Disclaimer: Joss, Fox, Universal Own em’. (Except for Maxine and the rest of my OC's. they're mine) I’m just playing. No money being made.

-

A new story line to recharge my Muse. Set outside my “Allanverse.” Just to see what happens. Set about a year and a half post Serenity. Story line has the standard pairings of Mal/Inara, Simon/Kaylee. Also has River/Jayne. Zoë/Maxine -

Warning: This story line from here on out will include 'gasp' fem slash (Like you didn't see it coming). It won't be graphic but I know some are offended by any depiction of homosexuality. If you don't like this kind of thing... stop reading right now.

AN: Sorry about the huge delay. Got kinda hectic the last couple of weeks. Doesn't look to slow down much either but I'll try to keep writing as often as I can.

-

New Blood

-

Chapter Twenty Three

-

Mal looked up and swore slightly. He knew it was necessary but the sight of six Alliance tech's mounting a gun under the the chin of Serenity gave him an uncomfortableness. The last week and a half had been nerve wracking. Between planning the assault on the Academy and just watching the news waves as the Alliance slowly began to disintegrate.

Mal watched as Kaylee, flitted from one group of techs to another as gray jump suited men and women swarmed all over his ship.

Admiral Harken had essentially gutted one of his own ASREV gunships for the weapons, sensors and other bits now being grafted onto the old Firefly.

“Waddya think, Cap'n?” Kaylee asked as she skipped over to Mal's side.

“It gonna work, Lil' Kaylee?”

“Sure thing. Systems are checkin out A-okay.”

“And it can all come off after. Right?”

“Yep,” Kaylee grinned.

Mal relaxed slightly, “Keep up the good work then.”

Kaylee grinned and headed back to work. Mal sighed and glanced around the cavernous hanger, buried deep in the bowels of the Magellan. Along the walls, dozens of gunships and skiffs waited. The next bay over held assault shuttles for carrying troops to the surface.

Mal turned on his heel and headed for the bank of lifts a few dozen yards away. He had to meet with the Admiral's planning staff, River and the colonel commanding the Magellan's marine detachment.

XXXXXXXXXX

“It's getting worse,” Damien stated as the former Operative gave his briefing, “Persephone, Pelorum, Rubicon and Belepheron have all declared independence from the Alliance. Ariel is considering it as well. That's several staunch Core worlds that have broken away and most of the rim worlds are already declaring their own independence.”

“The fleet?” River asked as she scribbled furiously on a notepad.

“Three more Unification Class Cruisers, six more destroyers and nearly thirty patrol and frigate class vessels have mutinied and agreed to fall under my command,” Admiral Harken replied, “Right now we have parity in spaceborne forces. On the ground however, we are quite outnumbered when it comes to troops.”

“My Marines are worth twice what the average draftee is,” Colonel Nakajima stated from his spot down the table.

“Captain Reynolds?” Admiral Harken asked, “What of the veterans of the last war... Browncoats?”

“There's a few floatin about. A few, like me got ships, lots are just simple folk who want to live their lives. That go-se the politicians been spoutin about the Browncoats risin up again is just that... go-se.”

“Nearly the entire Georgia system and other than a few holdouts like Higgins Moon, the Red Sun system have both declared independence. The garrisons have been overrun and local police are keeping order. Interim governments are being set up,” Added a young officer seated next to the admiral.

“How goes the plannin there, Albatross?” Mal asked his pilot.

“Finalizing the last few variables,” she said without looking up from her scribbling.

“Gonna work?” Mal asked.

River stopped writing and looked up with a grin, “To paraphrase my Jayne. They ain't gonna see this comin...”

XXXXXXXXXX

“Jess... hand me that...”

“Nine millimeter wrench...” the teen aged reader finished.

Xue rolled her eyes where she lay under Serenity's co-pilot's console and held out her hand. The tool was slapped there by her friend.

“You're getting better at that,” Xue said after a moment.

“River's helping. Also, I'm getting to know your mind. It makes sense to me now. I'm getting so I can read Jayne and Maxine too.”

Xue grunted and slid out from under the console, wiping her hands on a rag, she sat up. Keying the com unit she had in her ear, “Kaylee... I got the targeting possessor mounted and tied into the main display generator.”

“Thanks Xue,” Kaylee's voice replied, “That's it for right now.”

“Okay,” Xue replied.

“All done I see...” Jessie said with a grin.

“For the moment,” Xue replied as she stood and began shimmying out of her borrowed coveralls.

“Kaylee is kinda disappointed that I don't know machines like her,” Jessie said after a minute.

Xue shook her head, “Nah... she just figured that it was a family trait.”

“Well you seem to follow in your dad's footsteps,” Jess remarked.

“I guess so... I just... know how computers and electronics work. And flying comes natural to me. Ain't like reading minds, Jess.”

The other teen giggled, “Reckon you're right.”

“Come on. We can go down to the bay and watch all the cute mechanics,” Xue grinned.

“You read my mind,” Jess giggled.

XXXXXXXXXX

Zoë and Maxine were standing in the cargo bay, watching as techs scurried about outside the ship. Max slid her hand into Zoë's, “What do you think?”

“Kinda surreal,” Zoë replied, “Bein on a Alliance cruiser, fitting Serenity with weapons.”

“Isn't an Alliance cruiser anymore,” Max smirked, “Overheard a few techs earlier. They're thinking of calling her the Commonwealth Cruiser, Magellan.”

“Commonwealth?”

Maxine nodded, “That's what the worlds that have declared independence have started callin themselves. The Commonwealth of Worlds.”

“Another name, another war,” Zoë sighed.

“At least we're on the same side this time, Ai-ren,” Max grinned.

Zoë returned the smile and followed it with a quick kiss, “And I'm glad of that.”

“Ahem,” said a new voice.

Zoë grumbled and looked in the direction the voice had come from. Standing at the foot of the ramp stood a platoon of soldiers. They were dressed not in the normal gray and purple of Alliance troops but in all black.

“Can I help you?” Zoë asked.

A medium height dark skinned woman stepped forward, “I'm looking for Zoë Washburn.”

“I'm Zoë.”

The woman stepped up the ramp, “Gunnery Sargent Roberta Williams. Second Platoon, Fleet Marines.”

Zoë looked the woman over and nodded, taking the offered hand, “Zoë Washburn, First Mate of Serenity.”

“The Admiral sent us. We're your backup for the assault on the Academy.”

Zoë's face remained stiff. Cooperating or not. She didn't like having federal troops on Serenity. The look on Zoë's face didn't go unnoticed.

“Relax, Ma'am,” Williams continued, “Still your ship. We're just here for the heavy lifting.”

Zoë cracked a slight grin, “Understood, Gunny. How many you got?”

“Thirty nine plus the LT an me. He'll be along in a few. We're all SPECOPS trained. This is our thing.”

Zoë nodded. Recognizing that this Williams was good at her job. “You got any problem with taking commands from a civilian?”

Williams grinned, “I know a Browncoat NCO when I see one, Ma'am. Since we're on the same side now... well, I guess I don't have a problem. Besides, If I read your Bio right. You got punted to LT after the war. You outrank me anyway. Our Platoon leader is only a butter bar, you're silver. You still outrank him too.”

“Being a lieutenant in a POW camp ain't much, Gunny,” Zoë replied. her face proud.

“Not our finest moment. I'll admit,” Williams said sheepishly.

“Where you plannin on bunkin?” Zoë asked.

“Bay will work for the grunts,” Williams replied.

“And you?” Zoë asked.

Casting a glance where a neutral faced Maxine stood, Williams grinned, “Since it looks like your bunk is already taken, I guess I'll have to sleep with the peons.”

Zoë snickered at the obvious flirting while Maxine growled. Williams smiled again, “Of course, three ain't always a crowd.”

Behind her, a few of the marines in Williams' platoon snickered while Maxine's face went as red as her hair.

“Yes it is,” Max growled before stalking off towards the common room.

Zoë's face lost all semblance of friendliness and she went fully into military mode, “This is how it is. Chain of command on this boat goes Captain, me, the pilot, the mechanic, him,” Zoë said as she indicated the newly arrived Jayne, “The Doc, Maxine, who you just met, and two teenage girls who are also crew. Then the rest of you. Dong-ma?”

Williams snapped to attention, “Yes, Ma'am.”

Zoë stepped up to the Gunnery Sargent, “You fight in the war?”

“You ain't the only member of the Serenity Valley club,” Williams replied, a note of challenge in her voice.

Surprisingly, Zoë's face softened, “In that case, purple belly or not. Reckon we can get along.”

Williams was taken aback slightly, “Shen-me?”

“You there at the end?”

“Two weeks of hell.”

Zoë nodded, “Good enough. Fall your people out. Find space where you can. Head is straight aft across from the infirmary. So's the shower. Better set up a rotation.”

“Understood,” Williams nodded, looking up at the taller First Mate. She turned on her heel and glared at her platoon, “Corporal Shen! Fall em' out! Unpack the gear! I want things organized and set up in twenty minutes! Move!”

Zoë smirked, “Not too shabby.”

Williams turned back and grinned, “I try.”

XXXXXXXXXX

“Suo-yo duh doh dhr-dang,” Mal muttered as he walked up the ramp to his ship.

“Captain on deck!” yelled a marine. Suddenly forty odd people stopped what they were doing and snapped to attention.

Behind the Captain, River giggled.

“Zoë!” Mal bellowed.

Zoë pounded down the stairs from the upper deck, “You yelled, Sir?”

“Why are there forty people clutterin up my cargo bay?”

Zoë grinned, “Compliments of the Admiral. We get our very own platoon of marines to play with.”

Mal muttered something under his breath, “What are they supposed to breathe? Environmental systems ain't set up for that many folk...”

Kaylee popped up from behind a new piece of equipment in the bay, “Not to worry, Cap'n. Just put in this auxiliary atmo possessor. Got more n' enough capacity to run the whole ship. All by it's lonesome.”

“What about food?”

“Taken care of, Sir,” Williams said as she stood at attention in front of Mal and saluted, “Gunnery Sargent, Roberta Williams, second Platoon, Fleet Marines.”

Mal returned the salute without thinking, “Care to explain that Gunny?”

“My people will be eating here on Magellan until we depart, tomorrow. Then, we'll get by on rations till the job is done.”

Mal glared at the woman. Noting her dusky skin tone and short hair. Also the aura of confidence that any good NCO had. Despite himself, Mal liked her.

“Wouldn't proper hosts if we let you all eat that go-se. If you got any o' your people who are good in the kitchen, you all can use it. Just load up what you want to bring. And check with Maxine first. That's her domain.”

“I appreciate the offer, Captain. But I...”

“Why are we discussin what's already been decided, Gunny?” Mal interrupted.

Williams snapped back to attention, “Understood, Sir.”

“Get whatever you want and get it stowed. Then as soon as your Lieutenant gets here, bring him up to the galley. We're gonna have a little sit down and work out how things are gonna go... dong-ma?”

“Shr-ah,” Williams answered.

“See ya in a bit then,” Mal said as he headed up the stairs followed by River who looked over her shoulder and smiled at the Sargent.

XXXXXXXXXX

Mal swore under his breath again. Gathered around Serenity's table sat his crew and three former purple bellies. Now, Commonwealth Marines. It had been made official an hour ago. The worlds that had declared independence from the Alliance had formed a new and still very tenuous coalition government that they called the Commonwealth of Worlds. And Admiral Haken was now in charge of all their military forces.

Mal sighed again and disguised it as clearing his throat. “Here's the deal,” he began, “As of an hour ago, the new Commonwealth o' Worlds formally organized.”

There were looks of surprise from some of those gathered around the table. Inara looked a little sad. Not because the Alliance was crumbling but for the loss of life that was about to happen as she knew full scale war would now be inevitable.

Mal noticed the look on Inara's face, “I got word. Commonwealth is respecting the Companion Guild's neutrality.”

“That's a relief,” Inara replied.

“What of our... mission?” Simon asked.

“Almost ready to go,” River said, “The marines are aboard, we have additional munitions on the way and to keep Ge-ge happy. Body armor for everyone.”

“We fly in twenty hours,” Mal stated, “Lt. Haskins here, Along with Gunny Williams and Corporal Shen are in charge o' the Jarheads. They answer to the crew, the platoon answers to them. Anyone has a problem, tell one o' the three o' them about it.”

“I assure you that there will be no problems,” Lt. Haskins stated, “The grunts are too afraid of Gunny Williams.”

The woman in question grinned slightly.

“We got additional water comin aboard in a few hours. Still gonna be tight. Best shower now before we leave. Until the marines are off, and we top back off. Just sponge baths.”

The crew groaned.

“Where's Josiah and... Damien?” Kaylee asked.

“Uncle Joe is workin his news contacts. Tryin to get the word out about what's happinin. News waves outta the core worlds keep sayin that no ships have defected and the riots are revolutionaries tryin to stir up trouble. Operative is helpin.”

“To be honest, I thought the Miranda wave was a hoax,” Lt. Haskins said quietly.

“My folks nearly emigrated to Miranda before the war,” Gunny Williams replied, “Glad now they didn't.”

“So this... academy. They really did what the briefing materials said they did?” Corporal Shen asked.

“All true,” River replied, with a sad look on her face, “I know first hand.”

The marines looked shocked.

Simon continued, “They cut into my sisters brain. Removed parts of it. Augmented others. Implanted training, brainwashing. Tortured her...”

“My god,” Gunny Williams whispered.

“I was fourteen when they started,” River whispered.

Gunny Williams stared hard at River. Then came to a decision, “You get us in the door, girl... we'll kill every son of a bitch that ever laid a hand on a child.”

“Ho-Rah!” replied Corporal Shen.

“Save some for me,” River replied.

“I thought you were the pilot?” Lt. Haskins asked.

“I will make the landing. Then I'll be joining you on the ground.”

“Who's flying the evac?” the Gunny asked.

“I will,” Inara replied, “With help from Xue and Jessica.”

“The girls? I would think that you would want them to stay behind,” said Lt. Haskins.

“The girls are our responsibility,” Zoë began, “Xue is my step daughter and Jessica is Kaylee's cousin. They also have a stake in this. If not for some blind luck, we'd be rescuin them from the academy instead of helpin take it down.”

“Anything else?” Mal asked.

Everyone shook their heads.

“Okay. Max, best you start on dinner. Xue and Jess, give her a hand. Jayne. Get with the Armorer and make sure we're all loaded up. Albatross, keep workin on your plan. I want to brief it before we leave. Doc, the Admiral is sending over another doc, a pair o' nurses and three medics. They will be your responsibility. Get whatever you think you might need for supplies.”

Mal continued, “Kaylee, make sure Serenity is ready to go. I want final ship checks done by noon tomorrow.”

“Shir-ah, Cap'n”

“That's it. Be about your business.”

XXXXXXXXXX

“It's getting worse.”

“I know.”

“Downtown is ablaze. Soon they will make their way here to the suburbs.”

“They have bigger problems to worry about.”

“Are you sure?”

“I'm sure.”

“How...”

“I just know.”

The woman sighed, “Gabe... somehow I think that this is all our fault...”

Gabriel Tam sighed and nodded in agreement with his wife, “If River hadn't gone to that Gou tsao de Academy. If I'd only listened to Simon...”

“Wishes are all well and good, Dear,” Reagan Tam replied, “But in the end, We did the wrong thing.”

“We were blind. Couldn't see past our own damn patriotism. We're rich. Nothing bad can happen to us or our children.”

“Except that it did,” Reagan nearly whispered.

“It did,” Gabriel replied as he pulled his wife to his side. “I promise you this. When this is all and done with. I will move the heavens themselves to find Simon. Even if it's to say that he was right.”

“What about River?”

“We can only hope that they are still together.”

“And if they aren't?”

“Then I'll move even more to find our little girl. I owe her that much.”

“Will she still even be our little River? The stories about what that horrid academy did to her and the others...”

“I'll find a way, Reagan... I'll find a way...”

-

TBC

-

AN2:

I sometimes try to figure out an actor or actress who would best fit as one of my OC's. I have “cast” Halie Berry as Gunny Williams. In her more... kick butt persona like she had when playing Storm in the X-men or Jinx in her Bond movie.

I'm stealing one of Ash's casting decisions slightly by using Tom Selleck as Mal's Uncle Josiah.

I think Katie Leung (from Harry Potter) would make a good Xue and Anna Sophia Robb (Race to Witch Mountain, Because of Winn Dixie) would make a good Jessica.

I still haven't figured out who I want to play Maxine yet....