By hadn't ever had the dubious pleasure of meeting Official Old Stick Piotr Vorkosigan while the old stick was alive. But he'd met Aral Vorkosigan, and had always just assumed that Piotr was basically the same, just less burly. Not so much, as it turns out: he is a bit less burly, he was right about that part, but he's definitely not the same. Definitely not the same. The difference, By thinks, is this: Aral Vorkosigan always seems like he's barely holding back from eviscerating you with some droll witticism or cogent observation; Piotr Vorkosigan just seems like he's barely holding back from eviscerating you.

Of all the places in the camp that Byerly does not want to be, General Old Stick's tent is number one. But his life, and his mental and spiritual well-being, for the glory of Barrayar, so: here he is.

"General Count Vorkosigan," he acknowledges. Illyan never gets hung up about saluting, and Alys Vorpatril would scold him for his silliness if he ever saluted her, and so actually giving proper deference to a superior officer is not something he's well acquainted with. And he can't remember if there are differences in how you're supposed to acknowledge superior officers of other branches, since it's not like any of them have the security clearance to know who he is and what he does...So, in true ImpSec style, his deference to arguably the greatest military mind in Barrayaran history is sketchy and vague. "Reporting for duty." Sort of.