Since the early days of interstellar travel, Barque Cats have been
highly prized crew members, responsible for keeping spacecraft free of
vermin, for alerting human crews to potential environmental hazards, and
for acting as morale officers. Even among Barque Cats, Chessie is
something special. Her pedigree, skills, and intelligence, as well as
the close rapport she has with her human, Janina, make her the most
valuable crew member aboard the Molly Daise. And the litter of kittens
in her belly only adds to her value. Then Chessie is kidnapped--er,
catnapped--from Dr. Jared Vlast's vet clinic at Hood Station. And
Chessie's newborn kittens turn out to be even more extraordinary than
their mother. For while Chessie's connection to Janina is close and
intuitive, the bond that the kitten Chester forms with the kidnapper's
son, Jubal, is downright telepathic. And when Chester is sent into space
to learn his trade, neither he nor Jubal will rest until they're
reunited. But the announcement of a widespread epidemic affecting
livestock on numerous planets throws the future into doubt. Suddenly the
galactic government announces a plan to impound and possibly destroy all
exposed animals. Not even the Barque Cats will be spared. With the clock
racing against them, Janina, Jubal, Dr. Vlast, and a handful of very
special kittens will join to save the Barque Cats, other animals, and
quite possibly the universe as they know it from total destruction.
