For reasons unknown, both Lockheed Martin and Boeing had failed to secure contracts to upgrade the RC-135X, the U.S. Air Force's cutting-edge reconnaissance platform used in the Theater Missile Defense (TMD) program. Instead, they were given two older RC-135V/W "Rivet Joint" planes for modification—perhaps because the military wanted to breathe new life into these aging, decades-old aircraft still central to U.S. reconnaissance missions.
Castle stood before the upgraded RC-135V/W, which was now equipped with technology that would outclass any other nation's electronic reconnaissance aircraft. However, he didn't feel a shred of pride—just disinterest. After briefly inspecting the undercarriage and wings, he sighed and found a chair to sit on, lost in thought.
The Lockheed Martin engineers assumed Castle was deeply contemplating the plane's modifications and left him undisturbed. Instead, their attention turned to Harry, who was still inside the plane, meticulously inspecting the on-board equipment.
Castle, however, was far from focused on the task at hand. His mind wandered back to New York and the pregnant woman waiting for him there. To him, nothing—neither multimillion-dollar planes nor corporate negotiations—was more important than his fiancée, Beckett. If she hadn't practically kicked him out of the house, he wouldn't have left her side at all.
Technically, Castle and Harry were only there to conduct a final ground inspection of the aircraft before its maiden flight to a U.S. Air Force base in Nevada. Once there, military and Pentagon experts would take over for further evaluations. Despite Lockheed Martin's trust in Castle's visual stealth technology, the plane still needed to go through multiple tests before being cleared for active deployment.
Lockheed Martin had worked hard to lure Castle to the Skunk Works. They hoped to use the opportunity to subtly entice him with access to classified projects, including a sixth-generation stealth fighter in development to replace the F-22. The only exception was the SR-91 "Aurora," an ultra-high-speed strategic reconnaissance aircraft so secret that even Castle wouldn't be shown a prototype.
Unfortunately for Lockheed, their timing couldn't have been worse. If Beckett weren't pregnant, they might have succeeded in catching Castle's interest. He might have humored them for Harry's sake, who was clearly captivated by the advanced aircraft on display. But now? Not even a Star Destroyer would pique Castle's curiosity.
After all, he already had access to about 70% of Stark Industries' military designs from an alternate reality, including cutting-edge weapon systems. His priority wasn't to learn about Lockheed's latest developments but to decide which technologies to release strategically to maintain his relationships with Northrop Grumman and other defense contractors.
Over the next five days, Castle and Harry worked with Lockheed Martin's engineers to thoroughly inspect the RC-135's modifications. The plane passed all ground tests, including evaluations of the visual stealth system. However, when Lockheed invited Castle to accompany the plane to Nevada for further trials, he declined. He needed to head to Chicago for Boeing's evaluation next.
Before Castle could leave, though, representatives from NASA arrived unexpectedly. They were accompanied by executives from Hughes Aerospace, who were also eager to discuss potential collaborations with Castle. NASA's goal was simple: to learn about the advanced technology Castle had secretly implemented on his modified satellites.
Lockheed Martin saw this as an opportunity. Hosting the meeting on their turf gave them a significant advantage. They gladly allowed NASA and Hughes representatives to join the discussion, eager to gain insight into Castle's satellite technology. After all, Lockheed was the nation's leading satellite manufacturer and had a vested interest in any innovations Castle had developed.
Castle was baffled by NASA's sudden interest but soon realized the reason. A few weeks earlier, one of his satellites had rapidly shifted its orbit over the Pacific, repositioning itself above Oahu in Hawaii to serve as a near-real-time reconnaissance platform. It then swiftly returned to its original orbit. The seamless maneuver had shocked experts across the space industry. Lockheed, Hughes, and NASA were all desperate to understand how he had achieved such fluid orbital control.
Despite his reluctance, Castle received a direct phone call from President Benjamin Arthur, urging him to negotiate with NASA. With no other choice, Castle postponed his trip to Chicago and spent the next four days in discussions with Lockheed, Hughes, and NASA representatives.
Ultimately, they reached a preliminary agreement. Castle would share certain satellite technologies, including orbital maneuvering capabilities, with all three parties. However, he made it clear that he wouldn't handle the technical integration himself. Additionally, Lockheed Martin would take over the construction of Castle's next three satellites, a contract originally held by Hughes. Although Hughes was unhappy about losing the project, they were appeased by the fact that Castle had granted them partial access to his new technology.
Castle, on the other hand, walked away with significant benefits. Lockheed Martin not only offered financial compensation but also agreed to cover the full cost of launching his satellites. This arrangement saved Castle hundreds of millions of dollars, leaving him in an excellent mood despite the extended negotiations.
"Making a few hundred million in nine days… I guess that's not so bad," Castle mused with a grin.
When Beckett heard about the deal, she was astonished. She had only sent Castle to the West Coast to get him out of her hair for a while. How had he managed to forge new partnerships with some of the most powerful entities in the country?
"Is he really just a novelist?" she wondered aloud. Beckett had witnessed Castle's surprising talent for innovation firsthand, especially when he built the world's first AI with only Harry's help. Still, she felt like she barely knew the full extent of his capabilities.
Regardless, she understood the importance of Castle's growing connections with defense contractors and government agencies. These ties would solidify his influence in the nation's upper echelons—a path Beckett knew was crucial for long-term success in America.
Meanwhile, Gianna, who had been spending time with Beckett and little Onora in New York, was ecstatic upon hearing the news. The stronger Castle's relationships with major defense firms became, the more resources and support Gianna could expect for her own future endeavors.
Castle's success wasn't just his own—it was a victory for everyone in his inner circle.
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