Zoë stands on a tall hill overlooking the assigned valley near Paradiso and says, “Nice place for an ambush.”

Mal looks around and answers, “That it is.”

Zoë responds, “Don’t think it’s a good spot, Sir. He’ll have an advantage over us.”

Mal answers, “Everyone always does.” Mal turns his head towards Zoë and asks, “Does this seem like Déjà vu to you?”

“It always does Sir, but he ain’t gonna be like Patience on Whitehall. We hit him hard the last time and he has to re-earn some reputation against us. He’ll hit us with everything he’s got.”

“Yep, that’s what I figure,” answers Mal.

“He’ll have sniper teams Sir, not just snipers. Do you really think Jayne will be able to help us out here?”

“Yep.”

“How will Jayne be able to take out Sniper teams? They’re trained against guys like him.”

“He won’t. Jayne is doing something else.”

“Sir, don’t you think Niska and his forces will see this one coming?”

“No they won’t see this one coming.”

“What’ve you got planned Sir?” asked Zoë.

“We’ll have some reserve forces of our own.”

“Who would that be Captain?”

“Well we have Badger and Fanty & Mingo who will be planet side very shortly and of course Mr. Universe, and all their forces.”

Zoë looks at the back of Mal’s neck for a moment before asking, “Sir, do you really think they’ll be here with enough forces to help us out?”

“They have to with all we’ve got on them, don’t they?”

Zoë looks around the valley again and replies, “Yes Sir, I reckon so.”

“Let’s get back to the shuttle,” instructs Mal.

Inside the shuttle Zoë goes through the ignition sequence when she asks, “What was all that back there about Badger, Fanty & Mingo and Mr. Universe? They’re all dead.”

“Didn’t you get the feeling we were being watched?” answers Mal, “I had to give some misinformation to strengthen out tactics.”

“What are we really doing in that valley Sir?” asks Zoë.

Mal looks at Zoë with a smile on his face and answers, “The one thing nobody would expect.”

Zoë thinks about what