Just as Castle was preparing to leave with the Lockheed Martin representatives waiting anxiously at his estate, an unexpected group arrived at the gates—representatives from Hughes Company accompanied by two NASA officials.
Hughes had been watching Castle for months since the launch of his modified satellites. Although Castle hadn't canceled his order for the second batch of three satellites, he had quietly informed Hughes that the next set would be produced under a different arrangement. This time, Castle intended to be directly involved in the design and production process, even hinting at possibly sharing new technologies.
To Hughes, this was a golden opportunity. However, unlike them, NASA was growing desperate.
For the past two decades, NASA had been struggling to maintain its global technological lead. After the collapse of the Soviet Union, they had enjoyed years of dominance, but in the last ten years, an emerging Eastern superpower had not only caught up but surpassed them in key areas like satellite navigation.
When Hughes casually mentioned that a wealthy client in New York had commissioned six satellites and demonstrated cutting-edge orbital and reconnaissance technologies, NASA's interest skyrocketed.
However, NASA quickly discovered that this client wasn't just some eccentric millionaire. Their investigation revealed an overwhelming web of connections. Castle wasn't just a successful writer; he had partnerships with some of the largest aerospace and defense companies in the world: Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, Boeing, and even engine manufacturers like Pratt & Whitney and GE. Not to mention his ties to the DuPont conglomerate and the fact that several political powerhouses had fallen due to his influence.
Worse for NASA, Castle was known to have close ties with President Arthur, who reportedly relied on Castle's support. Realizing this, NASA abandoned any underhanded schemes and resorted to diplomacy. They approached Hughes to help them arrange a formal meeting with Castle.
Unfortunately for them, Castle was already en route to Long Island's MacArthur Airport, heading for California. Hughes and NASA's delegation arrived too late and could only leave empty-handed.
Lockheed Martin wasn't taking any chances with Castle's visit. They had a private jet waiting for him at MacArthur Airport and, upon arrival in Los Angeles, they whisked him and Harry to a luxury hotel for a night's rest. The next morning, Castle would be escorted to their highly secure Skunk Works facility in Burbank, California.
Normally, aircraft modifications would be handled at Lockheed's manufacturing centers in Fort Worth, Texas, or Marietta, Georgia. However, this case was different.
The Skunk Works was Lockheed's top research and development hub, where they were quietly working on integrating Castle's optical camouflage technology. The engineers even entertained the possibility of adapting it for the F-35 fighter jet, despite its current use on reconnaissance aircraft. Additionally, the Skunk Works housed advanced facilities and top-tier research staff, making it the perfect site to refine cutting-edge technologies.
Lockheed's motives weren't purely technical. They had learned about Castle's secret modifications to his satellites. Since Lockheed was one of the largest satellite manufacturers in the world—and had supplied some of the reconnaissance equipment Castle installed—they were eager to explore any new developments Castle might share.
Their plan was simple: impress Castle with a full-access tour of their research projects. If he showed interest in any of their ongoing programs, perhaps they could strike a deal. After all, Northrop Grumman had reportedly won Castle over simply by appealing to his love of cats. Maybe Lockheed's array of advanced projects would intrigue him just as much.
But Castle wasn't going to fall for it.
He had deliberately chosen Hughes over Lockheed for his satellite orders precisely because Hughes would be more hands-off. Castle needed satellite shells that he could freely modify without interference. A major contractor like Lockheed, with strict government oversight, would never allow such freedom.
Castle knew Lockheed's strategy before he even arrived. While Harry, as a military tech enthusiast, was fascinated by aircraft like the F-35, he understood his limits. He was here to assist with the evaluation, not to geek out over advanced military hardware.
Lockheed, for its part, rolled out the red carpet. Castle and Harry were granted high-level clearance to tour the Skunk Works. The only project kept off-limits was the rumored SR-91 "Aurora" hypersonic reconnaissance aircraft. Everything else, including the F-35 and other classified developments, was open for their inspection.
But Castle had no time or patience for sightseeing.
"I'm here to inspect the prototype," Castle said bluntly during the tour. "I have obligations back home. Let's not waste time."
Lockheed's hosts exchanged awkward smiles, realizing that their plan to dazzle Castle had fallen flat. The man was all business. He didn't care about their projects—he wanted to finish the evaluation quickly and move on to Boeing's facility.
The inspection itself was efficient. Castle and Harry ran through the technical specifications of the modified RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft. Lockheed engineers were eager to show off their work, but Castle remained focused and methodical, checking each component against the design he had provided. Harry assisted by cross-referencing data with Jarvis, who quietly handled calculations and diagnostics in the background.
By the end of the day, Castle had completed his review. He provided feedback to Lockheed's technical team, offering a few minor adjustments to optimize the optical camouflage system's performance. Lockheed executives were relieved—Castle's approval meant they could move forward with confidence.
After a brief but cordial farewell, Castle made it clear he was ready to head to Boeing's facility next. He had no intention of extending his stay in California any longer than necessary.
For Castle, this was just another job. For Lockheed, however, it was a bittersweet moment. They had hoped to build a closer relationship with the enigmatic writer, but Castle's single-minded focus left little room for further engagement.
With the prototype inspection complete, Castle boarded a plane bound for his next destination. Back home, Beckett's peace and quiet wouldn't last much longer.
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