diff --git a/vacuum_gambit.p8 b/vacuum_gambit.p8
index 5291039..5e5d6c8 100644
--- a/vacuum_gambit.p8
+++ b/vacuum_gambit.p8
@@ -1570,7 +1570,7 @@ function flotilla:load(ulc_cx, ulc_cy, lvl)
      -- 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})
+     add(row, self.ship_bases[ship_t]:new{col=cx-ulc_cx})
     end
    end
   until mode==1
@@ -1602,7 +1602,59 @@ function flotilla:statisfy(counts)
 end
 
 function flotilla:update()
- -- TODO: assign new want_x, want_y to everyone who isn't dead
+ -- algorithm: redistribute
+ -- TODO: alternate flotilla movement algorithms
+
+ -- find effective width and height
+ local min_col,max_col,live_rows=999,0,0
+ for row in all(self.rows) do
+  local row_alive=false
+  for ship in all(row) do
+   if not ship.dead then
+    row_alive=true
+    local col=ship.col
+    if (col < min_col) min_col = col
+    if (col > max_col) max_col = col
+   end
+  end  -- scanned row
+  if (row_alive) live_rows += 1
+ end -- extent search
+
+ if (live_rows == 0) return true  -- done
+
+ -- distribute across box:
+ -- x = [4, 100)
+ -- y = [4, 80)
+ 
+ local x_interval,x_offset = 0,52
+ if min_col < max_col then
+  x_interval=96/(max_col-min_col)
+  x_offset = 4-min_col*x_interval
+ end
+
+ local y_interval,y_offset=0,40
+ if live_rows > 1 then
+  y_interval=76/(live_rows-1)
+  x_offset=4-y_interval
+ end
+
+ -- now assign target locations
+ local real_row=0
+ for row in all(self.rows) do
+  local row_alive = false
+  for ship in all(row) do
+   if not ship.dead then
+    if not row_alive then
+     real_row += 1
+     row_alive = true
+    end
+    ship.want_x = ship.col * x_interval - x_offset
+    ship.want_y = real_row * y_interval - y_offset
+   end -- ship updated
+  end -- row updated
+ end -- table updated
+
+ return false  -- some ships remain
 end
 
 -->8