The Vor Game

Plot summary

Miles Vorkosigan graduates from the Academy but is sent to replace the weather officer at the Barrayaran Empire's winter infantry training base on remote Kyril Island. The placement officer explains the posting is to test his discipline and military routine, with a reassignment possible if he succeeds. Miles refuses to obey what he deems a criminal order by the base commander, who arrests him for mutiny, and as he is high Vor, technically treason.

He is returned to the capital and sequestered by Simon Illyan, who, along with Miles' father, concludes Miles behaved correctly but has gained notoriety. Miles cannot serve in any branch of the Imperial Service except one; his father persuades Illyan to transfer Miles to ImpSec despite reluctance. Miles is sent to evaluate the Hegen Hub under cover as an arms dealer, where he is framed for murder and arrested. In custody he finds Emperor Gregor, who explains he ran away during a visit to Komarr, joined a merchant ship's crew as a navigator, and was jailed for vagrancy.

Miles tries to extricate Gregor but becomes entangled in a plot involving a femme fatale, his former Kyril Island commander, and Hub power politics. He resumes command of the Dendarii mercenaries under his Admiral Naismith persona, rescues Gregor, and helps the Hegen Hub planets present a united defense against a Cetagandan invasion fleet, with help from Barrayaran reinforcements jointly commanded by his father and Gregor. Afterward, the Dendarii are put on permanent secret retainer for covert missions, with Miles as liaison.