diff --git a/Laptop/mercs Files.cpp b/Laptop/mercs Files.cpp
index d4247612..f61085d2 100644
Binary files a/Laptop/mercs Files.cpp and b/Laptop/mercs Files.cpp differ
diff --git a/Laptop/mercs.cpp b/Laptop/mercs.cpp
index db3001a9..db6e39aa 100644
--- a/Laptop/mercs.cpp
+++ b/Laptop/mercs.cpp
@@ -259,7 +259,10 @@ NUMBER_TIMES_QUOTE_SAID			gNumberOfTimesQuoteSaid[ MERC_NUMBER_OF_RANDOM_QUOTES
 		{ SPECK_QUOTE_PLAYER_NOT_DOING_ANYTHING_AIM_SLANDER_3, 0 },
 		{ SPECK_QUOTE_PLAYER_NOT_DOING_ANYTHING_AIM_SLANDER_4, 0 },
 
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
 		{ SPECK_QUOTE_PLAYER_NOT_DOING_ANYTHING_SPECK_SELLS_HIMSELF, 0 },
+#endif
 };
 
 
@@ -623,6 +626,8 @@ void HandleMercs()
 		gfMercSiteScreenIsReDrawn = TRUE;
 	}
 
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
 	// anv: stop, Speck can't say anything because he's out of reach
 	if( !IsSpeckComAvailable() )
 	{
@@ -631,6 +636,7 @@ void HandleMercs()
 		RenderMercs();
 		gfRedrawMercSite = TRUE;
 	}
+#endif
 
 	//if Speck has something to say, say it
 	if( gusMercVideoSpeckSpeech != MERC_VIDEO_SPECK_SPEECH_NOT_TALKING )// && !gfDoneIntroSpeech )
@@ -2330,7 +2336,6 @@ void HandlePlayerHiringMerc( UINT8 ubHiredMercID )
 				if( IsMercMercAvailable( BIFF ) )
 					StartSpeckTalking( SPECK_QUOTE_PLAYER_HIRES_STOGIE );
 				break;
-#endif
 
 			// anv: Speck is hired
 			case SPECK_PLAYABLE:
@@ -2339,6 +2344,8 @@ void HandlePlayerHiringMerc( UINT8 ubHiredMercID )
 				else
 					StartSpeckTalking( SPECK_QUOTE_PLAYER_HIRES_SPECK );
 				break;
+#endif
+			
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -2374,7 +2381,10 @@ BOOLEAN ShouldSpeckStartTalkingDueToActionOnSubPage()
 
 		HandlePlayerHiringMerc( GetMercIDFromMERCArray( gubCurMercIndex ) );
 
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
 		if( IsSpeckComAvailable() )
+#endif		
 		{
 #ifdef JA2UB
 			//if it hasnt been said, say the better equipment quote
@@ -2407,6 +2417,8 @@ BOOLEAN ShouldSpeckStartTalkingDueToActionOnSubPage()
 	return( FALSE );
 }
 
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
 BOOLEAN IsSpeckComAvailable() // anv: Prevent Speck from talking if his playable version is out of reach
 {
 	//he's hired, travelling, dead or POW, he cant' talk
@@ -2504,6 +2516,7 @@ void HandleSpeckWitnessingEmployeeDeath( SOLDIERTYPE* pSoldier )  // anv: handle
 		}
 	}
 }
+#endif
 
 BOOLEAN ShouldSpeckSayAQuote()
 {
@@ -2797,11 +2810,14 @@ BOOLEAN CanMercQuoteBeSaid( UINT32 uiQuoteID )
 				fRetVal = FALSE;
 			break;
 
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
 		//anv: playable Speck
 		case SPECK_QUOTE_PLAYER_NOT_DOING_ANYTHING_SPECK_SELLS_HIMSELF:
 			if( !IsMercMercAvailable( SPECK_PLAYABLE ) )
 				fRetVal = FALSE;
 			break;
+#endif
 
 #ifdef JA2UB
 		case SPECK_QUOTE_BIFF_DEAD_WHEN_IMPORTING:
@@ -2948,6 +2964,13 @@ void NewMercsAvailableAtMercSiteCallBack( )
 				LaptopSaveInfo.ubLastMercAvailableId = gConditionsForMercAvailability[i].uiIndex;
 				gConditionsForMercAvailability[i].StartMercsAvailable = TRUE;
 				
+#ifdef JA2UB
+				AddEmail( NEW_MERCS_AT_MERC, NEW_MERCS_AT_MERC_LENGTH, SPECK_FROM_MERC, GetWorldTotalMin(), -1, -1, TYPE_EMAIL_EMAIL_EDT);
+
+				//new mercs are available
+				LaptopSaveInfo.fNewMercsAvailableAtMercSite = TRUE;
+#else
+
 				if( IsSpeckComAvailable() )
 				{
 					AddEmail( NEW_MERCS_AT_MERC, NEW_MERCS_AT_MERC_LENGTH, SPECK_FROM_MERC, GetWorldTotalMin(), -1, -1, TYPE_EMAIL_EMAIL_EDT);
@@ -2960,6 +2983,7 @@ void NewMercsAvailableAtMercSiteCallBack( )
 					// anv: Have speck inform player personally
 					TacticalCharacterDialogue( FindSoldierByProfileID( SPECK_PLAYABLE, TRUE ), SPECK_PLAYABLE_QUOTE_NEW_MERCS_AVAILABLE );
 				}
+#endif
 			}
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/Laptop/mercs.h b/Laptop/mercs.h
index 0a8110b1..08fb5281 100644
--- a/Laptop/mercs.h
+++ b/Laptop/mercs.h
@@ -153,8 +153,11 @@ extern	BOOLEAN		gfJustHiredAMercMerc;
 void MakeBiffAwayForCoupleOfDays();
 
 // anv: for playable Speck
-BOOLEAN IsSpeckComAvailable();
-void HandleSpeckWitnessingEmployeeDeath( SOLDIERTYPE* pSoldier );
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
+	BOOLEAN IsSpeckComAvailable();
+	void HandleSpeckWitnessingEmployeeDeath( SOLDIERTYPE* pSoldier );
+#endif
 
 void InitializeNumDaysMercArrive();
 
diff --git a/Strategic/strategic.cpp b/Strategic/strategic.cpp
index 5ad5a17f..bf24b2c4 100644
--- a/Strategic/strategic.cpp
+++ b/Strategic/strategic.cpp
@@ -17,8 +17,11 @@
 	#include "Game Clock.h"
 #endif
 
-// anv: for playable Speck
-#include "mercs.h"
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
+	// anv: for playable Speck
+	#include "mercs.h"
+#endif
 
 StrategicMapElement StrategicMap[MAP_WORLD_X*MAP_WORLD_Y];
 
@@ -126,9 +129,13 @@ void HandleSoldierDeadComments( SOLDIERTYPE *pSoldier )
 					break;
 				}
 			}
+
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
 			// anv: handle Speck witnessing his employee death
 			if( pTeamSoldier->ubProfile == SPECK_PLAYABLE && pSoldier->ubWhatKindOfMercAmI == MERC_TYPE__MERC )
 				HandleSpeckWitnessingEmployeeDeath( pSoldier );
+#endif
 
 		}
 
diff --git a/Tactical/Interface Dialogue.cpp b/Tactical/Interface Dialogue.cpp
index 1d5568d2..0aeb07e1 100644
--- a/Tactical/Interface Dialogue.cpp	
+++ b/Tactical/Interface Dialogue.cpp	
@@ -94,9 +94,12 @@
 #include "Ja25Update.h"
 #endif
 
-// anv: for playable Speck
-#include "Speck Quotes.h"
-#include "mercs.h"
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
+	// anv: for playable Speck
+	#include "Speck Quotes.h"
+	#include "mercs.h"
+#endif
 
 //forward declarations of common classes to eliminate includes
 class OBJECTTYPE;
@@ -2728,6 +2731,8 @@ void HandleNPCDoAction( UINT8 ubTargetNPC, UINT16 usActionCode, UINT8 ubQuoteNum
 				if( pSoldier->ubProfile == FLO )
 				{
 					SetFactTrue( FACT_PC_MARRYING_DARYL_IS_FLO );
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
 					// anv: make Speck whine about it immediately if on team
 					if( !IsMercDead(BIFF) && !IsSpeckComAvailable() )
 					{
@@ -2736,6 +2741,7 @@ void HandleNPCDoAction( UINT8 ubTargetNPC, UINT16 usActionCode, UINT8 ubQuoteNum
 						LaptopSaveInfo.fSpeckSaidFloMarriedCousinQuote = TRUE;
 						MakeBiffAwayForCoupleOfDays();
 					}
+#endif
 				}
 
 				HandleMoraleEvent( pSoldier, MORALE_MERC_MARRIED, gWorldSectorX, gWorldSectorY, gbWorldSectorZ );
diff --git a/Tactical/Overhead.cpp b/Tactical/Overhead.cpp
index 1e934907..3ee44d18 100644
--- a/Tactical/Overhead.cpp
+++ b/Tactical/Overhead.cpp
@@ -123,8 +123,11 @@
 #include "ub_config.h"
 #endif
 
-// anv: for playable Speck
-#include "mercs.h"
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
+	// anv: for playable Speck
+	#include "mercs.h"
+#endif
 
 // OJW - 20090419
 UINT8   giMAXIMUM_NUMBER_OF_PLAYER_MERCS = CODE_MAXIMUM_NUMBER_OF_PLAYER_MERCS;
@@ -3362,9 +3365,12 @@ void HandlePlayerTeamMemberDeath( SOLDIERTYPE *pSoldier )
                     default:
                         break;
                 }
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
 				// anv: handle Speck witnessing his employee death
 				if( pTeamSoldier->ubProfile == SPECK_PLAYABLE && pSoldier->ubWhatKindOfMercAmI == MERC_TYPE__MERC )
 					HandleSpeckWitnessingEmployeeDeath( pSoldier );
+#endif
             }
         }
 
diff --git a/Tactical/Soldier Profile.cpp b/Tactical/Soldier Profile.cpp
index 1fe345aa..9622e068 100644
--- a/Tactical/Soldier Profile.cpp	
+++ b/Tactical/Soldier Profile.cpp	
@@ -64,9 +64,12 @@
 #include "ub_config.h"
 #include "XML.h"
 
-// anv: for playable Speck
-#include "Speck Quotes.h"
-#include "LaptopSave.h"
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
+	// anv: for playable Speck
+	#include "Speck Quotes.h"
+	#include "LaptopSave.h"
+#endif
 
 #include "connect.h"
 #ifdef JA2EDITOR
@@ -2346,6 +2349,9 @@ SOLDIERTYPE * SwapLarrysProfiles( SOLDIERTYPE * pSoldier )
 	if ( pSoldier->ubProfile == LARRY_DRUNK )
 	{
 		SetFactTrue( FACT_LARRY_CHANGED );
+
+#ifdef JA2UB
+#else
 		// anv: make speck whine about it immediately if on team
 		if( !IsSpeckComAvailable() )
 		{
@@ -2353,6 +2359,7 @@ SOLDIERTYPE * SwapLarrysProfiles( SOLDIERTYPE * pSoldier )
 			// don't bring this up again
 			LaptopSaveInfo.uiSpeckQuoteFlags |= SPECK_QUOTE__ALREADY_TOLD_PLAYER_THAT_LARRY_RELAPSED;
 		}
+#endif
 	}
 	else
 	{