Editing Edward McHaggis (section)

=== Return of the Smuggler ===
Around February 20th, Edward returned to Los Santos. But the man who came back was not the same. His eyes carried the weight of failure. He was still angry—at the English for crushing [[Edward McHaggis#The First Scottish Revolution|his revolution]], and at his fellow Scots for not rising up beside him. Paranoia crept in. He talked about giving it another shot, but his bank accounts were dry and his power base gone.

With little choice, Edward approached Jim in Los Santos for work. The two collaborated on a few low-level jobs, but Jim noticed the change. Edward was colder, more erratic. His mind still lingered in the ashes of Scotland.

Then, things got worse.

On March 3rd, Hans Naumann was seen landing at Sandy Shores Airport. Within weeks, drug prices began to plummet across the state. Simultaneously, Marty—Giuseppe’s son—was kidnapped. The only clue was a message from someone known only as "[[The Phantom]]."

Jim and Giuseppe asked Edward for help. Despite his mood, he agreed. Around March 10th, Alexa reached out to Edward and Jim with a lead: strange movements in Grapeseed. Edward suspected it was the Hellraisers and suggested they go "kick ‘em in the arse."

They headed to McKenzie Airfield in Jim’s Terrorbyte. Edward launched a drone to scout the area and was stunned by what he saw—[[Hans Naumann]], back from the shadows. Jim didn’t hesitate. He moved in to intercept, but Hans managed to escape, lifting off before a confrontation could occur. Still, Jim landed a few solid hits on the plane as it lifted off.

The sighting confirmed what Alexa suspected: Hans might be behind Marty’s disappearance. And perhaps something even larger was brewing in the north once again.

Three days later, Edward and Jim returned to McKenzie Airfield in the Terrorbyte to continue the search. Mid-sweep, a massive, weaponized cargo plane appeared on radar. Realizing it was Hans, they fired rockets, initiating a full-on skirmish. The plane responded with 40mm cannon fire, severely damaging the armoured Terrorbyte. Though Hans was forced to retreat, Edward didn’t see it as a victory—it felt petty compared to the scale of his failed revolution.

Soon after, they were attacked by a B-11 Strikeforce, likely piloted by another of Hans’s operatives. Edward shot it down with Terrorbyte’s rockets. As the wreckage fell, a figure ejected. When they captured him, the man revealed he worked for Hans—then shot himself before revealing anything further.

Jim called Alexa to update her, and she advised him to speak with "the old man"—Giuseppe. After meeting, Giuseppe gave his blessing: deal with Hans however necessary.

The next day, Hans contacted Jim, proposing a meeting. They agreed on a quiet gas station near the Tataviam Mountains. It was nighttime when Jim stepped out near the road, both men raising their weapons. Edward watched from above in the drone. Before either could pull the trigger, Hans slipped away again. Another failure.

Disillusioned, Edward was left wondering what had gone wrong—until his phone rang. An anonymous number. It was Hans. Hans proposed a deal: help him execute "the biggest smuggling operation in San Andreas history," and in return, Edward would receive a shipment of weapons—enough to reignite his dream of revolution. Edward, tempted by the chance at rebuilding, accepted.

On March 28th, the two met at a hangar in Fort Zancudo. Edward helped Hans close the deal. Two days later, they reconvened at Thomson Scrapyard. Hans delivered on his promise, arranging a shipment to Edward’s private warehouse abroad.

But Hans had one condition: help him survive. Knowing others were closing in, he needed Edward’s protection. That night, Alexa tracked Hans to the Observatory. Jim and Edward arrived. Jim raised his WM29 pistol, ready to end it. But Edward—keeping his word—drew his weapon on Jim. Jim, stunned, lowered his gun. Hans escaped once again. Jim, hurt and betrayed, asked why. Edward answered plainly: only Hans could supply the weapons he needed. “You broke my trust,” Jim said, before walking away. For Edward, it was a dark victory. He had what he wanted—supplies for another revolution. And this time, he wouldn’t fail.