History Main / LineInTheSand

** "Always looking for new and interesting ways to get killed."

* ''[[Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine Deep Space Nine]]''. During Worf's 'bachelor party', his human friends wrongly assume it will involve the usual Klingon carousing, but it's actually an ordeal of self-torture and sleep deprivation. Worf asks who's first to have his chest carved on by a wicked-looking knife, and Bashir is too dead on his feet to notice that his friends have taken a sudden step backwards, leaving him as the 'volunteer'.

** Played straight, for a wonder, in ''Discworld/NightWatch''. Commander Vimes, pretending to be Sergeant Keel, draws a line and asks who will defend the Watch House with him. Barely a dozen men cross, although of course he knew who would. He mentions that later accounts will claim no one left.

** In ''Discworld/AHatFullOfSky'', [[PunnyName Rob Anybody]] asked for volunteers for a mission that'd probably get everyone killed. [[ProudWarriorRaceGuy Every Feegle over the age of four automatically put his hand up.]]

* In ''VideoGame/FireEmblemSwordOfSeals'', Brenya, an enemy general of the now fallen Bern, tells this to all her troops. They all choose to stay. This in only in the secret chapters needed for the true ending.
* [[AFatherToHisMen Mustafa]] of ''VideoGame/FireEmblemAwakening''. After [[spoiler: Emmeryn's HeroicSacrifice]] many in King Gangrel's army come to doubt their cause in the war. Upon encountering the Shepherds, Mustafa announces that any man who no longer wishes to fight may leave without repercussions. All of his men choose to stay, feeling that loyalty to their commander is more important than misgivings about their purpose. For this reason, the ensuing battle is a massive PlayerPunch.

* The historical genesis of this trope is parodied in ''Film/VivaMax'', when General Maximillian, after somewhat successfully attempting to recapture the Alamo, draws a line and asks his men who want to give in to the local sheriff's orders to leave. Everyone stars to cross, but go back when Max's assistant--the only man in the company actually carrying ammo--points a gun at them.
** Later this turns into a SugarWiki/{{Heartwarming Moment|s}} when Max's men decide to stay of their own volition.

* A smaller scale version happens in ''Film/ThePatriot''. Right before the final battle, Dan and Occam and the rest of the American militia are facing down the superior British Army. Dan points out to Occam that he already served his required enlistment and that he could leave at any time. Occam confirms this [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments and decides to stay anyways so he can fight beside his comrades]].

--->'''Scotty''': [[SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments I'd be grateful, Admiral, if you'd give the word.]]
--->'''Kirk''': [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome Gentlemen... may the wind be at our backs. Stations, please.]]

* In the season 3 finale of ''Series/{{Merlin|2008}}'', Arthur sits Gwen, Merlin, Gaius, Elyan, Percival, Gwaine, Lancelot, and Leon down around a round table, tells them they're all equals, and asks if anyone will help him rescue his father. Despite the fact that most of them have good reason to hate Uther, they all join him without hesitation. Well, except Merlin, but that's just to squeeze in a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}.

* OlderThanFeudalism: Appears in the [[Literature/TheBible biblical]] Book of Judges, 7:3. God commands Gideon to issue two tests in order to thin out the ranks of the Israelite army so that it would be apparent that the victory was won by God's power, not simply superior military might. In addition to permitting those who were afraid to participate in the upcoming battle to leave, Gideon also observed how the soldiers drank from a river; those who knelt down to drink were sent home[[note]] Some scholars believe that this test was meant to single out those who were most alert and battle-ready; the soldiers who knelt would have been at a greater disadvantage should they have been ambushed at that point.[[/note]]. These two tests thinned the Israelite army down from 32,000 to a mere 300. Oh yeah, [[SugarWiki/MomentOfAwesome and they won too]].

* Before passing through the Betrayer's Gate in ''VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2,'' this is one of your options when dealing with your party members. Their reaction depends upon your Influence score with each of them, but the affirmative responses (especially from Gann or Safiya if you complete the romance subplot) are all SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments.

** [[spoiler:Captain Jurgen of the battleship Izumo, a major antagonist through most of the series, plays this trope in its most classic and literal sense when he learns about the true nature of Dewey's Project Ageha. His crew, of course, all joins him in the HeelFaceTurn.]]

* In ''Literature/TheDinosaurLords'', when Jaume sees that his Empire is slowly turning into a deranged dictatorship, he tells his men that he's going to try and set things right, but considering what they'll likely be asked to do, he will not hold it against them if they choose to leave - and in fact, releases them from their oaths, should they not go with him. Three opt out, but the rest remains.

* In the season 3 finale of ''Series/{{Merlin}}'', Arthur sits Gwen, Merlin, Gaius, Elyan, Percival, Gwaine, Lancelot, and Leon down around a round table, tells them they're all equals, and asks if anyone will help him rescue his father. Despite the fact that most of them have good reason to hate Uther, they all join him without hesitation. Well, except Merlin, but that's just to squeeze in a SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment|s}}.

--->'''Kirk''': My friends, I can't ask you to go any further. Dr. [=McCoy=] and I have to do this, [[OptOut the rest of you do not]].
--->'''Chekhov''': [[YouAreNotAlone Admiral, we're losing precious time!]]

* In the series finale of ''Series/StargateAtlantis'', Woolsey gives one of these to Ronon and Teyla. Doubles as a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming:

* Played straight in ''VideoGame/AdvanceWars 2'', in the Green Earth mission 'Sea Fortress'. You control Commander Eagle, who, [[MeaningfulName naturally]], has a strong airforce. However, the opposing CO this particular map foresaw this and [[GenreSavvy deployed heavy anti-air defences all over the place]]. Eagle gives his men the option to pull out of this potentially fatal mission if they wished, but all stayed out of loyalty. It kind of makes you feel bad during the unavoidable massacre of most of your forces afterwards.

Other times, it is more of a rhetorical RousingSpeech, as with Shakespeare's HenryV saying that anyone who's scared can leave because he doesn't want to die in the company of cowards.

* Before passing through the Betrayer's Gate in VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2, this is one of your options when dealing with your party members. Their reaction depends upon your Influence score with each of them, but the affirmative responses (especially from Gann or Safiya if you complete the romance subplot) are all SugarWiki/HeartwarmingMoments.

* In ''FireEmblem: Sword of Seals'', Brenya, an enemy general of the now fallen Bern, tells this to all her troops. They all choose to stay. This in only in the secret chapters needed for the true ending.

A SubTrope of OptOut. The villain occasionally gets a version, with the exception that anyone who opts out is ThrownFromTheZeppelin. And some soldiers, on either side, will just say "ScrewThisImOuttaHere," and leave without their general's permission.

* In ''Lightnovel/FullMetalPanic'' (the light novels and the manga, [[{{Spoiler}} not yet the anime]]), after [[spoiler:Amalgam all but annihilates Mithril, Tessa does a Line In The Sand speech to the CoolShip's crew, telling everyone who wants to leave to come up to the flight deck in two hours' time. No one takes the offer.]]

* Happened frequently in ComicBook/SecretSix. Given [[DeathSeeker the]] [[CloudCuckooLander character]] of much of the team, they rarely refused a mission. Although [[TagalongKid Black Alice]] notably quit the Six rather than going on a mission to Hell.

* ''WesternAnimation/{{Ratatouille}}'', when Linguini finally reveals the secret of his apparent ultracompetence as a chef, to the rest of the kitchen staff, just as they're getting ready to brave the critique of Antoine Ego, the most feared food-reviewer in Paris. He asks who will stand with him. They all leave. [[spoiler: The love-interest and TokenGirl comes back, though.]]

** Later this turns into a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming when Max's men decide to stay of their own volition.

--->'''Mal''': You all got on this boat for different reasons, but you all come to the same place. So now I’m asking more of you than I have before. Maybe all. Sure as I know anything, I know this: they will try again. Maybe on another world, maybe on this very ground swept clean. A year from now, ten, they'll swing back to the belief that [[spoiler: they can make people… better]]. And I do not hold to that. So no more running. '''I aim to misbehave.'''

* A smaller scale version happens in ''Film/ThePatriot''. Right before the final battle, Dan and Occam and the rest of the American militia are facing down the superior British Army. Dan points out to Occam that he already served his required enlistment and that he could leave at any time. Occam confirms this [[CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming and decides to stay anyways so he can fight beside his comrades]].

--->'''Kirk''': My friends, I can't ask you to go any further. Dr. [=McCoy=] and I have to do this, [[OptOut the rest of you do not.]]

--->'''Scotty''': [[CrowningMomentOfHeartWarming I'd be grateful, Admiral, if you'd give the word.]]
--->'''Kirk''': [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome Gentlemen... may the wind be at our backs. Stations, please.]]

* Discussed in a deleted scene from ''[[Film/ConanTheBarbarian1982 Conan the Barbarian]]'', just before the final battle:

'''Subotai:''' "No. [[YouCantFightFate It would only lead me back here another day]]. [[VitriolicBestBuds In even worse company]]."\\
'''Conan:''' "For us, there is no spring. [[AStormIsComing Just the wind that smells fresh before the storm]]."

* In ''[[Franchise/StarWarsExpandedUniverse Shatterpoint]]'', General Windu asks one of his higher-ranking clone troopers for the best pilots under his command, then changes his order and asks for volunteers, since it's one of those situations where hardly anyone's getting out alive. The trooper tells him that they'll all volunteer. It's [[CloningBlues what they're bred for.]]

* In the ''Series/StarTrekVoyager'' episode "The 37's", the crew find a planet that was colonized by 20th century humans who were [[AlienAbduction abducted]], and who defeated their captors. At the end of the episode, Capt. Janeway gives her crew the option of staying on the planet, or continuing their long, difficult journey back to Earth. When she time comes, everyone stays on Voyager.

* In the season 3 finale of ''Series/{{Merlin}}'', Arthur sits Gwen, Merlin, Gaius, Elyan, Percival, Gwaine, Lancelot, and Leon down around a round table, tells them they're all equals, and asks if anyone will help him rescue his father. Despite the fact that most of them have good reason to hate Uther, they all join him without hesitation. Well, except Merlin, but that's just to squeeze in a CrowningMomentOfFunny.

* OlderThanFeudalism: Appears in the [[Literature/TheBible biblical]] Book of Judges, 7:3. God commands Gideon to issue two tests in order to thin out the ranks of the Israelite army so that it would be apparent that the victory was won by God's power, not simply superior military might. In addition to permitting those who were afraid to participate in the upcoming battle to leave, Gideon also observed how the soldiers drank from a river; those who knelt down to drink were sent home[[note]] Some scholars believe that this test was meant to single out those who were most alert and battle-ready; the soldiers who knelt would have been at a greater disadvantage should they have been ambushed at that point.[[/note]]. These two tests thinned the Israelite army down from 32,000 to a mere 300. Oh yeah, [[CrowningMomentOfAwesome and they won too]].

* Creator/WilliamShakespeare's ''HenryV'' features Henry's rousing "St. Crispin's Day Speech," including the coining of the phrase, "band of brothers."

* Played straight, for a wonder, in the ''Literature/{{Discworld}}'' novel ''Discworld/NightWatch''. Commander Vimes, pretending to be Sergeant Keel, draws a line and asks who will defend the Watch House with him. Barely a dozen men cross, although of course he knew who would. He mentions that later accounts will claim no one left.

* Before passing through the Betrayer's Gate in VideoGame/NeverwinterNights2, this is one of your options when dealing with your party members. Their reaction depends upon your Influence score with each of them, but the affirmative responses (especially from Gann or Safiya if you complete the romance subplot) are all CrowningMomentsOfHeartwarming.
* Auron in VideoGame/FinalFantasyX gives a speech to this effect about three quarters through. It is also right before a nice juicy treble-boss fight.

** Later this turns into a CrowningMomentOfHeartwarming when Max's men decide to stay on their own volition.
* In the Japanese film ''Film/IchiTheKiller'', when heading into the final confrontation, the sadomachistic gang leader gives all of his henchmen the opportunity to back out. One of them takes him up on it, telling him that "it's time to hand back this sake cup we drank in friendship." The gangster responded by stabbing a spike through the henchman's foot and dragging him along anyway, spike and all. None of the other henchmen tried to leave.

** [[spoiler: Captain Jurgen of the battleship Izumo, a major antagonist through most of the series, plays this trope in its most classic and literal sense when he learns about the true nature of Dewey's Project Ageha. His crew, of course, all joins him in the HeelFaceTurn.]]

* In ''Lightnovel/FullMetalPanic'' (the light novels and the manga, [[{{Spoiler}} not yet the anime]]), after [[spoiler:Amalgam all but annihilates Mithril, Tessa does a LineInTheSand speech to the CoolShip's crew, telling everyone who wants to leave to come up to the flight deck in two hours' time. No one takes the offer.]]

* Invoked before the big battle of ''A Wizard Abroad'' in the YoungWizards series: Wizards from all over Ireland and Europe have converged to fight a major battle against the Lone Power's forces, and Johnny, the European Senior, gives them the "think about your dependents or pre-existing wizardly obligations and be absolutely sure you can do this before crossing" version, given that people being killed would be a certainty.

* In ''By the Sword'', a [[HeraldsOfValdemar Valdemar]] novel by MercedesLackey, the noble mercenary captain Kerowyn offers her company a vote: to stay and help the Valdemarans against overwhelming odds or to work their way to the edge of the fighting and try to escape. Every single member votes to stay.
* Played straight in the second book of ''ASongOfIceAndFire'', when Theon Greyjoy, preparing to make the LastStand in hostile territory, offers the choice to his men. 17 out of 20 stay.

* In WorldWarII, when officers asked for volunteers for kamikaze missions, the men were so eager that they had to resort to their own selection.
** That's not true. Most kamikazi pilots weren't volunteers. They were mostly young and inexperienced teens who could barely pilot an aircraft. There ''were'' units of Japanese schoolgirls assigned to give pilots one last comfort before they went into a battle against impossible odds. My college roomate's grandmother was one of those schoolgirls and, when I met her, she was quite aware of why Kyoto wasn't nuked.

->''A hundred and eighty were challenged by Travis to die\\

And over the line crossed a hundred and seventy-nine''