diff --git a/CLAUDE.md b/CLAUDE.md
index 9691f4c..ddf6410 100644
--- a/CLAUDE.md
+++ b/CLAUDE.md
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ Infra (Temporal) runs via `docker-compose.yml`. Workers are ephemeral `docker ru
 - `apps/worker/src/paths.ts` — Centralized path constants (`PROMPTS_DIR`, `CONFIGS_DIR`, `WORKSPACES_DIR`)
 - `apps/worker/src/session-manager.ts` — Agent definitions (`AGENTS` record). Agent types in `apps/worker/src/types/agents.ts`
 - `apps/worker/src/config-parser.ts` — YAML config parsing with JSON Schema validation
-- `apps/worker/src/ai/claude-executor.ts` — Claude Agent SDK integration with retry logic
+- `apps/worker/src/ai/pi-executor.ts` — pi harness integration (retry disabled; Temporal owns retry)
 - `apps/worker/src/services/` — Business logic layer (Temporal-agnostic). Activities delegate here. Key: `agent-execution.ts`, `error-handling.ts`, `container.ts`
 - `apps/worker/src/types/` — Consolidated types: `Result<T,E>`, `ErrorCode`, `AgentName`, `ActivityLogger`, etc.
 - `apps/worker/src/utils/` — Shared utilities (file I/O, formatting, concurrency)
@@ -145,9 +145,9 @@ Durable workflow orchestration with crash recovery, queryable progress, intellig
 5. **Reporting** (`report`) — Executive-level security report
 
 ### Supporting Systems
-- **Configuration** — YAML configs in `apps/worker/configs/` with JSON Schema validation (`config-schema.json`). Supports auth settings (MFA/TOTP), URL/code rule scoping (`rules.avoid`/`rules.focus`), run-scope steering (`vuln_classes`, `exploit`), free-form `rules_of_engagement`, and post-hoc `report` filters (`min_severity`, `min_confidence`, `guidance`). `code_path` avoid rules are enforced via the `@gotgenes/pi-permission-system` extension: `apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts:syncCodePathDenyRules` writes a global `path` deny config once per workflow (`apps/worker/src/ai/settings-writer.ts:writeCodePathPermissionConfig`), and the executor loads the extension when that config is present (`apps/worker/src/ai/claude-executor.ts`), so denies fire across every tool and child `task` session. `vuln_classes`/`exploit` scope is locked into `session.json` on first run; resumes with a different scope fail fast (`persistOrValidateRunScope`). Credential resolution — local mode: env vars → `./.env`; npx mode: env vars → `~/.shannon/config.toml` (via `shn setup`)
+- **Configuration** — YAML configs in `apps/worker/configs/` with JSON Schema validation (`config-schema.json`). Supports auth settings (MFA/TOTP), URL/code rule scoping (`rules.avoid`/`rules.focus`), run-scope steering (`vuln_classes`, `exploit`), free-form `rules_of_engagement`, and post-hoc `report` filters (`min_severity`, `min_confidence`, `guidance`). `code_path` avoid rules are enforced via the `@gotgenes/pi-permission-system` extension: `apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts:syncCodePathDenyRules` writes a global `path` deny config once per workflow (`apps/worker/src/ai/settings-writer.ts:writeCodePathPermissionConfig`), and the executor loads the extension when that config is present (`apps/worker/src/ai/pi-executor.ts`), so denies fire across every tool and child `task` session. `vuln_classes`/`exploit` scope is locked into `session.json` on first run; resumes with a different scope fail fast (`persistOrValidateRunScope`). Credential resolution — local mode: env vars → `./.env`; npx mode: env vars → `~/.shannon/config.toml` (via `shn setup`)
 - **Prompts** — Per-phase templates in `apps/worker/prompts/` with variable substitution (`{{TARGET_URL}}`, `{{CONFIG_CONTEXT}}`). Shared partials in `apps/worker/prompts/shared/` via `apps/worker/src/services/prompt-manager.ts`, including `_code-path-rules.txt` (focus/avoid `[FILE]`/`[GLOB]` routing) and `_rules-of-engagement.txt` (free-text engagement rules). When `exploit: false`, `apps/worker/src/services/findings-renderer.ts` deterministically converts each `*_exploitation_queue.json` into a `*_findings.md` for report assembly — no LLM in the loop
-- **Agent Harness (pi)** — Uses the **pi harness** (`@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent`, requires Node ≥ 22.19) via `apps/worker/src/ai/claude-executor.ts` (`runClaudePrompt` → `createAgentSession`, retry disabled so Temporal owns retry). Models resolve through pi-ai in `apps/worker/src/ai/models.ts` (Anthropic / Bedrock / custom base URL via `ModelRegistry`+`AuthStorage`). pi ships no JSON-schema output or `Task`/`TodoWrite` built-ins, so structured queues are captured via a `submit_exploitation_queue` custom tool (`apps/worker/src/ai/queue-schemas.ts`), and `task` (read-only child sessions) + `todo_write` are provided as custom tools (`apps/worker/src/ai/tools.ts`); the per-phase MCP collectors are pi custom tools (TypeBox `defineTool` in `apps/worker/src/mcp-server/`). Thinking level defaults to `medium`; disable per-scan via `CLAUDE_ADAPTIVE_THINKING=false` (→ `off`) or set `CLAUDE_THINKING_LEVEL` (env) / `core.adaptive_thinking = false` (npx TOML). Browser automation via `playwright-cli` with session isolation (`-s=<session>`). TOTP generation via `generate-totp` CLI tool. Login flow template at `apps/worker/prompts/shared/login-instructions.txt` supports form, SSO, API, and basic auth. On authenticated whitebox scans, the `validate-authentication` preflight performs the single real login and saves the browser session to `auth-state.json` in the per-session audit directory (path from `authStateFile()` in `apps/worker/src/audit/utils.ts`, derived from `generateAuditPath()`). The validation activity (`apps/worker/src/services/validate-authentication.ts`) removes any stale file from a prior run before the agent runs and verifies the file parses and contains cookies or storage before the preflight is marked complete; `logWorkflowComplete` deletes it when the workflow ends so authenticated cookies don't sit on disk between scans. Agent prompts opt in to session reuse by `@include(shared/_shared-session.txt)` before their `<login_instructions>` block — the partial restores the session and falls through to the full login flow if verification fails. `vuln-auth`/`exploit-auth` omit the include and own their own login
+- **Agent Harness (pi)** — Uses the **pi harness** (`@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent`, requires Node ≥ 22.19) via `apps/worker/src/ai/pi-executor.ts` (`runPiPrompt` → `createAgentSession`, retry disabled so Temporal owns retry). Models resolve through pi-ai in `apps/worker/src/ai/models.ts` (Anthropic / Bedrock / custom base URL via `ModelRegistry`+`AuthStorage`). pi ships no JSON-schema output or `Task`/`TodoWrite` built-ins, so structured queues are captured via a `submit_exploitation_queue` custom tool (`apps/worker/src/ai/queue-schemas.ts`), and `task` (read-only child sessions) + `todo_write` are provided as custom tools (`apps/worker/src/ai/tools.ts`); the per-phase MCP collectors are pi custom tools (TypeBox `defineTool` in `apps/worker/src/mcp-server/`). Thinking level defaults to `medium`; disable per-scan via `CLAUDE_ADAPTIVE_THINKING=false` (→ `off`) or set `CLAUDE_THINKING_LEVEL` (env) / `core.adaptive_thinking = false` (npx TOML). Browser automation via `playwright-cli` with session isolation (`-s=<session>`). TOTP generation via `generate-totp` CLI tool. Login flow template at `apps/worker/prompts/shared/login-instructions.txt` supports form, SSO, API, and basic auth. On authenticated whitebox scans, the `validate-authentication` preflight performs the single real login and saves the browser session to `auth-state.json` in the per-session audit directory (path from `authStateFile()` in `apps/worker/src/audit/utils.ts`, derived from `generateAuditPath()`). The validation activity (`apps/worker/src/services/validate-authentication.ts`) removes any stale file from a prior run before the agent runs and verifies the file parses and contains cookies or storage before the preflight is marked complete; `logWorkflowComplete` deletes it when the workflow ends so authenticated cookies don't sit on disk between scans. Agent prompts opt in to session reuse by `@include(shared/_shared-session.txt)` before their `<login_instructions>` block — the partial restores the session and falls through to the full login flow if verification fails. `vuln-auth`/`exploit-auth` omit the include and own their own login
 - **Audit System** — Crash-safe append-only logging in `workspaces/{hostname}_{sessionId}/`. Tracks session metrics, per-agent logs, prompts, and deliverables. WorkflowLogger (`apps/worker/src/audit/workflow-logger.ts`) provides unified human-readable per-workflow logs, backed by LogStream (`apps/worker/src/audit/log-stream.ts`) shared stream primitive
 - **Deliverables** — Saved to `deliverables/` in the target repo via the `save-deliverable` CLI script (`apps/worker/src/scripts/save-deliverable.ts`)
 - **Workspaces & Resume** — Named workspaces via `-w <name>` or auto-named from URL+timestamp. Resume detects completed agents via `session.json`. `loadResumeState()` in `apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts` validates deliverable existence, restores git checkpoints, and cleans up incomplete deliverables. Workspace listing via `apps/worker/src/temporal/workspaces.ts`
@@ -228,7 +228,7 @@ Comments must be **timeless** — no references to this conversation, refactorin
 
 **Entry Points:** `apps/worker/src/temporal/workflows.ts`, `apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts`, `apps/worker/src/temporal/worker.ts`
 
-**Core Logic:** `apps/worker/src/session-manager.ts`, `apps/worker/src/ai/claude-executor.ts`, `apps/worker/src/ai/settings-writer.ts` (writes `code_path` deny rules to the `@gotgenes/pi-permission-system` global config), `apps/worker/src/config-parser.ts`, `apps/worker/src/services/` (incl. `preflight.ts`, `findings-renderer.ts`, `reporting.ts`), `apps/worker/src/audit/`
+**Core Logic:** `apps/worker/src/session-manager.ts`, `apps/worker/src/ai/pi-executor.ts`, `apps/worker/src/ai/settings-writer.ts` (writes `code_path` deny rules to the `@gotgenes/pi-permission-system` global config), `apps/worker/src/config-parser.ts`, `apps/worker/src/services/` (incl. `preflight.ts`, `findings-renderer.ts`, `reporting.ts`), `apps/worker/src/audit/`
 
 **Config:** `docker-compose.yml`, `apps/cli/infra/compose.yml`, `apps/worker/configs/`, `apps/worker/prompts/`, `tsconfig.base.json` (shared compiler options), `turbo.json`, `biome.json`
 
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/ai/models.ts b/apps/worker/src/ai/models.ts
index ea11f4a..b27db8d 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/ai/models.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/ai/models.ts
@@ -106,7 +106,7 @@ export function resolveModelId(tier: ModelTier = 'medium', providerConfig?: Prov
 /**
  * Resolve the thinking level for a run.
  *
- * The Claude Agent SDK enabled "adaptive" thinking only on capable models; pi uses
+ * The previous harness enabled "adaptive" thinking only on capable models; pi uses
  * explicit levels and clamps to model capability internally. We default to 'medium'
  * and honour the existing CLAUDE_ADAPTIVE_THINKING=false kill switch (→ 'off'). An
  * explicit CLAUDE_THINKING_LEVEL wins when set.
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/ai/output-formatters.ts b/apps/worker/src/ai/output-formatters.ts
index c960fb4..db351bb 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/ai/output-formatters.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/ai/output-formatters.ts
@@ -326,7 +326,7 @@ export function formatErrorOutput(
   } else if (context.useCleanOutput) {
     lines.push(`${context.agentType} failed (${formatDuration(duration)})`);
   } else {
-    lines.push(`  Claude Code failed: ${description} (${formatDuration(duration)})`);
+    lines.push(`  pi agent failed: ${description} (${formatDuration(duration)})`);
   }
 
   lines.push(`    Error Type: ${error.constructor.name}`);
@@ -360,7 +360,7 @@ export function formatCompletionMessage(
     return `${context.agentType.charAt(0).toUpperCase() + context.agentType.slice(1)} complete! (${turnCount} turns, ${formatDuration(duration)})`;
   }
 
-  return `  Claude Code completed: ${description} (${turnCount} turns) in ${formatDuration(duration)}`;
+  return `  pi agent completed: ${description} (${turnCount} turns) in ${formatDuration(duration)}`;
 }
 
 export function formatToolUseOutput(toolName: string, input: Record<string, unknown> | undefined): string[] {
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/ai/claude-executor.ts b/apps/worker/src/ai/pi-executor.ts
similarity index 98%
rename from apps/worker/src/ai/claude-executor.ts
rename to apps/worker/src/ai/pi-executor.ts
index 0914f18..809b126 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/ai/claude-executor.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/ai/pi-executor.ts
@@ -78,7 +78,7 @@ async function buildPermissionResourceLoader(cwd: string, logger: ActivityLogger
   return loader;
 }
 
-export interface ClaudePromptResult {
+export interface PiPromptResult {
   result?: string | null | undefined;
   success: boolean;
   duration: number;
@@ -109,7 +109,7 @@ async function writeErrorLog(
   try {
     const errorLog = {
       timestamp: formatTimestamp(),
-      agent: 'claude-executor',
+      agent: 'pi-executor',
       error: { name: err.constructor.name, message: err.message, code: err.code, status: err.status, stack: err.stack },
       context: { sourceDir, prompt: `${fullPrompt.slice(0, 200)}...`, retryable: isRetryableError(err) },
       duration,
@@ -122,7 +122,7 @@ async function writeErrorLog(
 }
 
 export async function validateAgentOutput(
-  result: ClaudePromptResult,
+  result: PiPromptResult,
   agentName: string | null,
   sourceDir: string,
   logger: ActivityLogger,
@@ -187,11 +187,11 @@ function classifyErrorText(content: string): PentestError | null {
 
 // Low-level pi execution. Drives one agent session to completion with progress and
 // audit logging. Exported for Temporal activities to call single-attempt execution.
-export async function runClaudePrompt(
+export async function runPiPrompt(
   prompt: string,
   sourceDir: string,
   context: string = '',
-  description: string = 'Claude analysis',
+  description: string = 'Agent analysis',
   _agentName: string | null = null,
   auditSession: AuditSession | null = null,
   logger: ActivityLogger,
@@ -200,7 +200,7 @@ export async function runClaudePrompt(
   apiKey?: string,
   deliverablesSubdir?: string,
   providerConfig?: import('../types/config.js').ProviderConfig,
-): Promise<ClaudePromptResult> {
+): Promise<PiPromptResult> {
   // 1. Initialize timing and prompt
   const timer = new Timer(`agent-${description.toLowerCase().replace(/\s+/g, '-')}`);
   const fullPrompt = context ? `${context}\n\n${prompt}` : prompt;
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/ai/settings-writer.ts b/apps/worker/src/ai/settings-writer.ts
index 395ba58..46c126d 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/ai/settings-writer.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/ai/settings-writer.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@
 
 /**
  * Writes the @gotgenes/pi-permission-system global config from `code_path` avoid
- * patterns. The executor loads the extension (see claude-executor) and pi enforces
+ * patterns. The executor loads the extension (see pi-executor) and pi enforces
  * these path denies at the tool layer for every agent. Written to the global config
  * dir under `agentDir` — the project-scoped path is gated behind project trust,
  * which our headless runs do not grant; the global path is not.
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/ai/tools.ts b/apps/worker/src/ai/tools.ts
index cbc2997..ea058e1 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/ai/tools.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/ai/tools.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,7 @@
 /**
  * Universal custom tools registered for every agent: `task` and `todo_write`.
  *
- * These replace the Claude Agent SDK built-ins that pi does not ship. `task`
+ * These replace the previous harness built-ins that pi does not ship. `task`
  * delegates a focused analysis to an in-process read-only child session (the
  * Task sub-agent replacement); `todo_write` is a full-state-replace planning
  * scratchpad mirrored to the workflow log.
@@ -116,7 +116,7 @@ function renderTodos(todos: readonly TodoItem[]): string {
 /**
  * The `todo_write` tool — a full-state-replace planning scratchpad.
  *
- * Mirrors Claude Code's TodoWrite: each call carries the entire list and replaces
+ * Mirrors the TodoWrite tool: each call carries the entire list and replaces
  * stored state (no append/merge). No deliverable impact; every call is echoed to
  * the workflow log so `shannon logs` shows the agent's live plan. State is per
  * tool instance (one per agent execution).
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/services/agent-execution.ts b/apps/worker/src/services/agent-execution.ts
index 2b0702d..f0c5874 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/services/agent-execution.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/services/agent-execution.ts
@@ -12,7 +12,7 @@
  * - Load prompt template using AGENTS[agentName].promptTemplate
  * - Create git checkpoint
  * - Start audit logging
- * - Invoke Claude SDK via runClaudePrompt
+ * - Invoke the pi agent via runPiPrompt
  * - Spending cap check using isSpendingCapBehavior
  * - Handle failure (rollback, audit)
  * - Validate output using AGENTS[agentName].deliverableFilename
@@ -22,7 +22,7 @@
  */
 
 import { fs, path } from 'zx';
-import { type ClaudePromptResult, runClaudePrompt, validateAgentOutput } from '../ai/claude-executor.js';
+import { type PiPromptResult, runPiPrompt, validateAgentOutput } from '../ai/pi-executor.js';
 import { createQueueSubmitTool, getQueueFilename } from '../ai/queue-schemas.js';
 import type { AuditSession } from '../audit/index.js';
 import { authStateFile } from '../audit/utils.js';
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ export interface AgentExecutionInput {
 
 interface FailAgentOpts {
   attemptNumber: number;
-  result: ClaudePromptResult;
+  result: PiPromptResult;
   rollbackReason: string;
   errorMessage: string;
   errorCode: ErrorCode;
@@ -167,7 +167,7 @@ export class AgentExecutionService {
     //    exploitation queue (pi has no JSON-schema output format).
     const submitTool = createQueueSubmitTool(agentName, distributedConfig?.exploit ?? true);
     const callerTools = [...(customTools ?? []), ...(submitTool ? [submitTool.tool] : [])];
-    const result: ClaudePromptResult = await runClaudePrompt(
+    const result: PiPromptResult = await runPiPrompt(
       prompt,
       repoPath,
       '', // context
@@ -309,7 +309,7 @@ export class AgentExecutionService {
   /**
    * Convert AgentEndResult to AgentMetrics for workflow state.
    */
-  static toMetrics(endResult: AgentEndResult, result: ClaudePromptResult): AgentMetrics {
+  static toMetrics(endResult: AgentEndResult, result: PiPromptResult): AgentMetrics {
     return {
       durationMs: endResult.duration_ms,
       inputTokens: null, // Not currently exposed by SDK wrapper
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/services/error-handling.ts b/apps/worker/src/services/error-handling.ts
index ee3df38..99fb394 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/services/error-handling.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/services/error-handling.ts
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ const RETRYABLE_PATTERNS = [
   'internal server error',
   'service unavailable',
   'bad gateway',
-  // Claude API errors
+  // Provider API errors
   'model unavailable',
   'service temporarily unavailable',
   'api error',
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/services/index.ts b/apps/worker/src/services/index.ts
index 48a0019..5f5581b 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/services/index.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/services/index.ts
@@ -11,8 +11,8 @@
  * Services are pure domain logic with no Temporal dependencies.
  */
 
-export type { ClaudePromptResult } from '../ai/claude-executor.js';
-export { runClaudePrompt } from '../ai/claude-executor.js';
+export type { PiPromptResult } from '../ai/pi-executor.js';
+export { runPiPrompt } from '../ai/pi-executor.js';
 export type { AgentExecutionInput } from './agent-execution.js';
 export { AgentExecutionService } from './agent-execution.js';
 export { ConfigLoaderService } from './config-loader.js';
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/services/preflight.ts b/apps/worker/src/services/preflight.ts
index d129063..af3a2c4 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/services/preflight.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/services/preflight.ts
@@ -350,7 +350,7 @@ async function probeCredentialsWithPi(authType: string, baseUrl?: string): Promi
   return ok(undefined);
 }
 
-/** Validate credentials via a minimal Claude Agent SDK query. */
+/** Validate credentials via a minimal pi session. */
 async function validateCredentials(
   logger: ActivityLogger,
   apiKey?: string,
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/services/validate-authentication.ts b/apps/worker/src/services/validate-authentication.ts
index 98c2fdc..1f3e870 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/services/validate-authentication.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/services/validate-authentication.ts
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@
 import { readFile, rm } from 'node:fs/promises';
 import { defineTool, type ToolDefinition } from '@earendil-works/pi-coding-agent';
 import { Type } from 'typebox';
-import { runClaudePrompt } from '../ai/claude-executor.js';
+import { runPiPrompt } from '../ai/pi-executor.js';
 import type { AuditSession } from '../audit/index.js';
 import { authStateFile } from '../audit/utils.js';
 import type { ActivityLogger } from '../types/activity-logger.js';
@@ -123,7 +123,7 @@ export async function validateAuthentication(input: ValidateAuthInput): Promise<
   const startTime = Date.now();
 
   const submit = createAuthSubmitTool();
-  const result = await runClaudePrompt(
+  const result = await runPiPrompt(
     prompt,
     repoPath,
     '',
@@ -219,7 +219,7 @@ function countStorageEntries(parsed: unknown, key: 'cookies' | 'origins'): numbe
 }
 
 function classifyResult(
-  result: import('../ai/claude-executor.js').ClaudePromptResult,
+  result: import('../ai/pi-executor.js').PiPromptResult,
   authentication: NonNullable<DistributedConfig['authentication']>,
 ): Result<void, PentestError> {
   if (!result.success) {
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts b/apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts
index 4931478..510c366 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/temporal/activities.ts
@@ -663,7 +663,7 @@ export async function syncPlaywrightStealthConfig(input: ActivityInput): Promise
 /**
  * Sync code_path avoid rules into the @gotgenes/pi-permission-system global config
  * so pi enforces them at the tool layer for every agent in this run. The executor
- * loads the extension when this config is present (see claude-executor).
+ * loads the extension when this config is present (see pi-executor).
  *
  * Runs once per workflow before any analysis agent fires. Config is fixed for the
  * lifetime of the workflow, so writing once avoids a parallel-agent race on the
diff --git a/apps/worker/src/utils/billing-detection.ts b/apps/worker/src/utils/billing-detection.ts
index dd019c2..ea6c544 100644
--- a/apps/worker/src/utils/billing-detection.ts
+++ b/apps/worker/src/utils/billing-detection.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@
  *
  * Anthropic's spending cap behavior is inconsistent:
  * - Sometimes a proper SDK error (billing_error)
- * - Sometimes Claude responds with text about the cap
+ * - Sometimes the agent responds with text about the cap
  * - Sometimes partial billing before cutoff
  *
  * This module provides defense-in-depth detection with shared pattern lists
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@
  */
 
 /**
- * Text patterns for SDK output sniffing (what Claude says).
+ * Text patterns for SDK output sniffing (what the agent says).
  * Used by message-handlers.ts and the behavioral heuristic.
  */
 export const BILLING_TEXT_PATTERNS = [
@@ -67,7 +67,7 @@ export function matchesBillingApiPattern(message: string): boolean {
 /**
  * Behavioral heuristic for detecting spending cap.
  *
- * When Claude hits a spending cap, it often returns a short message
+ * When the agent hits a spending cap, it often returns a short message
  * with $0 cost. Legitimate agent work NEVER costs $0 with only 1-2 turns.
  *
  * This combines three signals: