was for both of them. After the salute The Fleet
formed up behind them in a double wing and escorted them in.
47 Their first priority was to get their wounded to hospital, their
second, to get their ships to repair dock, their third, to quarter
their crews while the extensive repairs on their vessels began. Then,
there was the extensive report to Fleet. Only then could North and Morn
themselves, relax.
48 Morn went immediately to The Lord God's Palace, and North was
invited to stay at The Palace also, which he graciously accepted. But
first he had to see to a few duties. When he was finally done, he
couldn't resist going up to the observation deck and slowly walking
around first Morn's ship, then, his own.
49 As he approached the side of his ship, which displayed shining, bare
metal, he thanked the old girl for holding together. Fifty percent of
her plating on that side had lost one-fourth of its thickness and would
have to be replaced. But none of the plates had ruptured. The old girl
was good to her crew!
50 North stood with his jacket folded over his arm, so he could've been
any Officer viewing the damage to the two ships. Perhaps that's why the
young An Engineer came up and spoke to him. "Quite a mess, aren't they?"
the Engineer commented.
51 "Yes," North smiled. "Looks like they've been through a lot!"
52 "You could say that!" the Engineer answered. "That one over there
fought off ten ships for two days, and THAT one nearly plowed up in an
ice field then threw a bolt at another ship so close it ate his hull
away. I'm sure glad I'm a yard man! I wouldn't want to serve with an Officer
that takes risks like that."
53 "Sometimes," remarked North, "in a bad situation you have to take
chances. Chance is the name of the game."
54 "Still ..." continued the Engineer, "that ship