Mal stood at ease before his new General. He looked like someone who expected you to take a bullet for him. He was smoking a large cigar, leaning back in his chair with an oversized uniform to showcase his many, many, many medals. Mal saluted quickly before putting his hands behind his back. This all reminded him of boot camp; if it could be called that. “General Marx, Lieutenant Reynolds reporting, Sir.” Marx took a long drag of his cigar before answering. “No need, Lieutenant. I was told of your actions today by your so-called “Reinforcements”. You realize that you had no right to commandeer those soldiers?” “Yes, Sir. But, we had taken losses earlier, and the nearest company to us was ten miles distant. If I hadn’t ‘Picked them up’, they’d still be runnin’.” Marx snorted. “Tchah, seems that you Independents have a lack of discipline among the ranks.” He took another drag, heaving out a smoke ring when he was done. Mal had to fight the urge to shoot the man. “With all due respect, sir, we ain’t the ones who ran.” “It was a calculated retreat, Lieutenant. Now, I have a new mission for your troop, ASAP. Urgent, high ranked, top-secret.” “Sir, my men-“ “Will fight and die as they are told,” Marx cut him off coldly. “The wounded will be transferred and new recruits placed on the line. Now, we have a situation that could very well win or lose us this war. You see, a carrier was shot down over bug country.” Mal’s interest was piqued. “Friendly fire?” That was always a problem in any war. “Unknown, presumed hostile. We’re in a whole new ball park here.” Mal groaned. The one thing they had always had over the bugs was airpower. If they had evolved- again- to combat the air forces, than they were royally screwed. “Fine… sir. Target?” “Classified. She’ll make herself known to you.” “She? Sir, if’n your talkin’ about what I think, then-“ He cut Mal off. “What you think doesn’t matter much at the moment, Lieutenant Reynolds. This is your job, and you’re the only one who can do it, you and your people. You leave at 0700- you have five hours to prepare. I suggest you use it well.” He took another drag of his cigar. Mal saluted and left, the urge to kick something hard to overcome. *** He stood before the crowd, the milling faces of the lost and the damned. He sighed, cursing the Alliance that brought this all down on their weary shoulders. “Listen up, all.” Immediately, silence rebounded around the room. He saw all the faces that he’d come to know so well; Tracey and Simon and Kaylee and a dozen dozen others. Still… he had known twice as many from the start. It would be hard to welcome in new faces. “We got a new mission-“ He was cut off by immediate protests from his men. “We just got in; we gotta go out again?” “Just us? We ain’t even half strength!” “What sorta Op needs so few? Too big fer stealth, too small for a push?!?!” He held up his hands for silence; after a moment he got it. “Listen up, ya’ll. We’re gonna get dropped in behind enemy lines. New bloods comin’ in; in and out, get the package and we’re out. All nonessential folk are outta this. No mechanics or wounded or the like what can’t hold a gun. Those what can’t, I want outta this room in five minutes ago.” He smirked as only three or so men left; the rest were the real veterans. His smile turned into a frown as he saw Kaylee and Simon still there. “I said-“ “With all due respect, sir, you need a medic for this.” “An’ a mech is always handy!” Kaylee practically chirped it out. Mal shook his head in bemusement. How the girl was still so happy and innocent in all this he’d never know. “Fine. Now, on a lighter note; we’re no longer the 57th-“ It took a few minutes for the hail to die down, now. “The 57th is now battalion strength, and, as we are only a company, we need a new name. Any suggestions?” “Bug Hunters?” “Big Dogs?” “House Corrino?” “Roughnecks?” Mal laughed. “No, no, What the fuck? And… aw, Hell, why not?” Behind him, someone started to clap. *** A/N: AHHHHHHHH!!! Sorry sorry sorry! I know, I am WAY overdue for this. Heh heh… well… ya see… I was writing a comic (“The Amazing Adventures of Emo-Kid”), and coupled with Writers block and another story of an entirely different Fan-dom that I have going on now… yeah. This is all I could come up with at the moment; the next one should prove interesting, though. Ten points for BEB!