ImpSec

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ImpSec is the short name for Barrayaran Imperial Security in Lois McMaster Bujold's sci-fi series, the Vorkosigan Saga.


ImpSec is the branch of the the Imperial Military primarily concerned with the security of the emperor and the imperium. Mostly, ImpSec consists of Analysts and Covert Operatives. However, since ImpSec is the Emperor's Last Resort, they can requisition whatever forces they need.

Notable ImpSec Chiefs:

Of course, ImpSec's most productive Covert Operative was Miles Vorkosigan under the guise of Admiral Naismith, commanding the Dendarii Mercenaries.

[edit] Real World Basis

There are many real world analogs to ImpSec. However, the most clearest parallel seems to be to the Soviet Union's KGB. Like the KGB, ImpSec has both foreign intelligence (i.e., the "Galactic Affairs section", including Miles Vorkosigan's covert operations, and the ImpSec officers operating under the "legal" cover of embassy attaches) and domestic security branches (e.g., "Domestic Affairs section"), as well as a full array of support functions (e.g., technical division, communications division).

In comparison to contemporary American security services, ImpSec seems to subsume some or all of the functions of a range of agencies, particularly: the CIA, NSA and DIA; the counter-terrorism and domestic security operations of the FBI, the Presidential protection functions of the United States Secret Service and Marines, and various law enforcement services that deal with non-security related crimes that affect the stability of the Imperium such as anti-counterfeiting operations of the Secret Service. For example, Byerly Vorrutyer's informant and agent provacateur work in [[A Civil Campaign]] seems similar to much real-world secret police work, including the FBI's COINTELPRO operations, albeit with a more morally justifiable goal and method.

ImpSec's position in relation to the military seems particularly similar to that of the NSA or DIA, in that ImpSec appears to be technically a part of the military (including the use of military ranks and uniforms, but in practice to function independently of the regular command structure.

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