Well, we don’t have a body, we don’t have a crime scene, we don’t have any witnesses, but-
At least we have each other.
We still have a homicide to solve.
And that.
“The Human Factor” · Season 5, Episode 23
In this episode: Richard Castle (10), Kate Beckett (7), Stack (3), Javier Esposito (1), Kevin Ryan (1)
Do you think the military took him out?
I don’t see how they could.
Because they wouldn’t cross that line?
Because in my experience, huge bureaucracies don’t act with that kind of efficiency.
That’s comforting.
How many drones were in the air this morning?
HHooper
That information is classified.
Colonel Fortis, was there a drone flying over New York City at 8:15 a.m.?
CFCol. Fortis
That’s classified.
Okay, how about this? Did anyone else have access to the drones? Any federal agencies? Corporations?
CCCastle & Col. Fortis
That’s classified
Okay, then I’d like to take a look at your flight logs-
CFCol. Fortis
This meeting is over.
HHooper
Keep in mind, the waivers you signed prohibits you from discussing what was said here.
Nothing was said here.
HHooper
Well, then we shouldn’t have a problem.
Touche.
[noticing a man in the next room] That man over there, he was at the crime scene. Who is he? Does he work for you?
Don’t bother. It’s classified.
So what do you want to know?
Why don’t we start with who are you?
Jared Stack. Special Investigator for the Attorney General’s office.
I’ve never heard of it.
[whispering] You’re not supposed to.
And what’s your connection to Dale Tanner?
Tanner was under scrutiny by the FBI, DHS and the Pentagon, not to mention the NYPD Counter-Terrorism Unit. Somebody objective needed to look into his death, so they picked me.
When did you realize that he was killed by a drone and not a car bomb?
Once our people examined the wreckage.
Why the fake ID?
I didn’t know where this was headed. The AG needs deniability.
“The secretary will disavow all knowledge of your actions.” It’s Mission: Impossible.
Pretty much. I’m even wearing a mask.
Really?
[whispering] No.
The fact is, we’ve lost a number of drones, some of them have fallen into enemy hands.
So one of our enemies killed Tanner? With a drone?
That theory is highly improbable. And coming from me, that’s saying something
That’s Warburg? I was expecting-
Dr. Evil?
Or someone a little less nerdy.
Warburg is here. I can feel it.
Castle, you’ve said that about every place we’ve been to so far.
Yeah, but this time I mean it. The Force is stronger with this one.
I don’t understand what a car driving through the desert has to do with Dale Tanner.
WWarburg
[holding the photo up] Intelligence reports said there were three high-ranking Afghan militants in this car. It was the right make and model, traveling at a high rate of speed. So the drone pilot was given the green light to strike. But then, he saw those red dots on the trunk, and he had a feeling. So he aborted the mission. There were no militants in that car. The red dots were roses; because the young couple driving down that desert road had just gotten married. That’s when I knew I could no longer be a part of the drone program.
But I don’t understand why. The pilot didn’t fire.
WWarburg
Because the next generation of drones won’t have pilots. The new AI software will give drones decision-making capability. They’ll assess the data and take lethal action all on their own.
Really will be rise of the machines.
WWarburg
Those new drones would turn that car to ash without hesitation. That’s why, when lives are at stake, we need a man who sees roses. We need the human factor.
[Answering the cell-phone]
For Richard Castle, press one. For Beckett, press two
Yo, how about I just talk, jackass
Detective Beckett, and Mr. Castle. Both the President and the Attorney General have asked me to convey their thanks for your work on this case.
[raising his hand] I don’t suppose the President’s appreciation could come in the form of a blurb for my book?
Yeah, that’s not gonna happen.
These quotes come from Wikiquote's Castle pages and are available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.