Editing Obstinate Marines (section)

== Origins ==

The origins of the Obstinate Marines are shrouded in mystery. They themselves have never stopped to explain themselves to anyone - be they brother marine, angry Inquisitor or heretic. What records exist are written by other chapters, imperial forces and heretics in an attempt to explain their origins. 

The earliest record of the Obstinate Marines comes from the years immediately following the great crusade, designated without mention of origins as "Chapter 1298". The record itself has no author listed, no elaboration. Merely mentioning that a large Heresy era chapter with that designation did indeed exist, maintaining a full strength of 10000 marines. It was listed as crusading at the edge of the galaxy. 

The first mention of their chapter master, "Captain Obstinatus of Astarte Chapter #1298" comes from an M33 log written by a Blood Angel sergeant and there are at least 145 later mentions of him. This lead some Inquisitors to speculate that "Captain Obstinatus" is merely a title held by the Chapter Master. However, nothing has been confirmed either way. If he is indeed the same man, he may have been alive during or in the years immediately following the Great Crusade itself. He has never responded to any questions concerning his origins.

The chapter has never directly claimed to follow the Codex Astartes, and its tactics are irregular by any standards. There are many indications that their origins are of an entire company of a pre-heresy legion, split away to continue their crusades unabated. The title of their chapter master as "captain" and not "chapter master" is one such indication. 

There have been many theories, from the suggestion that they are a loyalist group of world eaters to the idea  that they share the same primarch as the Blood Ravens (suggested mostly by the blood ravens themselves, not taken seriously by most scholars) to the idea that they are a remainder of the unknown primarch's legions. 

Two theories hold the most weight of evidence. That they are a successor of the Iron Hands chapter, or that they are a loyalist remnant of the Alpha Legion. 

The first is based mostly upon similarity in their appearance, operating procedures, attitude, and rituals to the Iron Hands. However, there is very little historical documentation to support this. 

The second is based upon extensive historical documents and the commentary of many Alpha Legion Chaos Marines. They claim that the Partinax were a company separated due to their geneseed flaws caused during the accelerated growth of gene-seed during the Great Crusade, and that the difference caused them to continue the crusade even when the rest of the Legion turned to Heresy. However, considering the subversive nature of the Alpha Legion, their propensity for grandiose lies and the fact that several of the supposed historical documents were discovered to be created by Alpha Legion infiltrators, the truth of this claim remains far from certain. 

One thing does remain certain - the Partinax do know, and they don't care to tell anyone else. Their only concern is the continuance of the great crusade. They keep no records save for those of maintenance or supply.