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diff --git a/data/combat.json b/data/combat.json
index 79a9dbe..ea458ee 100644
--- a/data/combat.json
+++ b/data/combat.json
@@ -84,7 +84,19 @@
   "enemyTypes": {
     "_comment": "The hostile roster a WAVE (combat.waves.scripts) can mix — js/combat/EnemyTypes.js deep-merges a type's overrides onto the base `enemy` above, so a type declares only what differs. `raider` is the base craft under a named id (frame 0). Frames 1–7 are the SEVEN new hostiles, each a distinct craft with a distinct WEAPON PATTERN (weapon.pattern) and a MODERATE difficulty step-up: hull/shields (armor to soak) climb monotonically bomber → warden, so each is a little harder to defeat than the last. PATTERNS (js/combat/Weapons.js): 'lance' (the default — one aimed bolt, the base behavior), 'spray' (a FAN of `bolts` spread over `fan` rad), 'burst' (a TIGHT `bolts`-shot stinger — staggered speeds so it fans over distance), 'rapid' (single bolts on a short cooldown — a machine gun), 'ring' (`bolts` fired RADIAL around the craft — break the orbit), 'missile' (`missiles` HEAT-SEEKING shots that home with a CAPPED turn-rate (missileTurn rad/s) so the player can out-turn them), 'combo' (a heavy lance + a missile, the elite). Add a craft here (a new `frame` or its own `texture` + stat overrides) and name it in a wave's roster; EnemyTypes.enemySheetList() is the preload seam for its textures. Each type's `xp` = what a kill of it is worth (the rule of thumb is (hull+shields)/5, rounded, so a tougher craft is worth more of the XP bank).",
     "raider": {
-      "frame": 0
+      "$comment": "The PIRATE (data/quests.json → pirate_problems — the ambush wave combat.waves.scripts.pirate_ambush is all raiders). comms = the pirate's combat VOICE (the rolls live in js/combat/CombatSystem.js; the comms themselves are data/comms.json's pirate-attack / pirate-defeat — the box's clip + one random speech clip + the message). attack.onScreenChance = the chance a pirate shows an ATTACK comm the first time it flies ON SCREEN (0.5 = 50%); attack.spawnChance = the chance a NEW pirate sent into a rolling wave (the opening burst, each kill's replacement) ATTACK-comms on arrival (0.2 = 20%) — a hit marks the ship, so its later on-screen roll doesn't stack (a pirate never double-comms); defeat.chance = the chance a downed pirate shows a DEFEAT comm (0.2 = 20%).",
+      "frame": 0,
+      "comms": {
+        "attack": {
+          "onScreenChance": 0.5,
+          "spawnChance": 0.2,
+          "trigger": "pirateAttack"
+        },
+        "defeat": {
+          "chance": 0.2,
+          "trigger": "pirateDefeat"
+        }
+      }
     },
     "bomber": {
       "_comment": "frame 1 — the LONG LANCE: slow, sits back, one heavy bolt on a long fuse. The easy end of the new ramp.",
diff --git a/data/comms.json b/data/comms.json
index 4c02735..846c77b 100644
--- a/data/comms.json
+++ b/data/comms.json
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 {
-  "$comment": "COMMS — the characters of the ship speaking to the player (OAC first). Three comm types: 'ack' pauses the action and holds the box open (muted looping video + text + voice) until the player clicks ACKNOWLEDGE; 'visual' shows the box (video plays once + text + voice) and fades out when the voice ends; 'audio' is voice only — no box, no pause. Comms are EVENTS: each one binds a trigger (when) + a sender (who) + text + a speech clip (what). Trigger vocabulary (live): 'newGame' — the fresh-run tutorial welcome (oac-intro → oac-tether → oac-scan; the hub's FIFO plays each right after the previous is acknowledged); 'firstScan' — oac-upgrade reacts to the player's first SCAN press (GameScene.startScan), 5 s after the click; 'tetherResearch' — oac-minerals → oac-fly-mine react to the player committing to the Tether Level 2 research (GameScene.beginResearch, held by the busy() contract until the console closes); 'firstCluster' — oac-first-cluster celebrates the run's first asteroid-cluster discovery (GameScene.celebrateDiscovery), 1.5 s after the chime so the discovery SFX lands first; 'minerals200' — oac-tether2 confirms the moment the run's lifetime mining first crosses 200 (the 'Mine 200 Minerals' quest line and the tether-l2 build cost; GameScene's ore event); 'tetherL2Launch' — oac-relaunch → oac-explore, the launch-back pair: SurfaceScene's take-off that puts the player in space after the home world's level-2 tether is installed (the run's build record is the witness); the hub's FIFO plays the pair back-to-back; 'firstWorld' — trestle-meetup → trestle-quest: the FIRST world the player discovers — the starter quest's own witness (discoveredWorldCount: any planet or space station, the home world never counts, in any system — the comm and the quest can never drift; GameScene.celebrateDiscovery, plus a scene-create arm for loaded saves that already hold discovered worlds), the hub's FIFO plays the pair back-to-back; 'researchComplete' — oac-research-complete, the AUDIO-ONLY sign-off on EVERY research completion (GameScene._completeResearch; once:false, held by the busy() contract while the research console is still open), and oac-research-new — the 'new research available' beat that ANSWERS the sign-off: armed the moment the sign-off's voice has FINISHED (the hub's onEnd — GameScene._commEnded) and only if a tech is still ready to research that isn't yet (researchAnyAvailable — nothing in flight, a node whose requires are met); the hub's FIFO plays it right behind the sign-off, so the two voices never overlap; 'systemComplete' — oac-system-complete, the system-complete milestone: the moment a system's NAV chart COMPLETES — its last planet/space station/jump-gate discovery (GameScene.celebrateDiscovery), which is exactly when its 'Unlock Jumpgates' research becomes AVAILABLE (the SYSTEM tree's available hook, js/research/SystemCategory.js) — NOT on the research's completion; once per system (once:false re-arms per system; the scene's arming set keeps it a single fire, so later cluster discoveries in a charted system don't re-arm it). 'questNew' — oac-quest-new: the quest-grant voice (GameScene._grantUnlockedQuests — the starter on the first boot, 'Leaving the Nest' on the starter's claim, every future unlock; once:false re-arms per grant); 'trestleBrief' — trestle-brief-1 → trestle-brief-2 → trestle-brief-3: the 'Leaving the Nest' quest's three back-to-back ACK briefs — armed the moment the home system's jumpgates go ONLINE (the activateGates effect in GameScene._applyResearchEffects — the player can now jump out of the nest; also the quest's grant, and scene create for loaded saves whose gates are already online — GameScene._trestleBeats). The hub's FIFO plays the sequence back-to-back (each 'ack' holds until its own ACKNOWLEDGE, so the 1→2→3 order is guaranteed); ALL THREE in the run's comms played-ledger (registry 'commsPlayed' — marked when a comm starts, saved with the run) are the quest's 'Talk to Trestle' witness (GameScene._questCheckEval), and a quit mid-sequence re-arms only the unplayed beats on the next load; 'trestleArrival' — trestle-arrive-1 → trestle-arrive-2: the 'Leaving the Nest' quest's ARRIVAL PAIR on the NEUTRAL CAPITAL WORLD (the destination trestle-brief-3's acknowledgment sends the player to) — the quest completes on the PLANET, not on entering the neighboring system: armed the moment the ship reaches the capital world (GameScene._checkDestinationReached), plus a scene-create arm in GameScene._trestleBeats for a loaded save parked at the capital's rim. The hub's FIFO plays the pair back-to-back (each 'ack' holds until its own ACKNOWLEDGE); BOTH in the run's comms played-ledger (registry 'commsPlayed' — marked when a comm starts, saved with the run) are the quest's 'Meet Trestle' witness (GameScene._questCheckEval). 'deliveredLaunch' — carol-delivered-1 → carol-delivered-2 → carol-delivered-3 → oac-delivered-1: the 'Special Delivery' quest's PAYOFF — armed the moment the player LAUNCHES after the package's home-world sale (GameScene.onSurfaceDeparture: the run's delivery witness, story.delivered, stands when the shop's CONFIRM sells it — data/goods.json → special-package) — Carol's thanks + the trade sign-off, then OAC's confirmation that buy/sell codes are live on every world (the four 'ack' beats chained by the hub's FIFO, each holding until its own ACKNOWLEDGE; the run's comms played-ledger keeps it a one-shot — a later re-arm is a no-op). 'trestleQ4' — trestle-q4-1 → trestle-q4-2 → trestle-q4-3: the 'Pirate Problems' quest's WARNING TRIO — armed the moment the quest GRANTS (GameScene._questStartBeats — the grant gate: 'Special Delivery' claimed AND its deliveredLaunch chain fully ACKed, data/quests.json → pirate_problems.unlocks), the destination already set to the Neutral Capital world; each 'ack' holds until its own ACKNOWLEDGE, so the warning always lands before the jump into the capital's system (the ambush's midpoint); ALL THREE in the run's comms played-ledger (registry 'commsPlayed') are the quest's 'Speak with Trestle' witness (GameScene._questCheckEval). 'trestleQ4Payoff' — trestle-q4-4 → trestle-q4-5: the 'Pirate Problems' quest's PAYOFF — armed the moment the quest becomes COMPLETE + UNCLAIMED (all its checks standing, the reward claimable — GameScene._questRefresh's once-per-quest READY pass, the same moment the QUEST READY toast + chime fire; the last step to stand is the capital's arrival, story.capitalReturned): the job-board unlock (patrols, bounty hunts, escorts) + the level-5 hook (the open game's next door); the two 'ack' beats chained by the hub's FIFO, each holding until its own ACKNOWLEDGE; the run's comms played-ledger keeps the pair a one-shot — a later re-arm is a no-op (a save loaded with the quest complete + unclaimed hears the unplayed beats on that load). 'combatStart' — oac-enemies-detected: the COMBAT-LIVE beat — the moment CombatSystem's active flag flips ON (GameScene._setCombatBar: the wave run's lead, before the first hostile lands, or the ?combat pack's spawn) — OAC's visual contact call (box + voice, no pause — it rides over the live fight); the voice rolls ONE of the three enemies-detected clips at random per arm (audioPool); once:false — re-arms on every combat start; 'combatEnd' — oac-enemies-defeated: the COMBAT-OVER beat — the moment the last hostile is down (the active flag flips OFF, GameScene._setCombatBar), 1 s after the final kill (delayMs 1000 — the last explosion reads first) — OAC's visual sign-off; the voice rolls ONE of the three enemies-defeated clips at random per arm (audioPool); once:false — re-arms on every combat end. Reserved for future comms: questComplete, discovery, landing, jump, buildComplete. Assets are loaded ON DEMAND by the hub (js/comms/CommsHub.js) when a comm is due — never in a scene's preload, so the initial load stays lean. A comm's `audioPool` (a list of speech files) speaks one clip at RANDOM per arm — the pick is made when the deferred-load spec is built (js/comms/CommsModel.js → commAssets), so only the chosen clip is fetched.",
+  "$comment": "COMMS — the characters of the ship speaking to the player (OAC first). Three comm types: 'ack' pauses the action and holds the box open (muted looping video + text + voice) until the player clicks ACKNOWLEDGE; 'visual' shows the box (video plays once + text + voice) and fades out when the voice ends; 'audio' is voice only — no box, no pause. Comms are EVENTS: each one binds a trigger (when) + a sender (who) + text + a speech clip (what). Trigger vocabulary (live): 'newGame' — the fresh-run tutorial welcome (oac-intro → oac-tether → oac-scan; the hub's FIFO plays each right after the previous is acknowledged); 'firstScan' — oac-upgrade reacts to the player's first SCAN press (GameScene.startScan), 5 s after the click; 'tetherResearch' — oac-minerals → oac-fly-mine react to the player committing to the Tether Level 2 research (GameScene.beginResearch, held by the busy() contract until the console closes); 'firstCluster' — oac-first-cluster celebrates the run's first asteroid-cluster discovery (GameScene.celebrateDiscovery), 1.5 s after the chime so the discovery SFX lands first; 'minerals200' — oac-tether2 confirms the moment the run's lifetime mining first crosses 200 (the 'Mine 200 Minerals' quest line and the tether-l2 build cost; GameScene's ore event); 'tetherL2Launch' — oac-relaunch → oac-explore, the launch-back pair: SurfaceScene's take-off that puts the player in space after the home world's level-2 tether is installed (the run's build record is the witness); the hub's FIFO plays the pair back-to-back; 'firstWorld' — trestle-meetup → trestle-quest: the FIRST world the player discovers — the starter quest's own witness (discoveredWorldCount: any planet or space station, the home world never counts, in any system — the comm and the quest can never drift; GameScene.celebrateDiscovery, plus a scene-create arm for loaded saves that already hold discovered worlds), the hub's FIFO plays the pair back-to-back; 'researchComplete' — oac-research-complete, the AUDIO-ONLY sign-off on EVERY research completion (GameScene._completeResearch; once:false, held by the busy() contract while the research console is still open), and oac-research-new — the 'new research available' beat that ANSWERS the sign-off: armed the moment the sign-off's voice has FINISHED (the hub's onEnd — GameScene._commEnded) and only if a tech is still ready to research that isn't yet (researchAnyAvailable — nothing in flight, a node whose requires are met); the hub's FIFO plays it right behind the sign-off, so the two voices never overlap; 'systemComplete' — oac-system-complete, the system-complete milestone: the moment a system's NAV chart COMPLETES — its last planet/space station/jump-gate discovery (GameScene.celebrateDiscovery), which is exactly when its 'Unlock Jumpgates' research becomes AVAILABLE (the SYSTEM tree's available hook, js/research/SystemCategory.js) — NOT on the research's completion; once per system (once:false re-arms per system; the scene's arming set keeps it a single fire, so later cluster discoveries in a charted system don't re-arm it). 'questNew' — oac-quest-new: the quest-grant voice (GameScene._grantUnlockedQuests — the starter on the first boot, 'Leaving the Nest' on the starter's claim, every future unlock; once:false re-arms per grant); 'trestleBrief' — trestle-brief-1 → trestle-brief-2 → trestle-brief-3: the 'Leaving the Nest' quest's three back-to-back ACK briefs — armed the moment the home system's jumpgates go ONLINE (the activateGates effect in GameScene._applyResearchEffects — the player can now jump out of the nest; also the quest's grant, and scene create for loaded saves whose gates are already online — GameScene._trestleBeats). The hub's FIFO plays the sequence back-to-back (each 'ack' holds until its own ACKNOWLEDGE, so the 1→2→3 order is guaranteed); ALL THREE in the run's comms played-ledger (registry 'commsPlayed' — marked when a comm starts, saved with the run) are the quest's 'Talk to Trestle' witness (GameScene._questCheckEval), and a quit mid-sequence re-arms only the unplayed beats on the next load; 'trestleArrival' — trestle-arrive-1 → trestle-arrive-2: the 'Leaving the Nest' quest's ARRIVAL PAIR on the NEUTRAL CAPITAL WORLD (the destination trestle-brief-3's acknowledgment sends the player to) — the quest completes on the PLANET, not on entering the neighboring system: armed the moment the ship reaches the capital world (GameScene._checkDestinationReached), plus a scene-create arm in GameScene._trestleBeats for a loaded save parked at the capital's rim. The hub's FIFO plays the pair back-to-back (each 'ack' holds until its own ACKNOWLEDGE); BOTH in the run's comms played-ledger (registry 'commsPlayed' — marked when a comm starts, saved with the run) are the quest's 'Meet Trestle' witness (GameScene._questCheckEval). 'deliveredLaunch' — carol-delivered-1 → carol-delivered-2 → carol-delivered-3 → oac-delivered-1: the 'Special Delivery' quest's PAYOFF — armed the moment the player LAUNCHES after the package's home-world sale (GameScene.onSurfaceDeparture: the run's delivery witness, story.delivered, stands when the shop's CONFIRM sells it — data/goods.json → special-package) — Carol's thanks + the trade sign-off, then OAC's confirmation that buy/sell codes are live on every world (the four 'ack' beats chained by the hub's FIFO, each holding until its own ACKNOWLEDGE; the run's comms played-ledger keeps it a one-shot — a later re-arm is a no-op). 'trestleQ4' — trestle-q4-1 → trestle-q4-2 → trestle-q4-3: the 'Pirate Problems' quest's WARNING TRIO — armed the moment the quest GRANTS (GameScene._questStartBeats — the grant gate: 'Special Delivery' claimed AND its deliveredLaunch chain fully ACKed, data/quests.json → pirate_problems.unlocks), the destination already set to the Neutral Capital world; each 'ack' holds until its own ACKNOWLEDGE, so the warning always lands before the jump into the capital's system (the ambush's midpoint); ALL THREE in the run's comms played-ledger (registry 'commsPlayed') are the quest's 'Speak with Trestle' witness (GameScene._questCheckEval). 'trestleQ4Payoff' — trestle-q4-4 → trestle-q4-5: the 'Pirate Problems' quest's PAYOFF — armed the moment the quest becomes COMPLETE + UNCLAIMED (all its checks standing, the reward claimable — GameScene._questRefresh's once-per-quest READY pass, the same moment the QUEST READY toast + chime fire; the last step to stand is the capital's arrival, story.capitalReturned): the job-board unlock (patrols, bounty hunts, escorts) + the level-5 hook (the open game's next door); the two 'ack' beats chained by the hub's FIFO, each holding until its own ACKNOWLEDGE; the run's comms played-ledger keeps the pair a one-shot — a later re-arm is a no-op (a save loaded with the quest complete + unclaimed hears the unplayed beats on that load). 'combatStart' — oac-enemies-detected: the COMBAT-LIVE beat — the moment CombatSystem's active flag flips ON (GameScene._setCombatBar: the wave run's lead, before the first hostile lands, or the ?combat pack's spawn) — OAC's visual contact call (box + voice, no pause — it rides over the live fight); the voice rolls ONE of the three enemies-detected clips at random per arm (audioPool); once:false — re-arms on every combat start; 'combatEnd' — oac-enemies-defeated: the COMBAT-OVER beat — the moment the last hostile is down (the active flag flips OFF, GameScene._setCombatBar), 1 s after the final kill (delayMs 1000 — the last explosion reads first) — OAC's visual sign-off; the voice rolls ONE of the three enemies-defeated clips at random per arm (audioPool); once:false — re-arms on every combat end; 'pirateAttack' — pirate-attack: the PIRATE'S OWN attack line — the moment a comming hostile (data/combat.json → enemyTypes.raider.comms) flies on-screen (a 50% roll per pirate, js/combat/CombatSystem.js) or a new pirate is sent into a rolling wave (a 20% roll per arrival) — the box's clip is the pirate's face (assets/videos/enemies/pirate.mp4) with the voice rolling ONE of the four attack clips at random per arm (audioPool); 'pirateDefeat' — pirate-defeat: the PIRATE'S OWN defeat line — a 20% roll per pirate killed, the box's clip the dying pirate (assets/videos/enemies/pirate-defeat.mp4) with the voice rolling ONE of the four defeat clips at random per arm (audioPool); 'pirateBountyAttack' — pirate-bounty-attack: the BOUNTY HUNT's MARK's attack line — GameScene._fireBountyEngagements arms it the moment the wanted leader stands up its fight (the dossier's frame at ×2, data/sidequests.json → bounty) — the box's clip the bounty clip (assets/videos/enemies/pirate-bounty.mp4) with the voice rolling ONE of the four bounty clips at random per arm (audioPool). All three once:false — re-arming is the hub's in-flight guard's job (one comm in the queue at a time, never a barrage). Reserved for future comms: questComplete, discovery, landing, jump, buildComplete. Assets are loaded ON DEMAND by the hub (js/comms/CommsHub.js) when a comm is due — never in a scene's preload, so the initial load stays lean. A comm's `audioPool` (a list of speech files) speaks one clip at RANDOM per arm — the pick is made when the deferred-load spec is built (js/comms/CommsModel.js → commAssets), so only the chosen clip is fetched.",
   "enabled": true,
   "audio": {
     "$comment": "The comm's voice plays at its OWN volume (volume) — the manager's master is left untouched (in v4 `sound.setVolume` IS the master, so ducking it would quiet the voice too). While the voice talks, the other playing sounds (the game music) are ducked PER-SOUND by musicDuck (a fraction of each one's own volume) and restored exactly when the voice ends.",
@@ -24,6 +24,24 @@
       "label": "CAROL",
       "role": "COURIER",
       "video": "assets/videos/characters/carol.mp4"
+    },
+    "pirate": {
+      "$comment": "The pirate raider (data/combat.json → enemyTypes.raider — the 'Pirate Problems' ambush craft, the 'Pirate Problems' quest's enemy, data/quests.json → pirate_problems). The ATTACK comm's face (trigger 'pirateAttack'): the box's clip is assets/videos/enemies/pirate.mp4 — played muted, once (the voice is the speech clip, never the video). The DEFEAT beat wears its own sender below (a separate dying clip).",
+      "label": "PIRATE",
+      "role": "UNLAWFUL HOSTILE RAIDER",
+      "video": "assets/videos/enemies/pirate.mp4"
+    },
+    "pirate_defeat": {
+      "$comment": "The same raider's DEFEAT beat (trigger 'pirateDefeat') — a SEPARATE sender so the box's clip is the dying pirate (assets/videos/enemies/pirate-defeat.mp4) instead of the attack clip (the comm model ties the video to the sender, so two faces = two senders).",
+      "label": "PIRATE",
+      "role": "UNLAWFUL HOSTILE RAIDER — DITCHING",
+      "video": "assets/videos/enemies/pirate-defeat.mp4"
+    },
+    "pirate_bounty": {
+      "$comment": "The BOUNTY HUNT's mark (data/sidequests.json → bounty — the wanted leader the 'BOUNTY HUNT' contract flies: the dossier's frame buffed ×2, js/quests/SideQuests.js → bountyEngagementScript). The bounty attack comm's face (trigger 'pirateBountyAttack'): the box's clip is assets/videos/enemies/pirate-bounty.mp4 — played muted, once (the voice is the speech clip, never the video). The mark's own name rides the hunt's sighting toast — the comms model is static, the name is the contract's.",
+      "label": "PIRATE",
+      "role": "WANTED — BOUNTY ACTIVE",
+      "video": "assets/videos/enemies/pirate-bounty.mp4"
     }
   },
   "comms": [
@@ -383,6 +401,54 @@
       ],
       "once": false,
       "delayMs": 1000
+    },
+    {
+      "$comment": "The pirate's ATTACK line (trigger 'pirateAttack' — js/combat/CombatSystem.js arms it for a comming type (data/combat.json → enemyTypes.raider.comms): the first time a pirate flies ON SCREEN (50% roll) or a NEW pirate is sent into a rolling wave (the opening burst, each kill's replacement — 20% roll; a hit marks the ship so its later on-screen roll doesn't stack, a pirate never double-comms). VISUAL: the box shows the pirate's face (assets/videos/enemies/pirate.mp4 — played once, muted) with the line while the voice rolls ONE of the four pirate attack clips at RANDOM per arm (audioPool — the hub's deferred load fetches only the chosen file); no pause — it rides over the live fight. once:false — re-arms on every roll that hits (the hub's in-flight guard keeps one in the queue at a time, so a burst of rolling pirates never stacks a barrage).",
+      "id": "pirate-attack",
+      "from": "pirate",
+      "type": "visual",
+      "trigger": "pirateAttack",
+      "text": "You're in my waters now, and your ship is already mine. Fight on if you like, pretty dart — it'll only be faster that way.",
+      "audioPool": [
+        "assets/speech/pirates/attack-01.mp3",
+        "assets/speech/pirates/attack-02.mp3",
+        "assets/speech/pirates/attack-03.mp3",
+        "assets/speech/pirates/attack-04.mp3"
+      ],
+      "once": false,
+      "delayMs": 0
+    },
+    {
+      "$comment": "The pirate's DEFEAT line (trigger 'pirateDefeat' — js/combat/CombatSystem.js arms it 20% of the time a comming type (data/combat.json → enemyTypes.raider.comms) goes down, on the kill itself). VISUAL: the box shows the dying pirate (assets/videos/enemies/pirate-defeat.mp4 — played once, muted) with the line while the voice rolls ONE of the four pirate defeat clips at RANDOM per arm (audioPool); no pause — it rides over the live fight. once:false — re-arms on every roll that hits (the hub's in-flight guard keeps one in the queue at a time).",
+      "id": "pirate-defeat",
+      "from": "pirate_defeat",
+      "type": "visual",
+      "trigger": "pirateDefeat",
+      "text": "Aaargh! You've won this round, pretty dart… but this isn't over. My crew is watching, and they'll be coming for what's left of you.",
+      "audioPool": [
+        "assets/speech/pirates/defeat-01.mp3",
+        "assets/speech/pirates/defeat-02.mp3",
+        "assets/speech/pirates/defeat-03.mp3",
+        "assets/speech/pirates/defeat-04.mp3"
+      ],
+      "once": false,
+      "delayMs": 0
+    },
+    {
+      "$comment": "The pirate BOUNTY's ATTACK line (trigger 'pirateBountyAttack' — GameScene._fireBountyEngagements arms it the moment a BOUNTY HUNT's mark stands up its fight (data/sidequests.json → bounty): the wanted leader — the dossier's frame buffed ×2 (js/quests/SideQuests.js → bountyEngagementScript) — has flown into view. VISUAL: the box shows the bounty clip (assets/videos/enemies/pirate-bounty.mp4 — played once, muted) with the line while the voice rolls ONE of the four pirate bounty clips at RANDOM per arm (audioPool — the hub's deferred load fetches only the chosen file); no pause — it rides over the live fight. once:false — re-arms on every engagement that stands (a jump out mid-fight re-arms it on return; the hub's in-flight guard keeps one in the queue at a time, so a burst of rolling pirates never stacks a barrage).",
+      "id": "pirate-bounty-attack",
+      "from": "pirate_bounty",
+      "type": "visual",
+      "trigger": "pirateBountyAttack",
+      "text": "So it's you, the bounty hunter, pretty dart. The Office pays a fortune for my head — but I've got better use for your hull. Come and take me!",
+      "audioPool": [
+        "assets/speech/pirates/bounty-01.mp3",
+        "assets/speech/pirates/bounty-02.mp3",
+        "assets/speech/pirates/bounty-03.mp3",
+        "assets/speech/pirates/bounty-04.mp3"
+      ],
+      "once": false,
+      "delayMs": 0
     }
   ],
   "reservedTriggers": [
diff --git a/dev/bounty-hunts.test.mjs b/dev/bounty-hunts.test.mjs
index 6bded20..0e61fad 100644
--- a/dev/bounty-hunts.test.mjs
+++ b/dev/bounty-hunts.test.mjs
@@ -601,6 +601,70 @@ section('NO SPOILERS — nothing the player reads says where the mark stands');
   check('the hunt’s beacon style comes from the data with no contact color', /_drawBountyMarkers/.test(sceneSrc) && !/bounty\.marker\.contactColor/.test(sceneSrc));
 }
 
+// ==========================================================================
+section('THE MARK\'S VOICE — the bounty attack comm (data/comms.json → pirate-bounty-attack)');
+{
+  // The mark's fight stands up ONLY in the bounty branch of
+  // GameScene._fireBountyEngagements (the picket skirmish throws no mark),
+  // and it is there that the 'pirateBountyAttack' trigger is armed — the
+  // box shows assets/videos/enemies/pirate-bounty.mp4 with one of the four
+  // bounty voices. Run headless over a stub `this` (the jobboard pattern):
+  // the REAL prototype function, its internal `this.*` seams on stubs.
+  const makeHuntScene = (shipPos) => {
+    const state = { started: [], triggered: [], toasts: [], sfx: [] };
+    const scene = {
+      combat: {
+        waveRun: null,
+        startWaves: (script, opts) => state.started.push({ script, opts }),
+      },
+      ship: { x: shipPos[0], y: shipPos[1] },
+      comms: { trigger: (t) => state.triggered.push(t) },
+      playSfx: (n) => state.sfx.push(n),
+      _huntToast: (line) => state.toasts.push(String(line)),
+      _huntMarkName: GameScene.prototype._huntMarkName,
+      _fireBountyEngagements: GameScene.prototype._fireBountyEngagements,
+      state,
+    };
+    return scene;
+  };
+  const markPlan = {
+    down: false,
+    bountyAt: 0,
+    pickets: [false],
+    skirmishCleared: [],
+    raiders: 8,
+    eliteType: 'gunner',
+    mark: { name: 'Vex Korrath', epithet: 'the Wrecked' },
+  };
+
+  // THE MARK — its leg is logged and the ship stands on it: the fight
+  // stands up (the elite deploys with the opening group) and the bounty
+  // attack comm is armed in the same breath.
+  const markRoute = { kind: 'bounty', targetSystemId: 'sys', visited: [0], waypoints: [[100, 100]], bounty: markPlan };
+  const scene = makeHuntScene([100, 100]);
+  const fired = scene._fireBountyEngagements({ bountySkirmishCleared: () => {} }, 'sq-bounty-0', markRoute, 420);
+  check('the mark branch stands up the fight (one rolling wave through startWaves)', fired === true && scene.state.started.length === 1);
+  check('the mark deploys inside the wave (the elite block is the dossier frame)', !!scene.state.started[0]?.script?.waves?.[0]?.elite);
+  check('the bounty attack comm is armed the moment the mark stands up', scene.state.triggered.includes('pirateBountyAttack'));
+  check('…exactly once per engagement that stands', scene.state.triggered.filter((t) => t === 'pirateBountyAttack').length === 1);
+
+  // THE PICKET WAVE — a pre-bounty leg's skirmish throws no mark (the mark
+  // is the fight): its fight stands up WITHOUT the bounty attack comm.
+  const picketRoute = { kind: 'bounty', targetSystemId: 'sys', visited: [0], waypoints: [[100, 100], [900, 900]], bounty: { ...markPlan, bountyAt: 1, pickets: [true] } };
+  const sceneP = makeHuntScene([100, 100]);
+  const firedP = sceneP._fireBountyEngagements({ bountySkirmishCleared: () => {} }, 'sq-bounty-0', picketRoute, 420);
+  check('the picket branch stands up its skirmish (startWaves)', firedP === true && sceneP.state.started.length === 1);
+  check('the picket skirmish carries no elite (the mark is the fight)', !sceneP.state.started[0]?.script?.waves?.[0]?.elite);
+  check('…and it does NOT arm the bounty attack comm', !sceneP.state.triggered.includes('pirateBountyAttack'));
+
+  // THE COMMS ITSELF — the trigger arms exactly the bounty comm (the box's
+  // clip is the bounty clip, the voice one of the four bounty clips, the
+  // line the bounty line — pinned in dev/comms.test.mjs's content checks).
+  const armed = (configData.comms?.comms ?? []).filter((c) => c.trigger === 'pirateBountyAttack');
+  check('the trigger arms exactly one comm (pirate-bounty-attack, the bounty face)',
+    armed.length === 1 && armed[0].id === 'pirate-bounty-attack' && armed[0].from === 'pirate_bounty');
+}
+
 // ==========================================================================
 if (failures > 0) {
   console.error(`\n${failures} bounty hunt check(s) FAILED`);
diff --git a/dev/combat.test.mjs b/dev/combat.test.mjs
index 41006eb..d0336ae 100644
--- a/dev/combat.test.mjs
+++ b/dev/combat.test.mjs
@@ -1349,6 +1349,98 @@ const E = (k, d) => config.get(`combat.enemy.${k}`, d);
   check('waves/system: the demo fires 7 starts + 7 clears', events.start === 7 && events.clear === 7);
 }
 
+// -------------------------------------------------------------- comm rolls
+// The comming type's VOICE (data/combat.json → enemyTypes.raider.comms; the
+// comms themselves are data/comms.json's pirate-attack / pirate-defeat —
+// the clip + the random voice + the line): the 50% ON-SCREEN attack roll
+// (once per pirate, on its first fly-in), the 20% ROLLING-ARRIVAL attack
+// roll (a new pirate sent into a rolling wave), and the 20% DEFEAT roll
+// on the kill. The dice are CombatSystem's, the seam is o.onComm (the
+// scene's CommsHub trigger). The rolls ride Math.random, so the checks
+// stub it (hit = always < chance, miss = always >= chance) and restore it.
+{
+  const scene = makeScene({ withSheet: true });
+  const ship = scene.physics.add.existing(new PhaserStub.Physics.Arcade.Sprite(scene, 0, 0, '__ship', 0));
+  ship.radius = 12;
+  ship.stop = () => {};
+  const comms = [];
+  const combat = new CombatSystem(scene, { ship, onComm: (trigger) => comms.push(trigger) });
+
+  const realRandom = Math.random;
+  const rollHit = () => { Math.random = () => 0; };     // every roll succeeds (0 < chance)
+  const rollMiss = () => { Math.random = () => 0.999; }; // every roll fails (>= chance)
+  const count = (name) => comms.filter((c) => c === name).length;
+  try {
+    // The config rides the TYPE (data/combat.json → enemyTypes): the raider
+    // (the pirate) carries the block; a type without one rides commless.
+    const pirate = combat.spawnEnemy(100, 100, 0, 'raider');
+    const bomber = combat.spawnEnemy(200, 200, 1, 'bomber');
+    check('comms: the raider carries its comm rolls (the pirate)',
+      pirate.comms?.attack?.trigger === 'pirateAttack' && pirate.comms?.defeat?.trigger === 'pirateDefeat');
+    check('comms: a type without a comms block rides commless (the rolls no-op)',
+      bomber.comms === null);
+
+    // ON-SCREEN (50%): headless has no camera, so inView is a no-op — the
+    // craft is "on screen" from its first frame, and the first update is
+    // its fly-in. A forced hit arms the attack trigger…
+    rollHit();
+    combat.update(1000, 16);
+    check('comms: the on-screen roll arms the attack comm (the 50% hit)',
+      count('pirateAttack') === 1);
+    // …and a pirate rolls it ONCE (the edge is spent — no second line).
+    combat.update(1016, 16);
+    check('comms: the on-screen roll fires once per pirate', count('pirateAttack') === 1);
+    // …while a forced miss arms nothing.
+    rollMiss();
+    const raider2 = combat.spawnEnemy(300, 300, 2, 'raider');
+    combat.update(1032, 16);
+    check('comms: the on-screen roll\'s miss arms nothing (the 50% miss)',
+      count('pirateAttack') === 1 && raider2._commedAttack === false);
+
+    // DEFEAT (20%): a downed pirate\'s line — the forced hit arms the defeat
+    // trigger; the commless bomber\'s death stays quiet.
+    rollHit();
+    pirate.damage(9999);
+    combat.killEnemy(pirate, 2000);
+    check('comms: the defeat roll arms the defeat comm (the 20% hit)',
+      count('pirateDefeat') === 1);
+    rollMiss();
+    bomber.damage(9999);
+    combat.killEnemy(bomber, 2016);
+    check('comms: a commless type\'s death arms no defeat comm', count('pirateDefeat') === 1);
+
+    // ROLLING ARRIVAL (20%): a NEW pirate sent into a rolling wave (the
+    // opening burst, then each kill\'s replacement) rolls its own attack
+    // comm on spawn — a hit marks the ship, so the on-screen roll (which
+    // the next update would otherwise run) can\'t stack on top.
+    const atkBefore = count('pirateAttack');
+    const defBefore = count('pirateDefeat');
+    rollHit();
+    combat.startWaves(
+      { waves: [{ kind: 'rolling', roster: { raider: 1 }, total: 2, maxConcurrent: 1, replacePerKill: 1 }], lead: 0, gap: 0 },
+      {},
+    );
+    combat.update(3000, 16);
+    const live = combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead);
+    check('comms: the rolling opening burst comms on arrival (the 20% hit)',
+      live.length === 1 && count('pirateAttack') === atkBefore + 1);
+    check('comms: a hit arrival marks the ship (the on-screen roll can\'t stack)',
+      live.length === 1 && live[0]._commedAttack === true);
+    live[0].damage(9999);
+    combat.killEnemy(live[0], 3016);
+    combat.update(3032, 16);
+    const replaced = combat.enemies.filter((e) => e.wave && !e.dead);
+    check('comms: the rolling replacement deploys + comms on arrival',
+      replaced.length === 1 && replaced[0]._commedAttack === true &&
+      count('pirateAttack') === atkBefore + 2);
+    check('comms: the arrival pirate\'s defeat rides its 20% roll (hit)',
+      count('pirateDefeat') === defBefore + 1);
+    combat.cancelWaves(true);
+  } finally {
+    Math.random = realRandom;
+  }
+}
+
 // ------------------------------------------------------------------ done
 
 console.log(failures === 0 ? '\ncombat rules: all checks passed' : `\n${failures} check(s) FAILED`);
diff --git a/dev/comms.test.mjs b/dev/comms.test.mjs
index c10931b..ca173bc 100644
--- a/dev/comms.test.mjs
+++ b/dev/comms.test.mjs
@@ -89,14 +89,25 @@ const carol = charEntry(cfg, 'carol');
 check('Carol is registered (label + role + her own clip)', !!carol && carol.label === 'CAROL' && !!carol.role && carol.video === 'assets/videos/characters/carol.mp4');
 check('Carol\'s space clip ships on disk', existsSync(join(root, 'assets/videos/characters/carol.mp4')));
 
+const pirate = charEntry(cfg, 'pirate');
+check('the pirate is registered (label + role + the attack clip)', !!pirate && pirate.label === 'PIRATE' && !!pirate.role && pirate.video === 'assets/videos/enemies/pirate.mp4');
+check('the pirate\'s clip ships on disk', existsSync(join(root, 'assets/videos/enemies/pirate.mp4')));
+const pirateDefeat = charEntry(cfg, 'pirate_defeat');
+check('the pirate\'s defeat face is registered (the dying clip)', !!pirateDefeat && pirateDefeat.label === 'PIRATE' && pirateDefeat.video === 'assets/videos/enemies/pirate-defeat.mp4');
+check('the defeat clip ships on disk', existsSync(join(root, 'assets/videos/enemies/pirate-defeat.mp4')));
+const pirateBounty = charEntry(cfg, 'pirate_bounty');
+check('the bounty mark is registered (label + role + the bounty clip)', !!pirateBounty && pirateBounty.label === 'PIRATE' && !!pirateBounty.role && pirateBounty.video === 'assets/videos/enemies/pirate-bounty.mp4');
+check('the bounty clip ships on disk', existsSync(join(root, 'assets/videos/enemies/pirate-bounty.mp4')));
+
 const roster = listComms(cfg);
 // The shipped roster count (the data pins it: a stray unvalidated comm
 // landing in data/comms.json changes the number and fails this line —
 // 25 pre-'Pirate Problems' + the trestleQ4 warning trio (trestle-q4-1/
 // 2/3, data/comms.json) + the payoff pair (trestle-q4-4/5, the
 // quest-complete sign-off) + the combat pair (oac-enemies-detected /
-// oac-enemies-defeated) = 32).
-check('the roster holds exactly the shipped comms', roster.length === 32);
+// oac-enemies-defeated) + the pirate trio (pirate-attack / pirate-defeat /
+// pirate-bounty-attack — the comming type's own voice, the mark's too) = 35).
+check('the roster holds exactly the shipped comms', roster.length === 35);
 const byId = Object.fromEntries(roster.map((c) => [c.id, c]));
 const intro = byId['oac-intro'];
 check(
@@ -374,6 +385,113 @@ check(
     defAssets.audio?.key === audioKeyFor(defAssets.audio.url),
 );
 
+// The PIRATE'S OWN VOICE (data/combat.json → enemyTypes.raider.comms rolls
+// the pirate-attack / pirate-defeat triggers; GameScene's bounty hunt arms
+// pirate-bounty-attack) — the box shows the pirate's clip with the voice
+// rolling one of the four clips per arm, all riding over the live fight.
+const atk = byId['pirate-attack'];
+check(
+  'pirate-attack: the on-screen/arrival call (visual, pirateAttack, pirate, once:false)',
+  !!atk && atk.from === 'pirate' && atk.type === 'visual' && atk.trigger === 'pirateAttack' && atk.once === false,
+);
+const atkPool = atk?.audioPool ?? [];
+check(
+  'pirate-attack: the four attack clips (audioPool, no fixed audio)',
+  atk?.audio === null &&
+    JSON.stringify(atkPool) ===
+      JSON.stringify([
+        'assets/speech/pirates/attack-01.mp3',
+        'assets/speech/pirates/attack-02.mp3',
+        'assets/speech/pirates/attack-03.mp3',
+        'assets/speech/pirates/attack-04.mp3',
+      ]),
+);
+check('pirate-attack: every pool clip ships on disk', atkPool.every((f) => existsSync(join(root, f))));
+check('pirate-attack: fires AT the fight (delayMs === 0)', (atk?.delayMs ?? -1) === 0);
+check(
+  'pirate-attack: a played call RE-arms (once:false — every roll that hits)',
+  commsForTrigger(cfg, 'pirateAttack', new Set(['pirate-attack'])).length === 1,
+);
+const atkAssets = commAssets(cfg, atk);
+check(
+  'pirate-attack assets: the attack clip + the pool, keyed',
+  atkAssets.video?.key === 'comms_vid_pirate' &&
+    atkAssets.video.url === 'assets/videos/enemies/pirate.mp4' &&
+    atkPool.includes(atkAssets.audio?.url) &&
+    atkAssets.audio?.key === audioKeyFor(atkAssets.audio.url),
+);
+const dft = byId['pirate-defeat'];
+check(
+  'pirate-defeat: the kill sign-off (visual, pirateDefeat, pirate_defeat, once:false)',
+  !!dft && dft.from === 'pirate_defeat' && dft.type === 'visual' && dft.trigger === 'pirateDefeat' && dft.once === false,
+);
+const dftPool = dft?.audioPool ?? [];
+check(
+  'pirate-defeat: the four defeat clips (audioPool, no fixed audio)',
+  dft?.audio === null &&
+    JSON.stringify(dftPool) ===
+      JSON.stringify([
+        'assets/speech/pirates/defeat-01.mp3',
+        'assets/speech/pirates/defeat-02.mp3',
+        'assets/speech/pirates/defeat-03.mp3',
+        'assets/speech/pirates/defeat-04.mp3',
+      ]),
+);
+check('pirate-defeat: every pool clip ships on disk', dftPool.every((f) => existsSync(join(root, f))));
+check('pirate-defeat: fires AT the kill (delayMs === 0)', (dft?.delayMs ?? -1) === 0);
+check(
+  'pirate-defeat: a played sign-off RE-arms (once:false — every roll that hits)',
+  commsForTrigger(cfg, 'pirateDefeat', new Set(['pirate-defeat'])).length === 1,
+);
+const dftAssets = commAssets(cfg, dft);
+check(
+  'pirate-defeat assets: the dying clip + the pool, keyed',
+  dftAssets.video?.key === 'comms_vid_pirate_defeat' &&
+    dftAssets.video.url === 'assets/videos/enemies/pirate-defeat.mp4' &&
+    dftPool.includes(dftAssets.audio?.url) &&
+    dftAssets.audio?.key === audioKeyFor(dftAssets.audio.url),
+);
+const bty = byId['pirate-bounty-attack'];
+check(
+  'pirate-bounty-attack: the mark\'s call (visual, pirateBountyAttack, pirate_bounty, once:false)',
+  !!bty && bty.from === 'pirate_bounty' && bty.type === 'visual' && bty.trigger === 'pirateBountyAttack' && bty.once === false,
+);
+const btyPool = bty?.audioPool ?? [];
+check(
+  'pirate-bounty-attack: the four bounty clips (audioPool, no fixed audio)',
+  bty?.audio === null &&
+    JSON.stringify(btyPool) ===
+      JSON.stringify([
+        'assets/speech/pirates/bounty-01.mp3',
+        'assets/speech/pirates/bounty-02.mp3',
+        'assets/speech/pirates/bounty-03.mp3',
+        'assets/speech/pirates/bounty-04.mp3',
+      ]),
+);
+check('pirate-bounty-attack: every pool clip ships on disk', btyPool.every((f) => existsSync(join(root, f))));
+check('pirate-bounty-attack: fires AT the engagement (delayMs === 0)', (bty?.delayMs ?? -1) === 0);
+check(
+  'pirate-bounty-attack: a played call RE-arms (once:false — every engagement that stands)',
+  commsForTrigger(cfg, 'pirateBountyAttack', new Set(['pirate-bounty-attack'])).length === 1,
+);
+const btyAssets = commAssets(cfg, bty);
+check(
+  'pirate-bounty-attack assets: the bounty clip + the pool, keyed',
+  btyAssets.video?.key === 'comms_vid_pirate_bounty' &&
+    btyAssets.video.url === 'assets/videos/enemies/pirate-bounty.mp4' &&
+    btyPool.includes(btyAssets.audio?.url) &&
+    btyAssets.audio?.key === audioKeyFor(btyAssets.audio.url),
+);
+// The scene seam — the mark's fight stands up ONLY in the bounty branch of
+// GameScene._fireBountyEngagements (the picket skirmish throws no mark):
+// the trigger is armed there, and nowhere else.
+const bountySrc = (await import('node:fs')).readFileSync(join(root, 'js/scenes/GameScene.js'), 'utf8');
+check(
+  'GameScene arms pirateBountyAttack in the mark branch (and nowhere else)',
+  bountySrc.split("trigger('pirateBountyAttack')").length - 1 === 1 &&
+    bountySrc.indexOf("trigger('pirateBountyAttack')") > bountySrc.indexOf('_fireBountyEngagements'),
+);
+
 // The 'Leaving the Nest' beats — Trestle's THREE-BRIEF sequence (the
 // home gates go online; ALL THREE in the run's comms played-ledger are
 // the quest's 'Talk to Trestle' witness — GameScene._trestleCheck) and
diff --git a/js/combat/CombatSystem.js b/js/combat/CombatSystem.js
index 65f3805..9b84ed5 100644
--- a/js/combat/CombatSystem.js
+++ b/js/combat/CombatSystem.js
@@ -47,6 +47,15 @@ const TAU = Math.PI * 2;
  *                        the kills feed the rolling replacements. The QUEST
  *                        HOOK THAT FIRES startWaves LANDS LATER; until then
  *                        the console drives it (GameScene → __ORBIT_COMBAT__.waves))
+ *   - the PIRATE COMMS   (the comming types' own voice — the chances are the
+ *                        type's, data/combat.json → enemyTypes.<type>.comms):
+ *                        a 50% roll the first time a pirate flies on-screen,
+ *                        a 20% roll when a new pirate is sent into a rolling
+ *                        wave (the opening burst, each kill's replacement), a
+ *                        20% defeat roll on the kill. The comms themselves
+ *                        (data/comms.json's pirate-attack / pirate-defeat —
+ *                        the clip + the random speech clip + the line) are
+ *                        armed through o.onComm (the scene's CommsHub)
  *
  * The scene supplies the player ship (a Ship, or anything with
  * .x/.y/.radius/.body/.stop()/.setVisible()) and calls
@@ -73,6 +82,10 @@ export class CombatSystem {
    *   onKill           (enemy) => {} — a hostile went down
    *   onLevelUp        (level) => {} — a combat level landed (the feed's line;
    *                        the system's own FX/SFX/armor fire on the event)
+   *   onComm           (trigger) => {} — a comming hostile rolled one of its
+   *                        comm lines (the pirate's attack/defeat — the scene
+   *                        arms its CommsHub's trigger; js/comms; a context
+   *                        without one simply omits the seam)
    */
   constructor(scene, o = {}) {
     this.scene = scene;
@@ -83,6 +96,7 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     this.onPlayerUp = typeof o.onPlayerUp === 'function' ? o.onPlayerUp : null;
     this.onKill = typeof o.onKill === 'function' ? o.onKill : null;
     this.onLevelUp = typeof o.onLevelUp === 'function' ? o.onLevelUp : null;
+    this.onComm = typeof o.onComm === 'function' ? o.onComm : null;
 
     this.enemies = [];
     this.bullets = [];
@@ -256,7 +270,14 @@ export class CombatSystem {
    * @param {string|null} [type] the hostile type (a combat.enemyTypes id) — null = the base
    */
   spawnEnemy(x, y, index, type = null) {
-    const e = new EnemyShip(this.scene, x, y, index, enemyTypeConfig(type));
+    const cfg = enemyTypeConfig(type);
+    const e = new EnemyShip(this.scene, x, y, index, cfg);
+    // The comm rolls' config (data/combat.json → enemyTypes.<type>.comms —
+    // the pirate's lines; null for a type without one, then every roll is
+    // a no-op). The roll's marks ride the ship (the comm section below).
+    e.comms = cfg.comms && typeof cfg.comms === 'object' ? cfg.comms : null;
+    e._commedAttack = false; // an attack line already fired (the rolls don't stack)
+    e._wasOnScreen = false; // the on-screen roll's edge (fires once, on entry)
     e.setDepth(10);
     const px = this.ship ? this.ship.x : x;
     const py = this.ship ? this.ship.y : y;
@@ -391,6 +412,11 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     const e = this.spawnEnemy(px + Math.cos(a) * r, py + Math.sin(a) * r, this._spawnSerial++, typeId);
     e.wave = true; // owned by the run: no self-respawn, the kill feeds the runner
     if (elite) e.applyEliteBuff(elite);
+    // THE ROLLING ARRIVAL (data/combat.json → comms.attack.spawnChance):
+    // a NEW pirate sent into a rolling wave (the opening burst, each
+    // kill's replacement) rolls its own attack comm on arrival (20%) — a
+    // hit marks the ship, so its later on-screen roll doesn't stack on top.
+    if (e.comms?.attack) this._commAttackRoll(e, e.comms.attack.spawnChance);
     return e;
   }
 
@@ -544,6 +570,15 @@ export class CombatSystem {
       }
       const wantsFire = e.update(time, delta, player);
       if (wantsFire && player && this.craftVisible(e)) this.fireEnemy(e, player, time);
+      // THE ATTACK COMM (the type's comms.attack — data/combat.json): the
+      // ON-SCREEN roll (50%) fires once the craft first flies into view —
+      // unless its arrival roll already commed it (a pirate never
+      // double-comms; the marks ride the ship).
+      if (e.comms?.attack && !e._commedAttack) {
+        const vis = this.craftVisible(e);
+        if (vis && !e._wasOnScreen) this._commAttackRoll(e, e.comms.attack.onScreenChance);
+        e._wasOnScreen = vis;
+      }
     }
 
     // 2) AUTO-FIRE: the nearest VISIBLE hostile in range (game.autoFire).
@@ -952,6 +987,10 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     this.fx.explode(e.x, e.y, '#ff5d6f');
     combatShake(this.scene, 'kill'); // the world kick (the bar stays still)
     combatSfx(this.scene, 'kill');
+    // THE DEFEAT COMM (data/combat.json → comms.defeat): a downed pirate
+    // rolls its defeat line (20%) — the comm's beat rides the same kill
+    // (once per death — killEnemy is idempotent via _killFx).
+    this._commDefeatRoll(e);
     e.setVisible(false);
     if (e.body) {
       e.body.velocity.x = 0;
@@ -985,9 +1024,69 @@ export class CombatSystem {
     e.revive();
     e.nextFireAt = time + 900;
     e.setVisible(true);
+    // A new life: the comm rolls re-arm (the pirate comes back with its
+    // voice — the on-screen roll's edge resets with it).
+    e._commedAttack = false;
+    e._wasOnScreen = false;
     this._setActive();
   }
 
+  // ------------------------------------------------------ the comm rolls
+  //
+  // The comming type's VOICE (the comm's CONTENT — the clip, the random
+  // speech, the line — is data/comms.json's, keyed by the roll's trigger
+  // name: 'pirateAttack' / 'pirateDefeat', the senders 'pirate' /
+  // 'pirate_defeat'). The chances are the type's (data/combat.json →
+  // enemyTypes.<type>.comms); this system only rolls the dice and hands
+  // the trigger to o.onComm (the scene arms its CommsHub's trigger —
+  // js/comms/CommsHub.js; a context without one simply doesn't pass the
+  // seam, and the rolls stay no-ops). The marks ride the ship
+  // (e._commedAttack: an attack line already fired, so the other attack
+  // roll doesn't stack; e._wasOnScreen: the on-screen roll's edge), so a
+  // pirate comms at most once per life — the arrival (20%) OR the
+  // on-screen (50%) roll, never both.
+
+  /**
+   * The ATTACK roll (`chance` in [0, 1]): a hit arms the type's trigger.
+   * @param {object} e the hostile (its comms block + the roll's marks)
+   * @param {number} chance comms.attack.onScreenChance / .spawnChance
+   * @returns {boolean} true when the comm was armed
+   */
+  _commAttackRoll(e, chance) {
+    const atk = e?.comms?.attack;
+    if (!atk || e._commedAttack || !this.onComm) return false;
+    const trigger = String(atk.trigger ?? '').trim();
+    const p = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, Number(chance) || 0));
+    if (p === 0 || trigger === '' || Math.random() >= p) return false;
+    e._commedAttack = true; // committed — the other attack roll is spent
+    try {
+      this.onComm(trigger);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (typeof console !== 'undefined') console.warn('[combat] onComm hook failed', err);
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * The DEFEAT roll (comms.defeat — once per death: killEnemy is
+   * idempotent via _killFx, so a downed pirate gets at most one line).
+   * @param {object} e the downed hostile
+   * @returns {boolean} true when the comm was armed
+   */
+  _commDefeatRoll(e) {
+    const def = e?.comms?.defeat;
+    if (!def || !this.onComm) return false;
+    const trigger = String(def.trigger ?? '').trim();
+    const p = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, Number(def.chance) || 0));
+    if (p === 0 || trigger === '' || Math.random() >= p) return false;
+    try {
+      this.onComm(trigger);
+    } catch (err) {
+      if (typeof console !== 'undefined') console.warn('[combat] onComm hook failed', err);
+    }
+    return true;
+  }
+
   // ------------------------------------------------------------- the bar
 
   /**
diff --git a/js/scenes/GameScene.js b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
index 30e5baf..b66b92c 100644
--- a/js/scenes/GameScene.js
+++ b/js/scenes/GameScene.js
@@ -1052,6 +1052,13 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
           this.combatHud?.kill('HOSTILE DESTROYED');
           this.handleCombatKill(e);
         },
+        // THE PIRATE'S COMM LINES (data/combat.json → enemyTypes.raider.comms
+        // rolls in CombatSystem — 50% on-screen / 20% rolling-arrival for the
+        // attack, 20% for the defeat; the comms themselves are data/comms.json's
+        // pirate-attack / pirate-defeat — the clip + the random voice + the
+        // line): arm the hub's trigger (js/comms — the box plays the clip
+        // muted with the speech and the message).
+        onComm: (trigger) => this.comms?.trigger(trigger),
         // A combat level landed (the system fires its own burst + voice +
         // the armor bump on the manager's 'levelup' event — the skill
         // layer will subscribe to that same event later): the feed's line.
@@ -5498,6 +5505,12 @@ export class GameScene extends Phaser.Scene {
         epithet: String(plan.mark?.epithet ?? '').toUpperCase(),
         n: String(total),
       }), '\u2620');
+      // THE MARK'S OWN VOICE — the bounty attack comm (data/comms.json →
+      // pirate-bounty-attack: the bounty clip, assets/videos/enemies/
+      // pirate-bounty.mp4, + one of the four bounty voice clips + the line):
+      // armed the moment the wanted leader's fight stands up — every time a
+      // bounty ship enters combat (a jump out mid-fight re-arms it on return).
+      this.comms?.trigger('pirateBountyAttack');
       this.combat.startWaves(script, {}); // NO onComplete witness — the kill is the witness (handleCombatKill)
       return true;
     }