Battle Scars

Chapter 4.1 - Face-Off

The Setup

Malcolm Reynolds and the crew of Serenity have been hired by Badger to ferry a shipment of very hot items from the world of Paquin over to the planet Jiangyin.

The shipment was considered “hot” because” it consisted of a cache of stolen weapons, special ordered by a security force of Alliance Commandos on the world of Athens. This job had originally been started by someone named Ira Eggers who captains a small crew on a pirate vessel know as the “Vulture”(see the Bruce Pluto fan-fic SPIN for the story).

Ira is a friend of Malcolm’s and, had been sprung from the confines of a detainment facility by the captain of Serenity not long ago. Ira and his crew have come upon some hard times, and to make things worse, have come under the scrutiny of someone they assumed to be a spy within Badger’s organizational operation.

Ira has felt that there was someone watching his every move……..so he decided to dump the goods on the world of Paquin and have another one of Badger’s associates ferry the cargo to it’s next destination. Mal Reynolds and the crew of Serenity have become the second link in the chain.

The captain, Mal, didn’t know were the cache of weapons would go from there, he didn’t care. All he knew was that he wanted to complete the job then head back to Persephone and get their final payment.

BATTLE SCARS - Face-Off 4.1

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Mal, and his crew of renegades were taking the leisurely route to Jiangyin because that’s the way he liked to operate when he and his crew were tasked with a duty such as this, and also when there may be a “blood hound” on their tail (someone like Jubal Early). They had ventured way out into the void of space to stay away from prying eyes and Alliance interest. The only thing about performing a task in this manner was that his crew soon became bored.

Mal Reynolds and the crew of Serenity were use to having the grim reaper as a shoulder companion. They always knew that on any particular job they could be fifteen minutes away from inhaling their final breath. This was an accepted consequence, and their adrenaline rush was often so high that it usually took sixteen hours before any measured of calmness could return to the confines of Serenity after a job was completed. Not that you could tell. The small crew of the little Firefly often times seemed amped up even from the simplest task of brushing their teeth.

Mal knew he had put together one of the finest teams that had ever flown a pirate vessel out in the vacuum of space. He stopped just short of saying he, “ was blessed”. He would not trade a single soul for any of the crew aboard his ship for a million square. He expected the best from his team and they always delivered. They weren’t just his crew, they were his family , though he kept that thought to himself.

Anyway…………..here they were, enroot to Jiangyin to deliver stolen goods under contract by Badger. His crew bored to tears. They had even resorted to comparing battle scars to ease their plight of drudgery. Mal was already wanting the job to be over. He was afraid the boredom would drive his crew insane, and before long they may resorted to carving one another up with knives for entertainment. That, he felt, would be the time when he knew his crew had really gone bonkers and the “Serenity Train” had actually made it’s last stop at “Reaverville”. That was only an inside joke Mal told himself, just for his own amusement.

Little did Mal know at this time, that they were on the verge of a brand-new adventure, and it’s initiator lay just thirty seven kilometers behind the glow of Serenity’s rear engine.

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Half an hour later………..

“ Mal! “ The pilot of Serenity sounded excited, and a twinge on edge.

“May be of some interest to you, a law-authority transmission just popped up onto the wave screen!” The pilot of Serenity told the captain.

Wash was on the Bridge, Inara was in her shuttle, Simon and River were in their bunks, Kaylee, in the engine room, Shepherd Book in the shower, Mal and Zoe in the galley, and Jayne…….well, who knew where the big merc was?

“ Wash! What is it?!! The captain questioned.

“ We’ve been hailed by an Alliance cruiser! Ordered to stop and await for onboard inspection!” The pilot answered over the com.

“ Can we outrun them?” Mal asked.

“ Not hardly Mal! Seems she’s a T-Class 139 Comet Duster. Two engines that could outpace us almost double time. Armed with 8 percussion missiles and a host of 95 cal cannon. We’d be lucky if we got 10 meters. I looked it up on the cortex.” Wash finished.

“ Ok, then!” Mal thought for a second, “ Signal them we’ll stop two kilometers ahead…” He paused, “ …..and monitor their transitions!”

“ Roger that Mal! Wash out!” Zoë’s husband signed off.

Things had just become interesting rather quickly. Mal needed to make a few snap decisions. He pressed the galley com button.

“ Kaylee! Get the doc and River! Meet me at Inara’s shuttle in 2!” He said.

“ Shi de capt’n (yes).” The engine mechanic replied. Mal looked over at his second mate.

“Zoë, get down to the cargo hold and throw a tarp over those 16 wooden kegs of raisin whiskey!”

“ Raisin whiskey……I thought you told Jayne those barrels were filled with hand soap?” Zoe questioned.

He responded…..

“ I did!”

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Up at Inara’s shuttle:

“ Inara, I need you to take Simon and River off ship. We’ve been hailed by an Alliance cruiser and ordered to post for inspection. You need to get off Serenity as quickly as possible. No questions no comments…..”

The Serenity shuttle companion started to say something.

“ No questions.” Mal repeated his last spoken words. She knew to follow Mal’s orders. He was known for making quick, knowledgeable decisions, well, at least most of the time. She gathered up Simon and River, and waited for the last words from Mal.

“ Head sixteen kilometers off the port bow.” He paused, “ We’ll catch up to you in forty minutes or so.” He spoke giving her a reassuring smile.

Inara knew better than to fall for Mal’s facade of confidence. She’d been with him way to long to know when the captain was less than unsure of what was going to happen next. Fear crept into her body, but what could she do? She could only follow his plan and hope that fate and prayer would make things right.

“ Ok Mal.” She said softly.

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Once Inara, Simon and River were off ship, the captain of Serenity breathed a sigh of relief……that had been a major concern of his. Although Simon, River and Inara were members of his crew, they weren’t members of his crew, if that made any sense. They were still seen as passenger on his boat, at least by one member. Still he felt better now that they were safe. It wouldn’t work out well if Simon or River were recognized by the feds.

As for Shepherd Book? Well, the captain knew the preacher could take care of himself.

Serenity’s flight plan for this trip had taken them off the main path of the shipping route between Paquin and Jiangyin, but not so far that Inara’s shuttle couldn’t get them back to safety.

Mal had ordered Wash to stay on the bridge. He told Kaylee to remain in the engine room, and he’d requested Shepherd Book to remain hidden.

Himself, Zoe and Jayne would be in the cargo hold when the Alliance cruiser came alongside.

In ten minutes the interlock was made, and in 20 seconds Serenity would be boarded by an Alliance police patrol. Mal pressed the cargo hold com button.

“ Wash, any transmissions from the law cruiser?”

“ Only the repeat of the one broadcast to us earlier.” The pilot answered. Mal looked at Zoë and Jayne.

“ Ok, follow my lead and keep your weapons ready!” The captain told the two. This was odd command from the captain. Zoe and Jayne looked at one another. Mal usually didn’t face-off with Alliance patrols out in the black. His usual method of dealing with the authority out here was to outrun them or in some manner fool them. Telling Zoe and Jayne to keep their weapons ready was quite different for the captain. Still, they would follow his orders and stay prepared.

The door to the cargo bay opened and the crew of three on Serenity were greeted by the captain and his crew of three from the Alliance ship.

“ Greetings Captain………” Mal began.

“Baggard! Captain Baggard of the Alliance vessel Stephen J. Hawking.” The opposing captain offered.

“ Any reason for the sudden stop out here in the vacuum of space sir?” Mal queried.

“ Routine inspection!” The commander of the Hawking stated, “ This area of the flight corridor from Paquin to Jianjyin is frequented by pirate vessels, and other craft involved in illicit activity at times.”

The captain of the Hawking had kept his distance although his three patrol officers had entered into the cargo hold and were looking around. Although captain Baggard kept his arms folded behind his back and his sidearm holstered while his three troopers were heavily armed with weapons at the ready. Mal, Zoe and Jayne still carried their weapons, though each were holstered and unthreatening to the search party.

Mal approached captain Baggard with his ID papers, following authority protocol. Zoe and Jayne wonder which fake identification papers the captain would use this time? He handed the folder over to Baggard.

“ Malcolm Reynolds sir, captain of Serenity, and her crew. Ferrying a cargo of 16 kegs of hand soap over to the cattle ranchers on Jiangyin.”

Zoe and Jayne were stunned. The captain had identified himself using his real name…….and that of their ship. Zoe and Jayne knew something was afoot. They became even more on edge.

Baggard took the papers from Mal.

“ 16 barrels of hand soap?” He said looking inside Mal’s ID folder, “ ….That’s a lot of soap isn’t it captain?” He asked.

“ Well sir,” Mal stated, “ Cattle can make a fine mess. Believe me I’ve had experience. Can’t have those ranchers eating their evening supper with fen fei (manure) all up in their fingernails can we sir?” Mal smiled.

“ No, guess we can’t.” Baggard looked up at Mal.

Just then Mal pulled his pistol from his holster and rapidly put it against Baggard’s temple. He swung around so that the captain of the Stephen J. Hawking was between himself and his troopers in Serenity’s cargo hold.

“ Mal are you crazy!!?” Jayne offered, but he and Zoë both had followed suit and pulled their weapons taking aim at the other Alliance troopers.

“ Yeah, crazy as a Shadow Thoroughbred Tick!” Mal said, “ Now, my good men, drop your weapons!”

End Part 4.1