Cipher

Lore & Background

Cipher was founded in 1970 after the Virtuous Mission, driven by Major Zero's vision to prevent another conflict like World War II. While Big Boss sought independence for soldiers and left to form Outer Heaven, Zero believed in controlling the world from the shadows after leaving the US government. They utilized funds from the Philosopher's Legacy to finance their operations independently. FOXHOUND was originally a US Army special forces unit created by Major Zero, not Big Boss, though Cipher later infiltrated or manipulated it. Cipher's initial goal was human-led manipulation of global events, not AI integration—the AI project was developed later. During the Shadow Moses Incident, the rebellion was orchestrated by Liquid Snake and FOXHOUND, with the Patriots (the later public name for Zero's organization) manipulating events. The primary objective was to expose Metal Gear Rex to justify military spending and maintain the Patriots' control, with testing Solid Snake being a secondary objective. Cipher is the codename used by Zero's organization, while The Patriots is the name used publicly and by later iterations—not the other way around.

In Their Own Story

Zero sat in the darkened command center, watching the screens flicker with data streams from around the globe. A single red light blinked on the map, marking the location of the stolen weapon. He knew the soldier would come to stop it; he had counted on that outcome all along. The chaos was necessary to justify the new security protocols awaiting approval tomorrow. He adjusted his glasses, a cold smile forming as the system logged another variable controlled by the machine.

Reader's Guide

Cipher functions as an invisible hand guiding national policy from behind closed doors. Founded by Major Zero after his ideological split with Big Boss, they prioritize information control over traditional military might. Their structure relies on deniable assets like FOXHOUND to execute high-risk operations without official government acknowledgment. The group's primary ambition is to stabilize the world through Mutually Assured Destruction and eventually automate decision-making processes. They view human emotion as a liability in governance, seeking to replace it with objective data analysis. To achieve this, they funded the creation of Metal Gear platforms to ensure nuclear parity among nations. Key members include Major Zero himself, who directed operations until his death, alongside various intelligence officers loyal to the cause. While their name faded into history, their ideology persisted through The Patriots organization. They remain a central antagonist force representing the dangers of unchecked surveillance and artificial control over human society throughout the franchise timeline.

Did You Know?

• Cipher was founded by Major Zero in 1970 after the Virtuous Mission, using the Philosopher's Legacy to build it independently.
• FOXHOUND was originally a US Army special forces unit created by Major Zero, not Big Boss; Cipher later infiltrated or manipulated it.
• Cipher is the codename used by Zero's organization; The Patriots is the name used publicly and by later iterations, not the other way around.
• During the Shadow Moses Incident, the Patriots' primary goal was to expose Metal Gear Rex to justify military spending and maintain control, with testing Solid Snake being a secondary objective.