diff --git a/library/Core.cpp b/library/Core.cpp
index 6f04f5edb..793a63680 100644
--- a/library/Core.cpp
+++ b/library/Core.cpp
@@ -165,7 +165,7 @@ void fHKthread(void * iodata)
 
             string first = args[0];
             args.erase(args.begin());
-            command_result cr = plug_mgr->InvokeCommand(out, first, args, false);
+            command_result cr = plug_mgr->InvokeCommand(out, first, args);
 
             if(cr == CR_WOULD_BREAK)
             {
@@ -272,7 +272,7 @@ static void runInteractiveCommand(Core *core, PluginManager *plug_mgr, int &clue
                     for(size_t i = 0; i < plug_mgr->size();i++)
                     {
                         Plugin * plug = (plug_mgr->operator[](i));
-                        plug->load();
+                        plug->load(con);
                     }
                 }
                 else
@@ -284,7 +284,7 @@ static void runInteractiveCommand(Core *core, PluginManager *plug_mgr, int &clue
                     }
                     else
                     {
-                        plug->load();
+                        plug->load(con);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -299,7 +299,7 @@ static void runInteractiveCommand(Core *core, PluginManager *plug_mgr, int &clue
                     for(size_t i = 0; i < plug_mgr->size();i++)
                     {
                         Plugin * plug = (plug_mgr->operator[](i));
-                        plug->reload();
+                        plug->reload(con);
                     }
                 }
                 else
@@ -311,7 +311,7 @@ static void runInteractiveCommand(Core *core, PluginManager *plug_mgr, int &clue
                     }
                     else
                     {
-                        plug->reload();
+                        plug->reload(con);
                     }
                 }
             }
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ static void runInteractiveCommand(Core *core, PluginManager *plug_mgr, int &clue
                     for(size_t i = 0; i < plug_mgr->size();i++)
                     {
                         Plugin * plug = (plug_mgr->operator[](i));
-                        plug->unload();
+                        plug->unload(con);
                     }
                 }
                 else
@@ -338,7 +338,7 @@ static void runInteractiveCommand(Core *core, PluginManager *plug_mgr, int &clue
                     }
                     else
                     {
-                        plug->unload();
+                        plug->unload(con);
                     }
                 }
             }
diff --git a/library/PluginManager.cpp b/library/PluginManager.cpp
index d36ba6659..f7af9c954 100644
--- a/library/PluginManager.cpp
+++ b/library/PluginManager.cpp
@@ -26,9 +26,11 @@ distribution.
 #include "Core.h"
 #include "MemAccess.h"
 #include "PluginManager.h"
+#include "RemoteServer.h"
 #include "Console.h"
 
 #include "DataDefs.h"
+#include "MiscUtils.h"
 
 using namespace DFHack;
 
@@ -146,6 +148,7 @@ Plugin::Plugin(Core * core, const std::string & filepath, const std::string & _f
     plugin_status = 0;
     plugin_onupdate = 0;
     plugin_onstatechange = 0;
+    plugin_rpcconnect = 0;
     state = PS_UNLOADED;
     access = new RefLock();
 }
@@ -154,12 +157,12 @@ Plugin::~Plugin()
 {
     if(state == PS_LOADED)
     {
-        unload();
+        unload(Core::getInstance().getConsole());
     }
     delete access;
 }
 
-bool Plugin::load()
+bool Plugin::load(color_ostream &con)
 {
     RefAutolock lock(access);
     if(state == PS_BROKEN)
@@ -170,8 +173,6 @@ bool Plugin::load()
     {
         return true;
     }
-    Core & c = Core::getInstance();
-    Console & con = c.getConsole();
     DFLibrary * plug = OpenPlugin(filename.c_str());
     if(!plug)
     {
@@ -208,6 +209,7 @@ bool Plugin::load()
     plugin_onupdate = (command_result (*)(color_ostream &)) LookupPlugin(plug, "plugin_onupdate");
     plugin_shutdown = (command_result (*)(color_ostream &)) LookupPlugin(plug, "plugin_shutdown");
     plugin_onstatechange = (command_result (*)(color_ostream &, state_change_event)) LookupPlugin(plug, "plugin_onstatechange");
+    plugin_rpcconnect = (RPCService* (*)(color_ostream &)) LookupPlugin(plug, "plugin_rpcconnect");
     this->name = *plug_name;
     plugin_lib = plug;
     if(plugin_init(con,commands) == CR_OK)
@@ -225,10 +227,8 @@ bool Plugin::load()
     }
 }
 
-bool Plugin::unload()
+bool Plugin::unload(color_ostream &con)
 {
-    Core & c = Core::getInstance();
-    Console & con = c.getConsole();
     // get the mutex
     access->lock();
     // if we are actually loaded
@@ -266,18 +266,18 @@ bool Plugin::unload()
     return false;
 }
 
-bool Plugin::reload()
+bool Plugin::reload(color_ostream &out)
 {
     if(state != PS_LOADED)
         return false;
-    if(!unload())
+    if(!unload(out))
         return false;
-    if(!load())
+    if(!load(out))
         return false;
     return true;
 }
 
-command_result Plugin::invoke(color_ostream &out, std::string & command, std::vector <std::string> & parameters, bool interactive_)
+command_result Plugin::invoke(color_ostream &out, const std::string & command, std::vector <std::string> & parameters)
 {
     Core & c = Core::getInstance();
     command_result cr = CR_NOT_IMPLEMENTED;
@@ -290,7 +290,7 @@ command_result Plugin::invoke(color_ostream &out, std::string & command, std::ve
             if(cmd.name == command)
             {
                 // running interactive things from some other source than the console would break it
-                if(!(interactive_ && out.is_console()) && cmd.interactive)
+                if(!out.is_console() && cmd.interactive)
                     cr = CR_WOULD_BREAK;
                 else if (cmd.guard)
                 {
@@ -325,7 +325,7 @@ command_result Plugin::invoke(color_ostream &out, std::string & command, std::ve
     return cr;
 }
 
-bool Plugin::can_invoke_hotkey( std::string & command, df::viewscreen *top )
+bool Plugin::can_invoke_hotkey(const std::string & command, df::viewscreen *top )
 {
     Core & c = Core::getInstance();
     bool cr = false;
@@ -375,6 +375,42 @@ command_result Plugin::on_state_change(color_ostream &out, state_change_event ev
     return cr;
 }
 
+RPCService *Plugin::rpc_connect(color_ostream &out)
+{
+    RPCService *rv = NULL;
+
+    access->lock_add();
+
+    if(state == PS_LOADED && plugin_rpcconnect)
+    {
+        rv = plugin_rpcconnect(out);
+    }
+
+    if (rv)
+    {
+        // Retain the access reference
+        assert(!rv->holder);
+        services.push_back(rv);
+        rv->holder = this;
+        return rv;
+    }
+    else
+    {
+        access->lock_sub();
+        return NULL;
+    }
+}
+
+void Plugin::detach_connection(RPCService *svc)
+{
+    int idx = linear_index(services, svc);
+
+    assert(svc->holder == this && idx >= 0);
+
+    vector_erase_at(services, idx);
+    access->lock_sub();
+}
+
 Plugin::plugin_state Plugin::getState() const
 {
     return state;
@@ -399,7 +435,7 @@ PluginManager::PluginManager(Core * core)
             Plugin * p = new Plugin(core, path + filez[i], filez[i], this);
             all_plugins.push_back(p);
             // make all plugins load by default (until a proper design emerges).
-            p->load();
+            p->load(core->getConsole());
         }
     }
 }
@@ -435,13 +471,13 @@ Plugin *PluginManager::getPluginByCommand(const std::string &command)
 }
 
 // FIXME: handle name collisions...
-command_result PluginManager::InvokeCommand(color_ostream &out, std::string & command, std::vector <std::string> & parameters, bool interactive)
+command_result PluginManager::InvokeCommand(color_ostream &out, const std::string & command, std::vector <std::string> & parameters)
 {
     Plugin *plugin = getPluginByCommand(command);
-    return plugin ? plugin->invoke(out, command, parameters, interactive) : CR_NOT_IMPLEMENTED;
+    return plugin ? plugin->invoke(out, command, parameters) : CR_NOT_IMPLEMENTED;
 }
 
-bool PluginManager::CanInvokeHotkey(std::string &command, df::viewscreen *top)
+bool PluginManager::CanInvokeHotkey(const std::string &command, df::viewscreen *top)
 {
     Plugin *plugin = getPluginByCommand(command);
     return plugin ? plugin->can_invoke_hotkey(command, top) : false;
diff --git a/library/RemoteServer.cpp b/library/RemoteServer.cpp
index 302080780..9d55da120 100644
--- a/library/RemoteServer.cpp
+++ b/library/RemoteServer.cpp
@@ -75,7 +75,7 @@ command_result CoreService::BindMethod(color_ostream &stream,
                                        const dfproto::CoreBindRequest *in,
                                        dfproto::CoreBindReply *out)
 {
-    ServerFunctionBase *fn = connection()->findFunction(in->plugin(), in->method());
+    ServerFunctionBase *fn = connection()->findFunction(stream, in->plugin(), in->method());
 
     if (!fn)
     {
@@ -104,7 +104,7 @@ command_result CoreService::RunCommand(color_ostream &stream,
     for (int i = 0; i < in->arguments_size(); i++)
         args.push_back(in->arguments(i));
 
-    return Core::getInstance().plug_mgr->InvokeCommand(stream, cmd, args, false);
+    return Core::getInstance().plug_mgr->InvokeCommand(stream, cmd, args);
 }
 
 RPCService::RPCService()
@@ -115,6 +115,9 @@ RPCService::RPCService()
 
 RPCService::~RPCService()
 {
+    if (holder)
+        holder->detach_connection(this);
+
     for (size_t i = 0; i < functions.size(); i++)
         delete functions[i];
 }
@@ -163,12 +166,37 @@ ServerConnection::~ServerConnection()
     delete core_service;
 }
 
-ServerFunctionBase *ServerConnection::findFunction(const std::string &plugin, const std::string &name)
+ServerFunctionBase *ServerConnection::findFunction(color_ostream &out, const std::string &plugin, const std::string &name)
 {
+    RPCService *svc;
+
     if (plugin.empty())
-        return core_service->getFunction(name);
+        svc = core_service;
     else
-        return NULL; // todo: add plugin api support
+    {
+        svc = plugin_services[plugin];
+
+        if (!svc)
+        {
+            Plugin *plug = Core::getInstance().plug_mgr->getPluginByName(plugin);
+            if (!plug)
+            {
+                out.printerr("No such plugin: %s\n", plugin.c_str());
+                return NULL;
+            }
+
+            svc = plug->rpc_connect(out);
+            if (!svc)
+            {
+                out.printerr("Plugin %s doesn't export any RPC methods.\n", plugin.c_str());
+                return NULL;
+            }
+
+            plugin_services[plugin] = svc;
+        }
+    }
+
+    return svc->getFunction(name);
 }
 
 void ServerConnection::connection_ostream::flush_proxy()
diff --git a/library/include/Core.h b/library/include/Core.h
index 1705bcc16..740c35558 100644
--- a/library/include/Core.h
+++ b/library/include/Core.h
@@ -198,6 +198,7 @@ namespace DFHack
         std::map<std::string,void*> misc_data_map;
 
         friend class CoreService;
+        friend class ServerConnection;
         ServerMain *server;
     };
 
diff --git a/library/include/PluginManager.h b/library/include/PluginManager.h
index e617814cf..86f7a4b2f 100644
--- a/library/include/PluginManager.h
+++ b/library/include/PluginManager.h
@@ -48,6 +48,7 @@ namespace DFHack
     class Core;
     class PluginManager;
     class virtual_identity;
+    class RPCService;
 
     enum state_change_event
     {
@@ -106,17 +107,23 @@ namespace DFHack
             PS_BROKEN
         };
         friend class PluginManager;
+        friend class RPCService;
         Plugin(DFHack::Core* core, const std::string& filepath, const std::string& filename, PluginManager * pm);
         ~Plugin();
         command_result on_update(color_ostream &out);
         command_result on_state_change(color_ostream &out, state_change_event event);
+        void detach_connection(RPCService *svc);
     public:
-        bool load();
-        bool unload();
-        bool reload();
-        command_result invoke(color_ostream &out, std::string & command, std::vector <std::string> & parameters, bool interactive );
-        bool can_invoke_hotkey( std::string & command, df::viewscreen *top );
+        bool load(color_ostream &out);
+        bool unload(color_ostream &out);
+        bool reload(color_ostream &out);
+
+        command_result invoke(color_ostream &out, const std::string & command, std::vector <std::string> & parameters);
+        bool can_invoke_hotkey(const std::string & command, df::viewscreen *top );
         plugin_state getState () const;
+
+        RPCService *rpc_connect(color_ostream &out);
+
         const PluginCommand& operator[] (std::size_t index) const
         {
             return commands[index];
@@ -132,6 +139,7 @@ namespace DFHack
     private:
         RefLock * access;
         std::vector <PluginCommand> commands;
+        std::vector <RPCService*> services;
         std::string filename;
         std::string name;
         DFLibrary * plugin_lib;
@@ -142,6 +150,7 @@ namespace DFHack
         command_result (*plugin_shutdown)(color_ostream &);
         command_result (*plugin_onupdate)(color_ostream &);
         command_result (*plugin_onstatechange)(color_ostream &, state_change_event);
+        RPCService* (*plugin_rpcconnect)(color_ostream &);
     };
     class DFHACK_EXPORT PluginManager
     {
@@ -158,8 +167,8 @@ namespace DFHack
     public:
         Plugin *getPluginByName (const std::string & name);
         Plugin *getPluginByCommand (const std::string &command);
-        command_result InvokeCommand(color_ostream &out, std::string & command, std::vector <std::string> & parameters, bool interactive = true );
-        bool CanInvokeHotkey(std::string &command, df::viewscreen *top);
+        command_result InvokeCommand(color_ostream &out, const std::string & command, std::vector <std::string> & parameters);
+        bool CanInvokeHotkey(const std::string &command, df::viewscreen *top);
         Plugin* operator[] (std::size_t index)
         {
             if(index >= all_plugins.size())
diff --git a/library/include/RemoteClient.h b/library/include/RemoteClient.h
index 6fd762080..1b468694d 100644
--- a/library/include/RemoteClient.h
+++ b/library/include/RemoteClient.h
@@ -37,11 +37,12 @@ namespace  DFHack
 
     enum command_result
     {
-        CR_WOULD_BREAK = -2,
-        CR_NOT_IMPLEMENTED = -1,
-        CR_OK = 0,
-        CR_FAILURE = 1,
-        CR_WRONG_USAGE = 2
+        CR_WOULD_BREAK = -2,     // Attempt to call interactive command without console
+        CR_NOT_IMPLEMENTED = -1, // Command not implemented, or plugin not loaded
+        CR_OK = 0,               // Success
+        CR_FAILURE = 1,          // Failure
+        CR_WRONG_USAGE = 2,      // Wrong arguments or ui state
+        CR_NOT_FOUND = 3         // Target object not found (for RPC mainly)
     };
 
     enum DFHackReplyCode : int16_t {
diff --git a/library/include/RemoteServer.h b/library/include/RemoteServer.h
index 76abbe726..26363d582 100644
--- a/library/include/RemoteServer.h
+++ b/library/include/RemoteServer.h
@@ -132,6 +132,7 @@ namespace  DFHack
 
     class DFHACK_EXPORT RPCService {
         friend class ServerConnection;
+        friend class Plugin;
 
         std::vector<ServerFunctionBase*> functions;
         std::map<std::string, ServerFunctionBase*> lookup;
@@ -225,7 +226,7 @@ namespace  DFHack
         ServerConnection(CActiveSocket *socket);
         ~ServerConnection();
 
-        ServerFunctionBase *findFunction(const std::string &plugin, const std::string &name);
+        ServerFunctionBase *findFunction(color_ostream &out, const std::string &plugin, const std::string &name);
     };
 
     class DFHACK_EXPORT ServerMain {
diff --git a/library/proto/CoreProtocol.proto b/library/proto/CoreProtocol.proto
index 2e2fe2c24..3ebe17a28 100644
--- a/library/proto/CoreProtocol.proto
+++ b/library/proto/CoreProtocol.proto
@@ -37,6 +37,7 @@ message CoreErrorNotification {
         CR_OK = 0;
         CR_FAILURE = 1;
         CR_WRONG_USAGE = 2;
+        CR_NOT_FOUND = 3;
     };
 
     required ErrorCode code = 1;
diff --git a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
index aba5feaa6..fe00fbafb 100644
--- a/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
+++ b/plugins/CMakeLists.txt
@@ -45,6 +45,21 @@ if (BUILD_DWARFEXPORT)
     add_subdirectory (dwarfexport)
 endif()
 
+# Protobuf
+FILE(GLOB PROJECT_PROTOS ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/proto/*.proto)
+
+STRING(REPLACE ".proto" ".pb.cc" PROJECT_PROTO_SRCS "${PROJECT_PROTOS}")
+STRING(REPLACE ".proto" ".pb.h" PROJECT_PROTO_HDRS "${PROJECT_PROTOS}")
+
+ADD_CUSTOM_COMMAND(
+    OUTPUT ${PROJECT_PROTO_SRCS} ${PROJECT_PROTO_HDRS}
+    COMMAND protoc-bin -I=${dfhack_SOURCE_DIR}/proto/ -I=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/proto/
+            --cpp_out=${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/proto/
+            ${PROJECT_PROTOS}
+    DEPENDS protoc-bin ${PROJECT_PROTOS}
+)
+
+# Plugins
 OPTION(BUILD_SUPPORTED "Build the supported plugins (reveal, probe, etc.)." ON)
 if (BUILD_SUPPORTED)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(reveal reveal.cpp)
@@ -70,7 +85,7 @@ if (BUILD_SUPPORTED)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(seedwatch seedwatch.cpp)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(initflags initflags.cpp)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(stockpiles stockpiles.cpp)
-    DFHACK_PLUGIN(rename rename.cpp)
+    DFHACK_PLUGIN(rename rename.cpp PROTOBUFS rename)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(jobutils jobutils.cpp)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(workflow workflow.cpp)
     DFHACK_PLUGIN(showmood showmood.cpp)
diff --git a/plugins/Plugins.cmake b/plugins/Plugins.cmake
index 8d68827a4..17c7320aa 100644
--- a/plugins/Plugins.cmake
+++ b/plugins/Plugins.cmake
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ ENDIF()
 include_directories("${dfhack_SOURCE_DIR}/library/include")
 include_directories("${dfhack_SOURCE_DIR}/library/proto")
 include_directories("${dfhack_SOURCE_DIR}/library/depends/xgetopt")
+include_directories("${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/proto")
 
 MACRO(CAR var)
   SET(${var} ${ARGV1})
@@ -58,21 +59,28 @@ ENDMACRO()
 
 MACRO(DFHACK_PLUGIN)
   PARSE_ARGUMENTS(PLUGIN
-    "LINK_LIBRARIES;DEPENDS"
+    "LINK_LIBRARIES;DEPENDS;PROTOBUFS"
     "SOME_OPT"
     ${ARGN}
     )
   CAR(PLUGIN_NAME ${PLUGIN_DEFAULT_ARGS})
   CDR(PLUGIN_SOURCES ${PLUGIN_DEFAULT_ARGS})
 
+  FOREACH(pbuf ${PLUGIN_PROTOBUFS})
+    SET(PLUGIN_SOURCES ${PLUGIN_SOURCES} ${CMAKE_CURRENT_SOURCE_DIR}/proto/${pbuf}.pb.cc)
+  ENDFOREACH()
+
   ADD_LIBRARY(${PLUGIN_NAME} MODULE ${PLUGIN_SOURCES})
   IDE_FOLDER(${PLUGIN_NAME} "Plugins")
   TARGET_LINK_LIBRARIES(${PLUGIN_NAME} dfhack ${PLUGIN_LINK_LIBRARIES})
   IF(UNIX)
     SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(${PLUGIN_NAME} PROPERTIES SUFFIX .plug.so PREFIX "")
+    SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(${PLUGIN_NAME} PROPERTIES COMPILE_FLAGS "-include Export.h")
   ELSE()
     SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(${PLUGIN_NAME} PROPERTIES SUFFIX .plug.dll)
+    SET_TARGET_PROPERTIES(${PLUGIN_NAME} PROPERTIES COMPILE_FLAGS "/FI\"Export.h\"")
   ENDIF()
+
   install(TARGETS ${PLUGIN_NAME}
           LIBRARY DESTINATION ${DFHACK_PLUGIN_DESTINATION}
           RUNTIME DESTINATION ${DFHACK_PLUGIN_DESTINATION})
diff --git a/plugins/proto/.gitignore b/plugins/proto/.gitignore
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..befabf79d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/proto/.gitignore
@@ -0,0 +1,3 @@
+*.pb.cc
+*.pb.cc.rule
+*.pb.h
diff --git a/plugins/proto/rename.proto b/plugins/proto/rename.proto
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..a139ceaa0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/plugins/proto/rename.proto
@@ -0,0 +1,17 @@
+package dfproto;
+
+option optimize_for = LITE_RUNTIME;
+
+message RenameSquadRq {
+    required int32 squad_id = 1;
+
+    optional string nickname = 2;
+    optional string alias = 3;
+}
+
+message RenameUnitRq {
+    required int32 unit_id = 1;
+
+    optional string nickname = 2;
+    optional string profession = 3;
+}
diff --git a/plugins/rename.cpp b/plugins/rename.cpp
index 1a1a8cc30..ae6edc652 100644
--- a/plugins/rename.cpp
+++ b/plugins/rename.cpp
@@ -17,6 +17,9 @@
 #include "df/assumed_identity.h"
 #include "df/language_name.h"
 
+#include "RemoteServer.h"
+#include "rename.pb.h"
+
 #include <stdlib.h>
 
 using std::vector;
@@ -24,6 +27,7 @@ using std::string;
 using std::endl;
 using namespace DFHack;
 using namespace df::enums;
+using namespace dfproto;
 
 using df::global::ui;
 using df::global::world;
@@ -79,6 +83,85 @@ static df::squad *getSquadByIndex(unsigned idx)
     return df::squad::find(entity->squads[idx]);
 }
 
+void setUnitNickname(df::unit *unit, const std::string &nick)
+{
+    // There are >=3 copies of the name, and the one
+    // in the unit is not the authoritative one.
+    // This is the reason why military units often
+    // lose nicknames set from Dwarf Therapist.
+    set_nickname(&unit->name, nick);
+
+    if (unit->status.current_soul)
+        set_nickname(&unit->status.current_soul->name, nick);
+
+    df::historical_figure *figure = df::historical_figure::find(unit->hist_figure_id);
+    if (figure)
+    {
+        set_nickname(&figure->name, nick);
+
+        // v0.34.01: added the vampire's assumed identity
+        if (figure->info && figure->info->reputation)
+        {
+            auto identity = df::assumed_identity::find(figure->info->reputation->cur_identity);
+
+            if (identity)
+            {
+                auto id_hfig = df::historical_figure::find(identity->histfig_id);
+
+                if (id_hfig)
+                {
+                    // Even DF doesn't do this bit, because it's apparently
+                    // only used for demons masquerading as gods, so you
+                    // can't ever change their nickname in-game.
+                    set_nickname(&id_hfig->name, nick);
+                }
+                else
+                    set_nickname(&identity->name, nick);
+            }
+        }
+    }
+}
+
+static command_result RenameSquad(color_ostream &stream, const RenameSquadRq *in)
+{
+    CoreSuspender suspend;
+
+    df::squad *squad = df::squad::find(in->squad_id());
+    if (!squad)
+        return CR_NOT_FOUND;
+
+    if (in->has_nickname())
+        set_nickname(&squad->name, in->nickname());
+    if (in->has_alias())
+        squad->alias = in->alias();
+
+    return CR_OK;
+}
+
+static command_result RenameUnit(color_ostream &stream, const RenameUnitRq *in)
+{
+    CoreSuspender suspend;
+
+    df::unit *unit = df::unit::find(in->unit_id());
+    if (!unit)
+        return CR_NOT_FOUND;
+
+    if (in->has_nickname())
+        setUnitNickname(unit, in->nickname());
+    if (in->has_profession())
+        unit->custom_profession = in->profession();
+
+    return CR_OK;
+}
+
+DFhackCExport RPCService *plugin_rpcconnect(color_ostream &)
+{
+    RPCService *svc = new RPCService();
+    svc->addFunction("RenameSquad", RenameSquad);
+    svc->addFunction("RenameUnit", RenameUnit);
+    return svc;
+}
+
 static command_result rename(color_ostream &out, vector <string> &parameters)
 {
     CoreSuspender suspend;
@@ -124,29 +207,7 @@ static command_result rename(color_ostream &out, vector <string> &parameters)
         if (!unit)
             return CR_WRONG_USAGE;
 
-        // There are 3 copies of the name, and the one
-        // in the unit is not the authoritative one.
-        // This is the reason why military units often
-        // lose nicknames set from Dwarf Therapist.
-        set_nickname(&unit->name, parameters[1]);
-
-        if (unit->status.current_soul)
-            set_nickname(&unit->status.current_soul->name, parameters[1]);
-
-        df::historical_figure *figure = df::historical_figure::find(unit->hist_figure_id);
-        if (figure)
-        {
-            set_nickname(&figure->name, parameters[1]);
-
-            // v0.34.01: added the vampire's assumed identity
-            if (figure->info && figure->info->reputation)
-            {
-                auto identity = df::assumed_identity::find(figure->info->reputation->cur_identity);
-
-                if (identity)
-                    set_nickname(&identity->name, parameters[1]);
-            }
-        }
+        setUnitNickname(unit, parameters[1]);
     }
     else if (cmd == "unit-profession")
     {