Status: Success

Operation

Carpe Noctem

We launched safely after dusk, 11 ships and 12 pilots strong. (Where is our ghost 13th?) Our squad was 1/3 HARV, 1/6 bomber, and 1/12 whatever ReFLEX is.

A show of hands identified vampires and werewolves, and derision followed: you're gonna turn to dust at sunrise! Yeah? when that moon sets you're gonna change back into Bane Thunderbro.

Outbound we flew through unaccustomed systems such as Malden, Saugus -- is that even a place? -- and Salem. Snacks were secured, including surprise cookie molecules emitted from a graduation party. There were a lot of bunnies but we did not eat any. People in Lynn honk like crazy, whole blocks in chorus, and people in Salem definitely need more excitement in their lives.

There was one major mechanical in which Truxy's primary thruster failed. Sewer showed great forethought in bringing not only an extra plasma casing but also a spare thruster, and after a rapid replacement our spectral convoy rolled on.

We traversed the Northern Strand wormhole under ever-more-gothic clouds and moons, keeping pace although long stretches of it are unpaved and turbulent. We cruised the Dock Tattoos with interest, though without finding any restrooms.

Fueled by Deadblow's deliciously morbid playlist, we continued over rolling space terrain to Singing Beach at System "Manchester-by-the-Sea". There we ate snacks and disobeyed as many regulations as possible, and 2 1/2 pilots heard the call of the ocean deeps. (Wombat being the half. The lower half.) Also at this site Bane Thunderwolf predicted, then discovered Luna Porta-Potty, whereupon Civitron rejoiced and realized all his dreams. (Threespeed gave it 5 out of 5: would poop again.)

In most frightening event of this mission, while leaving the beach we rode beside a walled verge for some distance, and there was a bunny trapped between the fleet and the wall. It ran to the left, it ran to the right, but there was no cover and no escape. The terrified lepine gave up on all it held dear, turned back to the street as the fleet thundered by, sat up with paws and ears akimbo, bared its fangs and prepared to meet its fate. We don't eat rabbits (they could be space weevil) but I'd like to give it a medal of Valour because how would it know that.

We returned toward base, holding a strong pace over much of the same terrain. But we were not bored because everything looks different from the other side, and we were able to skip some of the worst g-wells. Some pilots became sketchy as the night wore on: Leotard feared flaming out, then ran into a branch coated with deadly venom. Civitron, weakened by Venusian radiation and the approach of dawn, was attacked by a vicious mud puddle on Somerville Ave. We approached the fort short a few metric lightyears, so diverted to Porter Constellation to patrol Luna Star and finish out the century; so it was done.

We reached the landing pad at 5:38, and with sunrise at 6:07 were able to declare mission success. This was a great mission!

Footnotes: Dr.Claw and Leotard field tested a new transmitter, with much wookieeing and fair success. Bane was all but undone by an Epic Wedgie, and Wombat declared intent to walk sideways for one or more days. We all got home safely except Dead Bride who turned to ash on the way, and then we got buckets of points.

Medals:
Valor to Deadblow for planning, route, playlist, unflagging badassery.
MacGyver to Sewer for carrying a backup tube, tire and wheel for Truxy.
Naked to Wombat, Cortana, and Bane.

Route <- this is a link even though you can't see it.
Pilot Ship Points Promotion
BaneThunderwolf Bieber Fever 1259   Vice Admiral
Civitron Artemis 610.121   Rear Admiral, Lower Half
Cortana Mad Rabbit 1270.72   Lieutenant Junior Grade
Dead Bride Ez Raider 514.874   Chief Petty Officer
Deadblow Honey Buzzard 1656.69   Rear Admiral, Lower Half
DrClaw Shockwave 1579.77  
Leotard Kraken 1130.61   Commodore
Ripper Strangelove (Bombardier) 559.419   Aviator
Silfr Truxy 1116.66   Captain
Threespeed Strangelove 546.736   Admiral
Wombat ATM Machine 1134.39   Rear Admiral, Upper Half
XXIII ReFLEX 1267.49   Captain
Pilots must be logged in to see the briefing.
Taskforce Pilot
Mission Leader Deadblow
Deck Officer BaneThunderwolf
Gate Attendant Dead Bride
MRC Officer Skunk
Navigator Deadblow
Tailgunner XXIII
Com-Sat 1 Cortana
Tool Bag Threespeed
Flat Bag Ripper
Medi Bag Deadblow
Wookiee Bag DrClaw
Ambassador Silfr
Chalk Bag Silfr
Still Cam Dead Bride
Airlock BaneThunderwolf
Life Support 1 DrClaw
Life Support 2 Leotard
Life Support 3 XXIII
Damage Control Leotard
Minister of Zoobs BaneThunderwolf
Mission Pinner Ripper
Mission Debriefer BaneThunderwolf
Mission Reporter Leotard
Stellar Cartographer Deadblow
Compressor Wrangler BaneThunderwolf
Print Jockey Red Squirrel

Mission Parameters

DivisionMAD
Date2015.08.29
Mission LeaderDeadblow
Mission Size 12 pilots
OriginFort Tyler
DestinationDead by dawn
Light Years62.137
G-Well Activity3.148
Technical Rating2.341