While Castle and Harry were being given a tour of Lockheed Martin's Skunk Works, far away in Hawaii, Major Steve McGarrett of the Five-O Task Force was preparing to board a flight to Tokyo. After killing Wo Fat, Steve had expected political trouble from Governor James. Surprisingly, the governor seemed relieved, even pleased.
Once assured that Wo Fat hadn't revealed any compromising information before being shot, Governor James saw his death as a blessing in disguise—one less person who knew her dirty secrets. Rather than reprimand Steve, she praised him, closing the matter entirely.
With that behind him, Steve's attention shifted to a more personal mission: finding his long-lost mother. Thanks to Castle, who had already tracked her down in Tokyo, Steve now had the information he needed. He promptly applied for leave and was now on his way to reunite with her.
Back at the Skunk Works, Castle was clearly uninterested in Lockheed Martin's attempts to impress him with their technological marvels. Harry, however, was over the moon. As a military tech enthusiast, he was now in what felt like paradise. This was the birthplace of some of the most iconic military aircraft in history: the U-2 spy plane, the SR-71 Blackbird, the F-117 Nighthawk, and the currently-in-development F-35 Lightning II. Even operational legends like the F-22 Raptor had their roots here.
For Harry, this was a dream come true. Though he had access to advanced tools like Jarvis and Castle's supercomputer, he could never hack into the classified, offline networks where companies like Lockheed and Boeing stored their secrets. His only taste of such confidential data came through his position as a designer at Northrop Grumman. Now, standing inside the Skunk Works facility, Harry felt like a kid in a candy store.
Castle watched Harry with a mix of amusement and relief. It was clear he had made the right decision not to let Boeing take Harry to Chicago alone. If left unsupervised, Harry might have been so overwhelmed by curiosity that he'd unwittingly spill sensitive information.
Recognizing that Lockheed had ulterior motives for this grand tour, Castle didn't play along. He quickly directed the staff to take them to the hangar housing the modified RC-135 reconnaissance aircraft, wasting no time on further sightseeing.
The Skunk Works technicians, understanding Castle's impatience, summoned a golf cart and drove them to a massive hangar. There, in the center, stood the heavily modified RC-135, bristling with sensors and other equipment.
Standing beneath the colossal aircraft, Castle was struck by its sheer size. Based on the Boeing 707 platform, the RC-135 loomed above them like a giant. For a moment, Castle's mind wandered, comparing it to the stealth transport plane featured in Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.. Could he develop a similar stealth retrofit for the C-17 Globemaster III?
Meanwhile, Harry—granted permission by Lockheed's staff—rushed excitedly into the aircraft's interior. He wasn't just there to indulge his curiosity. Officially, he was tasked with inspecting the installation of the computational systems supporting the optical camouflage. He needed to verify the wiring and layout against the schematics they had provided. Of course, the fact that this gave him an up-close look at a real RC-135 was just a bonus.
While Harry explored the interior, Castle examined the plane's exterior. Lockheed Martin had used his specifications to create flexible display panels for the camouflage system. Interestingly, both Lockheed and Northrop had opted to produce these panels in-house rather than outsourcing them, citing national security concerns. This highlighted just how powerful and self-sufficient these defense contractors were—they could integrate new technologies into their supply chains on a whim.
Castle walked around the aircraft, paying particular attention to the four engines. The original engines had been replaced with upgraded models from GE Aviation, incorporating enhancements based on Castle's suggestions. On paper, these new engines would increase the RC-135's maximum range from 9,100 kilometers to over 13,000 kilometers. Its operational ceiling would also rise from 15,200 meters to 18,000 meters.
As Castle studied the modifications, he reflected on the aircraft's history. The RC-135V/W, known as "Rivet Joint," was one of the U.S. military's premier electronic reconnaissance platforms. Unlike the RC-135S, which specialized in missile telemetry, the V/W variant focused on intercepting and analyzing electromagnetic signals.
Its advanced radar and signal intelligence systems could identify, locate, and record radar frequencies, guiding systems, and other electronic signatures. This made it indispensable for both strategic and tactical reconnaissance. In the Gulf War and subsequent conflicts, the RC-135V/W played a crucial role in electronic warfare, collecting data that was critical to mission planning and battlefield awareness.
The aircraft's onboard systems were incredibly precise. It could detect pulse widths with an accuracy of ±0.1 microseconds and pinpoint radar sources to within one degree. Its communication intelligence suite intercepted a wide range of signals, from voice communications to encrypted data transmissions. At an altitude of 10,000 meters, the RC-135 could monitor radio traffic from 600 to 800 kilometers away.
The intelligence gathered could be transmitted in near real-time to ground stations for analysis. In critical situations, the crew could directly relay actionable intelligence to commanders in the field. The aircraft was also equipped with infrared sensors and forward-looking radar, capable of identifying objects as small as 3.7 meters from distances of up to 370 kilometers.
This made the RC-135V/W a cornerstone of U.S. reconnaissance operations, particularly in monitoring adversaries like North Korea. It was capable of intercepting missile telemetry, ground control signals, and radar emissions, providing invaluable insight into enemy capabilities.
However, despite its cutting-edge electronics, the RC-135 was an aging platform. Based on the Boeing 707, the production line had shut down in 1991, with the final military variant delivered in 1992. Many of the airframes currently in service were over 30 years old.
Castle chuckled inwardly at the Pentagon's resourcefulness. By pitting Lockheed and Boeing against each other for this upgrade contract, the military was getting a bargain. Both companies would enhance these old aircraft with modern technology, extending their service life for decades.
"They really know how to squeeze every last bit of value out of these relics," Castle muttered.
With Harry immersed in his technical inspection and Castle verifying the aircraft's exterior modifications, the evaluation was proceeding smoothly. It wouldn't be long before they could move on to their next destination: Boeing's facility in Chicago. However, Castle's thoughts remained anchored to New York, where a certain pregnant police captain awaited his return.
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