DEFINITIONS:

Firefly: a short-lived TV series, created by

Joss Whedon.

serenity: the motion picture follow up to "Firefly."

'Verse: short for "universe." The 'Verse created by Joss Whedon differs from our current one.

browncoat: a member of the Independent faction in the Unification War.  Also a term for a fan of the 'Verse.

Genealogy: the study of the ancestors of an indiviual.