Alpha Legion

The Alpha Legion are the Chaos Space Marines legion about whom the least is known. They are experts in infiltration and their armies contain a lot of Chaos cultists in addition to regular chaos space marines.

The Alpha Legion primarch was named Alpharius, a brilliant and secretive primarch who was later killed by Roboute Guilliman, the primarch of the Ultramarines.

Very little is known about the internal organisation of the Alpha Legion. They placed a high value upon secrecy before they turned traitor. On occasions there have been successful assassinations of members of the legion thought to be high-ranking officers, but their removal has had little visible effect on their operations.

The Legions' symbol, the hydra, is a multi-headed mythical beast which could keep fighting even if one if its heads was cut off. This legend seems to reflect the Alpha Legion's command structure, as well as echoing its doctrine of multiple attacks.

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 have been thoroughly embraced by the legion as a whole, and have proved effective, especially in the disparate and secretive way they now operate.

All Space Marine legions set arduous tasks and trials for potential recruits, but prior to the Heresy, the Alpha Legion set these initiation tests for squads not individuals. Squads had succeeded as a group or not at all - foolhardy heroics were frowned upon. The overall plan was paramount and more valuable than any one Space Marine.