diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/apply_failing.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/apply_failing.go
index 5f76ef80..4fb2eb13 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/apply_failing.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/apply_failing.go
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ const packageManagerKey = "the package manager ("
 // says a re-apply only when how it went changed, so the same failure is one report however long it lasts.
 // Names the refusal's or the failure's words; cleared by the clean apply the node-engine then says. Not while
 // the machine is silent, asleep or not known: S1 says silent, and asleep is not lost.
+//
+// **The bound gates raising, never keeping** (sweep 2026-10-30, issue 774). A report says a failure again whenever its
+// words change, with a new time: on novox the vault's refusal of every secret replaced a bus refusal at 16:56, and the
+// condition cleared for five minutes while every module still failed. Once raised, it stays raised while any failure
+// stands on that machine, judged by the open condition the keeper holds on the bus, not by a report's time.
 func watchApplyFailing(f *signalFacts) []conditions.Observation {
 	heard := map[string]bool{}
 	for _, m := range f.machines {
@@ -40,7 +45,7 @@ func watchApplyFailing(f *signalFacts) []conditions.Observation {
 	var out []conditions.Observation
 	said := map[string]bool{}
 	for _, d := range f.doing {
-		if !d.Wrong() || d.Since == nil || f.now.Sub(*d.Since) <= applyEvery || !heard[d.Node] {
+		if !d.Wrong() || d.Since == nil || !heard[d.Node] || (f.now.Sub(*d.Since) <= applyEvery && !f.applyFailingOpen[d.Node]) {
 			continue
 		}
 		out = append(out, applyFailing(d, f.now))
@@ -51,7 +56,8 @@ func watchApplyFailing(f *signalFacts) []conditions.Observation {
 	// on a machine whose node-engine applied what it was sent.
 	failed := map[string][]inventory.ProvReport{}
 	for _, r := range f.provFailed {
-		if r.Status != inventory.ProvFailed || f.now.Sub(r.At) <= applyEvery || !heard[r.Node] || said[r.Node] {
+		if r.Status != inventory.ProvFailed || !heard[r.Node] || said[r.Node] ||
+			(f.now.Sub(r.Since()) <= applyEvery && !f.applyFailingOpen[r.Node]) {
 			continue
 		}
 		failed[r.Node] = append(failed[r.Node], r)
@@ -62,17 +68,28 @@ func watchApplyFailing(f *signalFacts) []conditions.Observation {
 	return out
 }
 
+// applyFailingOpen are the machines whose S21 condition is open among the open conditions.
+func applyFailingOpen(open []conditions.Condition) map[string]bool {
+	out := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, c := range open {
+		if c.Kind == kindApplyFailing && c.Subject.Machine != "" {
+			out[c.Subject.Machine] = true
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
 // provisioningFailing is one machine's S21 condition for the modules whose files its provisioner client failed to
 // place.
 func provisioningFailing(m string, failed []inventory.ProvReport, now time.Time) conditions.Observation {
 	sort.Slice(failed, func(a, b int) bool { return failed[a].Module < failed[b].Module })
 	var names, words []string
-	since := failed[0].At
+	since := failed[0].Since()
 	for _, r := range failed {
 		names = append(names, r.Module)
 		words = append(words, r.Module+": "+oneLine(orNoReason(r.Reason)))
-		if r.At.Before(since) {
-			since = r.At
+		if r.Since().Before(since) {
+			since = r.Since()
 		}
 	}
 	o := conditions.Observation{Scope: conditions.ScopeMachine, ID: m, Kind: kindApplyFailing, Machine: m,
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_perform.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_perform.go
index 6e05f2bd..b07f6181 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_perform.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/compose_perform.go
@@ -250,7 +250,7 @@ func prepareSend(ctx context.Context, open *stores, node string) ([]string, erro
 	if n.Stated && n.Contract >= compose.VaultBoxContract {
 		boxes, err := coreBoxesFor(ctx, inv, node, resolved.Plan.Modules, func(m catalogue.Manifest) bool {
 			return handing.Handing(m)
-		}, true)
+		}, true, in.BusMinted)
 		if err != nil {
 			return nil, err
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/composed_live.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/composed_live.go
index d910c03e..1c6d942d 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/composed_live.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/composed_live.go
@@ -124,11 +124,11 @@ func composeModulesByNode(ctx context.Context, open *stores, nodes []string) (ma
 				errsOf[node] = append(errsOf[node], fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", node, err))
 				return
 			}
-			if len(moved) > 0 {
+			if moved := builtByTheMesh(moved); len(moved) > 0 {
 				fmt.Printf("compositions: %s's %s compose with the node's own: no fingerprint of the new form names them\n",
 					node, strings.Join(moved, ", "))
 			}
-			if len(left) > 0 {
+			if left := builtByTheMesh(left); len(left) > 0 {
 				fmt.Printf("compositions: %s's %s are left out of the node's own: the controller knows no fingerprint of the "+
 					"new form for them, and the node's want or have names their own composition (issue 1945)\n",
 					node, strings.Join(left, ", "))
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/core_box.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/core_box.go
index a86d1f68..d9200f02 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/core_box.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/core_box.go
@@ -69,7 +69,15 @@ type coreBoxes struct {
 // coreModulesOf is every module of the plan on the core's list whose own secrets this machine's declaration carries,
 // with their plain own secret names, sorted: one handed to the provisioner has its secrets from the vault through the
 // client, and one issued outside the mesh is never the vault's to seal here.
-func coreModulesOf(modules []catalogue.Manifest, handed func(catalogue.Manifest) bool) map[string][]string {
+//
+// **Nor a process's bus account nobody issued yet** (sweep 2026-10-30, issue 774). Asked with `get`, the vault holds
+// none and makes a random value under the account's name: own/novox/nats/broker-nats-tools at 16:36:51. Until the
+// controller issues the account and hands it to the vault, the machine has the controller's stand-in (prepareSend), as
+// every module below the vault's contract does. (The controller's own broker-address and broker-management are no
+// accounts: the bus's address, which broker.FromEnvironment reads, and the retired AMQP management login; no process
+// declares them, so this leaves them asked as before.)
+func coreModulesOf(modules []catalogue.Manifest, handed func(catalogue.Manifest) bool, node string,
+	minted []string) map[string][]string {
 	out := map[string][]string{}
 	for _, m := range modules {
 		if !catalogue.CarriesVaultSealed(m.Module) || (handed != nil && handed(m)) {
@@ -77,7 +85,7 @@ func coreModulesOf(modules []catalogue.Manifest, handed func(catalogue.Manifest)
 		}
 		var names []string
 		for name, own := range m.OwnSecrets.Plain() {
-			if own.IssuedBy != catalogue.IssuedOutside {
+			if own.IssuedBy != catalogue.IssuedOutside && processAccountWarning(m, node, name, minted) == "" {
 				names = append(names, name)
 			}
 		}
@@ -208,8 +216,8 @@ var coreVault = func(ctx context.Context) coreAsk {
 
 // coreBoxesFor is coreBoxesOf for one machine, read from and kept in the store, and said on a send.
 func coreBoxesFor(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, node string, modules []catalogue.Manifest,
-	handed func(catalogue.Manifest) bool, allocating bool) (coreBoxes, error) {
-	core := coreModulesOf(modules, handed)
+	handed func(catalogue.Manifest) bool, allocating bool, minted []string) (coreBoxes, error) {
+	core := coreModulesOf(modules, handed, node, minted)
 	if len(core) == 0 {
 		if allocating {
 			settleVaultSilent(ctx, node)
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/core_box_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/core_box_test.go
index 1148d0a1..f9f4da81 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/core_box_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/core_box_test.go
@@ -124,8 +124,35 @@ func TestTheCoresModulesAreTheListsWithTheirOwnSecrets(t *testing.T) {
 		{Module: "postgres", OwnSecrets: catalogue.OwnSecrets{"superuser": {Path: "/c"}}},
 		{Module: "mesh-provisioner", OwnSecrets: catalogue.OwnSecrets{"broker": {Path: "/d"}}},
 	}
-	got := coreModulesOf(modules, func(m catalogue.Manifest) bool { return m.Module == "mesh-provisioner" })
+	got := coreModulesOf(modules, func(m catalogue.Manifest) bool { return m.Module == "mesh-provisioner" }, "anchor", nil)
 	if want := map[string][]string{"nats": {"broker"}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(got, want) {
 		t.Fatalf("got %v, want %v", got, want)
 	}
 }
+
+// Sweep 2026-10-30 (issue 774): a bus process's account is asked of the vault only once it is issued; before, the vault
+// would make a random value under the account's name.
+func TestAnUnissuedProcessAccountIsNotAskedOfTheVault(t *testing.T) {
+	nats, err := catalogue.ParseManifest([]byte(`{"module":"nats","version":"1","emits":["x"],
+		"own-secrets":{"broker":{"path":"/a"},"broker-nats-tools":{"path":"/b","owner":"nats-tools"}},
+		"resources":[{"id":"account","type":"user","name":"nats-tools"},
+			{"id":"nats-tools","type":"process","run":["./nats-tools"],"user":"nats-tools","bus":{"emits":["x"]}}]}`))
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(nats.ProcessBuses()) == 0 {
+		t.Fatal("the fixture declares no bus process")
+	}
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct {
+		minted []string
+		want   []string
+	}{
+		"not issued": {nil, []string{"broker"}},
+		"issued":     {[]string{processUser("anchor", "nats", "nats-tools")}, []string{"broker", "broker-nats-tools"}},
+	} {
+		got := coreModulesOf([]catalogue.Manifest{nats}, nil, "anchor", c.minted)
+		if !reflect.DeepEqual(got["nats"], c.want) {
+			t.Errorf("%s: asks %v, want %v", name, got["nats"], c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/forge_merge_bus_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/forge_merge_bus_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..df56c4e9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/forge_merge_bus_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+//go:build integration
+
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
+	sdkdelivery "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
+)
+
+// sayForgeMerge is the forge bridge saying a merge on its stream FORGE, which it makes when missing.
+func sayForgeMerge(ctx context.Context, t *testing.T, js *broker.JetStream, repo string, number int, head, merge string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	api, err := jetstream.New(js.Conn())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if _, err := api.CreateOrUpdateStream(ctx, jetstream.StreamConfig{Name: forgeStream,
+		Subjects: []string{process.ModuleStreamSubject(sdkdelivery.ForgeBridgeModule, "forge.>")}}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	subject, body := forgeMerged(t, repo, number, head, merge)
+	if _, err := api.Publish(ctx, subject, body); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/forge_merge_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/forge_merge_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..f3153b6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/forge_merge_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,106 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"strings"
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
+	sdkdelivery "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
+
+// fakeForge is the forge bridge's stream as forgeMergeAt reads it: messages by sequence, each on a subject.
+type fakeForge struct {
+	subjects []string
+	data     [][]byte
+}
+
+func (f fakeForge) last(_ context.Context, subject string) (uint64, []byte, error) {
+	for i := len(f.subjects) - 1; i >= 0; i-- {
+		if f.subjects[i] == subject {
+			return uint64(i + 1), f.data[i], nil
+		}
+	}
+	return 0, nil, jetstream.ErrMsgNotFound
+}
+
+func (f fakeForge) next(_ context.Context, subject string, from uint64) (uint64, []byte, error) {
+	for i := int(from) - 1; i < len(f.subjects); i++ {
+		if i >= 0 && f.subjects[i] == subject {
+			return uint64(i + 1), f.data[i], nil
+		}
+	}
+	return 0, nil, jetstream.ErrMsgNotFound
+}
+
+func forgeMerged(t *testing.T, repo string, number int, head, merge string) (string, []byte) {
+	t.Helper()
+	owner, name, _ := strings.Cut(repo, "/")
+	subject, err := forgeMergeSubject(owner, name)
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	body, err := json.Marshal(sdkdelivery.Forge{V: 1, Kind: sdkdelivery.ForgeMerged, Repository: repo, Branch: "main",
+		Number: number, Head: head, Merge: merge, Root: "t0", Trees: map[string]string{".": "t1"}})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	return subject, body
+}
+
+// **A moved module's merge is read from the forge bridge's stream** (sweep 2026-10-30, issue 774): the controller keeps
+// no copy of the forge's merges, so its registration finds the pull request and head of a merge commit on FORGE, the
+// newest first and then every merge the stream keeps; a merge of another repository or commit is never taken for it.
+func TestAMergeIsFoundOnTheForgeBridgesStream(t *testing.T) {
+	var f fakeForge
+	add := func(repo string, number int, head, merge string) {
+		s, b := forgeMerged(t, repo, number, head, merge)
+		f.subjects, f.data = append(f.subjects, s), append(f.data, b)
+	}
+	add("novox/mesh-host", 6, "h6", "c6c6c6c6c6")
+	add("novox/mesh-catalog", 9, "h9", "c7c7c7c7c7")
+	add("novox/mesh-host", 7, "h7", "c7c7c7c7c7")
+	f.subjects, f.data = append(f.subjects, f.subjects[0]), append(f.data, []byte("not a forge message"))
+	add("novox/mesh-host", 8, "h8", "c8c8c8c8c8")
+
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct {
+		repo, commit string
+		number       int
+		found        bool
+	}{
+		"the newest merge":                  {"novox/mesh-host", "c8c8c8c8c8", 8, true},
+		"an older merge, found by scanning": {"novox/mesh-host", "c6c6c6c6c6", 6, true},
+		"a short commit":                    {"novox/mesh-host", "c7c7c7c", 7, true},
+		"a commit of another repository":    {"novox/mesh-catalog", "c6c6c6c6c6", 0, false},
+		"a repository with no merge":        {"novox/hq", "c6c6c6c6c6", 0, false},
+	} {
+		owner, name2, _ := strings.Cut(c.repo, "/")
+		k, found, err := forgeMergeAt(t.Context(), f, owner, name2, c.commit)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: %v", name, err)
+		}
+		if found != c.found || k.Number != c.number {
+			t.Errorf("%s: found %v #%d, want %v #%d", name, found, k.Number, c.found, c.number)
+		}
+		if found && (k.Owner != owner || k.Repo != name2 || k.HeadSHA == "") {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the merge reads as %+v", name, k.SourceMoved)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Sweep 2026-10-30 (issue 774): a module the mesh provides itself is never named as lacking a fingerprint.
+func TestAModuleTheMeshProvidesIsNotSaidToLackAFingerprint(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range []struct {
+		in, want []string
+	}{
+		{[]string{"mesh-wireguard"}, nil},
+		{[]string{"claude-code", "mesh-wireguard", "power"}, []string{"claude-code", "power"}},
+		{nil, nil},
+	} {
+		if got := builtByTheMesh(c.in); strings.Join(got, ",") != strings.Join(c.want, ",") {
+			t.Errorf("%v: %v, want %v", c.in, got, c.want)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/loop_own_consumers_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/loop_own_consumers_test.go
index d8f5ae9f..20a7d7b4 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/loop_own_consumers_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/loop_own_consumers_test.go
@@ -21,8 +21,13 @@ func holdingOne(names ...string) func(broker.Consumer) (uint64, error) {
 }
 
 func deafObservations(now time.Time, held func(broker.Consumer) (uint64, error)) (string, int) {
+	return deafHeld(now, time.Time{}, held)
+}
+
+// deafHeld is deafObservations with the loop's last hold due at due.
+func deafHeld(now, due time.Time, held func(broker.Consumer) (uint64, error)) (string, int) {
 	f := calm(now)
-	loop, err := readLoop(now.Add(-loopDeafAfter-time.Minute), loopConsumers(), held)
+	loop, err := readLoop(now.Add(-loopDeafAfter-time.Minute), due, loopConsumers(), held)
 	if err != nil {
 		panic(err)
 	}
@@ -65,3 +70,51 @@ func TestDeafLookReadsExactlyTheControllersOwnConsumers(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+// Sweep 2026-10-30 (issue 774): a message the loop held back with a delay longer than the deaf bound is not a deaf
+// controller until it is due and still not taken; the merges consumer's five-minute holds flapped the alarm this way.
+func TestAMessageHeldBackIsNotDeafUntilItIsDue(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Now()
+	held := holdingOne("CONTROL/" + broker.ControllerName)
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct {
+		due  time.Time
+		deaf int
+	}{
+		"nothing held":                          {time.Time{}, 1},
+		"held, due in three minutes":            {now.Add(3 * time.Minute), 0},
+		"held, due a moment ago":                {now.Add(-time.Second), 0},
+		"held, due past the deaf bound, unsent": {now.Add(-loopDeafAfter - time.Second), 1},
+	} {
+		if _, n := deafHeld(now, c.due, held); n != c.deaf {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %d deaf observation(s), want %d", name, n, c.deaf)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// Sweep 2026-10-30 (issue 774): the controller holds no consumer of the forge's merges any more, and removes the one
+// it held at every assertion.
+func TestTheMergesConsumerIsRetired(t *testing.T) {
+	for _, c := range broker.MeshConsumers() {
+		if c.Name == broker.MergesConsumerName {
+			t.Fatalf("the controller still holds %s on %s", c.Name, c.Stream)
+		}
+	}
+	r := &removed{}
+	if err := broker.AssertMeshConsumers(r); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if !r.gone[broker.EventsStream+"/"+broker.MergesConsumerName] {
+		t.Fatalf("the retired merges consumer is not removed: removed %v", r.gone)
+	}
+}
+
+type removed struct{ gone map[string]bool }
+
+func (*removed) EnsureConsumer(broker.Consumer) error { return nil }
+func (r *removed) RemoveConsumer(stream, name string) error {
+	if r.gone == nil {
+		r.gone = map[string]bool{}
+	}
+	r.gone[stream+"/"+name] = true
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/moved.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/moved.go
index d9c57391..88596958 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/moved.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/moved.go
@@ -16,6 +16,8 @@ import (
 	sdkdelivery "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/kvlimit"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
@@ -179,7 +181,12 @@ func (k keepingDeliveryMerges) KeepDeliveryMerge(ctx context.Context, emitter st
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: the bucket of mesh-delivery's merges: %w", link.ErrTryAgain, err)
 	}
-	if _, err := kv.Put(ctx, deliveryMergeKey(d.Owner, d.Repo, d.Number, d.HeadSHA), body); err != nil {
+	// Through kvlimit (sweep 2026-10-30, issue 774): a word too large for the bucket is refused before it is put, and
+	// is an answer, never "not now" — retried, it held the forge's merges for a day (10054 on de-spiegel's merge).
+	if _, err := kvlimit.Put(ctx, kv, deliveryMergeKey(d.Owner, d.Repo, d.Number, d.HeadSHA), body); err != nil {
+		if errors.Is(err, kvlimit.ErrTooLarge) {
+			return err
+		}
 		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", link.ErrTryAgain, err)
 	}
 	if k.kept != nil {
@@ -343,64 +350,113 @@ func claimantsOf(entries []inventory.Entry, seat string) []string {
 	return out
 }
 
-// forgeMergeKey is where the forge's announcement of a merge is kept, by the merge commit: the one thing a build of a merge
-// names, from which the pull request and its head are found (novox/hq ADR 0420 §7).
-func forgeMergeKey(owner, repo, commit string) string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf("merge/%s/%s/%s", owner, repo, commit)
-}
-
-// keepForgeMerge keeps the forge's announcement of a merge in the bucket of the merges, a week at most as that bucket
-// keeps them. The controller plans nothing from a merge any more (ADR 0539 §17); this is all it keeps of one.
-var keepForgeMerge = func(ctx context.Context, m link.SourceMoved) error {
-	serving := servingBus.Load()
-	if serving == nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: the bus is not held", link.ErrTryAgain)
-	}
-	api, err := jetstream.New(serving.Conn())
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", link.ErrTryAgain, err)
-	}
-	kv, err := api.KeyValue(ctx, broker.DeliveryMergesBucket)
-	if err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: the bucket of the merges: %w", link.ErrTryAgain, err)
-	}
-	body, err := json.Marshal(keptMerge{SourceMoved: m})
-	if err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
-	if _, err := kv.Put(ctx, forgeMergeKey(m.Owner, m.Repo, m.Commit), body); err != nil {
-		return fmt.Errorf("%w: %w", link.ErrTryAgain, err)
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-// keptForgeMerge is the forge's announcement of a merge, by its commit; false when none was kept. A variable so a test can
-// hand it one.
+// keptForgeMerge is the forge's word on the merge of a repository at a commit: the pull request and the head it merged,
+// read from the forge bridge's own stream, FORGE, where mesh-delivery-forge-bridge says every merge as
+// `forge.<owner>.<name>.merged` and keeps it a week (novox/hq ADR 0437). False when the stream holds no merge at that
+// commit. A variable so a test can hand it one.
+//
+// **The controller keeps no copy of the forge's merges any more** (sweep 2026-10-30, issue 774). It once kept each in
+// its bucket of merges off a consumer of its own on EVENTS that never gave up a message; one announcement over the
+// bucket's value size held that consumer for a day and queued every merge behind it, and the deaf watchdog read the
+// queue as a deaf controller. The forge bridge's stream is the record of the merges (research 072, 03-domains: the
+// delivery parts own what a merge is); the controller reads it where it needs one, at a moved module's registration.
 var keptForgeMerge = func(ctx context.Context, owner, repo, commit string) (keptMerge, bool, error) {
 	serving := servingBus.Load()
 	if serving == nil {
-		return keptMerge{}, false, errors.New("only the serving controller keeps what the forge announced")
+		return keptMerge{}, false, errors.New("only the serving controller reads the forge's merges")
 	}
 	api, err := jetstream.New(serving.Conn())
 	if err != nil {
 		return keptMerge{}, false, err
 	}
-	kv, err := api.KeyValue(ctx, broker.DeliveryMergesBucket)
+	stream, err := api.Stream(ctx, forgeStream)
+	if err != nil {
+		return keptMerge{}, false, fmt.Errorf("the forge bridge's stream %s cannot be read: %w", forgeStream, err)
+	}
+	return forgeMergeAt(ctx, streamMerges{stream}, owner, repo, commit)
+}
+
+// forgeStream is the forge bridge's stream as the bus names it (its declared name, forge, in capitals).
+var forgeStream = catalogue.StreamBusName(sdkdelivery.ForgeStream)
+
+// forgeMergeSubject is the subject of the forge bridge's merged message for a repository.
+func forgeMergeSubject(owner, repo string) (string, error) {
+	event, err := sdkdelivery.ForgeEvent(owner+"/"+repo, sdkdelivery.ForgeMerged)
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", err
+	}
+	return process.ModuleStreamSubject(sdkdelivery.ForgeBridgeModule, event), nil
+}
+
+// mergeMessages is what forgeMergeAt reads of a stream: the last message on a subject, and the first at or after a
+// sequence. Each answers jetstream.ErrMsgNotFound when there is none.
+type mergeMessages interface {
+	last(ctx context.Context, subject string) (uint64, []byte, error)
+	next(ctx context.Context, subject string, from uint64) (uint64, []byte, error)
+}
+
+type streamMerges struct{ s jetstream.Stream }
+
+func (m streamMerges) last(ctx context.Context, subject string) (uint64, []byte, error) {
+	msg, err := m.s.GetLastMsgForSubject(ctx, subject)
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, nil, err
+	}
+	return msg.Sequence, msg.Data, nil
+}
+
+func (m streamMerges) next(ctx context.Context, subject string, from uint64) (uint64, []byte, error) {
+	msg, err := m.s.GetMsg(ctx, from, jetstream.WithGetMsgSubject(subject))
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, nil, err
+	}
+	return msg.Sequence, msg.Data, nil
+}
+
+// forgeMergeAt finds the merged message of owner/repo at commit: the newest first, which is the merge a take-in
+// follows nearly always, then every one the stream keeps, oldest first. A message that does not read as a forge
+// message is passed over.
+func forgeMergeAt(ctx context.Context, msgs mergeMessages, owner, repo, commit string) (keptMerge, bool, error) {
+	subject, err := forgeMergeSubject(owner, repo)
 	if err != nil {
 		return keptMerge{}, false, err
 	}
-	e, err := kv.Get(ctx, forgeMergeKey(owner, repo, commit))
-	if errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyNotFound) {
+	// Read for the four fields a registration needs, not checked whole (sdkdelivery.DecodeForge): a merged message a
+	// newer bridge writes, or one the SDK's check refuses for a part the controller never reads, still names its pull
+	// request, head and commit.
+	match := func(data []byte) (keptMerge, bool) {
+		var f sdkdelivery.Forge
+		if json.Unmarshal(data, &f) != nil || f.Kind != sdkdelivery.ForgeMerged || f.Number <= 0 || f.Head == "" ||
+			!sameCommitID(f.Merge, commit) {
+			return keptMerge{}, false
+		}
+		return keptMerge{SourceMoved: link.SourceMoved{Owner: owner, Repo: repo, Base: f.Branch, Number: f.Number,
+			HeadSHA: f.Head, Commit: f.Merge}}, true
+	}
+	lastSeq, data, err := msgs.last(ctx, subject)
+	if errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrMsgNotFound) {
 		return keptMerge{}, false, nil
 	}
 	if err != nil {
 		return keptMerge{}, false, err
 	}
-	var k keptMerge
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(e.Value(), &k); err != nil {
-		return keptMerge{}, false, err
+	if k, ok := match(data); ok {
+		return k, true, nil
 	}
-	return k, true, nil
+	for from := uint64(1); from < lastSeq; {
+		seq, data, err := msgs.next(ctx, subject, from)
+		if errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrMsgNotFound) || (err == nil && seq >= lastSeq) {
+			return keptMerge{}, false, nil
+		}
+		if err != nil {
+			return keptMerge{}, false, err
+		}
+		if k, ok := match(data); ok {
+			return k, true, nil
+		}
+		from = seq + 1
+	}
+	return keptMerge{}, false, nil
 }
 
 // keptMerge is a merge as the record keeps it: the forge's announcement.
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/moved_bus_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/moved_bus_test.go
index 26e99fb8..819b5dcf 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/moved_bus_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/moved_bus_test.go
@@ -99,17 +99,9 @@ func TestAModuleBuiltFromANewRepositoryIsRegisteredOnlyOnTheOperatorsApproveOnTh
 				return err == nil && kept
 			})
 
-			// The forge's merge of that pull request, as the controller heard it, and the build it asked for.
+			// The forge bridge's merge of that pull request on its stream, and the build it asked for.
 			const commit = "c0ffee0123456789"
-			event, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"owner": "novox", "repo": "mesh-host", "base": "main", "number": 7,
-				"head_sha": a.merge.HeadSHA, "merge_commit_sha": commit})
-			var forgeMerge link.SourceMoved
-			if err := json.Unmarshal(event, &forgeMerge); err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			if err := keepForgeMerge(ctx, forgeMerge); err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
+			sayForgeMerge(ctx, t, js, "novox/mesh-host", 7, a.merge.HeadSHA, commit)
 			id := fmt.Sprintf("build-%d", time.Now().Add(time.Hour).UnixNano())
 			if err := inv.RecordBuildRequest(ctx, inventory.BuildRequest{ID: id, Repository: "novox/mesh-host", Seat: "git",
 				Path: "modules/sudo", Ref: "main", Commit: commit, For: "merge"}); err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/new_module_bus_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/new_module_bus_test.go
index 2300c0a3..89c24f61 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/new_module_bus_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/new_module_bus_test.go
@@ -100,17 +100,9 @@ func TestANewModuleFromANewRepositoryIsRegisteredOnlyOnTheOperatorsApproveOnTheB
 				return err == nil && kept
 			})
 
-			// The forge's merge of that pull request, as the controller heard it, and the build it asked for.
+			// The forge bridge's merge of that pull request on its stream, and the build it asked for.
 			const commit = "c0ffee0123456789"
-			event, _ := json.Marshal(map[string]any{"owner": "novox", "repo": "mesh-delivery", "base": "main", "number": 7,
-				"head_sha": a.merge.HeadSHA, "merge_commit_sha": commit})
-			var forgeMerge link.SourceMoved
-			if err := json.Unmarshal(event, &forgeMerge); err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
-			if err := keepForgeMerge(ctx, forgeMerge); err != nil {
-				t.Fatal(err)
-			}
+			sayForgeMerge(ctx, t, js, "novox/mesh-delivery", 7, a.merge.HeadSHA, commit)
 			id := fmt.Sprintf("build-%d", time.Now().Add(time.Hour).UnixNano())
 			if err := inv.RecordBuildRequest(ctx, inventory.BuildRequest{ID: id, Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Seat: "git",
 				Path: "modules/mesh-delivery-view", Ref: "main", Commit: commit, For: "merge"}); err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/new_module_on_merge_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/new_module_on_merge_test.go
index 73db2ae5..7b7a46d8 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/new_module_on_merge_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/new_module_on_merge_test.go
@@ -11,7 +11,6 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
 	sdkdelivery "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
-	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/link"
 )
 
 // ADR 0501 §6 (issue 1851, A5): the live case of 2026-10-07 (novox/hq issue 300), on keys. A merge of the catalogue adds
@@ -33,12 +32,6 @@ func TestAMergeAddingAModuleEndsRegisteredFromItsKeyAndAsksNoBuild(t *testing.T)
 	watchNewModules(watching, open)
 
 	const commit = "3da80a4b00000000"
-	m := link.SourceMoved{Owner: "novox", Repo: "mesh-catalog", Base: "main", Commit: commit,
-		Paths:      []string{"modules/systemd-resolved/module.json", "modules/systemd-resolved/cmd/main.go"},
-		ModuleDirs: []string{"modules/systemd-resolved"}, ModuleDirsSaid: true}
-	if err := (following{open: open}).SourceMoved(ctx, m); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
 	// The indexer writes the module's trunk value; the builder builds it, then its key is done.
 	fp := fpOf('7')
 	manifest := b.indexed(t, "systemd-resolved", "1", "novox/mesh-catalog", "modules/systemd-resolved", commit, fp)
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/provisioned_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/provisioned_test.go
index 71ecac88..f86e963c 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/provisioned_test.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/provisioned_test.go
@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import (
 	"time"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/conditions"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/inventory"
 )
 
@@ -72,3 +73,44 @@ func TestAFailedPlacingRaisesApplyFailing(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("a failed placing is not raised as anchor's apply-failing: %+v", got)
 	}
 }
+
+// Sweep 2026-10-30 (issue 774): a failure said again in new words carries a new time, and the condition it raised stays
+// raised while it stands; only a machine with no open condition waits out the bound, and a cleared failure clears it.
+func TestApplyFailingStaysRaisedWhileAnyFailureStands(t *testing.T) {
+	now := time.Date(2026, 10, 30, 16, 57, 0, 0, time.UTC)
+	since := now.Add(-time.Minute)
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct {
+		open   bool
+		prov   string
+		doing  bool
+		raised bool
+		since  time.Duration // the client's failing-since, before now; zero when it says none
+	}{
+		"a fresh placing failure, nothing open":                     {false, inventory.ProvFailed, false, false, 0},
+		"a fresh placing failure, condition open":                   {true, inventory.ProvFailed, false, true, 0},
+		"placing applied again, condition open":                     {true, inventory.ProvApplied, false, false, 0},
+		"a fresh failed apply, condition open":                      {true, "", true, true, 0},
+		"a fresh failed apply, nothing open":                        {false, "", true, false, 0},
+		"new words of a failure standing ten minutes, nothing open": {false, inventory.ProvFailed, false, true, 10 * time.Minute},
+	} {
+		f := calm(now)
+		if c.open {
+			f.applyFailingOpen = applyFailingOpen([]conditions.Condition{{Kind: kindApplyFailing,
+				Subject: conditions.Subject{Scope: conditions.ScopeMachine, ID: "anchor", Machine: "anchor"}}})
+		}
+		if c.prov != "" {
+			f.provFailed = []inventory.ProvReport{{Node: "anchor", Module: "postgres", Status: c.prov,
+				Reason: "the vault refused it", At: now.Add(-time.Minute)}}
+			if c.since > 0 {
+				f.provFailed[0].FailingSince = now.Add(-c.since)
+			}
+		}
+		if c.doing {
+			f.doing = []inventory.Doing{{Node: "anchor", Outcome: inventory.OutcomeRefused, Refused: "no", At: since,
+				Since: &since}}
+		}
+		if got := watchApplyFailing(f); (len(got) == 1) != c.raised || len(got) > 1 {
+			t.Errorf("%s: %d observation(s), raised want %v", name, len(got), c.raised)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/retired_sources.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/retired_sources.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..174da63d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/retired_sources.go
@@ -0,0 +1,54 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"fmt"
+	"regexp"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/conditions"
+)
+
+// **A condition whose check no longer exists is cleared** (sweep 2026-10-30, issue 774). A signals row or a self-check
+// probe raises and clears its conditions by reconciling what it sees; one removed from the controller reconciles
+// nothing again, so what it raised stayed open for good and read as current: S23's failed plans (the plans went with
+// ADR 0539) and D14's stalled deliveries, from 2026-10-20 on. Each watchdogs tick clears every open condition whose
+// source is a row's or a probe's name that neither the signals table nor the probe registry holds any more, saying so.
+// A source of another form (an event, a module's health, a verb) is never judged here: its own word clears it.
+
+// checkSource is the form of a row's (S1) or a probe's (D4, DW, D-root) name.
+var checkSource = regexp.MustCompile(`^(S[0-9]+|D[0-9]+|D[A-Z]+|D-[a-z]+)$`)
+
+// liveChecks are the sources this controller still reconciles: its signals rows and its self-check's probes.
+func liveChecks() map[string]bool {
+	out := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, r := range signalsTable {
+		out[r.Row] = true
+	}
+	for _, p := range probeRegistry {
+		out[p.ID] = true
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// retiredCheckConditions are the open conditions raised by a row or a probe the controller no longer has.
+func retiredCheckConditions(open []conditions.Condition, live map[string]bool) []conditions.Condition {
+	var out []conditions.Condition
+	for _, c := range open {
+		if checkSource.MatchString(c.Source) && !live[c.Source] {
+			out = append(out, c)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// clearRetiredChecks clears each of them, saying why.
+func clearRetiredChecks(ctx context.Context, k *conditions.Keeper, retired []conditions.Condition) []string {
+	var problems []string
+	for _, c := range retired {
+		why := fmt.Sprintf("%s, which raised it, is no longer a check of the controller", c.Source)
+		if _, err := k.ClearSaying(ctx, c.Key, why, "No longer checked: the check that raised this was removed"); err != nil {
+			problems = append(problems, c.Key+": "+err.Error())
+		}
+	}
+	return problems
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/retired_sources_test.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/retired_sources_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9eb7aaed
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/retired_sources_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,31 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"testing"
+
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/conditions"
+)
+
+// Sweep 2026-10-30 (issue 774): an open condition raised by a row or a probe the controller no longer has is cleared;
+// one raised by a check it still has, or by a source of another form, is left to its own word.
+func TestAConditionWhoseCheckIsGoneIsCleared(t *testing.T) {
+	live := liveChecks()
+	for source, gone := range map[string]bool{
+		"S23":                 true,
+		"D14":                 true,
+		"S21":                 false,
+		"S9":                  false,
+		"D-root":              false,
+		"DM":                  false,
+		"DB":                  false,
+		"D4":                  false,
+		"health":              false,
+		"provisioner.failing": false,
+		"done keys":           false,
+	} {
+		got := retiredCheckConditions([]conditions.Condition{{Key: "k." + source, Source: source}}, live)
+		if (len(got) == 1) != gone {
+			t.Errorf("%s: judged retired %v, want %v", source, len(got) == 1, gone)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/signals.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/signals.go
index 3af94c2d..75de1c16 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/signals.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/signals.go
@@ -284,13 +284,17 @@ func watchLoop(f *signalFacts) []conditions.Observation {
 	if since.IsZero() {
 		since = f.started
 	}
+	// A message the loop held back waits by the loop's own choice until it is due: deafness is counted from then.
+	if f.loop.due.After(since) {
+		since = f.loop.due
+	}
 	if f.now.Sub(since) <= loopDeafAfter {
 		return nil
 	}
 	return []conditions.Observation{{Scope: conditions.ScopeCore, ID: "controller", Kind: "controller-deaf",
 		Token: "deaf", Machine: f.host, Severity: conditions.Urgent,
 		Summary: fmt.Sprintf("the controller's event loop has taken nothing for %s while its consumers hold %d "+
-			"message(s): reports, builds and merges are not being acted on", ago(f.now.Sub(since)), f.loop.pending),
+			"message(s): reports and events are not being acted on", ago(f.now.Sub(since)), f.loop.pending),
 		Said: fmt.Sprintf("%d pending (%s), last taken %s", f.loop.pending, f.loop.where, since.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339))}}
 }
 
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/switch_list.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/switch_list.go
index a34a277e..dcb46a15 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/switch_list.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/switch_list.go
@@ -160,7 +160,7 @@ func switchList(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, keys switchReads)
 	var out []switchLine
 	for _, e := range entries {
 		m := e.Manifest.Module
-		if e.Provided || e.Source.Repository == "" {
+		if e.Provided || e.Source.Repository == "" || sdkdelivery.ProvidedByMesh(m) {
 			continue
 		}
 		trunk, err := keys.ModuleAt(ctx, m, "")
@@ -202,3 +202,16 @@ func heldArtifacts(ctx context.Context, inv *inventory.Inventory, module, builtF
 	// empty-on-error: not an error; the mesh holds no build of that commit on record, which the line says
 	return nil, nil
 }
+
+// builtByTheMesh are the modules of a list that a build of the mesh's makes: without the ones the mesh provides itself
+// (sdkdelivery.ProvidedByMesh, the private network), which no fingerprint ever names, so a line saying one has none
+// says nothing (sweep 2026-10-30, issue 774: "mesh-wireguard ... no fingerprint of the new form" on every composition).
+func builtByTheMesh(modules []string) []string {
+	var out []string
+	for _, m := range modules {
+		if !sdkdelivery.ProvidedByMesh(m) {
+			out = append(out, m)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/upgrades.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/upgrades.go
index f17c80be..73b46fcc 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/upgrades.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/upgrades.go
@@ -93,15 +93,6 @@ func (f following) Announceable(ctx context.Context) ([]link.Announcement, error
 	return out, nil
 }
 
-// SourceMoved is the forge announcing a merge. It is put into the open batch (novox/hq ADR 0276), which
-// becomes one walk when its merge window closes: hearMerge, and cutBatchesHeld in batches.go.
-func (f following) SourceMoved(ctx context.Context, m link.SourceMoved) error {
-	// A merge plans nothing here any more: mesh-delivery merges on the Approve, the indexer writes the fingerprints and
-	// the builder builds them (ADR 0539 §5, §17). The controller keeps the announcement, for the build of a merge that
-	// moves a module between repositories to be shown the operator's Approve (ADR 0420 §7).
-	return keepForgeMerge(ctx, m)
-}
-
 // actingOnMerges keeps one merge acted on at a time (novox/hq issue 266).
 var actingOnMerges sync.Mutex
 
diff --git a/cmd/mesh-controller/watchdogs.go b/cmd/mesh-controller/watchdogs.go
index 062b5b9f..c80f3a74 100644
--- a/cmd/mesh-controller/watchdogs.go
+++ b/cmd/mesh-controller/watchdogs.go
@@ -58,6 +58,11 @@ type signalFacts struct {
 	// provFailed is every module whose files a machine's provisioner client last said it failed to place (S21,
 	// novox/hq ADR 0362 §3): that machine's failed apply.
 	provFailed []inventory.ProvReport
+	// applyFailingOpen are the machines whose S21 condition is open: kept raised while any failure stands, whatever
+	// the newest report's time (sweep 2026-10-30).
+	applyFailingOpen map[string]bool
+	// retiredChecks are the open conditions raised by a row or a probe the controller no longer has (sweep 2026-10-30).
+	retiredChecks []conditions.Condition
 
 	loop    loopFacts
 	loopErr error
@@ -147,7 +152,9 @@ type machineFacts struct {
 func (m machineFacts) asleep() bool { return m.power.Away() }
 
 type loopFacts struct {
-	took    time.Time
+	took time.Time
+	// due is when a message the loop held back is handed over again (link.Loop.Due): the loop is not deaf before it.
+	due     time.Time
 	pending uint64
 	where   string
 }
@@ -252,6 +259,7 @@ func (w *watchdogs) see(running context.Context, f *signalFacts) {
 			problems = append(problems, "S8: "+err.Error())
 		}
 	}
+	problems = append(problems, clearRetiredChecks(running, w.keeper, f.retiredChecks)...)
 	if err := w.keeper.EndSilences(running); err != nil {
 		problems = append(problems, err.Error())
 	}
@@ -315,6 +323,8 @@ func (w *watchdogs) gather(ctx context.Context) *signalFacts {
 	} else {
 		f.standings = providerStandings(open)
 		f.providerWords = providerConditions(open)
+		f.applyFailingOpen = applyFailingOpen(open)
+		f.retiredChecks = retiredCheckConditions(open, liveChecks())
 	}
 	f.advisories = link.Advisories.Since(now.Add(-advisoryQuiet))
 	f.lostConsumers, f.advisoriesErr = w.lostConsumers(ctx, f.advisories)
@@ -458,7 +468,7 @@ func (w *watchdogs) gatherLoop() (loopFacts, error) {
 	if w.js == nil {
 		return loopFacts{took: link.Loop.Last()}, errors.New("this controller is not on the bus")
 	}
-	return readLoop(link.Loop.Last(), loopConsumers(), func(c broker.Consumer) (uint64, error) {
+	return readLoop(link.Loop.Last(), link.Loop.Due(), loopConsumers(), func(c broker.Consumer) (uint64, error) {
 		info, err := w.js.Context().ConsumerInfo(c.Stream, c.Name)
 		if err != nil {
 			return 0, err
@@ -468,8 +478,8 @@ func (w *watchdogs) gatherLoop() (loopFacts, error) {
 }
 
 // readLoop sums what the given consumers hold, as held reads each.
-func readLoop(took time.Time, consumers []broker.Consumer, held func(broker.Consumer) (uint64, error)) (loopFacts, error) {
-	f := loopFacts{took: took}
+func readLoop(took, due time.Time, consumers []broker.Consumer, held func(broker.Consumer) (uint64, error)) (loopFacts, error) {
+	f := loopFacts{took: took, due: due}
 	var where []string
 	for _, c := range consumers {
 		n, err := held(c)
diff --git a/go.mod b/go.mod
index f29fb348..4840aa25 100644
--- a/go.mod
+++ b/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module github.com/novox/mesh-controller
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030001116-2da0de75c3f0
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030174137-a37181261c24
 	github.com/jackc/pgx/v5 v5.10.0
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
diff --git a/go.sum b/go.sum
index 0b60d1bd..179d4319 100644
--- a/go.sum
+++ b/go.sum
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-host v0.0.0-20261018171808-9d9e3a46c4f5 h1:E5stfIeCN6uYgA9TCv+4K8JgaURg3zQppvUgJLaDMP4=
 git.novox.be/novox/mesh-host v0.0.0-20261018171808-9d9e3a46c4f5/go.mod h1:4wyoCr6IIIIarEUuROThWDj7DAvJvIidqMjWcpSnOwE=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030001116-2da0de75c3f0 h1:lKU3HjNXGiVbLW2hUgFjU/TMTUYMlNnnmZxG5T7biQA=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030001116-2da0de75c3f0/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030174137-a37181261c24 h1:s0XXZtR7CFPBbnaDygWnE4/Q827iEFt0YfEzujk4Q9g=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261030174137-a37181261c24/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op h1:Z/MZK75wC/NSrkgqeNIa7jexam9uWzhLmFTSCPI/kn0=
 github.com/antithesishq/antithesis-sdk-go v0.7.0-default-no-op/go.mod h1:FQyySiasQQM8735Ddel3MRojmy4dA1IqCeyJ5jmPMbI=
 github.com/davecgh/go-spew v1.1.0/go.mod h1:J7Y8YcW2NihsgmVo/mv3lAwl/skON4iLHjSsI+c5H38=
diff --git a/internal/broker/announced.go b/internal/broker/announced.go
index 1c8304a9..d4bc23ee 100644
--- a/internal/broker/announced.go
+++ b/internal/broker/announced.go
@@ -41,23 +41,6 @@ func ControllerAnnouncement(node string) announce.States {
 	return s
 }
 
-// ReadsAnnounced splits a reader's `reads` (`<owner>.<name>`) by what each owner announced: granted when the owner
-// announced the state readable, or announced nothing yet (the transition); refused when the owner announced and did
-// not announce that state readable.
-func ReadsAnnounced(reads []string, announced map[string]announce.States) (granted, refused []string) {
-	for _, r := range reads {
-		owner, name, ok := strings.Cut(r, ".")
-		s, said := announced[owner]
-		switch {
-		case !ok || !said || s.Readable(name):
-			granted = append(granted, r)
-		default:
-			refused = append(refused, r)
-		}
-	}
-	return granted, refused
-}
-
 // NotAnnounced are the owners some module reads the state of and that have announced nothing yet, sorted: read from the
 // readers' `reads` as before, until they announce.
 func NotAnnounced(r Records) []string {
diff --git a/internal/broker/announced_test.go b/internal/broker/announced_test.go
index ccb4fdb0..dc0a0c47 100644
--- a/internal/broker/announced_test.go
+++ b/internal/broker/announced_test.go
@@ -7,23 +7,6 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/announce"
 )
 
-// D3 (ADR 0495 clause 3, ADR 0513 §3; issue 1790): a reader's `reads` is granted where the owner announced the state
-// readable, refused where it announced and did not, and granted as before where the owner announced nothing yet.
-func TestAReadIsGrantedFromItsOwnersAnnouncement(t *testing.T) {
-	announced := map[string]announce.States{
-		"owner": {Module: "owner", States: []announce.State{{Name: "open", Readable: true}, {Name: "closed"}}},
-	}
-	granted, refused := ReadsAnnounced([]string{"owner.open", "owner.closed", "owner.unsaid", "quiet.any"}, announced)
-	if !slices.Equal(granted, []string{"owner.open", "quiet.any"}) || !slices.Equal(refused, []string{"owner.closed", "owner.unsaid"}) {
-		t.Fatalf("granted %v, refused %v", granted, refused)
-	}
-	r := Records{Announced: announced, Assigned: map[string][]Declared{"one": {{Module: "reader", Reads: granted,
-		ReadsRefused: refused}}}}
-	if got := NotAnnounced(r); !slices.Equal(got, []string{"quiet"}) {
-		t.Fatalf("not yet announced: %v", got)
-	}
-}
-
 // D1 (ADR 0495 clause 2): the controller announces every bucket of its own, and readable exactly the record mirrors (the
 // declared packages the pacman module reads among them, ADR 0507 §5), the chain's buckets, the checks running and the
 // plans building.
diff --git a/internal/broker/engine_guard_test.go b/internal/broker/engine_guard_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..8ffdd9b4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/broker/engine_guard_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,39 @@
+package broker
+
+import "testing"
+
+// Sweep 2026-10-30 (issue 774), the guard of mesh-sdk #136 in the controller's copy: where a placement names the
+// node-engine's manifest, it adds no user, no process and nothing the tool runner carries; a module beside it does.
+func TestTheNodeEnginesManifestComposesNoPlacedUser(t *testing.T) {
+	engine := Declared{Module: EngineModule, Serves: []string{"health"}, State: []Bucket{{Name: "health"}},
+		Processes: []ProcessPrincipal{{Process: "apply"}}}
+	beside := Declared{Module: "power", Serves: []string{"power_draw"}}
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct {
+		assigned []Declared
+		module   bool
+	}{
+		"with the runner":    {[]Declared{{Module: RuntimeModule, NoAccount: true}, engine, beside}, false},
+		"without the runner": {[]Declared{engine, beside}, true},
+	} {
+		users, err := Users(Records{Nodes: []string{"anchor"}, Assigned: map[string][]Declared{"anchor": c.assigned}})
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatalf("%s: %v", name, err)
+		}
+		besideSeen := false
+		for _, u := range users {
+			if u.Module == EngineModule && (u.Kind == KindModule || u.Kind == KindProcess) {
+				t.Errorf("%s: the node-engine's manifest composed a %v user", name, u.Kind)
+			}
+			besideSeen = besideSeen || u.Module == beside.Module
+			for _, carried := range u.Carries {
+				if carried.Module == EngineModule {
+					t.Errorf("%s: the tool runner carries the node-engine's manifest", name)
+				}
+				besideSeen = besideSeen || carried.Module == beside.Module
+			}
+		}
+		if !besideSeen {
+			t.Errorf("%s: the module beside it is composed nowhere", name)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/broker/streams.go b/internal/broker/streams.go
index 052d47a8..6045431b 100644
--- a/internal/broker/streams.go
+++ b/internal/broker/streams.go
@@ -339,13 +339,36 @@ func Overlaps() []string {
 // ack subject is derived from (nats.go: `$JS.ACK.<stream>.controller.>`).
 const ControllerName = "controller"
 
-// MergesConsumerName is the controller's durable consumer of the forge's merged event on EVENTS, apart from the
-// events consumer (novox/hq ADR 0407 decision 3, issue 973). A merge is never dropped, so this consumer has no
-// max-deliver, which would send a merge held five times to DEAD_LETTERS to wait for a person, and no healer
-// resets it, which would drop the merges it holds. A consumer of its own because both of those are properties of
-// a consumer, not of a subject.
+// MergesConsumerName was the controller's durable consumer of the forge's merged event on EVENTS (novox/hq ADR 0407
+// decision 3, issue 973), with no max-deliver and one message at a time. **Retired** (sweep 2026-10-30, issue 774):
+// the forge bridge's stream FORGE is the record of the merges, and the controller reads it where it needs a merge. On
+// 2026-10-29 one announcement too large for the controller's bucket of merges was held on it for over a day, with
+// 163 merges queued behind it, and the deaf watchdog read the queue as a deaf controller. RetiredConsumers removes it.
 const MergesConsumerName = "controller-merges"
 
+// RetiredConsumers are durable consumers the controller once held and holds no more: each assertion removes them,
+// so a retired consumer cannot keep a queue nobody takes from (research 072, 03-domains: the controller shrinks).
+var RetiredConsumers = []Consumer{{Name: MergesConsumerName, Stream: EventsStream}}
+
+// Remover is the part of a JetStream connection that removes a retired consumer.
+type Remover interface {
+	RemoveConsumer(stream, name string) error
+}
+
+// removeRetired removes every retired consumer, when the connection can.
+func removeRetired(e Ensurer) error {
+	r, ok := e.(Remover)
+	if !ok {
+		return nil
+	}
+	for _, c := range RetiredConsumers {
+		if err := r.RemoveConsumer(c.Stream, c.Name); err != nil {
+			return fmt.Errorf("removing the retired consumer %s on %s: %w", c.Name, c.Stream, err)
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // ControllerSeat is the role the control plane holds, and ControllerStates are the facts it states
 // under it (novox/hq ADR 0134).
 //
@@ -513,23 +536,6 @@ func ControllerConsumers() []Consumer {
 			Why: "the controller is the single consumer of what nodes say; explicit ack and no " +
 				"max-deliver, because the store window's bound is the controller's own",
 		},
-		// The forge's merges (novox/hq ADR 0407 decision 3, issue 973): never dropped, so no max-deliver and no
-		// reset; a merge the controller cannot record yet is held with a growing delay until it can. **Asserted before
-		// the events consumer**, which stops filtering merges: the order of this list is the order of assertion.
-		{
-			Name:   MergesConsumerName,
-			Stream: "EVENTS",
-			// Within what the controller may subscribe already (`_DELIVER.controller.>`).
-			DeliverSubject: "_DELIVER." + ControllerName + ".merges",
-			Filters:        []string{ControllerFollows[3]},
-			Push:           true,
-			AckWaitSeconds: 30,
-			MaxAckPending:  1,
-			FromNow:        true,
-			TakesOverFrom:  ControllerName,
-			Why: "the forge's merges, one at a time; no max-deliver and never reset, because a merge is never " +
-				"dropped and no person releases one",
-		},
 		{
 			Name:           ControllerName,
 			Stream:         "EVENTS",
@@ -581,6 +587,9 @@ func NoticesConsumer() Consumer {
 // one on DEAD_LETTER_NOTICES, which the keeper of dead letters asserts and retries by itself, so a fault
 // there never stops the controller serving (novox/hq issue 330).
 func AssertServingConsumers(e Ensurer) error {
+	if err := removeRetired(e); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	for _, c := range MeshConsumers() {
 		if c.Stream == DeadLetterNoticesStream {
 			continue
@@ -603,6 +612,9 @@ type Ensurer interface {
 // After the streams, necessarily: a consumer on a stream that does not exist is refused, and the
 // refusal names the stream rather than the order.
 func AssertMeshConsumers(e Ensurer) error {
+	if err := removeRetired(e); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
 	for _, c := range MeshConsumers() {
 		if err := e.EnsureConsumer(c); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("asserting consumer %s on %s: %w", c.Name, c.Stream, err)
diff --git a/internal/broker/users.go b/internal/broker/users.go
index c48b1662..d35375a0 100644
--- a/internal/broker/users.go
+++ b/internal/broker/users.go
@@ -181,6 +181,11 @@ func Users(r Records) ([]Principal, error) {
 			}
 		}
 		for _, d := range r.Assigned[node] {
+			// **The node-engine's manifest is no placed module's** (novox/hq ADR 0563 §2, §3; sweep 2026-10-30, issue
+			// 774): the guard mesh-sdk #136 put in buscompose, kept here while the controller composes with its own copy.
+			if !Composed(d) {
+				continue
+			}
 			// **A process account is its own, delivered in its own secret** (broker-<process id>, novox/hq
 			// ADR 0436 §1, §2), never the module's `broker` — so it is composed whether or not the module
 			// itself has an account, and is never carried by the machine's runtime, which runs as the
@@ -227,7 +232,7 @@ func Users(r Records) ([]Principal, error) {
 		if runtimeHere {
 			var carried []Declared
 			for _, d := range r.Assigned[node] {
-				if d.RunsAs == "" && runnerServes(d) {
+				if CarriedByRunner(d) {
 					// Never a restricted stream for what the tool runner carries (novox/hq ADR 0376 §1).
 					d.Hears = ComposedHears(d)
 					carried = append(carried, d)
@@ -454,3 +459,15 @@ func declaredStreamsOf(r Records) []string {
 	sort.Strings(out)
 	return out
 }
+
+// EngineModule is the node-engine's manifest's module name (mesh-sdk buscompose.EngineModule).
+const EngineModule = "mesh-host"
+
+// Composed says a placed module is composed as one: its own user, its processes and what the runner carries of it. The
+// node-engine's manifest is not, though a placement may name it: each node's engine speaks as the node's account, which
+// alone writes the engine's state (ADR 0563 §2, §3); granted to another account it is a second writer, and the writers
+// table refuses the whole list (issue 774: mesh-host_acts, then mesh-host_health, 2026-10-30). mesh-sdk buscompose.Composed.
+func Composed(d Declared) bool { return d.Module != EngineModule }
+
+// CarriedByRunner says the machine's tool runner carries this placed module (mesh-sdk buscompose.CarriedByRunner).
+func CarriedByRunner(d Declared) bool { return Composed(d) && d.RunsAs == "" && runnerServes(d) }
diff --git a/internal/inventory/busrecords.go b/internal/inventory/busrecords.go
index 9ca930fb..e79ab5c7 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/busrecords.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/busrecords.go
@@ -6,7 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/announce"
 	"slices"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buscompose"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
 	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
 )
@@ -119,22 +121,18 @@ func (i *Inventory) BusRecords(ctx context.Context) (broker.Records, error) {
 	// announcement does not make readable is granted nothing, and said; an owner that announced nothing yet is read as
 	// before. Announcements that cannot be read are said, and every read is granted as before: the bus's users are
 	// composed either way.
+	//
+	// **Judged for its reader, by the SDK's judgement** (sweep 2026-10-30, issue 774): mesh-sdk buscompose's
+	// ReadsAnnouncedBy knows the named readers (ADR 0547 clause 9, ADR 0561 §3), so the lease is granted to the parts
+	// named for it and refused to every other. The controller's own reader-less copy refused every named reader: 2536
+	// refused reads of mesh-controller.lease on 2026-10-30, each said on every composition.
 	if Announcements != nil {
 		announced, err := Announcements(ctx)
 		if err != nil {
 			fmt.Printf("the states the modules announced cannot be read, so every read is granted from `reads` as before: %v\n", err)
 		} else {
 			out.Announced = announced
-			for node, ds := range out.Assigned {
-				for k := range ds {
-					granted, refused := broker.ReadsAnnounced(ds[k].Reads, announced)
-					ds[k].Reads, ds[k].ReadsRefused = granted, refused
-					for _, r := range refused {
-						fmt.Printf("%s on %s reads %s, which its owner does not announce readable: not granted\n",
-							ds[k].Module, node, r)
-					}
-				}
-			}
+			judgeReads(out.Assigned, announced, sayRefusedOnce)
 		}
 	}
 
@@ -615,3 +613,29 @@ func hearsOf(m catalogue.Manifest, declared map[string]catalogue.Manifest, node
 	}
 	return out, touches, onEvents
 }
+
+// refusalsSaid are the refused reads already said by this process, by `<module>@<node> <read>`: a refusal is said once,
+// when first composed, not on every composition (about 420 times a read on 2026-10-30). `status` names them all.
+var refusalsSaid sync.Map
+
+// sayRefusedOnce says a refused read the first time this process composes it.
+func sayRefusedOnce(module, node, read string) {
+	if _, said := refusalsSaid.LoadOrStore(module+"@"+node+" "+read, true); said {
+		return
+	}
+	fmt.Printf("%s on %s reads %s, which its owner does not make readable by it: not granted\n", module, node, read)
+}
+
+// judgeReads splits each assigned module's reads into granted and refused, for that module, by what the owners announced
+// and the states' named readers (buscompose.ReadsAnnouncedBy), and says each refusal.
+func judgeReads(assigned map[string][]broker.Declared, announced map[string]announce.States, say func(module, node, read string)) {
+	for node, ds := range assigned {
+		for k := range ds {
+			granted, refused := buscompose.ReadsAnnouncedBy(ds[k].Module, ds[k].Reads, announced)
+			ds[k].Reads, ds[k].ReadsRefused = granted, refused
+			for _, r := range refused {
+				say(ds[k].Module, node, r)
+			}
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/inventory/judge_reads_test.go b/internal/inventory/judge_reads_test.go
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..9fbb5cd2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/internal/inventory/judge_reads_test.go
@@ -0,0 +1,44 @@
+package inventory
+
+import (
+	"slices"
+	"testing"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/announce"
+	"github.com/novox/mesh-controller/internal/broker"
+)
+
+// Sweep 2026-10-30 (issue 774): a read is judged for its reader. The controller's lease, which its announcement marks
+// readable by nobody, is granted to the parts named for it (ADR 0561 §3) and refused to every other (mesh-config named since mesh-sdk ef1ec1c9); a state its owner
+// announced readable is granted; one it keeps and did not is refused; an owner that announced nothing is read as before.
+// Each refusal is said, and a refusal already said is not said again.
+func TestAReadIsJudgedForItsReader(t *testing.T) {
+	announced := map[string]announce.States{
+		"mesh-controller": broker.ControllerAnnouncement("novox"),
+		"owner":           {Module: "owner", States: []announce.State{{Name: "open", Readable: true}, {Name: "closed"}}},
+	}
+	for name, c := range map[string]struct {
+		reader, read string
+		granted      bool
+	}{
+		"the lease, by the vault":            {"mesh-vault", "mesh-controller.lease", true},
+		"the lease, by the grants part":      {"mesh-grants", "mesh-controller.lease", true},
+		"the lease, by mesh-config":          {"mesh-config", "mesh-controller.lease", true},
+		"the lease, by a module not named":   {"restic", "mesh-controller.lease", false},
+		"a readable state":                   {"reader", "owner.open", true},
+		"a state kept and not readable":      {"reader", "owner.closed", false},
+		"an owner that announced nothing":    {"reader", "quiet.any", true},
+		"a mirror the controller marks open": {"pacman", "mesh-controller.declared-packages", true},
+	} {
+		assigned := map[string][]broker.Declared{"novox": {{Module: c.reader, Reads: []string{c.read}}}}
+		var said []string
+		judgeReads(assigned, announced, func(module, node, read string) { said = append(said, read) })
+		d := assigned["novox"][0]
+		if slices.Contains(d.Reads, c.read) != c.granted || slices.Contains(d.ReadsRefused, c.read) == c.granted {
+			t.Errorf("%s: granted %v, refused %v", name, d.Reads, d.ReadsRefused)
+		}
+		if (len(said) == 1) == c.granted {
+			t.Errorf("%s: said %v", name, said)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/inventory/provisioned.go b/internal/inventory/provisioned.go
index ba2c8f0e..4423a6b2 100644
--- a/internal/inventory/provisioned.go
+++ b/internal/inventory/provisioned.go
@@ -26,6 +26,17 @@ type ProvReport struct {
 	WaitsFor  []string  `json:"waits-for,omitempty"`
 	Templates string    `json:"templates,omitempty"`
 	At        time.Time `json:"at"`
+	// FailingSince is, on a failed report, when the module's standing failure began, kept by the client while only its
+	// words change (mesh-catalog 3aae6c08); zero from an older client.
+	FailingSince time.Time `json:"failing-since,omitzero"`
+}
+
+// Since is when a failed report's failure began: FailingSince when the client says it, else At.
+func (r ProvReport) Since() time.Time {
+	if !r.FailingSince.IsZero() {
+		return r.FailingSince
+	}
+	return r.At
 }
 
 // The words a client's report says.
diff --git a/internal/link/calls.go b/internal/link/calls.go
index 6332c705..c91512e6 100644
--- a/internal/link/calls.go
+++ b/internal/link/calls.go
@@ -127,9 +127,13 @@ type CallLog struct {
 
 	// keeper keeps every call beyond this process, when Durably was given one; writes go through
 	// one goroutine, in order, so a call's last state is the one kept.
-	keeper  CallKeeper
-	holder  string
-	writes  chan Call
+	keeper CallKeeper
+	holder string
+	// queued are the calls' states waiting for the keeper, one per call, in the order each call was first queued, under
+	// qmu (keep is called with mu held); woken is told when one is queued (callQueue).
+	qmu     sync.Mutex
+	queued  callQueue
+	woken   chan struct{}
 	logger  *log.Logger
 	lost    int // writes the keeper could not take, said once each
 	keepErr error
@@ -165,8 +169,8 @@ const keepTries = 5
 func (l *CallLog) Durably(ctx context.Context, keeper CallKeeper, holder string, logger *log.Logger) error {
 	l.mu.Lock()
 	l.keeper, l.holder, l.logger = keeper, holder, logger
-	if l.writes == nil {
-		l.writes = make(chan Call, 256)
+	if l.woken == nil {
+		l.woken = make(chan struct{}, 1)
 		go l.keepWrites()
 	}
 	l.mu.Unlock()
@@ -203,51 +207,109 @@ func orSomebody(s string) string {
 	return s
 }
 
+// callQueueBound is how many calls may wait for the keeper at once: far beyond a burst of reads (about 200 calls in one
+// second on 2026-10-30), and a bound, so a keeper that takes nothing for long is said rather than grown into.
+const callQueueBound = 8192
+
+// callQueue holds the latest state of each call waiting for the keeper. **One state per call** (sweep 2026-10-30, issue
+// 774): a call's later state replaces its earlier one still waiting, since only the last is kept anyway; a burst of
+// read calls queued begin and finish each, and a channel of 256 dropped 30 of them in one second.
+type callQueue struct {
+	order []string
+	byID  map[string]Call
+}
+
+// put queues c, replacing a waiting state of the same call; false when the queue is full.
+func (q *callQueue) put(c Call) bool {
+	if q.byID == nil {
+		q.byID = map[string]Call{}
+	}
+	if _, waiting := q.byID[c.ID]; waiting {
+		q.byID[c.ID] = c
+		return true
+	}
+	if len(q.order) >= callQueueBound {
+		return false
+	}
+	q.order = append(q.order, c.ID)
+	q.byID[c.ID] = c
+	return true
+}
+
+// take is every waiting state, in order, and empties the queue.
+func (q *callQueue) take() []Call {
+	out := make([]Call, 0, len(q.order))
+	for _, id := range q.order {
+		out = append(out, q.byID[id])
+	}
+	q.order, q.byID = nil, nil
+	return out
+}
+
 // keep queues one call's state for the keeper. Never blocks a call: a queue that is full is a keeper
 // that is not taking writes, and that is said rather than waited on.
 func (l *CallLog) keep(c Call) {
-	if l.writes == nil {
+	if l.woken == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	l.qmu.Lock()
+	queued := l.queued.put(c)
+	if !queued {
+		l.lost++
+	}
+	lost := l.lost
+	l.qmu.Unlock()
+	if !queued {
+		if l.logger != nil {
+			l.logger.Printf("%s (%s.%s) is kept in memory only: %d calls wait for the bus to take their records "+
+				"(%d not kept)", c.ID, c.Seat, c.Verb, callQueueBound, lost)
+		}
 		return
 	}
 	select {
-	case l.writes <- c:
+	case l.woken <- struct{}{}:
 	default:
-		l.lost++
-		if l.logger != nil {
-			l.logger.Printf("%s (%s.%s) is kept in memory only: the bus is not taking calls' records (%d not kept)",
-				c.ID, c.Seat, c.Verb, l.lost)
-		}
 	}
 }
 
 func (l *CallLog) keepWrites() {
-	for c := range l.writes {
-		l.mu.Lock()
-		gate := l.epoch
-		l.mu.Unlock()
-		if gate != nil {
-			if _, err := gate(); err != nil {
-				if l.logger != nil {
-					l.logger.Printf("%s (%s.%s, %s) is not kept on the bus: %v — the controller holding the lease "+
-						"marks it abandoned", c.ID, c.Seat, c.Verb, c.State, err)
-				}
-				continue
+	for range l.woken {
+		l.qmu.Lock()
+		waiting := l.queued.take()
+		l.qmu.Unlock()
+		for _, c := range waiting {
+			l.keepOne(c)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+// keepOne writes one call's state through the keeper, under the lease.
+func (l *CallLog) keepOne(c Call) {
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	gate := l.epoch
+	l.mu.Unlock()
+	if gate != nil {
+		if _, err := gate(); err != nil {
+			if l.logger != nil {
+				l.logger.Printf("%s (%s.%s, %s) is not kept on the bus: %v — the controller holding the lease "+
+					"marks it abandoned", c.ID, c.Seat, c.Verb, c.State, err)
 			}
+			return
 		}
-		var err error
-		for try := 0; try < keepTries; try++ {
-			ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
-			err = l.keeper.Keep(ctx, c)
-			cancel()
-			if err == nil {
-				break
-			}
-			time.Sleep(time.Duration(try+1) * time.Second)
-		}
-		if err != nil && l.logger != nil {
-			l.logger.Printf("%s (%s.%s, %s) could not be kept on the bus after %d tries: %v — `calls` "+
-				"answers it from memory until this controller stops", c.ID, c.Seat, c.Verb, c.State, keepTries, err)
+	}
+	var err error
+	for try := 0; try < keepTries; try++ {
+		ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(context.Background(), 5*time.Second)
+		err = l.keeper.Keep(ctx, c)
+		cancel()
+		if err == nil {
+			break
 		}
+		time.Sleep(time.Duration(try+1) * time.Second)
+	}
+	if err != nil && l.logger != nil {
+		l.logger.Printf("%s (%s.%s, %s) could not be kept on the bus after %d tries: %v — `calls` "+
+			"answers it from memory until this controller stops", c.ID, c.Seat, c.Verb, c.State, keepTries, err)
 	}
 }
 
diff --git a/internal/link/calls_test.go b/internal/link/calls_test.go
index 577f7c22..2b77411e 100644
--- a/internal/link/calls_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/calls_test.go
@@ -254,8 +254,7 @@ func TestAHandoverRefusalIsMarkedRetryable(t *testing.T) {
 // who may call the seat, and a token is the one-time right to become a machine of the mesh.
 func TestAJoinTokenIsShownToItsCallerAndNotKept(t *testing.T) {
 	l, a := NewCallLog(), newAnswers(t)
-	writes := make(chan Call, 4)
-	l.writes = writes
+	l.woken = make(chan struct{}, 1) // queued for the keeper, and nothing takes them: read below
 	l.serveCall("mesh-controller", "token", json.RawMessage(`{"new":"laptop"}`), "_INBOX.x.1",
 		func(context.Context, json.RawMessage) (any, error) { return "token for laptop: s3cret-join", nil },
 		a.respond, nil)
@@ -266,8 +265,7 @@ func TestAJoinTokenIsShownToItsCallerAndNotKept(t *testing.T) {
 	if len(recent) != 1 || strings.Contains(string(recent[0].Answer), "s3cret-join") {
 		t.Fatalf("the token was kept in memory: %+v", recent)
 	}
-	close(writes)
-	for c := range writes {
+	for _, c := range l.queued.take() {
 		if strings.Contains(string(c.Answer), "s3cret-join") {
 			t.Fatalf("the token was sent to be kept on the bus: %s", c.Answer)
 		}
@@ -276,3 +274,33 @@ func TestAJoinTokenIsShownToItsCallerAndNotKept(t *testing.T) {
 
 // A verb whose handler panics answers an error, and the controller serves the next call (review of
 // novox/hq issue 327: read verbs are answered in the serving process now).
+
+// Sweep 2026-10-30 (issue 774): a burst of calls never loses a record while the keeper is slow: each call waits once,
+// with its latest state, and every call of a burst far over the old queue of 256 is kept with its last state.
+func TestABurstOfCallsIsKeptWithEachCallsLastState(t *testing.T) {
+	var q callQueue
+	for i := range 2000 {
+		id := fmt.Sprintf("call-%d", i)
+		if !q.put(Call{ID: id, State: CallRunning}) || !q.put(Call{ID: id, State: CallAnswered}) {
+			t.Fatalf("%s was refused by a queue of %d", id, callQueueBound)
+		}
+	}
+	got := q.take()
+	if len(got) != 2000 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d calls wait, want 2000", len(got))
+	}
+	for i, c := range got {
+		if c.ID != fmt.Sprintf("call-%d", i) || c.State != CallAnswered {
+			t.Fatalf("call %d waits as %+v", i, c)
+		}
+	}
+	if len(q.take()) != 0 {
+		t.Fatal("taken calls wait again")
+	}
+	for i := range callQueueBound {
+		q.put(Call{ID: fmt.Sprint(i)})
+	}
+	if q.put(Call{ID: "one too many"}) {
+		t.Fatal("the queue grew past its bound")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/internal/link/contracts.go b/internal/link/contracts.go
index 20f3a9f2..60703291 100644
--- a/internal/link/contracts.go
+++ b/internal/link/contracts.go
@@ -30,9 +30,8 @@ var Contracts = map[string]Contract{
 	KindBuilt: {Unordered: "a build's outcome on the retired build seat's subjects: dropped, nothing takes a build in " +
 		"from the bus any more (R4g, ADR 0501 §1); the subjects stay followed while the installer's carried user list " +
 		"names them"},
-	KindSourceMoved: {Ordered: "by the merge's commit against what was built from it: a merge already acted on " +
-		"or older than the last look is history, not a second plan (issues 250, 266)",
-		Tests: []string{"TestAMergeOlderThanTheLastLookIsHistory", "TestAMergeMatchesTheSourcesBuiltFromIt"}},
+	KindSourceMoved: {Unordered: "the forge's merge on EVENTS: no longer followed, dropped if one arrives; the forge " +
+		"bridge's stream FORGE is the record of the merges, read at a moved module's registration (sweep 2026-10-30)"},
 	KindToolsHeartbeat: {Unordered: "a word that the node tools are there, as a machine's heartbeat"},
 	KindHealth: {Ordered: "by the time the node-engine looked (`at`, on the machine's clock): a statement older " +
 		"than the one kept for that machine is refused, so an event arriving after a newer report does not undo it " +
diff --git a/internal/link/meshcli_test.go b/internal/link/meshcli_test.go
index 7e5db365..c2077e10 100644
--- a/internal/link/meshcli_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/meshcli_test.go
@@ -125,8 +125,7 @@ func askCLI(t *testing.T, conn *nats.Conn, node string, asked CLIAsked) (CLIAnsw
 // bus, where `calls` answers anyone who may call the seat.
 func TestAMeshCLIRecordKeepsNeitherItsLineNorItsAnswerOnTheBus(t *testing.T) {
 	l, a := NewCallLog(), newAnswers(t)
-	writes := make(chan Call, 4)
-	l.writes = writes
+	l.woken = make(chan struct{}, 1) // queued for the keeper, and nothing takes them: read below
 	asked, _ := json.Marshal(CLIAsked{Line: []string{"settings", "set", "x", `{"password":"s3cret"}`}, Account: "op"})
 	l.serveCall(CLISeat, "laptop", asked, "_INBOX.node.laptop.abcdefghijklmnopqrstuv",
 		func(context.Context, json.RawMessage) (any, error) {
@@ -134,8 +133,7 @@ func TestAMeshCLIRecordKeepsNeitherItsLineNorItsAnswerOnTheBus(t *testing.T) {
 		},
 		a.respond, nil)
 	_ = a.only()
-	close(writes)
-	for c := range writes {
+	for _, c := range l.queued.take() {
 		if carries(c.Args, "s3cret") || carries(c.Answer, "s3cret-join") {
 			t.Fatalf("the bus was sent %s / %s", c.Args, c.Answer)
 		}
diff --git a/internal/link/movesecret.go b/internal/link/movesecret.go
index bcaa2e6a..ef498103 100644
--- a/internal/link/movesecret.go
+++ b/internal/link/movesecret.go
@@ -52,6 +52,9 @@ type MoveSecretAnswer struct {
 	Secret     string `json:"secret,omitempty"`
 	Generation int    `json:"generation,omitempty"`
 	Unchanged  bool   `json:"unchanged,omitempty"`
+	// Superseded says the vault holds another value of the secret, which is the live one, and this machine's older value
+	// was not moved and is not asked again (mesh-host b9c24a7, sweep 2026-10-30).
+	Superseded bool `json:"superseded,omitempty"`
 }
 
 // MoveSecretWithin is how long the controller waits for one move: the engine asks the vault twice.
diff --git a/internal/link/movesecret_test.go b/internal/link/movesecret_test.go
index cfad665f..d72654a1 100644
--- a/internal/link/movesecret_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/movesecret_test.go
@@ -30,8 +30,9 @@ func TestTheMovesAskAndAnswerKeepTheirFieldNames(t *testing.T) {
 		"provision sealed sealed_to" {
 		t.Fatalf("the ask's fields are %q", got)
 	}
-	answer := MoveSecretAnswer{Said: "s", Refused: "r", Secret: "own/a/b/c", Generation: 1, Unchanged: true}
-	if got := keys(answer); got != "generation refused said secret unchanged" {
+	answer := MoveSecretAnswer{Said: "s", Refused: "r", Secret: "own/a/b/c", Generation: 1, Unchanged: true,
+		Superseded: true}
+	if got := keys(answer); got != "generation refused said secret superseded unchanged" {
 		t.Fatalf("the answer's fields are %q", got)
 	}
 	if broker.AskMoveSecretSubject("laptop") != "mesh.node.laptop.ask.move-secret" ||
diff --git a/internal/link/receive_nats.go b/internal/link/receive_nats.go
index 7fbecbc8..5b60dbb5 100644
--- a/internal/link/receive_nats.go
+++ b/internal/link/receive_nats.go
@@ -62,7 +62,7 @@ func Nats(js *broker.JetStream) Inbound {
 // whatever was asked for — and not at all when nothing was.
 func (n *natsInbound) Also(kind string) error {
 	switch kind {
-	case KindModuleMoved, KindCatchUp, KindSourceMoved, KindProvisioner, KindPullUpdated, KindDecided,
+	case KindModuleMoved, KindCatchUp, KindProvisioner, KindPullUpdated, KindDecided,
 		KindDeliveryMerged:
 		n.follows[kind] = true
 		return nil
@@ -145,24 +145,6 @@ func (n *natsInbound) Receive(ctx context.Context, act func(context.Context, Con
 		defer func() { _ = followed.Unsubscribe() }()
 	}
 
-	// And the forge's merges, off a consumer of their own: no max-deliver and no reset, so a merge held for the
-	// plans waits for them however long (novox/hq ADR 0407 decision 3). Bound to the same channel: one loop.
-	if n.follows[KindSourceMoved] {
-		if events == nil {
-			events = make(chan *nats.Msg, Prefetch)
-		}
-		merges, err := standingBy(ctx, log.Default(), "EVENTS", func() (*nats.Subscription, error) {
-			return js.ChanSubscribe(MergedSubject, events, nats.Bind("EVENTS", broker.MergesConsumerName))
-		})
-		if err != nil {
-			return fmt.Errorf("subscribing to the forge's merges: %w", err)
-		}
-		if merges == nil {
-			return nil
-		}
-		defer func() { _ = merges.Unsubscribe() }()
-	}
-
 	// A connection that dropped is said, not discovered. A controller whose bus connection is gone
 	// is a mesh where nothing can be told anything.
 	gone := make(chan error, 1)
@@ -423,7 +405,11 @@ func (m *natsControl) Hold(after time.Duration) error {
 	if _, already := m.on.since[m.seq]; !already {
 		m.on.since[m.seq] = time.Now()
 	}
-	return m.msg.NakWithDelay(after)
+	if err := m.msg.NakWithDelay(after); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	Loop.HeldUntil(time.Now().Add(after))
+	return nil
 }
 
 func (m *natsControl) forget() {
diff --git a/internal/link/receive_nats_integration_test.go b/internal/link/receive_nats_integration_test.go
index b2ee6f5a..b49bf280 100644
--- a/internal/link/receive_nats_integration_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/receive_nats_integration_test.go
@@ -394,35 +394,3 @@ func TestNatsAReportThatIsNotNewsIsNotStated(t *testing.T) {
 	case <-time.After(3 * time.Second):
 	}
 }
-
-func TestNatsAMergeHeldMoreThanFiveTimesIsStillHandedOverAndRecorded(t *testing.T) {
-	first, most := MergeHeldFirst, MergeHeldMost
-	MergeHeldFirst, MergeHeldMost = 5*time.Millisecond, 40*time.Millisecond
-	t.Cleanup(func() { MergeHeldFirst, MergeHeldMost = first, most })
-	js := aBus(t)
-	up := &manyTimesBusy{busy: 8}
-	s := &Server{inbound: Nats(js), bus: OverNATS{Conn: js.Conn(), JS: js.Context()}, log: quiet()}
-	if err := s.Follows(up); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	ctx, stop := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	defer stop()
-	go func() { _ = s.Serve(ctx) }()
-	eventually(t, "the merges consumer being made", func() bool {
-		_, err := js.Context().ConsumerInfo("EVENTS", broker.MergesConsumerName)
-		return err == nil
-	})
-
-	body, _ := json.Marshal(SourceMoved{Owner: "novox", Repo: "one", Base: "main", Commit: "abcdef0123"})
-	if _, err := js.Context().Publish(MergedSubject, body); err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	eventually(t, "the ninth hand-over recording the merge", func() bool { return up.called() == 9 })
-	eventually(t, "the merge being acknowledged", func() bool {
-		info, err := js.Context().ConsumerInfo("EVENTS", broker.MergesConsumerName)
-		return err == nil && info.NumAckPending == 0 && info.NumPending == 0
-	})
-	if info, err := js.Context().StreamInfo(broker.DeadLettersStream); err == nil && info.State.Msgs != 0 {
-		t.Fatalf("%d message(s) in dead letters: a merge was given up on", info.State.Msgs)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/internal/link/receive_nats_test.go b/internal/link/receive_nats_test.go
index 0f7d9ce3..fcd71630 100644
--- a/internal/link/receive_nats_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/receive_nats_test.go
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@ package link
 
 import (
 	"context"
-	"errors"
 	"io"
 	"log"
 	"sync"
@@ -199,46 +198,3 @@ func (s slowly) Heard(context.Context, Report) (bool, error) { s.work(); return
 type sameAgain struct{}
 
 func (sameAgain) Heard(context.Context, Report) (bool, error) { return false, nil }
-
-// manyTimesBusy is an upgrader whose plans are busy for its first merges, as another controller's hold is.
-type manyTimesBusy struct {
-	toldAbout
-	busy  int
-	calls int
-}
-
-func (u *manyTimesBusy) SourceMoved(context.Context, SourceMoved) error {
-	u.mu.Lock()
-	defer u.mu.Unlock()
-	u.calls++
-	if u.calls <= u.busy {
-		return errors.Join(ErrTryAgain, errors.New("another controller is working the plans"))
-	}
-	return nil
-}
-
-func (u *manyTimesBusy) called() int {
-	u.mu.Lock()
-	defer u.mu.Unlock()
-	return u.calls
-}
-
-// **A merge held more than five times is still handed over and recorded** (issue 973, novox/hq ADR 0407 decision
-// 3): the merges have a durable consumer of their own with no max-deliver, so they never go to DEAD_LETTERS to wait
-// for a person; the delay grows, and is capped.
-
-// The delay a held merge waits grows from the first to the most and stays there.
-func TestAHeldMergesDelayGrowsAndIsCapped(t *testing.T) {
-	var got []time.Duration
-	for _, held := range []time.Duration{0, 4 * time.Second, 10 * time.Second, 25 * time.Second, 70 * time.Second,
-		200 * time.Second, 20 * time.Minute} {
-		got = append(got, MergeRedeliverAfter(held))
-	}
-	want := []time.Duration{5 * time.Second, 5 * time.Second, 10 * time.Second, 25 * time.Second, 70 * time.Second,
-		200 * time.Second, 5 * time.Minute}
-	for i := range want {
-		if got[i] != want[i] {
-			t.Errorf("held %d: waits %v; want %v", i, got[i], want[i])
-		}
-	}
-}
diff --git a/internal/link/serve.go b/internal/link/serve.go
index 3e0ccf42..ea46276e 100644
--- a/internal/link/serve.go
+++ b/internal/link/serve.go
@@ -49,8 +49,6 @@ type Upgrader interface {
 	// stop every upgrade behind it — except the store unreachable for the moment, which is asked
 	// again for a bounded time (novox/hq issue 083).
 	Upgraded(ctx context.Context, u Upgraded) error
-	// SourceMoved is a merge on the forge: build what that source produces, bases first.
-	SourceMoved(ctx context.Context, m SourceMoved) error
 }
 
 // Checker is what the controller does when the forge says a pull request's head moved: ask for it to be
@@ -105,9 +103,6 @@ const GiveUpAfter = 2 * time.Minute
 
 // Follows says what to do about upgrades, and asks for them to be delivered.
 func (s *Server) Follows(u Upgrader) error {
-	if err := s.inbound.Also(KindSourceMoved); err != nil {
-		return err
-	}
 	if err := s.inbound.Also(KindModuleMoved); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
@@ -225,7 +220,9 @@ func (s *Server) act(ctx context.Context, m Control) {
 	case KindModuleMoved:
 		s.moved(ctx, m)
 	case KindSourceMoved:
-		s.sourceMoved(ctx, m)
+		// The forge's merges are no longer followed (sweep 2026-10-30): the forge bridge's stream is their record, read
+		// where a merge is needed (keptForgeMerge). One that arrives on an old consumer is let go of.
+		_ = m.Drop()
 	case KindCatchUp:
 		s.catchingUp(ctx, m)
 	case KindProvisioner:
@@ -521,61 +518,6 @@ func short(commit string) string {
 	return commit
 }
 
-// MergeHeldFirst is how long a merge the controller could not record yet waits before the bus hands it over
-// again, and MergeHeldMost the longest it ever waits: the delay grows with how long the merge has been held, from
-// the first to the most (novox/hq ADR 0407 decision 3). Variables so a test need not wait.
-var (
-	MergeHeldFirst = 5 * time.Second
-	MergeHeldMost  = 5 * time.Minute
-)
-
-// MergeRedeliverAfter is the delay for a merge held for the time given: that time, so the delay about doubles
-// with each hold, between MergeHeldFirst and MergeHeldMost.
-func MergeRedeliverAfter(heldFor time.Duration) time.Duration {
-	return min(max(heldFor, MergeHeldFirst), MergeHeldMost)
-}
-
-// sourceMoved acts on the forge's announcement of a merge. **A merge is never dropped** (issue 921, novox/hq ADR
-// 0407 decision 3): one the controller could not record for now (the plans held by another controller, the store
-// away: ErrTryAgain) is held and handed over again until it is recorded; the controller giving up on it would
-// lose a change for good. Anything else is an answer and is taken: a build that fails is reported by the build
-// itself, and re-delivering the merge would only re-fail it.
-func (s *Server) sourceMoved(ctx context.Context, m Control) {
-	var moved SourceMoved
-	if err := json.Unmarshal(m.Body(), &moved); err != nil {
-		s.log.Printf("a merge announcement could not be read: %v", err)
-		_ = m.Took()
-		return
-	}
-	if moved.Commit == "" || moved.Repo == "" {
-		s.log.Printf("a merge announcement named no repository or no commit; ignored")
-		_ = m.Took()
-		return
-	}
-	err := s.upgrader.SourceMoved(ctx, moved)
-	// Left unsettled when the controller is ending, whatever error that gave (the plans' hold returns a bare
-	// context.Canceled): the bus hands it to whatever consumes next, and taking it would lose the merge.
-	if err != nil && ctx.Err() != nil {
-		return
-	}
-	if err != nil && errors.Is(err, ErrTryAgain) {
-		// Also left unsettled when the bus will not hold it.
-		delay := MergeRedeliverAfter(m.HeldFor())
-		if held := m.Hold(delay); held != nil {
-			s.log.Printf("%s/%s moved to %.8s and could not be held (%v): %v; left for the bus to hand over again",
-				moved.Owner, moved.Repo, moved.Commit, held, err)
-			return
-		}
-		s.log.Printf("%s/%s moved to %.8s and is held: %v; handed over again in %s", moved.Owner, moved.Repo,
-			moved.Commit, err, delay)
-		return
-	}
-	if err != nil {
-		s.log.Printf("%s/%s moved to %.8s and the mesh could not act on it: %v", moved.Owner, moved.Repo, moved.Commit, err)
-	}
-	_ = m.Took()
-}
-
 // pullUpdated asks for a pull request's merge check. Taken whatever happens: a check that could not be
 // asked is said here, and the next push to the pull request asks again.
 func (s *Server) pullUpdated(ctx context.Context, m Control) {
diff --git a/internal/link/source_moved_held_test.go b/internal/link/source_moved_held_test.go
deleted file mode 100644
index 198e6682..00000000
--- a/internal/link/source_moved_held_test.go
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,60 +0,0 @@
-package link
-
-import (
-	"context"
-	"encoding/json"
-	"errors"
-	"io"
-	"log"
-	"testing"
-	"time"
-)
-
-// heldControl is a merge announcement that records how it was settled.
-type heldControl struct {
-	body              []byte
-	took, held, drops int
-}
-
-func (c *heldControl) Kind() string                         { return "source-moved" }
-func (c *heldControl) Body() []byte                         { return c.body }
-func (c *heldControl) Subject() string                      { return "" }
-func (c *heldControl) Redelivered() bool                    { return false }
-func (c *heldControl) HeldFor() time.Duration               { return 0 }
-func (c *heldControl) Answer(context.Context, []byte) error { return nil }
-func (c *heldControl) Took() error                          { c.took++; return nil }
-func (c *heldControl) Hold(time.Duration) error             { c.held++; return nil }
-func (c *heldControl) Drop() error                          { c.drops++; return nil }
-
-type sourceMover struct {
-	Upgrader
-	answer error
-}
-
-func (s sourceMover) SourceMoved(context.Context, SourceMoved) error { return s.answer }
-
-// **A merge is acknowledged only after the controller recorded it** (novox/hq ADR 0407 decision 3, issue 1092): an
-// answer of "not now" — the plan it belongs to could not be saved, the bus away, the lease lost — leaves the announcement
-// unacknowledged, held to be handed over again; only an answer that is not "not now" settles it.
-func TestAMergeTheControllerCouldNotRecordIsHeldAndNotAcknowledged(t *testing.T) {
-	body, err := json.Marshal(SourceMoved{Owner: "novox", Repo: "mesh-catalog", Base: "main", Commit: "c1"})
-	if err != nil {
-		t.Fatal(err)
-	}
-	s := &Server{log: log.New(io.Discard, "", 0)}
-	for name, tc := range map[string]struct {
-		answer     error
-		took, held int
-	}{
-		"recorded":              {nil, 1, 0},
-		"not now":               {errors.Join(ErrTryAgain, errors.New("the plan is not saved")), 0, 1},
-		"an answer, not a wait": {errors.New("the mesh could not act on it"), 1, 0},
-	} {
-		s.upgrader = sourceMover{answer: tc.answer}
-		m := &heldControl{body: body}
-		s.sourceMoved(context.Background(), m)
-		if m.took != tc.took || m.held != tc.held || m.drops != 0 {
-			t.Errorf("%s: acknowledged %d times and held %d times, want %d and %d", name, m.took, m.held, tc.took, tc.held)
-		}
-	}
-}
diff --git a/internal/link/store_window_test.go b/internal/link/store_window_test.go
index f55ddfea..4ea2545d 100644
--- a/internal/link/store_window_test.go
+++ b/internal/link/store_window_test.go
@@ -17,8 +17,7 @@ func (r recordsWith) Built(context.Context, BuildResult) error { return r.err }
 
 type upgradesWith struct{ err error }
 
-func (u upgradesWith) Upgraded(context.Context, Upgraded) error       { return u.err }
-func (u upgradesWith) SourceMoved(context.Context, SourceMoved) error { return u.err }
+func (u upgradesWith) Upgraded(context.Context, Upgraded) error { return u.err }
 
 type replaysWith struct{ err error }
 
@@ -69,61 +68,3 @@ func TestACatchUpWaitsOutARestartingStore(t *testing.T) {
 		}
 	}
 }
-
-// A merge the controller could not record for now (the plans held by another controller, the store away) is held
-// and handed over again, never taken: the bus keeps it until it is recorded (issue 921). Any other failure is an
-// answer and is taken, as before.
-func TestAMergeThatCouldNotBeRecordedNowIsHeldNotDropped(t *testing.T) {
-	merged := SourceMoved{Owner: "novox", Repo: "one", Base: "main", Commit: "abcdef0123"}
-	for _, c := range []struct {
-		what string
-		err  error
-		want func(*settled) bool
-	}{
-		{"the plans held by another controller", errors.Join(ErrTryAgain, errors.New("another controller is working the plans")),
-			func(s *settled) bool { return s.unsettled() }},
-		{"the store away", errors.Join(ErrTryAgain, restarting), func(s *settled) bool { return s.unsettled() }},
-		{"cannot act", errors.New("no such module"), func(s *settled) bool { return s.acked && !s.nacked }},
-		{"kept", nil, func(s *settled) bool { return s.acked && !s.nacked }},
-	} {
-		s, in := serving()
-		s.upgrader = upgradesWith{err: c.err}
-		to := &settled{}
-		held := in.sends(t, to, KindSourceMoved, merged).(*fakeControl)
-		s.act(context.Background(), held)
-		if !c.want(to) {
-			t.Errorf("%s: a merge was settled as %+v", c.what, *to)
-		}
-		if c.err != nil && errors.Is(c.err, ErrTryAgain) && len(in.held) != 1 {
-			t.Errorf("%s: the merge was not held to be handed over again", c.what)
-		}
-	}
-}
-
-// A merge being held when the controller is replaced (its context ended) or when the bus will not hold it is left
-// unsettled, never taken: the bus hands it to whatever consumes next (review of issue 921).
-func TestAMergeIsLeftUnsettledWhenTheControllerEndsOrTheHoldFails(t *testing.T) {
-	merged := SourceMoved{Owner: "novox", Repo: "one", Base: "main", Commit: "abcdef0123"}
-	try := errors.Join(ErrTryAgain, errors.New("another controller is working the plans"))
-
-	// The plans' hold returns a bare context.Canceled when the controller is replaced, not ErrTryAgain.
-	s, in := serving()
-	s.upgrader = upgradesWith{err: context.Canceled}
-	to := &settled{}
-	ended, end := context.WithCancel(context.Background())
-	end()
-	s.act(ended, in.sends(t, to, KindSourceMoved, merged))
-	if !to.unsettled() {
-		t.Errorf("a merge was settled as %+v when the controller's context ended", *to)
-	}
-
-	s, in = serving()
-	s.upgrader = upgradesWith{err: try}
-	to = &settled{}
-	m := in.sends(t, to, KindSourceMoved, merged).(*fakeControl)
-	m.holdFails = errors.New("the bus will not hold it")
-	s.act(context.Background(), m)
-	if !to.unsettled() {
-		t.Errorf("a merge was settled as %+v when it could not be held", *to)
-	}
-}
diff --git a/internal/link/watched.go b/internal/link/watched.go
index 2a7c3003..7d885efd 100644
--- a/internal/link/watched.go
+++ b/internal/link/watched.go
@@ -85,6 +85,26 @@ func nodeOfToolsAlive(subject string) (string, bool) {
 type LoopActivity struct {
 	mu   sync.Mutex
 	took time.Time
+	// due is when the latest message the loop held back with a delay is handed over again: until then the loop waits
+	// by its own choice, which is not deafness (sweep 2026-10-30: a merge held five minutes at a time read as a deaf
+	// controller every time its delay outran the deaf bound).
+	due time.Time
+}
+
+// HeldUntil records that the loop handed a message back to be delivered again at due.
+func (l *LoopActivity) HeldUntil(due time.Time) {
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	defer l.mu.Unlock()
+	if due.After(l.due) {
+		l.due = due
+	}
+}
+
+// Due is when the latest message the loop held is handed over again; zero when it held none.
+func (l *LoopActivity) Due() time.Time {
+	l.mu.Lock()
+	defer l.mu.Unlock()
+	return l.due
 }
 
 // Loop is this process's event loop.
diff --git a/testdata/beside/CAPTURED b/testdata/beside/CAPTURED
index 9fb61a4d..1b10465e 100644
--- a/testdata/beside/CAPTURED
+++ b/testdata/beside/CAPTURED
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ a second place to clean besides the catalogue itself.
 
 mesh-catalog  f3a57dcc56fb6c198095cafd11d0decff9f720c4  modules/*/module.json, modules/*/files, modules/*/templates, predefined.json
 mesh-host     9d9e3a46c4f5943cfffb413d962ce48b75e2fd39  examples/foundation-first-node.lock
-mesh-sdk      2da0de75c3f0087cff9c2f5ef789ca6dc3c59045  conformance/events/module-event.json
+mesh-sdk      a37181261c24a15b8092c06e11cce63e0e5f8ade  conformance/events/module-event.json
 
 To move them, from this repository's root, with the two repositories checked out beside it: