Here is the second part to the story I started a few weeks ago. Hope you enjoy, please comment and rate, but now it's 6 o'clock and time for the news.

************************************************* GNN (Galactic News Network) Broadcast, 18:00, 21st June, 2508 (Alliance Standard Calendar)

“OPERATION: UNITY CONTINUES ON THE OUTER RIM, WITH SEVERAL DEEP PUSHES INTO INDEPENDENT TERRITORY BEING MADE BY ALLIANCE FORCES. HOWEVER, RESISTENCE IS GROWING AND SEVERAL WORLDS HAVE TAKEN UP ARMS AGAINST THE ALLAINCE MILITARY.

“THESE PEOPLE MUST UNDERSTAND THAT WE HAVE ONLY PEACEFUL MOTIVES AND THAT WE ONLY WANT TO SPREAD EQUALTIY TO ALL PEOPLES OF THE GALAXY. BY THEM TAKING UP ARMS AGAINST OUR FORCES, THEY CAN BRING ONLY DESTRUCTION ON THEIR OWN HOMES.” THE PRIME MINISTER SAID IN PARLIAMENT TODAY.

“HOWEVER, SOME MEMBERS ARE VOCALISING THEIR OPPOSITION TO FORCED UNIFICATION. THE MEMBER OF SYDNEY STATED, “WE CAN NOT FORCE OURSELVES ONTO THESE PEOPLE. IF WE HAVE PEACEFUL MOTIVES THEN WHY SEND SOLDIERS TO DO A DIPLOMAT’S JOB. YOU CAN NOT FORCE SOMEONE TO JOIN AN ALLIANCE OF DEMOCRACIES!”

“IN OTHER NEWS, A RECENT ALLIANCE PUSH INTO THE OUTER PLANETS OF THE SYSTEM BY BATTLEGROUP: COMBINE, LEAD TO THE DESRUCTION OF THE FARM WORLD, SHADOW. THE BATTLEGROUP’S COMMANDER SAID THAT THEY CAME UNDER ATTACK AFTER ENTERING ORBIT ABOVE THE PLANET. WHEN THE COMMANDER ISSUED A CEASE-AND-DESIST ORDER, IT WAS IGNORED BY THE INDEPENDENT FIGHTERS AND SO THE BATTLEGROUP OPENED FIRE ON THE PLANET. “WHILE I REGRET THE LOSE OF SO MANY INNOCENT LIVES, I UNDERSTAND THAT THE COMMANDER HAD LITTLE CHOICE. WHILE THE MILITARY AS ORDERS TO SPREAD UNITY THROUGH PEACEFUL MEANS, I MUST ALLOW THEM TO DEFEND THEMSELVES FROM THESE VIOLENT REBELS.”

*************************************************

Mal was sitting at an empty table in the dining room of the training camp when Julian and a large Amazonian woman walked up to the table and sat down.

“You’re here,” Jule stated.

“That’s generally how the ‘verse works,” Mal said.

“Why?”

“You haven’t heard?” Mal asked.

“I think my question would answer that,” Jule stated as another woman sat down at the table. “What are you-” he began.

“Relax, everywhere else is full,” the woman interrupted.

Jule looked around before answering. “Whatever,” he turned back to Mal. “So, what haven’t I heard?”

“Shadow,” Mal sighed. “It’s gone.”

“Shuh muh?”

“Three Alliance cruisers appeared in orbit above the planet and, without warning, nuked the planet into oblivion,” Mal answered.

“Jesus Christ. When?” Jule asked.

“About three weeks ago,” Mal answered.

"Ni ta ma de. Tianxia suoyoude ren. Dou gaisi," Jule swore.

“Charming,” the women said.

“Shut up, Leo,” Jule said.

“Leo? Isn’t that a-” Mal started.

“Don’t ask,” Leo and Jule said at the same time.

“Okay, if you’re Leo,” Mal turned to the Amazon, “who are you?”

“Zoë Alleyne,” the Amazon answered. She put out her hand.

“Malcolm Reynolds,” Mal said as he shook her hand.

“Wait, if they bombed the planet, how’d you get out?” Jule asked Mal.

“I was on the moon picking up some supplies for the ranch when the ships appeared,” Mal explained. “I got out with Frank.”

“Ha, Frank. Where’s he now?” Jule asked.

“Teaching at the flight school,” Mal answered. “Some people there were very impressed with his techniques.”

“So how’d you join us so late in the training?” Zoë asked.

“Frank gave me quite a recommendation and said that he wouldn’t teach if they didn’t let join Jule,” Mal explained.

“Well, in a few days we’re starting weapons training,” Leo said. “And after that they’re picking out squad leaders, so you’re here for the best bits.”

“No, I’m no leader,” Mal said.

“Me neither,” Zoë agreed.

“The best leaders are those that don’t want it-” Leo began.

“The unfit ones are those that crave it,” Jule finished.

There was a slight pause before Mal said, “That’s was a bit creepy.”

*************************************************

“Alright, ladies and gentlemen,” the training officer addressed the platoon standing in front of them near the weapons range. “Now, over the past few weeks you have completed Phase 1 of your training: Fitness. And I must say that most have performed admirably. Now comes the stage where you become soldiers: Weapons Training.

“Now the primary weapon of the Coalition of Independent Planets and Moons Army is this,” he said as he picked up a rifle from its stand. “This is the AM-2504. Reliable, powerful and, most importantly in a weapon, deadly in the right hands. You will also get a NOW-class revolver as your side-arm,” the training officer said as he picked one up. “These are not as powerful as the rifle, but they are more accurate and even more reliable then the MK-series.” He put down both the rifle and revolver. “However, in some of the locations you’ll be fighting in, you may have to use whatever weapon you can get your hands on. In these situations the most common, and best, option you’ll have is the Heere-series of Winchester based rifles.” The officer picked up one of the guns. “Fast-firing, accurate and, again, reliable, this is one of the most common firearms in the known galaxy. Get to know it and the two weapons you will be commissioned with when you leave, you’ll be using them a lot in the field.”

***

All the trainees got into separate booths for target practice using the three guns. Jule picked up the AM rifle, took aim at his target and fired three shots.

“HA, yes,” he said when he saw that they hit the target’s centre.

Leo, who was in the booth next to Jule, picked up the revolver, spun with her eyes closed and shot six times.

“Son of a bitch!” Jule said when he saw where they hit. Leo had not only got three shots in the centre of her target, but also in Jule’s target, with her eyes closed.

“How did you do that?” Jule asked.

“Let’s just say it’s what I was made to do,” Leo answered as she put down the gun and went to leave the range.

“Where do you think you’re going?” the training officer asked. Leo sighed and turned to face him. “Just ‘cause you can shoot with one doesn’t mean you’re finished. Prove to me you can shoot with the other two then you can go.”

Leo groaned before picking up both the rifle and Winchester up at the same time and, without taking aim, fired three shots from each of them and hit the centre of her target with every single shot. She turned back to the officer. “There, can I go now?” she asked and, before the officer could answer, walked from the range.

Mal and Jule could only stare with open mouths as she walked away. “What was that?” Mal asked.

“I don’t know,” Jule answered.

*************************************************

Translations:

"Shuh muh?": What?

"Ni ta ma de. Tianxia suoyoude ren. Dou gaisi.": Everyone under the heavens ought to die!