diff --git a/projects/gameboard-mks/src/app/api.service.ts b/projects/gameboard-mks/src/app/api.service.ts
index 4da1de47..2f69622d 100644
--- a/projects/gameboard-mks/src/app/api.service.ts
+++ b/projects/gameboard-mks/src/app/api.service.ts
@@ -5,9 +5,9 @@ import { PlatformLocation } from '@angular/common';
 import { HttpClient } from '@angular/common/http';
 import { Injectable } from '@angular/core';
 import { interval, Observable, of } from 'rxjs';
-import { catchError, filter, map, switchMap } from 'rxjs/operators';
+import { catchError, map, switchMap } from 'rxjs/operators';
 import { environment } from '../environments/environment';
-import { ConsoleActionResponse, ConsoleActor, ConsoleRequest, ConsoleSummary, KeyValuePair, VmAnswer, VmOperation, VmOptions } from './api.models';
+import { ConsoleActionResponse, ConsoleActor, ConsoleRequest, ConsoleSummary, KeyValuePair, VmAnswer, VmOptions } from './api.models';
 import { UserActivityListenerEventType } from './components/user-activity-listener/user-activity-listener.component';
 
 @Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
diff --git a/projects/gameboard-mks/src/app/components/console/console.component.ts b/projects/gameboard-mks/src/app/components/console/console.component.ts
index 673ecc0a..6a440e3a 100644
--- a/projects/gameboard-mks/src/app/components/console/console.component.ts
+++ b/projects/gameboard-mks/src/app/components/console/console.component.ts
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import { ClipboardService } from '../../clipboard.service';
 import { HubService } from '../../hub.service';
 import { UserActivityListenerEventType } from '../user-activity-listener/user-activity-listener.component';
 import { ConfigService } from '@/utility/config.service';
+import { LogService } from '@/services/log.service';
 
 @Component({
   selector: 'app-console',
@@ -63,6 +64,7 @@ export class ConsoleComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     private config: ConfigService,
     private injector: Injector,
     private api: ApiService,
+    private logService: LogService,
     private titleSvc: Title,
     private clipSvc: ClipboardService,
     private renderer: Renderer2
@@ -134,6 +136,7 @@ export class ConsoleComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     }
 
     this.state = state;
+    this.logService.logInfo("State to", state);
     this.shadowState(state);
     this.isConnected = state === 'connected';
 
@@ -181,6 +184,8 @@ export class ConsoleComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
       (info: ConsoleSummary) => this.create(info),
       (err) => {
         const msg = err?.error?.message || err?.message || err;
+        this.logService.logError(`Console reload error: ${msg || "[no error resolved]"}`);
+
         this.changeState(
           msg.match(/forbidden/i) ? 'forbidden' : 'failed'
         );
@@ -338,12 +343,6 @@ export class ConsoleComponent implements AfterViewInit, OnDestroy {
     }
   }
 
-  @HostListener('window:blur', ['$event'])
-  onBlur(): void {
-    // don't set actor map on blur
-    // this.api.blur(this.request);
-  }
-
   @HostListener('document:mouseup', ['$event'])
   dragged(): void {
     this.audiencePos = null;
diff --git a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/api/challenges.service.ts b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/api/challenges.service.ts
index e27ed200..a9e3f8ae 100644
--- a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/api/challenges.service.ts
+++ b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/api/challenges.service.ts
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@ import { PlayerMode } from './player-models';
 
 @Injectable({ providedIn: 'root' })
 export class ChallengesService {
-  private _challengeDeployStateChanged$ = new Subject<string>();
+  private _challengeDeployStateChanged$ = new Subject<Challenge>();
   public readonly challengeDeployStateChanged$ = this._challengeDeployStateChanged$.asObservable();
 
   private _challengeGraded$ = new Subject<Challenge>();
@@ -67,13 +67,13 @@ export class ChallengesService {
 
   public deploy(challenge: { id: string }): Observable<Challenge> {
     return this.http.put<Challenge>(this.apiUrl.build("challenge/start"), challenge).pipe(tap(challenge => {
-      this._challengeDeployStateChanged$.next(challenge.id);
+      this._challengeDeployStateChanged$.next(challenge);
     }));
   }
 
   public undeploy(challenge: { id: string }): Observable<Challenge> {
     return this.http.put<Challenge>(this.apiUrl.build("challenge/stop"), challenge).pipe(tap(challenge => {
-      this._challengeDeployStateChanged$.next(challenge.id);
+      this._challengeDeployStateChanged$.next(challenge);
     }));
   }
 
diff --git a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/api/team.service.ts b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/api/team.service.ts
index 97dbf28c..ee7407c3 100644
--- a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/api/team.service.ts
+++ b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/api/team.service.ts
@@ -82,8 +82,9 @@ export class TeamService {
         this._teamSessionEndedManually$.next(request.teamId);
     }
 
-    public extendSession(model: SessionExtendRequest): Observable<void> {
-        return from(this.updateSession(model));
+    public async extendSession(model: SessionExtendRequest): Promise<void> {
+        await this.updateSession(model);
+        this._teamSessionExtended$.next([model.teamId]);
     }
 
     public resetSession(request: { teamId: string, resetType?: TeamSessionResetType }): Observable<void> {
@@ -97,11 +98,8 @@ export class TeamService {
     }
 
     private async updateSession(request: SessionExtendRequest | SessionEndRequest): Promise<void> {
-        await firstValueFrom(
-            this.http.put<any>(this.apiUrl.build("/team/session"), request).pipe(
-                tap(_ => this._teamSessionsChanged$.next([request.teamId])),
-                tap(_ => this._playerSessionChanged$.next(request.teamId)),
-            )
-        );
+        await firstValueFrom(this.http.put<any>(this.apiUrl.build("/team/session"), request));
+        this._playerSessionChanged$.next(request.teamId);
+        this._teamSessionsChanged$.next([request.teamId]);
     }
 }
diff --git a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/game/components/play/play.component.html b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/game/components/play/play.component.html
index 39ba2947..189032fb 100644
--- a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/game/components/play/play.component.html
+++ b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/game/components/play/play.component.html
@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ <h3>Challenge Questions</h3>
             </ng-container>
         </div>
 
-        <div *ngIf="isMiniPlayerAvailable && isMiniPlayerSelected && challenge?.challengeDeployment"
+        <div *ngIf="isMiniPlayerAvailable && isMiniPlayerSelected && !isDeploying && !isUndeploying && challenge?.challengeDeployment"
             class="mini-player-container">
             <ng-container *ngTemplateOutlet="miniPlayer"></ng-container>
         </div>
@@ -100,13 +100,13 @@ <h3>Challenge Questions</h3>
     <ng-container *ngIf="challenge && !isDeploying && !isUndeploying">
         <h5><ng-container *ngTemplateOutlet="challengeConsolesText"></ng-container></h5>
 
-        <div class="vms-container my-4">
+        <div *ngIf="challenge?.challengeDeployment?.vms?.length" class="vms-container my-4">
             <ul class="d-flex flex-wrap">
                 <li *ngFor="let vm of challenge.challengeDeployment.vms">
                     <a class="btn btn-sm btn-dark mr-2 d-block" [href]="vmUrls[vm.id] | safeurl" target="_blank"
                         role="button">
                         <fa-icon [icon]="fa.computer"></fa-icon>
-                        <span>{{vm.name}}</span>
+                        <span> {{vm.name}}</span>
                     </a>
                 </li>
             </ul>
diff --git a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/prac/components/practice-challenge-state-summary/practice-challenge-state-summary.component.ts b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/prac/components/practice-challenge-state-summary/practice-challenge-state-summary.component.ts
index 58afee29..781fffa7 100644
--- a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/prac/components/practice-challenge-state-summary/practice-challenge-state-summary.component.ts
+++ b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/prac/components/practice-challenge-state-summary/practice-challenge-state-summary.component.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ export class PracticeChallengeStateSummaryComponent {
 
     // update timers to accurately reflect the active challenge
     this.msElapsed$ = this._timer$.pipe(
-      map(tick =>
+      map(() =>
         this.userActivePracticeChallenge?.session.start ?
           DateTime.now().diff(this.userActivePracticeChallenge.session.start).toMillis() :
           undefined
@@ -82,10 +82,10 @@ export class PracticeChallengeStateSummaryComponent {
   async extendSession(practiceChallenge: LocalActiveChallenge): Promise<void> {
     this.isChangingSessionEnd = true;
     const teamId = practiceChallenge.teamId;
-    await firstValueFrom(this.teamService.extendSession({
+    await this.teamService.extendSession({
       teamId,
       sessionEnd: new Date()
-    }));
+    });
 
     this.isChangingSessionEnd = false;
     this.showExtensionToast(DateTime.now().plus({ minutes: 60 }));
diff --git a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/stores/active-challenges.store.ts b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/stores/active-challenges.store.ts
index 6c9c7434..9e32453b 100644
--- a/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/stores/active-challenges.store.ts
+++ b/projects/gameboard-ui/src/app/stores/active-challenges.store.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,10 @@
 import { Injectable, OnDestroy } from "@angular/core";
 import { createStore, withProps } from "@ngneat/elf";
 import { DateTime } from "luxon";
-import { Observable, Subject, Subscription, combineLatest, firstValueFrom, interval, map, merge, of, startWith, switchMap } from "rxjs";
+import { Observable, Subject, Subscription, firstValueFrom, interval, merge, of, startWith, switchMap } from "rxjs";
 import { LocalActiveChallenge } from "@/api/challenges.models";
 import { SimpleEntity } from "@/api/models";
 import { ChallengesService } from "@/api/challenges.service";
-import { PlayerService } from "@/api/player.service";
 import { Challenge } from "@/api/board-models";
 import { TeamService } from "@/api/team.service";
 import { UserService as LocalUserService } from "@/utility/user.service";
@@ -44,28 +43,23 @@ export class ActiveChallengesRepo implements OnDestroy {
 
     constructor(
         challengesService: ChallengesService,
-        playerService: PlayerService,
         localUser: LocalUserService,
         teamService: TeamService) {
 
         this._subs.push(
-            combineLatest([
+            merge([
                 of(challengesService),
                 localUser.user$,
                 merge([
                     challengesService.challengeGraded$,
-                    challengesService.challengeDeployStateChanged$,
-                    playerService.playerSessionReset$,
-                    teamService.playerSessionChanged$,
-                    teamService.teamSessionsChanged$
+                    challengesService.challengeDeployStateChanged$
                 ])
-            ]).pipe(
-                map(([challengesService]) => ({ challengesService })),
-            ).subscribe(ctx => this._initState(ctx.challengesService, localUser.user$.value?.id || null)),
+            ]).subscribe(() => this._initState(challengesService, localUser.user$.value?.id || null)),
             interval(1000).subscribe(() => this.checkActiveChallengesForEnd()),
             challengesService.challengeGraded$.subscribe(challenge => this.handleChallengeGraded(challenge)),
-            teamService.teamSessionEndedManually$.subscribe(tId => this.handleTeamSessionEndedManually(tId))
-
+            challengesService.challengeDeployStateChanged$.subscribe(challenge => this.handleChallengeDeployStateChanged(challenge)),
+            teamService.teamSessionEndedManually$.subscribe(tId => this.handleTeamSessionEndedManually(tId)),
+            teamService.teamSessionsChanged$.subscribe(tId => this._initState(challengesService, localUser.user$.value?.id || null))
         );
 
         this._initState(challengesService, localUser.user$.value?.id || null);
@@ -81,6 +75,15 @@ export class ActiveChallengesRepo implements OnDestroy {
         return this.resolveActivePracticeChallenge(activeChallengesStore.value);
     }
 
+    private buildChallengeDeployment(challenge: Challenge) {
+        return {
+            challengeId: challenge.id,
+            isDeployed: challenge.hasDeployedGamespace,
+            markdown: challenge.state.markdown || "",
+            vms: challenge.state.vms,
+        };
+    }
+
     private checkActiveChallengesForEnd() {
         const challenges = [...activeChallengesStore.state.practice];
 
@@ -96,6 +99,31 @@ export class ActiveChallengesRepo implements OnDestroy {
         }
     }
 
+    private handleChallengeDeployStateChanged(challengeDeployStateChange: Challenge) {
+        activeChallengesStore.update(state => {
+            const competitive = [...state.competition];
+            const practice = [...state.practice];
+
+            for (const challenge of competitive) {
+                if (challenge.id == challengeDeployStateChange.id) {
+                    challenge.challengeDeployment = this.buildChallengeDeployment(challengeDeployStateChange);
+                }
+            }
+
+            for (const challenge of practice) {
+                if (challenge.id === challengeDeployStateChange.id) {
+                    challenge.challengeDeployment = this.buildChallengeDeployment(challengeDeployStateChange);
+                }
+            }
+
+            return {
+                ...state,
+                competition: [...competitive],
+                practice: [...practice]
+            };
+        });
+    }
+
     private handleChallengeGraded(challenge: Challenge) {
         // check if the graded challenge is the active practice challenge, and if it is, evaluate it for completeness
         // and grading attempts, and notify appropriate subjects
@@ -103,7 +131,12 @@ export class ActiveChallengesRepo implements OnDestroy {
         if (activePracticeChallenge?.challengeDeployment.challengeId === challenge.id) {
             // no matter what, update the activeChallenge thing in state with the deploy state of the 
             // challenge's gamespace
-            activePracticeChallenge.challengeDeployment.isDeployed = challenge.state.isActive;
+            activePracticeChallenge.challengeDeployment = {
+                challengeId: challenge.id,
+                isDeployed: challenge.hasDeployedGamespace,
+                markdown: challenge.state.markdown || "",
+                vms: challenge.state.vms,
+            };
             let removeChallengeFromState = false;
 
             if (challenge.score >= challenge.points) {
@@ -128,13 +161,6 @@ export class ActiveChallengesRepo implements OnDestroy {
         this.removeFromActiveWithPredicate(c => c.teamId == teamId);
     }
 
-    private getAllChallenges() {
-        return [
-            ...activeChallengesStore.state.competition,
-            ...activeChallengesStore.state.practice
-        ];
-    }
-
     private removeFromActive(endedChallenge: Challenge | LocalActiveChallenge) {
         this.removeFromActiveWithPredicate(c => c.id === endedChallenge.id);
     }
@@ -151,7 +177,7 @@ export class ActiveChallengesRepo implements OnDestroy {
 
     private async _initState(challengesService: ChallengesService, localUserId: string | null) {
         if (!localUserId) {
-            activeChallengesStore.update(state => DEFAULT_STATE);
+            activeChallengesStore.update(() => DEFAULT_STATE);
             return;
         }