diff --git a/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp b/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp
index 899d7c9..dbef451 100644
--- a/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp
+++ b/game/reconstructed/mechmppr.cpp
@@ -365,7 +365,17 @@ MechControlsMapper::MechControlsMapper(
 	lookRight			= 0;
 	lookDown			= 0;
 	lookBehind			= 0;
-	lookState			= LookNone;
+	lookState			= -1;	// IMPOSSIBLE state (#179): the commit below fires
+								// only on lookState EDGES, and both cells started
+								// equal (LookNone) -- so the spawn state was never
+								// COMMITTED: the reticle's pip GROUP mask kept its
+								// construction bits and the Nova showed its REAR
+								// laser's pips in the forward view until the first
+								// look toggle (Oracle, night 17).  Seeding -1 makes
+								// the mapper's first tick an edge into LookNone,
+								// stamping the forward view exactly as the machine
+								// showed it at spawn (weapon enables were already
+								// ctor-faithful: viewFireEnable = !rearFiring).
 
 	torsoUp			= 0;
 	torsoDown			= 0;