"Hoban!"

Wash winced as the accursed name bounced around the white walls of the room. A couple men snickered at the name, but soon quieted at the glare of the flight instructor.

"Hoban, repeat what I just said."

Wash stood slowly. He didn't have a clue about what the teacher had said. He looked around at the other adults in the room.

"Um...ships have..." He faltered. The teacher raised an eyebrow.

"As I thought. Twelve hours in the flight simulation with a thunderstorm for you."

Wash sat back down, knowing he had deserved the punishment.

He missed his home planet Beaumonde. Instead, he was stuck on Ariel, in an Alliance Flight Acadamy. It wasn't so bad, due to his love of flying, but, he missed his family. Especially Zoe. Zoe had been his sweetheart ever since they had turned 20. Now he was 25 and in the Alliance.

He sighed, and the bell rang, signaling that class was over. He picked up his books and went out with the rest of the men. Suddenly, someone tapped him on the shoulder, and he turned.

An Alliance soldier stood there, holding a telegram. Wash blinked.

"Is that for me?" He asked the soldier, who merely nodded. Wash took the telegram from his hands, and the soldier turned and walked off.

Wash went to his dorm room and set down his books on his desk. The bed sqeaked as he sat down, and he reminded himself to get it fixed. Opening the telegram, he was shocked to see:

"Hoban Washburne,

We are pleased to see your excessive progress in the Alliance Flight Acadamy. Due to you being the top in your class and ahead of all the other students, the Alliance has chosen you to fly in one of our ships at Serenity Valley, which desperately needs new pilots to fly our troops in and drive out the Browncoats.

We expect you to report to the nearest flight instructor to take your leave. He will give you instructions on how to proceed.

-General Caine"

Wash dropped the letter. His eyes grew wide, and he sat in shock. A battle? He was going to fly in a battle? H