Inner Circle

The Inner Circle was a Russian Ultranationalist terrorist organization founded by Vladimir Makarov and based in Russia in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered. serving as the secondary antagonistic faction of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 (and Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered by extension) and the main antagonistic faction of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 and also being a playable group in multiplayer in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3. It is the official name for the Ultranationalist extremist splinter faction that sides with Makarov following the split of the Ultranationalist Party. They are playable in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3 multiplayer on the maps Aground, Erosion, Piazza, Sanctuary and Seatown opposing the SAS and on Black Box, Oasis and U-Turn opposing Delta Force. They are also playable in the Special Ops mission Milehigh Jack. The multiplayer and special ops announcer for the Inner Circle is Makarov.
==Background==
The ideals of the Inner Circle are never discussed, though they are shown to have an intensely fierce loyalty to Makarov as their visionary leader and figure. They are believed to have been formed after the Ultranationalist Party fell into pieces following the death of the party founder, Imran Zakhaev. While the newly appointed President Boris Vorshevsky came into power over the mainstream party, extremists of the cause fell under the charismatic Ultranationalist Makarov who took charge over them and founded the Inner Circle. The faction was used to commit various acts of terrorism against not only the new Russia under Vorshevsky, but also against the various countries of Europe to inspire fear throughout all of Eurasia. Following the massacre at Zakhaev International Airport executed by the Inner Circle, the group took a backseat role to watch the chaos unfold as Russia went to war with the United States. Meanwhile, a western special operations unit known as TF141 made their mission to eliminate Makarov and his followers, attacking the prime safehouses of the faction at the end of Modern Warfare 2 and inflicting a large number of casualties on the organization. However, they managed to stay standing and continued their zealous campaign two months later when President Vorshevsky planned to make peace with the countries of NATO.
The group long since gained more power and support from the mainstream party due to Makarov corrupting a good deal of Russia's nationalistic politicians and top military generals into siding with him against Vorshevsky, whose move to seek peace with the west was met with unpopularity by the Russian population who still saw the war as a justified cause for vengeance. Effectively taking complete control of Russia and launching a coup, the Inner Circle hijacked the personal plane of President Vorshevsky while he was en route to a peace summit with NATO in Hamburg, and forced it to crash land. The faction lost a number of men in the fight against FSO forces protecting the President and his daughter, but ultimately captured Vorshevsky with the intent to force him into giving Makarov the launch codes to Russia's nuclear warheads. However, Vorshevsky refused to give him the codes, prompting Makarov to send men to capture Alena.
Makarov's plan for invasion proved to be a success, his chemical weapons devastating capitals across Europe, crippling government organizations and military command structures severely, permitting Russia to take the majority of Europe in the early moments of the invasion before meeting strong NATO resistance with United States backing. Makarov permitted his generals to handle the war while he focused on acquiring the nuclear launch codes from Vorshevsky in order to destroy the United States and end their involvement in the war, finalizing Russia's control over Europe. However, the faction's plans ultimately failed when the remnants of Task Force 141 operated in conjunction with American Delta Force operatives to rescue President Vorshevsky and his daughter from Makarov's men in Siberia. The operation was a success and the Inner Circle never gained the launch codes, allowing the President openly pursuing peace with the west once again and ending the conflict and Makarov's coup over. With his plan a failure, Makarov went into hiding with his men in the Middle East to regain their assets and plot anew. However, the score wasn't settled when the remnants of Task Force 141 pursued him, Makarov's former friend and ally Yuri and his long time enemy Captain Price assaulting the Hotel Oasis the group was hiding in to finish them off once and for all. The following conflict resulted in the deaths of the Inner Circle members present in the hotel, and while Yuri was killed by Makarov, Captain Price managed to overpower Makarov and kill him by hanging him in the atrium of the hotel from the shattered glass rooftop. It can be assumed that with the death of their charismatic leader, the Inner Circle fell into shambles and what members still survived quickly fell apart and Vorshevsky's Ultranationalists remained in power. The Loyalists also returned to Russia after Vorshevsky started reconciliation with them and offered them some key positions in the newly established Ultranationalist-Loyalist coalition government.
The Inner Circle first appears in the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 campaign, then unnamed and only appearing in later missions of the game. They are first met as enemies in the mission "The Gulag" nearing and in the shower rooms. They are in the mission "Loose Ends" as the main opposition as they tried to defend their safehouse on the Georgian-Russian border. Their last appearance in Modern Warfare 2 is in "The Enemy of My Enemy" where they openly combat the forces of Shadow Company in an aircraft boneyard in Afghanistan. They also appear in the campaign for Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, first within the mission "Persona Non Grata", attacking the Loyalist safehouse in India, and soon after in "Turbulence", where they hijack President Boris Vorshevsky's plane and kidnap him. They also feature in "Mind the Gap" where they work to detonate Makarov's chemical weapon in London, in "Stronghold" where they attempt to defend their fortress from Price and Yuri, and lastly in "Dust to Dust" where they defend their leader Vladimir Makarov from his assassins. In this mission, they are utterly wiped out by Price and Yuri's two-man assault on the Hotel Oasis in Dubai, and Makarov himself is ultimately hanged to death by Price, marking the end of the Inner Circle.
==Known Members==
*Vladimir Makarov - Status - K.I.A. Founder and leader of the Inner Circle. Killed by John Price in "Dust to Dust" by strangulation and hanging on the glass rooftop of the Hotel Oasis
*Viktor "Volk" Khristenko - Status - Alive/P.O.W. CEO of Fregata and the 'bomb maker' of the group. Captured by Delta Force Team Metal during the Battle of Paris.
*Alexi - Status - K.I.A One of the Makarov's lieutenants and commander of the faction's base in Prague. Killed by John Price in "Stronghold" by Price throwing a pin pulled Frag Grenade at him.
*Waraabe - Status - K.I.A. An associate of the Inner Circle through Volk. Killed by John Price in "Return To Sender" by Price shooting a Desert Eagle at his forehead.
*Alejandro Rojas - Status - W.I.A/K.I.A. An associate of Makarov's Inner Circle and arms dealer who was the one that supplied the weaponry used in the airport massacre. Can be killed by Gary "Roach" Sanderson in "The Hornet's Nest"
*Joseph "Alexei Borodin" Allen - Status - K.I.A. Undercover CIA operative who assisted the airport massacre. Killed by Makarov himself to frame the United States for the massacre.
*Viktor - Status - K.I.A. Terrorist who assisted the airport massacre. Killed by the H.V.I. in Arcadia.
*Lev - Status - K.I.A. Terrorist who assisted the airport massacre. Killed by either the FSB or Joseph Allen.
*Kiril - Status - K.I.A. Terrorist who assisted the airport massacre. Killed by either the FSB or Joseph Allen.
*Anatoly - Status - M.I.A Part of the getaway crew for the ambulance in "No Russian".
*Getaway Driver - Status - M.I.A Part of the getaway crew for the ambulance in "No Russian".
*Yuri - Status - EX/K.I.A. Former right hand of Makarov. Double-crossed him and assisted Russian Loyalists. Killed by Makarov during his last stand.
==Equipment==
Compared to their Vorshevsky-allied counterparts, Makarov's Inner Circle terrorists during Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 looked more like the roguish mercenary types depicted in the previous Modern Warfare installment, with their men donning a mixture of personal and tactical gear, but were just as capable as their counterparts in terms of vehicle support and firepower. Their equipment consists of flecktarn or blue urban camo gear, alongside a variety of headgear like bandanas, microphones, and blue berets. In the singleplayer mission "Loose Ends", and the Special Ops missions “Hidden” and “Estate Takedown”, the snipers are equipped with ghillie suits and WA2000 Sniper Rifles. The regular soldiers also wear combat pants in either dark green or with woodland camo. 
In Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, their appearance differs, but throughout the majority of the game, Inner Circle terrorists look more like highly paid professional PMCs, wearing plain clothes, tactical clothing (tactical sweaters, olive colored or black BDU pants), upgraded armor, load bearing gear, concealed carry vests, earpieces, and in some cases sunglasses. Beyond that, it is very difficult to distinguish them from one another, though in multiplayer some will wear protective masks of an almost hockey mask-like design. In "Mind the Gap", While operating in an underground cell, they wear the uniforms of dock and ship workers, mostly consisting of navy and orange-colored jumpsuits underneath their tactical vests as well as gas masks. In "Persona Non Grata", Makarov sends Spetsnaz operatives loyal to him to deal with the Loyalists, Yuri, Soap and Price. These men appear to be very professional, wearing black combat uniforms, using advanced body armor, combat helmets, ski masks, and combat goggles. Some trade the masks and goggles for GP5 gas masks. The same variant also appear as late-wave enemies in Survival Mode, using advanced ACR 6.8 assault rifles, and they appear in the Spec Ops Mission Negotiator as hostage-takers. 
==Weapons==
===Assault Rifles===
*AK-47
*G36C
*SCAR-L
*ACR 6.8
*TAR-21
*FAMAS
*F2000
*SCAR-H 
*M4A1 
===Submachine Guns===
*P90
*PP90M1
*AK-74U
*PM-9
*MP5
*UMP45
*Mini-Uzi
*MP5K
*Vector
===Light Machine Guns===
*MK46
*L86 LSW
*MG36
*PKP Pecheneg
*MG4
*M240 
*RPD
===Shotguns===
*AA-12
*SPAS-12
*Striker
*Model 1887
*M1014
===Sniper Rifles===
*RSASS
*Dragunov
*Barrett .50cal
*WA2000
*M14 EBR
===Machine Pistols===
*FMG9
*MP9
*G18
*PP2000
*Skorpion
*TMP
*M93 Raffica
===Handguns===
*USP .45
*Desert Eagle
*Five Seven
*MP412
*M9
*M1911 .45 
*P99
===Launchers===
*M320 
*GP-25
*RPG-7
*Stinger
*M203
*Thumper
===Equipment===
*Flashbang
*M67 Grenade
*C4
*Claymore
*Riot Shield
*Smoke Grenade
===Vehicles===
*BTR-80
*Mi-8
*Mi-24 Hind
*Mi-28
*GAZ-2975
*Humvee
*Technical
===Other===
*Dogs (seen during "The Enemy of My Enemy")
==Multiplayer Maps==
Sideview Aground MW3.jpg|Aground (Face Off)
Bare Load Screen Black Box MW3.jpg|Black Box
Main Statue Erosion MW3.jpg|Erosion (Face Off)
Bare Load Screen Oasis MW3.jpg|Oasis
Lower Road Piazza MW3.jpg|Piazza
Bare Load Screen Sanctuary MW3.jpg|Sanctuary
Bare Load Screen Seatown MW3.png|Seatown
Pipes U-Turn MW3.jpg|U-Turn (Face-Off)
==Gallery==
===Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2===
Inner Circle Beret Soldier MW2.png|An Inner circle soldier.
Inner Circle Blue Camouflage Soldier MW2.png|An Inner circle soldier.
Inner Circle Dragunov MW2.png|An Inner circle soldier with a Dragunov.
Inner Circle AK-47 MW2.png|An Inner circle soldier with a AK-47.
Inner Circle Sniper MW2.png|An Inner circle sniper with a Ghillie suit and wields a WA2000.
Inner Circle M1014 MW2.jpg|An Inner Circle soldier with a M1014.
Inner Circle RPD MW2.jpg|An Inner Circle soldier with an RPD.
Inner Circle FAMAS MW2.jpg|An Inner Circle soldier with a FAMAS.
Inner Circle taking cover MW2.jpg|An Inner Circle soldier taking cover.
Ultranationalist blue camo model MW2.png|Inner Circle solider with blue camouflage uniform.
Ultranationalist woodland camo model MW2.png|Inner Circle soldier with woodland camouflage uniform.
CODMW2 Inner Circle RPD headset.jpg
CODMW2 Inner Circle TAR21 beretta.jpg
Inner Circle Striker MW2.png
CODMW2 Inner Circle AK-47 headset.jpg
Inner Circle MW2.jpg
Mw2 Russians.jpg|An Inner Circle soldier fighting alongside a Russian riot shield.
CODMW2 Inner Circle Striker Headset.png
Inner Circle in last stand MW2.png|Inner Circle soldier "downed" with G18.
MW2 Inner Circle.png
====Makarov's Assault Team====
Vladimir_Makarov.png|Vladimir Makarov.
Viktor.png|Viktor.
Kiril.png|Kiril.
Lev.png|Lev.
Anatoly.png|Anatoly.
Yuri MW2CR.png|Yuri: Part of Makarov's team but reported to the FSB about Makarov. Shot and left for dead by Makarov after he betrayed him.
=== Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 Campaign Remastered===
Inner Circle MW2R.jpg|Inner Circle members in 'The Enemy Of My Enemy" in MW2CR
Inner Circle with a TAR-21(screenshot from NPC Universe).png
Inner Circle 2.png
Inner Circle Vs Shadow Company showdown.jpg|Inner Circle Soldier aiming at a Shadow Company Soldier.
Inner Circle in The Enemy of My Enemy.jpg
Inner Circle RPD MW2R.png
Inner Circle Headset MW2R.png
Inner Circle with Mini Uzi.jpg
Inner Circle snipers MW2R.png
Inner Circle soldier in Loose Ends.jpg
Two inner circle soldiers in flecktarn.jpg
Inner Circle with a Striker.jpg
===Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3===
Hijacker MW3.jpg|An Hijacker with an unique looking PP90M1 with all the attachments for the weapon
Hijacker Turbulence.jpg|An Inner Circle hijacker in "Turbulence".
Hijacker vs Pudovkin.jpg|Commander Pudovkin faces an Inner Circle hijacker, wielding a Five Seven.
MW3 Hijacker.png|Inner Circle soldier wielding an AK-74U in Hostage Taker
Inner Circle Soldier RPG-7 Seatown MW3.png|An Inner Circle member with an RPG-7
Inner Circle Soldier.jpg|An Inner Circle soldier.
Piazza gameplay4.jpg|An Inner Circle soldier.
Chem agents mw3.png|Inner Circle members in "Mind the Gap". Take note that they use the chemical agent models
Blackbox 3 MW3.jpg|Inner Circle soldier holding a Type 25
Mw3 IC Model.png|Inner Circle models.
Mw3 chemwarrussian.png|More Inner Circle models.
Inner Circle knifing model MW3.png|Inner Circle's hand model.
Inner Circle control point.jpg|An Inner Circle control point in Domination.
Russians Commandos MW3.png|Inner Circle Spetsnaz Commandos from "Persona Non Grata".
Inner Circle Assault MW3.png|Inner Circle Assault
Inner Circle SMG MW3.png|Inner Circle SMG
Inner Circle LMG MW3.png|Inner Circle LMG
Inner Circle Shotgun MW3.png|Inner Circle Shotgun
Inner Circle Sniper MW3.png|Inner Circle Sniper
Russian Arctic troop models MW3.jpg|Inner Circle arctic troops in "Down the Rabbit Hole".
==Trivia==
*In early stages of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, Inner Circle was going to be originally in Underground and Bootleg multiplayer maps but were cut out for unknown reasons. The icons for the Inner Circle in the aforementioned maps are present on ELITE.
*In the Tango Down Multiplayer Trailer, where the Inner Circle and Delta Force are fighting in Underground, they had a different faction icon, as seen on the SAM Turret.
*"Бог с нами ("S nami Bog "God is with us"), which is heard at the beginning of any match when playing as the Inner Circle, is also said by Makarov at the beginning of "No Russian".
*Prior to the release of Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 3, the Inner Circle used the OpFor emblem.
*The renders of the Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 2 are a recoloration of the Arctic Spetsnaz uniforms, but with different head models.This is best seen in "The Gulag ", where both enemy variants appear.
*Their spawn, victory, and defeat theme can be heard in "Black Tuesday", "Persona Non Grata", and "Goalpost" respectively.
*In the Wii version of the game, the Inner Circle members do not wear any kind of headgear.
*The ouroboros snake of the Inner Circle logo is seen in Call of Duty: Ghosts as a reticle found in the Makarov Legend Pack DLC.
*Their multiplayer announcer is Vladimir Makarov.
*Some members are shown to have Russian prison tattoos.
*Ghillie snipers use suppressed USP .45 in close combat. This is best seen in the spec ops mission Hidden.
*Sometimes injured soldiers in Last Stand will use sidearms like the G18, MP412, or PP2000.
==Videos==
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Inner Circle Victory Theme|Inner Circle's victory theme
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 3 Inner Circle Defeat Theme|Inner Circle's defeat theme
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