Taber was the first to awaken of his squad, The needles removed already from his eyes. But instead of being a fresh slate, he was well aware of everything and more. The chapters secret missions, the collection of these unknown artifacts, the slaying of the innocent and even fellow loyal Astartes. This Ordo Templaris had a lot to answer for
"How do you feel?" Asked Havel as he checked over Taber's vital signs. Taber went to reply normally before realizing he was supposed to have had his mind erased. "Who are you? Where am I?" He quickly scrambled together trying not to give anything away.
"I am apothecary Havel of the Red Hunters, you are onboard the Falcons Talon an avenger class battlecruiser." Havel turned to reach over and grab a data slate. "Here read through this, it will answer all the basic questions." Taber took it and began to read. Mostly super simple stuff. His name, his squad number, names of his squad members stuff like that. Finally, at the end, it said to return to his quarters and await his squad so they could begin training.
Taber put the slate down and got up, flexing and stretching as he did making sure everything was working as normal. "Thank you apothecary I will be on my way." Taber got up wearing only a loose cotton tunic and pants. He began to walk towards the door, Havel's eyes watched him suspiciously. Taber was wracking his brain. Why was the apothecary eyeing him like that? Then it occurred to him he had nearly given himself away again. Turning on his heel to face the apothecary he tried to look stupid and say "actually where are my quarters?" He was going to have to be incredibly careful of his every move lest he gives away his secret.
Sitting in his quarters waiting for the rest of the squad he began to read over the content provided for newly wiped marines. He could recall what they said, his superhuman mind remembered everything he read. but this time he was looking for hints of information things that he would have overlooked before, any mentions of the black ops or the mention of a fourth inquisitorial Ordo. Reading it front to back twice he could deduce nothing of solid value. The only piece of the puzzle that he could grasp was that it would have to have something to do with the Memoir. How else could captain Coro be swayed so easily? They are the only ones who could run these missions and they must be the way into discovering the truth. Though Taber wasn't even sure how the secretive circle worked. Were all senior members part of the memoir? does that mean the entire upper rank is in league with these Templaris? Taber would seek out the veteran Terminator Oran Shrike, he was always a friend to the sergeant and one of the most generally respected Astartes in the company. surely he would be able to provide some insight. That made Taber wonder, surely the veteran squads are exempt from mind wipes?
next through the door was Sergeant Achillies, though he didn't look quite himself still glassy-eyed he looked lost. Taber made the sign of the Aquilla and said. "Welcome Sergeant, I am Ikanis Taber and I have finished my refresher studies and await your orders." The sergeant seemed to look right through him. "I will tend to my own studies while we await the rest of the squad."
Looking at the sergeant made Taber wonder what were the long term effects of so much tampering with the mind. Even for an Astartes, there were limits. he stood at a steel bench, his bolter dismantled in front of him as he meticulously cleaned and polished each piece using the spare time to make sure everything was perfect.
The others had arrived now and were doing their data slate studies, each one slowly recovering a bit of identity as they began to understand the world around them. Taber found it interesting how personality didn't seem to change regardless of memory loss. Oritar seemed to recover his jovial attitude rather quickly, while Artorias sat so perfectly straight while he read that it looked like a power sword was jammed up his rear.
Once they had all finished Achillies called in serf artisans to fit the squad's power armour, each Astartes feeling more at home as the sensors melded with their bodies, making them truly whole and amplifying their genehanced bodies even further. They collected their weapons and headed to the firing range where the real retraining would begin. Picking up his dual swords and attaching them to his hip Taber tried not to look impatient, trying to figure out a time he could go and see Shrike without looking suspicious.
At the range, they unloaded magazine after magazine, although it seemed unnecessary. with or without memories an Astartes was a superhuman war machine. shooting a weapon or swinging a blade was the same to them as the involuntary act of breathing. Even when the Squad began to drill formations and combat situations all the skill was there already. it just needed to be refined. making sure each movement fits the exact timings of the rest of the squad.
After hours of drills, they moved to the fighting pits. sparring and drilling the specialised close combat styles was the final part of the refresh. Though still, it would be weeks before they would be considered deployment ready. Looking around the sand fighting pits Taber could see endless styles clashing, the air was wet with sweat and blood as bothers tested their mettle against one another. none wanting to admit their adopted style had been bested by another.
From across the room, someone had spotted them and left his fighting pit mid-combat. It was Yasin "ah crap." Thought Taber, "Ares has no idea what he's even done." The shorter Astartes beelined straight for Ares. "You!" he bellowed. "I challenge you to a Blood duel." Taber flinched, Blood duels were incredibly rare. The fighting pits rules were few but generally, a fight was over if you could position for a fatal blow or make your opponent yield by some form of submission. A blood duel, however, would continue until one Astartes collapsed from blood loss. It was well known that on the rare occurrence that a blood duel happened one or both Astartes had a very slim chance of survival.