Played a game and have a viper question

By Gatha, in Battlestar Galactica

Due to a couple events and having launched most of our vipers early in the game one of our pilots was unable to launch. We figured we could go to command and order a ship back but the rules said nothing about recalling vipers and a couple people (mostly the guy shooting galactica's guns) thought it was unthematic for pilots to return from battle so someone else could take their ship, ideally before anyone got killed b/c they left the battle.

Thoughts?

Rulebook, page 28:

If all vipers are already in play and a player wishes to activate the “Hangar Deck” location, he may choose to move a viper from any space area to the “Reserves” so that he may pilot it.

Wow. Can't believe I missed that. Thanks.