While stationed on Komarr as aide-de-camp to the Chief of Operations, Ivan Vorpatril reluctantly lets Imperial Security agent Byerly Vorrutyer (with whom he had uncomfortable dealings in A Civil Campaign) into his flat late one night. Byerly asks Ivan to find out what he can about a young and, he stresses, attractive woman who is somehow connected to his current undercover investigation. Despite his strong misgivings, Ivan agrees when Byerly hints that she may be in danger. Ivan soon finds himself in a predicament and desperately seeks a way to prove it is not his fault.
