- "When it comes to divvying up resources and personnel, Sergyar command has always been third in line for everything... Komarr command always gets first pick, on the theory that they’ll be the hot seat if there is one, and Home Fleet is a close second. They arm-wrestle all the time over the best men. We get what’s left. What’s left, it turns out, are a lot of the best women. Send us more, I’d say. No, you can’t filch this one."
- ―Oliver Jole on the ISWA and Kaya Vorinnis to Fyodor Haines[src]
The Imperial Service Women's Auxiliary (ISWA) was a branch of the Barrayaran Imperial Service specifically designated for women.
In earlier years, it primarily engaged in non-combatant roles such as medical staff, military law enforcement (particularly for handling female suspects and criminals), and technicians; however, their size and the roles available to them changed considerably over the course of the Vorkosigan Saga thanks to Emperor Gregor's command under Cordelia Naismith Vorkosigan's influence. Thus, by the time of Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen, they were a serious additional military service that could supply people to work directly for people in the main, all-male, service.
- "But the Vicereine would approve, which was a charming thought, though Cordelia would doubtless also make some less-charming remark about how her natal Beta Colony and a like list of advanced planets had boasted fully-gender-integrated space services since forever."
- ―Jole's musing on Cordelia's hand in ISWA[src]
Known instances of involvement of these forces include:
- Two women from the auxiliaries guarded Cavilo at the end of the War of the Hegen Hub to prevent her escape.
- Tuomonen's fast-penta interrogation of Ekaterine Vorsoisson was performed with the assistance of a medtech from the auxiliary service.
- They played a large supporting role in Sergyar space.
- A team comprised of ISWA members won the boot polo tournament at Oliver Jole's birthday against two other teams, one comprised of the male branch of Imperial Service and the other a mixed-gender team of the Kareenburg municipal guard.
Notable members[]
References[]
- The Warrior's Apprentice chapter 3
- The Vor Game chapter 17
- Komarr chapter 13
- Gentleman Jole and the Red Queen, all