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From Warhammer 40k - Lexicanum
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adding notes relating to "loyalists"
*[[Daggerfangs]],{{Fn|57a}} [[Darganti Revenants]]{{Fn|40a}}
*[[Eight Stolen Truths]]{{Fn|40a}}
*[[Faceless (Warband)|The Faceless]],{{Fn|76}} [[The Faithless]],{{Fn|5b}} [[First Strike (Warband)|First Strike]]{{Fn|7676c}}*[[Guns of Freedom]]{{Fn|7676c}}
*[[Harrok's Teeth]]{{Fn|90}}
*[[Honourless]]{{Fn|63}}
*[[Ironhydras]]{{Fn|71}}
*[[Penitent Sons]]{{Fn|7676c}}
*[[The Redacted]],{{Fn|33a}} The [[Rustbloods]]{{Fn|76}}
*[[Scaled Fang]],{{Fn|71}} [[Serpentine Scourge]],{{Fn|40a}} The [[Serpent's Teeth]],{{Fn|7676c}} [[The Shadowed Ones]],{{Fn|27b}} [[Shrouded Hand]],{{Fn|40b}} [[Sons of Deception]],{{Fn|60a}} [[Sons of the Hydra]],{{Fn|33b}} [[Sons of Venom]],{{Fn|7676c}} [[Soulfangs]], [[Splintered Sentients]],{{Fn|40a}} [[Subtle Blades]]{{Fn|65}}
*[[Third Harrow]]{{Fn|40a}}
*[[Voldorius]]' Warband{{Fn|39}}
The '''Alpha Legion''', also known as the '''Ghost Legion''' during the early [[Great Crusade]],{{Fn|35}} is the '''XX Legion''' of the original twenty [[Space Marine Legion]]s. They turned against the [[Emperor]] during the [[Horus Heresy]], becoming [[Chaos Space Marines]].{{Fn|1d}} Even before they turned to [[Chaos]], the Alpha Legion were renowned as the most secretive of all the Legions.{{Fn|1a}} The Alpha Legion's most closely guarded secret, unbeknownst to all but a few outside the Legion, is that they had two [[primarchs]]; [[Alpharius]] and his twin [[Omegon]] (sometimes referred to collectively as just 'Alpharius Omegon').{{Fn|2h}}
The Alpha Legion's veterans are experts in infiltration, sabatoguge and discord, covert operations, and manipulating events in their favour without revealing themselves or engaging in open warfare. Alpha Legionaries have been known to disguise themselves as loyalist [[Space Marines]].{{Fn|12}} Their armies also contain regular [[human]]s known as [[operative]]s.{{Fn|1a}}
==History==
The ''Alpha Legion'''s role in spreading [[Heresy|heretical]] cults has earned them the loathing of the [[Inquisition]],{{Fn|9}} which has devoted considerable resources to finding and destroying their secret bases.{{Fn|1a}} So far, the ''Alpha Legion'' has been declared wiped out by the [[High Lords of Terra]] no less than three times, in [[M31]], [[M32]] and [[M39]]. These claims have always been disproved by the continued assaults of the [[Traitor Legion|Legion]].{{Fn|1a}}
Despite their many heinous acts, at least some elements within the Alpha Legion still view themselves as loyal sons of the [[Emperor of Mankind|Emperor]]. These Alpha Legionaries, such as [[Occam]], see themselves as the most loyal sons for it is they that damn themselves to work from within traitor cells to purge both weak elements of the [[Imperium]] while dealing with serious [[Heresy|heretical]] threats. They see themselves as the "Emperor's test", challenging his servants to see if they are worthy to serve him.{{Fn|33b}} Rumours of these pretenders persist amongst the Alpha Legion in M41. Those "loyalist" warbands and cells that exist in the 41st millennium, such as the [[Penitent Sons]] and [[Unsung]], are largely seen by their fellow Legionaries as irredeemably deluded (but useful) fools who seek self-flagellation and pretend to be remorseful after performing actions any other warband would.{{Fn|76c}} By [[M41]] the Alpha Legion had splintered into a wide array of divergent warbands and those warbands into cells, each following numerous unique and exceedingly divergent ideologies and tactical specializations of discord sowing, infiltration, and sabotage. Their warbands are largely distrustful of one another and rarely work in concert.{{Fn|76c}}
===Notable Engagements===
It is believed that, since the Heresy, the Alpha Legion has been operating as independent cells hidden throughout the [[Imperium]], coordinating various [[Chaos Cult]]ist activities to subvert Imperial rule. While these cells operate independently of one another and destroying one will not affect the effort of their overall mission, the Legion still loosely coordinates its actions across the Galaxy. Who is coordinating these efforts and how they are doing so is largely a mystery to the Imperium, but many believe they achieve this through "Operatives". These figures are apparently human, but have undergone limited psycho-hypnotic therapy to make them absolutely loyal to the Legion. These operatives, fully infiltrated into Imperial society, act as the link between Alpha Legion cells and cultists and are their primary method of galaxy-wide communication.{{Fn|1b}}
Given their aptitude to subterfuge and deception, Alpha Legion forces rarely operate in large numbers for long, as they prefer not to draw attention to themselves. However despite being splintered into myriad warbands since the Heresy, they still operate with a unity of purpose that many of their fellow Traitor Legions lack. If an ambitious enough plan or especially tempting opportunity presents itself, multiple Alpha Legion cells and warbands may unite, at least temporarily, under the command of a single [[Harrowmaster]] that could command hundreds or even thousands of warriors.{{Fn|76c}}{{Fn|83}}
[[Alpharius]] believed in planning and coordination; he always sought alternatives and multiple solutions to any given problem, with different elements working together for the end result. These doctrines, thoroughly embraced by the [[Space Marine Legion|Legion]] as a whole, have apparently been continued by the traitors and have proved effective, especially in the disparate and secretive way they now operate.{{Fn|1a}} Thus is one of their [[Chaos Lord]]s liable to be called [[Master of Diversion]] when he proves himself a expert deceiver of the enemy.{{Fn|79}}
**{{Endn|76a}}: ''Biologis Diabolicus''
**{{Endn|76b}}: ''Council of Truth''
**{{Endn|76c}}: ''New Faces, Old Faces''
*{{Endn|77}}: [[Pariah (Novel)]], Chapter 3
*{{Endn|78}}: [[Veritas Ferrum (Audio Drama)]]
