TITLE: "A CUNNING PLAN"

AUTHOR: Alison M. DOBELL

FANDOM: "FIREFLY"

PAIRING: None.

RATING: PG-13.

STATUS: Sequel to "PHASE TWO".

ARCHIVE: Yes. Just let me know where.

FEEDBACK: Welcomed.

EMAIL: AlisonMDobell@aol.com

WEBSITE: None. All Firefly stories archived at Fireflyfans.net

SUMMARY: "River outlines her plan to a less than

enthusiastic crew. Monty wonders what the hell is going on

when Serenity leaves him stranded on Cheverell. The Sheriff

goes to see Petrie and gets a shock."

The usual disclaimers apply. The characters and 'Firefly'

are the property and gift of Joss Whedon and Mutant Enemy.

No infringement of copyright is intended.

"A CUNNING PLAN"

"Firefly" story

Written by Alison M. DOBELL

* * * * *

As the mule sped Northwards Ritchie took a moment or two to watch the passing landscape, noting how the rich soil and habited areas fell away behind them, leaving increasingly barren land flying beneath them. This mule was a Connor 605 and big enough to have a forward cab separate from the loading platform behind them. It also had wrap around windshields for all four sides with a roll top roof. Ritchie had never been North before, never had reason to go there. Why would anyone go into the rocky foothills of what was basically a broken down mountain range where hardly anything would grow? He had also heard there were no streams, natural lakes or water sources either. It was almost as if heading North was like stepping onto a totally different planet. His curiosity piqued he turned to speak to the driver.

"I didn't think there was anything North of Cheverell?"

Posed as a question all he got back was a non committal grunt. Ritchie wanted to press the man but really his heart just wasn't in it. So. His employer liked solitude, isolation. While it was not for him he supposed he could see the attraction for a man like Petrie. Rumour was that Lincoln James Petrie was wealthy beyond