May Serenity 2 - 4 Defining the Questions by DOUGVAN4935

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May Serenity 2 - 4 Defining the Questions

POSTED BY: DOUGVAN4935
UPDATED: Friday, November 6, 2015 04:22
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Friday, November 6, 2015 4:22 AM

4 Defining the Questions

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Zooming into Serenity's common room Mal, Zoe, Jay, Gwen, Enswal and Simon were talking about recent events. They were about 18 hours out from Paradiso.
Enswal: “... and that's what we found out.”
Mal: “Gwen?”
Gwen: “I don't have anything to add.”
Mal: “I guess we are all up to date then with each other. A month is a long time out of touch. Simon, can we shorten it to between one and two weeks this next time?”
Simon: “It depends on your cargo. But I'd like to keep around ten days when we can.”
Zoe: “Sir, we do not have a cargo this time. When will we be to Barachacha?”
Mal: “About another 41 hours.”
Gwen: “Is there any specific reason for Barachacha?”
Zoe: “The have ore being shipped out. Small ships like us can usually find a load.”
Mal: “I want to contact a fellow over there. That's all I'll say for now.”
Gwen: “Yes captain. Just curious.”

As they adjourned, Mal thought he saw something in the forward passageway to the crew quarters and bridge. It could not have been.
Zoe: “Sir?”
Mal: “I had the strangest feeling I saw something but it was not there.”
Zoe: “what did you think you see, sir?”
Mal: “That's just it, it was a momentary almost recognition but it faded away before I could ID it.”
Zoe: “Yes Sir.”

Mal walked forward and saw River on the bridge by herself. He closed the door.
River: “Hi, Mal. What do you want to talk about?”
Mal: “You're smart and a Reader to boot. What about ghosts or spirits, do you know anything?”
River: “Are you asking about it spiritually or secularly?”
Mal: “Secularly. I'd ha' gone to Humperdink for religiosity.”
River: “The first theory that was proposed for more than 3 dimensions (excluding time) was String Theory (using eleven) on Earth-that-was. Since then, the number has increased to nineteen.
“However these dimensions deal with imaginary dimensions with no physical counterpart that we can prove. Time was and sometimes still is given the definition of a dimension with some justification.
“Bottom line dimension one allows front-back. Dimension two rotates a copy of dimension one at right angles to itself allowing not only front-back but also left-right.
“Rotating a dimension one line to both front-back and left-right, we add up-down and the three dimensional space we understand.
“Human beings are three dimensional. There is a possibility (not provable) of a fourth physical dimension. Take a one dimension line and place it perpendicular to the three existing dimensions will give you a fourth dimension.
“If you accept that this might be possible, there is another 3D space right next to us that we can not find. Our minds can not comprehend it but we can find it using mathematics.
“If there is a second 3D space next to us, there are an infinite number of 3D spaces there. For ease of description, we can call them levels. If we are level one, then there is one above us that is level two and one below us that is level zero.
“Are you still with me?”
Mal: “Oddly enough, yes. It boggles the mind.”
River: “Yes it can. Your question is about spirits.
“If you assume a conservation of spirit (just like conservation of mass or energy), it might be that the spirit goes to level two when you die on level one. Maybe it is to level zero.
“Is this were good and bad comes in? Hard to say.
“So when Wash died his spirit moved to, say level 2.
“With an infinitely thin barricade between level one and level two, it might be possible to do something like cross the barrier and for Wash to show up as a ghost in level one.
“And yes, I thought I felt him nearby when there was the bomb aboard. It was almost like he was trying to let me know there was a problem.
“I do not know if my theory is correct or not but it does explain what I felt.”
Mal: “I do not usually want that sort of long answer, but I'm glad you gave it to me. Thanks.”
River: “I sort of 'read' that.” She grinned at her pun. “If you want more details, let me know.”
Mal: “No. No thanks.” he puts up his hands.
River smiled.
A proximity alarm sounded.
Looking around, there was a derelict ship. It was newer than Serenity but not in production.
River: “That's a G4 transport.”
Mal: “Everyone, we have a derelict space craft here. Zoe, come on up. Jay, you or Gwen may come up. No one else right now.”
River: “I do not see anything on the core about a missing ship in this area.”
Mal glanced and saw Gwen and Zoe enter the bridge: “Gwen, your not part of this but I'll let you listen for your troops.”
Gwen: “Thanks.”
Looking some more, Zoe: “Maybe Kaylee?”
Mal: “Kaylee, can you come up?”
River: “Look, it looks almost like a dent in the hull.”
Zoe: “Big dent.”
Gwen: “I think I know that ship. I think it is the MacArthur.”
River: “I have a non-arrival of a tramp freighter with a crew of 10 and 8 passengers and a cargo of food stuffs. It's all I have. May I call Simon?”
Mal: “Yes.
“Kaylee, do you see anything?”
As Simon entered the bridge, Kaylee said, “If that dent is a puncture, the ship may have had an explosive decompression.”
Simon: “What's that?”
Zoe: “That is a G4 transport MacArthur. It's been damaged.”
Mal: “Let's put a small boarding party on board to see if there is anything of interest.
“Simon, have a med team on standby.”
Simon: “Right.”

Minutes later, the team of Zoe and Mal were suited up. Simon had a med team ready.
Mal and Zoe crossed to the MacArthur. MacArthur held no air pressure. As they worked their way around to the bridge, it looked as if the decompression had occurred quickly but not explosively.
They found the hull breach. It was bad – some blood was around the hole. The hole was from the outside and it was big enough for a man to get through. Many but not all of the electronics were knocked out.
In the bridge, they found some of the crew had died at their stations. One had a short recording of some space debris heading their way. It looked like the debris had shown up on the sensors too late to for them to react.
There were two aired up sections of the ship remaining.

Mal: “River, it's not good over here. Space debris got them. There are two aired up compartments. Zoe and I will check them out. Have Kaylee come over to look at the engine room. If Jay's people will, have Hump come over for last rights.”
River: “Simon?”
Mal: “Not yet.”

Finding the cargo hold still aired up was surprising but not unusual, some cargoes would deteriorate in vacuum. Going to the other aired up portion of the ship, Mal and Zoe found two unsuited bodies.
One was marked with a medical symbol. He had a small recorder.
Mal plugged the recorder into his suit. The audio was poor but the best he understood was that the medic had tried to get the passengers into hibernation inside. The outside pressure dropped to the point that safety interlocks had kept him and the final passenger locked out.
Mal: “River, have Simon get a medical crew suited up. We might have as many as nine survivors in hibernation.
“Have Jayne get a crew for moving foodstuffs on to Serenity after Simon determined what might be needed for extra sick bay beds. Your in charge of other manpower on Serenity.”
River: “Yes captain. I assume Simon has the priority for resources?”
Mal: “You assume correctly. Does Serenity have enough stuff to make an airlock or two? If so, first priority is Simon and second for the cargo.”
River: “Got it.”

A make shift airlock had been placed around the door to the possible survivors.
Suite com: “Cap'n, I cain't patch the hull breach with what we gots. I can get their engine running for power and air in the secure areas. It won't work for propulsion though. Drive feed damage.
“I think I light the hold and the some of the ways to Serenity.”
Mal: “Thanks Kaylee. Can we make some sort of aired passageway from the survivors to Serenity?”
Kaylee: “Nope. Sorry Captain, mosta the way but not all. Same's for the hold to Serenity.”
Mal: “Is the MacArthur worth salvaging itself?”
Kaylee: “I think'd be cheaper to build a new ship. Only reason I'd put her in tow is if we cain't get the survivors out.”
Mal: “Thanks Kaylee.”
“Simon, I need you in there to assess the medical needs. I need to know as soon as you're sure.”
Simon: “Will do. Do you want me to go through first?”
Mal: “Your call.”
Simon: “I will with Zoe if you don't mind.”

Zoe and Simon entered the airlock, closed up the opening and pumped air into the lock. When the pressure was equalized, Zoe went to work on the door to the medical area of the MacArthur.
With pressure equalized, it was not hard to open. Emergency lighting was on.
Zoe: “Kaylee, can you get the lights on here in the medical area?”
Kaylee: “One moment.”
Moving by flashlight, Simon started looking at the six men and three women laying on the floor. The regular lighting came on and then faded to about 60 percent of normal.
Kaylee: “Zoe, are they on now?”
Zoe: “Yes but they are dim.”
Kaylee: “Just a moment.”
Kaylee: “Zoe, are they better now?”
Zoe: “No. About the same.”
Kaylee: “That's the best I can do without repairs on the feeds.”
Simon: “Kaylee, that's good enough. We can get them out with this.
“Mal, we're good. Four are in hard cover cases. No air problems. Once we unload them on Serenity, we'll bring them back for another group.”
Mal: “Simon, it's your call. Since it seems that your in good shape, I'll go to the cargo hold.”

Mal worked his way down and forward. The cargo hold also had a working airlock. He entered the hold and found Jayne there.
Mal: “Jayne, What have we got here?”
Jayne: “We have a cargo lock here DI-rect to space. Then we can load directly onto Serenity.”
Mal: “The cargo is sealed?”
Jayne: “We cannot get everything into Serenity. We can get all the sealed food. I guess it will take about 2/3rds of Serenity's cargo hold. They have some farm machinery here also. Not much but we can fill in around the food and the survivors with them machines.”
Mal: “Machines? They were not on the manifest.”
Jayne, “I think they might have been 'luggage' for some'a the passengers maybe?”
Mal: “If it will help to move this out to space and have it ready to load when we undock from the MacArthur, let's do it. Use lines to tie the cargo to Serenity. I do not know what will happen to Serenity when we undock but if the undock is a little rough, I'd hate to loose the cargo due to a lack of line.”
Jayne: “Yeah.”
Mal: “Kaylee?”
Kaylee: “Yes cap'n?”
Mal: “Should we try to pump some of the air off MacArthur to Serenity before we undock?”
Kaylee: “Let me look into that.”
Mal: “O.K.”
Mal turned his head. Nothing was there but he was thinking of Shepard Book.

As Serenity separated from MacArthur, Simon was in the cargo hold with the patients in the make shift ward there. Four were still in the transfer boxes. Simon and Humperdink are examining one patient while Enswal is looking at another. Kaylee is sitting on the steps above looking down at them.
Gwen comes down the steps and sits with Kaylee: “How does it look?”
Kaylee smiles: “O.K. I guess. I know they are alive but they look so still.”
Gwen: “Yes, It can be a little unnerving.”
At that time one of the patients starts coughing and gagging. Kaylee and Gwen look.
Simon and Hump take hold of the man that just revived.
Simon: “Goldarn!”
Goldarn held the man down as Simon tried to calm him down.
Mal came down the stairs and wiggled past Gwen and Kaylee.
Hump looked at Simon: “Why'd he wake up?”
Simon: “I don't know. He was one of the originals in the boxes. Maybe the box kept him under.”
Mal: “Anything I can do?”
Simon: “I'm not sure what to do.
“Look at me.” Simon was now talking to the waking fellow. The patient was very confused looking.
Simon: “Hump, and Enswal check the others not in the boxes. We need to know soonest if they are going to wake soon.”
Looking at the patient with full intensity: “What do you remember?”
The patient opened his hand that had a piece of paper in it and sort of dumbly held it out to Simon.
He took it and it said Loo, George K.
Simon: “George, is that your name?”
Loo looked like a fog was lifting a little: “George Loo” he murmured.
Simon: “Mal, put his name on his chart.” Mal wrote the man's name down on a pad of paper at the foot of the bed.
Simon: “Gwen, check the others for notes like this one.” He held up the scrap of paper without looking away.
Hump: “Simon, no changes on these four.”
Enswal: “Three are the same. The woman in bed five you need to check to be sure.”
Simon: “Mal, would you stay with Loo?”
Mal: “Yes.”
During the next 30 minutes, another man and three women woke up. The four in the boxes were not awake.
For the next few hours, some would answer questions and others would not quite comprehend what was going on or what they were being asked.
Kaylee and Gwen got Simon to go to bed and rest some.

After Simon had had some rest; River, Simon, Gwen, Mal, Jay, Humperdink, Mal, and Zoe joined in a conference area that had been made on the other end of the largo bay from the medical patients. It could hold six comfortably.
Mal: “We are about another 33 hours from Barachacha.
“First, thanks for all the help from your side Jay. I do not think Serenity's crew could have done it. At least not as quickly.”
Jay Nodded: “Your Welcome. Those people needed help and you were jumping in. We were glad to help. As far as any reports to Who, there was no cargo.”
Zoe: “Thanks. The fringe is a hard place.”
Jay: “Yes, rules that are needed in the central planets do not seem to fit completely out here.”
Mal looked up and saw a small audience to the proceedings: “Kaylee, would you come down please so's we don't have to yell?”
Kaylee: “Sure.”
Due to room, Kaylee stopped a couple of steps from the bottom.
Mal : “What's the status of Serenity?”
Kaylee: “Serenity is good. We took some air off of Mac and Serenity is full. No problem with air or water for the larger crew. I was able to take some water from Mac so's that's not a problem either.” Kaylee nodded her head.
Mal: “Thanks Kaylee. You dun good.”
“If we need more food with the extra five mouths to feed, we can use part of the food cargo. So I think consumables are topped off. Kaylee, what's our fuel status?”
Kaylee: “We are about 2/3rds full.”
Mal: “River, what's the closest planet with good medical facilities?”
River: “We are 18 hours from Paotow-Zi. Simon?”
Simon: “River and I looked into this. Paotow-Zi is the closest for his type of medical care.”
Mal: “River, please check in with Paotow-Zi and see if they can handle this.”
River: “Got it.”
Mal: “If they are good, let's divert. Simon, patient status?”
Simon: “If they remain unchanged, I can handle it but two emergencies will be taxing. Three or more will l be more than we can handle even with Hump and Goldarn.”
Mal: “Zoe?”
Zoe: “The food stuffs are a good haul even if 15% is damaged. The cultivators would be good at Sandfall and some at Barachacha but not at Paotow-Zi.”
“MAL!” Jayne shouts.
Mal: “What? I'm in a meeting.”
Jayne: “I think this will have an impact to the meeting.”
Mal: “Take a short break. We'll start again in 20 minutes. Zoe”
Mal and Zoe walked through the maze of cargo to get to Jayne.
Mal: “What now?”
Jayne pointed to the cultivator: “I fell onto the blade. Steel don't bend that easy. One of the disk blades was bent and the paint had cracked. It was a dull yellow.
Mal looked around. Gwen was standing in the passageway in the cargo looking.
“Gwen?”
She came out and started examining the equipment: “Do you have a small hammer?”
Jayne gave her a small (for him) knife.
Gwen started tapping on the stairs with the knife and listened to the sound. She nodded. She walked over to the damaged cultivator and tapped several places. Similar tones.
The disk cutters were all a duller than expected tone. She checked out the other cultivator and the tractor. The other cultivator and the tractor sounded like steel.
She started a minute inspection of the suspect cultivator. Not all of the disks were gold. About a third were steel. Underneath, she found an extra part and it was also gold. As she looked, she called to Jay, “look here on the other machine.
Jay called back a moment later: “Same thing.”

The small conference reconvened.
Jay: “Gwen?”
Gwen: “I am an investigator and have done so for about 2 years. This mark ...” It looked like nested pentagons – a ten pointed star. A mobius strip was entangled in the middle of the image. “... is the one we, Who, is interested in.”
Zoe: “Niska.”
Mal: “Yes. We’ve had dealings with him before.”
Gwen: “You have? I did not know that.”
Jay: “Neither did I. When have you dealt with him?”
Zoe: “We have had poor dealings with him to start with. However one job went well – I just never understood why he came back to us.”
Mal: “The first dealing with him was a train job. It turned out that we could not steal medicine from sick people.”
Inara had come up behind Mal and put her hand on his shoulder.
Mal: “Niska was not happy. He later caught me and Wash. It was not pleasant.”
Jay: “I'm surprised you lived.”
Mal: “It was touch and go. About ten years ago he asked us to do a job and it came off as expected. We have an uneasy truce.
“I suspect that he wants to get me again.”
Inara: “Mal.”
Mal: “I have privileged information with Who just like I suspect you do. Who told me he came to me because of my history with Niska. I won't say more unless Who asks.”
Zoe: “He killed Mal and then revived him. For more torture.
Jay and Hump looked stunned. Gwen was shocked.
River: “Inara, Zoe take the captain to an isolated room to let him rest.”
Mal opened his mouth.
Zoe: “It can wait an hour or two.”
As Mal was escorted by Zoe, and Inara, River piped up: “Simon, I think he might need you to check on him when we are done here.”
Simon looked at his sister closely for a moment: “Nothing serious then?”
River: “I don't think so but pushing here would not have be good.”
Simon: “O. K.”
Gwen shook herself: “We need to know now!”
River: “Mal needs the time.”
Simon: “If we push too hard right now, Mal may get worse.”
Gwen: “You do not know that. We have to risk it. He says he's had dealings with Niska before. Something that none of us know and you say to wait?”
River: “Gwen, calm down. We can not loose Mal. He's the glue here holding everything together and with the contacts you need.”
Gwen said very forcefully: “Once he tells us about the contacts, he can rest. We need his information soonest. We are in a mine field blindfolded now. It can't wait!”
River's voice rises: “You may be my niece but you do not know everything!”
Simon, Gwen and Kaylee (from the stairs) looked at River.
River looked back at them: “Goram it! Son of a ho! That slipped out.
“Can't put it back in the bag. Simon. Kaylee. Gwen is your daughter.”
River: “This meeting is adjourned. There are too many surprises that have come out and we need a break. After Simon checks on Mal, we will meet again.
“We need tome to digest these new revelations.”
River got up, turned and walked away.

They were alone. Still at the conference area. Simon looked up at the walkway and stairs. No one was around.
Gwen. “She's making it up. My parents are dead. She can't know.”
Simon: “The Alliance made River into a Reader when she was 14. She knows.”
Gwen: “A what? Reader? No. The Alliance would not do that.”
Kaylee: “Uh. Yes they did. Long story. River was in an Academy for gifted students. The Alliance directly or indirectly cut on River's brain to make her a weapon against the Reavers.
“Simon left a lucrative medical practice when he got a message from her to get her out.
Simon: “I ran out here to the fringe to hide her from the Alliance. It lead me to meet Kaywinnett Lee Frye – Kaylee. I've never regretted it.”
Gwen looked stunned. Her name is Gwinett Fryetam.
Simon: “I wish I had the money from the practice. We put you up for adoption because Kaylee and I did not earn enough to support you. I am, we are very sorry.
“I was back in the Central Planets to try to find you.”
Gwen: “But ...”
Zoe came down the stairs: “Truth time. All three of you seem stunned. Mal and I knew part and surmised some. River was not told but River being River, well.
“Shepard Book apparently was concerned about Kaylee and Simon getting together and having a child. He was afraid the child might be given up for adoption. Apparently he sent a few items to his comrade in arms Who asking him to look out for any child. Who told Mal and myself only and Shepard Book did not want to push the three of you together.
“He wanted it to occur or not naturally.
“River, of course, knew from Mal and Zoe. Simon?”
Simon: “She's a reader. She can not help reading minds. She would have seen it in either or both of you if it came forward into you consciousness. Yes, she can be thwarted but not easily.”
Zoe: “Gwen, River's ability to read minds is how she knows about Mal and the state she is in. He has had a few bad times from the torture with Niska. He is about to loose it. River told me quietly.
“Gwen, you did not know all this. Who did not say to tell you this but Mal and I suspect he though you were good. You just needed seasoning. And he could offer Shepard Book an attempt to fulfill his wishes.
“Gwen, you are good. Don't let that be taken away from you right now. We Serenity ad Who need you.”
Quietly while looking down at her hands, Gwen: “I do not know what to think. My name is Gwinett Fryetam. I suppose its a confirmation for this possibility.”
Kaylee starts to reach out with her hand and then stops: “I guess we three need to talk this out whenever the shock settles down. Whenever you are up to it Gwen.”
Simon: “We do not know each other and so the bonds that families build over many years are not there for us. But you and I have a sort of friendship working in Paradiso. Maybe we can build from there.”
Gwen looks at Kaylee and then Simon: “Yes. I'd like to try but ...” she trails off not knowing where to go with it.
Zoe: “I'll leave now. I think you should start with some discussions about the case. You've have bonds there already built. We can discuss the odd cultivator and the case after Mal is back with us. You three might want to discuss it also. Gwen, I do not think a few hours will hurt.”
Gwen: “Zoe, thank you.”
Zoe already on the stairs: “River has diverted us to Paotow-Zi. With the fuel situation as good as it is, she's burning it a little harder. We'll be there in about 16 hours or a little less.
“Kaylee, River could use some help there but take care of your business first. River said it was an order.” Zoe smiled.

Kaylee: “Gwen?”
Gwen: “Kaylee?”
Kaylee: “Do you have a question?”
Gwen: “To learn that my Mom and Dad are not my Mom and Dad.”
Simon: “That's not true. Your Mom and Dad are the people who raised you. We did not. We are you mother and father but not you Mom and Dad.”
Gwen: “Your DNA started me but my learning was from Mom and Dad? Yes. So I sort of have two Mothers and two fathers.”
Simon: “Yes. And I think you and I are good friends. Nothing will change that I think.”
Gwen: “Yes. We have a good working professional and personal friendship. It seems odd though.”
Simon: “Let us start from friendship and let it evolve.” Simon held out his hand and Gwen took it and then took Kaylee's also.
Kaylee: “You do seem to have Simon's odd way of being detached from a problem to solve it.
“We all need to work into this. Let's just be Simon, Gwen and Kaylee.”
Simon” Yes, if we try to think as parents and sibling it will clash with our current. Mental images of each other and we have to hold on to them.”
Gwen: “They may change but its like a piece of metal. Slow deformations can be permanent but hard blows may cause a break.”
Kaylee: “And we did come looking for you. A little late but we did try?”
Gwen: “Yes.
“Were you both involved with Mal and Niska?”
They entered into a discussion about Mal and what happened.

As they completed discussing the Niska issue and had touched on the Reaver Incident, Mal came down the stairs: “Hi.”
“Simon, I'm sure you want to give me a quick once over. I feel fine though.
“What's up?”
Simon: “Things got a little heated and River blew the situation wide open.”
Gwen: “We've been talking about them being my mother and father. Also, we've been talking about Niska and the Reaver Incident.
“Thank you for taking in Simon and River. I understand it was very rocky.”
Mal: “It was that. They were one of the reasons I found belief again instead of just existence.”
Simon: “We also know a little more about Shepard Book and Who.”
Simon rose and started a quick examination of Mal.
Mal: “Kaylee have you checked on Serenity recently?”
Kaylee: “Not since you left. I'll do it now.”
Mal: “ Not urgent.” as Gwen said, “May I come and see?”
Kaylee: “Sure.”
Simon was left alone with Mal: “You seem fine Mal.”
Mal: “How am I?”
Simon: “I think things have settled down but I'd like to run a few tests in the infirmary.”
Mal: “Sure.”

In the infirmary, “How are you?” Mal asked Simon.
Simon: “good. It was a shock but the three of us are getting to know one another. We agree building on the friendship Gwen and I have built and the common need of Who's group concerning Niska, the Reavers, Blue Sun and the kitchen sink.”
Mal: “Well the kitchen sink might be too much.” They chuckled at the worn out old comment.
Simon: “River thinks she might have us to Paotow-Zi in about 14 hours.”
Mal: “Good. When you get time, could you look at our survivors and let me know the status?”
Simon: “Sure. Hi Jay.”
Jay: “Mal, how are you?”
Mal: “I’ve been better but I've also been a great lot worse. I just needed a little time to relax.”
A beep caught Simon's attention. Looking at the readout: “Mal, you look good. I'd like to give you a shot to adjust a few small items to help you out.”
Mal: “Fine. Jay, I think we need to contact Who. I think he needs to know about the cultivator and Gwen and the rescue operation.”
Gwen and Kaylee came in. Gwen: “I agree. Jay, I'll get a message out if you do not mind. If you want to send a personal, I'll add that. I'd like to thank Who personally.”
Jay nodded: “I'll write something up.”
Mal: “Kaylee, what's our status?”
Kaylee: “A few minor tweaks. It's all shiny. River said to tell you she's sorry she blew it.”
Mal walked to the com: “River?”
River responded on the com: “How are you?”
Mal: “I'm doing good. Your brother gives me a clean bill of health.” He could 'hear' her smile.
“You done good. Thanks for jumping in and I am glad it came out about Gwen.”
Mal could hear a relief in River's voice: “You are welcome.”
Mal: “Do you need relief?”
River: “No, I think the autopilot will be good enough.”
Mal: ”When you get a chance, could you look over the farm equipment? I want to have as many eyes look as reasonable to try to make sure we do not overlook anything. Let everyone know we'll have a meeting in about 3 hours.
“How soon will we be at to Paotow-Zi? I'd like us all rested for planet fall.”
River: “About 14 hours out. If need be I can slow us down.”
Mal: “We do need to get there for the patients. Anything happens there and we could be out of our league.”
River: “Ramjet.”
Mal grinned: “Your reading about Roger are you?”
A giggle cam over the com as it shut off.
“Who's Roger?”

Mal walked onto the bridge: “Why did you tell me that the fourth physical dimension was not one of the other nineteen?”
River grinned: “They are all imaginary. You are correct. It was a teaching tool to keep you from being biased about it being imaginary and the baggage that comes with it. Presented the way I offered, you were able to find understanding and then found the parallels to the nineteen.”
Mal worked his brow: “Yes. You have an odd way of looking at things. But you are right. Interesting.
“Why don't you take off. I'll stay here for a while.”
River: “You need something simple to do?”
Mal: “Yeah.”
River: “Thanks.”

Inara showed up on the bridge: “I understand why you needed to divert to Paotow-Zi. Are we going to be there long enough for for me to screen some clients?”
Mal looked at her. She could see the emotional conflict in him that tore them apart the last time.
Inara: “If you ...”
Mal interrupted – one of the few times he did: “It's all right. We knew this going in and I'll handle it right now – I really am fine.
“I won't know how long until I hear from Who. I'd guess we'll be on planet for at least two days. I'll let you know more as soon as I have it. If you see Simon and Gwen, I would like to talk to them.”
Inara: “Yes.”
Mal stood up and gave her a hug.

Gwen and Simon came onto the bridge.
Simon: “Not much like the old days is it? Never this crowded.”
Mal: “Yeah. You're right about that.”
Gwen: “I have a question. If you can not answer it, that's O. K. Mal, you and Inara?”
Mal: “Yes. We're divorced. We were trying to get back together. She's pregnant.”
Gwen: “Mal! She. But. How. ...”
Mal: “We have not discussed it but I think we may have to tube the fetus.”
Simon: “It's not optimal at this time but it can be done. The sooner the better.”
Mal: “Yes. Gwen, that's why Inara helps me out so much.”
Gwen: “May I know why you are doing something that might hurt you both?”
Mal: “Niska. This is the best chance we've had to get close to and take out Niska. Yes, he is probably watching also.”
Simon: “Mal, is this a situation where settling with Niska is worth it to both of you against the possibility of complete separation?”
Mal: “We think it so. Golram it I wish there was another way but neither of us see any other way. As long as Niska is around, he can use Inara to get to me.”
Gwen looked a little agitated: “I'll do whatever I can.”
Mal gave a sad grin: “Thanks.”

Serenity sped on towards Paotow-Zi.

----

About eleven hours out from Paotow-Zi, everyone settled in for the night. A night watch was in place with 2 hour shifts.

Serenity sped on towards Paotow-Zi.

----

Breakfast was being served in Serenity and the rounds were being made with the patients.

River (com): “Captain. We're being hailed.”
Mal: “On my way.”

Mal: “Hi River.”
River: “We have a coded call here.”
Mal gave the appropriate response.
“Serenity, This is DD-914. May we dock with you?”
River: “Anytime you are ready.”
Mal: “DD-914. I am Malcomb Reynolds. Do you need anything from us?”
DD-914: “We need a conference area. That's all.”
Mal: “We have nine survivors from the tramp freighter MacArthur. We are stuffed to the gills. We can make room but it will be tight.”
DD-914: “Understood. One moment.”
“Serenity, We can meet here. Do you need assistance with the survivors?”
Mal: “It would be much appreciated. We are rather packed in over here. I can have our doctor talk to yours if it will help.
“Including the survivors, we have 21 people over here. Who would you like us to come over there?”
DD-914: “In addition to you Captain Reynolds, I'd like Doctor Tam, Gwen, Jay, and Humperdink.”
Mal: “If I may I'd like Zoe attend also.”
DD-914: “That is acceptable.”
Mal: “Hold on and I'll have Simon up here to talk about the survivors.”
DD-914: “Holding.”

Once again, DD-914 and Serenity were docked.
Mal, Zoe, Simon, Gwen, Jay, and Humperdink came aboard DD-914. Who met them and was surprised to find out that Gwen, Simon, and Kaylee had found out about being related.
“I really didn't expect you to figure it out.” was his comment.

After being brought up to date, Who: “Where is the MacArthur now?”
Mal: “About 14 hours back that-a-way. River would have to give you the coordinates.”

Who: “Gwen, Jay, you've done great. The trail to is about what we expected but more so and way beyond what was hoped.
“Simon, you did a great job with limited resources. Would you like another nurse/guard?”
Simon: “Yes and no. I do not ant to get too big and blow our cover. Mal and I discussed this already. We do not see any one we can replace for another nurse/gun hand.
“I'd like to recommend that since Inara is pregnant and you've got better facilities, that her baby be transfer to an external incubator.”
Who: “Mal do you need to talk to Inara?”
Mal: “We've discussed this with and without Simon. It makes the best sense.”
Who: “If you are sure.”
Mal: “We've talked out all the options. We are agreed.”
An admittance chime sounded. Who pressed a bottom to open the door. An ensign walked in and whispered in Who's ear. Who nodded.
Who: “All the survivors have been moved aboard DD-914. Simon, one is asking to talk to you. Mal, I'd like to keep the MacArthur cargo in our hands for a while for examination. Do you have any place for that?”
Mal: “I'm not sure off hand but I think we can work something out.”
Who: “What might I do to help out?”
Zoe: “We'd need a dirt side warehouse and security. We're not equipped for that.”
Who: “Fast turn around. Ensign, start the ball rolling for covert storage and security. Wait in case we need something else.”
“Yes. Sir.”
Who: “Can River come up with the coordinates for MacA? Do you need to tell her directly?”
Mal: “Yes, River can supply coordinates. No I don't need to tell her directly.”
Who: “Ensign, lase tell the Captain that we need the coordinates of MacA from Serenity.”
“Yes. Sir.”
Who: “Dismissed.”
The ensign and Who exchanged salutes and left.
Who: “Gwen, do you have anything to add?”
Gwen: “I've had too many shocks so far. Both pleasant and unpleasant. Thanks for assigning me out here.”
Who nodded: “Jay?”
Jay: “There's more that I'd like to have but talking with the old hands of Zoe and Mal among others keeps me thinking small”
Zoe: “Jay is good and probably will be better. I never thought I'd like Alliance people but you and Mal have changed my mind somewhat.”
Who: “If you need anything let me know. I'll do my best. I think staging items on possible ports for you would be best to keep your cover.”
Mal: “Yes. Thanks for the extra protection.”
Who: “You're my people even if only temporary ones at the moment.”
Simon: “I'd like to talk to you doctor to see if a few items for the aid station can be added. Depending on size and requirements, we might need to have them moved discreetly separately from Serenity. No matter what we do, we can not change too much.”
Who: “Anything else?”
A few moments passed.
Who: “Then we do not have room for the cargo on DD-914. I'll see about getting a transport and guards for the cargo up here. 914 will stay here docked. You can visit our mess. You'd have a little more room then.
“I'd like to tour the cargo – see for myself.
“I'd also like Simon available for our doctor – he is a little more familiar with the patients.
“914 has a crew of 60 and they've been told not to ask questions about strangers. I am sure they will obey but nothing is rock solid. Gwen, let me know who might want to come over and I'll arrange it with the captain.”
Gwen: “Suggestion?”
Who: “Yes?”
Gwen: “How about gym access for us to visit and use as a rec area?”
Who: “I'll ask the captain about scheduling some time for you. Maybe an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.”

----

Serenity remained stationary – docked with DD-914 or two days while a transport to take the Serenity’s Cargo.

While the cargo was being transferred, Who had examined the interesting cargo. He talked informally with may of the members of both Jay's team and Serenity's crew. He came up with interesting possibilities. Inara lost some clients on Barachacha.
Who realized he was becoming attached to Mal and his crew. He now understood what Shepard Book had tried to explain. Mal was a crook and a traitor in one way. However, he had his own code and drew “family” to him. He had his own sense of honor and loyalty
Who had not seen this in action before and so was surprised when he got caught. He now understood Malcolm Reynolds better. And he was sad over what this might cost Inara and Mal. He wanted to think of a way to cost less to them if nothing else.
Who had been in dozens of clandestine ops for the Alliance over the years. He could see how Mal might have been able to defeat Niska. Who then recalled a covered up break-in in ??? - Ariel? He'd see if he could find out something there. If Mal had been on that job (assuming it even happened), had he out-foxed Blue Sun maybe?
And with the known Reaver incident. Maybe he could get some info there. If he read Mal right, he'd never want to join the Alliance but that sort of skill is what Who was always looking for. Goram it, he had to get a link to Reynolds.
River! She was part of the crew and someone pulled the plug on getting to her after the Reaver mess. If she went head to head with Reavers and not only survived but defeated them! Maybe there was a hook there also. Book said to not underestimate them and goram it I did. Easy to do though. They do not seem like much. I wonder if they really might be good enough to get this Reaver/reader assassin caught or killed?
I wonder how I might be able to get a better or second ship for Reynolds? Mal would not want to give up that Firefly but if he had a second ship? I don't think so but I'll keep the idea around just in case. If he had an armed merchantman and could provide convoy protection?
Valkyrie. Maybe she'd be good for the second ship?

----

Who found Mal in DD-914's gym. He was just sitting there relaxing with a drink in his hand.
Who: “What are you drinking?”
Mal looked down and then said: “Root beer. Have some?”
Who took one and was a little surprised that it really was root beer.
“Have you run into much piracy out here? The kind where on ship shots at an unarmed merchantman and takes the cargo?”
Mal: “There's enough of that going on but Reavers is the greater danger.”
Who: “Ah. I was wondering if there was a need for private escort service.”
Mal: “Well, I never looked at it closely myself.”
Who: “Would you look a little for me?”
Mal: “You're serious.”
Who: “Yes. My operations are wide spread and it might be an idea to have a private escort service out here.” he saw Mal's smirk “No not Inara's type of escort service.” He knew he had Mal thinking.
Who: “You do not need to answer this. How much flying under the local's radar is going on where it is local but not Alliance regulations that are being avoided?”
Mal: “I never really thought about it. Normally I meet with a local crime boss for a job which may or may not be legal. There are Niskas around but I'm not sure how much they control. Maybe a convoy for smaller ships that may be enough for protection. I know the Alliance can not provide services out here and farms them out sometimes to private contractors.”
Who: “What if there were two armed private convoy escorts to herd say three to four unarmed merchantmen?”
Mal: “The big Alliance cruisers can not be everywhere. Interesting idea. I'd not do it though.”
Who: “You love Serenity. But maybe an ex-military or upgraded merchantman with a crew of ex-military might work.
“Changing the subject to one that's not really my business, how are you an Inara?”
Mal: “Don't go near Inara right now. She's had the fetus removed to an incubator and she's having a hard time. I said something about grabbing a bit to eat and she bit my head off. Oddly enough, she is talking with Kaylee and Gwen and it seems to help. If she had someone who'd been through this to talk to it might help – at least Simon thinks so.”
The change in Mal came very quickly: “I better get Niska this time. The cost is too much goram it. He's been a thorn for us since Paradiso.”
Who was confused.
River walked up. “That train job and going back on it was very bad. I'm with you all the way Mal. We will get him.”
River had waved her hand in the air.
Who now saw that Simon and Kaylee had come over.
Simon: “You did the right thing returning that medicine to Sheriff Bourne, Mal.”
Mal: “I know and would not change it but I want Niska.”
River: “I'm with you.”
Simon: “I am also. Remember, Jayne even went in to get you away from Niska. We're behind you all the way.”
Who saw Simon had is medical bag.
Simon: “Take this, it will help shave the top off.”
Kaylee: “Please cap'n?”
Mal had a very brittle smile on: “Yes Kaylee.”
Who knew Mal had had a bad time but the severe reaction seemed to imply it must have been much, much more than he'd realized. Everything was built on Mal as the foundation.

----

Mal, Zoe, Inara, Valkyrie, Jayne, Kaylee, River, Gwen and Simon were on the bridge. The door was closed and Mal started: “We are just a little bit away from returning to our independent way. I think a lot has been found out for Who.
“He has been very good helping us out and we have been doing all right finding out information for Who.
“Where do we go from here? I'd like your opinions.”
Jayne: “What's she doin' here? She ain't crew.”
Kalee: “She's my daughter goram it. Don't talk to her that way.”
Mal: “SHUT UP! Jayne you have a point but I consider her extended family and she might provide ideas from a different perspective. I will make the final decision but I want her opinion.
“In case you forgot, she was a help in getting some extra weapons abord when we had the saboter aboard.”
Jayne was Jayne and grumbled.
Mal: “Zoe?”
Zoe: “I don't have much to say. I'd like to get Niska but I do not think we can get him.
“The Tam family - Kaylee, River, Gwen and Simon - is half the crew. The rest of us form the other half with the captain as the leader. That's nine total. The main difference sing the Reaver War is that we lost Wash and Shepard Book and gained Val and Gwen. Even if Gwen is quiet, River or Simon or Kaylee can give her comments. It's unimportant Jayne.
“I'd like to go back but it's not possible. I think facilites on Serenity are pressed when we have the crew and Who's people. For the moment I think we need them but space is tight. I guess that's all.”
Mal: “Val?”
Val: “We need to stay with Who for a while. Many reasons why. Basically, I did not realize I was so lost, I guess, without a logistic support. I've felt a lot better recently.”
Simon: “I go along with Val on the logistic support, the MacA showed that. I am glad to be back out here instead of on Ariel. This is home to me – River, Kaylee and now Gwen.
“I'd sort of like to drift back into some obscurity but Niska is a big problem. I really do not have see a better way. They are all about the same.”
Mal: “Jayne?”
Jayne just shrugged and shook his head: “Nothing to add.”
Mal: “Inara, Kaylee, River. You do not seem to have anything to add. If you do, please speak up.”
Kaylee: “I like workin' on my engines. Simon's said everything else.”
River: “Inara?”
Inara: “I'd like to find Niska and blow him up.”
River: “I'd like to go on with Who. I think I can take Niska.”
Mal: “I think I could take Niska also. I almost had him after being tortured. Gwen?”
Gwen: “Going after Niska will have better odds with Who's support.”
Mal: “Who asked me about the number of pirates who have armed vessels who might be attacking unarmed merchantmen. He thought there was a 10% - 25% finders fee for cargos being recovered from these pirates.”
Jayne perked up: “Legal money?”
Mal: “Yes.”
Val: “He mentioned to me about privately owned armed convoy escorts.”
Mal: “Do you have any experience?”
Val: “No.”
Gwen: “You know, if you don't mind my input, having a few armed escorts would be interesting.”
Simon: “I guess it could help hid the legal money.”
River: “Simon you dummy, if we had a few armed ships and we found Niska, they could be used in an attack on him.”
Mal nodded as silence fell on them all. Only he and River and maybe Zoe had seen the possibilty.
Zoe – tentatively: “We could train some people for boarding and keep them on the escorts.”
Val: “I've got the ground attack/boarding type of experience.”
Inara: “Wasn't there a police action about four years ago out here? “
Mal: “I think we've found a lot of possibilities. Thanks Gwen.
“I'll sleep on it before deciding. If anyone has comment for me tomorrow or feels we need to meet formally again let me know.
“I've got to figure out where we go next also. Inara, Simon, if you have suggestions, let me know.”
Simon: “Let's tentatively say Barachacha.”
Inara: “That's as good as any.”

----

Serenity, DD-914 and the tramp freighter SF Antonito parted company. They each headed in different directions.

----

Aboard DD-914, Who was asked to the bridge: “Yes captain?”
The Captain: “There's a message codded message for you.”
Who: “Thanks you captain.”

Who found the message was from Gwen. He short statement was that she thought Inara was not in a good state of mind. Mal was not showing much, but she thought Inara's becoming active again is about to break them apart.
“If you can find a reason, I think it would be best to send them somewhere else where Inara could not find work.”
Who realized that Gwen was a very good choice for second in command.

----

Who wondered about the overall mission and the need to keep the people from cracking. Mal could handle it except for this with Inara.
Who thought and looked up information (not much) about Inara and Mal and what made them tick. His data was outdated most before the Reaver Incident.
He found something about an incident in Jiangyin.
Maybe.

----

Serenity sped towards Barachacha.

Mal answered a wave: “Serenity, Captain Reynolds.”
Over the com: “Who here captain. I've had an idea I'd like you to consider. Would you be interested in taking the Aid Station to Jiangyin?”
Mal: “ Jiangyin? We had several incidents there. May I ask why?”
Who: “Your crew has had a profitable and stressful time recently. Jiangyin I think might want some aid station help.
“There would doubtfully be a need for medical care and the rest of the crew could 'take leave' if you will. It will take me some time to go through the carge on SF Antonito. I might have an idea about ehere to go next. You may want to augment your Aid Station with one or two from your crew.”
Mal: “You know, it's not a paradise but it might be the thing to do. Let me talk with the crew. I'll get back to you.”
Who: “I'll be waiting for your wave.”

----

Simon and River were with Mal on the bridge.
Mal: “Who asked if we would go to Jiangyin. I was wanting your thoughts.”
Simon: “ Jiangyin. Wonderful. Kidnapping and burning.”
River: “Yes. That does not mean they do not need help.”
Simon: “Yes, our last trip there showed that. Did Who say why?”
Mal: “He said he wanted us to 'take leave'. For a little while while he considers the items on SF Antonito.
“I suspect several other items but Who did not say anything more.
“First, I think he really wants us to have a little down time for his own reasons. I do not know why. However, an attempted taking off of the streets of Gwen, an Aid Station attack., a saboter, and a hairy rescue with cargo that might have been related to Niska.
“Second, it is an out of the way place and it is a good hide for us for a while. Our twelve man crew can probably handle any problems we run into.
“Third, I do not think or anyone else Niska might be able to find us here.”
River: “Good reasons.
“For me, it was, I think, the first place I had fun after Simon got me out. I remember the dancing.
“Simon, you should see if ther Prarie Paradise plate is there. Kaylee wanted to get it for you. You and I came in and you looked at that plate and called it crap.”
Simon: “I didn't know.”
River: “Of course not, you boob. With the kidnapping and the shooting of Shepard Book, we were busy.
“I was confused at the time. Later after I started understanding, I doubted we'd be back here.”
Simon: “Will you help me find it?”
River smiled at Simon: “Yes.”
She turned to Mal: “Maybe we can find a job here also. They have a cargo export limit regulation.”
Mal: “Really? What is available for export?”
River shrugged: “I want to say some type of spirits and a little mined ore. The laws are that it may only be sold to the governemt.”
Mal: “Really? Sounds like my kinda place.”
Simon: “They do have a need. I just did not want to live there.”
Mal: “Do you want to ask Kaylee?”

Minutes later Mal called DD-914.
Who: “Hi Captian.”
Mal: “We will be diverting to Jiangyin for a few days.”

----

Serenity sped towards Jiangyin.

Serenity landed near the hill folk's town. Mal with Simon and Zoe walk down the loading ramp to a group of bewildered townsfolk.
Simon: “Who's the patron now?”
Doralee (a bit older) walks out looking a little unsure: “Doctor? Billie Jo, run go get Uncle Joe.”
In a few moments, Billie Jo brings Uncle Joe.
Uncle Joe.: “I'm the patron here. Wh'da'ya need?”
Simon: “I was here a while back. I recall you had need of a doctor. I've got a traveling Aid Station. It's free but if you can pay a little in money or trade, we can stretch our good will farther. We hope to stay here a day or two and then move on to Bingbu. We expect to stay there for a week or two before we move on.
“Captain Reynolds here is also a trader and has some cargo space in case you have something to ship in or out.”
Doralee: “We still don't have a doctor but we do have the sick house.”
Simon: “I'll visit the sick house for sure. I have the medical facilities set up here in Serenity already and if people can come here, it would be better – the facilities are very good.”
Uncle Joe: “May we see your facilities?”
Mal: “Sure. Come-on in and look around. I'll let Simon show you his Aid Station in the cargo Bay and he may want to take you to the ship's infirmary.
“Would you mind if some of the crew strolls around? We been shipboard for several weeks and a little time off the ship would be welcome.”
Uncle Joe: “I'm sure we can work something out.”
Kaylee, Inara were among those blocking entrance to the ship by chatting with interested people.

Uncle Joe: “Captain. You want to restrict access to Serenity by having people escorted on and off the ship?”
Mal: “Yes. We had an incident a few weeks past where we had a stow away who tried to sabotage Serenity. I'm a little nervous right now.”
Uncle Joe: “I understand. And Simon will visit the sick house?”
Mal: “Yes. That will be Simon's to set up. I command the ship, not what happens off it.
“However they are crew and I will take steps if my crew is endangered.”
Uncle Joe: “That's acceptable.
“What about cargo? The only place I can sell it to legally is to the goram government. They pay pennies for it.”
Mal: “We should be able to be low key. Maybe you pay in goods for medical care and there might be a refund in cash?”
Uncle Joe: “Might work out at that. Maybe talk a little later?”
Mal: “Sure.”

The day and a half at the hill folk hamlet (Act III: Scene 12). There was thanks for the medical help.
There was a cargo of good spirits and some ore on board Serenity in the smuggling holes.

The arrival at Bingbu was met by the local sheriff. Mal showed him around and explained about the Aid Station. The sheriff and some deputies examined the ship and proclaimed that they were satisfied.

The Aid Station was opened and the trade was brisk. A sheriff's deputy was they when the aid station was open. They allowed in-kind trade for services as long as the deputy was there to see it. It had to be about an even-even trade for services. No smuggling allowed.
Inara and River went and found the plate for Simon.
At one of the evening meals, Simon gave the plate to Kaylee who was stunned to tears. She gave Simon, River, and Inara bug hugs.
Zoe brought out a present for River – a post holler. River laughed and laughed.
The day of the maypole dance, the crew joined the locals.

“Doctor! Doctor!” someone shouted.
Simon turned a looked. It was the sheriff.
Sheriff: “There's been a mine collapse. All are out of the mine and accounted for but two are seriously injured. They were partially under the wall that slid down.
“They are on their way here. Best guess that they will be here in 20 minutes.”
Simon: “Mal, get Gwen, Enswal, Goldarn to the ship quickly. I'll go right now.”

Mal, Inara and Hump showed up also.
The injured were placed on temporary pallets in the cargo hole for triage. Simon made a quick examination: “Move this one to the infirmary now. Hump. Stay with that one. If you think you can handle it fine. Take no risks though.
“Enswal. Goldarn. Get scrubbed.”
Gwen went about getting the information about the patients.
Mal and Inara held hands while watching surgery from the outside.
Sheriff: “What's wrong?”
Mal: “I don't know. Simon rushed this one in here fast with no explanation. My uneducated opinion is that this one has a collapsed chest. I saw a few of them during the war.
“I've seldom seen worse except from Reavers.”
Sheriff: “You were in the war?”
Mal: “Yes. I did a lot of battlefield doctoring back then. This does not look good. Simon's the best.”
Sheriff: “Don't take this wrongly, but how do you know how good he is?”
Mal: “He worked in the ER on Osiris in one of the best hospitals in the central planets.”
Sheriff: “And you've seen him work?”
Mal: “Yes.”
Sheriff: “What brings him out here if you don't mind my asking.”
Mal: “Long story that is his to tell or not. He and his sister came aboard Serenity about the time of the Reaver Incident. They found safety and a home. He married my mechanic.”
Sheriff: “Reaver Incident. I seem to recall that there was an Alliance failed experiment on something like Maryland.
“I seem to recall a broadcast. I heard rumors that it was a war.”
Mal: “It was. I lost two crew and Mr Universe. Only Inara had minor wounds.”
Sheriff: “I heard some wild stories of an Independence captaining a ship that somehow got the Alliance and the Reavers into some big space battle.”
Inara: “Myth always has a bit of truth. The other time we were here, Simon and his sister were kidnapped.”
Sheriff: “I can not seem to recall all the incidents I've been around.
“Do you have some cargo space available?”
Mal: “Maybe.”
Sheriff: “How long are you going to be here?”
Mal: “Not rightly sure but at least another two or three days. Sort of depends on other cargos I might get and when Simon runs out of work.”
Sheriff: “I see. You could be safe here for awhile if you have patients for the Doctor to care for.”
About that time, Simon walked out. He looked at the sheriff.
“I.m sorry, I could not save him. I did not have the time. How long did it take to get him here?”
Sheriff: “A bit over two hours.”
Simon: “It just took too long. Mal, can we set up some sort of notification system and find other lodging for Jay and Hump? That could open the shuttle up for emergencies. I do not know if it would have saved this man but extra time is important.”
Mal: “You go rest. I think the Sheriff and I will do some talking and see about what might be done.”
Simon nodded: “I'll take a quick look at the other patient and then I'll rest.”

Mal, Inara and the sheriff walked to the common room.
Mal: “With the aid station aboard, we have a crew of twelve. With ten bunks, I have two in the second shuttle bedding down.”
Inara: “I could fly the shuttle if needed. I sort of feel useless here.”
Sheriff: “I'm sure we could help out with some rooms in the town free of charge. If it would help.
“We have a fair communication system but while you are here, maybe we can set it up better for medical emergencies.”
Mal: “Thanks.” He got up and called Gwen on the ship com.
When Gwen arrived, Mal invited her to sit down.
Mal: “Gwen, how's the patient load doing?”
Gwen: “It is falling. I think another two days and we will be ready to leave.”
Sheriff: “That soon?”
Gwen: “We have about 5 hours of scheduled patients for tomorrow and three hours for the day after. I've not taken any more appointments after that.”
Sheriff: “How many have been requested an appointment that you turned down?”
Gwen: “Ten. They were about 5 days out and I do not see staying for that small a load.”
Mal: “Good. Sheriff, Gwen's the administrative assistant for Simon. She probably knows more about the business end than Simon does.”
Sheriff: “Well I've got some items to attend to. I'll see ya later.”

After the Sheriff left, Mal: “I think that the sheriff will come up with some more patients. He was also asking about cargo space.”
Inara: “interesting.”
Gwen: “Isn't it just so.”
Mal: “Shall we join the dancing?”

The next day, the sheriff brought a fellow with him to meet Mal.
Once again in Serenity's common room, the sheriff: “Captain: “This is Area Governor Grobblen. Governor. This is captain Reynolds.”
Shaking hands, Mal said: “Have a seat. What can I do for you?”
Grobblen: “Lu please Captain Reynolds.”
Mal said: “I'm Mal.”
The sheriff (previously introduce to Mal as Edward Li Epstein): “I've brought Lu here about possible cargo transport off planets..”
Lu: “Mal, I have some ore ingots and some locally made items I'd like to ship to Barnhadt.
“I also have an ulterior motive of wanting you to stay here a few more days. Medical care here is at a premium and I'd like to bring some people from other areas of the planet who need help beyond what we can normally provide.
“I understand you have a shuttle available?”
Mal: “That's a conditional yes. I assume Sheriff Epstein has made the details known to you?”
Lu: “Yes he has. I think we can provide four rooms here for your people if it will help.”
Mal: “That would help the crowding. I am concerned about the safety of my crew.”
Sheriff Epstein: “I'm sure we can work something out.”
Mal: “Just a moment, let me get Gwen up here for this.”
Mal called Gwen on the ship's com: “Gwen do you have a moment?”
Gwen through the com: “How long do you need me? I've four patients here.”
Mal: “Can you get someone to sub for you? I'll need say half an hour.”
Gwen: “Hummm. Let me see if River is available. She's been subbing for me and knows the system.”
Mal: “Is Inara familiar enough to sub?”
Gwen: “Not enough.”
Mal: “What e'er ya think. I'm in the common room.”
Grobblen talked about cargo and space with Mal until Gwen got there.
Mal introduced the sheriff and the governor.
Mal: “The governor here would like us to stay for a little while longer for access to the aid station. He'd like to bring the worst cases here. He'd also like us to wait for a small cargo he wants to ship with us to Barnhardt.
“Opinions?”
Gwen: “How long and how many patients?”
Grobblen: “I have three serious cases scattered around. I'd like the doctor to look at them. I'd reimburse you for transporting them with your shuttle.
“I have about three dozen that are marginally treatable by local staff. I just learned of your Aid Station and would like to get them to you.
“Say another four days?”
Gwen: “Excuse me a moment.” She rose and went to the com: “River, is Simon available?”
River: “He's between patients right now. Just a moment.”
Simon on the com: “Yes Gwen?”
Gwen: “I have the Area Governor here with Mal and the sheriff discussing a few items. The governor has about 40 patients scatted around the area he'd like you to see. He wants to use our shuttle to pick up and transport the three worst cases. The others are marginally treatable by on planet resources. He says it will take about four or five days.”
Simon took a moment before replying: “I think we can do that if you and Mal work it out.”
Gwen: “Shiney. We'll work on it:”

With the weekend occurring before the end of the six working days, the crew of Serenity had stayed almost nine calender days on planet. It was with understanding that the good rates on shipping and the small relative speaking bonus payment from the governor that Serenity's crew would be welcomed back the next time and that it was hoped to be not too long. Serenity's legal hold was about 75% full – maximum with the Aid Station still set up.

The 40 patients were tended by Simon had grown to 63. He said only one was beyond their medical resources but that he was able to take care of the other 62 quicker and easier than the locals could.

A meeting of all twelve of the extended crew were meeting in the common area.
Mal: “Considering that we have both a large legal load for Barnhadt and an illegal one we own as in kind payment for services, we have done quite well.
“I have a few more items. Simon, I'd never realized how much good will the aid station brings and trade in kind has worked very well. Just the legal cargo and the monies received from the Aid Station and the Governor's bonus, I think we will more than break even for the visit. Maybe a 10% profit.
“The smuggled cargo from Uncle Joe will make a nice comfort pad for us.
“I was thinking about a modular Aid Station. I do not know how to word it, but have it on a modular pallet or wheels that the mule can take off the ship so you can set up quickly. It would be good if we need to separate again like back in Paradiso. Let's think about this to see if we can come up with a workable idea.
“I think Who has been a good thing to happen for us. I do not know how long it will last. I want to thank Gwen, Jay, Humperdink, Goldarn., and Enswal for joining us and helping out.
“I have a very short message from Who. He would like to go over discoveries from the MacA. I do not know more than that. He wants to meet at Java with Gwen.” For once I wish we had a second craft to get her there while we head for Barnhardt.
“Thanks to everyone.”
Zoe: “What does the scheduling look like?”
Mal: “Barnhardt is 30 hours out. Java is 40 hours from there and 15 hours from here. I would got to Java first but part of the Barnhardt cargo is a time sensitive one. We need to get it there in 36 hours or there are penalties.”
Mal's mouth dropped open – he was speechless.
River: “I saw him also. Did anyone else see it?”
Replies of “See what?” or to that affect were returned.
River: “Mal and I thought we saw Wash.”
Zoe looking around: “Where?”
Mal: “In the passageway door to the engine room.”
River: “With his favorite shirt.”
Mal: “And two of his dinosaurs.”
River: “Let's take a break.”
Mal got up and had a stiff drink.

Inara and Kaylee quietly shoo'd others out until it was the two of them and Zoe, Mal, and River.
Zoe looked from River to Mal and back.
Kaylee: “Did you really see Wash?”
River: “I do not really know what I saw but I saw him fade out. Mal saw him first.”
Mal: “He was a little tranparent. I could see the passageway through him. He had on a white and orange and green shirt. His favorite one.
“He was holding the brown dinosaur that stood on two legs and the green one that had all the paddles on it's back.
“After not having seen him for years, it was startling.”
River: “Since Mal and I seem to have a resonance, I looked at the first sence I got from Mal. I think He flashed for a moment at Mal and I reacted quick enough to see the fade out.”
Kaylee: “I wonder if it was a ghost?”
Mal: “Zoe, do you recall the feeling you had when sensed Mudd?”
Zoe: “Yes, it was sort of like something pulling my attention there and would not let me go. Now that I think about it, I was thinking of Wash at the time.”
Inara: “Do you think maybe Wash is haunting Serenity?”
Zoe: “Why did it take about 20 years to surface?”
Inara: “I do not know.”
Mal: “Zoe, would you and Kaylee and River look around the area and see if anything is amiss? I do not think there is but this is strange.”
Inara: “Mal?”
Mal: “I'm fine but I just want to be sure nothing is amiss. Don't we have a weapon hidden there? Maybe we should check all the weapons while we are at it.”

----

Serenity sped towards Barnhardt.

As it turned out, the weapons inspection turned up one hidden pistol with blanks replacing the rounds.
Another weapon (in Jayne's stash) has been been tampered with also. Nothing major in damage but it did make the weapon non-functional.

The legal cargo from Jiangyin was sold. As prviously agreed, the agent for Jiangyin verifyed the cargo and sale and paid Mal's fee.
They had a passenger to K-Moran About half way to Java and only added about 3 hours to the flight time.

After Serenity departed for Java, a ox was found on board that the passenger had “forgotten”.
Inspection of the box had showed it contained a number of items (paper and data tabs) that held some interesting information concerning the MacA cargo. Due to the rush to met with Who on Java, Uncle Joe's items were still on board.

After time digesting the info from Who, the extended crew met in the commom area.
Mal: “First, I've not talked about a number of items until now since we had passengers on board and the odd problems with the weapons. And the need to get the legal cargo to Barnhardt on time.
“First, the very bad news. Apparently Who has another Reaver/reader assason hit. Who did not have much information on this but wanted to warn us. Comments?”
Jay: “What was hit?”
Mal: “Who did not say.”
Gwen: “Does any evidence seem to point to Niska, Blue Sun, or anyone else?”
Mal: “Who send images. One show the Niska symbol again on the MacA cargo – one we missed. Nothing is from the new crime scene.”
Jayne: “I don't like the Reaver connection.”
Zoe: “Neither do I. It is almost beyond belief that someone could capture a Reaver and turn it into an assassin.”

----

“Did you get the job done?”
“Yes. I may have been seen.”
“What is done is done. Are you sure you were seen?”
“No.”

----

Serenity sped towards Barnhardt.

It was about 18 hours out from Java. Mal was on bridge watch. A wave came in in code. He replied in code.
A shot while later, DD-914 and Who waved him. “Hello Mal.”
Mal: “Hi Who. What's up.”
Who: “Can Serenity's crew meet with me?”
Mal: “Sure. We are on night shift right now. Do you want to wake them up?”
Who: “No. It will wait until morning. When is that your ship time?”
Mal: “About four hours.”
Who: “That's mid-afternoon our time. Works well.”
Mal: “Do you want to come over for a talk with me right now?”
Who: “Hmmm. It would allow me to get a private update and fill you in. Yes, that would be good if we could talk now.”
Mal: “I'll see you in a bit.”

Who and Mal stopped in the Galley for a snack and coffee.
They sat down on the bridge and talked. Mal filled Who in on what had happened so far. Who was amazed at what was to have been a little R&R.
Who laughed: “...and you transported both legal and illegal cargoes from there to Bernhardt?”
Mal grinned: “Yes. We have not sold the illegal cargo yet but we made a small but respectable profit on the legal and aid station work. They want us to come back.”
Who: “I do not think you'd ever be Alliance but it sounds like you might be swinging that way.”
Mal: “No. The Alliance is to restrictive. I like my freedom. The enforced laws out here are sometimes less and sometimes more restrictive than the Alliance.”
Who: “Yes. That's one of the reasons I went looking for you.”
Mal: “Yeah. You know people will talk if we keep meeting like this.” Mal grinned in a half joking way.
Who: “Yes, I did not really expect to find so much so quickly. I will probably need to set up another couple of ways for direct contact.”
Who lifted his coffee: “Confusion to the enemy.”
Mal: “Here. Here.”
Who: “Inara worked well as the emergency shuttle pilot?”
Mal: “Yes she did.”
Who: “What if we used her more as a part of the aid station auxiliary instead of a Companion?”
Mal's eyes opened.
Who: “If you had a emergency shuttle, she could run it. If I needed to see you, she could come and get me and bring me in. Few questions asked if she is an emergency shuttle pilot.”
Mal: “It sounds like I'd need an ambulance or third shuttle. I do not have room for that.”
Who: “Maybe we need to send the materials for the aid station ahead of the Serenity,”
Mal: “Where are you going with this?”
Who: “Just speculating. I'm not sure what we need to do. Will you think on it too?”
Mal: “Sure.”
Who: “I am sure you would not want to sell Serenity. But maybe a second ship you own could work.”
Mal: “We've been discussing that ourselves a little with the crowding and the need for Serenity to keep cover. Your idea of an escort ship sounds good. Especially if the it had a large infirmary.
“Kaylee would probably not want to leave Serenity so Simon would want to stay with her. However, some of the crew here could ship out with the escort and have an emergency shuttle also.
“Listen to me. Sounds like I'm getting into the medical business.” Mal smiled.
Who joined the smile.
Mal: “You know, the crew and I have discussed an armed convoy escort.”
Who was taken aback. He showed nothing to Mal but he did not think Mal would go for it. “You have? Any thoughts about it you wish to share?”
Mal: “Not that I can afford another ship, but I think it might be a workable idea. I've not had a chance to see if anyone would be interested in paying an escort fee yet, but the idea is attractive.
“We think you'd need at least two ships to start. Preferably three.
“My own thought right now with the success of the aid station and your mentioning a possible need to enlarge it would have been to assign one of the escorts to the aid station for security. Three would be on escort duty for convoys. Two to protect the convoy and one to separate for defense if attacked.
“Depending on the situation, two escorts could be detached. It would be up to the convoy commander.”
Who: “I see. It is sort of like the old wet navy tactics on Earth-that-was.”
Mal: “I've been doing a little research and did look it up. I just need to find out if there is a need.”
Who: “I'll have my eyes and ears ask a few discrete questions to help out.”
Mal: “Sure.”

As the crew started stirring and coming into the common area, they were surprised at seeing Who and Mal they chatting like old friends. Some of the crew would be pulled into the conversation and then drifted out based on how each person acted when first getting up. A few jokes were passed around.
The chat slowly turned to the job at hand.
Who: “Since this seems to be turning towards business, is there objection to having a formal meeting right now?”
A few had to take care of some personal items and River checked the bridge. Kaylee checked on the engine. When everyone had returned.
Mal: “Who met us about five or six hours ago. We discussed a lot of the happenings between our last talk and now. With that said, I'll turn it over to Who.”
Who: “Thank you captain.
“Once again, thanks to all of you. After Paradiso, I wanted to give you a little R&R but your version of R&R seems to be different from mine.” A round of chuckles and laughs.
Who: “To those of my staff here on Serenity, you have done outstanding work. Better than I expected.”
Jay raised his hand. Who nodded.
Jay: “I think a lot of the credit there is the way Mal has led us. He has been able to meld us and Serenity's crew into a fairly stable single whole.”
Who: “I fully agree with you there. Mal has been one of the best unexpected surprises I have had. Shepard Book told me about him but reading and seeing are two different things. Thank you Mal and the rest of your crew.
“Mal, I think I understand why you received the award you did in the war and I for one Alliance officer am glad you did not get killed.”
Mal: “Uh, thanks.”
Who: “Mal and I discussed how well the Aid Station worked on Jiangyin. Inara, your help with the shuttle for emergency runs was in inspired idea. Thank you.
“Would you be interested in being attached to the aid station as a pilot?”
Inara: “I guess I could as long as it did not interfere with my appointments.”
Who: “I'm sorry, I guess I did not make myself clear. I meant as your only job.”
Inara: “We do not have a shuttle for the aid station and one shuttle on serenity would not be able to take everyone off at one time if an emergency occurred.”
Who: “I see we have strayed from the direction I was taking, thanking Serenity's crew. However, what Mal and I had discussed was a few alterations to the current working pattern. In short, the response from Jiangyin was unexpected. You even made a small profit on the legal cargoes there.
“What I was wondering about was a palletized aid station that could be removed in a few trips using the mule and have it set up quickly in case a Serenity needs to continue its trading. In that case, a shuttle for the aid station would be indicated. If Mal could come up with a second ship (rented or owned) for moving the aid station hardware, a shuttle could be added to it. It would give the crew a little more elbow room on Serenity and if we could come up with an old war ship with the medical facilities large enough, the ship itself could be the aid station.”
Kaylee: “You'd be wantin' to split the crew?”
Who: “No Kaylee, Mal has a great crew here. It may have to be split for a while as at Paradiso but you'd not have to be split between ships. You could stay with Serenity if you and Mal wanted it.”
Zoe: “Who would crew the second ship?”
Who: “We did not specify it yet but I would assume Mal would hire the crew. I noticed a few tidbits of good information that came from patients talking. It would allow us to increase your ability to listen for information.”
Val: “This sounds like it is becoming a long term relationship. Who's paying for the second ship?”
Who: “I'm always looking for hum-int sources. I want to keep in tough with the fringe. So in a way it is. Will it be Serenity and I or not, I do not know but as one who has had covert operating experience, I will always look for a win-win situation even if the legality is questional.
“As far as the second ship, Mal and I would need to look into it. There's been no real time to look.
“As an aside, I need to reduce my contacts with you – I have had neccissarily more contact with you than I normally like. The needs justify it but covert means no patterns and I now have a small pattern with you. If Niska is behind this, he might be able to sumble onto it.”
Val: “I really do see, I missed the larger issue and did not fully comprehend the speed of change. Thanks.”
Jayne: “Huh?”
Val: “I'll tell you later.”
Simon: “If the second ship is an old warship and has good … No, low visibility. Hum.”
Mal: “Simon, you do have a lead. If I had a 2-3 ship armed convoy escort for convoying ships through areas of pirate activity, one could be pealed off for aid station duty. If it had a good sick bay, then you would be good.
“On the other hand landing an armed ship on a planet if I am not known as the owner and supporter of an aid station, we could get a big negative reaction.”
Jayne: “Big Boom.”
Gwen: “So you are not looking for anything immediate but it depends on what we find and can afford.”
Who: “Exactly. If any of you have ideas, pass them to Captain Reynolds and he can get them to me.”
Val: “Didn't you hit Ariel one time and make a functioning ambulence out of a junk yard?”
Mal: “Yes.”
Val: “I think I heard of a supposed scrap yard some two sectors away. Maybe a few Alliance hulls there? I'm not sure I recall exactly right. It was some 3-4 years ago.”
Who: “I'll look into it. Mal, maybe an armed merchantman for escort? It could be hidden for planetside duty as the aid station, may limited cargo capacity, and would be able to fight off pirate ships.”
Mal: “Interesting. It comes back to financing. Always does.
“Val, do you have any command experience? Ship command?”
Val: “Command, yes. I have the 353rd marines in the war. Ship command – no.”
Mal: “Would you be interested or know someone who might be?”
Val: “Me reluctantly – I'm a ground pounder. But I might be able to find someone who is ship qualifyed. I've not spoken or waved in years.”
Mal: “Gwen, do you have a secure way to contact Who?”
Gwen: “Yes.”
Mal: “Gwen you arrange for alternate communications with Who. We have to keep that link secure. Get it done before we separate with DD-914.”
Gwen: “Yes sir.”
Who sat back as he really saw Mal at work for the first time. I will need to get him another ship somehow. He was meant to be in command but he has to have his own rules. I understand much better the hints from Book. I know I comand my people's trust but Reynolds takes it to the next level. He can sit back and let other's take command but he naturally leads.
Mal: “Who, I have a cargo here and you have another cargo that is also evidence. Would you care to talk on this for the crew's sake?”
Who: “the cargo you have here on Serenity is yours. If you move it, it is illegal, and if you get caught I do not think I can step in and keep op-sec.
“The MacA cargo is a different issue. We went back to the ship, examined it an judged it a natural disaster and took whatever cargo remained. The cover story is that DD-914 found it a rescued the survivors and took the cargo off. The cargo was impounded because it is possible evidence in a case.
“At the current time, Mal has the coordinatesof the storage site (asteroid). I still have a team over there examining it. It seems that the foodstuffs will be considered as property of Serenity and may be removed at anytime. The rest has enough odds and ends on it, I want to hold it a while longer. I am concerned about Niska. Gwen, since you are now the contact point for us, I'll give you a code that will allow you to pick up the foodstuffs at any time.”
Gwen: “Yes sir.”
Who: “Mal you have most of the information already. I've had a long day. I also think risk of a pattern is a problem. I'll head off and you may tell the crew of Serenity what you think.”
Mal: “Sorry. I'd forgotten that when you came over it was middle afternoon for you.”
Who nodded.
Mal: “Zoe, Gwen, Simon. Escort Who off and set up whatever needs done. I'm taking a break also.
“River, would you take bridge watch?”
“Sure”

As the meeting broke up, Inara, Kaylee and Hump joined Mal.
Hump: “Changes are not much but possible changes are growing like weeds.”
Kaylee: “Inara would not have to be a Companion?”
Mal: “Yeah. Inara?”
Inara: “It is a shock.”
Hump: “I think it is better this way.”
Inara: “Yes. Just an unexpected direction.”
Mal: “Hump, what do you think about the possibility of Who setting this up with Inara? I mean trying to move her from being a Companion? Say only what you feel comfortable with.”
Hump looked and considered: “He has not done it often, but Who would do something to help out the smooth running of a team. If I recall, you and Inara were married and Inara was pregnant but now she is not?
“If so, and if Who was afraid tearing you both appear might compromise the mission, he would be willing to try to make it less uncomfortable as long as the mission was not compromised.
“He cares about his people much as you do Mal.”
Mal: “Me? I … But...”
Kaylee: “You do care Mal. All of us see it and respond to it. Even Jayne.
“You may not see it in yourself but after a rough time, you are always there for us to listen. Remember Canton? Jaynestown? Jayne was so confused and after we left you talked with him on the cat walk.”
I did not interrupt nor could I hear what you said but I saw you. You are always like a father that we can talk to.”
Inara: “She's right you know.”
Mal: “I probably would not have admitted it to myself back then; I was just trying to keep the crew together. But I guess I really am in a way.”
Hump: “Who is good at what he does. You seem to do it naturally without thinking about it. Don't sell yourself short. You attract good people because you care.”
Inara: “Do you recall a talk we had about love and that you loved others so much it was hard to turn away?”
Mal: “Yes. Gad. All that long ago and I guess I never really was understood completely.
“Shiney. With that cleared up, I think I'll rest.”
Kaylee: “We'll take care of things.”

The crew of Serenity (becoming less Who's people and Mal's people and becoming more of a Serenity people) Discuss informally their thoughts while Mal was resting.
There was unease about the blanks in the guns. There was a feeling of accomplishment with the success of the plan so far. The proposed changes were needed but a little unsettling.
River, Val, and Gwen worked on the some deals and found that Badger had the best offer for the illegal cargo they were carrying.

----

Serenity sped on towards Persephone.

Mal got up a few hours later and happened to find River, Val and Gwen on the bridge.
Mal: “What's up?”
River: “Badger gives us the best deal for the illegal cargo we have 8% over anyone else.”
Mal: “What's the deal?”
River pulled it up on the screen for Mal to see.
Mal: “Not bad. Did you already change course?”
Val looked like she'd been caught with her hand in the cookie jar.
Gwen: “Yes we did.”
Mal: “Good job. I might have done it differently but you've done well.”
Val: “We did?”
Mal: “Yes you did. Like I said I might have done it differently but a deal and I'll back you all the way.”
Gwen: “If I might ask, how could we done better?”
Mal looked for a moment: “Due to some needs you might not have known about, I may have tried to see about some parts in trade. I'm not really sure. I'm not going to second guess you. You've done very well this time out.
“I know none of you have dealt with Badger directly before. Val, you and Zoe will go with me during the closing.”
River: “Might I be able to come along?”
Mal: “Did Badger recognize you?”
River: “Val did the talking.”
Mal: “I've kept you away from Badger without thinking about it mostly due to the duel. But if does not know you, its time you met and I might could use you in dealing with him.
“No Gwen, I'm not taking you. For the moment you have plausible deniabilty as a Whovian. Let's keep that available for a while.”
Gwen: “Val, if you would not mind, I'd like to talk to Mal and River alone.”
Val: “Sure.”
Gwen: “Mal, my Mom and Dad are great people and I want to see them again. I also want to get to know Simon, Kaylee, and River – my other family. Might you need some crew?”
Mal: “Well. You've got time here until the investigation is done. You want more?”
Gwen: “I had years with Mom and Dad. I've had a few months with mother, father and my aunt. I like them and would like to get to know them better.
“I'm not sure if it would be months or years.”
Mal: “Huh. River?”
River: “Circumstance did not allow me to really get to know my parents before the Alliance took interest. I do not think I'll be able to go see Regan and Gabriel anytime soon. Only Simon understood.
“That said, I would like to know them and I understand Gwen's position better than you I think. I think this mission may go on for months. I would support Gwen for crew. I think both Simon and Kaylee would also. Let's not decide now but keep the channels open.
“Gwen?”
Gwen: “River, what circumstances are those?”
River: “I think you, Simon, Kaylee and I would need to talk about this. If you want, you and I first. I fully support you coming on as crew, I just caution not being too fast to decide. Do you trust me?”
Gwen: “Yes. That sounds good.”
Mal: “Gwen, you would make a good addition to Serenity's crew. I'll keep you in mind. AS River knows my thought, she can assure you of that. I like River's suggestion also.”
Gwen smiled at both River and Mal: “Thanks. I really thought I'd be turned down.”
Mal grinned: “And you had you arguments as to why it was a good idea lined up?”
Gwen a little shyly: “Yes I did.”
Mal reached for a com: “Zoe, Kaylee, Val, Jay and Simon to the bridge please.”

After they had arrived on the bridge, Mal spoke: “River, Val and Gwen have made a good deal for the Jiangyin cargo with Badger.”
Zoe raised an eyebrow.
Mal: “We can also pick up the foodstuffs at the asteroid storage site anytime.
“I will ask River, Val and Gwen to see how the routing works if we retrieve the asteroid cargo first. Selling the asteroid cargo will be the next job. It is almost all profit. We paid in aid station help and 'refunded' about 20%. There's money to be made there.
“Simon, see about what the costs would be for two different items so we know what we might be able to afford in the short, medium and long term. First is make the current aid station modular so we can deploy it easily. The second is a with list for a ship-board aid-station with emergency transport capabilities. I suspect you will need Jay's help with that.”
Simon: “Yes. The second is a wish list and approximate cost in case we can budget some money for it.”
Mal: “Exactly. Zoe and I will start looking for the next jobs.”
River: “How likely do think it will be for us to get a small armed fighter for ourselves? It might come in handy if Niska is around. I'd like to have some defensive ability.”
Mal: “I really do not know. Kaylee do you have any idea on costs for a used ship to restore? Or maybe a second Firefly?”
Kaylee: “I don't know. I can look into it.”
Mal: “At the moment I can not afford a second ship or a larger crew. But some ideas on costs would be good.”
Kaylee: “How about armed merchantmen?”
Mal: “Information on them would be good. Same deal as before. We can not afford it right now.
“Zoe, Val and I will look into the Niska/Reaver connections.”
Jay: “I'd recommend Enswal also.”
Mal: “Fine. Ask him also. Val, Jayne is a good heavy. If you want to talk to him to see if he might have ideas, feel free to. I think this is beyond him though.”
Val: “I agree. I love him but he's dumb as a rock on some things.”
Chuckles.

----

Serenity sped on towards Persephone.

As it worked out, it was best to go to Persephone first.
Val, Jayne and Zoe accompanied Mal to see Badger.
Badger: “Malcolm Reynolds. You have some cargo for me.”
Mal: “Yes. Badger, have you met Valkyrie here?”
Badger: “Valkyrie, I am glad to meet you. Talking to you on the wave was a pleasure.”
Val :”Thanks you sir and it is a pleasure to meet you.”
Badger: “May I see the cargo? I hear you are transporting an Aid Station among the fringe.”
Mal: “You may see the cargo anytime. You may unload it after I get paid. A tour of the aid station would not be unreasonable. It is not fully set up right now, you understand?”
Badger: “Of course, of course. I have a meeting in about a half hour. What say I meet you at your ship in about two hours?”
Mal: “Sure.”

----

Badger walked up to Serenity. Kaylee was outside and greeted him. She then called Mal. In a few moments Mal, Simon, and Inara came out to join Kaylee. The word had been passed for Who's people to be off the ship for this.
Badger's eyes snapped to Inara: “I had heard Mal had a Companion traveling with him but I have never met you have I?”
Inara: “Inara please. I am retired but I do enjoy dressing nicely.”
Badger: “Retired?”
Inara: “I married Mal here.”
Badger looked at Mal: “Married? You are a lucky man.”
Mal: “Thank you. This is Simon our medic and now the head of the Aid Station. This is Kaylee his wife and my mechanic.”
Gwen walked out as she asked: “Mother, I'm having a little problem here. The syncronizer has started acting funny.”
Kaylee: “If you'll excuse me Mister Badger, these older models need a lot of attention.” Kaylee turned and left with Gwen. Gwen was now given a cover for Badger at least.
Simon: “I understand you would like to see my Aid Station. Yes I would.” Mal noted that the cargo was second priority.
Simon gave the tour explaining some of the issues and where things had been disassembled for movement. Badger was unexpectedly interested.
River had been staged in the area puttering around and she met Badger also.
Badger: “Doctor Tam, what is your Aid Station's schedule?”
Simon: “We do not have a schedule per se. I travel with Serenity. When we visited Paradiso, we set up the aid station in an unused shop while Mal tended to business. Do you happen to know of a need somewhere?”
Badger: “Actually I know of two places, Fuzhou and Newzona.”
Mal: “Fuzhou is near the Reaver strip. I do not think I'd like to go there. Newzona is the next quadrant over.”
Badger: “Sir Warwick Harrow has a cargo. He specified you specifically. He also heard you were sheparding an Aid Station.
“He has cargo's to both places.”
Mal: “Well I guess I need to meet with him.”
Badger: “Good. Let's look at your cargo and complete that deal first then shall we?”
Mal looked at River. She nodded. It looked like Sir Harrow was the drive behind Badger's good price to get them here.

Once the Jiangyin cargo with Badger was done and unloaded, Mal waved Sir Harrow. Given a place to meet him for dinner, Mal and Inara dressed up and departed.

Kaylee found Gwen: “Do you have a moment?”
Gwen: “Sure.”
They went into Kalee's room: “One time I was here on Persephone, Mal had to find and meet Sir Warwick Harrow. Badger could not get close to him but got Mal to go to a high class party to find him – exclusive – very exclusive. Well, Mal need to be an escort for me so he got Badger to purchase,” Kaylee opened a door, “this dress for me.”
Gwen looked: “Mother, that's a great looking dress. Very beautiful. You used it only once?”
Kaylee: “Yes. I doubt I'll ever need it again but I kept it. If you have a desire to wear it, feel free to ask. I'd love to hve you wear wear it.”
Gwen: “I do not know when I might need it except as a disguise. May I try it on?”
Kaylee: “Really? Sure. Let me tell you about the ball ...” and mother daughter bonding strengthened .

Mal and Inara were guided to Sir Warrik's private dinning room.
Sir Warrik stood up: “Inara Serra if I recall correctly. You are quite lovely tonight”
Inara: “It is now Inara Reynolds, Sir Warrick.”
Sir Warrik grinned: “I am glad. Captain Reynold's I am glad you were in the neighborhood. Sit. Sit. Inara, please call me Warrik in private.”
Inara: “You are too kind.”
Mal: “What can I do for you?”
Sir Warrik laughed: “Mal, never change please. I have a lot of formality in my life but you are a bit of fresh air. I have two cargoes I need moved discretely and I also want ask if the Aid Station you are moving is for hire.”
Mal: “It's not for hire if you please. Simon, our doctor who had a practice on Osiris has a free Aid Station he is moving around to help out out here.
“If I have your word that this will not leave this room, I would like to explain a little.”
Sir Warrik pressed a button. A security person in his employ opened the door: “Yes Sir Warrick?”
“Would you ask the waiter when they expect to serve dinner. I want electronic stealth on the room and no one in or out.”
“Yes Sir, I will be a moment.”
“Thank you.”
A few moments later the guard opened the door and the waiters served dinner. The guard handed Sir Warrik a small box and asked: “do you want house electronic security also?”
Sir Warrik looked at Mal: “May I ask what the make of the device is?”
Sir Warrik passed over the box and looked it over: “This is good enough.”
After the box was turned on and the guard was asked to keep everyone out, Mal spoke: “Before the Reaver War, before I met Simon and his sister River, the Alliance and/or Blue Sun got their hands on River to experiment on.” Warrick's eyes widened.
Mal: “Simon broke his sister out after two or so years and ended up on Persphone headed fringe to hide. He took passage on my ship. Very long story short. The Alliance and/or Blue Sun altered River's brain by cutting into it. I do not know and do not want to know the details.
“They found refuge on my ship. They feel safe out here under my protection.
“Thanks to River, Serenity's crew survived the Reaver War with only two dead and Inara and River were the only ones to come out without and serious injuries. In an odd deal, I was able to get the Alliance off the Tam's back as long as they stayed out here. It was hush-hush.
“River was the weapon to fight the Reavers and about the time of the fight her oddness of personality vanished. We do not know why but I think she is well now.
“Before I go farther, do you have questions I can answer?”
Warrik: “Was that the deal with Miranda and the wave about the Reaver's origins?”
Mal: “Yes.”
Warrik: “I think everyone has questions about that.”
Mal: “Yes, we could not reach every world. The Alliance has been trying to revise history. We were able to wave about 30 worlds.
“Now to Simon, he sees need out here for medical services. He wants to help. I am helping by providing transportation. We have a fairly good barter payment system going in the planets we have set up on. Everyone understands that this is a shoestring operation. He is paid by chickens or vegetables or a little cash. The patients and Simon realize the can not fully pay. But they want the service to continue. The equipment and the medicines can not be bartered so that's what we try to save the cash for.
“In a very small nutshell, that is what is going on. I'm trying to support it while conducting business.”
Warrik: “I suspected something but never guessed anything this big.
“I can understand that you might not want to go to Fuzhou. I have had intermittent communications with them for the past month or two. I had wanted to contact them and check on them. Are the Reavers really still around?”
Mal: “Yes. The cat is out of the bag with the failure at Miranda. It is now controlling them. If you recall, sometimes the best way to reduce predator’s numbers is to control the food supply.
“Let me ask you a question. Is there any problems with pirates attacking one ship for the legal cargo and/or slaves?”
Warrik's eyes narrowed: “Yes. How did you guess.?”
Mal: “Some things I've picked up on hinted at it. I just do not know where it might be bad. Would Newzonwa be a bad piracy area?”
Warrik: “Yes.”
Mal: “You have a lot of trust in one old unarmed cargo ship.”
Warrik: “Yes. But I've seen how you fight also. Is there a specific reason you asked about pirate activity?”
Mal: “Yes. I am wondering if shippers would be willing to pay a premium for a convoy service provided by either an armed merchantman or maybe a purpose built warship that is excess to the Alliance to use as a privately owned armed convoy escort.”
Warrik: “Are you going into business and going legit?”
Mal: “Not right now. As a business man sort of like you are...”
Inara: “Just a lot smaller.”
A laugh.
Mal: “... I am wondering if convoy service might be a good place to be. I suspect there will need to be protection from Reavers also. The Alliance is not able to cover all areas so I try to fit in the cracks. I am looking for information.
“The Alliance is too tight a fit for me.”
Warrik: “If I did not know better, I'd say your are a visionary now. How long will you be on Persephone?”
Mal: “I do not know at this time. As is said, time is money. However a little R&R for the crew is not amiss either. If you need a few days or a week, I'll be glad to wait. I assume you need time to think about the new information. It it longer than a week, I may want to go get a foodstuff cargo waiting for me. It will take about two weeks travel time.
Warrik: “Can you give me three days to collect some preliminary information and then make plans from there?”
Mal: “That would be good. A few days of R&R for the crew.”
Inara: “I think Kaylee might need some parts for Serenity. It would give her time to find them.”
Warrik: “Have her go to Li Chang Smith with this tab and she will get the parts at cost.
“If you go to these restaurants and entertainment spots and show this green tab, you will get ten percent off the bill. I really would like to work this out with you but it will take some time to find the deal.”
Mal: “Thank you very much.”

Two day's later Kaylee called Mal to the ramp. Gwen and River came along.
As Mal approached the ramp, he glanced at River. She nodded.
Mal: “Come on in ya'll's welcome.” He waved Sir Harrow in and his two companions inside Serenity.
Mal: “Kaylee, close the airlock inner doors but leave the small door open will ya?”
Kaylee: “Sure. You want me to wait at the door?”
Mal: “If you would please. River?”
“Sure” River walked over to Kaylee to quietly tell her.
Mal: “Sir Harrow, Most of my crew are out and about including Simon. Gwen Fryetam here is his administrative assistant and can show you the Aid Station.
“Gwen this is Sir Warrik Harrow.”
Warrick: “Please call me Warrik in private. Any friend of Mal's is a friend of mine.” He kissed her hand.
Gwen was a speechless. Kaylee walked up: “Gwen. He ain't someone to not speak to.”
Gwen: “Oh my. Forgive me. I am glad to meet you, uh, Sir Warrik.”
Kaylee: “She takes after her father when in a strange situation. Speechless. I'm Kaylee.”
Warrick: “I do seem to remember you from years ago. Do you still have that beautiful dress?”
Kaylee: “You remember! With the duel and all, I am surprised. Yes I still have it. I showed it to Gwen and said she could wear it if she wanted.”
Warrick noticed a dirty spot on her forehead. Yes Kaylee is the ship's mechanic.
Kaylee, “If you'll excuse me, I'll tend to the door. Capt'n, we do not have much room. Do you want to take passengers?”
Mal: “No passengers yet. We do not have a destination.”
Kaylee: “Shiney. Glad to see you again.”

Warrik had a smile on his face.
Mal: “She sure does brighten up the place doesn't she?”
Warrik: “She certainly does. You have a fine crewman there.”
River walked up: “Sir Warrik Harrow.” and curtseyed.
“Warrik please River. May I ask if you were part of the crew during the Reaver War?”
River (who already knew Mal had briefed Sir Warrik): “Yes I was. It was a difficult situation.
“Shall we look at the Aid Station?”
Warrik: “Yes please. My time is limited. I can not drop out of site for too long.”

They sat down in the common area.
Mal: “I guess this is slumming for you.”
Warrick: “In a way, but I was almost like this in my earlier days.
“Let me ask a question or two. Considering you are still in this Firefly Serenity, I assume you would prefer not to give her up or change her?”
Mal: “That is correct.”
Warrick: “Is there I way I might contact you directly? I'll give Badger his cut but I'd like to go direct when it is legal.”
Mal: “Gwen could you handle that?”
Gwen thought about it. “Yes. It would take a little time but it could be done before we leave here.”
Warrick: “I have in one of my scrapyards a cargo hull bigger than Serenity's. It might be usable for an armed merchantman. My people are looking into what it would take to make it space worthy again. I also found we have an old frigate that was not scrapped. It appears to have been disarmed but is apparently still space worthy. It was too expensive to convert into anything else. Are you interested in either of them?”
Mal sat back: “Depending on the overall condition and the sickbay, Simon might could use the frigate.”
Warrik: “Can you find arms for either or both of them?”
Mal: “Interesting question. Answer, I do not know off hand but I do have a crewman who might. I do not have the funds to pay for this or to crew them at this time.”
Warrik: “I really want to protect my legal cargoes. You are the only one I'd trust for this if you will take it on.”
Mal: “My crew or my people?”
Warrik: “If you trust the people, I'll take your word. You could stay on Serenity. I'm sure we can set you up running the two ships in my scrapyard for my use to Newzona and Fuzhou. Any space I do not use, you would be free to use.”
Mal: “Gwen, could you look at the frigate's sickbay and give an idea if is is close to Simon's needs?”
Gwen: “I believe I could get close.”
Mal: “River, please replace Kaylee for a moment.”
River: “Sure.”
Mal: “Kaylee, would you look over two ships and give me an opinion on their condition?”
Kaylee: “Yes, of course.”
Mal: “Sir Warrik, can we discretely move Kaylee and Gwen from Serenity to the ships?”
Sir Warrik: “I have a couple of nephews I would trust to come and take two ladies to dinner. Afterwords the might stop and change clothes and go to the scrapyard. Afterwards, change back and be returned to Serenity.
“Kaylee, can you still fit in your dress?”
Kaylee: “No but Gwen tried it on a few days ago. Maybe a small alteration?”

A whirlwind of activity started with getting Kaylee a new dress, Gwen getting Kaylee's old dress altered, and getting them prepared for a night on the town. Inara and Zoe showed up and helped out a lot. Simon looked a little befuddled but was ready to jump in and help if needed.
Later a flying limo settled nearby and Sir Warrik's nephews walked up to Serenity for their “dates”.
Simon was asked about the flying limo. He responded that it was the height of honor and conspicuous consumption to use them since they were expensive Unlike a skimmer style hover craft that only needed a few feet above the ground.
Kaylee and Gwen were taken to an excellent dinner supposedly for one of Sir Warrik Harrow's relative's birthday.
Both the ladies danced and ate will. When they left, they flew to a warehouse and changed. The men escorts waited while Kaylee and Gwen were discretely taken to the scrapyard and the two ships.
They evaluated the frigate first. Kaylee was surprised at its condition. She thought it might be usable not too much more than cleaning her up. The sickbay was too small for Simon's needs Gwen felt. They two women discussed it a bit. But the bottom line was that the passages were too narrow and reconfiguring it would not be reasonable.
They went to the cargo hauler. It needed repairs but overall it would be easier to modify if needed – no battle steel.

They returned to the warehouse and changed again.
Gwen: “Mother!”
Kaylee looked down at her dress: “What? Did I tear it somewhere?”
Gwen grabbed her mother's chin and cleaned off three dirty smudges off her face and neck: “You were not on the deck or crawling inside the thing. How did you get yourself dirty.”
Kaylee a little embarressed and grinning also: “The capt'n claims I carry 'round a secret dirt spot on me to do it.”

Upon their return to Serenity, Gwen's escort asked if she would call him the next time she was in town. “Certainly.”
The two beautiful belles walked into Serenity. Inara was there with hugs and kisses. Gwen realized for the first time that Inara was genuinly happy for her as herself.

Inara escorted them to her shuttle to a few whistles and genuine compliments were offered from the crew.
As they changed into ship garb, they shared the experience about he dinner and the dancing. Although not as bubbly as Kaylee, Gwen shared and was very excited by the high society.
Gwen: “And he asked me to call him when we got back here.”
Inara: “Oh. That's wonderful. Are you?
Gwen: “I think I will.”
Inara: “Good for you.”

They found Mal, River and Zoe in the common area.
Mal: “I see you both glowing. Inara and Zoe scolded me into not talking about the ships at this time. When I was here at a fancy party, I came back very tired.” Zoe and River laughed.
Inara: “Gwen, he'd been in a duel using swords.”
Gwen: “What!?”
Inara: “We can discuss that at another time.”
Gwen: “Kaylee said you know about her little secret dirt spot.”
Mal: “Yes. I take it you had to make some repairs?”
Gwen: “Yes.”

Kaylee: “Cap'n, the warship will not be good for the aid station. The sickbay and the passageways are not really large enough.”
Mal: “Are you sure you want to talk about this now?”
Kaylee: “Yes sir. I'd not be able to key down and sleep for hours and I'd like to report while it is fresh in my mind.”
Gwen: “I'm shiney.”
Mal looked at Inara. She looked at River who nodded slightly.
Inara: “As long as you are sure. Mal?”

Kaylee: “I think all the warship needs is a good cleaning and she'd be ready to fly. The cargo ship will take longer but would allow easier modification if we wanted to put the aid station in there.”
Gwen: “The sickbay on the frigate is a good one but just not large enough for the aid station. I think Simon will like it.
“It is set up for battle injuries and would work as a very good ER.”
Mal: “I had not thought about that need. Did either of you get a good feel about the crew quarters, the bridge, crew size, and any other item needed for fighting?”
Kaylee: “Warship crew size is not my strong suit but I'd guess maybe 30. Crew quarters are small and not many. I think they might be two or three to a room.”
Gwen: “Mother is right on crew size if you exclude the weapons crews. I think there is enough common area for the crew to spread out. We had sims on them in training. The bridge is a little larger than Serenity's. It has all the war stuff so it might be a little more crowded.”
River: “Is there room for a boarding crew?”
Kaylee looked shocked: “We're not looking to take over other ships are we? We can't. It ain't right.” Gwen put an arm around Kaylee.
Gwen: “They are not talking about being pirates. The issue is what if we find another MacArthur or if a ship fires on us and the only way to stop it would be to board?”
Kaylee: “Oh. I didn't think.”
Mal: “Kaylee, don't feel bad. We love you as you are. We as a crew each bring unique insights to problems that allow us as a whole to cover each others weaknesses.”
Kaylee: “I think you said that before.”
Mal: “I probably have. Gwen, any impressions?”
Gwen: “No sir, not about boarding parties. I think she would make a very good armed escort is we can work it out. As for ship's crew with useable weapons, I'd say 55 or so. Maybe another five to ten if you wanted some dedicated to battle damage.”
Mal: “Good. For now, 30 to move the ship, 25 for weapons and ten for repair and rescue. If we could have a boarding party size of 20, that would make her very useful.”
River: “I would like to see her if there is time and a way to do it.”
Mal: “Goram it. I never thought about that. Sorry River. Let me see what can be worked out.”
Kaylee: “Maybe a parts scavenging trip, cap'n?”
Mal: “If it works out, take Simon and let him see the sickbays. One last question about the frigate. How long to get her ready to fly?”
Kaylee: “Hum. Hard to say. Maybe three to four weeks if it is nothing unseen is there.”
Mal: “That's fast. Good job. For once I wish I had more birthing area on Serenity.”
River: “Start training crew on the way to and from the asteroid?”
Zoe walked in: “What asteroid? Hi ya'll.”
A quick synopsis and Zoe was up to speed.
Zoe: “We could off-load and store the aid station for this run. You would not need to keep all of Who's people on board.”
Mal: “I do not feel comfortable with that.”
River: “What about assigning Val here with Jayne, Jay, Goldarn and Enswal to help get the ship ready? They can keep an eye out for our interests and may make some mods if need be – smuggler's holes. Set it up that all five are there at a time or none with the exception of Val.”
Kaylee: “Why do you want to get Jay, Goldarn and Enswal off the ship? Am I missing something?”
Zoe: “We've had an unexplained tampering with weapons. Gwen, how would you go about finding a possible mole if you were not sure one existed?”
Gwen: “Separate a few at a time and see what happens. Try to keep a tighter control on the test.”
Kaylee: “Oh. Shiney.”
Gwen: “I know you are not used to thinking that way. We'll cover for you.”
Gwen hugged her mother.
Mal: “Now what about the cargo hauler?”
Kaylee: “About four months to get her flying. I think the frame is good and the engine needs just an overhaul. The control runs will need to be inspected and verified. There's two holes in the sides that I noticed. Overall I think she is good but does need rebuilding.”
Gwen: “She does have a larger sickbay but it is not nearly as well equipped for ER as the frigate. Crew size would be about 20 if you want to have cargo moved by our crew. Maybe a dozen if you do not mind hiring others.”
Kaylee: “I agree on crew size.”
Mal: “Let's sleep on this and I'll contact Sir Warrik tomorrow. Gwen, if you would let Who know about the ships and their conditions, I'd appreciate it. At the current time, I'll try these ships on my own and I'll keep him informed.”
Kaylee: “Cap'n Why do you want to keep Who out?”
Mal: “If I can get a core started on my own, it would be better cover. I would really like the frigate. It would be the first small step in preparing for Niska or the Reavers. Inara, you've been quiet. Any comments?”
Inara: “I'm a bit out of my league here but I've seen nothing I disagree with or add to this. I think it is best to be getting ready for Niska.”

----

On Serenity, preperations for launch were being made.

Mal was pausing in the common area.
Zoe came in: “Mal, there's a fellow at the door wanting to talk to the captain.”

Mal and Zoe found Gwen standing with a fellow in a muted blue shirt and gray pants that were not faded or worn but not new eaither. He had oxblood shoes on – not the common spacer's boots. He had glasses on instead of having had corrective eye surgery. The whole appearance was of being non-descript.
Mal: “I'm Captain Reynolds.”

“Hi.” he said as he held out a small item.
Mal: “Come on in. I think the bridge is available if you would like some privacy.”
“Please.”

After Zoe had closed the door to the bridge, the fellow spoke up: “I am Mr Clemens. I thank you for your descretion.”
Mal: “Of course. May I call you Mark?”
Clemens smiled: “You are a leaned man. Please call me Mark. It is my real name.”
Mal looked at Zoe: “Earth-that-was history.”
“Ah.”
Mal: “What can I do for you Mark?”
Mark: “Sir Warrik knows you have some perishable cargo you would like to get. He would like you to accept me as his representative for talks while we are gone. I am not in need of a large area, just a pallet.”
Mal: “We, some of my crew, and I had dicussed several issues. I could work them out with you.”
Mark: “Good.”
Mal: “I would like to have five of my crew stay here and work with your fellows on the frigate. It seems closest to being spaceworthy. You would be able to use one of the passenger rooms.”
Mark: “Oh my, you are farther along than we thought. Might we be able to bring Sir Warrik in on video?”
Mal: “River: “Are you free?”
River over the com: “Yes.”
Mal: “Could you relieve Gwen and have her come to the bridge?”
River over the com: “Will do.”

A few minutes later, the four were in a meeting with Sir Warrik on the vid link tied in.
Mal outlined the discussion aboard Serenity. Communications would be worked through Gwen.

Mal: “Sir Warrik, I'd like to try getting the two ships into working order. I'd like to try to set up a two ship convoy for you. If I can get some crew who know about convoy experience, They can be working for you regularly. If the crew has the experience, they can tell me if one ship can cover two freighters. I am looking into some arms but nothing firm yet. Since the freighter is several months out, I'll have time to look into several things and try breaking in crew.”
Sir Warrik: “I am impressed. Do you want me to own the ships and hire the crew from you, share ownership of them or own them outright?”
Mal: “I think I'd like to own them outright but I am open to most anything to get the venture under way.”
Sir Warrik asked about the foodstuffs cargo and what it might be worth. Mal quoted a number.
Sir Warrik: “I think we can work out something. May I send a private message to Mark for his instructions?”
Mal: “Yes. I have no problems with Gwen handling any coded instructions between you even after we sail. To answer a possible question, I have a some security to worry about and another job that is very delicate. I say this to assure you that they are not in conflict with anything between you and I.”
Sir Warrik: “Thank you. I will not try to get in the way of your other contract. If I do, it will be by accident and ignorance.”

----

Serenity lifted for the asteroid.

Gwen let Who know about the deals on Persephone and negotiations between Mark and Mal started.
On board Serenity was a smaller crew; Mal, Zoe, Kaylee, River, Inara, Gwen, Simon, Mark; and without the aid station.

----

“He's off the ship now?”
“Yes.”
“Ideas, son?”
“I think they are heading in a positive direction.”
“Yes. So do I.”
“Any idea about who might be behind this?”
“Not really.”

----

Kaylee slowed Serenity down. There was nothing wrong she could find but there was a feeling that was good enough for Mal.
Mal was on the bridge with River as they approached the asteroid, they saw two ships there. They had expected only one. Mal called Gwen to the bridge and she handled communications.
The second ship had a person on board that wanted to meet Mal, River, and Gwen personally. The three got to the unmarked ship and met a woman named Ida No.

Ida: “Gwen, I think you were a student in one of my classes.”
Gwen: “Yes ma'am I was.”
Ida: “Who asked me because you would know me. I will be a secondary contact for you when it is unwise for Who to come here or when he can not get away.”
Gwen: “Yes ma'am. This is Captain Malcolm Reynolds. This is River Tam.”
Ida: “I studied you a bit under Coda. I am sorry I had to do that.”
River: “I am a different person now and that was a long time ago. I am assuming you were clearing the decks?”
Ida: “Yes, I want to try to start with a clean slate and with as few unexpected land mines if you will. Captain Reynolds.”
Mal: “Nice to meet ya. May I ask if you were for independence?”
Ida: “Yes.”
Mal: “I seem to recall the Battle of Du-Khang?”
Ida: “I was there. I do not recall you.”
Mal: “If I recall correctly, you had the bed next to my lieutenant.”
Ida: “Were you a Sargent and you had a Corporal with you?”
Mal: “Yes.”
Ida: “Comrades in arms and on the same side then.”
Mal: “Yes. What can I do for you?”
Ida: “I think you are heading in the right direct if faster than we expected.”
Mal: “I have a contact with Sir Warrik Harrow. He wants me to run some ships for him to two places he has business interests and that may have either Reaver or pirate (armed ships) problems. The frigate is for privately armed escort duty there and the cargo vessel (about 60% larger than Serenity). Beyond saying that any extra space would be available for my use, we are still talking.”
Ida: “Would you be able to take on another cargo ship in convoy?”
Mal: “I do not have experience there. I do not know. Would I be open to it? Yes.”
Ida: “Can you say anything about ownership?”
Mal: “It is too early to know. However, I have left five members of my extended crew to work on the frigate and the cargo ship with Sir Warrik's men. Neither is large enough to house the Aid Station. Gwen and Kaylee have snooped around both closely.”
Ida: “What about crewing them?”
Mal: “Our guess is about 85 for the frigate with weapons crews and a boarding party. The cargo ship will need about 20 or so. For the frigate, ex military used to a little more military discipline would be good. They would be a fighting arm. The cargo ship would need a crew skeleton crew like Zoe, Val, and I who understands military. The rest just need to be good mechanics or cargo haulers. I'd like to train them on Serenity to get the feel of my operation style and then let them and the captain of the ship they are on sort out the rest.”
Ida: “You want a common basis but not control of the other ships. My uneducated opinion is that 85 for the frigate is high but I was a ground pounder like you. I suspect you want those smart enough to know when to follow order but to be able to take initiative if needed.”
Mal: “We do see eye to eye.”
Ida: “What about the Aid Station?”
River: “We are considering a ship that has good ER and a large enough sickbay to handle things like the MacArthur's survivors. We are also thinking of placing Inara as an ambulance/shuttle driver for the Aid Station. We are also working on modular modification to the Aid Station for easy loading and unloading.”
Ida: “I see. Let me check some data here.”
After a few minutes, Ida spoke again: “I've made a note about the changes you are making to the Aid Station. I will discuss with Who about the crewmen you might need. We might be able to help track some down.
“What I came out here for is an external pack to tie onto Serenity, it has weapons for the Frigate. We were not sure where the deal was but I came with them just in case. We can also help out moving the foodstuffs.
“I have a few other items of lower priority. I can discuss them with Gwen and she can tell you when there is time. Good Enough?”
Mal: “River?” She nodded. “Good enough and thanks.”
Ida: “Do you know Earth-that-was History?”
Mal: “Some.”
Ida: “There was something called the Rangers in the nation or state of Taxees I think.”
Mal: “I think that might be a good thing.”

----

Ida walked into the common room as Kaylee was saying, “... ain't sure it will last back to Persephone. No sabatoge, it's just failing like they normally do, quickly.”
Mal: “And it's the grovanum?”
Kaylee: “Yes.”
Ida: “Excuse me. With two ships here we might have a spare one to loan you. Check with Chief Landou please Kaylee. Go on across. The LT at the door will be able to help you out.”
Kaylee: “Thanks.”
Mal: “Thanks. What's up?”
Ida: “The external pack. I guess we should wait with that until your problems are solved.”
Mal: “With Serenity is up to snuff, I'd not have a problem with the pack. We had a ground mount gun tied to the hull during the Reaver War.”
Ida: “I'd forgotten about that. That must have been hairy.”
Mal: “Yes, but not as hairy as the Reavers. We got the foodstuffs almost done. Another hour and a half or so. We'll take it slow going back.”
Ida: “I have a wave from Who. It appears you might have a few surprises there when you get back. If you have the time, I'd like to go with you and Gwen to look over the farm equipment.”
Mal: “I'd like to take River also if I may.”

----

River climbed up on top of the one cultivator and onto the roof of the cab.
“Mal, could you look here? Bring a magnifyer please.”

“Good work River. Gwen, can you come up here?”
Gwen looked: “That might be a data dot under the paint.”
“Ida, I'm coming down so you can see. I expect you'll need a good forensics team on it.”

----

Serenity departed for Persephone as Ida and crew worked on loading the machine onto one of there ship's for transport to a forensics lab.

The bad part in Serenity had been replaced by one from the other ships and the external pack was attached. The correct part number was not available but a larger one in spares had been available and Kaylee got it working with Chief Landou's help. The Chief's praise for Kaylee surprised everyone. Gwen most of all.

An agreement in principle between Mark and Mal for Sir Warrik's review was complete. Sir Warrik had made room in a yard for Serenity to land and the external pack to be off-loaded.

----

After landing in Sir Warrik's yard on Persephone, Mal came down from Serenity to find Sir Warrik there to meet him.

Sir Warrik: “Shall we get the paperwork out of the way first?”
Mal saw the five left behind. He greeted them and then followed Sir Warrik with River, Gwen, Mark and Simon following.
Zoe was in charge of getting items ready for movement and bring the various members of the crew up to date.

Sir Warrik: “If I may, I have a few new bits of information for you.”
Mal: “Of course.”
Sir Warrik: “Thank you. It did not seem needed to use our communications channel for this information and it seemed that the less used the channel is, the better off we are.”
Mal nodded.
“According to Mark, the foodstuffs are of high quality. Do you have a need and do you have a buyer?”
Mal: “No sir. Not at this time.”
Sir Warrik: “Would you consider a trade of the foodstuffs or part of them for a buy-in for the ships you want?”
Mal: “I would be interested. I was considering keeping a little for those in need when we find them.”
Sir Warrik: “Good point. How about you keep say five percent of the food stuffs. The rest would buy you a 30% share of the frigate?”
River: “We have the weapons in the external pack to outfit her.”
Sir Warrik: “That is a major contribution. Mark, do you know whats in the pack?”
Mark: “Generally sir. Would you like me to check out some prices?”
Mal: “If mark needs help on what is in there, Val or Zoe can help out and he can look up the pricing himself.”
Sir Warrik: “Mark, would you do that?”
“Yes sir.” Mark departed.
Sir Warrik: “Gwen, I received a transfer for you of a considerable amount. Is this the time to discuss it?”
Gwen: “Yes sir it is.”
Sir Warrik slide a tab over.
Gwen put it in the reader. She showed Mal the reader.
Mal: “Huh.”
Sir Warrik: “I have had a sales flier for a destroyer happen across my desk. I do not know where it came from. It is a good deal for a scrap piece.”
Mal: “What condition if I might ask?”
Sir Warrik: “Apparently just decommissioned. The biggest oddity is the item is still armed.”
Mal: “What? Gwen?”
Gwen: “That would be his MO.”
Mal: “Sir Warrik, what does the paperwork say?”
Sir Warrik: “It has been disarmed.”
Mal: “Is it operational?”
Sir Warrik: “Yes. Just add crew and consumables. I also received a list, apparently by accident, of veterans. Both Alliance and Independence.”
Gwen: “Any separation dates?”
Sir Warrik: “Yes. I'd guess about fifteen percent in the last two months.”
Mal: “What? Gwen?”
Gwen looked as startled: “Taxees maybe? How many names if I may ask?”
Sir Warrik: “I did not count but I'd say about 120. There were about 20 or so other types that are all medically trained – doctor, nurse, paradoc, surgeon.”
Simon looked stunned now.
River: “Simon close your mouth. Flies are going in.”
Laughter by all to some extent as River had wanted.
Sir Warrik: “May I ask about Texas?”
Mal: “That's what they were trying to remember. Texas Rangers. You know them Sir Warrik?”
Sir Warrik: “Yes. They were a maltia back on Earth-that-was that tried to keep the law in the lawless frontier. I'm not sure I know much more.”
Mal: “Gwen stop me if I go too far. Sir Warrik, I can not break other confidences but the obscure reference to the Rangers might mean I should try setting up a, um, um, non-Alliance maybe force to help out trying to protect those out here. Gwen?”
Gwen: “I think you are right and I think that might be about as far as we can say at the moment. Personally, I wish we could.”
River: “Sir Warrik, is there anything else odd you have for us?”
Sir Warrik blinks: “Come to think of it, yes. I have a delivery in one of our warehouses that is addressed to Taxees Rager and says 'will call'. I've been confused about it.”
Mark walked in and gave Sir Warrik a tab.
Sir Warrik, gave the tab to Mal.
The value of the weapons plus the value of the foodstuffs and the credit tab Mal had were a little more than the cost to make the frigate operational and the price of the destroyer.
Mal: “Someone wants this bad. I'll need some cash for supplies and new crew. Without even considering what the Taxees Rager 'will call' is, what about 50-50. I own Serenity and you own the cargo hauler but they are both in the pot. I can start hauling using Serenity and escort service using the destroyer. When your freighter and the frigate is ready, we'll have a four ship fleet. We can then be offering convoy services.”
Sir Warrik: “Yes. I insist that you have title to the ships for our protection. If my name shows up connected to you, we both might get in big trouble.”
Mal: “You do not know the tenth of it. Would you like a person or two of yours on the Ranger ships?”
Sir Warrik: “Let me think on that. This has happened so fast.”
Mal: “Do we have an agreement in principle?”
Sir Warrik: “Yes.”
Mal: “For me, River, Gwen and Simon know the different area of the ship best. I empower them to negotiate details. I'll want to look into what we have in hardware and start looking into crew.”
Simon: “The larger freighter needs work anyway. Maybe consider a little remodeling for a better sickbay?”
Sir Warrik: “Yes. That would be doable. Work with Mark on any needs. He and one or two others will be negotiating on my side.”

----

Mal, Zoe, Gwen, and River went to visit Badger.
Badger: “Malcolm Reynolds. Have a seat. What brings you to this side of town?”
Mal: “Just to be sure, these are some of my current crew – Zoe, Gwen and River.”
Badger: “Ladies.”
Mal: “Of course you know Serenity. I wanted to talk to you about two items. First, I have come upon a decommisioned ex-Alliance vessel. I have ownership and she it armed. Would you know of anyone who might want the security of a privately owned and operated convoy? Sir Harrow wants me to move some cargo for him to Fuzhou and Newzona. They are high risk areas. I believe I can protect two unarmed ships, Serenity and one other.”
Badger: “I knew you was up 'a somethin'. You wantin' to pay off the armed ship say?”
Mal: “I also need to hire crew for the armed ship. Prefer ex-military.”
Badger: “Fo' give me fo' askin' ya goin' lagit?”
Mal: “Yes and no. If the work for Harrow goes good, I have options on two other ships in scrap yards. Serenity will still be run as it always has. One ship is an old decommisioned destroyer. One ship is an old frigate. I have arms to rearm them both. The third is a worn out freighter about 60% larger than Serenity.
“To answer your question, I ran into a derelict and got the cargo. It was holed by an asteroid or space debris. Once I get the convoy escorts working, I'll be running Serenity as I always have.”
Badger: “How about a deal on each freighter I send you'a way? Say a small finder's fee?”
Mal: “Since I do not have a working ship yet or a crew for it, I'd say most anything is possible, just some more than others.”
Badger: “How about a deal on any crewmen I find and you hire?”
Mal: “I'm tight for cash but that would work. Maybe some sort of trade in kind?”
Badger: “You do interest me, Captain Reynolds. What about the Aid Station?”
Gwen: “Mister Badger, I am the administrative assistant for the Aid Station. We are rebuilding the works so we can load and unload modules quickly. Serenity would then be free for cargo work while we remain on planet for a while.”
Mal: “Gwen here is handling the Aid Station. When the Aid Station and Serenity are together as now, she is also looking over refitting the ships as she can with help from Zoe. You may discuss any convoy crewing with either of them. For the Aid Station, you can contact either Gwen or River.”
Badger: “What does River do for the Aid Station?”
Mal: “She is Doctor Tam's sister. She does not have formal training but she has filled in with some nursing duties.”
Badger: “Have you thought about resupply for ammunition?”
Mal: “Not much yet. And I might need a parts source. Our last run we lost the grovanum. The wreck had one but a larger size. My whiz mechanic was able to make it work. As far as ammo, Sir Warrik will end up staging some for us on planets he has facilities. I doubt that that will cover all the places we go.”
Badger: “Let me see what I can turn up.”
Mal: “Let me know.”
Gwen: “Mister Badger, what about a small medical ship for the Aid Station?”
Mal raised his voice: “Goram it. I tol' you not to brung that up.”
River nodded to Mal and dashed to Gwen: “Come on. Let's get out of here.”
Zoe turned and looked at Mal and left.
Mal followed looking confused.

Outside, River said to them that they had played it well. Badger caught the “slip” and believed it.

----

The crew of Serenity (Mal, Zoe, Kaylee, River, Inara, Valkyrie, Jayne, Gwen, Simon) met with Sir Warrik for the contract signing. After some serious discussion and the feeling that separation of Sir Warrik and Who was required; Jay, Humperdink, Enswal, and Goldarn were left on Serenity.
The names for the three new ships were entered – Wash Hoban for the frigate, Shepard Book for the freighter, and Tex Ranger for the destroyer. Sir Warrik was told a short history of the two fallen heroes from Serenity from the Reaver War.

Sir Warrik had Mark give a short synopsis on the fleet.
“Wash Hoban is about a week from trials. After passing them, we can mount the guns – about another four weeks. Say two months before we can field her.
“Shepard Book looks to be about five months. When we started opening her up we found more problems. Not unsolvable and nothing bad, just more.
“As for Tex Ranger, we sent someone to see her. She is very close to turn key. She is about a six week voyage from here.”
Sir Warrik: “Thank you Mark. Questions?”
Mal: “Kaylee, have you been over to Wash Hoban and Shepard Book recently?”
Kaylee: “Not since last week.”
Mal: “Have a look will ya? I think we will need to have some jobs to keep cover. I may juggle crew though. Zoe. You or Gwen or Val maybe?”
Zoe: “Me.”
Mal: “Simon. You or Gwen?”
Simon: “Me. Gwen is not good enough for medical interviews. In fact, there's no one but me for interviews at the moment. I will correct that.”
Mal: “Shiny.”
Mal turned to Sir Warrik: “Zoe will stay here for interviewing possible new crewmen. Simon will do the same for the Aid Station. I dropped hints with Badger that you want me to run convoy escorts for your shipping. So there is plausibility if I go by the shipyard occasionally.”
Sir Warrik: “Yes. Truth, just not all. Mark knows my shipping needs he. He or one of his will stay in contact about my shipping needs.
“Is there anything else?”
Mal: “No sir.”
Sir Warrik motioned to Mark and a servant placed glasses on the table and filled them with wine.
Sir Warrik raised his: “To a successful venture.”
The toast was repeated.

----

Serenity was on her way to a possible wreck site for Badger. The nine members of the crew were happy to be on the move again.

Arrival at the wreck site confirmed a derelict ship that had been badly damaged. There were three major section and lots of debris.
Mal, Zoe and Jayne suited up to look for the cargo. River and Val were suited up just in case help was needed.
They entered the section through its end where another section of hull should have been. They swam along the corridor.
Jayne: “Mal, I might have something.”
Mal: “On my way.”
He found Jayne at a panel that looked like it might have been a vault.
Mal: “Good Work.”
Mal cleaned the surface. With no gravity and no power, they would need to blow the panel. He passed the brush to Zoe, There had been something like a dust on the surface clinging. Probably electrostatic.
Mal: “Jayne.”
Jayne passed over the gun like applicator with the explosive gel. Mal circled the panel about at the screws with the gel. He swapped the applicator for a small detonator.
Mal: “Clear.”
The gel did its work partially dissolving and partially exploding the panel so that the air pressure behind the panel broke the rest of the was through the panel and pushed it out.
They unloaded about 30 silver bars. Nothing else was in the safe.

They continued the search for the steel ingots. Nothing else was found during the search of the rest of the first section. They returned to Serenity for eats and rest. Simon checked them all out. He recommended that Zoe rest some more.
The excursion to the second of the three wreck sections included Mal, River, and Jayne.
They found part of a part of a cargo hold. The steel was there – some 70-odd ingots. With so many to move, a line was run from the derelict to Serenity. A catch web was set up at Serenity.
The steel ingots they found were about 7 inches x 8 inches x 48 inches and weighed in at about 726 pounds each (a third of a ton) – however that much mass was not easily started or stopped.
The wreck crew would take the ingot to the line (steel cable) and attach it by way of three straps that went around the ingot. The straps has to attachment points for the slide attached to the line. Two pulley/guides were used (one at the derelict and one on Serenity).
Any tension on the line could pull Serenity and the derelict together. So the pulley/guides had minimal tension. Small jato-tube-like-jets (the name was a hold over from a device that was attached to propeller driven airplanes on Earth-that-was and was a one time use jet or rocket – Jet Assisted Take Off) were used then needed to increase the line tension and slightly push Serenity and the derelict apart. The endless cable around the pulleys were attached to the ingot to be sent to Serenity one person on each end carefully moving the ingot (using the endless cable) letting the guide line keep the ingot moving in the correct direction. On the endless loop, the straps were snapped for the return to the derelict while the next ingot was going to Serenity.
The endpoints of the guide line were about 1200 feet (maybe a quarter mile) apart.
Mal and Jayne moved the ingots from the breached cargo hold floor to the guide line. River was on the derelict end of the guideline operation. Kaylee was River's counterpart on Serenity.
Inara was on Serenity's bridge.
Zoe and Val moved the ingots into Serenity. Gwen and Simon were standing by in case of problems.
It took a long time to move 25 tons of steel ingots. It took three sessions in space to complete the transfer. When they had knocked down the pulley arrangement and had it stowed, Serenity started the return trip to Persephone. Rest was the order of the day.
The ingots did not take up much of the cargo hold but they were quite massive.

When Mal passed through the next morning on his rounds, he saw two ingots a little off to the side. He had been too tired the day before to notice.
The ingots were a little different in color and size but not too much. The slight difference was easily overlooked.
Squatting down, he started examining the two oddities. The texture “feel” of the surface was also different from the other ingots. They felt sturdy. “Sir?”
He looked up at Zoe and pointed at the odd ingots.
Mal: “Give me a hand turning this over.”
With the ingot upside down, Jayne: “What's wrong?”
Mal: “Don't no yet if anything is. This one is lighter.”
Val: “I set these two to the side since the were lighter. I now see a slight difference in color and size I think.”
Mal: “That's what caught my eye first.”
Inara did what would have been called “the approved stewardess squat” on Earth-that-was: “What is this?” Her finger pointed to something on one of the ingots.
Kaylee: “Here's a magnifier.”
Mal: “Thanks.” He wiggled around and was lying on the floor looking. “Do you have a small screwdriver or box cutter, Kaylee?”
With the box cutter, Mal found an edge of some sort. “Gwen, you are a lot younger than me. Can you see if this opens or hides something?”
Mal groaned getting up.
Moments later, a pouch that was hidden in the spray covering was opened and the document come out. It was addressed to '”Taxees Rager 'will call'.”
Mal passed it over to Gwen.
Mal: “That is one heck of a way to cover something and have it destroyed if it gets into the wrong hands. Looks almost like a real ingot. Both would have been dropped into furnace to melt them if we did not get them. I am impressed.”
Gwen: “It's from Ida No.”
Jayne: “Who?”
Gwen: “Ida No. Works for Who.”
Jayne: “What?”
Gwen: “No. Who. Ida No works for Who.”
Jayne: “Huh?”
Everyone there started laughing.
Zoe: “As Wash would say – where did you go to school?”
Val: “The fellow for the alliance that Gwen works for is Who. Drive Who Orange.
“Gwen works for him. Our case for him has gotten so big, he assigned Ida No as a go between to handle this case. I love you and would not have anyone else at my back but you are so dummmmmb at times.”
Jayne dropped his head and tilted it: “Sorry.”
Mal: “Well let's open these two up and see what's in them.”
Zoe: “Yes sir.”
Mal: “Gwen, let's get the packing slips and anything else in the pockets together and go over them.
After looking things over, they found a small bag of gold in the faux steel ingots “for expenses”, several contacts, and a list of five people “to hire” for the Tex Ranger . There was a list of possible hires (prescreened by Ida) and a list of some potential medical equipment for Simon.
A few question about the rearming of the Wash Hoban were asked. A comment about carrying passengers aboard Serenity was made – scheduling and so forth due to the oversized crew.
Gwen and Mal adjourned to the security of the bridge. Data from the tab showed nothing new concerning the Reaver/Assassin case. The urgency from Who for the armed vessels was not immediate but getting the Texas Ranger going was a medium level priority to be handled by them as needed.
One final item was kudos for the relationships that were building and the cover that was building for Sir Warrik Harrow and Badger. Two contacts were given for areas Serenity in areas not frequented by Serenity 'just in case'.”

----

Mal, Zoe, Jayne and River went to visit Badger.
Badger: “Malcolm Reynolds. You got the goods?”
Mal: “I got the goods. I brought part of the silver with me. There are 74 ingots of steel. Each about 725 pounds.”
Badger: “The deal is you get 25% of the value. If you will agree to let me have the silver right now and take the steel to the mill for me, I'll offer you another 10% of the steel value.”
Mal: “How about 15%?”
Badger: “12%?”
Mal: “12% and two crewmen I hire?”
Badger: “Deal.”
Mal: “Deal. Do you want men to come with me now or a later pick up? I ask because I need to see to the one escort warship today and delivery of the steel. Scheduling for any pickup today might be difficult.”
Badger: “How about 7 in the PM for pick up?”
“Zoe?”
“I think that would work well sir.”

----

During the next three weeks, two legal jobs came up. The new war ships had captains hired. Both had rode along on Serenity's jobs to get the feel of Mal's style.
A list of requests for the Aid Station was now five planets long. The planets understood that the Aid Station schedule would be flexible based on trading patterns since it depended on Serenity for movement. They were assured that they would be visited, just not exactly when. When a schedule was firmed up, they would be informed.
Simon had a doctor, a nurse and two corpsmen hired. One machine (an MRI looking one) was donated to the Aid Station with the condition that the manufacturer have a free ad in the fliers. A used scanner (sort of an advanced x-ray machine) was purchased at cost. On the other side, medicines were being donated – just unevenly with what Simon wanted to stock.
The Aid Station had been converted to modular design now. Loading and unloading would be much quicker and easier.
Eight guards had been hired for the Aid Station. Two per shift plus two spare. Four to six were wanted. Some of the Aid Station could be used for bunking. It just took about half the hold now. Environmental and consumables were strained with hot bunking.
None of the new ships were fully crewed. Thirty were intended for Tex Ranger and fifteen Wash Hoban. Shepard Book had just a captain and one other.
The Wash Hoban needed a shakedown cruise. Combining the crews of Tex Ranger and Wash Hoban would give 45 crewmen. Since Mal was thinking of putting Val on the Wash eventually for the leader of the boarding party, he decided that she would go with the crew. He planned on going along letting Zoe run Serenity.
The Wash needed 30 sailors and 25 weapons crew. He had 34 sailors and 19 weapons crew. After discussions with the new Captains “Smitty” Li and Captain Wan Patel, it was concluded that the Available crew for the shakedown crew was not combat ready but it was sufficient for check, testing and repairing the guns for a shakedown.

Both Paradiso and Jiangyin wanted visits. Since Serenity had been there before and they knew what to expect, it was decided for the shakedown cruise would try for both – Paradiso first with it's larger population.
Also, the Wash was small enough to land. Paradiso was informed about the return and that they would land two ships nearby. Details were worked out. Sheriff Bourne asked about allowing others from nearby areas to come by. Gwen handled the appointments for the Aid Station. The plan was to stay for five days. It quickly became clear that they could have had appointments for at least two weeks.
Waves ran fast and furious between Paradiso, Serenity and Wash. Sheriff Bourne understood about the shakedown cruise. They would spend at least one week at Paradiso. Depending on needs found on Wash, the stay might need to be extended. The Aid Station would be open for as long as one ship remained on the ground. If one or both lifted for a few hours of testing, notification would be given about what was going on.

----

As Serenity and Wash hovered at about 250 feet, Sheriff Bourne shook his head. An amazing site. One he never expected to see in his lifetime. People traveled by train from Hancock and several other places to watch the arrival.

The Wash Hoban had the sleek lines of her frigate class (if a pipe on its side could be called sleek). She was a runner designed for protecting larger ships, running messages, and fast quick and non-sustained battles. The Yong Ho class was a little bigger than Serenity, about 60 feet in diameter but was 480 feet long (Serenity was about 200 feet.). From the prow, she had a notched out bridge on the top and the swept back bottom (like a wet navy boat) that carried most of the bow wave when reentering atmosphere. The rear of the ship had twin engines above one another for forward propulsion.
About a tenth of the way from bow to stern, the bridge ended and the first set of retractable landing legs were located (three pairs total). Just aft of the landing legs, she had eight laser-like short range AA (anti-spacecraft but the AA cam from Earth's-that-was old wet navy and atmospheric only flight name of anti-aircraft) pointing in four directions.
The main missile armament had missile clusters of two tubes roughly amidships on each of the four sides of the ship (up, down, left, right) two directions could be fired at a time easily, three with difficulty. There was missile stowage for 20 missiles. Unlike Serenity, she was more or less radially symmetrical along the long axis.
While other warships did not expect to enter atmosphere, the Wash had VTOL nacelles like Serenity. There were four engines about the size of Serenity's that had about 30% more power to the older models used on Serenity. The front pair were set low on the Wash about a third of the way back from the bow. The rear pair were about a third of the way from the stern to the bow mounted high. The staggered arrangement helped to prevent thrust from the front engines from hitting the rear ones in atmosphere. She could land planet side on three engines and if two working engines were diagonally opposite each other, landings could be made with extreme care.
At the front of the Wash Hoban was a landing bay with two pinnaces. Just forward of the aft VTOL nacelle were two shuttle bays the same as on Serenity. Trips between the two ships in space were accomplished by shuttle. If the shuttle came from Serenity. It could squeeze into the pinnace bay. If the shuttle came from the Wash one of Serenity's would take off and wait in space or in the Wash's pinnace bay.

A shuttle separated from Wash and landed. Mal, Simon and two others Sheriff Bourne did not recognize got off the shuttle.
Mal, Simon and Sheriff Bourne shook hand: “Sheriff Bourne, let me introduce you to the second doctor to work for Simon - Doctor Torval. Doctor Torval, this is Sheriff Bourne.
“This here's Captain Li. He commands this here frigate – the Wash Hoban. Captain Smitty, Sheriff Bourne.”
Captain Li: “Sheriff, the people here are too close to the landing site. Serenity and Wash needs a clear landing area of about 1500 feet long by 1200 feet wide minimum for safety of the people on the ground. Could you get them to move back a bit?”
Sheriff Bourne: “Give me a few minutes. Everyone wanted to see your ship and Captain Reynolds', also, land.”
Captain Li smiled: “Thank you. I'll have them raise up and wait until you are have a landing area ready. Less chance of flying debris, you know.
“Captain Reynolds.”
With that Captain Li returned to the shuttle and his ship.

Once orders had been given and the crowd started to move around for the specified landing area, Sheriff Bourne: “May ask about what's going on?”
Mal: “Well, I found a few opportunites and had the means to try one out.”
Sheriff Bourne: “This is not Alliance controlled?”
Mal: “No. They are still focused elsewhere.”
Sheriff Bourne: “If you can, tell me and I will help all I can.”
The noise of the landing space craft became loud enough to suspend all discussions.

Serenity landed first in her slightly awkward insect like way. Then the Wash Hoban landed much more gracefully with the four VTOL nacelles she had.
The loading ramp lowered and Serenity's crew walked out. At the same time, the Wash Hoban lowered her personnel ladders and about 15 armed men and women disembarked with weapons. They started to secure the area around the two ships.

Sheriff Bourne: “May I ask a few questions?”
Mal: “I might not be able to answer all of them or fully, but yes.”
Sheriff Bourne: “The Wash Hoban says Texas Rangers and the crew though in various clothing, have patches saying the same. What is that?”
Mal: “Simple question with a complex answer. Short version for now. My convoy escorts are the Texas Rangers. It is a reference to something that was on Earth-that-was.
“Experience has showed us that we need to provide a bit better security when possible.”
Zoe had walked up: “Zoe, lets get the Aid Station unloaded here and we can give tours of the facility. Then Sheriff Bourne will know about the new needs better.”
Zoe: “Operational or just in the open?”
Mal: “In the open.”

It took about 45 minutes to unload the modules (five).

Simon gave the sheriff and a few others a tour of the modules.
Sheriff Bourne: “This is amazing. Two doctors now and more support. I notice that there does not seem to be a waiting area.”
Simon: “I do not know where to set these modules up, but the storefront from last time would be great to use also.”
Sheriff Bourne: “I see. The building across the alley from your site was destroyed in a fire. The owner died. We cleared out the lot but no one has built on it yet. We could place the modules there.”
Mal: “That sounds like a great idea. Could we put a corral and open parking area there for the use of the patrons and a private one for the Aid Station?”
Sheriff Bourne: “Don't see why not.”
Simon: “Sheriff, we could use the old building for the reception, waiting area, triage and Aid station members quarters. I would need to secure the alley and maybe cover it over for the patients and workers.”
Sheriff Bourne: “I do not think that would be a problem. We could build a boardwalk between the two in case of rain. The modules seem to be a might sparse on roofing.
Simon: “We probably will not be here long enough for a wood roof of some sort.”
Sheriff Bourne: “We could see about starting something if you are planning to come back.”
Mal: “We do plan on being back, just not too soon. We have a waiting list of six planets right now.”
Sheriff Bourne: “What about security?”
Mal: “While the Wash Hoban is on planet, we can cover it. I'd say get together with Smitty to coordinate security so there will be no lapse of coverage while we are off planet.”
Sheriff Bourne: “Good 'nuf'.

----

Setting up the Aid Station went quickly. Having done it before and have the modules allowed a more rapid deployment of the Aid Station.
Sheriff Bourne and the citizens of Paradiso were extremely supportive. Although not needed, the town provided cooks and some helpers for house cleaning chores.

Two nights after landing, one of the Aid Station women were accosted in the street. The Rangers were nearby. In the morning, two men stripped to their small clothes were found gagged and handcuffed around a power pole with a sign detailing the crime and the Texas Rangers had stopped it. It was recommended that they were to be left handcuffed for the Sheriff.
Sheriff Bourne left them there until sundown. He uncuffed them and sent them home. Their possessions were missing. The next day a mysterious package showed up at the jail for the sheriff containing the men's belongings.

Mal dropped by the jail and told him he wanted word of the Rangers to get out and that it would not superseded the current legal system. Sheriff Bourne said he understood but could not allow vigilantism. Mal mentioned that he had heard of no vigilantes and that he hoped they would not return.
As an oblique question, Mal asked if the evidence was enough. Sheriff Bourne mentioned some evidence that had not been made public.

----

Two people showed up at the Aid Station looking for work. Simon talked to them – she was named White Dove and he was Running Bear. He had no work, she was pregnant and they wanted to get off planet. Simon (with Mal's agreement) hired them for room and board for the moment.
Running Bear later took Mal aside. He told Mal that there was a cashe of valuables he had not stolen but were found in a dilapidated ship wreck. Mal took a look and it looked like the ship had been there a long time. With the desert environment not deteriorating things too quickly, Mal suspected it had crashed with all three badly injured or dead.
Mal agreed to relocate the two of them for 10% of the sale value of the goods.

----

Having been on planet two nights and one and a half days, Serenity and Wash took off for arms testing. Being arms testing and not arms training, Mal took Serenity off to the side and controlled operating a remote controlled drone from the bridge. Wash's crew first went to a stationary spot relative to Serenity test fired each weapon in turn. When weapons tracking was needed, Mal moved one of the drones out to the field of fire and went through some simple movement patterns. At the end of the first three hours, a meal and rest break was taken.
Tweeks to the Wash's software and hardware that could be made and the second test firing occurred for two hours.
Return to the planet was made. With several items needing fixing that were easier on the planet, The plan was to take the next day for ground duty.
As they returned to the landing area, two buckboards, a wagon, a truck and many stakes with rope marked off the landing site. It seemed to be larger than when they took off. There was a small hastily erected building off to one side and a hastily painted sign claiming Paradiso Texas Ranger Base 1. There seemed to be the beginnings of a corral nearby.
Mal and all the crew were touched. It was made hastily but it was well meant.

----

Discussions with the base personnel (both of them) and the ships two crews got the plans out that the next day would be ground side.

In town, Simon reported no incident against the Aid Station personnel. He said Inara had save one man's life using a shuttle that had been left behind for the purpose.
Inara came out and Mal saw she was attractive as usual but she had a hat (Back on Earth-that-was would have been called a Stetson) that had been adorned with multicolored ribbons and costume beads and shinny reflectors and a prairie rose. The hat clashed a bit with the rest of her outfit. She explained that the person she had saved family had made the hat and presented it to her. Mal laughed but said “You are going to be wearing it and keeping it right?”
Inara: “Yes. I will keep it for when we are here visiting.”
Mal: “Just a minute.” He took off his gun belt and put it on Inara. “There. The well dressed frontier lady.”
Other from the crew were laughing. She saw herself in a mirror and laughed also. “Mind if I keep the gun while I am here?”
The sheriff walked up as Inara cam out of the Aid Station. He looked a mule that someone had hit with a board across the nose.
Inara: “The Fishers gave this to me for saving Red. I think it is charming and I do not care it it clashes with my blouse and skirt, I'm wearing it. I'll treasure it.”
Sheriff Bourne looked and then realized she had said it in the hearing of several towns people: “Ma'am, with the gun, don't let anyone tell ya diffr'nt. And may I say I think the pink blouse and white skirt go well with the hat and gun.
“Although maybe a little blue ribbon on the skirt might help.”
“Excuse me,” a tall fellow squeezed to the front. “I'm from the Gazette here in town. Could I get your pic?”
Sheriff Bourne: “Wait you need a coat.”
Mal: “Simon, I need your coat.” Mal took off his brown one and handed it to Simon. He put on Simon's black on over his own brown shirt and suspenders.
Kaylee: “Mal, need a hat and a rifle.”
Sheriff Bourne offered his rifle and someone else offered a bowler style hat.
Pics were taken and by evening they were on the front page of the local newspaper and e-paper.

----

There was a small shindig that evening in Paradiso. When the eating was done, Mal and Inara were asked to start the first dance which was more a square dance than anything else. Mal did not have the rifle or hat but he still use Simon's coat.
Once around the floor and other's joined in.

----

The planet side repair day was approaching high noon when Sheriff Bourne found Mal.
Sheriff Bourne: “Mal, I gots a call. Apparently the Rocking Li is being attacked. Can you hold the city while I ride out?”
Mal: “How far is it?”
Sheriff Bourne: “About 75 miles.”
Mal: “If you got spare mounts for me and mine, we can take Serenity with some of your men and get this settled.
“Remember the Texas Rangers upheld the law and were a local militia.”
Sheriff Bourne: “How many ya need?”
Mal: “Five or six.”

Mal contacted Smitty. Explained the situation. “Secure the Wash, Base 1 and then the Aid Station. Coordinate with the local deputies for town security. Kaylee will be your contact for me.”

----

They landed in a steep walled canyon about five miles away from the Rocking Li.
The general layout of the main house consisted of eight buildings, a well house and wind mill, water cistern for the windmill, and a corral. The area for the main house was between a Mesa (east southeast of the main house), a hill to the northeast, another hill that extended from almost due north to west northwest and an escarpment or palisade from just south of due west to southeast of the center of the small valley. The area was about a mile east to west and about a third of a mile north to south.
Into the small little valley from the was a niche between the mesa on the south and the hillside on the north. The niche was the was for an arroyo to exit the valley. This arroyo curled around the base of the base of the mesa and ended in the saddle between the mesa and the escarpment on the south side of the valley. A trail or dirt road shared the east niche.
Entering the valley from the east, the trail meandered but was relatively straight until it was past the center of the valley. Entering from the east and still in the mouth of the niche on the right of the trail was a wood and metal building that would have served the ranch as a blacksmith's shop in pre-industrial age societies. It was a one story building with much equipment to maintain the ranch's mechanical machines.
Next to it and about 30-odd feet away was a larger garage/barn like structure. It was also a one story affair. It was used to store machines, be it hover craft, rubber tire vehicles, or any other machinery (usually mobile) for the ranch.
Across the trail was the horse barn with a small blacksmith shop for shoeing the animals and repairing the tack. Some milk cows were kept there also. Next to the horse barn- about 40 feet away was a corral. From the middle of the corral following back behind the horse barn to the arroyo was a low dip in the ground.
Across from the corral and next to the garage barn was the bunk house for the workers. It was a two story affair and made of stone. It was about half the length of the corral.
Behind it was the cook house for all the workers. In the triangle between the garage barn, the bunk house, and the cook house was the “drainage arroyo” even though it was damp and did not have flowing water either. The drainage arroyo when north between the two hills on the northern side f the valley. Nearby the cook house were all the support structures that were needed for cooking such as a smoke house and a chicken coop.
About 100 feet from the bunk house, on the north side of the trail was the main house. It was a stone two story building with a long front porch that was about even with the end of corral across the trail. Two wood extensions had been made when the from either side going back towards the hill on the northwestern side.
When first started , the ranch was accessible by the eastern end only. The trail ended past the big house at a storehouse. Uphill from the storehouse was a cistern, a windmill, and a well house for the complex.
When the trail was extended westward, it had to jog southwesterly to squeeze between the corral and the storehouse. This was a ridge line across the valley between the escarpment on the south and the hillside to the northwest.
Some 200 feet after the storehouse an explosives storage building made of stone stood. It was at the beginning of a low spot that drained to the west.
The whole area had a scattering of pinion pines but was mostly a mix of desert scrub and some grasses.

This was the view Mal had from the mesa. He had Zoe, River, Valkyrie, Jayne, and Simon (Simon had run up at the last moment and said there might be need of his services). Sheriff Bourne had 17 men in his possie besides himself. Mal had another 16 from the Wash. The six from Serenity brought the total to 40.
The attacker count was difficult. Since they seemed to be getting into the main complex of buildings.
There was smoke coming from the blacksmith's shop. It seemed to be trading shots with the garage barn.
About that time, an explosion in the distance occurred. It seemed the cistern had a hole in it now. Maybe the explosives had com from the explosives storage building. Arms fire from the northwestern hill side were being traded with the main house.

A hurried consultation and Jayne and Val with two deputies from the posse headed across the saddle from the mesa to the top of the escarpment. Ten of the Wash's men went across to the hill behind the blacksmith shop. Sheriff Bourne took the rest of his men to the hillside with the well and wind mill. Mal left Simon and one man behind on the mesa with instructions to go where needed but to try very hard not to be in the front lines.
There was another explosion. No one could see where from but smoke up the hill behind the main house suggested something had gone off before it was ready. Mal's group moved down the mesa to the saddle and then down the saddle and through the arroyo towards the horse barn. When Mal thought they got close enough, they dismounted and tied off their horses. Simon had followed them down and was setting up a line tied to a tree and a bush. Simon and his man were taking the horses and tying them to the line or tree.
Mal nodded at Simon. Mal hopped that Sheriff Bourne had time to circle round. Action was needed now.
Mal: “Jayne. Are you in position to see the explosives shed?”
Val: “Not quite yet.”
Mal: “Do you think you can set off the explosives shed with one of the rifles?”
Val: “No, it's made of stone.”
Mal: “Goramit. Thanks. It was a thought. Can you see us behind the horse barn?”
Val: “Yes. Move to your left about 20 feet and then go straight in. We'll cover you. I think it is hot though.
“Suggestion. From here it looks like some of the enemy is using the Corral as cover. They’re hitting the bunk house and main house.”
Mal: “Can you hit them?”
Jayne: “I'm in position. I think I see five maybe six. Can't get them all.”
Mal: “Zoe, River with me. Max, take the rest and hit the horse barn. Jayne cover me. Val, the rest of you cover Max.”
“Got it.”
Mal got to the corral fence: “Now.”
They started firing at the enemy in the corral. Five went down in a matter of moments. The horses that had been milling around near the palisade end of the corral ran and broke down the front gate. They went stampeding through the buildings and down the drainage arroyo. In a quick decision, he took Zoe and River towards the explosives shed.
Max leading the other contingent burst into the horse barn. The fire fight was hot and confused. Those sent over to the Northeastern hill side came down the hill on their horses and hit the burning blacksmith's shop. It was not yet a big fire, just smokey. It was extinguished quickly and the building was secured.

----

“They're doing good.”
“Yes. If they can just keep the momentum up.”
“Yes. If I know Mal, he'll try for the explosives building. I do not think he can get there without help.”

----

Jayne sensed something and looked beyond Mal. He spotted the issue with the store house being held by the enemy: “Val! Mal is trying for the explosives shed. They need cover. Hit the store house!”
Val and one other sharpshooter tuned to covering Mal.

Max had finally secured the horse barn. He had one killed and one wounded: “Simon, leave the horses and get to the horse barn.”

Shots were being exchanges between the garage barn and the blacksmith shop. Max took his men across the trail and hit the garage wall pausing for all of them to catch up.
In the confusion of battle, the enemy holding the cook house dd not realize they were under attack also. They split their group and took the bunk house.

Mal, Zoe, and River scurried from cover to cover over the ridge to the explosives shed while Jayne and Valkyrie provided covering fire.
Zoe and Mal got to the explosives building with only a minor injury.
Mal: “River! Where's River.”
Jayne: “She turn to the store house.”
Mal: “Guns free.”
Mal and Zoe went into the explosives shed through the open door, grabbed some dynamite and ran back out.

River came up to the side of the store house and dove through a window in the side facing the trail. In her efficient way she quickly cleared the enemy from the shed. Two got out and were hit from the main house or the escarpment.
Mal and Zoe crossed the trail and got to the well house. They were above about eight or ten shooting at the main house. Using the dynamite as grenades, they threw them at the shooters below them. Mal then shot the one stick and blew up three while Zoe shot the other and blew up two.
The enemy panicked. It was about this time that Sheriff Bourne, having heard the escalation in the noise, cut short his round about ride to the northwestern hill and came up the drainage arroyo into the cook house and bunk house.
With many of the enemy dead or wounded, the situation was secured.
Mal: “Kaylee?”
Kaylee: “We are secured. There's room for Serenity. We have wounded and Simon will need help caring for them. Can you bring Serenity in and land on the southern escarpment? Pick up Jayne and Val and bring everyone down to the valley.
“If you do not feel comfortable with that, get a shuttle and come here. Zoe or River can bring in Serenity. Let Paradiso know we have dead and wounded. Simon is sorting out the first ones. At a guess, there are some 25 to 30 dead mostly the bad guys. And some some 50 wounded from the Li Ranch, the bad guys and us.”
Kaylee: “Yes captain. I'll call Paradiso to warn them and then I'll get a shuttle to you to pick up someone to fly Serenity.”

----

Serenity landed with Zoe guiding her. There first of several dozen vehicles were stating to arrive at the ranch. The Ranger's were stationed around to help out as needed and to watch the prisoners. The Deputies started the paperwork and provided guides for those unfamiliar to the ranch. Three members of the Li's were unhurt. The rest were and their employees were injured or dead.
The worst injured were sent by shuttle back to Paradiso for Doctor Torval. The Aid Station staff and sent some to help out Simon. Items were being mended like the cistern and the blacksmith shop so they could be used. Several land craft had already been sent back to Paradiso with those with lessor wounds.
Running Bear and White Dove has secured the prisoners to the corral posts. The Rangers did not lift a hand. It rained and the prisioners were gagged when they made too much noise about being left out in the weather.

The Li Family had lost about 20% of its family. They still had 17 alive, some at the ranch and two in Paradiso. They thanked Sheriff Bourne and when they found out how the Texas Rangers had helped out, they thanked Mal and Zoe, and Jayne, and all the Rangers several times over the next three days.
When Sheriff Bourne had things under control, Serenity's crew and the Rangers headed back to Paradiso.

----

Returning to Paradiso, Mal found out that the weapons repairs the Wash needed had been complete. With all the tension of the battle of taking the Li Ranch back and the wounded and the results from it. Many were worn out.
It was decided by Mal, Smitty, Zoe, Simon, Doc Torval, and a few others that at least one day of R&R in Paradiso would be needed.

Gwen looked him up after she was sure Inara and Mal had had time to themselves.
Gwen: “Since you were not here, I took some waves for you that were not Ranger and not Who.
“First, both of you should know that your son is looking very well. The medical facility watching the fetus is quite happy with the development. It looks very well.
“Second, my Mom and Dad would like to meet Simon and Kaylee when there is time.
“Third, Sir Warrik's Mark said to tell you the Tex Ranger is ready for a shakedown cruise. Captain Patel has screened about 75 crewmen for your approval.
“Fourth, Ida was quite worried about the excitement here. She'd like to talk to you directly before any more staging is done. I think she needs to reassure herself that you are still you.
“Fifth, we have a waiting list of 12 planets now.
“Sixth and last is the Shepard Book. It looks to be about two and a half months before trials.
“There are quite a few other waves but they basically are the six items above.
“There are three requests for jobs or cargo.”
Inara: “How do you feel about Simon and Kaylee meeting your parents?”
Gwen: “I feel all sorts of things but the fact that Mom and Dad want to come out at least part was to meet mother and father is very exciting. My biggest worry is about Simon and Kaylee not wanting to meet with them.”
Inara: “I'm sure they will want to. I do not want to butt in. If you want I'll feel Kaylee and Simon out. Or you could ask River you know.”
Gwen: “Maybe I should ask River. She seems to know better.”
Mal: “Yes she does. I guess I need to hire a secretary for myself. This is getting big.”
Gwen a little hesitantly: “You could.”
Inara: “Gwen would you want to work for Mal instead of Who?”
Gwen: “Yes. I've learned a lot from Who but Serenity feels more like where I want to be.”
Mal: “Let me think about that. I ain't gonna say no but there are other considerations right now. Honestly, I am afraid that if you become known to whoever we are trying to flush out, ya might be in greater danger.”
Gwen: “Yeah.”
Mal: “Would ya maybe like an assistant under you to handle my side of things? You'd keep your Aid Station cover and have reason to come by a little more often.”
Gwen: “That might work.”
Mal: “Let's think about it.”
Inara: “If you want to test it, White Dove might be able to help Gwen out.”
Mal: “Inara, seems gun shy around men. Would you talk to her?”
Inara: “Sure. Do you have time for . . .”
Mal was looking a little oddly at Inara: “What if you and Gwen team up? If the two of you think White Dove is needed, get her involved.”
Inara's eye's widened: “Me?”
Mal: “You already know me and we can work well together sometimes. Both of ya and White Dove should be able to things. If White Dove can handle the Aid Station, Gwen has a replacement. I've been meanin' to get back ups in place. It has moved so fast though. With all three of you being able to back each other up, the two positions (Serenity trading and Aid Station administrative) would be covered.
“I am being pulled farther from the spot I used to on Serenity and need help with the legal trades. I have to cover the Ranger ships and the Shepard Book.
“The three of you would help out very well. Might even need another.”
Gwen: “Inara?”
Inara: “I think it would be a good idea to pursue this.”
Gwen opened her right hand palm up, spit into it and held it out to Mal: “Deal.”
Mal grinned and repeated the action: “My how you've been corrupted. Deal.”

----

The rest of the working up of Wash when quickly. Some 18 days after they first landed, they needed to return to Paradiso.
Running Bear and White Dove were on Serenity. Mal was not sure where to use them, but he was sure they would be useful. Teaming her with Inara and Gwen seemed to be the best use at the moment.

----

Serenity and Wash lifted off for Persphone.
Running Bear took over cooking for Serenity. Everyone said he was excellent.
Waves came from Sir Warrik concerning cargoes for Mal. Many but not all were legit.

----

Landing in Persphone, Mal found Tex Ranger has done some in system testing with the engines and a temporary crew who had been hired by Sir Warrik. She was ready for a shakedown and weapons testing.
Some talks with Mark and Sir Warrik came up with a three stop trip to Newzona and back with a stop going out at Ender World and a stop coming back at Rhyolite. Tex Ranger had two pinace bays and was about 50% larger than Tex Ranger. Due to Serenity's limited cargo capacity one other freighter was being sent along the medium tramp freighter Pride of Pierre.
Sir Warrik's cargo was the largest on the Pride. Several smaller filler cargoes were being carried. Serenity carried a Badger Cargo for Newzona and extra items for the two war ships.
The round trip was expected to take seven to eight weeks. This was a profit run but it was not much more than break even. It was also an advertising test for convoy service.
About 145 new hires for crew had to be made. Many of the temporary crews Sir Warrick had were hired in. Badger's references were also hired in.
It took about 22 days to be ready for the first convoy. An expected few days for R&R and Aid Station operation at all three ports of call was expected. Part of the Aid Station crew would stay on Tex Ranger to give Serenity's core crew a little more room.

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