They played a few games of Pockets, Peepian
style. Though it was played on a round table instead of a square one,
it was quite similar to the Haven game, and the two players were about
equal.
89 When they returned to the shop The Hashons were just cracking the
molds. They laid them out and Spearonias walked over. His eyes suddenly
brightened, as he realized what the squares were. "Commissioning
plates! " he cried, "The Spearon, The Spearos, The Spearonias! What a
wonderful idea, North! It's beautiful!"
90 "The two brothers dreamed they would be the first to lead their
people to unknown worlds. In this way their dream will come true. The
ships named after them will carry their essence into the stars! The
Spearon will be the command ship of The Home Fleet, forever standing
guard over that that he loved the most!"
91 "I don't know what to say!" Spearonias said, wiping tears from his
face. "You're a strange man, North! You seem hard and cold, but
sometimes you show a tenderness that is far beyond other men!"
92 "I will take that," North laughed, "as the greatest of compliments.
Of course what we have done is a secret, and is not to be mentioned.
You and I will be the only ones that will ever know about the extra
little ingredient in the commissioning plates. Of course our Hashon
friends here, will say nothing."
93 Spearonias nodded. 'If you don't mind," he suggested, "I'll make The
Spearon my flagship. I don't think it would be appropriate for an
Officer to command a ship bearing his own name. It might look rather
conceited!"
94 The two men returned to their duties. When all the ships were well
prepared, North and Spearonias took two hundred of them out on a little
adventure. North wanted The Peepians to get a little battle experience
outside their own system before he put them up against