[Organisations] The Alpha Legion

[Dragonlover]

Another heads up: I've not managed to write anything more, but I do have the internet again. Unfortunately, I split up with my missus this week, so now have to move house. Again. It is however back to my mums, which is why I have internet.

Dragonlover

[CELS]

Very sorry to hear about the break-up. If nothing else, I hope the ASP can help you keep your mind occupied.

You'll note, by the way, that our discussion about the Alpha Legion via MSN has not been forgotten. If you check out the Anargo sector section of our website and find the Ivory Post, you'll see mention of the Sathar Monthan Citadel. I can't wait to get cracking on this. Of course, I'm a bit preoccupied these days as well, not to mention the whole computer trouble business.

But yeah. Looking forward to fleshing out these Legionnaires.

[Dragonlover]

Oh good, cos I totally forgot to save the convo, right up to the point just after I closed the window. If you've got the transcript still, could you do me a favour and email over to me? My address is dragonlover63 (at) googlemail.com.

Dragonlover

[Dragonlover]

Righty-o then. Firstly allow me to thank everyone that offered condolences over my current situation, it's much appreciated. Secondly, here is the expanded version of what I posted a bit further up the thread. I've concentrated mostly on the actual Alpha Legion presence on the moon, as I figure the Imperial presence should be fleshed out in the thread about the planet/moon itself. Feel free to correct this assumption if I'm wrong.

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The Satar Monthan Citadel resides on the lush moon of Phanas 3, orbiting the ringed gas giant Aldheim in the Ivory Post relay system. Possessing a rudimentary atmosphere, the gravity is a third that of Terra, allowing the flora to reach truly staggering heights. In many places, mesas break through the lush foliage, providing stable landing areas for Imperial parties. The citadel is carved into one of these mesas, and is a labyrinth of stone tunnels and chambers.

While there is enough room there for significantly more personnel, the Citadel is usually home to roughly seventy Legionnaires and two hundred operatives, the majority of whom are either returning for de-briefing or being outfitted to leave on a new mission. There is also a small armoury, should the Legion feel the need to go to war on a larger scale. This armoury is overseen by the Dreadnought Callon.

The Commander of the citadel, and therefore in theory the Alpha Legion of the Anargo Sector is Xelos Tiranel. Originally commander of the 6th Company of the 7th Chapter of the Alpha Legion, Tiranel became the de facto leader in the Anargo Sector after the Scouring scattered the Legion to the corners of the galaxy, and he was left as the highest ranking member there.

The Citadel is also home to two very specialised chambers. The first is a large, rectangular room filled with stasis tubes and maintained by the Dark Mechanicus. This is the secret of the Alpha Legions continued survival. When not on a mission, all Alpha Legionnaires are required to spend large portions of time in stasis, to compensate for the fact they do not reside in the Eye. Of course, this does not apply to any Marines surviving from the time of the Great Crusade such as Tiranel, as the purity of the creation process at the time has made them functionally immortal. These marines can get by with the occasional dose of juvenat treatment to keep the homogenous appearance the Legion favours, along with shorter periods of time in stasis than a newer recruit requires.

The second chamber is relatively small, and is the province of the sorcerer Haran. There, Haran and his acolytes, some mortal, some Astartes, bend their wills to intercepting the messages passed through the astropathic facility further out in the system.

There are two Imperial facilities on Phanas 3. One is an Adeptus Mechanicus research base set up by the Magos Biologis, the other is used as a training post by the Imperial Guard so that regiments raised in the Anargo Sector can train in both jungle and low grav conditions.

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I appreciate that the immortality of Great Crusade-era Astartes is a point of contention, and have no qualms about changing it to 'much longer lived' or similar if that is the ASP stance. So, what do you think?

Dragonlover

[CELS]

As indicated elsewhere, I'm happy you're looking to tackle the exact nature and "inventory" of the Satar Monthan Citadel. I've gone and done the same thing with the Inquisitorial fortress in the Sargassos subsector, and we've also been working on the same thing with the monastery barge of the Maledictor Space Marines. In those cases, I found it useful to draw some simplistic maps and then present the information like Room 1 - Armoury, Room 2 - Library, Room 3 - Storage, etc. Easier to present the information that way rather than going "This is the commander and also there are these two special rooms".
(Tongue in cheek here, sorry if that came off as harsh!)

Apart from the structure of your text, I have a comment about your suggested structure for the Alpha Legion in the sector as well.  As I mentioned via MSN, our previous agreement in the ASP was that there wouldn't really be a formal leader or commander of the Legion in the sector, and perhaps not even in the citadel itself. Such a leader wouldn't fit in with the semi-anarchic structure suggested by the novel Legion. Our idea, and my personal interpretation, is that the Alpha Legion exists in different cells of varying size, where leaders appear naturally like the Alpha males (no pun intended) of a herd. Based on charisma, talent and experience, leaders appear as needed. If different cells agree to engage the Maledictors in open battle, a leader is selected based on the merits that make him the right man for the job. If they agree to conduct espionage and sabotage, another leader might be chosen. In most cases, no leaders are necessary. Kind of like the Agents in the Matrix who just cooperate intuitively without central leadership.  In other words, I would propose that this Xelos Tiranel is only one of many veteran Alpha Legionnaires in the sector who has been a leader sometimes and a follower or loner other times.

I would also suggest that the citadel isn't really the "home" to seventy Legionnaires, even though it might have the capacity to take them in. I'd say that the Alpha Legion is usually spread across the sector, secretly hidden in the bowels of pirate ships or even Navy vessels, constantly trying to instigate rebellions and cults on the different worlds. I see them as far more nomadic than the more militaristic Iron Warriors, for example. They're more stealthy and less dependent on bases and such.

That's just me though. Maybe others disagree with me

As indicated elsewhere, I'm really looking forward to fleshing out the Alpha Legion's method of operation in the Anargo sector, since it will ultimately be a model of how we see the Alpha Legion working across the galaxy.

[Dragonlover]

"This is the commander and also there are these two special rooms". 
(Tongue in cheek here, sorry if that came off as harsh!)

Not at all, I appreciate the text is very clunky, mostly due to the fact I was going with the flow. Once I get my PC back my mums, I'll look at drawing maps and so on.

With regards to the organisation thing, I've been thinking about that since our MSN chat. It would make a damn sight more sense for there to be a network of bases across the sector that the Legion use as and when they need to, with the fluid command structure you outlined in your post. The trouble is that this fluidity makes them very difficult to write, so I've had a bit of a brainwave: snapshots in time. For example, in 470.M41 Xelos Tiranel is looking after the Citadel, but twenty years later its someone else. This means we can nail down names and places, but they're only relevant for as long as the Narrative needs them to be. I propose that any 'current' stuff I write be seen as happening in 470.M41 (at least I think thats the year we're starting in), and then it can change as and when the ongoing Narrative demands.

With regards to further bases in the network, I suggest we look at the Archaios, Anargo or Dorvastor subsector next. Anargo and Dorvastor because they're the next subsectors out from the Ivory Post system, so either of them would feel like a natural progression, and Archaios because there are already two cults with links to the Alpha Legion in the subsector, the Ertower Clan of Altarra and the Cult of the Dragonlord, which is either spread over the whole subsector or just on Archaios Prime, I couldn't work out which.

Dragonlover

[CELS]

As you say, there are going to be a whole lot of bases and refugees for the Alpha Legion across the sector. Maybe instead of doing a linear chronological sample of these bases, we can just accept that there are perhaps dozens, and then you can mention some "significant locations"? This is the approach we're taking with the Inquisition, the SRs... pretty much all similar articles that deal with a variety of locations.

I'm fine with starting to flesh out the Alpha Legion in a few subsectors at a time. Since we're currently trying to put the Anargo subsector on the Explore website, maybe we should look specifically at that one?

I hope that we're thinking about the same thing now. When I said I wanted to look at the Alpha Legion's presence across the sector, I didn't mean that we should detail a dozen bases with the same detail that you're provided for the Citadel. I was talking in more general terms, a general description of how things work and then backed up with a few example cells and example bases, for instance.

Of course, I am open to ideas. Especially since I'm currently working on other stuff

[Dragonlover]

Anargo subsector it is then. I'll trawl the forums for every SR I can find and start picking some likely places. It won't be until Tuesday I'll have the chance though, I'd imagine, so if anyone reading this has any ideas feel free to tell me.

Dragonlover

[Malika]

I assume the Alpha Legion would be more "committee based" organised very much like communist/anarchist organisations. Everything would be done according to the wills of the committee. This would mean that "rank" wouldn't really be used amongst the Alpha Legionnaires, however they might be given ranks to potentially confuse their enemies and/or outsiders. If commanders are needed they would be elected amongst the legionnaires themselves.  Whilst normally this kind of system would be deemed ineffective amongst military commanders, the Alpha Legion would experience no real problem with it due to their more "collective nature" (which may, or may not have been caused by the Geneseed).

[CELS]

Wouldn't the collective leadership be at odds with the intuitive and fluent method of operation that the Alpha Legion is known for? I thought the whole idea was they're able to operate independently and don't really need anyone telling them what to do, which is why it doesn't really help to assassinate their leaders. Maybe I misunderstood.

[Malika]

It's a bit of both I guess, Alpha Legionnaires don't need some form of central leadership because they are all the leader (collective leadership). So if you have a cell of Alpha Legionnaires operating on a planet they are all capable of operating independently but at the same time they are leading themselves (as a group). This means that whilst alone or whatever they are fully capable of doing their thing and that once there are more of them together they form something along the lines of a little "Anarchist community".

So assassinating their leaders in this case wouldn't work since they are all leaders.

[Dragonlover]

Ok then, here is my (extremely belated) list of planets/systems in the Anargo Subsector that the Legion could find useful, along with a couple of brief notes on why.

Tryphon:- Possible recruitment world, especially since if they were got young enough the tendency towards conservatism wouldn't be particularly strong. The Holstites could also be a good source of agents, since their beliefs about the Emperor would already mesh with those of the AL.

Novum:- There would be an agent or two here for the diverting of materials to make equipment, and the characteristics of the average Novumite feel like they would make an excellent source of recruits for the Legion, both as new Marines and operatives.

Delphinus II:- I feel this works as a possible waystation, the fact it's ignored by the Imperium and its close proximity to Novum make it ideal.

Invictona:- Another source of material for equipment. I'm also toying with the idea of Slaaneshi cults, but its so obvious I'm not sure I want to.

Solanum:- The Thodan Guild would be used to train both the Marines and certain operatives. I just like the idea of a group that trains the Inquisition also training the forces of 'Chaos'.

Anargo Primus:- No real ideas for here beyond having operatives seeded through the Governors staff.

Gygon:- I would imagine that a fair few of the Chaos cults that spring up amongst the gangs are instigated by the Alpha Legion. Also, perhaps the Legion has access to a source of high quality gems from elsewhere, and is slowly buying out the planets officials. A prison world is a brilliant source of cannon fodder, should it be required.

The Trivium System

Dara:- I think an underwater base here would be quite cool, simply because its not something that tends to happen.

Morgance:- As I stated in the thread about the system, I feel that the Alpha Legion should have had a hand in the Chaos uprising, if for no other reason than it helps to anchor them in the more recent history of the sector. There is also a lot of potential in the underbelly of the planet for development that includes them.

Vandoch:- Again, some of the cults would be Alpha Legion sponsored. The transient nature of the population would also mean that infiltration would be made significantly easier.

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Firstly, sorry this has taken so long. Personal stuff coupled with the fact I'm on a Job Centre training course at the moment means my creativity has been at zero, and my PC going kaput didn't help.

Secondly (and more importantly), what do you think? This was all jotted down on Friday afternoon whilst at said course, hence the brevity.

I tried to make the names into links to the relative SR, but it didn't work, so if anyone knows how to do that it'd be useful.

Dragonlover

P.S:- Since there haven't been any replies yet, I'll stick this here.

Motivations of the Alpha Legion

The Cabal made me do it!

We know from the events of Legion that the Alpha Legion sided with Horus at the behest of the Cabal, a group of ancient alien races who wish to destroy Chaos. It is eminently plausible that after the defeat of Horus the Legion kept in close contact with the Cabal, a theory (sort of) backed up by the 2nd Edition Chaos Codex, which states that the Alpha Legion appeared to be inventing goals for themselves following the defeat at Terra. However, this is from an Imperial perspective, so the seemingly random missions could all be part of the Cabal’s backup plan, since the original one failed.

Furthermore, the only reason Chaos got a foothold in the first place was because nobody knew its true nature, and by the time they found out it was too late. What if the Alpha Legions mission for the last 10,000 years has been to make sure that the Imperium doesn't forget about Chaos, so the when the Endtime comes Humanity is ready to fight it? It would explain why the AL are more often away from the Eye of Terror/Maelstrom, as with a bloody great warp storm dominating the horizon that occasionally has Black Crusades launched from it you're unlikely to forget about Chaos, whereas the backwater sectors may not have seen a full Chaos incursion for millenia.

This theory could also explain why the Alpha Legion is sometimes a little too coordinated for a supposedly leaderless group: various cells in the same area are taking orders from the Cabal.

Chaos made me do it!

Slightly boring, but still very workable. 10,000 years is a long time, and I can see Legionnaires falling to Chaos, through dissatisfaction at being a lackey of the Cabal, a feeling of ‘if you can’t beat them, join them’ or just straight up enjoying killing things a little too much. In fact, pretty much any logic that has an Imperial Marine turn could apply to an Alpha Legionnaire, especially since it is highly unlikely there are any Chaplain equivalents. As to why the Cabal don’t stop it from happening- they need Chaotic Alpha Legion around as the reminder.

I see these guys as being the Chaos cult sponsoring members, whereas followers of the Cabal would more likely concentrate on more straightforward anti-Imperial groups, such as the rebels in The Killing Ground by Graham McNiell.

I made me do it!

Basically, anyone not following one of the above paths, from Legionnaires who raid who they like when they like, to those who still hold to the ideals of the Great Crusade and regularly purge the xenos of the sector.

[Malika]

The Cabal made me do it!

The Cabal are an organisation who look after the interests of the Old Ones (or may even be the Old Ones) right? Does this also mean that the Eldar follow them, or are there conflicts between the two? For some reason I can imagine that if they are working together that there might even be such a thing as temporary alliances between the Eldar and Alpha Legion. 

Putting that concept aside though, I like the idea of them working for the Cabal. Their goal could still be to see the Imperium destroyed (liberating humanity and the Emperor) and at the same time fight against Chaos. Of course the Alpha Legion would be the ultimate "grey area" in this madness; using chaos to destroy the Imperium but at the same time also using the Imperium to destroy Chaos but also using the two to destroy each other and so on. If the concept of the Daemonwars is still around I like the idea of having the Alpha Legion exploit this situation in it's fullest. They will let the daemons fight amongst themselves to weaken them, but also to recruit members for their own (taking the strongest from those battles). If the breeding program concept is still going to be around (need to work that out) for that Tzeentch daemon the Alpha Legion might try to exploit this as well, in a very conspiracy like manner of course. Imagine that that would be a mix between the whole intrigue/bloodline stuff from the Dune novels and the conspiracy stuff from The X-Files.

Chaos made me do it!

I don't mind the idea of the Alpha Legion using Chaos stuff such as daemons, possessed, mutants and what not to further their goals. Heck some might even be worshipping Chaos to a certain extend (more practical manner like the Night Lords), however this could be combined with them fighting for the Cabal as well. Using Chaos to destroy Chaos, kind of the whole "fighting fire with fire" sort of thing.

Anargo Primus:- No real ideas for here beyond having operatives seeded through the Governors staff.

Keep them in the lower levels, if they were in the governor's staff they would be practically running the capital of the Anargo Sector which isn't something I'm too fond of. Perhaps the Alpha Legion operatives are trying to get a foothold on the world itself?

[Dragonlover]

Anargo Primus:- Perhaps the Alpha Legion operatives are trying to get a foothold on the world itself?

Sounds good. Possibly the planets secret service equivalent knows that *someone* is trying to get in, but keeps managing to nip it in the bud, so the only operatives are so low down they're pretty much pointless.

With regards to the Cabal: they appear to be the Old Ones, and have had at least one Eldar working for them. There is a definite possibility of Eldar/Legion alliances, do we have a craftworld in the sector/quadrant?

I like the idea of the 'fighting fire with fire' idea, similar to the way the Relictors operate. I'd prefer a very minimal amount of daemonancy though, at least amongst the Cabalists. The Chaos-worshippers can go nuts with it.

Also, there's a thread over on the BL forums about the Legion that could be useful, I'm reading through it at the moment: http://forum.blpublishing.com/forum_posts.asp?TID=5942&PN=1

Oh yeah, whats this Tzeentch daemon inspired breeding program you mentioned?

Dragonlover

[Malika]

Oh yeah, whats this Tzeentch daemon inspired breeding program you mentioned?

At the moment, nothing more than that. I remember that on one of the older forums somebody wanted the Eldar and Alpha Legion fighting each other on some Imperial world he was building. I dropped in the suggestions that the Tzeentch daemon in this sector (who was Eldar before the Fall) is trying to breed some "special man", I don't really know what this would mean, and perhaps it would even be nice to keep this as "one of those mysteries" because first of all this figure wouldn't be born yet (probably sometime after the ASP setting) and it would be open to interpretation, meaning that everybody could give their meaning to it.

The Eldar try to get their hands on this breeding program to try to catch the daemon who's running it. Some Inquisitors in the Imperium want it's power while the Alpha Legion's motives towards this aren't that clear. On one hand they seem to support the daemon in his project (probably to let him do all the work) but at the same time they try to steal it away from him. Sometimes they might even want to destroy it in an attempt to keep the daemon at bay.