Disclaimer: Firefly and these character are owned by the revered Joss Whedon (and possibly Universal Pictures by now?).

I don't ever expect to be able to do plots as well as Ali D, but I'm trying here. Be kind!

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HAWKS AND DOVES (Part 1)

“Thought you might want to see this, Sir,” Zoe said grimly, flicking a switch to bring up the latest news from the Cortex on the screen. “Came on an hour ago.”

Mal leant over her shoulder to get a better view.

“Rebel leader sentenced to life imprisonment on Hera,” he read out loud. “Alexander Trautmann, 46, was sentenced to life imprisonment by authority of the Alliance of Unified Planets for insurrection, rebellion and treason. His crimes are many including murder, arson and rape.... What the gou cao de....?” Unable to find words strong enough to express his outrage, Mal paused.

He looked at Zoe incredulously. “See what kind of fei hua the Alliance is putting out there? He di'n't never do any of those things.”

“Sure he didn't, Sir,” she replied. “Or you wouldn't speak so highly of him.”

Mal scrolled down, scanning the article and snorting angrily. Finally he came across a picture and stopped. A strong but weary face smiled gently out of the screen. It was an old picture, Mal knew, because Trautmann had lost an eye in the Battle of Xangshi, ten years ago. In this picture he still had both eyes and was exactly how Mal remembered him, from that first day they'd met.

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“Incoming!” Sergeant Trautmann's yell boomed out above the rattle of gun-fire and distant explosions. “Take cover.”

All around him, soldier were hurling themselves to the ground, but Malcolm Reynolds stood frozen to the spot, simply staring at the incomprehensible mayhem around him. He wasn't afraid. He'd left fear several stops back. Now he was numb, petrified. He'd seen death before. Horrible accidents on the ranch. Had slaughtered cattle with his own hands, so blood and guts wa'n't nothing new. But he hadn't been prepared for this sort of carnage.