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.

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“Hit hard, hit first, hit often”

Admiral W.F. Halsey 1882-1959

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Whitefall – 4th Moon of Athens – 2522AD

Mal shaded his eyes from the sun with his hand whilst he scanned the skies. She should be coming into view any moment… now.

Serenity.

He smiled.

The Firefly swooped down over the other grounded ships and in one fluid motion set down smooth as silk not fifty yards away, her ramp already coming down before her undercarriage fully lowered. It was a great piece of piloting, the Firefly had even turned as it set down so the open ramp was pointing right towards Mal.

A familiar figure bounded down the gangway to meet him as Mal walked over to take command of his boat once more.

‘Kaylee’ he called out. ‘What in the nine hells are you doing wearing that get-up?’ Mal called out to his mechanic over the sound of the engines winding down.

‘I got drafted Cap’n’ Kaylee replied. ‘Well kinda’ she continued. ‘It’s a bit drab don’t you think?’ she asked spinning so Mal could check out her Navy Jumpsuit from all angles. ‘They told me I couldn’t go with you and Serenity unless I signed up so I did’ she explained.

Mal grimaced looking at Kaylee’s new uniform, ‘Couldn’t you have at least joined the Army Air Corps’ he said eventually.

‘They didn’t give her that option’ another voice replied ‘Good to have you back Sir’ Zoe told him.

Mal looked up at the other figure that had appeared at the top of the ramp opened his mouth to speak, closed it again did a double take then tried his best to regain his composure.

Zoe smiled then looked down at the bundle in her arms. ‘Her name is Erica’ she said turning the bundle so Mal could get a better look.

Mal couldn’t help but stare. ‘I’d forgotten how long it had been since I left the Fort’ he said