Arsenal Gear
From the Metal Gear Wiki
Arsenal Gear is a submersible, mobile fortress, with the ability to monitor, block, and tamper with internet communications in order to further the goals of The Patriots. It is a metaphor for the change of warfare in the last decades of the 20th century, from nuclear war to a war of culture, information, and espionage.
Arsenal Gear is hidden under the Big Shell, and is controlled by an AI named GW, which was designed by Emma Emmerich (there are other AIs besides GW, as Raiden speaks with another AI named JFK prior to his battle with Solidus Snake, but they are unrelated to this Arsenal Gear. It is another run by its own networked AI system).
Arsenal Gear is massive, large enough to house - and also require - a significant force for its defense. The exterior is shown when Raiden and Solidus are heading for Federal Hall and see it speeding under many bridges before it crashes. The Arsenal Gear hidden under the Big Shell has an unspecified number of "Arsenal Tengu", soldiers clad in bionic exoskeletons and armed with P90 submachine guns and a katana (these were actually the Russian mercenaries under Solidus Snake's command during the Big Shell incident). It also has a squadron of 25 mass-produced Metal Gear RAYs, each of which is under the direct control of GW, the AI controlling Arsenal Gear. One of its flaws, pointed out by Solidus Snake after GW was destroyed, was that it was virtually worthless without a nuclear payload; the RAY's to protect it, and full sea, land, and air support. Unless it is capable of sustaining such needs, Arsenal Gear is nothing more than "a gigantic coffin."
During the Big Shell incident, Raiden is actually being manipulated by GW, Arsenal Gear's AI, but, as Emma Emmerich's virus slowly destroys GW, Raiden is able to enter Arsenal Gear (from the Big Shell, the facility Arsenal Gear is hidden under) and uncover the many layers of deception concealing the true meaning behind his mission to the Big Shell. Revolver Ocelot, being controlled by Liquid Snake via a transplanted arm, directs Arsenal Gear to crash into Manhattan Island at the end of Raiden's mission, but its ultimate fate is yet to be explained.
Additionally, in Document of MGS2, it is revealed that there is more than one Arsenal Gear in existence, several stationed underwater in various locations around the world.
[edit] See Also
| Metal Gears |
|---|
| Main Series |
| Shagohod — Metal Gear RAXA — Metal Gear TX-55 — Metal Gear D — Metal Gear REX Metal Gear RAY — Arsenal Gear — Metal Gear Gekko — Metal Gear Mk. II |
| Non-Canon Metal Gears |
| Metal Gear Chaioth Ha Qadesh — Metal Gear GANDER — Metal Gear KODOQUE |
