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Basically can the fluff allows a heretical chapter (Renegade but not affiliated to Chaos), lost in some undiscovered feral world and putting a strong emphasis on technological and scientific research ? Maybe some techpriests were strongly opposed to the Imperium's Machine Cult and wanted to find a modern approach to technology.

Sure it would take time for such a chapter to build all the required facilities on said feral world and make a society, but as long as the Imperium doesn't know about it, could it be possible ?

I wouldn't think so due to the amount of technology and industry required for just current scientific equipment, and there's a reason technological and scientific research is generally banned/tightly controlled - it almost always leads to Chaos.

Stop searching for a space marine chapter and start looking for a rogue trader, an not so orthodox explorator fleet or read up on adept zeth (who is long dead now).

Perhaps a rogue Mechanicus faction, Inquisitor, or Rogue Trader.

Space Marines are too brainwashed, really.

A rogue Mechanicus faction would be fine. I want them to salvage and retro-engineer Tau weapons and armors. Just imagine the efficiency of said weapons/armors combined with the gothic design of the Imperium.

I think I'm drooling.

The standard Fire Warrior is in an armor comparable to carapace. It's not that fancy.

Tbh I think it's quite possible for a Chapter to secretly operate a hidden planetary base (there are millions of undiscovered nooks and crannies in the Imperium, or just off the beaten warp path).

Hell, they could still operate within the bounds of the Imperium - respond to distress calls, requisition supplies from the Admech etc.

Over a few centuries they could slowly requisition what they need to make their secret base self-sufficient. They could even increase their numbers above Codex-norm... so apparently they have 1k marines operating for the good of the Imperium and have a 'science division' of about 1k marines hidden on their base and operating on their own missions.

Fluff-wise I'd say it's doable though it would be more probable with a Rogue Trader or splinter-group of the Admech.

 Psienesis wrote:
The standard Fire Warrior is in an armor comparable to carapace. It's not that fancy.

Wasn't talking of Fire Warriors' suits

I think it's possible.
There are a lot of hidden/secret base in the Imperium, built, for example, by the Alpha Legion.
So, if some chaos marines can, why not yours ?
Moreover, you just have to say your chapter had ties with the Mechanicus, there was a schism in the Mechanicus involving your chapter (there shared the heretical believe) so it was outcast and flee (fled ?) with some of the magii who had the same beliefs.
And this is why they have a base with scientific stuff, and why it is secret.
There are example in the fluff of little schisms, just on one planet for some, and at least one example of Space Marine chapter involved in Mechanicus schim.

Can be very interesting if you maKe it into a true tabletop force, with some Dark Mechanicum stuff and all.

 godardc wrote:
I think it's possible.
There are a lot of hidden/secret base in the Imperium, built, for example, by the Alpha Legion.
So, if some chaos marines can, why not yours ?
Moreover, you just have to say your chapter had ties with the Mechanicus, there was a schism in the Mechanicus involving your chapter (there shared the heretical believe) so it was outcast and flee (fled ?) with some of the magii who had the same beliefs.
And this is why they have a base with scientific stuff, and why it is secret.
There are example in the fluff of little schisms, just on one planet for some, and at least one example of Space Marine chapter involved in Mechanicus schim.

Can be very interesting if you maKe it into a true tabletop force, with some Dark Mechanicum stuff and all.

I'm way more interested in the lore and all the background stuff, but why not ?
I think they rarely would use Xeno weaponry in large scale battles, especially when other chapters are present, to avoid drawing unwanted attention. Combat-wise, they would probably use a lot of sharpshooters, taking advantage of the devastating power of Tau weapons. They would probably be specialized in getting "clean" kills, leaving most of the enemy stuff salvageable. I don't think the chapter would have many Astartes on the field, maybe several hundreds at most.
Lore-wise, they may come from the Iron Hands legion.