DISCLOSURE: I read Catch-22 for the second time just last week.

The idea of desertion popped into my mind from reading Catch-22, and it got me wondering. How would a guardsman desert from PDF or Imperial Guard service on a Hive Planet being riddled with Chaos Cultists? How would you desert if you were a guardsman on that Hive Planet?

There are going to be factors in behavior, of course. Level of indoctrination, origin world, and availability of good officers. (military and political) But assuming that a Guardsman or PDF Trooper is determined to escape from his regiment and their control…how would he/she? I have a handful of ideas, but I would appreciate a few other perspectives.

One idea is to have the guardsman kidnapp someone of a similar build, dress the person in the guardman's clothing and armor and then kill and mutilat the corpse beyond recognition. By leaving some identifications on the corpse the next patrol will probably attribute the murder to the Chaos cultists without investigating much further and simply report the soldier as dead. Then the soldier can probably make his escape unmolested.

That's horrendous!

The problem with desertion, especially on a world contested by chaos cultist, is that the alternative of the Guards is likely MUCH, MUCH worse! I'd say Ghurkal's on the right track, and anyone wanting to leave the "relative" safety of the army better be ready to sink to new and depraved lows to match up with his surroundings and their chaotic inhabitants lest the be devoured as a very small fish in a very big pond.

Sneaking out in the middle of fight, faking you're death in the middle of the fight- and generally abusing of a fight's chaotic nature would be the best time for a guardsman to sneak out.

If he manages to gather up a group, then escaping when most or all of them are responsible for the watch would be another option. Volunteering for scouting missions and getting lost on the way back could be a good idea- assuming the scouts are all dead or that they even taking volunteers.

Faking insanity and/or injury are not good ideas, and are likely to get you shot… more so for the insanity.