Combat technology continues its march forward, and with the US military’s continuing quest for a new primary weapon, I figured it was time for a change in the Taskforce, both in weapon system and choice of caliber. The “black rifle” is chambered in just about any round imaginable, but I finally settled on the 300 Blackout round for reasons expressed in the book, and that was an easy choice. The weapon was a different story. There are literally hundreds of excellent builders of AR-type rifles, and I got to see plenty of them while doing research at SHOT Show in Las Vegas. I eventually settled on the Primary Weapon System MK109 because of its unique piston system, combining the reliability aspects of the AK-47 into an AR platform. Thanks to Bill at PWS for walking me through it. Believe it or not, suppressors are just as complex, some good and some better. GEMTECH suppressors are at the top of the pyramid, and I’m indebted to Casey for showing me the ins and outs of how his GMT-300BLK tames the noise of the Blackout round in both super and subsonic. I liked the setup so much, I’m building my own PWS/GEMTECH weapon system. Chambered in 300 Blackout, of course.

I’m not Catholic, and I’m indebted to Mike—a retired sergeant major and wayward, lapsed Catholic—for helping me craft the final scene with the pope. I was walking a fine line between cardboard, cartoonish characterization on one side and creating something unbelievable to anyone who understood Catholicism on the other. We worked through that small bit of dialogue over and over, and I appreciate the help. Any hate mail can go to him. . . .

As always, a huge thank-you to my agent, John Talbot, and the entire Dutton Taskforce crew. Ben, Jess, and Liza—Pike Logan would be working a spatula in the food service industry without your incredible efforts.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Brad Taylor, Lieutenant Colonel (ret.), is a twenty-one-year veteran of the U.S. Army Infantry and Special Forces, including eight years with the 1st Special Forces Operational Detachment—Delta, popularly known as the Delta Force. Taylor retired in 2010 after serving more than two decades and participating in Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom, as well as classified operations around the globe. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at the Citadel. His first seven Pike Logan thrillers were New York Times bestsellers. He lives in Charleston, South Carolina.

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