Riding The Nub: SCUL Day '25

Mission Summary

On the first SCUL Day since the retirement of our dear leader, it was radiating yet again. Luckily it stopped before Launch Time Classic™, which mission leader Lordmcfuzz set to reduce the potential of any run-ins with the po-po on our way into the Arboretum. Navigator Cosima took the helm aboard PIG Saint Christopher in honor of fallen pilot Pig Pen, whose final mission was SCUL Day 2005, almost exactly 20 years earlier. We made an early stop at the College Convenience refueling station before following the Southwest Corridor Wormhole to the Jay Pee System. Near our destination, Kilo3 hit a shard of glass causing a plasma failure on Swamp Thing's navi thruster, which was repaired quickly with the assistance of Threespeed while other pilots shared snacks and stories. At the gates to the Arboretum, we engaged cloaking maneuvers and cut all lasers and sonic disruption, and bade farewell to Pastry Queen, Moose, and Tango, who tragically burned up upon reentry. We salute you.

While attempting to maintain cover, the fleet became spread out and separated, with Gritty and Threespeed making a wrong turn at Albuquerque before eventually relocating the battalion. While waiting for their return, what we thought was a transport bearing down on our position turned out to actually be pilot Shepherd on a civiship with an exceedingly bright laser. Fully reassembled, the fleet made the final push up the g-well to our destination, with a Medal of Strength awarded to any pilot who made it the whole way without taking a spacewalk. At the top, we encountered a fabulous blanket of fog, which provided a cool respite from the humidity of the journey to that point. Pilots shed spacesuits and shared snax, and enjoyed each other's company in a chill hang session. Dr.Claw cranked the jams, and took many recon images. Once pilots had a sufficient period of time to chillax, Lordmcfuzz took care of our one official piece of duty for the night, and knighted Dogfood. Welcome, space brother.

One of the mission objectives was to be back home before dawn, and Gritty had a 6 a.m. flight the next morning to catch, so we departed for the return journey around 0200. On the descent back down the g-well, Dr.Claw's retros cooked themselves to an aromatic crisp, and Cosima somehow managed to shear St. Christopher's starboardside booster right off. Shepherd offered to race home to source a replacement booster, but Cosima ended up powering through the remainder of the mission pedaling on only a nub, for which she was awarded a Medal of Strength on the landing pad. Having made it back before sunrise and completing all our objectives, Lordmcfuzz declared mission success. Gritty made it in time for the intergalactic transport's departure.

*Medal of Strength to Cosima for making it all the way back to the fort on only a nub of booster, and all pilots who completed the ascent of the g-well without spacewalking
*Medal of Diplomat to Lordmcfuzz for the knighting of Dogfood
*Medal of Injury to Kilo3 for being attacked by paperwork