diff --git a/src/lib/commands/improve.c b/src/lib/commands/improve.c
index 9c35b0c8..25f69653 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/improve.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/improve.c
@@ -59,7 +59,6 @@ improve(void)
     s_char buf[1024];
     s_char inbuf[128];
     int type;
-    int vec[I_MAX + 1];
     int value;
     int ovalue;
     int maxup;
@@ -101,7 +100,6 @@ improve(void)
 	    continue;
 	if (!check_sect_ok(&sect))
 	    continue;
-	getvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)&sect, EF_SECTOR);
 	maxup = 100 - value;
 	wanted = atoi(p);
 	if (wanted < 0)
@@ -113,8 +111,8 @@ improve(void)
 	lneeded = intrchr[type].in_lcms * maxup;
 	if (opt_NO_LCMS)
 	    lneeded = 0;
-	if (vec[I_LCM] < lneeded) {
-	    lneeded = vec[I_LCM];
+	if (sect.sct_item[I_LCM] < lneeded) {
+	    lneeded = sect.sct_item[I_LCM];
 	    maxup = lneeded / intrchr[type].in_lcms;
 	    if (maxup <= 0) {
 		pr("Not enough lcms in %s\n",
@@ -125,8 +123,8 @@ improve(void)
 	hneeded = intrchr[type].in_hcms * maxup;
 	if (opt_NO_HCMS)
 	    hneeded = 0;
-	if (vec[I_HCM] < hneeded) {
-	    hneeded = vec[I_HCM];
+	if (sect.sct_item[I_HCM] < hneeded) {
+	    hneeded = sect.sct_item[I_HCM];
 	    maxup = hneeded / intrchr[type].in_hcms;
 	    if (maxup <= 0) {
 		pr("Not enough hcms in %s\n",
@@ -168,11 +166,10 @@ improve(void)
 	dneeded = intrchr[type].in_dcost * maxup;
 	player->dolcost += dneeded;
 	if (!opt_NO_LCMS)
-	    vec[I_LCM] -= lneeded;
+	    sect.sct_item[I_LCM] -= lneeded;
 	if (!opt_NO_HCMS)
-	    vec[I_HCM] -= hneeded;
+	    sect.sct_item[I_HCM] -= hneeded;
 	sect.sct_mobil -= mneeded;
-	putvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)&sect, EF_SECTOR);
 	ovalue = value;
 	value += maxup;
 	if (value > 100)
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/shoo.c b/src/lib/commands/shoo.c
index e44c534c..eec20ccf 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/shoo.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/shoo.c
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ shoo(void)
     struct lndstr land;
     int targets;
     s_char *p;
-    int vec[I_MAX + 1], mil, nsec;
+    int mil, nsec;
     s_char prompt[128];
     s_char buf[128];
 
@@ -78,9 +78,7 @@ shoo(void)
     while (nxtsct(&nstr, &sect)) {
 	if (!player->owner)
 	    continue;
-	if (getvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)&sect, EF_SECTOR) <= 0)
-	    continue;
-	mil = vec[I_MILIT];
+	mil = sect.sct_item[I_MILIT];
 	nsec = 0;
 	snxtitem_xy(&ni, EF_LAND, sect.sct_x, sect.sct_y);
 	while (nxtitem(&ni, (s_char *)&land)) {
@@ -92,9 +90,9 @@ shoo(void)
 	    }
 	}
 
-	if (vec[item] == 0 || vec[I_CIVIL] > mil * 10)
+	if (sect.sct_item[item] == 0 || sect.sct_item[I_CIVIL] > mil * 10)
 	    continue;
-	nshot = vec[item] > targets ? targets : vec[item];
+	nshot = sect.sct_item[item] > targets ? targets : sect.sct_item[item];
 	m = ((double)nshot + 4.0) / 5.0;
 
 	if (m > sect.sct_mobil) {
@@ -117,18 +115,17 @@ shoo(void)
 	    m = sect.sct_mobil;
 	mob_cost = roundavg(m);
 	sect.sct_mobil -= (u_char)mob_cost;
-	vec[item] -= nshot;
+	sect.sct_item[item] -= nshot;
 	pr("BANG!! (thump) %d %s shot in %s!\n",
 	   nshot, ip->i_name, xyas(sect.sct_x, sect.sct_y, player->cnum));
 	if (chance(nshot / 100.0))
 	    nreport(player->cnum, N_SHOOT_CIV, sect.sct_oldown, 1);
-	if (vec[item] <= 0 && item == V_CIVIL
+	if (sect.sct_item[item] <= 0 && item == I_CIVIL
 	    && (sect.sct_own != sect.sct_oldown)) {
 	    sect.sct_oldown = sect.sct_own;
 	    pr("  %s is now completely yours\n",
 	       xyas(sect.sct_x, sect.sct_y, player->cnum));
 	}
-	sect.sct_item[item] = vec[item];
 	putsect(&sect);
     }
     return RET_OK;
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/spy.c b/src/lib/commands/spy.c
index 55a62556..db9e4fea 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/spy.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/spy.c
@@ -111,7 +111,6 @@ spy(void)
     while (nxtsct(&nstr, &from)) {
 	if (!player->owner && !player->god)
 	    continue;
-	getvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)&from, EF_SECTOR);
 	nrecon = 0;
 	nunits = 0;
 	snxtitem_xy(&ni, EF_LAND, from.sct_x, from.sct_y);
@@ -120,7 +119,7 @@ spy(void)
 	    if (lchr[(int)land.lnd_type].l_flags & L_RECON)
 		nrecon++;
 	}
-	if ((military = vec[I_MILIT]) == 0 && (nunits == 0))
+	if ((military = from.sct_item[I_MILIT]) == 0 && (nunits == 0))
 	    continue;
 	x = from.sct_x;
 	y = from.sct_y;
@@ -205,8 +204,7 @@ spy(void)
 	if ((savemil != military) && (savemil > 0)) {
 	    if ((military < 0) || (military > savemil))
 		military = 0;
-	    vec[I_MILIT] = military;
-	    putvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)&from, EF_SECTOR);
+	    from.sct_item[I_MILIT] = military;
 	    putsect(&from);
 	}
     }
diff --git a/src/lib/commands/work.c b/src/lib/commands/work.c
index abdc61c7..574e8c4f 100644
--- a/src/lib/commands/work.c
+++ b/src/lib/commands/work.c
@@ -130,8 +130,6 @@ buildeff(struct sctstr *sp, int work, double *money)
     int n, hcms, lcms;
     int effdone = 0;
 
-    getvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)sp, EF_SECTOR);
-
     work_cost = 0;
     if (sp->sct_type != sp->sct_newtype) {
 	/*
@@ -159,13 +157,13 @@ buildeff(struct sctstr *sp, int work, double *money)
 	    work_cost = work;
 
 	if (dchr[sp->sct_type].d_lcms > 0) {
-	    lcms = vec[I_LCM];
+	    lcms = sp->sct_item[I_LCM];
 	    lcms /= dchr[sp->sct_type].d_lcms;
 	    if (work_cost > lcms)
 		work_cost = lcms;
 	}
 	if (dchr[sp->sct_type].d_hcms > 0) {
-	    hcms = vec[I_HCM];
+	    hcms = sp->sct_item[I_HCM];
 	    hcms /= dchr[sp->sct_type].d_hcms;
 	    if (work_cost > hcms)
 		work_cost = hcms;
@@ -176,11 +174,10 @@ buildeff(struct sctstr *sp, int work, double *money)
 
 	if ((dchr[sp->sct_type].d_lcms > 0) ||
 	    (dchr[sp->sct_type].d_hcms > 0)) {
-	    vec[I_LCM] -= work_cost * dchr[sp->sct_type].d_lcms;
-	    vec[I_HCM] -= work_cost * dchr[sp->sct_type].d_hcms;
+	    sp->sct_item[I_LCM] -= work_cost * dchr[sp->sct_type].d_lcms;
+	    sp->sct_item[I_HCM] -= work_cost * dchr[sp->sct_type].d_hcms;
 	}
 	effdone += work_cost;
     }
-    putvec(VT_ITEM, vec, (s_char *)sp, EF_SECTOR);
     return effdone;
 }