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 0400
Morning Prayer
Day is begun with morning prayer and contemplation within
the Company Chapel, led by the Company Chaplain. The
Company standard and relics are displayed and the brethren
repeat their oaths of loyalty to the Chapter and the
Emperor. At this juncture the Captain may choose to
address the brethren, issue orders, make any appropriate
announcements (such as awards and promotions) and dispense
summary punishments as deemed necessary.
0500 Morning Firing Rites
After prayer is complete the brethren undertake the
first firing rites of the day. A variety of weaponry
is used but the emphasis is placed on practice with
the Space Marine's personal weaponry. Awards are made
for consistently good marksmanship and punishments are
inflicted for poor weapon discipline and accuracy. The
firing rites may be undertaken in the ranges located
in the armoury or outside the fortress.
0700 Battle Practice
The first battle practice of the day is generally geared
towards hand-to-hand combat and close quarter fighting.
The exact procedures followed vary immensely but often
include numerous live-firing exercises and simulated
battle conditions in a number of lethal or non-lethal
environments. For this reason (and for reasons of defence)
most of the Space Marine fortress monasteries are often
situated in extremely inhospitable areas be they arctic,
volcanic, corrosive, swamp, carnivorous jungle or a
combination thereof.
 1200
Midday Prayer
The brethren are gathered once more to give praise to
the Emperor and their Primarch. During extended battle
practice such prayer may be undertaken in the field,
potentially while live-firing exercises continue. At
this time any brethren severely injured in the morning
battle practice are transported to the Apothacarion.
1300 Midday Meal
The Space Marines partake of their first sustenance
of the day at this juncture. Frequently this will be
a substance inedible to ordinary humans or a local lifeform
which is hunted and slain during the morning battle
practice.
1315 Tactical Indoctrination
Hypnotherapy and psychoconditioning are used to rapidly
assimilate the Chapter tactical doctrines on a number
of subjects. New battle languages are learned, alien
weaponry, troops and vehicles are studied. Squad and
company tactics are reviewed and lessons learned from
the morning battle practice are examined.
1500 Battle Practice
Afternoon battle practice usually revolves around squad
and company level tactics and reinforcement of
the tactical
indoctrination segment. Specialist squads such as devastators
and assault troops will often use this opportunity
to
hone their particular skills while the tactical brethren
practice close support with Dreadnoughts, armour
and
personnel carriers.
2000 Evening prayer
Evening prayer is viewed as a time for contemplation
and giving thanks for the day's lessons learned. Once
more praise is rendered to the Emperor and the Chapter's
Primarch for the inception and existence of the Chapter.
Gene-seed sampling may be undertaken at this time as
it has by now been stimulated by the day's activities.
2100 Evening Meal
The evening meal is a more sedate affair than that at
midday, with a substantial repast provided by the Chapter's
serfs under the watchful eye of the Lord of the Household.
Substantial quantities of protein rich food are made
available, particularly to the younger brethren. Indulgent
Chapter Masters may even permit the brethren to partake
of alcoholic beverages at this time if the day's activities
have been expertly done.
 2130
Night Fighting Exercises
Chapters based on worlds where there is no perceptible
night segment, or on ships in the void use this opportunity
to practice combat underwater, in zero gravity, through
dense fog or smoke or in other exotic conditions.
2315 Maintenance Rituals
Each Space Marine is expected to maintain and repair
his own armour and weaponry according to standard rituals.
Seriously damaged or defective gear is surrendered to
the Master of the Forge for inspection and repair. Every
effort is made to ensure that a Space Marine keeps the
same set of equipment after their investiture so that
they develop a close bond and understanding of the machine
spirits they will rely on in battle.
2345 Free Time
Some Chapter Masters view this period of free time as
an unwarranted luxury at best and a dangerous distraction
at worst. It is maintained in most Chapters out of reverence
for the Codex Astartes and Roboute Guilliman's words.
"Consider (the) magnitude of your duty at your
leisure, but act without hesitation when (action) is
required." In honour of this Space Marines are
permitted a short period of leisure each day to consider
the magnitude of their duty to the Emperor.
0000 Rest Period Begins
Space Marines do not truly need sleep thanks to the
Catalepscan Node -- an implant in their brain that enables
them to rest half of their brain at a time whilst still
maintaining awareness with the other half. However extended
interference with the circadian rhythms of sleep has
been shown to impair efficiency and induce personality
disorders. To prevent this Space Marines enter a dreamless
fugue state for four hours per day when not on campaign.
The longest recorded incident of a Space Marine unit
going without sleep was during the Ryan's World incident
(Ref. 061.24/A) when the Crimson Fists remnants led
by master Kantor remained operational for a period of
328.7 standard hours.
Complied from information
supplied by the Black Consuls, Salamanders, Fleshtearers,
Ultramarines and Silver Skulls Chapters. Additional
notes are culled from the Codex Astartes (M38.transcription)
and personal commentary by Captain Alhaus of the Black
Templars.
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Notes:
Many Chapter Masters
and Company Captains favour changing times and
details of the daily ritual to keep their brethren
alert and able to quickly assimilate new orders
or situations. Interruption of the rest period
is frequent and the elimination of meals and the
shortening of prayer times commonplace.
All Chapters have
high days or feast days which usually celebrate
the ascendance of the Emperor to the Golden Throne
and the birth and death of their own Primarch
(the actual dates observed for these practices
vary immensely). On such special days all members
of the Chapter who are present at the fortress
will gather in the Assimularum for prayers led
by the Chapter Master followed by a day long celebration
which traditionally includes contests of skill
and strength. This is also the traditional time
for the acceptance of Neophytes, the elevation
of Neophytes to Initiates, and the elevation of
Initiates to Full Brethren. When there are worthy
candidates, brethren may also be accepted into
the Veteran company on a feast day. In all cases
trials by ordeal are common, and in some cases
fatal.
Typically brethren
with special skills are permitted to work in the
forges or the Apothacarion between the evening
meal and rest period at the discretion of the
Company Captain. There they are taught by the
Techmarines or Apothecaries in their arcane crafts.
Exceptional artisans and chirurgeons will be elevated
to apprentice Techmarines or Apothecaries after
a suitable period spent in vigil within the Solitorium.
The honour of
guarding the Chapter Fortress is generally rotated
between the 1st through 5th Companies according
to which are present at the time. The 6th through
9th (reserve) companies train more regularly as
they bear the majority of the Chapters most recently
inducted brethren.
Brethren undertake
penitence and purgation if they fail in their
duties. This is usually self-imposed as a mark
of dedication to the Emperor. Gross breaches of
Chapter law may be met with death or exile of
permanent or temporary nature (temporary exile
is usually linked to the achievement of a specified
goal).
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