“You’re what?” Ann asked with a half-surprised half-angyr undertone after Yong had told her he had to go to Osiris immediately. The other crewmembers, Tomas, the ship’s mechanic, and Lin and Cidney, the two other guns onboard apart from Yong himself had joined him and Ann in the cockpit. He had just shown the crew the Alliance letter.

“I am going back to where I have to be. Alliance says jump, I jump”, Yong said.

“Doesn’t quite seem like you”, Lin said. The young woman had been flying with Yong and Ann for over a year and knew him quite well. “You’re not the type taking orders without questioning them.”

“Well, let’s say there are situations when not asking questions might be the wisest course of action. And I’ve always felt proud serving the Alliance.”

“Yeah, when you was serving them. Didn’t it say they discharged somewhere in there? Dishonourably. What’s that all about?” Tomas interjected.

“Long story. My own fault. I don’t really want to talk about it. Took a stand back then wasn’s worth taking. Suffered a lot from that, lost everything, financially, you know. Forced me to pursue an alternative career.”

“That a ref’rence t’ fallin’ in wiv us lot?” Cidney asked in his ingenuous Dayton Colony brogue.

“You eat some’in strange today, Cid? You might almost think you read minds”, Ann laughed. “Not entirely sure‘t was meant as a compliment though.”

“Look, being reinstated is something of a second chance. Not many there as get one at all. I’d better be taking it”, Yong said, before adding as an afterthought. “Have to think of my folks too.”

“Wha’ d’ya mean, eh? Letter says them’s taken care of, innit.”

“Well, that’s one side of the medal.”

“I don’t get it.”

“Is it really that difficult, stupid?” Lin exclaimed exasperated. “They got Yong’s folks in, say, protective custody. Same as families of most senior officers whose allegiance they aren’t sure of.”

“There’s no question of my allegiance. But you’re right, Lin. That’s what the whole programme is for. Keeping people in line.”

“Kind of like having commissars without actually having the commissars”, Tomas said.

“What the…” said Cid.

“Nobody ever teach you about history at school, man”, Tomas asked.

“Not ‘nough money for more than primary school. But Yong, I thought you weren’t married. So who’s it you’re so worried about?”

“My brothers, sisters, their kids, couple of cousins, aunts, uncles. We’re a big family, you know.”

“Okay, okay, I think we’re digressing here just a bit”, Ann interrupted. “Can’t say I’m happy you’re joining this stupid war, and on their side at that.”

“Oh, so we’re us and them now already”, Yong said. “Interesting.”

“Don’t get this wrong, but you know I’m from Whitefall and I just can’t see why people on the outer planets can’t just be themselves, and live in peace. Stupid war is gonna end soon anyway. No point to it.”

“You’re for the Independents then I take it.”

“Well, rather than Alliance anyhow. Not that I’m comfortable with having to choose sides, just like you said. I’m gonna take you to Osiris, if that’s what you want, but I have to deliver our cargo first. Military might have their priorities getting you there soon as possible, but mine is with getting the stuff to our clients. Hope you don’t mind missing out on two days of killing, or do you?”

“That was uncalled for”, Yong said and left for his bunk.

------------------------------------------------

Two days later Yong was making his way through the bustling streets of Capital City. The place was teeming with soldiers. Looked like Osiris was the launchpad for an imminent major offensive against the Browncoats. The big cortex screens displayed bulletin after bulletin about the most recent events of the Unification campaign, all with the inevitable propagandistic spin on them of course. They were only interrupted now and then by appeals to buy Blue Sun War Bonds to support the Unification effort. The crudeness of it was almost grotesque, he thought.

Yong’s thoughts went back to his crewmates. The farewell at the docks had been short and subdued. He regretted it to leave the people he had grown attached to over the last couple of years, or even just months in the case of some that he’d spent with them aboard the Zedong. Saying goodbye to Ann had been the hardest. He had been working for her for almost seven years. Even though it had just been stealing and smuggling, or receiving and disposing of goods as Ann had liked to describe their activities, it was the best job since he had been made to leave the army. Had been a shock then, being discharged after twenty years of service, but not nearly as much of a shock as when he had been reinstated from one second to the other. Felt weird.

Yong had finally reached the headquarters, a monstrous beast out of steel, concrete and glass, as sterile and rational as the Alliance itself. After passing a security check at the entrance he approached the reception counter in the foyer of the building.

“Colonel Brian M. Yong, let me see”, repeated the young officer while typing the name into the console. “Yes, sir, you’re being expected. Room 61203, on the 61st floor, sir.” “Thank you.” Yong said and turned to one of the glass elevators which rushed up and down along the façade of the building. The ground and the smaller buildings around were shrinking to the size of miniature pieces on a sand table. That’s what he would soon be dealing with again, Yong mused. As the elevator ground to a hold on the 61st floor with a soft humming, Yong thought he saw the orange back glow of a Firefly disappearing into the grey clouds over the skyscrapers of Capital City. Maybe it was the last he’d ever see of the Zedong. He’d miss the ship too. ------------------------------------------------- Disclaimer: For the events of the war I am loosely orientating myself on the unofficial timeline on the Fireflywiki. The 'Verse is of course Joss Whedon's. But Book's alter ego Brian Yong is essentially my creation.