Captain Malcolm Reynolds looked in at his crew laughing and talking over the supper table. Everyone looked so happy, why did he have to bring this go se on them now? His lurking didn't go unnoticed for long. Kaylee bounded over with a large teasing grin plastered on her face.

"Finally decided to join us capt'n? Wash was soon going to start takin' bets to see how long you would be out of it." Her grin soon turned to a pout. "Zoë said it wouldn't be right though."

"And right she was, go have a seat lil' Kaylee, so we can get this show on the road I'm half starved."

Mal caught sight of the different looks from around the table, Zoë's and Book's were questioning, Jayne was lookin' intently at his food, the doctor was watching his sister River as she seemed to be staring off into nothingness, Wash was laughing at something that Kaylee mumbled as she sat down. They were happy, there was no doubt of that and they would stay happy a little while longer if Mal had anything to do with it.

"Looks like we've got us some mighty fine blue goo this evenin' so dig in." Mal said as he took his place at the head of the table, choosing to ignore the heads bowed in silent prayer along with Book.

He half hoped that he could let himself forget about the conversation he had just had with Will MacCooms, but Zoë was still watching him like she knew something was up. Mal sent her a glance that he hoped conveyed very clearly later.

Mal was strangely quiet as he spooned the goo into his mouth, and the rest of the crew seemed to catch on that this meal was but the precursor for something, and something big. As River and Kaylee started to clear the plates away Mal knew that it was now or never.

"I got a wave from Will MacCoombs while I was nappin' on the bridge." He said nonchalantly. Watching as Zoë tried to hide her shock.

"He have anything particular to say, sir? We haven't heard from him in a while, a long while."

"Yeah Zoë, he did. Real interestin' words." Mal let that sit there a while before Wash spoke up.

"Anyone care to enlighten those of us who weren't chummy in a war what's going on here?" Kaylee and River had finished their table cleaning and quickly returned to their seats.

"Will MacCoombs fought for the Independents during the war, his platoon was stationed with us for a while before he got his leg shot up and was sent home on leave." Zoë supplied the information giving Mal time to consider how he was going to answer her next question. "What he say, sir?"

"War's starting up again, people fed up over new taxes, among other things." There was no need to be mentionin' anything about the Guild, no need to get Kaylee anymore worked up then she already appeared to be. "He asked us for help."

"And what did you say?" Kaylee asked in a quiet voice.

"He said no, right?" Jayne spoke up soundin' all manner of angry and repulsive.

"I said that I wouldn't leave my crew to go join up to fight in a war." Mal replied trying to get Jayne to calm down, this was hard enough to do without having to get in a big fight over it.

"I'm going to do something, sir. I won't just sit here and do nothing." Zoë said standing up and adding more fuel to a fire that was going to get out of control real fast if he wasn't careful.

"Don't be jumpin' to conclusions honey." Wash said trying to get Zoë to sit back down by pulling on her arm, reluctantly she allowed him to pull her down.

"Bi zuie!" Mal said standing up himself. "If y'all would just be quiet for a moment I will tell you everything, dong ma?" At his words the crew were all looking at him expectantly.

"I said I wouldn't leave my crew, which is all fine and good for what he wants of me, and of Zoë." Wash didn't look too pleased at the mention of needing Zoë for anything.

"Will is part of the new command structure, he's even in charge of something." Mal scoffed. "You'll never guess what?" Mal shot a glance at a silently fuming Zoë, as he sat back down.

"Intelligence." Book's voice shocked everyone; some like Jayne had even forgotten that he was still at the table. "You would make a perfect spy, floating around the 'verse doing your business. Flying under the radar of the Alliance speaking to the leaders of the underworld on every planet, an amazing network of contacts. Yes you would make the perfect spy."

There was a long pause, as everyone looked first to Book then back to the captain. "One of these days I'm going to find out how it is you know so much preacher. He's right; Will wants us to act as his spies, all of us. Which is why I'm askin' if you want to do this." Not that I want any of you doing this, but each and everyone one of you won't let me make you leave this boat.

"I'm in sir." Zoë didn't even take a second to consider what she was saying, nor did she look at her husband who was clearly thinking what he was going to say.

"You'll need someone to pilot this boat if you plan on flyin' her into anymore trouble then normal. And not just any pilot, you need the best, so I guess you'll be needin' me." Wash said, looking at his wife with a smile that she wholeheartedly returned.

"And a mechanic." Kaylee said quietly, not knowing how she felt about joining a war effort even if is was for a cause she believed in.

"As much as I might want to leave, I've no other place to go, so you got yourself a doctor." Simon said sending his sister a searching look, but she seemed to be once again staring off into space.

"I'm hoping that you won't be needing a preacher but I do know some things that could be useful." Book added from the other end of the table.

Mal leaned back in his chair with a sigh, ai ya, today really had been a day for sighs. He never thought that they would actually go through with this. "That leaves you Jayne, are you in, or not?"

"Is there payin' involved?" Jayne asked from underneath the glares of everyone but River. "What? It's a good question."

"Yes Jayne there's payin' involved." Mal decided against adding that it was much lower then what they were used to after a job, but seeing as how to go along with this whole plan, work needed to continue meanin' the Browncoat's pay was going to be a bonus. Besides war always brought on an increase in commerce, legal and otherwise.

"We've changed course to head to the Eavestown Docks so that we can get some Independently funded repairs and refits, along with spare parts and provisions. We gotta do this now before the Alliance suspects anything." That' hopin' that they don't suspect anything now, Mal added to himself silently. "So you that's new to this business let's go get in some trainin'."

"We're not the only ones who are getting training." River said softly watching the crew file out of the kitchen, before heading to do the dishes.