Barrayaran Imperial Military Service
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In Lois McMaster Bujold's Vorkosigan Saga, the "Barrayaran Imperial Military Service" is the national military force of the planet of Barrayar.
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[edit] History and organisation
The service appears to have originated from the feudal armies of pre-space age Barrayar, until their dissolution by the reforming emperor Dorcas Vorbarra. Originally, the Service's officer corps was dominated by the Barrayaran aristocracy; its class-based militarism was reminiscent of nineteenth-century Prussia or of Meiji-era Japan. However, the Emperor Gregor Vorbarra, and his Prime Minister Lord Aral Vorkosigan, reformed the admissions process, creating a modern Service Academy with competitive admission from all classes.
[edit] Uniform
The Barrayaran uniform consists of four different sets. Ranging from informal to formal: Black fatigues, a Green Undress uniform, a Green Dress Uniform and a Parade Red and Blue uniform. Fatigues and Undress Greens are generally worn during regular duty, while dress Greens are for meetings with superior officers and Red and Blues for formal functions. All the uniforms are accompanied by black cavalry boots, evidence that the military is descended from a cavalry-based ground force.
[edit] Rank
[edit] Officers of the Space Forces and ImpSec
Rank is indicated by a set of collar tabs. The color of the tab represents the rank.
| Collar Tab Color | Rank |
|---|---|
| Yellow | Admiral |
| ???? | Commodore |
| Blue | Captain |
| ???? | Commander |
| Red | Lieutenant |
| Pale Blue | Ensign |
[edit] Other Insignia
Other insignia indicate branch of service as, for example, the Imperial Security silver Eye of Horus pins. Pins are worn in a set and are individually custom-made with a unique serial number on the back.
[edit] Hierarchy
By definition, the Imperial Military is under the overall command of the reigning Emperor or Regent as commander-in-chief. Consequently, in his role as the Emperor's Voice, any Barrayaran Imperial Auditor can command military forces as he sees fit. Only the Emperor (or Regent) and possibly other Auditors as a group could override him. Otherwise, the hierarchy of command is very similar to current military forces, in that officers command the enlisted men. Ranks are very similar to American/British military ranks.
Space forces: Enlisted men --> Ensign --> Lieutenant --> Commander --> Captain --> Commodore --> Admiral --> (Emperor)
Ground forces: Private --> Corporal --> Sergeant --> Lieutenant --> Captain --> Major --> Colonel --> General --> (Emperor)
Imperial Security generally seems to follow the regular military rank scheme, although formal rank seems to be in practice irrelevant at the top and several holders of this position were content with the naval rank of Captain [equals Colonel]. The Chief of ImpSec is generally considered the second most powerful man on Barrayar, after the Emperor or Regent. In theory, Imperial Auditors as direct representatives of and stand-ins for the Emperor are more powerful than the Chief of ImpSec but rarely do anything to display it.
[edit] References
Lois McMaster Bujold, "The Warrior's Apprentice", "Memory", "Komarr"
