To taste fresh meat was a rare treat.

Kero shifted his weight, and took another sip of coffee. It tasted sweeter than usual. He checked the palmtop computer in his paw. Kero had important work to do, and needed a breath of fresh air to get started.

"Hello Kero," Aldrian spoke in a calm soothing voice. "What would you like me to do?"

Kero thought for a second. "Any messages from Colonel Gold?"

The computer searched but come up empty. "I sorry Kero, but there was no messages I could find."

Kero was puzzled. He was sure that he left a message this morning. The computer asked again. "Are you sure that he sent the message today?"

"He said he would, and I have no doubt as to his sincerity."

"I'll keep you posted if one should arrive. " Aldrian said. "It could be on route now, but there could be some traffic in space."

"Okay," Kero was trying to regain composure. "What about the meeting tonight? Is there something I should know?"

Tonight was the meeting with the humans. In all of Kero's life he had limited contact with these species. Most of them he found were happy yet puzzled.

Their lives were different then his people. Yet, at the same time, there was a common bond between the two. A sense of discovery, awe and excitement filled the air.

It would mark the first time that these two races would be working together. Technology, science and communications were vitally important to both sides.

Yet, there was so much to risk.

The message is vitally important. Kero thought. Without it, tonight could be thrown into chaos. I wonder what's keeping him? I wonder what it could be.

He was jarred by Adrian's reply.

"Kero, I do have something of great interest to show you. I'll display it on the screen."

The computer screen showed a quadrant of space he was not familiar with. The ships were huge, and the weapons all top-notch. He could see that there were spaceships of every size. The middle ship looked familiar.

He asked to computer to supply data about the ship's origin. "Sir, I am not sure where this message is coming from. Must be somewhere in deep space. I believe they have a lock on your signal. I'm trying to..." The computer froze for a second, and then went dead.

Kero felt the coolness of the metal and realized that the cold weather had gotten to its circuits.

Perhaps if I left it warm up for a while, it will tell me where the message was coming from.

The door opened for him. Kero picked up his coffee and the door shut behind him. His room was big and comfortable for a prince. His bed took part of one wall on the left with an entertainment system on the other side. Huge life-like 3D posters filled the other walls. They were pictures of fighters for the rebels. In between the areas, he had some metals he had won over the years as a fighter. Kero was proud of his accomplishments. Yet, he wanted more.

Down a small flight of stairs were a fireplace and a couch. It was the perfect touch for those romantic nights.

He put the palmtop computer on the bed, and turned on the giant screen computer.

"Hello, Kero. What would you like for me to do today?" His smile radiant filled the screen. Kero realized that the main computer was not aware that the palmtop was out.

Inside the palmtop was a small disc that carried all the data and settings that the user had. There was no way to erase it unless a verbal command was given. Kero hoped that the data was still there. Otherwise, he was history.

Kero picked up the palmtop computer, flick a switch and out popped the disc. He inserted the disc into the slot labeled "Disc only." The computer swirled the disc around and the light came on. Kero felt relived that the data was still good.

"It will take me some time to sort this stuff out, and to see if the CPU was damaged."

It felt like hours, but was only a few minutes, until Aldrian came back with the feedback. "The circuits are fried, but I did manage to piece together most of the data." Aldrian was unsure as to what had destroyed the disc, but was confident in figuring out who did it.

"It appears that the message came from a Mr. David Star. Do you know who he is?" Aldrian was not sure of this name, but was sure Kero had heard of it.

Kero pondered and then realized it was his old high school friend. Was this what he was up to? Did he have a connection with the Colonel?

"Yes. I remember now." Kero's eyes grew wider by the second. "Where did the message come from?"

"I'm not sure. Someplace near Orion IV, but I'm not positive." Aldrian spoke, unsure of what had just occurred.

"Colonel Gold is on the line."

"Proceed."

The screen was replaced by a big gold emblem, that which belonged to the Federation. Also on it was also the password identifier. Kero thought it was strange, but proceeded to give the password.

"Alpha Charlie Victor 390."

The image on the screen was replaced with Col. Gold.

"Greetings Prince Topa." Col. Gold spoke. He was an elder human whose mind had led the humans into many victorious battles. "How nice to see you once again."

Kero greeted him back. He also noticed another man standing next to him. He wasn't sure who he was, but was afraid to ask.