diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/bridge_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/bridge_test.go
index fb16da09..1749fe5a 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/bridge_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/bridge_test.go
@@ -1,6 +1,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"errors"
 	"sort"
 	"strconv"
 	"strings"
@@ -134,3 +135,67 @@ func (s *fakeSource) Move(update func(prev *sdk.Source) (sdk.Source, bool)) erro
 
 func sortStrings(s []string) { sort.Strings(s) }
 func itoa(n int) string      { return strconv.Itoa(n) }
+
+// fakeOwed is the gate's bucket owed with the forge bridge behind it: every act written is performed on the fake forge, as the
+// bridge performs it (mesh-delivery modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge internal/bridge acts.go OwedAct), once for each
+// revision. With down set the bucket cannot be written (the bus is away); the forge's own refusals are the bridge's to say,
+// not the gate's to retry.
+type fakeOwed struct {
+	mu    sync.Mutex
+	forge *fakeForge
+	down  bool
+	// keys are the latest value of each key written, and writes every revision in order.
+	keys   map[string]sdk.Owed
+	writes []string
+}
+
+func newFakeOwed(f *fakeForge) *fakeOwed { return &fakeOwed{forge: f, keys: map[string]sdk.Owed{}} }
+
+func (o *fakeOwed) Put(key string, v sdk.Owed) error {
+	if _, err := sdk.EncodeOwed(v); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	repository, number, head, act, err := sdk.ParseOwedKey(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	o.mu.Lock()
+	if o.down {
+		defer o.mu.Unlock()
+		return errors.New("the bus is away")
+	}
+	if kept, ok := o.keys[key]; ok && sdk.SameOwed(kept, v) {
+		o.mu.Unlock()
+		return nil
+	}
+	o.keys[key] = v
+	o.writes = append(o.writes, key)
+	o.mu.Unlock()
+	owner, repo, _ := strings.Cut(repository, "/")
+	f := o.forge
+	switch v.Act {
+	case sdk.OwedNote:
+		_ = f.Note(owner, repo, head, v.Text)
+	case sdk.OwedView:
+		_ = f.View(owner, repo, number, v.Text)
+	case sdk.OwedStatus:
+		_ = f.Status(owner, repo, head, v.Context, v.State, v.Text, v.Target)
+	case sdk.OwedComment:
+		_ = f.Comment(owner, repo, number, v.Text)
+	}
+	_ = act
+	return nil
+}
+
+// acts are the keys written whose act is of a kind, in order.
+func (o *fakeOwed) acts(kind string) []string {
+	o.mu.Lock()
+	defer o.mu.Unlock()
+	var out []string
+	for _, k := range o.writes {
+		if _, _, _, act, err := sdk.ParseOwedKey(k); err == nil && actKind(act) == kind {
+			out = append(out, k)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/bus_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/bus_test.go
index e53ac606..33edebaf 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/bus_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/bus_test.go
@@ -543,6 +543,16 @@ func TestAPassingVerdictAsksTheApproveAndItsApproveMergesWithinSecondsOverARealB
 		return err == nil && json.Unmarshal(e.Value(), &k) == nil && k == PullKey{Head: head, Trunk: "t1t1t1t1t1t1", Verdict: "pass"}
 	})
 
+	// What the transitions owe the forge is written as owed keys; the gate calls no tool of the forge that writes (issue 1349).
+	for _, tool := range []string{"gitea.gitea_commit_status", "gitea.gitea_delivery_view", "gitea.gitea_note_append", "gitea.gitea_add_comment"} {
+		if n := len(rt.asksOf(tool)); n != 0 {
+			t.Fatalf("the gate asked %s %d times: the bridge writes to the forge", tool, n)
+		}
+	}
+	rt.until("the owed keys to be written", 5*time.Second, func() bool {
+		keys, err := b.kvs["owed"].Keys(ctx)
+		return err == nil && len(keys) > 0
+	})
 	// The operator approves; the teller holds the warrant and writes the answer: the merge is handed to the bridge within
 	// seconds, with the Approve's heads, and the gate asks the forge nothing.
 	approved := b.answer(t, key, OptionApprove)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/effects.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/effects.go
index 525a612d..b1e7a92f 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/effects.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/effects.go
@@ -3,7 +3,6 @@ package main
 import (
 	"encoding/json"
 	"fmt"
-	"regexp"
 	"sort"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
@@ -243,8 +242,9 @@ func (h *Holder) Flush() {
 		group bool
 		e     Effect
 		body  string
-		repo  [2]string
+		repo  string
 		num   int
+		head  string
 		url   string
 	}
 	h.mu.Lock()
@@ -274,7 +274,7 @@ func (h *Holder) Flush() {
 			if e.Next != nil && now.Before(*e.Next) {
 				continue
 			}
-			j := job{id: id, e: e, repo: [2]string{d.Owner(), d.Repo()}, num: d.Number, url: d.HTMLURL}
+			j := job{id: id, e: e, repo: d.Repository, num: d.Number, head: d.Commit, url: d.HTMLURL}
 			if e.Kind == EffectView {
 				j.body = ViewBody(d, h.groups[d.Group])
 			}
@@ -295,15 +295,11 @@ func (h *Holder) Flush() {
 	h.mu.Unlock()
 
 	for _, j := range jobs {
-		err := h.do(j.e, j.repo, j.num, j.body, j.url, j.group)
+		err := h.do(j.e, j.repo, j.num, j.head, j.body, j.url, j.group)
 		h.mu.Lock()
-		// Why it is given up, when it is: the forge's word that what it is for does not exist is final, and
-		// so is a failure tried retryLimit times, the last ones retryCap apart.
+		// Why it is given up, when it is: a failure of the bus tried retryLimit times, the last ones retryCap apart.
 		dropped := ""
-		switch {
-		case err != nil && forgeKinds[j.e.Kind] && doesNotExist(err):
-			dropped = "the forge answers that what it is for does not exist"
-		case err != nil && j.e.Tries+1 >= retryLimit:
+		if err != nil && j.e.Tries+1 >= retryLimit {
 			dropped = fmt.Sprintf("tried %d times since %s", j.e.Tries+1, j.e.Since.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339))
 		}
 		owed := func(list []Effect) []Effect {
@@ -314,7 +310,9 @@ func (h *Holder) Flush() {
 						return append(list[:i:i], list[i+1:]...)
 					}
 					list[i].Tries++
-					list[i].Last = err.Error()
+					if o.Kind != EffectStatus || !j.group {
+						list[i].Last = err.Error() // a group's status names its member in Last, which stays
+					}
 					next := h.Now().Add(retryAfter(list[i].Tries))
 					list[i].Next = &next
 					return list
@@ -401,17 +399,8 @@ func retryAfter(tries int) time.Duration {
 	return min(wait, retryCap)
 }
 
-// forgeKinds are the effects done by the forge's holder.
-var forgeKinds = map[string]bool{EffectNote: true, EffectView: true, EffectStatus: true}
-
-// notThere is the forge's own answer that what was asked of does not exist: a pull request whose number the
-// forge no longer holds, a commit it does not know. Tried again it answers the same, for ever.
-var notThere = regexp.MustCompile(`(?i)Gitea API \S+: (404\b|\d{3}\b.*\bdoes not exist\b)`)
-
-func doesNotExist(err error) bool { return err != nil && notThere.MatchString(err.Error()) }
-
-// do is one owed effect.
-func (h *Holder) do(e Effect, repo [2]string, number int, body, url string, group bool) error {
+// do is one owed effect: said on the bus, or written as the key the forge bridge performs.
+func (h *Holder) do(e Effect, repository string, number int, head, body, url string, group bool) error {
 	switch e.Kind {
 	case EffectEmit:
 		var payload any
@@ -426,28 +415,20 @@ func (h *Holder) do(e Effect, repo [2]string, number int, body, url string, grou
 			event = e.Event
 		}
 		return h.Emit(event, payload)
-	case EffectNote:
-		if h.Forge == nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("no forge")
-		}
-		return h.Forge.Note(repo[0], repo[1], e.Commit, e.Line)
 	case EffectView:
-		if h.Forge == nil || number == 0 {
+		if number == 0 {
 			return nil
 		}
-		return h.Forge.View(repo[0], repo[1], number, body)
-	case EffectStatus:
-		if h.Forge == nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("no forge")
-		}
-		if group {
-			// A group's status names its member's repository and page in Last.
-			where, page, _ := strings.Cut(e.Last, " ")
-			ownerRepo, _, _ := strings.Cut(where, "#")
-			owner, name, _ := strings.Cut(ownerRepo, "/")
-			return h.Forge.Status(owner, name, e.Commit, e.Context, e.State, e.Line, page)
-		}
-		return h.Forge.Status(repo[0], repo[1], e.Commit, e.Context, e.State, e.Line, url)
 	}
-	return nil
+	page := url
+	if group && e.Kind == EffectStatus {
+		// A group's status names its member's repository and page in Last.
+		repository, number, page = memberOfLast(e.Last)
+		head = e.Commit
+	}
+	act, value, num, hd := owedOf(e, repository, number, head, body, page)
+	if act == "" {
+		return nil
+	}
+	return h.owe(repository, num, hd, act, value)
 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/fakes_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/fakes_test.go
index 3360b384..61de32c0 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/fakes_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/fakes_test.go
@@ -599,6 +599,7 @@ type world struct {
 	op     *fakeOperator
 	merges *fakeMerges
 	source *fakeSource
+	owed   *fakeOwed
 	// asked is the key of the ask a test answered.
 	asked string
 	now   time.Time
@@ -631,6 +632,8 @@ func newWorldOver(t *testing.T, store *memStore, ctl *fakeController, forge *fak
 	w.merges, w.source = newFakeMerges(forge), &fakeSource{}
 	w.h.Merges, w.h.Source = w.merges, w.source
 	w.merges.h = w.h
+	w.owed = newFakeOwed(forge)
+	w.h.Owed = w.owed
 	w.h.init()
 	if err := w.h.Load(); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/history_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/history_test.go
index 382964e4..9d8feccd 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/history_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/history_test.go
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@ package main
 
 import (
 	"errors"
+	sdk "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -177,41 +178,31 @@ func TestRetireHistoryIsRefusedForARealHeldDelivery(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-func TestOwedWorkTheForgeSaysCanNeverBeDoneIsDropped(t *testing.T) {
+// What the bus cannot take is owed and tried again later each time, and given up after retryLimit tries, saying so. What the
+// forge refuses is the bridge's to say (issue 1349): the gate has no retry for it.
+func TestOwedWorkTheBusCannotTakeIsTriedAgainLaterAndGivenUpAfterRetryLimit(t *testing.T) {
 	w := newWorld(t)
 	id := IDOf("novox/app", head)
-	w.forge.viewErr = errors.New(`Gitea API /repos/novox/app/issues/7/comments: 500 {"message":"issue does not ` +
-		`exist [id: 0, repo_id: 53, index: 7]"}`)
+	w.owed.down = true
 	w.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/app", 7, head, "feat/x", "src/a.go"))
-	w.h.Flush()
-	if w.forge.viewCalls != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("the view was asked %d time(s)", w.forge.viewCalls)
+	tries := func() int {
+		for _, e := range w.delivery(id).Owed {
+			if e.Kind == EffectView {
+				return e.Tries
+			}
+		}
+		return -1
 	}
-	if d := w.delivery(id); len(d.Owed) != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("an answer that its pull request does not exist left owed %+v", d.Owed)
-	}
-	w.settleAll()
-	if w.forge.viewCalls != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("a dropped view was asked again: %d", w.forge.viewCalls)
-	}
-	if st := w.h.Status("listening"); !strings.Contains(strings.Join(st["refused"].([]string), "\n"), "given up") {
-		t.Fatalf("its drop was not said: %v", st["refused"])
-	}
-
-	// Any other failure is tried again later each time, and given up after retryLimit tries.
-	w.forge.viewErr = errors.New("the forge is away")
-	w.h.Checked(verdict("novox/app", 7, head, "pass"))
-	before := w.forge.viewCalls
 	w.h.Flush()
 	w.h.Flush()
 	w.h.Flush()
-	if w.forge.viewCalls != before+1 {
-		t.Fatalf("a failed view was tried %d time(s) at once", w.forge.viewCalls-before)
+	if tries() != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("a view the bus could not take was tried %d time(s) at once", tries())
 	}
 	w.later(retryFirst + time.Second)
 	w.h.Flush()
-	if w.forge.viewCalls != before+2 {
-		t.Fatalf("a failed view was not tried again after its wait: %d", w.forge.viewCalls-before)
+	if tries() != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("a failed view was not tried again after its wait: %d", tries())
 	}
 	if retryAfter(1) != retryFirst || retryAfter(2) != 2*retryFirst || retryAfter(100) != retryCap {
 		t.Fatalf("the waits: %s %s %s", retryAfter(1), retryAfter(2), retryAfter(100))
@@ -220,14 +211,17 @@ func TestOwedWorkTheForgeSaysCanNeverBeDoneIsDropped(t *testing.T) {
 		w.later(retryCap)
 		w.h.Flush()
 	}
-	for _, e := range w.delivery(id).Owed {
-		if e.Kind == EffectView {
-			t.Fatalf("a view failing %d times is still owed: %+v", e.Tries, e)
-		}
+	if tries() != -1 {
+		t.Fatalf("a view failing %d times is still owed", tries())
 	}
-	if !doesNotExist(errors.New("Gitea API /repos/a/b/issues/1/comments: 404 Not Found")) ||
-		doesNotExist(errors.New("tool gitea.gitea_delivery_view does not exist on this machine")) ||
-		doesNotExist(errors.New("the forge is away")) {
-		t.Fatal("doesNotExist reads the forge's answer wrong")
+	if st := w.h.Status("listening"); !strings.Contains(strings.Join(st["refused"].([]string), "\n"), "given up") {
+		t.Fatalf("its drop was not said: %v", st["refused"])
+	}
+	// The bus back: what is owed anew is written.
+	w.owed.down = false
+	w.h.Checked(verdict("novox/app", 7, head, "pass"))
+	w.h.Flush()
+	if len(w.owed.acts(sdk.OwedView)) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("nothing was written once the bus was back")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder.go
index d96772ce..0f74eeec 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder.go
@@ -33,6 +33,8 @@ type Holder struct {
 	Operator Operator
 	Merges   MergeStore
 	Source   SourceStore
+	// Owed is the gate's bucket owed: what a transition owes the forge, written as keys (owed.go).
+	Owed OwedStore
 	// Pulls keeps the pull requests' keys on the bus (pullkey.go); nil keeps none.
 	Pulls PullKeys
 	// Seat says where today's module still stands; the gate holds the seat only when it stands nowhere (seat.go). Carry
@@ -1956,7 +1958,8 @@ func (h *Holder) askOwnCheck(id string, m Member, why string) {
 		return
 	}
 	if asked == "" {
-		h.Logf("[mesh-delivery] %s's check was asked and the controller's answer held no id: taken as refused, asked again in a minute at most", id)
+		h.Logf("[mesh-delivery] ERROR: %s's check was asked and the controller's answer held no check id: it is not taken as asked, "+
+			"and asked again in a minute at most", id)
 		return
 	}
 	delete(h.askTried, id)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder_test.go
index 3f1c841b..92ad64d2 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder_test.go
@@ -250,19 +250,19 @@ func TestATransitionIsKeptBeforeItIsSaid(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(w.said) != 1 || len(w.forge.notesOn(head)) != 2 {
 		t.Fatalf("once kept, said %d and noted %d", len(w.said), len(w.forge.notesOn(head)))
 	}
-	// A forge that is away is asked again; a note is appended once however often it is asked.
-	w.forge.down = true
+	// A bucket the bus cannot take is written again; a note is appended once however often it is asked.
+	w.owed.down = true
 	w.h.Checked(verdict("novox/app", 7, head, "pass"))
 	w.settleAll()
 	if len(w.forge.notesOn(head)) != 2 {
-		t.Fatal("noted while the forge was away")
+		t.Fatal("noted while the bus was away")
 	}
-	w.forge.down = false
+	w.owed.down = false
 	w.later(time.Hour) // each failure put its next try later: past every one of them
 	w.settleAll()
 	w.settleAll()
 	if notes := w.forge.notesOn(head); len(notes) != 4 {
-		t.Fatalf("after the forge came back the note has %d line(s): %q", len(notes), notes)
+		t.Fatalf("after the bus came back the note has %d line(s): %q", len(notes), notes)
 	}
 	if d := w.delivery(IDOf("novox/app", head)); len(d.Owed) != 0 {
 		t.Fatalf("still owed: %+v", d.Owed)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/issue1349_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/issue1349_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..bb282ec2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/issue1349_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,231 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"fmt"
+	"go/ast"
+	"go/parser"
+	"go/token"
+	"path/filepath"
+	"slices"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+	"sync"
+	"testing"
+
+	sdk "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
+
+// **The gate writes nothing to the forge: its statuses, views, notes and comments are owed keys, and its plan is read from
+// `plans`** (novox/hq ADR 0437 §2, §8, ADR 0450 §2, §4, §7, issue 1349; the empty check answer is the mesh-delivery half of
+// issue 1311). Fixture sources: the key and the value of an owed act are mesh-sdk go/delivery's (OwedKey, Owed); the arguments
+// of `plans` are mesh-controller cmd/mesh-controller/seatverbs.go's (repository, paths, module-dirs, head, base, removed, data)
+// and its answer the document of deliveryPlanDocument (plan, reach, mesh, gated).
+
+// AC1: a transition that today sets a status, a view, a note or a comment writes the matching owed key.
+func TestATransitionWritesItsStatusViewAndNoteAsOwedKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	w := newWorld(t)
+	id := IDOf("novox/app", head)
+	w.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/app", 7, head, "feat/x", "src/a.go"))
+	w.settleAll()
+	page := "https://forge.invalid/novox/app/pulls/7"
+	statusKey, _ := sdk.OwedKey("novox/app", 7, head, "status=mesh/delivery")
+	viewKey, _ := sdk.OwedKey("novox/app", 7, head, "view")
+	noteKey, _ := sdk.OwedKey("novox/app", 7, head, "note")
+	for _, key := range []string{statusKey, viewKey, noteKey} {
+		if _, there := w.owed.keys[key]; !there {
+			t.Fatalf("the key %s was not written; the keys are %v", key, w.owed.writes)
+		}
+	}
+	if s := w.owed.keys[statusKey]; s.Act != sdk.OwedStatus || s.Context != "mesh/delivery" || s.State != "pending" || s.Target != page || s.Text == "" {
+		t.Fatalf("the owed status is %+v; wanted mesh/delivery pending, pointing at %s", s, page)
+	}
+	if v := w.owed.keys[viewKey]; v.Act != sdk.OwedView || !strings.Contains(v.Text, id) {
+		t.Fatalf("the owed view is %+v", v)
+	}
+	if n := w.owed.keys[noteKey]; n.Act != sdk.OwedNote || n.Ref != "mesh-plan" || !strings.Contains(n.Text, "proposed") {
+		t.Fatalf("the owed note is %+v", n)
+	}
+	// What the bridge would perform is what the forge holds.
+	if len(w.forge.notesOn(head)) == 0 || !strings.HasPrefix(statusOn(w, "novox/app", head), "pending") {
+		t.Fatalf("the fake bridge did not perform what was owed: %v", w.forge.notesOn(head))
+	}
+}
+
+// AC1: a note on the merge commit, which no pull request names, is keyed with the number 0.
+func TestANoteOnTheMergeCommitIsOwedWithNumberZero(t *testing.T) {
+	w := newWorld(t)
+	w.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/app", 7, head, "feat/x", "src/a.go"))
+	w.h.Checked(verdict("novox/app", 7, head, "pass"))
+	w.h.PullMerged(merged("novox/app", 7, head, merge))
+	w.h.WalkMoved(w.ctl.put(aWalk("plan-1", "novox/app", merge, true)))
+	w.settleAll()
+	key, _ := sdk.OwedKey("novox/app", 0, merge, "note")
+	if n, there := w.owed.keys[key]; !there || n.Act != sdk.OwedNote {
+		t.Fatalf("no note was owed on the merge commit under %s; the keys are %v", key, w.owed.writes)
+	}
+}
+
+// AC1: two comments on one head are two acts: the sequence number is in the act.
+func TestTwoCommentsOnOneHeadAreTwoOwedKeys(t *testing.T) {
+	w := newWorld(t)
+	id := IDOf("novox/app", head)
+	w.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/app", 7, head, "feat/x", "src/a.go"))
+	w.h.mu.Lock()
+	d := w.h.deliveries[id]
+	w.h.sayOn(d, "the first thing said")
+	w.h.sayOn(d, "the second thing said")
+	w.h.mu.Unlock()
+	w.settleAll()
+	one, _ := sdk.OwedKey("novox/app", 7, head, "comment.1")
+	two, _ := sdk.OwedKey("novox/app", 7, head, "comment.2")
+	if w.owed.keys[one].Text != "the first thing said" || w.owed.keys[two].Text != "the second thing said" {
+		t.Fatalf("the comments are %+v and %+v", w.owed.keys[one], w.owed.keys[two])
+	}
+	if len(w.forge.comments) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("the bridge would say %d comments: %v", len(w.forge.comments), w.forge.comments)
+	}
+}
+
+// AC2: the gate's code calls no gitea write tool and no `delivery-plan`, and no controller verb beyond the ones its manifest
+// names (ADR 0450 §7). Tests are left out: they name the words to prove them gone.
+func TestTheGatesCodeCallsNoForgeWriteToolAndNoDeliveryPlan(t *testing.T) {
+	files, err := filepath.Glob("*.go")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	forbidden := []string{"delivery-plan", "gitea_commit_status\"", "gitea_delivery_view", "gitea_note_append", "gitea_add_comment",
+		"gitea_merge_pull_request\"", "gitea_open_pulls_write"}
+	// The controller's verbs the gate calls: ADR 0450 §7.
+	allowed := []string{"deliver", "delivery-stop", "delivery-backups-again", "delivery-walks", "delivery-check", "forget-checks", "plans"}
+	called := map[string]bool{}
+	fset := token.NewFileSet()
+	for _, f := range files {
+		if strings.HasSuffix(f, "_test.go") {
+			continue
+		}
+		file, err := parser.ParseFile(fset, f, nil, 0)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		ast.Inspect(file, func(n ast.Node) bool {
+			switch x := n.(type) {
+			case *ast.BasicLit:
+				if x.Kind == token.STRING {
+					for _, word := range forbidden {
+						if strings.Contains(x.Value, word) {
+							t.Errorf("%s holds the string %s", f, x.Value)
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			case *ast.CallExpr:
+				if sel, ok := x.Fun.(*ast.SelectorExpr); ok && sel.Sel.Name == "verb" && len(x.Args) > 0 {
+					if lit, ok := x.Args[0].(*ast.BasicLit); ok {
+						verb, _ := strconv.Unquote(lit.Value)
+						called[verb] = true
+						if !slices.Contains(allowed, verb) {
+							t.Errorf("%s calls the controller's verb %q", f, verb)
+						}
+					}
+				}
+			}
+			return true
+		})
+	}
+	for _, verb := range []string{"plans", "delivery-check"} {
+		if !called[verb] {
+			t.Errorf("the gate calls no %s: the test reads nothing", verb)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// stubController is a controller that answers every verb with one document, and keeps what it was asked.
+type stubController struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	keys   []string
+	bodies []map[string]any
+	answer string
+}
+
+func (s *stubController) ask(key string, body any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	s.keys = append(s.keys, key)
+	b, _ := body.(map[string]any)
+	s.bodies = append(s.bodies, b)
+	return json.RawMessage(s.answer), nil
+}
+
+func (s *stubController) called(key string) []map[string]any {
+	s.mu.Lock()
+	defer s.mu.Unlock()
+	var out []map[string]any
+	for i, k := range s.keys {
+		if k == key {
+			out = append(out, s.bodies[i])
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// AC3: a delivery with no plan gets it from `plans`, asked as data, with the change's diffset.
+func TestADeliveryWithNoPlanGetsItFromPlansAsData(t *testing.T) {
+	w := newWorld(t)
+	stub := &stubController{answer: `{"ok":true,"output":"","answer":{"asked":"check-1","held":true,"walks":[],
+"plan":{"repository":"novox/app","base":"main","head":"` + head + `","moved":["app"],"summary":"builds app, sent to the node"}}}`}
+	w.h.Controller = seatController{ask: stub.ask}
+	w.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/app", 7, head, "feat/x", "src/a.go"))
+	c := verdict("novox/app", 7, head, "pass")
+	c.Plan = nil
+	w.h.Checked(c)
+	w.settleAll()
+	asked := stub.called("seat:mesh-controller.plans")
+	if len(asked) == 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("`plans` was not asked; the controller was asked %v", stub.keys)
+	}
+	if len(stub.called("seat:mesh-controller.delivery-plan")) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal("delivery-plan was asked")
+	}
+	got := asked[0]
+	if got["repository"] != "novox/app" || got["paths"] != "src/a.go" || got["data"] != "true" || got["head"] != head || got["base"] != "main" {
+		t.Fatalf("plans was asked %v; wanted the repository, the paths, the head, the base and data", got)
+	}
+	if d := w.delivery(IDOf("novox/app", head)); d.Plan == nil || d.Plan.Summary != "builds app, sent to the node" {
+		t.Fatalf("the delivery's plan is %+v", d.Plan)
+	}
+}
+
+// AC4: a delivery-check answer that holds no id is an error said aloud, naming the delivery, and not taken as asked.
+func TestAnEmptyDeliveryCheckAnswerIsAnErrorNamingTheDelivery(t *testing.T) {
+	stub := &stubController{answer: `{"ok":true,"output":"","answer":{}}`}
+	if id, err := (seatController{ask: stub.ask}).Check("", []Member{{ID: "novox/app@x"}}); err == nil || id != "" ||
+		!strings.Contains(err.Error(), "no check id") {
+		t.Fatalf("an empty check answer gave %q and %v", id, err)
+	}
+	w := newWorld(t)
+	var said []string
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	w.h.Logf = func(format string, a ...any) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		said = append(said, strings.TrimSpace(fmt.Sprintf(format, a...)))
+	}
+	w.h.Controller = seatController{ask: stub.ask}
+	w.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/app", 7, head, "feat/x", "src/a.go"))
+	w.settleAll()
+	id := IDOf("novox/app", head)
+	mu.Lock()
+	defer mu.Unlock()
+	found := false
+	for _, line := range said {
+		if strings.Contains(line, id) && strings.Contains(line, "no check id") && !strings.Contains(line, "taken as refused") {
+			found = true
+		}
+	}
+	if !found {
+		t.Fatalf("no error naming %s and the empty answer was logged: %q", id, said)
+	}
+	if d := w.delivery(id); d.CheckAsk != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("an empty answer was kept as an ask: %+v", d.CheckAsk)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/issue407_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/issue407_test.go
index 551744ab..f71d08df 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/issue407_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/issue407_test.go
@@ -57,15 +57,15 @@ func TestDeliveryStatusCountsTheOwedEffectsTried(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("last try said %v, tried at %s", tried["last"], w.now.Format(time.RFC3339))
 	}
 
-	// The forge away: its effects fail and are counted failed; quiet passes try nothing more.
-	w.forge.down = true
+	// The bus away: its effects fail and are counted failed; quiet passes try nothing more.
+	w.owed.down = true
 	w.later(time.Minute)
 	w.h.Checked(verdict("novox/app", 7, head, "pass"))
 	w.h.Flush()
 	tried = triedSaid(t, w)
 	failed := countOf(t, tried, "failed")
 	if failed == 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("the forge away failed nothing: %v", tried)
+		t.Fatalf("the bus away failed nothing: %v", tried)
 	}
 	if countOf(t, tried, "tried") != countOf(t, tried, "done")+failed+countOf(t, tried, "given-up") {
 		t.Fatalf("tries do not add up: %v", tried)
@@ -80,7 +80,7 @@ func TestDeliveryStatusCountsTheOwedEffectsTried(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// The forge back, past every next try: the failed effects are done.
-	w.forge.down = false
+	w.owed.down = false
 	w.later(time.Hour)
 	w.h.Flush()
 	tried = triedSaid(t, w)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/main.go
index 4588a811..e5f4348a 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/main.go
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@ func main() {
 		Operator:   kvOperator{},
 		Merges:     kvMerges{},
 		Source:     kvSource{},
+		Owed:       kvOwed{},
 		Pulls:      kvPulls{},
 		// The gate acts only while it holds the seat, and carries today's state over when it first does (seat.go).
 		Seat:  busOccupancy{},
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/model.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/model.go
index 863d832a..ada614f3 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/model.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/model.go
@@ -38,6 +38,8 @@ type Delivery struct {
 	// that was said, for this pull request.
 	After     []string `json:"after,omitempty"`
 	AfterSaid bool     `json:"after_said,omitempty"`
+	// Comments is how many comments this owner owed on the pull request at this head, which numbers the next.
+	Comments int `json:"comments,omitempty"`
 	// Issues are the issues its title and body name ("issue 948"), shown to the operator who is asked to approve its merge.
 	Issues []int `json:"issues,omitempty"`
 	// Group is the delivery group it is in: its head branch name. Empty for a lone delivery.
@@ -321,6 +323,9 @@ const (
 	EffectNote   = "note"
 	EffectView   = "view"
 	EffectStatus = "status"
+	// EffectComment is a comment on the pull request; its Context is the sequence number of the comment on the head, which
+	// keeps two comments on one head two acts (mesh-sdk go/delivery OwedCommentAct).
+	EffectComment = "comment"
 )
 
 // FromForgesWord is whether the delivery was made from the forge's word at its merge: said by FromForge, or —
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/owed.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/owed.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2e636dbe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/owed.go
@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
+
+	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
+	sdk "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
+
+// The gate writes nothing to the forge: what a transition owes it — a status, the view on the pull request, a line of the
+// commit's note, a comment — is one key of the gate's bucket owed, `<repository>.<number>.<head>.<act>` (mesh-sdk go/delivery
+// OwedKey), which the forge bridge performs once for each revision (novox/hq ADR 0437 §8, ADR 0450 §4). The number is 0 for
+// a commit no pull request names; a comment's act carries a sequence number, so two comments on one head are two acts.
+// What the gate keeps is the effect owed until its key is written (effects.go); the forge's own refusal is the bridge's
+// to say on FORGE, and the gate has no retry for it.
+
+// noPage is the target of a status whose delivery has no page to point at.
+const noPage = "none"
+
+// notesRef is the notes ref the commit's note is kept under.
+const notesRef = "mesh-plan"
+
+// OwedStore is the gate's bucket owed.
+type OwedStore interface {
+	// Put writes the act under its key, unless that key holds the same act already (a revision is an act to perform).
+	Put(key string, o sdk.Owed) error
+}
+
+// kvOwed is owed over the runtime.
+type kvOwed struct{}
+
+func (kvOwed) Put(key string, o sdk.Owed) error {
+	raw, err := sdk.EncodeOwed(o)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	if e, err := stdio.State("owed").Get(key); err == nil && e != nil {
+		if kept, err := sdk.DecodeOwed(e.Value); err == nil && sdk.SameOwed(kept, o) {
+			return nil
+		}
+	}
+	_, err = stdio.State("owed").Put(key, json.RawMessage(raw))
+	return err
+}
+
+// owe writes one owed act as its key. An act that has no key (a name the key refuses, a status with no page to point at) is
+// said and dropped, since writing it again would fail the same.
+func (h *Holder) owe(repository string, number int, head, act string, o sdk.Owed) error {
+	if h.Owed == nil {
+		return errors.New("no owed bucket")
+	}
+	key, err := sdk.OwedKey(repository, number, head, act)
+	if err == nil {
+		o.Act = actKind(act)
+		_, err = sdk.EncodeOwed(o)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		h.Refuse(fmt.Errorf("the act %q on %s#%d at %s cannot be owed and is dropped: %v", act, repository, number, shortOf(head, 12), err))
+		return nil
+	}
+	return h.Owed.Put(key, o)
+}
+
+// actKind is the kind of an owed act: `status=<context>` is a status, `comment.<seq>` a comment.
+func actKind(act string) string {
+	kind, _, _ := sdk.ParseOwedAct(act)
+	return kind
+}
+
+// statusAct is the act of a status of a context.
+func statusAct(context string) string { return sdk.OwedStatus + "=" + context }
+
+// commentAct is the act of the seq-th comment on a head.
+func commentAct(seq int) string {
+	act, _ := sdk.OwedCommentAct(seq)
+	return act
+}
+
+// owedOf is an effect as the act its key names and its value: the repository and number are the delivery's (or, for a
+// group's status, the member's the effect names in Last), the body the view's.
+func owedOf(e Effect, repository string, number int, head, body, page string) (act string, value sdk.Owed, num int, hd string) {
+	num, hd = number, head
+	switch e.Kind {
+	case EffectNote:
+		hd = e.Commit
+		if e.Commit != head {
+			num = 0 // the merge commit is named by no pull request
+		}
+		return sdk.OwedNote, sdk.Owed{Text: e.Line, Ref: notesRef}, num, hd
+	case EffectView:
+		return sdk.OwedView, sdk.Owed{Text: body}, num, hd
+	case EffectStatus:
+		// The owed status must name where it points; a delivery with no pull request page points at none, which the forge's
+		// tool leaves out (it links only an http or https address).
+		if page == "" {
+			page = noPage
+		}
+		return statusAct(e.Context), sdk.Owed{Context: e.Context, State: e.State, Text: e.Line, Target: page}, num, e.Commit
+	case EffectComment:
+		seq, _ := strconv.Atoi(e.Context)
+		return commentAct(seq), sdk.Owed{Text: e.Line}, num, hd
+	}
+	return "", sdk.Owed{}, 0, ""
+}
+
+// memberOfLast reads the repository, pull request number and page a group's status effect names in Last
+// (`owner/repo#N page`).
+func memberOfLast(last string) (repository string, number int, page string) {
+	where, page, _ := strings.Cut(last, " ")
+	repository, n, _ := strings.Cut(where, "#")
+	number, _ = strconv.Atoi(n)
+	return repository, number, page
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ports.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ports.go
index c4f1041d..4cb8767f 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ports.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ports.go
@@ -71,12 +71,6 @@ type Controller interface {
 
 // Forge is what the forge's holder does for a delivery.
 type Forge interface {
-	// Note appends one line to a commit's note under refs/notes/mesh-plan; a line already there is not added.
-	Note(owner, repo, commit, line string) error
-	// View keeps the delivery's view current on its pull request: one comment, edited in place.
-	View(owner, repo string, number int, body string) error
-	// Status sets one status of a commit, linking to the view.
-	Status(owner, repo, commit, context, state, description, target string) error
 	// Statuses reads a commit's statuses — a pull request's head's, given its number — and whether the branch
 	// it merges into would let it merge. Reads only.
 	Statuses(owner, repo string, number int, commit, base string) (*ForgeChecks, error)
@@ -85,8 +79,6 @@ type Forge interface {
 	// OpenPulls is every open pull request, with what its base requires and what its head has (novox/hq issue
 	// 347). Reads only.
 	OpenPulls() ([]OpenPull, error)
-	// Comment adds a comment to a pull request.
-	Comment(owner, repo string, number int, body string) error
 }
 
 // ForgeChecks is what the forge says of a commit's checks (the gitea module's gitea_commit_statuses).
@@ -206,8 +198,10 @@ func (c seatController) verb(name string, args map[string]any) (json.RawMessage,
 	return answer, nil
 }
 
+// Plan asks the controller's `plans` for the plan of a change as data (novox/hq ADR 0450 §2): the document the old
+// per-change verb answered, now the what-if of the plans every person reads as text.
 func (c seatController) Plan(repository, base, head string, paths, moduleDirs, removed []string) (*DeliveryPlan, error) {
-	args := map[string]any{"repository": repository, "paths": strings.Join(paths, ",")}
+	args := map[string]any{"repository": repository, "paths": strings.Join(paths, ","), "data": "true"}
 	if base != "" {
 		args["base"] = base
 	}
@@ -220,7 +214,7 @@ func (c seatController) Plan(repository, base, head string, paths, moduleDirs, r
 	if len(removed) > 0 {
 		args["removed"] = strings.Join(removed, ",")
 	}
-	raw, err := c.verb("delivery-plan", args)
+	raw, err := c.verb("plans", args)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, err
 	}
@@ -228,7 +222,7 @@ func (c seatController) Plan(repository, base, head string, paths, moduleDirs, r
 		Plan *DeliveryPlan `json:"plan"`
 	}
 	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &a); err != nil || a.Plan == nil {
-		return nil, errors.New("the controller's delivery-plan answered no plan")
+		return nil, errors.New("the controller's plans answered no plan as data")
 	}
 	return a.Plan, nil
 }
@@ -250,7 +244,10 @@ func (c seatController) Check(group string, members []Member) (string, error) {
 	if a.Asked != "" {
 		return a.Asked, nil
 	}
-	return a.Rechecked, nil
+	if a.Rechecked != "" {
+		return a.Rechecked, nil
+	}
+	return "", fmt.Errorf("the controller's delivery-check answered no check id (%s): it is not taken as asked", clip(string(raw), 200))
 }
 
 func (c seatController) Deliver(walk, why string) error {
@@ -341,20 +338,6 @@ func (f toolForge) tool(name string, args map[string]any) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-func (f toolForge) Note(owner, repo, commit, line string) error {
-	return f.tool("gitea_note_append", map[string]any{"owner": owner, "repo": repo, "sha": commit,
-		"ref": "mesh-plan", "line": line})
-}
-
-func (f toolForge) View(owner, repo string, number int, body string) error {
-	return f.tool("gitea_delivery_view", map[string]any{"owner": owner, "repo": repo, "number": number, "body": body})
-}
-
-func (f toolForge) Status(owner, repo, commit, context, state, description, target string) error {
-	return f.tool("gitea_commit_status", map[string]any{"owner": owner, "repo": repo, "sha": commit,
-		"context": context, "state": state, "description": description, "target_url": target})
-}
-
 func (f toolForge) Statuses(owner, repo string, number int, commit, base string) (*ForgeChecks, error) {
 	args := map[string]any{"owner": owner, "repo": repo}
 	if number > 0 {
@@ -381,10 +364,6 @@ func (f toolForge) Statuses(owner, repo string, number int, commit, base string)
 	return &c, nil
 }
 
-func (f toolForge) Comment(owner, repo string, number int, body string) error {
-	return f.tool("gitea_add_comment", map[string]any{"owner": owner, "repo": repo, "number": number, "body": body})
-}
-
 func (f toolForge) OpenPulls() ([]OpenPull, error) {
 	raw, err := f.ask("gitea.gitea_open_pulls", map[string]any{})
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready.go
index f5ff6be6..0fd35506 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready.go
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"fmt"
 	"sort"
+	"strconv"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
@@ -343,14 +344,13 @@ func (h *Holder) groupTurnToMerge(d *Delivery) string {
 	return ""
 }
 
-// sayOn comments on a delivery's pull request.
+// sayOn owes a comment on a delivery's pull request: an owed act numbered among the comments on its head, written as a key
+// with the delivery's other effects (owed.go). Under the lock; what it returns has nothing left to do.
 func (h *Holder) sayOn(d *Delivery, body string) func() {
-	owner, repo, number, id := d.Owner(), d.Repo(), d.Number, d.ID
-	return func() {
-		if err := h.Forge.Comment(owner, repo, number, body); err != nil {
-			h.Logf("[mesh-delivery] %s: could not say on its pull request: %v", id, err)
-		}
-	}
+	d.Comments++
+	d.Owed = append(d.Owed, Effect{Kind: EffectComment, Commit: d.Commit, Line: body, Context: strconv.Itoa(d.Comments), Since: h.Now()})
+	h.keep(d)
+	return func() {}
 }
 
 // readyLines are the approved heads that will not merge: a check that failed at once, a merge refused past its bound;
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/recheck_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/recheck_test.go
index 97c843c8..f8bc9be4 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/recheck_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/recheck_test.go
@@ -80,12 +80,12 @@ func TestARecheckLeavesAStatusTheHeadNeverHadAlone(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 }
 
-// A forge that cannot be told refuses the recheck whole: nothing is asked on a stale verdict, and the
+// A bus that cannot take the pending statuses refuses the recheck whole: nothing is asked on a stale verdict, and the
 // delivery stays where it stood, for the person to ask again.
-func TestARecheckTheForgeCannotTakeIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
+func TestARecheckTheBusCannotTakeIsRefused(t *testing.T) {
 	w := newWorld(t)
 	id := heldGreen(t, w, "novox/app", 9)
-	w.forge.down = true
+	w.owed.down = true
 	if _, err := w.h.Recheck(id, "main moved on", "a person"); err == nil {
 		t.Fatal("a recheck whose statuses could not be put back was taken")
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/timers_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/timers_test.go
index 370d1127..d1d6214e 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/timers_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/timers_test.go
@@ -109,16 +109,16 @@ func TestAMergeNoWalkOpenedForReadsTheControllersWalksOnceAtItsBound(t *testing.
 	}
 }
 
-func TestAnEffectTheForgeCouldNotTakeIsTriedAgainAtItsTimeByTheTimerAlone(t *testing.T) {
+func TestAnEffectTheBusCouldNotTakeIsTriedAgainAtItsTimeByTheTimerAlone(t *testing.T) {
 	w := newWorld(t)
-	w.forge.down = true
+	w.owed.down = true
 	w.h.PullUpdated(pr("novox/app", 7, readyHead, "feat/x", "src/a.go"))
 	w.h.React()
 	at, step := w.wantedAt()
 	if at.IsZero() || !strings.Contains(step, "owed") || at.After(w.now.Add(retryFirst)) {
 		t.Fatalf("the look wanted at %s for %q; wanted within %s for the owed effect", at, step, retryFirst)
 	}
-	w.forge.down = false
+	w.owed.down = false
 	w.later(retryFirst + time.Second)
 	w.h.React()
 	if len(w.forge.notes) == 0 {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/verbs.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/verbs.go
index 9a3e5aaf..b7bee361 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/verbs.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/verbs.go
@@ -297,9 +297,9 @@ func (h *Holder) Recheck(id, why, by string) (string, error) {
 		h.mu.Unlock()
 		return "", err
 	}
-	owner, repo, commit, page := d.Owner(), d.Repo(), d.Commit, d.HTMLURL
+	owner, repo, commit, page, number := d.Owner(), d.Repo(), d.Commit, d.HTMLURL, d.Number
 	h.mu.Unlock()
-	if err := h.checkingAgain(owner, repo, commit, page, why); err != nil {
+	if err := h.checkingAgain(owner, repo, number, commit, page, why); err != nil {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s is not rechecked: %v; its merge check must say pending before it is asked again, "+
 			"so nothing merges on the old verdict — ask again once the forge answers", id, err)
 	}
@@ -336,10 +336,11 @@ func (h *Holder) Recheck(id, why, by string) (string, error) {
 // verdict sets it; the repository's own check only when the head holds one, since a verdict that says none
 // would leave a pending one standing for ever. Asked of the forge's holder, which keeps them; it takes
 // pending on them and nothing else, a verdict being the controller's alone (novox/hq issue 293).
-func (h *Holder) checkingAgain(owner, repo, commit, page, why string) error {
+func (h *Holder) checkingAgain(owner, repo string, number int, commit, page, why string) error {
 	if h.Forge == nil {
 		return errors.New("no forge")
 	}
+	// The statuses are owed as keys the forge bridge performs, on the pull request number the delivery has.
 	contexts := []string{ctxGate, ctxRepo}
 	if held, err := h.Forge.Statuses(owner, repo, 0, commit, ""); err == nil {
 		contexts = []string{ctxGate}
@@ -351,8 +352,10 @@ func (h *Holder) checkingAgain(owner, repo, commit, page, why string) error {
 	}
 	line := clip(oneLine("checking again: "+why), 140)
 	for _, c := range contexts {
-		if err := h.Forge.Status(owner, repo, commit, c, "pending", line, page); err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("the forge did not set %s pending on %s: %w", c, shortOf(commit, 8), err)
+		act, value, num, head := owedOf(Effect{Kind: EffectStatus, Commit: commit, Context: c, State: "pending", Line: line},
+			owner+"/"+repo, number, commit, "", page)
+		if err := h.owe(owner+"/"+repo, num, head, act, value); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("%s could not be owed as pending on %s: %w", c, shortOf(commit, 8), err)
 		}
 	}
 	return nil