The Long Patrol

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Cora in The Long Patrol

Overview

After losing an experimental Viper to a smuggler, Starbuck is imprisoned in a "unique" environment.

Summary

• The fleet is passing through asteroid dust, leaving their star system for the first time. Beyond the dust lies a whole new galaxy that no human in the fleet has seen before.

• Adama inquires about who the volunteer is, and Apollo informs him that it is Starbuck.

• Athena is surprised that Starbuck volunteered, until Apollo explains that whoever volunteered to test the new recon Viper would move to the head of the yahren-long waiting list to the dining room of the Rising Star.

• Athena tells Adama that she had been invited to dinner with Starbuck, but her duty assignment conflicted. Adama agreed to cover her shift along with Colonel Tigh.

• Starbuck and Cassieopa arrive on the Rising Star. Starbuck bribes the waiter for a private room (a luxury that usually is reserved 60 to 70 centares in advance).

• Arriving in their private room, Starbuck bribes the waiter for some Ambrosa. According to the waiter it is as rare as Tylium.

• Cassieopea leaves the room, promising to return quickly. Starbuck lights up his signature fumarello.

• Galactica's scanners detect possible life. Concentrating their scans confirms the presence of life. Adama orders Recon Viper One prepared.

• Athena arrives in Starbuck's private dining room. Starbuck quickly bribes the waiter for yet another private room, citing a (fictional) sanitation ship spoiling the view.

• Athena raves about the mushies, but complains about the lack of fresh protein. Starbuck leaps at a chance to remedy the situation, using it as an excuse to visit his other room.

• Back in Cassieopea's room, Starbuck claims that they are all out of mushies. Cassieopea claims that she doesn't mind, as the protein is just fine.

• Starbuck is summoned back to Galactica over the intercom. He gives Cassieopea one of his collar insignia as he leaves. He give Athena is other one for her goodbye.

• Starbuck settles up with the waiter for his dinner for three, costing him all his remaining cubits. The waiter admires Starbuck's daring, not in going on the mission, but in juggling the two young ladies. He claims that it is very "pre-war".

• Cassieopea and Athena encounter each other as they exit, both holding Starbuck's insignia. They quickly realize what had happened.

• Starbuck reports to Recon Viper One wearing civilian clothes. The disguise is designed to hide his status as a Colonial Warrior should he be forced to land.

• Apollo informs Starbuck that the Recon Viper has double the range and speed of a normal Viper, and has also had a voice activated computer installed.

• Starbuck is instructed to turn on his short-range marker beacon, but to otherwise avoid transmissions to prevent the Cylons from tracking him. Should he make Cylon contact, he is not to return to Galactica as that would give away the position of the fleet.

• Apollo explains that all the engine upgrades were made possible on the Recon Viper at the expense of the laser generators. The Recon Viper is unarmed.

• Starbuck takes the new craft through some high speed manuevers, and is impressed with the results.

• Starbuck activates CORA, commenting sarcastically that he'd like to see a computer do that. The computer puts the Recon Viper through a series of turns that forces Starbuck to ask to return to level flight.

• CORA introduces herself, then begins to set up a scan.

• CORA indicates that two sublight craft have been detected. The Recon Viper slows to sublight to investigate, and finds a sixth millenium fighter and shuttle. The shuttle is being chased by the fighter.

• Starbuck assumes manual control, and blows by the fighter with his turbo engaged, sending the fighter into a spin and allowing the shuttle to escape. Starbuck then pursues the shuttle, while the fighter returns to Proteus.

• When Starbuck investigates the shuttle, the pilot attempts to sneak up and club him. Caught in the act, the pilot claims he was afraid that Starbuck was the pirate that had been shooting at him. The pilot claims to be a shuttle pilot transporting a load of agro parts.

• Stabuck inspects the cargo, and finds Ambrosa. The pilot claims that it is 500-yahren old.

• Starbuck starts asking questions about the capabilities of the pirates, when the shuttle pilot gets the drop on him and knocks him out using the Ambrosa bottle.

• The shuttle pilot steals the Recon Viper. CORA asks him to identify himself, but the pilot has her fly him to another asteroid and make a transmission.

• Galactica detects the transmission, but finds that it is encoded in an unknown format. The crew is concerned about the unauthorized, as well as the use of an unknown code.

• Aboard his basestar, Baltar is informed of the detection of a signal in an unknown code. Baltar orders the launch of raiders to investigate.

• Apollo and Boomer are ordered to seek out and destroy Recon Viper One, in order to stop the transmissions. They are not allowed to attempt to contact the Recon Viper, as it would quickly outmanuever them if it is hostile.

• Starbuck awakens to discover his Viper gone. He launches the shuttle, only to be shot at by the sixth millenium fighter. Starbuck claims that there is a case of mistaken identity. The fighter pilot orders Starbuck to follow him.

• Starbuck is greeted on the ground by armed guards. His attempts at talking himself out of the situation fail miserably.

• Apollo and Boomer continue to track the Recon Viper. It has stopped its long range broadcasts, but they are tracking it by its short range marker beacon.

• Starbuck awakens, after his second blow to the head of the day, in a cell. There are strange drawings on the wall.

• The other prisoners all seem to have bottles of Ambrosa. They welcome Starbuck to the prison.

• Assault 9 introduces himself, as well as Forger 7, Embezzler 10, and Adulteress 58.

• Adulteress 58 asks what kind of offense Starbuckin' is, anyway. When Starbuck claims that it isn't an offense, that it is just a name, Forger 7 tells him that they are one in the same. Adulteress 58 wonders if their Original Sinners were as ignorant as Starbuck is.

• Assault 9 explains that the original Sinners are their ancestors, the ones who were first sentenced to Proteus.

• The prisoners are curious for news about the war between the colonies and the alliance. The prisoners believe that the ambrosa they make is supplied to the Colonial Warriors.

• Athena summons Cassieopea to the bridge to inform her that Starbuck is no longer in control of the Recon Viper, and may be lost or dead.

• The long range transmission is detected again, and Cassieopea recognizes it as an Aerian Merchant Code.

• They decipher the code, and recognize it as a request for the coordinates to Aeries. Adama countermands the attack orders to the Vipers. Adama reasons that the pilot of the Recon Viper must be a human that doesn't realize that Aeries is in Cylon hands. He orders Apollo and Boomer to investigate further.

• Apollo and Boomer find the Recon Viper unmanned. A lot of equipment appears to have been stripped out of it, likely to make room for cargo.

• Apollo and Boomer come under laser fire. They return fire, and pursue their assailant.

Stopped at 34:31.

Noteworthy Dialogue

A hot pilot doesn't need all that electronic felgercarb.

Statistics

Guest Stars

• Ted Gehring as Croad
• Sean McClory as Assault 9
• Cathy Paine as CORA
• James Whitmore Jr. as Robber

Writing & Direction

• Written by Donald Bellisario
• Directed by Christian I. Nyby II

Production Notes

• Season 1 (1978 / 1979)
• Production Number: X.X
• Airdate Order: 4 (of 21)

First Run Air Dates & Releases

• UK Airdate: Date
• US Airdate: October 15, 1978
• DVD Release: December 28, 2004