"Nerve recovery takes some time, headaches are normal. Take a puff, it's anti-inflammatory and pain-relieving. Once you get back from the Moon, just take your time to recover." Mercer tossed her a can of anti-inflammatory healing spray.
Lark took it and inhaled a few puffs: "Not strong enough..."
"I don't stock those potent 'special drugs.'" Mercer rolled his eyes and then checked the time: "Let's go. I've prepared a set of equipment for you too. Let's take a look first. Once confirmed, we need to send the equipment to the airport in advance."
"How does special equipment pass security?" Lark looked at Mercer quizzically.
But Mercer just smiled: "While you were unconscious, I borrowed your contact to have Lilith prepare a VIP fast track for us with Orbital Aviation.
The equipment is even easier—not long ago I hacked the airport's unmanned devices. Our equipment will bypass security and be sent directly to the spacecraft by these devices."
"...Alright then." V sighed and finally just looked at Mercer, seriously saying: "It's already five in the afternoon, and from here to the terminal it takes only an hour. Before leaving... don't you want to say something to them?"
Mercer was silent for a moment, finally nodding: "First let's check the equipment, make the final modifications and preparation, then send the equipment to the airport in advance. After that... I will say a brief goodbye to them."
He seemed rather calm and composed: "After all, it's not like life and death parting, just a nod is enough."
"Only you think it's not!" V pouted: "Only I am willing to risk my life with you."
Although V's attitude seemed a bit rude, Mercer just smiled: "Ha, I'm really lucky to have the famous V with me. This little mission is a sure hit."
"Cut it out... Let's go and see how prepared you really are."
V gave him a somewhat annoyed slap and helped the seemingly weak Lark up: "Why not wait for her to recover before the surgery? She's going half helpless like this."
"She's just bait... Don't look at me like that. You don't think your task ends just by going to the Moon with me, do you?"
Mercer looked at Lark and under her frustrated and uneasy gaze, retrieved a chip: "Inside this is my super virus. When you get there, find a way to toss it to Lilith.
You can either insert it directly into the computer at Lilith's base or trick Lilith into downloading the file. In short, complete this task and you can return to Earth with V."
"If this is your way of dealing with Lilith... why don't we just try to send it from Earth?" Lark looked at Mercer puzzled.
Mercer didn't bother explaining again, simply said: "I need to ensure that Lilith's forces on the Moon are annihilated, forcing her to make a choice.
If it's just about saving herself and escaping back to the Orbital Aviation's server in Mars's colonization area, she can forget about easily interfering with Earth again.
If she wants to take the risk to preserve the Moon Base, then we'll hit her both ways: online with the virus and physically destroy the Orbital Aviation's Moon Base."
Lark and V followed Mercer out of the operation room, not far down the hall, reaching Mercer's equipment development room at the stadium.
V immediately spotted several special large backpacks and three sets of single-soldier armor in black-red color scheme looking bulkier than those she currently wears.
"What's this? Single soldier armor for space combat? Wow, you really made it!" She recognized the armor's design purpose from more thruster nozzles and oxygen backpacks.
"Actually, it's the same model, just added a sealed layer, helmet design also modified to be more durable and less prone to knock-off, closed-style design.
It ensures stability in air pressure within the suit in space, cooperating with the oxygen backpack, most backpacks can provide us two hours of high-intensity oxygen.
There are also various odds and ends that assist our survival in space."
Mercer spoke while motioning V to check out other items.
"What's this? Looks like an electromagnetic sniper rifle..." She played with it curiously.
"The gravity in space causes unstable trajectories. This is specially calibrated for lunar gravity, a new type of electromagnetic weapon."
Mercer explained, while Lark was also amazed: "Did you make these yourself?"
"Who else but him?" V couldn't help boasting, then eagerly explored the equipment room, looking here and there.
"What's this?"
"Bomb, similar to C4 with a timer, can be used for demolition on a space station or Moon Base, don't be fooled by its brick-like size, its explosive power is impressively strong with high adhesion capability.
Peel off the seal, stick on, press the switch to set the timer, simple and direct."
"What about this?"
"Signal booster chip, everyone needs one. To keep stable communication and network on the Moon, we rely on this to connect directly to the satellite."
"This?"
"Emergency life support kit."
"And this..."
Mercer patiently explained everything to V, who picked quite a lot of new weapons and equipment, finally starting to try on the new armor.
Lark was a first-timer, but her talent was evident—even after putting on the specially developed space-enhanced armor, she quickly adapted and mastered the basic flying movement capabilities.