diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/accept_outside.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/accept_outside.go
index 3a389f74..2489f542 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/accept_outside.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/accept_outside.go
@@ -55,6 +55,8 @@ func offeredOutsideBy(ctx context.Context, provision string) (string, error) {
 // its next send would, and the machines that could not be resolved, with why.
 func consumersFrom(ctx context.Context, open *stores, provider, providerModule, provision string) (
 	[]inventory.PairEnd, []string, error) {
+	// One reading of the mesh for every machine this looks at.
+	ctx = withInputCache(ctx)
 	nodes, err := open.inventory.Nodes(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil, err
@@ -62,7 +64,7 @@ func consumersFrom(ctx context.Context, open *stores, provider, providerModule,
 	var out []inventory.PairEnd
 	var unresolved []string
 	for _, n := range nodes {
-		plan, _, err := planFor(ctx, open, n.Name)
+		plan, _, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, n.Name)
 		if err != nil {
 			unresolved = append(unresolved, fmt.Sprintf("%s: %s", n.Name, oneLine(err.Error())))
 			continue
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/acts.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/acts.go
index 3b0d11a0..3989f0f8 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/acts.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/acts.go
@@ -314,7 +314,7 @@ type afterAct struct {
 // after the write, which can only find more unmet than the closure would: a seat said held there is
 // held in the closure too.
 func resolvedAfter(ctx context.Context, open *stores, shelf map[string]catalogue.Manifest, node string) afterAct {
-	plan, _, err := planFor(ctx, open, node)
+	plan, _, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, node)
 	if err == nil {
 		out := afterAct{plan: plan, unheld: plan.Unheld}
 		for _, m := range plan.Modules {
@@ -355,6 +355,8 @@ func splitModules(field string) []string {
 // Nothing here can fail the act it reports on. A mesh that cannot be read is worth saying and is
 // not a reason to claim the assignment did not happen — it did.
 func blockedElsewhere(ctx context.Context, open *stores, except string) string {
+	// One reading of the mesh for every machine this looks at.
+	ctx = withInputCache(ctx)
 	nodes, err := open.inventory.Nodes(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
 		return "\n\nThe rest of the mesh could not be checked: " + err.Error()
@@ -364,7 +366,7 @@ func blockedElsewhere(ctx context.Context, open *stores, except string) string {
 		if n.Name == except {
 			continue
 		}
-		if _, _, err := planFor(ctx, open, n.Name); err != nil {
+		if _, _, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, n.Name); err != nil {
 			blocked[n.Name] = err.Error()
 		}
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/bindings.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/bindings.go
index ee0370ad..aab111f1 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/bindings.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/bindings.go
@@ -73,6 +73,8 @@ func reportKept(ctx context.Context, plan catalogue.Resolution) {
 // sent, on every machine — the resolver kept it there (said, urgent, until a person pins), or a pin
 // moves it (said, so the data goes first), and never anything else.
 func probeBindings(ctx context.Context, d *doctor) ([]conditions.Observation, error) {
+	// One reading of the mesh for every machine this looks at.
+	ctx = withInputCache(ctx)
 	inv := d.open.inventory
 	nodes, err := inv.Nodes(ctx)
 	if err != nil {
@@ -80,7 +82,7 @@ func probeBindings(ctx context.Context, d *doctor) ([]conditions.Observation, er
 	}
 	var out []conditions.Observation
 	for _, n := range nodes {
-		plan, _, err := planFor(ctx, d.open, n.Name)
+		plan, _, err := resolveNode(ctx, d.open, n.Name)
 		if err != nil {
 			if unresolvable(err) {
 				// D1 says it, with the binding that refused it when that is why.
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/data.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/data.go
index 6c41e640..15a808c9 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/data.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/data.go
@@ -152,6 +152,8 @@ type consumerCopy struct {
 
 // probeData is D13.
 func probeData(ctx context.Context, d *doctor) ([]conditions.Observation, error) {
+	// One reading of the mesh for every machine this looks at.
+	ctx = withInputCache(ctx)
 	if d.js == nil {
 		return nil, errors.New("no bus to ask the machines over")
 	}
@@ -180,7 +182,7 @@ func probeData(ctx context.Context, d *doctor) ([]conditions.Observation, error)
 	}
 	var machines []*machine
 	for _, n := range nodes {
-		plan, _, err := planFor(ctx, open, n.Name)
+		plan, _, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, n.Name)
 		if err != nil {
 			if ctx.Err() != nil {
 				return nil, ctx.Err()
@@ -849,7 +851,7 @@ func deleteRetiredData(ctx context.Context, conn *nats.Conn, open *stores, r inv
 		return fmt.Errorf("%s of %s on %s was never measured, so where it is was never said; nothing was deleted",
 			r.Item, r.Module, r.Machine)
 	}
-	if plan, _, err := planFor(ctx, open, r.Machine); err == nil {
+	if plan, _, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, r.Machine); err == nil {
 		for _, m := range plan.Modules {
 			if _, still := m.DataItem(r.Item); still && m.Module == r.Module {
 				return fmt.Errorf("%s runs on %s again and declares %s: it is not retired any more. Nothing was done",
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go
index 83cbb7a7..5d9e9781 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/facts.go
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/validate"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/artifacts"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/builder"
@@ -263,7 +264,9 @@ func gatherFacts(ctx context.Context, open *stores, busVersion string) (snapshot
 		f.Controller.Commit = c.Commit
 	}
 
-	gens, gensErr := generators(ctx, open)
+	// The Input every machine's declaration below is composed over is read once for the whole snapshot.
+	ctx = withInputCache(ctx)
+	_, gensErr := generatorsOf(ctx, open)
 	hostShelf := shelf[hostModule]
 	meshWide := map[string]bool{}
 	engines := map[string]bool{}
@@ -361,7 +364,7 @@ func gatherFacts(ctx context.Context, open *stores, busVersion string) (snapshot
 				m.Settings = append(m.Settings, snapshot.Settings{Module: module, Values: scrub.Values(layer.Whole())})
 			}
 		}
-		m.Declaration = declarationFacts(ctx, open, n.Name, gens, gensErr, scrub)
+		m.Declaration = declarationFacts(ctx, open, n.Name, gensErr, scrub)
 		if ctx.Err() != nil {
 			return snapshot.Facts{}, ctx.Err()
 		}
@@ -456,14 +459,14 @@ func gatherFacts(ctx context.Context, open *stores, busVersion string) (snapshot
 
 // declarationFacts is how one machine's declaration composes now, as the next push would compose it and
 // without making anything (D1's composition), and whether the node-engine's validator takes it.
-func declarationFacts(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, gens map[string]catalogue.Generator,
-	gensErr error, scrub *snapshot.Scrubber) snapshot.Declaration {
+func declarationFacts(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string, gensErr error,
+	scrub *snapshot.Scrubber) snapshot.Declaration {
 	var d snapshot.Declaration
 	if gensErr != nil {
 		d.Problems = []string{scrub.Text("the private network cannot be computed: " + oneLine(gensErr.Error()))}
 		return d
 	}
-	declared, problems, err := composedAndValidated(ctx, open, node, gens, Foreseeing)
+	declared, problems, err := composeQuestion(ctx, open, node, compose.Foreseeing, true)
 	if err != nil {
 		d.Problems = []string{scrub.Text(oneLine(err.Error()))}
 		return d
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/nodes.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/nodes.go
index 6a30aba3..232bd89e 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/nodes.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/nodes.go
@@ -924,7 +924,7 @@ func showNode(ctx context.Context, stored *stores, name string) error {
 	}
 	// And which of them a push leaves out, and why (novox/hq issue 380): judged as the push judges it, the same
 	// reason its condition says. Not computable is said, never read as "all applied".
-	plan, settings, err := planFor(ctx, stored, name)
+	plan, settings, err := resolveNode(ctx, stored, name)
 	switch {
 	case err != nil:
 		fmt.Printf("\n  whether a send leaves any assigned module out is NOT known: %s\n", oneLine(err.Error()))
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/probes.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/probes.go
index c92e3659..b082fbb5 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/probes.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/probes.go
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import (
 	"golang.org/x/net/dns/dnsmessage"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/compose"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/overlay"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/artifacts"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
@@ -62,7 +63,9 @@ func probeDeclarations(ctx context.Context, d *doctor) ([]conditions.Observation
 	// The private network every declaration is composed with. Not computable is not "could not
 	// look": it is the finding — no machine's declaration composes without it — and the machines that
 	// do not resolve, which are usually why, are named below.
-	gens, gensErr := generators(ctx, open)
+	// Every machine below is composed over one reading of the mesh.
+	ctx = withInputCache(ctx)
+	_, gensErr := generatorsOf(ctx, open)
 	if gensErr != nil {
 		if ctx.Err() != nil {
 			return nil, ctx.Err()
@@ -73,7 +76,7 @@ func probeDeclarations(ctx context.Context, d *doctor) ([]conditions.Observation
 			Said:    firstLine(gensErr.Error())})
 	}
 	for _, n := range nodes {
-		plan, settings, err := planFor(ctx, open, n.Name)
+		plan, settings, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, n.Name)
 		if err != nil && !unresolvable(err) {
 			return nil, fmt.Errorf("%s cannot be worked out: %w", n.Name, err)
 		}
@@ -85,7 +88,7 @@ func probeDeclarations(ctx context.Context, d *doctor) ([]conditions.Observation
 		}
 		if err == nil && gensErr == nil {
 			var declared sendable
-			if declared, err = declarationWith(ctx, open, n.Name, plan, settings, gens, Foreseeing); err == nil {
+			if declared, _, err = composeQuestion(ctx, open, n.Name, compose.Foreseeing, false); err == nil {
 				foreseen = declared.foreseen
 				// With the order it was last sent, so the validator reads the envelope a machine is sent
 				// — its epoch included (novox/hq to-be 45 §6).
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/recorded_push.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/recorded_push.go
index 676dbd19..c6ca5de3 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/recorded_push.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/recorded_push.go
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func recordedPushOf(ctx context.Context, node string) ([]string, string, error)
 	}
 	defer open.Close()
 	inv := open.inventory
-	plan, _, err := planFor(ctx, open, node)
+	plan, _, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, node)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, "", fmt.Errorf("its set cannot be worked out: %w", err)
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/registry_verbs.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/registry_verbs.go
index 286cb7b0..c89f695d 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/registry_verbs.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/registry_verbs.go
@@ -400,7 +400,7 @@ func imagesCommand(ctx context.Context, args []string) error {
 	}
 	// What the mesh would send now, composed as `plan` composes it.
 	var body []byte
-	plan, settings, err := planFor(ctx, open, node)
+	plan, settings, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, node)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/release.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/release.go
index 5df0785a..ff063b71 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/release.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/release.go
@@ -247,7 +247,7 @@ func (f moveFacts) walkedBy(module, node, to string) string {
 
 // machineMoves is the moves no gate has seen on one machine, read from what it would be sent now.
 var machineMoves = func(ctx context.Context, open *stores, f moveFacts, node string, all bool) ([]inventory.CarriedMove, error) {
-	plan, _, err := planFor(ctx, open, node)
+	plan, _, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, node)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, nil // it cannot be worked out: the send says why
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/status.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/status.go
index 12f0c92c..5d262e36 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/status.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/status.go
@@ -406,6 +406,8 @@ type builds struct {
 // anything out of date. The first has consequences now, the second may, the third is a plan for
 // later — and anything that led with the third would bury the first.
 func theThreeQuestions(ctx context.Context, open *stores) (answers, error) {
+	// One reading of the mesh for every machine this looks at.
+	ctx = withInputCache(ctx)
 	inv := open.inventory
 	var out answers
 	var err error
@@ -429,7 +431,7 @@ func theThreeQuestions(ctx context.Context, open *stores) (answers, error) {
 	//
 	// Read through whoResolves, which is what the private network is built from, so this and the
 	// network agree about who could not be resolved rather than deciding it twice.
-	_, out.refused, err = whoResolves(ctx, open, overlay.Addressing)
+	_, out.refused, err = whoResolvesOn(ctx, open, overlay.Addressing)
 	if err != nil {
 		return answers{}, err
 	}
@@ -453,7 +455,7 @@ func theThreeQuestions(ctx context.Context, open *stores) (answers, error) {
 	// resolve is already in refused, and is passed over here.
 	plans := map[string]planned{}
 	for _, n := range out.nodes {
-		plan, settings, err := planFor(ctx, open, n.Name)
+		plan, settings, err := resolveNode(ctx, open, n.Name)
 		if err != nil {
 			if unresolvable(err) {
 				continue