The darkness of space was broken only by the stars and the running lights of the Nordic Troll. The ship sailed soundlessly through the darkness, bound for a point somewhere among the stars.

In the glow of the ship’s large cockpit, pilot Loomie Gavigan finished setting the course in the ships navigational computer, pushed the control stick back and stood up from the pilot’s chair. “Well, we’re set”, she said. “We’ll be at the asteroid belt in twelve hours.”

Nick Gerrin, the ship’s captain, rose from the co-pilot’s seat and said “Good work. Now let’s go eat.”

“What’s the hurry?” Loomie sighed. “It’s just protein packs.”

“Now, now, be grateful for what you’ve got. We’d all like some real food” Gerrin consoled her. “But first we have to get this job done, then we can re-stock the supplies.”

“Anna’s kind of hoping for some kind of table in those supplies.”

Gerrin looked at his pilot. “What’s wrong with the tables we’ve got?”

Loomie shrugged “She just thinks we’d all be more comfortable eating at a real table.”

“Well, I make no promises, but we’ll see what we can do.”

They both climbed down the ladder that led from the cockpit and walked back toward the mess area. Loomie asked “Why are we taking a bunch of bodies back to their home world anyway?”

Gerrin answered “These guys fought in the war. They died in battle and got lost for years. Now someone’s found what’s left of them and their families want to put them to rest. I’m fine with that. Anyone who steps up for their home deserves a decent funeral”.

“Even guys from the other side?” she asked him pointedly.

Gerrin nodded “Even guys from the other side”.

“I guess I get that” Loomie concluded.

Gerrin added “And it doesn’t hurt that their next-of-kin are paying our expenses, either”.

“Not by much” She reminded him.

“It’s enough to get us something more than protein packs.”

“Okay, if you say