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“As Mike said, it’s a useful search tool, but it isn’t a working dog,” said TJ. “I think this has limited application for SEAL teams. It might be a better fit in a domestic agency or an engineer search team.”

“I agree,” said Mike. “It doesn’t give us the flexibility of a MWD.”

“OK,” said Rick. “That’s a pass on the robo dog.”

“What else do the geeks have?” asked TJ.

“This next one you’re going to love,” said Rick.

“Tell me it’s not some kind of robot-enhanced squat rack?” said Ernie.

“You’re going to have to wait and see,” he replied, with a grin.

Rick lay on the bench at the gym, staring at the ceiling as he rested between sets. He’d loaded the bar with four plates on each side and was destroying his chest to clear his mind.

“Well, well, well, if it isn’t Rick the Dick,” a voice bellowed across the expanse of the gym. It was late in the evening, and the facility was almost empty.

He turned his head and spotted the hulking figure of Ryan Steinbeck, a fellow SEAL, graduate of Rick’s BUDs course, and a fellow gym rat. Rick slipped out from under the bar and grasped the man’s hand. “Good to see you, Steiner. When did you get back?”

Ryan and his team had been forward-deployed in Southeast Asia for a 12-month rotation.

“What’s today, Wednesday? Jet lag got me all messed up. Yeah, we were wheels down on Monday morning.”

“Good trip?”

“Brah, the best. We were working with Special Forces cats from Korea, Japan, Singapore, Thailand, and Brunei. Damn, I think I’ve tried every style of Asian food there is… oh, and the women. Buddy, you’ve got to get on that trip.”

Rick held up his left hand and wiggled his ring finger. “Those days are over for this frogman.”

“No way.” Ryan punched him gently in the shoulder. “Dawg, that’s awesome news. She must be one hell of a woman to take ‘The Dick’ off the hunt.”

Rick nodded. “She is bud. You’ll have to come over for a beer sometime and meet her.”

“That’d be rad. Hey, are you still going to apply for DEVGRU next year?” asked Ryan. “It’d be awesome to go through Green Team at the same time.”

DEVGRU or SEAL Team Six was the Navy’s most elite Special Forces element. The best of the best, they handled the most complex and high-level Special Operations. DEVGRU was the unit that had flown into Pakistan and killed Bin Laden. As junior SEALs, Ryan and Rick had idolized the Operators of Team Six and aspired to join their ranks.

“Negative, bud. My wife and I are expecting. Maybe in a couple of years.”

Ryan’s jaw dropped. “Holy fuck, I go away for a year, and Rick the Dick goes from being the smoothest lady slayer this side of Venice Beach to husband and dad. Good work, frogman.”

“Thanks, bud.”

“So, when is Rick junior going to hit the streets?”

“Still early days, four months to go.”

“Bro, that’s exciting. You’re gonna be able to craft that guy into the coolest little SEAL. He’s gonna be a bad ass just like his daddy.”

Rick nodded silently. “So, what’s on the cards for your team?”

“Fuck all. We’ve got downtime and then training. What’s TJ got you guys working on? Word on the street was you were earmarked to go after the cartels under that new White House directive.”

Rick shook his head. “That’s still developing. In the meantime, we’re working with the geeks, trialing some new kit.”

“Lame?”

“Nah, bro. We’ve basically got a blank cheque to buy gear and test it.”