diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/held.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/held.go
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..050935a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/held.go
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+package main
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
+
+// headsBucket is the module's state bucket heads, `<module>_<name>` as the indexer's buckets are named: the head last
+// written on FORGE for each pull request (manifest state entry heads, novox/hq ADR 0443 §5).
+const headsBucket = delivery.ForgeBridgeModule + "_heads"
+
+// kvHeads is the bucket heads as the bridge's headStore.
+type kvHeads struct{ kv jetstream.KeyValue }
+
+func (s kvHeads) Get(ctx context.Context, key string) (string, bool, error) {
+	e, err := s.kv.Get(ctx, key)
+	if errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrKeyNotFound) {
+		return "", false, nil
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return "", false, err
+	}
+	return string(e.Value()), true, nil
+}
+
+func (s kvHeads) Put(ctx context.Context, key, head string) error {
+	_, err := s.kv.PutString(ctx, key, head)
+	return err
+}
+
+func (s kvHeads) Delete(ctx context.Context, key string) error { return s.kv.Delete(ctx, key) }
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/integration_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/integration_test.go
index 0a595c7..6769ff0 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/integration_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/integration_test.go
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"path/filepath"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
@@ -21,7 +22,14 @@ import (
 )
 
 // busConf is the shape of the composed accounts file (mesh-controller internal/broker): one account with JetStream,
-// the controller's user and the bridge's own principal <node>.<module>.
+// the controller's user, and the bridge's own principal <node>.<module> with the permissions the controller composes for
+// it, and no others, so a permission the bridge lacks fails a test here and not on the mesh (issue 1279).
+//
+// The lists are what mesh-controller's broker.PermissionsFor answers (internal/broker/nats.go:577) for a module principal
+// with the manifest of module.json: consumes the three gitea.pull events, invokes gitea.gitea_open_pulls and
+// gitea.gitea_commit_trees, state heads, and the stream forge; `**` is written `>` on the wire (modstreams.go
+// WirePattern). The consumer's durable is <node>_<module> on EVENTS (nats.go consumerDurable). The controller's own
+// user keeps all rights, as it has.
 const busConf = `
 listen: 127.0.0.1:-1
 jetstream { store_dir: %q }
@@ -30,7 +38,40 @@ accounts {
     jetstream: enabled
     users = [
       { user: "ctl", password: "pw" }
-      { user: "n1.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge", password: "pw" }
+      { user: "n1.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge", password: "pw"
+        permissions {
+          publish { allow: [
+            "$JS.ACK.EVENTS.n1_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.>"
+            "$JS.API.CONSUMER.CREATE.KV_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge_heads.>"
+            "$JS.API.CONSUMER.DELETE.KV_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge_heads.>"
+            "$JS.API.CONSUMER.INFO.EVENTS.n1_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge"
+            "$JS.API.CONSUMER.MSG.NEXT.EVENTS.n1_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge"
+            "$JS.API.DIRECT.GET.KV_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge_heads.>"
+            "$JS.API.STREAM.INFO.KV_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge_heads"
+            "$JS.FC.KV_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge_heads.>"
+            "$KV.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge_heads.>"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.call.gitea_commit_trees.*.n1~mesh-delivery-forge-bridge"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.call.gitea_commit_trees.n1~mesh-delivery-forge-bridge"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.call.gitea_open_pulls.*.n1~mesh-delivery-forge-bridge"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.call.gitea_open_pulls.n1~mesh-delivery-forge-bridge"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.tool.gitea_commit_trees"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.tool.gitea_commit_trees.*"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.tool.gitea_open_pulls"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.tool.gitea_open_pulls.*"
+            "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.>"
+          ] }
+          subscribe { allow: [
+            "_INBOX.n1.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.>"
+            "mesh.assignment.n1.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.closed"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.merged"
+            "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated"
+            "mesh.mod.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.call.>"
+            "mesh.mod.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.tool.>"
+          ] }
+          allow_responses: true
+        }
+      }
     ]
   }
 }
@@ -68,6 +109,24 @@ func startBus(t *testing.T) *server.Server {
 // consumer <node>_<module> on EVENTS, as the controller makes them (mesh-control internal/broker streams.go:192,
 // nats.go:1387-1396, modstreams.go). It returns a control connection, its JetStream and a context.
 func startBridge(t *testing.T, openReply string) (*nats.Conn, jetstream.JetStream, context.Context, <-chan error) {
+	b := startBed(t, openReply, nil)
+	return b.ctl, b.js, b.ctx, b.done
+}
+
+// bed is a started bridge with the bus it runs against.
+type bed struct {
+	srv   *server.Server
+	ctl   *nats.Conn
+	js    jetstream.JetStream
+	ctx   context.Context
+	done  <-chan error
+	reply func(string)
+}
+
+// startBed is startBridge with a step between the streams and the consumer: prepare writes what the streams hold before
+// the bridge's consumer is made, as the controller makes it, from now (ADR 0443 §1), and reply sets the answer of the
+// forge's gitea_open_pulls from then on.
+func startBed(t *testing.T, openReply string, prepare func(ctx context.Context, js jetstream.JetStream)) *bed {
 	srv := startBus(t)
 	ctl, err := nats.Connect(srv.ClientURL(), nats.UserInfo("ctl", "pw"))
 	if err != nil {
@@ -86,16 +145,29 @@ func startBridge(t *testing.T, openReply string) (*nats.Conn, jetstream.JetStrea
 	if _, err := js.CreateStream(ctx, jetstream.StreamConfig{Name: "FORGE", Subjects: []string{"mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.>"}}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
+	// The bridge's state bucket, made by the controller from the manifest's state entry before the process starts.
+	if _, err := js.CreateKeyValue(ctx, jetstream.KeyValueConfig{Bucket: headsBucket, History: 1}); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if prepare != nil {
+		prepare(ctx, js)
+	}
 	if _, err := js.CreateOrUpdateConsumer(ctx, "EVENTS", jetstream.ConsumerConfig{
-		Durable: "n1_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge", AckPolicy: jetstream.AckExplicitPolicy,
+		Durable: "n1_mesh-delivery-forge-bridge", AckPolicy: jetstream.AckExplicitPolicy, DeliverPolicy: jetstream.DeliverNewPolicy,
 		FilterSubjects: []string{"mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated", "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.merged", "mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.closed"},
 	}); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 
-	// A stand-in answers the forge's gitea_open_pulls, which the bridge asks at its start, on its tool subject
-	// (mesh-control internal/broker/nats.go invokedSubjects) in the reply envelope of mesh-sdk go/process/call.go.
-	open, err := ctl.Subscribe("mesh.mod.gitea.tool.gitea_open_pulls", func(m *nats.Msg) { _ = m.Respond([]byte(openReply)) })
+	// A stand-in answers the forge's gitea_open_pulls, which the bridge asks at its start and after a reconnect, on its tool
+	// subject (mesh-control internal/broker/nats.go invokedSubjects) in the reply envelope of mesh-sdk go/process/call.go.
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	current := openReply
+	open, err := ctl.Subscribe("mesh.mod.gitea.tool.gitea_open_pulls", func(m *nats.Msg) {
+		mu.Lock()
+		defer mu.Unlock()
+		_ = m.Respond([]byte(current))
+	})
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -114,7 +186,7 @@ func startBridge(t *testing.T, openReply string) (*nats.Conn, jetstream.JetStrea
 	done := make(chan error, 1)
 	go func() { done <- run(runCtx, func(k string) string { return env[k] }, io.Discard) }()
 	t.Cleanup(stop)
-	return ctl, js, ctx, done
+	return &bed{srv: srv, ctl: ctl, js: js, ctx: ctx, done: done, reply: func(s string) { mu.Lock(); current = s; mu.Unlock() }}
 }
 
 // TestBridgeWritesPullMessages starts the program the way the node does (its entry, run, with MESH_BROKER_FILE).
@@ -135,12 +207,13 @@ func TestBridgeWritesPullMessages(t *testing.T) { // 1235/AC2
 	}
 	var info *jetstream.StreamInfo
 	for deadline := time.Now().Add(5 * time.Second); time.Now().Before(deadline); time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond) {
-		if info, err = forge.Info(ctx); err == nil && info.State.Msgs >= 1 {
+		if info, err = forge.Info(ctx); err == nil && info.State.Msgs >= 2 {
 			break
 		}
 	}
-	if info.State.Msgs != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("FORGE holds %d messages within 5 s, want 1", info.State.Msgs)
+	// The open message the bridge writes at its start (ADR 0443 §5), and the event's message.
+	if info.State.Msgs != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("FORGE holds %d messages within 5 s, want 2", info.State.Msgs)
 	}
 	raw, err := forge.GetLastMsgForSubject(ctx, "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.novox.mesh-delivery.pull")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -206,12 +279,13 @@ func TestBridgeWritesMergedMessage(t *testing.T) { // 1236/AC4
 	}
 	var info *jetstream.StreamInfo
 	for deadline := time.Now().Add(5 * time.Second); time.Now().Before(deadline); time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond) {
-		if info, err = forge.Info(ctx); err == nil && info.State.Msgs >= 1 {
+		if info, err = forge.Info(ctx); err == nil && info.State.Msgs >= 2 {
 			break
 		}
 	}
-	if info.State.Msgs != 1 {
-		t.Fatalf("FORGE holds %d messages within 5 s, want 1", info.State.Msgs)
+	// The open message the bridge writes at its start (ADR 0443 §5), and the event's message.
+	if info.State.Msgs != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("FORGE holds %d messages within 5 s, want 2", info.State.Msgs)
 	}
 	raw, err := forge.GetLastMsgForSubject(ctx, "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.novox.mesh-delivery.merged")
 	if err != nil {
@@ -251,7 +325,8 @@ func TestBridgeWritesMergedMessage(t *testing.T) { // 1236/AC4
 	t.Errorf("the event is not acknowledged: %+v", ci)
 }
 
-// TestBridgeSaysTheOpenPullsAtStart: the forge holds two open pull requests when the bridge starts; one message each is on FORGE.
+// TestBridgeSaysTheOpenPullsAtStart: the forge holds two open pull requests when the bridge starts; one message each is on
+// FORGE, and the open message naming both after them (ADR 0443 §5).
 func TestBridgeSaysTheOpenPullsAtStart(t *testing.T) { // 1237/AC1
 	// The entries are gitea_open_pulls's (mesh-catalog modules/gitea/client.ts:369-381, head the branch).
 	_, js, ctx, _ := startBridge(t, `{"result":{"pulls":[
@@ -263,12 +338,12 @@ func TestBridgeSaysTheOpenPullsAtStart(t *testing.T) { // 1237/AC1
 	}
 	var info *jetstream.StreamInfo
 	for deadline := time.Now().Add(5 * time.Second); time.Now().Before(deadline); time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond) {
-		if info, err = forge.Info(ctx); err == nil && info.State.Msgs >= 2 {
+		if info, err = forge.Info(ctx); err == nil && info.State.Msgs >= 3 {
 			break
 		}
 	}
-	if info.State.Msgs != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("FORGE holds %d messages within 5 s, want 2", info.State.Msgs)
+	if info.State.Msgs != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("FORGE holds %d messages within 5 s, want 3", info.State.Msgs)
 	}
 	for _, repo := range []string{"mesh-delivery", "mesh-catalog"} {
 		raw, err := forge.GetLastMsgForSubject(ctx, "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.novox."+repo+".pull")
@@ -293,3 +368,110 @@ func TestBridgeExitsWhenTheOpenPullsCannotBeRead(t *testing.T) { // 1237/AC3
 		t.Fatal("the bridge did not exit")
 	}
 }
+
+// TestBridgeReadsTheForgeAtStartAndAfterAReconnectAndHearsNoOlderEvent starts the bridge whole against a fake forge with two
+// open pull requests, one of them with its head already kept in the bucket heads, and a bus whose EVENTS holds older pull events from
+// before its consumer was made, under the permissions the controller composes for the bridge. At start it writes the one pull message that differs and the open message naming both;
+// the bus connection closed, it reads the forge again and writes the open message alone, since every head is held now;
+// for the older events it writes nothing (ADR 0443 §1, §5).
+func TestBridgeReadsTheForgeAtStartAndAfterAReconnectAndHearsNoOlderEvent(t *testing.T) { // 1279/AC8
+	h2 := strings.Repeat("a", 40)
+	pullSubject := func(repo string) string {
+		return "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.novox." + repo + ".pull"
+	}
+	openSubject := "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.open"
+	b := startBed(t, `{"result":{"pulls":[
+	 {"owner":"novox","repo":"mesh-delivery","number":12,"base":"main","head":"feat/x","head_sha":"`+head+`","html_url":"h","required":[],"statuses":[],"checks":{},"labels":[]},
+	 {"owner":"novox","repo":"mesh-catalog","number":300,"base":"main","head":"feat/x","head_sha":"`+h2+`","html_url":"h","required":[],"statuses":[],"checks":{},"labels":[]}]},"node":"n0"}`,
+		func(ctx context.Context, js jetstream.JetStream) {
+			// Older events: a pull request long closed and one long updated, from before the bridge's consumer.
+			for subject, ev := range map[string]map[string]any{
+				"mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.updated": {"owner": "novox", "repo": "mesh-old", "number": 5, "head": "feat/old", "head_sha": h2},
+				"mesh.mod.gitea.event.pull.closed":  {"owner": "novox", "repo": "mesh-older", "number": 6, "head": "feat/older", "head_sha": h2},
+			} {
+				raw, _ := json.Marshal(ev)
+				if _, err := js.Publish(ctx, subject, raw); err != nil {
+					t.Fatal(err)
+				}
+			}
+			// What the bridge kept of an earlier write: the head of mesh-delivery#12.
+			kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, headsBucket)
+			if err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			if _, err := kv.PutString(ctx, "novox.mesh-delivery.12", head); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+		})
+	forge, err := b.js.Stream(b.ctx, "FORGE")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	waitMsgs := func(want uint64) {
+		t.Helper()
+		var info *jetstream.StreamInfo
+		for deadline := time.Now().Add(10 * time.Second); time.Now().Before(deadline); time.Sleep(50 * time.Millisecond) {
+			if info, err = forge.Info(b.ctx); err == nil && info.State.Msgs >= want {
+				break
+			}
+		}
+		time.Sleep(300 * time.Millisecond) // and nothing more arrives
+		if info, err = forge.Info(b.ctx); err != nil || info.State.Msgs != want {
+			t.Fatalf("FORGE holds %d messages (%v), want %d", info.State.Msgs, err, want)
+		}
+	}
+	named := func(seq uint64) []delivery.OpenPull {
+		t.Helper()
+		raw, err := forge.GetMsg(b.ctx, seq)
+		if err != nil || raw.Subject != openSubject {
+			t.Fatalf("message %d: %v %v, want the open message", seq, raw, err)
+		}
+		f, err := delivery.DecodeForge(raw.Data)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		return f.Open
+	}
+	bothOpen := []delivery.OpenPull{{Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Number: 300}, {Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Number: 12}}
+	same := func(got []delivery.OpenPull) bool {
+		return len(got) == 2 && got[0] == bothOpen[0] && got[1] == bothOpen[1]
+	}
+
+	// At start: the one pull message that differs (1), the open message naming both (2).
+	waitMsgs(2)
+	if raw, err := forge.GetMsg(b.ctx, 1); err != nil || raw.Subject != pullSubject("mesh-catalog") {
+		t.Fatalf("message 1 = %v %v, want mesh-catalog's pull message", raw, err)
+	}
+	if got := named(2); !same(got) {
+		t.Fatalf("the open message names %v, want %v", got, bothOpen)
+	}
+
+	// The connection closes and reopens: the forge is read again, every head is held, the open message alone follows.
+	conns, err := b.srv.Connz(&server.ConnzOptions{})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	closed := 0
+	for _, c := range conns.Conns {
+		if c.Name == "n1.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge" {
+			if err := b.srv.DisconnectClientByID(c.Cid); err != nil {
+				t.Fatal(err)
+			}
+			closed++
+		}
+	}
+	if closed != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d connections of the bridge found", closed)
+	}
+	waitMsgs(3)
+	if got := named(3); !same(got) {
+		t.Fatalf("after the reconnect the open message names %v, want %v", got, bothOpen)
+	}
+
+	// For the older events nothing was written.
+	for _, repo := range []string{"mesh-old", "mesh-older"} {
+		if raw, err := forge.GetLastMsgForSubject(b.ctx, pullSubject(repo)); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("a message for %s's older event: %+v", repo, raw)
+		}
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main.go
index 68e70ac..c067c25 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/main.go
@@ -18,6 +18,7 @@ import (
 	"os"
 	"os/signal"
 	"strings"
+	"sync"
 	"syscall"
 	"time"
 
@@ -185,16 +186,32 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	}
 	// What the forge holds open, said before any event is heard, and again at each reconnect (ADR 0429 §13).
 	call := callerOn(conn, cred.User)
-	sync := func(ctx context.Context) error { return syncOpen(ctx, call, js, logger) }
-	if err := sync(ctx); err != nil {
+	// No forge event is heard while the open pull requests are read and said (ADR 0443 §5): events and syncs take turns.
+	var turn sync.Mutex
+	kv, err := js.KeyValue(ctx, headsBucket)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the bucket %s: %w", headsBucket, err)
+	}
+	heads := kvHeads{kv}
+	// Everything written on FORGE, an event's and a sync's, keeps the head in the bucket.
+	rec := &recorder{pub: js, heads: heads, logger: logger}
+	said := func(ctx context.Context) error { return syncOpen(ctx, call, rec, heads, &turn, logger) }
+	if err := said(ctx); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
-	go onReconnect(ctx, again, sync, logger)
+	go onReconnect(ctx, again, said, logger)
 	cons, err := js.Consumer(ctx, eventsStream, cred.Node+"_"+cred.Module)
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("the consumer %s_%s on %s: %w", cred.Node, cred.Module, eventsStream, err)
 	}
-	cc, err := cons.Consume(func(m jetstream.Msg) { handle(ctx, m, js, treesVia(ctx, call), logger) },
+	cc, err := cons.Consume(func(m jetstream.Msg) {
+		hear(&turn, func() {
+			// Bounded: the turn is held, and no sync or other event goes on without it.
+			hctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, syncDeadline)
+			defer cancel()
+			handle(hctx, m, rec, treesVia(hctx, call), logger)
+		})
+	},
 		jetstream.ConsumeErrHandler(func(_ jetstream.ConsumeContext, err error) { logger.Printf("hearing the bus: %v", err) }))
 	if err != nil {
 		return err
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/open.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/open.go
index 0d13d24..f09913f 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/open.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/open.go
@@ -4,6 +4,13 @@ import (
 	"context"
 	"fmt"
 	"log"
+	"slices"
+	"sync"
+	"time"
+
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 
 	"mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge"
 )
@@ -12,10 +19,71 @@ import (
 // gitea_open_pulls: no arguments, answers {pulls: [...]}).
 const openPullsTool = "gitea.gitea_open_pulls"
 
-// syncOpen reads the open pull requests from the forge and writes one pull message for each: what makes the indexer's
-// candidates match the forge after a restart or a gap in the forge's events (ADR 0429 §13). An error names the call and
-// the forge's words.
-func syncOpen(ctx context.Context, call caller, pub publisher, logger *log.Logger) error {
+// headStore is the bucket heads: the head last written on FORGE for each pull request, by bridge.Track's key
+// (novox/hq ADR 0443 §5).
+type headStore interface {
+	// Get is the head kept under the key; found is false when there is none.
+	Get(ctx context.Context, key string) (head string, found bool, err error)
+	Put(ctx context.Context, key, head string) error
+	Delete(ctx context.Context, key string) error
+}
+
+// recorder writes to FORGE and keeps in the bucket what it wrote: a pull message keeps its head, a closed or merged one
+// takes its pull request's key away. Every write of the program goes through it, an event's and a sync's alike.
+type recorder struct {
+	pub    publisher
+	heads  headStore
+	logger *log.Logger
+}
+
+func (r *recorder) Publish(ctx context.Context, subject string, payload []byte, opts ...jetstream.PublishOpt) (*jetstream.PubAck, error) {
+	ack, err := r.pub.Publish(ctx, subject, payload, opts...)
+	if err != nil {
+		return ack, err
+	}
+	f, derr := delivery.DecodeForge(payload)
+	if derr != nil {
+		return ack, nil
+	}
+	key, head, ok := bridge.Track(f)
+	if !ok {
+		return ack, nil
+	}
+	if head == "" {
+		err = r.heads.Delete(ctx, key)
+	} else {
+		err = r.heads.Put(ctx, key, head)
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		return ack, fmt.Errorf("%s was written on FORGE but its head could not be kept in the bucket: %w", subject, err)
+	}
+	return ack, nil
+}
+
+// syncDeadline bounds one sync: the call to the forge and every read and write of the bucket and of FORGE, because
+// the sync holds the turn that stops the bridge hearing any event.
+const syncDeadline = 30 * time.Second
+
+// hear runs one reaction to a forge event while no sync of the open pull requests is between reading the forge and
+// writing the open message (novox/hq ADR 0443 §5): an event heard meanwhile waits, and is written after it, so a pull
+// request opened after the read is added again by its own message and never dropped by the open message.
+func hear(mu *sync.Mutex, react func()) {
+	mu.Lock()
+	defer mu.Unlock()
+	react()
+}
+
+// syncOpen reads the open pull requests from the forge and writes a pull message for each whose head differs from the
+// one kept in the bucket, then one open message naming every one it read, those whose head did not differ among them:
+// what makes the indexer's candidates match the forge after a restart or a gap in the forge's events (ADR 0429 §13,
+// ADR 0443 §5). pub keeps the bucket as it writes (recorder). It holds mu from before it reads the forge until the open
+// message is written, so no event is heard between, and never past syncDeadline. A bucket that cannot be read is logged
+// and every open pull request is written. An error names the call and the forge's words.
+func syncOpen(ctx context.Context, call caller, pub publisher, heads headStore, mu *sync.Mutex, logger *log.Logger) error {
+	mu.Lock()
+	defer mu.Unlock()
+	ctx, cancel := context.WithTimeout(ctx, syncDeadline)
+	defer cancel()
 	raw, err := call(ctx, openPullsTool, struct{}{})
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", openPullsTool, err)
@@ -24,15 +92,37 @@ func syncOpen(ctx context.Context, call caller, pub publisher, logger *log.Logge
 	if err != nil {
 		return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", openPullsTool, err)
 	}
+	open, err := bridge.OpenMessage(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("%s: %w", openPullsTool, err)
+	}
 	for _, s := range skipped {
 		logger.Printf("an open pull request is left out: %s", s)
 	}
+	var differing []bridge.Message
 	for _, m := range msgs {
+		f, err := delivery.DecodeForge(m.Data)
+		if err != nil {
+			differing = append(differing, m)
+			continue
+		}
+		key, head, _ := bridge.Track(f)
+		kept, found, err := heads.Get(ctx, key)
+		if err != nil {
+			logger.Printf("the heads kept could not be read, so every open pull request is written: %v", err)
+			differing = slices.Clone(msgs)
+			break
+		}
+		if !found || kept != head {
+			differing = append(differing, m)
+		}
+	}
+	for _, m := range append(differing, open) {
 		if _, err := pub.Publish(ctx, forgeSubject(m.Event), m.Data); err != nil {
 			return fmt.Errorf("the open pull request message %s could not be written on FORGE: %w", m.Event, err)
 		}
 	}
-	logger.Printf("%d open pull requests said on FORGE", len(msgs))
+	logger.Printf("%d pull messages and the open message written on FORGE", len(differing))
 	return nil
 }
 
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/open_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/open_test.go
index 33fb81d..c1009b3 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/open_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/cmd/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/open_test.go
@@ -11,6 +11,8 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"
 
+	"github.com/nats-io/nats.go/jetstream"
+
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 )
 
@@ -30,14 +32,14 @@ func TestSyncOpenWritesOneUpdatedMessagePerOpenPull(t *testing.T) { // 1237/AC1,
 		keys = append(keys, key)
 		return openAnswer(), nil
 	}
-	if err := syncOpen(context.Background(), call, pub, log.New(&logs, "", 0)); err != nil {
+	if err := runSync(call, pub, newHeads(), &sync.Mutex{}, log.New(&logs, "", 0)); err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	if len(keys) != 1 || keys[0] != "gitea.gitea_open_pulls" {
 		t.Errorf("calls %v", keys)
 	}
-	if len(pub.subjects) != 2 {
-		t.Fatalf("%d messages written (%v), want two: the pull request into feat/y gets none", len(pub.subjects), pub.subjects)
+	if len(pub.subjects) != 3 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d messages written (%v), want two pull messages and the open message: the pull request into feat/y gets none", len(pub.subjects), pub.subjects)
 	}
 	want := []string{"mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.novox.mesh-delivery.pull", "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.novox.mesh-catalog.pull"}
 	for i, w := range want {
@@ -48,12 +50,188 @@ func TestSyncOpenWritesOneUpdatedMessagePerOpenPull(t *testing.T) { // 1237/AC1,
 	}
 }
 
+// memHeads is the bucket heads in memory.
+type memHeads struct {
+	mu     sync.Mutex
+	vals   map[string]string
+	getErr error
+}
+
+func newHeads(kv ...string) *memHeads {
+	m := &memHeads{vals: map[string]string{}}
+	for i := 0; i+1 < len(kv); i += 2 {
+		m.vals[kv[i]] = kv[i+1]
+	}
+	return m
+}
+
+func (m *memHeads) Get(_ context.Context, key string) (string, bool, error) {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	v, ok := m.vals[key]
+	return v, ok, m.getErr
+}
+func (m *memHeads) Put(_ context.Context, key, head string) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	m.vals[key] = head
+	return nil
+}
+func (m *memHeads) Delete(_ context.Context, key string) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(m.vals, key)
+	return nil
+}
+func (m *memHeads) get(key string) string { m.mu.Lock(); defer m.mu.Unlock(); return m.vals[key] }
+
+// runSync runs syncOpen with the recorder the program writes through.
+func runSync(call caller, pub publisher, heads headStore, mu *sync.Mutex, logger *log.Logger) error {
+	return syncOpen(context.Background(), call, &recorder{pub: pub, heads: heads, logger: logger}, heads, mu, logger)
+}
+
+// 1279/AC6: the sync writes a pull message only for a head that differs from what FORGE holds, then one open message
+// naming every open pull request into trunk it read, those whose head did not differ among them.
+func TestSyncOpenWritesPullsForNewHeadsThenOneOpenMessageNamingAll(t *testing.T) { // 1279/AC6
+	pub := &fakePub{}
+	call := func(context.Context, string, any) (json.RawMessage, error) { return openAnswer(), nil }
+	heads := newHeads("novox.mesh-delivery.12", head)
+	var logs bytes.Buffer
+	if err := runSync(call, pub, heads, &sync.Mutex{}, log.New(&logs, "", 0)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if heads.get("novox.mesh-catalog.300") != strings.Repeat("a", 40) || heads.get("novox.mesh-delivery.12") != head {
+		t.Errorf("the bucket after the sync: %v, want the head written for mesh-catalog#300 kept beside the held one", heads.vals)
+	}
+	if len(pub.subjects) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("%d messages written (%v), want the one pull message that differs and the open message", len(pub.subjects), pub.subjects)
+	}
+	if pub.subjects[0] != "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.novox.mesh-catalog.pull" {
+		t.Errorf("first message on %s, want mesh-catalog's pull message", pub.subjects[0])
+	}
+	if pub.subjects[1] != "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.open" {
+		t.Fatalf("last message on %s, want the open message after the pull messages", pub.subjects[1])
+	}
+	f, err := delivery.DecodeForge(pub.data[1])
+	want := []delivery.OpenPull{{Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Number: 300}, {Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Number: 12}}
+	if err != nil || len(f.Open) != 2 || f.Open[0] != want[0] || f.Open[1] != want[1] {
+		t.Errorf("open message = %+v err %v, want it to name %v, the pull request whose head did not differ among them", f, err, want)
+	}
+}
+
+// The bucket cannot be read: every open pull request is written, as before, and the open message follows; the
+// indexer's writes are idempotent, so the fault costs messages and no state.
+func TestSyncOpenWritesAllWhenTheHeadsCannotBeRead(t *testing.T) { // 1279/AC6
+	pub := &fakePub{}
+	call := func(context.Context, string, any) (json.RawMessage, error) { return openAnswer(), nil }
+	heads := newHeads("novox.mesh-delivery.12", head)
+	heads.getErr = errors.New("the bucket is gone")
+	var logs bytes.Buffer
+	if err := runSync(call, pub, heads, &sync.Mutex{}, log.New(&logs, "", 0)); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(pub.subjects) != 3 || !strings.Contains(logs.String(), "the bucket is gone") {
+		t.Errorf("messages %v, log %q", pub.subjects, logs.String())
+	}
+}
+
+// What the bridge writes on FORGE it keeps in the bucket: a head by its pull message, nothing by a closed or merged one.
+func TestWhatIsWrittenOnFORGEIsKeptInTheBucket(t *testing.T) { // 1279/AC6
+	pub := &fakePub{}
+	heads := newHeads()
+	r := &recorder{pub: pub, heads: heads, logger: log.New(&bytes.Buffer{}, "", 0)}
+	write := func(f delivery.Forge) {
+		t.Helper()
+		ev, _ := delivery.ForgeEvent(f.Repository, f.Kind)
+		raw, err := delivery.EncodeForge(f)
+		if err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+		if _, err := r.Publish(context.Background(), forgeSubject(ev), raw); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	p := delivery.Forge{Kind: delivery.ForgePull, Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Branch: "feat/x", Number: 12, Head: head, Action: delivery.PullUpdated}
+	write(p)
+	if heads.get("novox.mesh-delivery.12") != head {
+		t.Fatalf("bucket %v", heads.vals)
+	}
+	p.Action = delivery.PullClosed
+	write(p)
+	if _, kept := heads.vals["novox.mesh-delivery.12"]; kept {
+		t.Errorf("a closed pull request is still kept: %v", heads.vals)
+	}
+	p.Action = delivery.PullUpdated
+	write(p)
+	write(delivery.Forge{Kind: delivery.ForgeMerged, Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Branch: "feat/x", Number: 12, Head: head, Merge: "m", Root: "r", Trees: map[string]string{"": "t"}})
+	if _, kept := heads.vals["novox.mesh-delivery.12"]; kept {
+		t.Errorf("a merged pull request is still kept: %v", heads.vals)
+	}
+	if len(pub.subjects) != 4 {
+		t.Errorf("%d messages written", len(pub.subjects))
+	}
+}
+
+// 1279/AC6: no forge event is heard between reading the forge and writing the open message.
+func TestNoForgeEventIsHeardWhileTheOpenPullsAreSaid(t *testing.T) { // 1279/AC6
+	pub := &lockedPub{}
+	reading := make(chan struct{})
+	release := make(chan struct{})
+	call := func(context.Context, string, any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
+		close(reading)
+		<-release
+		return openAnswer(), nil
+	}
+	var mu sync.Mutex
+	synced := make(chan error, 1)
+	go func() {
+		synced <- runSync(call, pub, newHeads(), &mu, log.New(&bytes.Buffer{}, "", 0))
+	}()
+	<-reading
+	// An event arrives while the forge is being read.
+	heard := make(chan struct{})
+	go func() {
+		hear(&mu, func() { _, _ = pub.Publish(context.Background(), "event", nil); close(heard) })
+	}()
+	select {
+	case <-heard:
+		t.Fatal("an event was heard while the forge was read")
+	case <-time.After(100 * time.Millisecond):
+	}
+	close(release)
+	if err := <-synced; err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	<-heard
+	got := pub.snapshot()
+	if len(got) != 4 || got[2] != "mesh.stream.mesh-delivery-forge-bridge.event.forge.open" || got[3] != "event" {
+		t.Errorf("order of writes: %v, want the event after the open message", got)
+	}
+}
+
+type lockedPub struct {
+	mu       sync.Mutex
+	subjects []string
+}
+
+func (p *lockedPub) Publish(_ context.Context, subject string, _ []byte, _ ...jetstream.PublishOpt) (*jetstream.PubAck, error) {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	p.subjects = append(p.subjects, subject)
+	return &jetstream.PubAck{}, nil
+}
+func (p *lockedPub) snapshot() []string {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	return append([]string(nil), p.subjects...)
+}
+
 func TestSyncOpenFailureNamesTheCallAndTheForgesWords(t *testing.T) { // 1237/AC3
 	pub := &fakePub{}
 	call := func(context.Context, string, any) (json.RawMessage, error) {
 		return nil, errors.New("the forge said 502")
 	}
-	err := syncOpen(context.Background(), call, pub, log.New(&bytes.Buffer{}, "", 0))
+	err := runSync(call, pub, newHeads(), &sync.Mutex{}, log.New(&bytes.Buffer{}, "", 0))
 	if err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "gitea.gitea_open_pulls") || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "the forge said 502") {
 		t.Errorf("err = %v", err)
 	}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.mod b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.mod
index 971f980..fb59585 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.mod
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-forge-bridge
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019124204-9ade199740e3
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019195003-4580d80a32d9
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.sum b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.sum
index cb9936c..f74bae2 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.sum
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019124204-9ade199740e3 h1:Mu2QiGbL/sZFU5ya4lGUyQOB5OKXPy/KB40XfXTf2EU=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019124204-9ade199740e3/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019195003-4580d80a32d9 h1:XL1dbtSleGAixg6FX4gEnSG/AJxRG/tWw6/7U1RuzHc=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019195003-4580d80a32d9/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/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge.go
index 4b450de..e845d91 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge.go
@@ -6,6 +6,9 @@ import (
 	"errors"
 	"fmt"
 	"regexp"
+	"slices"
+	"strconv"
+	"strings"
 
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 )
@@ -186,3 +189,47 @@ func OpenPulls(answer []byte) (msgs []Message, skipped []string, err error) {
 	}
 	return msgs, skipped, nil
 }
+
+// Track says what a message the bridge wrote changes in the head it keeps for each pull request (the bucket heads,
+// novox/hq ADR 0443 §5): the key `<owner>.<name>.<number>`, and the head to keep under it, or "" to take the key away
+// (a closed pull request, a merged one). ok is false for a message that keeps no head.
+func Track(f delivery.Forge) (key, head string, ok bool) {
+	key = strings.ReplaceAll(f.Repository, "/", ".") + "." + strconv.Itoa(f.Number)
+	switch {
+	case f.Kind == delivery.ForgePull && f.Action != delivery.PullClosed:
+		return key, f.Head, true
+	case f.Kind == delivery.ForgePull || f.Kind == delivery.ForgeMerged:
+		return key, "", true
+	}
+	return "", "", false
+}
+
+// OpenMessage turns the answer of gitea_open_pulls into the open message: every open pull request into the trunk, by
+// repository and number, whether its head reads or not and whether FORGE holds it or not, in repository and number
+// order. A pull request into another branch is not named. An answer that names none is a message too: nothing is open.
+func OpenMessage(answer []byte) (Message, error) {
+	var a struct {
+		Pulls *[]openPull `json:"pulls"`
+	}
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(answer, &a); err != nil || a.Pulls == nil {
+		return Message{}, fmt.Errorf("the answer of gitea_open_pulls is not {pulls: [...]}: %v", err)
+	}
+	open := []delivery.OpenPull{}
+	for _, p := range *a.Pulls {
+		if p.Base != Trunk || p.Owner == "" || p.Repo == "" || p.Number <= 0 {
+			continue
+		}
+		open = append(open, delivery.OpenPull{Repository: p.Owner + "/" + p.Repo, Number: p.Number})
+	}
+	slices.SortFunc(open, func(a, b delivery.OpenPull) int {
+		if c := strings.Compare(a.Repository, b.Repository); c != 0 {
+			return c
+		}
+		return a.Number - b.Number
+	})
+	body, err := delivery.EncodeForge(delivery.Forge{Kind: delivery.ForgeOpen, Open: open})
+	if err != nil {
+		return Message{}, fmt.Errorf("the open pull requests cannot be said: %w", err)
+	}
+	return Message{Event: delivery.OpenEvent(), Data: body}, nil
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge_test.go
index 836ba0b..60a7ca5 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/internal/bridge/bridge_test.go
@@ -323,3 +323,52 @@ func TestOpenPullsUnreadableEntryIsNamedAndTheRestGo(t *testing.T) { // 1237
 		}
 	}
 }
+
+func TestOpenMessageNamesEveryOpenPullIntoTheTrunk(t *testing.T) { // 1279/AC6
+	h2 := strings.Repeat("a", 40)
+	answer := openAnswer(openEntry("mesh-delivery", 12, "main", "feat/x", head), openEntry("mesh-catalog", 300, "main", "feat/x", h2),
+		openEntry("mesh-catalog", 301, "feat/y", "feat/z", h2), openEntry("a", 1, "main", "b", "short"))
+	m, err := OpenMessage(answer)
+	if err != nil || m.Event != "forge.open" {
+		t.Fatalf("message %+v err %v", m, err)
+	}
+	f, err := delivery.DecodeForge(m.Data)
+	// Every one into the trunk, whether its head reads or not (it is open); none into another branch; in a fixed order.
+	want := []delivery.OpenPull{{Repository: "novox/a", Number: 1}, {Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Number: 300}, {Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Number: 12}}
+	if err != nil || f.Kind != delivery.ForgeOpen || len(f.Open) != 3 || f.Open[0] != want[0] || f.Open[1] != want[1] || f.Open[2] != want[2] {
+		t.Errorf("open message = %+v err %v, want %v", f, err, want)
+	}
+	// Nothing open is a message too: the indexer then drops every candidate.
+	m, err = OpenMessage([]byte(`{"pulls":[]}`))
+	if f, derr := delivery.DecodeForge(m.Data); err != nil || derr != nil || f.Kind != delivery.ForgeOpen || len(f.Open) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("empty answer: %+v %v %v", f, err, derr)
+	}
+	for _, bad := range []string{`{"pulls":null}`, `{}`, `x`} {
+		if _, err := OpenMessage([]byte(bad)); err == nil {
+			t.Errorf("%s was taken as an answer", bad)
+		}
+	}
+}
+
+func TestTrackSaysWhichHeadOfWhichPullRequestWasWritten(t *testing.T) { // 1279/AC6
+	pullMsg := func(action string) delivery.Forge {
+		return delivery.Forge{Kind: delivery.ForgePull, Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Branch: "feat/x", Number: 12, Head: head, Action: action}
+	}
+	for _, a := range []string{delivery.PullOpened, delivery.PullUpdated} {
+		if key, h, ok := Track(pullMsg(a)); key != "novox.mesh-delivery.12" || h != head || !ok {
+			t.Errorf("%s: Track = %q %q %v, want the head kept under a bucket key", a, key, h, ok)
+		}
+	}
+	// A closed pull request and a merged one are no longer kept: their key goes.
+	if key, h, ok := Track(pullMsg(delivery.PullClosed)); key != "novox.mesh-delivery.12" || h != "" || !ok {
+		t.Errorf("closed: Track = %q %q %v", key, h, ok)
+	}
+	merged := delivery.Forge{Kind: delivery.ForgeMerged, Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Branch: "feat/x", Number: 12, Head: head, Merge: "m", Root: "r", Trees: map[string]string{"": "t"}}
+	if key, h, ok := Track(merged); key != "novox.mesh-delivery.12" || h != "" || !ok {
+		t.Errorf("merged: Track = %q %q %v", key, h, ok)
+	}
+	// The open message and the rest hold no head.
+	if _, _, ok := Track(delivery.Forge{Kind: delivery.ForgeOpen}); ok {
+		t.Error("an open message was tracked")
+	}
+}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/manifest_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/manifest_test.go
index 6cac408..04d3557 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/manifest_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/manifest_test.go
@@ -22,6 +22,11 @@ type stream struct {
 	Events []string `json:"events"`
 }
 
+type state struct {
+	Name    string `json:"name"`
+	History int    `json:"history"`
+}
+
 type artifact struct {
 	Name     string `json:"name"`
 	Kind     string `json:"kind"`
@@ -37,6 +42,7 @@ type manifest struct {
 	Slug         string            `json:"slug"`
 	Consumes     []string          `json:"consumes"`
 	Streams      []stream          `json:"streams"`
+	State        []state           `json:"state"`
 	Reads        []string          `json:"reads"`
 	Invokes      []string          `json:"invokes"`
 	OwnSecrets   map[string]string `json:"own-secrets"`
@@ -96,8 +102,12 @@ func TestManifestDeclarations(t *testing.T) { // 1235/AC1
 	if m.SecretsOwner != "mesh-delivery-forge-bridge" {
 		t.Errorf("secrets-owner = %q", m.SecretsOwner)
 	}
-	// No state, no bus, no seat, no tool (ADR 0437 §4).
-	for _, k := range []string{"state", "logs", "emits", "claims", "provides", "requires", "uses", "defines-seats", "tools", "seat", "seats"} {
+	// One bucket: the head last written on FORGE for each pull request, so a sync writes only what differs (ADR 0443 §5).
+	if !reflect.DeepEqual(m.State, []state{{Name: "heads", History: 1}}) { // 1279/AC6
+		t.Errorf("state = %+v, want the one bucket heads", m.State)
+	}
+	// No other state, no bus, no seat, no tool (ADR 0437 §4).
+	for _, k := range []string{"logs", "emits", "claims", "provides", "requires", "uses", "defines-seats", "tools", "seat", "seats"} {
 		if _, ok := top[k]; ok {
 			t.Errorf("the manifest declares %q: the bridge has none", k)
 		}
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/module.json b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/module.json
index ee6e568..ec78755 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/module.json
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-forge-bridge/module.json
@@ -10,6 +10,9 @@
   "streams": [
     { "name": "forge", "events": ["forge.**"] }
   ],
+  "state": [
+    { "name": "heads", "history": 1 }
+  ],
   "reads": [
     "mesh-delivery-gate.merges",
     "mesh-delivery-gate.owed"
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main.go
index 245d524..5465157 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main.go
@@ -121,6 +121,15 @@ func (s kvStore) Delete(ctx context.Context, key string, revision uint64) error
 	return conflict(s.kv.Delete(ctx, key, jetstream.LastRevision(revision)))
 }
 
+// Keys is every key of the bucket; a bucket with none is an empty list.
+func (s kvStore) Keys(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
+	keys, err := s.kv.Keys(ctx)
+	if errors.Is(err, jetstream.ErrNoKeysFound) {
+		return nil, nil
+	}
+	return keys, err
+}
+
 // delivered is the part of a JetStream message the indexer uses.
 type delivered interface {
 	Subject() string
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main_test.go
index ed5c251..4b8cda5 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/cmd/mesh-delivery-indexer/main_test.go
@@ -29,6 +29,13 @@ func (m *memStore) Get(_ context.Context, k string) ([]byte, uint64, bool, error
 	v, ok := m.vals[k]
 	return v, 1, ok, nil
 }
+func (m *memStore) Keys(context.Context) ([]string, error) {
+	var keys []string
+	for k := range m.vals {
+		keys = append(keys, k)
+	}
+	return keys, nil
+}
 func (m *memStore) Create(_ context.Context, k string, v []byte) error { m.vals[k] = v; return nil }
 func (m *memStore) Update(_ context.Context, k string, v []byte, _ uint64) error {
 	m.vals[k] = v
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.mod b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.mod
index 42bc36a..d3b0aad 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.mod
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.mod
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-indexer
 go 1.26.0
 
 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019124204-9ade199740e3
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019195003-4580d80a32d9
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.sum b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.sum
index cb9936c..f74bae2 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.sum
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/go.sum
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019124204-9ade199740e3 h1:Mu2QiGbL/sZFU5ya4lGUyQOB5OKXPy/KB40XfXTf2EU=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019124204-9ade199740e3/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019195003-4580d80a32d9 h1:XL1dbtSleGAixg6FX4gEnSG/AJxRG/tWw6/7U1RuzHc=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261019195003-4580d80a32d9/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/google/go-tpm v0.9.8 h1:slArAR9Ft+1ybZu0lBwpSmpwhRXaa85hWtMinMyRAWo=
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/candidates.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/candidates.go
index 6747a61..8bf63af 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/candidates.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/candidates.go
@@ -26,6 +26,8 @@ type Store interface {
 	Update(ctx context.Context, key string, value []byte, revision uint64) error
 	// Delete removes the key if its revision is still revision (ErrConflict when not).
 	Delete(ctx context.Context, key string, revision uint64) error
+	// Keys is every key the store holds now; none is an empty list, not an error.
+	Keys(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error)
 }
 
 // trunkLike are the branches that are no group: a pull request from one is nobody's delivery group (the rule of
@@ -55,6 +57,9 @@ func (ix *Indexer) logf(format string, args ...any) {
 // by compare-and-set on the revision read, and read again on a conflict. A lone pull request is a group of one. A
 // merged message also writes the fingerprint of each module of its repository (modules.go).
 func (ix *Indexer) Apply(ctx context.Context, f delivery.Forge) error {
+	if f.Kind == delivery.ForgeOpen {
+		return ix.applyOpen(ctx, f)
+	}
 	if f.Kind != delivery.ForgePull && f.Kind != delivery.ForgeMerged {
 		return nil
 	}
@@ -92,6 +97,56 @@ func (ix *Indexer) Apply(ctx context.Context, f delivery.Forge) error {
 	})
 }
 
+// applyOpen takes an open message into the candidates (novox/hq ADR 0443 §5): every pull request it does not name is
+// taken out of its group, and a group left with none is deleted. What the message names is left as it is. A pull request
+// opened after the bridge read the forge is heard after this message and added again by its own.
+func (ix *Indexer) applyOpen(ctx context.Context, f delivery.Forge) error {
+	named := make(map[delivery.OpenPull]bool, len(f.Open))
+	for _, p := range f.Open {
+		named[p] = true
+	}
+	keys, err := ix.Store.Keys(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("listing the candidates: %w", err)
+	}
+	for _, key := range keys {
+		err := write(ctx, ix.Store, key, func(value []byte, found bool) ([]byte, bool, error) {
+			if !found {
+				return nil, false, nil
+			}
+			c, err := delivery.DecodeCandidate(value)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("candidates.%s holds what is not a candidate: %w", key, err)
+			}
+			kept := slices.DeleteFunc(slices.Clone(c.Pulls), func(p delivery.CandidatePull) bool {
+				return !named[delivery.OpenPull{Repository: p.Repository, Number: p.Number}]
+			})
+			switch {
+			case len(kept) == len(c.Pulls):
+				return nil, false, nil
+			case len(kept) == 0:
+				ix.logf("%s: no pull request of the group is open, so no candidate", key)
+				return nil, true, nil
+			}
+			heads := make([]delivery.Head, len(kept))
+			for i, p := range kept {
+				heads[i] = p.Head
+			}
+			hash, err := delivery.HeadsHash(heads)
+			if err != nil {
+				return nil, false, fmt.Errorf("%w: candidates.%s: %v", ErrUnreadable, key, err)
+			}
+			c.Pulls, c.HeadsHash = kept, hash
+			data, err := delivery.EncodeCandidate(c)
+			return data, false, err
+		})
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // write changes one key of a store by compare-and-set: compute is given the value read (found says there is one) and
 // answers the new value, or del to remove the key, or neither for no change. A conflict reads again, up to writeTries.
 func write(ctx context.Context, st Store, key string, compute func(value []byte, found bool) (next []byte, del bool, err error)) error {
diff --git a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/index_test.go b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/index_test.go
index 2a01d8a..2493431 100644
--- a/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/index_test.go
+++ b/modules/mesh-delivery-indexer/internal/index/index_test.go
@@ -32,6 +32,13 @@ func (m *memStore) Get(_ context.Context, key string) ([]byte, uint64, bool, err
 	v, ok := m.vals[key]
 	return v, m.revs[key], ok, nil
 }
+func (m *memStore) Keys(context.Context) ([]string, error) {
+	var keys []string
+	for k := range m.vals {
+		keys = append(keys, k)
+	}
+	return keys, nil
+}
 func (m *memStore) hook() {
 	if h := m.beforeWrite; h != nil {
 		m.beforeWrite = nil
@@ -306,3 +313,61 @@ func TestAnUnusableBranchNameIsUnreadable(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Errorf("err = %v", err)
 	}
 }
+
+func open(pulls ...delivery.OpenPull) delivery.Forge {
+	return delivery.Forge{V: delivery.Version, Kind: delivery.ForgeOpen, Open: pulls}
+}
+
+// 1279/AC7 (ADR 0443 §5): on an open message, candidates lose every pull request it does not name, a group left empty is
+// deleted, and a pull request added by a later message stays.
+func TestAnOpenMessageDropsEveryCandidateItDoesNotName(t *testing.T) { // 1279/AC7
+	ix, st, _ := newIndexer(t)
+	ctx := context.Background()
+	for _, f := range []delivery.Forge{
+		pull("novox/mesh-delivery", 12, "feat/x", h1, "modules/a"), pull("novox/mesh-catalog", 300, "feat/x", h2, "modules/c"),
+		pull("novox/mesh-delivery", 13, "feat/y", h2, "modules/a"),
+		pull("novox/mesh-catalog", 280, "feat/old", h3, "modules/c"),
+	} {
+		if err := ix.Apply(ctx, f); err != nil {
+			t.Fatal(err)
+		}
+	}
+	before, _ := read(t, st, "feat/x")
+
+	// Open: mesh-delivery#12 only (and a pull request no group holds, which changes nothing).
+	if err := ix.Apply(ctx, open(delivery.OpenPull{Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Number: 12}, delivery.OpenPull{Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Number: 999})); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	c, ok := read(t, st, "feat/x")
+	hash, _ := delivery.HeadsHash([]delivery.Head{{Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Number: 12, Head: h1}})
+	if !ok || len(c.Pulls) != 1 || c.Pulls[0].Number != 12 || c.Pulls[0].Head.Head != h1 || strings.Join(c.Pulls[0].Modules, ",") != "a" || c.HeadsHash != hash || c.HeadsHash == before.HeadsHash {
+		t.Fatalf("feat/x after the open message = %+v, want only mesh-delivery#12 with its modules and the heads hash of it alone", c)
+	}
+	for _, gone := range []string{"feat/y", "feat/old"} {
+		if _, ok := st.vals[gone]; ok {
+			t.Errorf("the group %s is left with no open pull request and was not deleted", gone)
+		}
+	}
+
+	// A pull request opened after the read is heard as a message after the open message and stays.
+	if err := ix.Apply(ctx, pull("novox/mesh-catalog", 300, "feat/x", h2, "modules/c")); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if c, _ := read(t, st, "feat/x"); len(c.Pulls) != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("a pull request added after the open message is not kept: %+v", c)
+	}
+	// The same open message again changes nothing (no write), and an empty one drops every group.
+	writes := st.writes
+	if err := ix.Apply(ctx, open(delivery.OpenPull{Repository: "novox/mesh-delivery", Number: 12}, delivery.OpenPull{Repository: "novox/mesh-catalog", Number: 300})); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if st.writes != writes {
+		t.Errorf("an open message that names every candidate wrote %d times", st.writes-writes)
+	}
+	if err := ix.Apply(ctx, open()); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	if len(st.vals) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("after an empty open message the candidates hold %v", st.vals)
+	}
+}