Unit Organisation and Structure within the Legion

In all of its incarnations, the IXth Legion has defied the standard by which the Legiones Astartes have been measured. In its earliest days, it operated with such a simple order of?battle and command structure that it could barely be called an army, consisting only of?massed infantry companies with few specialised troops of any kind. Most often these troops were equipped as 'reaver' squads, close quarters optimised and wielding arms requiring limited resupply, the perfect warriors for operations undertaken at arm's-length from the main force of the Great Crusade. The aberrant quirks of the Legion, the red thirst that haunted its warriors, wreaked havoc on its discipline and made any attempt at large scale organisation difficult. Tactics were often developed and employed at the company or even squad level during combat rather than being part of a larger Legion-wide approach to strategy.

在其所有的形式中，第九軍團都已經(jīng)違背了衡量阿斯塔特軍團的標準。在其最初的歲月，他們以一套如此簡單的戰(zhàn)斗序列和指揮結(jié)構(gòu)運作著，以至于幾乎無法被成為一支軍隊，而僅僅是由大量的步兵連隊和極少數(shù)各種類型的特殊部隊拼湊起來。這些部隊大多數(shù)情況下都是作為“劫掠者”小隊進行裝備，他們最優(yōu)化了近戰(zhàn)（能力），使用著（只）需要有限的再補給的武器。第九軍團這些完美的戰(zhàn)士承受著與大遠征主力部隊之間的武器差距。軍團中的異常怪癖——紅渴困擾著第九軍團戰(zhàn)士們，它對軍團的紀律造成了嚴重的破壞，也讓進行大規(guī)模組織的任何嘗試都變得艱難。在戰(zhàn)斗中，戰(zhàn)術(shù)通常在連隊甚至是小隊層級的單位中發(fā)展和執(zhí)行，而非是作為大型的軍團范圍戰(zhàn)略方法的一部分。

This unique manner of?operation, fighting at a distance from other units and with limited oversight by the Divisio Militaris, served to limit the impact of the Legion's?more aberrant practises on the morale of?allied units. As such there was no concerted effort to bring the Legion into compliance with others of the Imperial Host, and it was a matter of?tacit complicity among the various generals and commanders that fought alongside the IXth Legion that it was to be allowed to operate in a manner of?its own choosing. Its first commanders were more warlords than true officers, they enforced discipline at the point of a sword, earned respect with the strength of?their arms, and they walked the battlefield as visceral forces of?nature. When these respected commanders advanced, the warriors of?the IXth Legion followed. When they held the line, their followers dug in, and when they laid down their blades, those around them ceased the killing. It was a brutally efficient structure, one that could be impeded only by the infliction of massive casualties, for even if?one warlord fell, there were a dozen veterans ready to step forwards and take his place.

第九軍團在作戰(zhàn)時要遠離其他單位， 而且要受到軍務(wù)庭的限制性監(jiān)督，這套獨一無二的運作方式是為了限制第九軍團那些更為異常的行為對盟軍士氣的影響。所以讓第九軍團和其他的帝國部隊合作并不會有齊心協(xié)力的效果，那些與第九軍團共同作戰(zhàn)的各位將軍和指揮官們之間也存在著一種戰(zhàn)術(shù)共識——第九軍團應(yīng)該被允許按照他們自己選擇的方式運作。第九軍團的首席指揮官們與其說是真正的軍官，不如說是軍閥們，他們用劍鋒來強制執(zhí)行紀律，用武力贏取尊重，他們靠著天性本能的力量行走在戰(zhàn)場上。當這些備受尊敬的指揮官們前進時，第九軍團的戰(zhàn)士們便會追隨；當他們堅守陣線時，下屬們也會拼死抵抗;當他們放下利劍時，周圍的戰(zhàn)士們也會停止殺戮。這是一套殘忍有效的結(jié)構(gòu)，只有大量的人員傷亡才能阻止它的運作，因為即便有一名軍閥倒下，他身后也有十多位老兵準備上前接替他的位置。

This was all to change with the return of Sanguinius. The winged Primarch was to bring a sense of?order to the often fractious Legion, stamping a new structure onto it in the hopes of containing its hunger. Though in essence this new order would seem to be in accord with the Principia Bellicosa, the schema by which the other Legions were organised, in actuality it also varied a great deal from the standard pattern. It retained the basic structure of?companies, initially forming the Legion into 200 companies of approximately 300 warriors each, although by the last years of?the Great Crusade this would have increased to 300 companies each of?500 warriors. However, past this basic structure there were many discrepancies, each chosen by the Great Angel to serve a purpose in his plans. These companies were grouped into Hosts for campaigns requiring greater force of numbers than that possessed of?a single company, though each Host was a temporary creature broken and made as need required.

這一切將會隨著圣吉列斯的回歸而改變，背生雙翼的原體將為這個經(jīng)常暴躁易怒的軍團帶來秩序感，他將賦予第九軍團一套新的結(jié)構(gòu)，希望以此來克制軍團（對于血腥暴力）的饑渴。雖然在本質(zhì)上這套新秩序看起來符合基礎(chǔ)軍典——其他軍團也是根據(jù)這份綱要進行組織，但事實上它也與標準模式有著很大的不同。它保留了連隊的基本結(jié)構(gòu)，起初圣血天使軍團由200個連隊組成，每個連隊大約300名戰(zhàn)士，到大遠征末期時，數(shù)量會增加為300個連隊，每個連隊500名戰(zhàn)士。不過，除了這套基本結(jié)構(gòu)，圣血天使軍團也有某些獨一無二之處，每個特點都由大天使親自挑選出來服務(wù)于他的機會中的某個目標。當某些戰(zhàn)役需要的兵力超過單個連隊時，這些連隊就會被組織成戰(zhàn)群，不過戰(zhàn)群只是一種臨時單位，會根據(jù)需要進行組建或解散。

Sanguinius created three Spheres to encompass his Hosts, three chambers by which he would give order and purpose to the warriors of the Legion. Each was separate and distinct from the Three Hundred Companies and the strictures of?the Principia Bellicosa, forming a distinct strata of organisation that allowed the warriors of the IXth Legion to focus their hunger and rage towards a single end and to conquer it. Yet it was not merely a blunt tool, but an elegant and artful plan designed to promote the finer qualities of the Legion while providing an outlet for the more base. It was the Great Angel's masterwork, the fulfilment of?an oath and the salvation of his children.

圣吉列斯創(chuàng)建了三重天球體系來包含他的軍團部隊，他會通過這三層天球組織來向軍團戰(zhàn)士們下達命令和目標。每一層天球都獨立和區(qū)分于軍團的三百個連隊和基礎(chǔ)軍典的束縛，它們形成了一套允許第九軍團的戰(zhàn)士們將他們的（血腥）饑渴和憤怒集中于一個目的并將其克服的明確組織階層。這并非是一套鈍拙的工具，而且是一個用于提高軍團的素質(zhì)并同時為給他們提供了更為基本的發(fā)泄出口的優(yōu)雅且巧妙的計劃。這是大天使的杰作，也是他對于諾言的履行和對于子嗣們的救贖。

The outermost of the three Spheres would encompass the rank and file of the Legion, the warriors that plied blade and bolter on the battlefield. Known within the Legion as the Malak, these warriors had but one duty - to fight at the order of?their captains. They obeyed, they killed and they practised the arts granted them by the Primarch, and by these simple disciplines and the endless focus of their post-human minds they staved off the depredations of their hunger. Within this sphere there were but few distinctions, simple titles and orders for those who excelled in specific arts of war and peace, exemplars of their tasks and angels of?small actions. These were the marksmen, poets and duellists of the Legion, its strong right hand and beating heart, and though these were but small honours, they were held dear by those who won them.

三重天球的最外層將會包含的是軍團中那些手持利刃和爆彈槍在戰(zhàn)場上奮戰(zhàn)的軍團戰(zhàn)士們。他們在軍團中被稱為圣血使者，只背負著一項職責(zé)——根據(jù)連長的命令作戰(zhàn)。他們遵守命令，奮力搏殺，并實踐著原體授予他們的藝術(shù)。憑借著簡單的紀律和超人意識的無盡專注，他們避免了自身血腥饑渴（對于理智）的掠奪。這層天球的戰(zhàn)士們之間幾乎沒有區(qū)別，那些精于戰(zhàn)爭與和平的獨特藝術(shù)的戰(zhàn)士們會得到簡單的頭銜和勛章，他們是是任務(wù)中的典范、小規(guī)模行動中的（戰(zhàn)爭）天使。圣血使者們是軍團的神槍手，詩人和決斗家，他們是第九軍團強勁的右手與搏動的心臟。雖然他們只能獲得渺小的榮譽，但那些贏得榮譽的人們都很珍視這份榮耀。

The Second Sphere was composed of the commanders and leaders of?the Legion, the powers and dominions that stood at the side of Sanguinius. To them fell the duty of command, of the execution of Sanguinius'?wishes with alacrity and sound judgement. Unlike those who fought at their command, they bore the burden of free will, of time to think and ponder as they would while the curse stalked them. They were the planners and strategists of?the crimson host, they directed battles and wars as lesser men directed symphonies, utilising each instrument at their command to its utmost. As the rank and file found peace in their studies, so too did each of the mighty become a master of many disciplines, those of the pen and brush as well as those of the blade and gun. Though they were not the singleminded fanatics of Legions such as Angrons red reapers or Guilliman's famed tacticians, there were few who could match them in the arts of war taken as a whole.

第二天球由軍團中的指揮官和領(lǐng)袖們組成，他們的實力和統(tǒng)御力僅次于圣吉列斯。他們承擔著指揮的責(zé)任，要用敏銳明智的判斷來執(zhí)行圣吉列斯的意愿。不同于那些在他們的指揮下作戰(zhàn)的軍團戰(zhàn)士們，他們背負著自由意志的負擔——在他們沉思時，他們承受的詛咒也會潛入他們的身心。他們是這支猩紅軍隊的計劃者與戰(zhàn)略家，如同寥寥數(shù)位指揮家就能指揮整場交響樂那樣，第二天球的軍官們能將自己手中的每支部隊都發(fā)揮出最大功效。隨著部隊中的戰(zhàn)士們在他們的研習(xí)中找到了平和，這些強大的指揮官們也都成為許多修行方面的大師，他們使用畫筆和繪刷就像使用爆彈槍和利刃那樣得心應(yīng)手。雖然圣血天使們并不像安格隆麾下的腥紅屠宰手或者基里曼麾下的著名戰(zhàn)術(shù)家那樣專心狂熱于某一方面，但作為整體時，幾乎沒有哪個軍團能在戰(zhàn)爭藝術(shù)上匹敵他們。

The First Sphere, the final demarcation of?Sanguinius' new Legion, comprised the ranks of?the Immortals. These warriors stood within the presence of?the Primarch; they did not operate within one of the Three Hundred Companies but as the guards and servants of?the Great Angel himself 。Each, when inducted into the ranks of the First Sphere, gave up his common name to take on another and gave up his identity to do the work of?the Primarch without guilt or regret. They were Sanguinius’wrath, his stern resolve and his watchful eyes each given form and purpose. Upon these warriors he depended for the most dangerous of?tasks, to fight upon those battlefields and to act upon those errands that would tarnish the soul and bring the hunger roaring to the fore. By the armour of the names and persona that the warriors of the First Sphere wore like their own, they put off the toll of?their actions and emerged from their service untarnished, to take their places in the ranks once again.

第一天球是圣吉列斯新軍團的最后一個層級，他們由不朽者部隊組成。這些戰(zhàn)士們會在原體出場時侍立他的身邊，他們并非在連隊中參與作戰(zhàn)，而是擔任大天使本人的衛(wèi)士和侍從。在被選拔進入第一天球時，受選者要放棄自己的本名并接受另一個名稱，他們也要放棄原有的身份，無愧無悔地執(zhí)行原體的意志。他們是執(zhí)行圣吉列斯的義憤與冷酷決斷、為原體監(jiān)視一切，他們每個人都被給予了形式和目標。圣吉列斯依靠這些勇士們來完成最危險的任務(wù)，他們會在那些恐怖的戰(zhàn)場上作戰(zhàn)，執(zhí)行那些讓靈魂都黯然失色的危險任務(wù)，將自己的血腥饑渴發(fā)泄到面前的敵人頭上。第一天球的戰(zhàn)士們身披帶有著原體賜予的名稱和身份的甲胄作戰(zhàn)時，就像披掛著自己的動力甲作戰(zhàn)時那樣熟稔勇毅，他們不顧作戰(zhàn)行動造成的損失，從自己對于原體意志的執(zhí)行中脫穎而出，再一次榮登榜首。

Legion Command Hierarchy

軍團等級體系

The lords of Sanguinius' crimson hosts bore many similarities to the strictures of?the Principia Bellicosa, but with a number of differences both large and small. Authority was strictly divided across the three Spheres of?the Legion, with each officer operating within his own place in the manner given him by the Primarch himself。 This strict, overlapping system of authority was less flexible than some Legions, but it afforded a solid line of responsibility and control that limited the effect of the Blood Angels' everpresent hunger and sudden rage. To mitigate the possibility of any breakdown of authority, the Blood Angels maintained a large number of junior officers, lieutenants and sergeants of varying types, all quickly able to take the place of the slain in the heat of battle.

圣吉列斯的緋紅天使軍團在結(jié)構(gòu)上與基礎(chǔ)軍典的要求有著諸多相似性，但也有著大大小小的諸多區(qū)別。權(quán)力在軍團三重天球體系中嚴格區(qū)分，每位軍官都按照原體給予的方式在自己的位置上服役。這套嚴格而交疊的權(quán)力體系不如其他軍團的靈活，但它提供了一條限制圣血天使們那無時無刻的血腥饑渴與突然的怒火的責(zé)任和控制的固定權(quán)力范圍，為了降低權(quán)力鏈條發(fā)生任何斷裂的可能性，圣血天使軍團保有大量的低級軍官，副官和各種類型的軍士，但他們的上級在激戰(zhàn)中犧牲時，他們能夠快速地接替位置。

On the field of battle, the line of authority was always drawn clearly for the Blood Angels and followed absolutely. To disobey or question orders was a grave sin, undertaken only in the most serious of situations and warranting the harshest of punishments, even if proven correct. Their duty was only to obey, the individual warrior worried not for anything but action, putting the hunger to the back of his mind while those appointed over him worried over consequences. In the Blood Angels, all authority stemmed directly from Sanguinius and flowed down from him, first to the lord commanders then to his captains and beyond in an unbroken and inviolable line. This feet kept his Legion centred and focused, each word from a sergeant in the heat of battle was the word of Sanguinius himself ，each nod from a captain a tilt of the Primarch's head itself。

在戰(zhàn)場上，圣血天使總是清楚地劃定職權(quán)范圍并且絕對遵循。違背或質(zhì)疑命令是一項重罪，這些行為只有在最為嚴峻的情況中才能被允諾，而且哪怕這些行為被證明是正確的，做出這些行為的人也必須接受最嚴厲的懲罰。他們的職責(zé)僅僅是遵守命令，單個的軍團戰(zhàn)士除了任務(wù)行動之外不得他顧，他們將自己的血腥饑渴拋諸腦后，至于后果則是由任命他們的軍官來關(guān)心，在圣血天使在，所有的權(quán)力都來源于圣吉列斯，并由他向下傳遞：原體首先將權(quán)力賦予軍團的領(lǐng)主指揮官們，之后賦予他的連長們，超越了一套牢不可破的權(quán)力規(guī)范。這套權(quán)力基礎(chǔ)使第九軍團冷靜且專注，激戰(zhàn)中軍士說出的每一句話都是原體本人的親言，連長的每一項贊同都有原體本人的首肯。

The Blood Angels also differed in small ways, as with many of the Legions they had their own titles and names for authority and a host of lesser divisions to suit their style. Those who held command over Hosts and had authority over lesser captains were known as Archeins rather than the old title of Praetor, and also held the title of Dominion?for a company. Within a company were a number of junior officers, the Powers who commanded the ranks of the company at war and the Virtues who stood as its exemplars in other endeavours. Many were known by the focus of?their devotion,?Archeins of Wisdom and Powers of the Blade, such distinctions a mark of?respect as much as a tactical designation in a Legion whose Primarch urged them to be more than simple weapons.

圣血天使們在某些小的方面也有所不同，就像許多軍團都有自己的關(guān)于權(quán)力的頭銜和名稱，以及一套與他們的風(fēng)格相適應(yīng)的下層分支。圣血天使軍團中那些指揮戰(zhàn)群、權(quán)力高于連長的軍官被稱為天弓統(tǒng)帥，而非以其舊有頭銜——軍團執(zhí)政官進行稱呼，而且還在連隊中擁有主天使的頭銜。連隊中還有很多下層軍官，力天使在戰(zhàn)爭中指揮連隊作戰(zhàn)，能天使們則是擔任其他方面的榜樣。許多軍官都以專注于自己的奉獻而聞名，天弓統(tǒng)帥們專注于智慧，力天使專注于劍技，這些區(qū)別性的稱呼不僅是表示受尊敬的標志，也是軍團中的戰(zhàn)術(shù)稱號——圣吉列斯敦促圣血天使們成為超越武器的存在。

War Disposition

戰(zhàn)爭配置

By the last years of the Great Crusade, the Blood Angels were among, if?not, the pre-eminent Legion of the Imperial Host 。The years since Sanguinius had taken charge of?the Legion had seen its revitalisation, a change so complete that few now even remembered the Revenant Legion of old. Once the half-forgotten rearguard of?the Great Crusade, now it stood at the forefront of every advance, and those who had once scorned it now sang its praises in every court of?the Emperor's far-flung domain. It was a fearsome fighting force, a breaker of empires and an ender of?worlds, and unshakeable in its loyalty to the Emperor. It was the strong foundation upon which the Imperium was being built, and while it still stood, that empire would not fall.

在大遠征末期，圣血天使軍團是最頂尖的軍團之一。圣吉列斯接手軍團以來的歲月見證了第九軍團的復(fù)興，改變是如此的徹底，以至于恐怕沒人還記得曾經(jīng)的幽魂軍團。曾經(jīng)，他們是大遠征中幾乎被遺忘的后衛(wèi)；現(xiàn)在，他們則是佇立在每次進攻的前鋒，那些曾鄙夷他們的人如今在帝皇遙遠領(lǐng)地的每個宮廷上頌唱著天使們的贊美詩。第九軍團是一支可怕的打擊力量，他們蕩滅偽帝國，終結(jié)（不愿歸順的）諸世界，對于帝皇有著無可動搖的忠誠；他們是人類帝國建立其上的堅實基礎(chǔ)，第九軍團依然佇立，人類帝國便不會隕落。

At any time, the Legion numbered near 120,000 warriors, accounting for casualties, made up of?to 300 individual companies, one of?the largest Legions in operation at that time, with perhaps only the vast throngs of?the Ultramarines and Iron Warriors on record as overmatching this strength. Each of these Hosts comprised a force , predisposed towards assault and orbital drop operations, with a large proportion of its infantry equipped for close quarters combat, and its vehicles primarily rigged for high speed strikes and breakthrough operations. With few defensive assets in comparison to more rounded Legions, they would be at a disadvantage if committed to a large scale conflict without operational initiative, but with the Great Crusade at its apex, such a situation seemed at the time unthinkable. This force was spread across the galaxy in a number of separate Hosts, each engaged in large scale operations, as well as custodial forces at each of?the Legion's main bases and redoubts 一 these being at Baal, Saiph and Canopus.

圣血天使軍團的人數(shù)在任何時候都是將近120000星際戰(zhàn)士包括人員傷亡，第九軍團由三百個獨立的連隊組成，也是當時最大的尚在運作的軍團之一，而且根據(jù)記錄，也只有極限戰(zhàn)士和鋼鐵勇士這兩個人數(shù)龐大的軍團能在兵力上上超過圣血天使。每個戰(zhàn)群都包含一支傾向于進行突擊和軌道空降行動的部隊，而且有相當大比例的軍團步兵配備了近戰(zhàn)武器，其載具也主要是為高速打擊和突破作戰(zhàn)而進行裝配。相比于其他更為全面的軍團，圣血天使幾乎沒有防御性裝備，如果在沒有主動優(yōu)勢的情況下陷入大規(guī)模沖突，他們將會處于不利地位。但是隨著大遠征到達了鼎盛時期，這種情況在當時似乎是不可思議的。圣血天使軍團會拆分為數(shù)個戰(zhàn)群，然后分散在銀河各處作戰(zhàn)，每個戰(zhàn)群都要負責(zé)一場大規(guī)模行動，軍團位于巴爾、Saiph和Canopus的每個主要基地和堡壘也都有衛(wèi)戍部隊。

Of these bases, Baal was the largest, for while the second moon remained sacrosanct for the native Blood, the empty rad-scoured world beneath was transformed by the Mechanicum of Anvillus at the invitation of?Sanguinius himself There, where no unmodified person could tread, the tech-adepts built a manufacturing site the envy of many smaller Forge Worlds, supplying much of the munitions and technical needs of?the IXth Legion. Baal, as the home world of?Sanguinius, warranted a large standing guard, a duty mainly fulfilled by the Crimson Paladins, though at least one company could normally be found at refit. Canopus also served as a manufacturing centre, though of lesser size and sophistication, producing vast quantities of shells and other simple munitions to feed the hungry cannon of the Legion. It was a common stopping point for troops bound outwards for the Great Crusade's frontlines, and many units were to be found at rest there. Saiph was the smallest of the Legion's permanent outposts, serving only as a source of recruits from among the world's endlessly warring tribes, and warranted but a single squad as custodians.

巴爾是這些基地中最大的。對于本地的血族們而言，巴衛(wèi)二仍然是神圣不可侵犯的世界，而來自Anvillus的機械神教成員們在圣吉列斯本人的邀請下前來轉(zhuǎn)變這個遍布輻射的空曠世界。在這個未經(jīng)改造的凡人無法忍耐的地方，技術(shù)侍僧們建立起了一座令小型鑄造世界都為之嫉妒的制造站，它供應(yīng)了第九軍團所需的大部分彈藥和技術(shù)造物。巴爾作為圣吉列斯的故鄉(xiāng)需要龐大的常備守衛(wèi)力量，這項職責(zé)主要由緋紅圣騎士們履行，不過通常也會有至少一個連隊的圣血天使們在巴爾修整。Canopus也是軍團的制造中心，不過規(guī)模和生產(chǎn)成熟度更低，為軍團饑渴的火炮們生產(chǎn)了大量的炮彈和其他簡單彈藥。對于前往大遠征前線的部隊來說，這是一個常見的修整點，我們能發(fā)現(xiàn)有很多單位在此處修整。Saiph是軍團最小的永久哨站，它只是一個兵源地——軍團從這個世界上征戰(zhàn)不休的部落中挑選新兵，只有一支小隊駐守此地。

The Legion's fleet assets were similarly impressive, boasting over 300 capital class ships, many of?them heavy cruisers or even battleships of various classes. Many of?these craft were outfitted to serve as orbital assault craft, mounting either banks of heavy linear cannon for use as bombardment weapons, launch rails for swarms of drop pods or vast hangar bays from which the large Stormbird or Thunderhawk dropships could operate.

軍團艦隊同樣令人印象深刻——艦隊中有超過300艘主力艦，其中很多都是重型巡洋艦甚至戰(zhàn)列艦，她們被裝配成了軌道突擊艦船，要么是安裝了用作轟炸武器的成排重型線列炮和用于發(fā)射大群空降倉的發(fā)射通道，要么就是帶有可供大型風(fēng)暴鳥或雷鷹空降艇運作的巨大機庫港。

Few among their brother Legions could match such a fleet for sheer firepower or mass, for the weakness of?the Blood Angels fleet lay in its single-minded obsession with a single stratagem. In terms of?support craft, the fleet was less amply supplied, with less than 600 sub-capital craft, mostly slower escort gunboats with little in the way of fast strike craft. This was another side effect of the Legion's singular focus, for such craft were rarely needed for their preferred strategy and speciality, save as screening assets for the larger cruisers.

幾乎沒有哪個兄弟軍團能在艦隊的純粹火力或質(zhì)量上匹敵圣血天使軍團，但圣血天使艦隊的弱點在于對單一戰(zhàn)略的一心一意。圣血天使艦隊在支援型艦船方面供應(yīng)不足，只有不到600艘次級艦船，而且大多數(shù)都是緩慢的護衛(wèi)跑船，很少使用快速攻擊艇。這是軍團專注于單一戰(zhàn)術(shù)的另一個副作用：軍團的特點和偏好的戰(zhàn)略幾乎不需要此類（快速）艦船，她們是充當大型巡洋艦的掃描設(shè)備。

In all, the Blood Angels constituted one of the greatest threats to Horus' nascent rebellion, they were easily a match for any Traitor Legion he cared to stand against them and their loyalty to the Emperor was unquestionable. Openly confronted, they would savage his forces and leave him ill-prepared for an assault on Terra, but left unopposed there could be no attack on Terra without the Blood Angels striking his exposed flanks. Some among his confederates urged the IXth Legion be destroyed in detail, its separate Hosts attacked while on-campaign and annihilated one at a time while they were vulnerable. Mortarion favoured this approach, for he of?all the brothers had the least love for the winged Primarch and his witch-dreams. Yet Lorgar convinced his warmaster that there was another way, a way to not only remove an obstacle but to gain an asset. A trap had been prepared and the Lord of the Word Bearers spoke to the Warmaster of Signus and a mark of?blood。

總之，圣血天使軍團被認為是荷魯斯籌備中叛亂的最大威脅之一。他們能輕松匹敵他們所關(guān)注的任何站在他們對立面的叛變軍團，而他們對于帝皇的忠誠也無可置疑。圣血天使軍團將在公開對決中摧毀荷魯斯的部隊，讓他無力準備對于泰拉的進攻。只有圣血天使不去進攻荷魯斯暴露出的側(cè)翼，戰(zhàn)帥才能進攻泰拉。荷魯斯的同盟中有人敦促戰(zhàn)帥徹底摧毀第九軍團，進攻那些分散的正在作戰(zhàn)中的圣血天使戰(zhàn)群，在他們尚且脆弱時一次一個地消滅他們。莫塔里安贊成這個計劃，因為他在所有兄弟中最討厭背生雙翼的天使原體和他的巫師之夢。而珞珈則說服他的戰(zhàn)帥有另一種去除威脅的方式——而且不僅能去除一個障礙，還能增加一份力量。懷言者之主已經(jīng)準備好了一個陷阱，珞珈向戰(zhàn)帥述說了西格納斯星系和鮮血標記。