diff --git a/modules/gitea/client.ts b/modules/gitea/client.ts
index 10577d13..368dbc96 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/client.ts
+++ b/modules/gitea/client.ts
@@ -463,10 +463,14 @@ export class GiteaClient {
     return res.text();
   }
 
-  async mergePullRequest(owner: string, repo: string, index: number, method = "merge", deleteBranch = false): Promise<void> {
+  /** Merge a pull request — never forced past its checks, and, given the head that was checked, only that head:
+   *  the forge refuses the merge when the branch moved since (novox/hq ADR 0266). */
+  async mergePullRequest(owner: string, repo: string, index: number, method = "merge", deleteBranch = false,
+    headCommit?: string): Promise<void> {
     await this.request(`/repos/${owner}/${repo}/pulls/${index}/merge`, {
       method: "POST",
-      body: JSON.stringify({ Do: method, delete_branch_after_merge: deleteBranch }),
+      body: JSON.stringify({ Do: method, delete_branch_after_merge: deleteBranch, force_merge: false,
+        ...(headCommit ? { head_commit_id: headCommit } : {}) }),
     });
   }
 
diff --git a/modules/gitea/guard.ts b/modules/gitea/guard.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..61721b5d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/gitea/guard.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,178 @@
+// What the forge's tools refuse (novox/hq ADR 0266): whoever may call a tool includes agents, and the token
+// the tools hold is minted for the forge's administrator. Through `gitea_api` any endpoint was one call away:
+// an agent could drop a branch's protection or its required checks, write to main, set the merge check's
+// status, or merge its own pull request — and a module merged into the catalogue is what the next push sends,
+// as root, to every node. So:
+//
+//   - `gitea_api` reads anything but the forge's administration, and writes only what an author writes:
+//     issues, comments, labels, pull requests (opened, edited, reviewed — never merged), branches, and a
+//     file on a branch that is neither the repository's default branch nor one a protection rule names.
+//     Everything else — administration, protection, settings, collaborators, teams, hooks, keys, tokens,
+//     statuses, a merge, a repository deleted or moved — has its own tool or is the operator's, at the
+//     forge as themselves;
+//   - `gitea_branch_protection_set` only makes protection stronger;
+//   - `gitea_merge_pull_request` merges only a head whose every required status succeeded, and only that
+//     head;
+//   - `gitea_delete_repo` refuses a repository any protection rule guards.
+//
+// Pure, so it is tested without a forge; the tools do the asking (tools/index.ts).
+
+import type { BranchProtection, ProtectionWanted } from "./protection.js";
+
+/** A refusal of policy, in the words the caller sees. Never an error of the forge's. */
+export class Refused extends Error {
+  constructor(message: string) {
+    super(message);
+    this.name = "Refused";
+  }
+}
+
+/** What `gitea_api` may do with one call, as far as the call alone says. */
+export type ApiJudgement =
+  | { allowed: true }
+  | { refused: string }
+  /** A file written: allowed only on a branch that is not the default branch and that no rule names. */
+  | { contents: { owner: string; repo: string; branch?: string; newBranch?: string } };
+
+const READS = new Set(["GET", "HEAD"]);
+
+const seg = "([^/]+)";
+const repoPath = `^/repos/${seg}/${seg}`;
+
+/** The writes an author makes, by method and path. Anything not here is refused. */
+const AUTHOR_WRITES: ReadonlyArray<{ methods: string[]; path: RegExp }> = [
+  { methods: ["POST"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/issues$`) },
+  { methods: ["PATCH"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/issues/\\d+$`) },
+  { methods: ["POST"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/issues/\\d+/comments$`) },
+  { methods: ["PATCH", "DELETE"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/issues/comments/\\d+$`) },
+  { methods: ["POST", "PUT", "DELETE"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/issues/\\d+/labels(/\\d+)?$`) },
+  { methods: ["POST"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/labels$`) },
+  { methods: ["PATCH", "DELETE"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/labels/\\d+$`) },
+  { methods: ["POST"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/pulls$`) },
+  { methods: ["PATCH"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/pulls/\\d+$`) },
+  { methods: ["POST"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/pulls/\\d+/reviews(/\\d+(/comments)?)?$`) },
+  { methods: ["POST", "DELETE"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/pulls/\\d+/requested_reviewers$`) },
+  { methods: ["POST"], path: new RegExp(`${repoPath}/branches$`) },
+  { methods: ["POST"], path: /^\/user\/repos$/ },
+  { methods: ["POST"], path: /^\/markdown(\/raw)?$/ },
+];
+
+/** A file written through the contents API: one file, or several in one commit. */
+const CONTENTS = new RegExp(`${repoPath}/contents(/.*)?$`);
+
+/** Reads that are no one's but the administrator's. */
+const ADMIN_READS = [/^\/admin(\/|$)/, /^\/users\/[^/]+\/tokens(\/|$)/];
+
+/**
+ * The path as the forge would route it: relative to /api/v1, its query dropped, refused when it could be read
+ * as another path — a dot segment, an encoded slash or dot, a backslash, an empty segment. A path the forge and
+ * this judge could read differently is never judged.
+ */
+export function routedPath(raw: string): string {
+  let path = String(raw ?? "").trim();
+  if (!path.startsWith("/")) path = "/" + path;
+  path = path.replace(/^\/api\/v1(?=\/|$)/, "") || "/";
+  const q = path.search(/[?#]/);
+  if (q >= 0) path = path.slice(0, q);
+  if (/%2e|%2f|%5c|\\/i.test(path)) throw new Refused(`${raw}: an encoded dot, slash or backslash is not taken`);
+  path = path.replace(/\/+$/, "") || "/";
+  const segments = path.split("/").slice(1);
+  if (path !== "/" && segments.some((s) => s === "" || s === "." || s === "..")) {
+    throw new Refused(`${raw}: a path with an empty or dot segment is not taken`);
+  }
+  return path;
+}
+
+/** What `gitea_api` may do with this call, judged on the call alone (novox/hq ADR 0266). */
+export function judgeApiCall(method: string, rawPath: string, body: unknown): ApiJudgement {
+  const m = String(method || "GET").toUpperCase();
+  let path: string;
+  try {
+    path = routedPath(rawPath);
+  } catch (err) {
+    return { refused: (err as Error).message };
+  }
+  if (READS.has(m)) {
+    if (ADMIN_READS.some((r) => r.test(path))) {
+      return { refused: `${m} ${path} is the forge's administration, which no tool reads (novox/hq ADR 0266)` };
+    }
+    return { allowed: true };
+  }
+  const contents = path.match(CONTENTS);
+  if (contents && ["POST", "PUT", "DELETE"].includes(m)) {
+    const b = (body ?? {}) as Record<string, unknown>;
+    const str = (v: unknown) => (typeof v === "string" && v.trim() !== "" ? v.trim() : undefined);
+    return { contents: { owner: contents[1], repo: contents[2], branch: str(b.branch), newBranch: str(b.new_branch) } };
+  }
+  if (AUTHOR_WRITES.some((w) => w.methods.includes(m) && w.path.test(path))) return { allowed: true };
+  return {
+    refused: `${m} ${path} is not a write gitea_api makes (novox/hq ADR 0266): it writes only what an author ` +
+      `writes — issues, comments, labels, pull requests (never their merge), branches, and files on a branch ` +
+      `that is not the default branch and that no protection rule names. The forge's administration, a ` +
+      `branch's protection, a repository's settings, collaborators, teams, hooks, keys, tokens and statuses ` +
+      `are the operator's at the forge, or have their own tool (gitea_merge_pull_request, gitea_commit_status, ` +
+      `gitea_branch_protection_set, which only strengthens). Nothing was sent`,
+  };
+}
+
+/** Whether a protection rule's name — a branch, or a glob of them (`*`, `**`) — covers a branch. */
+export function ruleCovers(rule: string, branch: string): boolean {
+  if (rule === branch) return true;
+  if (!/[*?[]/.test(rule)) return false;
+  let re = "";
+  for (let i = 0; i < rule.length; i++) {
+    const c = rule[i];
+    if (c === "*" && rule[i + 1] === "*") {
+      re += ".*";
+      i++;
+    } else if (c === "*") re += "[^/]*";
+    else if (c === "?") re += "[^/]";
+    else re += c.replace(/[.+^${}()|[\]\\]/g, "\\$&");
+  }
+  return new RegExp(`^${re}$`).test(branch);
+}
+
+/** Refuses a file written to the default branch or to a branch a protection rule names. */
+export function judgeContentsWrite(target: string, defaultBranch: string, rules: BranchProtection[]): string | null {
+  if (target === defaultBranch) {
+    return `a file written to ${target}, the repository's default branch, is refused: a change reaches it by a pull ` +
+      `request that passes its checks (novox/hq ADR 0266). Write it on a branch of its own (new_branch). Nothing was sent`;
+  }
+  const guarding = rules.map((r) => String(r.rule_name ?? r.branch_name ?? "")).filter((r) => r && ruleCovers(r, target));
+  if (guarding.length) {
+    return `a file written to ${target} is refused: the protection rule ${guarding.join(", ")} guards it ` +
+      `(novox/hq ADR 0266). Write it on a branch of its own. Nothing was sent`;
+  }
+  return null;
+}
+
+/** Refuses a protection change that weakens the rule a branch has (novox/hq ADR 0266). */
+export function judgeProtectionChange(before: BranchProtection | null, want: ProtectionWanted): string | null {
+  if (!before) return null; // A new rule protects what nothing protected.
+  const had = before.enable_status_check ? [...new Set((before.status_check_contexts ?? []).filter(Boolean))] : [];
+  const wanted = new Set(want.statusChecks.map((c) => c.trim()).filter(Boolean));
+  const dropped = had.filter((c) => !wanted.has(c));
+  const why: string[] = [];
+  if (dropped.length) why.push(`it drops the required status ${dropped.join(", ")}`);
+  if (want.push === true && before.enable_push === false) why.push("it lets a person push to the branch directly");
+  if (want.blockAdminOverride === false && before.block_admin_merge_override === true) {
+    why.push("it lets an administrator merge past a status that has not succeeded");
+  }
+  if (!why.length) return null;
+  return `the protection of ${before.rule_name ?? before.branch_name} is only made stronger through a tool: ` +
+    `${why.join("; ")}. Whoever may call a tool includes agents, and a branch's protection is what keeps a ` +
+    `change from merging without its checks and the operator (novox/hq ADR 0266) — weakening it is the ` +
+    `operator's, at the forge as themselves. Nothing was changed`;
+}
+
+/** The merge methods the forge takes for a merge that is a merge — never `manually-merged`. */
+export const MERGE_METHODS = new Set(["merge", "rebase", "rebase-merge", "squash", "fast-forward-only"]);
+
+/** A repository owner's or name's shape: what keeps a name from becoming another path. */
+export function checkName(what: string, value: unknown): string {
+  const v = String(value ?? "").trim();
+  if (!/^[A-Za-z0-9_][A-Za-z0-9_.-]*$/.test(v) || v === "." || v === "..") {
+    throw new Refused(`${JSON.stringify(value)} is not a repository ${what}`);
+  }
+  return v;
+}
diff --git a/modules/gitea/test/guard.test.ts b/modules/gitea/test/guard.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..31a04804
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/gitea/test/guard.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,165 @@
+// What the forge's tools refuse (guard.ts; novox/hq ADR 0266): an agent reaches the forge through these tools
+// with a token minted for the forge's administrator, so the tools — not the forge — are what keeps it from
+// dropping a branch's protection, writing to main, setting the merge check's status, or merging past the
+// checks. Each route a review found is reproduced here against a fake forge, and each is refused with nothing
+// sent; the operator-approved merge of a pull request whose checks passed still goes through.
+
+import { test, after, beforeEach } from "node:test";
+import assert from "node:assert/strict";
+import { createServer, type IncomingMessage, type ServerResponse } from "node:http";
+
+import { GiteaClient } from "../dist/client.js";
+import { ConfiguredToken } from "../dist/token.js";
+import { getGiteaTools } from "../dist/tools/index.js";
+import { judgeApiCall, judgeProtectionChange, ruleCovers, routedPath } from "../dist/guard.js";
+
+interface Sent { method: string; path: string; body: any }
+
+const state = {
+  sent: [] as Sent[],
+  statuses: [] as { context: string; state: string }[],
+  rules: [] as any[],
+};
+const protectedMain = () => ({ rule_name: "main", enable_push: false, enable_status_check: true,
+  status_check_contexts: ["mesh/merge-gate", "mesh/repo-check"], block_admin_merge_override: true });
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  state.sent = [];
+  state.statuses = [{ context: "mesh/merge-gate", state: "success" }, { context: "mesh/repo-check", state: "success" }];
+  state.rules = [protectedMain()];
+});
+
+const json = (res: ServerResponse, status: number, body: unknown): void => {
+  res.writeHead(status, { "Content-Type": "application/json" });
+  res.end(body === null ? "" : JSON.stringify(body));
+};
+const read = (req: IncomingMessage): Promise<any> =>
+  new Promise((resolve) => {
+    let text = "";
+    req.on("data", (c) => (text += c));
+    req.on("end", () => resolve(text ? JSON.parse(text) : null));
+  });
+
+const server = createServer(async (req, res) => {
+  const url = new URL(req.url ?? "/", "http://fake");
+  const path = url.pathname.replace(/^\/api\/v1/, "");
+  const method = req.method ?? "GET";
+  const body = await read(req);
+  if (method !== "GET") state.sent.push({ method, path, body });
+  const repo = "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog";
+  if (method === "GET" && path === repo) return json(res, 200, { full_name: "novox/mesh-catalog", default_branch: "main" });
+  if (method === "GET" && path === `${repo}/branch_protections`) return json(res, 200, state.rules);
+  if (method === "GET" && path === `${repo}/pulls/7`) {
+    return json(res, 200, { number: 7, title: "x", state: "open", merged: false, head: { ref: "feat/x", sha: "abc1234" },
+      base: { ref: "main" }, html_url: "http://fake/7" });
+  }
+  if (method === "GET" && path === `${repo}/commits/abc1234/status`) {
+    return json(res, 200, { sha: "abc1234", state: "success", statuses: state.statuses });
+  }
+  if (method === "POST" && path === `${repo}/pulls/7/merge`) return json(res, 200, null);
+  return json(res, method === "GET" ? 200 : 201, {});
+});
+await new Promise<void>((r) => server.listen(0, "127.0.0.1", () => r()));
+after(() => new Promise<void>((r) => server.close(() => r())));
+const { port } = server.address() as { port: number };
+const tools = getGiteaTools(new GiteaClient(`http://127.0.0.1:${port}`, new ConfiguredToken("t")));
+const tool = (name: string) => tools.find((t) => t.name === name)!;
+const writes = () => state.sent.map((s) => `${s.method} ${s.path}`);
+
+test("gitea_api refuses the forge's administration, a branch's protection and the merge check's status, and sends nothing", async () => {
+  for (const [method, path, body] of [
+    ["PATCH", "/admin/users/agent", { admin: true }],
+    ["DELETE", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/branch_protections/main", undefined],
+    ["PATCH", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/branch_protections/main", { enable_status_check: false }],
+    ["POST", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/statuses/abc1234", { context: "mesh/merge-gate", state: "success" }],
+    ["POST", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/pulls/7/merge", { Do: "merge", force_merge: true }],
+    ["PUT", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/collaborators/agent", { permission: "admin" }],
+    ["POST", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/hooks", { type: "gitea" }],
+    ["POST", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/keys", { key: "ssh-ed25519 AAAA" }],
+    ["PATCH", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog", { default_branch: "agent" }],
+    ["DELETE", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog", undefined],
+    ["POST", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/transfer", { new_owner: "agent" }],
+    ["POST", "/users/mesh-admin/tokens", { name: "mine", scopes: ["all"] }],
+    ["PUT", "/orgs/novox/members/agent", undefined],
+    ["PATCH", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/issues/1/../../branch_protections/main", { enable_push: true }],
+    ["PATCH", "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/issues/1/%2e%2e/%2e%2e/branch_protections/main", { enable_push: true }],
+  ] as const) {
+    await assert.rejects(tool("gitea_api").run({ path, method, ...(body ? { body } : {}) }),
+      /not a write gitea_api makes|not taken|administration/, `${method} ${path}`);
+  }
+  await assert.rejects(tool("gitea_api").run({ path: "/admin/users" }), /administration/);
+  assert.deepEqual(writes(), []);
+});
+
+test("gitea_api refuses a file written to the default branch or one a rule guards, and writes one on a branch of its own", async () => {
+  const put = (body: Record<string, unknown>) =>
+    tool("gitea_api").run({ path: "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/contents/modules/sudo/module.json", method: "PUT", body });
+  await assert.rejects(put({ content: "e30=", sha: "x" }), /default branch/);
+  await assert.rejects(put({ content: "e30=", sha: "x", branch: "main" }), /default branch/);
+  state.rules.push({ rule_name: "release/*" });
+  await assert.rejects(put({ content: "e30=", sha: "x", branch: "release/1" }), /protection rule release\/\*/);
+  assert.deepEqual(writes(), []);
+  await put({ content: "e30=", sha: "x", branch: "main", new_branch: "feat/sudo-docs" });
+  assert.deepEqual(writes(), ["PUT /repos/novox/mesh-catalog/contents/modules/sudo/module.json"]);
+});
+
+test("gitea_api still writes what an author writes", async () => {
+  await tool("gitea_api").run({ path: "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/issues/3/comments", method: "POST", body: { body: "hi" } });
+  await tool("gitea_api").run({ path: "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/pulls/7/reviews", method: "POST", body: { event: "COMMENT" } });
+  await tool("gitea_api").run({ path: "/repos/novox/mesh-catalog/branch_protections" });
+  assert.deepEqual(writes(), ["POST /repos/novox/mesh-catalog/issues/3/comments", "POST /repos/novox/mesh-catalog/pulls/7/reviews"]);
+});
+
+test("gitea_branch_protection_set only strengthens", async () => {
+  const set = (args: Record<string, unknown>) =>
+    tool("gitea_branch_protection_set").run({ owner: "novox", repo: "mesh-catalog", branch: "main", ...args });
+  await assert.rejects(set({ status_checks: "" }), /drops the required status mesh\/merge-gate, mesh\/repo-check/);
+  await assert.rejects(set({ status_checks: "mesh/merge-gate" }), /drops the required status mesh\/repo-check/);
+  await assert.rejects(set({ status_checks: "mesh/merge-gate,mesh/repo-check", push: true }), /push to the branch directly/);
+  await assert.rejects(set({ status_checks: "mesh/merge-gate,mesh/repo-check", block_admin_override: false }),
+    /merge past a status/);
+  assert.deepEqual(writes(), []);
+  await set({ status_checks: "mesh/merge-gate,mesh/repo-check,mesh/delivery" });
+  assert.deepEqual(writes(), ["PATCH /repos/novox/mesh-catalog/branch_protections/main"]);
+});
+
+test("gitea_merge_pull_request merges only a head whose required statuses all succeeded, and only that head", async () => {
+  const merge = () => tool("gitea_merge_pull_request").run({ owner: "novox", repo: "mesh-catalog", number: 7 });
+  state.statuses = [{ context: "mesh/merge-gate", state: "success" }, { context: "mesh/repo-check", state: "failure" }];
+  await assert.rejects(merge(), /not merged: .*mesh\/repo-check \(failure\)/);
+  state.statuses = [{ context: "mesh/merge-gate", state: "success" }];
+  await assert.rejects(merge(), /mesh\/repo-check \(missing\)/);
+  await assert.rejects(tool("gitea_merge_pull_request").run({ owner: "novox", repo: "mesh-catalog", number: 7,
+    method: "manually-merged" }), /not a merge method/);
+  assert.deepEqual(writes(), []);
+  // The operator said yes and the checks passed: the flow that stays.
+  state.statuses = [{ context: "mesh/merge-gate", state: "success" }, { context: "mesh/repo-check", state: "success" }];
+  await merge();
+  const sent = state.sent.find((s) => s.path.endsWith("/pulls/7/merge"))!;
+  assert.equal(sent.body.force_merge, false);
+  assert.equal(sent.body.head_commit_id, "abc1234");
+});
+
+test("gitea_delete_repo refuses a repository a protection rule guards", async () => {
+  await assert.rejects(tool("gitea_delete_repo").run({ owner: "novox", name: "mesh-catalog", confirm: true }),
+    /guarded by the protection rule main/);
+  assert.deepEqual(writes(), []);
+});
+
+test("a repository owner or name is never another path", async () => {
+  await assert.rejects(tool("gitea_update_pull_request").run({ owner: "novox", repo: "mesh-catalog/branch_protections/main?",
+    number: 1, title: "x" }), /not a repository name/);
+  await assert.rejects(tool("gitea_get_issue").run({ owner: "..", repo: "admin", number: 1 }), /not a repository owner/);
+  assert.deepEqual(writes(), []);
+});
+
+test("the judges, without a forge", () => {
+  assert.equal(routedPath("/api/v1/repos/a/b/issues?x=1"), "/repos/a/b/issues");
+  assert.throws(() => routedPath("/repos/a/b/../c"), /dot segment/);
+  assert.ok("allowed" in judgeApiCall("GET", "/repos/a/b/branch_protections", undefined));
+  assert.ok("refused" in judgeApiCall("POST", "/repos/a/b/branch_protections", {}));
+  assert.ok("contents" in judgeApiCall("POST", "/repos/a/b/contents", { new_branch: "x" }));
+  assert.ok(ruleCovers("release/**", "release/a/b") && ruleCovers("feat/*", "feat/a") && !ruleCovers("feat/*", "feat/a/b"));
+  assert.equal(judgeProtectionChange(null, { statusChecks: [] }), null);
+  assert.equal(judgeProtectionChange(protectedMain(), { statusChecks: ["mesh/repo-check", "mesh/merge-gate"] }), null);
+});
diff --git a/modules/gitea/test/token.test.ts b/modules/gitea/test/token.test.ts
index c6f3b4a7..48201041 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/test/token.test.ts
+++ b/modules/gitea/test/token.test.ts
@@ -17,7 +17,7 @@ import { join } from "node:path";
 import { collectTools } from "@novox/mesh-sdk/tools";
 import { AdminRefused, MintedToken, TOKEN_SCOPES } from "../dist/token.js";
 import { GiteaClient } from "../dist/client.js";
-import "../dist/tools/index.js";
+import { getGiteaTools } from "../dist/tools/index.js";
 
 const ADMIN = "mesh-admin";
 const PASSWORD = "the-vault-minted-this";
@@ -230,10 +230,12 @@ test("first start: mints with the admin account, keeps the token at 0600, asks f
 
   assert.equal(repos[0]?.full_name, "novox/hq");
   assert.equal(forge.mints, 1);
-  assert.deepEqual(forge.lastScopes, ["write:repository", "write:issue", "read:user", "write:admin"]);
+  // Never write:admin (novox/hq ADR 0266): the forge's administration is the operator's, not a tool's.
+  assert.deepEqual(forge.lastScopes, ["write:repository", "write:issue", "read:user"]);
   assert.deepEqual(forge.lastScopes, [...TOKEN_SCOPES]);
   const token = forge.tokens.get("mesh-tools")!;
   assert.equal(await readFile(file, "utf8"), token + "\n");
+  assert.equal(await readFile(file + ".scopes", "utf8"), "read:user,write:issue,write:repository\n");
   assert.equal((await stat(file)).mode & 0o777, 0o600);
   // Said that it minted, and where it keeps it — never what it is.
   assert.ok(logs.some((l) => l.startsWith("minted a token")), logs.join("\n"));
@@ -268,32 +270,45 @@ test("the forge rejects the kept token (its data was restored): minted afresh, o
   assert.ok(logs.some((l) => l.startsWith("the forge rejected the kept token")), logs.join("\n"));
 });
 
-test("a kept token from before write:admin: the forge refuses the admin route for the scope, the token is re-minted with the whole list, and the call goes through", async () => {
+test("a token kept with write:admin by an earlier build is minted again without it at the next start, and the forge drops the old one", async () => {
+  const { env, file, logs } = await delivered(forge);
+  await minted(env, logs).listRepos();
+  const old = forge.tokens.get("mesh-tools")!;
+  forge.scopesOf.set(old, ["write:repository", "write:issue", "read:user", "write:admin"]);
+  await rm(file + ".scopes"); // an earlier build kept no scopes beside it
+  const before = forge.mints;
+
+  const again: string[] = [];
+  await minted(env, again).listRepos();
+
+  assert.equal(forge.mints, before + 1);
+  assert.deepEqual(forge.lastScopes, [...TOKEN_SCOPES]);
+  assert.ok(!forge.lastScopes!.includes("write:admin"));
+  assert.notEqual(forge.tokens.get("mesh-tools"), old);
+  assert.ok(![...forge.tokens.values()].includes(old), "the old token still stands on the forge");
+  assert.ok(again.some((l) => l.includes("minted with other scopes")), again.join("\n"));
+  // An admin route through the escape hatch is refused before it is sent.
+  const tool = getGiteaTools(minted(env, again)).find((t) => t.name === "gitea_api")!;
+  await assert.rejects(tool.run({ path: "/admin/users/mesh_novox_builder", method: "PATCH", body: { admin: true } }),
+    /not a write gitea_api makes/);
+});
+
+test("a kept token lacking a scope the tools need: the forge refuses the call for the scope, the token is re-minted with the whole list, and the call goes through", async () => {
   const { env, file, logs } = await delivered(forge);
   const client = minted(env, logs);
   await client.listRepos();
   const before = forge.mints;
   const old = forge.tokens.get("mesh-tools")!;
-  forge.scopesOf.set(old, ["write:repository", "write:issue", "read:user"]); // minted by the previous build
+  forge.scopesOf.set(old, ["write:repository", "write:issue"]); // minted before read:user was added
 
-  const user = await client.api<{ login: string; is_admin: boolean }>("/admin/users/mesh_novox_builder", {
-    method: "PATCH",
-    body: JSON.stringify({ admin: true }),
-  });
+  const repos = await client.api<unknown[]>("/user/repos");
 
-  assert.equal(user.is_admin, true);
+  assert.equal(repos.length, 1);
   assert.equal(forge.mints, before + 1);
   assert.deepEqual(forge.lastScopes, [...TOKEN_SCOPES]);
   assert.notEqual(forge.tokens.get("mesh-tools"), old);
   assert.equal(await readFile(file, "utf8"), forge.tokens.get("mesh-tools") + "\n");
   assert.ok(logs.some((l) => l.startsWith("the forge rejected the kept token")), logs.join("\n"));
-  // A 403 that is not about scopes is the forge's answer, not a reason to mint.
-  const again = forge.mints;
-  await assert.rejects(
-    client.api("/admin/users/untouchable", { method: "PATCH", body: JSON.stringify({ admin: true }) }),
-    /403 .*untouchable/,
-  );
-  assert.equal(forge.mints, again);
 });
 
 test("the kept file is gone but the forge still holds a token by that name: replaced, not refused", async () => {
diff --git a/modules/gitea/token.ts b/modules/gitea/token.ts
index fb1e53a9..3aac30b1 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/token.ts
+++ b/modules/gitea/token.ts
@@ -34,15 +34,18 @@ export const TOKEN_NAME = "mesh-tools";
  *                      It sits under the `user` category despite listing repositories, not `repository`
  *                      — confirmed against the running forge (1.27.3), which answered
  *                      `required=[read:user]` to a token carrying only the other two.
- *   write:admin      — /admin/users: the forge's own users are the mesh's to settle, such as making
- *                      the builder's login a site admin so every repository the mesh may build is
- *                      clonable (novox/hq 229). Nothing under /orgs or write:user.
+ *
+ * **Not write:admin** (novox/hq ADR 0266). It was here so a person could settle the forge's users through
+ * `gitea_api` (novox/hq 229); whoever may call a tool includes agents, and the forge's administration is the
+ * operator's. The provisioner settles users with the admin account's own login (GiteaAdmin), never this token.
+ * A token kept with a different list is minted again with this one at the next start (the scopes are kept
+ * beside it), and the forge drops the old one by name — so the scope a kept token had does not outlive this.
  *
  * A token kept from before a scope was added lacks it: the forge answers such a call with
  * `403 token does not have at least one of required scope(s)`, and the client treats that like a
  * 401 — the source re-mints by name, with the whole list, and the call is retried once.
  */
-export const TOKEN_SCOPES: readonly string[] = ["write:repository", "write:issue", "read:user", "write:admin"];
+export const TOKEN_SCOPES: readonly string[] = ["write:repository", "write:issue", "read:user"];
 
 /** Where a client's token comes from, and what to do when the forge says it is wrong. */
 export interface TokenSource {
@@ -153,11 +156,12 @@ export class MintedToken implements TokenSource {
     if (!this.readFile) {
       this.readFile = true;
       const kept = this.read();
-      if (kept !== null) {
+      if (kept !== null && this.keptScopes() === this.scopesLine()) {
         this.held = kept;
         this.log(`reusing the token kept at ${this.opts.file}`);
         return kept;
       }
+      if (kept !== null) return this.mint("the kept token was minted with other scopes than the tools take now — minting one with them");
     }
     return this.mint("no token kept — minting one");
   }
@@ -202,13 +206,29 @@ export class MintedToken implements TokenSource {
     }
   }
 
-  /** Write the token at 0600, whole or not at all: a temp file beside it, then a rename. */
+  /** The scopes as kept beside the token: sorted, one line. */
+  private scopesLine(): string {
+    return [...this.scopes].sort().join(",");
+  }
+
+  /** The scopes the kept token was minted with, "" when not kept (a token kept before they were). */
+  private keptScopes(): string {
+    try {
+      return readFileSync(`${this.opts.file}.scopes`, "utf8").trim();
+    } catch {
+      return "";
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** Write the token at 0600, whole or not at all: a temp file beside it, then a rename. Its scopes beside it. */
   private keep(token: string): void {
     mkdirSync(dirname(this.opts.file), { recursive: true, mode: 0o700 });
     const tmp = `${this.opts.file}.tmp`;
     writeFileSync(tmp, token + "\n", { mode: 0o600 });
     chmodSync(tmp, 0o600);
     renameSync(tmp, this.opts.file);
+    writeFileSync(`${this.opts.file}.scopes.tmp`, this.scopesLine() + "\n", { mode: 0o600 });
+    renameSync(`${this.opts.file}.scopes.tmp`, `${this.opts.file}.scopes`);
   }
 
   private async doMint(): Promise<string> {
diff --git a/modules/gitea/tools/index.ts b/modules/gitea/tools/index.ts
index 33b70d41..c2bf056a 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/tools/index.ts
+++ b/modules/gitea/tools/index.ts
@@ -13,6 +13,9 @@ import { emit } from "@novox/mesh-sdk/events";
 import { GiteaClient, type BranchProtection } from "../client.js";
 import { appendNote, deliveryStatus, run, viewBody, viewComment } from "../delivery.js";
 import { containedFrom, isCommit, mergeableUnder, newestByContext } from "../checks.js";
+import {
+  MERGE_METHODS, Refused, checkName, judgeApiCall, judgeContentsWrite, judgeProtectionChange,
+} from "../guard.js";
 
 /** The forge's container, where its repositories and git are: the note is written there (novox/hq ADR 0239). */
 const forgeContainer = process.env.MESH_GITEA_CONTAINER || "gitea";
@@ -37,7 +40,26 @@ function parseLabels(raw: unknown): string[] {
     .filter(Boolean);
 }
 
+/** Every tool's repository owner and name checked before it runs: a name is never another path (guard.ts). */
+function namesChecked(tools: ToolDefinition[]): ToolDefinition[] {
+  return tools.map((t) => ({
+    ...t,
+    run: async (args: Record<string, unknown>) => {
+      if (args.owner !== undefined) checkName("owner", args.owner);
+      if (args.repo !== undefined) checkName("name", args.repo);
+      if ((t.name === "gitea_create_repo" || t.name === "gitea_delete_repo") && args.name !== undefined) {
+        checkName("name", args.name);
+      }
+      return t.run(args);
+    },
+  }));
+}
+
 export function getGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient): ToolDefinition[] {
+  return namesChecked(allGiteaTools(gitea));
+}
+
+function allGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient): ToolDefinition[] {
   return [
     // ---- Repositories ----
     {
@@ -80,6 +102,14 @@ export function getGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient): ToolDefinition[] {
       },
       run: async (args) => {
         if (!args.confirm) return { deleted: false, reason: "confirm must be true to delete a repository" };
+        // A repository a protection rule guards is the mesh's: deleted and made again, it would be one without
+        // its protection, under the name the mesh builds from (novox/hq ADR 0266).
+        const guarded = await gitea.branchProtections(String(args.owner), String(args.name));
+        if (guarded.length) {
+          throw new Refused(`${String(args.owner)}/${String(args.name)} is guarded by the protection rule ` +
+            `${guarded.map((r) => r.rule_name ?? r.branch_name).join(", ")}: deleting it is the operator's, at the forge ` +
+            `as themselves, never a tool's (novox/hq ADR 0266). Nothing was deleted`);
+        }
         await gitea.deleteRepo(String(args.owner), String(args.name));
         return { deleted: true, repo: `${String(args.owner)}/${String(args.name)}` };
       },
@@ -230,7 +260,9 @@ export function getGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient): ToolDefinition[] {
     },
     {
       name: "gitea_merge_pull_request",
-      description: "Merge a pull request, optionally deleting the source branch afterwards.",
+      description: "Merge a pull request whose head has every status its base branch's protection requires as a success " +
+        "(mesh/merge-gate, mesh/repo-check), optionally deleting the source branch afterwards. Refused otherwise — no " +
+        "tool merges past a check — and only the head that was checked is merged.",
       input: {
         owner: { type: "string", description: "the repository owner" },
         repo: { type: "string", description: "the repository name" },
@@ -243,8 +275,22 @@ export function getGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient): ToolDefinition[] {
         const repo = String(args.repo);
         const number = Number(args.number);
         const method = args.method ? String(args.method) : "merge";
+        if (!MERGE_METHODS.has(method)) throw new Refused(`${method} is not a merge method: ${[...MERGE_METHODS].join(", ")}`);
         const deleteBranch = args.delete_branch === undefined ? true : Boolean(args.delete_branch);
-        await gitea.mergePullRequest(owner, repo, number, method, deleteBranch);
+        // **Only a head whose required statuses all succeeded** (novox/hq ADR 0266): read here rather than left
+        // to the forge, whose administrator — the account this tool's token is minted for — may merge past a
+        // rule that lets it. A rule that cannot be read is no rule passed.
+        const pull = await gitea.getPullRequest(owner, repo, number);
+        if (pull.merged) throw new Refused(`${owner}/${repo}#${number} is already merged`);
+        if (!pull.head_sha || !pull.base) throw new Refused(`${owner}/${repo}#${number} names no head commit or base branch`);
+        const rule = await gitea.branchProtection(owner, repo, pull.base);
+        const statuses = newestByContext((await gitea.combinedStatus(owner, repo, pull.head_sha)).statuses);
+        const verdict = mergeableUnder(pull.base, rule, statuses);
+        if (verdict.mergeable !== true) {
+          throw new Refused(`${owner}/${repo}#${number} is not merged: ${verdict.says}. A pull request merges once ` +
+            `its checks succeed; no tool merges past them (novox/hq ADR 0266)`);
+        }
+        await gitea.mergePullRequest(owner, repo, number, method, deleteBranch, pull.head_sha);
         // The merge commit only exists now; answered so the caller can follow what is built from it.
         // pull.merged is the events entrypoint's to announce (index.ts), once, within its poll.
         const merged = await gitea.getPullRequest(owner, repo, number);
@@ -395,7 +441,7 @@ export function getGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient): ToolDefinition[] {
     },
     {
       name: "gitea_branch_protection_set",
-      description: "Make a branch require commit statuses before a pull request merges into it — the mesh's merge check sets `mesh/merge-gate` (the module graph's gate) and `mesh/repo-check` (the repository's own tests). Edits the branch's rule (its required statuses replaced by these, everything else kept unless given) or creates one, which refuses direct pushes unless push=true. Answers the rule before and after.",
+      description: "Only ever stronger (novox/hq ADR 0266): a change that drops a required status, lets a person push directly or lets an administrator merge past a status is refused — that is the operator's, at the forge. Make a branch require commit statuses before a pull request merges into it — the mesh's merge check sets `mesh/merge-gate` (the module graph's gate) and `mesh/repo-check` (the repository's own tests). Edits the branch's rule (its required statuses replaced by these, everything else kept unless given) or creates one, which refuses direct pushes unless push=true. Answers the rule before and after.",
       input: {
         owner: { type: "string", description: "the repository owner" },
         repo: { type: "string", description: "the repository name" },
@@ -408,11 +454,14 @@ export function getGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient): ToolDefinition[] {
         const owner = String(args.owner), repo = String(args.repo), branch = String(args.branch ?? "").trim();
         if (!branch) throw new Error("name the branch to protect");
         const before = await gitea.branchProtection(owner, repo, branch);
-        const { created, rule } = await gitea.setBranchProtection(owner, repo, branch, {
+        const want = {
           statusChecks: String(args.status_checks ?? "").split(","),
           push: args.push === undefined ? undefined : Boolean(args.push),
           blockAdminOverride: args.block_admin_override === undefined ? undefined : Boolean(args.block_admin_override),
-        });
+        };
+        const weakens = judgeProtectionChange(before, want);
+        if (weakens) throw new Refused(weakens);
+        const { created, rule } = await gitea.setBranchProtection(owner, repo, branch, want);
         return { branch, created, before: before ? summarised(before) : null, after: summarised(rule) };
       },
     },
@@ -562,14 +611,28 @@ export function getGiteaTools(gitea: GiteaClient): ToolDefinition[] {
     // ---- Escape hatch ----
     {
       name: "gitea_api",
-      description: "Make an authenticated Gitea API call for any endpoint without a dedicated tool. Path is relative to /api/v1.",
+      description: "Make an authenticated Gitea API call for an endpoint without a dedicated tool. Path is relative to /api/v1. " +
+        "Reads anything but the forge's administration; writes only what an author writes — issues, comments, labels, " +
+        "pull requests (not their merge: gitea_merge_pull_request), branches, and files on a branch that is not the " +
+        "default branch and that no protection rule names. Administration, protection, settings, collaborators, teams, " +
+        "hooks, keys, tokens and statuses are refused (novox/hq ADR 0266).",
       input: {
         path: { type: "string", description: "API path relative to /api/v1, e.g. /repos/owner/repo/branches" },
         method: { type: "string", description: "GET | POST | PUT | PATCH | DELETE (default GET)" },
         body: { type: "object", description: "JSON request body for POST/PUT/PATCH" },
       },
       run: async (args) => {
-        const method = args.method ? String(args.method) : "GET";
+        const method = (args.method ? String(args.method) : "GET").toUpperCase();
+        const judged = judgeApiCall(method, String(args.path ?? ""), args.body);
+        if ("refused" in judged) throw new Refused(judged.refused);
+        if ("contents" in judged) {
+          const { owner, repo, branch, newBranch } = judged.contents;
+          const found = await gitea.api<{ default_branch?: string }>(`/repos/${checkName("owner", owner)}/${checkName("name", repo)}`);
+          const defaultBranch = String(found?.default_branch ?? "main");
+          const refused = judgeContentsWrite(newBranch ?? branch ?? defaultBranch, defaultBranch,
+            await gitea.branchProtections(owner, repo));
+          if (refused) throw new Refused(refused);
+        }
         const result = await gitea.api(String(args.path), {
           method,
           ...(args.body ? { body: JSON.stringify(args.body) } : {}),