Now that that that's out of the way I guess it's time to share with you the hardest letter I've ever had to write in my life. I hope you have some Kleenex handy.
From: WO Steven Wisdom, 4th Special VT Troop - Hai Shi Dao Forces
Dear Mrs. Kricket,
It is with a heavy heart I write to you to inform you of the death of your husband, Sgt. Major Kricket (TOTFC). He died during the battle of the Yu Jai Woodlands on April 13, 2004. It is never easy to lose a brother-in-arms in combat, but I'm sure that pales in comparison to the loss you must feel. Your husband was a valued member of our armed forces. His jovial presence kept our morale up even in the face of overwhelming opposition. He was a skilled VT piolt and will be sorely missed by all that knew him.
It is with even more regret that I must explain to you how your husband was lost to us in combat. I feel the fault lies with myself, your husband, and...your mother. You see during the intense battle with PRF forces, I received a transmission from your husband stating he needed to "Pick up his mother-in-law." At first I thought this was one of his jokes or perhaps a code phrase for picking up an enemy target that is separated from its group. But he stated that he really did need to leave to pick up his mother-in-law. He stated that he was prepared to eject and leave the field, but under the circumstances we needed him to stay in the fight because we needed all the help we could get. I then asked your husband to park his Vortex in our primary base until he could return and take up the fight again. At the time we knew we would be able to defend him until his treturn. This was my mistake. I should have let him eject and leave becuase what happened next could have been avoided.
Perhaps at the time my orders may not have been clear to him. It is possible he was listening to music that was too loud or he had taken one too many blows to the head from his friend Aaron, but rather than hearing me say, "Park your VT in our base.", he heard, "Park your VT on a hill...in the open...with this red bullseye on your ass." I'm afraid he carried out the latter order. I commented to our squad mate Monyea, "Where the fuc% is he going?" I watched as his VT stood on that hill like a shining beacon of the Hai Shi Dao Forces...and was then promptly destroyed by two High-Velocity Missiles. Monyea and I went on to win the day for Hai Shi Dao, but it was a hollow victory (actually we mad some mad cash on that mission so it was all good).
But your husband did not die in vain. Now whenever we see a new recruit head for the top of a hill to get a better view of the field all that we are required to say is "TOTFC" as the order to not advance up the hill if he wants to continue breathing. Even in death he continues to help us in our struggle. You should be proud of him...I think.
Sincerely,
WO Steven Wisdom, 4th Special VT Troop - Hai Shi Dao Forces