diff --git a/modules/gitea/README.md b/modules/gitea/README.md
index b4634cd5..4a4e356f 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/README.md
+++ b/modules/gitea/README.md
@@ -240,11 +240,16 @@ version already gone counts as deleted.
 
 ### How it reaches the forge
 
-Over the forge's HTTP interface on the machine (`MESH_GITEA_URL`), as the admin account the vault
-delivered (`MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_USER`, the password in `MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE` — the same file
-the TypeScript bundle mints its token with), by basic authentication: this bundle mints no token and
-keeps nothing. The password is read per call and never logged, answered or put in an error. The
-registry's owner is `MESH_NPM_OWNER`, the owner in the seat's `npm-path`.
+Over the forge's HTTP interface on the machine (`MESH_GITEA_URL`), never as the admin account (design 51: each
+holder keeps its write side as an own secret beside a read-only tool token). It **reads** as the tools' account,
+with the token the TypeScript bundle keeps for it (`MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE`, scopes including `read:package`), and
+**writes** (a publish, a remove, retention's deletion) as the packages account `mesh-packages`
+(`MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_USER`), with its own token (`MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE`, the one scope `write:package`).
+That account is plain, a member of the team `mesh-packages` that writes the organisation's packages and nothing else;
+the watcher makes it with the administrator's login and mints and keeps its token at its start, looks at it every ten
+minutes and mints it afresh when the forge rejects it (`packages-account.ts`). This bundle mints nothing; a token is
+read per call and never logged, answered or put in an error. The registry's owner is `MESH_NPM_OWNER`, the owner in
+the seat's `npm-path`.
 
 Calls to the forge run eight at a time, and one tool call reads for at most 50 seconds, inside a
 module's 60-second ask.
diff --git a/modules/gitea/cmd/forge/forge_test.go b/modules/gitea/cmd/forge/forge_test.go
index 7b3284b9..42733087 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/cmd/forge/forge_test.go
+++ b/modules/gitea/cmd/forge/forge_test.go
@@ -688,28 +688,34 @@ func TestToolsAreTheOnesTheReadmeNamesAndTheManifestBuilds(t *testing.T) {
 	if !goProvided {
 		t.Error("go-package-registry is not provided at mesh scope with no credential")
 	}
-	found := false
+	// The tools' own account, never the admin login (novox/hq ADR 0365 §2); the package registry's bundle also writes
+	// as the packages account (design 51: the write side an own secret beside a read-only tool token).
+	wants := map[string][]string{
+		"cmd/forge":            {"MESH_GITEA_URL", "MESH_GITEA_TOOLS_USER", "MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE"},
+		"cmd/package-registry": {"MESH_GITEA_URL", "MESH_GITEA_TOOLS_USER", "MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE", "MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_USER", "MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE"},
+	}
 	for _, a := range m.Build.Artifacts {
-		if a.From == "cmd/forge" {
-			found = true
-			if len(a.Loads) != 1 || a.Loads[0] != a.Binary {
-				t.Errorf("the bundle loads %v, not its binary %s", a.Loads, a.Binary)
+		want, ok := wants[a.From]
+		if !ok {
+			continue
+		}
+		delete(wants, a.From)
+		if len(a.Loads) != 1 || a.Loads[0] != a.Binary {
+			t.Errorf("%s loads %v, not its binary %s", a.From, a.Loads, a.Binary)
+		}
+		for _, k := range want {
+			if a.Env[k] == "" {
+				t.Errorf("%s is not given %s", a.From, k)
 			}
-			// The tools' own account, never the admin login (novox/hq ADR 0365 §2).
-			for _, k := range []string{"MESH_GITEA_URL", "MESH_GITEA_TOOLS_USER", "MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE"} {
-				if a.Env[k] == "" {
-					t.Errorf("the bundle is not given %s", k)
-				}
-			}
-			for _, k := range []string{"MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_USER", "MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE"} {
-				if a.Env[k] != "" {
-					t.Errorf("the bundle is given %s: it acts as the tools' account, not the administrator", k)
-				}
+		}
+		for _, k := range []string{"MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_USER", "MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE"} {
+			if a.Env[k] != "" {
+				t.Errorf("%s is given %s: it acts as an account of its own, not the administrator", a.From, k)
 			}
 		}
 	}
-	if !found {
-		t.Error("the manifest builds no cmd/forge bundle")
+	for from := range wants {
+		t.Errorf("the manifest builds no %s bundle", from)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/forge.go b/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/forge.go
index 223e336c..8853b031 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/forge.go
+++ b/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/forge.go
@@ -13,13 +13,17 @@ import (
 	"gitea/internal/forgehttp"
 )
 
-// The forge as this bundle reaches it: its own HTTP interface on the machine, as the forge's admin account
-// (internal/forgehttp, shared with the forge bundle beside it). Basic authentication, so this bundle mints
-// nothing and keeps nothing: the TypeScript bundle's token is its own.
+// The forge as this bundle reaches it: its own HTTP interface on the machine (internal/forgehttp, shared with the
+// forge bundle beside it), never as the admin account. It reads as the tools' account, whose token carries
+// read:package, and writes (a publish, a remove, retention's deletion) as the packages account, whose token carries
+// write:package (design 51: each holder keeps its write side as an own secret beside a read-only tool token). The
+// TypeScript bundle mints and keeps both tokens (token.ts, packages-account.ts); this bundle mints nothing.
 
 // Forge is the forge's HTTP interface.
 type Forge struct {
-	forgehttp.Client
+	forgehttp.Client // reads, as the tools' account
+	// Writer writes into the package registry, as the packages account; nil writes nothing.
+	Writer *forgehttp.Client
 	Owner string // the package registry's owner, as the seat serves it
 	// Type is the registry's package type retention reads: TypeNpm when empty, or TypeGo.
 	Type string
@@ -49,7 +53,13 @@ func (f *Forge) As(typ string) *Forge {
 // ForgeFromEnv is the forge as the manifest hands it to this bundle.
 func ForgeFromEnv() (*Forge, error) {
 	c, missing := forgehttp.FromEnv()
-	f := &Forge{Client: c, Owner: os.Getenv("MESH_NPM_OWNER")}
+	w, writeMissing := forgehttp.WriterFromEnv()
+	for _, m := range writeMissing {
+		if m != "MESH_GITEA_URL" {
+			missing = append(missing, m)
+		}
+	}
+	f := &Forge{Client: c, Writer: &w, Owner: os.Getenv("MESH_NPM_OWNER")}
 	if f.Owner == "" {
 		missing = append(missing, "MESH_NPM_OWNER")
 	}
@@ -127,9 +137,21 @@ func (f *Forge) DistTags(ctx context.Context, name string) (map[string]string, e
 	return meta.DistTags, nil
 }
 
-// Delete removes one version from the registry.
+// write is the registry's write side, refused when the manifest handed none.
+func (f *Forge) write() (*forgehttp.Client, error) {
+	if f.Writer == nil {
+		return nil, errors.New("the package registry's write side is not handed to this bundle (MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE); nothing was written")
+	}
+	return f.Writer, nil
+}
+
+// Delete removes one version from the registry, as the packages account.
 func (f *Forge) Delete(ctx context.Context, name, version string) error {
-	_, err := f.do(ctx, http.MethodDelete, f.versionPath(name, version))
+	w, err := f.write()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	_, err = w.Do(ctx, http.MethodDelete, f.versionPath(name, version), nil, maxBody)
 	return err
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/retention_test.go b/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/retention_test.go
index c869b663..b70c643c 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/retention_test.go
+++ b/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/retention_test.go
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ func (f *fakeForge) serve() *Forge {
 	if err := os.WriteFile(file, []byte(f.password+"\n"), 0o600); err != nil {
 		f.t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	return &Forge{Client: forgehttp.Client{URL: srv.URL, User: "admin", PasswordFile: file}, Owner: "acme"}
+	c := forgehttp.Client{URL: srv.URL, User: "admin", PasswordFile: file}
+	return &Forge{Client: c, Writer: &c, Owner: "acme"}
 }
 
 var (
@@ -482,7 +483,7 @@ func TestToolsAreTheOnesTheReadmeNamesAndSayWhatTheyDo(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, a := range m.Build.Artifacts {
 		if a.From == "cmd/package-registry" {
 			found = true
-			for _, k := range []string{"MESH_GITEA_URL", "MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_USER", "MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE", "MESH_NPM_OWNER"} {
+			for _, k := range []string{"MESH_GITEA_URL", "MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE", "MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE", "MESH_NPM_OWNER"} {
 				if a.Env[k] == "" {
 					t.Errorf("the bundle is not given %s", k)
 				}
diff --git a/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/seats.go b/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/seats.go
index 6e5b9efc..a20f6a32 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/seats.go
+++ b/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/seats.go
@@ -79,20 +79,24 @@ func (s seatStore) Put(seat string, p packageseats.Publish, file []byte) (string
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
+	w, err := f.write()
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	if seat == packageseats.GoSeat {
 		module, err := goModuleOf(file, forgeVersion(seat, p.Version))
 		if err != nil {
 			return "", err
 		}
-		_, err = f.Send(ctx, http.MethodPut, fmt.Sprintf("/api/packages/%s/go/upload", url.PathEscape(f.Owner)), file, "application/zip", maxBody)
+		_, err = w.Send(ctx, http.MethodPut, fmt.Sprintf("/api/packages/%s/go/upload", url.PathEscape(f.Owner)), file, "application/zip", maxBody)
 		return module, err
 	}
 	doc, err := npmDocument(f.URL, f.Owner, p, file)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "", err
 	}
-	_, err = f.Do(ctx, http.MethodPut, fmt.Sprintf("/api/packages/%s/npm/%s", url.PathEscape(f.Owner), url.PathEscape(p.Name)), doc, maxBody)
+	_, err = w.Do(ctx, http.MethodPut, fmt.Sprintf("/api/packages/%s/npm/%s", url.PathEscape(f.Owner), url.PathEscape(p.Name)), doc, maxBody)
 	return "", err
 }
 
@@ -136,8 +140,7 @@ func (s seatStore) Remove(seat, name, version string) error {
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	_, err = f.do(context.Background(), http.MethodDelete, f.packagePath(forgeType(seat), name, forgeVersion(seat, version)))
-	return err
+	return f.As(forgeType(seat)).Delete(context.Background(), name, forgeVersion(seat, version))
 }
 
 // goModuleOf is the Go module path of a module zip whose every file sits under <module>@<version>/, as Go's module
diff --git a/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/seats_test.go b/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/seats_test.go
index 0bff6366..155141e7 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/seats_test.go
+++ b/modules/gitea/cmd/package-registry/seats_test.go
@@ -58,6 +58,15 @@ func (g *registry) handle(w http.ResponseWriter, r *http.Request) {
 	defer g.mu.Unlock()
 	body, _ := io.ReadAll(r.Body)
 	p := r.URL.EscapedPath()
+	// Reads come as the tools' account (read:package), writes as the packages account (write:package), never the admin.
+	want := "token reader"
+	if r.Method != http.MethodGet {
+		want = "token writer"
+	}
+	if got := r.Header.Get("Authorization"); got != want {
+		http.Error(w, r.Method+" "+p+" came as "+got+", not "+want, http.StatusForbidden)
+		return
+	}
 	switch {
 	case r.Method == http.MethodPut && p == "/api/packages/acme/go/upload":
 		if r.Header.Get("Content-Type") != "application/zip" {
@@ -101,9 +110,20 @@ func TestThePackageSeatsStoreIntoTheForge(t *testing.T) {
 	g := &registry{uploaded: map[string][]byte{}, held: map[string][]byte{}}
 	srv := httptest.NewServer(http.HandlerFunc(g.handle))
 	defer srv.Close()
-	file := filepath.Join(t.TempDir(), "admin.secret")
-	_ = os.WriteFile(file, []byte("pw\n"), 0o600)
-	forge := &Forge{Client: forgehttp.Client{URL: srv.URL, User: "admin", PasswordFile: file}, Owner: "acme"}
+	dir := t.TempDir()
+	kept := func(name, token, line string) string {
+		file := filepath.Join(dir, name)
+		_ = os.WriteFile(file, []byte(token+"\n"), 0o600)
+		_ = os.WriteFile(file+".scopes", []byte(line+"\n"), 0o600)
+		return file
+	}
+	reader := forgehttp.Client{URL: srv.URL, TokenFile: kept("token", "reader", "read:package,read:user for mesh-tools"), Account: "mesh-tools"}
+	writer := forgehttp.Client{URL: srv.URL, TokenFile: kept("packages-token", "writer", "write:package for mesh-packages"), Account: "mesh-packages"}
+	forge := &Forge{Client: reader, Writer: &writer, Owner: "acme"}
+	if _, err := (seatStore{forge: func() (*Forge, error) { return &Forge{Client: reader, Owner: "acme"}, nil }}).Put(packageseats.GoSeat, packageseats.Publish{}, nil); err == nil ||
+		!strings.Contains(err.Error(), "write side") {
+		t.Errorf("a forge handed no write side wrote: %v", err)
+	}
 	s := seatStore{forge: func() (*Forge, error) { return forge, nil }}
 
 	tgz := tarball(t, `{"name":"@acme/contracts","version":"0.1.15-feat-x.2","main":"index.js"}`)
diff --git a/modules/gitea/index.ts b/modules/gitea/index.ts
index 9271f010..3994116d 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/index.ts
+++ b/modules/gitea/index.ts
@@ -64,6 +64,7 @@ import { announcementOf, keepTook, lateVerdictComment, outOfDateWords, sameCommi
 import { ReadAll, readAllTools } from "./readall.js";
 import { DeliveredWrites, INDEXER_MODULES, writeTools, type ModulesChange } from "./writes.js";
 import { TOOLS_ACCOUNT, TOOLS_ORG, meshAccounts } from "./tools-account.js";
+import { keepPackagesToken, packagesToken } from "./packages-account.js";
 
 // Without a way to a token — configured, or mintable with the admin account (token.ts) — there is
 // nothing to watch; log and stay quiet rather than crash the runtime. With one, the first poll mints
@@ -633,6 +634,19 @@ if (gitea) {
   // Main takes no push and only the tools' account merges, in every repository, kept and not only when a token is
   // minted: at the start and every ten minutes after, so a repository made later gets it too (issue 948, ADR 0398 §2).
   // Only while the setting keep-main-rules is true (mainrules.ts); false, the default, leaves every repository's rule as set.
+  // The package seats' write token (packages-account.ts): minted at the start and looked at every ten minutes, since the
+  // Go bundle that writes with it mints nothing; a token the forge rejects is minted afresh at the next look.
+  try {
+    const url = process.env.MESH_GITEA_URL ?? "http://127.0.0.1:3000";
+    const source = packagesToken(url);
+    let last = "";
+    tick(() => keepPackagesToken(source, url).then((said) => {
+      if (said !== last) console.log(`[gitea] ${said}`);
+      last = said;
+    }), 600_000);
+  } catch (err) {
+    console.error(`[gitea] the package seats cannot write — ${err instanceof Error ? err.message : err}`);
+  }
   tick(mainRulesStep(keepMainRules(), () => GiteaAdmin.fromEnv().ensureMainMerges("novox"), (line) => console.log(line)), 600_000);
   tick(() => pollRepos(client), 60_000);
   // **No timer asks the forge for pull requests or merges** (issue 1422): the forge's events announce them. One pass over
diff --git a/modules/gitea/internal/forgehttp/forgehttp.go b/modules/gitea/internal/forgehttp/forgehttp.go
index 0e770499..3951ce34 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/internal/forgehttp/forgehttp.go
+++ b/modules/gitea/internal/forgehttp/forgehttp.go
@@ -46,6 +46,29 @@ type Client struct {
 // ToolsAccount is the account the forge's tools act as when the manifest names none (token.ts, tools-account.ts).
 const ToolsAccount = "mesh-tools"
 
+// PackagesAccount is the account the package seats write as when the manifest names none (packages-account.ts):
+// its token carries write:package and nothing else (design 51: each holder keeps its write side as an own secret
+// beside a read-only tool token).
+const PackagesAccount = "mesh-packages"
+
+// WriterFromEnv is the package registry's write side as the manifest hands it to a bundle: the packages account's
+// token (MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE, kept by the module beside the tools' token) and the names of the variables
+// it left unset. Never the admin login: a bundle handed no writer's token writes nothing.
+func WriterFromEnv() (Client, []string) {
+	c := Client{URL: strings.TrimRight(os.Getenv("MESH_GITEA_URL"), "/"), TokenFile: os.Getenv("MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE"),
+		Account: os.Getenv("MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_USER")}
+	if c.Account == "" {
+		c.Account = PackagesAccount
+	}
+	var missing []string
+	for _, kv := range [][2]string{{"MESH_GITEA_URL", c.URL}, {"MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE", c.TokenFile}} {
+		if kv[1] == "" {
+			missing = append(missing, kv[0])
+		}
+	}
+	return c, missing
+}
+
 // FromEnv is the forge as the manifest hands it to a bundle, and the names of the variables it left unset. A bundle
 // handed MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE acts as the tools' account and needs no admin login.
 func FromEnv() (Client, []string) {
@@ -113,7 +136,7 @@ func (c *Client) password() (string, error) {
 func (c *Client) token() (string, error) {
 	raw, err := os.ReadFile(c.TokenFile)
 	if err != nil {
-		return "", fmt.Errorf("the tools' token is not kept yet (the module mints it for %s at its first call): %w", c.Account, err)
+		return "", fmt.Errorf("the token for %s is not kept yet (the module mints it): %w", c.Account, err)
 	}
 	line, err := os.ReadFile(c.TokenFile + ".scopes")
 	if err != nil || !strings.HasSuffix(strings.TrimSpace(string(line)), " for "+c.Account) {
@@ -190,8 +213,8 @@ func (c *Client) Send(ctx context.Context, method, path string, raw []byte, cont
 	}
 	switch {
 	case res.StatusCode == http.StatusUnauthorized && c.TokenFile != "":
-		return nil, fmt.Errorf("the forge rejected the tools' token for %s (401): the module mints it afresh at its next call; nothing was done: %w",
-			method+" "+path, &StatusError{method, path, res.StatusCode, "unauthorized"})
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("the forge rejected %s's token for %s (401): the module mints it afresh; nothing was done: %w",
+			c.Account, method+" "+path, &StatusError{method, path, res.StatusCode, "unauthorized"})
 	case res.StatusCode == http.StatusNotFound:
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s %s: %w", method, path, ErrNotFound)
 	case res.StatusCode >= 300:
diff --git a/modules/gitea/module.json b/modules/gitea/module.json
index baeeb3c0..43fa1159 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/module.json
+++ b/modules/gitea/module.json
@@ -502,8 +502,10 @@
         ],
         "env": {
           "MESH_GITEA_URL": "http://127.0.0.1:${port:3000}",
-          "MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_USER": "mesh-admin",
-          "MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE": "${dir:state}/admin.secret",
+          "MESH_GITEA_TOOLS_USER": "mesh-tools",
+          "MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE": "${dir:runtime-state}/token",
+          "MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_USER": "mesh-packages",
+          "MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE": "${dir:runtime-state}/packages-token",
           "MESH_NPM_OWNER": "novox"
         }
       },
diff --git a/modules/gitea/packages-account.ts b/modules/gitea/packages-account.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..01a55eae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/gitea/packages-account.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,88 @@
+// The package seats write as an account of their own, never the administrator (design 51: each holder keeps its write
+// side as an own secret beside a read-only tool token; the forge module's is `write:package`, its tool token
+// `read:package`).
+//
+// The Go bundle (cmd/package-registry) serves both package seats' verbs: it reads the registry with the tools' token
+// (token.ts, which carries `read:package`) and writes (a publish, a remove, retention's deletion) with this one:
+//
+//   - **the account**: `mesh-packages`, plain, made by the module with the administrator's login as tools-account.ts
+//     makes `mesh-tools`; its password random, sent once and kept nowhere.
+//   - **the team**: `mesh-packages` in the organisation that owns the registry, writing packages and nothing else:
+//     no code, no issues, no pull requests, no administration.
+//   - **the token**: minted for the account by the administrator's login with the one scope `write:package`, kept at
+//     0600 in the module's runtime state as `packages-token`, its scopes line beside it saying whose it is
+//     (MintedToken: one mint at a time across the bundle's processes, re-minted when the kept one is gone or other).
+//
+// The watcher mints it at its start and looks again every ten minutes (keepPackagesToken): the Go bundle mints
+// nothing, so a token the forge rejects is renewed here, at the next look, and said.
+
+import { randomBytes } from "node:crypto";
+import { join } from "node:path";
+import { MintedToken } from "./token.js";
+import { TOOLS_ORG, type ToolsForge } from "./tools-account.js";
+
+/** The account the package seats write as (internal/forgehttp PackagesAccount). */
+export const PACKAGES_ACCOUNT = "mesh-packages";
+/** Its team in the registry's organisation, and the token's name in the account's list. */
+export const PACKAGES_TEAM = "mesh-packages";
+export const PACKAGES_TOKEN_NAME = "mesh-packages";
+/** The one scope the write side needs; reads go with the tools' token. */
+export const PACKAGES_TOKEN_SCOPES: readonly string[] = ["write:package"];
+/** Where the token is kept in the module's runtime state (the manifest's MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE). */
+export const PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE = "packages-token";
+
+/** What the team grants: write on the organisation's packages, and no more. */
+export const PACKAGES_TEAM_UNITS = {
+  units_map: { "repo.packages": "write" },
+  includes_all_repositories: false,
+  can_create_org_repo: false,
+} as const;
+
+/** Make the packages account, plain, a member of its team. Its password is set afresh each time and kept nowhere. */
+export async function setUpPackagesAccount(forge: ToolsForge, account = PACKAGES_ACCOUNT, password: () => string): Promise<void> {
+  await forge.ensureUser(account, password(), `${account}@noreply.localhost`, true);
+  const team = await forge.ensureTeamWith(TOOLS_ORG, PACKAGES_TEAM, { name: PACKAGES_TEAM, ...PACKAGES_TEAM_UNITS });
+  await forge.addUserToTeam(team, account);
+}
+
+/** The packages account's token, minted by the administrator's login from what the manifest hands the watcher. */
+export function packagesToken(url: string, env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = process.env, log?: (line: string) => void): MintedToken {
+  const admin = env.MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_USER;
+  const passwordFile = env.MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE;
+  const stateDir = env.MESH_GITEA_STATE_DIR;
+  const missing = [
+    admin ? null : "MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_USER",
+    passwordFile ? null : "MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE",
+    stateDir ? null : "MESH_GITEA_STATE_DIR",
+  ].filter((v): v is string => v !== null);
+  if (missing.length) throw new Error(`the package seats' write token cannot be minted: ${missing.join(", ")} not set by the manifest`);
+  const account = env.MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_USER || PACKAGES_ACCOUNT;
+  if (account === admin) throw new Error(`MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_USER names the admin account "${admin}"; the package seats write as an account of their own`);
+  return new MintedToken({
+    url, admin: admin!, passwordFile: passwordFile!, file: join(stateDir!, PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE), account,
+    name: PACKAGES_TOKEN_NAME, scopes: PACKAGES_TOKEN_SCOPES, log,
+    setUp: async (password) => {
+      const { GiteaAdmin } = await import("./client.js");
+      await setUpPackagesAccount(new GiteaAdmin(url, admin!, password), account, () => randomBytes(24).toString("base64url"));
+    },
+  });
+}
+
+/**
+ * One look at the packages token: mint it when none is kept, then ask the forge one read the scope covers (the
+ * organisation's package list); a 401 renews it. Answers what was done, for the watcher's line.
+ */
+export async function keepPackagesToken(source: MintedToken, url: string, owner = TOOLS_ORG, fetchImpl: typeof fetch = fetch): Promise<string> {
+  const token = await source.current();
+  const look = (t: string) => fetchImpl(`${url.replace(/\/+$/, "")}/api/v1/packages/${encodeURIComponent(owner)}?limit=1`,
+    { headers: { Authorization: `token ${t}`, Accept: "application/json" } });
+  const res = await look(token);
+  if (res.status === 401 || MintedToken.lacksScope(res.status, await res.text())) {
+    const fresh = await source.renew(token);
+    const again = await look(fresh);
+    if (!again.ok) throw new Error(`the forge answered ${again.status} to the renewed package token's read`);
+    return "the forge rejected the package seats' write token; minted afresh";
+  }
+  if (!res.ok) throw new Error(`the forge answered ${res.status} to the package token's read`);
+  return "the package seats' write token holds";
+}
diff --git a/modules/gitea/test/token.test.ts b/modules/gitea/test/token.test.ts
index c6399fce..617221b4 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/test/token.test.ts
+++ b/modules/gitea/test/token.test.ts
@@ -293,11 +293,11 @@ 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);
   // 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, ["write:repository", "write:issue", "read:user", "read:package"]);
   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 readFile(file + ".scopes", "utf8"), "read:package,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"));
diff --git a/modules/gitea/test/tools-account.test.ts b/modules/gitea/test/tools-account.test.ts
index c69edb77..f3a9316b 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/test/tools-account.test.ts
+++ b/modules/gitea/test/tools-account.test.ts
@@ -14,9 +14,10 @@ import { mkdtemp, readFile, writeFile, mkdir } from "node:fs/promises";
 import { tmpdir } from "node:os";
 import { join } from "node:path";
 
-import { MintedToken } from "../dist/token.js";
+import { MintedToken, TOKEN_SCOPES } from "../dist/token.js";
 import { GiteaClient } from "../dist/client.js";
 import { TOOLS_ACCOUNT, TOOLS_TEAM_UNITS, BUILDER_ACCOUNT, AGENT_ACCOUNT, meshAccounts } from "../dist/tools-account.js";
+import { PACKAGES_ACCOUNT, PACKAGES_TEAM_UNITS, keepPackagesToken, packagesToken } from "../dist/packages-account.js";
 import { repoCheckFacts } from "../dist/pulls.js";
 
 const ADMIN = "mesh-admin";
@@ -117,6 +118,13 @@ function fakeForge() {
       }
     }
     if (req.method === "GET" && p === "/user") return json(res, 200, { login: me, is_admin: isAdmin(me) });
+    // The organisation's packages: a token whose scope reaches packages, of a member of a team writing them.
+    if (req.method === "GET" && p === "/packages/novox") {
+      const scopes = tokens.find((t) => `token ${t.sha1}` === req.headers.authorization)?.scopes ?? [];
+      if (!scopes.some((s) => /:package$/.test(s))) return json(res, 403, { message: "token does not have at least one of required scope(s): [read:package]" });
+      if (!teams.some((t) => t.members.has(me) && t.units.units_map?.["repo.packages"] === "write")) return json(res, 403, { message: "no access to the packages" });
+      return json(res, 200, []);
+    }
     m = p.match(/^\/users\/([^/]+)$/);
     if (m && req.method === "GET") {
       const u = users.get(decodeURIComponent(m[1]));
@@ -360,6 +368,35 @@ test("the manifest hands the tools their account, and the Go forge bundle holds
   const forgeBundle = manifest.build.artifacts.find((a: any) => a.name === "forge");
   assert.ok(forgeBundle.env.MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE);
   assert.equal(forgeBundle.env.MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE, undefined);
+  // The package registry's bundle reads with the tools' token and writes with the packages account's (design 51).
+  const packages = manifest.build.artifacts.find((a: any) => a.name === "package-registry");
+  assert.equal(packages.env.MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE, forgeBundle.env.MESH_GITEA_TOKEN_FILE);
+  assert.equal(packages.env.MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_USER, PACKAGES_ACCOUNT);
+  assert.match(packages.env.MESH_GITEA_PACKAGES_TOKEN_FILE, /^\$\{dir:runtime-state\}\/packages-token$/);
+  assert.equal(packages.env.MESH_GITEA_ADMIN_PASSWORD_FILE, undefined);
+  assert.equal(code.env.MESH_GITEA_STATE_DIR, "${dir:runtime-state}", "the watcher mints the packages token where the bundle reads it");
+});
+
+test("the package seats write as an account of their own: plain, in a team writing only packages, its token write:package alone, renewed when the forge rejects it", async () => {
+  const env = await environment();
+  const source = packagesToken(forge.url, env, () => {});
+  assert.equal(await keepPackagesToken(source, forge.url), "the package seats' write token holds");
+  const account = forge.users.get(PACKAGES_ACCOUNT);
+  assert.ok(account, "the module made the packages account");
+  assert.equal(account!.admin, false, "the packages account is no administrator");
+  const held = forge.tokens.filter((t) => t.name === "mesh-packages");
+  assert.deepEqual(held.map((t) => [t.user, t.scopes]), [[PACKAGES_ACCOUNT, ["write:package"]]]);
+  assert.equal(await readFile(join(env.MESH_GITEA_STATE_DIR, "packages-token"), "utf8"), held[0].sha1 + "\n");
+  assert.equal(await readFile(join(env.MESH_GITEA_STATE_DIR, "packages-token.scopes"), "utf8"), "write:package for mesh-packages\n");
+  const team = forge.teams.find((t) => t.name === "mesh-packages");
+  assert.ok(team?.members.has(PACKAGES_ACCOUNT));
+  assert.deepEqual(team!.units.units_map, PACKAGES_TEAM_UNITS.units_map, "the team writes packages and nothing else");
+  // The forge drops the token behind the module's back: the next look mints it afresh.
+  forge.tokens.splice(forge.tokens.indexOf(held[0]), 1);
+  assert.equal(await keepPackagesToken(source, forge.url), "the forge rejected the package seats' write token; minted afresh");
+  assert.equal(forge.tokens.filter((t) => t.name === "mesh-packages").length, 1);
+  // The tools' token reads packages too: read:package (design 51's read-only tool token).
+  assert.ok(TOKEN_SCOPES.includes("read:package"));
 });
 
 // Review of issue 469: what reads the rules' list is moved to the branch, and nothing leaves the tools without a token.
diff --git a/modules/gitea/token.ts b/modules/gitea/token.ts
index 48592f33..7002b7f1 100644
--- a/modules/gitea/token.ts
+++ b/modules/gitea/token.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ export const TOKEN_NAME = "mesh-tools";
  * The least the fifteen tools and the watcher need (gitea's route groups, 1.20+ scoped tokens):
  *   write:repository — create/delete repositories, pull requests (list/get/open/merge);
  *   write:issue      — issues, comments, labels;
+ *   read:package     — the package registry's reads by the Go bundle (cmd/package-registry): the package seats'
+ *                      held, versions and the retention's survey (design 51: a read-only tool token; the
+ *                      writes go with the packages account's own token, packages-account.ts);
  *   read:user        — GET /user/repos, which the watcher's poll and gitea_list_repos both call.
  *                      It sits under the `user` category despite listing repositories, not `repository`
  *                      — confirmed against the running forge (1.27.3), which answered
@@ -62,7 +65,7 @@ export const TOKEN_NAME = "mesh-tools";
  * `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"];
+export const TOKEN_SCOPES: readonly string[] = ["write:repository", "write:issue", "read:user", "read:package"];
 
 /** Where a client's token comes from, and what to do when the forge says it is wrong. */
 export interface TokenSource {