History Main / LethallyExpensive

[[folder:Web Comics]]
* Parodied in ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'' when Mon Mothma (who is a ValleyGirl for some reason) says "Our best spy, Wedge, died to bring us this information." Wedge points out that actually, he didn't and she replies "Oh! Wedge, I totally didn't recognize you. Love your hair."
[[/folder]]

* PlayedForLaughs in the ''Series/SaturdayNightLive'' skit [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wphCxNUpLwg&ab_channel=SaturdayNightLive The Chosen One]]. The Chosen One is the IdiotHero Chad; to highlight how dumb and careless he is, seconds after someone gives him a map that thousands of Centauri died for, he lets it slip through his fingers. And everybody inexplicably thinks that he is a mighty, charismatic warrior.

[[folder: Literature]]

* ''Series/{{Sharpe}}'s Eagle'': In one of the best-known scenes in the miniseries (which can be viewed [[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nuQhvoHXcys here]]), Colonel Sir Henry Simmerson has been summoned to the Duke of Wellington's office to account for a ''colossal'' screw-up which led to the South Essex regiment's colours being captured along with a lot of men getting killed for no good purpose. Simmerson's after-action report consists of BlatantLies and shameless attempts to deflect blame, to the Duke's visibly growing annoyance, until he finally brings up the matter of losing the colours...
--> '''Simmerson''': "[[NeverMyFault The fault was not mine, sir.]] Major Lennox should answer-"
--> '''Wellington''': (finally reaching his RageBreakingPoint) "Major Lennox answered with his ''life!'' As you should, if you had any sense of honour!"

* ''Film/UnderTenFlags''. Admiral Russell isn't happy about the lack of progress by British intelligence in getting hold of a German naval code. When informed that an attempt lead to two Germans being hanged, he quips, "Well that's somethingg. llhanges when he's told about a [[MenAreTheExpendableGender female British spy being shot.]]

* While not exactly information useful at the time, [[http://www.strangemilitary.com/images/content/128148.jpg this image]] was taken when a Japanese bomb hit the deck of the USS Enterprise (CV-6). The Navy Photographer that took the photo was killed in the explosion, but the camera and film survived, and can now be seen in many history books on UsefulNotes/WorldWarII, particularly during the Battle of the Solomons.

* ''Creator/ChristopherWalken'''s butt-smuggled wristwatch from ''Film/PulpFiction''.

* Christopher Walken's butt-smuggled wristwatch from ''Film/PulpFiction''.

The importance of a piece of new information is underscored by relating the loss of life incurred to bring it to light. Compare ApocalypticLog and ThatWasTheLastEntry for the initial ''discovery'' of records left by doomed informants.

* In ''Series/StarTrekDeepSpaceNine'', Sisko and Garak hatch a plan to bring the Romulans into the war against the Dominion. One of Garak's contacts forges a data rod showing the Dominion leaders planning to invade Romulus, and Garak suggests Sisko tell the ambassador people died retrieving the data. [[spoiler: The ambassador sees through the forgery, but Garak assassinates him and implicates the Dominion, which was his back-up plan the whole time.]]

-->'''White House Staffer #1:''' This footage was assembled from souces operating under cover at great risk.\\

[[folder: Comic Books ]]

* In ''DC Special'' #29, the origin of the ComicBook/JusticeSocietyOfAmerica, a British agent tells [[UsefulNotes/FranklinDRoosevelt the President]]: "We have received information--very ''reliable information'', obtained at the cost of many lives--and it is now ''clear'' that [[UsefulNotes/AdolfHitler Hitler]] plans to ''invade England''--within weeks!"

[[folder: Film: Live Action ]]

* ''Franchise/StarWars''

** ''Film/RogueOne'' shows that the first Death Star's plans were also costly to get, with all of the eponymous team giving their lives to give it to the rebellion.

-->'''White House Staffer #1:''' This footage was assembled from souces operating under cover at great risk.
-->'''White House Staffer #2:''' ''Very'' great.
-->'''White House Staffer #1:''' We're fortunate this material didn't perish... with a couple of men.

[[folder: Live Action TV ]]

-->'''Sheridan:''' "...willing to fight for it, willing to..." (he can't bring himself to say "die" in front of the very man he is ordering to his death)

[[folder: Video Games ]]

[[folder: Webcomics ]]

* Parodied in ''Webcomic/DarthsAndDroids'' when Mon Mothma (who is a ValleyGirl for some reason) says "Our best spy, Wedge, died to bring us this information". Wedge points out that actually, he didn't and she replies "Oh! Wedge, I totally didn't recognise you. Love your hair."

[[folder: Real Life ]]

* ''Franchise/StarWars

* The page quote comes from ''Film/ReturnOfTheJedi'', when Rebel leader Mon Mothma points out many Bothan spies had died to bring the information during the briefing for the Battle of Endor. [[spoiler:And only succeeded because the Emperor allowed it, or so he says.]]

* Happens in ''TheRightStuff'', while the two White House staffers are showing the film of the Soviet space program.