2026-10-28 20:41:02 +00:00
19 changed files with 761 additions and 108 deletions
@@ -92,7 +92,16 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	hearing := buildrun.NewDeadLetterHearing(ctx, buildrun.JetStreamDeadLetters{JS: js}, delivery.AskLanguages, dead, logger.Printf,
 		buildrun.SayHearing(ctx, hearingKV, logger.Printf))
 	defer hearing.Stop()
-	conn.SetReconnectHandler(func(*nats.Conn) { hearing.Again() })
+	// Each ask's step is heard by its own watch and, at every step end of its build module and every reconnect, read
+	// (buildrun.HearEnds): a watch that goes deaf loses no end (the lost check of 2026-10-28).
+	var buildModules []string
+	for _, l := range delivery.AskLanguages {
+		if m, err := delivery.BuildModuleOf(l); err == nil {
+			buildModules = append(buildModules, m)
+		}
+	}
+	heard := buildrun.HearEnds(ctx, asks, asks, buildModules, logger.Printf)
+	conn.SetReconnectHandler(func(*nats.Conn) { hearing.Again(); heard.Nudge("") })
 	// The builder asks the controller, as its own account, whether the artifact store still holds a done key's blobs
 	// (the seat verb held, novox/hq issue 1937) before it leaves the key done.
 	calls, err := process.Connect(cred, nats.Name(cred.Node+"."+cred.Module+".calls"), nats.RetryOnFailedConnect(true))
@@ -102,7 +111,7 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	defer calls.Close()
 	b := &build.Builder{
 		Claimer: build.Claimer{Store: kvStore{builds}, By: cred.Node + "." + cred.Module},
-		Asks:    buildrun.Asker{Publisher: asks, Waiter: buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: asks, Dead: dead, Hearing: hearing}, Bound: bound},
+		Asks:    buildrun.Asker{Publisher: asks, Waiter: buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: heard, Dead: dead, Hearing: hearing}, Bound: bound},
 		Held:    heldOnTheBus{js},
 		// An ask that can no longer be answered is asked again (issue 1945), read at the step bound: a context's bound.
 		Gone:       heldOnTheBus{js},
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-builder
 go 1.26.0

 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028174713-38dbe1d3a388
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028193502-f91340fe82ef
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028174713-38dbe1d3a388 h1:ycu/sNieTdLpD3bzhZOCXdzcoqXUOxPRmqWV019REpo=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028174713-38dbe1d3a388/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028193502-f91340fe82ef h1:ggwHXCvAOhBCKAY+ErehKEhu/IQTS4poJBRDokGYnDc=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028193502-f91340fe82ef/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=
@@ -691,6 +691,7 @@ func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
 		byHand bool
 		always bool // Gone says every ask cannot be answered, not only the first
 		dead   bool // DEAD_LETTERS keeps the first ask: the seat gave it up (issue 734)
+		deaf   bool // the ask's own watch hears nothing though its step ends (the lost check of 2026-10-28)
 		puts   int
 		done   bool
 		asking int // the asking the event says, 0 when none is said
@@ -739,6 +740,7 @@ func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
 		{name: "given up by its stream: asked again under a new id and done from it", puts: 2, done: true, asking: 2},
 		{name: "asked again by hand: the same, with no check bound", byHand: true, puts: 2, done: true, asking: 2},
 		{name: "given up into DEAD_LETTERS: its wait ends failed with the words and it is asked again at once", dead: true, puts: 2, done: true, asking: 2},
+		{name: "its step ended while its watch was deaf: read at its build module's next step end, done with no new ask", deaf: true, puts: 1, done: true},
 		{name: "never answerable: failed after its askings", askings: 2, always: true, puts: 2},
 		{name: "taken over at its last asking: failed, not asked again", askings: 3, always: true, step: "asked mesh-build-go again (asking 3): x", puts: 0},
 	} {
@@ -829,7 +831,12 @@ func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
 			if c.dead {
 				r.b.Asks = buildrun.Asker{Publisher: r.asks, Waiter: buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: r.asks, Dead: dead}, Bound: 2 * time.Second}
 			}
-			if !c.byHand && !c.dead {
+			var heard *buildrun.HeardEnds
+			if c.deaf {
+				heard = &buildrun.HeardEnds{Inner: silentWatch{}, Read: r.asks}
+				r.b.Asks = buildrun.Asker{Publisher: r.asks, Waiter: heard, Bound: 2 * time.Second}
+			}
+			if !c.byHand && !c.dead && !c.deaf {
 				gone.why = func(a delivery.StepAsk) string {
 					if c.always || a.ID == first || first == "" {
 						return "it waits first in line while a node took a later ask"
@@ -851,7 +858,16 @@ func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
 					}
 				}
 			}
-			if c.done {
+			if c.deaf {
+				r.asks.End(r.answer(waitForAsks(t, r, 1)[0]))
+				for deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second); heard.Waiting() == 0; time.Sleep(time.Millisecond) {
+					if time.Now().After(deadline) {
+						t.Fatal("no ask is waited on")
+					}
+				}
+				heard.Nudge(buildrun.GoBuildModule) // a step of mesh-build-go ended
+			}
+			if c.done && !c.deaf {
 				asks := waitForAsks(t, r, c.puts)
 				if first == "" && !c.byHand {
 					first = asks[0].ID
@@ -876,7 +892,7 @@ func TestABuildAskWaitingInItsStreamIsNotBounded(t *testing.T) {
 			mu.Lock()
 			defer mu.Unlock()
 			// Note 62: the old message of an ask asked again because its stream gave it up is dropped from the stream.
-			if gone.mu.Lock(); c.done && !c.byHand && !c.dead && (len(gone.dropped) != 1 || gone.dropped[0] != first) {
+			if gone.mu.Lock(); c.done && !c.byHand && !c.dead && !c.deaf && (len(gone.dropped) != 1 || gone.dropped[0] != first) {
 				t.Errorf("dropped %v from the stream, want the old ask %s", gone.dropped, first)
 			}
 			gone.mu.Unlock()
@@ -1086,3 +1102,10 @@ func TestATakeOverThatCannotReadTheStreamWaitsForTheAsk(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("the key = %+v after %d asks, want done from the ask's step, none put", v, len(r.asks.Asks()))
 	}
 }
+
+// silentWatch is a watch of an ask's step that stays open and hears nothing.
+type silentWatch struct{}
+
+func (silentWatch) WatchAsk(context.Context, string, string) (<-chan delivery.Step, error) {
+	return make(chan delivery.Step), nil
+}
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 // Command mesh-delivery-checker-tools serves the checker's read tools (novox/hq ADR 0484 clause 13, issue 1686): the runtime
 // launches it for a call, it reads the checker's verdicts and kept states and the indexer's candidates through the checker's
-// state and reads, and writes nothing. The checker is the other program: it serves no tool (ADR 0437 §4).
+// state and reads. It writes only the tries (the try's tools) and, asking a check again by hand, one verdict. The checker is the other program: it serves no tool (ADR 0437 §4).
 package main

 import (
@@ -235,6 +235,24 @@ func Tools(r check.Reader) []stdio.Tool {
 	}
 }

+// RecoveryTools are the tools that steer a check by hand (tools-are-how-a-module-is-spoken-to): ask a check again whose
+// wait judged nothing (the lost check of 2026-10-28). They write the checker's verdicts through w.
+func RecoveryTools(r check.Reader, w check.VerdictEntry) []stdio.Tool {
+	str := func(args map[string]any, k string) string { s, _ := args[k].(string); return s }
+	return []stdio.Tool{{Name: check.AskAgainTool,
+		Description: "Ask a candidate's check again by hand, whose verdict stays running while nothing runs for it (" + check.StatusReadTool + " names it " +
+			"under lost): its verdict is ended as asked again, saying why, and the checker, which hears its verdicts, stops the wait that judged nothing " +
+			"and asks the check anew, whole. Refused for a group with no candidate, a verdict that is not running (a pass or failure stands until a push or " +
+			"a trunk move), and while a step of its pull requests can still run on a build module (its end judges it). The checker reads a step that " +
+			"ended while its watch was deaf by itself at the next step end of its build module; this is for what that does not reach.",
+		Input: map[string]any{"type": "object", "required": []string{"group", "why"}, "properties": map[string]any{
+			"group": map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "the delivery group's branch name"},
+			"why":   map[string]any{"type": "string", "description": "why it is asked again, in words; kept in the verdict it ends"}}},
+		Run: func(args map[string]any) (any, error) {
+			return r.AskAgain(w, str(args, "group"), str(args, "why"))
+		}}}
+}
+
 // stepBound is the checker's step bound as the checker reads it (MESH_CHECKER_STEP_BOUND), its default when unset or not a
 // duration.
 func stepBound() time.Duration {
@@ -249,7 +267,8 @@ func main() {
 		PreviewState: read(stdio.State("previews")),
 		StepStates:   map[string]check.StateRead{"mesh-build-go": read(stdio.State("mesh-build-go.steps")), "mesh-build-node": read(stdio.State("mesh-build-node.steps"))},
 		HaveState:    read(stdio.State("node-engine.have")), StepBound: stepBound(),
-		TurnState: read(stdio.State("mesh-delivery-gate.turns")), HearingState: read(stdio.State(buildrun.HearingState))}
+		TurnState: read(stdio.State("mesh-delivery-gate.turns")), HearingState: read(stdio.State(buildrun.HearingState)),
+		AskState: read(stdio.State(check.AsksState))}
 	r.Runs = runsOf{read(stdio.State("mesh-delivery-indexer.modules"))} // the node-engine at the commit the mesh runs, as the checker reads it
 	tries := stdio.State(check.TriesState)
 	source := stdio.State("mesh-delivery-gate.source")
@@ -277,7 +296,20 @@ func main() {
 		return err
 	}}
 	trying := Trying{Tries: store, Ender: store, Trunks: trunks}
-	if err := stdio.Serve("", logged(append(Tools(r), TryTools(trying)...))); err != nil {
+	verdicts := stdio.State("verdicts")
+	written := stateStore{entry: func(key string) (json.RawMessage, uint64, error) {
+		reads.Add(1)
+		e, err := verdicts.Get(key)
+		if err != nil || e == nil {
+			return nil, 0, err
+		}
+		return e.Value, e.Revision, nil
+	}, update: func(key string, value []byte, revision uint64) error {
+		_, err := verdicts.Update(key, json.RawMessage(value), revision)
+		return err
+	}}
+	tools := append(append(Tools(r), TryTools(trying)...), RecoveryTools(r, written)...)
+	if err := stdio.Serve("", logged(tools)); err != nil {
 		fmt.Fprintf(os.Stderr, "[mesh-delivery-checker-tools] %v\n", err)
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
@@ -23,6 +23,14 @@ func TestTheToolsServedAreTheFiveReadTools(t *testing.T) {
 	if !slices.Equal(names, want) {
 		t.Errorf("tools = %v, want %v", names, want)
 	}
+	// The recovery tool beside them asks a lost check again; with nothing to write it refuses.
+	recovery := RecoveryTools(check.Reader{}, nil)
+	if len(recovery) != 1 || recovery[0].Name != check.AskAgainTool || recovery[0].Description == "" {
+		t.Errorf("recovery tools = %+v", recovery)
+	}
+	if _, err := recovery[0].Run(map[string]any{"group": "feat/x", "why": "lost"}); err == nil {
+		t.Errorf("%s answered with no state to write", check.AskAgainTool)
+	}
 	// With nothing to read from a tool says so and changes nothing.
 	for _, tl := range Tools(check.Reader{}) {
 		if tl.Name == check.StatusReadTool {
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import (

 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/catalogue"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/process"

 	"mesh-delivery-checker/internal/check"
 )
@@ -130,3 +131,55 @@ func (m manifestReader) Manifest(ctx context.Context, digest string) (catalogue.
 func parseManifest(raw string) (catalogue.Manifest, error) {
 	return catalogue.ParseManifestForInputs([]byte(raw))
 }
+
+// awaitedKV is a bucket that may appear after the start (process.AwaitBucket) as a check.KV: a call while it is not on the
+// bus fails saying so.
+type awaitedKV struct{ b *process.AwaitedBucket }
+
+func (a awaitedKV) kv() (kvStore, error) {
+	kv := a.b.KV()
+	if kv == nil {
+		return kvStore{}, errors.New("the bucket is not on the bus yet")
+	}
+	return kvStore{kv}, nil
+}
+
+func (a awaitedKV) Get(ctx context.Context, key string) ([]byte, uint64, bool, error) {
+	s, err := a.kv()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, 0, false, err
+	}
+	return s.Get(ctx, key)
+}
+
+func (a awaitedKV) Create(ctx context.Context, key string, value []byte) (uint64, error) {
+	s, err := a.kv()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	return s.Create(ctx, key, value)
+}
+
+func (a awaitedKV) Update(ctx context.Context, key string, value []byte, revision uint64) (uint64, error) {
+	s, err := a.kv()
+	if err != nil {
+		return 0, err
+	}
+	return s.Update(ctx, key, value, revision)
+}
+
+func (a awaitedKV) Keys(ctx context.Context) ([]string, error) {
+	s, err := a.kv()
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	return s.Keys(ctx)
+}
+
+func (a awaitedKV) Delete(ctx context.Context, key string) error {
+	s, err := a.kv()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return s.Delete(ctx, key)
+}
@@ -89,6 +89,8 @@ type fakeBuildModules struct {
 	// beside is, by workspace, the siblings the fetch placed in it as `<owner/repo> <commit>`, sorted: a digest echoes them
 	// (1929/AC2; mesh-sdk buildstep.besideOf), or the level runs whole and keeps nothing.
 	beside map[string][]string
+	// names are the nodes' names the last check ask carried, for the names check (ADR 0567 §12).
+	names []string
 }

 func (f *fakeBuildModules) count(tool string) int {
@@ -191,7 +193,14 @@ func (f *fakeBuildModules) serve(t *testing.T, module string, kept jetstream.Key
 	}
 	p := &buildstep.Puller{Source: &buildstep.JetStreamAsks{JS: f.js, Language: language}, Language: language, Node: "n1", Put: put,
 		Capacity: func() int { return 2 }, PullWait: 200 * time.Millisecond,
-		Run: func(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (any, error) { return buildstep.RunAsk(ctx, steps, a) }}
+		Run: func(ctx context.Context, a delivery.StepAsk) (any, error) {
+			if a.Check != nil {
+				f.mu.Lock()
+				f.names = a.Check.NodeNames
+				f.mu.Unlock()
+			}
+			return buildstep.RunAsk(ctx, steps, a)
+		}}
 	go func() { _ = p.Pull(f.ctx) }()
 }

@@ -334,6 +343,7 @@ func startBed(t *testing.T) *bed {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
 	b.setOnline(t, "n1", true)
+	b.setNode(t, "n1")
 	for _, module := range []string{"mesh-build-go", "mesh-build-node"} {
 		b.setHealth(t, "n1", module)
 	}
@@ -366,6 +376,20 @@ func (b *bed) setOnline(t *testing.T, node string, online bool) {
 	}
 }

+// setNode writes the node's record in the node-engine's have, as the node-engine does, so the checker names it in each
+// check ask (ADR 0567 §12); with no record the checker asks no check.
+func (b *bed) setNode(t *testing.T, node string) {
+	t.Helper()
+	data, err := delivery.EncodeNodeRecord(delivery.NodeRecord{V: 1, Node: node})
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	key, _ := delivery.HaveNodeKey(node)
+	if _, err := b.buckets[delivery.HaveBucket].Put(b.ctx, key, data); err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+}
+
 func (b *bed) setHealth(t *testing.T, node, module string) {
 	t.Helper()
 	data, err := delivery.EncodeHave(delivery.Have{Phase: delivery.PhaseRunning, Health: delivery.HealthOK})
@@ -493,6 +517,12 @@ func TestCheckerJudgesACandidateAndOwesItsStatus(t *testing.T) { // N6/AC5, 1300
 	if v.Composition == nil || v.Composition.State != delivery.CompositionNotRun || len(v.Machines) != 1 || v.Machines[0] != "n1" {
 		t.Errorf("composition %+v machines %v", v.Composition, v.Machines)
 	}
+	b.fake.mu.Lock()
+	names := b.fake.names
+	b.fake.mu.Unlock()
+	if len(names) != 1 || names[0] != "n1" {
+		t.Errorf("the check ask named the nodes %v, want [n1] from the have's node record", names)
+	}
 	o := b.owed(t, 7, head1, "success")
 	if o.Context != delivery.StatusContextCheck || !strings.HasPrefix(o.Text, "pass 111111111111 on aaaaaaaaaaaa") || !strings.Contains(o.Text, "unit 2 run") {
 		t.Errorf("owed = %+v", o)
@@ -797,7 +827,8 @@ func TestTheCheckerSaysOwedReadableOnTheBus(t *testing.T) { // R2-1
 		break
 	}
 	if said.Module != "mesh-delivery-checker" || said.Node != "n1" || !said.Keeps("owed") || !said.Readable("owed") ||
-		!said.Readable("previews") || !said.Readable("verdicts") || !said.Readable("kept") || !said.Readable("tries") || said.Readable("hearing") || len(said.States) != 6 {
-		t.Fatalf("the checker said %+v, want its six states with kept, owed, previews, tries and verdicts readable, tries by the delivery view (1929/AC4; 1887 A5b; build_usage)", said)
+		!said.Readable("previews") || !said.Readable("verdicts") || !said.Readable("kept") || !said.Readable("tries") || said.Readable("hearing") ||
+		!said.Keeps("asks") || said.Readable("asks") || len(said.States) != 7 {
+		t.Fatalf("the checker said %+v, want its seven states, asks and hearing its own, with kept, owed, previews, tries and verdicts readable, tries by the delivery view (1929/AC4; 1887 A5b; build_usage)", said)
 	}
 }
@@ -69,6 +69,8 @@ var keptStates = []announce.State{
 	// design limit 1); the checker alone writes them (ADR 0444 clause 5).
 	// Whether DEAD_LETTERS is heard (issue 734): read by the checker's own status tool alone.
 	{Name: "hearing"},
+	// The asks each running check put (check.AsksState): read by the checker's own checker_ask_again alone.
+	{Name: "asks"},
 	{Name: "kept", Readable: true},
 	{Name: "owed", Readable: true},
 	{Name: "previews", Readable: true},
@@ -144,9 +146,14 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 	hearing := buildrun.NewDeadLetterHearing(ctx, buildrun.JetStreamDeadLetters{JS: js}, []string{delivery.AskGo, delivery.AskNode}, dead,
 		logger.Printf, buildrun.SayHearing(ctx, hearingKV, logger.Printf))
 	defer hearing.Stop()
-	conn.SetReconnectHandler(func(*nats.Conn) { hearing.Again() })
-	waiter := buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: asks, Dead: dead, Hearing: hearing}
+	// Each ask's step is heard by its own watch and, at every step end of its build module and every reconnect, read
+	// (buildrun.HearEnds): a watch that goes deaf loses no end (the lost check of 2026-10-28).
+	heard := buildrun.HearEnds(ctx, asks, asks, []string{buildrun.GoBuildModule, buildrun.NodeBuildModule}, logger.Printf)
+	conn.SetReconnectHandler(func(*nats.Conn) { hearing.Again(); heard.Nudge("") })
+	waiter := buildrun.LostAskWaiter{Inner: heard, Dead: dead, Hearing: hearing}
+	asksKV := process.AwaitBucket(ctx, js, conn, check.AsksBucket, "checker_ask_again refuses every check, as it cannot tell whether its ask waits in a stream", logger.Printf)
 	ch := &check.Checker{
+		Asks:     awaitedKV{asksKV},
 		Verdicts: kvStore{buckets[delivery.CheckerVerdictsBucket]},
 		Owed:     kvStore{buckets[delivery.CheckerOwedBucket]},
 		Trunks:   trunks,
@@ -331,6 +338,18 @@ func run(ctx context.Context, getenv func(string) string, logOut io.Writer) erro
 			}
 		})
 	}()
+	// The checker's own verdicts, updates only: one checker_ask_again wrote asks its check again (Checker.VerdictWritten).
+	vw, err := buckets[delivery.CheckerVerdictsBucket].WatchAll(ctx, jetstream.UpdatesOnly())
+	if err != nil {
+		return fmt.Errorf("the checker's verdicts cannot be watched, so no check can be asked again by hand: %w", err)
+	}
+	go func() {
+		errs <- follow(ctx, vw, func(e jetstream.KeyValueEntry) {
+			if opOf(e) {
+				ch.VerdictWritten(ctx, e.Key(), e.Value())
+			}
+		})
+	}()
 	logger.Printf("started on %s", cred.Node)
 	go func() { errs <- follow(ctx, w, each) }()
 	select {
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ module mesh-delivery-checker
 go 1.26.0

 require (
-	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028174713-38dbe1d3a388
+	git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028193502-f91340fe82ef
 	github.com/nats-io/nats-server/v2 v2.11.17
 	github.com/nats-io/nats.go v1.54.0
 )
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028174713-38dbe1d3a388 h1:ycu/sNieTdLpD3bzhZOCXdzcoqXUOxPRmqWV019REpo=
-git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028174713-38dbe1d3a388/go.mod h1:ouERNpZizzwZ0HLEtAypsY9FR20FyUgUYRni6J7kVCY=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028193502-f91340fe82ef h1:ggwHXCvAOhBCKAY+ErehKEhu/IQTS4poJBRDokGYnDc=
+git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go v0.1.14-0.20261028193502-f91340fe82ef/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=
@@ -0,0 +1,198 @@
+package check
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"encoding/json"
+	"errors"
+	"fmt"
+	"strings"
+
+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
+)
+
+// **A check is asked again by hand** (the lost check of 2026-10-28; tools-are-how-a-module-is-spoken-to: every recovery
+// has a tool). checker_ask_again ends a candidate's running verdict, whose wait judged nothing, with AskedAgainWords and
+// the why; the checker hears it on its watch of its verdicts (Checker.VerdictWritten), ends the check of those heads
+// running in it, and claims and asks it anew, a whole check (IsEnded). It is refused while a step of the candidate's pull
+// requests can still run (checker_status's running_steps): that step's end judges it; and while an ask the check put is
+// still in its build seat's stream, taken by no node (it has no step key yet): asking again then would run the check twice
+// (issue 1791's kind). The checker keeps the asks each running check put in its state asks (AsksState, by verdict key).
+// An ask is not put again under its own id instead: the stream de-duplicates an id within its window, so the copy waiting
+// stays and the new one is dropped, and past the window both would run; nothing takes a put ask back (buildrun.Asker).
+
+// AsksState is the checker's state of the asks each running check put, by verdict key (CheckAsks); AsksBucket its bucket.
+const (
+	AsksState  = "asks"
+	AsksBucket = delivery.CheckerModule + "_" + AsksState
+)
+
+// CheckAsks are the asks a check put, in order, as the state asks keeps them while it runs; its end deletes the key.
+type CheckAsks struct {
+	Asks []string `json:"asks"`
+}
+
+// AsksKV is the state asks: a KV whose key a check's end deletes, so the state holds only the checks that run.
+type AsksKV interface {
+	KV
+	Delete(ctx context.Context, key string) error
+}
+
+// forgetAsks deletes the asks a check put at its end; one that cannot be deleted is said, and the next check of the same
+// heads writes the key anew.
+func (ch *Checker) forgetAsks(ctx context.Context, key string) {
+	if err := ch.Asks.Delete(ctx, key); err != nil {
+		ch.logf("%s: the asks it put could not be forgotten at its end: %v", key, err)
+	}
+}
+
+// recordAsks keeps the asks a check put under its verdict key; nil Asks keeps nothing. A record that cannot be written
+// is said: checker_ask_again then refuses the check, as it cannot tell whether its ask waits in a stream.
+func (ch *Checker) recordAsks(ctx context.Context, key string, asks []string) {
+	if ch.Asks == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	data, err := json.Marshal(CheckAsks{Asks: asks})
+	if err == nil {
+		_, err = putOnce(ctx, ch.Asks, key, data, func(cur []byte) bool { return string(cur) == string(data) })
+	}
+	if err != nil {
+		ch.logf("%s: the asks it put cannot be kept (%v), so %s refuses it", key, err, AskAgainTool)
+	}
+}
+
+// AskAgainTool asks a candidate's check again by hand.
+const AskAgainTool = "checker_ask_again"
+
+// AskedAgainWords open the words of a verdict AskAgainTool wrote; the why follows.
+const AskedAgainWords = EndedWords + "asked again by hand (" + AskAgainTool + "): "
+
+// errAskedAgain is the cause a running check is ended with when its verdict was asked again by hand.
+var errAskedAgain = errors.New("its verdict was asked again by hand (" + AskAgainTool + ")")
+
+// IsAskedAgain says whether a verdict was written by AskAgainTool.
+func IsAskedAgain(v delivery.Verdict) bool {
+	return IsEnded(v) && strings.HasPrefix(v.Failed.Words, AskedAgainWords)
+}
+
+// VerdictEntry is the verdicts state as the ask-again tool writes it: a key's value and revision (nil and 0 for none),
+// and a compare-and-set.
+type VerdictEntry interface {
+	Entry(key string) (json.RawMessage, uint64, error)
+	Update(key string, value []byte, revision uint64) error
+}
+
+// AskedAgain is the answer of AskAgainTool.
+type AskedAgain struct {
+	Key  string `json:"key"`
+	Was  string `json:"was"`
+	Said string `json:"said"`
+	Note string `json:"note"`
+}
+
+// AskAgain ends the running verdict of the group's candidate as asked again by hand, saying why. It refuses a group with
+// no candidate, a verdict that is not running (a pass or a failure stands until a push or a trunk move), one a step of
+// whose pull requests can still run, and one whose asks are not known or one of which no node took yet.
+func (r Reader) AskAgain(w VerdictEntry, group, why string) (AskedAgain, error) {
+	why = strings.TrimSpace(why)
+	if group == "" || why == "" {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("give the group and why it is asked again")
+	}
+	if w == nil {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("the verdicts state cannot be written here")
+	}
+	c, ok := r.candidate(group)
+	if !ok {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("no candidate is held for the group %q", group)
+	}
+	key, err := delivery.CheckerVerdictKey(c.Group, c.HeadsHash)
+	if err != nil {
+		return AskedAgain{}, err
+	}
+	raw, rev, err := w.Entry(key)
+	if err != nil {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("%s cannot be read: %w", key, err)
+	}
+	if len(raw) == 0 {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("%s holds no verdict: the checker claims its check when it looks at the candidate (%s)", key, StatusReadTool)
+	}
+	v, err := delivery.DecodeVerdict(raw)
+	if err != nil {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("%s holds what is not a verdict: %w", key, err)
+	}
+	if v.State != delivery.VerdictRunning {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("%s is %s, not running: a verdict stands until a push or a trunk move asks it again", key, v.State)
+	}
+	steps := r.readSteps()
+	for _, rs := range steps.running {
+		if asksOf(c, rs.What) {
+			return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("a step of it runs: %s %s on %s since %s (%s); its end judges it", rs.Module, rs.ID, rs.Node, rs.Since, rs.What)
+		}
+	}
+	if r.AskState.Get == nil {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("the checker's asks are not readable here, so whether its ask waits in a build seat's stream cannot be told")
+	}
+	kept, err := r.AskState.Get(key)
+	var put CheckAsks
+	if err == nil && len(kept) > 0 {
+		err = json.Unmarshal(kept, &put)
+	}
+	if err != nil || len(put.Asks) == 0 {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("the checker names no ask of %s (%v), so whether one waits in a build seat's stream cannot be told; asking again could run it twice", key, err)
+	}
+	taken := map[string]bool{}
+	for _, s := range steps.all {
+		taken[s.step.ID] = true
+	}
+	for _, id := range put.Asks {
+		if !taken[id] {
+			return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("its ask %s waits in its build seat's stream, taken by no node yet: asking again would run it twice; "+
+				"the seats' backlog is in mesh-delivery-view.build_usage", id)
+		}
+	}
+	words := AskedAgainWords + why
+	ended := delivery.Verdict{Group: v.Group, Heads: v.Heads, Trunk: v.Trunk, State: delivery.VerdictFail,
+		Failed: delivery.FailedFirst{Machine: "checker", Words: words}}
+	data, err := delivery.EncodeVerdict(ended)
+	if err != nil {
+		return AskedAgain{}, err
+	}
+	if err := w.Update(key, data, rev); err != nil {
+		return AskedAgain{}, fmt.Errorf("%s changed while it was asked again, so it was not; read it again: %w", key, err)
+	}
+	return AskedAgain{Key: key, Was: v.State, Said: words,
+		Note: "the checker hears it on its watch of its verdicts, ends the wait that judged nothing and asks the check anew, whole; " +
+			VerdictsReadTool + " shows it running again"}, nil
+}
+
+// VerdictWritten takes a change of the checker's verdicts in (its watch, updates only): a verdict AskAgainTool wrote ends
+// the check of those heads running in this process, which then considers them again; with none running, the candidate
+// that holds them is considered at once. Any other verdict is the checker's own, and left.
+func (ch *Checker) VerdictWritten(ctx context.Context, key string, value []byte) {
+	v, err := delivery.DecodeVerdict(value)
+	if err != nil || !IsAskedAgain(v) {
+		return
+	}
+	ch.init()
+	ch.mu.Lock()
+	if l, ok := ch.live[key]; ok {
+		l.end(errAskedAgain)
+		ch.mu.Unlock()
+		ch.logf("%s: %s; the check running for it is ended and asked again", key, v.Failed.Words)
+		return
+	}
+	var group string
+	var cand delivery.Candidate
+	for k, c := range ch.known {
+		if vk, err := delivery.CheckerVerdictKey(c.Group, c.HeadsHash); err == nil && vk == key {
+			group, cand = k, c
+			break
+		}
+	}
+	ch.mu.Unlock()
+	if group == "" {
+		ch.logf("%s: %s, but no candidate holds these heads, so nothing is asked", key, v.Failed.Words)
+		return
+	}
+	ch.logf("%s: %s; asked again", key, v.Failed.Words)
+	ch.consider(ctx, group, cand)
+}
@@ -79,6 +79,8 @@ type Checker struct {
 	}
 	// Bound is how long one check may run; none when 0 (DefaultBound).
 	Bound time.Duration
+	// Asks keeps the asks each running check put, by verdict key (AsksState), for checker_ask_again; nil keeps none.
+	Asks AsksKV
 	// Link is the base of the address a status points at; the verdict key follows.
 	Link string
 	// Announce says a status was written (EventOwedWritten); nil says nothing.
@@ -328,7 +330,11 @@ func (ch *Checker) consider(ctx context.Context, key string, c delivery.Candidat
 			delete(ch.again, vkey)
 			delete(ch.live, vkey)
 			ch.mu.Unlock()
+			again := errors.Is(context.Cause(run), errAskedAgain)
 			end(nil)
+			if again && ctx.Err() == nil {
+				ch.consider(ctx, key, ch.candidate(key, c)) // asked again by hand (AskAgainTool): claimed anew
+			}
 		}()
 		for {
 			// Every check is asked at once: the build seats' streams hold the backlog, a new head's check and a check after a
@@ -711,10 +717,20 @@ func (ch *Checker) try(ctx, run context.Context, key string, cs *Case) {
 		return
 	}
 	began := ch.now()
+	if cs.Watch == nil && ch.Asks != nil {
+		cs.Watch = func(_ string, step *delivery.Step) {
+			if step == nil { // put: kept before its wait starts
+				ch.recordAsks(ctx, cs.Key, cs.Asks())
+			}
+		}
+		defer ch.forgetAsks(ctx, cs.Key)
+	}
 	ch.writeOwed(ctx, cs, delivery.Verdict{State: delivery.VerdictRunning}, Outcome{})
 	out := ch.judge(run, cs)
-	// An ask the build seat gave up on judged nothing (issue 734): the check is asked again under the same claim, its status
-	// pending, and after LostAskTries it fails as not heard, judged again when the nodes change.
+	// An ask the build seat gave up on, or whose step the build module's next process ended because it was replaced under
+	// it, judged nothing (issue 734, IsLostAsk): the check is asked again under the same claim, its status pending, and after
+	// LostAskTries it fails as not heard, judged again when the nodes change. A step that ended while its watch was deaf is
+	// read at the next nudge (HeardEnds) and judged.
 	for try := 1; IsLostAsk(out.Verdict) && run.Err() == nil; try++ {
 		if try >= LostAskTries {
 			out.Verdict.Failed.Words = strings.TrimSpace(out.Verdict.Failed.Words + "\nasked " + fmt.Sprint(LostAskTries) +
@@ -724,8 +740,8 @@ func (ch *Checker) try(ctx, run context.Context, key string, cs *Case) {
 		ch.logf("%s: %s; asked again (%d of %d)", cs.Key, out.Verdict.Failed.Words, try+1, LostAskTries)
 		out = ch.judge(run, cs)
 	}
-	if ctx.Err() != nil {
-		return
+	if ctx.Err() != nil || errors.Is(context.Cause(run), errAskedAgain) {
+		return // the checker stops, or the verdict was asked again by hand, which wrote it: its next check claims it anew
 	}
 	var why superseded
 	if errors.As(context.Cause(run), &why) {
@@ -60,3 +60,11 @@ func (m *memKV) Keys(context.Context) ([]string, error) {
 	sort.Strings(keys)
 	return keys, nil
 }
+
+func (m *memKV) Delete(_ context.Context, key string) error {
+	m.mu.Lock()
+	defer m.mu.Unlock()
+	delete(m.vals, key)
+	delete(m.revs, key)
+	return nil
+}
@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package check
 import (
 	"strings"

+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
 )
@@ -19,9 +20,13 @@ import (
 // judged again when the nodes change.
 const LostAskTries = 3

-// IsLostAsk says whether a verdict failed because the build seat gave its ask up (buildrun.LostWords).
+// IsLostAsk says whether a verdict failed because its ask judged nothing: the build seat gave it up (buildrun.LostWords), or
+// the build module that ran its step was replaced under it, and its next process ended the step it left running
+// (buildstep.RestartReason; a delivery of the build module, as on 2026-10-28). Neither is the change's failure: the check
+// is asked again, as for a given-up ask.
 func IsLostAsk(v delivery.Verdict) bool {
-	return v.State == delivery.VerdictFail && strings.Contains(v.Failed.Words, buildrun.LostWords)
+	return v.State == delivery.VerdictFail && (strings.Contains(v.Failed.Words, buildrun.LostWords) ||
+		strings.Contains(v.Failed.Words, buildstep.RestartReason))
 }

 // IsNotTaken says whether a verdict failed because no build node took its ask within the bound (buildrun.NotTakenWords).
@@ -8,6 +8,7 @@ import (
 	"testing"
 	"time"

+	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/buildstep"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery"
 	"git.novox.be/novox/mesh-sdk/go/delivery/buildrun"
 )
@@ -141,30 +142,206 @@ func TestAnAskGivenUpOrNeverTakenEndsItsTryAsErrorAndItsHeadIsAskedAnew(t *testi
 	})
 }

-// Issue 734: a pull request's check whose ask the build seat gave up on is asked again under its claim, its status
-// pending, and judged; one given up every time fails as not heard and is judged again when the nodes change.
-func TestACheckWhoseAskWasGivenUpIsAskedAgain(t *testing.T) {
+// troubled is the build seat as a check meets it when its step's end does not reach its wait: the first `restarts` asks'
+// steps are ended by the build module's next process (buildstep.RestartReason), and the first `deaf` asks' watches hear
+// nothing though their steps end (the lost check of 2026-10-28). Its steps state is read through AskSteps and Steps.
+type troubled struct {
+	*buildrun.FakeAsks
+	answer func(delivery.StepAsk) delivery.Step
+
+	mu             sync.Mutex
+	restarts, deaf int
+	deafIDs        map[string]bool
+	steps          map[string]delivery.Step
+}
+
+func (tr *troubled) PublishAsk(ctx context.Context, subject, id string, data []byte) error {
+	if err := tr.FakeAsks.PublishAsk(ctx, subject, id, data); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	a, err := delivery.DecodeStepAsk(data)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	step := tr.answer(a)
+	step.What = buildstep.AskWhat(a)
+	tr.mu.Lock()
+	if tr.restarts > 0 {
+		tr.restarts--
+		step.State, step.Reason, step.Result = delivery.StepFailed, buildstep.RestartReason, nil
+	}
+	deaf := tr.deaf > 0
+	if deaf {
+		tr.deaf--
+		tr.deafIDs[id] = true
+	}
+	tr.steps[id] = step
+	tr.mu.Unlock()
+	if !deaf {
+		tr.Write(step)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
+func (tr *troubled) WatchAsk(ctx context.Context, module, askID string) (<-chan delivery.Step, error) {
+	tr.mu.Lock()
+	deaf := tr.deafIDs[askID]
+	tr.mu.Unlock()
+	if deaf {
+		return make(chan delivery.Step), nil // open, and silent for good
+	}
+	return tr.FakeAsks.WatchAsk(ctx, module, askID)
+}
+
+func (tr *troubled) AskSteps(_ context.Context, _, askID string) ([]delivery.Step, error) {
+	tr.mu.Lock()
+	defer tr.mu.Unlock()
+	if s, ok := tr.steps[askID]; ok {
+		return []delivery.Step{s}, nil
+	}
+	return nil, nil
+}
+
+// Steps is the steps state as the read tools read it, with running in place of every step the hand has not let end.
+func (tr *troubled) Steps(running bool) StateRead {
+	tr.mu.Lock()
+	defer tr.mu.Unlock()
+	vals := map[string]json.RawMessage{}
+	for id, s := range tr.steps {
+		if running {
+			s.State, s.Ended, s.Started = delivery.StepRunning, time.Time{}, time.Now()
+		}
+		raw, _ := delivery.EncodeStep(s)
+		vals[s.Node+"."+id] = raw
+	}
+	return StateRead{Keys: func() ([]string, error) {
+		var out []string
+		for k := range vals {
+			out = append(out, k)
+		}
+		return out, nil
+	}, Get: func(k string) (json.RawMessage, error) { return vals[k], nil }}
+}
+
+// kvRead is a bucket in memory as the read tools read it, live.
+func kvRead(kv *memKV) StateRead {
+	return StateRead{Keys: func() ([]string, error) { return kv.Keys(context.Background()) },
+		Get: func(k string) (json.RawMessage, error) {
+			v, _, _, err := kv.Get(context.Background(), k)
+			return v, err
+		}}
+}
+
+// asVerdicts is the rig's verdicts as the ask-again tool reads and writes them.
+type asVerdicts struct{ kv *memKV }
+
+func (a asVerdicts) Entry(key string) (json.RawMessage, uint64, error) {
+	v, rev, _, err := a.kv.Get(context.Background(), key)
+	return v, rev, err
+}
+func (a asVerdicts) Update(key string, value []byte, revision uint64) error {
+	_, err := a.kv.Update(context.Background(), key, value, revision)
+	return err
+}
+
+// Issue 734 and the lost check of 2026-10-28: a check whose ask judged nothing is asked again, and one whose step ended
+// unheard is judged. Given up by the build seat once, or its step ended by the build module's next process after a
+// delivery replaced it, the check is asked again under its claim and passes; given up every time it fails loudly as not
+// heard, judged again when the nodes change. A step whose watch went deaf is read at the next step end of its build module
+// (a nudge) and judged with no new ask; one no event reaches is named lost by checker_status, refused by checker_ask_again
+// while its step still runs, and asked again by it once its step ended.
+func TestACheckWhoseAskJudgedNothingIsAskedAgainOrRead(t *testing.T) {
 	ctx := context.Background()
 	for _, row := range []struct {
-		lose  int
-		state string
-		asks  int
+		name                 string
+		lose, restarts, deaf int
+		how                  string // "nudge": a step of the build module ends; "hand": checker_ask_again
+		state                string
+		asks                 int
 	}{
-		{1, delivery.VerdictPass, 2},
-		{LostAskTries, delivery.VerdictFail, LostAskTries},
+		{name: "given up once", lose: 1, state: delivery.VerdictPass, asks: 2},
+		{name: "given up every time", lose: LostAskTries, state: delivery.VerdictFail, asks: LostAskTries},
+		{name: "its build module replaced under it", restarts: 1, state: delivery.VerdictPass, asks: 2},
+		{name: "replaced under every ask", restarts: LostAskTries, state: delivery.VerdictFail, asks: LostAskTries},
+		{name: "its watch deaf, a step of its build module ends", deaf: 1, how: "nudge", state: delivery.VerdictPass, asks: 1},
+		{name: "its watch deaf, asked again by hand", deaf: 1, how: "hand", state: delivery.VerdictPass, asks: 2},
+		{name: "its watch deaf, asked again by hand after its build module replaced it", deaf: 1, restarts: 1, how: "hand", state: delivery.VerdictPass, asks: 2},
 	} {
-		b := newBench(t)
-		l := losing(b, row.lose)
-		r := newRig(t, b.ex)
-		cand := candidateOf(t, "feat/x", pullOf(repoA, 7, head1))
-		r.ch.Candidate(ctx, "feat%2Fx", cand)
-		r.ch.Wait()
-		v := r.verdict(t, keyOf(t, "feat/x", cand))
-		if v.State != row.state || len(l.Asks()) != row.asks {
-			t.Errorf("lose %d: verdict %s (%s) after %d asks, want %s after %d", row.lose, v.State, v.Failed.Words, len(l.Asks()), row.state, row.asks)
-		}
-		if row.state == delivery.VerdictFail && (!IsLostAsk(v) || !IsNodesFailure(v)) {
-			t.Errorf("a check given up every time = %q, want lost and judged again when the nodes change", v.Failed.Words)
-		}
+		t.Run(row.name, func(t *testing.T) {
+			b := newBench(t)
+			var asked func() int
+			var heard *buildrun.HeardEnds
+			var tr *troubled
+			if row.lose > 0 {
+				l := losing(b, row.lose)
+				asked = func() int { return len(l.Asks()) }
+			} else {
+				tr = &troubled{FakeAsks: &buildrun.FakeAsks{}, answer: b.answer, restarts: row.restarts, deaf: row.deaf,
+					deafIDs: map[string]bool{}, steps: map[string]delivery.Step{}}
+				heard = &buildrun.HeardEnds{Inner: tr, Read: tr}
+				b.ex.Asks = buildrun.Asker{Publisher: tr, Waiter: heard, Bound: 5 * time.Second}
+				asked = func() int { return len(tr.Asks()) }
+			}
+			r := newRig(t, b.ex)
+			asksKept := newMemKV()
+			r.ch.Asks = asksKept
+			cand := candidateOf(t, "feat/x", pullOf(repoA, 7, head1))
+			key := keyOf(t, "feat/x", cand)
+			r.ch.Candidate(ctx, "feat%2Fx", cand)
+			if row.deaf > 0 {
+				for deadline := time.Now().Add(2 * time.Second); heard.Waiting() == 0 && time.Now().Before(deadline); {
+					time.Sleep(2 * time.Millisecond)
+				}
+				if v := r.verdict(t, key); v.State != delivery.VerdictRunning {
+					t.Fatalf("a check whose step ended unheard = %s, want running until it is read", v.State)
+				}
+			}
+			switch row.how {
+			case "nudge":
+				heard.Nudge(buildrun.NodeBuildModule) // another build module's step: not this one's to read
+				heard.Nudge(buildrun.GoBuildModule)
+			case "hand":
+				cands := newMemKV()
+				ckey, _ := delivery.CandidatesKey("feat/x")
+				_, _ = cands.Create(ctx, ckey, cand)
+				none := StateRead{Keys: func() ([]string, error) { return nil, nil }, Get: func(string) (json.RawMessage, error) { return nil, nil }}
+				rd := Reader{CandidateState: kvRead(cands), VerdictState: kvRead(r.verdicts), AskState: kvRead(asksKept),
+					StepStates: map[string]StateRead{buildrun.GoBuildModule: none}} // no node took its ask yet
+				if _, err := rd.AskAgain(asVerdicts{r.verdicts}, "feat/x", "its watch went deaf"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "waits in its build seat's stream") {
+					t.Errorf("asked again while its ask waits in the stream (issue 1791's kind): %v", err)
+				}
+				rd.StepStates[buildrun.GoBuildModule] = tr.Steps(true)
+				if _, err := rd.AskAgain(asVerdicts{r.verdicts}, "feat/x", "its watch went deaf"); err == nil || !strings.Contains(err.Error(), "a step of it runs") {
+					t.Errorf("asked again while its step runs: %v", err)
+				}
+				rd.StepStates[buildrun.GoBuildModule] = tr.Steps(false)
+				if st, _ := rd.Status(); !strings.Contains(st.Lost["feat/x"], AskAgainTool) {
+					t.Errorf("status lost = %v, want feat/x named with %s", st.Lost, AskAgainTool)
+				}
+				got, err := rd.AskAgain(asVerdicts{r.verdicts}, "feat/x", "its watch went deaf")
+				if err != nil || got.Key != key || !strings.HasPrefix(got.Said, AskedAgainWords) {
+					t.Fatalf("asked again = %+v, %v", got, err)
+				}
+				raw, _, _, _ := r.verdicts.Get(ctx, key)
+				r.ch.VerdictWritten(ctx, key, raw) // the checker's watch of its verdicts hands it over
+			}
+			r.ch.Wait()
+			v := r.verdict(t, key)
+			if v.State != row.state || asked() != row.asks {
+				t.Errorf("verdict %s (%s) after %d asks, want %s after %d", v.State, v.Failed.Words, asked(), row.state, row.asks)
+			}
+			if _, _, kept, _ := asksKept.Get(ctx, key); kept {
+				t.Errorf("the asks of the ended check are still kept under %s", key)
+			}
+			if row.state == delivery.VerdictFail && (!IsLostAsk(v) || !IsNodesFailure(v)) {
+				t.Errorf("a check that judged nothing every time = %q, want lost and judged again when the nodes change", v.Failed.Words)
+			}
+			if row.how == "hand" {
+				rd := Reader{VerdictState: kvRead(r.verdicts), CandidateState: kvRead(newMemKV())}
+				if _, err := rd.AskAgain(asVerdicts{r.verdicts}, "feat/x", "again"); err == nil {
+					t.Error("a judged check was asked again")
+				}
+			}
+		})
 	}
 }
@@ -47,7 +47,9 @@ type Reader struct {
 	Runs interface{ CommitOf(module string) string }
 	// HearingState is the checker's state hearing: whether it hears DEAD_LETTERS (issue 734).
 	HearingState StateRead
-	Now          func() time.Time
+	// AskState is the checker's state asks: the asks each running check put (AsksState), which checker_ask_again reads.
+	AskState StateRead
+	Now      func() time.Time
 }

 // VerdictRead is a verdict as stored with the full report of the status of each pull request it judged (Report), when the
@@ -306,6 +308,8 @@ type RunningStep struct {
 	ID     string `json:"id"`
 	Tool   string `json:"tool"`
 	Since  string `json:"since,omitempty"`
+	// What says what the step is (buildstep.AskWhat): an ask's kind, repository@head and levels.
+	What string `json:"what,omitempty"`
 }

 // LeftStep is a key a build module left running that no step behind it runs any more, and why.
@@ -331,6 +335,9 @@ type Status struct {
 	// CannotBeJudged are the candidates no pull request of which can be judged, by group, with why: the gate's source.main
 	// names no trunk head of their repositories (issue 1422). They are judged once it does; until then their status is error.
 	CannotBeJudged map[string]string `json:"cannot_be_judged"`
+	// Lost are the candidates whose verdict is running while no step of theirs can still run and their newest step ended, by
+	// group, with that step: nothing will judge them (the lost check of 2026-10-28); checker_ask_again asks one again.
+	Lost map[string]string `json:"lost"`
 	// DeadLetters says whether the checker hears the asks the build seats give up on (issue 734): deaf, a try or check
 	// whose ask is given up waits until its bound.
 	DeadLetters DeadLettersHeard `json:"dead_letters"`
@@ -394,63 +401,11 @@ func heldBy(t *Turns, c delivery.Candidate, heads map[string]string) string {

 // Status reads the build modules' steps and the candidates against their verdicts.
 func (r Reader) Status() (Status, error) {
-	st := Status{RunningByNode: map[string]int{}}
-	mods := make([]string, 0, len(r.StepStates))
-	for m := range r.StepStates {
-		mods = append(mods, m)
-	}
-	sort.Strings(mods)
-	st.Running, st.LeftRunning = []RunningStep{}, []LeftStep{}
-	now, bound := time.Now(), r.StepBound
-	if r.Now != nil {
-		now = r.Now()
-	}
-	if bound <= 0 {
-		bound = DefaultStepBound
-	}
-	for _, m := range mods {
-		sr := r.StepStates[m]
-		if sr.Keys == nil || sr.Get == nil {
-			continue
-		}
-		keys, err := sr.Keys()
-		if err != nil {
-			st.Notes = append(st.Notes, "the steps of "+m+" cannot be listed: "+err.Error())
-			continue
-		}
-		// A step that runs started lately: the newest ids are read first, at most MaxReads of them.
-		newestFirst(keys)
-		keys, cut := capKeys(keys, "")
-		if cut != "" {
-			st.Notes = append(st.Notes, "the steps of "+m+": read the newest "+fmt.Sprint(MaxReads)+" of its keys; a step older than those is not shown")
-		}
-		steps := make([]delivery.Step, len(keys))
-		isRunning := make([]bool, len(keys))
-		_ = parallel(len(keys), func(i int) error {
-			raw, err := sr.Get(keys[i])
-			if err != nil || len(raw) == 0 {
-				return nil
-			}
-			step, err := delivery.DecodeStep(raw)
-			steps[i], isRunning[i] = step, err == nil && step.State == delivery.StepRunning
-			return nil
-		})
-		for i := range keys {
-			if !isRunning[i] {
-				continue
-			}
-			step := steps[i]
-			rs := RunningStep{Module: m, Node: step.Node, ID: step.ID, Tool: step.Tool}
-			if !step.Started.IsZero() {
-				rs.Since = step.Started.UTC().Format("2006-01-02T15:04:05Z")
-			}
-			if why := r.leftWhy(m, step, now, bound); why != "" {
-				st.LeftRunning = append(st.LeftRunning, LeftStep{RunningStep: rs, Why: why})
-				continue
-			}
-			st.Running = append(st.Running, rs)
-			st.RunningByNode[step.Node]++
-		}
+	st := Status{RunningByNode: map[string]int{}, Lost: map[string]string{}}
+	read := r.readSteps()
+	st.Running, st.LeftRunning, st.Notes = read.running, read.left, read.notes
+	for _, rs := range st.Running {
+		st.RunningByNode[rs.Node]++
 	}
 	if r.HaveState.Get == nil {
 		st.Notes = append(st.Notes, "the node-engine's have is not readable here, so a step is not checked against its build module being on its node")
@@ -530,7 +485,11 @@ func (r Reader) Status() (Status, error) {
 			}
 			v, err := delivery.DecodeVerdict(raw)
 			switch {
-			case err != nil || v.State == delivery.VerdictRunning:
+			case err != nil:
+			case v.State == delivery.VerdictRunning:
+				if why := read.lostWhy(c); why != "" {
+					st.Lost[c.Group] = why
+				}
 			case IsNodesFailure(v):
 				st.Waiting[KindNodes] = append(st.Waiting[KindNodes], c.Group)
 			case IsUntrunked(v):
@@ -551,6 +510,118 @@ func (r Reader) Status() (Status, error) {
 	return st, nil
 }

+// stepsRead is what the build modules' steps states hold: the steps that can still run, those left running, and every
+// ask step read, by module, for the candidate it belongs to (stepsOf).
+type stepsRead struct {
+	running []RunningStep
+	left    []LeftStep
+	all     []moduleStep
+	notes   []string
+}
+
+type moduleStep struct {
+	module string
+	step   delivery.Step
+}
+
+// readSteps reads the newest MaxReads keys of each build module's steps state.
+func (r Reader) readSteps() stepsRead {
+	out := stepsRead{running: []RunningStep{}, left: []LeftStep{}}
+	mods := make([]string, 0, len(r.StepStates))
+	for m := range r.StepStates {
+		mods = append(mods, m)
+	}
+	sort.Strings(mods)
+	now, bound := time.Now(), r.StepBound
+	if r.Now != nil {
+		now = r.Now()
+	}
+	if bound <= 0 {
+		bound = DefaultStepBound
+	}
+	for _, m := range mods {
+		sr := r.StepStates[m]
+		if sr.Keys == nil || sr.Get == nil {
+			continue
+		}
+		keys, err := sr.Keys()
+		if err != nil {
+			out.notes = append(out.notes, "the steps of "+m+" cannot be listed: "+err.Error())
+			continue
+		}
+		// A step that runs started lately: the newest ids are read first, at most MaxReads of them.
+		newestFirst(keys)
+		keys, cut := capKeys(keys, "")
+		if cut != "" {
+			out.notes = append(out.notes, "the steps of "+m+": read the newest "+fmt.Sprint(MaxReads)+" of its keys; a step older than those is not shown")
+		}
+		steps := make([]delivery.Step, len(keys))
+		decoded := make([]bool, len(keys))
+		_ = parallel(len(keys), func(i int) error {
+			raw, err := sr.Get(keys[i])
+			if err != nil || len(raw) == 0 {
+				return nil
+			}
+			step, err := delivery.DecodeStep(raw)
+			steps[i], decoded[i] = step, err == nil
+			return nil
+		})
+		for i := range keys {
+			if !decoded[i] {
+				continue
+			}
+			step := steps[i]
+			out.all = append(out.all, moduleStep{module: m, step: step})
+			if step.State != delivery.StepRunning {
+				continue
+			}
+			rs := RunningStep{Module: m, Node: step.Node, ID: step.ID, Tool: step.Tool, What: step.What}
+			if !step.Started.IsZero() {
+				rs.Since = step.Started.UTC().Format("2006-01-02T15:04:05Z")
+			}
+			if why := r.leftWhy(m, step, now, bound); why != "" {
+				out.left = append(out.left, LeftStep{RunningStep: rs, Why: why})
+				continue
+			}
+			out.running = append(out.running, rs)
+		}
+	}
+	return out
+}
+
+// asksOf says whether a step is an ask of one of the candidate's pull requests: its What names `<repository>@<head12>`
+// (buildstep.AskWhat).
+func asksOf(c delivery.Candidate, what string) bool {
+	for _, p := range c.Pulls {
+		if p.Repository != "" && strings.Contains(what, p.Repository+"@"+short12(p.Head.Head)) {
+			return true
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}
+
+// lostWhy says why a candidate whose verdict is running has a check that nothing will judge, or "": no step of its pull
+// requests can still run, and its newest one ended.
+func (s stepsRead) lostWhy(c delivery.Candidate) string {
+	for _, rs := range s.running {
+		if asksOf(c, rs.What) {
+			return ""
+		}
+	}
+	var last *delivery.Step
+	for i := range s.all {
+		st := s.all[i].step
+		if st.State != delivery.StepRunning && asksOf(c, st.What) && (last == nil || st.Ended.After(last.Ended)) {
+			last = &s.all[i].step
+		}
+	}
+	if last == nil {
+		return "" // its ask waits in its build seat's stream: no node took it yet
+	}
+	return fmt.Sprintf("its verdict is running, but no step of it runs: its last step %s on %s ended %s at %s and no verdict followed; %s asks it again",
+		last.ID, last.Node, last.State, last.Ended.UTC().Format(time.RFC3339), AskAgainTool)
+}
+
 // DefaultStepBound is how long one check ask's step may run once a build node took it (its key written running; the fetch,
 // the digests and the levels), never counting its wait in the stream; past it the check fails naming the node.
 const DefaultStepBound = 30 * time.Minute
@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ func TestManifestDeclarations(t *testing.T) { // 1678/AC1
 		t.Errorf("module = %q", m.Module)
 	}
 	// delivery.CheckerKeptHistory, CheckerOwedHistory, PreviewsHistory, CheckerVerdictsHistory; the names follow the SDK's buckets.
-	if want := []state{{Name: "hearing", History: 1}, {Name: "kept", History: 1}, {Name: "owed", History: 5}, {Name: "previews", History: 5}, {Name: "tries", History: 1}, {Name: "verdicts", History: 5}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(m.State, want) {
+	if want := []state{{Name: "asks", History: 1}, {Name: "hearing", History: 1}, {Name: "kept", History: 1}, {Name: "owed", History: 5}, {Name: "previews", History: 5}, {Name: "tries", History: 1}, {Name: "verdicts", History: 5}}; !reflect.DeepEqual(m.State, want) {
 		t.Errorf("state = %+v, want %+v", m.State, want)
 	}
 	if want := []string{"mesh-build-go.steps", "mesh-build-go.toolchains", "mesh-build-node.steps", "mesh-build-node.toolchains", "mesh-controller.assignments",
@@ -124,8 +124,9 @@ func TestManifestDeclarations(t *testing.T) { // 1678/AC1
 		t.Errorf("streams = %+v, want %+v", m.Streams, want)
 	}
 	// The read tools (issue 1686) are served by the tools bundle, not by the checker's process.
-	// The try's tools (ADR 0501 §5; the end by hand, issue 734) beside them: mesh-controller's try calls them.
-	if want := []string{"checker_kept", "checker_previews", "checker_pull", "checker_status", "checker_try", "checker_try_end", "checker_try_read", "checker_verdicts"}; !reflect.DeepEqual(sorted(m.Tools), want) {
+	// The try's tools (ADR 0501 §5; the end by hand, issue 734) beside them: mesh-controller's try calls them. A lost check
+	// is asked again by hand (checker_ask_again).
+	if want := []string{"checker_ask_again", "checker_kept", "checker_previews", "checker_pull", "checker_status", "checker_try", "checker_try_end", "checker_try_read", "checker_verdicts"}; !reflect.DeepEqual(sorted(m.Tools), want) {
 		t.Errorf("tools = %v, want %v", m.Tools, want)
 	}
 	for _, k := range []string{"logs", "emits", "claims", "provides", "requires", "defines-seats", "seat", "seats", "bus", "config"} {
@@ -10,6 +10,7 @@
    { "name": "checks", "events": ["preview.**", "owed.**"] }
  ],
  "state": [
+    { "name": "asks", "history": 1 },
    { "name": "hearing", "history": 1 },
    { "name": "kept", "history": 1 },
    { "name": "owed", "history": 5 },
@@ -38,6 +39,7 @@
    "node-build-node"
  ],
  "tools": [
+    "checker_ask_again",
    "checker_kept",
    "checker_previews",
    "checker_pull",