Black Arts Viper is the leader of Black Chamber and, along with Weasel and Solid Snake, is considered one of the world's best professionals of war. Despite this, his identity was completely unknown to the mercenary world before the disolution of Black Chamber, due to the intense secrecy surrounding the group. The first half of his moniker, Black Arts, comes from his skill with explosives and boobytraps; he uses brilliantly intricate wire and mine traps to completely dominate a battlefield, without his enemies even being able to understand what's happening around them, like some sort of black magic. The second half, Viper, a poisonous snake, comes from his goal of surpassing Snake and bringing Black Chamber out of FOXHOUND's shadow.Two years prior to the events of Galuade Incident, Viper and the rest of Black Chamber successfully recovered a prototype Metal Gear that had been hijacked by terrorists in South America, but upon returning were ambushed by FOXHOUND under orders from Roy Campbell. In the struggle, Viper lost his left arm and sustained internal injuries which should have killed him, though his hatred allowed him to survive and he swore to avenge his fallen comrades using Metal Gear GANDER.
During the Galuade Incident, he first encounters Snake after kidnapping Chris Jenner, and the two do battle in a room filled with tripwire explosives, the configuration of which Viper constantly alters. After Metal Gear GANDER is destroyed, Viper reveals that its true destructive capacity is its satellite uplink to nuclear-equipped attack satellites, and Snake is again forced to do battle with him aboard an elevator, to prevent Viper from activating the uplink upon reaching the surface. In both fights, Viper makes use of his prosthetic left arm, which is outfitted with a number of tricks, allowing him to blind his opponents with a flash light and emit shockwaves through his punches, among other abilities.
Viper is ultimately unsuccessful, and dies expressing regret for his inability to get revenge for the slain members of Black Chamber.
