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design a nuclear bomb, they had a damn good chance of ensuring that it never went off.
                  Mike’s face didn’t show any emotion at the pronouncement that he might not be there for the ultra sound, “We’re all doing pretty good.  Everybody is itching to get back to work.”
                  Major Salk nodded, “Well, I have a special assignment for your team until everybody gets back off of leave.  You guys caught a, ‘hey you,’ assignment.”
                  “What’s up?” Mike asked.
                  “We have a special request that we think, well, know that only your team can fill.” Major Salk replied.  “There is a special request that requires a Top Secret clearance, Department of Energy clearance, and an infantry background.”
                  Mike’s face screwed up at requirements.  He came from the infantry, and in fact, joined the infantry because his dad was infantry in Vietnam, his granddad was infantry in World War II and Korea, and he joined because he wanted to fulfill the tradition of his family.  He had volunteered for infantry school, airborne school, and the Ranger indoctrination program, or RIP.  He spent his first three years in Ranger Battalion, then went to the 82 nd Infantry afterwards.  But it was a strange request for a job that also included Top Secret and Department of Energy security clearances.
                  “Your team will need to take everything that you would use on a five man team, to include small arms, sniper rifles, explosives, communications, and medical.  You’ll also need to take additional ammunition for all weapons systems as normal.  I’ll send down a list of the small arms and equipment that they were asking about.  Once you get to your location, you’ll be read on to a special access program, and when you get back,” Major Salk was smiling at Mike’s growing consternation, “you’ll never tell anybody what you did.”
                  Mike asked, “Is this some kind of special mission to kill somebody, or go deep cover and kill somebody.”  Mike was stretching out his words, implying “was there something else he may need to know.”
                  Major Salk enjoyed his confusion for a little while before letting him off the hook.  “Well Mike, I can’t tell you everything, and, to be honest, I don’t know.  I just know that you’re not deploying outside the United States, you’re to palletize all of your equipment.  You’ll be flying by C-12 to Malmstrom Air Force Base.  And, you’ll be gone a total of three weeks, flying to your destination on Monday, and then flying back in time to start training with your team.”             
                  Mike waited to see if there was anything else, then shrugged, “Okay, I don’t know what the hell is going on, but mine is not to reason why . . .” He left the words hang.  There was no reply.
                  Major Salk sat back, and motioned with his hands, palms up.  “I wish I could tell you more, but that is all I know.  You’ll be fully briefed once you get to your destination.”
                  Mike nodded, “March to the sound of the guns.”
                  Major Salk agreed, “Exactly.  I’ll email the particulars to you, so that your team can get the equipment palletized and ready to go.  We have the orders from SOCOM, and I’ll include those as well on the email.  Since you aren’t going outside the United States, you won’t need passports or any cover identities.”
                  Major Salk leaned forward and held out his hand, signifying that the quick briefing was over.  “I’m sorry about the ultra sound, but Jo should understand.” 
    “Understand my ass,” Mike thought.  Mike stood and gripped the outstretched hand.  “Sir, please give Rose our best when you see