Starbuck (TOS-RH)

This article has a separate continuity. This article is in the Richard Hatch continuation separate continuity, which is related to the Original Series. Be sure that your contributions to this article reflect the characters and events specific to this continuity only.

For the canonical depiction of this character, see: Starbuck (TOS).

Starbuck is one of the remaining skilled Colonial Warriors surviving the Battle of Cimtar, and ace Viper pilot serving aboard the last known battlestar, Galactica in 7342. He holds the rank of Captain (RH: Warhawk).

Biography

Personal life

Starbuck is the father of Dalton, whom he had with Cassiopeia approximately a yahren after the Battle at Galaxy's Edge in 7343. Dalton inherits her father's piloting skills, gambling acumen, confident grin, and hot temper (RH: Armageddon, Warhawk).

His relationship with Cassiopeia is complicated and tumultuous. Though they love each other, they cannot live together, as Cassiopeia needs "a mate who would be home when she wanted him there. Not out playing pyramid at some chancery all through light cycle, spending cubits on bad wagers or expensive bottles of ambrosa shared with women half his age". Half a yahren before Dalton's eighteenth novayahren, they briefly entertain the idea of reuniting, but "that dalliance had ended badly" (RH: Warhawk).

Following the end of his relationship with Cassiopeia, Starbuck returns to Athena. Their arrangement is such that she "didn't mind whom he bought ambrosa for, as long as he slept in his own bed. Or hers". Cassiopeia notes that Starbuck is "finally growing up," acknowledging that he has matured enough to consider how his actions affect the women in his life (RH: Warhawk).

Despite their romantic complications, Cassiopeia acknowledges that "the real Starbuck, the man he was at his core, the courageous and giving person beneath the facade, that man always belonged to" Athena (RH: Armageddon).

Military service

Starbuck is considered a legendary pilot, second only to Apollo. He serves in Blue Squadron under Apollo's command. Young pilots idolize him and want to be "mavericks just like him," and they worship his daughter Dalton in part because of her connection to him (RH: Armageddon).

His piloting style is characterized by "easy grace at the navi-hilt, his coolness under fire," treating his Viper "as an extension of himself". He is known for being a "man who had nearly died and come back, good as ever" (RH: Resurrection).

Starbuck advises a young Troy that "the only Viper pilots who never get the jitters are the crazy ones. And crazy Viper pilots become dead Viper pilots pretty frackin' fast" (RH: Warhawk).

Combat operations

During the battle against the Chitain forces, Starbuck demonstrates his exceptional piloting skills. When Chitain craft pursue him, he maneuvers his Viper so that two pursuing Chitain vessels destroy each other with their own weapons fire. He whoops loudly and roars "Rack 'em up and knock 'em down!" while Dalton listens on the comm (RH: Warhawk).

When Dalton's damaged Viper is pursued by Cylon Raiders during the battle at Kirasolia, Starbuck "confiscates" a Viper against orders and launches with Boomer to protect his daughter. His unauthorized launch prompts Apollo to note that "there was no way Starbuck was going to sit this dance out, no matter what his specific orders might have been, if Dalton's safety was involved" (RH: Resurrection).

During another engagement in the Ur cloud, Starbuck becomes separated from his squadron while following Boomer's ion trail. Lost in "blind whiteness," his directional display malfunctions wildly, and his fuel runs low (RH: Rebellion).

Personality

Starbuck is known as "the lover, the jester, the gambler, the boon companion," though when in combat, these aspects of his personality disappear and "only the Warrior remained" (RH: Warhawk).

He is a habitual fumarello smoker, though he has quit "several times already". The smell of fumarello smoke reminds others of him (RH: Armageddon, Warhawk).

He is protective of his daughter Dalton, hissing at other pilots to "watch out for my daughter" as he passes them in the launch bay, even while acknowledging that "Dalton was as capable as any of the fleet's younger pilots, more so than most of them, in fact" (RH: Armageddon).

Relationship with Apollo

Starbuck shares a deep friendship with Apollo, characterized by unwavering loyalty. When Apollo needs to be rescued from a suicidal mission aboard Hephaestus, Sheba reflects that "for yahren, a secret part of her had envied the closeness between Starbuck and Apollo. There was no danger so great that either man would not risk it for the other" (RH: Armageddon).

Troy views Starbuck as "for all intents and purposes, his nephew," describing him as "a good kid, passionate and intelligent" (RH: Warhawk).

Death and funeral

Starbuck suffers a brain hemorrhage that leaves him in critical condition. Dr. Wilker informs Apollo that the prognosis is not promising, noting "I don't know how he's lasted this long". Dalton keeps vigil at her father's deathbed in the med-unit. Despite hopes for a miracle, Starbuck dies with Athena, Sheba, Boomer, and Tigh standing deathwatch alongside Apollo and Dalton (RH: Resurrection).

Apollo chooses to hold Starbuck's funeral ceremony in the temple inside the ancient pyramid on Kobol, following his intuition that it should be so. The funeral bier rests atop the marble dais in the small chamber. Only a small handful attend, as Starbuck has few close friends and even less family, though everyone admires him (RH: Resurrection).

President Tigh officiates the ceremony, speaking from his heart rather than from prepared notes. He quotes Adama's wisdom that "A Warrior has nothing to fight for, if he does not allow himself to love, and be loved in return," and notes that Starbuck "was a man who loved many, and was loved by many more." Tigh reflects on Starbuck's humor, remembering him with "a tankard of grog before him, one of his horrible fumarellos clenched between his teeth, possessing a losing hand of pyramids but trying to bluff everyone into believing otherwise" (RH: Resurrection).

During the ceremony, an eerie light fills the chamber from nowhere and everywhere at once, bouncing in geometric shapes off the symbols and sigils on the walls before striking Starbuck's head and suffusing his peaceful face with a brilliant glow. Apollo is the only one to witness this phenomenon, having seen the same thing before with Adama in the same chamber, leading him to wonder if Starbuck might be Kobollian after all (RH: Resurrection).

After the ceremony, Starbuck's coffin is placed in his favorite Scarlet Viper. Bojay prepares the fighter by removing the seat and navi-hilt to make room for the coffin. Apollo tucks a deck of pyramids, a pack of fumarellos, and a gold cubit into Starbuck's pockets, and places a bottle of his favorite ambrosa beside him in the coffin. The hull damage from Starbuck's last battle is left untouched as a testament to his courage under enemy fire (RH: Resurrection).

Apollo personally launches both his own fighter and Starbuck's Viper, with the funeral ship slaved to his controls. He releases Starbuck's fighter into deep space, reflecting on their friendship and expressing hope that Starbuck might find one of the Light Ships and be made an honorary Kobollian. Apollo bids farewell to his oldest friend, acknowledging "we all return home again" (RH: Resurrection).

Resurrection

Starbuck is subsequently resurrected and returns dramatically during a confrontation on Kobol. Disguised as one of the hooded caretakers, he reveals himself by firing his laser to save Apollo and Gar'Tokk from attacking acolytes. When he removes his cowl, Athena, Cassiopeia, and Dalton are stunned to see him returned from the dead "in full vigor and fighting glory". Starbuck quips "Got your back, buddy" to Apollo, who never doubted he would. He greets Athena with his characteristic rogue's smile, sweeps her into his arm, and kisses her, saying "Just in case there was any doubt" (RH: Resurrection).

His experience with death and the Light Beings profoundly changes him. While he remains a hothead who drinks too much and still comes up with crazy schemes, there is something deeper to him. The old Starbuck would have given up everything to chase Dalton's exhaust trail through danger, but his resurrection has given him new perspective (RH: Rebellion).

Service on Paradis

Following the fleet's arrival at Paradis, Starbuck continues his military service. He holds the rank of Colonel and works alongside Sheba and Boomer overseeing the deconstruction of crippled ships in the orbiting drydocks (RH: Paradis).

Athena, now in a command position, acknowledges being "hopelessly in love with Starbuck, maybe in love for the first time in her life." She wonders if he will ever be the man of which he is capable and if he could love her with the same intensity he once showed for Cassiopeia (RH: Paradis).

During a mission on Paradis, Starbuck is seriously wounded while providing covering fire for Apollo. He takes laser fire to the leg and chest, nearly dying in the caverns. While wounded, he tells Apollo that Cassiopeia "deserves someone like you" and confesses that she was "the first woman who got through to me" and "scared me worse than death." He admits he ran away from her but encourages Apollo not to do the same. Despite his severe injuries, Starbuck survives (RH: Paradis).