https://lparchive.org/Metal-Gear-Solid-Portable-Ops/Update%2015/20-POps1514.png
– Molotok-68.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/iDzrH2xj8C4/maxresdefault.jpg – Devil Priest (18th century).
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/eb/67/55/eb675569201039cb6044a74a8d649080.jpg
– Simbakubwa kutokaafrika remains’s fossils. – Dual boss battle in Metal Gear Solid 4: Guns of the Patriots (2008).
https://static.cnews.fr/sites/default/files/styles/image_640_360/public/959acfd0b46c71523c- https://www.metalgearinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/06/MGS4-Vamp-Raiden-
ca78d813df9e4549871c81.jpg?itok=z1ubWgLk Gekkos-Fight.jpg
– Tanzanite. – AGM-114 Hellfire missile tripod launch unit.

https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0008/3682/9247/products/purple_raw_tanzanite_ https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-522e1163e9e5ac17b2b4c8ceb9d04eb8
crystal_1_800x.jpg?v=1571724443
– 3D render artwork of the Sahelenthropus's REX mode.
– Rome plow. https://www.1999.co.jp/itbig34/10349509t3.jpg
https://www.fpkclub.com/References/FtLeonardWood/RomePlow_0131.JPG
– Schematics of the Little Boy and Fat Man atomic bombs.
– M60A1 Armored Vehicle Landing Bridge. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/63/32/39/633239078c51f135bd3d6036c10bbe26.jpg
https://static1.hotcarsimages.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2020/05/
M60A1-Armored-Vehicle-Launched-Bridge-USMC-Lance-Cpl.-Kevin-Quihuis-Jr. – Godzilla escaping the aircrafts.
jpg?q=50&fit=crop&w=1200&dpr=1.5 https://www2.bfi.org.uk/sites/bfi.org.uk/files/styles/full/public/image/godzilla-1954-003-goji-
ra-plane.jpg?itok=RNQtGRzA
– M977 HEMTT.
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/9/9a/HEMTTcarrier1. – All screenshots of the Mission 51.
jpg/1024px-HEMTTcarrier1.jpg https://youtu.be/SxgH4I_6d0Q
– Godzilla burning electric pylons, in Godzilla (1954). – Flamingo feathers.

https://i.imgur.com/zeyO29L.jpg The Crimson Wing: Mystery of the Flamingos (2008).
– Concept Scaffold DXMD, by Martin Sabran. – Quiet with a Molotok-68.

https://www.artstation.com/artwork/YZdN6 https://i.ytimg.com/vi/6jVIcTmfYw0/sddefault.jpg
– Boeing E-3 Sentry. – Unused animals emblems.

https://cdn.futura-sciences.com/buildsv6/images/mediumoriginal/9/e/9/9e- https://metalgear.fandom.com/wiki/Emblem
9d7a64df_85360_06-169.jpg
– All screenshots from the Nuclear Disarmament Ending. – Red Dust costume Snake.
https://youtu.be/v-GqUb9u458 https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/110734434611463420/43C1E45
32EFCD3316D86918D0ADB9C525438AB36/
– Eglantyne Jebb.
https://pbs.twimg.com/media/D4MfD5OXkAIiXuM.jpg – Motif Shuka.
https://i.etsystatic.com/14859502/r/il/8887ec/1391196204/il_794xN.1391196204_hj2k.jpg
– Nikon F3.
https://assets.community.lomography.com/e2/e93de0fef43960fec8444192ffc002a2ebee- – Omega Camp.
bf/1216x806x2.jpg?auth=6d5d2a67c54f3bb74b01443a03a13c476ec6e59d https://youtu.be/6Oozjq1Ynek
– Biohazard & Waste Disposal Bag. – Ouroboros.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71Y%2BeWjwG0L._SL1500_.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/fa/Ouroboros.png
– Nick Ut - Napalm Girl (Phan Thị Kim Phúc) (1972). – Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990) Outer Heaven logo.
https://www.francetvinfo.fr/pictures/MRuYv2rjYpd1P--v729QGRoYy6w/ https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/1/1f/Dkeq_D5V4AESm14.jpg/revision/
fit-in/720x/2019/10/06/phpXm3hne.jpg latest/scale-to-width-down/740?cb=20180816130549
– Forest burned by a napalm strike. – Metal Gear 2: Solid Snake (1990) Outer Heaven original logo.
https://d3n8a8pro7vhmx.cloudfront.net/gecoforests/legacy_url/422/burngully.jpg?1448583764 https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/8/8c/Outerheavenoriginal2.jpeg/revision/
latest/scale-to-width-down/207?cb=20091117150004
– Explosion of a mixture of napalm-B.
https://fr.wikipedia.org/wiki/Napalm#/media/Fichier:Simulated_Napalm_Airstrike.jpg – Map of the Soviet Union after its dissolution.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a7/46/9c/a7469c5b6d505c0771aee2a6afe36cf2.jpg
– BLU-1B bomb.
https://bulletpicker.com/images/clip2138.png – Venom Snake facing his truth and breaking his legacy.
https://youtu.be/6jz_zKkl0y0
– Soldier's memorial at Normandy, World War II. National Archives.
https://americanhistory.si.edu/sites/default/files/styles/blog_image/public/Normandy.
jpg?itok=hq3F9yw_
– Last Day in Outer Heaven (2015) fancomic, by Cody Shaw. – The Sahelanthropus.
https://shawcody34.tumblr.com/post/128937896224/no-spoiler-tags-on-tumblr-but-i-imagine- https://i.imgur.com/RmXkdvP.png
people
– Skull Face.
– Venom Snake. https://www.esportsportal.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/Skull-Face-Metal-Gear-Solid-V-
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/1/16/Venom_Snake.Motherbase.jpg/ The-Phantom-Pain.jpg
revision/latest?cb=20210324042507
– Donald Anderson.
– Quiet. https://assets.mycast.io/characters/donald-anderson-1387741-normal.jpg?1610724216
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/b1/95/72/b1957222636a957415442f4e86268d10.jpg
– Major Zero.
– Kazuhira Miller. https://i1.wp.com/www.metalgearinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/07/PachiSlot-
https://cdn.cinepop.com.br/2021/02/5939a6a98421ed44dc954a1aa551f488.jpg Metal-Gear-Solid-Snake-Eater-Zero.jpg
– Revolver Ocelot. – Dr Strangelove.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/4/49/Ocelot%28PP%29.png/revision/ https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/0/08/Strangelove.jpg/revision/
latest?cb=20180819205026 latest?cb=20100129214852
– Code Talker. – D-Dog (puppy).

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/never-be-game-over/images/3/38/Codetalker.jpg/revision/ https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/853848077979440359/5130203
latest?cb=20150927223046 314CB8FF73ABA8FC33C92A5D33627E4B6/?imw=1024&imh=576&ima=fi
t&impolicy=Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true
– Eli.
https://oyster.ignimgs.com/mediawiki/apis.ign.com/the-phantom-pain/3/3c/MGSV.PS4.1080P. – D-Dog (adult).
ELI_LIQUID_SUB_00.HD_SCREENCAPS.1.jpg https://steamuserimages-a.akamaihd.net/ugc/853848077979440926/151119AB9A8
2F4D58B09F330E94C8956D260A2AF/?imw=1024&imh=576&ima=fit&impolicy
– Huey Emmerich. =Letterbox&imcolor=%23000000&letterbox=true
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/2/21/Huey_Emmerich_MGSVTPP.png/
revision/latest?cb=20151004003840
– Pequod. – Amanda.
https://i.kym-cdn.com/photos/images/facebook/001/024/586/7c9.jpg https://www.giantbomb.com/a/uploads/scale_medium/8/82962/1326023-amanda_def_up2_
fix.jpg
– Tretij Rebenok.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/XQVQStrApUY/maxresdefault.jpg – MC-130E Combat Talon.
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/uoW5kWNPaY0/maxresdefault.jpg
– The End.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/72/0e/4b/720e4b98c8c7d98caccb4826048f0b64.png – M-29 davy crockett.
https://qph.fs.quoracdn.net/main-qimg-f7bbd09865c9725811fb6d42776938a8.webp
– The Mbele Squad.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/b/b7/Metal_gear_solid_v_child_soldier_ – Colt Model 1873 Single Action Army Revolver.
screen_1_76441.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20150906191001 https://cdn.rockislandauction.com/dev_cdn/57/1303.jpg
– Eli’s militia. – 1955 American Hiller VZ-1 Pawnee prototype.

https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/b/b3/MGSV_Eli%2C_Tretij_ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/c/c2/Hiller_VZ-1_Pawnee_%282%29.jpg
Rebenok%2C_child_soldiers_art.png/revision/latest?cb=20180918185051
– Makarov MP.
– Chico. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f9/%D0%9F%D0%B8%D1%81
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/f/f1/GZ_Chico.png/revision/ %D1%82%D0%BE%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82_%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1
latest?cb=20140510204910 %80%D0%BE%D0%B2%D0%B0.png/1200px-%D0%9F%D0%B8%D1%81%D1%82%D0%B
E%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%82_%D0%9C%D0%B0%D0%BA%D0%B0%D1%80%D0%BE%D0
– Para-Medic. %B2%D0%B0.png
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/7d/ce/a7/7dcea72b0aefa28e010a142b30b0f1fc.jpg
– Framed photo with Granin and Huey Emmerich.
– Big Boss. https://i.imgur.com/OsQQ7Mb.jpg
https://i.ytimg.com/vi/psK_qKR9kHo/maxresdefault.jpg
– Bartini Beriev VVA-14 WIG.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/4b/ef/52/4bef526e48e97f9a4302fa73713e6f0f.jpg
– Some Gazers in Death Stranding (2019). – AM MRS-4 #2.

https://static3.srcdn.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/Death-Stranding-BT-1.jpg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/Wx11H_Lmfqpx7IME9lM-0mMJzMZNR5vgJGa
Kw9tDjx88SGkO6W9GgTKh6AftkplYYnmtIRkBYSx5du6670iXhOknb0c9T_AOJx5YMB_
– RPG-7 rocket launcher. OU8Qv1wsZ6I1KVgsI-Sxh_ygtfXO4jorKdRZCRYcxgxFrPyxZL-xHqBITzbLAzMtXRDVD4g
https://www.ima-usa.com/products/orignal-u-s-rubber-traning-aid-russian-rpg-7-rocket-pro-
pelled-grenade-launcher-inert?variant=19353205309509 – Moby Dick Studio’s logo.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/c/c7/Moby.jpg/revision/latest/
– M72 LAW rocket launcher. scale-to-width-down/819?cb=20150725142108
https://www.dandbmilitaria.com/media/catalog/product/cache/1/
image/9df78eab33525d08d6e5fb8d27136e95/1/7/173db_6_14.jpg – Joakim Mogren’s mask.
https://www.metalgearsolid.be/images/joakim-mogren-hideo-kojima-gdc-s-01.jpg
– Cécile Caminades.
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/metalgear/images/8/87/6963.jpg/revision/latest/ – J.F. Rey Kaz Gear.
scale-to-width-down/1000?cb=20130524013925 https://www.metalgearinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/JF-REY-Kaz-Gear-2.jpg
– T-5 nuclear torpedo. – J.F. Rey Ocelot Gear.

https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2017-10/1507727063_t-5-1.jpg https://www.metalgearinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/06/JF-REY-Ocelot-Gear-3.jpg
– UH-1D "Huey" Iroquois. – Blue morpho picture.

https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/e/ee/UH1_Huey_-_Fly_Navy_2017_ https://www.consolefun.fr/blogs/img/13171/3749_1_1537611397.png
(cropped).jpg
– Beetle Robot, by Jered Industries.
– Big Boss and Che Guevara. https://i.pinimg.com/originals/44/a5/a9/44a5a93cacbae4c11a9f03a17330e3b3.jpg
https://external-preview.redd.it/Tlm5BgX54gEay73UI4Um_iAv_Y4-OgJ7I8ObtZf260Y. &
jpg?auto=webp&s=dd6d112f566de669f1f4ecb5022f7f433c39ae38 http://www.theoldrobots.com/images48/beetle1.JPG
– Sikorsky UH-60 Black Hawk. – "Big Boss is watching you" poster.

https://images01.military.com/sites/default/files/2018-09/kentucky_daily_life.png https://i.imgur.com/dcqGvXo.png
– "Big Brother is watching you" poster. – Natron Lake Basin.

https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/71HtUM-C%2BVL._AC_SL1500_.jpg https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/61/Lake_Natron_%28Tanzania
%29_%E2%80%93_2017-03-06_%28very_early_in_rainy_season%29_%E2%80%93_satellite_
– Milton Glaser’s I <3 NY 1977 logo. image.jpg/2415px-Lake_Natron_%28Tanzania%29_%E2%80%93_2017-03-06_%28very_early_
https://www.justfocus.fr/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/i-love-ny.jpeg in_rainy_season%29_%E2%80%93_satellite_image.jpg
– Stefanie Joosten. – Ol Doinyo Lengai volcano’s silver lava flow.

https://assets.vg247.com/current/2019/07/Stefanie-Joosten-Foto-Kim-Suho.jpeg https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/proxy/ztPysjePcatVPIq_nmupzW0fxxc_8JXg-
b7sTxYi8T3t0bVo1EztdomkDPcpPdo2Z_2QQsi0iaxPD948rQSg3CLRvgabclqtgl-
– Quiet and Big Boss. cyskcd6GzZvt28_DNLqsf7cIVrNzOgh9YuN0J_Lqg
https://www.metalgearinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/09/MGSV-The-Phantom-Pain-
TGS-2014-Screen-Quiet-Enters-Mother-Base-6.jpg – Map of the island of Lord of the Flies (1954).
https://images.slideplayer.com/39/10888956/slides/slide_35.jpg
– The snail’s parasite.
https://www.brusselstimes.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/08/snabrononim286tbtn.jpg – Borassus aethiopium Mart.
http://www.ville-ge.ch/musinfo/bd/cjb/africa/images/data/images/Stauffer2.DSC05557.jpg
– Kenyan map - Ungama Bay.
https://www.nationsonline.org/oneworld/map/kenya_map2.htm – A forest of fever trees (Vachellia xanthophloea), in the Pafuri Camp of the
Northern Kruger National Park, South Africa.
– Mvule tree (Milicia excelsa). https://i.pinimg.com/originals/1c/d6/3b/1cd63b69904e326d79a8ebe0d2ed5b03.jpg
https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/712JffgEPZL.jpg
– A toothbrush tree, or mustang tree (Salvadora persica).
– List of indigenous and exotic tress present in Kenya. https://stepping2yourdreams.files.wordpress.com/2014/10/mustard-tree-west-africa.jpg
http://www4.total.fr/pdf/AMO/Kenya/ecochallenge/the%20expert%20corner/Eco-challenge-
tree-datasheet2009.pdf – The cover art of the Rolling Stones's album Beggars Banquet (1968).
https://img.discogs.com/vGUwAhVNja6dnopOooTOYt2hI0s=/fit-in/600x907/filters:strip_
icc():format(jpeg):mode_rgb():quality(90)/discogs-images/R-11169304-1511674708-5613.jpeg.
jpg
– Sahelanthropus holding an archea blade. – BAe/McDonnell Douglas Harrier II.

https://external-preview.redd.it/26ARPbEYbjPrPCigvDD0FsxNhqFtAyNFugmhtyYmBA4. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/68/RAF_Harrier_GR9.JPG
png?auto=webp&s=4b682a34d240b5271660a399f4fa8619fe7de6c8
– McDonnell Douglas F/A-18 Hornet.
– Lockheed U-2 Dragon Lady. https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/4/44/FA-18C_desert_refueling.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/95/Usaf.u2.750pix.jpg
– Igor Kostin, in 1986.
– Little Boy. https://img.lemde.fr/2015/06/24/121/0/2101/2694/1328/0/45/0/0e1dd1b_8307-2635se.jpg
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/6a/Little_boy.jpg
– Igor Kostin’s photography of the fourth reactor that exploded at Chernobyl,
– Fat Man. in 1986.
https://topwar.ru/uploads/posts/2011-11/1320811728_31.jpg https://scontent.fcdg2-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t31.18172-
8/18121952_1388615221203206_3309128364271037576_o.jpg?_nc_cat=111&ccb=1-3&_
– Diamond Dogs heavy-lift helicopter. nc_sid=9267fe&_nc_ohc=tC4IwlM0rkoAX-_65KI&_nc_ht=scontent.fcdg2-1.
https://youtu.be/I2rEk5iQBp4 fna&oh=eb9f31221d1612437920668066ac1b9b&oe=60EE4128
– Green Ghost Mantis (Phyllocrania paradoxa). – Big Boss with the Joakim Mogren mask.
https://i.imgur.com/WAztTra.jpg https://i.ytimg.com/vi/LutSqywZYHU/maxresdefault.jpg
– Trioceros jacksonii xantholophus. – Skull Face's shotgun.

https://live.staticflickr.com/4597/38592125475_b1ea62eca2_b.jpg https://youtu.be/gW4PNivqok0
– Russian mask PMK-1 from TambovMash. – Miguel Mercado - Only time will tell (2015).
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/gasmaskandrespirator/images/a/ab/PMK-1_-1-_ https://www.artstation.com/artwork/xdGd1
KafelKarpat%27s.jpg/revision/latest/scale-to-width-down/2000?cb=20170623185040
– Boeing B-29 Superfortress.
– MGSV Cutscenes :: Episode 11 : Cloaked in silence [Quiet's Entrance] https://hips.hearstapps.com/hmg-prod.s3.amazonaws.com/images/boeing-b-29-super-fortress-
[60fps]. named-fifi-flying-over-a-desert-news-photo-1591386984.jpg
https://youtu.be/2Ba_erG0ZV4
– Heliport. – Rainbow Agama.

https://static.turbosquid.com/Preview/2020/08/15__08_53_04/octagonalheliport02. https://image.jimcdn.com/app/cms/image/transf/none/path/s5dde8bff85c81b2f/image/
jpg945E5DAF-907E-4044-837B-60CDE667F1C3Large.jpg if9a53aa48b810405/version/1453210863/fiche-animaux-agame-des-colons-spiderman.jpg
– Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker (2010) logo. – Albino Black Mamba.
https://image.spreadshirtmedia.com/image-server/v1/compositions/T210A1PA3176PT17X33 https://i.pinimg.com/originals/c9/2b/66/c92b66fd47722096e930ed6d21e97c94.jpg
Y83D12209345FS4175/views/1,width=650,height=650,appearanceId=1/yeah-thats-right-from-
now-on-call-me-big-boss.jpg – Leopard Tortoise.
https://envato-shoebox-0.imgix.net/6c6c/fcde-6958-4d41-8125-ed58741d96bd/
– Lesser Flamingo. Leopard+tortoise+walking+_09A9941.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&fit=max&-
https://cdn.download.ams.birds.cornell.edu/api/v1/asset/77964131/1800 mark=https%3A%2F%2Felements-assets.envato.com%2Fstatic%2Fwatermark2.png&marka-
lign=center%2Cmiddle&markalpha=18&w=1600&s=2a6506a467d299505ca306bfb39d92b6
– Marabou Stork.
https://kidszoo.org/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/Marabou-Stork-New.jpg – African Civet.
https://i.pinimg.com/originals/a7/03/e4/a703e46c5cb3ad674abdbfddabf11a67.jpg
– Soda cichlid (Alcolapia alcalica).
https://scontent.fcdg4-1.fna.fbcdn.net/v/t1.18169- – Rock Hyrax.
9/23517707_1554913344565475_5649221789975266555_n.jpg?_nc_cat=105&ccb=1-4&_ https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Arabian_Rock_
nc_sid=0debeb&_nc_ohc=vgyt4RBbP-MAX9A7Qif&_nc_ht=scontent.fcdg4-1. Hyrax_%28Procavia_capensis_jayakari%29_%28Itching%29_%28CWPG%29.jpg/1480px-Ara-
fna&oh=79f179fd3bf74ab23baa9945ae10795a&oe=6132A946 bian_Rock_Hyrax_%28Procavia_capensis_jayakari%29_%28Itching%29_%28CWPG%29.jpg
– Goliath Heron. – Striped Hyena.

https://i.pinimg.com/originals/11/a1/bb/11a1bbaabe7f03b543406257f1f92199.jpg https://i.pinimg.com/originals/0e/22/f6/0e22f6e2a318241921d1b4a8c95952ba.jpg
– Gerbil. – Simbakubwa kutokaafrika’s skull.

https://cdn.omlet.co.uk/images/originals/where-do-gerbils-come-from.jpg https://static.nationalgeographic.fr/files/styles/image_3200/public/03-kenya-cat-lion-vs-simba-
kubwa.jpg?w=710&h=625
– Four-toed Hedgehog.
https://www.biolib.cz/IMG/GAL/BIG/384599.jpg
– Simbakubwa kutokaafrika’s size comparison with a human being. – Sean Paul Gillespie.
https://static.nationalgeographic.fr/files/styles/image_3200/public/02-kenya-cat-simbakubwa- https://d5nffgciuchtn.cloudfront.net/as/assets-mem-com/cmi/2/9/6/6/6316692/20150213_
and-human-silohuette.jpg?w=710&h=445 130934750_0_orig.jpg/-/sean-gillespie-ventura-ca-obituary.jpg?crop=%280%2C9.18811881
1881187%2C358.22222222222223%2C458.25742574257424%29&cropxunits=372&cropy-
– Simbakubwa kutokaafrika’s illustration, by Mauricio Anton. units=464&a.balancewhite=true&maxheight=650
https://64.media.tumblr.com/4bac3ce013e69607f6d02bb8c09c7641/tumblr_pq6op4ruZn1tssr-
rao1_1280.jpg – Daniel Melville, with his bionical arm.
https://openbionics.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/11/Dan_MGS_1.png
– Metal Gear Solid V Original Soundtrack (2015) cover art.
https://media.senscritique.com/media/000011957726/source_big/METAL_GEAR_SOLID_V_
ORIGINAL_SOUNDTRACK_Bande_Originale.jpg
– Metal Gear Solid ~Vocal Tracks~ (2015) cover art.

https://www.game-ost.com/static/covers_soundtracks/7/2/72030_935979.jpg
– Metal Gear Solid V Extended Soundtrack (2015) cover art.

https://www.metalgearinformer.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/12/Metal-Gear-Solid-V-
Extended-Soundtrack.jpg
– Metal Gear Solid V Original Soundtrack - The Lost Tapes (2016) cover art.
https://media.senscritique.com/media/000019397970/source_big/METAL_GEAR_SOLID_5_
ORIGINAL_SOUNDTRACK_The_Lost_Tapes_Bande_Originale.jpg
– Sean Connery knighted by the queen Elizabeth II.

https://external-preview.redd.it/p1ovCJg1zpdbgmTdgSAGssDENe7isMsh941JZ7f-Xns.
jpg?auto=webp&s=3ce7fbfc2dcab0ba3c7fd519f2e4a64f289cc5fa
– Big Boss and Sean Connery.

https://mygaming.co.za/news/wp-content/uploads/2016/11/Sean-Connery-Big-Boss.jpg

Victor Reynart-Metal Gear Solid V-Kingdom of The Flies-V2.2 - (2021) - SD

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By Victor Reynart

Based on the works of Konami for the Episode 51,

FOR THE FULL DOCUMENT: ABBREVIATIONS REGULARLY USED IN THIS BOOK:

– Lt.: Lieutenant (military rank).

– ASAP: As soon as possible.

– Dr: Doctor (profession).

10 – THE PHANTOM MISSION

lover. Together, they had a child. Wounded, in the middle of an operation,

The story of the game took place

THE BOSS'S UNIFORM.

In Metal Gear Solid 3: Snake Eater (2004), the introductory sequence,

In this artwork, The Boss is wearing her combat suit,

When Big Boss woke up in a field After this battle, on November

– Omega Camp. and that she had not suffered for

Note: From there, the song Chico is

– 1977: As his health deteriorated, Zero ultimately handed over command

ARTWORK OF VENOM SNAKE AND OCELOT APPROACHING THE WHALING SHIP.

– What happened to Ishamel (the real Big Boss)? – Chapter 1: Revenge.

THE EIGHT DIFFERENT BIONIC ARMS'S VARIANTS: STUN, HAND OF JEHUTY,

THE RELAY BASE.

ARTWORK OF VENOM SNAKE'S HELICOPTER, ABOVE THE MUNENE RIVER.

168 The is the Mission 13: Pitch Dark.

Note: Later in the game, they can be

After fixing the little problem with Eli,

Ocelot told Venom Snake that he was preparing reinforcements at Mother

ARTWORK OF THE ISOLATION TENT.

blood on the floor, until meeting a

The Pequod was an old whaler After this, everyone is focused on

333 A real battle. The movie is inspired by true events.

THE SET OF THE TWO SCENES SHARE SOME SIMILARITIES.

RED IS ALSO AN IMPORTANT COLOR IN THE GAME.

Note: One last thing, the director

Akira Kurosawa and Ishirō Honda on the set

JACK MERRIDEW AND ELI.

JACK, LIQUID SNAKE, RALPH AND SOLID SNAKE.

In the game, Solid Snake is a soldier sent to the island to complete a

back into the game via the Mbele

KINGDOM OF THE FLIES

Then, Venom Snake had to face a new outbreak of a mutated strain of

tedly. So she wanted to prevent that, even if it meant dying, alone.

passed out. She then recovered and

* – Where are they? His comrade soldier asked the pilot.

Seychelles Waters, Mother Base

CONDITIONS TO UNLOCK: "Room 101", Level 1, Warehouse 1, Command Platform

– I recorded this when you were

– What? What do you mean? Asked Venom Snake, turning around.

Huey is gone, can we finally get rid of that creepy-chatty-metal cylinder362?

– Photographs of the real Ol Doinyo Lengai stratovolcano.

Kenyan (Kajiado County)/Tanzanian (Arusha Region) Border Region

August 26, 1984 09:05 a.m.368

The chopper flew over the red

– The surface of the lake is extremely

– This is the main place where they

Eventually, his feet trod the white

After following the stream for a

– Right. They planned to burn the forest to ashes. Reminded Miller.

Mission info updated:

Destroy the XOF scout mechas (0/4)

Note: A short cutscene would launch here.

– Wait. Said Ocelot. And if we send you a stretcher, Boss? He would be

Note: A short cutscene would play

Venom Snake finally got out of