diff --git a/Cargo.lock b/Cargo.lock
index ea87229dc9..0c89dbfed2 100644
--- a/Cargo.lock
+++ b/Cargo.lock
@@ -747,7 +747,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "actix-web 4.0.0-beta.10",
  "actix-web-actors",
  "actix_helpers",
- "clap 2.34.0",
+ "clap",
  "easyenv",
  "eframe",
  "egui",
@@ -790,7 +790,7 @@ version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
- "clap 2.34.0",
+ "clap",
  "config",
  "container_common",
  "database_queries",
@@ -1407,28 +1407,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "vec_map",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "clap"
-version = "4.0.18"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "335867764ed2de42325fafe6d18b8af74ba97ee0c590fa016f157535b42ab04b"
-dependencies = [
- "atty",
- "bitflags",
- "clap_lex",
- "strsim 0.10.0",
- "termcolor",
-]
-
-[[package]]
-name = "clap_lex"
-version = "0.3.0"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "0d4198f73e42b4936b35b5bb248d81d2b595ecb170da0bac7655c54eedfa8da8"
-dependencies = [
- "os_str_bytes",
-]
-
 [[package]]
 name = "clipboard-win"
 version = "4.5.0"
@@ -1960,8 +1938,7 @@ version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
- "clap 2.34.0",
- "clap 4.0.18",
+ "clap",
  "config",
  "container_common",
  "dotenv",
@@ -1979,7 +1956,6 @@ version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
- "clap 4.0.18",
  "config",
  "container_common",
  "dotenv",
@@ -2201,7 +2177,7 @@ version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
- "clap 2.34.0",
+ "clap",
  "cloud_storage",
  "config",
  "container_common",
@@ -3474,7 +3450,7 @@ version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
- "clap 2.34.0",
+ "clap",
  "cloud_storage",
  "config",
  "container_common",
@@ -4532,12 +4508,6 @@ dependencies = [
  "hashbrown",
 ]
 
-[[package]]
-name = "os_str_bytes"
-version = "6.3.1"
-source = "registry+https://github.com/rust-lang/crates.io-index"
-checksum = "3baf96e39c5359d2eb0dd6ccb42c62b91d9678aa68160d261b9e0ccbf9e9dea9"
-
 [[package]]
 name = "osmesa-sys"
 version = "0.1.2"
@@ -6869,7 +6839,7 @@ version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
- "clap 2.34.0",
+ "clap",
  "cloud_storage",
  "config",
  "container_common",
@@ -6900,7 +6870,7 @@ version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
- "clap 2.34.0",
+ "clap",
  "cloud_storage",
  "config",
  "container_common",
@@ -7319,7 +7289,7 @@ dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "buckets",
  "chrono",
- "clap 2.34.0",
+ "clap",
  "cloud_storage",
  "config",
  "container_common",
@@ -7350,7 +7320,7 @@ version = "0.0.1"
 dependencies = [
  "anyhow",
  "chrono",
- "clap 2.34.0",
+ "clap",
  "cloud_storage",
  "config",
  "container_common",
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/gui/gui.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/gui/gui.rs
index 6639d0142f..91e2755a01 100644
--- a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/gui/gui.rs
+++ b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/gui/gui.rs
@@ -1,22 +1,35 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use eframe::egui;
-use log::info;
+use log::{error, info};
+use crate::shared_state::control_state::ControlState;
 
 pub struct AppGui {
+  // NB: This is not the authoritative set of state.
+  // These will be copied into the shared server state.
   filename: String,
   default_directory: String,
+  is_paused: bool,
+
+  control_state: Arc<ControlState>,
 }
 
-impl Default for AppGui {
-  fn default() -> Self {
+impl AppGui {
+  pub fn new(control_state: Arc<ControlState>) -> Self {
     Self {
       filename: "".to_string(),
       default_directory: "".to_string(),
+      is_paused: false,
+      control_state,
     }
   }
 }
 
 impl eframe::App for AppGui {
   fn update(&mut self, ctx: &egui::Context, _frame: &mut eframe::Frame) {
+    if let Err(e) = self.control_state.set_is_paused(self.is_paused) {
+      error!("Couldn't set paused state: {:?}", e);
+    }
+
     egui::CentralPanel::default().show(ctx, |ui| {
       ui.heading("AiChatBot Sidecar");
       ui.horizontal(|ui| {
@@ -29,6 +42,11 @@ impl eframe::App for AppGui {
         ui.text_edit_singleline(&mut self.default_directory)
             .labelled_by(name_label.id);
       });
+      ui.horizontal(|ui| {
+        let name_label = ui.label("Is Paused?: ");
+        ui.checkbox(&mut self.is_paused, "Is Paused?")
+            .labelled_by(name_label.id);
+      });
     });
   }
 }
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/gui/launch_gui.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/gui/launch_gui.rs
index 45a20767ed..f6f33b05f1 100644
--- a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/gui/launch_gui.rs
+++ b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/gui/launch_gui.rs
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use crate::gui::gui::AppGui;
 use eframe::egui;
 use errors::AnyhowResult;
+use crate::shared_state::control_state::ControlState;
 
-pub fn launch_gui() -> AnyhowResult<()> {
+pub fn launch_gui(control_state: Arc<ControlState>) -> AnyhowResult<()> {
   // Log to stdout (if you run with `RUST_LOG=debug`).
   //tracing_subscriber::fmt::init();
 
@@ -11,10 +13,12 @@ pub fn launch_gui() -> AnyhowResult<()> {
     ..Default::default()
   };
 
+  let app_state = AppGui::new(control_state);
+
   let result = eframe::run_native(
     "AiChatBot Sidecar",
     options,
-    Box::new(|_cc| Box::new(AppGui::default())),
+    Box::new(|_cc| Box::new(app_state)),
   );
 
   Ok(())
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/main.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/main.rs
index c1c0ac6f1b..564f0e489c 100644
--- a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/main.rs
+++ b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/main.rs
@@ -5,24 +5,24 @@
 pub mod gui;
 pub mod jobs;
 pub mod main_loop;
-pub mod state;
+pub mod shared_state;
 pub mod web_server;
 
 #[macro_use] extern crate serde_derive;
 
+use actix_web::{HttpResponse, HttpServer, web};
+use clap::{App, Arg};
+use crate::gui::launch_gui::launch_gui;
+use crate::main_loop::main_loop;
+use crate::shared_state::control_state::ControlState;
+use crate::web_server::launch_web_server::launch_web_server;
+use errors::AnyhowResult;
+use log::info;
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use std::thread;
 use std::time::Duration;
 use tokio::runtime::Runtime;
-//use actix_rt::Runtime;
-use actix_web::{HttpResponse, HttpServer, web};
-use clap::{App, Arg};
-use crate::main_loop::main_loop;
-use errors::AnyhowResult;
-use log::info;
-use crate::gui::launch_gui::launch_gui;
-use crate::web_server::launch_web_server::launch_web_server;
 
-//#[tokio::main]
 #[actix_web::main]
 pub async fn main() -> AnyhowResult<()> {
   easyenv::init_all_with_default_logging(Some("info"));
@@ -42,31 +42,28 @@ pub async fn main() -> AnyhowResult<()> {
   //        .takes_value(true))
   //    .get_matches();
 
-
-  info!("Get runtime...");
+  let control_state = Arc::new(ControlState::new());
 
   let tokio_runtime = Runtime::new()?;
 
-
-  //info!("Starting main loop...");
+  info!("Starting async processes...");
 
   tokio_runtime.spawn(async {
-    info!("STARTING MAIN LOOP...");
     let _r = main_loop().await;
   });
 
-  //tokio_runtime.spawn(async {
-  //  info!("LAUNCHING GUI...");
-  //});
-
   info!("Starting web server...");
 
+  let control_state2 = control_state.clone();
+
   thread::spawn(move || {
-    let server_future = launch_web_server();
+    let server_future = launch_web_server(control_state2);
     actix_web::rt::System::new().block_on(server_future)
   });
 
-  let _r = launch_gui();
+  info!("Starting GUI ...");
+
+  let _r = launch_gui(control_state.clone());
 
   Ok(())
 }
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/shared_state/control_state.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/shared_state/control_state.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..b18c3279af
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/shared_state/control_state.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,34 @@
+use std::sync::{Arc, LockResult, RwLock};
+use errors::{anyhow, AnyhowResult};
+
+pub struct ControlState {
+  /// Whether the playback should be paused
+  /// Unreal Engine will get this over HTTP and know whether to no-op.
+  is_paused: Arc<RwLock<bool>>,
+}
+
+impl ControlState {
+
+  pub fn new() -> Self {
+    ControlState {
+      is_paused: Arc::new(RwLock::new(false)),
+    }
+  }
+
+  pub fn is_paused(&self) -> AnyhowResult<bool> {
+    match self.is_paused.read() {
+      Ok(value) => Ok(*value),
+      Err(err) => Err(anyhow!("lock error: {:?}", err)),
+    }
+  }
+
+  pub fn set_is_paused(&self, new_value: bool) -> AnyhowResult<()> {
+    match self.is_paused.write() {
+      Ok(mut value) => {
+        *value = new_value;
+        Ok(())
+      },
+      Err(err) => Err(anyhow!("lock error: {:?}", err)),
+    }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/state/job_state.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/shared_state/job_state.rs
similarity index 100%
rename from crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/state/job_state.rs
rename to crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/shared_state/job_state.rs
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/shared_state/mod.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/shared_state/mod.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..3b54ff9e8d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/shared_state/mod.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,2 @@
+pub mod control_state;
+pub mod job_state;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/state/mod.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/state/mod.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index 6c29638ff2..0000000000
--- a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/state/mod.rs
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,2 +0,0 @@
-pub mod server_state;
-pub mod job_state;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/state/server_state.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/state/server_state.rs
deleted file mode 100644
index e69de29bb2..0000000000
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/handlers/get_next_audio_file_handler.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/handlers/get_next_audio_file_handler.rs
index 4793ea66c6..e99ea8375e 100644
--- a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/handlers/get_next_audio_file_handler.rs
+++ b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/handlers/get_next_audio_file_handler.rs
@@ -1,6 +1,9 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use actix_http::StatusCode;
 use actix_web::{HttpRequest, HttpResponse, ResponseError, web};
+use log::error;
 use http_server_common::response::serialize_as_json_error::serialize_as_json_error;
+use crate::shared_state::control_state::ControlState;
 
 #[derive(Serialize)]
 pub struct GetNextAudioFileResponse {
@@ -34,12 +37,18 @@ impl std::fmt::Display for GetNextAudioFileError {
 
 pub async fn get_next_audio_file_handler(
   _http_request: HttpRequest,
-  //_server_state: web::Data<Arc<ServerState>>
+  control_state: web::Data<Arc<ControlState>>
 ) -> Result<HttpResponse, GetNextAudioFileError> {
 
+  let is_paused = control_state.is_paused()
+      .map_err(|err| {
+        error!("Error: {:?}", err);
+        GetNextAudioFileError::ServerError
+      })?;
+
   let response = GetNextAudioFileResponse {
     success: true,
-    is_paused: false,
+    is_paused,
   };
 
   let body = serde_json::to_string(&response)
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/launch_web_server.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/launch_web_server.rs
index 8cf022d719..f346dd4754 100644
--- a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/launch_web_server.rs
+++ b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/launch_web_server.rs
@@ -1,13 +1,22 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
 use actix_helpers::route_builder::RouteBuilder;
 use actix_web::{App, HttpResponse, HttpServer, web};
 use crate::web_server::handlers::get_next_audio_file_handler::get_next_audio_file_handler;
 use errors::AnyhowResult;
 use http_server_common::endpoints::root_index::get_root_index;
+use crate::shared_state::control_state::ControlState;
+use crate::web_server::server_state::ServerState;
+
+pub async fn launch_web_server(control_state: Arc<ControlState>) -> AnyhowResult<()> {
+
+  let server_state = Arc::new(ServerState {
+    control_state: control_state.clone(),
+  });
 
-pub async fn launch_web_server() -> AnyhowResult<()> {
   HttpServer::new(move || {
-    let app = App::new();
-        //.app_data(web::Data::new(server_state_arc.firehose_publisher.clone()))
+    let app = App::new()
+        .app_data(web::Data::new(control_state.clone()))
+        .app_data(web::Data::new(server_state.clone()));
 
     let mut route_builder = RouteBuilder::from_app(app);
 
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/mod.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/mod.rs
index 3abd1a2bc8..42d5a7d424 100644
--- a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/mod.rs
+++ b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/mod.rs
@@ -1,2 +1,3 @@
 pub mod handlers;
-pub mod launch_web_server;
\ No newline at end of file
+pub mod launch_web_server;
+pub mod server_state;
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/server_state.rs b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/server_state.rs
new file mode 100644
index 0000000000..c5b30544ef
--- /dev/null
+++ b/crates/programs/aichatbot-sidecar/src/web_server/server_state.rs
@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+use std::sync::Arc;
+use crate::shared_state::control_state::ControlState;
+
+#[derive(Clone)]
+pub struct ServerState {
+  pub control_state: Arc<ControlState>,
+}