Fish Speakers

A military force comprised only of women that serve the God-emperor, Leto II Atreides. The Fish Speakers are the ultimate evolution of military fanatical power in the Dune universe, appearing later in the book series (specifically in the fourth book, God Emperor of Dune). While the name sounds unusual, they are a terrifyingly efficient, galaxy-spanning army created by Paul Atreides‘ son, the immortal tyrant Leto II. The Fish Speakers are an elite, multi-million-soldier military force composed exclusively of women. Leto II ruled the galaxy for 3500 years as a human-sandworm hybrid, and he replaced all traditional male-dominated armies (like the Emperor’s famous Sardaukar) with this all-female force. They do not just serve as soldiers, they are also a religious priesthood. They worship Leto II as a literal living God, and they received their name because their earliest members spoke to Leto II in the quiet of the night, rhythmic and flowing like fish swimming in water.

Why only women? Frank Herbert used this concept to explore the psychology of war and military history. In the lore, Leto II chose an all-female army for specific psychological reasons:
Less Collateral Damage – Leto believed that male-dominated armies are inherently destructive, aggressive, and prone to raping and pillaging civilian populations when left unsupervised.
Nurturing Protection – He argued that an all-female army behaves more like a protective force. They are fiercely loyal, highly disciplined, and focus on maintaining stability and protecting the empire rather than mindless conquest.
Fanatical Loyalty – By combining military training with religious devotion, the Fish Speakers became an unbreakable wall of security that kept the entire galaxy in a state of absolute, forced peace for millennia.