Possible reason for a new chapter?

[Daeghrefn]

http://wh40k.lexicanum.com/wiki/Black_Dragons

 

This article is short, but opens up some interesting possibilities. Normally the mechanicus would NEVER use gene seed from the 13th or 21st foundings, as these are both considered to be cursed and every chapter founded during both has either developed serious problems with mutation, gone rogue, or been destroyed through the worst sort of bad luck.

 

But this article points out that, despite the obvious problems with BD gene seed and their common mutations, every tithe they send in is clinically perfect. TOO perfect. So, the murky question of where this gene seed comes from occurs. There are several possibilities:

- Stolen from fallen space marines of other chapters

- 'found' in an ancient archeotech vault, perhaps lost by the mechanicus at some point

- It is actually BD gene seed, but purified in some way

- Actual unmodified BD gene seed, implying that their apothecaries are purposefully mutating the process in new recruits to produce the bony cc weapons

 

The last two options imply that the apothecaries are capable of controlling this mutation, but encourage it's growth regardless.

None of the possibilities I can think of off the top of my head would be at all permitted, and would certainly result in the chapter being declared rogue if they were found out.

 

 

So, finally coming to my point - what if a chapter were founded using Black Dragons gene seed in part to "see what happens"? Obviously the inquisition and everyone else would be eyeing them very closely. The gene seed itself is extremly pure, so there is little risk of baking up chaos marines. It could help to establish evidence either for or against the Black Dragons without having to launch a more direct investigation.

[RagingGriffon]

I doubt they would create a whole Chapter "to see what happens." I would imagine they would do "clinical trials" and create a few Marines on Mars to see what would happen.

[Ferrata]

Remember it is Lexicanum so I wouldn't believe everything that is wrote there. But for the sake of the argument lets say it is true.

So, finally coming to my point - what if a chapter were founded using Black Dragons gene seed in part to "see what happens"? Obviously the inquisition and everyone else would be eyeing them very closely. The gene seed itself is extremly pure, so there is little risk of baking up chaos marines. It could help to establish evidence either for or against the Black Dragons without having to launch a more direct investigation.

No, that is like playing with a nuclear weapon to see if little Timmy can catch. There is only 1000 Space Marine chapters, and whilst the AM have be known to play around to make better Astartes, they wouldn't waste a chapter to act as a simple court case material. Pure gene-seed doesn't relate to ability to fall to Chaos - even Ultramarines have fallen and they are the purest. Having mutated gene-seed means you are more likelt to get Imperial-hate, and therefore you flee to Chaos. The Black Dragons are horrible mutants, but at the moment there is little evidence and they are doing their jobs. The Imperium doesn't need to waste time creating a chapter to see what happens.

 

As to where this pure gene-seed comes from, yes, they are possible reasons for it. It could be possible that some other chapter is helping them out for whatever reason, or that they do have a batch of pure gene-seed that hasn't mutated. Maybe that is why they don't want to hand it over, they are slowly running out of time.

[Daeghrefn]

Sorry, I wasnt' totally clear in the first post. You guys are absolutely right, as this would not be the sole reason. What I should have said was that there is a pressing and legitimate reason to found a new chapter, and would it be possible that they would do so with the Black Dragons tithes to "kill two birds with one stone" and see how the new chapter performs?

 

In addition to being a loyal chapter it may shed some light on just where these genes are coming from. For example, if another chapter were complicit in tricking the Mechanicus, it could be revealed.

 

The same problems might still apply, I'm just not sure. How does that sound?

[StGene]

I like it. It gives us a legit background/inspiration for a DIY Chapter of our own.

[Blitzkreig]

You know there is always the possibility that the gene seed of a chapter founded with BD gene seed would turn out either completely normal (no mutation) or die off (wolf brothers), I mean the Space Wolves Gene Seed is incapable of turning people from planets other than Fenris into Astartes so maybe it functions the same with the BD Homeworld... Its a mutation caused by the local populace inherent genetics and not the gene seed per se.