"Yeah." He shrugs. "Anyway. Time passed. Barrayar discovered Sergyar, and the connection to Escobar through it, and decided to try this conquering thing again. I strongly suspect Aral wanted no part of that, although I don't have direct confirmation; what I do know is that he met his future wife on Sergyar, when she was part of a Betan Astronomical Survey expedition that happened to find the planet while the Barrayarans were setting up there. He took her prisoner. No one's quite sure how they ended up engaged. I'll ask, if I ever meet them. The invasion plans proceeded, Barrayar poured a fleet through Sergyar, and the Escobarans wiped the floor with them thanks to a timely delivery of cutting-edge Betan shielding technology that reflects plasma blasts instead of absorbing them. Sergyar got its name from the Barrayaran Crown Prince who died in that battle."