Alpha Legion
Alpha Legion
The Alpha Legion, the XXth Legion of the Adeptus Astartes, has infiltrated the war on Velaraxis with its characteristic deception, misdirection, and subtlety. Unlike other Traitor Legions who employ brute force or sheer terror, the Alpha Legion excels at covert operations, subterfuge, and sabotage. Led by the enigmatic Alpharius (or perhaps Omegon, as their true leadership remains a mystery), the Alpha Legion’s objectives on Velaraxis are unclear even to their allies. Their presence adds another layer of complexity and danger to the already chaotic battle for the planet.
While ostensibly aligned with Horus and his Traitor forces, the Alpha Legion’s true loyalties are always in question. On Velaraxis, they operate in the shadows, leveraging the planet’s complex tunnel networks and vast underground infrastructure to execute their unique brand of warfare. Their ultimate goals—whether to control Velaraxis’ precious Nexiumite, secure ancient xenos relics, or destabilise both Loyalist and Traitor forces—are unknown. What is certain is that the Alpha Legion’s involvement in the campaign has turned Velaraxis into a web of lies, false identities, and misinformation, where no one can be sure who they can trust.
The Role of the Alpha Legion on Velaraxis
The Alpha Legion’s approach to the battle for Velaraxis is multifaceted, combining covert sabotage, infiltration, and psychological warfare with carefully orchestrated direct engagements. Their primary objectives are known only to the Legion’s upper echelons, but several key Alpha Legion strategies have become apparent as the campaign unfolds:
Sabotage and Disruption: The Alpha Legion seeks to disrupt the Loyalist war effort at every turn. From sabotaging mining operations to attacking key supply depots, they aim to cripple the flow of resources from Velaraxis to the wider Imperium. Their agents infiltrate deep into enemy lines, posing as Loyalist soldiers or Mechanicum personnel to destroy vital infrastructure and spread misinformation.
Infiltration and Espionage: True to their nature, the Alpha Legion has infiltrated both the Loyalist and Traitor forces on Velaraxis. Through the use of operatives, spies, and disguised Astartes, they gather intelligence and manipulate their enemies into making costly mistakes. The Alpha Legion excels at blending in with their foes, sowing discord and confusion, and striking at the most vulnerable moments.
Xenos Technology: Like the Dark Angels, the Alpha Legion has taken a keen interest in the xenos ruins beneath Velaraxis. However, their motives differ. The Alpha Legion sees these ancient technologies as potential weapons to be turned against both the Loyalists and the Traitor Legions. Their operatives are actively exploring and researching the ruins, hoping to unlock their secrets and gain a decisive advantage in the broader war.
Undermining Trust: The Alpha Legion’s greatest strength on Velaraxis is their ability to erode the trust between the Loyalist and Traitor factions. Through misinformation, false flag operations, and carefully staged betrayals, they aim to weaken both sides’ cohesion. Their presence makes it nearly impossible for the Loyalists or Traitors to fully trust their allies, adding a layer of paranoia to an already fraught campaign.
Alpha Legion Combat Doctrine on Velaraxis
The Alpha Legion’s combat doctrine revolves around deception, mobility, and precision strikes. They avoid large-scale engagements unless they can guarantee overwhelming victory, preferring instead to wear down their enemies through a combination of infiltration, sabotage, and guerrilla tactics. On Velaraxis, they exploit the planet’s harsh environment, labyrinthine tunnels, and volatile weather to conduct their operations with maximum efficiency and minimal risk.
Key Tactical Elements:
Infiltration Units and Disguised Operatives: The Alpha Legion excels at infiltrating enemy forces, often posing as Loyalists, Traitors, or even civilian workers. Their Lernaean Terminators and elite Headhunter Kill Teams specialise in assassination and sabotage, infiltrating enemy lines to eliminate key commanders or destroy vital infrastructure. Disguised operatives plant bombs, sabotage mining equipment, and spread false information, making it difficult for their enemies to trust their own forces.
Hit-and-Run Tactics: The Alpha Legion employs highly mobile strike teams capable of launching devastating hit-and-run attacks before disappearing into the shadows. These attacks are designed to cause maximum disruption with minimal losses. On Velaraxis, they often use Termite Assault Drills to breach enemy fortifications or appear suddenly in the middle of Loyalist defences, wreaking havoc before vanishing underground.
Psychological Warfare and Manipulation: The Alpha Legion’s true weapon is not just their blades and bolters, but their ability to manipulate the minds of their enemies. They plant false intelligence, stage mock retreats, and create diversionary attacks that force their opponents to make critical mistakes. Their psychological warfare weakens enemy morale and causes infighting, often leading their foes to destroy themselves without the Alpha Legion having to commit large forces.
Exploration of the Xenos Ruins: The Alpha Legion has dispatched numerous operatives into the xenos ruins beneath Velaraxis. Unlike the Dark Angels, who seek to protect these relics, the Alpha Legion views the ruins as an opportunity to exploit dangerous and forbidden technologies. Their explorations are fraught with risk, but the potential rewards—unleashing unknown weapons or gaining access to powerful technologies—are worth the danger to the Legion’s leadership.
Alpha Legion Strategy on Velaraxis
The Alpha Legion’s strategy on Velaraxis is built around the concepts of deception, manipulation, and disruption. Their forces are never fully committed to open battle, preferring instead to weaken their enemies through indirect means before striking at critical moments. Their true strength lies in their ability to turn their enemies against each other, using a combination of misinformation, infiltration, and false flag operations to create chaos on the battlefield.
On Velaraxis, the Alpha Legion’s goals are threefold: to destabilise the Loyalist defence, sabotage key mining operations, and unlock the potential of the xenos technology buried beneath the planet. Their operatives are scattered across the planet, blending in with the Loyalist and Traitor forces alike, ready to strike at a moment’s notice. As the campaign unfolds, the Alpha Legion’s true objectives will gradually become clearer—but by then, it may already be too late for their enemies to stop them.
The Alpha Legion’s Strategic Importance on Velaraxis
The Alpha Legion represents a dangerous and unpredictable force in the battle for Velaraxis. Their presence creates an atmosphere of paranoia and uncertainty, as neither the Loyalists nor the Traitors can fully trust their own ranks. By manipulating both sides, the Alpha Legion seeks to weaken their enemies from within, making it easier to achieve their ultimate objectives—whatever they may be.
While the Imperial Fists and Dark Angels focus on fortifying and defending Velaraxis, and the World Eaters attempt to smash through their defences, the Alpha Legion operates in the shadows, undermining both sides. Their ability to infiltrate, sabotage, and mislead their enemies gives them a unique advantage, allowing them to strike when least expected and disappear before retribution can be delivered.
The Alpha Legion’s success on Velaraxis could dramatically shift the balance of power, not only in this campaign but in the broader context of the Horus Heresy. Whether they succeed in their mission to unlock the secrets of the xenos ruins or destroy Velaraxis’ infrastructure from within, their actions will have far-reaching consequences for both the Loyalist and Traitor forces.
