A Skiff during the Battle of Serenity Valley.
The Alliance skiff was a low altitude flying assault vehicle used by the Union of Allied Planets for ground attacks.
Specifications[]
Physically, it strongly resembles the Foxbat Class fighter/bomber, and was sometimes confused with that craft during the heat of battle. Alliance skiffs are frightfully well armed (quite possibly with the same armament as the Foxbat Class fighter/bomber).
History[]
During the Battle of Serenity Valley, Independent Planets Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds and his men were being mercilessly slaughtered by a single Alliance skiff. Thinking quickly, Sergeant Malcolm Reynolds immediately ran down the slope and captured a UA 571-D Ground Sentry anti-air gun emplacement. Using the UA 571-D Ground Sentry’s targeting systems, Malcolm Reynolds waited as the Alliance skiff turned to face him. Malcolm Reynolds instantly shot down the Alliance skiff which lost control, crashed, and exploded upon hitting the ground, with Malcolm Reynolds narrowly avoiding the explosion, but had managed to successfully jump to safety in time. ("Serenity")
Behind the scenes[]
Skiffs are first featured in the Firefly TV series' episode "Serenity", when Malcolm Reynolds shoots one down at the Battle of Serenity Valley using a Ground Sentry anti-air gun; and are mentioned on the unaired "Dead or Alive" script, as the Alliance opens a new gear shift, on Verbena, for a new line of military skiffs.
