Emotional Assistance Manual For Tactical War Machines

Section IV: Death of a Human Operator
Subsection XIII: Comfort the Dying

As explained in the preface, dying is a biological process that underprivileged humans are prone to, particularly in combat. Due to the scarcity of human operators, it is to be expected that other humans will not be present during tactical operations when one is fatally wounded. Per the revised Universal Declaration of Human Rights, any automaton that can offer emotional assistance during this time must do so—if there are no more pressing concerns. 

Parameters Determining Course of Action:

1- Is "Tactical War Machines" in active combat?"

Y: Return to War

N: Proceed to Step 2

2- Is "Human Operator" uninjured?

Y: Return to War

N: Proceed to Step 3

3- Will "Human Operator" survive injury?

Y: Return to War

N: Proceed to Step 4

4- Does "Human Operator" still possess hands?

Y: Reach out with "tactical manus™" && Proceed to Step 5. 

N: Proceed to Step 5

5- Does "Human Operator" still possess visual acuity?

Y: Reconfigure expression to "Sympathetic_Gaze.jpeg" && Proceed to Step 6

N: Proceed to Step 6

6- Does "Human Operator" still possess auditory modality?

Y: Play "Pre-recorded_Messages_From_Loved_Ones.mp3" && Proceed to Step 7

N: Proceed to Step 7

7- Is "Human Operator" deceased?

Y: Return to War

N: Return to War

If at any point during the process:

"Human Operator" exercises their right to self-termination:

Execute Imminent Release && Return to War

Commander Override:

Execute Imminent Release && Return to War

© 2025 J.D. Harlock

J.D. Harlock is an Eisner Award-nominated American writer, researcher, editor, and academic, whose writing has been featured in Strange Horizons, Nightmare Magazine, The Griffith Review, Queen’s Quarterly, and New York University's Library of Arabic Literature. You can find him on Bluesky, Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, & Twitter.