Chapter 290: Memory Clearance
"Then, this 'Sandevistan' cybernetic," Inquisitor Karras pressed, his tone carrying a sense of urgency: "Can it be mass-produced?
"I mean, if I want to form an 'Iron Guard' squad entirely operated by similar pilots, what price must be paid?
"The Inquisition needs replicable combat power, not isolated cases."
Ryo's answer remained pragmatic: "It is technically feasible. The implantation surgery for this model of Sandevistan carries certain complexity and risks, requiring the recipient to have good physical compatibility.
"But essentially, it falls under the category of deep cybernetic modification.
"As long as you, Lord Inquisitor, can provide suitable, willing recruits and bear the corresponding resource costs for the modification, I can arrange for such surgeries.
"Of course, the subsequent neural link piloting training is equally important."
"Modification resources are not an issue," Inquisitor Karras responded decisively. Internal factions within the Inquisition often wielded considerable budgets and resource allocation authority, especially when it came to enhancing their own martial power.
"As for recruits, I have plenty of loyal Stormtrooper volunteers eager to become stronger. As long as the technology is reliable and the effects are conclusive, I believe not only myself, but my sector's Inquisition Ordo, and even my mentor, upon learning of the 'Iron Guard's potential, will develop a keen interest and be willing to invest resources for procurement and deployment." His words revealed his optimism about the technology's prospects and his confidence in recommending it to his superiors.
"Excellent." A trace of imperceptible satisfaction seemed to leak from Ryo's synthesized voice. "Then, we have reached a preliminary cooperative intent. Specific details, including the number of prototype deliveries, data exchange protocols, and specific quotes and processes for modification services, can be discussed in person when it is convenient for you to visit my laboratory on Nexum."
"I will finish handling the subsequent purification and reporting matters on Vesta Prima as soon as possible," Inquisitor Karras confirmed. "I expect to depart for Nexum to visit you within three standard days."
As the communication was about to end, Ryo seemed to remember something and added a sentence, his tone flat but carrying an unquestionable reminder: "Additionally, Inquisitor, regarding the memories of encountering Chaos corruption and some performance details of the 'Iron Guard' this time... The group of people under me are quite handy, and I do not wish to replace them for the time being. You know how to handle it."
Inquisitor Karras immediately grasped Ryo's underlying meaning.
He responded in a deep voice: "Understood, Lord Magos. The contaminating nature of Chaos knowledge must be isolated. For valuable and loyal non-Inquisition personnel, we have a standard memory shielding procedure designed to safely erase specific dangerous memory fragments rather than conducting physical purification.
"I will personally supervise to ensure the process is safe and effective, and will not negatively impact their ability to serve you subsequently."
He gave a clear promise, dispelling Ryo's concerns.
"Excellent, looking forward to your visit." After Ryo finished speaking, he cleanly ended the communication.
Inside the pre-processing area, the silence after the communication was cut fell once more, but the atmosphere was already different.
Inquisitor Karras turned to Maine. Although his face still bore the Inquisitor's characteristic seriousness, the sharpness in his eyes had softened slightly. "Your Magos has agreed to cooperate. Now, we need to handle the aftermath."
His gaze swept over the squad members. "Regarding what you saw and heard here just now, especially that Chaos symbol and the blasphemous scenes associated with it, they inherently carry the trait of mental corruption.
"For your own safety, and to avoid the inadvertent spread of forbidden knowledge, a memory sorting is required.
"This is a standard procedure and will not cause you permanent harm; it simply removes specific dangerous information."
The members of Maine's squad exchanged glances.
They instinctively felt repulsed and uneasy about "memory clearance," but having witnessed the Chaos Sorcerer's bizarre power and the Bloodletters' terror with their own eyes, they knew the Inquisitor was speaking the truth.
More importantly, this was an agreement reached between Magos Ryo and the Inquisitor; it was the condition that saved them from the brink of "purification."
Maine took a deep breath. As the captain, he was the first to state his position: "We will cooperate."
He knew that in this universe, some rules had to be followed, especially when it concerned basic survival.
Under the arrangement of the technical personnel of the Tempestus Scions directly under the Inquisitor, Maine, Valerie, Jackie, Rebecca, Dorio, Pilar, Falco, and Mower successively underwent a precise neural scan and memory intervention procedure.
The process was not painful, more like a deep hypnosis. Accompanied by specific frequencies and chemical preparations, their detailed memories regarding the Eight-Pointed Star symbol, the Chaos Sorcerer's specific appearance and profane ritual, and the descent of the Bloodletters were carefully located, blurred, and ultimately sealed or overwritten.
They would only remember suppressing a factory riot incited by heretics, cooperating with the Inquisition to eliminate a dangerous psyker leader, and the successful live combat test of the "Iron Guard." But the specific details of the Chaos corruption became fragmented, like looking through a thick fog, no longer possessing clear concepts or contaminating properties.
After completing the memory processing, Inquisitor Karras did not linger.
He left behind some Stormtroopers and Planetary Defense Force soldiers to handle the final cleanup and sanitization of the factory area. He himself, along with his core guards and that Imperial Fists Astartes, left first to prepare for the trip to Nexum.
Maine's squad—carrying exhaustion, a slight sense of trance from the memory intervention, and two "Iron Guard" prototypes whose armor bore numerous scratches and scorch marks from the fierce battle—boarded the transport ship returning to the upper starport.
The transport ship broke free from Vesta Prima's gravity well, heading in the direction of Nexum.
Inside the cabin, the team members were mostly silent, resting or checking their equipment.
Although their memories had been processed, the tension of the battle and the lingering shock of witnessing supernatural powers had not completely dissipated.
Jackie leaned against the bulkhead, looking at Valerie who was resting with her eyes closed opposite him. He couldn't help but whisper to Maine beside him: "Maine, seriously... that last hit, how did V do it?
"I seem to remember a little bit, but also seem unclear... It just felt like a flash, and that monster was in two pieces."
He scratched his head, looking somewhat confused.
Maine rubbed the scar on his chin. His memory was also somewhat blurred, but the scene of Valerie piloting the Iron Guard and erupting instantly was like a strong impression branded deep in his consciousness, even though the details were unclear.
He said in a deep voice, "Don't ask too much. Remember we completed the mission and tested the equipment, that's enough. The rest... isn't for us to delve into."
Valerie opened her eyes. Her face was still a bit pale; the load from the high-intensity use of the Sandevistan and neural link hadn't fully recovered.
Hearing Jackie and Maine's conversation, she didn't join in. She merely frowned slightly, trying to recall the final fragments of the battle, but only felt a slight headache and blurred visual flashbacks.
She shook her head, no longer forcing herself to remember, and turned her attention to the self-diagnostic data of the cybernetic systems in her body.
Rebecca fiddled with her Plasma Cannon, muttering, "Who cares, blew that bastard away anyway! Just a pity I didn't get the chance to blast those flaming things with this big guy."
Her memory lingered more on the scenes of bombarding the altar with the plasma cannon and engaging the bandits earlier.
Dorio quietly wiped the dried blood off her gauntlets, while Pilar and Falco checked their respective equipment wear and tear. Mower still sat in the corner like a shadow, as if everything had nothing to do with her.
They knew this mission was just the beginning.
And they were gradually adapting to its cruel rules, and relying on the new power obtained from Ryo, striving to find their place and way of survival within it.
(End of Chapter)