Komarr characters

Also known as Ekaterin

Appears from the start

Tien's wife, Nikki's mother, and Vorthys's niece, Ekaterin is a skilled amateur gardener living in Serifosa Dome. Her concern for her family is constrained by Tien's insistence that his inherited medical condition remain secret.

Also known as Miles

Appears from the start

A newly appointed Imperial Auditor investigating the Soletta collision as Vorthys's independent, co-equal colleague. Miles previously served in ImpSec and is heir to the Vorkosigan countship, bringing both security experience and political standing to the inquiry.

Also known as Tien

Appears from the start

Ekaterin's husband and Nikki's father, Tien is a Barrayaran administrator in the Serifosa terraforming project. He has tremors from an inherited adult-onset disorder but refuses local care, fearing that disclosure could damage his career.

Also known as Nikolai

Appears from the start

Ekaterin and Tien's nine-year-old son, also known as Nikolai. Nikki has shown no tremor symptoms from the inherited disorder affecting his family.

Also known as Vorthys, Professor Vorthys

Appears from the start

Ekaterin's great-uncle, an Imperial Auditor, and a former engineering professor. Vorthys is the probable-cause specialist assigned to the Soletta collision and works beside Miles as a co-equal investigator.

First appears in chapter 3

Marie Trogir's missing supervisor, an engineer from Waste Heat Management. Radovas left his post abruptly at the same time as Marie, giving rise to an unconfirmed story that the two departed together.

Also known as Marie

First appears in chapter 3

A Waste Heat Management engineering technician and Andro Farr's partner. Marie has been missing for six weeks after supposedly leaving on a field assignment with Radovas, yet she abandoned her possessions and cats.

First appears in chapter 3

Marie Trogir's cohabiting partner. Andro asks Ekaterin for help after Marie disappears without explanation.

Also known as Soudha

First appears in chapter 4

The administrator of Serifosa's Waste Heat Management department and Marie Trogir's former department head. He confirms that Marie resigned with only one day's notice but says he cannot explain where she went.

First appears in chapter 4

Tien's Komarran administrative assistant, who guides Miles and Vorthys during their field tour of the terraforming project. Venier recognizes Ekaterin's interest in the work and encourages her to pursue technical training.

Also known as Gregor

First appears in chapter 5

The Emperor of Barrayar. His engagement to a Komarran woman gives the approaching wedding wider political importance, while Miles is expected to serve as his wedding second and witness.

Also known as Lace

First appears in chapter 5

Emperor Gregor's Komarran fiancée, known to Miles as Lace. Her forthcoming marriage to the Barrayaran Emperor carries political significance for relations between Barrayar and Komarr.

Also known as Radovas's widow

First appears in chapter 6

Dr. Radovas's newly bereaved widow. She confirms that he left a note, removed his personal files, and disappeared with Marie Trogir, but cannot say whose plan the departure was or where they went.

Also known as Tuomonen

First appears in chapter 6

The ImpSec captain assigned to Serifosa and an officer assisting Miles with the Soletta inquiry. Tuomonen identifies the unexplained eighth victim and supports the investigation into Radovas's death and Marie Trogir's disappearance.

Also known as Foscol

First appears in chapter 7

An accountant in Waste Heat Management. Ekaterin first learns of Foscol as the person maintaining accounts for a concealed departmental scheme involving ghost employees and false financial records.

First appears in chapter 8

A younger Waste Heat engineer who has temporarily taken over Radovas's duties and hopes to earn a promotion. During Miles's inquiry, Arozzi confirms the private nature of Radovas and Marie's relationship but offers no explanation for their disappearance.

First appears in chapter 8

A Waste Heat mathematician who worked with Radovas on calculations and projections. Cappell is interviewed during the inquiry into Radovas's death and Marie Trogir's disappearance but supplies no convincing account of what happened.

Also known as Gibbs

First appears in chapter 12

An ImpSec financial analyst assigned to unravel Waste Heat Management's accounts. Gibbs traces fictitious employees, dummy companies, and questionable equipment purchases while seeking the real machinery hidden behind the paper fraud.

Also known as Riva

First appears in chapter 16

A mathematical physicist at Solstice University with expertise in five-space theory. Vorthys calls on Riva to help determine the purpose of a set of custom field generators associated with the investigation.

Also known as Professor Vorthys's wife

First appears in chapter 12

Vorthys's wife and one of Ekaterin's supportive relatives. Vorthys arranges for her to come and support Ekaterin after Tien's death.

Also known as Vorgier

First appears in chapter 20

The local ImpSec officer commanding the response at the Barrayar transfer station. Vorgier prepares an immediate assault on the hostage site, while Miles takes control and holds that option in reserve.