I think the technical term for the Firefly 'verse's terraforming method is "Clarke-istic". "It's so advanced, it's like magic!"

See also: Handwavium.

So, assuming that that tech wasn't developed on the way to the new system, because how do you test it, then the question remains...why travel for years and years to a brand new system when you've got a perfectly useful one right here?

Maybe they tested it in our current system, and managed to use up the available planets with the testing. Or, maybe the problem with EtW affected the whole system, but it just doesn't sound as good to say Solar System that Was.

I am having the gorramest difficulty finding a transcript of that horrible voice-over they tacked on to some of the air eps

Shrift transcribed and posted one of them: [link]

==========

CHYRON READS: "2517 A.D."

MAL (V.O)
Here's how it is:
(beat)
The Earth got used up, so we moved out
and terraformed a whole new galaxy of
earths. Some, rich and flush with the new
technologies. Some... not so much. The
Central Planets, them as formed the Alliance,
waged war to bring everyone under their rule.
Few idiots tried to fight it, among them -- myself.
(beat)
I'm Malcolm Reynolds, Captain of Serenity.
She's a transport ship, Firefly class.
Got a good crew: fighters, pilot,
mechanic. We even picked up a preacher,
for some reason, and a bona fide Companion.
There's a doctor, too. Took his genius sister
out of some Alliance camp, so they're
keeping a low profile. You understand.
(beat)
You got a job, we can do it. Don't
much care what it is.

CUE TEASER

==========

Shrift transcribed and posted one of them:

That's the repaired one.

hmmm... Here's the original opening from Mejiaville:

Jeff Mejia "Mejiaville" Sep 21, 2002 2:01:57 am PDT

OK, here is the introduction to Firefly:

The entire introduction is narrated by Book (Ron Glass)

After the Earth was used up, we found a new solar system and hundreds of new Earths were terraformed and colonized.

We open on the Serenity flying past the camera as it swoops around an Earth-like planet. Two moons are visible in the ditance.

The next shot is of the Serenity hovering over the ground in some desert-ish location.

The third shlaot is of a standard western mining town, where the people are milling around on the dusty street and in front of the stores. A couple of soldiers/policemen are seen patrolling in the foreground, as gas flames are shown off in the distance.

The central planets formed the Alliance, and decided all the planets had to join under their rule.

Cut to a shot of a bunch of uniformed people walking in a vast computer center. This looks to be the "Central Command" center.

Cut to another shot showing a large, dark object in space. It lookl like 2 triangular towers, with a third, smaller tower in front. This might be the command center from a space view.

There was some disagreement on that point.

Cut to a closer shot of people milling around, as 2 soldiers/policemen look on.

Cut to a shot of a battle, where we see multiple explosions.

Cut to another shot of battle, where we see a squad of soldiers shooting it out as they make their way across a battle-scarred terrain.

A third shot of the battle shows a plane/spaceship swooping down and strafing the battlefield.

Expand out to a wider scene of the battle, where we can see multiple space ships hovering over the cneter of actions and beams and flashes of light coming down from said ships.

After the war, many of the Independents who had fought and lost, drifted to the edges of the system, far from Alliance control.

Cut to a close up of Mal, at the battlefield, looking on in horror.

Cut to another shot of the battlefield, where we see Zoe looking on in horror at the carnage.

Cut to a shot of the Serenity

blasting out into space, the Firefly engines in full force and a serious gaseous wake in its trail.

Cut to a shot of Mal in a spacesuit during a spacewalk, with what he is looking at reflected in his visor (the Dave Bowman shot).

Out here, people struggled to get by with the most basic technologies.

Cut to a shot of a standard Western town, where the people are milling about on the dirt roads, looking at the stranger walking down the street.

Cut to a shot of two horses pulling a wagon through a river.

A ship would bring you work.

We see a shot of the Serenity dropping down to a spaceport.

A gun would help you keep it.

Cut to a low-angled shot looking up at Mal holding a gun on the viewer.

A captain's goal was simple:

Cut to a shot of Mal in the cockpit of the ship, looking pensive.

find a crew,

We see a shot of Wash and Zoe in the cockpit. Zoe is standing next to a seated Wash as they hold hands.

Cut to a close-up of Jayne on board the ship.

find a job,

Cut to a shot of Kaylee, smiling. (Transcriber's note: I love the smile).

keep flying.

Fade out on a shot of the Serenity flying off into space (only using the two outside engines).

ELAPSED TIME - 0:35

I notice that the charge of it being a single solar system is incorrect, because the word "and" is not inclusive to the same system.

Nevertheless, it was not clear enough and was changed.

skipped to say that I got a firefly comic from the Easter bunny!

I will definitely be here for the w & p on Wednesday but I might be a few minutes late.

Ok the notice up in Press. Hopefully the feeble attempt at wit will drum up more folks. See you all later tonight!

well formed wit BigD - well formed.

DH and I are planning for it - all depends on the critter now.

I'll be here!