Line #40 Heartwarming/SchlockMercenary


1	The tale of a band of gravity-cannons-for-hire traveling the galaxy to meet fascinating life-forms and kill them ... and there are still those moments which make us go ''awwww!''
2	----
3	* AFatherToHisMen is putting it mildly when one refers to [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2007-12-17 Kaff]] [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2007-12-18 Tagon]].
4	** Another example (which overlaps with SugarWiki/{{Funny Moment\|s}}) is his advice to a trooper reluctantly leaving the company. Tagon tells the grunt that he can turn in his body armor and issued weapons (which would be worth a lot of money to the company), and advises him to go live a long life where nobody shoots at him. The grunt mentions that he's going back to Earth space (which has not been a friendly place for the Toughs). After a beat, Tagon corrects his earlier statement.
5	---> '''Tagon''': Keep the weapons and one set of armor. If someone shoots at you, ''shoot back''.
6	** [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2016-11-25 And then there was this.]] (link contains big dumb spoilers for ''Big Dumb Objects'')
7	** [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2007-12-17 When faced with having seconds until certain death, Tagon tried to ensure that his men died happy.]]
8	** Schlock is separated from the rest of the Toughs [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2019-11-23 and Cindy was very limited on what aid she could send]].
9	---> '''Tagon:''' He's out there alone, and he knows nothing.
10	---> '''Cindy:''' Incorrect. He knows [=YOU=], sir. That means he knows you'll come for him.
11	** Tagon [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-11-21 places his absolute trust in Schlock]], who's not only the only person in his company ''without'' something to gain by lying, but is also a true friend.
12	---> '''Petey:''' I know I've hit a rough patch when a violent, amorphous sociopath is my best character reference.
13	---> '''Tagon:''' He's the only reference I'll trust. What's that say about '''me'''?
14	* Hob, the first demolitions man of the Toughs sacrifices himself to save both his friends and a group of Amorphs. [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2002-03-31 He gets buried in the soil where the new Eye trees are planted.]]
15	** Later the Amorphs give the [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2012-04-18 tree to Schlock]] (although it's not clear if he makes the connection or not).
16	** When Elf and her skeleton crew [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2015-03-01 abandon the Neosynchronicity]] the only thing they take the time to take with them is Schlock's eye-tree. It's not clear if they're doing this because they know how much difficulty Schlock would have replacing it or because they have made the connection between it and Hob but either way it's a heartwarming gesture.
17	* [[https://schlockmercenary.com/2010-06-18 This strip]], where Liz asks Nick the right question.
18	** [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-06-25 And later...]]
19	* After Brad detonates his disabled tank to keep it from causing thousands of deaths, [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20090301.html they erect a 25-foot tall statue of him in a Credomarian park.]]
20	-->'''Lota:''' "King Lota thinks it is a little too big."
21	-->'''Schlock''': "Brad's best friend thinks it's almost big enough."
22	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20090829.html Schlock himself demonstrates]] the [[InvertedTrope other side]] of the DescriptionCut.
23	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/d/20100620.html "What if, for at least the next couple of weeks, we put all our life-or-death expertise and energy into building something wonderful... something that will outlast our stay here?"]]
24	* "Playing [[LadyOfWar Goddess of War]] and protecting the most beautiful bald head in the universe is supposed to be '''my''' job. [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2009-02-27 Thanks for standing in for me.]]"
25	* Sergeant Schlock demonstrates his friendship and loyalty [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2002-08-04 here]]...[[spoiler:which is quickly [[SubvertedTrope subverted]]]] .
26	* Tailor gets one partway through [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-09-12 this]] comic that is passed by pretty rapidly but really highlights his growing character and loyalty past just his duty.
27	-->"My captain needs me to be something I'm not."
28	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-11-21 The truth of the Toughs' mindwipe finally coming out]], and Tagon's total trust in "amorphous psychopath" Schlock's verification.
29	** The comic in general has a twisted sort of heartwarmingness about it; in spite of being about a group of scruple-deficient mercenaries, as the above-linked strip shows, friendship actually plays a big part and is sometimes the only thing the Toughs can really rely on. They may not be able to trust the person paying their commission and the guy with the altruistic motive for being on their side is almost certainly up to something, but they know damn sure they can rely on their friends.
30	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2008-11-01 SNAP!]]
31	* One for the entire universe: The footnote that describes inertiics mentions that inertiic engineers get free passage ''anywhere'' out of appreciation for the fact that their skills save thousands of lives daily.
32	* Petey not only was happy to host Theo and Bunni's wedding, but he went to exceptional lengths to make sure it was the ''perfect'' wedding. For a god-koala-AI, he still looks after and cares for his friends.
33	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2010-11-17 You... You and your... robots.]] [[spoiler:You saved my life a lot of times.]]
34	** What makes it even better is their expressions. Tagon looks like a [[SoProudOfYou proud father]], and Para has a [[PuppyDogEyes dewey-eyed]] smile on her face.
35	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2012-12-25 Um]]...You know what? Now is a great time.
36	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2011-05-19 I had to be sure. I had to be absolutely sure.]] Schlock can smell/taste with his whole body, but his friends are more important.
37	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2014-06-01 What Ennesby tells Elf when she's unhappy with being left behind to care for the ship during the Dom Atlantis mission.]]
38	-->'''Ennesby:''' Murtaugh doesn't stroke people. She only comes straight out with complements when she's manipulating somebody who didn't deserve the compliment in the first place. [...] Her leaving you here to "babysit the ship?" She trust you implicitly.
39	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2013-06-09 All alien to each other, huh?]]
40	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2014-12-06 The Neoafans' reason]] for being so generous about giving the galactic community {{Immortality}}
41	-->"[[BlessedWithSuck Longevity is a curse]] [[MayflyDecemberFriendship if one has no friends]] [[WhoWantsToLiveForever with whom to share it]]."
42	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2004-08-28 Petey's return]] is beautiful, and any reader who isn't as overjoyed as Tagon clearly hasn't been reading closely enough.
43	--> '''Ennesby:''' It's a shame there's no video feed, Petey. You're missing Tagon doing his happy dance.
44	* [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2014-03-15 I thought you were going to say "but stay out of my business."]]
45	--> '''Out?''' This company needs a seasoned senior officer. And, you know, [[spoiler:"Commodore Tagon" ''does'' have a nice ring to it]].
46	* A major subplot of Book 15 concerns Schlock having difficulty adapting to Murtaugh's command, and their developing respect for each other. This culminates in these two remarks, both of which earn a heartfelt, touched smile.
47	--> '''Murtaugh:''' [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2015-03-25 You're already ''my'' talking gun]].
48	--> '''Schlock:''' [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2015-03-29 I knew you'd come through. You're the Captain.]]
49	* Captain Landon reunites with the newly-revived Murtaugh, having believed he acted too slowly to save her from a bomb.
50	--> '''Cpt. Landon:''' [[IShouldHaveBeenBetter I should have been faster.]]
51	--> '''Cpt. Murtaugh:''' [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2015-06-20 Your reflexes are just fine.]]
52	* When the Ot-Skadak crewmembers Phil and Ares are KIA, Captain Tagon [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2017-09-17 arranges to meet with Akkro-Afka, their mother,]] for the courtesy of [[DuetoTheDead delivering their death notice in person]]. The catch is that the Ot-Skadak are a HiveMind of InsectoidAliens, and their "mother" is a particularly large node that represents the Hive Mind itself. Yet Akkro-Afka utterly subverts the normal trappings of the HiveQueen trope with a kind demeanor and sincere gratitude. Despite Phil and Ares being an extension of themselves, Akkro-Afka treats them as individuals and appreciates the death notice despite, presumably, being aware of it the moment the two went offline.
53	--> '''Tagon:''' Your... sons? Do you call them that?
54	--> '''[[HiveQueen Akkro-Afka]]:''' I... I like that word.
55	--> '''Tagon:''' Your sons died honorably in defense of their client, comrades, and company. [[HeroicSacrifice They died defending you]]. Full details are in this unredacted report.
56	--> '''Akkro-Afka:''' Thank you, Captain Kaff Tagon, for seeing to this personally. And thank you for allowing me to serve through my... My sons. Yes. I do like that word.
57	** She's also eager to hear Schlock's rather more colorful recounting of the battle.
58	* A minor one during Big Dumb Objects, where Para [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2016-06-07 gets angry]] at Gasca for being mean to Elf.
59	* Kevyn trying to [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2017-12-10 apologize]] for being a jerk earlier in the storyline. He doesn't know how to express himself, but it's too important to him to give up.
60	* Elf telling Schlock that it is [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2017-12-17 okay for a good sergeant to be happy with new equipment]].
61	* It doesn't matter what Tarpaulin is fighting, [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2018-04-21 he will not have to fight it alone]].
62	* Elf realizing how important the Relics taken from the Fobott'r by the UPA were, despite not being one herself, and deliberately having reduced the amount of ammo she had just to hold onto them.
63	--> '''Greatmother Kathlumira:''' Commander Foxworthy, You will be remembered as a hero for this.
64	** [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2018-08-12 Explained Further]]: "Non-Fobott'r who perform heroic acts of service to the Fobott'r people are occasionally granted "honorary Ondrophol" status, allowing them to purchase property as if they were natives, rather than rent it or bring it with them. When people tell Elf that it's "a huge honor" they're misspeaking. It's not huge. It's rare. The number of living honorary Ondrophol can be counted on one hand.\
65	\
66	One Fobott'r hand. And in this case you won't need the thumb."\
67	[And a Fobott'r hand has, including the thumb, [[spoiler: three fingers]].]
68	* Basically everything involving Gugro, [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2018-06-17 when she gets going]]. [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2018-07-20 There's a reason she's chosen to be a clan mother]].
69	-->'''Gugro:''' Tailor! Some of these Uuplechans don't have clothing. My coat can be made to cover at least three of them.\
70	'''Tailor:''' Marshal, you said this was a family heirloom.\
71	'''Gugro:''' ''These'' people are my family now.
72	* After a disastrous first meeting between the Iafa and Yaeyoefui, Captains Sorlie and Landon go off in a desperate mission to stop what appears to be a guilt-ridden suicide attempt by the latter. It turns out he'd actually calmed down pretty quickly, reconciled with Iafa off-screen, and what the two were really doing was trying to use an isolated area to undo some of the damage Iafa caused by [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2020-01-05 safely resurrecting Chinook]].
73	* Sergeant Schlock never abandons his friends. [[https://www.schlockmercenary.com/2020-05-17 Even if said friend is just his fragsuit's personality overlay]].
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Context Heartwarming / SchlockMercenary