The Vor Game recap

After graduation, Miles Vorkosigan's first posting at Lazkowski Base ends when he protects technicians from Metzov's lethal abuse of command, sacrificing his commission to shield the others. Imperial Security then sends him undercover to investigate the Hagen Hub. There he finds the missing Emperor Gregor, reconnects with the divided Dendarii, and discovers that Cavilo is using Gregor while assisting a Cetagandan invasion plan. Miles removes Oser from command, reunites the fleet under Ky Tung's tactical direction, rescues Gregor, and helps defend Vervain until allied reinforcements defeat the invasion. Oser apparently dies escaping, and Cavilo kills Metzov when Metzov attacks Miles. Gregor establishes a regional treaty and returns to rule. The Dendarii enter permanent Imperial service, with Miles promoted to lieutenant and retained as their liaison and covert Admiral Naismith.

Previously: Miles Vorkosigan is the disabled heir of a prominent Barrayaran family and has pursued an Imperial military career despite the physical limits imposed by brittle bones, short stature, and leg braces. Beyond Barrayar he created the mercenary command identity Admiral Naismith and won the loyalty of the Dendarii. Elena Bothari-Jesek, Baz Jesek, and Arde Mayhew are among the allies sworn to him, although Oser has since gained control of their organization through financial restructuring. Gregor Vorbarra, Miles's childhood associate, is the young Emperor of Barrayar. Miles's father serves as Prime Minister, his mother Cordelia Vorkosigan was born on Beta Colony, and Simon Illyan heads Imperial Security. These personal ties place Miles close to state power while leaving him subject to military and political scrutiny.

So far this book: Miles graduates from the Imperial Military Academy and is assigned as weather officer at Lazkowski Base on Kyril Island. The posting is a six-month test of whether he can work within a normal command structure before receiving consideration for ship duty. He survives a motor-pool prank that sinks his vehicle and shelter into a thawing bog, then endures punitive labor imposed by base commander Metzov. During that work, Miles solves the accidental death of a Supply private and later finds a restricted record linking Metzov to an unresolved prisoner-abuse inquiry. A toxic spill then creates a crisis when engineering technicians refuse to enter a bunker with inadequate protection. Metzov calls the refusal mutiny and uses armed trainees to coerce the exposed men. Miles joins Lieutenant Bonn and the technicians and redirects Metzov toward arrests, preventing immediate deaths. To keep the other participants from prosecution, Miles resigns his commission. The technicians are discharged without benefits, Metzov is discharged, and Miles enters an Imperial Security arrangement under the appearance of disgrace and detention.

So far this book: Imperial Security assigns Miles to Captain Ungari's investigation of military instability around the Hagen Hub and permits him to use Admiral Naismith if needed. At Paul Station 6, Miles instead poses as arms dealer Victor Rotha. Sergeant Chodak warns him that Oser now controls the former Dendarii and considers Naismith an enemy. After a procurement contact appears, a local intermediary is murdered and a warrant is issued for Rotha. Ungari later leaves abruptly for Aslund, and Consortium security arrests Miles on a warrant purchased by Cavilo. In detention Miles finds Gregor Vorbarra, who has fled Barrayar and is travelling as contract labor under another name. They escape onto a transport to Aslund, seek Elena Bothari-Jesek, and narrowly avoid execution by Oser when Chodak intervenes. Elena, Arde Mayhew, and Ky Tung extract them. Tung has loyal ships but will not begin a fleet civil war. While Miles tries to take Gregor to the Barrayaran consul on Vervain Station, Randall's Rangers capture them. Their commander is Cavilo, the earlier procurement contact. Metzov, now wearing a Ranger uniform, recognizes Miles.

So far this book: Metzov identifies Gregor and exposes Miles's Barrayaran identity to Cavilo. She separates the prisoners, proposes using Gregor to make herself Empress, and learns that Miles is also Admiral Naismith. Cavilo then sends Miles back toward Aslund with orders to retake the Dendarii, holding Gregor as leverage. Abandoned in a life-support pod, Miles is rescued by a Dendarii ship and negotiates his return to Oser's fleet. Metzov attempts to assassinate him at the dock but is captured. Under interrogation, Metzov reveals a Ranger raid timed to coincide with a Cetagandan move against Vervain. Miles concludes that the raid will let Cetaganda enter as an apparent rescuer and seize the strategically important Hagen Hub, while leaving Metzov as a Barrayaran scapegoat. Oser refuses to oppose the invasion, so Elena incapacitates him. Miles frees Ky Tung, reveals that Gregor is the hostage, and forces a settlement among the divided captains. Tung resumes tactical command while Miles takes operational control. The reunited Dendarii prepare to rescue Gregor and defend the Vervain wormhole until Barrayaran help can arrive.

So far this book: Miles keeps Baz Jesek as fleet engineer, confines Captain Ungari and Sergeant Overholt when they oppose his invasion response, and moves the Dendarii toward Vervain. By misleading both Vervani authorities and Cavilo, he induces Cavilo to transfer Gregor aboard a Dendarii ship. Miles traps her party during boarding, and Gregor helps turn the hostage situation against her. Gregor reveals that he had only pretended to submit. Cavilo surrenders her command in exchange for safe passage and a two-month lead over Cetagandan retaliation. Gregor resumes imperial authority and takes charge of diplomacy while Ky Tung directs the Dendarii defense of Vervain. Oser escapes during the battle, but his shuttle is destroyed. Allied reinforcements arrive and rout the Cetagandans. Metzov later ambushes Miles, and Cavilo kills Metzov before returning herself to custody. She eventually leaves with surviving Rangers. Gregor creates a lasting treaty framework among Barrayar, Vervain, Aslund, and Paul and decides to remain Emperor. Simon Illyan places the Dendarii on permanent Imperial retainer, keeps Miles as liaison under the Admiral Naismith identity, and promotes him to lieutenant.

Gregor is freed from Cavilo and resumes imperial authority, using diplomacy to coordinate the defense of Vervain. Ky Tung directs the Dendarii in battle until Barrayaran, Aslund, Paul, and Imperial reinforcements rout the Cetagandan invasion. Oser apparently dies when his escape shuttle is destroyed. After the battle, Metzov tries to kill Miles, but Cavilo kills Metzov and returns to custody under her agreement with Miles. She later leaves the Hagen Hub with the surviving Rangers and a two-month lead over likely Cetagandan retaliation. Gregor negotiates a lasting framework among Barrayar, Vervain, Aslund, and Paul, and chooses to continue as Emperor while seeking personal support from Cordelia Vorkosigan. Simon Illyan places the Dendarii on permanent Imperial retainer. Miles returns to service as a lieutenant, Imperial Security liaison, and covert commander under the Admiral Naismith identity.