History Main / DangerousDeserter

* A variation on this trope is in ''AvatarTheLastAirbender'': Jeong Jeong, a Firebending master, deserted from the Fire Nation army, as he was disgusted with what Firebending had become. He acts as Aang's first master, giving him a lesson in the many ways Firebending can go wrong.

* Averted in ''[[VorkosiganSaga The Warrior's Apprentice]]'' by {{Lois McMaster Bujold}} with Baz Jesek. He is never asked what he did or why he deserted and, despite interacting with active duty military personnel, is never forced back or faces any charges. Despite him deserting in the heat, which carries an automatic death sentence, the charges against him are eventually dismissed.

** The later includes [[spoiler:m Atton Rand]],although he does a [[PsychicStatic pretty good job of]] [[StepfordSmiler hiding it]] for most of the game.

* From personal experience; deserters in peacetime in the UK's RAF were ignored. When they turned up again (they usually gave themselves up to the police), they were put in military prison for 'not turning up for work' (usually only a few days extra duties), then discharged from the RAF with loss of back pay and reported to the civilian police as deserters. UK police have wide discretionary powers, depending on how the deserter has behaved while 'out'. All of this was explained exhaustively to new recruits, some of whom desert immediately. I guess it rids the armed forces of the really stupid ones.

* In the original ''StarshipTroopers'' book, the government makes no effort to catch people who desert from Basic Training. Since the military forces are all volunteers, they figure there's no point, although some people decide they can't live with the guilt and eventually turn themselves in. If they do, they're just given 50 lashes and turned loose (with no prospect of citizenship, but no worse off than if they never enlisted at all). Nevertheless, one is caught and hanged because he raped and murdered a little girl, because the Mobile Infantry takes care of their own.

** On the other hand, "Desertion in the face of the enemy" ''is'' a capital offense, as it is in many military forces today.

There are a few sympathetic deserters out there, usually having [[MookFaceTurn left a villain's army]] which they had no choice about joining, but they are not this trope. The DangerousDeserter is hardened, desperate, and, well, ''[[ExactlyWhatItSaysOnTheTin dangerous]]''.

* ''GoneWithTheWind'' had that Union deserter who[[spoiler:m Scarlett shot in the face]].

* ''GoneWithTheWind'' had that Union deserter who[[spoiler:m Scarlet shot in the face]].

* One sidequest in ''DragonAge'' involves tracking down a trio of deserters from a mercenary group known as the Blackstone Irregulars, who stole valuable materials from the mercenary company. In a twist,t he mercenaries don't want to punish the deserters (though they don't care if you kill them) they just want their property returned. All three deserters attack the player immediately upon identifying who they represent, even if they're just trying to peacefully recover the supplies.

* In an issue of the ''Infinity Inc.'' comic, a Doctor Midnight (a black woman) is captured and [[AttemptedRape almost raped]] by a group of [[FishOutOfTemporalWater time-tossed]] deserters from the Confederate Army (it is made clear that they were already deserters before they got lost in time).

* ''Rogue Trooper'' will help out his former comrades in the Southern Army when it suits him, but good luck trying to arrest him for desertion.

* GoneWithTheWind had that Union deserter who[[spoiler:m Scarlet shot in the face]].

* An small army of these crops up in at least of the TV version of {{Sharpe}}, made up from soldiers of all sides including Sharpe's nemesis Obadaiah Hakeswill.

* In {{Fable}} 3 deserters from [[TheCaligula Logan's]] army take the place of the previous game's bandits.

** The later includes [[spoilers:m Atton Rand,]] although he does a [[PsychicStatic pretty good job of]] [[StepfordSmiler hiding it]] for most of the game.

** The later includes [[spoilers: Atton Rand,]] although he does a [[PsychicStatic pretty good job of]] [[StepfordSmiler hiding it]] for most of the game.

** The later includes [[spoilers:Atton Rand,]] although he does a [[PsychicStatic pretty good job of]] [[StepfordSmiler hiding it]] for most of the game.

* Several of the hired guns in ''KnightsOfTheOldRepublic'', especially the sequel, were deserters from one side or the other ([[HeelFaceRevolvingDoor sometimes more than one]]). Most are just PunchClockVillains but some, especially those who were former Sith officers, could be [[AxeCrazy downright sadistic]].

* The Russian-soldiers-turned-looters-turned-SS-informers who provide Hannibal Lector with his [[Discontinuity controversial]] FreudianExcuse in ''HannibalRising''.

* Used in ''[[VorkosiganSaga The Warrior's Apprentice]]'' by {{Lois McMaster Bujold}}.

* Used in ''Warrior's Apprentice'' by {{Lois McMaster Bujold}}.

** Also averted and totally deconstructed with septon Meribald. Wanting to live isn't a bad thing, you know.

[[AC:WesterAnimation]]

*** Actually the same chapter mentions what appears to be Soul Society's equivalent of an honourable discharge [[http://www.onemanga.com/Bleach/315.03/12/ on this page]]

* ''MountAndBlade'' has these in spades. From a technical point of view, they are very similar to regular groups of bandits, but are often far more numerous and better equipped. They can be a DemonicSpiders style threat early in the game, but become less intimidating after the player levels up considerably and creates his party.