Editing Jim (section)

===== 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.