Here it is, my very first Firefly fanfiction work. This follows the crew of a ship called the BlackJack, a Sihnon class Freighter, as it struggles to survive the evolution of the Reaver race. There are no soldiers or fighters on this boat, no Companions or doctors. Just a bunch of marginally competent grunts getting paid to go as their boss says.

The timeline picks up about six months after the events of the movie Serenity, but since this isn't Serenity's crew, chances are there are no spoilers of note.

Legal stuff: I don't own any of the intellectual property that I'm writing for, all your Firefly are belong to Joss. And since this takes place after the events of the Big Damned Movie, the events of this work are utter speculation.

Episode 1, "Reaved, pt.1"

"Here's how it is. While back, some idiots got it in their head to stand up against something a lot bigger than themselves. Didn't work out so well, and took down a bunch of us with them. I guess I understood what they fought for, but I couldn't fight for it m'self. The Alliance figured war'd be a fine thing, and they brought it with them. The Independents decided to fight'em. Bad choice. It was a massacre.

Thing's been tough the last few years. Every month, the Parliment closes its fist a bit tighter. The good men in government get spat out, and cookie-cutter conservatives took their place. Things got tough, and folk had to get tougher. Like me, for example. I had a gravy contract, before the War, but thing's gone south. I ain't getting any younger, and the 'Verse is getting a bit darker.

Course, then the Wave hit. Working for the Alliance for ten years, and they pull this. The very day they take my ship, the signal goes out that the Parliment created those monsters... those Reavers. Genocide on the order of thirty million, and monsters besides. Couldn't work for them after that."

Zane let out a laugh. "Couldn't work for them? You don't have a ship!"

Tony scowled at the young man, shoving an empty bottle toward toward him, "You know what I'm get