“The Long Patrol” is episode seven of season one of the classic series of Battlestar Galactica.
The fleet is apparently leaving their star system for a whole new galaxy no human fleet has ever seen before (showing that the writers couldn’t tell the difference between star system and galaxy). They’re going to send out a recon patrol and Athena asks who volunteered. Starbuck. Apparently, there’s a long waiting list for the Rising Star‘s restaurant and volunteering allowed him to jump the queue. Apparently, Starbuck asked Athena to dinner but she had duty, so she guesses he’ll have to eat alone. Adama says she can go.
Starbuck is on the Rising Star with Cassiopeia, however. He asks for a private room; once there, she leaves for a minute.
On Galactica, life signs have been detected in the first quadrant.
Athena arrives at Starbuck’s room; when the waiter returns with drinks, he asks for another room. He then heads back to the first to see Cassiopeia, before he’s contacted saying to return to Galactica. Starbuck gives them both a gift, and they end up bumping into each other once he’s left.
Starbuck arrives on the flight deck to meet Boomer and Apollo. The recon Viper has been made faster and had a new computer installed. And the weapons removed. If the Cylons spot him, it’s a one-way trip. Starbuck launches and the computer, C.O.R.A., tells him there are two sub light vehicles where Galactica spotted the lifesigns.
A shuttle is being harassed by a fighter, both of unknown origin. Starbuck manages to drive the fighter off. It loses the shuttle and returns to Proteus. The shuttle has been damaged and is landing and Starbuck lands near it. The shuttle’s pilot is about to strike him when Starbuck pulls his gun. The man says he thought Starbuck was one of those chasing him. He’s shipping agricultural parts. And says Starbuck can check his cargo. Which includes ambrosia. 500 yarns old, apparently. Starbuck tries it. The man says there’s a lot more and he’ll be glad to share it. And ends up knocking Starbuck out whilst he’s distracted and stealing his Viper.
There’s a real risk that the thief is going to draw the Cylons to the fleet and Starbuck discovers there are a lot more humans in the area.