A method begins by a processing module generating a payload of a dispersed storage network (DSN) frame regarding an intermediate write request operation by generating one or more transaction number fields of the payload to include one or more transaction numbers corresponding to a write request operation, wherein the intermediate write request operation is associated with the write request operation. The method continues with the processing module generating a protocol header of the DSN frame by generating a payload length field of the protocol header to include a payload length that represents a length of the one or more transaction number fields and generating remaining fields of the protocol header.