Hera

Hera was a largely agricultural world. Located midway between the Core and the outer planets on a major shipping lane, it was considered the food source for most of its system. Food was grown, processed and packaged on Hera, before being shipped offworld to supply the other planets.

Serenity Valley

Serenity Valley

Serenity Valley was a valley located on Hera; it was mainly sparse and rocky with little vegetation. The valley was famous for being the location of the Battle of Serenity Valley—one of the bloodiest battles of the entire Unification War. Due to Hera's strategic positioning, taking the planet was a key to winning the war, and Serenity Valley became the turning point of the entire conflict.

The war devastated Serenity Valley, mainly due to the extreme Alliance bombardment of the area at the end of the Battle of Serenity Valley. Seven years on, the valley was still blackened and charred by the fire storm that swept through it—the only landmark being a graveyard on the hills next to the valley. Over half a million men and women—Alliance and Independent alike—were buried in the graveyard, each with his or her own small, identical headstone. Some had names; most didn't.

The graveyard was located on the opposite side of the valley from the town of Serenity View. Families and friends of the fallen come to Hera to visit the graves, which bloom with flowers, photos, and mementos. Even the unmarked graves had their share; plenty of families never saw their children return, and many have picked an unnamed grave and honored it, hoping someone else was doing the same for their son or daughter.

Serenity Graveyard is one of the most hallowed and sacred pieces of ground in all the 'Verse.

Appearances

• Firefly – "Serenity"
• Firefly – "War Stories"
• Firefly – "The Message"