Burn the land
Malcolm Reynolds, twenty-four and four and a half months of age, is on the move as part of the 57th, affectionately known as the "Balls and Bayonets Brigade". They are moving towards an Alliance outpost just outside Du-Khang, the largest city on Yangtze. In the two weeks since he left Shadow, he's already been to three worlds. Now he's in charge of several squadrons and reports to Lieutenant Branch. Mal's second in command is a woman about his own age: Private Zoe Alleyne. She's beautiful, but Mal is intimidated by her ease with weaponry, particularly her sidearm.
Finally the officer in charge calls a halt for the night. Mal and his troops make camp and gather around the fire for chow. "Enjoy it while you can, folks," Mal tells them. "Tomorrow we'll be too close to the enemy to risk a fire."
"Hey Corporal," Matthew "Tiny" Jenkins sings out. "You trained on Shadow, right?"
"Yeah, why?"
Tiny pulls forward John Rice, the newest member of the unit. "Tell 'em, Squeaky."
The kid pales, but takes a deep breath and speaks. "I heard two Purple Bellies talking at the station when I was on my way to the rendezvous. They…they…" He swallows, takes another deep breath, and continues. "They said that the Browncoat training facility on Shadow was burned to the ground."
Mal feels his stomach drop out. "What about the officers? The staff?"
Squeaky trembles. "I don't think anyone survived, sir. From what I overheard, sounds like the gorram Feds torched the place while folks were still in it."
Mal is too shocked to say anything. He finishes dinner in silence, sets the watch, and then takes a walk. He makes it about twenty paces from camp before becoming violently ill. His stomach empties onto the ground while Mal doubles over in pain. He's too drained to even jump when he feels a hand on his back. "Here sir," Zoe's voice says, passing a rag over his shoulder.
Finally able to stand, Mal nods his thanks as he wipes his mouth with the cloth. When the world drops out from under you, he thinks, it's nice to have folks to count on. Zoe stays with him, offering silent support, until he is strong enough to return to camp.