diff --git a/vacuum_gambit.p8 b/vacuum_gambit.p8
index 2f5effa..5291039 100644
--- a/vacuum_gambit.p8
+++ b/vacuum_gambit.p8
@@ -1522,6 +1522,89 @@ end
 -- see obsidian vault for
 -- full docs.
 
+flotilla = mknew{
+ use_var = 0x0001,
+ opt_odds = split"0.5,0.5,0.5,0.5",
+ init=function(this)
+  this.ship_bases={
+   [0]=mknew(ship_mook.new{ship_t=0}),
+   [1]=mknew(ship_mook.new{ship_t=1}),
+   [4]=mknew(ship_defender.new{ship_t=4}),
+   [5]=mknew(ship_defender.new{ship_t=5}),
+   [8]=mknew(ship_turret.new{ship_t=8}),
+   [9]=mknew(ship_turret.new{ship_t=9}),
+   [12]=mknew(ship_skirmisher.new{ship_t=12}),
+   [13]=mknew(ship_skirmisher.new{ship_t=13}),
+  }
+ end,
+}
+
+function flotilla:load(ulc_cx, ulc_cy, lvl)
+ local rows,cy,uv,counts={},ulc_cy,self.use_var+0xc840,{
+  [0]=0,
+  [1]=0,
+  [4]=0,
+  [5]=0,
+  [8]=0,
+  [9]=0,
+  [12]=0,
+  [13]=0,
+ }
+ repeat
+  local row,cx,opt,f = {},ulc_cx,{},0
+  for i,v in ipairs(self.opt_odds) do
+   opt[i*4-4]=rnd()<v
+  end
+  repeat
+   f=fget(mget(cx, cy))
+   -- bits 0x03: control mark or ship?
+   local mode = f&0x03
+   if mode==2 then
+    -- bits 0x0c: ship class
+    local ship_t = f&0x0c
+    -- bit 0x20: optional?
+    if f&0x20 == 0 or opt[ship_t] then
+     -- bit 0x10: alternate ship?
+     -- increment ship id if
+     -- alternate is requested
+     -- and we allow alternates
+     -- for this type of ship
+     ship_t+=(uv>>ship_t&0x1)&(f&0x10>>4)
+     add(row, self.ship_bases[ship_t]:new{column=cx-ulc_cx})
+    end
+   end
+  until mode==1
+  -- mode 1: end of line control mark
+  -- bits 0x18: what size flotilla is this row used for?
+  if (f&0x18)>>3 <= lvl then
+   -- keep the row; count it
+   for s in all(row) do
+    counts[s.ship_t] += 1
+   end
+   add(rows, row)
+  end
+  -- control mark bit 0x04: end of flotilla
+ until f&0x04 == 1
+ self.rows=rows
+ self:statisfy(counts)
+end
+
+function flotilla:statisfy(counts)
+ -- TODO: now that we know how
+ -- many ships of each kind
+ -- exist, build ships to match
+ -- difficulty target
+ --
+ -- no difficulty model is yet
+ -- implemented, though, so
+ -- just use base ships only
+ -- for this prototype
+end
+
+function flotilla:update()
+ -- TODO: assign new want_x, want_y to everyone who isn't dead
+end
+
 -->8
 -- level and event system