David Gunn - Deaths Head Maximum Offense

Smartly dressed, resourceful and discreet, David Gunn has undertaken assignments in Central America, the Middle East and Russia (among numerous other places). He is happiest when on the move and tends not to stay in one place for long. He comes from a service family, has an impressive collection of edged weapons and sleeps with a shotgun under his bed.

Also by David Gunn

DEATHS HEAD: BOOK ONE OF THE AUX

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First published in Great Britain

in 2008 by Bantam Press

a division of Transworld Publishers

Copyright Gunnsmith Ltd 2008

David Gunn has asserted his right under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 to be identified as the author of this work.

This book is a work of fiction and, except in the case of historical fact, any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is purely coincidental.

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ISBN 9780593058718

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Pietro, who could field-strip a sniper rifle faster than any man Ive met...

FLICKING DUST FROM HIS SLEEVE, GENERAL INDIGO JAXX ADJUSTS a dagger at his hip and then ruins everything by tugging at the collar of his uniform. He is a general in the Deaths Head, for heavens sake.

No, Indigo Jaxx shakes his head.

Hes the general.

His regiment is the emperors chosen force. Empire ministers fall silent at his approach. Colonels sacrifice entire brigades to win his approval. Men offer their wives, so their sons might find places on his staff.

It is absurd to be nervous, but he is. OctoV has that effect on him.

The beloved leader has that effect on everyone. Stiffening to attention, General Jaxx waits for his emperor to appear in a swirl of static, with words that will scour the inside of his skull like a hot desert wind.

Come on, thinks General Jaxx. Please. Get this over with.

As he prepares for his mind to be invaded, someone opens the office door behind him and the general turns, cold fury on his lips.

Is this a bad time?

The questioner is in his early teens. He wears a green cavalry uniform with a jewelled sword and has ringlets falling to his shoulders. His hair is blond, but it is his eyes that people notice. They are the blue of deep space and just as empty.

Indigo Jaxx blinks.

I said...

No, sir, says the general, standing straighter. Absolutely not.

OctoV smiles. Im so glad, he says. I wanted to congratulate you.

The general goes still.

Really, says OctoV. Producing victory from defeat... Having produced defeat from victory. Thats subtle, even for me. He nods towards the generals Obsidian Cross. Id give you another medal, but clearly youve got them all. What is it now?

Imperial knight, grand master, sir. With extra palm leaves and bar.

Very impressive.

General Jaxx is being mocked. Given the other choices, he is happy to get off that lightly.

Well, says OctoV. I must go.

Now it comes, thinks the general, as he watches the boy head for the door. He tries not to tense as OctoV turns back.

By the way, OctoV says. Whats he doing now?

Who? The general thinks desperately. What is who doing now? Do you mean Sven, sir?

Yes, says OctoV. Of course I do. What is Sven doing now?

The general swallows. Were lending him to the U/Free.

His imperial highness OctoV, glorious leader, the undefeated, eternal ruler of more worlds than can be counted, laughs. It strips General Jaxxs skull and reduces his self-control to tatters. Around him, the walls of his office begin to spin.

You have the best ideas, says his emperor. Keep me up to date.

Indigo Jaxx wants to say, Yes, sir. Of course, sir. But he is on his knees vomiting. So OctoV walks through the nearest wall with the generals words unspoken.

THE MAN SPINS ROUND, KNIFE ALREADY DRAWN, AND HESITATES. Its not his fight. Anyway, hes only in Farlight for OctoVs birthday, unloading luxuries from a cargo ship on the edge of a landing site. And his knife is new, bought that afternoon from a stall in the road behind Golden Memories.

He doesnt feel ready to use it yet.

A wise choice. Someone is about to get hurt and it doesnt have to be him. That someone is standing in my doorway. And half of my bar door swings from a rusted hinge, while the rest lies at his feet.

Quiet, I say.

A girl next to me shuts up.

I am not sure she knows she screamed.

This is my bar, but it is Aptitudes home and shes family. At least she is until her mother and father get out of prison.

Sven, she says.

Later... My gaze flicks across the room and settles on a wiry young man with a pointed face, floppy hair and narrow shoulders. Hes reaching into his jacket. At a shake of my head, he lets go his revolver.

Neens nineteen.

In the field, hes my sergeant, but were not in the field, were on leave. So hes running security for a bar I own on the outskirts of this city.

Raising his glass, Neen grins. He, for one, obviously intends to enjoy tonights show. As we watch, the man in my doorway jacks the slide on an oversized pistol, and takes a slow look round to check weve noticed.

Sven.

Aptitude is getting nervous.

I smile, but it is at another girl entirely. Wandering over, she sits on my lap and snuggles up to me. Aptitude scowls to see me slide my hand up Lisas skirt. What she doesnt see is the knife I take from Lisas garter.

Subtle, says a voice. Understated, anything but obvious.

The intruder believes my gun is talking about him. He has pegged my corner of the room for the comment, but he cant work out who to blame. As the man lumbers over, Lady Aptitude Tezuka Wildeside leans back in her chair.

You, he says. Got something to say?