In a not too distant future, a totalitarian state secret government organization controls all aspects of life. All 'Enemies of the State' are executed by a secret group of assassins. The best of the assassins is code-name 'Condor'. However, in his latest assignment, he fails to kill the opposition leader and finds himself on the run from the very same government agency that hired him.

River Tam and her brother Simon are hiding out from the totalitarian government that experimented with River's brain aboard a space-freighter. Captained by a down on his luck soldier, the crew of Serenity must take jobs, whether they are legal or not, while trying to avoid the Alliance, and keeping the Tams safe. Then things get out of control and the true extent of River's powers becomes known. At the same time, the Alliance sends a new Operative...