diff --git a/dpl3-revive/patha/vrview.py b/dpl3-revive/patha/vrview.py
index c62da30..42d4655 100644
--- a/dpl3-revive/patha/vrview.py
+++ b/dpl3-revive/patha/vrview.py
@@ -827,7 +827,12 @@ class Renderer:
                   'fog': (500, 4000, 0.05, 0.1, 0.12)}
 
         V = np.linalg.inv(self.cam_matrix(board))
-        back = np.array(vp['back']) * 255
+        # fogged background: at infinite distance the clear must be the fog
+        # colour (pre-drop hold is FULLY black; flash covers the sky band)
+        if vp['fog_on'] and vp['fog'][1] > vp['fog'][0]:
+            back = np.array(vp['fog'][2:5]) * 255
+        else:
+            back = np.array(vp['back']) * 255
         img = np.empty((H, W, 3), np.float32); img[:] = back
         zbuf = np.full((H, W), np.inf, np.float32)
 
@@ -855,7 +860,12 @@ class Renderer:
             if (NEARCULL and inst.get('gated') and not inst.get('hud')
                     and np.linalg.norm(M[3, :3]) + inst.get('radius', 0) < 10.0):
                 continue
-            if inst['chain'] and inst['chain'][0] in board.anim:
+            # FIX is the FLYK stand-in shark's +90-deg yaw correction (the
+            # replacement model was authored nose-along-+X). BT/munga models
+            # are authored correctly -- applying it yawed the player's own
+            # mech 90 degrees ("looking through the right shoulder").
+            if (not getattr(board, 'munga', False)
+                    and inst['chain'] and inst['chain'][0] in board.anim):
                 M = FIX @ M
             if inst['billboard']:
                 # spherical billboard: keep scale + eye position, face the camera
diff --git a/dpl3-revive/patha/vrview_gl.py b/dpl3-revive/patha/vrview_gl.py
index 48e5f35..29a7e07 100644
--- a/dpl3-revive/patha/vrview_gl.py
+++ b/dpl3-revive/patha/vrview_gl.py
@@ -429,7 +429,11 @@ class GLRenderer(vrview.Renderer):
         ctx.viewport = (0, 0, W, H)
         ctx.enable(mgl.DEPTH_TEST)
         ctx.disable(mgl.BLEND)
-        back = vp['back']
+        # With fog on, the background sits at infinite distance and must
+        # saturate to the FOG colour (the pod's pre-drop hold is FULLY black
+        # and the start flash covers the sky band too -- period-pilot
+        # confirmed); raw back_color left a clear blue stripe.
+        back = vp['fog'][2:5] if fog_on else vp['back']
         fbo.clear(back[0], back[1], back[2], depth=1.0)
 
         # frame-constant uniforms
@@ -473,7 +477,9 @@ class GLRenderer(vrview.Renderer):
             if (vrview.NEARCULL and inst.get('gated') and not inst.get('hud')
                     and np.linalg.norm(M[3, :3]) + inst.get('radius', 0) < 10.0):
                 continue
-            if inst['chain'] and inst['chain'][0] in board.anim:
+            # FLYK-only +90 yaw stand-in correction (see vrview draw loop)
+            if (not getattr(board, 'munga', False)
+                    and inst['chain'] and inst['chain'][0] in board.anim):
                 M = FIX @ M
             if inst['billboard']:
                 s = np.linalg.norm(M[0, :3])
diff --git a/emulator/net_full.conf b/emulator/net_full.conf
index 9d72f60..0cda89b 100644
--- a/emulator/net_full.conf
+++ b/emulator/net_full.conf
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ blocksize=1024
 prebuffer=60
 [serial]
 serial1=directserial realport:COM1 rxpollus:100 rxburst:16
-serial2=disabled
+serial2=directserial realport:COM2
 [autoexec]
 mount c "C:\VWE\TeslaRel410\ALPHA_1"
 mount d "C:\VWE\TeslaRel410\emulator\net-boot"
@@ -60,7 +60,7 @@ set BLASTER=A220 I5 D1 H5 P330 T6
 set TEMP=c:\
 set HEAPSIZE=15000000
 set L4GAUGE=640x480x16
-call setenv.bat r f s g
+call setenv.bat r f s p
 echo === launching game via NetNub (RIO + sound; no -egg; waits for console) ===
 32rtm.exe -x
 netnub -p -f btl4opt > nn.log
diff --git a/emulator/render-bridge/live_bridge.py b/emulator/render-bridge/live_bridge.py
index 1c05014..ef9eb37 100644
--- a/emulator/render-bridge/live_bridge.py
+++ b/emulator/render-bridge/live_bridge.py
@@ -83,12 +83,17 @@ def fp_cam(board, cache):
         h = chain[-1]
     elif anim:
         h = max(anim, key=lambda k: float(np.abs(np.array(anim[k][9:12])).sum()))
-    if h is None:
-        return None
-    fp_cam.root = h          # player vehicle root DCS (for the pick backchannel)
-    f = anim[h]
-    R = np.array(f[:9]).reshape(3, 3)
-    t = np.array(f[9:12])
+    # h may be None before the FIRST vehicle articulation arrives (a freshly
+    # dropped mech that hasn't moved sends no 0x1f yet -- both -egg and the
+    # console flow). The CHAIN camera below works fine without it; bailing
+    # out here left the raw default chain convention on screen, which put
+    # the pre-movement view inside the mech's own geometry.
+    R = t = None
+    if h is not None:
+        fp_cam.root = h      # player vehicle root DCS (for the pick backchannel)
+        f = anim[h]
+        R = np.array(f[:9]).reshape(3, 3)
+        t = np.array(f[9:12])
     worldup = np.array([0.0, 1.0, 0.0])
     eye = fwd = None
     if os.environ.get('FP_CAM', 'chain') != 'vehicle':
@@ -97,11 +102,13 @@ def fp_cam(board, cache):
             ec, fc = Mc[3, :3], Mc[2, :3]      # eye row; look = +Z row here
             n = np.linalg.norm(fc)
             if (np.isfinite(ec).all() and n > 1e-6 and
-                    np.linalg.norm(ec - t) < 100.0):   # sane cockpit offset
+                    (t is None or np.linalg.norm(ec - t) < 100.0)):
                 eye = ec + worldup * UPOFF[0]
                 fwd = fc / n
         except Exception:
             pass
+    if eye is None and R is None:
+        return None
     if eye is None:
         # vehicle-root fallback: -Z row rendered forward (user-verified);
         # FP_FWD_SIGN flips it back if needed.