Battle of Serenity Valley

"The Alliance said they were gonna waltz through Serenity Valley and we choked
'em with those words. We've done the impossible and that makes us mighty."

― Mal, in the "Serenity" episode

Lying midway between the Core and the outer planets on a major shipping lane, Hera was of great strategic importance during the war, making it an important staging ground for both sides. Taking Hera was a key to winning the war, and Serenity Valley became the turning point for the conflict.

The Independents were outnumbered and outgunned, but held the valley for seven weeks. It was the bloodiest battle of the entire war, with countless thousands of casualties. After a deep-flanking strategy and crushing aerial bombardment by the Alliance, Independent High Command surrendered both the valley and the war. This took place five weeks into the battle, and the fighting continued in some parts of the valley even after orders were sent to lay down arms. In other areas, soldiers that stopped fighting were stranded without supplies or medical help, so the death toll kept rising as they waited a week or more for help to arrive.

The Independent forces at Serenity Valley suffered almost seventy percent losses. Those who had continued to fight after the order to lay down arms were rounded up and charged with war crimes, but later released by the Alliance as a sign of goodwill toward the outer planets. The valley is still, to this day, blackened and charred by the fire storm that swept through it.

See Also: Hera