The frustration within Lockheed Martin was reaching a boiling point. Boeing, their long-time rival, had not only countered their stealth technology plans but had done so with a boldness and precision that left Lockheed reeling.
Boeing's strategic proposal—to prioritize retrofitting the AC-130 gunship with stealth technology instead of Lockheed's initial focus on the RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft—had already gained traction within the Pentagon. Even worse, Boeing was now lobbying to include the Fairchild A-10 "Warthog" in the retrofitting lineup, a move that resonated strongly with both the Air Force and Army Aviation Corps.
The A-10, a battle-hardened close-air-support aircraft, was a staple of U.S. ground attack missions. If Boeing managed to secure this contract alongside the AC-130 upgrades, it would cement their lead in the competition. The military was already seriously evaluating the feasibility of Boeing's proposal.
Lockheed Martin's board was in crisis mode. Their ambitious plan to undercut Boeing's dominance had backfired spectacularly, and now they were scrambling to mitigate the damage.
At the heart of their predicament was one man: Richard Castle.
Castle, the creator of the revolutionary stealth technology, was now the key figure in a three-way tug-of-war between Lockheed Martin, Boeing, and Northrop Grumman. His expertise was unmatched, and having him on board could mean the difference between success and failure for any company vying for these lucrative defense contracts.
While all three corporations had extended invitations to Castle, he had consistently declined. He valued neutrality and avoided entangling himself in corporate politics. His response was clear: "I'm here to trade technology for shares, not to babysit your engineering teams."
This principled stance had kept Castle in New York, deliberately avoiding trips to Northrop Grumman or Boeing facilities to prevent misunderstandings. While Castle had a personal affinity for Northrop's "Super Tomcat" project, he hadn't forgiven them for their mishandling of the Alexis kidnapping incident.
Castle's refusal to align with any company left Lockheed Martin in a bind. They couldn't risk antagonizing him, nor could they afford to let him remain neutral indefinitely. The stakes were too high.
During an emergency board meeting, Lockheed executives brainstormed ways to bring Castle into their fold. It was during this meeting that they learned of an unexpected opportunity.
Through their connections with India's HAL (Hindustan Aeronautics Limited), Lockheed had learned that Rajad, a senior executive at HAL, was targeting Castle. Rajad had not only sent a team of mercenaries to New York but was also actively plotting to steal Castle's technology.
This revelation sent shockwaves through the room.
Unlike Lockheed Martin, which had respected Castle's boundaries, Rajad's reckless actions could provoke Castle into taking drastic measures. And if Castle decided to retaliate, it could set a dangerous precedent, jeopardizing Lockheed's own relationship with him.
However, Lockheed's intelligence team saw a silver lining: if they stepped in to neutralize the mercenary threat, they could position themselves as Castle's ally. By offering to "clean up the mess," Lockheed could earn Castle's gratitude and, perhaps, his cooperation.
Meanwhile, back in New York, Castle was wrestling with his own challenges.
The previous night, he had laid out his plans to Beckett: a preemptive strike against the mercenaries before they could make their move. As expected, Beckett was furious.
"You can't just take matters into your own hands, Rick!" Beckett had exclaimed, her frustration evident. "You're talking about killing people who haven't even committed a crime yet. That's not justice—that's vigilantism!"
Castle tried to explain the danger of letting the mercenaries remain unchecked, but Beckett wouldn't budge. Her principles wouldn't allow her to condone such actions, even if they were justified in Castle's eyes.
Ultimately, Beckett stormed off to the bedroom, leaving Castle to spend the night alone in his study, nursing a glass of whiskey and contemplating his next move.
The following morning, Gianna arrived at Castle's estate with her husband, John Wick, and their baby daughter. Tasked with smoothing things over with Beckett, Gianna set to work immediately.
Her efforts weren't entirely in vain. While Beckett still refused to endorse Castle's preemptive strike, Gianna managed to shift her focus away from Castle and onto Rajad—the true instigator of the situation.
As Beckett left for work, John offered Castle an alternative solution.
"Look, if Beckett won't let you send in your team, just let me handle it," John said casually, sipping his coffee. "I'll deal with the mercenaries myself—quietly. No one will even know it was me."
Castle shook his head, rejecting the idea outright. "John, these aren't your usual targets. We're talking about a well-trained, well-armed mercenary squad. You'd be walking into a death trap."
Castle was adamant. He couldn't risk John's life on such a dangerous mission. But before they could come up with another plan, Castle's phone rang.
The caller ID displayed a name that instantly caught his attention: Lockheed Martin.
On the other end of the line was the CEO of Lockheed Martin, reaching out personally to extend an invitation. The CEO's tone was polite but urgent, emphasizing the importance of Castle's expertise in their upcoming projects.
"We've been following recent developments," the CEO said, carefully choosing his words. "And we understand that certain... threats have emerged. Allow us to assist. We have the resources and the expertise to handle such situations discreetly. All we ask in return is the opportunity to discuss a potential collaboration."
Castle's eyes narrowed. He wasn't naive—he knew exactly what Lockheed Martin was doing. They were trying to leverage the situation to win his favor.
But as much as Castle disliked being manipulated, he couldn't deny the practicality of their offer. If Lockheed was willing to handle the mercenaries, it would save him the trouble of going against Beckett's wishes.
After a moment's hesitation, Castle responded, "I'll think about it. But this doesn't mean I owe you anything."
The CEO chuckled. "Of course. We're simply offering our support. The decision is yours."
As the call ended, Castle leaned back in his chair, deep in thought. Lockheed's offer was tempting, but it came with strings attached. Accepting their help might solve his immediate problem, but it could also entangle him in their corporate agenda.
For now, Castle had a decision to make. Whatever he chose, one thing was certain: this was just the beginning of a much larger game.
______
(≧◡≦) ♡ Support me and read 20 chapters ahead – patreon.com/Mutter
For every 50 Power Stones, one extra chapter will be released on Saturday.