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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“The main foundations which all states must have, whether new, or old, or mixed, are good laws and good armies.”

The Prince – Nicolo Machiavelli

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Independent Transport INS Serenity – Landing – 2522AD

‘Everyone tooled up and ready?’ Mal asked trotting down the stairway onto the cargo deck. ‘Remember if we do enough of a convincing show of force we won’t get any trouble’ he said.

Hughes passed Mal a GR-21 which he slung on his back then looked around. ‘Jayne grab yourself another couple of grenades’ he ordered.

‘Thought I was intimidating enough already’ Jayne replied reaching for the crate of concussion grenades on the deck. He was already carrying half a dozen along with Vera, a large calibre handgun and a bowie knife.

Wash’s voice boomed over the intercom. ‘We’ve got a pair of Angels running a CAP over this area. They say if we start taking any Anti-Aircraft fire they’ll tag the thing with a missile. But so far we’re good.’

‘Never thought I’d get another chance’ Jayne said happily ‘must have at least another sixty thousand just waiting to be picked up.’

Zoe growled. ‘Jayne we’re here to occupy the place not to rob it’ she said coldly.

‘LZ in thirty seconds’ Wash declared over the intercom.

Serenity flew low over the town and landed just on the outskirts, the ramp lowering as she set down kicking up plenty of dirt with her variable geometry engines. Wash had deliberately made sure to get everyone’s attention by barely clearing the roofs of the taller structures.

Mal marched purposefully down the ramp flanked followed by the Rangers who spread out behind him forming a shallow V of troops following him as he stomped towards the town. Several locals looked up from their labours with more than a few jaws dropping.

An