Jason and his frontline soldiers weren't privy to the high-level political maneuvers at play, but Castle certainly was. He knew that his government was feeling overshadowed by the British in their recent operations inside Turkey. Now, they were looking for a way to turn the tables and land a heavy blow against this so-called "Three-Nation Alliance."
To execute this plan, they needed undeniable proof—something so damning that no one could dispute it.
Only with solid evidence could the U.S. justify taking decisive action against certain "hostile nations."
Why were the arms corporations—especially Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman—so supportive of Castle?
Because they wanted this kidnapping attempt to escalate. If things played out correctly, it might even push Congress toward approving military action against Turkey.
Why?
Simple.
When the U.S. goes to war, standard bidding procedures are bypassed.
Procurement contracts, weapons orders, and delivery logistics all skip major oversight.
For military contractors, this meant an unrestricted feeding frenzy—where companies like Lockheed and Northrop, with their deep government connections, could rake in billions without scrutiny.
They had already secured one-third of the Pentagon's procurement contracts in recent years, but war was the ultimate jackpot.
And what better justification for war than catching enemy agents red-handed in an attempt to kidnap one of America's top defense assets?
Castle himself had no objections to the plan.
The government had deployed enough intelligence operatives, and Northrop had even gone so far as to directly lobby Special Operations Command and the Navy—which was how one of the two most elite U.S. special operations units, the DG Special Missions Group, got assigned to protect him.
And now, things had gotten even better.
Not only were they setting a trap for the Three-Nation Alliance, but they had also stumbled upon India's covert espionage networks in the U.S. West Coast.
That alone made this operation a success.
Even if Castle's team didn't capture their targets, the intelligence gathered from this incident would allow the U.S. government to systematically dismantle India's underground networks—including smuggling routes, sleeper agents, and shell companies.
---
Onboard the Private Jet
While Castle and his team cruised toward Hawaii in their chartered business jet, he remained relaxed.
Unlike Jason and his men, who had to rely on occasional satellite intelligence, Castle had real-time satellite connectivity across the Americas and the Pacific. Even at 30,000 feet, Jarvis continued feeding him live intelligence updates.
To ensure smooth communication with Jason's team, Castle had even designed custom smart wristbands for them that morning.
These weren't just ordinary smart devices.
They were third-generation tactical wearables—capable of:
- Direct communication with Castle,
- Syncing with the SEALs' tactical computers,
- Receiving intelligence data processed by "Chubby," who acted as a relay for Jarvis.
Of course, Castle had secured Pentagon authorization before linking his network to Jason's top-secret military systems.
Jason didn't have much of a reaction, but Ray, the team's tech specialist, was stunned.
Since yesterday, he had been bombarded with Castle's never-ending stream of high-tech surprises.
---
Breaking Expectations
Before deploying, Jason's squad had received a briefing.
Mandy, their CIA liaison, had provided basic intel on Castle.
They had learned that he was a bestselling author, but not much else.
Even though Castle's technological achievements weren't exactly classified—anyone in the right circles knew about them—frontline SEAL operators like Jason and his men weren't in those circles.
So, they didn't truly understand who Castle was until now.
It was only after meeting him that they realized why the Pentagon had sent their elite squad to protect him.
Ray, in particular, had his mind blown.
This wasn't just some lucky writer with a side hobby in tech.
In just two years, Castle had developed a series of groundbreaking technologies—each with immense military applications.
Drones, missiles, modified engines—that was already impressive.
But the real game-changer?
Castle had successfully developed a method for subsonic aircraft to achieve optical invisibility.
That alone was world-changing.
It wasn't just valuable—it was the kind of technology that entire nations would kill for.
Now, Jason's men understood.
If another country had someone like Castle, their own superiors would have sent SEALs to abduct him.
And yet, this madman had actually volunteered to act as bait, luring in enemy agents so the U.S. could crush them all in one move.
But what truly shocked Jason's team was Castle's satellite network.
Unlike them, who had to wait for military satellites to pass overhead, Castle had his own private satellites in orbit—fully capable of real-time reconnaissance, communication relays, and rapid orbit adjustments.
The U.S. military didn't even have this technology yet!
For years, SEAL teams had struggled with the annoying limitations of satellite reconnaissance—timing their missions for those brief windows when a satellite happened to pass over their target.
But Castle?
He had a dedicated satellite hovering overhead at all times.
That alone gave Jason's team massive confidence—their enemy had no idea that the entire battlefield was already under surveillance.
If they failed to take down twenty measly operatives under these conditions, they might as well retire.
---
Arrival in Hawaii
When Castle's jet landed in Hawaii, Jason's men finally realized just how deep Castle's connections ran.
They were greeted by two armored SUVs, already rented and waiting.
Castle and his team drove directly to a massive beachfront estate.
Apparently, Castle had borrowed the property from another famous writer?
Must be nice to be rich…
Jason's SEALs, being veterans of VIP protection, immediately assessed the estate's security.
To their pleasant surprise, it was already well-fortified—even before the CIA and FBI had reinforced it.
But one person caught their attention.
A blonde woman, whose posture and presence radiated a familiar combat aura.
Something about her felt military.
She moved like someone trained in special operations.
Jason and his men had seen this exact aura before—in British SAS and SBS operatives.
She wasn't just some random housekeeper.
Of course, Castle and John weren't too concerned.
Castle already knew Higgins and Kumu from his last visit to Hawaii, when Alexis had been kidnapped.
After some brief pleasantries, they moved into the estate.
Castle immediately took charge of security, arranging for Higgins and Kumu to take leave.
After all, the operation ahead was dangerous.
Higgins, being former MI6, might handle herself fine.
But Kumu?
No way.
Before arriving, Castle had already warned Robin Masters that he would be fully taking over the estate.
For their own safety, Higgins and Kumu would be temporarily sent away.
Higgins, naturally, was curious about Castle's plans.
And as she observed the five SEALs accompanying him, she immediately recognized their caliber.
She had worked with British special forces before—she knew what elite operators looked like.
These men weren't just bodyguards.
They were Tier 1 operators, the best of the best.
That alone told her that whatever was about to go down… it was going to be big.
______
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