Drifter

"Drifter" is a type of Colonial Fleet distress call where a pilot must eject.

Based on the context used in the episode, "Resurrection Ship, Part II", the distress call "Drifter, drifter, drifter" indicates that a Colonial pilot's fighter is out of control in a combat situation, whereby the pilot must eject to safety.

Viper pilot Lee Adama calls out the "drifter" distress call after his Blackbird stealth fighter is struck by a passing Raider moments after he disables the FTL drive on the Resurrection Ship, preventing it from escaping. The Blackbird disintegrates moments after Adama ejects.

When a pilot is in distress but not in a combat situation where rescue would be hazardous and ejection is not necessary, the distress code that a pilot may use may be "krypter" instead.