T.G. Miko

U.S. Navy SEAL George E. "Pug" Ironhorse V. comes from a long line of Navajo Indians who have served the United States armed forces. His grandfather, George E. Ironhorse Jr. was a decorated Green Beret who started in World War II, and retired after the Vietnam War.

Pug has served some 20 years in the Navy, and is quite eager to retire. He wants to retreat to his small seaside house in San Diego, and play with his children. Before they will let him go, the Navy loans him to the NNSA, the National Nuclear Security Agency. The NNSA believes that a terrorist cell has plans to smuggle massive quantities of isotopes into the U.S., and set off a radiological "dirty bomb" somewhere in Los Angeles. Pug departs from his usual role of commando leader and finds himself playing detective, along with a motley crew of former- and active-duty military personnel. Neither Pug nor his crew do a good job of blending in, leading to trouble.

Pug's first problem is Jake Kovacs, a nuclear medicine technologist who scans cancer patients in the hospital, using radioactive drugs. Jake would rather be outdoors, photographing birds. After quickly realizing that Jake is not involved in the the dirty bomb plot, Pug decides to use him as bait, to lure out the bad guys. Pug's plan works a little too well, and he almost gets Jake killed.

Jake's subculture is a group of hardcore birdwatchers, or "birders" who will drop everything and drive long distances to see unusual or rare birds that are reported on the internet. His membership in this group brings him solace in an otherwise lonely existence. Divorced, he lives alone with a Basset Hound with her own unusual history.