It was the breaking glass that drew attention to the altercation. At first, there were no shouts from the combatants, no curses, just the dull sound of fists hitting flesh. The sound from the few initial spectators around them grew from a few comments to the cheers of a raucous crowd within microns. The fists flying were not the flailing of inexperienced boys. This was a fight between Warriors who had training in hand-to-hand combat. One dodged, while another punched. Boomer couldn't see from his seat who was involved. He knew something like this could happen when he saw how packed the lounge was with warriors. When going over the troop rotations with Colonel Gage, Boomer could easily analyse why things had become a wicked hazing boys club with Dante's troops. They were more than three quarters male. Boomer wasn't so chauvinistic himself that he didn't realize that women provided a nice balance in the service. Their influence could be calming.

As he heard another fist land and half the crowd cheer and the other half boo, he also recognized that women could also inspire fights as men postured and posed for attention. Boomer figured that's what the fight at the bar was about, and didn't worry too much about who was involved as it seemed to be contained to the two who were throwing punches. Likely they were young, hot-headed and over-imbibing. The crowd around the combatants had not become involved in the fight. Boomer was wondering when security would break it up.

It was Jolly cursing while leaping to his feet that caused Boomer concern. "Frack, it's Starbuck!"

Boomer watched as Jolly moved faster than many thought a man his size could. He was across the room to the bar, wading through the crowd before Boomer had made it out of his chair. Boomer tried to follow, but Jolly complicated his progress as the pilot, rather than trying to pull Starbuck out of the fight, began throwing his own punches at the other fighter and his friends. Giles was only a step behind, but at least he was attempting to pull the combatants apart, that is before someone threw a punch at him and he threw one back as well. Boomer shouted at Giles, "We need to stop this before security gets here!"

Boomer began pushing other people out of the way and shouting authoritatively for them to stay back and leave the lounge. There was a loud groan from the crowd and Boomer hoped it meant the fight was over. He looked to the fighters to see Starbuck staggering back and wiping blood from his eye before he stepped forward into the fight throwing a vicious punch with all his weight behind it. Boomer heard it connect when half the crowd cheered and the other half groaned.

He lost Giles in the melee, as he started to back out of the crowd. He looked for Dietra on his way, motioning for her to help him out with clearing the lounge. The fight was quickly becoming a barroom brawl with Crius and Jolly now throwing their own punches against others from the Dilmun fleet. Once he saw that Dietra was safe and encouraging others to leave, Boomer waded back into the spectators, forcefully shoving others aside.

Once near the fight Boomer was a bit unsure how to go about breaking it up. It had not spread beyond Starbuck, Jolly and Crius and their adversaries. Lying on the floor and nursing what would undoubtedly be a black eye, at least Giles had stopped throwing punches. The others in the crowd had backed up enough to give the fighters room. The Dilmun warriors were cheering their fighters on, enjoying the show.

Boomer took a moment to look to see that Dietra and a couple warriors she had conscripted were effectively keeping the others in the room from joining the fight. Boomer first began to work at Jolly to get the man to back off, because there was no getting to Starbuck with Jolly and Crius in the way. Plus Boomer knew Starbuck. Once he got started, he wasn't going to stop fighting until either he went down or the other guy did, and if he did go down, ten to one he'd be trying to get back up. He hadn't seen Starbuck in a full blown fight, other than on the triad courts, since their Academy days. Boomer remembered though that back then, Starbuck rarely was one to start the fight, but he was always was the one who finished it.

Boomer put himself between Jolly and his opponent, yelling for them to stop. Jolly was smart enough to step back, but the Dilmun warrior wasn't ready to be done. Boomer had to shove him back hard, shouting a threat of being put on report. Out of the corner of his eye, he caught the sight of Lizbet and Dara trying to pull Crius back. Boomer worried the girls would get hurt as Crius was unwilling to listen to reason and was shaking them off as they reached for his arms.

No one had gotten to Starbuck yet, and Boomer wondered why until he noticed that Rene was pulling back anyone who tried to get near the fight. Boomer wasn't sure if she was trying to protect Starbuck, or if she was giving him room to throw his punches. He had his answer when Rene shouted out, "Starbuck, watch his left! Sweep his foot, he leads with the left."

Starbuck ducked the left and did as she suggested, sweeping a foot to take the other man off his feet, but the man recovered, tossing a jab at Starbuck's eye again. Blood flew from the punch and everyone in the crowd cheered at the sight of it as it spattered over his uniform. It didn't even slow him down and Starbuck countered, pummelling his rival's abdomen, knocking him back a step. The man grunted from the impact, to another cheer from the spectators.

The fighters squared up again, fists raised, sparring as they waited for the other man to throw a punch, both breathing heavily, sweat pouring off them. In a flash, the captain kicked out, as the warriors from the Galactica shouted their displeasure at what they considered an unfair move. The Dilmun warriors shouted in victory as the kick connected in Starbuck's gut, knocking him down a little. The Captain caught him a glancing blow with the inevitable upper cut, but unbelievably unfazed, Starbuck came up with his own that landed solidly on the man's jaw. The two backed up again, both shaking their heads to clear them, tiring now. The Captain's lip was split open, his teeth stained with blood giving him a ghastly grin. Starbuck had blood streaming from above his eye down his face that he was forced to move his hands from protecting himself, to wiping the blood from his eye so he could see. It was one hell of a cut, probably from the other man's ring.

Crius was still trying to shake off the arms holding him, kicking out in an attempt to help Starbuck. "Kill him, Bucko!" he screamed maniacally.

And Boomer had thought it was Starbuck who was out of control.

Suddenly a loud sharp whistle cut across the room, shrilling twice, the sound freezing most of the activity. It was followed by Nik's warning from the doorway, "Security is here!"

Boomer had heard the phrase "like rats from a sinking ship," but he had not seen it before now. It was impressive how quickly the room cleared, the Dilmun warriors dashing for the various exits. The Colonial Warriors were confused for a moment, probably trying to figure out where everyone was going. Technically they were all stuck on this ship. But the hesitation was only for a moment before the Colonial Warriors followed the others' example. The room cleared quickly and Boomer was able to get to Starbuck as Rene had turned to help Lizbet pull Crius back from his fight.

"Go, get out of here!" Rene pushed at Crius towards the chancery. "Take my shuttle ID. Hole up for a while in a private room, then get on any shuttle, it doesn't matter which one. You can get back to the Galactica later. GO!"

Crius hesitated, reaching for Rene's arm. "No, go," she said again. "I'll provide cover. It's going to be okay. The Commander's not Dante! Just get off this ship, any shuttle!"

Boomer didn't realize that Crius could move that fast. Before Boomer could reach out to detain him, Crius and Lizbet were gone. Giles followed yelling for them to wait for him.

The problem now was the fact that Starbuck and the Dilmun pilot had not stopped fighting. Neither seemed to be concerned about the arrival of security, too involved in the fight to care. As a follower of pugilistic arts, Boomer had to admit it was a decent fight. Both were roughly of the same weight class, although it appeared the man Starbuck was fighting had more experience. Starbuck seemed to have passion on his side, as his face was fixed in a snarl, and he was muttering under his breath, something about a gallmonging, sadistic boray.

With the absence of the crowd, it was as if they now could get to the real fighting, and Starbuck lashed out at the Captain. The fists flew furiously from each of them, both men grunting and groaning as the punches found their marks.

Boomer shared a look with Jolly and the other man nodded in understanding. The problem in this fight was Starbuck, not the Captain he was fighting. If they could get Starbuck pulled out of the confrontation, the fight would probably end. Adding to the fuel of Starbuck's passion was Rene off to his side coaching him with constructive comments. They waited until a particularly hard punch had knocked Starbuck back wiping at the blood in his eye before Boomer grabbed one side of him and Jolly the other. They hauled Starbuck off the Captain as the warrior fought back, throwing punches blindly like some kind of berserker. This was not going to end well for their buddy. Boomer winced as the Captain took advantage by punching Starbuck full in the face, snapping his head back as the blow connected. Starbuck roared trying to break free and Boomer was afraid Rene was going to join in as she shouted a "HEY!" at the Captain.

Before Boomer could raise his voice, security was in the room, shouting for everyone to disperse and the fight to break up. Boomer couldn't help but laugh. "It's already done!" Boomer shouted, before letting Starbuck go and turning to finally get in his face. "It's done, right, Bucko?"

"The man is a sadistic fracker!" Starbuck tried to reach over Boomer to take another swing at the Captain.

"You're getting in on the action too, so what is your problem!" the Captain shouted back as a few of his friends who had stayed, echoed the sentiment.

Starbuck lunged to get at the man again, while the Captain put up his fists ready to keep fighting. Jolly slammed Starbuck back into the bar. "Security is here!"

It was Reece who spoke as he pulled out his truncheon, slapping it in his hand, looking eager to use it. "It doesn't look like it's done."

"It's done!" Boomer yelled at him as Starbuck struggled helplessly in Jolly's hold. Boomer had to turn to Starbuck to yell at him again, "It's done! Stand down, Lieutenant!"

"He had it coming with cracks like that. This isn't the Zakar!"

"No, it's the Rising Star where we are supposed to act like Colonial Warriors and lead by example!" Boomer was gratified that the words brought some sense into Starbuck's anger-fuelled haze. He stopped resisting Jolly, muttered to his larger friend that he was alright, to let him up.

In typical security incompetence, Reece ignored the two fighters and had walked up to Rene. "So, it's you again. How many pockets you pick tonight? Where do you hide it in such skimpy dresses?"

Jolly had to slam Starbuck back again as he was now lunging for Reece, but Starbuck was faster than his friend, was able to dodge under Jolly's arm and came up punching Reece in the mouth, then tackling the security guard to the ground.

Boomer was too stunned by the move to react. The other security guards weren't as inept as Reece. They reached for Starbuck, hauled him off their fellow officer, and shoved Starbuck to the ground. A loud "Hey!" is all Starbuck was able to utter as the guard placed a knee in his back, yanked Starbuck's arms behind his back, and expertly placed him in cuffs before anyone could get involved. They hauled Starbuck up to his feet. He was still struggling in his rage.

Boomer intervened on his friend's behalf, helping Reece up from the floor. "Reece, is that really necessary?"

Reece laughed sarcastically. "He punched me, yeah, it's necessary! And I've already dealt with that one before." He flipped his thumb to indicate Rene, who held up her hands in innocence.

"I haven't done a thing."

"Let's search you and find out." Reece drawled as he took a step towards her.

Starbuck lunged in the arms that held him. "Don't you fracking touch her! You have no grounds to search her!"

Boomer grimaced as Jolly stepped in front of Rene in protection. Boomer also placed himself between Reece and Rene as he spoke. "Aren't you here about the fight? Rene wasn't in the fight."

"I bet she's involved." Reece rubbed at his jaw casting Rene and then Starbuck a glare before he turned to the Captain. "And you are?"

"Captain Pallus from the Galactica."

"So, what happened, Sir?"

Boomer straightened a little in shock as the Captain looked to Boomer, a question in his eyes before he answered. "I think that's for our Commander to figure out. You're civilian security, correct?"

Reece stammered, "Yes, but we also are part of the fleet. We manage things. We are in charge and answer to the council, just like your Commander answers to the council. You're one of the new ones, aren't you? I guess they didn't tell you how it works. We're in charge here."

Captain Pallus nodded, then looked to Boomer again. Boomer answered the inferred question and shook his head no. Pallus turned back to Reece. "I think we need to defer to the Commander on this one. We are both warriors so it should be a military matter."

Pallus's words did more than anyone else's to bring Starbuck back to some sense of control. He straightened up, looking a bit more like the warrior that was in charge of blue squadron. "Oh, our commander will take care of this. Don't you worry about that you, boray."

Boomer groaned inwardly. He had hoped that Starbuck had calmed down enough to be sensible. That obviously wasn't going to happen.

It was one of the guards holding Starbuck that added, "Yeah Reece, technically he's right. We would just hand them over to the military once we made charges. Maybe we should show the Commander why the Warriors shouldn't be allowed on the Rising Star."

"Yeah, good point. Alright," Reece turned to Pallus, the ranking officer of the group. "We'll escort you to the Galactica. I'll press charges for Lt. Starbuck hitting me and what charges would you like to make?"

Pallus fixed Starbuck with a glare before he pointedly cut his eyes to Rene, and then back to Starbuck. "That will depend on what we can work out on the way there."

Starbuck started to growl something, but Rene stepped in front of him, her voice cut him off. "Starbuck! My realm. Keep your mouth shut!"

Starbuck shifted his anger to her. "NO! Don't you fracking dare negotiate with this son of equine. Dante is not going to touch you! This is not Dilmun."

Rene reached out a hand to his chest, as she said soft and low, "Dante's dead. Trust me. I know what I'm doing. Just keep your mouth shut and follow the code."

"Code?" he said, before he realized she was probably referring to the secret sign language she and Jake had that Starbuck had learned.

"Number one, shut your mouth."

He opened it again.

"Now!" she insisted.

Boomer wasn't sure if Rene's intervention was helpful or harmful, but Starbuck at least followed her words when he wasn't listening to anyone else in the room, that is until Pallus added to the conversation.

"Smart girl. See I knew you could learn."

Starbuck lunged towards Pallus again, but the guards had a good hold of him and began hauling him towards the shuttle.

Reece had a shuttle waiting for them, and they were loaded into the back. Starbuck was shoved down into a seat. Boomer thought it curious that Rene didn't even attempt to take a seat beside Starbuck. She scanned the shuttle, Boomer assumed trying to see who had made it and who had escaped, before she took a seat in another row, but with a clear view of Starbuck. Boomer took a seat beside Starbuck and it was a good thing too as he tried to get up as Captain Pallus strode over to Rene.

Boomer had pulled out a handkerchief and was attempting to wipe at the blood streaming from his friend's eye, but Starbuck jerked his head away so he had a better view of the Captain and Rene. "They're just talking, Starbuck. He can't do any harm here," Boomer scolded his friend, trying to press the cloth to the wound.

"Yes, he can!" Starbuck growled before lowering his voice. "He's one of the guys that abused Rene. He can intimidate her and taunt her, and the nightmares will just get worse!"

"Nightmares? What are you talking about, buddy?"

"Every fracking night. She wakes up screaming. Pallus and the others did more than just flogging and fracking. They fracked with their heads!"

"That doesn't mean you punch him in the lounge on the Rising Star! You talk with the Commander and follow the proper procedures. You get her help. What were you thinking, Starbuck? They were talking about promoting you to Captain. Now you'll be lucky if you get to stay in the service as an ensign."

That quieted Starbuck down, but he didn't relax until Pallus walked away from Rene to come back and have a seat next to Reece. Starbuck spit blood from his mouth toward the floor at Reece's feet.

Once the shuttle launched Rene began flashing hand signs to Starbuck. The conversation did a bit more to calm Starbuck down. Boomer could read most of it, that Starbuck should keep his mouth shut, apologize and that the rats would take care of the rest. That no, she wasn't going to be doing anything with Pallus, that the rats together would fix this. Starbuck kept quiet except for asking Boomer to flash a sign to Rene to ask her to explain, but Rene just shook her head no, and repeated that the rats would fix it.

When they reached the Galactica, security hauled Starbuck up to his feet, even though it wasn't needed. He was complying and growled at the guards, but Boomer uttered a low "Starbuck," in warning. The Commander was waiting on them with Colonel Gage beside him. Commander Adama was wearing his stern face that only softened a touch in sadness when he saw that Starbuck was in cuffs and bleeding. The Captain had staunched the flow of blood from his split lip, but Starbuck's eye had begun to swell and continued to bleed.

"Remove those cuffs now," the Commander ordered Reece.

"Sir, he took a swing at me," Reece replied.

"Lieutenant Starbuck, you will conduct yourself as an officer in the Colonial Service should, do you understand?"

Starbuck didn't hesitate. "Yes, Sir!"

Adama issued the order again. "Remove those cuffs."

Reece grumbled as he unlocked the cuffs. Boomer was prepared to step in if Starbuck couldn't resist the urge to retaliate, at the very least with a snarky remark, but Starbuck just shut his eyes and mouth until the cuffs were off. Probably he was having a few flashbacks to his teenage years and knew the trouble he would get in. Boomer handed him the bloody cloth, and Starbuck wiped at his knuckles first before placing it against his eye.

Reece stared to explain the situation, but Adama cut him off. "I received the report. Thank you for delivering me my warriors. You may return to your duties."

Reece looked like he wanted to say more, but settled for, "See you later Starbuck. I'll save a cell for you."

Boomer was pretty sure had the Commander not fixed a stern look on Starbuck his friend would have had a wonderfully snarky comment, but Starbuck kept his mouth shut.

The Commander quickly appraised the warriors before him. They were both bruised and bleeding, but nothing looked life threatening. Both officers would be sporting bruises and black eyes, but the injuries to both men appeared to be equal in measure.

"To my office. Now," the Commander ordered and turned for the corridor.

As they headed down the hallway, Rene reached for the Colonel, holding him back from the others. She spoke quietly to Colonel Gage. "Sir, I need to get Jake."

"Was he also involved? I thought he missed out on this trip to the Rising Star, one of the last you will be making for a while I might add."

Rene pitched her voice even lower so that Pallus who was following closely on Adama's heels wouldn't hear. "Crius told Starbuck."

Gage only hesitated for a moment before he answered, "Go fast. I'll cover." When Boomer looked back to them, Rene was already gone, taking a side route no doubt. Starbuck's steps faltered, but Boomer placed a hand on his back to keep him going in the right direction.

"She's smart. She's on the Galactica. She'll be fine."

"That's not what I'm worried about," Starbuck growled but didn't elaborate.