“Yes,” one of the pilots said.  “When can we expect to receive more pilots?”

Kurt sighed.  After the first rush to get pilots and fighters to Ark Royal, the bureaucrats had switched their attention to equipping the unified defence fleet, downgrading the ancient carrier to a lower priority.  He couldn't really blame them, he knew, but it was still frustrating when he was responsible for the carrier’s fighters.  They could cram another two wings of starfighters into the launch bays without real difficulty, hopefully including some torpedo-bombers.  Right now, Ark Royal had almost no long-range striking power, apart from the mass drivers.

“We’ll get them when we get them,” he said, tiredly.  Someone had clearly worked out that recalling the naval reservists from interplanetary shipping lines would be economically disastrous.  He would have been impressed by this display of common sense on the part of the bureaucrats if it hadn't been so irritating to have to constantly report that the fighter wings were not ready for deployment.  “Go get some sleep.”

He held out a hand as Rose stood up.  “Hold on,” he said, as the other pilots cleared the room.  “I want a word with you.”

Rose looked up at him crossly, then sat down again, one hand toying with her short blonde hair.  She wasn't unattractive, Kurt knew, but her permanently soured expression made it harder to feel any attraction for her.  Not that was a bad thing, he reminded himself hastily.  He was a married man.  Once the other pilots were gone, he closed the hatch and sat down facing her.

“You're having personal problems,” he said, silently damning himself for ever agreeing to take the CAG post.  He was meant to fly with the pilots as well as discipline them.  A normal CAG wouldn't fly at all, except in emergencies.  “And they’re affecting your performance.”

Rose scowled.  “That’s none of your bloody business,” she snapped.  “With all due respect, sir ...”

Kurt cut her off.  “You’re an excellent flier when you put your mind to it, but you're being distracted,” he said.  There was no point in penalising her for her tone.  “Either share your problems with me or put them out of your mind, for good.”

“It's my boyfriend,” Rose said, softly.  “He’s ... he’s been deployed with the unified defence force.”

It took Kurt a moment to put it together.  Her file hadn't been too clear on what she’d actually done to be sent to Ark Royal; indeed, the comments had been so elliptical that he hadn't been able to work them out.  But if she’d been sleeping with a fellow pilot, perhaps even one in the same squadron ...