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[[Image:ALWhiteScar.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Alpha Legion member dressed in the colors colours of the [[White Scars]] during the [[Horus Heresy]]{{Fn|41b}}]]Extensive preparations are made before actually attacking an [[Imperium|Imperial]] target, including using spies the use of espionage and corruption to weaken an enemy's resolve. Not only is an enemy attacked from every angle, but every attack is often coordinated to achieve the most destructive results. Many actions are planned to utilise exploit and support local [[Cultist]] activity. These cults go to considerable efforts to spread propaganda, perform sabotage, and carry out acts of unrest and rebellion, providing a distraction and weakening the enemy before the Alpha Legion strikes.{{Fn|1a}}{{Fn|8}} Furthermore, the [[Traitor Legion|Legion]] has been known to ally themselves with anti-Imperial forces including other Traitor Legions and [[Xenos]].{{Fn|1a}} On worlds far away from the [[Eye of Terror]], [[Daemon]]s are less relied upon less since they cannot remain stable for long enough to be useful. If the Alpha Legion succeeds in securing the belief allegiance of a local Chaos cult they are smmoned summoned to add to the variety of their attacksLegion's tactical repertoire.{{Fn|1a}}{{Fn|8}}

The Alpha Legion does not fight like any other [[Traitor Legion|Chaos Space Marine Legion]] or warband. They prefer to avoid direct combat, using subterfuge, infiltration, sabotage, brainwashing, and meticulous multi-year plans to destroy their enemies as opposed to a simple attack. The very identities of Alpha Legion Marines is are the subject of mystery. Their supposed identities are frequently aliases which are shared by cell members, meaning the name and identity of one Alpha Legion Marine could actually refer to many. Genetic face-changing technology is utilized utilised to change the appearance of Legionaries Legionnaires to confound [[Imperium|Imperial]] authorities as to their real identity. Due to this habit of shared aliases, members of the Alpha Legion often refer to themselves as part of a greater collective identity. When they do show themselves, Alpha Legion Marines prefer to let their [[Chaos Cult|cultists]] and underlings do most of the combat while they themselves wait for the decisive moment to strike or make their escape.{{Fn|15}} The final overwhelming push by the massed forces of the Legion at the precise moment when the enemy is at its weakest from subterfuge is known as ''The Harrowing''.{{Fn|17}}

Unlike most of the other [[Chaos Space Marine]] [[Traitor Legion|Legions]], the Alpha Legion rarely operates within the [[Eye of Terror]] itself. As a result, they have not been subjected to the time distortion that the [[Warp]] has affected other [[Chaos Space Marines|Traitor Marines]] with, leading many in the [[Inquisition]] to debate how the Legion, now, ten thousand years after the [[Horus Heresy]], can still be active. According to [[Inquisitor]] [[Kravin]], the Alpha Legion acquires new recruits, genetically modifies them and then trains them for missions all within [[Imperial]] territory itself.{{Fn|14}}

Even before the [[Horus Heresy]], the Alpha Legion was known to develop special weapons and technologies in secret without [[Imperium|Imperial]] approval or knowledge. Alpha Legion forces were known to operate secret arms factories and caches both inside and outside Imperial space. The Alpha Legion was the first [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]] to produce [[Bolter]] shells specifically designed to penetrate [[Ceramite]] [[Power Armour]], which gave them an early advantage during the [[Drop Site Massacre]]. The Legion was also able to acquire small numbers of [[Power Armour_#Mark 6 "Corvus Armour"|Mark 6 ''Corvus Pattern'' Power Armour]] and reverse engineer it as the "Corvus-Alpha" pattern.{{Fn|23b}}