Malcolm Reynolds discovers Haven

Mal hears tell that a couple of Browncoats who had disappeared wound up on Haven, and when he follows them to find out what happened...

Mal hears tell that a couple of Browncoats who had disappeared wound up on Haven, and when he follows them to find out what happened, it turns out that the mining community there is willing to harbor the occasional fugitive for a small price. Since Mal has a ship, he offers to provide them with a ferry service on those occasions when it is required.   [Serenity novelization (page 137). Mal recalls that he "first came across Haven shortly after he acquired Serenity." Given that Mal was capable of both tracking down the Browncoats in question and offering the services of his ship, this presumably took place after Serenity was running properly.]