Summary:
Keno is a Chiisune, a small fox like species with amazing intelligence. Many of claimed that they have heard the small animals speaking to them telepathically, though this has never been scientifically proven. Despite the lack of evidence, Chiisunes are given special protection under Latorii law. They cannot be bought or sold and killing one is punishable by death. Effectively the small creatures are second class citizens of the Latorii Empire.
Keno first met Moriah when she was studying engineering. The two of them quickly bonded through out her four years studying. When Moriah graduated, she joined the Imperial Navy and went to flight school. Keno accompanied her there as well, though due to her now extensive training, their time together was intermittent. Often only seeing each other when Moriah had weekend passes.
Moriah spent her first year of service aboard an Imperial frigate flying the small ship launched fighter in support of anti-piracy operations. Thankfully Keno was allowed to go with her on the deployment with him becoming the ships unofficial mascot. After gaining enough experience, she was transferred to a Imperial Interdictor, one of the larger capital ships of the Latorii Empire. Keno stayed with Moriah for a while until it became apparent the ship was preparing for a major operation. Not wanting to endanger the small chiisune, Moriah sent Keno to live with her friend Kaylii.
A month later, the battle scarred ship returned and Moriah she was not on it, having been listed as MIA. They both took this hard, and Keno spent several days mourning. Thankfully Kaylii and Keno had each other to help them through their loss. Six months later, they received a message that Moriah was alive, having survived the battle that left her stranded on a frozen, blizzard prone planet. They were both shocked to discover the only reason she survived was because the human pilot who shot her down rescued her. They were even more shocked when she asked for Kaylii's help... in order to defect. After a long, strenuous conversation Kaylii agreed and Keno couldn't bare to be separated from his close friend and decided to go with her.