Tags

In the service dog-tags are usually issued in pairs. If a service member is killed in the field and the body can't be immediately retrieved for some reason, then you take one of the tags back to a commanding officer to report the death, but leave the other tag on the body. Or, at least, that's the old system. Honestly, in my service before USEC bodies simply weren't left in the field, so it was a non-issue. Also there were ZAP cards (aka kill cards) in pockets, sewn into the uniform, in the helmet lining, etc.  Plenty of ways of identifying a casualty.

If a body had only one dog tag, it wasn't supposed to be taken. It remained with the body to identify it.  There was probably some regulation about it. But, again, not anything I ever dealt with, because we didn't leave bodies behind, ever.  Nobody touched anybody's tags. 

When I joined USEC, a private company, they issued us tags. But, like most things USEC, it was just for show - to impress a customer or a prospect, not for any real purpose. "Military Lite".  The tags USEC issued weren't in pairs - there was just the one.  A tag, not tags. 

Here in Tarkov, things are upside down.  I killed some Scavs that were looting a body of an USEC member not so long ago.  No one is coming for him, his body is not going home. I took his tag. Out of respect, you know - the one thing of his I could keep from falling into the hands of vultures. But it's not like I can do anything with it - can't exactly mail it back to his mom. 

When I killed the Fly King, I took his tag too. As a trophy. No better than the Scavs.  

I went to visit Elvira again, to drop off the one salewa I have managed to find.  I was a little embarrassed sliding one half spent salewa over the counter to her instead of the three I promised, but she accepted it graciously and struck up conversation.

"So I heard you killed the Fly King?", she asked.  

"Uh, yeah. Awhile ago."

"Do you have his dog tag?" - I wasn't expecting that question, and I wasn't sure how to answer. I stalled.

"Ummm."

"You know, I'll pay you for it.  I'll give you ten thousand rubles." 

"Why? Why do you want his tag?"

"It's not just him. I'll pay for any tags you bring in."

"So, if someone brought in my tag, you'd pay them ten thousand rubles?"

"For your tag? Ha, not likely! - Maybe eight hundred."   - Ouch!

"Why do you want these tags? What do you do with them?"

"That's my business. Do you want the ten thousand or not?" - her voice icy cold

"I'll think about it." I said, and I beat a hasty retreat.

What the hell is going on? Who is paying these bounties and why? I need to get out of here.