     // the "ok" is the result
     ok = true;
   } else if (strcmp(cmd_name, "h") == 0) {
-    Serial.println("f(lash) s");
-    Serial.println("h(elp)");
-    Serial.println("s(core) s t # t # t #");
-    Serial.println("p(ing)");   
+    Serial.print("f(lash) s\n");
+    Serial.print("h(elp)\n");
+    Serial.print("s(core) s t # t # t #\n");
+    Serial.print("p(ing)\n");
     ok = true;
   }
 
   if (ok) {
-    Serial.println("ok");
+    Serial.print("ok\n");
   } else {
-    Serial.println("err");
-  }
-}
+    Serial.print("err\n");
+  }
+}
+
+static const char * e_strip_required = "strip required\n";
+static const char * e_strip_nums = "strip is 0,1,2,3\n";
+static const char * e_team_required = "team required\n";
+static const char * e_team_nums = "team is 0,1,2\n";
+static const char * e_led_required = "led # required\n";
 
 boolean exec_flash(char * tok) {
   // Read strip number
   char * arg = strtok_r(NULL, " ", &tok);
   if (arg == NULL) {  
-    Serial.println("strip required");
+    Serial.print(e_strip_required);
     return false;
   }
   int strip = atoi(arg);
   if (strip > 3) {
-    Serial.println("strip is 0,1,2,3");
+    Serial.print(e_strip_nums);
     return false;
   }
   flash(*score_strips[strip], Adafruit_NeoPixel::Color(255, 255, 0), 5, 80);

    // Read the team
    arg = strtok_r(NULL, " ", &tok);
    if (arg == NULL) {  
      Serial.println("team required");
      return false;
    }
    int team = atoi(arg);
    if (team > 2) {
      Serial.println("team is 0,1,2");
      return false;
    }

    // Read the LED count
    arg = strtok_r(NULL, " ", &tok);
    if (arg == NULL) {  
      Serial.println("led # required");
      return false;
    }
    int team_leds = atoi(arg);

  // Read strip number
  char * arg = strtok_r(NULL, " ", &tok);
  if (arg == NULL) {  
    Serial.print(e_strip_required);
    return false;
  }
  int strip = atoi(arg);
  if (strip > 3) {
    Serial.print(e_strip_nums);
    return false;
  }

