diff --git a/autoplan/DRIVER.md b/autoplan/DRIVER.md
index 875ea1068..10c1136ca 100644
--- a/autoplan/DRIVER.md
+++ b/autoplan/DRIVER.md
@@ -57,28 +57,28 @@ line yourself; gstack never writes the plan.
 
 ### Commands
 
-- `gstack-autoplan next --out <dir> --plan <plan.md> [scope flags] [--light] [--spend-cap <usd>] [--max-rounds <n>] [--scaffold]`
-  first call: init the run, print PHASE:, SCOPE:, DRIVER: and one ATTEMPT: per voice; --max-rounds caps review rounds per phase (default 2 unattended), and an unattended Capy run reserves 5.00 per host attempt unless --estimate-usd <n> says otherwise, so --spend-cap binds.
+- `gstack-autoplan next --out <dir> --plan <plan.md> [scope flags] [--light] [--spend-cap <usd>] [--max-rounds <n>] [--estimate-usd <n>] [--scaffold]`
+  first call: init the run, print PHASE:, SCOPE:, DRIVER: and one ATTEMPT: per voice; --max-rounds caps review rounds per phase (default 2 unattended); an unattended run with --spend-cap (or any unattended Capy run) reserves 5.00 per voice for each attempt, so the cap binds; --estimate-usd <n> sets that reservation and the run keeps it for later phases.
+- `gstack-autoplan run --out <dir> --plan <plan.md> --native-model <id> --outside-model <id> --native-runner api --runner api [--max-tokens <n>] [--spend-cap <usd>]`
+  hosts without subagents: one command calls both models directly (ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY) and loops next/submit to the gate; a response cut off at the output limit is reported truncated, so raise --max-tokens (Anthropic default 16384).
 - `gstack-autoplan next --out <dir> [--redispatch <attempt>]`
   later calls: open the next phase or reprint open attempts; never redispatches on its own.
 - `gstack-autoplan submit --out <dir> --phase <p> --voice native|outside --record <file.md> --model <id> [--attempt <id>]`
   bind a free-form review record (canonical fence, one findings table or list, or `No findings.`).
 - `gstack-autoplan submit ... --record <file.md> --attest "<reason>" --attempt <id>`
   bind a record with no INPUT: line as receipt: attested (a wrong INPUT: always refuses).
-- `gstack-autoplan submit --out <dir> --phase <p> --voice native|outside --result <file> --model <id> --attempt <id>`
-  bind a canonical result (the RESULT FORMAT below).
+- `gstack-autoplan submit --out <dir> --phase <p> --voice native|outside --result <file> --model <id> --attempt <id> [--usage-usd <n>] [--reconcile <jsonl>]`
+  bind a canonical result (the RESULT FORMAT below); `--usage-usd` settles the attempt at what the reviewer actually cost (else it stays priced unknown at its reservation); on the submit that closes the phase, `--reconcile` takes your own pairing of findings both voices raised, one `{"outside_id","native_id","disposition","resolution"}` row each, over the structural one.
 - `gstack-autoplan submit --out <dir> --phase <p> --voice outside --unavailable|--failed "<reason>"`
   close the phase native-only when no outside voice can run.
-- `gstack-autoplan answer --out <dir> --gate-rev <n> --reply "<reply>" --by human|agent:<id> [--owner-reply <text>|-] [--rec-hash <h>]`
-  answer the gate with the reply grammar below; an agent answer stores the owner's words verbatim.
+- `gstack-autoplan answer --out <dir> --gate-rev <n> --reply "<reply>" --by human|agent:<id> [--owner-reply <text>|-] [--words-by agent:<id>] [--rec-hash <h>]`
+  answer the gate with the reply grammar below; an agent answer stores the owner's words verbatim, and passes --words-by agent:<id> whenever the words are its own (the default is owner).
 - `gstack-autoplan recommend --out <dir> --gate-rev <n> --item <id> --option <k> --basis "<why>"`
   change one recommendation before relay; then render and relay again (a `rec` needs the new `--rec-hash`).
 - `gstack-autoplan revise --out <dir> --plan <plan v2> --incorporates <decision ids>`
   bind the amended plan; reopens every phase whose reviewed plan changed, Eng last.
-- `gstack-autoplan revise --out <dir> --settle <decision id|d4>`
-  discharge a packaging or ordering change with no plan edit; reopens nothing.
-- `gstack-autoplan revise --out <dir> --withdraw <decision id>`
-  drop a pending amendment instead of applying it.
+- `gstack-autoplan revise --out <dir> --settle <decision id|d4> | --withdraw <decision id>`
+  --settle discharges a packaging or ordering change with no plan edit and reopens nothing; --withdraw drops a pending amendment instead of applying it.
 - `gstack-autoplan close --out <dir> --phase <p> --deferred "<reason>" --by human|agent:<id>`
   close a phase accepted-with-findings: its open findings go to tasks.jsonl, and Critical, urgent or user-challenge findings become gate items; also the recovery from `STOP: reason=budget_exhausted`.
 - `gstack-autoplan budget --out <dir> [--spend-cap <usd>] [--max-rounds <n>] --by human|agent:<id>`
@@ -111,7 +111,7 @@ A reply binds to the `gate_rev` you read (`--gate-rev`). Bare `yes`/`no` is unpa
 
 - `rec`: every item takes its recommendation, plan changes included (each prints APPLY:); `all` and `do it` are aliases.
 - `as-is`: keep every direction; no plan change.
-- `d3b uc1a`: one <id><option> token per item you set; unanswered auto items take their default.
+- `d3b uc1a`: one <id><option> token per item you set; unanswered auto items take their default (a finding item keeps the plan as written; `p1b` applies it).
 - `rec except d3b`: recommendations, with the listed overrides.
 
 ## Run directory
diff --git a/bin/gstack-autoplan b/bin/gstack-autoplan
index c42062867..a7b3194ea 100755
--- a/bin/gstack-autoplan
+++ b/bin/gstack-autoplan
@@ -9,8 +9,8 @@
  *   gstack-autoplan submit  --out <dir> --phase <p> --voice outside --unavailable <reason> | --failed <reason> [--json]
  *   gstack-autoplan revise  --out <dir> --plan <file> [--incorporates <id,...>] [--withdraw <id>] [--settle <id>] [--json]   review a revised plan in this run
  *   gstack-autoplan run     --out <dir> --plan <file> --native-model <id> --outside-model <id> [--runner codex-cli|api] [--native-runner api]
- *                           [--deadline <min>] [--spend-cap <usd>] [--estimate-usd <n>] [--json]      next in a loop; needs runners for both voices
- *   gstack-autoplan answer  --out <dir> --gate-rev <rev> --reply "<grammar>" --by <human|agent:<id>> [--owner-reply <text>|-] [--rec-hash <h>] [--json]
+ *                           [--deadline <min>] [--spend-cap <usd>] [--estimate-usd <n>] [--max-tokens <n>] [--json]      next in a loop; needs runners for both voices
+ *   gstack-autoplan answer  --out <dir> --gate-rev <rev> --reply "<grammar>" --by <human|agent:<id>> [--owner-reply <text>|-] [--words-by owner|agent:<id>] [--rec-hash <h>] [--json]
  *   gstack-autoplan recommend --out <dir> --gate-rev <n> --item <id> --option <k> --basis "<why>" [--by <who>]
  *   gstack-autoplan resume  --out <dir> [--from <checkpoint>] [--json]   take ownership; intent without a terminal record becomes EXECUTION_UNKNOWN
  *   gstack-autoplan status  --out <dir> [--json]        query: the manifest, no GSTACK_RESULT line
@@ -43,11 +43,13 @@ import { capyRelayLine } from '../lib/captain-brief';
 import { exportPublic } from '../lib/autoplan-public';
 import { migrateRun } from '../lib/autoplan-migrate';
 import { reviseRun } from '../lib/autoplan-revise';
-import { pendingAmendments, type RunState } from '../lib/autoplan-state';
-import { FILES, RunError, currentPhase, initRun, markOutside, nextStep, readState, resumeRun, statusLines, submitResult, withRunLock, writeState } from '../lib/autoplan-run';
+import { pendingAmendments, type RunState, type Voice } from '../lib/autoplan-state';
+import { FILES, RunError, currentPhase, initRun, markOutside, nextStep, readState, resumeRun, statusLines, submitResult, withRunLock, writeState, type NextOptions } from '../lib/autoplan-run';
 import { driverFile, type Phase } from '../lib/autoplan-prompts';
 import { EXIT, exitTableHelp } from '../lib/headless-artifacts';
 import { createRunner, familyConflict, type RunnerId } from '../lib/outside-voice-runner';
+import { DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS, apiTimeoutMs } from '../lib/outside-voice-api';
+import { estimateCostUsd, pricingRow } from '../lib/pricing';
 import { resultLine } from '../lib/result-codes';
 import { release } from '../lib/spend-ledger';
 import { COORDINATOR_CONTRACT } from '../lib/coordinator-contract';
@@ -59,7 +61,7 @@ DRIVER: ${driverFile()}
           [--no-outside] [--light] [--spend-cap <usd>] [--max-rounds <n>] [--estimate-usd <n>] [--deadline <min>] [--redispatch <attempt>] [--json]
           --max-rounds (first next): review rounds per phase (default 2 unattended); at the cap a phase closes accepted-with-findings
           --docs-only (first next; also detected when every Implementation-plan path is docs-class): CEO (native voice only) + Eng
-          --estimate-usd: reserved per new attempt; unattended Capy runs reserve a default for host attempts so --spend-cap binds
+          --estimate-usd: reserved per new attempt, kept for the rest of the run; with --spend-cap (or on Capy) unattended runs reserve a default so the cap binds
           --scaffold (first next): a plan missing one of its two sections is reviewed from <out>/plan-source.md with the heading added
           --light loads each phase's checklist plus the sections its scope needs (the unattended default); interactive kinds load everything
           --no-carry-forward (first next): every later gate revision goes to the owner, even one that asks nothing new
@@ -80,9 +82,12 @@ DRIVER: ${driverFile()}
           comes into scope, the edit applies without re-review (APPLIED:); --withdraw (alone or with --plan) drops one;
           --settle records a packaging/ordering change that needs no plan edit and reopens nothing (ids: decision id or d4)
   run     --out <dir> --plan <file> --native-model <id> --outside-model <id> [--runner codex-cli|api] [--native-runner api] ...
-          next in a loop, only when a runner executes both voices here; --deadline cancels the children it started
+          next in a loop, only when a runner executes both voices here (hosts without subagents: --native-runner api --runner api);
+          --deadline cancels the children it started; --max-tokens caps each api call's output (Anthropic default 16384), and a
+          response cut off at that limit is reported truncated; submit's result checks judge every completed response
   answer  --out <dir> --gate-rev <rev> --reply "<rec | rec except d3a | d3b uc1a | as-is>" --by <human|agent:<id>> [--json]
           --by agent:<id> needs --owner-reply "<owner's words>" (- reads stdin; --owner-reply-file <path>), stored verbatim;
+          --words-by agent:<id> (the same agent) when those words are its own: recorded as its words, never the owner's, never carried;
           --rec-hash <h> binds a rec to the render the owner saw (required once recommend ran); accepted changes leave amend_pending
   recommend --out <dir> --gate-rev <n> --item <id> --option <k> --basis "<why>" [--by <who>]
           set one item's recommendation before relay (provenance recorded, p1 follows); re-render and relay afterwards
@@ -178,7 +183,7 @@ function emit(json: boolean, lines: string[], payload: Record<string, unknown>):
   else process.stdout.write(lines.join('\n') + '\n');
 }
 
-function doNext(out: string, rest: string[], json: boolean): number {
+function doNext(out: string, rest: string[], json: boolean, price?: NextOptions['price']): number {
   const cwd = process.cwd();
   const initLines: string[] = [];
   const fresh = !fs.existsSync(path.join(out, FILES.run));
@@ -195,7 +200,7 @@ function doNext(out: string, rest: string[], json: boolean): number {
       deadlineMin: num(rest, '--deadline'), light: rest.includes('--light'), scaffold: rest.includes('--scaffold'), scope: { ui, developerTool: rest.includes('--developer-tool'), agentPrimary: rest.includes('--agent-primary'), dx: rest.includes('--no-dx') ? false : undefined, ...(rest.includes('--docs-only') ? { docsOnly: true } : {}) } }, initLines);
   }
   const redispatch = rest.flatMap((a, i) => (a === '--redispatch' && rest[i + 1] ? [rest[i + 1]!] : []));
-  const r = nextStep({ out, cwd, estimateUsd: num(rest, '--estimate-usd'), redispatch });
+  const r = nextStep({ out, cwd, estimateUsd: num(rest, '--estimate-usd'), redispatch, price });
   moment = fresh ? 'init' : r.attempts.some(a => a.new) || r.lines.some(l => l.startsWith('PHASE_DEFERRED: ')) ? 'transition' : undefined;
   const status = r.state.status;
   const lines = [...initLines, ...r.lines];
@@ -305,10 +310,19 @@ async function doRun(out: string, rest: string[], json: boolean): Promise<number
   if (!['codex-cli', 'api'].includes(outsideRunner)) return usage('--runner must be codex-cli or api for run (host-subagent cannot execute here; use next/submit)');
   const conflict = familyConflict(outsideModel, nativeModel);
   if (conflict) throw new RunError('MODEL_FAMILY_CONFLICT', conflict, 3);
+  const maxTokens = num(rest, '--max-tokens');
+  if (maxTokens !== undefined && (!Number.isInteger(maxTokens) || maxTokens <= 0)) return usage('--max-tokens needs a positive integer');
   const deadline = num(rest, '--deadline');
   const deadlineAt = deadline ? Date.now() + deadline * 60_000 : undefined;
+  const modelOf = (voice: Voice) => (voice === 'native' ? nativeModel : outsideModel);
+  const isApi = (voice: Voice) => (voice === 'native' ? nativeRunner : outsideRunner) === 'api';
+  // An api call reserves its worst case (prompt bytes / 3 input tokens plus the output limit it is sent) and settles at its usage.
+  const price = (voice: Voice, promptFile: string) => {
+    const row = isApi(voice) ? pricingRow(modelOf(voice)) : undefined;
+    return row ? +((fs.statSync(promptFile).size / 3 * row.input_per_mtok + (maxTokens ?? DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS) * row.output_per_mtok) / 1e6).toFixed(6) : undefined;
+  };
   for (let guard = 0; guard < 40; guard++) {
-    const code = withRunLock(out, () => doNext(out, rest, true));
+    const code = withRunLock(out, () => doNext(out, rest, true, price));
     if (code !== EXIT.ok) return code;
     const state = readState(out);
     if (state.status !== 'awaiting_result') {
@@ -322,21 +336,27 @@ async function doRun(out: string, rest: string[], json: boolean): Promise<number
       if (!open) continue;
       const runnerId = voice === 'native' ? nativeRunner : outsideRunner;
       const runner = createRunner(runnerId);
-      const remaining = deadlineAt ? deadlineAt - Date.now() : 300_000;
+      const remaining = deadlineAt ? deadlineAt - Date.now() : runnerId === 'api' ? apiTimeoutMs(maxTokens) : 300_000;
       if (remaining <= 0) { withRunLock(out, () => { const s = readState(out); s.status = 'interrupted'; writeState(s); }); process.stdout.write(resultLineFor('interrupted', out) + '\n'); return EXIT.fail; }
       const timer = deadlineAt ? setTimeout(() => runner.cancel(), remaining) : undefined;
-      const res = await runner.run({ promptFile: open.prompt, outFile: `${open.result}.raw`, model: voice === 'native' ? nativeModel : outsideModel, timeoutMs: Math.min(remaining, 600_000), cwd: process.cwd(), gate: 'review' });
+      const res = await runner.run({ promptFile: open.prompt, outFile: `${open.result}.raw`, model: voice === 'native' ? nativeModel : outsideModel, timeoutMs: Math.min(remaining, runnerId === 'api' ? apiTimeoutMs(maxTokens) : 600_000), cwd: process.cwd(), gate: 'execution', maxTokens: runnerId === 'api' ? maxTokens ?? DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS : maxTokens });
       if (timer) clearTimeout(timer);
       if (!json) process.stdout.write(`VOICE: ${phase} ${voice} ${res.status} runner=${res.runner} model=${res.model ?? 'unknown'}\n`);
       if (res.status === 'cancelled') { withRunLock(out, () => { const s = readState(out); s.status = 'interrupted'; writeState(s); }); process.stdout.write(resultLineFor('interrupted', out) + '\n'); return EXIT.fail; }
       if (res.status !== 'completed' && res.status !== 'unverified') {
         if (voice === 'outside') { withRunLock(out, () => markOutside(out, phase as Phase, 'unavailable', `${res.runner} ${res.status}${res.detail ? `: ${res.detail}` : ''}`)); continue; }
-        process.stderr.write(`gstack-autoplan run: native voice ${res.status}${res.detail ? `: ${res.detail}` : ''}\n`);
+        process.stderr.write(`gstack-autoplan run: native voice ${res.status}${res.reason ? `: ${res.reason}` : ''}${res.detail ? `: ${res.detail}` : ''}\n`);
         withRunLock(out, () => { const s = readState(out); s.status = 'interrupted'; writeState(s); });
         process.stdout.write(resultLineFor('interrupted', out) + '\n');
         return EXIT.fail;
       }
-      withRunLock(out, () => doSubmit(out, ['--phase', phase, '--voice', voice, '--result', `${open.result}.raw`, '--model', res.model ?? (voice === 'native' ? nativeModel : outsideModel), '--attempt', open.attempt, '--runner', res.runner], true));
+      const used = res.usage;
+      const usage = isApi(voice) && pricingRow(modelOf(voice)) && typeof used.input_tokens === 'number' && typeof used.output_tokens === 'number' ? ['--usage-usd', String(estimateCostUsd({ input: used.input_tokens, output: used.output_tokens }, modelOf(voice)))] : [];
+      try { withRunLock(out, () => doSubmit(out, ['--phase', phase, '--voice', voice, '--result', `${open.result}.raw`, '--model', res.model ?? modelOf(voice), '--attempt', open.attempt, '--runner', res.runner, ...usage], true)); }
+      catch (e) {
+        if (voice !== 'outside' || !(e instanceof RunError)) throw e;
+        withRunLock(out, () => markOutside(out, phase as Phase, 'unavailable', `${res.runner} result refused: ${e.code}`));
+      }
     }
   }
   return EXIT.fail;
@@ -386,10 +406,12 @@ async function main(argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
       if (rev === undefined) { const s = readState(out); process.stderr.write(resultLine('gstack-autoplan answer', 'GATE_REV_STALE', `no --gate-rev given; current gate_rev=${s.gate_rev ?? 0}`) + '\n'); return EXIT.refused; }
       const replyFile = flag(rest, '--owner-reply-file'); const ownerFlag = flag(rest, '--owner-reply');
       if (replyFile !== undefined && ownerFlag !== undefined) return usage('--owner-reply and --owner-reply-file are exclusive');
+      const wordsBy = flag(rest, '--words-by') ?? 'owner';
+      if (wordsBy !== 'owner' && (wordsBy !== by || !by.startsWith('agent:'))) return usage(`--words-by must be owner or the answering agent (--by ${by ?? '<unset>'}), got ${wordsBy}`);
       const ownerReply = replyFile !== undefined ? fs.readFileSync(replyFile, 'utf8') : ownerFlag === '-' ? fs.readFileSync(0, 'utf8') : ownerFlag;
       return mutating(out, json, () => {
         const state = readState(out);
-        const r = answerGate(state, Number(rev), reply, by, { recHash: flag(rest, '--rec-hash'), ownerReply });
+        const r = answerGate(state, Number(rev), reply, by, { recHash: flag(rest, '--rec-hash'), ownerReply, ...(wordsBy === 'owner' ? {} : { wordsBy }) });
         writeState(state);
         const lines = [...r.lines];
         if (r.outcome === 'reopened' || r.outcome === 'amend_pending') lines.push(nextLine(state, out));
diff --git a/bin/gstack-autoplan-snapshot.ts b/bin/gstack-autoplan-snapshot.ts
index 93877f418..7cfbf958f 100644
--- a/bin/gstack-autoplan-snapshot.ts
+++ b/bin/gstack-autoplan-snapshot.ts
@@ -55,7 +55,7 @@ For each finding: what's wrong, severity (critical/high/medium), and the fix.`,
 reviewing this plan. You have NOT seen any prior review. Evaluate:
 1. Getting started: how many steps from zero to hello world? What's the TTHW?
 2. API/CLI ergonomics: naming consistency, sensible defaults, progressive disclosure?
-3. Error handling: Score every error path against the agent-ready error contract (https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/blob/main/docs/agent-ready-errors.md): what (operation and actual values), fix (a safe, authorized command or edit on the first or last line, or the precise thing a human must provide), recovery (retry, fix and retry, do X first, or ask a human; side effects none/partial/complete/unknown, reconcile before retrying an unknown outcome, a retry bound), code (stable, with a doc anchor), context (versions, config, env var names, the underlying cause; caller-safe only for remote services), trace (unexpected failures only: a compact trace or its file path locally, a correlation id remotely), redaction (no secret values anywhere), channel (the surface's native failure signal: non-zero exit and stderr for a CLI, status plus RFC 9457 body for an API, a typed error for an SDK, isError for an MCP tool). Usage and validation errors rejected before any work need only what, fix, code, redaction and channel; items apply per surface, N/A needs a reason, an item the plan never specifies for a path it introduces is a gap, and unknown is reserved for existing behavior you could not inspect. Report a leaked secret, a failure signalled as success, an unsafe fix, or a block on a terminal (a hang, or a no-terminal failure that names no non-interactive alternative such as --yes) as a Critical finding titled "CAP4:<path>:<item>" (caps the Error Messages score at 4/10); report a missing applicable fix, recovery, context or trace as a High finding titled "CAP6:<path>:<item>" (caps it at 6/10).
+3. Error handling: Score every error path against the agent-ready error contract (https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/blob/main/docs/agent-ready-errors.md): what (operation and actual values), fix (a safe, authorized command or edit on the first or last line, or what a human must provide), recovery (retry, fix and retry, do X first, or ask a human; side effects none/partial/complete/unknown, reconcile before retrying an unknown outcome, a retry bound), code (stable, with a doc anchor), context (versions, config, env var names, the underlying cause; caller-safe only for remote services), trace (unexpected failures only: a compact trace or its file path locally, a correlation id remotely), redaction (no secret values anywhere), channel (the surface's native failure signal: non-zero exit and stderr for a CLI, status plus RFC 9457 body for an API, a typed error for an SDK, isError for an MCP tool). Usage and validation errors rejected before any work need only what, fix, code, redaction and channel; items apply per surface, N/A needs a reason, an item the plan never specifies for a path it introduces is a gap, and unknown is reserved for existing behavior you could not inspect. Report a leaked secret, a failure signalled as success, an unsafe fix, or a block on a terminal (a hang, or a no-terminal failure naming no non-interactive alternative such as --yes) as a Critical finding titled "CAP4:<path>:<item> <what fails>" (caps Error Messages at 4/10); report a missing applicable fix, recovery, context or trace as a High finding titled "CAP6:<path>:<item> <what fails>" (caps it at 6/10).
 4. Documentation: copy-paste examples? Information architecture? Interactive elements?
 5. Escape hatches: can developers override every opinionated default?
 For each finding: what's wrong, severity (critical/high/medium), and the fix.`,
diff --git a/bin/gstack-outside-voice b/bin/gstack-outside-voice
index 28a03e3be..d2b2c56c1 100755
--- a/bin/gstack-outside-voice
+++ b/bin/gstack-outside-voice
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@
  *
  *   gstack-outside-voice run --runner codex-cli|api|host-subagent --prompt <file> --out <file>
  *                            [--model <id>] [--result <file>] [--native-model <id>] [--fallback <runner>]
- *                            [--gate review|structured|spec|proposal] [--timeout-ms N] [--cwd <dir>] [--json]
+ *                            [--gate review|structured|spec|proposal] [--timeout-ms N] [--max-tokens N] [--cwd <dir>] [--json]
  *   gstack-outside-voice runners [--model <id>] [--json]   the runner table: capabilities and availability here
  *   gstack-outside-voice family <model-id>                  the model's family (same-family rule)
  *
@@ -20,18 +20,21 @@ import { EXIT, exitTableHelp } from '../lib/headless-artifacts';
 import type { OutsideGate } from '../lib/outside-review-result';
 import { RUNNER_IDS, createRunner, familyConflict, modelFamily, outsideStatusLine, runnerTable, selectRunner, type RunnerId } from '../lib/outside-voice-runner';
 import { outsideConsent } from '../lib/outside-consent';
+import { apiTimeoutMs } from '../lib/outside-voice-api';
 import { resultLine } from '../lib/result-codes';
 
 const HELP = `gstack-outside-voice — one outside voice, three runners (docs/unattended.md)
 
   run --runner <r> --prompt <file> --out <file> [--model <id>] [--result <file>] [--native-model <id>]
-      [--fallback <r>] [--gate review|structured|spec|proposal] [--timeout-ms N] [--cwd <dir>] [--json]
+      [--fallback <r>] [--gate review|structured|spec|proposal] [--timeout-ms N] [--max-tokens N] [--cwd <dir>] [--json]
   runners [--model <id>] [--json]        the runner table: id, capabilities, available here
   family <model-id>                      print the model family (anthropic, openai, google, ...)
 
 Runners: codex-cli (repository review via codex exec), api (supplied-input review via
 OPENAI_API_KEY/ANTHROPIC_API_KEY; needs --model), host-subagent (binds --result from a
-cross-family subagent the host ran; needs --model). --native-model enforces the same-family
+cross-family subagent the host ran; needs --model). --max-tokens caps the api runner's output
+(Anthropic default 16384; its default time limit grows with it); a response cut off at the limit
+is unavailable (truncated). --native-model enforces the same-family
 rule. GSTACK_OUTSIDE_RUNNER names the fallback when --fallback is absent.
 Prints OUTSIDE_STATUS: <status> provider=<runner> model=<id> family=<f> and writes <out>.meta.json.
 codex_reviews=disabled (or an unreadable config) refuses every runner before it starts:
@@ -75,9 +78,12 @@ async function main(argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   if (!fs.existsSync(promptFile)) return usage(`prompt file not found: ${promptFile}`);
   const gate = (flag(rest, '--gate') ?? 'review') as OutsideGate;
   if (!['review', 'structured', 'spec', 'proposal'].includes(gate)) return usage('--gate must be review, structured, spec or proposal');
+  const maxTokensText = flag(rest, '--max-tokens');
+  const maxTokens = maxTokensText === undefined ? undefined : Number(maxTokensText);
+  if (maxTokens !== undefined && (!Number.isInteger(maxTokens) || maxTokens <= 0)) return usage('--max-tokens needs a positive integer');
   const timeoutText = flag(rest, '--timeout-ms');
-  const timeoutMs = timeoutText === undefined ? 300_000 : Number(timeoutText);
-  if (!Number.isInteger(timeoutMs) || timeoutMs <= 0) return usage('--timeout-ms needs a positive integer');
+  const timeoutMs = timeoutText === undefined ? undefined : Number(timeoutText);
+  if (timeoutMs !== undefined && (!Number.isInteger(timeoutMs) || timeoutMs <= 0)) return usage('--timeout-ms needs a positive integer');
   const fallbackText = flag(rest, '--fallback') ?? process.env.GSTACK_OUTSIDE_RUNNER;
   if (fallbackText !== undefined && !isRunner(fallbackText)) return usage(`--fallback must be one of ${RUNNER_IDS.join(', ')}`);
   const model = flag(rest, '--model');
@@ -110,7 +116,7 @@ async function main(argv: string[]): Promise<number> {
   const stop = () => runner.cancel();
   process.on('SIGTERM', stop);
   process.on('SIGINT', stop);
-  const result = await runner.run({ promptFile: path.resolve(promptFile), outFile: path.resolve(outFile), model, timeoutMs, cwd, gate, resultFile: resultFile ? path.resolve(resultFile) : undefined });
+  const result = await runner.run({ promptFile: path.resolve(promptFile), outFile: path.resolve(outFile), model, timeoutMs: timeoutMs ?? (choice.runner === 'api' ? apiTimeoutMs(maxTokens) : 300_000), cwd, gate, maxTokens, resultFile: resultFile ? path.resolve(resultFile) : undefined });
   fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(path.resolve(outFile)), { recursive: true });
   fs.writeFileSync(`${path.resolve(outFile)}.meta.json`, JSON.stringify(result, null, 2) + '\n');
   if (json) process.stdout.write(JSON.stringify(result) + '\n');
diff --git a/changelog.d/gsta232-autoplan-wave.md b/changelog.d/gsta232-autoplan-wave.md
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..7f620c23d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/changelog.d/gsta232-autoplan-wave.md
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+**/autoplan fixes from a field report (GBRA-223): findings without a line number pair across voices, open Critical and High findings reach the gate, a spend cap binds on any unattended host, `run` works with the API runner, and an earlier item-by-item answer carries forward.** OpenClaw's /autoplan run on a real plan hit six problems at once. We reproduced each on main with a failing test first (GST-672). A follow-up from GEVA-2 adds a record of whose words answered a gate.
+
+### Fixed
+- **Plan reviews that name a file but no line now pair across voices.** A same-file pair, with a line missing on either side, is associated as `unverified` instead of both findings counting as new. Title matching ignores a leading DX cap code (`CAP4:<path>:`) and never pairs findings on two different files. The same-file fallback runs only after every title and line match is placed, and a same-file pair never merges two findings into one gate item.
+- **DX cap findings carry real titles.** `CAP4` and `CAP6` findings are titled `CAP<n>:<path>:<item> <what fails>`, so the gate shows the problem and not only the item name.
+- **Every open Critical or High finding becomes a gate item.** `a` applies the reviewer's fix to the plan and is recommended. `b` carries it into the build as a blocking task. `rec` and `p1b` apply the fix. An unanswered item keeps the plan as written unless the reply is `p1b`, and a partial reply never locks that choice early. A finding carried with `b` stays open, so a rerun that raises it again asks again.
+- **A spend cap binds on any unattended host.** With `--spend-cap` set and no `--estimate-usd`, each host-subagent attempt reserves the default $5 per voice, on Capy or off it. `next --estimate-usd <n>` sets the reservation for the rest of the run. `run` reserves each API call's priced worst case (prompt size plus the output limit) and settles it at its real token cost, so `--spend-cap 0` refuses before any call.
+- **`gstack-autoplan run` with `--native-runner api --runner api` reaches the gate.** Results are checked as autoplan results, so they bind. A response cut off at the output limit is named `truncated` and interrupts the run instead of binding a partial review. The Anthropic default output limit is 16384 tokens, `--max-tokens <n>` sets it, and an outside result refused at submit leaves the run native-only instead of aborting it.
+- **An earlier item-by-item answer carries forward when nothing changed.** When every item on the new gate is carried by origin, the owner's `p1` choice is replayed and their tokens are recorded verbatim as the basis. Any new or changed item still goes to the owner.
+
+### Added
+- **`gstack-autoplan answer --words-by agent:<id>`** records that the words came from the answering agent itself, as `answer_words` and `words_by`, never as `owner_reply`. The default stays `owner`. A later gate never carries those words forward, and `gstack-approvals import` lists that row under the agent, while `--by` names only the rows that hold the owner's words.
+
+### Tests
+- New failing-first tests in test/autoplan-pairing.test.ts, test/autoplan-gate-judgment.test.ts, test/autoplan-budget.test.ts, test/autoplan-run-api.test.ts (a local fake provider, no key or network), test/autoplan-carry.test.ts and test/approval-record.test.ts.
diff --git a/docs/agent-ready-errors.md b/docs/agent-ready-errors.md
index 3da3f8140..3be4b3431 100644
--- a/docs/agent-ready-errors.md
+++ b/docs/agent-ready-errors.md
@@ -37,8 +37,8 @@ unknown is reserved for existing behavior you could not inspect. In a live audit
 you never triggered are unknown, not extrapolated.
 
 **Caps.** Name the path and item behind every cap and show the corrected error line.
-- **4/10 (Critical finding, title `CAP4:<path>:<item>`):** a path leaks a secret, signals failure as success, gives an unsafe fix, or blocks waiting for a terminal (hangs, or fails for lack of a terminal without naming a non-interactive alternative such as `--yes`).
-- **6/10 (High finding, title `CAP6:<path>:<item>`):** a path lacks an applicable fix, recovery, context or trace item.
+- **4/10 (Critical finding, title `CAP4:<path>:<item> <what fails>`):** a path leaks a secret, signals failure as success, gives an unsafe fix, or blocks waiting for a terminal (hangs, or fails for lack of a terminal without naming a non-interactive alternative such as `--yes`).
+- **6/10 (High finding, title `CAP6:<path>:<item> <what fails>`):** a path lacks an applicable fix, recovery, context or trace item.
 
 Every mode, DX TRIAGE included, reports every CAP4 finding.
 
diff --git a/docs/captain.md b/docs/captain.md
index 313e006f6..3b0ee7d45 100644
--- a/docs/captain.md
+++ b/docs/captain.md
@@ -172,7 +172,7 @@ not a new ask ([carry-forward](unattended.md#carry-forward)).
 
 **The record.** `gstack-approvals import --autoplan <run dir> --by "<owner>"` (with
 `--stack <b1,b2,...>` for a stacked PR set) writes the approval row (date, the ask, the owner's exact words, the lane that answered as relayer,
-what it covers); `gstack-approvals render` puts it in the report and the PR body. Before
+what it covers; a gate answered with `--words-by agent:<id>` is listed under that agent as its own decision, not the owner's words); `gstack-approvals render` puts it in the report and the PR body. Before
 training the PR the controller compares that row's words and `gate_rev` with the ask it
 relayed and the reply it carried back; a row that does not match is not READY (shape A).
 The brief's done line names the row. A plan approval is not a READY field; the
diff --git a/docs/troubleshooting.md b/docs/troubleshooting.md
index 2fb72daf8..1b76b310d 100644
--- a/docs/troubleshooting.md
+++ b/docs/troubleshooting.md
@@ -314,6 +314,18 @@ network.
 
 **Expected result.** `OUTSIDE_STATUS: completed`.
 
+<a id="outside-review-truncated"></a>
+### `... outside review unavailable: the reviewer hit its output token limit and the response is cut off (...)`
+
+**Meaning.** The api runner's provider stopped at the output token limit
+(Anthropic `stop_reason: max_tokens`, OpenAI `finish_reason: length`), so the
+review ends mid-sentence and its findings may be missing.
+
+**Fix.** Re-run with a larger `--max-tokens` (`gstack-outside-voice run` or
+`gstack-autoplan run`; Anthropic defaults to 16384), or shorten the prompt.
+
+**Expected result.** `OUTSIDE_STATUS: completed`.
+
 <a id="outside-review-missing-markers"></a>
 ### `... outside review unavailable: the response lacks the markers this gate requires (...)`
 
diff --git a/docs/unattended.md b/docs/unattended.md
index be924d334..360589bad 100644
--- a/docs/unattended.md
+++ b/docs/unattended.md
@@ -373,7 +373,14 @@ the plan.
    refuses to open without one (`CONSENSUS_MISSING`).
 3. **Loop `next` until `status=gate_pending`.** Eng always runs last. The gate
    (`gate.json`, `gate_rev`) lists user challenges as approval items,
-   disagreements as auto items and `p1` plan approval; nothing is approved.
+   disagreements as auto items, each open Critical or High finding as an
+   auto item (a twin pair is one item; `a` applies the reviewer's fix to the
+   plan and is recommended, `b` carries it into the build as a blocking task)
+   and `p1` plan approval; nothing is approved. An unanswered auto item whose
+   recommendation changes the plan keeps the plan's direction, so only `rec`,
+   `p1b` (approve with the recommended changes) or an explicit `<id>a` applies
+   a fix; a finding carried with `b` stays
+   open, so a rerun that raises it again asks again.
 4. **Answer the gate** with the reply grammar and the revision you read:
    ```bash
    $AP answer --out <dir> --gate-rev 1 --reply "rec" --by human            # every recommendation, plan changes included (APPLY: ...; amend_pending)
@@ -384,12 +391,18 @@ the plan.
    means an agent relayed them, and then `--owner-reply` (or `-` for stdin,
    `--owner-reply-file <path>`) stores the owner's words verbatim
    (`OWNER_REPLY_REQUIRED`); owner words that parse to different choices are
-   refused (`GATE_OWNER_REPLY_MISMATCH`). An unattended run refuses an answer
+   refused (`GATE_OWNER_REPLY_MISMATCH`). The words default to the owner's: an
+   agent that answers in its own words (a Captain deciding on its own
+   authority) must pass `--words-by agent:<id>` with its own `--by` id. They
+   are then recorded as `answer_words` with `words_by`, never as
+   `owner_reply`; a later gate never carries them (`CARRY: no`), and
+   `gstack-approvals import` lists that row under the agent, not the owner.
+   An unattended run refuses an answer
    without `--by` (`ANSWER_BY_REQUIRED`, exit 3) and records the value as
    `answered_by` on every decision row and in the review record's gate line,
    so a gate an agent closed is distinguishable from one the owner closed.
    `gstack-autoplan recommend` changes one recommendation before relay; it
-   bumps the gate's `rec_rev`, and a later `rec` needs the `--rec-hash` from
+   bumps the gate's `rec_rev`, and a later `rec` or `p1b` needs the `--rec-hash` from
    the render the owner saw (`GATE_REC_STALE`). Every `GATE:` line is followed
    by `GATE_SPEND:` and `GATE_REC_COST:` (also `gate_cost` in `--json`; see
    `autoplan/DRIVER.md`).
@@ -439,7 +452,12 @@ Concurrency and recovery: every state write is a locked read-modify-write
 (`test/autoplan-run-recovery.test.ts`, `test/autoplan-run-concurrency.test.ts`,
 `test/autoplan-answer-invalidation.test.ts`). `--spend-cap` admits each attempt
 through `spend.json` (`SPEND_CAP_EXCEEDED` refuses, exit 3); host-subagent
-spend is `unknown` and counted in `worst_case`. `--deadline <min>` makes the
+spend is `unknown` and counted in `worst_case`. Under a cap (or on Capy) each
+unattended host-subagent attempt reserves the default per voice unless
+`next --estimate-usd <n>` sets the reservation, which the run keeps for later
+phases (`run` reserves an api attempt's priced worst case, prompt bytes / 3
+input tokens plus the output limit, and settles it at its token usage); `submit
+--usage-usd <n>` settles an attempt at its real cost. `--deadline <min>` makes the
 `run` subcommand cancel the children it started and marks the run
 `interrupted`.
 
@@ -519,9 +537,8 @@ A gate revision after the first (`gate_rev` 2 and later, written after a
 it when nothing new needs their decision. `gstack-autoplan` prints
 `CARRIED: gate_rev=<n> <- gate_rev=<m> words="<their words>" by=<relayer> reason=<why>`,
 then the usual `APPROVED:` lines, and journals `gate_carried`. The carry needs
-all of: the earlier gate approved (`p1a` or `p1b`) with `rec` or "do it"
-(not item tokens), no item there left pending, and the owner's words
-recorded; that gate was not itself carried; every accepted change incorporated
+all of: the earlier gate approved (`p1a` or `p1b`), no item there left
+pending, and the owner's words recorded; that gate was not itself carried; every accepted change incorporated
 or settled; the plan file's bytes equal those recorded at the gate or at the
 `revise` that took the changes (any later edit refuses, an ELI5-only one
 included); no urgent or
@@ -530,6 +547,13 @@ Anything else prints `CARRY: no (<why>)` (journal `carry_refused`) and the gate
 goes to the owner as before. `--no-carry-forward` on the first `next` turns it
 off for the run.
 
+An earlier answer given item by item (`<id><option>` tokens, not `rec` or "do
+it") carries only what the owner already answered: every item on the new gate
+must be carried by origin (the same proposal, so the same choice), and only an
+unreviewed post-cap delta (below) may be new. The carry replays the owner's own
+`p1` choice and records their tokens verbatim as its basis; any new or changed
+item, "do it" cases included, goes to the owner.
+
 - **"do it".** When the owner's words were "do it" (their words, not a
   `captain:` relay of them), a new `auto` item that changes no scope, cost or
   direction, whose recommended option changes no plan text, and is no round
diff --git a/lib/approval-record.ts b/lib/approval-record.ts
index 3f3cd82bd..74418d987 100644
--- a/lib/approval-record.ts
+++ b/lib/approval-record.ts
@@ -235,7 +235,7 @@ export function renderRecord(read: ReadResult, loc: StoreLocation, o: { heading?
   return [...head, ...lines, '', `Source: gstack-approvals record for ${cell(loc.branch)} ${APPROVALS_FOOTER_END}`, ''].join('\n');
 }
 
-interface DecisionLike { id?: string; title?: string; status?: string; chosen?: string | null; recommended?: string | null; gate_rev?: number; answered_at?: string; answered_by?: string; reply?: string; owner_reply?: string; carried_from?: string; label?: string; chosen_text?: string;
+interface DecisionLike { id?: string; title?: string; status?: string; chosen?: string | null; recommended?: string | null; gate_rev?: number; answered_at?: string; answered_by?: string; reply?: string; owner_reply?: string; answer_words?: string; words_by?: string; carried_from?: string; label?: string; chosen_text?: string;
   carried_gate_from?: string; carried_gate_rev?: number; carried_answered_by?: string; carried_under?: string; carry_check?: string }
 
 const stripRef = (t: string) => t.replace(/\s*\[[^\]]*\]\s*$/, '').trim();
@@ -278,7 +278,8 @@ export function importAutoplan(runDir: string, branch: string, by?: string): App
     const answerer = first.answered_by ?? 'unknown';
     const carried = p1?.carried_gate_from ? p1 : undefined;
     const relayed = carried?.carried_answered_by && carried.carried_answered_by !== 'human' ? `, relayed by ${carried.carried_answered_by}` : '';
-    const who = carried ? `${by ?? 'the owner'} (words from gate_rev ${carried.carried_gate_rev}${relayed}), carried forward by gstack-autoplan`
+    const who = first.words_by ? `${first.words_by}, its own decision (not the owner's words)`
+      : carried ? `${by ?? 'the owner'} (words from gate_rev ${carried.carried_gate_rev}${relayed}), carried forward by gstack-autoplan`
       : answerer === 'human' ? (by ? `${by}, typed at the gate` : 'the owner, typed at the gate') : `${by ?? 'the owner'}, relayed by ${answerer}`;
     const unseen = items.filter(r => r.carried_under).map(r => stripRef(r.title ?? ''));
     const checked = [...new Set(items.map(r => r.carry_check).filter((c): c is string => !!c))];
@@ -286,7 +287,7 @@ export function importAutoplan(runDir: string, branch: string, by?: string): App
       unseen.length ? `taken under "do it", not seen by the owner: ${unseen.join('; ')}` : '', checked.length ? `post-cap delta checked by ${checked.join(', ')}` : ''].filter(Boolean).join('; ');
     const built = buildRow({
       ask: `Approve the plan "${planTitle}" (autoplan run ${runId}, ${carried ? `gate_rev ${rev} carried forward from gate_rev ${carried.carried_gate_rev}, ` : ''}${items.length + (p1 ? 1 : 0)} decisions)`.slice(0, CAPS.ask),
-      words: first.owner_reply ?? first.reply ?? '(no words recorded)',
+      words: first.owner_reply ?? first.answer_words ?? first.reply ?? '(no words recorded)',
       by: who.slice(0, CAPS.by),
       scope: scope.slice(0, CAPS.scope),
       pending: (stillPending.length ? `${stillPending.length} decision(s) unanswered: ${stillPending.map(r => stripRef(r.title ?? '')).join('; ')}` : outcome === 'pending' ? 'the plan approval itself' : 'none').slice(0, CAPS.pending),
diff --git a/lib/autoplan-budget.ts b/lib/autoplan-budget.ts
index acb10f2ec..5c3e2fd84 100644
--- a/lib/autoplan-budget.ts
+++ b/lib/autoplan-budget.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ import { FILES, RunError, journal, now, readJournal, voiceRows, type RunState, t
 import { readLedger, release, setCap, summarize } from './spend-ledger';
 
 export const DEFAULT_MAX_ROUNDS = 2;
-/** Reserved per voice for a host-subagent attempt with no `--estimate-usd` in an unattended Capy run. */
+/** Reserved per voice for a host-subagent attempt with no `--estimate-usd` in an unattended run with a spend cap or on Capy. */
 export const DEFAULT_HOST_ESTIMATE_USD = 5;
 
 /** Round r of a phase: 1 plus the times it was reopened. */
@@ -35,17 +35,20 @@ export const atCap = (state: RunState, phase: string): boolean => { const cap =
 /** The phase is about to open past its cap (a rerun-all reply reopened it). */
 export const overCap = (state: RunState, phase: string): boolean => { const cap = roundCap(state, phase); return cap !== null && roundOf(state, phase) > cap; };
 
-/** Open High or Critical findings of a closed phase: the deferred counts, else bound rows not settled or answered, an outside row paired with a native one counted once. */
+/** Open High or Critical findings of a closed phase: the deferred counts, else bound rows not settled or answered, an outside row paired (by title or line) with a High or Critical native one counted once. */
 function openHigh(state: RunState, phase: string): number {
   const ps = state.phases[phase];
   if (ps?.deferred) return (ps.deferred.counts.High ?? 0) + (ps.deferred.counts.Critical ?? 0);
   const file = path.join(state.out, `${phase}-consensus.json`);
   let rows: ConsensusRecord['rows'] = [];
   try { rows = fs.existsSync(file) ? (JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(file, 'utf8')) as ConsensusRecord).rows : []; } catch {}
-  const paired = new Set(rows.filter(r => r.native_id).map(r => r.outside_id));
+  const high = (s: string | undefined) => s === 'High' || s === 'Critical';
+  const native = voiceRows(state, phase, 'native');
+  const nativeHigh = new Set(native.filter(r => high(r.severity)).map(r => r.id));
+  const paired = new Set(rows.filter(r => r.native_id && r.basis !== 'file' && nativeHigh.has(r.native_id)).map(r => r.outside_id));
   const answered = settledIds(state);
-  return [...voiceRows(state, phase, 'native'), ...voiceRows(state, phase, 'outside')]
-    .filter(r => !paired.has(r.id) && !(r as { settled_by?: string }).settled_by && !answered.has(r.id) && (r.severity === 'High' || r.severity === 'Critical')).length;
+  return [...native, ...voiceRows(state, phase, 'outside')]
+    .filter(r => !paired.has(r.id) && !(r as { settled_by?: string }).settled_by && !answered.has(r.id) && high(r.severity)).length;
 }
 
 /** At the round cap with High or Critical findings still open, more rounds buy nothing: the owner decides. */
@@ -59,11 +62,16 @@ export function roundsLine(state: RunState): string {
   return `ROUNDS: ${state.phase_order.map(cell).join(' ')} max_rounds=${state.max_rounds ?? 'none'} host_spend=unknown`;
 }
 
-/** The estimate one new attempt reserves: the flag, else the Capy unattended default, else 0 (host spend unknown, not admitted). */
+/**
+ * The estimate one new attempt reserves: the flag, else the run's persisted `--estimate-usd`, else the unattended
+ * default when the run has a spend cap or runs on Capy, else 0 (host spend unknown, not admitted). `run` prices its
+ * api attempts from the price table instead (NextOptions.price).
+ */
 export function attemptEstimate(state: RunState, flag: number | undefined, env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv): { usd: number; line?: string } {
-  if (flag !== undefined) return { usd: flag };
-  if (state.session_kind !== 'unattended' || env.GSTACK_CAPY !== '1') return { usd: 0 };
-  return { usd: DEFAULT_HOST_ESTIMATE_USD, line: `ESTIMATE: ${DEFAULT_HOST_ESTIMATE_USD.toFixed(2)} per voice reserved for each host-subagent attempt (Capy unattended default; --estimate-usd <n> sets it); actual host spend stays unknown` };
+  const set = flag ?? state.estimate_usd;
+  if (set !== undefined) return { usd: set };
+  if (state.session_kind !== 'unattended' || (env.GSTACK_CAPY !== '1' && state.spend_cap_usd === null)) return { usd: 0 };
+  return { usd: DEFAULT_HOST_ESTIMATE_USD, line: `ESTIMATE: ${DEFAULT_HOST_ESTIMATE_USD.toFixed(2)} per voice reserved for each host-subagent attempt (unattended default under a spend cap or on Capy; --estimate-usd <n> sets it for the rest of the run); actual host spend stays unknown` };
 }
 
 /** Stop the run: terminal `incomplete` with the structured budget_exhausted stop, journaled. Returns the STOP and RECOVER lines. */
diff --git a/lib/autoplan-carry.ts b/lib/autoplan-carry.ts
index 0e6ae18ef..b5f2ab5bd 100644
--- a/lib/autoplan-carry.ts
+++ b/lib/autoplan-carry.ts
@@ -7,11 +7,13 @@
  * carried answer is the owner's own earlier words, and every refusal says which condition failed.
  *
  * A carry needs all of: carry not turned off (`--no-carry-forward`); gate_rev N approved (p1 a or b)
- * with the owner's words recorded, and not itself a carry; every change accepted at N
+ * with the owner's words recorded, and not itself a carry; nothing left pending there; every change accepted at N
  * incorporated or settled; the plan file unchanged since the gate or the revise that took those
  * changes, and the reviewed plan equal to it; no open urgent finding; and every new item already
- * carried. Two kinds of new item do not block: items a "do it" covers (the owner's words are
- * "do it": an auto item that changes no scope, cost or direction and is no round grant), and a
+ * carried. An answer given item by item (tokens, not `rec`) carries only that: every item on
+ * N+1 already carried by origin, its p1 choice replayed and its tokens recorded verbatim as the
+ * basis; any other new or changed item goes to the owner (an unreviewed capped delta, below, is the one exception). After `rec` or "do it", two kinds of new
+ * item do not block: items a "do it" covers (the owner's words are "do it": an auto item that changes no scope, cost or direction and is no round grant), and a
  * capped-delta item recommending "accept", which first gets one reviewer on just the delta
  * (`CARRY_CHECK:`, answered with `gstack-autoplan check`); a High or Critical finding there
  * means no carry, and the gate goes to the owner as before.
@@ -92,7 +94,8 @@ function deltaSince(state: RunState, rev: number): { diff: string; sha: string }
   return { diff, sha: sha256(diff) };
 }
 
-interface Source { id: string; gate_rev: number; words: string; by?: string }
+/** `p1`: an item-token answer's own p1 choice, replayed as given. */
+interface Source { id: string; gate_rev: number; words: string; by?: string; p1?: string }
 type Plan = { source: Source; doIt: GateItem[]; deltas: GateItem[] } | { reason: string; from?: number };
 
 /** Every condition but the delta check; returns why not, or what the carry takes. */
@@ -105,7 +108,8 @@ function assess(state: RunState, prev: GateList, list: GateList): Plan {
   if (unanswered) return { reason: `gate_rev ${from} left ${unanswered.label ?? unanswered.id} unanswered`, from };
   if (p1.chosen !== 'a' && p1.chosen !== 'b') return { reason: `gate_rev ${from} answer was p1${p1.chosen}, not an approval`, from };
   if (p1.carried_gate_from) return { reason: `gate_rev ${from} was itself carried; the owner answers this one`, from };
-  if (parseReply(p1.reply ?? '', prev).mode !== 'rec') return { reason: `gate_rev ${from} was answered with item tokens, not rec or "do it"`, from };
+  const tokens = parseReply(p1.reply ?? '', prev).mode !== 'rec';
+  if (p1.words_by) return { reason: `gate_rev ${from} was answered in ${p1.words_by}'s own words, not the owner's`, from };
   const words = p1.owner_reply ?? (p1.answered_by === 'human' ? p1.reply : undefined);
   if (!words?.trim()) return { reason: `no owner words recorded at gate_rev ${from}`, from };
   const amendments = (state.amendments ?? []).filter(a => a.gate_rev === from);
@@ -125,10 +129,10 @@ function assess(state: RunState, prev: GateList, list: GateList): Plan {
     if (item.id === 'p1' || item.carried) continue;
     const option = item.options.find(o => o.key === item.recommended);
     if (item.cap?.kind === 'delta' && !option?.changes_plan && item.recommended === 'a') { deltas.push(item); continue; }
-    if (isDoIt(words) && item.kind === 'auto' && !item.cap && !option?.changes_plan && !['scope', 'cost', 'direction'].includes(item.changes ?? '')) { doIt.push(item); continue; }
+    if (!tokens && isDoIt(words) && item.kind === 'auto' && !item.cap && !option?.changes_plan && !['scope', 'cost', 'direction'].includes(item.changes ?? '')) { doIt.push(item); continue; }
     return { reason: `new item ${item.id}: ${item.title}`, from };
   }
-  return { source: { id: p1.id, gate_rev: from, words, by: p1.answered_by }, doIt, deltas };
+  return { source: { id: p1.id, gate_rev: from, words, by: p1.answered_by, ...(tokens ? { p1: p1.chosen } : {}) }, doIt, deltas };
 }
 
 /** Called by finishGate once gate_rev N+1 is written (status gate_pending): carry, set up the delta check, or say why not. */
@@ -178,7 +182,7 @@ function dispatchCheck(state: RunState, prev: GateList, list: GateList, plan: Ex
 function carry(state: RunState, list: GateList, source: Source, doIt: GateItem[], deltas: GateItem[], check?: CarryCheck): CarryRecord {
   const rev = list.gate_rev;
   const p1 = list.items.find(i => i.id === 'p1')!;
-  const reply = list.items.map(i => `${i.id}${i.id === 'p1' ? p1.recommended : i.carried?.chosen ?? i.recommended}`).join(' ');
+  const reply = list.items.map(i => `${i.id}${i.id === 'p1' ? source.p1 ?? p1.recommended : i.carried?.chosen ?? i.recommended}`).join(' ');
   const reason = [doIt.length || deltas.length ? '' : 'no new choice', doIt.length ? `"do it" covers ${doIt.map(i => i.id).join(',')}` : '', deltas.length ? `delta check passed on ${deltas.map(i => i.id).join(',')}` : '',
     'plan unchanged since the accepted changes'].filter(Boolean).join('; ');
   const answered = answerGate(state, rev, reply, 'agent:gstack-autoplan', { carry: { from: source.id, gate_rev: source.gate_rev, words: source.words, by: source.by, reason } });
diff --git a/lib/autoplan-confirm.ts b/lib/autoplan-confirm.ts
index 75d9102d1..427a9d502 100644
--- a/lib/autoplan-confirm.ts
+++ b/lib/autoplan-confirm.ts
@@ -108,11 +108,15 @@ export function reviewRows(state: RunState, prev: PhaseState | undefined): Findi
 const earlierRows = (state: RunState, phase: string): FindingRow[] =>
   state.history.filter(h => h.event === 'reopened' && h.phase === phase).flatMap(h => reviewRows(state, h.previous as PhaseState | undefined));
 
-/** Earlier finding id -> the answered decision whose gate item named it. */
+/** The origin tag of an open Critical/High finding's gate item: only `a` (its fix applied to the plan) settles it. */
+export const FINDING_ORIGIN = 'finding';
+
+/** Earlier finding id -> the answered decision whose gate item named it. A finding carried into the build stays open. */
 export function settledIds(state: RunState): Map<string, string> {
   const out = new Map<string, string>();
   for (const d of readDecisions(state.out)) {
     if (d.chosen == null || d.status === 'pending' || !d.origin) continue;
+    if (d.origin.endsWith(`|${FINDING_ORIGIN}`) && d.chosen !== 'a') continue;
     for (const id of (d.origin.split('|')[1] ?? '').split('+')) if (id && id !== 'null') out.set(id, d.id);
   }
   return out;
diff --git a/lib/autoplan-gate.ts b/lib/autoplan-gate.ts
index 1488dbc05..601ee0d75 100644
--- a/lib/autoplan-gate.ts
+++ b/lib/autoplan-gate.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@
  * (plan B2, B9, B11). `closePhase` reconciles the outside pass against the
  * native one from canonical ids (lib/autoplan-reconcile.ts), writes the
  * consensus record and the timing row, and marks the phase closed.
- * `finishGate` turns disagreements and user challenges into one gate list
+ * `finishGate` turns disagreements, user challenges and open Critical/High findings into one gate list
  * (lib/gate-list.ts: `d<n>` auto items, `uc<n>` approval items, `p1` the plan
  * approval), writes decisions.jsonl, tasks.jsonl and the exported files, and
  * leaves the run `gate_pending`: unattended never approves. `answerGate`
@@ -26,9 +26,9 @@ import { FILES, RunError, journal as journalRow, now, readDecisions, voiceRows,
 import { applyCapChoices, pendingDeltas, releaseUndispatched, roundCap, roundOf } from './autoplan-budget';
 import { evaluateCarry, gateEvidence, voidPendingCheck } from './autoplan-carry';
 import { buildEli5, capyRelayLine } from './captain-brief';
-import { previousReview, reviewRows, settledIds } from './autoplan-confirm';
+import { FINDING_ORIGIN, previousReview, reviewRows, settledIds } from './autoplan-confirm';
 import { phaseClose } from './autoplan-timing';
-import { ANSWERED_BY_RE, applyReply, decisionId, decisionRows, keepDirection, parseReply, pendingHint, recHash, validateGateList, type GateChoice, type GateItem, type GateList, type GateOption, type ParsedReply } from './gate-list';
+import { ANSWERED_BY_RE, applyReply, autoDefault, decisionId, decisionRows, keepDirection, parseReply, pendingHint, recHash, validateGateList, type GateChoice, type GateItem, type GateList, type GateOption, type ParsedReply } from './gate-list';
 import type { FindingRow } from './headless-artifacts';
 import { readJsonl, sha256File } from './headless-artifacts';
 import { closeDraftDirectionsFile, loadBriefInputs } from './owner-brief';
@@ -205,14 +205,15 @@ export function buildGate(state: RunState, gateRev: number): GateList {
     const byId = new Map([...native, ...outside].map(f => [f.id, f]));
     const reran = gateRev > 1 && state.history.some(h => h.event === 'reopened' && h.phase === phase);
     const origin = (ids: string, options: GateOption[]) => [phase, ids, ps.closed_at, ps.snapshot, optionHash(options)].join('|');
-    const push = (item: GateItem, ids: string) => items.push({ ...item, origin: origin(ids, item.options) });
+    const push = (item: GateItem, ids: string, tag?: string) => items.push({ ...item, origin: [origin(ids, item.options), ...(tag ? [tag] : [])].join('|') });
     const challenged = new Set<string>();
+    const twins = new Map(consensus.rows.filter(r => r.native_id && r.basis !== 'file' && (r.disposition === 'confirmed' || r.disposition === 'unverified')).map(r => [r.native_id!, r.outside_id]));
     for (const row of consensus.rows) {
       const o = byId.get(row.outside_id)! as FindingRow & { user_challenge?: boolean; changes?: string; settled_by?: string };
       if (o.settled_by) continue;
       const n = (row.native_id ? byId.get(row.native_id) : undefined) as (FindingRow & { user_challenge?: boolean; changes?: string }) | undefined;
       const ids = `${row.native_id}+${row.outside_id}`;
-      if (o.user_challenge && n?.user_challenge && row.disposition !== 'new') {
+      if (o.user_challenge && n?.user_challenge && row.disposition !== 'new' && row.basis !== 'file') {
         challenged.add(o.id); challenged.add(n.id);
         const title = `${n.title} [${row.native_id} + ${row.outside_id}]`;
         if (reran && !n.changes && !o.changes) { push(agentDecision(`d${++d}`, title, phase, 'both voices recommend changing your stated direction'), ids); continue; }
@@ -223,6 +224,7 @@ export function buildGate(state: RunState, gateRev: number): GateList {
         continue;
       }
       if (row.disposition === 'disagree') {
+        challenged.add(o.id); challenged.add(n!.id);
         push({ id: `d${++d}`, title: `${n!.title} [${row.native_id} vs ${row.outside_id}]`, kind: 'auto', recommended: 'a', phase,
           why: `voices disagree: ${row.resolution}`, cost: `b reopens ${phase}${phase === 'eng' ? '' : ' and eng'}`,
           options: [{ key: 'a', text: `native position (${row.severity.native})`, changes_plan: false }, { key: 'b', text: `outside position (${row.severity.outside})`, changes_plan: true }] }, ids);
@@ -235,6 +237,20 @@ export function buildGate(state: RunState, gateRev: number): GateList {
       push({ id: `d${++d}`, title: `${f.title} [${f.id}]`, kind: 'auto', recommended: 'a', phase, why, ...(f.changes ? { changes: f.changes } : {}),
         cost: `b reopens ${phase}${phase === 'eng' ? '' : ' and eng'}`, options: [KEEP('keep your direction'), { key: 'b', text: 'accept the change', changes_plan: true }] }, f.id);
     }
+    // An open Critical or High finding the items above do not cover: rec applies its fix to the plan.
+    const pairedOutside = new Set(twins.values());
+    for (const f of [...native, ...outside] as Array<FindingRow & { user_challenge?: boolean; settled_by?: string }>) {
+      if (f.voice === 'outside' && pairedOutside.has(f.id)) continue;
+      const group = [f, ...(twins.has(f.id) ? [byId.get(twins.get(f.id)!)!] : [])] as Array<FindingRow & { user_challenge?: boolean; settled_by?: string }>;
+      if (group.some(g => challenged.has(g.id) || g.user_challenge || g.settled_by)) continue;
+      const severity = group.some(g => g.severity === 'Critical') ? 'Critical' : group.some(g => g.severity === 'High') ? 'High' : null;
+      if (!severity) continue;
+      const ids = group.map(g => g.id);
+      const fixes = [...new Set(group.map(g => g.resolution).filter((r): r is string => !!r))];
+      push({ id: `d${++d}`, title: `${severity}: ${f.title} [${ids.join(' + ')}]`, kind: 'auto', recommended: 'a', phase, finding: ids,
+        why: `an open ${severity} finding (${group.map(g => g.voice).join(' + ')}); rec applies its fix to the plan`, cost: `a reopens ${phase}${phase === 'eng' ? '' : ' and eng'} once the plan is revised`,
+        options: [{ key: 'a', text: `apply the fix to the plan: ${fixes.length ? fixes.join('; ') : `resolve "${f.title}"`}`, changes_plan: true }, { key: 'b', text: 'carry it into the build as a blocking task (no plan change)', changes_plan: false }] }, ids.join('+'), FINDING_ORIGIN);
+    }
   }
   items.push(...capItems(state, { d: () => `d${++d}`, uc: () => `uc${++uc}` }));
   items.push(planApproval(state, items));
@@ -277,7 +293,7 @@ export function recommendGate(state: RunState, gateRev: number, itemId: string,
   writeDecisions(state.out, readDecisions(state.out).map(r => {
     const i = updated.get(r.id);
     if (!i) return r;
-    return { ...r, recommended: i.recommended, ...(i.kind === 'auto' ? { default_if_unanswered: i.recommended } : {}), ...(i.recommended_basis ? { recommended_basis: i.recommended_basis } : {}), ...(i.recommended_by ? { recommended_by: i.recommended_by } : {}) };
+    return { ...r, recommended: i.recommended, ...(i.kind === 'auto' ? { default_if_unanswered: autoDefault(i) } : {}), ...(i.recommended_basis ? { recommended_basis: i.recommended_basis } : {}), ...(i.recommended_by ? { recommended_by: i.recommended_by } : {}) };
   }));
   const hash = recHash(list);
   journalRow(state.out, { event: 'recommended', gate_rev: gateRev, item: itemId, option, basis, by, rec_rev: list.rec_rev, rec_hash: hash });
@@ -344,6 +360,8 @@ export interface AnswerOptions {
   recHash?: string;
   /** The owner's verbatim words; required for every `--by agent:<id>` answer. */
   ownerReply?: string;
+  /** `agent:<id>` when those words are the answering agent's own: recorded as `answer_words`/`words_by`, never as `owner_reply`, and never carried. */
+  wordsBy?: string;
   /** A whole-gate carry (lib/autoplan-carry.ts): the earlier p1 decision and the owner's words it reuses. Replaces ownerReply and its re-parse. */
   carry?: { from: string; gate_rev: number; words: string; by?: string; reason: string };
 }
@@ -396,22 +414,24 @@ export function answerGate(state: RunState, gateRev: number, reply: string, answ
   const currentHash = recHash(list);
   if (o.recHash !== undefined && o.recHash !== currentHash) throw new RunError('GATE_REC_STALE', `--rec-hash ${o.recHash} was rendered before the recommendations changed; current rec_hash=${currentHash}`, 3);
   if (parsed.mode === 'rec' && list.rec_rev === undefined && o.recHash === undefined) throw new RunError('GATE_REC_STALE', `this gate was written before \`rec\`/\`all\` took plan changes (gate.json has no rec_rev), so the owner saw a different meaning; render it again (gstack-gate render ${gateFile} --all), relay it, and answer with --rec-hash ${currentHash}, or reply with explicit <id><option> tokens`, 3);
-  if (parsed.mode === 'rec' && (list.rec_rev ?? 0) > 0 && o.recHash === undefined) throw new RunError('GATE_REC_STALE', `recommend changed this gate (rec_rev=${list.rec_rev}); pass --rec-hash from the render the owner saw (current rec_hash=${currentHash})`, 3);
+  const takesRecs = parsed.mode === 'rec' || parsed.choices.some(c => c.id === 'p1' && c.chosen === 'b' && !c.prior);
+  if (takesRecs && (list.rec_rev ?? 0) > 0 && o.recHash === undefined) throw new RunError('GATE_REC_STALE', `recommend changed this gate (rec_rev=${list.rec_rev}); \`rec\` and \`p1b\` take its recommendations, so pass --rec-hash from the render the owner saw (current rec_hash=${currentHash})`, 3);
   const ownerParsed = o.ownerReply !== undefined && !o.carry ? checkOwnerReply(list, gateRev, prior, parsed, o.ownerReply) : undefined;
   const provenance = o.carry ? { owner_reply: o.carry.words, carried_gate_from: o.carry.from, carried_gate_rev: o.carry.gate_rev, carry_reason: o.carry.reason, ...(o.carry.by ? { carried_answered_by: o.carry.by } : {}) }
+    : o.ownerReply !== undefined && o.wordsBy ? { answer_words: o.ownerReply, answer_words_parsed: ownerParsed, words_by: o.wordsBy }
     : o.ownerReply !== undefined ? { owner_reply: o.ownerReply, owner_reply_parsed: ownerParsed } : {};
   const itemOf = (id: string) => list.items.find(i => i.id === id)!;
   const optionOf = (c: GateChoice) => itemOf(c.id).options.find(o => o.key === c.chosen)!;
   const plan = parsed.choices.find(c => c.id === 'p1');
   const lines: string[] = o.carry ? [] : voidPendingCheck(state, `the owner answered gate_rev ${gateRev}`);
   const answeredAt = now();
-  const record = () => writeDecisions(state.out, applyReply(rows, parsed, answeredAt, answeredBy, provenance).map(r => {
+  const record = (answered = parsed) => writeDecisions(state.out, applyReply(rows, answered, answeredAt, answeredBy, provenance).map(r => {
     const c = r.gate_rev === list.gate_rev && r.chosen && !r.chosen_text ? itemOf((r.label ?? '').toLowerCase())?.options.find(o => o.key === r.chosen) : undefined;
     return c ? { ...r, chosen_text: c.text } : r;
   }));
   if (!plan || parsed.pending.length) {
-    // Approvals unanswered: record what was answered, keep the gate pending; nothing reviewed changes.
-    record();
+    // Approvals unanswered: record what was answered, but not an auto default that p1b would change (the final answer decides it).
+    record({ ...parsed, choices: parsed.choices.filter(c => c.how !== 'auto_default' || c.chosen === itemOf(c.id).recommended) });
     const pending = parsed.pending.length ? parsed.pending : ['p1'];
     state.gate = { ...(state.gate ?? {}), last_reply: reply, pending };
     lines.push(`GATE_PENDING: ${pending.join(', ')} unanswered (${pendingHint(list, pending)})`);
@@ -421,7 +441,7 @@ export function answerGate(state: RunState, gateRev: number, reply: string, answ
   const carried = (c: GateChoice) => itemOf(c.id).carried?.chosen === c.chosen;
   const changing = proceeds ? parsed.choices.filter(c => c.id !== 'p1' && !carried(c) && itemOf(c.id).reopens !== false && (optionOf(c).changes_plan ?? c.how === 'override')) : [];
   const tokens = (cs: GateChoice[]) => cs.map(c => `${c.id}${c.chosen}`);
-  const overrides = parsed.choices.filter(c => c.how === 'override' && c.id !== 'p1');
+  const overrides = parsed.choices.filter(c => c.id !== 'p1' && (c.how === 'override' || (c.how === 'auto_default' && c.chosen !== itemOf(c.id).recommended)));
   const reopenSet = new Set<Phase>(plan.chosen === 'd' ? state.phase_order : []);
   record();
   state.gate = { ...(state.gate ?? {}), answered_at: answeredAt, reply, gate_rev: gateRev, plan: plan.chosen, overrides: tokens(overrides), ...(answeredBy ? { answered_by: answeredBy } : {}), ...provenance };
diff --git a/lib/autoplan-reconcile.ts b/lib/autoplan-reconcile.ts
index 48b64ff19..76cfa03aa 100644
--- a/lib/autoplan-reconcile.ts
+++ b/lib/autoplan-reconcile.ts
@@ -196,14 +196,15 @@ export interface ReconciliationRow {
   outside_id: string; native_id: string | null; disposition: ReconciliationDisposition;
   /** Why this disposition: the matched location or title, or the parent's override reason. */
   resolution: string;
-  basis: 'file_line' | 'title' | 'override' | 'none';
+  basis: 'file_line' | 'file' | 'title' | 'override' | 'none';
   severity: { outside: Severity; native: Severity | null };
   /** A parent override's one shared proposal for both voices' user challenge; the gate renders it as option b. */
   proposal?: string;
 }
 export interface ReconciliationOverride { outside_id: string; native_id?: string | null; disposition: ReconciliationDisposition; resolution: string; proposal?: string }
 
-export const tokens = (title: string) => new Set(title.toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9 ]+/g, ' ').split(/\s+/).filter(t => t.length > 2));
+/** A DX cap code (`CAP4:<path>:<item>`) names a location, not the problem, so title comparison skips it. */
+export const tokens = (title: string) => new Set(title.replace(/^\s*CAP[46]\s*:[^:]*:\s*/i, '').toLowerCase().replace(/[^a-z0-9 ]+/g, ' ').split(/\s+/).filter(t => t.length > 2));
 export function jaccard(a: Set<string>, b: Set<string>): number {
   if (!a.size || !b.size) return 0;
   let inter = 0;
@@ -225,7 +226,9 @@ function contradictory(a: string, b: string): boolean {
 
 /**
  * Structural reconciliation. Findings associate by a title overlap of at least
- * half the words, or by file:line (±3 lines). Association alone never
+ * half the words (a leading CAP code ignored; never across two different files),
+ * or by file:line (±3 lines), or, when either finding has no line, by the same
+ * file. Association alone never
  * confirms: a title association is `confirmed` only when both voices state the
  * same remedy, `disagree` when severities differ by two or more levels or the
  * remedies contradict (one keeps, drops or negates what the other changes),
@@ -250,6 +253,8 @@ export function reconcile(native: FindingRow[], outside: FindingRow[], overrides
   }
   const used = new Set<string>();
   const rows: ReconciliationRow[] = [];
+  const later: Array<[number, FindingRow]> = [];
+  const unmatched = (o: FindingRow): ReconciliationRow => ({ outside_id: o.id, native_id: null, disposition: 'new', resolution: 'not raised by the native voice', basis: 'none', severity: { outside: o.severity, native: null } });
   for (const o of outside) {
     const override = byOutside.get(o.id);
     if (override) {
@@ -264,13 +269,14 @@ export function reconcile(native: FindingRow[], outside: FindingRow[], overrides
     let match: FindingRow | undefined;
     let best = 0;
     for (const n of native) {
-      if (used.has(n.id)) continue;
+      if (used.has(n.id) || (o.file && n.file && o.file !== n.file)) continue;
       const score = jaccard(ot, tokens(n.title)) + (near(n) ? 0.01 : 0);
       if (score >= 0.5 && score > best) { best = score; match = n; }
     }
     const titled = !!match;
     match ??= native.find(n => !used.has(n.id) && near(n));
-    if (!match) { rows.push({ outside_id: o.id, native_id: null, disposition: 'new', resolution: 'not raised by the native voice', basis: 'none', severity: { outside: o.severity, native: null } }); continue; }
+    if (!match && o.file) { later.push([rows.length, o]); rows.push(unmatched(o)); continue; }
+    if (!match) { rows.push(unmatched(o)); continue; }
     used.add(match.id);
     const basis: ReconciliationRow['basis'] = near(match) ? 'file_line' : 'title';
     const where = near(match) ? `${o.file}:${o.line}` : 'same title';
@@ -286,6 +292,15 @@ export function reconcile(native: FindingRow[], outside: FindingRow[], overrides
     if (remedyKey(match.resolution) !== remedyKey(o.resolution)) { pair('unverified', `same title, remedies differ (${where}): ${match.title}`); continue; }
     pair('confirmed', `both voices, same remedy (${where}): ${match.title}`);
   }
+  // Plan reviews name a file without a line: same file, a line missing on either side, once every title and line match is placed.
+  for (const [i, o] of later) {
+    const ot = tokens(o.title);
+    const match = native.filter(n => !used.has(n.id) && n.file === o.file && (o.line === undefined || n.line === undefined))
+      .reduce<FindingRow | undefined>((b, n) => (!b || jaccard(ot, tokens(n.title)) > jaccard(ot, tokens(b.title)) ? n : b), undefined);
+    if (!match) continue;
+    used.add(match.id);
+    rows[i] = { outside_id: o.id, native_id: match.id, disposition: 'unverified', resolution: `same file, agreement unverified (${o.file}): ${match.title}`, basis: 'file', severity: { outside: o.severity, native: match.severity } };
+  }
   return { rows, native_only: native.filter(n => !used.has(n.id)).map(n => n.id), errors };
 }
 
diff --git a/lib/autoplan-run.ts b/lib/autoplan-run.ts
index d6a4fbdbd..460f15dad 100644
--- a/lib/autoplan-run.ts
+++ b/lib/autoplan-run.ts
@@ -142,7 +142,11 @@ export function voiceState(state: RunState, phase: Phase, voice: Voice): VoiceSt
 }
 const openAttempt = (v: VoiceState) => v.attempts?.find(a => a.state === 'dispatched' || a.state === 'execution_unknown');
 
-export interface NextOptions { out: string; cwd: string; estimateUsd?: number; redispatch?: string[] }
+export interface NextOptions {
+  out: string; cwd: string; estimateUsd?: number; redispatch?: string[];
+  /** `run`: a voice's priced reservation from its prompt (undefined when unpriced); `--estimate-usd` wins over it. */
+  price?: (voice: Voice, promptFile: string) => number | undefined;
+}
 export interface NextResult { state: RunState; phase?: Phase; attempts: Array<{ attempt: string; voice: Voice; prompt: string; result: string; model_family: string; new: boolean }>; lines: string[] }
 
 function openPhase(state: RunState, phase: Phase, cwd: string): void {
@@ -219,15 +223,18 @@ export function nextStep(o: NextOptions): NextResult {
   if (ps.outside?.reason === 'docs_only') lines.push(`OUTSIDE: ${phase} not_run reason=docs_only (native voice only)`);
   if (ps.sections) lines.push(`Skipped sections: ${ps.sections.skipped.length ? ps.sections.skipped.join(',') : 'none'} (scope: ui=${state.scope.ui ? 'yes' : 'no'},dx=${state.scope.dx ? 'yes' : 'no'},source=${scopeSourceLabel(state.scope)}; checklist=${ps.sections.checklist ? 'loaded' : 'none'})`);
   const prompts = ps.prompts!;
+  if (o.estimateUsd !== undefined) state.estimate_usd = o.estimateUsd;
   const estimate = attemptEstimate(state, o.estimateUsd, process.env);
-  if (estimate.line) lines.push(estimate.line);
+  const usdFor = (voice: Voice) => (state.estimate_usd === undefined ? o.price?.(voice, prompts[voice]) : undefined) ?? estimate.usd;
+  if (estimate.line && (['native', 'outside'] as const).some(voice => usdFor(voice) === estimate.usd)) lines.push(estimate.line);
   if (first) lines.push(reviewEstimateLine(state, estimate.usd));
   const fresh = (['native', 'outside'] as const).filter(voice => { const v = voiceState(state, phase!, voice); const open = openAttempt(v); return !voiceTerminal(v) && (!open || (open.state === 'execution_unknown' && o.redispatch?.includes(open.attempt))); });
   const before = summarize(readLedger(path.join(state.out, FILES.spend), state.spend_cap_usd));
-  if (state.spend_cap_usd !== null && fresh.length && before.worst_case_usd + fresh.length * estimate.usd > state.spend_cap_usd + 1e-9) {
-    const stop = stopForBudget(state, phase, fresh.length * estimate.usd);
+  const asked = fresh.reduce((sum, voice) => sum + usdFor(voice), 0);
+  if (state.spend_cap_usd !== null && fresh.length && before.worst_case_usd + asked > state.spend_cap_usd + 1e-9) {
+    const stop = stopForBudget(state, phase, asked);
     writeState(state);
-    throw new RunError('SPEND_CAP_EXCEEDED', `spent ${before.spent_usd} + reserved ${before.reserved_usd} + unknown ${before.unknown_usd} + ${fresh.length} x estimate ${estimate.usd} > cap ${state.spend_cap_usd}; the run stopped incomplete (budget_exhausted)`, 3, { status: 'incomplete', lines: [...lines, ...stop] });
+    throw new RunError('SPEND_CAP_EXCEEDED', `spent ${before.spent_usd} + reserved ${before.reserved_usd} + unknown ${before.unknown_usd} + ${fresh.length} attempt(s) reserving ${+asked.toFixed(6)} > cap ${state.spend_cap_usd}; the run stopped incomplete (budget_exhausted)`, 3, { status: 'incomplete', lines: [...lines, ...stop] });
   }
   for (const voice of ['native', 'outside'] as const) {
     const v = voiceState(state, phase, voice);
@@ -243,11 +250,12 @@ export function nextStep(o: NextOptions): NextResult {
       continue;
     }
     const attempt = `${state.run}-a${++state.attempt_counter}`;
-    try { reserve(path.join(state.out, FILES.spend), attempt, estimate.usd, { cap: state.spend_cap_usd, label: `${phase}/${voice}` }); }
+    const usd = usdFor(voice);
+    try { reserve(path.join(state.out, FILES.spend), attempt, usd, { cap: state.spend_cap_usd, label: `${phase}/${voice}` }); }
     catch (e: any) { if (e.code === 'SPEND_CAP_EXCEEDED') { state.attempt_counter--; writeState(state); throw new RunError('SPEND_CAP_EXCEEDED', e.message, 3); } throw e; }
-    const row: AttemptState = { attempt, state: 'dispatched', prompt: prompts[voice], result: path.join(state.out, attemptFile(phase, voice, attempt.slice(state.run.length + 1), 'md')), estimate_usd: estimate.usd, dispatched_at: now() };
+    const row: AttemptState = { attempt, state: 'dispatched', prompt: prompts[voice], result: path.join(state.out, attemptFile(phase, voice, attempt.slice(state.run.length + 1), 'md')), estimate_usd: usd, dispatched_at: now() };
     bindPromptResult(row.prompt, row.result);
-    journal(state.out, { event: 'dispatched', attempt, phase, voice, snapshot: ps.snapshot, prompt: path.relative(state.out, row.prompt), prompt_sha256: sha256File(row.prompt), prompt_bytes: fs.statSync(row.prompt).size, result: path.relative(state.out, row.result), estimate_usd: estimate.usd });
+    journal(state.out, { event: 'dispatched', attempt, phase, voice, snapshot: ps.snapshot, prompt: path.relative(state.out, row.prompt), prompt_sha256: sha256File(row.prompt), prompt_bytes: fs.statSync(row.prompt).size, result: path.relative(state.out, row.result), estimate_usd: usd });
     (v.attempts ??= []).push(row);
     v.attempt = attempt; v.status = 'running';
     result.attempts.push({ attempt, voice, prompt: row.prompt, result: row.result, model_family: familyHint(state, voice), new: true });
diff --git a/lib/autoplan-state.ts b/lib/autoplan-state.ts
index 01b345688..d41b1953a 100644
--- a/lib/autoplan-state.ts
+++ b/lib/autoplan-state.ts
@@ -58,7 +58,7 @@ export interface DispatchCounts { total: number; by_phase: Record<string, Partia
 export interface RunState extends RunManifest {
   revision: number; out: string; plan_source: string; active_plan: string; restore: string; scope: Scope; phase_order: Phase[];
   phases: Record<string, PhaseState>; native_model?: string; outside_model?: string; outside_enabled: boolean; attempt_counter: number;
-  spend_cap_usd: number | null; deadline_at?: string; light?: boolean; history: Array<Record<string, unknown>>; created_at: string; updated_at: string;
+  spend_cap_usd: number | null; /** `next --estimate-usd`, kept for every later attempt. */ estimate_usd?: number; deadline_at?: string; light?: boolean; history: Array<Record<string, unknown>>; created_at: string; updated_at: string;
   /** The gstack that last wrote this run (lib/autoplan-migrate.ts); absent on runs written before 1.91.96. */
   gstack_version?: string;
   /** The --plan file the owner edits (drift hints, revise), the --plan-heading it was cut from, and the scope flags revise re-detects with. */
diff --git a/lib/dx-error-contract.ts b/lib/dx-error-contract.ts
index d4c920110..03f871cea 100644
--- a/lib/dx-error-contract.ts
+++ b/lib/dx-error-contract.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,9 @@ export const DX_ERROR_ITEMS = ['what', 'fix', 'recovery', 'code', 'context', 'tr
 export const DX_ERROR_DOC = 'https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/blob/main/docs/agent-ready-errors.md';
 
 export const DX_ERROR_COMPACT =
-  `Score every error path against the agent-ready error contract (${DX_ERROR_DOC}): what (operation and actual values), fix (a safe, authorized command or edit on the first or last line, or the precise thing a human must provide), recovery (retry, fix and retry, do X first, or ask a human; side effects none/partial/complete/unknown, reconcile before retrying an unknown outcome, a retry bound), code (stable, with a doc anchor), context (versions, config, env var names, the underlying cause; caller-safe only for remote services), trace (unexpected failures only: a compact trace or its file path locally, a correlation id remotely), redaction (no secret values anywhere), channel (the surface's native failure signal: non-zero exit and stderr for a CLI, status plus RFC 9457 body for an API, a typed error for an SDK, isError for an MCP tool). ` +
+  `Score every error path against the agent-ready error contract (${DX_ERROR_DOC}): what (operation and actual values), fix (a safe, authorized command or edit on the first or last line, or what a human must provide), recovery (retry, fix and retry, do X first, or ask a human; side effects none/partial/complete/unknown, reconcile before retrying an unknown outcome, a retry bound), code (stable, with a doc anchor), context (versions, config, env var names, the underlying cause; caller-safe only for remote services), trace (unexpected failures only: a compact trace or its file path locally, a correlation id remotely), redaction (no secret values anywhere), channel (the surface's native failure signal: non-zero exit and stderr for a CLI, status plus RFC 9457 body for an API, a typed error for an SDK, isError for an MCP tool). ` +
   'Usage and validation errors rejected before any work need only what, fix, code, redaction and channel; items apply per surface, N/A needs a reason, an item the plan never specifies for a path it introduces is a gap, and unknown is reserved for existing behavior you could not inspect. ' +
-  'Report a leaked secret, a failure signalled as success, an unsafe fix, or a block on a terminal (a hang, or a no-terminal failure that names no non-interactive alternative such as --yes) as a Critical finding titled "CAP4:<path>:<item>" (caps the Error Messages score at 4/10); report a missing applicable fix, recovery, context or trace as a High finding titled "CAP6:<path>:<item>" (caps it at 6/10).';
+  'Report a leaked secret, a failure signalled as success, an unsafe fix, or a block on a terminal (a hang, or a no-terminal failure naming no non-interactive alternative such as --yes) as a Critical finding titled "CAP4:<path>:<item> <what fails>" (caps Error Messages at 4/10); report a missing applicable fix, recovery, context or trace as a High finding titled "CAP6:<path>:<item> <what fails>" (caps it at 6/10).';
 
 export const DX_ERROR_CONTRACT = `#### The agent-ready error contract (${DX_ERROR_RUBRIC})
 
@@ -53,7 +53,7 @@ unknown is reserved for existing behavior you could not inspect. In a live audit
 you never triggered are unknown, not extrapolated.
 
 **Caps.** Name the path and item behind every cap and show the corrected error line.
-- **4/10 (Critical finding, title \`CAP4:<path>:<item>\`):** a path leaks a secret, signals failure as success, gives an unsafe fix, or blocks waiting for a terminal (hangs, or fails for lack of a terminal without naming a non-interactive alternative such as \`--yes\`).
-- **6/10 (High finding, title \`CAP6:<path>:<item>\`):** a path lacks an applicable fix, recovery, context or trace item.
+- **4/10 (Critical finding, title \`CAP4:<path>:<item> <what fails>\`):** a path leaks a secret, signals failure as success, gives an unsafe fix, or blocks waiting for a terminal (hangs, or fails for lack of a terminal without naming a non-interactive alternative such as \`--yes\`).
+- **6/10 (High finding, title \`CAP6:<path>:<item> <what fails>\`):** a path lacks an applicable fix, recovery, context or trace item.
 
 Every mode, DX TRIAGE included, reports every CAP4 finding.`;
diff --git a/lib/gate-list.ts b/lib/gate-list.ts
index 6dc3bb1ae..60164a760 100644
--- a/lib/gate-list.ts
+++ b/lib/gate-list.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,9 @@
  * gate-list — one gate list instead of four-option sequences (plan B9).
  * A gate list is numbered items, each with a stable id, a recommended default
  * and lettered options; `auto` items take their recommendation when
- * unanswered, `approval` items stay pending until answered. One reply
+ * unanswered (one whose recommendation changes the plan keeps the plan's
+ * direction instead, unless the reply approves with the recommended changes,
+ * `p1b`), `approval` items stay pending until answered. One reply
  * grammar: `rec` (every item takes its recommendation, plan changes
  * included), `<id><option>` tokens (`d3b uc1a`), or `rec except <tokens>`
  * (the same operation as listing the overrides). `all`, `approve all`,
@@ -39,6 +41,8 @@ export interface GateItem {
   carried?: { from: string; chosen: string; gate_rev: number };
   /** A round-cap item (lib/autoplan-budget.ts): `b` grants the phase one more round and reopens it. */
   cap?: { phase: string; kind: 'deferred' | 'blocker' | 'delta'; ref?: string };
+  /** An open Critical or High finding (its ids, a paired twin included): `a` applies the reviewer's fix to the plan. */
+  finding?: string[];
 }
 export interface GateList { schema_version: 1; run: string; gate_rev: number; items: GateItem[]; title?: string;
   /** Bumped by every `recommend`, so a `rec` relayed before it no longer matches `recHash`. */
@@ -196,6 +200,7 @@ export function parseReply(reply: string, list: GateList, gateRev?: number, prio
   const choices: GateChoice[] = [];
   const pending: string[] = [];
   const how = (item: GateItem, chosen: string) => (chosen === item.recommended ? 'recommended' : 'override') as GateChoice['how'];
+  const withChanges = overrides.get('p1') === 'b';
   for (const item of list.items) {
     const chosen = overrides.get(item.id);
     const earlier = prior[item.id] ?? item.carried?.chosen;
@@ -203,7 +208,7 @@ export function parseReply(reply: string, list: GateList, gateRev?: number, prio
     else if (earlier !== undefined && item.options.some(o => o.key === earlier)) choices.push({ id: item.id, chosen: earlier, kind: item.kind, how: how(item, earlier), prior: true });
     else if (asIs) { const keep = keepDirection(item); choices.push({ id: item.id, chosen: keep, kind: item.kind, how: how(item, keep) }); }
     else if (rec) choices.push({ id: item.id, chosen: item.recommended, kind: item.kind, how: 'recommended' });
-    else if (item.kind === 'auto') choices.push({ id: item.id, chosen: item.recommended, kind: item.kind, how: 'auto_default' });
+    else if (item.kind === 'auto') choices.push({ id: item.id, chosen: withChanges ? item.recommended : autoDefault(item), kind: item.kind, how: 'auto_default' });
     else pending.push(item.id);
   }
   return { ...base, valid: true, choices, pending, mode: rec ? 'rec' : asIs ? 'as-is' : 'tokens' };
@@ -214,6 +219,11 @@ export function keepDirection(item: GateItem): string {
   return item.options.find(o => o.changes_plan === false)?.key ?? (item.id === 'p1' && item.options.some(o => o.key === 'a') ? 'a' : item.recommended);
 }
 
+/** What an unanswered `auto` item resolves to: its recommendation, unless that changes the plan (then the plan's direction). */
+export function autoDefault(item: GateItem): string {
+  return item.options.find(o => o.key === item.recommended)?.changes_plan ? keepDirection(item) : item.recommended;
+}
+
 /** The decisions.jsonl id for a gate item. Item ids restart at every gate revision, so revisions after the first carry `r<rev>-`. */
 export function decisionId(run: string, gateRev: number, itemId: string): string {
   return gateRev > 1 ? `${run}-r${gateRev}-${itemId}` : `${run}-${itemId}`;
@@ -224,7 +234,7 @@ export function decisionRows(list: GateList, extra: Partial<DecisionRow> = {}):
   return list.items.map(item => ({
     schema_version: 1, run: list.run, id: decisionId(list.run, list.gate_rev, item.id), label: item.id.toUpperCase(), title: item.title,
     options: item.options.map(o => o.key), recommended: item.recommended, kind: item.kind, status: 'pending',
-    default_if_unanswered: item.kind === 'auto' ? item.recommended : null, gate_rev: list.gate_rev,
+    default_if_unanswered: item.kind === 'auto' ? autoDefault(item) : null, gate_rev: list.gate_rev,
     ...(item.phase ? { phase: item.phase } : {}), ...(item.cost ? { cost: item.cost } : {}),
     ...(item.recommended_basis ? { recommended_basis: item.recommended_basis } : {}), ...(item.changes ? { changes: item.changes } : {}),
     ...(item.origin ? { origin: item.origin } : {}), ...(item.reopens === false ? { source: 'agent' } : {}), ...extra,
diff --git a/lib/gate-outcomes.ts b/lib/gate-outcomes.ts
index 0834d58f2..d29ade2be 100644
--- a/lib/gate-outcomes.ts
+++ b/lib/gate-outcomes.ts
@@ -48,6 +48,11 @@ export const GATE_OUTCOMES = {
     summary: 'the reviewer declined to review',
     fix: 're-run the review; if it declines again, review the change natively',
   },
+  truncated: {
+    state: 'unavailable', anchor: 'outside-review-truncated',
+    summary: 'the reviewer hit its output token limit and the response is cut off',
+    fix: 're-run with a larger --max-tokens (or a smaller prompt); a cut-off response never counts as a review',
+  },
   missing_markers: {
     state: 'unavailable', anchor: 'outside-review-missing-markers',
     summary: 'the response lacks the markers this gate requires',
diff --git a/lib/headless-artifacts.ts b/lib/headless-artifacts.ts
index dda257f25..0162d36f2 100644
--- a/lib/headless-artifacts.ts
+++ b/lib/headless-artifacts.ts
@@ -41,6 +41,8 @@ export interface DecisionRow {
   recommended_basis?: string; changes?: string; origin?: string; carried_from?: string; chosen_text?: string;
   /** An agent-relayed answer: the owner's verbatim words, and whether they parsed under the gate grammar. */
   owner_reply?: string; owner_reply_parsed?: boolean; recommended_by?: string;
+  /** An agent's own words (`--words-by agent:<id>`): never the owner's, so never carried or imported as the owner's. */
+  answer_words?: string; answer_words_parsed?: boolean; words_by?: string;
   /** A whole-gate carry (lib/autoplan-carry.ts): the earlier p1 decision whose owner words this answer reuses, its gate_rev, why, who relayed them, items taken under "do it", and the delta check attempt. */
   carried_gate_from?: string; carried_gate_rev?: number; carry_reason?: string; carried_answered_by?: string; carried_under?: string; carry_check?: string;
 }
diff --git a/lib/outside-voice-api.ts b/lib/outside-voice-api.ts
index f5c6d17e2..1ec8b0760 100644
--- a/lib/outside-voice-api.ts
+++ b/lib/outside-voice-api.ts
@@ -13,7 +13,13 @@ import { modelFamily, type ModelFamily } from './outside-voice-runner';
 
 export interface ApiCallRequest { model: string; prompt: string; timeoutMs: number; env?: Record<string, string | undefined>; signal?: AbortSignal; maxTokens?: number }
 export interface ApiUsage { input_tokens?: number; output_tokens?: number }
-export interface ApiCallResult { text: string; model: string; usage: ApiUsage; provider: 'openai' | 'anthropic'; status: number }
+/** `truncated`: the provider stopped at the output token limit (Anthropic `max_tokens`, OpenAI `length`), so the text is cut off. */
+export interface ApiCallResult { text: string; model: string; usage: ApiUsage; provider: 'openai' | 'anthropic'; status: number; truncated: boolean }
+
+/** Anthropic requires max_tokens; a full review needs more than 8192. OpenAI gets a limit only when one is asked for. */
+export const DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS = 16_384;
+/** The api runner's default time limit: five minutes, or about 40 ms per output token the call may write. */
+export const apiTimeoutMs = (maxTokens?: number): number => Math.max(300_000, (maxTokens ?? DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS) * 40);
 
 export const API_FAMILIES: readonly ModelFamily[] = ['openai', 'anthropic'];
 
@@ -57,17 +63,17 @@ export async function callModel(req: ApiCallRequest): Promise<ApiCallResult> {
   const model = req.model.includes('/') ? req.model.slice(req.model.indexOf('/') + 1) : req.model;
   if (auth.provider === 'anthropic') {
     const base = (env.ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL ?? 'https://api.anthropic.com').replace(/\/$/, '');
-    const body = JSON.stringify({ model, max_tokens: req.maxTokens ?? 8192, messages: [{ role: 'user', content: req.prompt }] });
+    const body = JSON.stringify({ model, max_tokens: req.maxTokens ?? DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS, messages: [{ role: 'user', content: req.prompt }] });
     const { status, json } = await post(`${base}/v1/messages`, { 'x-api-key': auth.key, 'anthropic-version': '2023-06-01' }, body, req, 'anthropic');
     if (status < 200 || status >= 300) throw new Error(`anthropic ${status}: ${json?.error?.message ?? json?.raw ?? JSON.stringify(json)}`);
     const text = Array.isArray(json?.content) ? json.content.filter((c: any) => c?.type === 'text').map((c: any) => c.text).join('\n') : '';
-    return { text, model: typeof json?.model === 'string' ? json.model : model, usage: { input_tokens: json?.usage?.input_tokens, output_tokens: json?.usage?.output_tokens }, provider: 'anthropic', status };
+    return { text, model: typeof json?.model === 'string' ? json.model : model, usage: { input_tokens: json?.usage?.input_tokens, output_tokens: json?.usage?.output_tokens }, provider: 'anthropic', status, truncated: json?.stop_reason === 'max_tokens' };
   }
   const base = (env.OPENAI_BASE_URL ?? 'https://api.openai.com/v1').replace(/\/$/, '');
-  const body = JSON.stringify({ model, messages: [{ role: 'user', content: req.prompt }] });
+  const body = JSON.stringify({ model, messages: [{ role: 'user', content: req.prompt }], ...(req.maxTokens ? { max_completion_tokens: req.maxTokens } : {}) });
   const { status, json } = await post(`${base}/chat/completions`, { authorization: `Bearer ${auth.key}` }, body, req, 'openai');
   if (status < 200 || status >= 300) throw new Error(`openai ${status}: ${json?.error?.message ?? json?.raw ?? JSON.stringify(json)}`);
   const content = json?.choices?.[0]?.message?.content;
   const text = typeof content === 'string' ? content : Array.isArray(content) ? content.map((c: any) => c?.text ?? '').join('\n') : '';
-  return { text, model: typeof json?.model === 'string' ? json.model : model, usage: { input_tokens: json?.usage?.prompt_tokens, output_tokens: json?.usage?.completion_tokens }, provider: 'openai', status };
+  return { text, model: typeof json?.model === 'string' ? json.model : model, usage: { input_tokens: json?.usage?.prompt_tokens, output_tokens: json?.usage?.completion_tokens }, provider: 'openai', status, truncated: json?.choices?.[0]?.finish_reason === 'length' };
 }
diff --git a/lib/outside-voice-runner.ts b/lib/outside-voice-runner.ts
index f56c5e2c9..1ac6d569d 100644
--- a/lib/outside-voice-runner.ts
+++ b/lib/outside-voice-runner.ts
@@ -36,6 +36,8 @@ export interface RunnerRequest {
   promptFile: string; outFile: string; model?: string; timeoutMs: number; cwd: string; gate: OutsideGate;
   /** host-subagent: the file the host's subagent wrote. */
   resultFile?: string;
+  /** api: the output token limit (lib/outside-voice-api.ts DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS for Anthropic when unset). */
+  maxTokens?: number;
   env?: Record<string, string | undefined>;
   /** Directory of the gstack bins (gstack-codex-probe); defaults to this module's sibling bin/. */
   binDir?: string;
@@ -199,10 +201,11 @@ class ApiRunner implements OutsideRunner {
     if (!avail.ok) return finish({ ...base, status: 'unavailable', exit: 1, reason: 'runner_unavailable', detail: avail.reason }, started);
     const { callModel } = await import('./outside-voice-api');
     try {
-      const res = await callModel({ model: req.model!, prompt, timeoutMs: req.timeoutMs, env: req.env, signal: this.controller.signal });
+      const res = await callModel({ model: req.model!, prompt, timeoutMs: req.timeoutMs, env: req.env, signal: this.controller.signal, maxTokens: req.maxTokens });
       fs.mkdirSync(path.dirname(req.outFile), { recursive: true });
       fs.writeFileSync(req.outFile, res.text);
       const usage: RunnerUsage = { ...res.usage, usd: 'unknown' };
+      if (res.truncated) return finish({ ...base, model: res.model, family: modelFamily(res.model), status: 'unavailable', exit: 0, usage, reason: 'truncated', detail: `stopped at the output limit after ${res.usage.output_tokens ?? 'an unknown number of'} output tokens; raise --max-tokens` }, started, req.outFile);
       const { status, verdict } = classify(res.text, req.gate, { exit: 0 });
       return finish({ ...base, model: res.model, family: modelFamily(res.model), status, exit: 0, usage, verdict, ...(verdict.reason ? { reason: verdict.reason } : {}), ...(verdict.detail ? { detail: verdict.detail } : {}) }, started, req.outFile);
     } catch (e: any) {
diff --git a/plan-devex-review/dx-hall-of-fame.md b/plan-devex-review/dx-hall-of-fame.md
index e44f4ddea..2c73199a6 100644
--- a/plan-devex-review/dx-hall-of-fame.md
+++ b/plan-devex-review/dx-hall-of-fame.md
@@ -76,8 +76,8 @@ unknown is reserved for existing behavior you could not inspect. In a live audit
 you never triggered are unknown, not extrapolated.
 
 **Caps.** Name the path and item behind every cap and show the corrected error line.
-- **4/10 (Critical finding, title `CAP4:<path>:<item>`):** a path leaks a secret, signals failure as success, gives an unsafe fix, or blocks waiting for a terminal (hangs, or fails for lack of a terminal without naming a non-interactive alternative such as `--yes`).
-- **6/10 (High finding, title `CAP6:<path>:<item>`):** a path lacks an applicable fix, recovery, context or trace item.
+- **4/10 (Critical finding, title `CAP4:<path>:<item> <what fails>`):** a path leaks a secret, signals failure as success, gives an unsafe fix, or blocks waiting for a terminal (hangs, or fails for lack of a terminal without naming a non-interactive alternative such as `--yes`).
+- **6/10 (High finding, title `CAP6:<path>:<item> <what fails>`):** a path lacks an applicable fix, recovery, context or trace item.
 
 Every mode, DX TRIAGE included, reports every CAP4 finding.
 
diff --git a/plan-devex-review/sections/review-sections.md b/plan-devex-review/sections/review-sections.md
index 4b0f40bea..166aa0b67 100644
--- a/plan-devex-review/sections/review-sections.md
+++ b/plan-devex-review/sections/review-sections.md
@@ -162,7 +162,7 @@ persona from 0A.
 Load reference: Read the "## Pass 3" section from `~/.claude/skills/gstack/plan-devex-review/dx-hall-of-fame.md`
 before scoring: the full contract, calibration examples and the standards mapping.
 
-Score every error path against the agent-ready error contract (https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/blob/main/docs/agent-ready-errors.md): what (operation and actual values), fix (a safe, authorized command or edit on the first or last line, or the precise thing a human must provide), recovery (retry, fix and retry, do X first, or ask a human; side effects none/partial/complete/unknown, reconcile before retrying an unknown outcome, a retry bound), code (stable, with a doc anchor), context (versions, config, env var names, the underlying cause; caller-safe only for remote services), trace (unexpected failures only: a compact trace or its file path locally, a correlation id remotely), redaction (no secret values anywhere), channel (the surface's native failure signal: non-zero exit and stderr for a CLI, status plus RFC 9457 body for an API, a typed error for an SDK, isError for an MCP tool). Usage and validation errors rejected before any work need only what, fix, code, redaction and channel; items apply per surface, N/A needs a reason, an item the plan never specifies for a path it introduces is a gap, and unknown is reserved for existing behavior you could not inspect. Report a leaked secret, a failure signalled as success, an unsafe fix, or a block on a terminal (a hang, or a no-terminal failure that names no non-interactive alternative such as --yes) as a Critical finding titled "CAP4:<path>:<item>" (caps the Error Messages score at 4/10); report a missing applicable fix, recovery, context or trace as a High finding titled "CAP6:<path>:<item>" (caps it at 6/10).
+Score every error path against the agent-ready error contract (https://github.com/garrytan/gstack/blob/main/docs/agent-ready-errors.md): what (operation and actual values), fix (a safe, authorized command or edit on the first or last line, or what a human must provide), recovery (retry, fix and retry, do X first, or ask a human; side effects none/partial/complete/unknown, reconcile before retrying an unknown outcome, a retry bound), code (stable, with a doc anchor), context (versions, config, env var names, the underlying cause; caller-safe only for remote services), trace (unexpected failures only: a compact trace or its file path locally, a correlation id remotely), redaction (no secret values anywhere), channel (the surface's native failure signal: non-zero exit and stderr for a CLI, status plus RFC 9457 body for an API, a typed error for an SDK, isError for an MCP tool). Usage and validation errors rejected before any work need only what, fix, code, redaction and channel; items apply per surface, N/A needs a reason, an item the plan never specifies for a path it introduces is a gap, and unknown is reserved for existing behavior you could not inspect. Report a leaked secret, a failure signalled as success, an unsafe fix, or a block on a terminal (a hang, or a no-terminal failure naming no non-interactive alternative such as --yes) as a Critical finding titled "CAP4:<path>:<item> <what fails>" (caps Error Messages at 4/10); report a missing applicable fix, recovery, context or trace as a High finding titled "CAP6:<path>:<item> <what fails>" (caps it at 6/10).
 
 The "## Pass 3" Hall of Fame section loaded above holds the full contract: the item table,
 the per-surface channel rules and the evidence states.
diff --git a/scripts/resolvers/autoplan-driver.ts b/scripts/resolvers/autoplan-driver.ts
index d84d63b95..7e2424624 100644
--- a/scripts/resolvers/autoplan-driver.ts
+++ b/scripts/resolvers/autoplan-driver.ts
@@ -17,17 +17,17 @@ import type { ResolverFn } from './types';
 
 /** One entry per command line the loop runs, as the field-wave plan specifies them. */
 export const AUTOPLAN_DRIVER_COMMANDS: Array<{ cmd: string; does: string }> = [
-  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan next --out <dir> --plan <plan.md> [scope flags] [--light] [--spend-cap <usd>] [--max-rounds <n>] [--scaffold]', does: `first call: init the run, print PHASE:, SCOPE:, DRIVER: and one ATTEMPT: per voice; --max-rounds caps review rounds per phase (default ${DEFAULT_MAX_ROUNDS} unattended), and an unattended Capy run reserves ${DEFAULT_HOST_ESTIMATE_USD.toFixed(2)} per host attempt unless --estimate-usd <n> says otherwise, so --spend-cap binds` },
+  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan next --out <dir> --plan <plan.md> [scope flags] [--light] [--spend-cap <usd>] [--max-rounds <n>] [--estimate-usd <n>] [--scaffold]', does: `first call: init the run, print PHASE:, SCOPE:, DRIVER: and one ATTEMPT: per voice; --max-rounds caps review rounds per phase (default ${DEFAULT_MAX_ROUNDS} unattended); an unattended run with --spend-cap (or any unattended Capy run) reserves ${DEFAULT_HOST_ESTIMATE_USD.toFixed(2)} per voice for each attempt, so the cap binds; --estimate-usd <n> sets that reservation and the run keeps it for later phases` },
+  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan run --out <dir> --plan <plan.md> --native-model <id> --outside-model <id> --native-runner api --runner api [--max-tokens <n>] [--spend-cap <usd>]', does: 'hosts without subagents: one command calls both models directly (ANTHROPIC_API_KEY, OPENAI_API_KEY) and loops next/submit to the gate; a response cut off at the output limit is reported truncated, so raise --max-tokens (Anthropic default 16384)' },
   { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan next --out <dir> [--redispatch <attempt>]', does: 'later calls: open the next phase or reprint open attempts; never redispatches on its own' },
   { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan submit --out <dir> --phase <p> --voice native|outside --record <file.md> --model <id> [--attempt <id>]', does: 'bind a free-form review record (canonical fence, one findings table or list, or `No findings.`)' },
   { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan submit ... --record <file.md> --attest "<reason>" --attempt <id>', does: 'bind a record with no INPUT: line as receipt: attested (a wrong INPUT: always refuses)' },
-  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan submit --out <dir> --phase <p> --voice native|outside --result <file> --model <id> --attempt <id>', does: 'bind a canonical result (the RESULT FORMAT below)' },
+  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan submit --out <dir> --phase <p> --voice native|outside --result <file> --model <id> --attempt <id> [--usage-usd <n>] [--reconcile <jsonl>]', does: 'bind a canonical result (the RESULT FORMAT below); `--usage-usd` settles the attempt at what the reviewer actually cost (else it stays priced unknown at its reservation); on the submit that closes the phase, `--reconcile` takes your own pairing of findings both voices raised, one `{"outside_id","native_id","disposition","resolution"}` row each, over the structural one' },
   { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan submit --out <dir> --phase <p> --voice outside --unavailable|--failed "<reason>"', does: 'close the phase native-only when no outside voice can run' },
-  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan answer --out <dir> --gate-rev <n> --reply "<reply>" --by human|agent:<id> [--owner-reply <text>|-] [--rec-hash <h>]', does: 'answer the gate with the reply grammar below; an agent answer stores the owner\'s words verbatim' },
+  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan answer --out <dir> --gate-rev <n> --reply "<reply>" --by human|agent:<id> [--owner-reply <text>|-] [--words-by agent:<id>] [--rec-hash <h>]', does: 'answer the gate with the reply grammar below; an agent answer stores the owner\'s words verbatim, and passes --words-by agent:<id> whenever the words are its own (the default is owner)' },
   { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan recommend --out <dir> --gate-rev <n> --item <id> --option <k> --basis "<why>"', does: 'change one recommendation before relay; then render and relay again (a `rec` needs the new `--rec-hash`)' },
   { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan revise --out <dir> --plan <plan v2> --incorporates <decision ids>', does: 'bind the amended plan; reopens every phase whose reviewed plan changed, Eng last' },
-  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan revise --out <dir> --settle <decision id|d4>', does: 'discharge a packaging or ordering change with no plan edit; reopens nothing' },
-  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan revise --out <dir> --withdraw <decision id>', does: 'drop a pending amendment instead of applying it' },
+  { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan revise --out <dir> --settle <decision id|d4> | --withdraw <decision id>', does: '--settle discharges a packaging or ordering change with no plan edit and reopens nothing; --withdraw drops a pending amendment instead of applying it' },
   { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan close --out <dir> --phase <p> --deferred "<reason>" --by human|agent:<id>', does: 'close a phase accepted-with-findings: its open findings go to tasks.jsonl, and Critical, urgent or user-challenge findings become gate items; also the recovery from `STOP: reason=budget_exhausted`' },
   { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan budget --out <dir> [--spend-cap <usd>] [--max-rounds <n>] --by human|agent:<id>', does: 'the owner\'s journaled cap raise; after a budget stop, `resume` continues the run' },
   { cmd: 'gstack-autoplan export --out <dir>', does: 'write the artifact set; then `gstack-artifact validate <dir>/run.json`' },
@@ -40,7 +40,7 @@ export const AUTOPLAN_DRIVER_COMMANDS: Array<{ cmd: string; does: string }> = [
 export const GATE_REPLY_FORMS: Array<{ reply: string; means: string }> = [
   { reply: 'rec', means: 'every item takes its recommendation, plan changes included (each prints APPLY:); `all` and `do it` are aliases' },
   { reply: 'as-is', means: 'keep every direction; no plan change' },
-  { reply: 'd3b uc1a', means: 'one <id><option> token per item you set; unanswered auto items take their default' },
+  { reply: 'd3b uc1a', means: 'one <id><option> token per item you set; unanswered auto items take their default (a finding item keeps the plan as written; `p1b` applies it)' },
   { reply: 'rec except d3b', means: 'recommendations, with the listed overrides' },
 ];
 
diff --git a/test/approval-classes.test.ts b/test/approval-classes.test.ts
index a1a903564..357cfb2e9 100644
--- a/test/approval-classes.test.ts
+++ b/test/approval-classes.test.ts
@@ -16,7 +16,7 @@ import { EXIT } from '../lib/headless-artifacts';
 import { extractReceipt } from '../lib/ship-receipt';
 import { evaluateApprovals, parseCitations } from '../lib/approval-citations';
 import { scopeOf, type ApprovalHit } from '../lib/approval-classes';
-import { autoplan, runPhase } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
+import { autoplan, recCarrying, runPhase } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
 import { BASE_POLICY, cleanup, makeFixtureRepo, runBin, type FixtureRepo } from './helpers/restamp-fixture';
 
 const repos: FixtureRepo[] = [];
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ describe('gstack-ship-receipt write enforces declared classes (APPROVAL_CITATION
       expect(autoplan(['next', '--out', out, '--plan', path.join(dir, 'plan.md'), '--no-ui']).status).toBe(0);
       runPhase(out, 'ceo');
       runPhase(out, 'eng');
-      if (approve) expect(autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'all']).stdout).toMatch(/^APPROVED: gate_rev=1/m);
+      if (approve) expect(autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', recCarrying(out)]).stdout).toMatch(/^APPROVED: gate_rev=1/m);
       const sha = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(out, 'run.json'), 'utf8')).artifacts['plan.md'].sha256 as string;
       return { out, sha: sha.slice(0, 8) };
     };
@@ -237,11 +237,11 @@ describe('gstack-ship-receipt write enforces declared classes (APPROVAL_CITATION
     const other = run('docs-plan', 'Rewrite the quickstart in docs/quickstart.md with a shorter first step. Tests cover the links.', true);
     const ok = write(repo, `Approved by Garry 2026-10-16 via ${good.sha}\n`, ['--approval-run', other.out, '--approval-run', good.out]);
     expect(ok.status, ok.err).toBe(EXIT.ok);
-    expect(JSON.parse(ok.out).approval.classes[0]).toMatchObject({ class: 'data-repair', citation: 'verified', binding: 'paths', via: good.sha, evidence: expect.stringMatching(/^plan run-\d+ gate_rev=1 p1=a answered_by=human$/) });
+    expect(JSON.parse(ok.out).approval.classes[0]).toMatchObject({ class: 'data-repair', citation: 'verified', binding: 'paths', via: good.sha, evidence: expect.stringMatching(/^plan run-\d+ gate_rev=1 p1=b answered_by=human$/) });
     const notApproved = write(repo, `Approved by Garry 2026-10-16 via ${pending.sha}\n`, ['--approval-run', pending.out]);
     expect(notApproved.err).toMatch(/holds this plan but its gate is not APPROVED \(status gate_pending, p1 unanswered\).*\(APPROVAL_CITATION_MISSING\)$/m);
     const unrelated = write(repo, `Approved by Garry 2026-10-16 via ${other.sha}\n`, ['--approval-run', other.out]);
-    expect(unrelated.err).toMatch(/plan run-\d+ gate_rev=1 p1=a answered_by=human names neither/);
+    expect(unrelated.err).toMatch(/plan run-\d+ gate_rev=1 p1=b answered_by=human names neither/);
     const noRun = write(repo, `Approved by Garry 2026-10-16 via ${good.sha}\n`);
     expect(noRun.err).toMatch(/plan sha [0-9a-f]{8}: pass the autoplan run with --approval-run <dir>.*must attest "for data-repair@[0-9a-f]{12}"/);
     fs.appendFileSync(path.join(good.out, 'plan.md'), '\nsrc/commands/repair/later.ts\n');
diff --git a/test/approval-record.test.ts b/test/approval-record.test.ts
index facc3afd4..97d42c2cb 100644
--- a/test/approval-record.test.ts
+++ b/test/approval-record.test.ts
@@ -119,13 +119,13 @@ describe('the rendered table is display only', () => {
   });
 });
 
-function autoplanRun(dir: string, answers: Array<{ by: string; words?: string; at: string; p1: string }>) {
+function autoplanRun(dir: string, answers: Array<{ by: string; words?: string; at: string; p1: string; own?: boolean }>) {
   const rows = [];
   for (const a of answers) {
     for (const id of ['d1', 'p1']) rows.push({
       schema_version: 1, run: 'run-1', id: `run-1-${id}`, label: id.toUpperCase(), title: id === 'p1' ? 'Plan approval' : 'Split the CLI [run-1-ceo-native-2]',
       options: ['a', 'b'], recommended: 'a', kind: id === 'p1' ? 'approval' : 'auto', status: 'approved', gate_rev: 1,
-      chosen: id === 'p1' ? a.p1 : 'a', answered_at: a.at, reply: a.words ?? 'rec', answered_by: a.by, ...(a.by === 'human' ? {} : { owner_reply: a.words }),
+      chosen: id === 'p1' ? a.p1 : 'a', answered_at: a.at, reply: a.words ?? 'rec', answered_by: a.by, ...(a.by === 'human' ? {} : a.own ? { answer_words: a.words, words_by: a.by } : { owner_reply: a.words }),
     });
   }
   fs.writeFileSync(path.join(dir, 'decisions.jsonl'), rows.map(r => JSON.stringify(r)).join('\n') + '\n');
@@ -147,6 +147,14 @@ describe('import --autoplan', () => {
     expect(bin(['import', '--autoplan', run, '--by', 'Garry'], { cwd, env: { GSTACK_STATE_ROOT: state } }).out).toMatch(/^APPROVAL_IMPORTED: n=0 skipped=2 /);
   });
 
+  test("each row names its own answerer: --by names only the owner's words, an agent's own words import under the agent (GEVA-2)", () => {
+    const run = tmp('appr-run-');
+    autoplanRun(run, [{ by: 'agent:GSTA-36', words: 'Do it', at: '2026-10-20T21:35:42.697Z', p1: 'a' }, { by: 'agent:GSTA-36', words: 'Accepted on the standing approval', at: '2026-10-21T08:00:00.000Z', p1: 'a', own: true }]);
+    const rows = importAutoplan(run, 'b', 'Garry');
+    if ('code' in rows) throw new Error(rows.message);
+    expect(rows.map(r => [r.by, r.words])).toEqual([['Garry, relayed by agent:GSTA-36', 'Do it'], ["agent:GSTA-36, its own decision (not the owner's words)", 'Accepted on the standing approval']]);
+  });
+
   test('a default run id whose YYYYMMDDHHMMSS stamp passes Luhn still imports (capy-captain-flow flake)', () => {
     const run = tmp('appr-run-');
     autoplanRun(run, [{ by: 'agent:GSTA-1', words: 'rec', at: '2026-10-24T13:15:04.000Z', p1: 'a' }]);
diff --git a/test/autoplan-answer-invalidation.test.ts b/test/autoplan-answer-invalidation.test.ts
index 9eaa9b0d1..8b428b768 100644
--- a/test/autoplan-answer-invalidation.test.ts
+++ b/test/autoplan-answer-invalidation.test.ts
@@ -13,12 +13,12 @@ import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
 import * as fs from 'node:fs';
 import * as os from 'node:os';
 import * as path from 'node:path';
-import { attemptsOf, autoplan, journal, readRun, resultOf, review, ROOT, runPhase, SMALL_PLAN, startSmallRun } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
+import { attemptsOf, autoplan, journal, readRun, recCarrying, resultOf, review, ROOT, runPhase, SMALL_PLAN, startSmallRun } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
 
 const TMP = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'autoplan-answer-'));
 afterAll(() => fs.rmSync(TMP, { recursive: true, force: true }));
 
-/** A gated run with a disagreement in ceo (taste item d1) and the fixture's user challenges (uc1 ceo, uc2 eng). */
+/** A gated run with a disagreement in ceo (taste item d1), the fixture's user challenges (uc1 ceo, uc2 eng) and its open Critical/High findings (d2 ceo, d3 and d4 eng). */
 function gatedRun(name: string, extra: string[] = []): string {
   const out = startSmallRun(path.join(TMP, name), extra);
   const disagree = JSON.stringify([
@@ -60,11 +60,12 @@ function incorporate(out: string, ids: string[], edit: string) {
 }
 
 describe('answer', () => {
-  test('the gate lists the disagreement as an auto item and the user challenges as approval items', () => {
+  test('the gate lists the disagreement and the open Critical/High findings as auto items and the user challenges as approval items', () => {
     const out = gatedRun('shape');
     const gate = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(out, 'gate.json'), 'utf8'));
     expect(gate.gate_rev).toBe(1);
-    expect(gate.items.map((i: any) => [i.id, i.kind, i.phase ?? null])).toEqual([['d1', 'auto', 'ceo'], ['uc1', 'approval', 'ceo'], ['uc2', 'approval', 'eng'], ['p1', 'approval', null]]);
+    expect(gate.items.map((i: any) => [i.id, i.kind, i.phase ?? null])).toEqual([['d1', 'auto', 'ceo'], ['uc1', 'approval', 'ceo'], ['d2', 'auto', 'ceo'], ['uc2', 'approval', 'eng'], ['d3', 'auto', 'eng'], ['d4', 'auto', 'eng'], ['p1', 'approval', null]]);
+    expect(gate.items.filter((i: any) => i.finding).map((i: any) => i.id)).toEqual(['d2', 'd3', 'd4']);
     expect(gate.items[0].why).toMatch(/voices disagree: severity: native High, outside Low/);
   }, 30_000);
 
@@ -86,26 +87,27 @@ describe('answer', () => {
     expect(fs.readFileSync(path.join(out, 'run.json'), 'utf8')).toBe(before.run);
     expect(fs.readFileSync(path.join(out, 'decisions.jsonl'), 'utf8')).toBe(before.decisions);
     expect(journal(out).length).toBe(before.journal);
-    // partial: only the auto item answered; approval items stay pending; nothing reviewed changes
+    // partial: only the auto item answered; approval items, and finding items whose default waits on p1 (p1b applies them), stay pending
     const partial = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'd1a', '--json']);
     expect(partial.status, partial.stderr).toBe(0);
     expect(JSON.parse(partial.stdout)).toMatchObject({ status: 'gate_pending', outcome: 'gate_pending', pending: ['uc1', 'uc2', 'p1'] });
     const rows = decisions(out);
     expect(rows.find((r: any) => r.label === 'D1')).toMatchObject({ status: 'approved', chosen: 'a' });
-    expect(rows.filter((r: any) => r.status === 'pending').map((r: any) => r.label)).toEqual(['UC1', 'UC2', 'P1']);
+    expect(rows.filter((r: any) => r.status === 'pending').map((r: any) => r.label)).toEqual(['UC1', 'D2', 'UC2', 'D3', 'D4', 'P1']);
   }, 30_000);
 
-  test('`all` finalizes without another paid phase: status complete, decisions approved, no phase reopened', () => {
+  test('`all` carrying the open findings finalizes without another paid phase: status complete, decisions answered, no phase reopened', () => {
     const out = gatedRun('approve');
     const counter = readRun(out).attempt_counter;
-    const r = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'all']);
+    const reply = recCarrying(out);
+    const r = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', reply]);
     expect(r.status, r.stderr).toBe(0);
     expect(r.stdout).toMatch(/^APPROVED: gate_rev=1 as-is$/m);
     expect(r.stdout).toContain('GSTACK_RESULT: skill=autoplan status=complete run=' + out);
     const run = readRun(out);
     expect(run.status).toBe('complete');
     expect(run.attempt_counter).toBe(counter);
-    expect(decisions(out).every((d: any) => d.status === 'approved' && d.reply === 'all')).toBe(true);
+    expect(decisions(out).every((d: any) => d.status === (/^D[234]$/.test(d.label) ? 'overridden' : 'approved') && d.reply === reply)).toBe(true);
     expect(journal(out).filter(j => j.event === 'reopened')).toEqual([]);
     const again = autoplan(['next', '--out', out]);
     expect(again.stdout).toContain('status=complete');
@@ -114,7 +116,7 @@ describe('answer', () => {
 
   test('a non-recommended choice on a ceo item is recorded without reopening; revise reopens the changed phases, archives their bound files, and the next gate is gate_rev 2', () => {
     const out = gatedRun('reopen', ['--no-carry-forward']);
-    const r = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'all except d1b', '--json']);
+    const r = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', recCarrying(out, 'all', ['d1b']), '--json']);
     expect(r.status, r.stderr).toBe(0);
     const runId = readRun(out).run;
     expect(JSON.parse(r.stdout)).toMatchObject({ status: 'amend_pending', outcome: 'amend_pending', reopened: [], amendments: [`${runId}-d1`] });
@@ -145,12 +147,12 @@ describe('answer', () => {
     expect(eng.outside.stdout).toContain('status=gate_pending');
     expect(readRun(out).gate_rev).toBe(2);
     const rows = decisions(out);
-    expect(rows.filter((x: any) => x.gate_rev === 1)).toHaveLength(4);
+    expect(rows.filter((x: any) => x.gate_rev === 1)).toHaveLength(7);
     expect(rows.filter((x: any) => x.gate_rev === 2 && x.status === 'pending').length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
     const staleAgain = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'all']);
     expect(staleAgain.status).toBe(3);
     // closing gate_rev 2 exports a run that validates: rev-2 rows get their own ids beside rev 1's
-    const approve = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', 'all']);
+    const approve = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', recCarrying(out)]);
     expect(approve.stdout).toContain('GSTACK_RESULT: skill=autoplan status=complete run=' + out);
     expect(autoplan(['export', '--out', out]).status).toBe(0);
     const ids = decisions(out).map((x: any) => x.id);
@@ -167,7 +169,7 @@ describe('answer', () => {
 
   test('an eng-only override reopens nothing at answer; revise reruns every phase that reviewed the old plan; p1d reopens every phase; p1c keeps the gate; p1e ends incomplete', () => {
     const out = gatedRun('eng-only', ['--max-rounds', '3', '--no-carry-forward']);
-    const engOnly = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'all except uc2b', '--json']);
+    const engOnly = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', recCarrying(out, 'all', ['uc2b']), '--json']);
     const runId = readRun(out).run;
     expect(JSON.parse(engOnly.stdout)).toMatchObject({ outcome: 'amend_pending', reopened: [], amendments: [`${runId}-uc2`] });
     expect(readRun(out).phases.ceo.closed_at).toBeTruthy();
@@ -178,13 +180,13 @@ describe('answer', () => {
     expect(runPhase(out, 'ceo').outside.stdout).toMatch(/PHASE_CLOSED: ceo/);
     const eng = runPhase(out, 'eng');
     expect(eng.outside.stdout).toContain('status=gate_pending');
-    const interrogate = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', 'all except p1c', '--json']);
+    const interrogate = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', recCarrying(out, 'all', ['p1c']), '--json']);
     expect(JSON.parse(interrogate.stdout)).toMatchObject({ status: 'gate_pending', outcome: 'gate_pending' });
-    const revise = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', 'all except p1d', '--json']);
+    const revise = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', recCarrying(out, 'all', ['p1d']), '--json']);
     expect(JSON.parse(revise.stdout)).toMatchObject({ outcome: 'reopened', reopened: ['ceo', 'eng'] });
     runPhase(out, 'ceo');
     runPhase(out, 'eng');
-    const reject = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '3', '--reply', 'all except p1e']);
+    const reject = autoplan(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '3', '--reply', recCarrying(out, 'all', ['p1e'])]);
     expect(reject.status).toBe(0);
     expect(reject.stdout).toContain('GSTACK_RESULT: skill=autoplan status=incomplete run=' + out);
     expect(readRun(out).deviations).toContain('plan rejected by the owner at gate_rev 3');
diff --git a/test/autoplan-budget.test.ts b/test/autoplan-budget.test.ts
index 82976daf1..56e6a8ad4 100644
--- a/test/autoplan-budget.test.ts
+++ b/test/autoplan-budget.test.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 /**
  * Field list 2, W5: the autoplan run budget on the simulated Capy host. An
- * unattended Capy run reserves the default per-voice estimate so --spend-cap
- * binds, and a refused dispatch stops the run `incomplete` with a structured
+ * unattended run under --spend-cap (or on Capy) reserves the default per-voice
+ * estimate so the cap binds, `--estimate-usd` persists for later phases, and a refused dispatch stops the run `incomplete` with a structured
  * stop object that export, validate and resume understand; `budget` journals
  * the owner's raise. `close --deferred` keeps a dispatched voice's
  * reservation, routes an open Critical to the gate and carries open findings
@@ -258,3 +258,37 @@ describe('confirm rounds', () => {
     expect(rows[1].settled_by).toBeUndefined();
   });
 });
+
+describe('the cap binds on every unattended host (GBRA-223 claim 4)', () => {
+  const OFF_CAPY = { GSTACK_CAPY: '' };
+  test('a capped unattended run off Capy reserves the default per voice, so the cap stops it; with no cap it reserves nothing', () => {
+    const dir = path.join(r.host.base, 'offcapy');
+    const out = path.join(dir, 'run');
+    const first = r.ap(['next', '--out', out, '--plan', writePlan(dir), '--no-ui', '--spend-cap', '12'], OFF_CAPY);
+    expect(first.status, first.stderr).toBe(0);
+    expect(first.stdout).toMatch(/^ESTIMATE: 5\.00 per voice reserved for each host-subagent attempt/m);
+    expect(spend(out).reserved.map((x: any) => x.estimate_usd)).toEqual([DEFAULT_HOST_ESTIMATE_USD, DEFAULT_HOST_ESTIMATE_USD]);
+    phaseVia(r, out, 'ceo', NONE);
+    const stopped = r.ap(['next', '--out', out], OFF_CAPY);
+    expect(stopped.status).toBe(3);
+    expect(stopped.stderr).toMatch(/\(SPEND_CAP_EXCEEDED\)$/m);
+    const freeDir = path.join(r.host.base, 'offcapy-nocap');
+    const free = path.join(freeDir, 'run');
+    const uncapped = r.ap(['next', '--out', free, '--plan', writePlan(freeDir), '--no-ui'], OFF_CAPY);
+    expect(uncapped.status, uncapped.stderr).toBe(0);
+    expect(uncapped.stdout).not.toMatch(/^ESTIMATE:/m);
+    expect(spend(free).reserved.map((x: any) => x.estimate_usd)).toEqual([0, 0]);
+  });
+
+  test('--estimate-usd persists: later phases reserve it without the flag', () => {
+    const s = start(['--spend-cap', '40', '--estimate-usd', '3']);
+    expect(spend(s.out).reserved.map((x: any) => x.estimate_usd)).toEqual([3, 3]);
+    expect(readRunJson(s.out).estimate_usd).toBe(3);
+    phaseVia(r, s.out, 'ceo', NONE);
+    expect(spend(s.out).settled.map((x: any) => x.reserved_usd)).toEqual([3, 3]);
+    const eng = r.ap(['next', '--out', s.out]);
+    expect(eng.status, eng.stderr).toBe(0);
+    expect(eng.stdout).toMatch(/^PHASE: eng /m);
+    expect(spend(s.out).reserved.map((x: any) => x.estimate_usd)).toEqual([3, 3]);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/autoplan-capy-e2e.test.ts b/test/autoplan-capy-e2e.test.ts
index f29a7c372..d5d52ec01 100644
--- a/test/autoplan-capy-e2e.test.ts
+++ b/test/autoplan-capy-e2e.test.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@ import { afterAll, describe, expect, test } from 'bun:test';
 import * as fs from 'node:fs';
 import * as path from 'node:path';
 import { RESULT_CODES } from '../lib/result-codes';
-import { ROOT, SMALL_PLAN, boundOf, resultOf } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
+import { ROOT, SMALL_PLAN, boundOf, recCarrying, resultOf } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
 import { capyRunner, phaseVia, readJsonl, readRunJson, writePlan, type CapyRunner } from './helpers/autoplan-capy';
 
 const r = capyRunner();
@@ -55,11 +55,11 @@ describe('unattended runs on the Capy host', () => {
       phaseVia(r, s.out, 'ceo');
       expect(phaseVia(r, s.out, 'eng').outside.stdout).toContain('status=gate_pending');
       expectReviewedHashes(s.out);
-      expect(ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', String(rev), '--reply', 'all except p1d'])).stdout).toMatch(/^REOPENED: ceo,eng \(Eng last\) reason=revise$/m);
+      expect(ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', String(rev), '--reply', recCarrying(s.out, 'all', ['p1d'])])).stdout).toMatch(/^REOPENED: ceo,eng \(Eng last\) reason=revise$/m);
     }
     phaseVia(r, s.out, 'ceo');
     phaseVia(r, s.out, 'eng');
-    expect(ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '3', '--reply', 'all'])).stdout).toContain('status=complete');
+    expect(ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '3', '--reply', recCarrying(s.out)])).stdout).toContain('status=complete');
     ok(r.ap(['export', '--out', s.out]));
     const v = ok(r.validate(s.out));
     expect(v.stdout).toMatch(/^ARTIFACT_VALID: run=\S+ status=complete/m);
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ describe('unattended runs on the Capy host', () => {
     const gated = ok(r.ap(['submit', '--out', s.out, '--phase', 'eng', '--voice', 'outside', '--unavailable', 'no cross-family subagent on this host']));
     expect(gated.stdout).toMatch(/^PHASE_CLOSED: eng .*coverage=native_only/m);
     expect(gated.stdout).toContain('status=gate_pending');
-    expect(ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'all'])).stdout).toContain('status=complete');
+    expect(ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', recCarrying(s.out)])).stdout).toContain('status=complete');
     ok(r.ap(['export', '--out', s.out]));
     expect(ok(r.validate(s.out)).stdout).toMatch(/^ARTIFACT_VALID: run=\S+ status=complete attested=1$/m);
     expect(fs.readFileSync(path.join(s.out, 'review-record.md'), 'utf8')).toMatch(/attested/);
@@ -94,7 +94,7 @@ describe('unattended runs on the Capy host', () => {
     const s = start();
     phaseVia(r, s.out, 'ceo');
     phaseVia(r, s.out, 'eng');
-    ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'all except p1d']));
+    ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', recCarrying(s.out, 'all', ['p1d'])]));
     phaseVia(r, s.out, 'ceo');
     phaseVia(r, s.out, 'eng');
     const file = path.join(s.out, 'decisions.jsonl');
@@ -102,7 +102,7 @@ describe('unattended runs on the Capy host', () => {
     const manifest = readRunJson(s.out);
     delete manifest.gstack_version;
     fs.writeFileSync(path.join(s.out, 'run.json'), JSON.stringify(manifest, null, 2) + '\n');
-    const res = ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', 'all']));
+    const res = ok(r.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', recCarrying(s.out)]));
     expect(res.stdout).toMatch(/^GSTACK_VERSION_CHANGED: run unknown -> /m);
     expect(res.stdout).toContain('status=complete');
     ok(r.ap(['export', '--out', s.out]));
@@ -150,7 +150,7 @@ describe('conformance: one run through every mechanism', () => {
     const accept = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(s.out, 'gate.json'), 'utf8')).items.find((i: any) => i.title.startsWith('Gate the backoff')).id;
     // partial, then full
     expect(ok(c.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', `${accept}b`])).stdout).toMatch(/^GATE_PENDING: p1/m);
-    const full = ok(c.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'all']));
+    const full = ok(c.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', recCarrying(s.out)]));
     expect(full.stdout).toMatch(new RegExp(`^APPLY: ${run}-${accept} `, 'm'));
     const pendingNext = c.ap(['next', '--out', s.out]).stderr;
     expect(pendingNext).toMatch(/\(PLAN_AMEND_PENDING\)$/m);
@@ -169,10 +169,10 @@ describe('conformance: one run through every mechanism', () => {
     for (const voice of ['native', 'outside']) ok(c.ap(['submit', '--out', s.out, '--phase', 'ceo', '--voice', voice, '--result', resultOf(s.out, 'ceo', voice as 'native' | 'outside'), '--model', voice === 'native' ? 'anthropic/claude-opus-5-5' : 'openai/gpt-6.1-sol']));
     phaseVia(c, s.out, 'eng');
     expect(readRunJson(s.out).gate_rev).toBe(2);
-    ok(c.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', 'all except p1d']));
+    ok(c.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '2', '--reply', recCarrying(s.out, 'all', ['p1d'])]));
     phaseVia(c, s.out, 'ceo');
     phaseVia(c, s.out, 'eng');
-    expect(ok(c.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '3', '--reply', 'all'])).stdout).toContain('status=complete');
+    expect(ok(c.ap(['answer', '--by', 'human', '--out', s.out, '--gate-rev', '3', '--reply', recCarrying(s.out)])).stdout).toContain('status=complete');
     ok(c.ap(['export', '--out', s.out]));
     expect(ok(c.validate(s.out)).stdout).toMatch(/^ARTIFACT_VALID: run=\S+ status=complete/m);
     const final = readRunJson(s.out);
diff --git a/test/autoplan-carry.test.ts b/test/autoplan-carry.test.ts
index 1243aa71f..0a8e9c4fe 100644
--- a/test/autoplan-carry.test.ts
+++ b/test/autoplan-carry.test.ts
@@ -31,7 +31,7 @@ const decisions = (out: string) => readJsonl(path.join(out, 'decisions.jsonl'));
 const journal = (out: string) => readJsonl(path.join(out, 'attempts.jsonl'));
 
 /** Gate 1 with one recommended plan change (uc1b), answered with the owner's words, then revised to take it. */
-function answeredAndRevised(args: string[] = [], words = 'Garry: Do it', ceo: { native?: unknown[]; outside?: unknown[] } = AGREE) {
+function answeredAndRevised(args: string[] = [], words = 'Garry: Do it', ceo: { native?: unknown[]; outside?: unknown[] } = AGREE, answerArgs: string[] = []) {
   const dir = path.join(r.host.base, `carry${++n}`);
   const plan = writePlan(dir);
   const out = path.join(dir, 'run');
@@ -39,7 +39,7 @@ function answeredAndRevised(args: string[] = [], words = 'Garry: Do it', ceo: {
   phaseVia(r, out, 'ceo', ceo);
   expect(phaseVia(r, out, 'eng', NONE).outside.stdout).toContain('status=gate_pending');
   const run = readRunJson(out).run;
-  const ans = r.ap(['answer', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'rec', '--rec-hash', recHashOf(out), '--by', 'agent:gstack-minder', '--owner-reply', words]);
+  const ans = r.ap(['answer', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'rec', '--rec-hash', recHashOf(out), '--by', 'agent:gstack-minder', '--owner-reply', words, ...answerArgs]);
   expect(ans.status, ans.stderr).toBe(0);
   expect(ans.stdout).toMatch(/^APPLY: /m);
   const v2 = path.join(dir, 'plan-v2.md');
@@ -50,6 +50,39 @@ function answeredAndRevised(args: string[] = [], words = 'Garry: Do it', ceo: {
 }
 const recHashOf = (out: string) => recHash(gateOf(out));
 
+describe('whose words answered the gate (GEVA-2, P7)', () => {
+  test("an agent's own words are recorded as its own, never as the owner's, never carried, and imported under the agent", () => {
+    const s = answeredAndRevised([], 'Accepted on the standing approval', AGREE, ['--words-by', 'agent:gstack-minder']);
+    const p1 = decisions(s.out).find(d => d.gate_rev === 1 && d.label === 'P1');
+    expect(p1).toMatchObject({ answer_words: 'Accepted on the standing approval', words_by: 'agent:gstack-minder' });
+    expect(p1.owner_reply).toBeUndefined();
+    phaseVia(r, s.out, 'ceo', NONE);
+    const eng = phaseVia(r, s.out, 'eng', NONE).outside;
+    expect(eng.stdout).toMatch(/^CARRY: no \(gate_rev 1 was answered in agent:gstack-minder's own words, not the owner's\)$/m);
+    expect(eng.stdout).toContain('status=gate_pending');
+    const rows = importAutoplan(s.out, 'feature/x', 'Garry');
+    if ('code' in rows) throw new Error(rows.message);
+    expect(rows[0]).toMatchObject({ by: "agent:gstack-minder, its own decision (not the owner's words)", words: 'Accepted on the standing approval' });
+    expect(r.ap(['export', '--out', s.out]).status).toBe(0);
+    expect(r.validate(s.out).status).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  test('--words-by names the owner or the answering agent; anything else is refused', () => {
+    const dir = path.join(r.host.base, `carry${++n}`);
+    const out = path.join(dir, 'run');
+    expect(r.ap(['next', '--out', out, '--plan', writePlan(dir), '--no-ui']).status).toBe(0);
+    phaseVia(r, out, 'ceo', AGREE);
+    phaseVia(r, out, 'eng', NONE);
+    const base = ['answer', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', 'rec', '--rec-hash', recHashOf(out), '--owner-reply', 'ok'];
+    for (const bad of [['--by', 'agent:gstack-minder', '--words-by', 'agent:someone-else'], ['--by', 'human', '--words-by', 'agent:gstack-minder'], ['--by', 'agent:gstack-minder', '--words-by', 'Garry']]) {
+      const res = r.ap([...base, ...bad]);
+      expect(res.status, res.stdout).not.toBe(0);
+      expect(res.stderr).toContain('--words-by must be owner or the answering agent');
+    }
+    expect(decisions(out).every(d => d.status === 'pending')).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('carry-forward', () => {
   test('a second gate with nothing new carries the owner\'s words: CARRIED, APPROVED, the record names its source', () => {
     const s = answeredAndRevised();
@@ -123,20 +156,36 @@ describe('carry-forward', () => {
     expect(phaseVia(r, rec.out, 'eng', PKG).outside.stdout).toMatch(/^CARRY: no \(new item \w+: Split the backoff/m);
   });
 
-test('an earlier answer in item tokens, or one that left an item unanswered, is not carried', () => {
+  /** Gate 1 answered item by item (every item's recommendation as tokens) by the owner, then revised to take uc1. */
+  function tokensAndRevised() {
     const dir = path.join(r.host.base, `carry${++n}`);
     const out = path.join(dir, 'run');
     expect(r.ap(['next', '--out', out, '--plan', writePlan(dir), '--no-ui']).status).toBe(0);
     phaseVia(r, out, 'ceo', AGREE);
     phaseVia(r, out, 'eng', NONE);
-    const g = gateOf(out);
-    const tokens = g.items.map((i: any) => `${i.id}${i.recommended}`).join(' ');
+    const tokens = gateOf(out).items.map((i: any) => `${i.id}${i.recommended}`).join(' ');
     expect(r.ap(['answer', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--reply', tokens, '--by', 'human']).status).toBe(0);
     const v2 = path.join(dir, 'plan-v2.md');
     fs.writeFileSync(v2, V2);
     expect(r.ap(['revise', '--out', out, '--plan', v2, '--incorporates', 'uc1']).status).toBe(0);
     phaseVia(r, out, 'ceo', NONE);
-    expect(phaseVia(r, out, 'eng', NONE).outside.stdout).toMatch(/^CARRY: no \(gate_rev 1 was answered with item tokens, not rec or "do it"\)$/m);
+    return { out, tokens, p1: decisions(out).find(x => x.gate_rev === 1 && x.label === 'P1') };
+  }
+
+  test('an item-token answer carries when the later gate asks nothing new: the owner\'s p1 choice and verbatim tokens are the basis', () => {
+    const s = tokensAndRevised();
+    const eng = phaseVia(r, s.out, 'eng', NONE).outside;
+    expect(eng.status, eng.stderr).toBe(0);
+    expect(eng.stdout).toContain(`CARRIED: gate_rev=2 <- gate_rev=1 words=${JSON.stringify(s.tokens)} by=human reason=no new choice; plan unchanged since the accepted changes`);
+    expect(eng.stdout).toMatch(/^APPROVED: gate_rev=2/m);
+    expect(decisions(s.out).find(x => x.gate_rev === 2 && x.label === 'P1')).toMatchObject({ chosen: s.p1.chosen, carried_gate_from: s.p1.id });
+  });
+
+  test('an item-token answer is not carried past a new item', () => {
+    const s = tokensAndRevised();
+    const PKG = { native: [{ id: 'F7', severity: 'Medium', title: 'Split the backoff into its own PR', user_challenge: true, changes: 'packaging', fix: 'own PR' }], outside: [] };
+    expect(phaseVia(r, s.out, 'eng', PKG).outside.stdout).toMatch(/^CARRY: no \(new item \w+: Split the backoff/m);
+    expect(readRunJson(s.out).status).toBe('gate_pending');
   });
 
   test('an answer that left an approval item pending is not carried', () => {
diff --git a/test/autoplan-gate-cost.test.ts b/test/autoplan-gate-cost.test.ts
index 95e8f35d0..f29869b2a 100644
--- a/test/autoplan-gate-cost.test.ts
+++ b/test/autoplan-gate-cost.test.ts
@@ -188,7 +188,7 @@ describe('E16 end to end: every gate-producing command prints the cost, and the
 
 
   test('the closing submit prints GATE_SPEND/GATE_REC_COST (text) or gate_cost (--json); the owner brief carries the Cost so far sentence and render --captain a ### Cost section above the relaying trailer', () => {
-    const out = gateRun('plain', {}, { challenge: false, json: true });
+    const out = gateRun('plain', { severity: 'Medium' }, { challenge: false, json: true });
     const brief = spawnSync(process.execPath, [path.join(ROOT, 'bin', 'gstack-owner-brief'), 'render', '--out', out], { cwd: ROOT, env: env(), encoding: 'utf8', timeout: 30_000 });
     expect(brief.stdout).toMatch(/Cost so far: spent \d+\.\d\d, worst case \d+\.\d\d \(/);
     const captain = spawnSync(process.execPath, [path.join(ROOT, 'bin', 'gstack-owner-brief'), 'render', '--captain', '--out', out, '--allow-incomplete'], { cwd: ROOT, env: env(), encoding: 'utf8', timeout: 30_000 });
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ describe('E16 end to end: every gate-producing command prints the cost, and the
   });
 
   test('run at a pending gate prints the gate lines once: text mode carries GATE_SPEND/GATE_REC_COST, --json exactly one payload with gate_cost', () => {
-    const out = gateRun('run-gate', {}, { challenge: false });
+    const out = gateRun('run-gate', { severity: 'Medium' }, { challenge: false });
     const models = ['--native-model', 'anthropic/claude-opus-4-7', '--outside-model', 'openai/gpt-6-astra'];
     const text = autoplan(['run', '--out', out, ...models]);
     expect(text.status).toBe(0);
diff --git a/test/autoplan-gate-judgment.test.ts b/test/autoplan-gate-judgment.test.ts
index 02e841837..4b2e90dff 100644
--- a/test/autoplan-gate-judgment.test.ts
+++ b/test/autoplan-gate-judgment.test.ts
@@ -17,8 +17,9 @@ import { afterAll, describe, expect, test } from 'bun:test';
 import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
 import * as fs from 'node:fs';
 import * as path from 'node:path';
-import { ROOT, SMALL_PLAN, boundOf, resultOf } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
+import { ROOT, SMALL_PLAN, boundOf, recCarrying, resultOf } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
 import { capyRunner, phaseVia, readJsonl, readRunJson, writePlan } from './helpers/autoplan-capy';
+import { settledIds } from '../lib/autoplan-confirm';
 
 const r = capyRunner();
 afterAll(() => r.cleanup());
@@ -119,7 +120,7 @@ describe('accepted changes are amendments', () => {
     expect(held.status, held.stderr).toBe(0);
     expect(held.stdout).toMatch(/^GATE_PENDING: uc2, p1 unanswered \(reply with uc2a\|uc2b p1a\|p1b\|p1c\|p1d\|p1e or rec\)$/m);
     expect(held.stdout).not.toMatch(/^APPLY:/m);
-    const res = answer(g.out, 1, 'rec');
+    const res = answer(g.out, 1, recCarrying(g.out, 'rec'));
     expect(res.status, res.stderr).toBe(0);
     expect(res.stdout).toMatch(new RegExp(`^APPLY: ${esc(g.run)}-uc1 Ship the backoff behind a flag first .* -> accept the change both reviewers recommend.*; edit the plan, then revise$`, 'm'));
     expect(res.stdout).not.toMatch(/^REOPENED:/m);
@@ -165,7 +166,7 @@ describe('accepted changes are amendments', () => {
     expect(asIs.stdout).not.toMatch(/^APPLY:/m);
     expect(decisions(g.out).find(d => d.label === 'UC1')).toMatchObject({ chosen: 'a', status: 'approved' });
     const w = gated(AGREE, {});
-    expect(answer(w.out, 1, 'rec except uc1b').stdout).toMatch(/^APPLY:/m);
+    expect(answer(w.out, 1, recCarrying(w.out, 'rec', ['uc1b'])).stdout).toMatch(/^APPLY:/m);
     const withdraw = r.ap(['revise', '--out', w.out, '--withdraw', `${w.run}-uc1`]);
     expect(withdraw.status, withdraw.stderr).toBe(0);
     expect(withdraw.stdout).toMatch(/^APPROVED: gate_rev=1 \(every accepted change is in the plan or settled\)$/m);
@@ -179,7 +180,7 @@ describe('record-only changes settle without a plan edit', () => {
   test('a packaging change: APPLY says settle, revise --settle reopens nothing and completes, export and validate pass; a scope change never settles', () => {
     const g = gated(PACKAGING, {});
     expect(gate(g.out).items.find((i: any) => i.id === 'uc1')).toMatchObject({ recommended: 'b', changes: 'packaging' });
-    const res = answer(g.out, 1, 'rec');
+    const res = answer(g.out, 1, recCarrying(g.out, 'rec'));
     expect(res.status, res.stderr).toBe(0);
     expect(res.stdout).toMatch(new RegExp(`^APPLY: ${esc(g.run)}-uc1 .*; no plan edit needed: revise --settle uc1$`, 'm'));
     expect(readRunJson(g.out).status).toBe('amend_pending');
@@ -196,7 +197,7 @@ describe('record-only changes settle without a plan edit', () => {
     expect(r.ap(['export', '--out', g.out]).status).toBe(0);
     expect(r.validate(g.out).status).toBe(0);
     const scope = gated(AGREE, {});
-    expect(answer(scope.out, 1, 'rec except uc1b').stdout).toMatch(/; edit the plan, then revise$/m);
+    expect(answer(scope.out, 1, recCarrying(scope.out, 'rec', ['uc1b'])).stdout).toMatch(/; edit the plan, then revise$/m);
     const refused = r.ap(['revise', '--out', scope.out, '--settle', 'uc1']);
     expect(refused.status).toBe(3);
     expect(refused.stderr).toMatch(/changes scope; only packaging or ordering changes settle.*\(AMENDMENT_NOT_SETTLEABLE\)$/m);
@@ -229,7 +230,7 @@ describe('mixed amendments: a scope change and a packaging change', () => {
     expect(readRunJson(g.out).status).toBe('running');
     phaseVia(r, g.out, 'ceo');
     expect(phaseVia(r, g.out, 'eng').outside.stdout).toContain('status=gate_pending');
-    expect(answer(g.out, 2, 'rec').stdout).toContain('status=complete');
+    expect(answer(g.out, 2, recCarrying(g.out, 'rec')).stdout).toContain('status=complete');
     expect(r.validate(g.out).status).toBe(0);
   });
   test('settle and incorporate in one revise; settling alone on an unreviewed plan edit is refused', () => {
@@ -262,7 +263,7 @@ describe('partial replies resolve against persisted decisions', () => {
 
   test('validate rejects a complete run with a pending approval', () => {
     const g = gated({}, {});
-    expect(answer(g.out, 1, 'all').stdout).toContain('status=complete');
+    expect(answer(g.out, 1, recCarrying(g.out)).stdout).toContain('status=complete');
     const file = path.join(g.out, 'decisions.jsonl');
     fs.writeFileSync(file, decisions(g.out).map(d => JSON.stringify(d.label === 'UC2' ? { ...d, status: 'pending', chosen: null } : d)).join('\n') + '\n');
     r.ap(['export', '--out', g.out]);
@@ -298,3 +299,90 @@ describe('reruns', () => {
     expect(decisions(g.out).find(d => d.gate_rev === 2 && d.label === demoted.id.toUpperCase())).toMatchObject({ chosen: 'b', source: 'agent' });
   });
 });
+
+describe('open Critical and High findings reach the gate (GBRA-223 claim 3)', () => {
+  const NONE = { native: [], outside: [] };
+  const KILL = { native: [{ id: 'F1', severity: 'Critical', title: 'No kill switch for the resolver rollout', fix: 'add a config kill switch' }], outside: [] };
+  test('each open Critical/High finding is an apply item that rec takes; a twin pair is one item; Medium stays a task', () => {
+    const g = gated({
+      native: [{ id: 'F1', severity: 'Critical', title: 'No kill switch for the resolver rollout', fix: 'add a config kill switch' }, { id: 'F2', severity: 'Medium', title: 'Name the flag consistently' }],
+      outside: [{ id: 'O1', severity: 'High', title: 'No kill switch for the resolver rollout', fix: 'ship behind a kill switch' }],
+    }, { native: [{ id: 'F3', severity: 'High', title: 'No test covers a hung resolver', file: 'test/resolver.test.ts', fix: 'add a hung-resolver test' }], outside: [] });
+    const items = gate(g.out).items;
+    const apply = items.filter((i: any) => i.finding);
+    expect(apply.map((i: any) => i.title)).toEqual([
+      expect.stringMatching(/^Critical: No kill switch for the resolver rollout \[.*-ceo-native-1 \+ .*-ceo-outside-1\]$/),
+      expect.stringMatching(/^High: No test covers a hung resolver \[.*-eng-native-1\]$/),
+    ]);
+    for (const i of apply) expect(i).toMatchObject({ kind: 'auto', recommended: 'a', options: [{ key: 'a', changes_plan: true }, { key: 'b', changes_plan: false }] });
+    expect(apply[0].options[0].text).toContain('add a config kill switch');
+    expect(apply[0].options[0].text).toContain('ship behind a kill switch');
+    expect(items.find((i: any) => i.id === 'p1')).toMatchObject({ recommended: 'b' });
+    expect(items.some((i: any) => /Name the flag/.test(i.title))).toBe(false);
+    const rec = answer(g.out, 1, 'rec');
+    expect(rec.stdout.match(/^APPLY: /gm)?.length).toBe(2);
+    expect(readRunJson(g.out).status).toBe('amend_pending');
+  });
+
+  test('b, as-is, or a token reply that leaves the item unanswered carries the finding into the build with no plan change', () => {
+    for (const pick of [(id: string) => `${id}b p1a`, () => 'as-is', () => 'p1a']) {
+      const g = gated(KILL, NONE);
+      const item = gate(g.out).items.find((i: any) => i.finding);
+      const done = answer(g.out, 1, pick(item.id), true);
+      expect(JSON.parse(done.stdout)).toMatchObject({ outcome: 'complete', reopened: [], amendments: [] });
+      expect(decisions(g.out).find(d => d.label === item.id.toUpperCase())).toMatchObject({ chosen: 'b' });
+      expect(readJsonl(path.join(g.out, 'tasks.jsonl')).some(t => /No kill switch/.test(t.title))).toBe(true);
+    }
+    const g = gated(KILL, NONE);
+    const item = gate(g.out).items.find((i: any) => i.finding);
+    answer(g.out, 1, 'p1a');
+    expect(readJsonl(path.join(g.out, 'attempts.jsonl')).find(e => e.event === 'answered')).toMatchObject({ answer_class: 'overrides', overrides: [`${item.id}b`] });
+    expect(settledIds({ out: g.out } as any).has(item.finding[0])).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  test('p1b applies the finding fixes its option text lists, and an applied finding is settled', () => {
+    const g = gated(KILL, NONE);
+    const item = gate(g.out).items.find((i: any) => i.finding);
+    expect(gate(g.out).items.find((i: any) => i.id === 'p1').options[1].text).toContain(`${item.id}a`);
+    expect(answer(g.out, 1, 'p1b').stdout).toMatch(/^APPLY: /m);
+    expect(decisions(g.out).find(d => d.label === item.id.toUpperCase())).toMatchObject({ chosen: 'a' });
+    expect(readJsonl(path.join(g.out, 'attempts.jsonl')).find(e => e.event === 'answered')).toMatchObject({ answer_class: 'plan-changes', changes: [`${item.id}a`] });
+    expect(readRunJson(g.out).status).toBe('amend_pending');
+    expect(settledIds({ out: g.out } as any).has(item.finding[0])).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test('after recommend changes an item, p1b (which takes the recommendations) needs the --rec-hash the owner saw', () => {
+    const g = gated({ native: [{ id: 'F1', severity: 'High', title: 'Ship the backoff behind a flag first', user_challenge: true, changes: 'scope', fix: 'gate it behind RETRY_BACKOFF=1' }], outside: [] }, NONE);
+    const item = gate(g.out).items.find((i: any) => i.id !== 'p1' && i.kind === 'auto' && i.options.some((o: any) => o.key === 'b'));
+    expect(r.ap(['recommend', '--out', g.out, '--gate-rev', '1', '--item', item.id, '--option', 'b', '--basis', 'owner asked for the flag', '--by', 'agent:test']).status).toBe(0);
+    const stale = answer(g.out, 1, 'p1b');
+    expect(stale.status).toBe(3);
+    expect(stale.stderr).toContain('GATE_REC_STALE');
+    expect(decisions(g.out).every(d => d.status === 'pending')).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test('a partial reply records no auto default, so a later p1b still applies the finding fix', () => {
+    const g = gated({ native: [...AGREE.native, ...KILL.native.map(f => ({ ...f, id: 'F9' }))], outside: AGREE.outside }, NONE);
+    const item = gate(g.out).items.find((i: any) => i.finding);
+    const uc = gate(g.out).items.find((i: any) => i.id.startsWith('uc'));
+    expect(answer(g.out, 1, `${uc.id}a`).stdout).toMatch(/GATE_PENDING: p1/);
+    expect(decisions(g.out).find(d => d.label === item.id.toUpperCase())?.chosen ?? null).toBeNull();
+    answer(g.out, 1, 'p1b');
+    expect(decisions(g.out).find(d => d.label === item.id.toUpperCase())).toMatchObject({ chosen: 'a' });
+  });
+
+  test('a same-file association never merges an unrelated Critical into a user challenge', () => {
+    const g = gated({ native: [{ id: 'F1', severity: 'Medium', title: 'Split the backoff into its own PR', file: 'lib/worker.ts', user_challenge: true, changes: 'packaging', fix: 'land it separately' }],
+      outside: [{ id: 'O1', severity: 'Critical', title: 'SQL injection in the lookup query', file: 'lib/worker.ts', fix: 'parameterize the query' }] }, NONE);
+    expect(gate(g.out).items.some((i: any) => i.finding && /^Critical: SQL injection/.test(i.title))).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  test('at the round cap, an outside Critical paired by file with an unrelated native Medium still counts as open', () => {
+    const dir = path.join(r.host.base, `gj${++n}`);
+    const out = path.join(dir, 'run');
+    expect(r.ap(['next', '--out', out, '--plan', writePlan(dir), '--no-ui', '--max-rounds', '1']).status).toBe(0);
+    phaseVia(r, out, 'ceo', { native: [{ id: 'F1', severity: 'Medium', title: 'rename the config key', file: 'src/resolver.ts' }], outside: [{ id: 'O1', severity: 'Critical', title: 'SQL injection in lookup query', file: 'src/resolver.ts' }] });
+    const eng = phaseVia(r, out, 'eng', NONE).outside.stdout;
+    expect(eng.split('\n').filter(l => l.startsWith('ESCALATE:'))).toEqual(['ESCALATE: evidence sufficient, decision needed (ceo: 1 High open)']);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/autoplan-pairing.test.ts b/test/autoplan-pairing.test.ts
index 71e9ab67f..60c39a1ab 100644
--- a/test/autoplan-pairing.test.ts
+++ b/test/autoplan-pairing.test.ts
@@ -61,3 +61,47 @@ describe('pairing negative control from a real run', () => {
     expect(challengeDefault(ok!, challenge(same.native, 'scope')[0], challenge(same.outside, 'scope')[0])).toMatchObject({ recommended: 'b', basis: 'both voices; same remedy' });
   });
 });
+
+describe('plan reviews name a file without a line (GBRA-223 claim 1)', () => {
+  const row = (voice: 'native' | 'outside', n: number, f: Record<string, unknown>) => ({ schema_version: 1, run: 'r', id: `r-dx-${voice}-${n}`, phase: 'dx', voice, disposition: 'open', ...f }) as any;
+  const native = row('native', 1, { severity: 'Critical', title: 'per-turn resolver call has no hard timeout or fail-open', file: 'src/resolver.ts', resolution: 'add a 2s timeout and fail open' });
+
+  test('a CAP-coded outside title on the same file is associated, unverified, never new', () => {
+    const outside = row('outside', 1, { severity: 'Critical', title: 'CAP4:src/resolver.ts:recovery', file: 'src/resolver.ts', resolution: 'bound the call' });
+    const { rows, native_only } = reconcile([native], [outside]);
+    expect(rows[0]).toMatchObject({ disposition: 'unverified', basis: 'file', native_id: native.id });
+    expect(rows[0]!.resolution).toStartWith('same file, agreement unverified (src/resolver.ts)');
+    expect(native_only).toEqual([]);
+  });
+
+  test('differently worded titles on the same file associate; the best title among same-file natives wins', () => {
+    const other = row('native', 2, { severity: 'Medium', title: 'resolver output is not cached between turns', file: 'src/resolver.ts' });
+    const outside = row('outside', 1, { severity: 'Critical', title: 'Resolver call has no timeout and can hang the turn', file: 'src/resolver.ts' });
+    expect(reconcile([other, native], [outside]).rows[0]).toMatchObject({ disposition: 'unverified', basis: 'file', native_id: native.id });
+  });
+
+  test('a CAP code is not part of the title comparison', () => {
+    const outside = row('outside', 1, { severity: 'Critical', title: 'CAP4:src/resolver.ts:recovery per-turn resolver call has no hard timeout or fail-open', file: 'src/resolver.ts', resolution: 'add a 2s timeout and fail open' });
+    expect(reconcile([native], [outside]).rows[0]).toMatchObject({ disposition: 'confirmed', basis: 'title' });
+  });
+
+  test('controls: two lines far apart, or different files, stay new', () => {
+    const lined = row('native', 1, { ...native, id: 'r-dx-native-1', line: 10 });
+    expect(reconcile([lined], [row('outside', 1, { severity: 'High', title: 'retry loop has no bound', file: 'src/resolver.ts', line: 90 })]).rows[0]!.disposition).toBe('new');
+    expect(reconcile([native], [row('outside', 1, { severity: 'High', title: 'CAP6:src/cli.ts:fix', file: 'src/cli.ts' })]).rows[0]!.disposition).toBe('new');
+  });
+
+  test('a title twin is placed before the same-file fallback, so an unrelated finding cannot take its native', () => {
+    const n1 = row('native', 1, { severity: 'High', title: 'token refresh race drops the session', file: 'plan.md' });
+    const o1 = row('outside', 1, { severity: 'High', title: 'migration lacks rollback', file: 'plan.md' });
+    const o2 = row('outside', 2, { severity: 'High', title: 'token refresh race drops the session', file: 'plan.md' });
+    const { rows } = reconcile([n1], [o1, o2]);
+    expect(rows.map(r => [r.outside_id, r.native_id, r.basis])).toEqual([[o1.id, null, 'none'], [o2.id, n1.id, 'title']]);
+  });
+
+  test('control: the same CAP item and wording on two different files never pairs by title', () => {
+    const a = row('native', 1, { severity: 'High', title: 'CAP6:bin/gstack-upgrade:recovery no retry bound on network failure', file: 'bin/gstack-upgrade' });
+    const b = row('outside', 1, { severity: 'High', title: 'CAP6:lib/telemetry-sync.ts:recovery no retry bound on network failure', file: 'lib/telemetry-sync.ts' });
+    expect(reconcile([a], [b]).rows[0]).toMatchObject({ disposition: 'new', native_id: null });
+  });
+});
diff --git a/test/autoplan-run-api.test.ts b/test/autoplan-run-api.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b35cc2c3c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/test/autoplan-run-api.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,107 @@
+/**
+ * `gstack-autoplan run` with the api runner for both voices (GBRA-223 claim 6):
+ * a complete autoplan result (INPUT receipt plus the findings fence) binds and
+ * the run reaches its gate; a response stopped at the output limit is named
+ * truncated and interrupts the run. The provider is a local server, so no key
+ * or network is used.
+ */
+import { afterAll, beforeAll, describe, expect, test } from 'bun:test';
+import * as fs from 'node:fs';
+import * as os from 'node:os';
+import * as path from 'node:path';
+import { DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS } from '../lib/outside-voice-api';
+import { AUTOPLAN, ROOT, SMALL_PLAN, env } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
+
+const TMP = fs.mkdtempSync(path.join(os.tmpdir(), 'autoplan-run-api-'));
+let mode: 'ok' | 'cut' | 'bad-outside' = 'ok';
+let calls = 0;
+let openaiLimits: unknown[] = [];
+let server: ReturnType<typeof Bun.serve>;
+beforeAll(() => {
+  server = Bun.serve({
+    port: 0,
+    async fetch(req) {
+      calls++;
+      const body = await req.json();
+      const prompt = String(body.messages[0].content);
+      const m = /INPUT: ([a-z]+) ([0-9a-f]{64})/.exec(prompt.slice(prompt.lastIndexOf('RESULT FORMAT')))!;
+      const text = mode === 'cut'
+        ? `INPUT: ${m[1]} ${m[2]}\n\nA long review that ran out of output tokens before the findings fen`
+        : `INPUT: ${m[1]} ${m[2]}\n\nComplete review.\n\n\`\`\`gstack-findings\n{"id":"F1","severity":"Medium","title":"Name the retry metric","fix":"add retries_total"}\n\`\`\`\n`;
+      if (new URL(req.url).pathname.endsWith('/messages')) return Response.json({ model: body.model, stop_reason: mode === 'cut' ? 'max_tokens' : 'end_turn', content: [{ type: 'text', text }], usage: { input_tokens: 10, output_tokens: 20 } });
+      openaiLimits.push(body.max_completion_tokens);
+      return Response.json({ model: body.model, choices: [{ finish_reason: mode === 'cut' ? 'length' : 'stop', message: { content: mode === 'bad-outside' ? `INPUT: ${m[1]} ${m[2]}\n\nA review with no findings fence.` : text } }], usage: { prompt_tokens: 10, completion_tokens: 20 } });
+    },
+  });
+});
+afterAll(() => { server.stop(true); fs.rmSync(TMP, { recursive: true, force: true }); });
+
+async function run(name: string, extra: string[] = []) {
+  const dir = path.join(TMP, name);
+  fs.mkdirSync(dir, { recursive: true });
+  fs.writeFileSync(path.join(dir, 'plan.md'), SMALL_PLAN);
+  const out = path.join(dir, 'run');
+  const base = `http://127.0.0.1:${server.port}`;
+  const proc = Bun.spawn(['bun', AUTOPLAN, 'run', '--out', out, '--plan', path.join(dir, 'plan.md'), '--no-ui', '--no-dx', '--native-model', 'anthropic/claude-opus-5-5', '--outside-model', 'openai/gpt-6-astra', '--runner', 'api', '--native-runner', 'api', ...extra], {
+    cwd: ROOT, stdout: 'pipe', stderr: 'pipe',
+    env: env({ ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: 'ak-test', OPENAI_API_KEY: 'sk-test', ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: base, OPENAI_BASE_URL: `${base}/v1`, GSTACK_AUTOPLAN_CHECKPOINT_DIR: '', GSTACK_STATE_ROOT: path.join(TMP, 'state') }),
+  });
+  const timer = setTimeout(() => proc.kill('SIGKILL'), 120_000);
+  const [status, stdout, stderr] = await Promise.all([proc.exited, new Response(proc.stdout).text(), new Response(proc.stderr).text()]);
+  clearTimeout(timer);
+  return { status, stdout, stderr, out, state: fs.existsSync(path.join(out, 'run.json')) ? JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(out, 'run.json'), 'utf8')) : null };
+}
+
+describe('gstack-autoplan run --native-runner api --runner api', () => {
+  test('a complete result binds both voices in every phase and the run reaches its gate', async () => {
+    mode = 'ok';
+    const r = await run('ok');
+    expect(r.status, r.stderr).toBe(0);
+    expect(r.stdout).toContain(`GSTACK_RESULT: skill=autoplan status=gate_pending run=${r.out}`);
+    for (const phase of ['ceo', 'eng']) for (const voice of ['native', 'outside']) expect(r.state.phases[phase][voice]).toMatchObject({ status: 'completed', findings: 1 });
+  }, 150_000);
+
+  test('a spend cap binds api attempts at their priced worst case and settles them at their usage', async () => {
+    mode = 'ok';
+    openaiLimits = [];
+    const r = await run('capped', ['--spend-cap', '8']);
+    expect(r.status, r.stderr).toBe(0);
+    expect(r.stdout).toContain(`GSTACK_RESULT: skill=autoplan status=gate_pending run=${r.out}`);
+    expect(r.stdout).not.toMatch(/^ESTIMATE:/m);
+    const ledger = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(r.out, 'spend.json'), 'utf8'));
+    expect(ledger.reserved).toEqual([]);
+    expect(ledger.settled.length).toBe(4);
+    for (const s of ledger.settled) expect(s.usd).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    expect(openaiLimits.length).toBeGreaterThan(0);
+    for (const limit of openaiLimits) expect(limit).toBe(DEFAULT_MAX_TOKENS);
+    calls = 0;
+    const zero = await run('zero-cap', ['--spend-cap', '0']);
+    expect(zero.status).toBe(3);
+    expect(zero.stdout + zero.stderr).toContain('SPEND_CAP_EXCEEDED');
+    expect(calls).toBe(0);
+  }, 150_000);
+
+  test('an outside result with no findings fence leaves the run native-only instead of aborting it', async () => {
+    mode = 'bad-outside';
+    const r = await run('bad-outside');
+    expect(r.status, r.stderr).toBe(0);
+    expect(r.state.status).toBe('gate_pending');
+    expect(r.state.phases.ceo.outside.status).toBe('unavailable');
+    expect(r.state.phases.ceo.native).toMatchObject({ status: 'completed', findings: 1 });
+  }, 150_000);
+
+  test('--max-tokens needs a positive integer', async () => {
+    const r = await run('max0', ['--max-tokens', '0']);
+    expect(r.status).toBe(2);
+    expect(r.stderr).toContain('--max-tokens needs a positive integer');
+    expect(r.state).toBeNull();
+  }, 30_000);
+
+  test('a response stopped at the output limit is named truncated and interrupts the run', async () => {
+    mode = 'cut';
+    const r = await run('cut');
+    expect(r.status).toBe(1);
+    expect(r.stderr).toMatch(/native voice unavailable: truncated: .*output limit/);
+    expect(r.state.status).toBe('interrupted');
+  }, 150_000);
+});
diff --git a/test/autoplan-run-recovery.test.ts b/test/autoplan-run-recovery.test.ts
index 74dbf1361..81a6eb2c2 100644
--- a/test/autoplan-run-recovery.test.ts
+++ b/test/autoplan-run-recovery.test.ts
@@ -106,7 +106,8 @@ describe('next/submit loop', () => {
     expect(v.status, v.stdout + v.stderr).toBe(0);
     expect(JSON.parse(v.stdout)).toMatchObject({ valid: true, status: 'gate_pending' });
     const gate = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(out, 'gate.json'), 'utf8'));
-    expect(gate.items.map((i: any) => i.id)).toEqual(['uc1', 'uc2', 'p1']);
+    expect(gate.items.map((i: any) => i.id)).toEqual(['uc1', 'd1', 'd2', 'uc2', 'd3', 'd4', 'p1']);
+    expect(gate.items.filter((i: any) => i.finding).map((i: any) => i.title.split(':')[0])).toEqual(['Critical', 'High', 'Critical', 'High']);
     const decisions = fs.readFileSync(path.join(out, 'decisions.jsonl'), 'utf8').trim().split('\n').map(l => JSON.parse(l));
     expect(decisions.every((d: any) => d.status === 'pending' && d.gate_rev === 1)).toBe(true);
     const tasks = fs.readFileSync(path.join(out, 'tasks.jsonl'), 'utf8').trim().split('\n').map(l => JSON.parse(l));
diff --git a/test/capy-captain-flow.test.ts b/test/capy-captain-flow.test.ts
index f022e557b..9e5c9ec83 100644
--- a/test/capy-captain-flow.test.ts
+++ b/test/capy-captain-flow.test.ts
@@ -11,7 +11,7 @@ import { afterAll, describe, expect, test } from 'bun:test';
 import { spawnSync } from 'node:child_process';
 import * as fs from 'node:fs';
 import * as path from 'node:path';
-import { ROOT, resultOf } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
+import { ROOT, recCarrying, resultOf } from './helpers/autoplan-run-fixture';
 import { capyRunner, phaseVia, writePlan } from './helpers/autoplan-capy';
 
 const r = capyRunner();
@@ -69,7 +69,8 @@ describe('Capy Captain flow', () => {
     expect(j.brief).toStartWith('**Decision needed:** approve the plan "Retry backoff for the webhook worker".');
     for (const h of ['### Before → after', '### Why it matters', '### What caused this work', '### Big decisions', '### What we need from you']) expect(j.brief).toContain(h);
 
-    const answer = r.ap(['answer', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', String(j.gate_rev), '--reply', 'rec', '--rec-hash', j.rec_hash, '--by', 'agent:GSTA-1', '--owner-reply', 'rec']);
+    const reply = recCarrying(out, 'rec');
+    const answer = r.ap(['answer', '--out', out, '--gate-rev', String(j.gate_rev), '--reply', reply, '--rec-hash', j.rec_hash, '--by', 'agent:GSTA-1', '--owner-reply', reply]);
     expect(answer.status, answer.stderr + answer.stdout).toBe(0);
     expect(answer.stdout).toMatch(/^APPROVED: gate_rev=1/m);
 
@@ -84,7 +85,7 @@ describe('Capy Captain flow', () => {
     expect(bin('gstack-approvals', ['import', '--autoplan', out, '--by', 'Garry'], env, repo).stdout).toMatch(/^APPROVAL_IMPORTED: n=0 skipped=1 /);
     const table = bin('gstack-approvals', ['render'], env, repo).stdout;
     expect(table).toContain('Approve the plan "Retry backoff for the webhook worker"');
-    expect(table).toContain('“rec” (Garry, relayed by agent:GSTA-1) | approved |');
+    expect(table).toContain(`“${reply}” (Garry, relayed by agent:GSTA-1) | approved |`);
     expect(fs.readdirSync(path.join(mirror, 'acme-worker')).length).toBe(1);
   });
 
diff --git a/test/dx-error-contract-grader.test.ts b/test/dx-error-contract-grader.test.ts
index 4b601604c..1aa923325 100644
--- a/test/dx-error-contract-grader.test.ts
+++ b/test/dx-error-contract-grader.test.ts
@@ -21,8 +21,8 @@ describe('dx-error-contract-review grader (free controls for the paid case)', ()
   });
 
   test('the grader keys on the title and severity shapes the product prompt asks for', () => {
-    expect(DX_ERROR_COMPACT).toContain('as a Critical finding titled "CAP4:<path>:<item>"');
-    expect(DX_ERROR_COMPACT).toContain('as a High finding titled "CAP6:<path>:<item>"');
+    expect(DX_ERROR_COMPACT).toContain('as a Critical finding titled "CAP4:<path>:<item> <what fails>"');
+    expect(DX_ERROR_COMPACT).toContain('as a High finding titled "CAP6:<path>:<item> <what fails>"');
     const rows = DX_ERROR_ITEMS.map((item, index) => ({ id: `F${index}`, severity: 'High', title: `CAP6:P1:${item} gap` }));
     expect(capFindings(fence(rows)).map(cap => cap.item)).toEqual([...DX_ERROR_ITEMS]);
   });
diff --git a/test/dx-error-contract.test.ts b/test/dx-error-contract.test.ts
index be98a59d9..b72b4f4c0 100644
--- a/test/dx-error-contract.test.ts
+++ b/test/dx-error-contract.test.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,8 @@ describe('agent-ready error contract reaches every DX reviewer', () => {
     for (const text of [DX_ERROR_CONTRACT, DX_ERROR_COMPACT]) {
       expect(text).toContain('CAP4:<path>:<item>');
       expect(text).toContain('CAP6:<path>:<item>');
+      expect(text).toContain('CAP4:<path>:<item> <what fails>');
+      expect(text).toContain('CAP6:<path>:<item> <what fails>');
       expect(text).toContain('4/10');
       expect(text).toContain('6/10');
       expect(text).toMatch(/[Uu]sage (and|or) validation error/);
diff --git a/test/fixtures/skill-md-size-allowlist.json b/test/fixtures/skill-md-size-allowlist.json
index 45435e0a9..841946e32 100644
--- a/test/fixtures/skill-md-size-allowlist.json
+++ b/test/fixtures/skill-md-size-allowlist.json
@@ -4,27 +4,27 @@
   "pins": {
     "agy/gstack-autoplan": 109666,
     "agy/gstack-plan-design-review": 109116,
-    "agy/gstack-plan-devex-review": 114958,
+    "agy/gstack-plan-devex-review": 114957,
     "agy/gstack-plan-eng-review": 143590,
     "agy/gstack-review": 104276,
     "codex/gstack-autoplan": 108409,
     "codex/gstack-plan-design-review": 110473,
-    "codex/gstack-plan-devex-review": 116466,
+    "codex/gstack-plan-devex-review": 116465,
     "codex/gstack-plan-eng-review": 144755,
     "codex/gstack-review": 103799,
     "copilot/gstack-autoplan": 109109,
     "copilot/gstack-plan-design-review": 109382,
-    "copilot/gstack-plan-devex-review": 114420,
+    "copilot/gstack-plan-devex-review": 114419,
     "copilot/gstack-plan-eng-review": 143755,
     "copilot/gstack-review": 103857,
     "cursor/gstack-autoplan": 108341,
     "cursor/gstack-plan-design-review": 107924,
-    "cursor/gstack-plan-devex-review": 113690,
+    "cursor/gstack-plan-devex-review": 113689,
     "cursor/gstack-plan-eng-review": 142345,
     "cursor/gstack-review": 122147,
     "factory/gstack-autoplan": 110619,
     "factory/gstack-plan-design-review": 111022,
-    "factory/gstack-plan-devex-review": 117053,
+    "factory/gstack-plan-devex-review": 117052,
     "factory/gstack-plan-eng-review": 145453,
     "factory/gstack-review": 125920,
     "gbrain/gstack-autoplan": 108748,
@@ -38,19 +38,19 @@
     "hermes/gstack-plan-eng-review": 125008,
     "kiro/gstack-autoplan": 108115,
     "kiro/gstack-plan-design-review": 107770,
-    "kiro/gstack-plan-devex-review": 113542,
+    "kiro/gstack-plan-devex-review": 113541,
     "kiro/gstack-plan-eng-review": 142207,
     "kiro/gstack-review": 121971,
     "openclaw/gstack-autoplan": 108571,
     "openclaw/gstack-plan-eng-review": 123487,
     "opencode/gstack-autoplan": 109090,
     "opencode/gstack-plan-design-review": 109238,
-    "opencode/gstack-plan-devex-review": 114298,
+    "opencode/gstack-plan-devex-review": 114297,
     "opencode/gstack-plan-eng-review": 143614,
     "opencode/gstack-review": 122769,
     "slate/gstack-autoplan": 108228,
     "slate/gstack-plan-design-review": 107847,
-    "slate/gstack-plan-devex-review": 113616,
+    "slate/gstack-plan-devex-review": 113615,
     "slate/gstack-plan-eng-review": 142276,
     "slate/gstack-review": 122059
   }
diff --git a/test/helpers/autoplan-run-fixture.ts b/test/helpers/autoplan-run-fixture.ts
index de053d821..e651305a2 100644
--- a/test/helpers/autoplan-run-fixture.ts
+++ b/test/helpers/autoplan-run-fixture.ts
@@ -58,6 +58,16 @@ export function resultOf(out: string, phase: string, voice: 'native' | 'outside'
 }
 /** The sealed copy a completed voice is bound to. */
 export const boundOf = (out: string, phase: string, voice: 'native' | 'outside'): string => path.join(out, readRun(out).phases[phase][voice].output);
+/**
+ * A `rec`/`all` reply that carries every open Critical/High finding item into the build (`<id>b`, no plan change),
+ * so a test about another gate mechanism keeps its flow; `extra` tokens are appended to the except list.
+ */
+export function recCarrying(out: string, base = 'all', extra: string[] = []): string {
+  const carry = (JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(path.join(out, 'gate.json'), 'utf8')).items as Array<{ id: string; finding?: string[] }>).filter(i => i.finding).map(i => `${i.id}b`);
+  const tokens = [...carry, ...extra];
+  return tokens.length ? `${base} except ${tokens.join(' ')}` : base;
+}
+
 export function attemptsOf(out: string, phase: string): { native: string; outside: string } {
   const run = readRun(out);
   return { native: run.phases[phase].native.attempt, outside: run.phases[phase].outside.attempt };
diff --git a/test/outside-runner-contract.test.ts b/test/outside-runner-contract.test.ts
index 2c847e3ae..062f70595 100644
--- a/test/outside-runner-contract.test.ts
+++ b/test/outside-runner-contract.test.ts
@@ -240,3 +240,46 @@ describe('api runner (supplied-input review)', () => {
     expect(nokey.stderr).toMatch(/OPENAI_API_KEY is not set.*\(OUTSIDE_RUNNER_UNAVAILABLE\)$/m);
   });
 });
+
+describe('api runner output limits (GBRA-223 claim 6)', () => {
+  let server: ReturnType<typeof Bun.serve>;
+  const bodies: Array<{ url: string; body: any }> = [];
+  beforeAll(() => {
+    server = Bun.serve({
+      port: 0,
+      async fetch(req) {
+        const url = new URL(req.url);
+        const body = await req.json();
+        bodies.push({ url: url.pathname, body });
+        const cut = String(body.model).includes('cut');
+        if (url.pathname === '/v1/messages') return Response.json({ model: body.model, stop_reason: cut ? 'max_tokens' : 'end_turn', content: [{ type: 'text', text: cut ? 'INPUT: ceo abc\n\nA long review cut off mid-sent' : REVIEW }], usage: { input_tokens: 10, output_tokens: body.max_tokens } });
+        return Response.json({ model: body.model, choices: [{ finish_reason: cut ? 'length' : 'stop', message: { content: cut ? 'INPUT: ceo abc\n\nA long review cut off' : REVIEW } }], usage: { prompt_tokens: 10, completion_tokens: 50 } });
+      },
+    });
+  });
+  afterAll(() => server.stop(true));
+  const anthropic = () => ({ ...cleanEnv(emptyBin), ANTHROPIC_API_KEY: 'ak-test', ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL: `http://127.0.0.1:${server.port}` });
+  const openai = () => ({ ...cleanEnv(emptyBin), OPENAI_API_KEY: 'sk-test', OPENAI_BASE_URL: `http://127.0.0.1:${server.port}/v1` });
+  const out = (name: string) => path.join(TMP, 'limits', name);
+
+  test('anthropic asks for 16384 output tokens by default and --max-tokens sets it; openai sends max_completion_tokens only when set', async () => {
+    expect((await runAsync(['run', '--runner', 'api', '--prompt', promptFile, '--out', out('a1.md'), '--model', 'claude-opus-5-5'], anthropic())).status).toBe(0);
+    expect((await runAsync(['run', '--runner', 'api', '--prompt', promptFile, '--out', out('a2.md'), '--model', 'claude-opus-5-5', '--max-tokens', '4000'], anthropic())).status).toBe(0);
+    expect(bodies.filter(b => b.url === '/v1/messages').map(b => b.body.max_tokens)).toEqual([16384, 4000]);
+    expect((await runAsync(['run', '--runner', 'api', '--prompt', promptFile, '--out', out('o1.md'), '--model', 'gpt-6-astra'], openai())).status).toBe(0);
+    expect((await runAsync(['run', '--runner', 'api', '--prompt', promptFile, '--out', out('o2.md'), '--model', 'gpt-6-astra', '--max-tokens', '4000'], openai())).status).toBe(0);
+    expect(bodies.filter(b => b.url === '/v1/chat/completions').map(b => b.body.max_completion_tokens ?? null)).toEqual([null, 4000]);
+  });
+
+  test('a response stopped at the output limit is truncated (exit 1), never a completed or missing-markers review', async () => {
+    for (const [model, env, tokens] of [['claude-cut', anthropic(), '16384'], ['gpt-cut', openai(), '50']] as const) {
+      const file = out(`${model}.md`);
+      const r = await runAsync(['run', '--runner', 'api', '--prompt', promptFile, '--out', file, '--model', model], env);
+      expect(r.status).toBe(1);
+      expect(r.stderr).toMatch(/api unavailable \(truncated\): .*output limit/);
+      const meta = JSON.parse(fs.readFileSync(`${file}.meta.json`, 'utf8'));
+      expect(meta).toMatchObject({ status: 'unavailable', reason: 'truncated' });
+      expect(meta.detail).toContain(tokens);
+    }
+  });
+});