Say a failed test's whole output on the Go and Node build modules' own log streams, kept 14 days and 2 GiB, and read it with build_go_log and build_node_log, so a cut verdict's cause is read, not guessed

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/asks.go

@@ -47,6 +47,9 @@ func (m *Module) askSteps(steps []StepTool) buildstep.AskSteps {
 		Has:     m.Has,
 		Release: func(ws string) error { return m.spaces().Release(ws) },
 		Logf:    m.Say,
+		// A failed test's whole output is said on the module's own log stream (buildstep.LogTool reads it back).
+		Narrate: m.Emit,
+		Module:  "mesh-build-go",
 	}
 }
 

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/emit_test.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"slices"
@@ -47,9 +48,14 @@ func TestTheManifestDeclaresTheToolchainsStream(t *testing.T) {
 		Streams []struct {
 			Name   string   `json:"name"`
 			Events []string `json:"events"`
+			Age    int      `json:"max-age-days"`
+			MiB    int      `json:"max-mib"`
 		} `json:"streams"`
 	}
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &m); err != nil || len(m.Streams) != 1 || m.Streams[0].Name != "toolchains-go" || !slices.Equal(m.Streams[0].Events, []string{"toolchain.**"}) {
+	// And its log stream: a failed test's whole output, kept 14 days and at most 2 GiB, dropping its oldest (the operator,
+	// 2026-10-30).
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &m); err != nil || len(m.Streams) != 2 || m.Streams[0].Name != "toolchains-go" || !slices.Equal(m.Streams[0].Events, []string{"toolchain.**"}) ||
+		m.Streams[1].Name != buildstep.LogStreamOf("go") || !slices.Equal(m.Streams[1].Events, []string{"log.**"}) || m.Streams[1].Age != 14 || m.Streams[1].MiB != 2048 {
 		t.Errorf("streams = %+v (%v)", m.Streams, err)
 	}
 }

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/main.go

@@ -14,6 +14,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 )
 
@@ -41,6 +42,7 @@ func main() {
 		Emit:                func(t string, b any) error { return stdio.Emit(t, b) },
 		Steps:               stdio.State(delivery.StepsState).Put,
 		ReadSteps:           readOf(stdio.State(delivery.StepsState)),
+		ReadLog:             stdio.Stream(buildstep.LogStreamOf("go")).Read,
 		Pauses:              stdio.State(delivery.PausesState).Put,
 		ReadPauses:          readOf(stdio.State(delivery.PausesState)),
 		ReadToolchainsState: readOf(stdio.State(delivery.ToolchainsState)),

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/module.go

@@ -31,6 +31,9 @@ type Module struct {
 	// Held is the puller whose running asks a step-end tool will not end (issue 1890); nil in a test.
 	Held                           *buildstep.Puller
 	ReadSteps, ReadToolchainsState StateRead
+	// ReadLog reads the module's own log stream (stdio.Stream(buildstep.LogStreamOf(language)).Read), where each step
+	// says a failed test's whole output (Emit says it); nil in a test.
+	ReadLog buildstep.StreamRead
 	// Pauses is the Put of the pauses state, which keeps the node's pause key without an age; ReadPauses reads it back.
 	Pauses     buildstep.Put
 	ReadPauses StateRead

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/module_test.go

@@ -115,7 +115,7 @@ func TestAGoThatCannotBeRunRefusesEveryStepAndHealthIsUnhealthy(t *testing.T) {
 		{Name: "short_probe", Run: run},
 	}, m.StepTools()...)
 	for _, tool := range m.Tools(steps) {
-		if tool.Name == StatusTool || tool.Name == HealthTool || tool.Name == StepReadTool || tool.Name == StepsReadTool || tool.Name == ToolchainsReadTool || tool.Name == ReleaseTool || tool.Name == StepEndTool {
+		if tool.Name == StatusTool || tool.Name == HealthTool || tool.Name == StepReadTool || tool.Name == StepsReadTool || tool.Name == LogReadTool || tool.Name == ToolchainsReadTool || tool.Name == ReleaseTool || tool.Name == StepEndTool {
 			continue
 		}
 		var reason string

modules/mesh-build-go/cmd/mesh-build-go/read.go

@@ -15,13 +15,16 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 )
 
 // The read tools, named as the module is: build_go_ and the verb.
 const (
-	StepReadTool       = "build_go_step"
-	StepsReadTool      = "build_go_steps"
+	StepReadTool  = "build_go_step"
+	StepsReadTool = "build_go_steps"
+	// LogReadTool reads one step's log, a failed test's whole output, from the module's own log stream.
+	LogReadTool        = "build_go_log"
 	ToolchainsReadTool = "build_go_toolchains"
 )
 
@@ -225,7 +228,14 @@ func (m *Module) ReadToolchains() (map[string]delivery.Toolchain, error) {
 
 // ReadTools are the module's read tools. All are read-only.
 func (m *Module) ReadTools() []stdio.Tool {
+	readLog := m.ReadLog
+	if readLog == nil {
+		readLog = func(string, uint64, int) (*stdio.StreamPage, error) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("this process reads no log stream: it was not launched by the runtime")
+		}
+	}
 	return []stdio.Tool{
+		buildstep.LogTool(LogReadTool, readLog),
 		{Name: StepReadTool,
 			Description: "What one step of this machine ended with, as stored in the module's steps state: its tool, state " +
 				"(running, passed, failed, refused), when it started and ended, why it failed or was refused, and its result " +

modules/mesh-build-go/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module meshbuildgo
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261029233535-78c9ec881771
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030100935-c2ec8b6b2fde
 	github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 v3.1.2
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0

modules/mesh-build-go/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261029233535-78c9ec881771 h1:Tt16HJk8JZRce1i3JzzDSNdCWOrv7dw8FQ/bckNQ5Ig=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261029233535-78c9ec881771/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030095131-16bc0dcf3e9d h1:jFOz6wUfZvIayd4DctwlaFKKZHQNME6NLs2OS1rNv30=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030095131-16bc0dcf3e9d/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030095816-530d8d3007dc h1:Wdjl2gomooHswJ5qpkwZPq/ureZgXVw6FMCsgzPJhPo=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030095816-530d8d3007dc/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030100935-c2ec8b6b2fde h1:eKXSllHCS31GgMazfvZ7BeiLoXIUibnUmzxWVkj+Vcw=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030100935-c2ec8b6b2fde/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0 h1:QwLphYqCEAo1eu1TqPRN2jgVMPBweeQcR21jeqDCONI=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0/go.mod h1:TcL7YfarKPGDAthEtl5NBeHZfeUQj6OXMm/+iu5cLMM=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=

modules/mesh-build-go/module.json

@@ -51,6 +51,7 @@
     "build_go_release",
     "build_go_step",
     "build_go_steps",
+    "build_go_log",
     "build_go_step_end",
     "build_go_toolchains",
     "build_go_status",
@@ -60,6 +61,12 @@
     {
       "name": "toolchains-go",
       "events": ["toolchain.**"]
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "go-build-logs",
+      "events": ["log.**"],
+      "max-age-days": 14,
+      "max-mib": 2048
     }
   ],
   "requires": [

modules/mesh-build-node/.gitignore

@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+/mesh-build-node

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/asks.go

@@ -37,6 +37,9 @@ func (m *Module) askSteps(steps []StepTool) buildstep.AskSteps {
 		},
 		Release: func(ws string) error { return m.spaces().Release(ws) },
 		Logf:    m.Say,
+		// A failed test's whole output is said on the module's own log stream (buildstep.LogTool reads it back).
+		Narrate: m.Emit,
+		Module:  "mesh-build-node",
 	}
 }
 

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/emit_test.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package main
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"slices"
@@ -47,9 +48,14 @@ func TestTheManifestDeclaresTheToolchainsStream(t *testing.T) {
 		Streams []struct {
 			Name   string   `json:"name"`
 			Events []string `json:"events"`
+			Age    int      `json:"max-age-days"`
+			MiB    int      `json:"max-mib"`
 		} `json:"streams"`
 	}
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &m); err != nil || len(m.Streams) != 1 || m.Streams[0].Name != "toolchains-node" || !slices.Equal(m.Streams[0].Events, []string{"toolchain.**"}) {
+	// And its log stream: a failed test's whole output, kept 14 days and at most 2 GiB, dropping its oldest (the operator,
+	// 2026-10-30).
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &m); err != nil || len(m.Streams) != 2 || m.Streams[0].Name != "toolchains-node" || !slices.Equal(m.Streams[0].Events, []string{"toolchain.**"}) ||
+		m.Streams[1].Name != buildstep.LogStreamOf("node") || !slices.Equal(m.Streams[1].Events, []string{"log.**"}) || m.Streams[1].Age != 14 || m.Streams[1].MiB != 2048 {
 		t.Errorf("streams = %+v (%v)", m.Streams, err)
 	}
 }

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/main.go

@@ -16,6 +16,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/forgekey"
 )
@@ -47,6 +48,7 @@ func main() {
 		Emit:                func(t string, b any) error { return stdio.Emit(t, b) },
 		Steps:               stdio.State(delivery.StepsState).Put,
 		ReadSteps:           readOf(stdio.State(delivery.StepsState)),
+		ReadLog:             stdio.Stream(buildstep.LogStreamOf("node")).Read,
 		Pauses:              stdio.State(delivery.PausesState).Put,
 		ReadPauses:          readOf(stdio.State(delivery.PausesState)),
 		ReadToolchainsState: readOf(stdio.State(delivery.ToolchainsState)),

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/module.go

@@ -45,6 +45,9 @@ type Module struct {
 	// Held is the puller whose running asks a step-end tool will not end (issue 1890); nil in a test.
 	Held                           *buildstep.Puller
 	ReadSteps, ReadToolchainsState StateRead
+	// ReadLog reads the module's own log stream (stdio.Stream(buildstep.LogStreamOf(language)).Read), where each step
+	// says a failed test's whole output (Emit says it); nil in a test.
+	ReadLog buildstep.StreamRead
 	// Pauses is the Put of the pauses state, which keeps the node's pause key without an age; ReadPauses reads it back.
 	Pauses     buildstep.Put
 	ReadPauses StateRead

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/module_test.go

@@ -117,7 +117,7 @@ func TestANodeThatCannotBeRunRefusesEveryStepAndHealthIsUnhealthy(t *testing.T)
 		{Name: "short_probe", Run: run},
 	}, (&Module{}).StepTools()...)
 	for _, tool := range m.Tools(steps) {
-		if tool.Name == StatusTool || tool.Name == HealthTool || tool.Name == StepReadTool || tool.Name == StepsReadTool || tool.Name == ToolchainsReadTool || tool.Name == ReleaseTool || tool.Name == StepEndTool {
+		if tool.Name == StatusTool || tool.Name == HealthTool || tool.Name == StepReadTool || tool.Name == StepsReadTool || tool.Name == LogReadTool || tool.Name == ToolchainsReadTool || tool.Name == ReleaseTool || tool.Name == StepEndTool {
 			continue
 		}
 		var reason string

modules/mesh-build-node/cmd/mesh-build-node/read.go

@@ -15,13 +15,16 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	stdio "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 )
 
 // The read tools, named as the module is: build_node_ and the verb.
 const (
-	StepReadTool       = "build_node_step"
-	StepsReadTool      = "build_node_steps"
+	StepReadTool  = "build_node_step"
+	StepsReadTool = "build_node_steps"
+	// LogReadTool reads one step's log, a failed test's whole output, from the module's own log stream.
+	LogReadTool        = "build_node_log"
 	ToolchainsReadTool = "build_node_toolchains"
 )
 
@@ -225,7 +228,14 @@ func (m *Module) ReadToolchains() (map[string]delivery.Toolchain, error) {
 
 // ReadTools are the module's read tools. All are read-only.
 func (m *Module) ReadTools() []stdio.Tool {
+	readLog := m.ReadLog
+	if readLog == nil {
+		readLog = func(string, uint64, int) (*stdio.StreamPage, error) {
+			return nil, fmt.Errorf("this process reads no log stream: it was not launched by the runtime")
+		}
+	}
 	return []stdio.Tool{
+		buildstep.LogTool(LogReadTool, readLog),
 		{Name: StepReadTool,
 			Description: "What one step of this machine ended with, as stored in the module's steps state: its tool, state " +
 				"(running, passed, failed, refused), when it started and ended, why it failed or was refused, and its result " +

modules/mesh-build-node/go.mod

@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module meshbuildnode
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261029233535-78c9ec881771
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030100935-c2ec8b6b2fde
 	github.com/distribution/distribution/v3 v3.1.2
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )

modules/mesh-build-node/go.sum

@@ -1,5 +1,11 @@
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261029233535-78c9ec881771 h1:Tt16HJk8JZRce1i3JzzDSNdCWOrv7dw8FQ/bckNQ5Ig=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261029233535-78c9ec881771/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030095131-16bc0dcf3e9d h1:jFOz6wUfZvIayd4DctwlaFKKZHQNME6NLs2OS1rNv30=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030095131-16bc0dcf3e9d/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030095816-530d8d3007dc h1:Wdjl2gomooHswJ5qpkwZPq/ureZgXVw6FMCsgzPJhPo=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030095816-530d8d3007dc/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030100935-c2ec8b6b2fde h1:eKXSllHCS31GgMazfvZ7BeiLoXIUibnUmzxWVkj+Vcw=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030100935-c2ec8b6b2fde/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0 h1:QwLphYqCEAo1eu1TqPRN2jgVMPBweeQcR21jeqDCONI=
 github.com/alicebob/miniredis/v2 v2.35.0/go.mod h1:TcL7YfarKPGDAthEtl5NBeHZfeUQj6OXMm/+iu5cLMM=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=

modules/mesh-build-node/module.json

@@ -46,6 +46,7 @@
     "build_node_release",
     "build_node_step",
     "build_node_steps",
+    "build_node_log",
     "build_node_step_end",
     "build_node_toolchains",
     "build_node_status",
@@ -57,6 +58,12 @@
       "events": [
         "toolchain.**"
       ]
+    },
+    {
+      "name": "node-build-logs",
+      "events": ["log.**"],
+      "max-age-days": 14,
+      "max-mib": 2048
     }
   ],
   "requires": [

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/approval.go

@@ -330,7 +330,7 @@ func (h *Holder) endStaleAsks() {
 	h.endStaleSettles()
 	for _, d := range h.deliveries {
 		r := d.Ready
-		if r == nil || r.Merged != nil || d.MergedAs != "" || r.declined() || (r.AskID == "" && r.Approved == nil) || len(r.Heads) == 0 {
+		if r == nil || r.Merged != nil || d.MergedAs != "" || r.Declined != nil || (r.AskID == "" && r.Approved == nil) || len(r.Heads) == 0 {
 			continue
 		}
 		switch {
@@ -418,7 +418,6 @@ func (h *Holder) approval(d *Delivery, now time.Time) (string, func()) {
 		h.runOf(m, now)
 		m.Ready.AskID, m.Ready.Ask, m.Ready.Heads, m.Ready.AskedAt, m.Ready.Asks = id, &ask, heads, now, max(m.Ready.Asks, r.Asks)
 		m.Ready.AskedKey, m.Ready.Asking, m.Ready.AskCheck = id, asking, check.Key
-		m.Ready.Declined, m.Ready.AnsweredAsk = nil, "" // a new ask: an answer to an earlier one does not stand on it
 		h.keep(m)
 		taken = append(taken, m)
 		reads = append(reads, readOf(m, m.Commit))
@@ -609,7 +608,7 @@ func (h *Holder) pendingAsks() []string {
 	seen := map[string]bool{}
 	var out []string
 	for _, d := range h.deliveries {
-		if r := d.Ready; r != nil && r.AskID != "" && r.Approved == nil && !r.declined() && !seen[r.AskID] {
+		if r := d.Ready; r != nil && r.AskID != "" && r.Approved == nil && r.Declined == nil && !seen[r.AskID] {
 			seen[r.AskID] = true
 			out = append(out, r.AskID)
 		}
@@ -706,19 +705,16 @@ func (h *Holder) answered(key string, ans sdk.Answer) []func() {
 		h.mergeAgainNow(d) // the operator chose: the merge is asked at once
 		switch ans.Option {
 		case OptionApprove:
-			r.Approved, r.Declined, r.AnsweredAsk = &now, nil, key
+			r.Approved = &now
 			h.Logf("[mesh-delivery] %s: the operator approved its merge into main (%s)", d.ID, r.Warrant)
 		case OptionDecline:
-			r.Declined, r.AnsweredAsk = &now, key
+			r.Declined = &now
 			h.Logf("[mesh-delivery] %s: the operator declined its merge into main (%s)", d.ID, r.Warrant)
 			said = append(said, h.sayOn(d, fmt.Sprintf("mesh-delivery: **not merged.** The merge of this pull request into main at %s was "+
 				"declined: %s. A new head asks the operator again.", d.Commit, r.Warrant)))
 		}
 		h.keep(d)
 	}
-	if ans.Option == OptionApprove {
-		h.oweApproved(covered[0], now) // said on the bus at once, and again at its bound if its merge has not started (unacted.go)
-	}
 	return said
 }
 

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/approval_test.go

@@ -1,7 +1,6 @@
 package main
 
 import (
-	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
@@ -406,140 +405,3 @@ func TestAnAnswerToAnEarlierAskingIsNotTakenAndTheMergeNamesTheAnsweredAsking(t
 		t.Fatalf("the merge is announced %v; wanted the ask id of asking 2, %s", say, sdk.AskingID(key, 2))
 	}
 }
-
-// 2026-10-29 (hq#495): a group declined under one ask, a member pushed, and the group asked and approved again at the new
-// heads: the member whose head did not move kept the earlier Decline beside the new Approve, and nothing was handed, with
-// no word. An answer stands only for the ask it answers; whichever member is pushed, both merge on the new Approve.
-func TestADeclineOfAnEarlierAskDoesNotHoldTheApproveOfTheNext(t *testing.T) {
-	const ctlHead, catHead, pushed = "c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1", "d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2", "e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3e3"
-	for _, push := range []struct {
-		repo   string
-		number int
-		trunk  string
-	}{{"novox/mesh-catalog", 2, "t3t3t3t3t3t3"}, {"novox/mesh-controller", 1, "t1t1t1t1t1t1"}} {
-		t.Run(push.repo, func(t *testing.T) {
-			w := newWorld(t)
-			w.op.auto = false
-			heads := map[string]string{"novox/mesh-controller": ctlHead, "novox/mesh-catalog": catHead}
-			paths := map[string]string{"novox/mesh-controller": "internal/a.go", "novox/mesh-catalog": "modules/app/module.json"}
-			numbers := map[string]int{"novox/mesh-controller": 1, "novox/mesh-catalog": 2}
-			trunks := map[string]string{"novox/mesh-controller": "t1t1t1t1t1t1", "novox/mesh-catalog": "t3t3t3t3t3t3"}
-			round := func(check string) {
-				var open []OpenPull
-				for _, repo := range []string{"novox/mesh-controller", "novox/mesh-catalog"} {
-					w.h.PullUpdated(pr(repo, numbers[repo], heads[repo], "feat/x", paths[repo]))
-					w.h.Checked(judgedAt(repo, numbers[repo], heads[repo], "pass", trunks[repo]))
-					open = append(open, openPull(repo, numbers[repo], heads[repo]))
-				}
-				w.forge.open = open
-				w.h.SeeOpenPulls()
-				w.settleAll()
-				w.h.Checked(CheckedEvent{Group: "feat/x", ID: check, Verdict: "pass", Summary: "both compose"})
-				w.settleAll()
-			}
-			round("check-1")
-			w.op.answer(w.op.open()[0], OptionDecline)
-			w.settleAll()
-			heads[push.repo] = pushed
-			round("check-2")
-			open := w.op.open()
-			if len(open) != 1 {
-				t.Fatalf("the group at its new heads is not asked once: %v", open)
-			}
-			w.op.answer(open[0], OptionApprove)
-			w.settleAll()
-			if len(w.forge.merges) != 2 {
-				t.Fatalf("approved at the new heads, yet merged %v; stalled %+v", w.forge.merges, w.h.Stalled())
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}
-
-// 2026-10-30 (feat/774-l3-reland): approved at 10:14 and never handed, with no word. Each row an Approve: one whose runs
-// were kept by a gate before the fix above, a Decline of an earlier ask beside the Approve, merges; one whose merge
-// cannot start is said on the bus (mesh-delivery-gate.approval) and as an urgent line within approvalBound, and merges
-// once what held it ends.
-func TestAnApproveIsActedOnOrSaidWithinItsBound(t *testing.T) {
-	for _, row := range []struct {
-		name      string
-		kept      bool // the runs carry a Decline of an earlier ask, kept before answers named their ask
-		forgeDown bool // the members' statuses cannot be read, so the pass cannot start
-	}{
-		{name: "a Decline kept before the Approve, as the gate kept it before answers named their ask", kept: true},
-		{name: "an Approve whose merge cannot start is said within its bound", forgeDown: true},
-	} {
-		t.Run(row.name, func(t *testing.T) {
-			w := newWorld(t)
-			w.op.auto = false
-			heads := map[string]string{"novox/mesh-controller": "c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1c1", "novox/mesh-catalog": "d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2d2"}
-			paths := map[string]string{"novox/mesh-controller": "internal/a.go", "novox/mesh-catalog": "modules/app/module.json"}
-			numbers := map[string]int{"novox/mesh-controller": 1, "novox/mesh-catalog": 2}
-			trunks := map[string]string{"novox/mesh-controller": "t1t1t1t1t1t1", "novox/mesh-catalog": "t3t3t3t3t3t3"}
-			var open []OpenPull
-			for _, repo := range []string{"novox/mesh-controller", "novox/mesh-catalog"} {
-				w.h.PullUpdated(pr(repo, numbers[repo], heads[repo], "feat/x", paths[repo]))
-				w.h.Checked(judgedAt(repo, numbers[repo], heads[repo], "pass", trunks[repo]))
-				open = append(open, openPull(repo, numbers[repo], heads[repo]))
-			}
-			w.forge.open = open
-			w.h.SeeOpenPulls()
-			w.settleAll()
-			w.h.Checked(CheckedEvent{Group: "feat/x", ID: "check-1", Verdict: "pass", Summary: "both compose"})
-			w.settleAll()
-			asked := w.op.open()
-			if len(asked) != 1 {
-				t.Fatalf("the group is not asked once: %v", asked)
-			}
-			w.op.answer(asked[0], OptionApprove)
-			w.forge.mu.Lock()
-			w.forge.down = row.forgeDown
-			w.forge.mu.Unlock()
-			w.h.hearAsks()
-			if row.kept {
-				w.h.mu.Lock()
-				for _, d := range w.h.deliveries {
-					if d.Ready != nil && d.Ready.Approved != nil {
-						before := d.Ready.Approved.Add(-38 * time.Minute)
-						d.Ready.Declined, d.Ready.AnsweredAsk = &before, ""
-					}
-				}
-				w.h.mu.Unlock()
-			}
-			w.settleAll()
-			w.later(approvalBound + time.Second)
-			w.settleAll()
-			states := map[string]bool{}
-			for _, e := range w.said {
-				if e["event-kind"] == approvalEvent && e["group"] == "feat/x" {
-					states[fmt.Sprint(e["state"])] = true
-				}
-			}
-			if !states["approved"] {
-				t.Fatalf("the Approve is not said on the bus: %v", w.said)
-			}
-			var urgent []StalledLine
-			for _, l := range w.h.Stalled() {
-				if l.Bound == approvalBound.String() && l.Severity == "urgent" && strings.Contains(l.Says, "feat/x was approved") {
-					urgent = append(urgent, l)
-				}
-			}
-			if !row.forgeDown {
-				if len(w.forge.merges) != 2 || states["not-handed"] || len(urgent) != 0 {
-					t.Fatalf("approved, yet merged %v (said not handed: %v, lines %+v)", w.forge.merges, states["not-handed"], urgent)
-				}
-				return
-			}
-			if len(w.forge.merges) != 0 || !states["not-handed"] || len(urgent) != 1 {
-				t.Fatalf("an Approve held past its bound: merged %v, said not handed %v, urgent lines %+v", w.forge.merges, states["not-handed"], urgent)
-			}
-			w.forge.mu.Lock()
-			w.forge.down = false
-			w.forge.mu.Unlock()
-			w.later(askAgainAfter)
-			w.settleAll()
-			if len(w.forge.merges) != 2 {
-				t.Fatalf("the forge back, yet merged %v; stalled %+v", w.forge.merges, w.h.Stalled())
-			}
-		})
-	}
-}

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/events.go

@@ -96,7 +96,7 @@ func (h *Holder) withdrawForStatus(e ForgeStatusEvent) {
 	done := map[string]bool{}
 	for _, d := range h.deliveries {
 		r := d.Ready
-		if !strings.EqualFold(d.Repository, repository) || r == nil || r.AskID == "" || r.Approved != nil || r.declined() || done[r.AskID] {
+		if !strings.EqualFold(d.Repository, repository) || r == nil || r.AskID == "" || r.Approved != nil || r.Declined != nil || done[r.AskID] {
 			continue
 		}
 		head := d.Commit

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/group_merge.go

@@ -208,7 +208,7 @@ func (h *Holder) passes() []pass {
 	for _, id := range ids {
 		d := h.deliveries[id]
 		r := d.Ready
-		if r == nil || r.Approved == nil || r.declined() || r.AskID == "" || len(r.Heads) == 0 || seen[r.AskID] ||
+		if r == nil || r.Approved == nil || r.Declined != nil || r.AskID == "" || len(r.Heads) == 0 || seen[r.AskID] ||
 			d.Base != MergeBranch || h.allMerged(r.Heads) {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -335,7 +335,7 @@ func (h *Holder) MergeAgain(id, why string) (string, error) {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("say why: the merge asked again is the operator's word, kept in the log")
 	}
 	c := h.covering(d)
-	if c == nil || c.Approved == nil || c.declined() || c.Heads[d.ID] != d.Commit {
+	if c == nil || c.Approved == nil || c.Declined != nil || c.Heads[d.ID] != d.Commit {
 		return "", fmt.Errorf("%s is not approved at its head %s: nothing to ask again (a new head is asked on its own)", id, shortOf(d.Commit, 12))
 	}
 	if d.MergedAs != "" || (d.Ready != nil && d.Ready.Merged != nil) {

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/holder.go

@@ -524,7 +524,7 @@ func (h *Holder) PullEdited(p PullEvent) {
 	if after, _ := reviewWords(d); after == before {
 		return
 	}
-	if r := h.covering(d); r != nil && r.AskID != "" && r.Approved == nil && !r.declined() {
+	if r := h.covering(d); r != nil && r.AskID != "" && r.Approved == nil && r.Declined == nil {
 		h.cancels = append(h.cancels, h.withdrawAsk(r.AskID, d.ID+"'s review record changed: "+shortOf(d.ReviewedAt, 12)))
 	}
 }

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/manifest_test.go

@@ -89,7 +89,7 @@ func TestItClaimsTheDeliverySeatAndFollowsWhatItHandles(t *testing.T) {
 	if !reflect.DeepEqual(m.Consumes, followed) || !slices.Contains(m.Consumes, "mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.forge.**") {
 		t.Fatalf("consumes %v, follows %v (the bridge's forge messages among them)", m.Consumes, followed)
 	}
-	if !reflect.DeepEqual(m.Emits, []string{"transition", "group", "merged", "approval"}) {
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(m.Emits, []string{"transition", "group", "merged"}) {
 		t.Fatalf("emits %v", m.Emits)
 	}
 	// Nine buckets, and no `asked` (the teller asks, ADR 0437 §6): ADR 0450 §3, the conditions it raised (issue 1275) and the

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/merges.go

@@ -149,10 +149,11 @@ func (h *Holder) handTurn(g *Group, d *Delivery, now time.Time) func() {
 			return nil
 		}
 		for _, m := range order {
-			if h.notHandable(m) != "" {
-				return nil // the others are not approved at their heads yet: nothing is merged before they are (said by notHanded)
+			mc := h.covering(m)
+			if m.Ready == nil || m.Ready.Declined != nil || mc == nil || mc.Approved == nil || mc.Heads[m.ID] != m.Commit || h.readyWaits(m) != "" {
+				return nil // the others are not approved at their heads yet: nothing is merged before they are
 			}
-			reads = append(reads, readOf(m, h.covering(m).Heads[m.ID]))
+			reads = append(reads, readOf(m, mc.Heads[m.ID]))
 		}
 	}
 	if c == nil || c.Approved == nil || c.Heads[d.ID] == "" {
@@ -168,66 +169,6 @@ func (h *Holder) handTurn(g *Group, d *Delivery, now time.Time) func() {
 	return func() { h.hand(gid, name, key, target, reads, approved) }
 }
 
-// notHandable is why a group member cannot be handed in its group's pass, empty when it can: handTurn's own test, in words.
-// Under the lock.
-func (h *Holder) notHandable(m *Delivery) string {
-	mc := h.covering(m)
-	switch {
-	case m.Ready == nil:
-		return m.ID + " has no ready run (" + string(m.State) + ")"
-	case m.Ready.declined():
-		return m.ID + " stands declined since " + m.Ready.Declined.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339)
-	case mc == nil || mc.Approved == nil:
-		return m.ID + " is not approved at its head " + shortOf(m.Commit, 12)
-	case mc.Heads[m.ID] != m.Commit:
-		return m.ID + "'s head " + shortOf(m.Commit, 12) + " is not the head approved"
-	}
-	if w := h.readyWaits(m); w != "" {
-		return m.ID + " waits: " + w
-	}
-	return ""
-}
-
-// notHanded is why the approved merge of d, which waits for nothing, is not handed: its group's pass cannot start, and
-// says which member holds it and why. Empty when nothing holds it, or when the pass is under way or its refusal is said
-// already. Under the lock.
-func (h *Holder) notHanded(g *Group, d *Delivery) string {
-	if g == nil {
-		return ""
-	}
-	order := h.unmergedLive(g)
-	if len(order) == 0 {
-		return ""
-	}
-	if first := order[0].Ready; first != nil && (first.merging || !first.LastTry.IsZero() || first.RefusedSince != nil) {
-		return "" // the pass is under way, or its refusal is said on its own line
-	}
-	for _, m := range order {
-		if why := h.notHandable(m); why != "" {
-			return fmt.Sprintf("its group %s is not handed to the forge bridge: %s", g.ID, why)
-		}
-	}
-	return ""
-}
-
-// noteNotHanded keeps on d's run why its approved merge is not handed, said once in the log when it changes, and as a
-// stalled line meanwhile (readyLines). Under the lock.
-func (h *Holder) noteNotHanded(d *Delivery, why string, now time.Time) {
-	r := d.Ready
-	if r == nil || r.NotHanded == why {
-		return
-	}
-	r.NotHanded = why
-	if why == "" {
-		r.NotHandedSince = nil
-	} else {
-		at := now
-		r.NotHandedSince = &at
-		h.Logf("[mesh-delivery] %s is approved, waits for nothing, and is NOT handed to merge: %s", d.ID, why)
-	}
-	h.keep(d)
-}
-
 // hand reads a group's required statuses and, when all are a success, writes the target as the member being merged.
 func (h *Holder) hand(gid, name, key, target string, reads []memberRead, approved map[string]string) {
 	if gid != "" && !h.groupMergeable(gid, target, reads) {

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/ready.go

@@ -120,13 +120,11 @@ type ReadyRun struct {
 	// in new words, so it never keeps a claim the check no longer holds.
 	AskCheck string `json:"ask_check,omitempty"`
 	// Approved and Declined are when the operator chose, Warrant what the router's warrant says of who and how; Refused
-	// why an answer was not taken (it did not hold to the ask). AnsweredAsk is the ask the answer answers: an answer stands
-	// only for its own ask, so a Decline of an earlier ask never stands beside the Approve of a later one (declined).
-	Approved    *time.Time `json:"approved,omitempty"`
-	Declined    *time.Time `json:"declined,omitempty"`
-	AnsweredAsk string     `json:"answered_ask,omitempty"`
-	Warrant     string     `json:"warrant,omitempty"`
-	Refused     string     `json:"refused,omitempty"`
+	// why an answer was not taken (it did not hold to the ask).
+	Approved *time.Time `json:"approved,omitempty"`
+	Declined *time.Time `json:"declined,omitempty"`
+	Warrant  string     `json:"warrant,omitempty"`
+	Refused  string     `json:"refused,omitempty"`
 
 	// One check per delivery (novox/hq ADR 0548 §2, §4, turns.go): HeldSince is when the approved merge began to wait for the
 	// check of other heads HeldFor names (its verdict key), running on a repository it goes into; HandNow the operator's word
@@ -139,28 +137,6 @@ type ReadyRun struct {
 	// (writes.go, issue 1945); CannotWriteSince since when. Said at once as a condition.
 	CannotWrite      string     `json:"cannot_write,omitempty"`
 	CannotWriteSince *time.Time `json:"cannot_write_since,omitempty"`
-
-	// NotHanded is why an approved merge that waits for nothing is not handed to the forge bridge (a member of its group that
-	// cannot be handed, and why), NotHandedSince since when: said once in the log and as a stalled line, never silent.
-	NotHanded      string     `json:"not_handed,omitempty"`
-	NotHandedSince *time.Time `json:"not_handed_since,omitempty"`
-
-	// UnactedSaid is the ask whose Approve was said not acted on, approvalBound after it (unacted.go): said once per ask.
-	UnactedSaid string `json:"unacted_said,omitempty"`
-}
-
-// declined is whether the operator's Decline stands for this run: it answered the ask the run holds now, or the run holds
-// no ask any more. A Decline of an earlier ask, the run asked again since at other heads (a sibling's new head), does not
-// stand (2026-10-29: hq#495 declined under one ask and approved under the next was never handed). A run kept before answers
-// named their ask stands declined unless an Approve came after the Decline.
-func (r *ReadyRun) declined() bool {
-	if r == nil || r.Declined == nil {
-		return false
-	}
-	if r.AnsweredAsk != "" {
-		return r.AskID == "" || r.AskID == r.AnsweredAsk
-	}
-	return r.Approved == nil || r.Declined.After(*r.Approved)
 }
 
 // MergeBranch is the one branch this owner merges into (novox/hq ADR 0398 §4): a merge into any other is its author's.
@@ -197,9 +173,6 @@ func (h *Holder) runOf(d *Delivery, now time.Time) *ReadyRun {
 func (h *Holder) readyAsks(now time.Time) []func() {
 	var asks []func()
 	h.endStaleAsks()
-	// An Approve whose merge has not started is said, whatever holds it (unacted.go): read before this look hands, so a pass
-	// handed and given back within the last look (a read that failed) counts as not started.
-	h.sayUnacted(now)
 	gates := h.checkGates()
 	ids := make([]string, 0, len(h.deliveries))
 	for id := range h.deliveries {
@@ -224,7 +197,7 @@ func (h *Holder) readyAsks(now time.Time) []func() {
 			asks = append(asks, a)
 		}
 		r := d.Ready
-		if r == nil || r.Merged != nil || r.declined() {
+		if r == nil || r.Merged != nil || r.Declined != nil {
 			continue
 		}
 		if d.State == Rejected {
@@ -303,11 +276,9 @@ func (h *Holder) readyAsks(now time.Time) []func() {
 			asks = append(asks, approvalAsk)
 		}
 		if waits != "" || r.merging {
-			h.noteNotHanded(d, "", now) // what it waits for is said by its waits, or it is handed
 			continue
 		}
 		if !r.LastTry.IsZero() {
-			h.noteNotHanded(d, "", now)
 			continue // refused: asked again at the next event that decides whether it may merge (mergeAgainNow), with no timer
 		}
 		// A group is merged one member at a time, handed to the forge bridge, and the pass stops at the first refusal (ADR
@@ -317,10 +288,7 @@ func (h *Holder) readyAsks(now time.Time) []func() {
 			g = nil
 		}
 		if a := h.handTurn(g, d, now); a != nil {
-			h.noteNotHanded(d, "", now)
 			asks = append(asks, a)
-		} else {
-			h.noteNotHanded(d, h.notHanded(g, d), now) // a merge never handed says why (2026-10-29: silent for an hour)
 		}
 	}
 	asks = append(asks, h.turnWrites()...) // the merge turns, after the holds of this look (ADR 0548 §3)
@@ -607,11 +575,6 @@ func (h *Holder) readyLines(now time.Time) []StalledLine {
 				Bound: "0s", H2: "none: a new head, which asks the operator again — the operator's",
 				Says: fmt.Sprintf("%s#%d at %s is not merged: the operator's answer %s", d.Repository,
 					d.Number, shortOf(r.Head, 12), r.Refused)})
-		case r.NotHanded != "" && r.NotHandedSince != nil && r.Approved != nil:
-			out = append(out, StalledLine{ID: d.ID, Number: d.Number, State: d.State,
-				For: now.Sub(*r.NotHandedSince).Round(time.Second).String(), Bound: "0s",
-				H2:   "none: the member named is approved at its head and ready, or its group is asked anew by a new head — the operator's",
-				Says: fmt.Sprintf("%s#%d at %s is approved and %s", d.Repository, d.Number, shortOf(r.Head, 12), r.NotHanded)})
 		case h.answering(d, now):
 			// The trunk moved and its check was asked again: the gate is answering it, so it is no stall yet (ADR 0505
 			// §4). `show` lists the refusal meanwhile.

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/turns.go

@@ -110,7 +110,7 @@ func (h *Holder) approvedMerges() []approvedMerge {
 	for _, id := range ids {
 		d := h.deliveries[id]
 		r := d.Ready
-		if r == nil || r.Approved == nil || r.declined() || r.AskID == "" || len(r.Heads) == 0 || seen[r.AskID] ||
+		if r == nil || r.Approved == nil || r.Declined != nil || r.AskID == "" || len(r.Heads) == 0 || seen[r.AskID] ||
 			d.State.Final() || d.State == Rejected || d.Base != MergeBranch || r.RefusedSince != nil || h.allMerged(r.Heads) {
 			continue
 		}
@@ -382,10 +382,7 @@ type TurnLine struct {
 func (h *Holder) TurnsRead() map[string]any {
 	h.mu.Lock()
 	defer h.mu.Unlock()
-	want := map[string]sdk.Turn{}
-	if h.checkGates() {
-		want = h.wantedTurns() // as turnWrites: while the check gates no merge, no turn is written by design
-	}
+	want := h.wantedTurns()
 	repos := make([]string, 0, len(want))
 	for repo := range want {
 		repos = append(repos, repo)
@@ -407,9 +404,6 @@ func (h *Holder) TurnsRead() map[string]any {
 		lines = append(lines, l)
 	}
 	out := map[string]any{"turns": lines, "check-gates-merge": h.checkGates(), "bound": turnBound.String()}
-	if !h.checkGates() {
-		out["why-none"] = "the check gates no merge (check-gates-merge false): no merge waits for a check, so no turn is written"
-	}
 	if h.Turns != nil {
 		out["written"] = h.turnsLoaded
 		var unwritten []string

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/unacted.go

@@ -1,167 +0,0 @@
-package main
-
-import (
-	"fmt"
-	"sort"
-	"strings"
-	"time"
-)
-
-// **An Approve is acted on, or said at once** (the operator, 2026-10-30: "an approval given by me must get handled
-// accordingly and you should know about it immediately"). That morning the group feat/774-l3-reland was approved at 10:14
-// and nothing was handed for an hour, with no word: six of its seven members kept a Decline of an earlier ask beside the
-// new Approve (the fix of 2026-10-29, reverted with L3, came back with this file), readyAsks skipped them and handTurn
-// returned nil for the seventh.
-//
-// So, whatever holds it: every Approve is said on the bus as `mesh-delivery-gate.approval` {state: approved} when it is
-// taken; an approved merge whose pass has not started approvalBound after its Approve is said again as {state: not-handed}
-// with what it waits on, once per ask, and is an urgent stalled line (so an urgent condition) until its pass starts, unless
-// a line of its own says it already (a held group; a merge waiting for another delivery's check, said at its bound). A
-// rejected delivery is its author's, not an Approve unacted. A session waits on `mesh-delivery-gate.approval` to hear both.
-
-// approvalBound is how long after the operator's Approve a merge's pass may take to start before it is said.
-const approvalBound = 60 * time.Second
-
-// approvalEvent is the event family of an Approve taken and of an Approve not acted on.
-const approvalEvent = "approval"
-
-// unacted is an approved ask whose pass has not started: the run holding its Approve, its owner, its members, and what
-// the gate says it waits on.
-type unacted struct {
-	owner   *Delivery
-	run     *ReadyRun
-	name    string
-	members []string
-	waits   string
-	// checkHeld is whether a member waits for the check of other heads (ADR 0548 §2): said by the event at once, and as a
-	// line by turnLines at its own bound, not twice.
-	checkHeld bool
-}
-
-// approvalStands is whether a run's Approve still stands: no Decline after it, not merged, into the merge branch.
-func approvalStands(d *Delivery) bool {
-	r := d.Ready
-	if r == nil || r.Approved == nil || r.AskID == "" || len(r.Heads) == 0 || r.Merged != nil || d.MergedAs != "" ||
-		d.State.Final() || d.State == Rejected || d.Base != MergeBranch {
-		return false
-	}
-	return r.Declined == nil || !r.Declined.After(*r.Approved)
-}
-
-// unactedAsks are the approved asks whose pass has not started, each once, in the order of their ids. A pass has started
-// when a member it covers is handed (merging), was tried (refused or asked again), or merged. Under the lock.
-func (h *Holder) unactedAsks() []unacted {
-	ids := make([]string, 0, len(h.deliveries))
-	for id := range h.deliveries {
-		ids = append(ids, id)
-	}
-	sort.Strings(ids)
-	seen := map[string]bool{}
-	var out []unacted
-	for _, id := range ids {
-		d := h.deliveries[id]
-		if !approvalStands(d) || seen[d.Ready.AskID] {
-			continue
-		}
-		if g := h.groups[d.Group]; d.Group != "" && g != nil && g.Hold != nil {
-			seen[d.Ready.AskID] = true
-			continue // a held group is said by its own urgent line, naming the member and why (groupLines)
-		}
-		r := d.Ready
-		seen[r.AskID] = true
-		u := unacted{owner: d, run: r, name: askGroup(d)}
-		started := false
-		var says []string
-		for mid := range r.Heads {
-			u.members = append(u.members, mid)
-			m := h.deliveries[mid]
-			if m == nil {
-				continue
-			}
-			if m.MergedAs != "" || (m.Ready != nil && (m.Ready.Merged != nil || m.Ready.merging || !m.Ready.LastTry.IsZero() ||
-				m.Ready.RefusedSince != nil)) {
-				started = true
-				break
-			}
-			if m.Ready != nil {
-				u.checkHeld = u.checkHeld || m.Ready.HeldSince != nil
-				if w := firstOf(m.Ready.NotHanded, m.Ready.Waits); w != "" {
-					says = append(says, mid+": "+w)
-				}
-			}
-		}
-		if started {
-			continue
-		}
-		sort.Strings(u.members)
-		sort.Strings(says)
-		u.waits = firstOf(strings.Join(says, "; "), "nothing the gate says: its merge was never handed")
-		out = append(out, u)
-	}
-	return out
-}
-
-// sayUnacted owes the event {state: not-handed} once per ask for every approved merge past approvalBound whose pass has
-// not started, and wants a look at the bound of each not yet due. Under the lock; the event is owed, said by Flush.
-func (h *Holder) sayUnacted(now time.Time) {
-	for _, u := range h.unactedAsks() {
-		due := u.run.Approved.Add(approvalBound)
-		if now.Before(due) {
-			h.lookAt(due, "an Approve whose merge has not started, said at its bound")
-			continue
-		}
-		if u.run.UnactedSaid == u.run.AskID {
-			continue
-		}
-		u.run.UnactedSaid = u.run.AskID
-		h.Logf("[mesh-delivery] %s is approved since %s and its merge is NOT handed: %s", u.name,
-			u.run.Approved.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339), u.waits)
-		u.owner.Owed = append(u.owner.Owed, Effect{Kind: EffectEmit, Event: approvalEvent, Since: now,
-			Line: string(mustJSON(approvalBody(u.owner, "not-handed", u.members, now, u.waits)))})
-		h.keep(u.owner)
-	}
-}
-
-// oweApproved owes the event {state: approved} for an ask the operator approved, on the first delivery it covers, and wants
-// a look at its bound. Under the lock.
-func (h *Holder) oweApproved(d *Delivery, now time.Time) {
-	r := d.Ready
-	members := make([]string, 0, len(r.Heads))
-	for id := range r.Heads {
-		members = append(members, id)
-	}
-	sort.Strings(members)
-	d.Owed = append(d.Owed, Effect{Kind: EffectEmit, Event: approvalEvent, Since: now,
-		Line: string(mustJSON(approvalBody(d, "approved", members, now, "")))})
-	h.lookAt(now.Add(approvalBound), "an Approve whose merge has not started, said at its bound")
-}
-
-// approvalBody is what `mesh-delivery-gate.approval` says: no secret, no address.
-func approvalBody(d *Delivery, state string, members []string, now time.Time, waits string) map[string]any {
-	r := d.Ready
-	e := map[string]any{"state": state, "group": askGroup(d), "ask": r.AskID, "approved": r.Approved.UTC(), "at": now.UTC(),
-		"members": members, "by": r.Warrant}
-	if waits != "" {
-		e["waits"] = waits
-		e["for"] = now.Sub(*r.Approved).Round(time.Second).String()
-	}
-	return e
-}
-
-// unactedLines are the urgent stalled lines of approved merges whose pass has not started past approvalBound. Under the
-// lock.
-func (h *Holder) unactedLines(now time.Time) []StalledLine {
-	var out []StalledLine
-	for _, u := range h.unactedAsks() {
-		since := now.Sub(*u.run.Approved)
-		if since < approvalBound || u.checkHeld {
-			continue
-		}
-		out = append(out, StalledLine{ID: u.owner.ID, Number: u.owner.Number, State: u.owner.State,
-			For: since.Round(time.Second).String(), Bound: approvalBound.String(), Severity: "urgent",
-			H2: "none: the merge is handed once what it waits on ends; delivery_turns and mesh-delivery.show say what holds it",
-			Says: fmt.Sprintf("%s was approved at %s (%d pull requests) and its merge is not handed: %s", u.name,
-				u.run.Approved.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339), len(u.members), u.waits)})
-	}
-	return out
-}

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/cmd/mesh-delivery-gate/verbs.go

@@ -230,7 +230,6 @@ func (h *Holder) Stalled() []StalledLine {
 	out = append(out, h.readyLines(now)...)
 	out = append(out, h.turnLines(now)...) // an approved merge held past its bound by another delivery's check (ADR 0548 §4)
 	out = append(out, h.groupLines(now)...)
-	out = append(out, h.unactedLines(now)...) // an Approve whose merge has not started past its bound (unacted.go)
 	sort.Slice(out, func(i, j int) bool { return out[i].ID < out[j].ID })
 	return out
 }

modules/mesh-delivery-gate/module.json

@@ -33,8 +33,7 @@
   "emits": [
     "transition",
     "group",
-    "merged",
-    "approval"
+    "merged"
   ],
   "uses": [
     "operator-channel"

modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/answers_test.go

@@ -161,11 +161,7 @@ func (m *memAsks) PutLinksAsked(key string, times []time.Time) error {
 var rootFreeOf = map[*Holder]map[string]string{}
 
 // told is what the router published to askers, by subject.
-type told struct {
-	by map[string][]asks.Warrant
-	// asked are the asks the router said it took, by subject (sayAsked).
-	asked map[string][]map[string]any
-}
+type told struct{ by map[string][]asks.Warrant }
 
 func (w *told) of(asker string) []asks.Warrant { return w.by[asks.DecidedSubject(asker)] }
 
@@ -175,7 +171,7 @@ func newRouter(t *testing.T) (*Holder, *fakeChannel, *fakeChannel, *clock, *memA
 	t.Helper()
 	h, tg, dt, c, _ := newHolder(t)
 	store := newMemAsks()
-	w := &told{by: map[string][]asks.Warrant{}, asked: map[string][]map[string]any{}}
+	w := &told{by: map[string][]asks.Warrant{}}
 	bench := NewBench(c.now)
 	bench.SetKinds([]KindInfo{
 		{Kind: "telegram", Module: "telegram", Node: "anchor", Capabilities: []string{"deliver", "reaches-away", "choice", "edit",
@@ -208,9 +204,6 @@ func newRouter(t *testing.T) (*Holder, *fakeChannel, *fakeChannel, *clock, *memA
 		if wt, ok := body.(asks.Warrant); ok {
 			w.by[subject] = append(w.by[subject], wt)
 		}
-		if m, ok := body.(map[string]any); ok && strings.HasPrefix(subject, "mesh.seat."+asks.Seat+".event."+AskedEvent+".") {
-			w.asked[subject] = append(w.asked[subject], m)
-		}
 		return nil
 	}
 	return h, tg, dt, c, store, w
@@ -332,10 +325,6 @@ func TestWithoutALinkedAccountOnlyTheMeshMCPServerApproves(t *testing.T) {
 		!strings.Contains(rec.HeldWhy, "no Telegram account is linked") {
 		t.Fatalf("not held: %+v %+v", rec, w.of("mesh-delivery"))
 	}
-	// Held or shown, the ask is said taken on the bus for its asker, so a session hears it open (2026-10-30).
-	if said := w.asked[askedSubject("mesh-delivery")]; len(said) != 1 || said[0]["ask"] != "d-1" || said[0]["state"] != StateHeld {
-		t.Fatalf("the ask taken is not said on %s: %+v", askedSubject("mesh-delivery"), said)
-	}
 	if len(dt.sends) != 0 {
 		t.Errorf("the desk was offered an ask with an approval: %+v", dt.sends)
 	}

modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/asks.go

@@ -560,7 +560,6 @@ func (h *Holder) TakeAsk(verb, asker string, body json.RawMessage) error {
 	} else {
 		h.keepAsk(key, rec, 0)
 	}
-	h.sayAsked(asker, a, rec)
 	if rec.State == StateHeld {
 		h.Logf("[messenger] %s asks %q (%s): held, not shown: %s", asker, a.Headline, a.ID, rec.HeldWhy)
 		return nil
@@ -569,31 +568,6 @@ func (h *Holder) TakeAsk(verb, asker string, body json.RawMessage) error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// AskedEvent is the seat's event that an ask was taken, said for its asker as decided is (ADR 0259 §3): a session
-// waits on `operator-channel.asked.<asker>` to hear an ask open, and on `operator-channel.decided.<asker>` to hear
-// its answer (the operator, 2026-10-30: "you should be able to hook into approval requests so you also get a
-// notification"). The SDK names decided's subject; asked's is named here until the SDK's asks contract carries it.
-const AskedEvent = "asked"
-
-// askedSubject is where the router says an ask of an asker was taken.
-func askedSubject(asker string) string {
-	return "mesh.seat." + asks.Seat + ".event." + AskedEvent + "." + asker
-}
-
-// sayAsked says on the bus that an ask was taken, open or held: its id, asker, what it is about, its headline (the
-// words the operator's phone shows, already judged to carry nothing that may not leave the mesh) and when it ends.
-// Never its options' bindings or its whole words. A failure is said in the log and holds nothing: the ask stands.
-func (h *Holder) sayAsked(asker string, a asks.Ask, rec AskRecord) {
-	if h.Publish == nil {
-		return
-	}
-	body := map[string]any{"ask": a.ID, "asker": asker, "about": a.About, "headline": a.Headline, "state": rec.State,
-		"opened": rec.Opened.UTC(), "expires": a.Expires}
-	if err := h.Publish(askedSubject(asker), body, "asked."+ticket()); err != nil {
-		h.Logf("[messenger] the ask %s of %s is taken and could not be said on the bus: %v", a.ID, asker, err)
-	}
-}
-
 // ticketsFor is every option's ticket on every kind that can carry the ask's highest level now: an ask with an
 // approval is answered only where it could be approved (answerLevel). None when no ready channel can.
 func (h *Holder) ticketsFor(a asks.Ask) map[string]Ticket {

modules/messenger/cmd/messenger/manifest_test.go

@@ -64,8 +64,8 @@ func TestItDeclaresTheSeatsOfAnAskAndHoldsTheOperatorChannel(t *testing.T) { //
 	m, _ := readManifest(t)
 	verbs := []string{"open", "history", "notify", "tell", "asks"}
 	want := []seat{
-		{Name: asks.Seat, Scope: "mesh", Serves: verbs, Accepts: []string{"ask", "cancel", "condition"}, Emits: []string{"decided", "asked"},
-			ByCaller: []string{"ask", "cancel", "condition", "decided", "asked"}, Records: []string{"asks"}},
+		{Name: asks.Seat, Scope: "mesh", Serves: verbs, Accepts: []string{"ask", "cancel", "condition"}, Emits: []string{"decided"},
+			ByCaller: []string{"ask", "cancel", "condition", "decided"}, Records: []string{"asks"}},
 		{Name: asks.ChannelSeat, Scope: "mesh", Kinded: true, Accepts: []string{asks.Show, asks.Edit, asks.Send}},
 		{Name: asks.IntakeSeat, Scope: "mesh", Kinded: true,
 			Emits: []string{asks.Chosen, asks.Link, asks.FailedWhat, asks.StandingWhat}, Proofs: []string{asks.CodeProof}},

modules/messenger/module.json

@@ -20,15 +20,13 @@
         "condition"
       ],
       "emits": [
-        "decided",
-        "asked"
+        "decided"
       ],
       "by-caller": [
         "ask",
         "cancel",
         "condition",
-        "decided",
-        "asked"
+        "decided"
       ],
       "records": [
         "asks"