“Serenity” was a Firefly-Class mid-bulk transport, constructed in August 2459 and
brought to prominence under the ownership of Captain Malcolm Reynolds.
The Firefly Class was designed to be a multipurpose transport vessel, capable of relatively high
speeds and extensive utilities without sacrificing cargo capacity.
A Firefly class vessel could be home to a crew of 5 plus up to 18 passengers, with comfortable
facilities and sleeping quarters for all.
The Firefly was popular among freelance traders, couriers and criminals for its high versatility
and utilitarian design.
The series-3 Firefly Class is 81.9 Meters long and 23.6m high, its large engines provide
massive amounts of thrust allowing for high speeds in both space and atmosphere.
These engines are mounted on rotating hardpoints on the ends of the ships wings, and each have
a 270 degree range of motion, this allows for vertical take-off and landing as well
as rapid deceleration by turning the engines to face forward.
The engines can also be rotated independently of each other, allowing for incredibly tight
turns in the hands of a capable pilot.
Serenity was named for the Battle of Serenity Valley, an engagement on Hera in the final
days of the Unification War that was considered to be the moment the war was lost for the
Independents.
Captain Malcolm Reynolds acquired the ship from a Boneyard on Hera in 2512, at this time
the ship was no-longer flight-worthy and Reynolds spent several weeks restoring it to working
order and assembling a small crew.
The Crew of Serenity travelled the verse accepting jobs both legal and otherwise, the ship’s
versatile nature afforded the crew a lot of options, allowing them to accept jobs hauling
cargo, transporting passengers or even performing complex heists.
Some of the ships more impressive accomplishments include the theft of the “Lassiter” a
priceless Laser Pistol considered to be the forerunner of all modern laser technology,
and the Infiltration of St Lucy’s Hospital, where a great wealth of valuable medical supplies
were stolen.
Serenity also played a vital role in the battle over Mr Universe’s Planet, during which
the true origin of the Reavers was revealed to the people of the Verse.
Perhaps the most distinctive feature of Serenity, is her total lack of weaponry.
In dangerous situations the ship relied on the skill and ingenuity of her crew to escape
harm.
Despite this, Serenity carried an extensive array of useful equipment, such as a 2 Magnetic
Grappler Launchers, 6 custom made transmitter decoys known as cry-babies and 2 self-contained
Endo/Exo-Atmospheric Shuttlecraft, one of which was indefinitely rented out to Inara
Serra by Captain Reynolds as an extra source of income.
Although Serenity lacks the capacity for Superluminal speeds, her Pulse Drive provides a maximum
acceleration of 5.5 G, more than enough to cross the entire Verse, a 55 Light Hour trip,
in about one Week, whilst still carrying 74,000 KG of Cargo.
Serenity also carries several ATV’s for loading and unloading cargo as well as 1 MF-813
Series Flying Mule, a Land Speeder capable of transporting 4 people plus cargo across
medium sized distances.
From a Behind the Scenes standpoint, Serenity was considered by writer Joss Whedon to be
as much a character in the series as any of the human cast members, and the vessel is
much loved by the shows fans, even to this day.