For the Emperor

[Uberlord Gendo]

Not sure if this goes here, but I've been working on a Heresy Era Alpha Legion army that needss to be loyalist because reasons.  (Mostly due to my Admech Taghmata)

So I've been trying to come up with a good back-story for them what do you guys thin of this:

 

The battlefield breeds strange alliances and Istvaan V was no different.  Exactly how the Raven Guard must have felt is not recorded, and perhaps cannot be put into words, but what is known that when the Alpha Legionnaires appeared from the smoke of the battlefield and proceeded to gun down the pursuing World Eaters, Corax gave them a chance to explain themselves.  Doubtless, Corax did not believe their story of refusal to turn against the Emperor, but their pict modules recorded them fighting their way though an Iron Warriors unit towards the hills.  Impossible to question as well, was their recent performance.  Knowing that he was hardly in a position to refuse help, he allowed them to follow, intending to use them as bait or a sacrificial tail as needed.  However, as the days continued, and the Legionnaires proved again and again their loyalty, Corax allowed them ever closer to the main body, even eventually allowing their apothecaries to treat wounded Raven Guards.  By the 98th day on Istvaan, it would have been unthinkable to leave the Legionnaires behind.

 

 

The company, 518th, was in reality a splinter assigned to infiltrate the Imperial War Effort and await orders.  Their legend was sold by their bloody escape from Istvaan as well as documents.  Equally, most of the Legionnaires knew nothing of the deception, believing their defection genuine.  Only select personnel were aware, with the rest being used as cover and perhaps an instrument.

 

For much of the war, the 518th Company fought beside the Raven Guard, as well as engaging in rear sabotage operations.

Little nefarious was actually done, however, besides the occasional use of a battle to exchange agents.

When messages were sent, it was in the form of subtlties such as scorch marks on the left side of a Sicaran's turret or a specific piece of plate looted from a fallen Death Guard captain.  Things all but invisible, even to those who sought them out.

 

In the end, it is thought that they were never activated, either because the conditions were never met for their activation or because losses over the long war interrupted communications.

 

 

What do you all think?

[Olis]

Honestly, I would drop the Corax reference as it feels like a blatant name-drop (that and it directly questions established fluff about the Raven Guard escape from Isstvan V). In his stead I'd put forward, say, a ragtag bunch of survivors that eventually make it off world (like the many small groups we have heard about). It's a much greyer area to explore than directly affix your Alpha Legionnaires to the Raven Guard Primarch.

 

However, the idea isn't without merit. It allows interesting avenues to explore regarding who to trust and how far one must go to gain trust. It also provides a different take on what exactly the Alpha Legion got up to on Isstvan V. 

[Uberlord Gendo]

Yeah, I'd have avoided the direct reference to Corax as well, but the new fluff in Extermination pretty much says that everyone who escaped with the Raven Guard did it with Corax, who lead the effort, so I figured it made more sense if Corax met them directly rather tan having them bump into some Raven Guard scouts who bring them to Corax.  (I figure there's no way that they can avoid meeting Corax >_<)

[Olis]

Does it neccessarily have to be the Raven Guard? You could always hitch a ride with some Salamanders or some Iron Hands.

[Uberlord Gendo]

I don't see why not, I guess I'd been assuming everyone who survived Istvaan V did it on the 98th day with Corvus, but now that you point that out, I see no reason why someone couldn't have hopped on a thunderhawk or better yet, fought their way to a traitor's thunderhawk and taken off, though I'd assume that the splinter would need at least 100 guys or so to work--to ensure independent operations.  So perhaps the theft of a few Thunderhawks?  Or how many people fit on a Stormbird?

 

This said, there is something to be said for having a primarch on your side to speak on your behalf.