diff --git a/autoplan/DRIVER.md b/autoplan/DRIVER.md
index 6bbdc824a..b8ed9b8c2 100644
--- a/autoplan/DRIVER.md
+++ b/autoplan/DRIVER.md
@@ -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).
 - `rec except d3b`: recommendations, with the listed overrides.
 
 ## Run directory
diff --git a/docs/unattended.md b/docs/unattended.md
index d450cf63e..43fbe0f74 100644
--- a/docs/unattended.md
+++ b/docs/unattended.md
@@ -369,7 +369,13 @@ 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`
+   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)
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..27ca85d85 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';
@@ -205,8 +205,9 @@ 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.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;
@@ -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 });
diff --git a/lib/gate-list.ts b/lib/gate-list.ts
index 6dc3bb1ae..5cfbf0247 100644
--- a/lib/gate-list.ts
+++ b/lib/gate-list.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
  * 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), `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 +40,8 @@ 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`. */
@@ -203,7 +206,7 @@ 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: 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 +217,11 @@ 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 +232,7 @@ 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/scripts/resolvers/autoplan-driver.ts b/scripts/resolvers/autoplan-driver.ts
index 51cce1eba..d4d3cabf5 100644
--- a/scripts/resolvers/autoplan-driver.ts
+++ b/scripts/resolvers/autoplan-driver.ts
@@ -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)' },
   { reply: 'rec except d3b', means: 'recommendations, with the listed overrides' },
 ];
 
diff --git a/test/autoplan-answer-invalidation.test.ts b/test/autoplan-answer-invalidation.test.ts
index 9eaa9b0d1..a0d2b3c30 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);
 
@@ -95,17 +96,18 @@ describe('answer', () => {
     expect(rows.filter((r: any) => r.status === 'pending').map((r: any) => r.label)).toEqual(['UC1', 'UC2', '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-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-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..981298f03 100644
--- a/test/autoplan-gate-judgment.test.ts
+++ b/test/autoplan-gate-judgment.test.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ 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, 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';
 
 const r = capyRunner();
@@ -119,7 +119,7 @@ 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 +165,7 @@ 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 +179,7 @@ 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 +196,7 @@ 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 +229,7 @@ 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 +262,7 @@ 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 +298,39 @@ 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);
+    }
+  });
+});
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/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 };