CB-606: refuse an unrecognized auth.mode, per-profile placement, or top-level placement policy at config load

An auth.mode typo (e.g. "toekn") used to silently fall back to loopback-trust with no signal
anywhere — validateAuthExposure() only checks the pairing on a non-loopback bind, so on the
common loopback bind the daemon started cleanly and authenticated nobody. Per-profile placement
had the same shape, falling back to legacy pane placement. The top-level placement policy name
was already validated by PlacementPolicies.fromName, but only lazily at first spawn through
CompositePeerLauncher's Supplier; it is now checked eagerly at load, calling fromName itself as
the single source of truth.

bridged/src/main/java/dev/ltms/bridged/config/BridgedConfig.java

@@ -7,6 +7,7 @@ import com.fasterxml.jackson.databind.ObjectMapper;
 import com.fasterxml.jackson.dataformat.yaml.YAMLFactory;
 import dev.ltms.bridged.msg.AmqpReplyInbox;
 import dev.ltms.bridged.peer.MemberRole;
+import dev.ltms.bridged.placement.PlacementPolicies;
 import org.slf4j.Logger;
 import org.slf4j.LoggerFactory;
 
@@ -987,7 +988,13 @@ public record BridgedConfig(
             rejectDuplicateMemberSlots(yaml);
             rejectNegativeMaxLoad(yaml);
             rejectUnknownKind(yaml);
+            rejectUnknownAuthMode(yaml);
+            rejectUnknownPlacement(yaml);
             BridgedConfig cfg = YAML.readValue(yaml, BridgedConfig.class);
+            // CB-606: validated here, eagerly, using PlacementPolicies.fromName as the single source
+            // of truth — not lazily at first spawn (see CompositePeerLauncher's placementPolicy
+            // Supplier), where a bad name would still start a daemon that looks healthy.
+            rejectUnknownPlacementPolicy(cfg.placement());
             return cfg.withDefaults();
         } catch (IOException e) {
             throw new UncheckedIOException("cannot read bridged config at " + path, e);
@@ -1328,6 +1335,115 @@ public record BridgedConfig(
         }
     }
 
+    /** The auth modes this build understands — {@link Auth#mode()}'s only valid values. */
+    private static final Set<String> KNOWN_AUTH_MODES = Set.of(Auth.MODE_LOOPBACK_TRUST, Auth.MODE_TOKEN);
+
+    /**
+     * Reject an {@code auth.mode} that is not one of {@link #KNOWN_AUTH_MODES} (CB-606), naming the
+     * value and the accepted set.
+     *
+     * <p>{@link Auth}'s compact constructor only lower-cases {@code mode}, and
+     * {@link Auth#tokenMode()} only compares the result against {@code MODE_TOKEN} — anything else,
+     * including a typo like {@code toekn}, silently behaves as {@code loopback-trust}. That fallback
+     * is otherwise checked only by {@link #validateAuthExposure()}, and only when the bind is
+     * non-loopback: on a loopback bind (the common case) the typo is invisible end to end — the
+     * daemon starts cleanly and authenticates nobody while the operator believes {@code token} mode
+     * is active. Refuse it here, unconditionally, at config load, rather than let it hide behind the
+     * bind check.
+     *
+     * @param yaml the raw config text
+     * @throws IllegalStateException when {@code auth.mode} is a non-blank value not in
+     *                                {@link #KNOWN_AUTH_MODES} (case-insensitive)
+     */
+    static void rejectUnknownAuthMode(String yaml) {
+        Map<?, ?> raw;
+        try {
+            raw = YAML.readValue(yaml, Map.class);
+        } catch (IOException | IllegalArgumentException e) {
+            return; // a malformed file is reported by the real parse, not here
+        }
+        if (raw == null || !(raw.get("auth") instanceof Map<?, ?> auth)) {
+            return;
+        }
+        if (!(auth.get("mode") instanceof String mode) || mode.isBlank()
+                || KNOWN_AUTH_MODES.contains(mode.toLowerCase())) {
+            return;
+        }
+        throw new IllegalStateException("refusing to start: auth.mode=" + mode
+                + " is not recognized — accepted values are "
+                + String.join(", ", KNOWN_AUTH_MODES.stream().sorted().toList())
+                + " (case-insensitive); an unrecognized mode would otherwise silently fall back to"
+                + " loopback-trust, which authenticates nobody.");
+    }
+
+    /** The per-profile placements this build understands — {@link Profile#placement()}'s only valid values. */
+    private static final Set<String> KNOWN_PLACEMENTS = Set.of("tab", "pane");
+
+    /**
+     * Reject a profile whose {@code placement:} is not one of {@link #KNOWN_PLACEMENTS} (CB-606),
+     * naming the profile, the value it set, and the accepted set.
+     *
+     * <p>{@link Profile}'s compact constructor only lower-cases {@code placement}, and
+     * {@link Profile#tabPlacement()} only compares the result against {@code "tab"} — anything else,
+     * including a typo like {@code tabb}, silently falls back to the legacy pane placement with no
+     * signal anywhere.
+     *
+     * @param yaml the raw config text
+     * @throws IllegalStateException when any profile's {@code placement} is a non-blank value not in
+     *                                {@link #KNOWN_PLACEMENTS} (case-insensitive)
+     */
+    static void rejectUnknownPlacement(String yaml) {
+        Map<?, ?> raw;
+        try {
+            raw = YAML.readValue(yaml, Map.class);
+        } catch (IOException | IllegalArgumentException e) {
+            return; // a malformed file is reported by the real parse, not here
+        }
+        if (raw == null || !(raw.get("profiles") instanceof Map<?, ?> profiles)) {
+            return;
+        }
+        List<String> bad = profiles.entrySet().stream()
+                .filter(e -> e.getValue() instanceof Map<?, ?> p
+                        && p.get("placement") instanceof String pl && !pl.isBlank()
+                        && !KNOWN_PLACEMENTS.contains(pl.toLowerCase()))
+                .map(e -> String.valueOf(e.getKey()) + "=" + ((Map<?, ?>) e.getValue()).get("placement"))
+                .sorted()
+                .toList();
+        if (!bad.isEmpty()) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("refusing to start: profile(s) [" + String.join(", ", bad)
+                    + "] set an unrecognized placement — accepted values are "
+                    + String.join(", ", KNOWN_PLACEMENTS.stream().sorted().toList())
+                    + " (case-insensitive); an unrecognized placement would otherwise fall back to"
+                    + " legacy pane placement with no signal anywhere.");
+        }
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Reject a top-level {@code placement:} policy name {@link PlacementPolicies#fromName} does not
+     * recognize (CB-606), at config load rather than lazily at first spawn.
+     *
+     * <p>{@code CompositePeerLauncher} only calls {@link PlacementPolicies#fromName} per spawn,
+     * through a {@code Supplier} that re-reads live config (CB-559, so a hot-reloaded placement
+     * policy takes effect without a restart) — so a bad name still starts a daemon that looks
+     * healthy and fails only the first time something spawns without naming a profile. Every other
+     * field this class validates fails here, at load; this one gets the same treatment, calling
+     * {@link PlacementPolicies#fromName} itself as the single source of truth for what is valid
+     * rather than duplicating its accepted set.
+     *
+     * @param placement the raw, possibly null/blank {@code placement} value as parsed (before
+     *                   {@link #withDefaults()} runs); {@code fromName} itself treats null/blank as
+     *                   {@code fixed}, so this call changes no default
+     * @throws IllegalStateException when {@code placement} is a name {@link PlacementPolicies} does
+     *                                not recognize
+     */
+    private static void rejectUnknownPlacementPolicy(String placement) {
+        try {
+            PlacementPolicies.fromName(placement);
+        } catch (IllegalArgumentException e) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("refusing to start: " + e.getMessage(), e);
+        }
+    }
+
     static List<String> unknownTopLevelKeys(String yaml) {
         Map<?, ?> raw;
         try {

bridged/src/main/java/dev/ltms/bridged/mcp/BridgeMcp.java

@@ -577,13 +577,25 @@ public final class BridgeMcp {
         return text("acknowledged " + msgId);
     }
 
-    /** {@code bridge_status}: the live lifecycle status of a worker session. */
+    /**
+     * {@code bridge_status}: the live lifecycle status of a worker session, plus — when the worker
+     * is paused mid-turn in an async {@code bridge_ask} (CB-582) — the open question and how to
+     * answer it, so a lead on its normal poll cadence does not need the ticket to notice.
+     */
     static McpSchema.CallToolResult status(MessageService messages, String sessionId) {
         if (isBlank(sessionId)) {
             return error("sessionId is required");
         }
         try {
-            return text(messages.status(sessionId).name().toLowerCase());
+            String base = messages.status(sessionId).name().toLowerCase();
+            MessageService.PendingAsk ask = messages.pendingAsk(sessionId);
+            if (ask == null) {
+                return text(base);
+            }
+            return text(base + "\n\n[question — worker is waiting for your answer]\n" + ask.question()
+                    + "\n\nAnswer it by calling bridge_send again with turnId=\"" + ask.turnId()
+                    + "\" and content set to your answer; the worker resumes the same turn."
+                    + " (ticket " + ask.ticket() + ")");
         } catch (HerdrException e) {
             return error("herdr error for session " + sessionId + ": " + e.getMessage());
         }

bridged/src/main/java/dev/ltms/bridged/msg/MessageService.java

@@ -164,18 +164,30 @@ public final class MessageService {
 
     /** An in-flight or finished async delegation, keyed by its ticket. */
     private static final class Task {
+        private final String ticket;
         private final String target;
         private final CompletableFuture<Reply> future = new CompletableFuture<>();
         private final long createdNanos;
         private volatile Reply question;
         private volatile String turnId;
 
-        private Task(String target, long createdNanos) {
+        private Task(String ticket, String target, long createdNanos) {
+            this.ticket = ticket;
             this.target = target;
             this.createdNanos = createdNanos;
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * A worker session's currently-open {@code bridge_ask} question, surfaced so {@code bridge_status}
+     * can show it without the caller needing the ticket first (CB-582). Only covers async
+     * (fire-and-poll) delegations, which track the question on their {@link Task}; a blocking
+     * ({@code wait:true}) send already hands the question straight back to its own caller, so there is
+     * nothing hidden left for {@code bridge_status} to surface in that case.
+     */
+    public record PendingAsk(String ticket, String question, String turnId) {
+    }
+
     private final AgentControl agents;
     private final Injector injector;
     private final Rendezvous rendezvous;
@@ -200,9 +212,11 @@ public final class MessageService {
      * Create with an explicit {@link ReplyInbox} and optional {@link ReplyPushLoop}.
      *
      * @param pushLoop nullable — when non-null, the push loop is notified on the no-waiter reply
-     *                 branch ({@link #reply}) so it can nudge the primary to drain the inbox, and
+     *                 branch ({@link #reply}) so it can nudge the primary to drain the inbox,
      *                 (CB-588) whenever an async ticket started by {@link #sendAsync} reaches a
-     *                 terminal phase, and whenever {@link #poll} hands a terminal ticket to its caller
+     *                 terminal phase, whenever {@link #poll} hands a terminal ticket to its caller,
+     *                 and (CB-582) whenever an async ticket's worker pauses mid-turn in
+     *                 {@code bridge_ask} or that pause ends (answered or lapsed)
      */
     public MessageService(AgentControl agents, Injector injector, Rendezvous rendezvous,
                           ReplyInbox inbox, ReplyPushLoop pushLoop) {
@@ -495,6 +509,15 @@ public final class MessageService {
                 rendezvous.closeAsk(ticket.turnId());
                 return new AskResult(AskOutcome.NO_WAITER, null); // no primary is blocked on this worker
             }
+            // CB-582: the question just became visible via bridge_poll (Phase.ASKING) for an async
+            // (wait:false) delegation — nudge the lead's own pane the same way a terminal ticket does
+            // (CB-588), since the lead's normal poll cadence is minutes away and the reverse-rendezvous
+            // window (~55s, see BridgeMcp/BridgedApp) is far shorter. A blocking (wait:true) send has
+            // no Task and gets the question directly in its own reply, so task == null there — nothing
+            // to nudge.
+            if (task != null && pushLoop != null) {
+                pushLoop.onQuestionOpened(task.ticket, workerSession, ticket.turnId(), question);
+            }
         }
         try {
             String answer = ticket.answer().get(timeoutMillis, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
@@ -513,6 +536,14 @@ public final class MessageService {
             // Only the fresh owner tears down the shared turn; a duplicate must leave it open.
             if (ticket.fresh()) {
                 rendezvous.closeAsk(ticket.turnId());
+                // CB-582: tear the push loop's copy down at the same point, not only on the three
+                // paths that call clearAsyncQuestion. The answer future can complete exceptionally
+                // (ExecutionException) or the thread be interrupted, and both leave this method by
+                // throwing — the question would stay pending forever, keep being named in nudges
+                // until its own cap, and never be removed from the map. Already-closed is a no-op.
+                if (pushLoop != null) {
+                    pushLoop.questionClosed(ticket.turnId());
+                }
             }
         }
     }
@@ -589,7 +620,7 @@ public final class MessageService {
      */
     public String sendAsync(String target, String content, Runnable onAccepted) {
         String ticket = "task-" + ticketSeq.incrementAndGet();
-        Task task = new Task(target, nowNanos.getAsLong());
+        Task task = new Task(ticket, target, nowNanos.getAsLong());
         tasks.put(ticket, task);
         if (pushLoop != null) {
             // CB-588: task.future only ever completes on a terminal phase (DONE or a failure) — a
@@ -715,6 +746,12 @@ public final class MessageService {
 
     /** Clear an answered or lapsed question, but only when it matches the ticket's current turn. */
     private void clearAsyncQuestion(String turnId, boolean forgetTurn) {
+        // CB-582: tell the push loop first — like ticketCollected, a removal for a turnId it never
+        // nudged about (or already dropped) is a harmless no-op, so this is safe to call unconditionally
+        // rather than threading the guard below through it.
+        if (pushLoop != null) {
+            pushLoop.questionClosed(turnId);
+        }
         Task task = asyncTasksByTurn.get(turnId);
         if (task != null && turnId.equals(task.turnId)) {
             task.question = null;
@@ -746,6 +783,23 @@ public final class MessageService {
         return asyncTasksByTurn.values().stream().anyMatch(task -> target.equals(task.target));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * The question {@code workerSession} is currently paused on via {@code bridge_ask}, if any
+     * (CB-582) — {@code bridge_status} uses this to show a pending question without the caller
+     * needing the ticket. {@code null} when the session has no open async question (including a
+     * session mid a <em>blocking</em> {@code bridge_ask}, which has no {@link Task} to look up — see
+     * {@link PendingAsk}).
+     */
+    public PendingAsk pendingAsk(String workerSession) {
+        for (Task task : tasks.values()) {
+            Reply q = task.question;
+            if (q != null && workerSession.equals(task.target)) {
+                return new PendingAsk(task.ticket, q.text(), q.turnId());
+            }
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+
     /** Release the async executor. */
     public void close() {
         asyncExecutor.shutdown();

bridged/src/main/java/dev/ltms/bridged/msg/ReplyPushLoop.java

@@ -19,30 +19,33 @@ import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
 /**
  * A status-gated push loop that nudges a lead's own herdr pane when it has uncollected work
- * waiting: a worker reply queued with no live {@code bridge_send} to resolve it (CB-307), or an
+ * waiting: a worker reply queued with no live {@code bridge_send} to resolve it (CB-307), an
  * async delegation ticket ({@code bridge_send(wait:false)}) that reached a terminal phase
- * (CB-588).
+ * (CB-588), or an async ticket's worker pausing mid-turn in {@code bridge_ask} to await an answer
+ * (CB-582).
  *
- * <p><strong>CB-590: one schedule per lead.</strong> Both kinds of work are triggered through
- * their own entry point — {@link #onReplyQueued(String)} and
- * {@link #onTicketTerminal(String, String, boolean)} — but both resolve the lead that should be
- * nudged and coalesce onto a single per-lead reminder schedule, tracked in {@link #activeLeads}.
- * Earlier this was two independent schedules (one keyed by worker target for replies, one keyed
- * by lead for tickets) that could both decide to inject into the same pane in the same window —
- * a race, not routine behaviour, but the expensive kind: it interrupts the lead's live turn
- * twice. Collapsing to one schedule per lead makes that structurally impossible: at most one
- * scheduled tick chain is ever live for a given lead (guarded by {@link #activeLeads}'
+ * <p><strong>CB-590: one schedule per lead.</strong> All three kinds of work are triggered
+ * through their own entry point — {@link #onReplyQueued(String)},
+ * {@link #onTicketTerminal(String, String, boolean)}, and
+ * {@link #onQuestionOpened(String, String, String, String)} — but each resolves the lead that
+ * should be nudged and coalesces onto a single per-lead reminder schedule, tracked in
+ * {@link #activeLeads}. Earlier this was two independent schedules (one keyed by worker target
+ * for replies, one keyed by lead for tickets) that could both decide to inject into the same pane
+ * in the same window — a race, not routine behaviour, but the expensive kind: it interrupts the
+ * lead's live turn twice. Collapsing to one schedule per lead makes that structurally impossible:
+ * at most one scheduled tick chain is ever live for a given lead (guarded by {@link #activeLeads}'
  * compare-and-set), so at most one {@code agents.send} to that lead's pane is ever in flight.
  *
  * <p>Each tick examines <em>everything</em> pending for that lead — reply targets whose inbox
- * still holds an unacked message ({@link #pendingReplies}) and tickets not yet collected
- * ({@link #pendingTickets}) — and sends at most one combined nudge per tick
- * ({@link #injectNudge(String, int, int)}). Work that arrives while the lead is busy is never
- * lost: it is re-read fresh on every tick until the lead is injectable or its own reminder cap
- * ({@link #maxReminders}) is reached — reply and ticket work each spend from their own budget, so
- * one source exhausting its cap does not stop nudges about the other (post-CB-590 regression fix;
- * see {@link #decide}) — whichever the durable inbox / pending-ticket set doesn't already answer
- * via {@code STOP}.
+ * still holds an unacked message ({@link #pendingReplies}), tickets not yet collected
+ * ({@link #pendingTickets}), and open questions not yet answered or lapsed
+ * ({@link #pendingQuestions}) — and sends at most one combined nudge per tick
+ * ({@link #injectNudge(String, int, int, int)}). Work that arrives while the lead is busy is
+ * never lost: it is re-read fresh on every tick until the lead is injectable or its own reminder
+ * cap ({@link #maxReminders}) is reached — each source spends from its own budget, so one source
+ * exhausting its cap does not stop nudges about the others (post-CB-590 regression fix; see
+ * {@link #decide}) — whichever the durable inbox / pending set doesn't already answer via
+ * {@code STOP}.
  */
 public final class ReplyPushLoop {
 
@@ -57,6 +60,14 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
     /** Coalesced form, several uncollected tickets for the same lead. */
     static final String TICKETS_NUDGE_FORMAT =
             "%d tickets finished%s — run bridge_poll(ticket=...) for each to collect them: %s";
+    /** Singular form, one worker paused mid-turn in bridge_ask (CB-582) — names the answer call directly. */
+    static final String QUESTION_NUDGE_FORMAT =
+            "Worker %s asked a question (ticket %s) — answer it with bridge_send(turnId=\"%s\", "
+                    + "content=...) to resume its turn:\n%s";
+    /** Coalesced form, several open questions for the same lead. */
+    static final String QUESTIONS_NUDGE_FORMAT =
+            "%d workers are paused on a question — run bridge_poll(ticket=...) for each, then answer "
+                    + "with bridge_send(turnId=..., content=...): %s";
 
     private final PrimaryRegistry primaryRegistry;
     private final AgentControl agents;
@@ -75,7 +86,14 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
     private final ConcurrentHashMap<String, ReplyEntry> pendingReplies = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
     /** Tickets that have gone terminal but not yet been polled, keyed by ticket. */
     private final ConcurrentHashMap<String, PendingTicket> pendingTickets = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
-    /** CB-590: leads with an active combined reminder schedule (replies and/or tickets). */
+    /**
+     * Open {@code bridge_ask} questions not yet answered or lapsed, keyed by {@code turnId}
+     * (CB-582). A question's own nudge count is tracked the same per-item way as
+     * {@link #pendingTickets} (CB-598): a fresh question keeps its source eligible regardless of
+     * how depleted an older, still-open question's count is.
+     */
+    private final ConcurrentHashMap<String, PendingQuestion> pendingQuestions = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+    /** CB-590: leads with an active combined reminder schedule (replies and/or tickets and/or questions). */
     private final ConcurrentHashMap<String, Boolean> activeLeads = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
 
     public ReplyPushLoop(PrimaryRegistry primaryRegistry, AgentControl agents, ReplyInbox inbox,
@@ -154,6 +172,26 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
                 .collect(Collectors.toUnmodifiableSet());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * An open question awaiting the lead's answer: which ticket it belongs to, which worker asked,
+     * which lead to nudge, the question text, and how many nudges have named it so far (CB-598 —
+     * tracked per question, not per lead per source).
+     */
+    private record PendingQuestion(String turnId, String ticket, String target, String lead,
+                                   String question, int nudgeCount) {
+    }
+
+    /** Questions still open for {@code lead}, snapshotted fresh for one tick. */
+    private List<PendingQuestion> pendingQuestionsFor(String lead) {
+        return pendingQuestions.values().stream().filter(q -> lead.equals(q.lead())).toList();
+    }
+
+    /** Question turnIds still open for {@code lead} — a plain snapshot for race comparison. */
+    private Set<String> pendingQuestionTurnIdsFor(String lead) {
+        return pendingQuestionsFor(lead).stream().map(PendingQuestion::turnId)
+                .collect(Collectors.toUnmodifiableSet());
+    }
+
     /**
      * The reply-source reminder count {@link #decide} should see for {@code lead} on this tick:
      * the <em>minimum</em> nudge count among the reply targets currently pending for it (CB-598).
@@ -189,6 +227,15 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
         return min == Integer.MAX_VALUE ? 0 : min;
     }
 
+    /** As {@link #minReplyNudgeCountFor}, for the question source (CB-582). */
+    private int minQuestionNudgeCountFor(String lead) {
+        int min = Integer.MAX_VALUE;
+        for (PendingQuestion q : pendingQuestionsFor(lead)) {
+            min = Math.min(min, q.nudgeCount());
+        }
+        return min == Integer.MAX_VALUE ? 0 : min;
+    }
+
     /**
      * Pure decision function: examine everything pending for {@code lead} — reply targets and
      * tickets alike — and return what the loop should do.
@@ -213,15 +260,29 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
      * @return the action the caller should take
      */
     Action decide(String lead, int replyReminderCount, int ticketReminderCount) {
+        return decide(lead, replyReminderCount, ticketReminderCount, minQuestionNudgeCountFor(lead));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * As {@link #decide(String, int, int)}, with the question source (CB-582) folded in on the
+     * same footing as replies and tickets: its own eligibility (has open questions AND under its
+     * own {@link #maxReminders} budget) is enough on its own to {@link Action#INJECT}, exactly like
+     * the other two.
+     *
+     * @param questionReminderCount the lowest nudge count among questions open for this lead
+     */
+    Action decide(String lead, int replyReminderCount, int ticketReminderCount, int questionReminderCount) {
         boolean hasReplyWork = !pendingReplyTargetsFor(lead).isEmpty();
         boolean hasTicketWork = !pendingTicketIdsFor(lead).isEmpty();
-        if (!hasReplyWork && !hasTicketWork) {
+        boolean hasQuestionWork = !pendingQuestionTurnIdsFor(lead).isEmpty();
+        if (!hasReplyWork && !hasTicketWork && !hasQuestionWork) {
             log.debug("push: nothing pending for lead {}, stopping reminder", lead);
             return Action.STOP;
         }
         boolean replyEligible = hasReplyWork && replyReminderCount < maxReminders;
         boolean ticketEligible = hasTicketWork && ticketReminderCount < maxReminders;
-        if (!replyEligible && !ticketEligible) {
+        boolean questionEligible = hasQuestionWork && questionReminderCount < maxReminders;
+        if (!replyEligible && !ticketEligible && !questionEligible) {
             log.debug("push: reminder cap ({}) reached for lead {} on every source with pending work, stopping",
                     maxReminders, lead);
             countNudge("exhausted");
@@ -300,6 +361,39 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
         pendingTickets.remove(ticket);
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Called when an async ticket's worker pauses mid-turn in {@code bridge_ask} (CB-582): the
+     * question is now visible via {@code bridge_poll} (Phase.ASKING), but the reverse-rendezvous
+     * window it opened with (~55s default, see {@code BridgeMcp}/{@code BridgedApp}) is far shorter
+     * than a lead's normal minutes-long poll cadence — exactly the gap this closes. Resolves the
+     * delegating lead the same way {@link #onTicketTerminal} does and coalesces onto the same
+     * per-lead schedule (CB-590).
+     *
+     * @param ticket   the async ticket the question belongs to (for {@code bridge_poll})
+     * @param target   the worker session that asked
+     * @param turnId   correlation id the lead answers with ({@code bridge_send turnId=...})
+     * @param question the question text
+     */
+    public void onQuestionOpened(String ticket, String target, String turnId, String question) {
+        var lead = primaryRegistry.nudgeTargetFor(target);
+        if (lead.isEmpty()) {
+            log.debug("push: no lead is known to be waiting on {}'s question (turnId {}), skipping nudge",
+                    target, turnId);
+            return;
+        }
+        pendingQuestions.put(turnId, new PendingQuestion(turnId, ticket, target, lead.get(), question, 0));
+        startOrCoalesce(lead.get());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * Called when a worker's {@code bridge_ask} resolves — answered or lapsed unanswered — so a
+     * scheduled tick never nudges about a question the lead already handled. A {@code turnId} that
+     * was never pending (never nudged, or already closed) is a no-op.
+     */
+    public void questionClosed(String turnId) {
+        pendingQuestions.remove(turnId);
+    }
+
     // --- the schedule ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     /** Start a reminder schedule for {@code lead}, or join the one already running. */
@@ -330,17 +424,19 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
     void tick(String lead) {
         Set<String> repliesBefore = pendingReplyTargetsFor(lead);
         Set<String> ticketsBefore = pendingTicketIdsFor(lead);
+        Set<String> questionsBefore = pendingQuestionTurnIdsFor(lead);
         int replyReminderCount = minReplyNudgeCountFor(lead);
         int ticketReminderCount = minTicketNudgeCountFor(lead);
-        var action = decide(lead, replyReminderCount, ticketReminderCount);
+        int questionReminderCount = minQuestionNudgeCountFor(lead);
+        var action = decide(lead, replyReminderCount, ticketReminderCount, questionReminderCount);
         switch (action) {
             case INJECT -> {
-                injectNudge(lead, replyReminderCount, ticketReminderCount);
+                injectNudge(lead, replyReminderCount, ticketReminderCount, questionReminderCount);
                 scheduleNext(lead);
             }
             // Re-check after the configured backoff; the lead may become injectable soon.
             case WAIT_BUSY -> scheduleNext(lead);
-            case STOP -> stopOrRestart(lead, repliesBefore, ticketsBefore);
+            case STOP -> stopOrRestart(lead, repliesBefore, ticketsBefore, questionsBefore);
         }
     }
 
@@ -375,9 +471,20 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
      * side always wins; neither can miss the other, so this never loops on its own account.
      */
     void stopOrRestart(String lead, Set<String> repliesBefore, Set<String> ticketsBefore) {
+        stopOrRestart(lead, repliesBefore, ticketsBefore, pendingQuestionTurnIdsFor(lead));
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * As {@link #stopOrRestart(String, Set, Set)}, with the question source's (CB-582) own "before"
+     * snapshot folded into the same race check: a question that raced in during the
+     * decision-to-release window reclaims the schedule slot exactly like a raced-in reply or ticket.
+     */
+    void stopOrRestart(String lead, Set<String> repliesBefore, Set<String> ticketsBefore,
+                       Set<String> questionsBefore) {
         activeLeads.remove(lead);
         boolean racedIn = pendingReplyTargetsFor(lead).stream().anyMatch(t -> !repliesBefore.contains(t))
-                || pendingTicketIdsFor(lead).stream().anyMatch(t -> !ticketsBefore.contains(t));
+                || pendingTicketIdsFor(lead).stream().anyMatch(t -> !ticketsBefore.contains(t))
+                || pendingQuestionTurnIdsFor(lead).stream().anyMatch(t -> !questionsBefore.contains(t));
         if (racedIn && activeLeads.putIfAbsent(lead, Boolean.TRUE) == null) {
             log.debug("push: new work for lead {} raced the reminder loop's stop — restarting", lead);
             scheduleNext(lead);
@@ -387,36 +494,44 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
     }
 
     /** Send one combined nudge covering everything currently pending for {@code lead}. */
-    private void injectNudge(String lead, int replyReminderCount, int ticketReminderCount) {
-        // Re-read rather than threading it down from decide(): a reply can drain, or a ticket be
-        // collected (or another arrive), between the decision and the injection.
+    private void injectNudge(String lead, int replyReminderCount, int ticketReminderCount,
+                             int questionReminderCount) {
+        // Re-read rather than threading it down from decide(): a reply can drain, a ticket be
+        // collected, or a question be answered (or another arrive), between the decision and the
+        // injection.
         Set<String> replyTargets = pendingReplyTargetsFor(lead);
         List<PendingTicket> tickets = pendingTicketsFor(lead);
-        if (replyTargets.isEmpty() && tickets.isEmpty()) {
+        List<PendingQuestion> questions = pendingQuestionsFor(lead);
+        if (replyTargets.isEmpty() && tickets.isEmpty() && questions.isEmpty()) {
             log.debug("push: pending work for lead {} drained before the nudge could be sent", lead);
             return;
         }
-        String nudge = formatNudge(replyTargets, tickets);
+        String nudge = formatNudge(replyTargets, tickets, questions);
         try {
             agents.send(lead, nudge);
-            log.debug("push: nudge sent to lead {} (reply {}/{}, ticket {}/{}; {} reply target(s), {} ticket(s))",
+            log.debug("push: nudge sent to lead {} (reply {}/{}, ticket {}/{}, question {}/{}; "
+                            + "{} reply target(s), {} ticket(s), {} question(s))",
                     lead, replyReminderCount + 1, maxReminders, ticketReminderCount + 1, maxReminders,
-                    replyTargets.size(), tickets.size());
+                    questionReminderCount + 1, maxReminders,
+                    replyTargets.size(), tickets.size(), questions.size());
             countNudge("delivered");
         } catch (RuntimeException e) {
-            log.warn("push: failed to nudge lead {} (reply {}/{}, ticket {}/{}): {}",
-                    lead, replyReminderCount + 1, maxReminders, ticketReminderCount + 1, maxReminders, e.toString());
+            log.warn("push: failed to nudge lead {} (reply {}/{}, ticket {}/{}, question {}/{}): {}",
+                    lead, replyReminderCount + 1, maxReminders, ticketReminderCount + 1, maxReminders,
+                    questionReminderCount + 1, maxReminders, e.toString());
         }
         // Bump every item actually named in this nudge, not just whatever the shared source-level
         // eligibility used to gate (CB-598) — each item's own count is what the next tick's
-        // minReplyNudgeCountFor / minTicketNudgeCountFor will read. An item already at or over the
-        // cap keeps riding along in the text (still pending, still named) but its extra bumps here
-        // are inert: decide() already treats it as ineligible once its count reaches maxReminders.
-        bumpNudgeCounts(replyTargets, tickets);
+        // minReplyNudgeCountFor / minTicketNudgeCountFor / minQuestionNudgeCountFor will read. An
+        // item already at or over the cap keeps riding along in the text (still pending, still
+        // named) but its extra bumps here are inert: decide() already treats it as ineligible once
+        // its count reaches maxReminders.
+        bumpNudgeCounts(replyTargets, tickets, questions);
     }
 
     /** Record that every one of these items was just named in a sent (or attempted) nudge. */
-    private void bumpNudgeCounts(Set<String> replyTargets, List<PendingTicket> tickets) {
+    private void bumpNudgeCounts(Set<String> replyTargets, List<PendingTicket> tickets,
+                                 List<PendingQuestion> questions) {
         for (String target : replyTargets) {
             pendingReplies.computeIfPresent(target, (t, e) -> new ReplyEntry(e.lead(), e.nudgeCount() + 1));
         }
@@ -424,6 +539,11 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
             pendingTickets.computeIfPresent(ticket.ticket(),
                     (id, e) -> new PendingTicket(e.ticket(), e.lead(), e.failed(), e.nudgeCount() + 1));
         }
+        for (PendingQuestion question : questions) {
+            pendingQuestions.computeIfPresent(question.turnId(), (id, e) ->
+                    new PendingQuestion(e.turnId(), e.ticket(), e.target(), e.lead(), e.question(),
+                            e.nudgeCount() + 1));
+        }
     }
 
     /** Schedule the next tick on the scheduler thread pool. */
@@ -435,7 +555,8 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
     // --- nudge formatting ------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     /** Render everything pending for one lead as a single nudge line. */
-    private static String formatNudge(Set<String> replyTargets, List<PendingTicket> tickets) {
+    private static String formatNudge(Set<String> replyTargets, List<PendingTicket> tickets,
+                                      List<PendingQuestion> questions) {
         List<String> parts = new ArrayList<>();
         if (!replyTargets.isEmpty()) {
             parts.add(formatRepliesNudge(replyTargets));
@@ -443,6 +564,9 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
         if (!tickets.isEmpty()) {
             parts.add(formatTicketsNudge(tickets));
         }
+        if (!questions.isEmpty()) {
+            parts.add(formatQuestionsNudge(questions));
+        }
         return String.join(" | ", parts);
     }
 
@@ -470,6 +594,18 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
         return TICKETS_NUDGE_FORMAT.formatted(pending.size(), failedNote, ids);
     }
 
+    /** Render one or several open questions (CB-582). */
+    private static String formatQuestionsNudge(List<PendingQuestion> pending) {
+        if (pending.size() == 1) {
+            PendingQuestion q = pending.get(0);
+            return QUESTION_NUDGE_FORMAT.formatted(q.target(), q.ticket(), q.turnId(), q.question());
+        }
+        String ids = pending.stream()
+                .map(q -> q.ticket() + " (turnId=" + q.turnId() + ")")
+                .collect(Collectors.joining(", "));
+        return QUESTIONS_NUDGE_FORMAT.formatted(pending.size(), ids);
+    }
+
     // --- lifecycle -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     /**
@@ -477,8 +613,8 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
      * uses this to stand aside: while the push loop is actively nudging a lead, a concurrent
      * heartbeat injection would start a second competing turn in the same pane — racing loops
      * multiply turns and context burn. "Active" means a schedule exists in {@link #activeLeads},
-     * which now covers both reply-queued (CB-307) and ticket-terminal (CB-588) work (CB-590) —
-     * bounded by what has been triggered, not by any persistent state.
+     * which now covers reply-queued (CB-307), ticket-terminal (CB-588), and question-open (CB-582)
+     * work (CB-590) — bounded by what has been triggered, not by any persistent state.
      */
     public boolean isActive() {
         return !activeLeads.isEmpty();
@@ -490,6 +626,7 @@ public final class ReplyPushLoop {
         activeLeads.clear();
         pendingReplies.clear();
         pendingTickets.clear();
+        pendingQuestions.clear();
     }
 
     /** @see #stop() */

bridged/src/main/java/dev/ltms/bridged/rest/BridgedApp.java

@@ -509,10 +509,20 @@ public final class BridgedApp {
             return;
         }
         try {
-            ctx.status(200).json(Map.of(
-                    "sessionId", id,
-                    "status", messages.status(id).name().toLowerCase(),
-                    "ready", presence.isPresent(id)));
+            Map<String, Object> body = new LinkedHashMap<>();
+            body.put("sessionId", id);
+            body.put("status", messages.status(id).name().toLowerCase());
+            body.put("ready", presence.isPresent(id));
+            // CB-582: a worker paused mid-turn in an async bridge_ask is otherwise invisible to a
+            // status poll — surface the open question and how to answer it, same as bridge_poll's
+            // Phase.ASKING view.
+            MessageService.PendingAsk ask = messages.pendingAsk(id);
+            if (ask != null) {
+                body.put("question", ask.question());
+                body.put("turnId", ask.turnId());
+                body.put("ticket", ask.ticket());
+            }
+            ctx.status(200).json(body);
         } catch (HerdrException e) {
             herdrError(ctx, e);
         }
@@ -538,6 +548,11 @@ public final class BridgedApp {
         if (v.detail() != null) {
             body.put("detail", v.detail());
         }
+        // CB-582: Phase.ASKING carries the question in v.reply() (handled above) and its answer-
+        // correlation id here — a REST caller polling this ticket otherwise has no way to answer it.
+        if (v.turnId() != null) {
+            body.put("turnId", v.turnId());
+        }
         ctx.status(200).json(body);
     }
 

bridged/src/test/java/dev/ltms/bridged/config/BridgedConfigTest.java

@@ -1407,6 +1407,89 @@ class BridgedConfigTest {
         assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("maxLoad"), "error names the key: " + e.getMessage());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * CB-606: an unrecognized {@code auth.mode} used to silently fall back to
+     * {@code loopback-trust} — {@link BridgedConfig.Auth#tokenMode()} only checked equality
+     * against {@code "token"}. On a loopback bind {@link BridgedConfig#validateAuthExposure()}
+     * never runs (it only fires for a non-loopback bind), so the typo was completely invisible:
+     * the daemon started cleanly and authenticated nobody while the operator believed token mode
+     * was active.
+     */
+    @Test
+    void unknownAuthModeIsRefusedAtLoadNamingTheValueAndTheAcceptedSet(@TempDir Path dir) throws Exception {
+        Path f = dir.resolve("auth-mode-typo.yaml");
+        Files.writeString(f, """
+                bind:
+                  host: 127.0.0.1
+                  port: 8765
+                auth:
+                  mode: toekn
+                """);
+
+        IllegalStateException e = assertThrows(IllegalStateException.class, () -> BridgedConfig.load(f));
+        assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("toekn"), "error names the bad value: " + e.getMessage());
+        assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("loopback-trust") && e.getMessage().contains("token"),
+                "error names the accepted set: " + e.getMessage());
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * CB-606: an unrecognized per-profile {@code placement:} used to silently fall back to legacy
+     * pane placement — {@link BridgedConfig.Profile#tabPlacement()} only checked equality against
+     * {@code "tab"}.
+     */
+    @Test
+    void unknownProfilePlacementIsRefusedAtLoadNamingTheProfileAndTheAcceptedSet(@TempDir Path dir) throws Exception {
+        Path f = dir.resolve("placement-typo.yaml");
+        Files.writeString(f, """
+                profiles:
+                  gx10:
+                    baseUrl: http://gx10.gw:8000
+                    placement: tabb
+                """);
+
+        IllegalStateException e = assertThrows(IllegalStateException.class, () -> BridgedConfig.load(f));
+        assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("gx10"), "error names the profile: " + e.getMessage());
+        assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("tabb"), "error names the bad value: " + e.getMessage());
+        assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("tab") && e.getMessage().contains("pane"),
+                "error names the accepted set: " + e.getMessage());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void absentProfilePlacementDefaultsToTab(@TempDir Path dir) throws Exception {
+        Path f = dir.resolve("placement-absent.yaml");
+        Files.writeString(f, """
+                profiles:
+                  gx10:
+                    baseUrl: http://gx10.gw:8000
+                """);
+
+        BridgedConfig cfg = BridgedConfig.load(f);
+        BridgedConfig.Profile w = cfg.profiles().get("gx10");
+        assertTrue(w.tabPlacement(), "an absent placement must keep defaulting to tab");
+    }
+
+    /**
+     * CB-606: the top-level {@code placement:} policy name WAS validated, but only lazily, by
+     * {@code PlacementPolicies.fromName} through {@code CompositePeerLauncher}'s per-spawn
+     * {@code Supplier} — so a bad name still started a daemon that looked healthy and failed only
+     * the first time something spawned without naming a profile. This must now fail at load.
+     */
+    @Test
+    void unknownTopLevelPlacementPolicyIsRefusedAtLoadNotLazilyAtFirstSpawn(@TempDir Path dir) throws Exception {
+        Path f = dir.resolve("placement-policy-typo.yaml");
+        Files.writeString(f, """
+                bind:
+                  port: 8080
+                placement: weightd
+                """);
+
+        IllegalStateException e = assertThrows(IllegalStateException.class, () -> BridgedConfig.load(f));
+        assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("weightd"), "error names the bad value: " + e.getMessage());
+        assertTrue(e.getMessage().contains("fixed") && e.getMessage().contains("round-robin")
+                        && e.getMessage().contains("weighted"),
+                "error names the accepted set: " + e.getMessage());
+    }
+
     @Test
     void subscriptionFlagBindsAndDefaultsFalse(@TempDir Path dir) throws Exception {
         Path f = dir.resolve("subscription.yaml");

bridged/src/test/java/dev/ltms/bridged/mcp/BridgeMcpTest.java

@@ -773,6 +773,52 @@ class BridgeMcpTest {
         assertEquals("blocked", textOf(res));
     }
 
+    /**
+     * CB-582: a lead polling {@code bridge_status} on its normal cadence — not {@code bridge_poll}
+     * — must also see a worker's open async {@code bridge_ask} question, since the reverse-rendezvous
+     * window it opened with is far shorter than that cadence.
+     */
+    @Test
+    void statusReportsAnOpenQuestionWhenTheWorkerIsMidAsk() throws Exception {
+        String ticket = messages.sendAsync(T, "task that asks");
+        long deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (!rendezvous.isWaiting(T) && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+        }
+        assertTrue(rendezvous.isWaiting(T), "sendAsync should have opened its rendezvous waiter");
+
+        CompletableFuture<MessageService.AskResult> ask =
+                CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(() -> messages.ask(T, "which config file?", 5000));
+
+        MessageService.TaskView asking;
+        deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        do {
+            asking = messages.poll(ticket);
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+        } while (asking.phase() != MessageService.Phase.ASKING && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline);
+        assertEquals(MessageService.Phase.ASKING, asking.phase());
+
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult res = BridgeMcp.status(messages, T);
+        assertNotEquals(Boolean.TRUE, res.isError());
+        String out = textOf(res);
+        assertTrue(out.startsWith("idle"), "the live status must still lead the text: " + out);
+        assertTrue(out.contains("which config file?"), "the question text must be shown: " + out);
+        assertTrue(out.contains("turnId=\"" + asking.turnId() + "\""), "the turnId must be shown: " + out);
+        assertTrue(out.contains("(ticket " + ticket + ")"), "the ticket must be shown: " + out);
+
+        // Clean up the still-open ask so the background thread does not linger past the test.
+        String turnId = asking.turnId();
+        CompletableFuture<MessageService.Reply> answer = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                () -> messages.answer(turnId, "config.yaml", 5000));
+        assertEquals("config.yaml", ask.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS).answer());
+        deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (!rendezvous.isWaiting(T) && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+        }
+        assertTrue(rendezvous.resolve(T, "done"));
+        answer.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+    }
+
     // --- bridge_whoami: the caller's own identity, so an agent never has to guess its role -------
 
     @Test

bridged/src/test/java/dev/ltms/bridged/msg/MessageServiceTest.java

@@ -714,6 +714,47 @@ class MessageServiceTest {
         assertEquals(MessageService.Outcome.REPLIED, answer.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS).outcome());
     }
 
+    // --- CB-582: bridge_status pendingAsk() ------------------------------------------------------
+
+    @Test
+    void pendingAskReturnsNullWhenNoQuestionIsOpen() throws Exception {
+        assertNull(messages.pendingAsk(T), "no async ticket at all -> no pending ask");
+
+        String ticket = messages.sendAsync(T, "long task");
+        awaitWaiting();
+        assertNull(messages.pendingAsk(T), "a plain pending delegation is not a question");
+
+        injectDelivery();
+        assertTrue(rendezvous.resolve(T, "done"));
+        awaitTicketPhase(ticket, MessageService.Phase.DONE);
+        assertNull(messages.pendingAsk(T), "a finished ticket carries no open question either");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void pendingAskReturnsTheOpenQuestionForAnAsyncTicket() throws Exception {
+        String ticket = messages.sendAsync(T, "task that asks");
+        awaitWaiting();
+        injectDelivery();
+
+        CompletableFuture<MessageService.AskResult> ask =
+                CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(() -> messages.ask(T, "which config file?", 5000));
+        MessageService.TaskView asking = awaitTicketPhase(ticket, MessageService.Phase.ASKING);
+
+        MessageService.PendingAsk pending = messages.pendingAsk(T);
+        assertNotNull(pending, "bridge_status should see the open question");
+        assertEquals(ticket, pending.ticket());
+        assertEquals("which config file?", pending.question());
+        assertEquals(asking.turnId(), pending.turnId());
+
+        CompletableFuture<MessageService.Reply> answer = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                () -> messages.answer(asking.turnId(), "config.yaml", 5000));
+        assertEquals("config.yaml", ask.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS).answer());
+        assertNull(messages.pendingAsk(T), "an answered question is no longer pending");
+        awaitWaiting();
+        assertTrue(rendezvous.resolve(T, "done"));
+        assertEquals(MessageService.Outcome.REPLIED, answer.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS).outcome());
+    }
+
     // --- CB-588: async ticket terminal nudges ---------------------------------------------------
     //
     // MessageService.reply's rendezvous fast path is exactly what an async ticket always takes
@@ -833,6 +874,110 @@ class MessageServiceTest {
         }
     }
 
+    // --- CB-582: bridge_ask question-open nudges --------------------------------------------------
+
+    @Test
+    void anAsyncTicketThatPausesOnAQuestionNudgesTheLeadWithNoPriorPollCall() throws Exception {
+        try (var wiring = wireWithPushLoop(5, 50)) {
+            String ticket = wiring.service().sendAsync(T, "task that asks");
+            awaitWaiting();
+            injectDelivery();
+
+            CompletableFuture<MessageService.AskResult> ask = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                    () -> wiring.service().ask(T, "which config file?", 5000));
+            MessageService.TaskView asking = awaitTicketPhaseOn(wiring.service(), ticket, MessageService.Phase.ASKING);
+
+            awaitNudge(wiring.leadHerdr());
+            String nudge = wiring.leadHerdr().lastCall("agent.prompt").params().toString();
+            assertTrue(nudge.contains(ticket), "the nudge should name the ticket: " + nudge);
+            assertTrue(nudge.contains(asking.turnId()), "the nudge should name the turnId: " + nudge);
+            assertTrue(nudge.contains("bridge_send(turnId="),
+                    "the nudge should name the exact answer call: " + nudge);
+            assertTrue(nudge.contains("which config file?"), "the nudge should include the question: " + nudge);
+
+            // Clean up the still-open ask so the background thread does not linger past the test.
+            CompletableFuture<MessageService.Reply> answer = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                    () -> wiring.service().answer(asking.turnId(), "config.yaml", 5000));
+            assertEquals("config.yaml", ask.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS).answer());
+            awaitWaiting();
+            assertTrue(rendezvous.resolve(T, "done"));
+            answer.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void answeringAQuestionStopsFurtherNudgesAboutIt() throws Exception {
+        try (var wiring = wireWithPushLoop(5, 50)) {
+            String ticket = wiring.service().sendAsync(T, "task that asks");
+            awaitWaiting();
+            injectDelivery();
+
+            CompletableFuture<MessageService.AskResult> ask = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                    () -> wiring.service().ask(T, "which config file?", 5000));
+            MessageService.TaskView asking = awaitTicketPhaseOn(wiring.service(), ticket, MessageService.Phase.ASKING);
+
+            awaitNudge(wiring.leadHerdr());
+            long callsBeforeAnswer = wiring.leadHerdr().calls.stream()
+                    .filter(c -> c.method().equals("agent.prompt")).count();
+
+            CompletableFuture<MessageService.Reply> answer = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                    () -> wiring.service().answer(asking.turnId(), "config.yaml", 5000));
+            assertEquals("config.yaml", ask.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS).answer());
+            awaitWaiting();
+            assertTrue(rendezvous.resolve(T, "done"));
+            answer.get(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+
+            // Let several more ticks (and the ticket's own now-legitimate terminal nudge) fire —
+            // none of them may still name the question's turnId, which is closed.
+            Thread.sleep(300);
+            boolean anyNamesClosedQuestion = wiring.leadHerdr().calls.stream()
+                    .filter(c -> c.method().equals("agent.prompt"))
+                    .skip(callsBeforeAnswer)
+                    .anyMatch(c -> c.params().toString().contains(asking.turnId()));
+            assertFalse(anyNamesClosedQuestion,
+                    "no nudge sent after the answer may still name the now-closed turnId " + asking.turnId());
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void anAskThatLeavesByThrowingStillClosesItsQuestion() throws Exception {
+        // CB-582 follow-up. ask() calls clearAsyncQuestion on three paths — no-waiter, timed out,
+        // and (from answer()) answered — but it can also leave by *throwing*: an interrupt while
+        // blocked on the answer, or an ExecutionException from the answer future. Those paths run
+        // only the finally block, so before the fix the push loop kept the question pending for
+        // good: named in every nudge until its own cap, then never removed from the map at all.
+        PrimaryRegistry registry = new PrimaryRegistry(null);
+        registry.recordDelegation(T, LEAD);
+        var scheduler = java.util.concurrent.Executors.newSingleThreadScheduledExecutor();
+        // A backoff far longer than the test: the schedule is started but no tick ever fires, so
+        // decide() is read directly and nothing here depends on timing.
+        ReplyPushLoop pushLoop = new ReplyPushLoop(registry, new AgentControl(new FakeHerdr()), inbox,
+                scheduler, 5, 60_000);
+        MessageService service = new MessageService(agents, injector, rendezvous, inbox, pushLoop);
+        try {
+            String ticket = service.sendAsync(T, "task that asks");
+            awaitWaiting();
+            injectDelivery();
+
+            Thread asker = new Thread(() -> assertThrows(IllegalStateException.class,
+                    () -> service.ask(T, "which config file?", 30_000)));
+            asker.start();
+            awaitTicketPhaseOn(service, ticket, MessageService.Phase.ASKING);
+            assertEquals(ReplyPushLoop.Action.INJECT, pushLoop.decide(LEAD, 0, 0, 0),
+                    "the open question should be the one thing keeping this lead's schedule alive");
+
+            asker.interrupt();
+            asker.join(5000);
+            assertFalse(asker.isAlive(), "the interrupted ask should have left ask() by throwing");
+
+            assertEquals(ReplyPushLoop.Action.STOP, pushLoop.decide(LEAD, 0, 0, 0),
+                    "an ask that threw must still close its question, or the loop nudges about it for good");
+        } finally {
+            service.close();
+            scheduler.shutdownNow();
+        }
+    }
+
     @Test
     void aFleetWithNoPushLoopConfiguredBehavesExactlyAsToday() throws Exception {
         // `messages` (the shared field) uses the no-pushLoop constructor — poll() must not throw,

bridged/src/test/java/dev/ltms/bridged/msg/ReplyPushLoopTest.java

@@ -657,6 +657,132 @@ class ReplyPushLoopTest {
         assertTrue(loop.isActive(), "the schedule must stay active after nudging the fresh ticket");
     }
 
+    // --- CB-582: bridge_ask question-open nudges -------------------------------------------------
+
+    @Test
+    void onQuestionOpenedWithNoKnownLeadNeverStartsASchedule() throws Exception {
+        var rec = recordingClient();
+        agents = new AgentControl(rec);
+        var loop = new ReplyPushLoop(new PrimaryRegistry(null), agents, inbox, scheduler, 5, 50);
+
+        loop.onQuestionOpened("task-1", WORKER, "term_worker#1", "which config?");
+
+        assertFalse(loop.isActive(), "no lead known means nothing to nudge yet");
+        Thread.sleep(150);
+        assertEquals(0, rec.sendCount(), "must not nudge when no lead is known to be waiting");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void decideQuestionsWithNothingPendingIsStop() {
+        agents = agentWithStatus("idle");
+        assertEquals(ReplyPushLoop.Action.STOP, loop().decide(PRIMARY, 0, 0, 0));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void decideQuestionsAtCapIsStop() {
+        agents = agentWithStatus("idle");
+        var loop = loop(2, 100_000);
+        loop.onQuestionOpened("task-1", WORKER, "term_worker#1", "which config?");
+        assertEquals(ReplyPushLoop.Action.STOP, loop.decide(PRIMARY, 0, 0, 2));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void decideQuestionsUnderCapWithInjectableLeadIsInject() {
+        agents = agentWithStatus("idle");
+        var loop = loop(5, 100_000);
+        loop.onQuestionOpened("task-1", WORKER, "term_worker#1", "which config?");
+        assertEquals(ReplyPushLoop.Action.INJECT, loop.decide(PRIMARY, 0, 0, 0));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void onQuestionOpenedCausesExactlyOneNudgeNamingTheTicketAndTurnId() throws Exception {
+        var rec = recordingClient();
+        agents = new AgentControl(rec);
+
+        loop(1, 50).onQuestionOpened("task-1", WORKER, "term_worker#1", "which config file?");
+
+        assertTrue(rec.sendLatch.await(3, TimeUnit.SECONDS), "one question nudge should have been sent");
+        assertEquals(1, rec.sendCount());
+        String nudge = rec.sentParams().getFirst().getValue().toString();
+        assertTrue(nudge.contains("task-1"), "nudge should name the ticket: " + nudge);
+        assertTrue(nudge.contains("term_worker#1"), "nudge should name the turnId: " + nudge);
+        assertTrue(nudge.contains("bridge_send(turnId="), "nudge should name the exact answer call: " + nudge);
+        assertTrue(nudge.contains("which config file?"), "nudge should include the question text: " + nudge);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void questionClosedPreventsFurtherNudging() throws Exception {
+        var rec = recordingClient();
+        agents = new AgentControl(rec);
+        var loop = loop(1, 100);
+
+        loop.onQuestionOpened("task-1", WORKER, "term_worker#1", "which config?");
+        loop.questionClosed("term_worker#1"); // answered/lapsed before the first tick fired
+
+        Thread.sleep(300); // let the scheduled tick run
+        assertEquals(0, rec.sendCount(), "an already-closed question must never be nudged");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void questionNudgesSendUpToCapThenStop() throws Exception {
+        int cap = 2;
+        var rec = recordingClient();
+        agents = new AgentControl(rec);
+        rec.sendLatch = new CountDownLatch(cap);
+
+        loop(cap, 50).onQuestionOpened("task-1", WORKER, "term_worker#1", "which config?");
+
+        assertTrue(rec.sendLatch.await(5, TimeUnit.SECONDS), cap + " question nudges should have fired");
+        Thread.sleep(300);
+        assertEquals(cap, rec.sendCount(), "exactly " + cap + " question nudges (cap=" + cap + ")");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void questionAndTicketForTheSameLeadCoalesceIntoOneSend() throws Exception {
+        var rec = recordingClient();
+        agents = new AgentControl(rec);
+        var loop = loop(1, 300); // backoff wide enough that both entry points land before the first tick
+
+        loop.onTicketTerminal("task-1", WORKER, false);
+        loop.onQuestionOpened("task-2", WORKER, "term_worker#1", "which config?");
+
+        assertTrue(rec.sendLatch.await(3, TimeUnit.SECONDS), "one combined nudge should have been sent");
+        Thread.sleep(300);
+        assertEquals(1, rec.sendCount(),
+                "a ticket and a question for the same lead must coalesce onto ONE schedule");
+        String nudge = rec.sentParams().getFirst().getValue().toString();
+        assertTrue(nudge.contains("task-1"), "the combined nudge must still mention the ticket: " + nudge);
+        assertTrue(nudge.contains("term_worker#1"), "the combined nudge must still mention the question: " + nudge);
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void oneExhaustedQuestionSourceDoesNotBlockANudgeForTheOtherSources() {
+        // Mirrors oneExhaustedSourceDoesNotBlockANudgeForTheOtherSource for the question source:
+        // the question source is at its cap (2/2), but the ticket source has never been nudged
+        // (0/2) — decide() must still INJECT so the ticket is not stranded.
+        agents = agentWithStatus("idle");
+        var loop = loop(2, 100_000);
+        loop.onQuestionOpened("task-1", WORKER, "term_worker#1", "which config?");
+        loop.onTicketTerminal("task-2", WORKER, false);
+
+        assertEquals(ReplyPushLoop.Action.INJECT, loop.decide(PRIMARY, 0, 0, 2),
+                "the question source is exhausted (2/2), but the ticket source has never been "
+                        + "nudged (0/2) — the lead must still be injected so the ticket is not lost");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void questionNudgeFormatIsCorrect() {
+        String single = ReplyPushLoop.QUESTION_NUDGE_FORMAT.formatted(
+                WORKER, "task-1", "term_worker#1", "which config?");
+        assertTrue(single.contains("Worker term_worker"));
+        assertTrue(single.contains("bridge_send(turnId=\"term_worker#1\""));
+        assertTrue(single.contains("which config?"));
+
+        String multi = ReplyPushLoop.QUESTIONS_NUDGE_FORMAT.formatted(2, "task-1 (turnId=t1), task-2 (turnId=t2)");
+        assertTrue(multi.contains("2 workers"));
+        assertTrue(multi.contains("bridge_poll(ticket=...)"));
+    }
+
     // --- metrics (CB-512) ----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     @Test

bridged/src/test/java/dev/ltms/bridged/rest/BridgedAppTest.java

@@ -484,6 +484,67 @@ class BridgedAppTest {
         assertTrue(mapper.readTree(req(port, "GET", "/sessions/term_a/status").body()).get("ready").asBoolean());
     }
 
+    /**
+     * CB-582: a lead polling {@code GET /sessions/{id}/status} on its normal cadence — not the
+     * ticket-scoped {@code /tasks/{ticket}} — must also see a worker's open async {@code bridge_ask}
+     * question, since the reverse-rendezvous window it opened with is far shorter than that cadence.
+     */
+    @Test
+    void sessionStatusReportsAnOpenQuestionWhenTheWorkerIsMidAsk() throws Exception {
+        FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr().agentStatus("idle"); // poller delivers the injection
+        int port = start(herdr, "http://gx00.gw:8000", Set.of("gx00.gw"));
+
+        HttpResponse<String> accepted = postMessage(port, "{\"content\":\"do it\",\"wait\":false}");
+        assertEquals(202, accepted.statusCode());
+        String ticket = mapper.readTree(accepted.body()).get("ticket").asText();
+
+        Thread.sleep(200); // let the background async send open its rendezvous waiter
+
+        var ask = java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(() -> {
+            try {
+                return postJson(port, "/sessions/term_a/ask",
+                        "{\"question\":\"which config file?\",\"timeoutMs\":5000}");
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                throw new RuntimeException(e);
+            }
+        });
+
+        JsonNode task;
+        long deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        do {
+            task = mapper.readTree(req(port, "GET", "/tasks/" + ticket).body());
+            if ("asking".equals(task.path("phase").asText())) break;
+            //noinspection BusyWait
+            Thread.sleep(10);
+        } while (System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline);
+        assertEquals("asking", task.get("phase").asText());
+        String turnId = task.get("turnId").asText();
+
+        HttpResponse<String> status = req(port, "GET", "/sessions/term_a/status");
+        assertEquals(200, status.statusCode());
+        JsonNode body = mapper.readTree(status.body());
+        assertEquals("idle", body.get("status").asText(), "the live status must still be reported");
+        assertEquals("which config file?", body.get("question").asText());
+        assertEquals(turnId, body.get("turnId").asText());
+        assertEquals(ticket, body.get("ticket").asText());
+
+        // Answer it — via the same /message route bridge_send uses, keyed by turnId — so the
+        // background ask thread does not linger past the test.
+        var answer = java.util.concurrent.CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(() -> {
+            try {
+                return postJson(port, "/sessions/term_a/message",
+                        "{\"content\":\"config.yaml\",\"turnId\":\"" + turnId + "\",\"timeoutMs\":4000}");
+            } catch (Exception e) {
+                throw new RuntimeException(e);
+            }
+        });
+        HttpResponse<String> askResponse = ask.get(6, java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+        assertEquals(200, askResponse.statusCode());
+        assertEquals("config.yaml", mapper.readTree(askResponse.body()).get("answer").asText());
+        postJson(port, "/sessions/term_a/reply", "{\"content\":\"done\"}");
+        answer.get(6, java.util.concurrent.TimeUnit.SECONDS);
+    }
+
     @Test
     void stopWorkerInPanePlacementClosesOnlyThePane() throws Exception {
         FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();