Chapter 1…...The Search Begins
Xian looked around, at the small forest oasis surrounding him at the city, this was probably the only city with a population of over 1000. It was a nice planet, besides the roaming Eldar. There was only 4 or 5 square km of forest, something to do with major hot spots, creating huge spaces of desert. He had come only because he had heard rumors of other Novamarines; a chapter divided a few hundred years ago. Small groups remained, usually no more than a tactical squad or two. Xian had been newly inducted into one such group, but a strike force of Tau decimated it soon after. Xian wasn't sure if others had survived, for he hadn't returned to the site. Xian shook his head and brought himself back to the present, in his experience, the best place to look for information was the local bar, although he usually intimidated people anywhere into talking with his bulky armor and hell-fire round loaded bolter. Right now, he was walking through the town. Stopping a child whom was running between the buildings, he asked, "Where is the bar?" Looking close to fainting, the child simply pointed down the main road, and then ran away.
Xian was only able to fit through the doorway by turning sideways and sucking in what little gut he had. The tavern was a shifty looking place, and as Xian sat down, several men got up and, with backward glances, walked away. Otherwise, it was a nice place, with all manner of humans sharing drinks. The problem with bars anywhere in the empire of man, is that even though humans are basically the same, their immune systems and digestive systems, can be extremely different, so what might be delicious to one man could be poison to the next, so it was mostly watered down gunk. Stepping up to the bar Xian ordered a "drink", not bothering to pay.
"Have you seen others of my kind?" asked Xian charmingly. The barkeep looked at him blankly.
"Have you seen any Space Marines!"
Nothing. Xian resisted the urge to pull his boltgun, and instead decided to attempt a more subtle approach
"Have you seen any space marines?" he repeated as grabbed the barkeeps collar. That got him going.
"Yesyesyes, there were several of… your kind heading out for some artifact or something. They looked like you, but were even more… um... aggressive. They headed directly north out of the city."
Xian released him that's strange, he thought, Novamarines aren't usually prone to violence. No matter Xian brushed off his shoulders, gangster style "Any Novamarine is a friend of mine" He slid out the door. Walking away, he hopped on his bike and sped away towards the open desert.