diff --git a/contracts/go/seats/meshpipelinerunner/contract.go b/contracts/go/seats/meshpipelinerunner/contract.go
index cdb26625..9be24bfd 100644
--- a/contracts/go/seats/meshpipelinerunner/contract.go
+++ b/contracts/go/seats/meshpipelinerunner/contract.go
@@ -391,6 +391,7 @@ const (
 
 // The values of LogEntry's step.
 const (
+	LogEntryStepBuild       = "build"
 	LogEntryStepLint        = "lint"
 	LogEntryStepUnit        = "unit"
 	LogEntryStepIntegration = "integration"
@@ -651,6 +652,7 @@ const (
 
 // The values of StepResult's step.
 const (
+	StepResultStepBuild       = "build"
 	StepResultStepLint        = "lint"
 	StepResultStepUnit        = "unit"
 	StepResultStepIntegration = "integration"
@@ -715,6 +717,7 @@ const (
 
 // The values of Wait's step.
 const (
+	WaitStepBuild       = "build"
 	WaitStepLint        = "lint"
 	WaitStepUnit        = "unit"
 	WaitStepIntegration = "integration"
diff --git a/contracts/seats/mesh-pipeline-runner/seat.json b/contracts/seats/mesh-pipeline-runner/seat.json
index c4a6598d..10734bbb 100644
--- a/contracts/seats/mesh-pipeline-runner/seat.json
+++ b/contracts/seats/mesh-pipeline-runner/seat.json
@@ -771,6 +771,7 @@
         "step": {
           "type": "string",
           "enum": [
+            "build",
             "lint",
             "unit",
             "integration",
@@ -1406,6 +1407,7 @@
         "step": {
           "type": "string",
           "enum": [
+            "build",
             "lint",
             "unit",
             "integration",
@@ -1466,6 +1468,7 @@
         "step": {
           "type": "string",
           "enum": [
+            "build",
             "lint",
             "unit",
             "integration",
diff --git a/contracts/ts/seats/meshpipelinerunner/index.d.ts b/contracts/ts/seats/meshpipelinerunner/index.d.ts
index f270727c..bff695ca 100644
--- a/contracts/ts/seats/meshpipelinerunner/index.d.ts
+++ b/contracts/ts/seats/meshpipelinerunner/index.d.ts
@@ -164,7 +164,7 @@ export interface LogEntry {
   /** the output's name in step-outputs */
   "output"?: string;
   "pipeline": string;
-  "step": "lint" | "unit" | "integration" | "composition" | "review" | "approval";
+  "step": "build" | "lint" | "unit" | "integration" | "composition" | "review" | "approval";
   "what": "started" | "ended";
 }
 
@@ -342,7 +342,7 @@ export interface StepResult {
   "started"?: string;
   /** the step's status in the module's policy */
   "status": "required" | "optional" | "bypass";
-  "step": "lint" | "unit" | "integration" | "composition" | "review" | "approval";
+  "step": "build" | "lint" | "unit" | "integration" | "composition" | "review" | "approval";
   "tests"?: TestCounts;
   /** what the outcome rests on: the part not heard, the seat with no holder, what a waiting step waits on */
   "why"?: string;
@@ -389,7 +389,7 @@ export interface Wait {
   /** the source revision of the watched branch; the pipeline is keyed by it (ADR 0666 section 9) */
   "source"?: number;
   /** a pipeline step a wait inside a pipeline is in; pipeline is the acting step of design 47 G 203, for a wait of the entries the runner holds for its new version (design 47 G 534) */
-  "step": "lint" | "unit" | "integration" | "composition" | "review" | "approval" | "pipeline";
+  "step": "build" | "lint" | "unit" | "integration" | "composition" | "review" | "approval" | "pipeline";
   "v": number;
   /** for a wait on a person, who: the operator, a reviewer */
   "who"?: string;
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/asks.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/asks.go
index 9fe3bded..e58e5e06 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/asks.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/asks.go
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ import (
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go"
 	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
 
-	nodebuildgo "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/nodebuildgo"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"
 
 	"mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline"
@@ -22,18 +21,18 @@ type busStepAsker struct {
 	cred process.Account
 }
 
-func (b busStepAsker) AskStep(accept string, a nodebuildgo.StepAsk) error {
-	data, err := json.Marshal(a)
+func (b busStepAsker) AskStep(accept, id string, body any) error {
+	data, err := json.Marshal(body)
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
 	msg := nats.NewMsg(accept)
-	msg.Header.Set("x-event-id", a.ID)
+	msg.Header.Set("x-event-id", id)
 	msg.Header.Set("x-source", b.cred.Module)
 	msg.Header.Set("x-node", b.cred.Node)
 	msg.Header.Set("x-time", time.Now().UTC().Format(time.RFC3339Nano))
 	msg.Header.Set("content-type", "application/json")
-	msg.Header.Set(nats.MsgIdHdr, a.ID)
+	msg.Header.Set(nats.MsgIdHdr, id)
 	msg.Data = data
 	_, err = b.js.PublishMsg(b.ctx, msg)
 	return err
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/main.go
index f581d2dc..9c874d18 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/main.go
@@ -77,9 +77,9 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	hearer.Asker = busAsker{conn: conn, cred: cred}
 	hearer.Where = routerRecordOf(cred.Module, calls.Call, calls.Ask)
 	// Its asking half (§22, §24): a pipeline's steps are placed from the module's registration and each build seat is asked
-	// for its step, an approval due at the start asked as the hearer asks it.
+	// for its step.
 	starter := &pipeline.Starter{Pipelines: createdKV{ctx: ctx, kv: pipelines}, Logf: logger.Printf, Say: say,
-		Registration: rv.Registrations.Registration, Steps: busStepAsker{ctx: ctx, js: js, cred: cred}, Name: cred.Module, After: hearer}
+		Registration: rv.Registrations.Registration, Steps: busStepAsker{ctx: ctx, js: js, cred: cred}, Name: cred.Module}
 	if err := hearStepEnded(hub, hearer, logger.Printf); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/steps.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/steps.go
index 70da15f1..6b05c102 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/steps.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/cmd/mesh-delivery-pipeline/steps.go
@@ -101,13 +101,20 @@ func hearStepEnded(hub *process.EventHub, h *pipeline.Hearer, logf func(string,
 	for _, bs := range pipeline.StepSeats {
 		bs := bs
 		err := hub.Handle(bs.Prefix+"*", func(m jetstream.Msg) {
-			var ev pipeline.StepEnded
-			if err := json.Unmarshal(m.Data(), &ev); err != nil {
+			decode := bs.Decode
+			if decode == nil {
+				decode = func(raw []byte) (pipeline.StepEnded, error) {
+					var ev pipeline.StepEnded
+					return ev, json.Unmarshal(raw, &ev)
+				}
+			}
+			ev, err := decode(m.Data())
+			if err != nil {
 				logf("%s is no step-ended: %v", m.Subject(), err)
 				_ = m.Term()
 				return
 			}
-			_, err := h.OnStepEnded(bs, m.Subject(), ev)
+			_, err = h.OnStepEnded(bs, m.Subject(), ev)
 			switch {
 			case errors.Is(err, pipeline.ErrRefused):
 				logf("%v", err)
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/place.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/place.go
index 37dd2b40..a5b08a48 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/place.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/place.go
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
+	builds "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshbuilds"
 	catalog "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshcatalog"
 	seat "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshpipelinerunner"
 	nodebuildgo "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/nodebuildgo"
@@ -18,11 +19,12 @@ import (
 // StepAsker puts one step's ask on a build seat's work queue, at the subject accept names (the seat's accepted kind `step`
 // on its stream `check`, design 47 G §22, §24). An ask asked twice under one id is kept once.
 type StepAsker interface {
-	AskStep(accept string, a nodebuildgo.StepAsk) error
+	AskStep(accept, id string, body any) error
 }
 
 // acceptStep is where each build seat is sent its step, from its contract.
 var acceptStep = map[string]string{
+	builds.Seat:         builds.AcceptSubjectStep,
 	nodebuildgo.Seat:    nodebuildgo.AcceptSubjectCheckStep,
 	nodebuildnode.Seat:  nodebuildnode.AcceptSubjectCheckStep,
 	nodebuildimage.Seat: nodebuildimage.AcceptSubjectCheckStep,
@@ -56,6 +58,13 @@ func Place(p seat.Pipeline, reg catalog.Registration, entries map[string]catalog
 	sort.Slice(arts, func(i, j int) bool { return arts[i].Ref < arts[j].Ref })
 	var steps []seat.StepResult
 	var asks []Asked
+	// The build step is every pipeline's first, required whatever the policy names, asked of the seat mesh-builds for the
+	// module's own entry only (A-99, A-97): a group's other members are built by their own pipelines.
+	build := seat.StepResult{Step: seat.StepResultStepBuild, Status: seat.StepResultStatusRequired, Fingerprint: p.Fingerprint,
+		Seat: builds.Seat, Outcome: seat.StepResultOutcomeRunning, Started: &now, Ask: AskID(p.Pipeline, "", seat.StepResultStepBuild)}
+	steps = append(steps, build)
+	asks = append(asks, Asked{Seat: builds.Seat, ID: build.Ask, Ask: builds.StepRun{Pipeline: p.Pipeline, Step: builds.StepRunStepBuild, Branch: p.Branch,
+		Revision: p.Revision, Source: p.Source, Entries: []builds.BuildEntry{{Module: p.Module, Commit: p.Commit, Fingerprint: p.Fingerprint}}}})
 	for _, a := range arts {
 		name := a.Ref
 		if _, after, ok := strings.Cut(a.Ref, ":"); ok {
@@ -85,7 +94,7 @@ func Place(p seat.Pipeline, reg catalog.Registration, entries map[string]catalog
 			s.Seat, s.Outcome, s.Started = bs, seat.StepResultOutcomeRunning, &now
 			s.Ask = AskID(p.Pipeline, a.Ref, step)
 			steps = append(steps, s)
-			asks = append(asks, Asked{Seat: bs, Ask: stepAsk(p, entry, a, step, s.Ask, asker, now)})
+			asks = append(asks, Asked{Seat: bs, ID: s.Ask, Ask: stepAsk(p, entry, a, step, s.Ask, asker, now)})
 		}
 	}
 	for _, step := range moduleSteps {
@@ -105,7 +114,8 @@ func Place(p seat.Pipeline, reg catalog.Registration, entries map[string]catalog
 // Asked is one ask to put on a build seat's work queue.
 type Asked struct {
 	Seat string
-	Ask  nodebuildgo.StepAsk
+	ID   string
+	Ask  any
 }
 
 func stepAsk(p seat.Pipeline, e catalog.CatalogEntry, a catalog.Artifact, step, id, asker string, now time.Time) nodebuildgo.StepAsk {
@@ -122,10 +132,10 @@ func askAll(asker StepAsker, key string, asks []Asked) error {
 		accept, ok := acceptStep[a.Seat]
 		err := fmt.Errorf("the seat %s is no build seat the runner asks", a.Seat)
 		if ok {
-			err = asker.AskStep(accept, a.Ask)
+			err = asker.AskStep(accept, a.ID, a.Ask)
 		}
 		if err != nil && first == nil {
-			first = fmt.Errorf("the step %s of %s is not asked of %s: %w", a.Ask.Step.Step, key, a.Seat, err)
+			first = fmt.Errorf("the step %s of %s is not asked of %s: %w", a.ID, key, a.Seat, err)
 		}
 	}
 	return first
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/place_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/place_test.go
index 209fe2e9..52dbf3ff 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/place_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/place_test.go
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@ import (
 	"strings"
 	"testing"
 
+	builds "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshbuilds"
 	catalog "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshcatalog"
 	seat "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshpipelinerunner"
 	nodebuildgo "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/nodebuildgo"
@@ -12,11 +13,12 @@ import (
 
 type stepAsks struct {
 	at   []string
-	asks []nodebuildgo.StepAsk
+	ids  []string
+	asks []any
 }
 
-func (s *stepAsks) AskStep(accept string, a nodebuildgo.StepAsk) error {
-	s.at, s.asks = append(s.at, accept), append(s.asks, a)
+func (s *stepAsks) AskStep(accept, id string, body any) error {
+	s.at, s.ids, s.asks = append(s.at, accept), append(s.ids, id), append(s.asks, body)
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -52,66 +54,76 @@ func TestStartPlacesTheStepsThePolicyNamesAndAsksEachBuildSeat(t *testing.T) {
 	for _, st := range p.Steps {
 		got = append(got, st.Artifact+" "+st.Step+" "+st.Outcome)
 	}
-	want := []string{"app:program lint running", "app:program unit running", "app:tools lint bypassed", "app:tools unit running",
+	want := []string{" build running", "app:program lint running", "app:program unit running", "app:tools lint bypassed", "app:tools unit running",
 		"app:web lint could not run", "app:web unit could not run", " approval waiting"}
 	if strings.Join(got, "|") != strings.Join(want, "|") {
 		t.Errorf("steps = %q, want %q (integration and composition are named by no policy: no step)", got, want)
 	}
-	if !strings.Contains(p.Steps[4].Why, `"rust"`) {
-		t.Errorf("the step of an artifact no seat builds says %q, want it to name the language", p.Steps[4].Why)
+	if !strings.Contains(p.Steps[5].Why, `"rust"`) {
+		t.Errorf("the step of an artifact no seat builds says %q, want it to name the language", p.Steps[5].Why)
 	}
-	if len(asks.asks) != 3 {
-		t.Fatalf("asked %d steps, want the three running ones", len(asks.asks))
+	if len(asks.asks) != 4 {
+		t.Fatalf("asked %d steps, want the build and the three running ones", len(asks.asks))
 	}
-	a := asks.asks[0]
-	if asks.at[0] != nodebuildgo.AcceptSubjectCheckStep || a.Kind != "step" || a.Asker != "the-runner" || a.ID != p.Steps[0].Ask ||
+	// A-99: the build is every pipeline's first step, required whatever the policy names, asked of mesh-builds for the
+	// module's own entry only.
+	b, ok := asks.asks[0].(builds.StepRun)
+	if !ok || asks.at[0] != builds.AcceptSubjectStep || p.Steps[0].Status != seat.StepResultStatusRequired || asks.ids[0] != p.Steps[0].Ask ||
+		len(b.Entries) != 1 || b.Entries[0] != (builds.BuildEntry{Module: "app", Commit: "c1", Fingerprint: "src2:aa"}) || b.Pipeline != "main.4.app" {
+		t.Errorf("the build ask = %+v at %s", asks.asks[0], asks.at[0])
+	}
+	a := asks.asks[1].(nodebuildgo.StepAsk)
+	if asks.at[1] != nodebuildgo.AcceptSubjectCheckStep || a.Kind != "step" || a.Asker != "the-runner" || a.ID != p.Steps[1].Ask || asks.ids[1] != a.ID ||
 		a.Step.Commit != "c1" || a.Step.Fingerprint != "src2:aa" || a.Step.Pipeline != "main.4.app" || a.Step.Artifact != "app:program" ||
 		a.Step.Step != "lint" || a.Step.Fetch.Repository != "o/app" || a.Step.Fetch.Dir != "modules/app" || a.Step.Revision != 4 {
-		t.Errorf("the ask = %+v at %s", a, asks.at[0])
+		t.Errorf("the ask = %+v at %s", a, asks.at[1])
 	}
 	// A second start of the revision asks nothing.
-	if ok, err := s.Start(Begin{Branch: "main", Source: 4, Module: "app", Commit: "c1", Entries: entries}); ok || err != nil || len(asks.asks) != 3 {
+	if ok, err := s.Start(Begin{Branch: "main", Source: 4, Module: "app", Commit: "c1", Entries: entries}); ok || err != nil || len(asks.asks) != 4 {
 		t.Errorf("second start = %v, %v, %d asks", ok, err, len(asks.asks))
 	}
 }
 
-// A pipeline whose every other step is bypassed asks its approval at its start, and one whose steps all ended ends at once.
-func TestStartAsksTheApprovalDueAndEndsAPipelineWithNothingToWaitFor(t *testing.T) {
+// A pipeline whose other steps are all bypassed still has its build, required whatever the policy names, so its approval is
+// not due at its start (A-99, §26).
+func TestTheBuildHoldsTheApprovalWhateverThePolicyNames(t *testing.T) {
 	reg, entries := placeFixture()
 	reg.Policy = catalog.Policy{Steps: catalog.StepStatuses{Lint: "bypass", Unit: "bypass", Approval: "required"}}
 	store := created{}
-	var said []string
-	approval := &askRecorder{}
-	s := &Starter{Pipelines: store, Say: func(subject string, _ any) error {
-		said = append(said, subject[strings.Index(subject, ".event.")+7:])
-		return nil
-	},
-		Steps: &stepAsks{}, Registration: func(string) (catalog.Registration, bool) { return reg, true },
-		After: &Hearer{Name: "the-runner", Asker: approval, Say: func(subject string, _ any) error {
-			said = append(said, subject[strings.Index(subject, ".event.")+7:])
-			return nil
-		}}}
+	s := &Starter{Pipelines: store, Say: func(string, any) error { return nil }, Steps: &stepAsks{},
+		Registration: func(string) (catalog.Registration, bool) { return reg, true }}
 	if _, err := s.Start(Begin{Branch: "main", Source: 4, Module: "app", Commit: "c1", Fp: "src2:aa", Entries: entries}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
-	if len(approval.asked) != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("approval asks = %d, want 1 at the start", len(approval.asked))
-	}
 	var p seat.Pipeline
 	_ = json.Unmarshal(store["main.4.app"], &p)
-	if last := p.Steps[len(p.Steps)-1]; last.Step != "approval" || last.Outcome != seat.StepResultOutcomeRunning || last.Ask != approval.asked[0].ID {
-		t.Errorf("approval step = %+v", last)
-	}
-	// Nothing required and nothing named: the pipeline ends at once, passed.
-	reg.Policy = catalog.Policy{Steps: catalog.StepStatuses{Lint: "bypass"}}
-	store2 := created{}
-	s.Pipelines = store2
-	said = nil
-	if _, err := s.Start(Begin{Branch: "main", Source: 5, Module: "app", Entries: entries}); err != nil {
+	if p.Steps[0].Step != seat.StepResultStepBuild || p.Steps[0].Status != seat.StepResultStatusRequired || approvalDue(p) != -1 {
+		t.Errorf("steps = %+v; want the build first, required, and no approval due", p.Steps)
+	}
+}
+
+// The seat mesh-builds' end of the build step is taken as the others are, held to its one entry's module, commit and
+// fingerprint; an end naming two entries is refused (A-97, A-99).
+func TestTheBuildStepsEndIsTakenOnItsOneEntry(t *testing.T) {
+	bs := StepSeats[len(StepSeats)-1]
+	if bs.Seat != builds.Seat {
+		t.Fatalf("the last step seat is %s, want mesh-builds", bs.Seat)
+	}
+	h, store, _, _, _, _ := fixture()
+	e := store[pkey]
+	e.p.Steps = append([]seat.StepResult{{Step: seat.StepResultStepBuild, Status: seat.StepResultStatusRequired, Outcome: seat.StepResultOutcomeRunning,
+		Ask: "b1", Seat: builds.Seat}}, e.p.Steps...)
+	store[pkey] = e
+	raw := `{"id":"b1","pipeline":"main.5.app","step":"build","node":"n1","outcome":"passed","entries":[{"module":"app","commit":"c1","fingerprint":"src2:aa"}]}`
+	ev, err := bs.Decode([]byte(raw))
+	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	p, err := h.OnStepEnded(bs, bs.Prefix+"n1", ev)
+	if err != nil || p.Steps[0].Outcome != seat.StepResultOutcomePassed {
+		t.Fatalf("the build end: %v, step %+v", err, p.Steps[0])
 	}
-	_ = json.Unmarshal(store2["main.5.app"], &p)
-	if p.Outcome != seat.PipelineOutcomePassed || !strings.HasPrefix(said[len(said)-1], seat.EventPipelineEnded) {
-		t.Errorf("pipeline = %s, said %v; want it ended passed and said", p.Outcome, said)
+	if _, err := bs.Decode([]byte(`{"id":"b1","entries":[{"module":"a","fingerprint":"x"},{"module":"b","fingerprint":"y"}]}`)); err == nil {
+		t.Error("an end of two entries is refused")
 	}
 }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/start.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/start.go
index e55460af..2ff3a55b 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/start.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/start.go
@@ -57,10 +57,9 @@ type Starter struct {
 	// pipeline starts with no step and says so.
 	Registration func(module string) (catalog.Registration, bool)
 	// Steps asks each build seat for its step, as the pipeline's asking half (§22, §24); Name is the runner's own name as an
-	// asker. After says what a start wrote (an approval asked, a pipeline ended already) as the hearer does.
+	// asker.
 	Steps StepAsker
 	Name  string
-	After *Hearer
 }
 
 // Start writes b's pipeline, running, and says pipeline-started; false, nil when its key was written already (the second
@@ -85,15 +84,6 @@ func (s *Starter) Start(b Begin) (bool, error) {
 			s.logf("%s has no registration yet: its pipeline starts with no step", key)
 		}
 	}
-	// A pipeline whose steps all ended at once (bypassed, or no seat to run them) ends now; an approval due is asked now.
-	var asked, ended bool
-	if s.After != nil {
-		var err error
-		if asked, err = askApproval(key, &p, now, s.After.Asker); err != nil {
-			return false, err
-		}
-		ended = endPipeline(&p, now)
-	}
 	raw, err := json.Marshal(p)
 	if err != nil {
 		return false, err
@@ -113,11 +103,6 @@ func (s *Starter) Start(b Begin) (bool, error) {
 	if err := s.Say(runnerclient.Subject(seat.EventPipelineStarted, b.Module, b.Branch, commitOrGroup), ev); err != nil {
 		s.logf("pipeline-started of %s is not said: %v", key, err)
 	}
-	if s.After != nil {
-		if err := s.After.said(p, asked, ended); err != nil {
-			return true, err
-		}
-	}
 	if s.Steps != nil && len(asks) > 0 {
 		if err := askAll(s.Steps, key, asks); err != nil {
 			return true, err
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/steps.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/steps.go
index 4920a321..28b676c5 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/steps.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/internal/pipeline/steps.go
@@ -1,12 +1,14 @@
 package pipeline
 
 import (
+	"encoding/json"
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"strings"
 	"time"
 
 	oc "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-contracts/operator-and-conversation/go/seats/operatorchannel"
+	builds "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshbuilds"
 	seat "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/meshpipelinerunner"
 	nodebuildgo "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/nodebuildgo"
 	nodebuildimage "git.novox.be/novox/mesh-delivery/contracts/go/seats/nodebuildimage"
@@ -20,6 +22,8 @@ type StepSeat struct {
 	Seat string
 	// Prefix is the subject before <node>.
 	Prefix string
+	// Decode reads the seat's step-ended body; nil is the build seats' one form.
+	Decode func([]byte) (StepEnded, error)
 }
 
 // StepSeats are the three build seats, from their contracts.
@@ -27,6 +31,24 @@ var StepSeats = []StepSeat{
 	{Seat: nodebuildgo.Seat, Prefix: strings.TrimSuffix(nodebuildgo.SubjectStepEndedAll, "*")},
 	{Seat: nodebuildnode.Seat, Prefix: strings.TrimSuffix(nodebuildnode.SubjectStepEndedAll, "*")},
 	{Seat: nodebuildimage.Seat, Prefix: strings.TrimSuffix(nodebuildimage.SubjectStepEndedAll, "*")},
+	// The seat mesh-builds answers the build step of a candidate, one entry named by its fingerprint (A-97, A-99).
+	{Seat: builds.Seat, Prefix: strings.TrimSuffix(builds.SubjectStepEndedAll, "*"), Decode: decodeBuildEnded},
+}
+
+// decodeBuildEnded reads the build step's end of the seat mesh-builds as the form the hearer holds each end to: its one
+// entry names the module, the commit and the fingerprint the step was asked at; an end naming another number of entries is
+// refused (A-99).
+func decodeBuildEnded(raw []byte) (StepEnded, error) {
+	var b builds.StepEnded
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &b); err != nil {
+		return StepEnded{}, err
+	}
+	if len(b.Entries) != 1 {
+		return StepEnded{}, fmt.Errorf("%w: ask %s ended a build of %d entries, asked of one", ErrRefused, b.ID, len(b.Entries))
+	}
+	e := b.Entries[0]
+	return StepEnded{V: b.V, ID: b.ID, Pipeline: b.Pipeline, Step: b.Step, Module: e.Module, Commit: e.Commit, Fingerprint: e.Fingerprint,
+		Node: b.Node, Outcome: b.Outcome, Said: b.Said, Rerun: b.Rerun, By: b.By, Started: b.Started, Ended: b.Ended}, nil
 }
 
 // StepEnded is a build seat's step-ended. The three seats' bodies are one form, the part build-step's, held equal by
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/manifest_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/manifest_test.go
index 5262d997..7d3bf590 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/manifest_test.go
@@ -61,7 +61,7 @@ func TestManifest(t *testing.T) {
 		{"step-outputs 1 GiB", len(m.Objects) == 1 && m.Objects[0].MaxMiB == 1024},
 		// §333, §54, §44, §53, §376, §24, §37, §4, §77: what the runner hears.
 		{"consumes", equalSets(m.Consumes, []string{
-			"mesh-delivery-indexer.take-in.taken", "mesh-builds.package-published", "mesh-builds.toolchain-agreed",
+			"mesh-delivery-indexer.take-in.taken", "mesh-builds.package-published", "mesh-builds.toolchain-agreed", "mesh-builds.step-ended",
 			"operator-channel.decided", "node-build-go.step-ended", "node-build-node.step-ended",
 			"node-build-image.step-ended", "mesh-wants.step-ended", "mesh-catalog.registration-changed",
 			"mesh-catalog.catalog-revision", "mesh-conditions.findings-asked"})},
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/module.json b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/module.json
index f6ab3d52..b51b9a70 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-pipeline/module.json
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@
     "mesh-delivery-indexer.take-in.taken",
     "mesh-builds.package-published",
     "mesh-builds.toolchain-agreed",
+    "mesh-builds.step-ended",
     "operator-channel.decided",
     "node-build-go.step-ended",
     "node-build-node.step-ended",