No exaggeration—when companies like Boeing and Lockheed Martin decide on a course of action, their execution is both swift and astonishingly efficient. Over the next few days, Castle was treated to a series of impressive moves that left him both dazzled and somewhat humbled.
First, the group of mercenaries who had relocated from Brooklyn to the New Jersey border, thinking they'd be safer, was wiped out just two days after Castle finalized his "outsourcing design" deal with Lockheed Martin. Desperate to impress Castle and fearing he might change his mind, Lockheed Martin deployed a covert ops team that caught the mercenaries off guard. The entire squad was annihilated in a clean, decisive operation.
What was truly remarkable was how Lockheed Martin orchestrated the entire mission. They partnered with the FBI, framing the operation as a joint anti-terrorism raid. The mercenaries were labeled as "terrorists," and the operation was carried out under the guise of national security.
Not only did this eliminate the mercenary threat, but it also allowed the FBI and the New Jersey police to claim credit for dismantling a "terrorist cell." The aftermath was widely publicized, with the media swarming the scene to photograph the captured weapons and munitions.
Castle and everyone else privy to the operation were left stunned by Lockheed Martin's finesse.
Neither Castle nor Beckett had expected this outcome.
Castle had originally planned a more direct approach, likely involving his bodyguard team and a lot of gunfire. Beckett, on the other hand, had hoped to pass the matter to federal authorities. But Lockheed Martin's solution was far beyond anything they had imagined.
It was swift, surgical, and—most importantly—completely legitimate. The operation didn't even generate backlash from the New Jersey police. Instead, it reinforced the narrative of an effective counterterrorism effort.
Castle couldn't help but admire Lockheed Martin's sophistication.
They had handled the problem with a level of professionalism and discretion that Castle could only dream of. It was a stark contrast to Castle's usual "crash through the door with guns blazing" approach.
The media frenzy that followed also ensured that everyone in the know understood who was really behind the operation. While the general public believed it was a routine anti-terror raid, those familiar with the situation—like Castle—knew that Lockheed Martin had orchestrated the entire thing to fulfill their promise to him.
Even as the news spread, another key player was informed of the mercenaries' fate: Rajad, the arrogant board member from India's Stan Aviation who had orchestrated the plot against Castle.
When Rajad learned that his mercenaries had been wiped out and labeled as "terrorists," he was utterly terrified.
Rajad had already been on edge after failing to hire a professional thief to infiltrate Castle's estate. He had hoped the mercenaries would serve as a backup plan, but now they were gone.
The news of their demise—along with the "terrorist" label—shook him to his core. He was painfully aware of how ruthless the U.S. could be when dealing with perceived terrorist threats.
Worse, Rajad feared that the U.S. intelligence agencies might trace the mercenaries back to him.
In reality, the FBI had no intention of investigating the mercenaries' employer. They had only been involved in the operation as a front for Lockheed Martin's covert team.
But Rajad didn't know that.
As Rajad panicked, he sought advice from his advisors, who urged him to sever all ties to the mercenaries and erase any evidence of his involvement. Fortunately for him, the mercenaries had been hired through intermediaries, so there was little direct evidence linking him to the operation.
However, his efforts to cover his tracks were futile.
While Rajad scrambled to clean up the mess, Boeing's hired assassin—dispatched to "send Rajad to meet Lord Shiva"—was already en route to Bangalore.
That night, local time, Rajad passed away in his sleep. The official cause of death was listed as respiratory failure.
Despite intense pressure from Rajad's powerful family, local authorities found no evidence of foul play. Officially, it was a natural death.
Of course, those in the know realized the truth, but without evidence, even Rajad's influential family had no choice but to accept the situation.
Meanwhile, Stan Aviation's CEO quickly pieced together what had happened.
After learning about the FBI's "counterterrorism operation" in New Jersey and connecting it to Lockheed Martin's involvement, he deduced that Rajad had made the mistake of targeting someone with powerful allies.
The CEO suspected that either Lockheed Martin or Boeing was responsible for eliminating Rajad.
Given the circumstances, he decided it was best not to dig further. Stan Aviation was a much smaller player compared to these industry giants. Challenging them would only invite disaster.
In the end, the CEO could only hope that Rajad would find peace in the afterlife.
The swift and decisive actions of Lockheed Martin and Boeing left Castle deeply impressed.
Their ability to handle the situation with such calm efficiency highlighted the gap between him and these seasoned power players.
Castle reflected on his own methods, which often involved direct confrontation and chaos. Compared to the calculated moves of Lockheed Martin and Boeing, his approach seemed crude and amateurish.
But while Castle admired their expertise, he wasn't about to let it weigh on his conscience for long.
After all, Castle had never claimed to be a master strategist. He was just a writer with a knack for invention and a penchant for getting into trouble.
With the threats against him eliminated and his relationships with the defense contractors stabilized, Castle felt a newfound sense of freedom.
For the first time in weeks, he could focus on his own projects without looking over his shoulder.
Meanwhile, Mark—the aerospace engineer from Northrop Grumman—was still in New York, anxiously waiting for Castle's guidance.
Castle had originally intended to brush him off with some perfunctory advice. But after seeing Mark's dedication, Castle decided to take the opportunity to mentor him properly.
Teaching Mark would not only strengthen his relationship with Northrop Grumman but also give Castle a chance to indulge in his love of technology.
And so, with the task of designing modification plans handed off to Harry, Castle began his next project: training Mark.
For Castle, the prospect of working with a like-minded engineer was far more appealing than navigating corporate politics or engaging in covert operations.
After all, for a former tech nerd, nothing was more satisfying than sharing ideas and solving problems with someone who truly appreciated the intricacies of technology.
As Castle prepared for his first session with Mark, he couldn't help but smile.
For once, everything seemed to be falling into place.
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