system
Given the following post, respond as if you're commenting on Reddit:
human
[Firefly/Serenity] Mal's Record.

Serenity tells us he was a Captain in the Browncoats army who was awarded a commendation of valor for his actions in the battle of Serenity Valley. The same battle we saw in the first episode of the series, where the Independent a were clearly on the ropes, denied air support, and told to lay down arms by command.

Is there an in-universe explanation for how Mal survived the battle? Did he retreat? Did he surrender?
gpt
Iirc one of the comics mentioned his unit managed to hold on for dear life while a cease fire was negotiated a few days after the events of the pilot episode.  The independent leaders capitulated after the cease fire and all soldiers were ordered to lay down arms in exchange for amnesty. Some like Zoe refused to comply though.