“We’re going to engage the enemy,” Kurt assured her.  He knew it wouldn't be easy – and he wasn't sure if he should be telling her at all, at least until the Captain made a formal announcement – but she needed to know.  “I think we’ll be leaving in a day or two.”

“Formidable is gone,” Rose said, bitterly.  “What chance do we stand?”

“We will see,” Kurt said.  There was no point in telling her, now, about the carrier’s armour - and how it might make a major difference in the next engagement.  He held her for a long moment, then gently let her go.  “I want you to take the next few hours off ...”

“No,” Rose said.  She shook her head firmly, then stood upright.  If her face hadn't been stained with tears, it would have been convincing.  “I can't show weakness.”

“Then I don’t want to see any problems from you,” Kurt said, changing his mind.  If she felt it would be better to throw herself into her work, he would let her do it and hope to hell it was the right thing to do.  “And we will be starting very early this morning.”

He pushed her gently towards the chair, then smiled.  “There's a washroom through there,” he said, indicating the hatch at the rear of the room.  “Wash yourself, then stay here for a couple of hours if you need to.  I won’t be using the room.”

“Thank you,” Rose said.

She didn't look any better, Kurt decided.  Perhaps he should call the doctor and ask her to take a look at Rose.  But he knew she’d hate it.  Doctors, particularly psychologists, were despised by pilots.  And how could the pilots be blamed when psychologists tended to have no understanding of their lives, but banned them from flying whenever they thought there was cause for concern.  But now there was cause for concern.

Loyalty warred with prudence.  Loyalty won.

“I shall speak to you again before we go flying,” he said, finally.  If she still seemed off, he would make her see the doctor, no matter what happened.  “Until then, take care of yourself.”

Shaking his head, he walked out of the compartment and down towards the flight deck.  There was a spare simulator there, one he could use to review the records from New Russia.  He didn't know if he would find anything, just by replaying them time and time again, but there was no harm in looking.  Besides, Rose wasn’t the only one who wanted revenge.  Kurt wanted to make the aliens pay too.

Chapter Eight

Chapter Eight