A heat stick is a small, portable heat source that could be used to keep body temperature up in cold environments. Upon his return to the Dulcinea in the wintery Jinoteur system, Cervantes Quinn made sure to grab a two fistfuls of heat sticks. Quinn wanted to activate these and put them in his pockets in order to keep him warm upon his return trip back to Bridget McLellan. (VAN - Declassified novella: The Stars Look Down)