diff --git a/.gitea/workflows/adversarial-review.yml b/.gitea/workflows/adversarial-review.yml
index ec1c21a..9dd178e 100644
--- a/.gitea/workflows/adversarial-review.yml
+++ b/.gitea/workflows/adversarial-review.yml
@@ -1,10 +1,11 @@
 # Gadfly — agentic adversarial PR reviewer (https://gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/gadfly).
 #
-# Runs the published Gadfly image (pinned to :v1) as a specialist swarm and posts
+# Runs the published Gadfly image (pinned to an immutable :sha- tag — act_runner
+# caches :latest, and this build is what carries foreman provider-type support)
+# as a specialist swarm and posts
 # ONE consolidated review comment as gitea-actions. Advisory only — never blocks a
-# merge. This reviews executus PRs (same setup as mort: m1/m5 locals + 2 cloud,
-# 3-lens suite). Gadfly is a simple system — treat its findings as advisory and
-# double-check before acting.
+# merge. This reviews executus PRs with 3 ollama-cloud models (3-lens suite). Gadfly
+# is a simple system — findings are advisory; always double-check before acting.
 
 name: Adversarial Review (Gadfly)
 
@@ -40,24 +41,21 @@ jobs:
               || github.actor == 'fizi'
               || github.actor == 'dazed'))
     runs-on: ubuntu-latest
-    # Full fleet (2 cloud + 2 local Macs, all running concurrently) reviewing
-    # every PR with the 3-lens suite — the slow local lanes dominate wall time.
-    timeout-minutes: 90
+    # 3 cloud models, all concurrent, 3-lens suite. ~12 min typical.
+    timeout-minutes: 30
     steps:
-      - uses: docker://gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/gadfly:v1
+      - uses: docker://gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/gadfly:sha-6e3a83c
         env:
           GITEA_API: ${{ github.server_url }}/api/v1/repos/${{ github.repository }}
           GITEA_TOKEN: ${{ secrets.GITEA_TOKEN }}
           OLLAMA_CLOUD_API_KEY: ${{ secrets.OLLAMA_CLOUD_API_KEY }}
-          # Local Ollama boxes (each its own lane, cap 1). NOTE: both Macs must be
-          # awake/reachable for their reviews to run; if a box is offline, that
-          # model's comment shows an error and the others still post.
-          GADFLY_ENDPOINT_M1PRO: "ollama|http://192.168.0.175:11434"
-          GADFLY_ENDPOINT_M5MAX: "ollama|http://192.168.0.173:11434"
-          # 2 cloud (parallel) + M1 Pro + M5 Max — one consolidated comment each.
-          GADFLY_MODELS: "minimax-m3:cloud,deepseek-v4-flash:cloud,m1pro/qwen3:14b,m5max/qwen3.6:35b-mlx"
-          # cloud runs 2 at once; each Mac one at a time; all three lanes parallel.
-          GADFLY_PROVIDER_CONCURRENCY: "ollama-cloud=2,m1pro=1,m5max=1"
+          # executus uses CLOUD MODELS ONLY. The local Macs (m1/m5) were dropped:
+          # on a P2-review measurement they took 26–29 min (with lens timeouts)
+          # and contributed ZERO real findings — the two cloud models found every
+          # genuine bug in 6–12 min. Cloud-only is faster AND higher-signal.
+          # 3 cloud models, one consolidated comment each, all run in parallel.
+          GADFLY_MODELS: "minimax-m3:cloud,deepseek-v4-flash:cloud,glm-5.2:cloud"
+          GADFLY_PROVIDER_CONCURRENCY: "ollama-cloud=3"
           # Default => the 3-lens suite (security, correctness, error-handling).
           # Set the repo var GADFLY_SPECIALISTS to override (csv / "all" / "auto").
           GADFLY_SPECIALISTS: ${{ vars.GADFLY_SPECIALISTS || 'security,correctness,error-handling' }}
diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index dfade99..86a7be9 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -43,8 +43,13 @@ CORE (majordomo + stdlib):
   fanout/   programmatic N×M swarm                       [P0 ✓]
   deliver/  output egress seam (+ Discard/Stdout)        [P0 ✓]
   identity/ caller identity seams                        [P0 ✓]
-  run/      progress bridge now; the executor kernel +   [P0 partial]
-            nil-safe Ports + RunnableAgent later         [P2]
+  run/      run.Executor is RUNNABLE: model-resolve +    [P2 core ✓]
+            toolbox + majordomo loop + compaction +
+            run-bounding (V10 detached timeout) + step/
+            audit observers + Budget gate; RunnableAgent
+            DTO + nil-safe run.Ports. Follow-ups: wire
+            Critic/Checkpointer/PaletteSource/Delivery,
+            Phases, and the no-tools direct path         [P2]
   dispatchguard/  loop/depth/fan-out caps                [P0 ✓]
   pendingattach/  attachment dedupe                      [P0 ✓]
   tool/     registry + 3-stage permissions + ssrf        [P1 ✓]
@@ -52,7 +57,7 @@ CORE (majordomo + stdlib):
             (convar->config.Source; UsageSink/TraceSink seams; GenerateWith[T]
              structured output — no separate structured/ pkg)
   llmmeta/  shared meta-LLM helper over model/            [P1 ✓]
-  compact/  context compactor (WithCompactor hook)       [P2]
+  compact/  context compactor (WithCompactor hook)       [P2 ✓]
   tools/{web,net,store,compose,meta,comms}  generic tools [P3]
 
 BATTERIES (opt-in siblings, each nil-safe + a default):
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 367d652..80b53d8 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -31,15 +31,23 @@ bot) — mort and gadfly are the first two consumers (heavy and light). See
 
 [mort]: https://gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/mort
 
-**Available today (P0):**
+**Available today:**
 
+- `run/` — **executus is runnable.** `run.Executor` ties model resolution, the
+  tool registry, majordomo's agent loop, context compaction, run-bounding, and
+  step/audit instrumentation into one `Run(ctx, RunnableAgent, inv) Result`, with
+  every host concern behind a nil-safe `run.Ports` (Audit/Budget/Critic/
+  Checkpointer/PaletteSource/Delivery). See `examples/minimal`.
+- `model/` — config-driven tier resolution + failover over majordomo, with
+  pluggable `UsageSink`/`TraceSink` and `GenerateWith[T]` structured output.
+- `tool/` — the tool registry + 3-stage permission model + SSRF guard.
+- `compact/` — the per-run context compactor.
 - `lane/` — bounded worker pool with fair-share queueing (run- and
   provider-concurrency).
 - `fanout/` — programmatic N×M swarm with bounded global + per-key concurrency.
-- `config/` — the host config seam (`Source`) with an env-var default.
-- `deliver/` — the output-egress seam with `Discard`/`Stdout` defaults.
-- `identity/` — caller-identity seams (`AdminPolicy`, `MemberResolver`).
-- `dispatchguard/`, `pendingattach/`, `run/progress.go` — run-safety primitives.
+- `config/`, `deliver/`, `identity/` — host seams (config / output / identity),
+  each with a shipped default.
+- `dispatchguard/`, `pendingattach/` — run-safety primitives.
 
 ## Design
 
diff --git a/compact/compactor.go b/compact/compactor.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..91e5c24
--- /dev/null
+++ b/compact/compactor.go
@@ -0,0 +1,369 @@
+// V15.2 context compactor (re-based on majordomo).
+//
+// Why: the agent loop accumulates tool results indefinitely. A
+// research-heavy run with many web_search / read_page / http_get
+// results easily crosses 200K tokens and trips the model's HTTP-400
+// "prompt too long" rejection mid-run (observed at 410K tokens on
+// qwen3-coder:480b which has a 262K cap). majordomo's agent loop calls
+// the compactor with the full message slice before every model call;
+// the compactor returns a shorter slice that preserves the system
+// prompt + recent messages, with the middle range replaced by a
+// synthetic summary.
+//
+// Strategy (unchanged from the agentkit era):
+//   - Keep any leading system message verbatim. (Under majordomo the
+//     system prompt normally travels in Request.System, not in the
+//     message slice, so this is defensive.)
+//   - Keep the last KeepRecent messages verbatim. This ensures the
+//     agent has fresh tool state to act on; compacting too aggressively
+//     would strip the in-flight context it needs to make the next
+//     decision.
+//   - Compress the middle range via a single fast-tier LLM call that
+//     receives the middle messages as raw text and produces a paragraph
+//     summary (URLs visited, key findings, file_ids created, what the
+//     agent is trying to accomplish).
+//   - Replace the middle range with one synthetic user-role message
+//     containing the summary. (user-role chosen because tool-result-role
+//     would be ambiguous without a matching tool_call_id.)
+//
+// What moved in the majordomo conversion:
+//   - The token-threshold gate lives HERE now. agentkit estimated
+//     tokens and only invoked the compactor past a configured
+//     threshold; majordomo's hook fires before every model call, so
+//     the threshold check (estimateTokens vs the per-run threshold the
+//     executor computes from the model's context limit) is the
+//     compactor's first step.
+//   - The compactor is per-run STATEFUL: majordomo does not replace
+//     the loop's internal transcript with the compacted slice (the
+//     hook shapes only what is SENT), so without memory the middle
+//     would be re-summarised from scratch on every step past the
+//     threshold. The state remembers how far the transcript has been
+//     folded into the running summary and folds the previous summary
+//     into the next one instead of re-paying for it.
+//
+// Failure path: any error (LLM unavailable, malformed response, etc.)
+// is returned to the agent loop, which treats compactor errors as
+// non-fatal and sends the original slice — if the next model call hits
+// the provider's limit, the existing HTTP-400 error path takes over.
+
+package compact
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// ModelResolver resolves a tier/spec to a usable llm.Model (and an enriched
+// context for usage attribution). model.ParseModelForContext satisfies it.
+type ModelResolver func(ctx context.Context, tier string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error)
+
+// Compactor is the per-run compaction hook handed to the agent loop
+// (matches the signature agent.WithCompactor expects).
+type Compactor = func(ctx context.Context, msgs []llm.Message) ([]llm.Message, error)
+
+// CompactionEvent describes one fired compaction so the executor can
+// log it to skill_run_logs ("compaction_fired").
+type CompactionEvent struct {
+	// MessagesBefore/After count the messages that would have been
+	// sent without/with this compaction.
+	MessagesBefore int
+	MessagesAfter  int
+	// TokensBefore/After are the estimateTokens values for the same
+	// two slices.
+	TokensBefore int
+	TokensAfter  int
+}
+
+// CompactorFactory mints a fresh per-run Compactor bound to a token
+// threshold. onFire (nil-safe) observes every compaction that actually
+// fires. A non-positive threshold yields a pass-through compactor.
+type CompactorFactory func(thresholdTokens int, onFire func(CompactionEvent)) Compactor
+
+// CompactorConfig controls the v15.2 compactor's behaviour. Construct
+// in mort.go from convars + the executor's ModelResolver.
+type CompactorConfig struct {
+	// Models resolves a model spec (typically "fast" or a specific tier)
+	// to an llm.Model. Required; nil disables compaction.
+	Models ModelResolver
+
+	// SummarizerTier is the model tier used for the compression LLM call.
+	// Production default "fast"; an admin may set "haiku" or a specific
+	// model spec. Empty falls back to "fast".
+	SummarizerTier string
+
+	// KeepRecent is the number of trailing messages preserved verbatim.
+	// Default 8. Lower values compact more aggressively (the next loop
+	// iteration sees less recent context); higher values keep more.
+	KeepRecent int
+
+	// SummaryWordCap bounds the LLM-generated summary length. Default
+	// 200 words ≈ 800 chars ≈ 200 tokens — small enough that the
+	// compaction always shrinks the slice meaningfully.
+	SummaryWordCap int
+}
+
+// NewCompactor returns a CompactorFactory implementing the middle-range
+// summarisation strategy. nil cfg.Models returns a factory of no-op
+// compactors that always return the input unchanged (degrades to
+// v15.1 behaviour).
+func NewCompactor(cfg CompactorConfig) CompactorFactory {
+	if cfg.Models == nil {
+		return func(int, func(CompactionEvent)) Compactor {
+			return func(_ context.Context, msgs []llm.Message) ([]llm.Message, error) {
+				return msgs, nil
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	if cfg.SummarizerTier == "" {
+		cfg.SummarizerTier = "fast"
+	}
+	if cfg.KeepRecent <= 0 {
+		cfg.KeepRecent = 8
+	}
+	if cfg.SummaryWordCap <= 0 {
+		cfg.SummaryWordCap = 200
+	}
+	return func(threshold int, onFire func(CompactionEvent)) Compactor {
+		st := &compactionState{}
+		return func(ctx context.Context, msgs []llm.Message) ([]llm.Message, error) {
+			return compactIfNeeded(ctx, cfg, st, threshold, onFire, msgs)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// compactionState is the per-run fold memory: msgs[:prefixEnd]
+// (excluding a leading system message) are represented by summaryText
+// in the rendered slice. Guarded by mu for safety although the agent
+// loop invokes the hook from a single goroutine.
+type compactionState struct {
+	mu          sync.Mutex
+	prefixEnd   int
+	summaryText string
+}
+
+// compactIfNeeded is the workhorse: render the transcript with any
+// existing fold applied, check the threshold, and fold more of the
+// middle into the summary when the rendered size still exceeds it.
+func compactIfNeeded(ctx context.Context, cfg CompactorConfig, st *compactionState,
+	threshold int, onFire func(CompactionEvent), msgs []llm.Message) ([]llm.Message, error) {
+	st.mu.Lock()
+	defer st.mu.Unlock()
+
+	rendered := renderCompacted(st, msgs)
+	if threshold <= 0 {
+		return rendered, nil
+	}
+	tokensBefore := estimateTokens(rendered)
+	if tokensBefore < threshold {
+		return rendered, nil
+	}
+
+	// Determine the new middle range to fold: everything between what
+	// is already summarised (or the optional leading system message)
+	// and the KeepRecent tail.
+	startMiddle := st.prefixEnd
+	if startMiddle == 0 && len(msgs) > 0 && msgs[0].Role == llm.RoleSystem {
+		startMiddle = 1
+	}
+	endMiddle := len(msgs) - cfg.KeepRecent
+	if endMiddle <= startMiddle {
+		// Nothing new to fold (the tail alone exceeds the threshold).
+		// Return the rendered slice; the model call may still succeed.
+		return rendered, nil
+	}
+	middle := msgs[startMiddle:endMiddle]
+
+	summary, err := summariseMiddle(ctx, cfg, st.summaryText, middle)
+	if err != nil {
+		// Non-fatal upstream: the agent loop sends the ORIGINAL slice. Return
+		// msgs, not `rendered` — on a second+ compaction `rendered` already
+		// carries a prior synthetic summary, which is not the documented
+		// "original slice" the loop expects on a compactor error.
+		return msgs, fmt.Errorf("compactor: summarise middle: %w", err)
+	}
+	st.summaryText = summary
+	st.prefixEnd = endMiddle
+
+	out := renderCompacted(st, msgs)
+	if onFire != nil {
+		onFire(CompactionEvent{
+			MessagesBefore: len(rendered),
+			MessagesAfter:  len(out),
+			TokensBefore:   tokensBefore,
+			TokensAfter:    estimateTokens(out),
+		})
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// renderCompacted applies the fold state to msgs: [optional system] +
+// [synthetic summary] + msgs[prefixEnd:]. With no fold yet, msgs is
+// returned unchanged.
+func renderCompacted(st *compactionState, msgs []llm.Message) []llm.Message {
+	if st.prefixEnd <= 0 || st.prefixEnd > len(msgs) {
+		return msgs
+	}
+	tail := msgs[st.prefixEnd:]
+	out := make([]llm.Message, 0, len(tail)+2)
+	if msgs[0].Role == llm.RoleSystem {
+		out = append(out, msgs[0])
+	}
+	out = append(out, llm.UserText(
+		"[CONTEXT COMPACTED] The earlier portion of this conversation was summarised "+
+			"to fit the model's context window. Summary:\n\n"+st.summaryText+
+			"\n\nResume from the recent messages below."))
+	out = append(out, tail...)
+	return out
+}
+
+// summariseMiddle composes a "compress this transcript" prompt and
+// fires one fast-tier LLM call. prevSummary (may be empty) is the
+// running summary from earlier compactions; it is folded into the new
+// summary so prior context is not lost.
+func summariseMiddle(ctx context.Context, cfg CompactorConfig, prevSummary string, middle []llm.Message) (string, error) {
+	if len(middle) == 0 {
+		return "", errors.New("compactor: empty middle range")
+	}
+	modelCtx, model, err := cfg.Models(ctx, cfg.SummarizerTier)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("compactor: resolve summarizer model %q: %w", cfg.SummarizerTier, err)
+	}
+	if model == nil {
+		return "", errors.New("compactor: summarizer model resolved to nil")
+	}
+	if modelCtx != nil {
+		ctx = modelCtx
+	}
+
+	var prior string
+	if strings.TrimSpace(prevSummary) != "" {
+		prior = "AN EARLIER PORTION WAS ALREADY SUMMARISED AS:\n" + prevSummary +
+			"\n\nFold that summary into your new one — its facts must survive.\n\n"
+	}
+	transcript := renderTranscript(middle)
+	prompt := fmt.Sprintf(
+		"You are compressing an in-flight agent's conversation transcript so the agent "+
+			"can continue working without blowing its model context. The transcript below is "+
+			"a sequence of tool calls and their results. Produce a single paragraph (under %d words) "+
+			"that captures:\n"+
+			"  - WHAT the agent has been trying to accomplish.\n"+
+			"  - WHICH URLs were visited / fetched (list inline, comma-separated).\n"+
+			"  - KEY findings or decisions (factual results the agent will need later).\n"+
+			"  - ANY file_ids or KV keys the agent created — these are persistent state references the agent must keep.\n"+
+			"  - ANY errors or dead-ends that the agent should not re-try.\n"+
+			"DO NOT include verbose HTTP headers, tool-call metadata, error stack traces, or repetitive content. "+
+			"DO NOT add commentary or markdown headers. Output prose only.\n\n"+
+			"%sTRANSCRIPT TO COMPRESS:\n%s",
+		cfg.SummaryWordCap,
+		prior,
+		transcript,
+	)
+
+	resp, err := model.Generate(ctx, llm.Request{Messages: []llm.Message{llm.UserText(prompt)}})
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("compactor: summarise LLM call: %w", err)
+	}
+	text := strings.TrimSpace(resp.Text())
+	if text == "" {
+		return "", errors.New("compactor: summarizer returned empty text")
+	}
+	return text, nil
+}
+
+// estimateTokens is the chars/4 heuristic over a message slice's text,
+// tool calls, and tool results. Images count a flat ~1K tokens each.
+// It intentionally matches the coarse estimator the old agentkit loop
+// used — the 0.7 threshold ratio provides the safety margin.
+func estimateTokens(msgs []llm.Message) int {
+	chars := 0
+	for _, m := range msgs {
+		for _, p := range m.Parts {
+			switch v := p.(type) {
+			case llm.TextPart:
+				chars += len(v.Text)
+			case llm.ImagePart:
+				chars += 4096
+			default:
+				// llm.Part is a sealed-but-extensible interface (future media
+				// kinds). Count an unknown part conservatively (like an image)
+				// rather than 0, so a transcript of unrecognised content can't
+				// silently slip under the compaction threshold and 400 the
+				// model. Bump this if a large new part kind lands.
+				_ = v
+				chars += 4096
+			}
+		}
+		for _, tc := range m.ToolCalls {
+			chars += len(tc.Name) + len(tc.Arguments)
+		}
+		for _, tr := range m.ToolResults {
+			chars += len(tr.Content)
+		}
+	}
+	return chars / 4
+}
+
+// transcriptMessageCap bounds individual message bodies at ~2KB so a
+// single ultra-long tool result can't dominate the prompt sent to the
+// summarizer.
+const transcriptMessageCap = 2048
+
+// secretBearingTools name tools whose ARGUMENTS routinely carry credentials or
+// message bodies (bearer tokens, API keys, recipients, request bodies). Their
+// args are dropped before the transcript reaches the summarizer model — which
+// may be a different provider/tier than the run model — mirroring the redaction
+// run/steps.go applies to user-facing step summaries. http_* and webhook_* are
+// matched by prefix below.
+var secretBearingTools = map[string]bool{
+	"mcp_call":   true,
+	"email_send": true,
+}
+
+// redactToolArgs returns a summariser-safe rendering of a tool call's args:
+// "[redacted]" for known secret-bearing tools, the args verbatim otherwise.
+func redactToolArgs(name, args string) string {
+	if secretBearingTools[name] ||
+		strings.HasPrefix(name, "http_") ||
+		strings.HasPrefix(name, "webhook_") {
+		return "[redacted]"
+	}
+	return args
+}
+
+// renderTranscript flattens a message slice to a plain-text transcript
+// suitable for the summarisation prompt. Tool calls show name + (redacted) args,
+// tool results show name + body. Empty fields are skipped.
+//
+// NOTE: tool-RESULT bodies are forwarded to the summarizer (the summary needs
+// the findings). A host whose tool results may contain secrets and whose
+// summarizer tier resolves to an untrusted provider should ensure that tier is
+// trusted, or pre-sanitise results before they reach the agent loop.
+func renderTranscript(msgs []llm.Message) string {
+	var sb strings.Builder
+	for i, m := range msgs {
+		fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "---\n[%d] role=%s\n", i+1, m.Role)
+		if text := m.Text(); text != "" {
+			sb.WriteString(truncate(text, transcriptMessageCap))
+			sb.WriteString("\n")
+		}
+		for _, tc := range m.ToolCalls {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "tool_call name=%s args=%s\n", tc.Name, truncate(redactToolArgs(tc.Name, string(tc.Arguments)), transcriptMessageCap))
+		}
+		for _, tr := range m.ToolResults {
+			fmt.Fprintf(&sb, "tool_result name=%s body=%s\n", tr.Name, truncate(tr.Content, transcriptMessageCap))
+		}
+	}
+	return sb.String()
+}
+
+func truncate(s string, n int) string {
+	if len(s) <= n {
+		return s
+	}
+	return s[:n] + "...(truncated)"
+}
diff --git a/examples/minimal/main.go b/examples/minimal/main.go
index fdc8976..f184392 100644
--- a/examples/minimal/main.go
+++ b/examples/minimal/main.go
@@ -1,27 +1,49 @@
-// Command minimal demonstrates executus's standalone core primitives available
-// today (P0): the config seam + bounded fan-out. The full zero-config "agentic
-// in ~12 lines" example arrives once the model, tool, and run packages land
-// (P1–P3).
+// Command minimal is executus's "hello, agentic world": wire a model resolver,
+// a tool registry, and the run executor, then run an agent. With no batteries
+// (Audit/Budget/Critic/Checkpointer/Palette/Delivery all nil) this is a
+// bounded, in-memory run — the light-host shape (gadfly's case).
+//
+// Run it with a provider key for the configured tier, e.g.
+//
+//	ANTHROPIC_API_KEY=sk-... go run ./examples/minimal
+//
+// Override a tier from the environment without touching code, e.g.
+//
+//	EXECUTUS_MODEL_TIER_FAST=openai/gpt-4o-mini ANTHROPIC_API_KEY= OPENAI_KEY=sk-... go run ./examples/minimal
 package main
 
 import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
+	"log"
 
 	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/config"
-	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/fanout"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/model"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/run"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
 )
 
 func main() {
-	cfg := config.Env("EXECUTUS_") // e.g. EXECUTUS_FANOUT_MAX_CONCURRENT=8
-	max := cfg.Int("fanout.max_concurrent", 4)
+	// 1. Configure model tiers: live values come from the environment
+	//    (EXECUTUS_MODEL_TIER_<NAME>), falling back to these defaults.
+	model.Configure(config.Env("EXECUTUS_"), map[string]string{
+		"fast":     "anthropic/claude-haiku-4-5",
+		"thinking": "anthropic/claude-opus-4-8",
+	}, 0)
 
-	items := []string{"alpha", "beta", "gamma", "delta"}
-	results := fanout.Run(context.Background(), items,
-		fanout.Options[string]{MaxConcurrent: max},
-		func(_ context.Context, s string) (int, error) { return len(s), nil })
+	// 2. Build the executor: a tool registry + the model resolver. No batteries.
+	ex := run.New(run.Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   model.ParseModelForContext,
+	})
 
-	for _, r := range results {
-		fmt.Printf("%-6s -> %d (err=%v)\n", items[r.Index], r.Value, r.Err)
+	// 3. Run an agent and print its answer.
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		run.RunnableAgent{Name: "assistant", SystemPrompt: "You are concise.", ModelTier: "fast"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "demo-1", CallerID: "local"},
+		"In one sentence, what is an agent harness?")
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		log.Fatalf("run failed: %v", res.Err)
 	}
+	fmt.Println(res.Output)
 }
diff --git a/llmmeta/helper.go b/llmmeta/helper.go
index 3fabdd0..f5773e2 100644
--- a/llmmeta/helper.go
+++ b/llmmeta/helper.go
@@ -34,6 +34,7 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
+	"log/slog"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -574,7 +575,9 @@ func (h *Helper) recordLedger(ctx context.Context, call MetaCall) {
 	if h.storage == nil {
 		return
 	}
-	_ = h.storage.RecordMetaCall(ctx, call)
+	if err := h.storage.RecordMetaCall(ctx, call); err != nil {
+		slog.Warn("llmmeta: failed to record ledger row", "err", err)
+	}
 }
 
 // tryParseJSON attempts to decode text as JSON. Returns the parsed
diff --git a/model/call.go b/model/call.go
index 30bb964..7e07c07 100644
--- a/model/call.go
+++ b/model/call.go
@@ -237,7 +237,7 @@ func recordUsage(ctx context.Context, resp *llm.Response) {
 		return
 	}
 	u := resp.Usage
-	if u.InputTokens == 0 && u.OutputTokens == 0 {
+	if u.InputTokens == 0 && u.OutputTokens == 0 && u.CacheReadTokens == 0 && u.CacheWriteTokens == 0 {
 		return
 	}
 	model := resolvedModelName(ctx, resp)
diff --git a/model/cloud_sync.go b/model/cloud_sync.go
index ae28512..9abd00e 100644
--- a/model/cloud_sync.go
+++ b/model/cloud_sync.go
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ func (c *CloudOllamaLimitCache) fetchTags(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error)
 		return nil, err
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
-	body, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	body, err := readCapped(resp.Body)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -367,7 +367,7 @@ func (c *CloudOllamaLimitCache) fetchContextLength(ctx context.Context, modelNam
 		return 0, err
 	}
 	defer resp.Body.Close()
-	respBody, err := io.ReadAll(resp.Body)
+	respBody, err := readCapped(resp.Body)
 	if err != nil {
 		return 0, err
 	}
@@ -451,3 +451,24 @@ func truncate(b []byte, n int) string {
 	}
 	return string(b[:n]) + "...(truncated)"
 }
+
+// maxLimitCacheResponseBytes bounds the ollama.com limit-cache HTTP responses
+// (/api/tags, /api/show) so a misbehaving endpoint can't stream an unbounded
+// body before the 15s timeout fires. 1 MiB is far above any real response.
+const maxLimitCacheResponseBytes = 1 << 20
+
+// readCapped reads up to maxLimitCacheResponseBytes from r and returns a clear
+// error if the response EXCEEDS the cap — rather than silently truncating (as a
+// bare io.LimitReader does) and letting downstream json.Unmarshal fail with an
+// opaque "unexpected end of JSON input". It reads one extra byte to detect the
+// overflow.
+func readCapped(r io.Reader) ([]byte, error) {
+	body, err := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(r, maxLimitCacheResponseBytes+1))
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	if len(body) > maxLimitCacheResponseBytes {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("cloud_sync: response exceeded %d bytes", maxLimitCacheResponseBytes)
+	}
+	return body, nil
+}
diff --git a/model/sink.go b/model/sink.go
index 47575e2..664fedb 100644
--- a/model/sink.go
+++ b/model/sink.go
@@ -16,6 +16,11 @@ import (
 // UsageSink receives one record per successful Generate through a model parsed
 // by this package (ParseModelRequest / ParseModelForContext). Implement it to
 // meter or bill; the token detail mirrors majordomo's Response.Usage.
+//
+// IMPORTANT: cacheReadTokens and cacheWriteTokens are PORTIONS of inputTokens,
+// not independent additive values (they let a sink price cached vs fresh input
+// differently). A sink must NOT compute total = input+output+cacheRead+
+// cacheWrite — that double-counts the cached input.
 type UsageSink interface {
 	Record(ctx context.Context, model string, inputTokens, outputTokens, cacheReadTokens, cacheWriteTokens int)
 }
diff --git a/run/agent.go b/run/agent.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..18a0a98
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run/agent.go
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+package run
+
+import "time"
+
+// RunnableAgent is the kernel's view of "a thing to run": an identity, a model
+// tier, a system prompt, execution caps, and a tool palette. It is a plain DTO
+// on purpose — the run kernel never imports a noun battery. The persona Agent
+// and the saved Skill each LOWER themselves into a RunnableAgent (a ToRunnable
+// method on the battery side), and the kernel runs the DTO. This is the
+// inversion of mort's agentexec.Executor.Run(*agents.Agent): the executor no
+// longer depends on the persona struct, only on this shape.
+//
+// A light host can build a RunnableAgent inline (model tier + prompt + a few
+// tool names) for a one-shot bounded run, with no persona or skill battery at
+// all — that is exactly gadfly's swarm task.
+type RunnableAgent struct {
+	// ID is a stable identifier for the run subject (an agent/skill UUID, or
+	// any host-chosen id). Used for audit attribution and dispatch-guard
+	// genealogy. Empty is allowed for anonymous one-shot runs.
+	ID string
+
+	// Name is a human label (audit/logs/delivery). Empty is allowed.
+	Name string
+
+	// SystemPrompt is the agent's base system prompt (before per-run
+	// personalization, which a host layers via Ports).
+	SystemPrompt string
+
+	// ModelTier is a tier alias or concrete spec resolved through
+	// model.ParseModelForContext. Empty resolves to the host's default tier.
+	ModelTier string
+
+	// MaxIterations caps the agent loop's tool-dispatch steps. 0 = kernel
+	// default. MaxRuntime caps wall-clock for the whole run (the kernel starts
+	// this clock AFTER any lane dequeue, not at submission). 0 = kernel
+	// default.
+	MaxIterations int
+	MaxRuntime    time.Duration
+
+	// LowLevelTools are tool-registry names the run may call directly.
+	// SkillPalette / SubAgentPalette name saved skills / sub-agents exposed as
+	// skill__<name> / agent__<name> delegation tools, resolved through
+	// Ports.Palette (nil Palette => those entries are inert).
+	LowLevelTools   []string
+	SkillPalette    []string
+	SubAgentPalette []string
+
+	// Phases optionally model a multi-step pipeline (each phase its own prompt
+	// + tier + tools). An empty slice is a single-phase run — the common case.
+	Phases []Phase
+
+	// Critic configures the optional two-tier run-critic (Ports.Critic). The
+	// zero value (disabled) is the light-host default.
+	Critic CriticConfig
+}
+
+// Phase is one step of a multi-step run: its own system prompt, model tier,
+// iteration cap, and tool subset. Optional phases may be skipped by the
+// pipeline when their precondition isn't met.
+type Phase struct {
+	Name          string
+	SystemPrompt  string
+	ModelTier     string
+	MaxIterations int
+	Tools         []string
+	Optional      bool
+}
+
+// CriticConfig configures the optional run-critic. Enabled gates whether a
+// critic monitor is started at all; BackstopMultiplier sets the hard-kill
+// deadline as a multiple of the soft trigger (MaxRuntime). A non-positive
+// multiplier uses the kernel default.
+type CriticConfig struct {
+	Enabled            bool
+	BackstopMultiplier float64
+}
diff --git a/run/executor.go b/run/executor.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..53d6940
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run/executor.go
@@ -0,0 +1,318 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/agent"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/compact"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// ModelResolver resolves a tier alias or concrete spec to a usable llm.Model
+// and an enriched context (for usage attribution). model.ParseModelForContext
+// satisfies it.
+type ModelResolver func(ctx context.Context, tier string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error)
+
+// Defaults are the executor's fallback caps and loop guards, applied per run
+// when the RunnableAgent leaves a field zero.
+type Defaults struct {
+	MaxIterations            int           // tool-dispatch steps; default 12
+	MaxRuntime               time.Duration // wall-clock per run; default 60s
+	FallbackTier             string        // tier when the agent's is empty; default "fast"
+	MaxConsecutiveToolErrors int           // loop guard; default 3
+	MaxSameToolCallRepeats   int           // retry-storm guard; default 3
+	CompactionThresholdRatio float64       // fraction of model context to compact at; default 0.7
+}
+
+func (d Defaults) withFallbacks() Defaults {
+	if d.MaxIterations <= 0 {
+		d.MaxIterations = 12
+	}
+	if d.MaxRuntime <= 0 {
+		d.MaxRuntime = 60 * time.Second
+	}
+	if d.FallbackTier == "" {
+		d.FallbackTier = "fast"
+	}
+	if d.MaxConsecutiveToolErrors <= 0 {
+		d.MaxConsecutiveToolErrors = 3
+	}
+	if d.MaxSameToolCallRepeats <= 0 {
+		d.MaxSameToolCallRepeats = 3
+	}
+	if d.CompactionThresholdRatio <= 0 {
+		d.CompactionThresholdRatio = 0.7
+	}
+	return d
+}
+
+// Config wires an Executor. Registry + Models are required; everything else is
+// optional and nil-safe — the zero Config beyond those yields a bounded,
+// in-memory run with no persistence/audit/budget/critic/delegation/compaction
+// (gadfly's case).
+type Config struct {
+	Registry tool.Registry
+	Models   ModelResolver
+	Defaults Defaults
+	Ports    Ports
+
+	// Compactor mints the per-run context-compaction hook. nil disables
+	// compaction. ContextTokens resolves a tier's model context-window (for
+	// the compaction threshold); nil — or a zero return — also disables it.
+	Compactor     compact.CompactorFactory
+	ContextTokens func(tier string) int
+
+	// SystemHeader is an optional platform header prepended to every agent's
+	// system prompt.
+	SystemHeader string
+}
+
+// Executor runs a RunnableAgent through majordomo's agent loop with the wired
+// Ports. Construct with New; safe for concurrent use across runs.
+type Executor struct {
+	cfg Config
+}
+
+// New builds an Executor. It panics if Registry or Models is nil — those are
+// structural, not runtime, errors.
+func New(cfg Config) *Executor {
+	if cfg.Registry == nil || cfg.Models == nil {
+		panic("run.New: Registry and Models are required")
+	}
+	cfg.Defaults = cfg.Defaults.withFallbacks()
+	return &Executor{cfg: cfg}
+}
+
+// Result is one run's outcome. Err carries the run failure (if any); the other
+// fields are populated best-effort even on error (partial output/steps/usage).
+type Result struct {
+	RunID  string
+	Output string
+	Steps  []tool.Step
+	Usage  llm.Usage
+	Err    error
+}
+
+// Run executes ra with the given invocation + input and returns the Result. It
+// never propagates a panic; failures surface in Result.Err.
+func (e *Executor) Run(ctx context.Context, ra RunnableAgent, inv tool.Invocation, input string) Result {
+	started := time.Now()
+	res := Result{RunID: inv.RunID}
+
+	tier := ra.ModelTier
+	if tier == "" {
+		tier = e.cfg.Defaults.FallbackTier
+	}
+	maxIter := ra.MaxIterations
+	if maxIter <= 0 {
+		maxIter = e.cfg.Defaults.MaxIterations
+	}
+	maxRuntime := ra.MaxRuntime
+	if maxRuntime <= 0 {
+		maxRuntime = e.cfg.Defaults.MaxRuntime
+	}
+
+	// Budget gate (pre-run): a rejected run makes no model call.
+	if e.cfg.Ports.Budget != nil {
+		if err := e.cfg.Ports.Budget.Check(ctx, inv.CallerID); err != nil {
+			res.Err = err
+			return res
+		}
+	}
+
+	// Resolve the model (enriches ctx for usage attribution).
+	modelCtx, model, err := e.cfg.Models(ctx, tier)
+	if err != nil {
+		res.Err = fmt.Errorf("resolve model %q: %w", tier, err)
+		return res
+	}
+	if model == nil {
+		// A resolver returning (ctx, nil, nil) would otherwise nil-panic inside
+		// the agent loop; surface it as a clean error (Run never panics out).
+		res.Err = fmt.Errorf("resolve model %q: resolver returned a nil model", tier)
+		return res
+	}
+	ctx = modelCtx
+
+	// Audit start (optional). The recorder satisfies RunTally; stamp it on the
+	// invocation so a self-status tool can read live progress.
+	var rec RunRecorder
+	var stateAcc *RunStateAccessor
+	if e.cfg.Ports.Audit != nil {
+		rec = e.cfg.Ports.Audit.StartRun(ctx, RunInfo{
+			RunID:       inv.RunID,
+			SubjectID:   ra.ID,
+			Name:        ra.Name,
+			CallerID:    inv.CallerID,
+			ChannelID:   inv.ChannelID,
+			ParentRunID: inv.ParentRunID,
+			Inputs:      inv.SkillInputs,
+			StartedAt:   started,
+		})
+	}
+	if rec != nil {
+		stateAcc = NewRunStateAccessor(rec, maxIter, 0, started)
+		inv.RunState = stateAcc
+	}
+
+	// Build the toolbox from the agent's low-level tools.
+	toolbox, err := e.cfg.Registry.Build(ra.LowLevelTools, inv, tool.Visibility("private"), nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		res.Err = fmt.Errorf("build toolbox: %w", err)
+		e.finishAudit(ctx, rec, "error", res, started, res.Err)
+		return res
+	}
+
+	// Run context: bound by MaxRuntime, detached from the caller's deadline so a
+	// lane/queue wait doesn't eat the run budget (mort's V10 lesson). Caller
+	// cancellation still propagates via MergeCancellation. Created BEFORE the
+	// step observer so the observer forwards the merged run context (not a
+	// possibly-cancelled caller ctx) to OnStep consumers.
+	runCtx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), maxRuntime)
+	defer cancel()
+	runCtx, mergeCancel := MergeCancellation(runCtx, ctx)
+	defer mergeCancel()
+
+	// Step instrumentation: accumulate Result.Steps + fire inv.OnStep, feed the
+	// audit recorder, and keep the live iteration counter fresh. majordomo's
+	// step observer hands us each completed iteration; we zip the model's tool
+	// calls with their executed results PAIRWISE — a result without a matching
+	// call (or a call without a result) is skipped rather than recorded as an
+	// empty-name "ghost" step.
+	emitter := newStepEmitter(inv.OnStep)
+	stepObserver := func(s agent.Step) {
+		if stateAcc != nil {
+			stateAcc.SetIteration(s.Index)
+		}
+		if rec != nil {
+			rec.OnStep(s.Index, s.Response)
+		}
+		var calls []llm.ToolCall
+		if s.Response != nil {
+			calls = s.Response.ToolCalls
+		}
+		n := len(s.Results)
+		if len(calls) < n {
+			n = len(calls)
+		}
+		for i := 0; i < n; i++ {
+			call, r := calls[i], s.Results[i]
+			emitter.toolStart(runCtx, call.Name, call.Arguments)
+			emitter.toolEnd(runCtx, call, r.Content, r.IsError)
+			if rec != nil {
+				rec.OnTool(call, r.Content)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+
+	opts := []agent.Option{
+		agent.WithToolbox(toolbox),
+		agent.WithMaxSteps(maxIter),
+		agent.WithToolErrorLimits(e.cfg.Defaults.MaxConsecutiveToolErrors, e.cfg.Defaults.MaxSameToolCallRepeats),
+		agent.WithStepObserver(stepObserver),
+	}
+	if e.cfg.Compactor != nil && e.cfg.ContextTokens != nil {
+		if threshold := e.compactionThreshold(tier); threshold > 0 {
+			// Forward compaction events to the audit log (makes the
+			// CompactionEvent doc's "logged to the run trace" promise true).
+			var onFire func(compact.CompactionEvent)
+			if rec != nil {
+				onFire = func(ev compact.CompactionEvent) {
+					rec.LogEvent("compaction_fired", map[string]any{
+						"messages_before": ev.MessagesBefore,
+						"messages_after":  ev.MessagesAfter,
+						"tokens_before":   ev.TokensBefore,
+						"tokens_after":    ev.TokensAfter,
+					})
+				}
+			}
+			opts = append(opts, agent.WithCompactor(e.cfg.Compactor(threshold, onFire)))
+		}
+	}
+
+	ag := agent.New(model, e.systemPrompt(ra), opts...)
+	runRes, runErr := ag.Run(runCtx, input)
+
+	status := statusFor(runErr)
+	if runRes != nil {
+		res.Output = runRes.Output
+		res.Usage = runRes.Usage
+	}
+	res.Steps = emitter.snapshot()
+	res.Err = runErr
+
+	e.finishAudit(ctx, rec, status, res, started, runErr)
+	if e.cfg.Ports.Budget != nil {
+		e.cfg.Ports.Budget.Commit(detach(ctx), inv.CallerID, time.Since(started).Seconds())
+	}
+	return res
+}
+
+// statusFor maps a run error to a RunStats.Status, distinguishing a deadline
+// (timeout) and a cancellation (cancelled — caller cancel or shutdown) from a
+// generic error so audit consumers can tell them apart.
+func statusFor(runErr error) string {
+	switch {
+	case runErr == nil:
+		return "ok"
+	case errors.Is(runErr, context.DeadlineExceeded):
+		return "timeout"
+	case errors.Is(runErr, context.Canceled):
+		return "cancelled"
+	default:
+		return "error"
+	}
+}
+
+// finishAudit writes the terminal roll-up on a detached context so a cancelled
+// run still records (mort's CleanupContextTimeout lesson).
+func (e *Executor) finishAudit(ctx context.Context, rec RunRecorder, status string, res Result, started time.Time, runErr error) {
+	if rec == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	stats := RunStats{
+		Status:         status,
+		Output:         res.Output,
+		ToolCalls:      rec.ToolCallsCount(),
+		RuntimeSeconds: time.Since(started).Seconds(),
+	}
+	if runErr != nil {
+		stats.Error = runErr.Error()
+	}
+	stats.InputTokens, stats.OutputTokens, stats.ThinkingTokens = rec.TokenStats()
+	rec.Close(detach(ctx), stats)
+}
+
+func (e *Executor) systemPrompt(ra RunnableAgent) string {
+	if e.cfg.SystemHeader == "" {
+		return ra.SystemPrompt
+	}
+	if ra.SystemPrompt == "" {
+		return e.cfg.SystemHeader
+	}
+	return e.cfg.SystemHeader + "\n\n" + ra.SystemPrompt
+}
+
+// compactionThreshold returns the token threshold for the tier's model context
+// window (ratio × limit), or 0 when the limit is unknown.
+func (e *Executor) compactionThreshold(tier string) int {
+	max := e.cfg.ContextTokens(tier)
+	if max <= 0 {
+		return 0
+	}
+	return int(float64(max) * e.cfg.Defaults.CompactionThresholdRatio)
+}
+
+// detach derives a bounded cleanup context off ctx, detached from its
+// cancellation, for post-run writes. The cancel is intentionally not returned;
+// CleanupContextTimeout bounds the lifetime.
+func detach(ctx context.Context) context.Context {
+	c, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), CleanupContextTimeout)
+	_ = cancel // bounded by the timeout; nothing to cancel early
+	return c
+}
diff --git a/run/executor_test.go b/run/executor_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..250932c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run/executor_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/provider/fake"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// fakeModels returns a ModelResolver backed by a fake provider scripted to
+// reply with the given text (no tool calls — the loop terminates immediately).
+func fakeModels(t *testing.T, reply string) ModelResolver {
+	t.Helper()
+	fp := fake.New("fake")
+	fp.Enqueue("test-model", fake.Reply(reply))
+	m, err := fp.Model("test-model")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("fake model: %v", err)
+	}
+	return func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) {
+		return ctx, m, nil
+	}
+}
+
+// TestExecutorRunHelloWorld is the milestone: executus runs an agent end-to-end
+// against the fake provider and returns its output. Proves the kernel is
+// runnable with the zero Ports (no persistence/audit/budget/critic).
+func TestExecutorRunHelloWorld(t *testing.T) {
+	ex := New(Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   fakeModels(t, "hello from executus"),
+	})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{Name: "greeter", SystemPrompt: "be brief", ModelTier: "test-model"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "run-1", CallerID: "caller-1"},
+		"say hi")
+
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if res.Output != "hello from executus" {
+		t.Fatalf("output = %q, want %q", res.Output, "hello from executus")
+	}
+	if res.RunID != "run-1" {
+		t.Errorf("RunID = %q, want run-1", res.RunID)
+	}
+}
+
+// TestExecutorBudgetRejection: a Budget that denies makes no model call.
+func TestExecutorBudgetRejection(t *testing.T) {
+	denied := errors.New("over budget")
+	var modelCalled bool
+	models := func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) {
+		modelCalled = true
+		return ctx, nil, nil
+	}
+	ex := New(Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   models,
+		Ports:    Ports{Budget: budgetFunc{check: func(string) error { return denied }}},
+	})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "test-model"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r", CallerID: "broke"}, "hi")
+
+	if !errors.Is(res.Err, denied) {
+		t.Fatalf("err = %v, want budget denial", res.Err)
+	}
+	if modelCalled {
+		t.Error("model must not be resolved/called when budget denies")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestExecutorAuditWiring: the Audit port receives StartRun + Close with the
+// terminal status/output.
+func TestExecutorAuditWiring(t *testing.T) {
+	rec := &captureRecorder{}
+	ex := New(Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models:   fakeModels(t, "done"),
+		Ports:    Ports{Audit: auditFunc{start: func(RunInfo) RunRecorder { return rec }}},
+	})
+
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "test-model"},
+		tool.Invocation{RunID: "r2", CallerID: "c"}, "go")
+
+	if res.Err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("run error: %v", res.Err)
+	}
+	if !rec.closed {
+		t.Fatal("recorder.Close was not called")
+	}
+	if rec.stats.Status != "ok" {
+		t.Errorf("close status = %q, want ok", rec.stats.Status)
+	}
+	if rec.stats.Output != "done" {
+		t.Errorf("close output = %q, want done", rec.stats.Output)
+	}
+}
+
+// --- test doubles ---
+
+type budgetFunc struct{ check func(callerID string) error }
+
+func (b budgetFunc) Check(_ context.Context, callerID string) error { return b.check(callerID) }
+func (b budgetFunc) Commit(context.Context, string, float64)        {}
+
+type auditFunc struct{ start func(RunInfo) RunRecorder }
+
+func (a auditFunc) StartRun(_ context.Context, info RunInfo) RunRecorder { return a.start(info) }
+
+type captureRecorder struct {
+	closed bool
+	stats  RunStats
+	steps  int
+	tools  int
+}
+
+func (r *captureRecorder) TokenStats() (in, out, thinking int64) { return 0, 0, 0 }
+func (r *captureRecorder) ToolCallsCount() int                   { return r.tools }
+func (r *captureRecorder) OnStep(int, *llm.Response)             { r.steps++ }
+func (r *captureRecorder) OnTool(llm.ToolCall, string)           { r.tools++ }
+func (r *captureRecorder) LogEvent(string, map[string]any)       {}
+func (r *captureRecorder) LogError(string)                       {}
+func (r *captureRecorder) Close(_ context.Context, s RunStats)   { r.closed = true; r.stats = s }
+
+// TestExecutorNilModelNoPanic: a resolver returning (ctx, nil, nil) yields a
+// clean error, not a nil-pointer panic (gadfly F1, high severity).
+func TestExecutorNilModelNoPanic(t *testing.T) {
+	ex := New(Config{
+		Registry: tool.NewRegistry(),
+		Models: func(ctx context.Context, _ string) (context.Context, llm.Model, error) {
+			return ctx, nil, nil // nil model, nil error
+		},
+	})
+	res := ex.Run(context.Background(),
+		RunnableAgent{ModelTier: "x"}, tool.Invocation{RunID: "r"}, "hi")
+	if res.Err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected an error for a nil model, got nil (would have panicked in the loop)")
+	}
+}
+
+// TestStatusFor maps run errors to RunStats.Status (gadfly F3).
+func TestStatusFor(t *testing.T) {
+	cases := []struct {
+		err  error
+		want string
+	}{
+		{nil, "ok"},
+		{context.DeadlineExceeded, "timeout"},
+		{context.Canceled, "cancelled"},
+		{fmt.Errorf("wrapped: %w", context.DeadlineExceeded), "timeout"},
+		{errors.New("boom"), "error"},
+	}
+	for _, c := range cases {
+		if got := statusFor(c.err); got != c.want {
+			t.Errorf("statusFor(%v) = %q, want %q", c.err, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/run/ports.go b/run/ports.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e18ac74
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run/ports.go
@@ -0,0 +1,168 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/deliver"
+)
+
+// Ports are the host seams the run executor consumes. Every field is nil-safe:
+// a light host passes the zero Ports and gets a bounded, in-memory run with no
+// persistence, audit, budget, critic, delegation, or delivery — which is
+// exactly a gadfly swarm task. A heavy host (mort) wires each one to a battery.
+//
+// This struct IS the inversion: in mort, agentexec imports agents /
+// agentcritic / skillaudit and skillexec imports skills / paste directly; here
+// the kernel depends only on these interfaces, and the batteries implement
+// them. The mort_*_adapters.go wall becomes the set of impls.
+type Ports struct {
+	// Audit records the run trace (start, per-step/per-tool events, final
+	// stats). nil = no audit.
+	Audit Audit
+	// Budget gates and meters per-caller resource use. nil = unbounded.
+	Budget Budget
+	// Critic optionally monitors a long run for hangs/runaways. nil = none.
+	Critic Critic
+	// Checkpointer persists resumable progress for durable recovery. nil = no
+	// checkpointing (a run interrupted by shutdown is simply lost).
+	Checkpointer Checkpointer
+	// Palette resolves SkillPalette / SubAgentPalette entries into delegation
+	// tools (skill__<name> / agent__<name>). nil = those entries are inert.
+	Palette PaletteSource
+	// Delivery is where the run's output + artifacts go. nil = the caller
+	// reads the Result in-process (the light-host default).
+	Delivery deliver.Delivery
+}
+
+// RunInfo describes a run at start time — the attribution a recorder/critic
+// needs. Host-neutral rename of mort's SkillRun start fields.
+type RunInfo struct {
+	RunID       string
+	SubjectID   string // the agent/skill id being run (audit "skill_id")
+	Name        string
+	CallerID    string
+	ChannelID   string
+	ParentRunID string
+	Inputs      map[string]any
+	StartedAt   time.Time
+}
+
+// RunStats is the terminal roll-up a recorder's Close writes. Mirrors mort's
+// skillaudit/skillexec RunStats.
+type RunStats struct {
+	Status         string // ok | error | timeout | budget_exceeded | cancelled | dry_run
+	Output         string
+	Error          string
+	ToolCalls      int
+	RuntimeSeconds float64
+	InputTokens    int64
+	OutputTokens   int64
+	ThinkingTokens int64
+}
+
+// --- Audit ---
+
+// Audit begins recording a run. StartRun returns a per-run RunRecorder (or nil
+// to skip recording this run). The audit battery wires its Storage behind this.
+type Audit interface {
+	StartRun(ctx context.Context, info RunInfo) RunRecorder
+}
+
+// RunRecorder records the events of one in-flight run and its final stats. It
+// satisfies RunTally so the kernel can surface live token/tool counts to the
+// self-status tool. Mirrors mort's skillaudit.Writer.
+type RunRecorder interface {
+	RunTally
+	// OnStep records one completed agent-loop iteration's model response.
+	OnStep(iter int, resp *llm.Response)
+	// OnTool records one executed tool call + its result.
+	OnTool(call llm.ToolCall, result string)
+	// LogEvent / LogError append structured events to the run log.
+	LogEvent(eventType string, payload map[string]any)
+	LogError(msg string)
+	// Close writes the terminal roll-up. Detaches from the caller's context
+	// internally so a cancelled run still records.
+	Close(ctx context.Context, stats RunStats)
+}
+
+// --- Budget ---
+
+// Budget gates and meters per-caller resource use. Mirrors mort's
+// skillexec.BudgetTracker.
+type Budget interface {
+	// Check reports whether the caller has remaining budget (nil = allowed).
+	Check(ctx context.Context, callerID string) error
+	// Commit records that the caller spent runtimeSeconds on this run.
+	Commit(ctx context.Context, callerID string, runtimeSeconds float64)
+}
+
+// --- Critic ---
+
+// Critic optionally monitors a long-running run (the two-tier soft/hard
+// timeout). Monitor returns a handle the executor feeds progress into and
+// queries for steer/deadline decisions; a nil handle means "not monitored".
+//
+// The exact wiring (how the handle's Steer/Deadline bind into majordomo's
+// agent.WithSteer / agent.WithMaxStepsFunc / run-context cancellation) is
+// finalized in the executor; this is the seam the agentcritic battery adapts.
+type Critic interface {
+	Monitor(ctx context.Context, info RunInfo, softTimeout time.Duration) CriticHandle
+}
+
+// CriticHandle is the executor's live link to a run's critic.
+type CriticHandle interface {
+	// RecordStep / RecordToolStart keep the critic's activity clock fresh so a
+	// healthy-but-slow run is not mistaken for a hang.
+	RecordStep(iter int)
+	RecordToolStart(name, args string)
+	// Steer returns any messages the critic wants injected into the loop (a
+	// nudge), drained before each step — matches majordomo agent.WithSteer.
+	Steer() []llm.Message
+	// Deadline returns the current hard-kill deadline (the critic may extend
+	// it); the executor binds the run context to it. Zero = no hard deadline.
+	Deadline() time.Time
+	// Stop ends monitoring when the run finishes.
+	Stop()
+}
+
+// --- Checkpointer ---
+
+// Checkpointer persists a run's resumable progress for durable recovery.
+// Mirrors mort's agentexec.RunCheckpointer.
+type Checkpointer interface {
+	// Save persists the run's current resumable progress (throttled).
+	Save(ctx context.Context, st RunCheckpointState) error
+	// Complete clears the checkpoint on success.
+	Complete(ctx context.Context) error
+	// Fail clears the checkpoint on terminal failure. A run interrupted by
+	// shutdown is left untouched so boot recovery picks it up.
+	Fail(ctx context.Context, err error) error
+}
+
+// RunCheckpointState is the resumable snapshot a Checkpointer persists. Kept
+// minimal here; the executor extends what it records during the merge.
+type RunCheckpointState struct {
+	Messages  []llm.Message
+	Iteration int
+}
+
+// --- PaletteSource ---
+
+// PaletteSource resolves a RunnableAgent's SkillPalette / SubAgentPalette names
+// into delegation tools and invokes them. Mirrors mort's
+// SkillInvokerForPalette + AgentInvokerForPalette. nil Palette => palette
+// entries are inert ("not configured" at first call).
+type PaletteSource interface {
+	ResolveSkill(ctx context.Context, callerID, name string) (skillID string, err error)
+	InvokeSkill(ctx context.Context, callerID, channelID, name string,
+		inputs map[string]any, parentRunID string) (output, runID, status string, err error)
+
+	ResolveAgent(ctx context.Context, callerID, name string) (agentID string, err error)
+	InvokeAgent(ctx context.Context, callerID, channelID, name string,
+		prompt, parentRunID, modelTierOverride, promptPrepend string,
+		toolsSubset []string,
+		onEvent func(ctx context.Context, event, emoji string)) (output, runID, status string, err error)
+}
diff --git a/run/runengine.go b/run/runengine.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b311e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run/runengine.go
@@ -0,0 +1,157 @@
+// Package run is executus's run kernel: the shared run-loop mechanics around
+// majordomo's agent loop, plus the host seams (run.Ports / RunnableAgent) that
+// let one executor serve every surface — a light host's bounded one-shot run,
+// a heavy host's persona agent or saved skill — without the kernel importing a
+// battery.
+//
+// This file holds the genuinely-identical scaffolding both run shapes need:
+// context cancellation merging, the detached-cleanup timeout, the per-run
+// progress accessor the self-status tool reads, the legacy `submit`
+// compatibility tool (submit.go), the ancestor progress bridge (progress.go),
+// and the run-finalizer machinery — one source of truth.
+//
+// The kernel depends only on majordomo + executus/tool + the run.Ports
+// interfaces; persistence, audit, the persona/skill nouns, and the critic are
+// host-supplied via Ports (see ports.go) so importing the kernel never drags in
+// a store or a battery.
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"log/slog"
+	"sync/atomic"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// ErrShutdown is the cancellation cause set on mort's base lifecycle context
+// when the process is shutting down (SIGTERM after the drain window). The
+// agent executor uses it to distinguish a run interrupted by shutdown (which
+// should be left durable-recoverable) from a run that errored or hit its own
+// deadline (terminal).
+var ErrShutdown = errors.New("mort: shutting down")
+
+// CleanupContextTimeout caps how long a run's post-completion cleanup ops
+// (budget commit, audit Close, attachment bookkeeping) may wait on
+// storage after detaching from the caller's — possibly already
+// cancelled — context. 10s is generous for a single-row UPDATE against
+// MySQL; longer suggests a hung connection the run goroutine shouldn't
+// keep waiting on. Both executors derive their cleanup contexts as
+// context.WithTimeout(context.WithoutCancel(ctx), CleanupContextTimeout).
+const CleanupContextTimeout = 10 * time.Second
+
+// Reserved state-react lifecycle event keys, shared so both nouns surface
+// the same UX shape. Namespaced with double-underscores to make accidental
+// collision with a tool name near-impossible.
+const (
+	StateReactStart          = "__start__"
+	StateReactEnd            = "__end__"
+	StateReactError          = "__error__"
+	StateReactBudgetExceeded = "__budget_exceeded__"
+)
+
+// MergeCancellation returns a context cancelled when EITHER input is
+// cancelled, propagating the cancellation Cause from whichever fired. Used
+// by the lane preemption path (the lane's per-job ctx.Cause flows into the
+// run context) and by the runtime-detach path (process shutdown still
+// reaches a run whose deadline was reset after a lane wait). Always call
+// the returned cancel to release the watcher goroutine; it is also invoked
+// once when either input fires.
+func MergeCancellation(parent, secondary context.Context) (context.Context, context.CancelFunc) {
+	merged, cancel := context.WithCancelCause(parent)
+	go func() {
+		select {
+		case <-merged.Done():
+			return
+		case <-secondary.Done():
+			cancel(context.Cause(secondary))
+		}
+	}()
+	return merged, func() { cancel(nil) }
+}
+
+// RunFinalizer is invoked at run finish so per-run tool state (open HTTP
+// streams, per-run code_exec counters, per-run search budgets) is released
+// and the process-lifetime maps keyed by run id don't grow unbounded.
+// Both executors fire their registered finalizers via FireFinalizers.
+type RunFinalizer interface {
+	FinalizeRun(runID string)
+}
+
+// FireFinalizers runs every finalizer for runID, isolating each behind a
+// panic-recover so one buggy finalizer can't take down the run goroutine
+// or skip the others. Safe to call with a nil/empty slice.
+func FireFinalizers(fs []RunFinalizer, runID string) {
+	for _, f := range fs {
+		if f == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		func() {
+			defer func() {
+				if r := recover(); r != nil {
+					slog.Error("runengine: run finalizer panicked",
+						"run_id", runID, "panic", r)
+				}
+			}()
+			f.FinalizeRun(runID)
+		}()
+	}
+}
+
+// RunTally is the narrow live-progress source the RunStateAccessor reads —
+// the running token and tool-call counts for the in-flight run. The audit
+// battery's writer satisfies it; this interface is how the run kernel reads
+// live tallies without importing the audit package (the inversion of mort's
+// direct *skillaudit.Writer dependency).
+type RunTally interface {
+	// TokenStats returns the running input, output, and thinking token totals.
+	TokenStats() (in, out, thinking int64)
+	// ToolCallsCount returns the number of tool calls executed so far.
+	ToolCallsCount() int
+}
+
+// RunStateAccessor is the per-run live-progress accessor the executor
+// stamps on Invocation.RunState before building the toolbox, so the
+// self-status tool can report iteration / tool-calls / tokens / elapsed for
+// the in-flight run. Construct with NewRunStateAccessor; the executor's step
+// observer calls SetIteration each loop.
+type RunStateAccessor struct {
+	tally     RunTally
+	iter      atomic.Int32
+	maxIter   int
+	maxCalls  int
+	startedAt time.Time
+}
+
+// NewRunStateAccessor builds the accessor. writer supplies the live token
+// + tool-call tallies; maxIter / maxCalls are the reported caps (0 =
+// uncapped); startedAt anchors the elapsed clock.
+func NewRunStateAccessor(tally RunTally, maxIter, maxCalls int, startedAt time.Time) *RunStateAccessor {
+	return &RunStateAccessor{
+		tally:     tally,
+		maxIter:   maxIter,
+		maxCalls:  maxCalls,
+		startedAt: startedAt,
+	}
+}
+
+// SetIteration records the current agent-loop iteration (called from the
+// executor's step observer).
+func (a *RunStateAccessor) SetIteration(iter int) { a.iter.Store(int32(iter)) }
+
+// RunState satisfies tool.RunStateAccessor.
+func (a *RunStateAccessor) RunState() tool.RunState {
+	in, out, think := a.tally.TokenStats()
+	return tool.RunState{
+		Iteration:      int(a.iter.Load()),
+		MaxIterations:  a.maxIter,
+		ToolCalls:      a.tally.ToolCallsCount(),
+		MaxToolCalls:   a.maxCalls,
+		InputTokens:    in,
+		OutputTokens:   out,
+		ThinkingTokens: think,
+		ElapsedSeconds: int(time.Since(a.startedAt).Seconds()),
+	}
+}
diff --git a/run/steps.go b/run/steps.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..16d6d08
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run/steps.go
@@ -0,0 +1,419 @@
+package run
+
+// steps.go — the per-run step emitter and the tool→step presentation
+// mapping. This is the single place that turns the executor's post-step
+// observer into ordered tool.Step records: one per tool call, each with a
+// stable id, an open-vocabulary kind, and a human present-tense summary
+// that flips running→complete/error.
+//
+// One source feeds two consumers (mirroring the OnEvent/OnToolEvent/
+// PostRunResult pattern): the live tool.Invocation.OnStep callback
+// (nil-safe) AND snapshot(), which the executor copies onto Result.Steps.
+// Because the Result accumulation does not depend on OnStep being set,
+// every surface — chat (JSON + SSE), Discord, cron, sub-agents — carries
+// steps; OnStep is needed only for live streaming.
+//
+// LIMITATION (current): majordomo exposes only a POST-step observer, so
+// the executor calls toolStart+toolEnd back-to-back after each tool has
+// already run. Steps are therefore recorded faithfully, but step.StartedAt
+// ≈ EndedAt and the intermediate "running" phase is never observable to a
+// live OnStep consumer. A pre-dispatch hook (wrapping each tool's handler
+// to emit toolStart before execution, like mort's state-react decorator)
+// is a follow-up that would restore real start timing + the running phase.
+// The emitter already supports that two-call shape — toolStart and toolEnd
+// are separate methods — so wiring it later is additive.
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"net/url"
+	"strings"
+	"time"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+
+	"gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/executus/tool"
+)
+
+// stepSummaryMaxLen caps the human summary length (section G size cap).
+// Detail is unused in v1 (no live detail source while replies are
+// generated blocking) so there is no Detail cap yet.
+const stepSummaryMaxLen = 200
+
+// stepEmitter accumulates ordered steps for one run and fires the live
+// OnStep callback.
+//
+// Concurrency: touched ONLY from the agent-loop goroutine — the executor's
+// stepObserver (and, once a pre-dispatch hook is wired, that hook) run
+// there; majordomo executes a step's tool calls sequentially, and
+// sub-agents build their own Invocation so they never reach this
+// emitter. Same single-goroutine contract as the audit Writer and the
+// critic ProgressRecorder — no internal lock.
+type stepEmitter struct {
+	onStep func(ctx context.Context, ev tool.StepEvent)
+	now    func() time.Time
+
+	seq     int
+	steps   []tool.Step         // ordered; the snapshot for Result.Steps
+	byID    map[string]int      // step id -> index into steps
+	pending map[string][]string // correlation key -> queued running ids (FIFO)
+}
+
+// newStepEmitter returns an emitter that forwards to onStep (nil-safe).
+func newStepEmitter(onStep func(ctx context.Context, ev tool.StepEvent)) *stepEmitter {
+	return &stepEmitter{
+		onStep:  onStep,
+		now:     time.Now,
+		byID:    map[string]int{},
+		pending: map[string][]string{},
+	}
+}
+
+// corrKey correlates a "start" (name + raw args, no call id available at
+// the pre-dispatch hook) with its later "end" (the stepObserver has the
+// full call incl. id + the same raw args).
+func corrKey(name string, args json.RawMessage) string {
+	return name + "\x00" + string(args)
+}
+
+// toolStart records + emits the "start" of a tool call. Called from the
+// pre-dispatch hookToolbox closure, before the tool runs.
+func (e *stepEmitter) toolStart(ctx context.Context, name string, args json.RawMessage) {
+	if e == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	step := e.newStep(name, args)
+	key := corrKey(name, args)
+	e.pending[key] = append(e.pending[key], step.ID)
+	e.fire(ctx, "start", step)
+}
+
+// toolEnd records + emits the terminal "end" of a tool call. Called from
+// the stepObserver for each completed tool call. If no matching start was
+// seen (e.g. a tool with a nil handler the pre-dispatch hook skipped), a
+// start is synthesized so the step still appears.
+func (e *stepEmitter) toolEnd(ctx context.Context, call llm.ToolCall, result string, isError bool) {
+	if e == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	id := e.matchPending(call.Name, call.Arguments)
+	if id == "" {
+		id = e.newStep(call.Name, call.Arguments).ID
+	}
+	idx, ok := e.byID[id]
+	if !ok {
+		return
+	}
+	step := &e.steps[idx]
+	end := e.now()
+	step.EndedAt = &end
+	if isError {
+		step.Status = "error"
+	} else {
+		step.Status = "complete"
+	}
+	if s := summaryForEnd(call.Name, call.Arguments, result, isError); s != "" {
+		step.Summary = s
+	}
+	e.fire(ctx, "end", *step)
+}
+
+// newStep mints + appends a running step and returns it (by value).
+func (e *stepEmitter) newStep(name string, args json.RawMessage) tool.Step {
+	e.seq++
+	step := tool.Step{
+		ID:        fmt.Sprintf("s%d", e.seq),
+		Kind:      kindForTool(name),
+		Title:     name,
+		Summary:   summaryForStart(name, args),
+		Status:    "running",
+		StartedAt: e.now(),
+	}
+	e.byID[step.ID] = len(e.steps)
+	e.steps = append(e.steps, step)
+	return step
+}
+
+// matchPending pops the oldest running step id for (name, args). Falls back to
+// the OLDEST still-running step of the same tool name when the args don't
+// byte-match between start and end (e.g. JSON key reordering). FIFO on the
+// fallback too, consistent with the per-key queue pop above — closing the
+// oldest avoids mis-correlating concurrent same-named calls. Returns "" on no
+// match.
+func (e *stepEmitter) matchPending(name string, args json.RawMessage) string {
+	key := corrKey(name, args)
+	if q := e.pending[key]; len(q) > 0 {
+		id := q[0]
+		if len(q) == 1 {
+			delete(e.pending, key)
+		} else {
+			e.pending[key] = q[1:]
+		}
+		return id
+	}
+	for i := 0; i < len(e.steps); i++ {
+		if e.steps[i].Title == name && e.steps[i].Status == "running" {
+			return e.steps[i].ID
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+func (e *stepEmitter) fire(ctx context.Context, phase string, step tool.Step) {
+	if e.onStep == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	e.onStep(ctx, tool.StepEvent{Phase: phase, Step: step})
+}
+
+// snapshot returns a copy of the ordered, deduplicated step set for the
+// run Result. A step still "running" at run end (e.g. the run was
+// cancelled mid-tool-call) is reported as-is.
+func (e *stepEmitter) snapshot() []tool.Step {
+	if e == nil || len(e.steps) == 0 {
+		return nil
+	}
+	out := make([]tool.Step, len(e.steps))
+	copy(out, e.steps)
+	return out
+}
+
+// kindForTool maps a tool name to an open-vocabulary step kind. Unknown
+// tools fall back to "tool" — never an error, just a generic step (the
+// client maps unknown kinds to a default icon). Loosely tracks the
+// catalog in pkg/skilltools/CLAUDE.md.
+func kindForTool(name string) string {
+	switch name {
+	case "web_search", "search_reddit", "wikipedia_summary":
+		return "search"
+	case "read_page", "read_pdf", "read_reddit", "read_video", "verify_url",
+		"summary_summarise", "summarize", "file_get_text", "file_get_metadata",
+		"http_get", "http_post", "http_get_stream", "http_stream_read":
+		return "read"
+	case "code_exec", "calculate":
+		return "code"
+	case "file_save", "file_get", "file_list", "file_delete", "file_search":
+		return "file"
+	case "kv_get", "kv_set", "kv_list", "kv_delete",
+		"remember", "recall", "chatbot_get_memories":
+		return "memory"
+	case "query", "query_research", "deepresearch", "animate",
+		"agent_invoke", "agent_invoke_parallel", "agent_spawn",
+		"agent_spawn_parallel", "skill_invoke", "skill_invoke_parallel":
+		return "delegate"
+	case "think":
+		return "thinking"
+	default:
+		switch {
+		case strings.HasPrefix(name, "image") || strings.Contains(name, "draw"):
+			return "image"
+		default:
+			return "tool"
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// summaryForStart builds the human present-tense running summary. It
+// derives specifics from safe arg fields only; secret-bearing tools
+// (mcp_call, email_send, http_*) are summarized without echoing args.
+func summaryForStart(name string, args json.RawMessage) string {
+	var s string
+	switch name {
+	case "web_search":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "q"); q != "" {
+			s = fmt.Sprintf("Searching the web for %q", q)
+		} else {
+			s = "Searching the web"
+		}
+	case "search_reddit":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "q"); q != "" {
+			s = fmt.Sprintf("Searching Reddit for %q", q)
+		} else {
+			s = "Searching Reddit"
+		}
+	case "wikipedia_summary":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "title"); q != "" {
+			s = fmt.Sprintf("Looking up %q on Wikipedia", q)
+		} else {
+			s = "Looking up Wikipedia"
+		}
+	case "read_page", "read_pdf", "read_reddit", "read_video", "verify_url":
+		if u := argString(args, "url", "post", "page"); u != "" {
+			s = "Reading " + hostOf(u)
+		} else {
+			s = "Reading a page"
+		}
+	case "http_get", "http_post", "http_get_stream":
+		// Show host only — a full URL can embed credentials/tokens.
+		if u := argString(args, "url"); u != "" {
+			s = "Fetching " + hostOf(u)
+		} else {
+			s = "Making an HTTP request"
+		}
+	case "summary_summarise", "summarize":
+		s = "Summarizing text"
+	case "translate":
+		if lang := argString(args, "target_lang", "target_language", "lang"); lang != "" {
+			s = "Translating to " + lang
+		} else {
+			s = "Translating text"
+		}
+	case "code_exec":
+		s = "Running code"
+	case "calculate":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "expression", "expr"); q != "" {
+			s = "Calculating " + truncateStep(q, 60)
+		} else {
+			s = "Calculating"
+		}
+	case "remember":
+		// Never echo the stored value.
+		s = "Saving a memory"
+	case "recall", "chatbot_get_memories":
+		s = "Recalling memories"
+	case "kv_get", "kv_list":
+		s = "Reading saved data"
+	case "kv_set":
+		s = "Saving data"
+	case "kv_delete":
+		s = "Deleting saved data"
+	case "file_save":
+		if n := argString(args, "name", "filename"); n != "" {
+			s = "Saving file " + truncateStep(n, 60)
+		} else {
+			s = "Saving a file"
+		}
+	case "file_get", "file_get_text", "file_get_metadata":
+		s = "Reading a file"
+	case "file_list", "file_search":
+		s = "Listing files"
+	case "query", "query_research":
+		if q := argString(args, "query", "question", "prompt", "task"); q != "" {
+			s = "Researching " + truncateStep(q, 80)
+		} else {
+			s = "Researching"
+		}
+	case "deepresearch":
+		s = "Running deep research"
+	case "animate":
+		s = "Generating an animation"
+	case "agent_invoke", "agent_spawn":
+		if a := argString(args, "agent", "agent_name", "name"); a != "" {
+			s = "Delegating to " + a
+		} else {
+			s = "Delegating to a sub-agent"
+		}
+	case "agent_invoke_parallel", "agent_spawn_parallel":
+		s = "Delegating to sub-agents"
+	case "skill_invoke":
+		if sk := argString(args, "skill_name", "skill", "name"); sk != "" {
+			s = "Running skill " + sk
+		} else {
+			s = "Running a skill"
+		}
+	case "skill_invoke_parallel":
+		s = "Running skills in parallel"
+	case "think":
+		s = "Thinking"
+	case "mcp_call":
+		// Redact: MCP args frequently carry secrets. Name server/tool only.
+		srv, tl := argString(args, "server"), argString(args, "tool")
+		switch {
+		case srv != "" && tl != "":
+			s = fmt.Sprintf("Calling %s/%s", srv, tl)
+		case srv != "":
+			s = "Calling " + srv
+		default:
+			s = "Calling an MCP tool"
+		}
+	case "email_send":
+		// Redact recipients + body.
+		s = "Sending an email"
+	default:
+		s = "Using " + name
+	}
+	return truncateStep(s, stepSummaryMaxLen)
+}
+
+// summaryForEnd optionally upgrades the summary to a cheap result phrase.
+// Returns "" to keep the running summary (the caller then just flips the
+// status). Never returns a phrase derived from raw result bytes.
+func summaryForEnd(name string, _ json.RawMessage, result string, isError bool) string {
+	if isError {
+		return ""
+	}
+	switch name {
+	case "web_search", "search_reddit":
+		if n := countResults(result); n >= 0 {
+			return fmt.Sprintf("Found %d result%s", n, plural(n))
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// argString pulls the first present non-empty string field from a tool's
+// raw JSON args, trying keys in order. Returns "" when none parse.
+func argString(args json.RawMessage, keys ...string) string {
+	if len(args) == 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	var m map[string]any
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(args, &m); err != nil {
+		return ""
+	}
+	for _, k := range keys {
+		if v, ok := m[k]; ok {
+			if s, ok := v.(string); ok && strings.TrimSpace(s) != "" {
+				return strings.TrimSpace(s)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+	return ""
+}
+
+// countResults parses a v11-style {"results":[...]} envelope and returns
+// the count, or -1 when the shape doesn't match.
+func countResults(result string) int {
+	if strings.TrimSpace(result) == "" {
+		return -1
+	}
+	var env struct {
+		Results []json.RawMessage `json:"results"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal([]byte(result), &env); err != nil || env.Results == nil {
+		return -1
+	}
+	return len(env.Results)
+}
+
+// hostOf returns the bare host (no leading www.) of a URL, or a short
+// form of the raw string when it doesn't parse as a URL.
+func hostOf(raw string) string {
+	if u, err := url.Parse(raw); err == nil && u.Host != "" {
+		return strings.TrimPrefix(u.Host, "www.")
+	}
+	return truncateStep(raw, 60)
+}
+
+// truncateStep rune-safely caps s to max, appending an ellipsis when cut.
+func truncateStep(s string, max int) string {
+	if max <= 0 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	r := []rune(s)
+	if len(r) <= max {
+		return s
+	}
+	if max == 1 {
+		return string(r[:1])
+	}
+	return string(r[:max-1]) + "…"
+}
+
+func plural(n int) string {
+	if n == 1 {
+		return ""
+	}
+	return "s"
+}
diff --git a/run/submit.go b/run/submit.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..59ae221
--- /dev/null
+++ b/run/submit.go
@@ -0,0 +1,84 @@
+package run
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+
+	llm "gitea.stevedudenhoeffer.com/steve/majordomo/llm"
+)
+
+// SubmitCapture records the output a run's `submit` tool received.
+//
+// Why this exists: legacy agentkit injected a synthetic `submit` tool and
+// ended the loop when it fired; years of mort system prompts (agent
+// YAMLs, skill manifests, the executors' platform headers) teach the
+// model to "call submit with your final answer". majordomo's agent loop
+// has no submit concept — it ends when the model replies WITHOUT tool
+// calls. Dropping submit cold would make every prompt-trained model
+// burn turns on "unknown tool \"submit\"" errors.
+//
+// The compatibility shape: the executors add NewSubmitTool's tool to
+// every run's toolset (unless the palette already defines a `submit`).
+// The handler records the FIRST submitted answer and tells the model
+// the answer was accepted so its next turn is a bare reply (which ends
+// the loop naturally). After the run, the executor consults
+// Output(loopOutput, runErr): a captured submission wins over an empty
+// or budget-exhausted ending, so a model that submits on its final
+// allowed step still produces its answer instead of ErrMaxSteps.
+type SubmitCapture struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	output string
+	called bool
+}
+
+// Record stores the first submitted answer; later calls are ignored
+// (matching legacy agentkit's "multiple calls keep the first" contract).
+func (c *SubmitCapture) Record(output string) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	if c.called {
+		return
+	}
+	c.called = true
+	c.output = output
+}
+
+// Submitted returns the captured answer and whether submit fired.
+func (c *SubmitCapture) Submitted() (string, bool) {
+	c.mu.Lock()
+	defer c.mu.Unlock()
+	return c.output, c.called
+}
+
+// Output resolves the run's final output: the submitted answer when the
+// model called submit (parity with legacy agentkit, where submit's argument
+// WAS the run output), otherwise the loop's own final text. resolvedErr
+// is nil when a submission exists — a run that submitted its answer and
+// then ran out of steps (or timed out composing the courtesy
+// confirmation turn) is a SUCCESS, not an error.
+func (c *SubmitCapture) Output(loopOutput string, runErr error) (output string, resolvedErr error) {
+	if out, ok := c.Submitted(); ok {
+		return out, nil
+	}
+	return loopOutput, runErr
+}
+
+// submitArgs mirrors legacy agentkit's synthetic submit tool schema so
+// models prompted under the old contract emit compatible calls.
+type submitArgs struct {
+	Output string `json:"output" description:"The final answer, summary, or output for this task."`
+}
+
+// NewSubmitTool builds the compatibility `submit` tool bound to the
+// given capture. Both executors (skill + agent) install one per run.
+func NewSubmitTool(capture *SubmitCapture) llm.Tool {
+	return llm.DefineTool[submitArgs](
+		"submit",
+		"Submit your final answer or output to end this task. Call exactly once when you are done.",
+		func(_ context.Context, args submitArgs) (any, error) {
+			capture.Record(strings.TrimSpace(args.Output))
+			return "Final answer recorded. Do not call any more tools; reply now with a brief closing message.", nil
+		},
+	)
+}