Unaware of the chaos his actions had unleashed, Castle was on the phone with Gianna, discussing his next steps. Gianna was genuinely happy for her friend. Castle had pulled off an impressive feat, becoming a shareholder in three of the largest aerospace manufacturers in the US, all without spending a cent—relying solely on his technologies.
The strategy of demanding shares instead of cash had been Gianna and Moz's idea. They had advised Castle during his initial negotiations, and their foresight had paid off handsomely. However, when Castle casually mentioned his plan to leave New York and visit Northrop Grumman to check on their "Super Tomcat" project, Gianna strongly objected.
Gianna reminded him that while they had prepared thoroughly for any sabotage attempts on Sky Aviation's upcoming maiden flight, the possibility of unforeseen issues remained. The situation surrounding the planned attack on the aircraft—led by Le Chiffre to manipulate the stock market—was far from resolved.
Even though Miami police were on high alert, the airport was under heavy surveillance, and MI6 agents were tracking Le Chiffre's operative, there were no guarantees of absolute security. With Castle's position as a key shareholder, his absence at such a critical time could be damaging.
Gianna further argued that since Castle had already reached an agreement with the Indian airline company to avoid underhanded tactics, there was even less reason for him to leave.
Her point was clear: the success of Sky Aviation's maiden flight would cause its stock price to skyrocket, making it a pivotal moment for Castle, Gianna, and Neal, who had all invested heavily in the company. Letting Castle wander off to Northrop Grumman at this time was not an option.
Reluctantly, Castle conceded. The timing indeed wasn't right for him to chase his passion project.
While Castle stayed put in New York, Boeing was wasting no time deploying its newly acquired stealth technology in a direct confrontation with Lockheed Martin.
Although Boeing had managed to reclaim one of the two RC-135 electronic reconnaissance aircraft retrofit contracts, they remained furious. This contract, originally Boeing's domain, had been taken by Lockheed Martin through their early maneuvering with the Pentagon.
Adding insult to injury, the operational survivability requirements for the RC-135 fleet weren't as high as initially anticipated, meaning the contract's actual value wasn't enough to satisfy either Boeing or Lockheed Martin.
Recognizing this, Boeing leveraged its position as the leading aerospace manufacturer in the US to propose a bold new plan.
In their report to the Pentagon, Boeing highlighted that both their company and Lockheed Martin currently possessed technology that primarily benefited subsonic aircraft. With that in mind, Boeing analyzed the Air Force's active fleet and presented a prioritized list of aircraft for retrofit.
To the Pentagon's surprise, Boeing argued that the AC-130 gunship should take precedence over other platforms, such as early-warning aircraft or command planes.
Boeing's report emphasized that with no major air combat operations underway, the need for battlefield surveillance and command aircraft wasn't as urgent as Lockheed Martin had claimed. On the other hand, the AC-130 gunship, heavily used in low-intensity conflicts such as those in North Africa post-Arab Spring, was a critical asset.
These aircraft, armed with 105mm howitzers and 40mm Bofors cannons, relied on low-speed, low-altitude orbits to provide sustained firepower. This operational profile made them highly vulnerable. Equipping the AC-130 with stealth technology would significantly enhance its survivability and allow it to surprise adversaries on the battlefield.
Boeing's proposal also deprioritized transport aircraft, such as the C-5 Galaxy and C-17 Globemaster III. They argued that stealth wasn't an immediate necessity for these platforms, though future upgrades could be considered after more urgent retrofits were completed.
By identifying Lockheed Martin's oversight in failing to prioritize the AC-130, Boeing positioned itself to secure additional contracts. They quickly submitted their report to the Pentagon and began lobbying military officials to adopt their recommendations.
Boeing's strategy was clear: retaliate against Lockheed Martin's earlier maneuver to poach contracts and carve out an even larger piece of the retrofit program pie.
"Lockheed Martin dared to steal our contracts? Fine. Let's see how they like it when we start cutting into their territory!"
The AC-130's base platform, the C-130 transport aircraft, was a Lockheed Martin product. Boeing's plan to upgrade this aircraft was a calculated move to encroach on Lockheed Martin's domain.
For Lockheed Martin, this was an unexpected blow. Having focused on securing early contracts for reconnaissance and surveillance aircraft, they had overlooked their own products' potential for upgrades. When Boeing's proposal hit the Pentagon, Lockheed Martin suddenly found itself on the defensive, scrambling to protect its interests.
What followed was an intense tug-of-war between the two aerospace giants.
Castle could only watch in disbelief as Boeing and Lockheed Martin began tearing into each other. Boeing's move to reclaim the retrofit contract had sparked a fierce competition, with both companies accusing the other of underhanded tactics.
For Castle, the escalating conflict was both amusing and troubling. While the rivalry indirectly reinforced the value of his technologies, it also brought unexpected complications.
Both Boeing and Lockheed Martin contacted Castle within days, urging him to take sides. As the inventor of the stealth technology and a shareholder in both companies, they asked him to serve as a technical advisor for their respective retrofit projects.
Castle found himself in a bind. His shares in both companies were more of a safeguard than a financial investment, and he had no intention of alienating either party.
Boeing's request was easier to manage, as their relationship was purely transactional—shares for technology. However, his ties to Lockheed Martin were more delicate, having approached them after his fallout with Northrop Grumman.
For now, Castle used the upcoming Sky Aviation maiden flight as an excuse to delay making a decision. This provided him with some breathing room, though he knew he couldn't stall forever.
Ultimately, Castle realized that his technologies had not only reshaped the aerospace industry but also created a web of rivalries that now threatened to ensnare him.
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