Peace Walker (Basilisk)

Peace Walker, also known as Basilisk, was a bipedal nuclear-armed AI weapon developed by Huey Emmerich and Strangelove.

Information
Although capable of bipedal locomotion, Peace Walker's primary mode of transportation was quadrupedal. It utilized stealth from radar and satellite images, which drastically reduced any chance of it being destroyed in a nuclear attack. Its most devastating weapon, however, was a massive hydrogen bomb mounted to the frame that was more powerful than even the Tsar Bomba, so that if necessary, it could sneak into enemy territory and self destruct. It carrying this hydrogen bomb was also one of the primary reasons why bipedalism/quadrupedalism was required for its development, as it couldn't be loaded on missiles nor could it be carried by a strategic bomber due to its immense size. Its overall capabilities relating to nuclear deterrence was referred to as a land based version of a SSBN.

Peace Walker was controlled by two AIs: the Reptile Pod and the Mammal Pod, which were modeled after the human cerebellum and cerebrum, respectively. While the Reptile Pod was mainly responsible for operating the main frame, the Mammal Pod possessed more advanced decision-making capabilities, giving it the capacity to launch a retaliatory nuclear strike at the most effective target. The Mammal Pod AI's neural processes were modelled after the legendary soldier The Boss.

Unlike Metal Gear, Peace Walker was completely incapable of launching a nuclear weapon by itself, only launching out of self defense, as part of the theory of deterrence. However, it could be tricked into launching a nuclear weapon into a country if supplied with false data, which could depict an imaginary Soviet nuclear attack on the U.S. It could also transmit this false data to third parties, such as NORAD. Combined with the fact that the data would be transmitted via a spread spectrum multi-length frequency pattern, rendering even electromagnetic pulses ineffective in blocking the signal, this was arguably its most dangerous ability outside of its hydrogen bomb. The method of inputting false data is via a nearby radio-satellite van. Aside from the nuclear launcher, Peace Walker included a radiation generator, a pair of flamethrowers, regular missiles, s-mines and mole missiles. All of this weaponry possessed a heavy emphasis towards defense. Also, if someone tried to attack Peace Walker, it would abort its previous command and go into a small threat suppression mode.

Names
Peace Walker's former codename of "Basilisk" is a reference to the lizard of the same name, which is able to travel atop any terrain, stand on two legs, and even run across water, similar to Peace Walker's all-terrain capabilities. The name was also a reference to the mythological basilisk, a highly venomous creature that is considered to be the "King of Snakes." A Roman legend told of a knight who once killed a Basilisk with a spear, though he and his horse ended up dying after the venom seeped up the spear. Peace Walker also possessed the ability to petrify enemies (albeit, via an immobilization ray).

The Reptile Pod's designation was AL-Aurelia 8000; the initials are based on those of Abraham Lincoln, while Aurelia is a synonym for "chrysalis." The Mammal Pod's designation was BS-Imago; the initials are based on an abbreviation of "Boss," while Imago is the name given to an insect's final life stage.

Development
In 1973, CIA Station Chief Hot Coldman commissioned the creation of Peace Walker (originally designated "Basilisk," and known to the Central American locals as "el basilisco") in order to fulfill his vision of the "perfect deterrent." He recruited Huey Emmerich to create the frame for Peace Walker and Strangelove to create the Mammal Pod AI. Between 1973 and 1974, frequent tests in regards to its maneuverability were carried out in Costa Rica. One of these tests, at El Cadalso, was witnessed by Chico, a Sandinista child soldier.

Though the weapons systems and the frame itself were eventually completed, the Mammal Pod was still undergoing construction by November, 1974, since the AI required another component that would ensure Peace Walker's role as the "perfect deterrent." After discovering Coldman's intentions to have Peace Walker launch an actual nuclear warhead, in order to test its effectiveness (and gain an advantage in future negotiations with his superiors ), Huey refused to participate any longer in its development. Coldman's Peace Sentinels later captured Militaires Sans Frontieres commander, Big Boss (Naked Snake), when the latter attempted to destroy the AI, while he was distracted by the AI's imitation of The Boss. Strangelove eventually deduced the missing data required for the AI to function effectively by torturing Big Boss, after which Coldman revealed the first target for Peace Walker's nuclear launch: the Militaires Sans Frontieres' Mother Base. Part of the reason dealt with eliminating the MSF, although he also intended that the trade winds in that location would scatter the fallout throughout Central America, poisoning crops and fish markets, thus allowing for "free hands" to help with the mass production of Peace Walker.

Big Boss later battled the bipedal form of Peace Walker, causing some damage to the weapon, though not enough to completely incapacitate it. It began malfunctioning as a result of the damage, until Coldman's Hind D attacked the AI pod with machine gun fire, provoking Peace Walker to cease targeting Snake. It then transformed into its quadrupedal form and followed Coldman's Hind towards the Nicaraguan-Costa Rican border, while Big Boss, astride The Boss's horse, gave pursuit. Peace Walker was able to make it to a United States missile base in Nicaragua, where it would launch its nuclear strike through false data, after Strangelove input the coordinates.

However, KGB spy Vladimir Zadornov betrayed Coldman, with whom he had previously allied, and changed Peace Walker's target to Cuba, hoping to cause anti-American sentiment to spread internationally, thus giving the Soviets an upper hand in the Cold War. Coldman was then shot by Zadornov, though he missed the killing shot deliberately because he still needed the launch code. After Zadornov was stopped by Amanda Valenciano Libre's Sandinistas, and arrested by the Militaires Sans Frontieres, Coldman, dying from blood loss inflicted by Zadornov's earlier gunshot, activated Peace Walker, causing the weapon to not only launch a "retalitory" nuclear strike towards Cuba, but also transmit false data towards various third party organizations, such as NORAD, nearly causing an all out nuclear war. As Coldman died before he could give the abort code (knowing full well that he would die soon after launching it), Big Boss and Strangelove were forced to destroy Peace Walker.

Although Big Boss managed to destroy Peace Walker, rendering it unable to launch a nuclear strike, it was still transmitting false data towards NORAD and the Pentagon, causing a nuclear war to become inevitable. Even Big Boss removing the memory boards from the Mammal Pod's AI (which had allowed him to get inside) was not enough to end it, as authority for transmitting the false data was passed on to the Reptile Pod. However, Peace Walker managed to get up on its own and sacrifice itself to end it by drowning in the lake, causing the data to short out from the circuits being exposed to water.

Afterwards, the Militaires Sans Frontieres returned to Nicaragua to remove the nuclear missile from Peace Walker, in order to avoid another conflict with the natives (the missile was still radioactive and could potentially contaminate the lake, or end up being discovered by terrorists). Kazuhira Miller, MSF's subcommander, then suggested to Big Boss that he place it on Metal Gear ZEKE, otherwise they would need to dispose of it. Although Big Boss hesitated, being taken aback by the suggestion, he ultimately agreed, as he realized that they'll need a nuclear weapon as a deterrent to keep the Militaires Sans Frontieres growing stance as a nation in order to have equal footing among other nations so long as nuclear deterrence is still needed in the world.

Trivia

 * Peace Walker's head featured the emblem of a butterfly. This was in reference to the fact that Peace Walker was the completed form of the AI (i.e., it could process and decide on how to handle nuclear retaliation). The machine itself was referred to as such by Big Boss, during a conversation with Huey Emmerich.
 * Peace Walker's launch verification code, during its attempt to launch a nuclear strike into Cuba, was "1976."
 * Peace Walker first fought Big Boss in its bipedal form, while utilizing the Reptile Pod; its movements resembling those of a theropod dinosaur. As it switched to the Mammal Pod, it walked on four legs, much like a quadrupedal mammal.
 * Peace Walker was the only AI weapon capable of self-generated speech.

Behind the scenes
"King of Snakes," another name for the mythological basilisk, was a name used to refer to Naked Snake in advertising for Metal Gear Solid 3.

The Play Arts Kai model for Peace Walker is referred to as Basilisk.

The design of Peace Walker was originally going to be significantly different, resembling Metal Gear REX, and its hangar was also intended to closely resemble REX's hangar on Shadow Moses Island.

Gameplay
During the second battle with Peace Walker, the mecha will attempt to prepare the countdown for the nuclear strike into Cuba. If Snake fails to stop the countdown, then a Game Over sequence occurs where the missile is shown being launched.

An Extra Ops mission requires Snake to fight an upgraded version of Peace Walker colored in maroon paint. The way it is defeated after taking out its HP is similar to how Pupa, Cocoon, and Chrysalis are defeated (its AI pod being released after jumping out of the AI pod, causing it to launch like a rocket). Also, if the player deals minimal damage to the head, the player can also unlock the Peace Walker head for use on ZEKE.

During the Peace Walker Type II & Peace Walker Custom battles, the Mammal Pod is absent.

Appearances

 * Metal Gear Solid: Peace Walker