As Beckett confirmed with Big Ivan that the snipers were in position and ready to neutralize Taro Hiroen and his brother outside the southern gate without risking collateral damage to the reporters, the battle of wits between the Northrop Grumman CEO and the Lockheed Martin executive reached a new level of cunning.
These two old foxes had subtly shifted tactics, amplifying the risks posed to Castle by the global attention his cloaking technology had garnered. Their hope was simple: that Castle's laziness and disdain for inconvenience would lead him to offload the entire project out of frustration.
As expected, Castle's irritation at learning that numerous countries were now making covert moves to acquire his technology was evident. His face betrayed his fear of the impending trouble. However, Castle wasn't naive; he could tell that the two executives were exaggerating the threats to pressure him into a hasty decision.
Recognizing that he wasn't skilled at negotiating with corporate sharks, Castle cut them off before they could press him further:
"Shouldn't we be focusing on the immediate problem? As I've already told you, this system isn't even finished. The cloaking functionality you're so eager to acquire relies on my estate's supercomputer to handle the computations. Without it, the drone wouldn't even meet operational standards. Right now, this is nothing more than a half-baked prototype!
"Let's talk about this again after I've fully developed the system. Right now, I need to focus on the 'terrorists' outside who are planning to shoot RPGs at my house!"
Castle's blatant deflection left the two executives and the military officers present silently scoffing. It was obvious that Castle, while emotional and often impulsive, wasn't so gullible as to be easily manipulated. His excuse was weak, but effective enough to temporarily delay the conversation.
The two executives weren't trying to scam Castle outright—they simply wanted to secure a verbal commitment before other competitors entered the fray. After all, the U.S. defense industry wasn't limited to just Northrop Grumman and Lockheed Martin.
While McDonnell Douglas had been absorbed by Boeing, Boeing itself remained a dominant player in both civilian and military aviation. The company still produced strategic bombers like the B-1B Lancer and B-52 Stratofortress, as well as transport aircraft like the C-17 Globemaster. Even the Navy's workhorse F/A-18 Hornet came from Boeing. If Boeing caught wind of Castle's technology, Northrop and Lockheed might very well be pushed out of the race altogether.
What's more, Boeing also manufactured the RC-135 electronic reconnaissance aircraft, widely used in the Far East. Castle's optical cloaking system would be a perfect match for unarmed reconnaissance planes like the RC-135, which operated in hostile airspace. If Boeing decided to throw its hat into the ring, Northrop and Lockheed might find themselves at a significant disadvantage.
Both executives were acutely aware of this risk, which is why they had rushed to Castle's doorstep immediately after the technology was exposed on television. They feared that any delay might allow Boeing—or another competitor—to swoop in and snatch the prize.
Castle, for his part, was aware that he was outmatched by these two corporate titans. If he casually agreed to any of their proposals, he risked losing control over his own technology. Northrop Grumman had already taught him a valuable lesson about the cutthroat nature of the defense industry: loyalty and goodwill were meaningless when profits were on the line.
For now, Castle resolved not to discuss any agreements without his trusted business adviser, Mozzie, by his side. Mozzie had a knack for navigating the treacherous waters of corporate negotiations, and Castle wasn't about to take any risks without him.
Still, Castle saw an opportunity in the presence of the Pentagon representatives. Once Big Ivan, Beckett, and Joe resolved the situation outside, Castle planned to conduct a live demonstration of the cloaking technology. Not only would this solidify the Pentagon's interest, but it would also give Castle a stronger negotiating position against Northrop and Lockheed.
Meanwhile, the Northrop Grumman CEO was particularly eager to secure the technology. Earlier that month, on February 4, 2011, Northrop had successfully conducted the maiden flight of its X-47B stealth unmanned combat aircraft. This milestone, achieved less than three years after the aircraft's rollout in March 2008, owed much to the semi-autonomous flight control system that Castle had developed and licensed to Northrop years earlier.
The X-47B's stealth capabilities and cutting-edge systems had exceeded the military's expectations during its test flight. For Northrop, this was a chance to restore its reputation and cement its position as a leader in next-generation unmanned systems. The addition of Castle's cloaking technology could make the X-47B an unparalleled force on the battlefield.
However, the Lockheed Martin executive was also acutely aware of Northrop's progress. While Lockheed dominated the manned fighter jet market with its F-22 Raptor, it couldn't afford to let Northrop gain a decisive edge in unmanned systems. If Northrop secured Castle's cloaking technology, it could potentially develop drones capable of outperforming Lockheed's own aircraft, both in stealth and operational versatility.
As Castle remained preoccupied with the situation outside, the two executives silently assessed their positions. The Northrop CEO knew that securing the cloaking technology would not only bolster the X-47B program but also allow his company to push ahead of Lockheed in the unmanned systems race. The Lockheed executive, in turn, recognized that allowing Northrop to claim the technology would threaten Lockheed's dominance in both manned and unmanned aircraft.
The three Air Force officers, meanwhile, were quietly observing the drama unfold. Having confirmed the authenticity of Castle's technology through the drone footage, they were content to let the two corporate giants squabble. From their perspective, it didn't matter who acquired the rights to the technology; the Air Force would benefit either way. Moreover, retrofitting the fleet with this cloaking system would generate massive contracts, ensuring that everyone involved stood to gain.
For the officers, it was a win-win scenario—as long as they didn't get caught in the crossfire of the corporate battle. For now, they decided to sit back and let the two CEOs fight it out.
Meanwhile, Beckett and Joe had received a report from the Coast Guard. A patrol boat, accompanied by four speedboats and a helicopter, had successfully surrounded the yacht carrying the four "terrorists" and their two RPGs. The Coast Guard was awaiting Beckett's signal to initiate the operation.
Satisfied with the Coast Guard's positioning, Beckett radioed Big Ivan:
"Big Ivan, can your snipers guarantee clean, simultaneous kills on both targets in the van? If you're confident, take the shot as soon as you have a clear opportunity. I'll coordinate with the Coast Guard to make their final call to the yacht."
Big Ivan gave a quick glance to his snipers, who nodded in silent affirmation. Relaying this back to Beckett, he replied, "Yes, ma'am. My men are ready to eliminate both targets with precision."
Beckett exhaled, steeling herself for the operation ahead. She turned to Joe, who was standing beside her in the command center.
"Once we take down the targets in the van and the Coast Guard moves in on the yacht, I'll need you to manage the reporters outside. We can't let them swarm the scene after the snipers take the shot."
Joe nodded grimly. "I'll handle it. Just make sure the operation goes smoothly."
As the pieces fell into place, Castle—still seated in his mansion—tried to focus on the unfolding situation through the drone feed. However, the incessant posturing of the two executives kept pulling his attention away. Frustrated, he resolved to endure the conversation for now, knowing that once the immediate threat was resolved, he'd have the leverage he needed to dictate terms on his own.
(End of Chapter)
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