After Castle's dealings with Boeing, the company realized how difficult it was to bring him into their fold. Even after helping him eliminate Stan Aerospace's rogue CEO Rajad, they hadn't been able to fully win Castle's trust. In response, Boeing had established a dedicated analysis team to study his personality and preferences. Their goal was to better understand what made Castle tick, so they could eventually gain his favor and loyalty.
This strategy was a testament to Boeing's experience and deep resources, showcasing why they remained one of the most powerful aerospace manufacturers in the world. Unfortunately for them, Castle's priorities had shifted dramatically due to Beckett's pregnancy, rendering all of their elaborate plans irrelevant.
From the moment he landed in Chicago, Castle had resolved to complete his inspection work within a few days and return to New York as quickly as possible. Boeing's meticulous arrangements were ignored, much to their confusion. Only later did they uncover the truth: Castle's wife was pregnant, and he was fiercely protective of her.
This revelation was a goldmine for Boeing. Although Castle had never openly discussed Beckett's political ambitions, the company's intelligence analysts pieced everything together. They noted Castle's subtle influence in helping Beckett rise through the ranks and connected it to the downfall of several senators who had crossed paths with the couple. Based on Castle's consistent efforts, it became evident that he was paving the way for Beckett to eventually enter Congress as a member of the Democratic Party.
Armed with this insight, Boeing saw a new opportunity. If they couldn't win Castle over directly, they could support Beckett's political career, thereby earning his trust and gratitude. With its extensive political connections, Boeing was well-positioned to influence Beckett's rise in politics.
No longer rushing to force Castle into any immediate agreements, Boeing shifted their strategy. They allowed Castle to complete his inspection of their modified RC-135V/W reconnaissance aircraft without further pressure, then courteously sent him back to New York.
Upon his return, Castle immediately sensed that Boeing was up to something. Once he arrived at his estate and saw that Beckett had already left for work, he entered his supercomputer lab and had J.A.R.V.I.S. gather intelligence on Boeing's activities. The data confirmed his suspicions: Boeing had identified Beckett as the key to Castle's cooperation and was now strategizing on how to support her political ambitions. They were already holding internal meetings on how to best assist Beckett's future career.
Castle was both impressed and unsettled. He had never explicitly shared his plans for Beckett with anyone, yet Boeing's analysts had deduced everything based solely on his actions over the past two years. Their ability to gather and interpret information was truly formidable.
This realization led Castle to reflect once more on his current predicament. He had inadvertently placed himself at the center of a web of powerful corporate and political interests. The question now was how to manage these relationships moving forward.
While Castle technically held significant stakes in companies like Lockheed Martin, Northrop Grumman, and Boeing, those shares came with expectations. These firms didn't just see him as an investor—they viewed him as a valuable resource and partner. Even Hughes, which had ceded its satellite manufacturing contract to Lockheed Martin, continued to court him in hopes of future collaborations.
Castle needed to approach the upcoming negotiations with both Hughes and Lockheed with caution. The satellite maneuvering technology they wanted wasn't particularly special to Castle. The smoothness and precision they had observed were largely thanks to J.A.R.V.I.S. and the support of his supercomputer network. Without that infrastructure, replicating the same results would be difficult for any other organization.
Nevertheless, Castle couldn't simply hand over his technology without safeguards. He needed to provide a control system that would allow automated satellite maneuvering without relying on AI or supercomputers. This compromise would protect his intellectual property while still satisfying his business partners.
Additionally, Castle's advanced solar panels and high-capacity batteries—both of which he had developed on a whim to power his modified satellites—would need to be included in the technology transfer. However, he planned to scale down their capabilities to avoid revealing just how far ahead his technology truly was.
Castle sighed as he reflected on how these complications had snowballed. His haphazard approach to innovation had created a cascade of problems. What had begun as a desire to improve his personal satellite network had inadvertently caught the attention of NASA and the military-industrial complex.
The satellites currently in orbit were built with technology decades ahead of this world's capabilities, largely derived from Stark Industries' designs in Castle's memories. If he weren't careful, these advancements could expose him to relentless scrutiny from defense contractors and government agencies.
Fortunately, the satellites were already in space, making it difficult for anyone to fully dissect their technology. This gave Castle some leeway to control the narrative. He could present a version of his technology that was advanced but not unreasonably so.
He also planned to provide Lockheed and Hughes with optimized ground equipment designs, ensuring that their systems could interface with the satellites effectively. NASA's involvement would also be addressed through a custom program that could be integrated with their supercomputers, allowing them to manage satellite maneuvering without J.A.R.V.I.S.'s direct assistance.
These realizations finally led Castle to a crucial decision: he needed to change his approach. He could no longer afford to introduce technologies on a whim without considering the long-term consequences. His lack of foresight had already put him in a precarious position, and with Beckett's political career gaining momentum, the stakes were higher than ever.
Castle resolved to implement a more structured strategy moving forward. He would carefully assess which technologies to share, how much to reveal, and how to manage his growing network of corporate alliances.
It was time to stop improvising and start planning.
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