"So, you're going to the moon to assassinate Saburo Arasaka?"
In the conference room of The Black Sapphire, V, Rebecca, Lucy, Maine, Jackie, and the other members of the Kindling Squad sat on either side of a long table. At this moment, everyone was staring at Mercer with looks of utter disbelief.
Mercer simply sat in his seat and nodded calmly. "Yes. Due to the seat limitations on the manned rocket, I plan to go with V."
"Just the two of you?" Rebecca immediately objected. "No! I don't agree!"
She stared at Mercer with a serious expression, none of her usual lightheartedness present. "Two people going to Arasaka's lunar base to assassinate Saburo Arasaka? Are you kidding me?"
Even V couldn't help but try to reason with him. "Look... if you asked me to go blow up Arasaka Tower with you, I'd say fine. But go to the moon to blow up Arasaka's lunar base? Mercer, that's a bit too much."
"Putting everything else aside, how do you plan to get up there, carry out the assassination, and then get back?" Jackie asked, his face a mask of confusion. "I really can't imagine it... This sounds no different from a suicide mission."
The group murmured amongst themselves, almost unanimously opposing Mercer's decision. Lucy's face was cold as she stated bluntly, "If you're planning to do this, then I'd rather we just give up on assassinating Saburo Arasaka altogether. Have you ever considered what would happen to those of us left on Earth if something went wrong?"
Lucy's words plunged the conference room into a dead silence. She had voiced what was on everyone's mind.
They would rather abandon the plan to assassinate Saburo Arasaka than watch Mercer go to the moon to die.
Mercer, however, remained calm. "Let me explain my plan first..."
The group fell silent, waiting to hear what kind of madness he was spouting.
Without wasting words, Mercer used Morning Star to project a 3D model of the moon in AR above the conference table.
It had to be said, having an AI was truly convenient. It even saved him the trouble of making a PowerPoint presentation. A directly synthesized 3D model was concise and clear.
"Here is Arasaka's lunar base, and here is the Crystal Palace. Normally, the Arasaka Base is resupplied via the Crystal Palace space station, which is in lunar orbit. It happens once a week, at a more or less fixed time."
Mercer paused, then continued, "And here is Orbital Air's lunar base."
He pointed with his finger, and three red dots lit up on the AR projection of the moon.
"My plan is to first take an Orbital Air shuttle directly to their lunar base. Then, we'll use a Lunar Rover from their base to mobilize, reach the Arasaka Base, and swiftly eliminate all personnel inside to assassinate Saburo Arasaka.
If all goes well, the Arasaka Base should have a lifepod that can return directly to Earth. We can just take that back.
If not, or if it's destroyed, we can also fake that the base is operating normally and wait for the Orbital Air shuttle to arrive for a supply run. We'll hijack the shuttle, return to the Crystal Palace, and then take a rocket from there back to Earth."
Lucy cut in directly, "How are you going to get on an Orbital Air rocket to their base, and how are you going to get a vehicle to go to the Arasaka Base? And how can you guarantee you'll successfully get inside to assassinate Saburo Arasaka?"
"I have a friend who is currently negotiating a deal with the rogue AI that likely controls Orbital Air. The AI wants to get some information about the Blackwall from her, as well as some data and equipment from the Cynosure facility. We'll use this transaction as an opportunity to go to the moon, disguised as her bodyguards."
The moment Mercer finished, Lucy followed up, "How do you know they won't just take you into custody the second you land? On the moon, you'll be isolated and without support, and they'll obviously be wary of you..."
"So, our first step is to take care of Orbital Air's lunar base, and that AI."
As soon as Mercer said this, Lucy couldn't help but let out a short, derisive laugh. "So before you even deal with Saburo Arasaka, you're going to make a move against Orbital Air and a rogue AI on the moon?"
Mercer nodded. Lucy shook her head and cast her vote against it. "I disagree. If this is your plan, I will never vote in favor of it."
V scratched her head. "Take a rocket, go to Orbital Air's base, wreck the place, and then just to steal a car and leave... then drive across the moon straight for the Arasaka Base? This plan is way too crude, Mercer."
"Strictly speaking, our goal isn't just to steal a car and leave. I'm hoping to take this opportunity to wipe out Orbital Air's lunar base as well."
Mercer explained simply, "The rogue AI currently controlling Orbital Air is named Lilith. In fact, she is an extremely dangerous, anti-human AI. She also possesses a super program capable of influencing human will and altering an AI's core. We're dealing with Saburo Arasaka for the sake of peace. By the same token, dealing with Lilith is for the same goal. It's something that has to be done sooner or later. Since the opportunity is here, why not take care of it all at once?"
V rubbed her temples. "So our objective this time isn't just to assassinate Saburo Arasaka, but also to try and take out the mastermind behind a major corporation like Orbital Air, a super rogue AI? Being a superhero is way too hard."
"Correct. If everything goes smoothly, the super virus I've developed could even directly alter Lilith's core programming. Even if it can't, Lilith definitely won't be able to deal with my virus in the short term. That will give us enough time to get to the Arasaka Base."
Mercer then said, "After that, we'll do three things at the Arasaka Base. First, eliminate Saburo Arasaka.
"Second, use the orbital weapon Arasaka has deployed on the moon to directly destroy the underground Arasaka Base in Tokyo, ensuring Saburo Arasaka's complete death.
"Third, find a way to directly destroy the Super Server Lilith has set up on the moon. Without the server, Lilith will be like a plant without roots. With only her Mars server left, she won't be able to stir up much trouble."
V shook her head and said, "I really can't imagine how we're supposed to accomplish so many things on the moon. Mercer, it's only because it's you saying this that I'm even thinking about it seriously. If it were anyone else, I'd think they were insane."
Despite her words, V's meaning was clear, she thought Mercer's plan was really a bit unreliable.
Rebecca also objected directly. "I feel like even if we had Pilar draw up an action plan for you, it wouldn't sound this ridiculous... Mercer, I disagree."
Lucy said directly, "Let's vote. If this is your plan, I'm against it."
"Uh, I also... I also think it's a bit unreliable. Mercer, you should really think it over," Jackie said, hesitantly casting a vote against it.
Maine and Dorio exchanged a look. Maine spoke up, "I abstain. I think you really need to think this over, Mercer... This plan really does sound like a decision you made on a whim."
"Opposed," Rebecca said without hesitation, casting her vote.
Kiwi said softly, "I don't think we need to take risks that we shouldn't have to bear in the first place, whether it's the assassination of Saburo or the matter with Lilith... In short, this has nothing to do with whether the plan is reliable. I'm simply against this kind of self-inflicted trouble."
Mercer watched with a calm expression. Then, Sasha abstained, and Dorio abstained as well. Pilar, under Rebecca's gaze, changed his abstention to a vote against.
Kyoko was only there to listen in, but she also timidly cast a vote against. "I'm just saying, Mercer, why don't we just give up on the moon thing and wait for Saburo Arasaka to come back to Earth? That Lilith thing sounds like bad news."
In a rare occurrence, Mercer's proposal was rejected by an almost unanimous vote. Finally, only V was left. She hesitated, then said, "I'll vote in favor... Not because I think your plan is good, but mainly because if there's no other choice, the two of us can give it a shot."
V said magnanimously, "The Arasaka business has to be dealt with sooner or later. If we have a chance to eliminate the problem for good now, it's better than waiting for that old bastard Saburo to recover and come after Mercer again. Besides, this plan is so ridiculous that even we think it's bullshit. From anyone else's perspective, no one would dare to do something like this."
Mercer looked at everyone and sighed. "I know you all must think this plan is a bit crude..."
"It's too damn crude," Rebecca interjected irritably.
Mercer shrugged, but then said, "But from the looks of it, the success rate I've simulated for this plan is surprisingly high."
He first pointed to Orbital Air's lunar base. "Here, as far as I know, the number of professional soldiers is just over fifty, and they're a bunch of militiamen who have probably never seen a real fight in their lives. Lilith doesn't trust humans, so whether it's the server or the base, most of the defenses are handled by unmanned devices. So here's the question..."
Mercer pointed at the lunar base and said in an intrigued tone, "Tell me, what's the difference between using unmanned devices against a netrunner like me and serving up a free meal? Even if Lilith or a rogue AI she dispatches is commanding the devices, to me... it makes no difference."
Mercer spoke with complete confidence. "The new virus I've developed will teach this rogue AI a good lesson."
"As for the Arasaka Base, I..." Before Mercer could finish, Lucy stood up abruptly. "I disagree. If your virus is really that powerful, you don't even need to go to the moon. Just use the virus from Earth to take care of Lilith first."
She left that one sentence hanging in the air, then turned with a cold expression and walked out of the conference room. The others looked at each other, and finally, Rebecca also shook her head, stood up, and said, "Mercer, I will definitely not agree to you and V going to the moon to do something so dangerous... You should really rethink this."
As Rebecca also sighed and turned to leave, the others in the conference room felt even more like they were sitting on pins and needles. Mercer blinked and said simply, "Alright, I'll think about it some more... Meeting adjourned for now."
After the meeting was dismissed, the others left their seats, talking in low voices. Only V remained. Once everyone else was temporarily gone, she turned to Mercer and said, "What are you really thinking? Are you planning to throw out a ridiculous plan first, and then propose a more reasonable one? Is this that 'tear off the roof' strategy you always talk about?"
"No," Mercer said directly. "This is exactly what I plan to do."
V gave a helpless laugh. "Then you'd better find a way to convince them. I think this is a bit too ridiculous too, Mercer."
But Mercer just said calmly, "That's because you don't know what kind of power I command now."
V was taken aback, then frowned at him. "You're not going to switch to a more reliable plan?"
"Hmm..." Mercer propped his chin on his hand and said with a smile, "How about we skip the step of finding Lilith and just alter the landing coordinates of the Orbital Air shuttle to go straight for the Arasaka Base? Swapping the manned spacecraft for a missile-carrying one isn't a bad idea either. We'll have to find a way to get a nuclear warhead..."
"I honestly can't tell if you're joking or being serious..." V sized up Mercer with a look of astonishment. "Did you really fry your brain on the net? Maybe you should go see Vik for a cognitive assessment?"
Mercer sighed, then just looked at V and said seriously, "Assuming it's just you and me... are you willing to get on that ship with me? Even if this plan sounds like a suicide mission."
This time, V truly understood. He wasn't joking, nor was he playing some kind of psychological game, like threatening to tear off the roof just to open a window. But, seriously, you're for real?
"Then how will you convince them?" V asked in return. "Even if I'm willing to go crazy with you, you saw it yourself. Lucy and Rebecca both think you've lost your mind."
"Then we don't convince them. The two of us just go," Mercer's words made V laugh in disbelief. "What, are we staging a dictatorship now?"
"Just think of it as us taking a private gig. We don't need everyone's approval for a private gig, right?"
As Mercer spoke, V hesitated, not replying, only saying, "I'll think about it. You need to think about it too, Mercer. This is no small matter!"
Mercer nodded. After watching V turn and leave, he sat alone in the empty conference room, one hand propping up his chin, sipping a NiCola.
The voice of Morning Star sounded in his ear.
[Morning Star: Master, I think you should first show them your Blacklight virus. Once they realize how deadly the virus in your hands is, they certainly won't think you're spouting fantasies.]
[Mercer: The risks are indeed objective. Even with Blacklight, the probability of an accident is not low. From a certain perspective, it's not wrong to say I'm on a suicide mission.]
[Morning Star: How about, as Miss Lucy suggested, we try sending the Blacklight virus from Earth to the moon via the net to test its effects?]
[Mercer: You know as well as I do that if we do that, they can just disconnect from the net, causing us to lose control of Blacklight. Who knows what kind of chaos Blacklight would cause on the lunar network then? The Blacklight virus hasn't been tested on a large scale in a real combat situation. What if it escalates the conflict during a cyberwar... I would cause a catastrophe more terrible than Bartmoss. I'd rather go to the moon and deploy the virus directly into their local network, ensuring the Blacklight virus is under my control at all times, rather than conducting an experiment over the net.]
[Morning Star: Then perhaps we should have just done it directly, instead of holding this meeting. You knew they wouldn't agree.]
[Mercer: They need time to prepare and digest it. Anyway, it'll take some effort for Songbird to get to Dogtown. We also need to prepare a few Behavioral Imprint-Synced Faceplates for our little trip to the moon.]
Mercer didn't plan on using his real identity this time. He planned to prepare a set of Behavioral Imprint-Synced Faceplates for the moon mission to conceal his true identity.
Thanks to Dogtown's closed-off and independent nature, as well as his usual low-profile style, he was confident he could leave Dogtown for a short period without being discovered.
Even if someone guessed his identity, as long as there was no actual proof, he wouldn't have to fear any trouble later on.
What Mercer was about to do was no small thing. If his identity wasn't kept under wraps, it could easily lead to big trouble.
For example, retaliation from Orbital Air. And even if Saburo Arasaka died and Yorinobu Arasaka took over, he couldn't openly let his father's killer go. Even if it was just for show, Mercer would have to play along.
As for the Behavioral Imprint-Synced Faceplates that could fake his identity, Mercer didn't need to worry about how to steal them from Militech anymore. With his current skills and resources, making two sets himself was a piece of cake.
Mercer sat for a while, then slowly got up.
In any case, he had stated his plan. Although everyone had tacitly opposed his decision, it didn't mean he would give up on his simple and brutal moon mission.
The current plan seemed crude because the details hadn't been filled in yet. The next step was to make this seemingly absurd plan feasible.
He felt that as long as the plan was gradually fleshed out and the details were filled in, allowing everyone to see that his plan was indeed feasible, they would eventually agree with his idea.
The reason he had thrown this idea out now was mainly to give everyone a chance to mentally prepare.
He couldn't just suddenly tell everyone he was going to the moon right before the operation, could he?
However, just as he walked out the door, Mercer was stopped by Lucy.
In fact, after leaving the conference room, she had been standing right by the door, her face cold and silent.
When she saw Mercer appear, she didn't waste any words. She just reached out, grabbed Mercer's arm, and walked straight ahead.
The other members at the conference room door looked at each other, but in the end, no one said a word, letting her drag Mercer away.
Everyone tacitly agreed that Mercer deserved a stern talking-to, a good talking-down.
After pulling Mercer into the elevator and pressing a floor button, Lucy was silent for a moment. Then, she suddenly turned her head and stared intently at Mercer. "Mercer... where is the Rapid Cloning unit?"
"What?" Mercer looked somewhat surprised.
But Lucy mercilessly exposed him. "Stop pretending! Tell me, where is that Rapid Cloning unit we got from Biotechnica!"