SO YOU'VE RECEIVED A COPY OF THE KOMARR REPORT. CONGRATULATIONS! YOU ARE NOW PART OF AN EXCLUSIVE GROUP THAT INCLUDES EVERYONE ON THE SHIP EXCEPT MILES VORKOSIGAN.

The Komarr Report is a detailed strategy/military memoir written by Admiral Lord Aral Vorkosigan about the Barrayaran invasion of Komarr, the planet that controlled the only wormhole jump point to Barrayar. The book is a comprehensive explanation of Admiral Vorkosigan's grand strategy and how it was executed, demonstrating a complex and nuanced military genius behind it. Despite it having been a military invasion, the bulk of Admiral Vorkosigan's strategy heavily focused on political and economic factors. Barrayar's intent was to incorporate Komarr into its Empire rather than destroy it, so the aim of the invasion was to avoid causing damage and loss of life where possible and preserve the Komarran infrastructure and way of life. The Komarr Report demonstrates Admiral Vorkosigan's thorough understanding of the interlocking factors of diplomacy, war, culture, and economics; his strategy is outlined in a clear and logical fashion that makes it intelligible to the reader, though it retains its level of complexity. The book is obviously geared toward the military reader, but isn't totally inaccessible to the average civilian.

The invasion was an overall success -- Komarr was inducted as the first planetary addition to the Barrayaran Empire. However -- as is the case with most things -- it did not go entirely according to plan. At the apex of the invasion, the invading Barrayaran forces had about two hundred political hostages confined to a gymnasium, all of whom were killed in what is now known as the Solstice Massacre. The book glosses over the exact details and circumstances that led to the Solstice Massacre, but states that they were able to successfully incorporate Komarr despite the loss of life.

For the curious: a conversation about The Komarr Report

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Feel free to leave any additional questions you might have!