diff --git a/docs/sling-design.md b/docs/sling-design.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8139c612
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/sling-design.md
@@ -0,0 +1,226 @@
+# The Sling: Gas Town's Universal Work Dispatch
+
+> **Status**: Design Draft
+> **Issue**: gt-z3qf
+
+## The Propulsion Principle
+
+Gas Town runs on one rule:
+
+> **If you find something on your hook, YOU RUN IT.**
+
+No decisions. No "should I?" Just ignition. This is the Universal Gas Town
+Propulsion Principle. Every agent - polecat, deacon, witness, refinery - follows
+this single rule.
+
+```
+Hook has work → Work happens.
+```
+
+That's the whole engine. Everything else is plumbing.
+
+## The Sling Operation
+
+**`gt sling`** is the unified command for putting work on an agent's hook.
+
+```bash
+gt sling <thing> <target> [options]
+```
+
+Where:
+- `<thing>` - What to sling (molecule, bead, epic)
+- `<target>` - Who to sling it at (agent address)
+- `[options]` - How to sling it (--wisp, --priority, etc.)
+
+### Examples
+
+```bash
+# Sling a molecule at a polecat
+gt sling feature polecat/alpha
+
+# Sling a specific issue with a molecule
+gt sling gt-xyz polecat/alpha --molecule bugfix
+
+# Sling a wisp at the deacon (ephemeral, won't accumulate)
+gt sling patrol deacon/ --wisp
+
+# Sling an epic at refinery for batch processing
+gt sling gt-epic-123 refinery/
+```
+
+### What Can Be Slung?
+
+| Thing | Prefix | Example | Notes |
+|-------|--------|---------|-------|
+| Molecule proto | none | `gt sling feature polecat/alpha` | Spawns from proto |
+| Issue/Bead | `gt-*`, `bd-*` | `gt sling gt-xyz polecat/alpha` | Work item |
+| Epic | `gt-*` (type=epic) | `gt sling gt-epic refinery/` | Batch of issues |
+| Wisp | `--wisp` flag | `gt sling patrol deacon/ --wisp` | Ephemeral molecule |
+
+### What Happens When You Sling?
+
+```
+┌─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
+│                    gt sling lifecycle                    │
+├─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┤
+│                                                          │
+│  1. SPAWN (if proto)     2. ASSIGN           3. PIN     │
+│     proto → molecule        mol → agent         → hook  │
+│                                                          │
+│  ┌─────────┐            ┌─────────┐        ┌─────────┐  │
+│  │  Proto  │ ────────►  │Molecule │ ─────► │  Hook   │  │
+│  │(catalog)│   spawn    │(instance)│ assign │(pinned) │  │
+│  └─────────┘            └─────────┘        └─────────┘  │
+│                                                  │       │
+│                                            agent wakes   │
+│                                                  │       │
+│                                                  ▼       │
+│                                            ┌─────────┐  │
+│                                            │ IGNITION│  │
+│                                            └─────────┘  │
+└─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
+```
+
+## The Agent's View
+
+From the agent's perspective, life is simple:
+
+```markdown
+## Your One Rule
+
+1. Check your hook: `gt mol status`
+2. Found something? **Run it.** No thinking required.
+3. Nothing? Check mail for new slings.
+4. Repeat.
+```
+
+The agent never decides *whether* to run. The molecule tells them *what* to do.
+They execute until complete, then check the hook again.
+
+### Agent Startup (New Model)
+
+```bash
+# Old way (too much thinking)
+gt mail inbox
+if has_molecule; then
+    gt molecule instantiate ...
+    # figure out what to do...
+fi
+
+# New way (propulsion)
+gt mol status          # What's on my hook?
+# Output tells you exactly what to do
+# Just follow the molecule phases
+```
+
+## Command Reference
+
+### gt sling
+
+```
+gt sling <thing> <target> [flags]
+
+Arguments:
+  thing     Proto name, issue ID, or epic ID
+  target    Agent address (polecat/name, deacon/, witness/, refinery/)
+
+Flags:
+  --wisp           Create ephemeral molecule (burned on complete, squashed to digest)
+  --molecule, -m   Specify molecule proto when slinging an issue
+  --priority, -p   Override priority (P0-P4)
+  --force          Re-sling even if hook already has work
+
+Examples:
+  gt sling feature polecat/alpha              # Spawn feature mol, sling to alpha
+  gt sling gt-xyz polecat/beta -m bugfix      # Sling issue with bugfix workflow
+  gt sling patrol deacon/ --wisp              # Ephemeral patrol wisp
+  gt sling gt-epic-batch refinery/            # Batch work to refinery
+```
+
+### gt mol status
+
+```
+gt mol status [target]
+
+Shows what's on an agent's hook (or your own if no target).
+
+Output:
+  Slung: feature (gt-abc123)
+  Phase: 2/4 - Implement
+  Progress: ████████░░░░ 67%
+  Wisp: no
+
+  Next: Complete implementation, then run tests
+```
+
+### gt mol catalog
+
+```
+gt mol catalog
+
+Lists available molecule protos that can be slung.
+
+Output:
+  NAME        PHASES  DESCRIPTION
+  feature     4       Feature development workflow
+  bugfix      3       Bug investigation and fix
+  patrol      2       Operational check cycle (wisp-only)
+  review      2       Code review workflow
+```
+
+## Relationship to bd mol
+
+| Command | gt mol | bd mol | Notes |
+|---------|--------|--------|-------|
+| Create molecule | via `gt sling` | `bd mol spawn` | gt adds assignment |
+| List protos | `gt mol catalog` | `bd mol catalog` | Same data |
+| Show molecule | `gt mol status` | `bd mol show` | gt adds agent context |
+| Combine | - | `bd mol bond` | Data operation only |
+| Destroy | `gt mol burn` | `bd mol burn` | gt may need cleanup |
+| Condense wisps | `gt mol squash` | `bd mol squash` | Same operation |
+
+**Design principle**: `bd mol` is pure data operations. `gt sling` and `gt mol`
+add agent context (assignment, hooks, sessions).
+
+## Migration Path
+
+### Old Commands → New
+
+| Old | New | Notes |
+|-----|-----|-------|
+| `gt molecule instantiate` | `gt sling` | With assignment |
+| `gt molecule attach` | `gt sling --force` | Re-sling to hook |
+| `gt molecule detach` | `gt mol burn` | Or auto on complete |
+| `gt molecule progress` | `gt mol status` | Better name |
+| `gt molecule list` | `gt mol catalog` | Protos only |
+| `gt spawn --molecule` | `gt sling` | Unified |
+
+### Template Updates Required
+
+1. **deacon.md.tmpl** - Use `gt mol status`, remove decision logic
+2. **polecat.md.tmpl** - Propulsion principle, check hook on wake
+3. **witness.md.tmpl** - Sling wisps to agents it spawns
+4. **refinery.md.tmpl** - Accept slung epics
+
+## Open Design Questions
+
+1. **Default molecule**: If you `gt sling gt-xyz polecat/alpha` without `-m`,
+   should we infer from issue type? (bug→bugfix, feature→feature)
+
+2. **Hook collision**: If hook already has work and you sling more, error or queue?
+   Current thinking: error unless `--force` (which replaces).
+
+3. **Self-sling**: Can an agent sling to itself? (`gt sling patrol .`)
+   Probably yes for wisp loops.
+
+4. **Sling notification**: Should sling send mail to target, or is hook presence enough?
+   Probably just hook - mail is for human-readable context.
+
+## Implementation Plan
+
+See beads:
+- gt-z3qf: Parent issue (gt mol overhaul)
+- [TBD]: gt sling command implementation
+- [TBD]: gt mol status command
+- [TBD]: Template updates for propulsion principle
+- [TBD]: Documentation updates
diff --git a/internal/polecat/manager.go b/internal/polecat/manager.go
index c0291e3e..96f1c5a4 100644
--- a/internal/polecat/manager.go
+++ b/internal/polecat/manager.go
@@ -609,6 +609,9 @@ func (m *Manager) loadFromBeads(name string) (*Polecat, error) {
 //	    <name>/
 //	      .beads/
 //	        redirect       <- Contains "../../.beads"
+//
+// IMPORTANT: If the polecat was created from a branch that had .beads/ tracked in git,
+// those files will be present. We must clean them out and replace with just the redirect.
 func (m *Manager) setupSharedBeads(polecatPath string) error {
 	// Ensure rig root has .beads/ directory
 	rigBeadsDir := filepath.Join(m.rig.Path, ".beads")
@@ -616,16 +619,27 @@ func (m *Manager) setupSharedBeads(polecatPath string) error {
 		return fmt.Errorf("creating rig .beads dir: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Create polecat's .beads directory
+	// Clean up any existing .beads/ contents from the branch
+	// This handles the case where the polecat was created from a branch that
+	// had .beads/ tracked (e.g., from previous bd sync operations)
 	polecatBeadsDir := filepath.Join(polecatPath, ".beads")
+	if _, err := os.Stat(polecatBeadsDir); err == nil {
+		// Directory exists - remove it entirely and recreate fresh
+		if err := os.RemoveAll(polecatBeadsDir); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("cleaning existing .beads dir: %w", err)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Create fresh .beads directory
 	if err := os.MkdirAll(polecatBeadsDir, 0755); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("creating polecat .beads dir: %w", err)
 	}
 
-	// Create redirect file pointing to rig's .beads
-	// Path is relative from polecats/<name>/.beads/ to rig/.beads/
+	// Create redirect file pointing to mayor/rig/.beads (the canonical beads location)
+	// Path is relative from polecats/<name>/.beads/ to mayor/rig/.beads/
+	// We go directly to mayor/rig/.beads, not through rig root, to match crew workers
 	redirectPath := filepath.Join(polecatBeadsDir, "redirect")
-	redirectContent := "../../.beads\n"
+	redirectContent := "../../mayor/rig/.beads\n"
 
 	if err := os.WriteFile(redirectPath, []byte(redirectContent), 0644); err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("creating redirect file: %w", err)