Disclaimer – Everything either does belong to Joss or it should. I’m just borrowing his shiny ‘verse for a while.

The 21st Lancers belong to the British Army so I’m borrowing them too. I hope they don’t mind.

Thanks to my regular readers for making it worthwhile to continue the story and special thanks to my Proof-Reader Landry.

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Serenity/Granite Gorge – Underway – 2520AD

The coffee was too darn hot to drink so Mal sat back and let it cool whilst listening to the ship. He’d left Inara sleeping and headed up to the galley to think. He was grateful they didn’t try to set up a victory party to celebrate the return of the conquering heroes. It didn’t feel like a cause for celebration just an unpleasant, albeit necessary, task.

The ships were underway again. Serenity once again in her usual spot being pushed backwards through the black by the larger ship. Well she’d earned a rest after the last little adventure. She was scorched by laser fire and her engines had been pushed right to the wall by Wash trying to get as much space between them and the nuke as possible before it razed the Reaver Camp.

Sipping the dark brew Mal let his thoughts drift over his crew. It didn’t seem so long ago that he’d craved some action to get them on their toes but a few months grace would be just the ticket right about now.

The Shepherd was becoming increasingly distant and that was a cause for concern. For most of the crew, even the ones that largely believed in the notion of religion, they found putting aside moral considerations and uncertainties was a far easier task than it was for Book. He agonised over such things, the ethical ambiguities of their lifestyle ate at his soul. You could see it in his face.

Mal sympathised, he had his own inner demons but he fought them by putting the interests of his people above his own. Striving to be a good Captain was his reparation for things he had, or hadn’t, done and clearly Book’s devotion to his faith was a close parallel to his own devot