Author:	Lois McMaster Bujold
Copyright:	1990
Date Reviewed:	1/1/01
Rating:	8.0

Another enjoyable entry in the Vor Series. Miles has finally completed his academy training and is now a proud ensign in the Barrayar military force. To his dismay, instead of being assigned to a space ship to see active duty, he is assigned to command a minor weather station at Camp Lazkowski, endearingly called Permafrost Station. Miles has a run in with two non-comps, is almost killed and later solves the mystery of a dead soldier. He goes up against the ruthless Base Commander and stages a disobedience mutiny. When that episode ends, Miles is imprisoned at Imperial Security for a couple of months and then sent on a minor espionage mission to get him out of the way.

While on this mission, Miles encounters his old friend, the emperor, who has been captured and sent off to join a work gang. Miles gets himself captured as well and in an effort to free the emperor, ends up taking control again of the Free Dendarii fleet he once commanded. While working to free the emperor, he learns about an imminent threat from the Cetagandan empire to capture the main transit hub in Barrayar's sector. While the emperor engages in diplomatic missions to bring together a coalition, Miles’ fleet keeps the Cetagandan’s busy enough until a Barrayar fleet can arrive and defeat the Cetagandan. At the end, Miles is promoted to Lieutenant and assigned to Imperial Security.