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The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare (2019) The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: Warzone The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: Warzone 2 The subject of this article appears in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III
For the original faction, see Shadow Company.

"Shadow Company is called in to clean up the uncleanable messes, and take out targets other outfits can't touch. We're a magnet for missions too sensitive to ever get declassified and too messy for those who don't know when to bend the rules of engagement. To put it bluntly, we get the job done."
— Marcus "Lerch" Ortega

Shadow Company is a Private Military Company featured in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, Call of Duty: Warzone, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II, Call of Duty: Warzone 2.0, and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III. The PMC appears as an Allegiance sub-faction in the multiplayer of Modern Warfare and in Call of Duty: Warzone. In Modern Warfare II, Shadow Company appears as a supporting-turned-antagonistic faction in the campaign. Shadow Company returns in Modern Warfare III, as a supporting faction in the campaign.

History[]

Formation[]

Shadow Company was founded by Phillip Graves in 2017 as a global risk management, protection, and private military firm that specializes in troop, air, and maritime deployment anywhere in the world as it mainly employs former special operations members globally. It saw its fair share of success and controversy and was frequently contracted by General Herschel Shepherd of the United States Army and once by Allegiance.

War in Verdansk[]

Following the collapse of Armistice, Shadow Company was hired by Allegiance to locate Victor Zakhaev in Verdansk. Operating outside the boundaries of the original alliance, the PMC could take the war directly to Zakhaev and Al-Qatala.[1]

After receiving intel from Allegiance about radio chatter originating from the Acropolis National Arena, a small team of Shadow Company contractors led by Marcus "Lerch" Ortega flew to the stadium, seeking to intercept the potential source of the signal: Victor Zakhaev. As Lerch and the team arrived, Rozlin "Roze" Helms used explosives to blow open the roof of the stadium, allowing Lerch's team to land inside and begin their hunt for Zakhaev.

Despite their efforts, Shadow Company was unable to locate Zakhaev, who was later discovered to have used the underground metro system to escape undetected. Meanwhile, operators from Shadow Company remained in Verdansk to continue the fight against Al-Qatala.

Assassination of Ghorbrani[]

On July 15th, 2022, under Shepherd's command, Shadow Company was tasked in accordance with Task Force 141 operative Simon "Ghost" Riley to assassinate Quds Force General Ghorbrani while he was amidst an arms trade with Russian forces in Al Mazrah, United Republic of Adal. Once the general was identified by Ghost, Shadow Company launched a ballistic missile at the arms trade, which completely decimated the site upon impact, killing Ghorbrani.

Missiles Crisis[]

Black Bag Operation[]

One month later on August 12th, Shadow Company was hired by Shepherd to transact American ballistic missiles to American allies fighting Russian forces in the Middle East, though the transport team was kept privy to their cargo's contents. While Shadow Company was transporting their cargo of three missiles through Al Mazrah in the middle of the night, the convoy was intercepted and ambushed by Konni contractors hired by Ultranationalists.

Unfortunately, the transport team was unable to repel the assault and were all killed by the mercenaries, allowing the missiles to be stolen. The situation also allowed Konni to learn that Shepherd conducted the operation through hijacked Shadow Company communications, and Russia subsequently handed off the stolen missiles to Major Hassan Zyani, Ghorbrani's second-in-command who sought direct retribution against the United States.

Due to the illegal and off-the-books nature of the operation, Shepherd and Graves were both forced to cover up and redact the incident, hiding the fact that there were now three American missiles out in the wild and the hands of terrorists.

Hunting Hassan Zyani[]

Two months later following the cover-up and the discovery of one of the stolen missiles in Al Mazrah, Shadow Company was hired by Shepherd to provide security for Task Force 141 and Los Vaqueros in Las Almas during their hunt for Zyani, in addition to locating the whereabouts of the remaining stolen missiles Zyani was transporting closer to the United States. On October 30th, Graves and a Shadow Company team utilized an AC-130 to provide close air support and assistance for the team capturing Zyani. However, Zyani was eventually released as the team had no jurisdiction to legally hold him prisoner.

Capturing El Sin Nombre[]

Intel recovered by Kate Laswell eventually pointed to the leader of the Las Almas Cartel, the elusive El Sin Nombre who helped transport Hassan and his stolen missiles. On November 1st, Shadow Company was put on standby for additional support as Task Force 141 operative Johnny "Soap" MacTavish infiltrated the house of a Las Almas Cartel lieutenant where El Sin Nombre was meeting with VIPs of the cartel to discuss recent events.

As part of the plan, Soap would give intel to the cartel relating to the effort to capture Zyani to gain their trust and meet El Sin Nombre, providing the cartel information regarding Shadow Company and its leader, handing them a patch of the group's insignia given to him by Graves as proof. It was soon revealed that El Sin Nombre was a woman named Valeria Garza, and once Soap and Alejandro Vargas found her, she attempted to flee. However, she was cornered by a Shadow Company helicopter on the penthouse terrace, allowing Soap and Vargas to apprehend her.

Stopping the Second Missile[]

Through interrogating Garza, the team learned that one of the stolen missiles was being set up on an abandoned oil rig in the Gulf of Mexico that the Las Almas Cartel was using as a smuggling deaddrop site. On November 2nd, a Shadow Company-led operation with support from Task Force 141 and Vargas assaulted the rig via speedboats to prevent the missile's launch. While Shadow 1 and 2 led by Graves, Vargas, and Soap underwent the main infiltration of the rig, Shadow 3 and Ghost were assigned to assault the nearby cargo ship anchored northwest of the rig.

However, upon reaching the missile as it began its first priming stage, it was soon discovered that the controls for the missile were relocated to the nearby ship, forcing Graves and Soap to link up with Ghost and Shadow 3 via boat. Together, the team fought across the deck of the ship toward the bridge, where the missile controls were. Soap and Graves managed to override the missile's original target of New Orleans to the rig itself upon seizing the controls, and after Vargas and the remaining Shadow Company forces on the rig were evacuated, Soap and Graves launched the missile into the rig, destroying both.

The Truth Emerges[]

With two of the three missiles destroyed and Garza in their possession, Shadow Company was given jurisdiction by Shepherd to finish the mission themselves to finally put their cover-up to bed. Not long after the oil rig mission, Graves and Shadow Company soon acquired the Fuerzas Especiales base belonging to Vargas and his men, revealing to Ghost, Soap, and Vargas at the base's checkpoint that Shadow Company was taking the base for themselves while the others were no longer needed to hunt down the last missile and Zyani, much to the three's chagrin.

When it came to light that Shepherd was supporting Shadow Company's actions and Vargas' men were detained, Vargas attempted to attack Graves, though he was immediately apprehended. Soap and Ghost both dispatched a few Shadow Company soldiers before they were forced to flee into the nearby town. Graves ordered his men to find and kill them, and soon after, Shadow Company forces combed through Las Almas to find them. During this, Shadow Company invaded numerous homes and rounded up resistant civilians, cartel members, and even corrupt policemen alike, interrogating them for any intel regarding Zyani while executing them afterward. Meanwhile, Soap and Ghost managed to evade Shadow Company and escape the city.

Upon reaching Vargas' safehouse, Soap and Ghost learned from Rodolfo Parra that Shadow Company was keeping Vargas and the rest of Los Vaqueros prisoner at an abandoned maximum-security penitentiary outside Las Almas. The trio soon infiltrated the prison, sabotaging Shadow Company vehicles along the way and liberating the prisoners. Shadow Company attempted to stop the breakout, though they were unsuccessful as the infiltration team and prisoners escaped with additional help from Task Force 141 members John Price and Kyle "Gaz" Garrick. Afterward, Price revealed to the others that after Shepherd went dark, Laswell used her CIA connections to uncover information regarding the failed Shadow Company missile transaction.

Attacked by Ghost Team[]

Desiring retribution for Shadow Company's crimes, Task Force 141 and Los Vaqueros banded together to form a joint task force called Ghost Team to infiltrate the Shadow Company-occupied Fuerzas Especiales base and kill Graves. In the afternoon of November 3rd, Ghost Team assaulted the base while Shadow Company attempted to defend it along with their commander. Ghost Team managed to reclaim the base, ultimately driving the remaining Shadow Company forces out. Graves was presumed deceased by Soap and Parra following the destruction of a Shadow Company tank believed to have been piloted by the commander and CEO.

Eventually, Task Force 141 managed to locate Zyani and the final missile at a building in Chicago, Illinois owned by a shell company of the Las Almas Cartel through information provided once again by Garza. After infiltrating the building with help from MARSOC marines, Task Force 141 successfully neutralized the missile and Zyani, finally wrapping up the missile crisis caused by Shepherd and Shadow Company's actions.

A New Direction[]

The confrontation in Las Almas between Shadow Company and Task Force 141 was investigated as a "blue on blue" incident by the FBI, though Shadow Company denied any responsibility for the incident. As Graves remained in hiding, Osmond "Oz" Ryan became the de-facto leader of the PMC, working as the Interim Commander.

At some point, Shadow Company contractors guarding and defending the Mt. Zaya Observatory in Al Mazrah abandoned their post, leaving the facility open for an Al-Qatala assault. As a result, CIA Station Chief Kate Laswell deployed three Demon Dogs squadrons to defend the site. Shadow Company was also contracted by an unknown benefactor to secure the local oilfields, caves, and port in Al Mazrah, offering 15% of an unknown reward. Shadow Company forces also occupied the Sattiq Cave Complex, where a downed AC-130 made landfall after it was shot down by local forces.

In Feburary 2023, Oz learned about a worker's revolt on Ashika Island prompting Shadow Company's intervention. There, Shadow Company forces clashed with members of Konni Group and ousted them.[2] Following this takeover, Shadow Company learned that Konni had been transporting gas to the island from a clandestine biological laboratory code-named Building 21. Shadow Company forces led by Velikan assaulted Building 21, ousting Konni from the facility.

In April 2023, Shadow Company pulled out from Sattiq Caves before the Las Almas Cartel moved into Al Mazrah. A Shadow Company sniper team, codenamed Phantom-5, was tasked with investigating the cartel's activity in Al Mazrah, conducting reconnaissance from a hideout in Ahkdar Village, later sending an emergency distress signal from the Al Mazrah Mall tower. Shadow Company continued to actively investigate the cartel's entrances into the Koschei Complex, and would later investigate the tunnels themselves, making contact with an ex-Crown operator abandoned in the bunker, and discovering its connections to Konni Group.

In June 2023, Shadow Company later appeared in Vondel to engage Konni, who operated under the guise of Peacekeepers, all while defending Ashika Island from them.

Operation Rogue Arsenal[]

At some point, Graves returned to Shadow Company and his leadership role. In August 2023, Graves met with Farah Karim and Alex Keller of the Urzikstan Liberation Force. They discussed the threat posed by Konni Group, who had recently ousted Shadow Company from Building 21, in Al Mazrah. Fearing that Konni would move to Urzikstan next, the ULF offered to work with Shadow Company to counter the threat.

Following this meeting, Shadow Company launched new assaults against Konni on Ashika Island and Building 21. They also discovered the presence of missile launchers belonging to Konni throughout Al Mazrah, and chemical weapons powerful enough to ravage Europe and the Middle East stockpiled under the Zaya Observatory.

On August 17th, 2023, Graves launched Operation Rogue Arsenal under the supervision of General Shepherd, and commandeered the Konni missile containers surrounding the Zaya Observatory, destroying it with a coordinated strike. Assaulting the facility's ruins, Shadow Company found a bunker and tunnels and succeeded in extracting gas canisters before the tunnels collapsed.

Unbeknownst to Shadow Company, Vladimir Makarov ordered several teams of Konni soldiers to disguise themselves with Shadow Company gear and infiltrate one of the helicopters that contains the gas. The team, comprised of Ivan Alexxeve and Andrei Nolan, was successful in killing all the Shadow Company contractors on board and securing the gas for Makarov.

Following the operation, Shadow Company continued to work with operators to find and secure the stolen gas, before Konni distributed them across the globe.

Renewed Strikes Against Konni[]

Operations in Urzikstan[]

On November 10th, 2023, a few hours after Konni operatives freed Vladimir Makarov from the Zordaya Prison Complex, Konni contractors assaulted the Urzikstan Port, where they secured missiles provided by Shadow Company to the Urzikstan Liberation Force. Commander Graves directed Farah Karim to place trackers on the missile container, allowing the ULF alongside Task Force 141 to later track them to an Atomgrad bunker in Urzikstan and assaulted it.

As the search for the gas continued with little success, Graves attended a telecom meeting between General Shepherd and Task Force 141, revealing his survival to the unit, much to the surprise and anger of Ghost and Soap due to their previous altercation in Mexico. Using intel gathered by Graves regarding Makarov's financer and her whereabouts, Shepherd managed to negotiate a temporary truce between Task Force 141 and Shadow Company.

On November 16th, 2023, Shadow Company sent supply via airdrop to aid Soap and Ghost, who were trying to prevent Konni Group from blowing up the Gora Dam, but the airdrop was shot down by Konni before it could reach Soap and Ghost's location.

Three hours later, following the success at Gora Dam, Graves launched a joint-operation with the ULF and Task Force 141, seeking to recover the stolen chemicals and kill Vladimir Makarov. The joint operation bore fruit, as the ULF and Task Force 141 secured the chemical gasses and Makarov being presumed E.K.I.A.

Operation Blazing Torch[]

On December 6th, 2023, Shadow Company launched Operation Blazing Torch, aimed at destroying Konni's footholds in Urzikstan with the help of operators from SpecGru and KorTac.

Destruction of Zaravan[]

Player Default BO3 "You're not real. None of this is!"
The subject matter of this article is non canon.

Following the launch of Operation Blazing Torch, even though, the operation saw its fair share of successes. Graves decided that it wasn't satisfactory and launched an operation to destroy Zaravan using a nuke. Graves would relay to operators regarding the whereabouts of the materials needed for the arming of the nuke.

After the operators had secured the materials and armed the nuke, Graves instructed them to defend it. As the nuke was just minutes away from exploding, the operators were extracted by Shadow Company. Right after the operators had got out of the city, the nuke exploded, destroying it.

When the operators returned to Shadow Company's base, Graves said: "Some wins are more important than others" and then rewarded the operators with medals.

Fortune's Keep[]

Following the occurrence of a seismic event in Fortune's Keep, Shadow Company learned of Konni's involvement on the island. As such, Graves launched an operation aimed at destroying Konni's forces alongside their base on the island.

Known Members[]

Name
Rank/Position
Status
Phillip Graves
CEO/Commander
Alive
Osmond "Oz" Ryan
Interim Commander (2022 - 2023)
Cyber Defense Division Lead
Alive
Marcus "Lerch" Ortega
Senior Officer
Alive
Velikan
Building 21 Site Commander (formerly)
Commander/Warden
Alive
Bombmaker
Ashika Island Site Commander (formerly)
Inactive
Dipaolo
Sergeant
K.I.A.
Spaulding
Sergeant
Unknown
Wimbush
Corporal
Unknown
Erikson
Contractor
K.I.A.
Vance
Contractor
K.I.A.
Shadow 3-1
Contractor
K.I.A.
Phantom 5-1
Contractor
K.I.A.
Phantom 5-2
Contractor
K.I.A.
Rozlin "Roze" Helms
Contractor
Alive
Shane Sparks
Contractor
Inactive
Shadow-1 TV Operator
Contractor
Alive
Arthur
Contractor
Alive
Mace
Contractor
Alive
Mila
Contractor
Alive
Shadow Gunner
Contractor
Alive

Allies[]

Arsenal[]

Shadow Company contractors utilize a variety of modern weapons on par with to more powerful than that of Task Force 141's arsenal, for other types of hardware such as vehicles, attack helicopters, C-17 Globemaster III, and many more.

Assault Rifles[]

Blueprints[]

  • AN-94 - "Company's Might" (MW) blueprint
  • AK-47 - "Black Cat" (MW) blueprint-only
  • CR-56 AMAX - "Shadow Realm" (MW) blueprint-only
  • TAQ-56 - "The Champ" (MWII), "Take Point" (MWII), "Caliburn" (MWII) blueprints
  • Lachmann-556 - "Shade Thrower" (MWII) blueprint
  • M13B - "Scyloxes" (MW) blueprint
  • M4 - "Abaddon" (MW), "King Hunter" (MWII) blueprints
  • Chimera - "Silver Tox" (MWII) blueprint
  • Kastov-74u - "Rule Breaker" (MWII) blueprint-only
  • Tempus Razorback - "En Passant" (MWII) blueprint-only
  • FR Avancer - "Grandmaster" (MWII), "Onyx Pitch" (MWII) blueprints
  • M13C - "Shrapnel" (MWII) blueprint-only

Battle Rifles[]

Blueprints[]

  • TAQ-V - "Black Adder" (MW), "Debt Collector" (MWII), "Raider" (MWII) blueprints

Submachine Guns[]

Blueprints[]

  • ISO 45 - "Bannaret" (MWII) blueprint
  • Lachmann Sub - "Banisher" (MW), "Sovereign's Blight" (MWII) blueprints
  • BAS-P - "Gloom and Doom" (MWII) blueprint
  • MX9 - "The Gallows" (MW) blueprint
  • Fennec 45 - "Dawn to Dusk" (MW), "Blackhail" (MWII), "Shadow Cheval" (MWII) blueprints

Light Machine Guns[]

Blueprints[]

  • Bruen Mk9 - "Trencher" (MW) blueprint
  • SA87 - "Cover of Night" (MW) blueprint-only

Sniper Rifles[]

Blueprints[]

  • HDR - "Fracas" (MW) blueprint
  • Signal 50 - "Rockslide" (MWII) blueprint
  • LA-B 330 - "Shadow Lance" (MWII) blueprint
  • MCPR-300 - "Sudden Death" (MWII) blueprint
  • Carrack .300 - "Breath Taker" (MWII) blueprint

Marksman Rifles[]

Blueprints[]

  • Kar98k - "Black Tie Affair" (MW) blueprint-only

Shotguns[]

Blueprints[]

  • Model 680 - "Excavator" (MW) blueprint-only
  • JAK-12 - "Ring of Fire" (MW) blueprint-only
  • Bryson 890 - "Caissa" (MWII) blueprint
  • MX Guardian - "Lucena" (MWII) / "Fragmentation" (MWII) blueprint-only

Handguns[]

Blueprints[]

  • Renetti - "Phantom Limb" (MW), "Anthia" (MW) blueprints-only
  • P890 - "Backup Plan" (MWII), "Queen's Guard" (MWII), "No Prisoners" (MWII) blueprints
  • X13 Auto - "Penumbra" (MWII) blueprint

Launchers[]

Grenades[]

Lethal[]

Tactical[]

Other[]

Vehicles[]

Gallery[]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare[]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II[]

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare III[]

Videos[]

Trivia[]

General[]

  • The black Rook chess piece prominently featured in Shadow Company’s logo is described by Marcus Ortega to be symbolic of Shadow Company's brute force and ability to operate in its own unique way, much like the Rook in chess.[3]
  • According to Phillip Graves, there is enough manpower within Shadow Company to invade an entire country.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare[]

  • A Shadow Company patch is featured on Mace's Tombstone and Metal Phantom outfits, despite his current affiliations with the Jackals. Similarly in Call of Duty: Vanguard, Khaled Al-Asad's Warlord skin features the logo of Shadow Company.
  • All Shadow Company operators will have black smoky clouds surrounding them while in pre-match lobbies.
  • There are no multiplayer maps in Call of Duty: Modern Warfare that feature Shadow Company units, even with maps that were released after the aforementioned organization was added.
  • Upon the initial release of Season Five, all Mil-Sim Shadow Company operators spoke with Russian accents. This was changed in an update to American accents.

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare II[]

  • According to dialogue in the mission "Alone", some Shadow Company soldiers were left uncertain of their betrayal to Task Force 141 and Los Vaqueros, though they only carried it out as Graves was the one who wrote their paychecks. Several of them also mention how physically intimidating Ghost is.
  • In DMZ, Shadow Company Agents do not have subtitles when speaking despite having voice lines, unlike Al-Qatala and Las Almas Cartel Agents.
    • Another case when capturing a SAM site or drilling a safe, the Light Helos would have Al-Qatala's paint job.
  • In Season Five, Shadow Company Agents were made friendly towards the players in Vondel and Ashika Island. However, if the player tried to deal damage to the Agents, they would receive a friendly fire warning. If the player continued to deal damage, the Agents would become hostile and target that specific player. Some Shadow Company Agents remained hostile, however, such as the Agents guarding the Scavenger on Ashika Island, as well as Velikan and late match Special Forces Agents in Building 21.
    • With Season Five Reloaded, Shadow Company was removed from Vondel but remained in Ashika Island and Building 21.
    • With Season Six Shadow Company was removed from Ashika Island but remained in Building 21.
  • The BLACKCELL patches worn by Shadow Company Special Forces share a similar design to the logo of BlackCell.

References[]

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