Legion XX · allegiance disputed
Alpha Legion
Primarch: Alpharius Omegon
The XX Legion — the last created and the most enigmatic of all, led by the twin primarchs Alpharius and the hidden Omegon (“one soul in two bodies”). Their symbol is the Hydra, their method intrigue, disinformation and non-legionary agents. The central mystery of the Legion is unresolvable: whether they were true traitors or secret loyalists seeking to destroy Chaos from within. A xenos Cabal convinced them that only Horus’s victory would destroy Chaos for good, and they played on the traitors’ side, setting traps for the loyalists on Chondax, at Alaxxes and on Isstvan V — but their true design remains unknown.
Side in the Heresy: allegiance disputed The Legion’s allegiance is deliberately NOT resolved by the canon. They joined the traitors on Isstvan V (006.M31), but some 2 years before the Heresy a xenos Cabal contacted Alpharius and convinced him that Horus’s victory was the only way to destroy Chaos for good (the extinction of humanity would deprive the gods of the warp of their food). Traitors in deed — perhaps loyalists by design.
- Number
- XX (20)
- Side
- Allegiance disputed
- Events in the chronicle
- 18 events
- Strength
- “Resurfaced” as a full, rapidly growing Legion of some 10,000+ Astartes and went on growing. An estimate, disputed.
Fate
Their fate is deliberately unresolvable: one twin (believed to be Alpharius) fell at the hands of Rogal Dorn at Pluto (~010–013.M31), the other (believed to be Omegon under his brother’s name) — to Guilliman on Eskrador after the Heresy; who exactly and when is one of the great mysteries of the setting. After the Heresy they split into independent cells: some serve Chaos, others the Emperor.
Speciality
Infiltration, disinformation and multi-vector strikes; the most meticulous preparation, working through cults, sabotage, propaganda and non-legionary agents (the Operators).
Tactics
First weaken the enemy with cults, sabotage and uprisings — then strike from everywhere at once; operating in independent cells (the Hydra: cut off one head and the others strike). The elite — the Effrit stealth squads (Seekers, Headhunters), the Lernaean Terminators.
What the Legion is known for
The mystery of their allegiance and the Cabal; the twins Alpharius and Omegon; the symbol of the Hydra; the first bolts to pierce ceramite; traps for the loyalists on Chondax, Alaxxes and Isstvan V.
Wargear
Lernaean Terminators and Effrit stealth squads; ceramite-piercing bolts (the Legion invented them first); camouflage, secret arsenals and Operator agents.
Notable warriors
- Ingo PechFirst Captain
First Captain, surgically altered to resemble the twin primarchs; a key commander of the Legion in the Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan V.
- Armillus DynatHarrowmaster
A Harrowmaster (field commander) of the Alpha Legion, a master of multi-vector operations; the exact combat record of the Legion’s individual commanders is deliberately fragmentary.
- Sheed RankoHarrowmaster
A Harrowmaster who led Alpha Legion forces into battle during the Heresy, including the Drop Site Massacre on Isstvan V.
- Mathias Herzogcaptain of the 2nd Company
Captain of the 2nd Company and one of the Legion’s senior commanders of the Heresy era.
Events involving the Legion
Eve of the Storm
The Isstvan Massacre
Shadow of War
- Chondax Campaign Concludes
- Deliverance Lost
- Battle of the Alaxxes Nebula
- Manachean War · the Coronid Deeps
- Mezoan Campaign
- Pale Stars Campaign
- Blight of Isessos
- Battle of Eirene Septimus
The Road to Terra
Epilogue — The Great Scouring
Characters of the Legion
Sources
- FW Black Book IV: Conquest
- Lexicanum: Alpharius Omegon
- WH40k Fandom: Alpha Legion
- Legion (D. Abnett)
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