I go by the Greek alphabet for my bases. Alpha, Beta, Gamma, Delta, etc. I had no idea you could rename the interceptors and drop ships though! I'll give that a try the next time I do a game.
Also giant paladins are nothing compared to what I've got in a PF game that I am currently playing in. I've got a mutant, flying, electrical squid as a cohort. His name is Billy. He is the best cheerleader and loot gatherer we could ever ask for! He also is good for grappling the occasional foe into submission.