The opening three pages are an alternate version of the Battle of Serenity Valley, this time one where the Independents are victorious against the Alliance forces.

On page 1, Mal refers to Alliance troops as "khags". This is the first use of what appears to be a derogatory slang term for these troops in the 'Verse.

On page 4, the planet Hera has appeared several times in past Firefly stories.

Dobson appeared in "Serenity" as an Alliance agent. In this alternate universe story, he is an Alliance terrorist.

On page 5, the planet Sihnon has appeared or been mentioned in several past Firefly stories. It is the world where Inara was born and where most Companions receive their training.

The conversation between Mal and Dobson on page 5 implies that Dobson used a cry baby device as a diversion here, just as the Serenity crew did in "Serenity".

Page 8 reveals that, in this alternate 'Verse, Mal is a major in the military of the Coalition of Independent Planets.

On page 9, New Melbourne is a world in the Red Sun system, previously mentioned in "Objects in Space".

Page 11 reveals that Patience's last name is Monroe. Patience appeared previously appeared in "Serenity".

Mal and Zoe's mission takes them to the Verasteele Skyplex. It appears this may be the same skyplex called Niska's Skyplex in "The Train Job" and "War Stories". In this "what if" universe, it appears to be owned by Kaylee.

On page 14, Kaylee tells Mals and Zoe that Book left the skyplex with two friends on a sandfly bound for Ariel. She goes on to say that she warned them about the Capissen engine, but they wouldn't listen. The sandfly was a class of transport ship seen in the 5-part Firefly fan film, Bellflower. The Sandfly-class is said in the film to be outfitted with Molina engines and Capissen Radion Accelerator Cores. Watch all five parts of the fan film on YouTube.

On page 14, Kowlonshi, mentioned by Kaylee, is her homeworld.

On page 16, Mal appears to still carry the Liberty Hammer pistol, just as in the real Firefly 'Verse.

While most of the main characters seem to have new roles in this "what if" universe, Jayne seems to be pretty much the same guy.

I've been unable to find a reliable translation of Wash's exclamation on page 19 of "Fay-fay duh pee-yen!"

Kaylee's ship is called the Shan Liang De. This seems to translate to something like the Kindhearted.

On page 22, Jayne tells of a time an ex-Alliance guy hired him and some others to hit a weapons depot on Prophet. Prophet is a planet in the Georgia system.

Returning to Kowlonshi, Kaylee says her parents are on Persephone. Persephone is a planet in the White Sun system and was seen most prominently in "Serenity".

I've been unable to find a reliable translation of Kaylee's use of "shu fu" on page 24.

Page 27 is a sort of reverse version of the River reveal in "Serenity", with River and Simon having switched places.

On page 28, River tells Mal and Zoe that her family lost everything after the war and her and Simon's mother died of damplung and their father was stabbed over a can of beets. Damplung appears to be a fictional disease name, but may be a slang term for tuberculosis, a bacterial infection largely of the lungs...Jayne's brother Mattie suffers from the disease, as revealed in "The Message".

Simon's comments in panel 1 of page 29 seem to refer to the mainstream Firefly universe we are familiar with.

On page 32, Simon sees a bird he identifies as Sialia currucoides. This is the bird colloquially known as the mountain bluebird. The specimen seen here seems rather exaggerated in its physical features though.

Jayne uses Vera on page 33. It is his favorite gun, a Callahan full-bore auto lock, as first revealed in "Our Mrs. Reynolds".

On page 33, Jayne tells Book he doesn't trust Zoe, and refers to her as hundan. This is a Chinese insult, more-or-less equivalent to "asshole" or "bastard".

At the end of the story, Kaylee's unnamed Firefly-class ship is named Shepherd, in honor of Book.

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