diff --git a/TacticalAI/AIMain.cpp b/TacticalAI/AIMain.cpp
index d6f4878b..ae1aee21 100644
--- a/TacticalAI/AIMain.cpp
+++ b/TacticalAI/AIMain.cpp
@@ -52,6 +52,7 @@
 #include "Queen Command.h"
 #include "points.h"
 #include "Soldier Functions.h" // added by SANDRO
+#include "Text.h"	// sevenfm
 #endif
 
 #include "connect.h"
@@ -81,9 +82,6 @@ extern BOOLEAN gfWaitingForTriggerTimer;
 
 UINT8 gubAICounter;
 
-extern STR16 gStrAction[];
-extern STR szAction[];
-
 //
 // Commented out/ to fix:
 // lots of other stuff, I think
@@ -703,7 +701,7 @@ void HandleSoldierAI( SOLDIERTYPE *pSoldier ) // FIXME - this function is named
 			// ATE: Display message that deadlock occured...
 			LiveMessage( "Breaking Deadlock" );
 
-			//ScreenMsg(FONT_MCOLOR_LTRED, MSG_INTERFACE, L"Aborting AI deadlock for [%d] %s data %d", pSoldier->ubID, gStrAction[pSoldier->aiData.bAction], pSoldier->aiData.usActionData);
+			ScreenMsg(FONT_MCOLOR_LTRED, MSG_INTERFACE, L"Aborting AI deadlock for [%d] %s %s data %d", pSoldier->ubID, pSoldier->GetName(), utf8_to_wstring(std::string(szAction[pSoldier->aiData.bAction])), pSoldier->aiData.usActionData);
 			DebugAI(String("Aborting AI deadlock for [%d] %s data %d", pSoldier->ubID, szAction[pSoldier->aiData.bAction], pSoldier->aiData.usActionData));
 
 #ifdef JA2TESTVERSION
@@ -1906,7 +1904,7 @@ INT8 ExecuteAction(SOLDIERTYPE *pSoldier)
 {
 	INT32 iRetCode;
 	//NumMessage("ExecuteAction - Guy#",pSoldier->ubID);
-
+	//ScreenMsg(FONT_MCOLOR_LTRED, MSG_INTERFACE, L"Execute action: [%d] %s %s data %d", pSoldier->ubID, pSoldier->GetName(), utf8_to_wstring(std::string(szAction[pSoldier->aiData.bAction])), pSoldier->aiData.usActionData);
 
 	// in most cases, merc will change location, or may cause damage to opponents,
 	// so a new cover check will be necessary.  Exceptions handled individually.
diff --git a/Utils/Text Utils.cpp b/Utils/Text Utils.cpp
index 65900d55..93bb693c 100644
--- a/Utils/Text Utils.cpp	
+++ b/Utils/Text Utils.cpp	
@@ -4,6 +4,9 @@
 	#include "text.h"
 	#include "Fileman.h"
 	#include "GameSettings.h"
+	// sevenfm
+	#include <codecvt>
+	#include <string>
 #endif
 
 BOOLEAN LoadItemInfo(UINT16 ubIndex, STR16 pNameString, STR16 pInfoString )
@@ -1300,3 +1303,27 @@ void ParseCommandLine (
    ++*numargs;
 }
 
+inline std::string narrow(std::wstring const& text)
+{
+	std::locale const loc("");
+	wchar_t const* from = text.c_str();
+	std::size_t const len = text.size();
+	std::vector<char> buffer(len + 1);
+	std::use_facet<std::ctype<wchar_t> >(loc).narrow(from, from + len, '_', &buffer[0]);
+
+	return std::string(&buffer[0], &buffer[len]);
+}
+
+// convert UTF-8 string to wstring
+std::wstring utf8_to_wstring(const std::string& str)
+{
+	std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8<wchar_t>> myconv;
+	return myconv.from_bytes(str);
+}
+
+// convert wstring to UTF-8 string
+std::string wstring_to_utf8(const std::wstring& str)
+{
+	std::wstring_convert<std::codecvt_utf8<wchar_t>> myconv;
+	return myconv.to_bytes(str);
+}
diff --git a/Utils/Text.h b/Utils/Text.h
index 37113db9..5b1418d0 100644
--- a/Utils/Text.h
+++ b/Utils/Text.h
@@ -1799,6 +1799,13 @@ BOOLEAN LoadItemProsAndCons( UINT16 usIndex, STR16 pProsString, STR16 pConsStrin
 BOOLEAN LoadBRDesc(UINT16 ubIndex, STR16 pDescString );
 BOOLEAN LoadBRName(UINT16 ubIndex, STR16 pNameString );
 
+// sevenfm
+inline std::string narrow(std::wstring const& text);
+// convert UTF-8 string to wstring
+std::wstring utf8_to_wstring(const std::string& str);
+// convert wstring to UTF-8 string
+std::string wstring_to_utf8(const std::wstring& str);
+
 enum
 {
 	//Coordinating simultaneous arrival dialog strings