Editing Jim (section)

=== Return of the Smuggler ===
On March 5th, Jim was returning to his residence on Sustancia Road when he was contacted by Alexa Morrison and instructed to meet her immediately in Del Perro. The urgency in her request stood out, as she provided no context beyond the location and insisted on haste. Jim complied without delay.

Upon arrival at the coast, Jim was transported by helicopter to a yacht anchored offshore. There, Alexa presented him with an audio recording delivered earlier by an anonymous courier. The recording featured a distorted voice identifying itself as "the Phantom" and contained clear evidence that Marty Marcano had been abducted and was being actively tortured. The contents of the tape confirmed that the situation was ongoing and severe.

The revelation marked a notable shift in Alexa’s composure. For the first time since Jim had known her, she lacked clear control over the situation. Jim assessed the circumstances with visible restraint. Only two weeks earlier, his own residence had been attacked in an incident involving Marty and an associate named Morgan, leaving him disinclined to intervene on Marty’s behalf.

Despite his reservations, Jim ultimately agreed to assist in locating Marty. His decision was pragmatic rather than sympathetic, driven by the understanding that unresolved instability surrounding the Marcano family and the Phantom posed a broader threat. After leaving the yacht, Jim contacted Edward McHaggis to brief him on the situation. Edward, who had already returned to San Andreas on February 20th following the failure of the First Scottish Revolution, agreed to assist.

Jim then returned home, minimized contact, and prepared for what he anticipated would be a prolonged and dangerous operation.

===== Looking for Marty =====
On the morning following the meeting with Alexa, Jim met Edward at an airfield in San Andreas. Edward had already been back in the country for several weeks, though this marked his first direct involvement in Jim’s affairs since his return from Scotland. The effects of his time abroad were evident. While he remained composed and deliberate, his demeanor reflected the consequences of defeat and prolonged conflict.

Jim arrived using his modified Terrorbyte, outfitted with surveillance systems, drone support, defensive countermeasures, and long-range operational equipment. From there, the two proceeded toward the [[Darnell Brothers Garment Factory]] in La Mesa, which had recently been acquired by Marty Marcano and served as a logical starting point for reconstructing his recent activities.

During transit, Jim and Edward reviewed developments within the criminal landscape of Los Santos, including the dissolution of former alliances and the growing instability tied to the Marcano family. Edward provided limited insight into the failed Scottish Revolution, framing it as a decisive loss that carried lasting personal and strategic consequences. Jim noted that the experience had altered Edward’s outlook, though the precise nature of that change remained unclear.

As they approached La Mesa, both men understood that any information uncovered at the garment factory would likely extend beyond Marty himself. The investigation was not limited to a disappearance, but to the emergence of a wider and more dangerous network operating in the background. Over the following days, Jim committed to methodically retracing Marty Marcano’s actions, contacts, and financial movements, anticipating that the search would draw him further into an escalating conflict tied to the Phantom and the broader power shifts within San Andreas.

===== Escalation at McKenzie Airfield =====
Roughly five days after Jim and Edward began retracing Marty Marcano’s movements, the effects of outside interference became increasingly visible. Syndicate-controlled drug markets began to falter, with sales dropping sharply and distribution routes showing signs of disruption. The pattern suggested deliberate manipulation rather than coincidence.

Information relayed by Alexa Morrison pointed toward a growing presence in Grapeseed, centered around McKenzie Airfield. Given their history with the region, Jim and Edward initially suspected the [[Alamo Hellraisers]]. Early surveillance, however, failed to substantiate that assumption.

Operating independently, Jim drove the Terrorbyte to the airfield while Edward conducted aerial reconnaissance using a drone. It was Edward who made the identification. He observed Hans Naumann at the field, actively preparing a Duster 300-H aircraft, and immediately relayed this to Jim. The confirmation came as a shock. Hans’s presence marked a direct violation of Jim’s earlier warning and confirmed that he had returned to San Andreas without restraint.

Jim reacted instinctively. Despite Edward urging him to slow down and reassess the situation, Jim exited the vehicle and attempted to stop the aircraft before takeoff. His response was uncharacteristically impulsive, driven by a surge of anger tied to Hans’s past involvement in his life and the growing suspicion that Hans was once again destabilizing everything around him. Hans responded with speed and precision, getting the aircraft airborne under fire and escaping the airfield before meaningful damage could be inflicted.

Jim immediately informed Alexa of Hans’s return and escape. Alexa’s concern shifted sharply toward Marty Marcano, and she voiced her belief that Hans was directly connected to his disappearance.

Three days later, Jim and Edward returned to McKenzie Airfield to continue their pursuit. This time, the situation escalated further. Edward detected a heavily armed cargo aircraft on radar, indicating that Hans had significantly expanded his operational capabilities. Jim engaged using the Terrorbyte’s missile systems, while the opposing aircraft returned fire with a mounted 40mm weapon. After sustaining damage, Hans withdrew toward Fort Zancudo rather than risk destruction.

Not long after disengaging, Jim and Edward were attacked by a B-11 Strikeforce. Based on the timing and the nature of the engagement, both believed Hans himself was piloting the jet. The pursuit carried over the Alamo Sea before ending without a decisive outcome.

In the aftermath, Jim and Edward encountered one of Hans’s operatives on the ground. The man was detained at gunpoint and admitted to working for Hans Naumann. When pressed for further information regarding Hans’s return and Marty Marcano’s location, the operative refused continued cooperation and ultimately took his own life, leaving Jim and Edward without additional intelligence.

Jim reported the engagements and developments to Alexa. Recognizing the severity of the situation, she advised Jim to contact Giuseppe Marcano directly. Jim informed Giuseppe that his son had been abducted and that Hans Naumann was involved. Giuseppe reacted with immediate fury and pledged his full support in recovering Marty and dealing with Hans by whatever means were necessary.

For Jim, these events marked a turning point. What had begun as a controlled investigation gave way to open confrontation. His brief loss of restraint at McKenzie stood in contrast to his usual discipline, underscoring how deeply Hans’s return—and Marty’s disappearance—had cut into his carefully maintained control.

===== The Observatory Confrontation and Market Collapse =====
In the days following the confrontations around McKenzie Airfield, Hans Naumann executed what was widely regarded as the largest smuggling operation in the history of San Andreas. The deal generated millions in profit and flooded the market with narcotics, driving prices to an unprecedented low. The sudden collapse destabilized existing supply chains and undercut nearly every major distributor in the region, including Jim’s own operations. The disruption caused widespread frustration among criminal factions, with many viewing Hans’s actions as having deliberately thrown ''roet in het eten'' for an already fragile balance.

For Jim, the impact was immediate and severe. Years spent cultivating controlled distribution routes and stable pricing were undone in a matter of days. While the financial loss was significant, what angered him more was the recklessness of the act. The move reinforced his belief that Hans operated without regard for long-term consequences, driven solely by personal gain.

Unbeknownst to Jim at the time, the smuggling operation had been carried out in secret collaboration with Edward. Edward, facing mounting financial pressure related to plans for a second revolutionary effort abroad, had agreed to assist Hans in exchange for funding. On the morning of March 30, Hans and Edward met privately at Thomson Scrapyard in the Grand Senora Desert. During this meeting, Edward assured Hans that his life would be spared. In return, Hans committed to supplying Edward with weapons and logistical support as a form of repayment.

Only hours later, Alexa independently tracked Hans’s movements and determined that he was visiting the Observatory. Recognizing the opportunity, she immediately contacted Jim. Jim, in turn, reached out to Edward, and both men moved to intercept Hans.

At approximately 16:00, Jim and Edward confronted Hans at the Observatory. Hans appeared unsurprised by their arrival. Jim confronted him at gunpoint, his intent clear. The encounter escalated rapidly when Hans revealed that he possessed leverage: Marty Marcano was alive and being held safely by his employer. The revelation stalled Jim long enough for the situation to shift.

As Jim prepared to act, Edward turned his weapon on Jim instead, revealing the agreement he had made with Hans earlier that day. Edward insisted that Hans be kept alive in order to preserve the weapons deal tied to his revolutionary plans. The disclosure marked a profound rupture for Jim. In that moment, he was forced to confront not only Hans’s survival, but Edward’s direct involvement in both the market collapse and Hans’s continued freedom.

Hans, emboldened by the situation, openly acknowledged Edward’s role in the smuggling operation and implied that Jim’s conflict with him should be considered resolved after nearly nine years. He used the moment to undermine Jim’s trust, suggesting that loyalty within their circle had always been conditional.

With neither Jim nor Edward acting further, Hans departed the Observatory, escaping by motorcycle and disappearing into the city. The encounter, later referred to by those involved as the Observatory Incident, left Jim deeply disillusioned. What had begun as a pursuit of a common enemy ended with the realization that betrayal had come from within.

For Jim, the incident solidified a lasting shift in perspective. The collapse of the narcotics market, Edward’s duplicity, and Hans’s continued survival reinforced his growing distrust of alliances built on convenience rather than principle. From that point forward, Jim became increasingly guarded, more selective in his cooperation, and far less willing to compromise his code for the ambitions of others.

===== Aftermath and Dissolution of Trust =====
In the immediate aftermath of the Observatory Incident, Jim confronted Edward privately and demanded an explanation for the arrangement with Hans Naumann. Edward admitted that the decision had been driven by desperation. He required substantial funds and access to weapons in order to finance and supply a second revolutionary effort abroad, and viewed the deal with Hans as a necessary compromise. The explanation did little to ease the damage. Jim made it clear that Edward’s actions had irreparably undermined his trust and friendship, not only by protecting Hans, but by involving Jim—unwittingly—in the consequences of the deal.

Following the confrontation, Jim withdrew entirely. He returned alone to his home on Sustancia Road, where he spent the night drinking heavily. The incident forced him into prolonged introspection. For the first time, he fully accepted that he would never be able to avenge his wife’s death. Hans’s survival had closed that path permanently. As the night wore on, Jim questioned not only Edward’s motives, but his own decisions. He repeatedly revisited the moment at the Observatory, wondering whether Edward’s actions had been calculated from the beginning and what the outcome might have been had he chosen to pull the trigger.

In the early hours of the morning, Alexa arrived at Jim’s home unannounced. Jim, visibly exhausted and in poor condition, allowed her inside. She immediately pressed for answers, asking whether Hans was dead. Jim confirmed that Hans was still alive, that Marty Marcano remained in captivity under Hans’s employer, and that Edward had effectively sided with Hans in exchange for an arms deal. The revelation stunned Alexa, though it did not entirely surprise her. Her concern remained focused on Marty’s safety and the uncertainty of what would follow.

As the conversation continued, Jim reached again for a bottle of whiskey, prompting Alexa to confront him directly. She criticized his withdrawal and warned him against allowing loss and regret to consume him. With no further discussion, she left for her office, leaving Jim alone with the consequences of the night.