In the first ever short story by Retired Delta Force officer Brad Taylor, the stakes couldn't be higher as operator Pike Logan goes after the first Taskforce target leading a team he can't fully trust. Includes an exclusive preview of Brad Taylor's hotly anticipated third Pike Logan novel, "Enemy of Mine," coming January 15, 2013. Commissioned at the highest level of the U.S. government, and designed to operate outside the bounds of U.S. law, a new counter-terrorist unit known as the Taskforce has just been formed, but not fully tested. Until now. Pike Logan has been given a team of operators drawn from the CIA's National Clandestine Service and the military's Special Operations Forces without any say in selecting the men on which he must depend. While executing a full mission profile exercise on U.S. soil, a target of opportunity appears before the Taskforce is deemed mission capable. Forced to execute, Pike and his team are sent to Yemen to track their first real target. The future of the Taskforce depends on their success, but when Pike is challenged by one of his own, their clear-cut mission teeters on the brink of disaster. The price of failure will reverberate much deeper than the loss of the target - straight into the presidency itself. Propulsive, compelling, and told with unparalleled realism, "The Callsign "brings readers new insight into the origins of the Taskforce as they execute the first Omega operation in a relentless and action-packed short story.
Brad Taylor served for more than twenty-one years in the U.S. Army, retiring in 2010 as a Special Forces Lieutenant colonel. During that time he held numerous infantry and special operations positions, including eight years in 1st Special Forces Operations Detachment—Delta, popularly known as the Delta Force, where he commanded multiple troops and a squadron.
He has conducted operations in support of U.S. national interests in Iraq, Afghanistan, and other classified locations. His final military post was as Assistant Professor of Military Science at The Citadel. He holds a master's of science in defense analysis with a concentration in irregular warfare from the Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, CA.
When not writing, Brad serves as a security consultant on asymmetric threats to various agencies. He currently lives in Charleston, SC, with his wife and two daughters.
In Brad Taylor The Callsign Pike, Logan and new formed Taskforce are training on mission for Yemen but not all the members are ready I really liked it giving us insight on how the Pike and team It was awesome audiobook to listen too
The first Taskforce mission and it was a bit of a train wreck. Initially I was thinking of giving a three star rating as it was so short and there wasn't much to it until I understood the “callsign” at the end...yes, YES!
As the story begins, Pike Logan's newly formed Taskforce, is on a training exercise in Charleston. The training involves committing an actual burglary and avoiding arrest. All without any sanction from the 'authorities'-because they are an off the record group.
The new Taskforce is called upon for an urgent mission in Yemen, ready to go, or not to perform. Not all members were 'ready' and the mission goes south.
I know this was a short story to give a little background on the Taskforce, but it was too short to do justice to the author's talent. A bonus at the end is an excerpt from the next full size novel, Enemy of Mine!
This copy was provided by NetGalley and the Penguin Group in exchange for an honest review!
These .5 novellas are great for background so I read them. This one provided a nice little blurb that filled in a few blanks. That’s all you can ask for.
True to color of Brad Taylor's style. Sets the stage well by providing more insight into the development of the Taskforce, Pike Logan, and the other operators. Great flow for a short story, but one that is a MUST READ if you are a Pike Logan fan!
Another really good novella! Takes us back to the start of The Taskforce, and we get the backstory about how a favorite character of mine got his nickname
started finished 10th march 2023 good read three stars i liked it kindle library loaner pike logan #2.5 this one is when the task force is forming growing pains questions and answers story involves an exercise...something about role players that i think i understand--actors in the exercise though unknown to the task force. now all they need do is figure out how to infiltrate the mass of former politicians and current wealthy techno-geeks all chasing the dollars by helping the communist chinese party...that and the in-office tribe who exhibit truly bipartisan activity engaged in same...wonder if that long-dead chinese guy covered those bases in the art of war? maybe...but i'll hazard he had no idea of the current mechanics of that game. and it'll likely take as long as the tome is old to develop a strategy to combat...unless some metal a.i. arrives there first. my guess.
In another short-story look back at events before 'One Rough Man', 'The Callsign' details the first mission for Pike Logan and his Taskforce, who are after an Al Qaeda sympathiser in Yemen, and, specifically, how Knuckles got his call-sign.
Meh. Honestly, can be skipped. Nothing too revelatory in this. This is just a shit-show of a mission before the events in book 1. Only thing is we see why Knuckles got his name. But that's not really important in the scheme of things.
The storyline was good but the development of a full story is missing. This book i# more like a prequel to an untold story. Disappointed jus as it got interesting.