The subsequent negotiations with Boeing proceeded entirely on Castle's terms, thanks to the guidance he had received from Moz and Gianna. Boeing, desperate to secure Castle's technology, quickly realized they were being taken advantage of. However, even after their representatives reported back about Castle's opportunistic demands, Boeing's leadership, gritting their teeth in frustration, ultimately agreed.
The terms of the technology-for-shares deal were steep—Castle walked away thrilled, while Boeing's leadership, despite being prepared for losses, felt the sting of handing over a portion of their company.
But given the urgency of their situation and Lockheed Martin's rapid advancements, Boeing had no choice. The deal was finalized in just two days, a record-breaking pace made possible by the dire circumstances Boeing found itself in and Lockheed Martin's alarming progress in securing military contracts.
Boeing understood that every moment of delay brought new risks, and their leadership, well aware that hesitation would only worsen their position, rallied their shareholders to push the agreement through. Once the consensus was forcibly reached, the representatives were authorized to sign the deal with Castle.
Castle himself was a bit surprised at how quickly the negotiations concluded. However, considering that Lockheed Martin had already secured contracts to retrofit two Boeing RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft for stealth validation, it made sense that Boeing was in a rush.
Meanwhile, Boeing wasn't just sitting idly by. Even as they finalized their agreement with Castle, they worked behind the scenes in Washington to delay the execution of Lockheed Martin's contracts. They intensified their lobbying efforts with both Congress and the Pentagon, leveraging their longstanding relationships and the influence of their powerful backers.
Boeing's plan was clear: even if Lockheed Martin had the initial advantage, Boeing's deep familiarity with its own RC-135 platforms and its access to equivalent stealth technology meant it could secure the bulk of future contracts for retrofitting existing reconnaissance aircraft.
Boeing's leadership also saw through Lockheed Martin's strategy. They realized that Lockheed Martin wasn't just competing for contracts; they were using Boeing's own aircraft to validate the technology and train their personnel. This understanding further fueled Boeing's resolve to level the playing field.
Through their lobbying efforts, Boeing managed to wedge their way into the Air Force's stealth retrofit program. The original contract to retrofit two RC-135 aircraft was split between the two companies, with each responsible for one plane. The Pentagon added a condition: both companies needed to maximize the survivability of the aircraft assigned to them to compete for subsequent contracts.
Lockheed Martin was, of course, unhappy with this development. However, they recognized that their initial maneuver to outpace Boeing had provoked a strong counterattack. Nonetheless, Lockheed Martin had still managed to make significant progress: they were modifying a Boeing-produced RC-135 at their Skunk Works facility in California, a symbolic victory in encroaching on Boeing's traditional stronghold.
For Lockheed Martin, this was a successful first step toward claiming a larger share of future upgrade contracts.
As for Castle, he had little to complain about. The agreement with Boeing granted him a significant number of shares, enough to make him a shareholder in one of the world's largest aerospace companies. Though his stake was less than 1%, Castle couldn't help but marvel at the absurdity of the situation.
He mused that while he and Gianna had spent significant resources acquiring shares in Boeing subsidiary Sky Aviation, he had now obtained shares in Boeing itself—without spending a dime—just by licensing his technology.
Reflecting on the irony, Castle momentarily regretted not being more frugal when acquiring Sky Aviation shares. But he quickly consoled himself: with the subsidiary poised to complete its maiden flight soon, its stock was likely to soar. Given Boeing's backing, any concerns about sabotage or interference from rival interests were now irrelevant.
With this newfound security, Castle considered stepping back from actively managing the Sky Aviation situation. He began to entertain the idea of visiting Northrop Grumman to check on the progress of the "Super Tomcat," a project he was particularly passionate about.
What Castle didn't realize was that Northrop Grumman was eager for him to visit. Their invitation was more than a gesture of goodwill—it was part of a calculated plan to mend fences with Castle and leverage his expertise.
Northrop Grumman had decided to reveal a major secret to Castle: the development of the X-47B stealth unmanned combat aircraft. Although Castle was technically a shareholder in the company, he was unaware of this "classified" project, as it hadn't featured prominently in his pre-transmigration knowledge of the industry.
In his original timeline, the X-47B project had been canceled. However, Castle's introduction of semi-intelligent flight control systems and other advanced technologies had significantly accelerated its development, turning it into a viable program.
Unbeknownst to Castle, his contributions had not only enabled the X-47B to survive but had also attracted the attention of the US Navy and Air Force. Both branches were now seriously considering the aircraft as a key element of their future arsenals.
This unforeseen development was a prime example of the butterfly effect triggered by Castle's actions.
As Castle pondered whether to accept Northrop Grumman's invitation, he had no idea that awaiting him there wasn't just the Super Tomcat but also the X-47B—a plane that shouldn't have existed in this timeline.
Castle's habit of recklessly introducing advanced technologies into the world was beginning to show its consequences.
From the semi-intelligent flight control systems to advanced explosives and true stealth technology, Castle's plagiarized creations were now central to the intense competition among major aerospace firms. These technologies, which shouldn't have existed in this world, were starting to reshape the geopolitical and military landscape in unpredictable ways.
The X-47B, for instance, was now poised to secure a significant role in the US military's future plans—a stark contrast to its fate in Castle's original timeline.
And yet, Castle remained blissfully unaware of the full scope of his impact. As far as he was concerned, he was simply navigating the corporate and political chaos of his new world, oblivious to the larger forces he had set in motion.
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