With three non-tech-savvy individuals in front of him, Castle finally relaxed. "Let me put it this way," he said with a smirk. "Building this so-called multi-axis, high-load, full-fidelity flight simulator is technically less difficult than that energy storage technology Gianna and the Lockheed Martin team spent all day arguing over."
Gianna's eyes widened in disbelief. "What? How can it be that simple? I thought this kind of equipment would be incredibly complex, which is why I was so surprised when you casually said you'd build one yourself."
Castle chuckled and began to explain. "Energy storage technology is foundational—it's about creating something from nothing. A simulator, on the other hand, is just a combination of existing technologies. Think of it like a giant video game console. You just add in feedback mechanisms to simulate things like G-force and load pressure. At the end of the day, it's a collection of current tech applied in a new way, plus high-precision engineering.
"In contrast, those technologies you were negotiating over with Lockheed are groundbreaking. Simulators, though? They're more like glorified gaming rigs. What really matters is the software inside—the flight control programs and, most importantly, the classified flight data for different fighter jets worldwide. Those are the truly valuable and sensitive elements.
"That's why Harry and I went to Lockheed Martin in the first place. Originally, we just wanted data for the F-35. But then we found out that their simulators can load different fighter aircraft programs, which is how this whole plan expanded into what it is now."
The three non-tech-savvy listeners exchanged looks, still processing the information.
"Wait... so you're saying the simulator can just load different jet profiles like a computer game?" Gianna asked, incredulously.
"Exactly!" Castle nodded enthusiastically. "It's like switching between different game modes. You load a program for a new fighter jet, and boom—you're simulating that aircraft. It's just a fancy gaming system with hardware tailored for full immersion. Heck, it's not much different from my Xbox, except with high-end flight controls and feedback systems."
Castle demonstrated by turning on a game console mounted in his study. He booted up a flight simulator game and showed them how the basic concept worked. "See? This is the core idea. A real simulator just adds more hardware to simulate things like G-force, but the principle is the same. That's why the software is what truly matters. The flight data has to be precise and classified—especially for other countries' military aircraft.
"Lockheed Martin can provide that data, which is why they were willing to negotiate. And honestly, if it weren't for the fact that I have a private supercomputer setup, they might not have agreed to give me access."
Castle's playful tone and the visual demonstration made it easy for his audience to digest the information, even if he was downplaying the complexity of military-grade simulators. In reality, such systems are far more advanced than Castle's simplified analogy. True high-fidelity simulators are so accurate that they count towards flight hours in pilot training. But fortunately for Castle, none of the people present had enough expertise to question his explanation.
Beckett, now reassured that Castle wasn't sneaking around and would openly collaborate with major defense contractors, felt more at ease. Gianna, on the other hand, was already pondering how she could leverage this opportunity to secure more business deals for Castle and his fledgling "Castle Labs."
Meanwhile, across the country, Lockheed Martin's headquarters was also holding a heated discussion about Castle's request. The company's leadership had initially approved the strange request after receiving reports from their representative in New York. However, some board members were disgruntled after Gianna's aggressive negotiation tactics forced them to abandon their plan to secure Castle's technology cheaply.
Now, certain directors wanted to use the flight simulator Castle requested as a bargaining chip to offset some of the new transfer fees Gianna had imposed. "Why should we give that man one of our most advanced simulators for free and pay him a hefty fee for his technology?" one of them argued.
What none of them knew was that Castle had already changed his mind. He no longer wanted a full simulator but hadn't yet informed Lockheed Martin, leading to this misunderstanding.
However, the CEO of Lockheed, who had a deep understanding of Castle's unpredictable genius, quickly shut down the proposal to withhold the simulator. "This man has a track record of creating breakthroughs out of thin air," he reminded the board. "Alienating him over a piece of hardware is shortsighted. If we support him now, there's a good chance we'll get even more value from this partnership in the future."
The CEO's instincts were spot on. Castle, who now planned to develop a next-generation simulator using his own hardware and Lockheed's software, was about to propose something that would greatly benefit the company.
Back in New York, Castle woke up early the next day, feeling surprisingly refreshed. He prepared a lavish breakfast for Beckett, hoping to stay in her good graces. Meanwhile, Gianna was less fortunate—she had to resume her grueling negotiations with Lockheed Martin's representatives.
After seeing Beckett off to work (and being politely but firmly declined when he offered to drive her), Castle was immediately accosted by Harry, who was eager for updates on their scheme. It was then that Castle realized he'd completely forgotten to inform Lockheed of his change in plans.
Hurriedly, Castle called his contact at Lockheed and explained that he no longer needed the full simulator. Instead, he outlined his idea for a joint project to develop a new, more advanced simulation system.
The Lockheed CEO, upon hearing the news, grinned with satisfaction. His hunch had been right—Castle was indeed a treasure trove of innovation. He instructed his team in New York to focus on finalizing the current technology transfer deal before diving into Castle's new proposal.
For Castle, the path forward was clear. By making his simulator project public and involving major industry players, he could turn a potential security risk into a collaborative venture. As the pieces fell into place, Castle couldn't help but smile. Once again, he had managed to turn chaos into opportunity.
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