is a
Fictional Character in the television series ''Battlestar Galactica'', a reimagining of the
Classic Series of the same name. She is portrayed by actress
Katee Sackhoff . While the original Starbuck was male, the new one is female; a fact which caused controversy for some fans when news of the series first came out, though the controversy cooled when the show premiered.
Kara "Starbuck" Thrace is currently a Captain aboard the Battlestar Galactica serving as
CAG .
Originally she was bound for glory as a
Professional Pyramid Ball Player until her knee gave out, sending her on another path which led to the military. Kara was able to find a sense of 'family' within the military with the respect and honor that her childhood seemed to lack. Being one of the best
Colonial Viper pilots in the fleet led Kara to achieve the status of Flight Instructor at the Colonial Flight School where she met
Zak Adama . The two fell in love and were eventually engaged to be married.
As Zak's Flight Instructor Kara made the mistake of passing Zak through basic flight even though he had failed it. Her feelings got in the way and she couldn't find it within herself to disappoint him - even though he confessed to her that he didn't want any special treatment from her or his father, Commander
William Adama .
Kara's mistake ended up costing Zak his life when he was killed in his first Viper mission. The death of Zak led Commander Adama to Kara whom he later brought under his command as a Lieutenant upon learning of her and Zak's engagement and love for one another. It was also Zak's death that created a wedge between Commander Adama and his other son,
Lee "Apollo" Adama . Lee blamed his father for Zak's death and after the funeral broke off all contact with him, as well as with Kara.
Kara became like a daughter to Commander Adama as she was his only surviving link to Zak since Lee's absence. Adama became the father Kara always wished hers had been. The Galactica's XO,
Colonel Tigh , and Kara were constantly at odds with one another. It was Adama who kept the peace between the two for quite some time.
It wasn't until 2 years later that Lee, Kara and Commander Adama were all reunited during the Galactica's decommissioning ceremony.
Soon after the
Cylons attacked the 12 Colonies.
Kara kept her secret about Zak buried inside until after the Cylon attack on the
Twelve Colonies . It was soon after, on a recon mission, when Kara feared she and the rest of humanity might be wiped out by the Cylons, that she confessed to Lee her mistake of passing Zak. Lee was devastated and would later confront Kara about it when she was chosen to train new Viper pilots aboard Galactica after more than half of its pilots were killed in a freak accident.
It was during this time that Kara admitted her secret to Commander Adama who was furious and heartbroken.
Not until Starbuck was thought lost and dead on a nearby moon after a Cylon attack did Commander Adama realize Kara's importance to him and his love for her and ultimately expressed his forgiveness once she was safely back aboard Galactica.
It was on the moon where she was stranded that Kara broke her knee. She was able to pilot a downed Cylon raider back to Galactica and soon after began her physical therapy. After being bed ridden, Kara was put on crutches and quickly started using a cane as her knee healed. She was removed from flight status until her knee was good enough to withstand the G-Forces of piloting a Viper in combat.
Kara's role on Galactica became a valuable one as the Galactica fled from the Cylons with a rag-tag fleet of Civilian ships to protect. The self-proclaimed 'best shot in or out of the cockpit' was not one to mince words. Starbuck had a loud mouth and spoke her mind more often than not. Her attitude was much like her Viper skills - aggressive, dangerous and in-your-face.
She enjoyed playing cards, drinking and smoking cigars with the other pilots as much as she enjoyed destroying Cylon fighters.
Kara and Lee became very close as they were often together through the most dangerous of missions. The sexual tension was noticeable yet unspoken until after Kara came back from a return trip to Caprica, where she met a man she fell in love with by the name of
Samuel Anders . She promised to return and rescue him and his band of resistance fighters on
Caprica . Soon after she became conflicted, and almost suicidal. During the heat of battle, she realized she had something to live for, and gave up a kill to another pilot, who was trying to take her place as Top Gun. This was a huge step for her, though she suffered backsliding when she accidentially shot Apollo during a hostage crisis.
It was soon after returning from the planet
Kobol that the
Battlestar Pegasus , commanded by
Admiral Cain , was discovered. It was during this reuniting that Admiral Cain, who had direct authority over all military matters, promoted Starbuck to Captain and
CAG (Commander, Air Group) of the Pegasus. Cain was eventually killed by a rogue Cylon agent, but Starbuck's promotion stayed as Commander Adama was promoted by the
President Of The 12 Colonies to Admiral.
Since
Lee Adama 's promotion to
Commander of the
Battlestar Pegasus , Kara has transferred back to the
Galactica and assumed the role of
Galactica 's
CAG .
At the end of season 2 she has married Anders, and settled on
New Caprica .
