Cobra Strike by Timothy Zahn (Cobra Trilogy, Book 2)

     Inspired by the background of the original cover... here's a  sketch of a random Qasaman guard with his mojo (the bird).

Frankly, I didn't do the mojo justice. Those things are supposed to be the quintessential birds-of-prey. They're the Qasamans' bodyguards. Don't even think about shooting a weapon in their presence. The result can be absolutely horrific. Just look at what happened to York:

 York shifted his aim to the mojo on the dying man's shoulder and a second dart found its target . . . but as he brought the palm-mate to bear on Moff's mojo all hell broke loose.
  They were smart all right, those birds. The dead Qasaman hadn't even fallen to the floor before the remaining five mojos were in the air, sweeping toward him like silver-blue Furies. He got off two more shots, but neither connected--and then they were on him, talons digging into his face and gun arm and slamming him hard into the seat.  . . .

It was like a scene out of a nightmare -- York under attack by mojos.

Cobra by Timothy Zahn (Cobra Trilogy, Book 1)

   A sudden rustle of cloth brought Jonny's attention back to the priest. The service was drawing to a close, he saw, and the crowd was kneeling for the final prayer. Hastily, Jonny dropped to his knees, glancing around as he did so. Challinor's Cobras were still on their feet, whatever feelings of respect they might have overridden by the tactical necessity of keeping close watch on the crowd. Out of the corner of his eye he saw Almo hesitate and then, with a glance in Jonny's direction, kneel with the rest of the people around him. Between the coffin stands Father Vitkauskas had himself knelt . . . and as he began the requiescat, Jonny's eyes sought Chrys, saw her hand slip under the hem of her long skirt to the device strapped to her leg . . . .
   And MacDonald sat up in his coffin.

MacDonald sits up in his coffin . . . and subsequently unleashes a wild spray of laser beams into the unsuspecting Cobra rebels. YESSS.