CB-574: retain async task correlation

A lead sent to sessionId "sol" — a profile name, not a terminal id. The
bridge accepted it, handed out a ticket, failed 60s later inside the
injector, and still reported the ticket as pending 20 minutes on. The
sender never learned anything and a whole delegation was lost.

bridge_send now rejects a target that exactly matches a configured
profile name, on both the blocking and the wait:false path, before any
ticket is issued. The error names the value and points at bridge_list.

The check is deliberately narrow. A target absent from the member roster
may still be a peer lead's terminal or a herdr-owned pane, so only a
value the bridge can prove is a profile is refused. profiles is a
required parameter on both send methods — the earlier revision kept
overloads that defaulted it to an empty set, which is the same silent
disable shape as CB-561.

bridged/bridged.example.yaml

@@ -231,8 +231,8 @@ placement: weighted
 #
 # Not every key can move under a running daemon, and the difference is about what already exists
 # when the reload happens — not about how important the key is:
-#   HOT       → takes effect on the next spawn: the whole `fleet:` block (every role pool and
-#               `tabLabel`), `placement:`, and an existing profile's weight / maxLoad. Those are
+#   HOT       → takes effect on the next spawn: the whole `fleet:` block (every role pool,
+#               `charters`, and `tabLabel`), `placement:`, and an existing profile's weight / maxLoad. Those are
 #               hot because the placement policy reads them through a supplier — being config is
 #               not by itself enough to make a key hot.
 #   DEFERRED  → accepted into the new config, but the wiring built at startup keeps the old value
@@ -274,6 +274,24 @@ placement: weighted
 # the candidates, in definition order. A dev and a reviewer staying anonymous is exactly compatible
 # with being listed here; the entry key just names the entry.
 fleet:
+  # Optional launch-charter text, keyed only by the singular role wire names: architect, dev,
+  # reviewer. Changes are HOT and reach the next spawn without a daemon restart. Do not put secrets
+  # here: a later launch step writes this text to a world-readable temp file, and ${ENV} interpolation
+  # is deliberately not supported.
+  charters:
+    architect: |-
+      You are an architect in this fleet. You refine work before anyone builds it:
+      scope, acceptance criteria, risks, and a unit split. You read the repo and
+      write analysis. You never commit production code and never open a PR.
+      A design task is worked by two architects. Design alone first, then exchange
+      and say plainly where you disagree. Do not concede just to agree.
+    dev: |-
+      You implement the one unit you were given, and nothing else. You test it,
+      commit it, and open your own pull request. You never merge.
+    reviewer: |-
+      You review the diff you were given. You report bugs, risks and missing tests.
+      You do not change code.
+
   # Optional. Template for a member tab's label; {role}, {profile}, {model} and {n} are substituted.
   # {n} counts per role+profile, so `dev: sonnet #2` really is the second sonnet dev. Because {role}
   # comes from a closed enum, a generated label can never begin with a lead's tabPrefix.

bridged/src/main/java/dev/ltms/bridged/Bridged.java

@@ -96,6 +96,7 @@ public final class Bridged {
         // CB-542: a subscription:true profile whose env: reseats ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL/AUTH_TOKEN would
         // reach an unguarded endpoint (the launcher skips SubscriptionGuard for it). Refuse at load.
         cfg.validateSubscriptionProfiles();
+        cfg.validateCharters();
         // CB-548: every architect slot must name a configured workers: profile — the strong-model
         // backend the future spawn lifecycle would read. A stale reference dies here, not later.
         cfg.validateMembers();
@@ -128,13 +129,13 @@ public final class Bridged {
             adapters.add(new ClaudeCodeLauncher(agents, spaces, guard,
                     claudeProfiles, cfg.effectiveDefaultProfile(), System::getenv,
                     cfg.spawnReadyTimeoutMs(), cfg.spawnReadyPollMs(),
-                    () -> config.get().fleet().tabLabel()));
+                    () -> config.get().fleet()));
         }
         if (!opencodeProfiles.isEmpty()) {
             adapters.add(new OpenCodeLauncher(agents, spaces,
                     opencodeProfiles, cfg.effectiveDefaultProfile(), System::getenv,
                     cfg.spawnReadyTimeoutMs(), cfg.spawnReadyPollMs(),
-                    () -> config.get().fleet().tabLabel()));
+                    () -> config.get().fleet()));
         }
         AtomicReference<Function<String, Integer>> liveCountRef = new AtomicReference<>(_ -> 0);
         PeerLauncher workers = new CompositePeerLauncher(

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

@@ -532,6 +532,7 @@ public record BridgedConfig(
      * @param architects  profiles the {@code architect} role may run on
      * @param developers  profiles the {@code dev} role may run on
      * @param reviewers   profiles the {@code reviewer} role may run on
+     * @param charters    optional launch-charter text keyed by singular role wire name
      * @param tabLabel    template for a member tab's label; {@code {role}}, {@code {profile}},
      *                    {@code {model}} and {@code {n}} (a per role+profile counter) are
      *                    substituted. Default {@link #DEFAULT_TAB_LABEL}
@@ -541,6 +542,7 @@ public record BridgedConfig(
                         Map<String, Slot> architects,
                         Map<String, Slot> developers,
                         Map<String, Slot> reviewers,
+                        Map<String, String> charters,
                         String tabLabel) {
 
         /**
@@ -556,9 +558,24 @@ public record BridgedConfig(
             architects = unmodifiableOrEmpty(architects);
             developers = unmodifiableOrEmpty(developers);
             reviewers = unmodifiableOrEmpty(reviewers);
+            charters = unmodifiableOrEmpty(charters);
             tabLabel = (tabLabel == null || tabLabel.isBlank()) ? DEFAULT_TAB_LABEL : tabLabel;
         }
 
+        /**
+         * A fleet with no configured launch charters — the shape every deployment had before
+         * CB-566, and what most tests want.
+         *
+         * <p>Kept deliberately, even though an overload that drops a new field is normally the
+         * shape to avoid. It is safe here because nothing <em>reads</em> a charter through a
+         * constructor: the launcher reads {@code fleet.charters()} from the live config. Jackson
+         * binds the canonical constructor, so this one cannot swallow an operator's YAML.
+         */
+        public Fleet(Map<String, Leader> leaders, Map<String, Slot> architects,
+                     Map<String, Slot> developers, Map<String, Slot> reviewers, String tabLabel) {
+            this(leaders, architects, developers, reviewers, null, tabLabel);
+        }
+
         /**
          * Deliberately not {@code Map.copyOf}: its iteration order is salted per JVM run, which
          * would discard YAML definition order. The {@code fixed} placement policy answers with a
@@ -582,6 +599,11 @@ public record BridgedConfig(
             };
         }
 
+        /** The configured launch charter for {@code role}, or {@code null} when it is absent. */
+        public String charterFor(MemberRole role) {
+            return role == null ? null : charters.get(role.wireName());
+        }
+
         /**
          * The profile names {@code role} may run on, in definition order, without repeats.
          *
@@ -1052,7 +1074,7 @@ public record BridgedConfig(
         // fleet IS defaulted, unlike the leadScan: block it replaced, because an empty Fleet is not
         // the same as an enabled one: every pool is empty, so no lead is scanned for or created and
         // no role has a pool. Constructing it saves every reader a null check for no behaviour change.
-        Fleet f = (fleet != null) ? fleet : new Fleet(null, null, null, null, null);
+        Fleet f = (fleet != null) ? fleet : new Fleet(null, null, null, null, null, null);
         // leadHeartbeat is left as-is (CB-551): null is "off", and LeadHeartbeat's own compact
         // constructor defaults the fields of a block that IS present. Defaulting it here would
         // switch the feature on for every config that never mentioned it.
@@ -1190,6 +1212,35 @@ public record BridgedConfig(
         }
     }
 
+    /**
+     * Reject configured charter entries that would remove a role's contract or never be read.
+     *
+     * <p>The map deliberately retains every key from {@code fleet.charters:}. A typed record would
+     * silently discard an unknown child because {@link Fleet} ignores unknown JSON properties, which
+     * would make a typo look like an accepted configuration.
+     *
+     * @throws IllegalStateException when a charter key is not a role wire name or its value is blank
+     */
+    public void validateCharters() {
+        if (fleet == null || fleet.charters().isEmpty()) {
+            return;
+        }
+        List<String> valid = Arrays.stream(MemberRole.values())
+                .map(MemberRole::wireName)
+                .toList();
+        List<String> bad = new ArrayList<>();
+        fleet.charters().forEach((key, charter) -> {
+            if (!valid.contains(key)) {
+                bad.add("fleet.charters." + key + " is not a role wire name (valid: " + valid + ").");
+            } else if (charter == null || charter.isBlank()) {
+                bad.add("fleet.charters." + key + " is blank; a configured role needs charter text.");
+            }
+        });
+        if (!bad.isEmpty()) {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("refusing to start: " + String.join(" ", bad));
+        }
+    }
+
     /**
      * Reject a member slot whose {@code role} or {@code profile} does not resolve.
      *

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

@@ -27,10 +27,10 @@ import java.util.function.Supplier;
  *
  * <ul>
  *   <li><strong>Hot</strong> — re-read per use, so a reload takes effect on the next spawn:
- *       {@code fleet:} (every role pool and {@code tabLabel}), {@code placement:}, and an existing
- *       profile's {@code weight} / {@code maxLoad}. Those three are read through a supplier on
- *       {@code CompositePeerLauncher}, which is what makes them hot — not the fact that they are
- *       config.</li>
+ *       {@code fleet:} (every role pool, {@code charters}, and {@code tabLabel}),
+ *       {@code placement:}, and an existing profile's {@code weight} / {@code maxLoad}. Those
+ *       three are read through a supplier on {@code CompositePeerLauncher}, which is what makes
+ *       them hot — not the fact that they are config.</li>
  *   <li><strong>Deferred</strong> — accepted into the new snapshot, but the wiring built at startup
  *       keeps the old value until a restart: {@code lifecycle:}, {@code leadHeartbeat:},
  *       {@code spawnReadyTimeoutMs} / {@code spawnReadyPollMs}, {@code guard:},
@@ -150,6 +150,7 @@ public final class ConfigRef implements Supplier<BridgedConfig> {
             fresh.validateAuthExposure();
             fresh.validateLeadTabPrefixes();
             fresh.validateSubscriptionProfiles();
+            fresh.validateCharters();
             fresh.validateMembers();
         } catch (RuntimeException e) {
             String msg = e.getMessage() == null ? e.toString() : e.getMessage();

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

@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import jakarta.servlet.http.HttpServlet;
 import java.util.LinkedHashMap;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
 import java.util.function.Function;
 import java.util.stream.Collectors;
 
@@ -151,8 +152,8 @@ public final class BridgeMcp {
                     Runnable onAccepted = () -> primaryRegistry.recordDelegation(target, caller);
                     // wait defaults to true (block for the reply); wait:false is fire-and-poll.
                     return Boolean.FALSE.equals(a.get("wait"))
-                            ? sendAsync(messages, target, content, onAccepted)
-                            : send(messages, target, content, timeoutMs(a), onAccepted);
+                            ? sendAsync(messages, target, content, onAccepted, workers.profiles())
+                            : send(messages, target, content, timeoutMs(a), onAccepted, workers.profiles());
                 })
                 // bridge_reply's identity is the CONNECTION, never an argument — so the authz check
                 // is "is this caller a worker at all", and it can only ever reply as itself.
@@ -379,21 +380,22 @@ public final class BridgeMcp {
 
     // --- tool logic (thin adapters over the services; unit-testable) ---------------------------
 
-    /** {@code bridge_send}: delegate {@code content} to a worker session and block for its reply. */
-    static McpSchema.CallToolResult send(MessageService messages, String sessionId, String content, Long timeoutMs) {
-        return send(messages, sessionId, content, timeoutMs, null);
-    }
-
     /**
-     * As {@link #send(MessageService, String, String, Long)}, wiring an accepted-delivery hook
+     * {@code bridge_send}: delegate {@code content} to a worker session and block for its reply.
+     * The configured profiles are required so a profile name can never bypass target validation.
+     *
      * (CB-548): {@code onAccepted} records delegator ownership the instant the send is accepted, so
      * a BUSY interloper never claims a turn it did not win. {@code null} disables recording.
      */
     static McpSchema.CallToolResult send(MessageService messages, String sessionId, String content,
-                                         Long timeoutMs, Runnable onAccepted) {
+                                         Long timeoutMs, Runnable onAccepted, Set<String> profiles) {
         if (isBlank(sessionId) || isBlank(content)) {
             return error("sessionId and content are required");
         }
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult targetError = profileTargetError(sessionId, profiles);
+        if (targetError != null) {
+            return targetError;
+        }
         long timeout = clamp(timeoutMs == null ? DEFAULT_TIMEOUT_MS : timeoutMs);
         try {
             return formatReply(messages.send(sessionId, content, timeout, onAccepted), timeout);
@@ -463,24 +465,33 @@ public final class BridgeMcp {
     /**
      * {@code bridge_send} with {@code wait:false}: delegate {@code content} and return a ticket
      * immediately (fire-and-poll), so a long task isn't cut off by the caller's MCP call timeout.
-     */
-    static McpSchema.CallToolResult sendAsync(MessageService messages, String sessionId, String content) {
-        return sendAsync(messages, sessionId, content, null);
-    }
-
-    /**
-     * As {@link #sendAsync(MessageService, String, String)}, wiring the accepted-delivery hook
+     * The configured profiles are required so a profile name can never bypass target validation.
+     *
+     * This wires the accepted-delivery hook
      * (CB-548) so an async flooding send records delegator ownership exactly once it is accepted.
      */
     static McpSchema.CallToolResult sendAsync(MessageService messages, String sessionId, String content,
-                                              Runnable onAccepted) {
+                                              Runnable onAccepted, Set<String> profiles) {
         if (isBlank(sessionId) || isBlank(content)) {
             return error("sessionId and content are required");
         }
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult targetError = profileTargetError(sessionId, profiles);
+        if (targetError != null) {
+            return targetError;
+        }
         String ticket = messages.sendAsync(sessionId, content, onAccepted);
         return text("accepted — task delegated. Poll bridge_poll with ticket=" + ticket);
     }
 
+    /** A configured profile is never a send target; other unknown values may be herdr-owned panes. */
+    private static McpSchema.CallToolResult profileTargetError(String sessionId, Set<String> profiles) {
+        if (profiles.contains(sessionId)) {
+            return error("unknown send target \"" + sessionId + "\": it is a configured profile name, not a "
+                    + "session id. Call bridge_list to find a member or lead sessionId.");
+        }
+        return null;
+    }
+
     /** {@code bridge_poll}: check an async delegation by ticket, or drain a worker's inbox by target. */
     static McpSchema.CallToolResult poll(MessageService messages, String ticket, String target) {
         if (!isBlank(target)) {
@@ -502,6 +513,9 @@ public final class BridgeMcp {
                     ? "[done — worker finished without a structured bridge_reply; transcript tail follows]\n" + v.reply()
                     : v.reply());
             case PENDING -> text("[pending — " + v.detail() + "]");
+            case ASKING -> text("[question — worker is waiting for your answer]\n" + v.reply()
+                    + "\n\nAnswer it by calling bridge_send again with turnId=\"" + v.turnId()
+                    + "\" and content set to your answer; the worker resumes the same turn.");
             case FAILED -> text("[failed — " + v.detail() + "]");
         };
     }

bridged/src/main/java/dev/ltms/bridged/member/ClaudeCodeLauncher.java

@@ -44,23 +44,6 @@ public final class ClaudeCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
 
     private final SubscriptionGuard guard;
 
-    /**
-     * Standing instruction appended to the worker's system prompt so it returns its result via
-     * {@code bridge_reply}. Injected as a launch flag, so nothing is written to the worker's
-     * profile — it is guidance, and a worker that never replies is caught by the send's timeout.
-     */
-    static final String REPLY_CHARTER =
-            "You are an off-subscription worker in the claude-bridge fleet. Every message you "
-            + "receive arrives through the bridge, and the ONLY channel back to the sender is the "
-            + "bridge_reply MCP tool. Text you write in your terminal is NOT sent anywhere — the "
-            + "sender cannot see your screen, so an in-terminal answer is silently discarded. "
-            + "Therefore you MUST end EVERY turn by calling bridge_reply with `content` set to your "
-            + "complete response. This holds for every message without exception — tasks, questions, "
-            + "clarifications, acknowledgements, and ordinary back-and-forth conversation. Call "
-            + "bridge_reply exactly once, as the final action of your turn, with your full answer in "
-            + "`content`; never wait for confirmation first. If you end a turn without calling "
-            + "bridge_reply, the sender receives nothing and the exchange stalls.";
-
     /**
      * Production constructor — disables the spawn-ready gate ({@code spawnReadyTimeoutMs == 0}) so
      * existing deployments and tests keep the legacy non-blocking spawn semantics.
@@ -93,11 +76,11 @@ public final class ClaudeCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
                               Map<String, BridgedConfig.Profile> profiles, String defaultProfile,
                               Function<String, String> env,
                               long spawnReadyTimeoutMs, long spawnReadyPollMs,
-                              Supplier<String> tabLabelTemplate) {
+                              Supplier<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet) {
         this(agents, spaces, guard, profiles, defaultProfile, env,
                 spawnReadyTimeoutMs,
                 System::currentTimeMillis, () -> sleepUninterruptibly(spawnReadyPollMs),
-                tabLabelTemplate);
+                fleet);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -129,31 +112,19 @@ public final class ClaudeCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
     /**
      * Full testability constructor, plus the fleet-wide tab-label template (CB-557).
      *
-     * @param tabLabelTemplate {@code fleet.tabLabel}; {@code null}/blank ⇒
-     *                         {@link BridgedConfig.Fleet#DEFAULT_TAB_LABEL}
+     * @param fleet live fleet config, read once for each spawn
      */
     public ClaudeCodeLauncher(AgentControl agents, WorkspaceControl spaces, SubscriptionGuard guard,
                               Map<String, BridgedConfig.Profile> profiles, String defaultProfile,
                               Function<String, String> env,
                               long spawnReadyTimeoutMs,
                               LongSupplier nowMillis, Runnable sleeper,
-                              Supplier<String> tabLabelTemplate) {
+                              Supplier<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet) {
         super(NAME_PREFIX, agents, spaces, profiles, defaultProfile, env,
-                spawnReadyTimeoutMs, nowMillis, sleeper, tabLabelTemplate);
+                spawnReadyTimeoutMs, nowMillis, sleeper, fleet);
         this.guard = guard;
     }
 
-    /**
-     * {@inheritDoc}
-     *
-     * <p>A legacy spawn with no session identity is a fresh, launcher-derived session — delegate to
-     * the session-aware form with no name and no resume id.
-     */
-    @Override
-    protected Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg) {
-        return buildLaunch(cfg, null, null);
-    }
-
     /**
      * {@inheritDoc}
      *
@@ -164,7 +135,7 @@ public final class ClaudeCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
      * applied here — see {@link #applySessionIdentity}.
      */
     @Override
-    protected Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, String sessionName, String resumeSessionId) {
+    protected Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, LaunchSpec spec) {
         // CB-539: a profile may deliberately opt into the subscription (subscription: true) when no
         // off-subscription endpoint exists for it — e.g. `sonnet` on `ccs`. That profile gets no
         // ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL/AUTH_TOKEN (there is nothing to point them at) and the guard's base_url
@@ -210,9 +181,9 @@ public final class ClaudeCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
         // id via -r and passes no --session-id (the two conflict). Both are injected before the
         // model flag so --model keeps outranking the operator's own argv.
         // mutableArgv: argvWithBridge may hand back the profile's own (immutable) List.of when it
-        // has no MCP — session flags must be added into a list we own.
-        List<String> argv = mutableArgv(argvWithBridge(cfg));
-        String agentSessionId = applySessionIdentity(argv, sessionName, resumeSessionId);
+        // has neither MCP nor a charter — session flags must be added into a list we own.
+        List<String> argv = mutableArgv(argvWithBridge(cfg, spec.charter()));
+        String agentSessionId = applySessionIdentity(argv, spec.sessionName(), spec.resumeSessionId());
         return new Launch(workerEnv, argvWithModel(argv, cfg), agentSessionId);
     }
 
@@ -246,22 +217,26 @@ public final class ClaudeCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
     }
 
     /**
-     * The launch argv, plus — when {@code worker.mcpUrl} is set — inline {@code --mcp-config} for
-     * the bridge server and {@code --append-system-prompt} for the {@link #REPLY_CHARTER}. Neither
-     * touches the profile's config; both are pure command-line flags. This inline-flag mount is
-     * Claude Code specific — other adapters mount MCP and instructions their own way.
+     * The launch argv, plus an inline {@code --mcp-config} when {@code worker.mcpUrl} is set and
+     * {@code --append-system-prompt} when the base composed a charter. Neither touches the profile's
+     * config; both are pure command-line flags. This inline-flag mount is Claude Code specific —
+     * other adapters mount MCP and instructions their own way.
      */
-    private List<String> argvWithBridge(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg) {
-        if (!cfg.hasMcp()) {
+    private List<String> argvWithBridge(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, String charter) {
+        if (!cfg.hasMcp() && charter == null) {
             return cfg.argv();
         }
-        String mcpJson = "{\"mcpServers\":{\"bridge\":{\"type\":\"http\",\"url\":\""
-                + cfg.mcpUrl() + "\"}}}";
         List<String> argv = mutableArgv(cfg.argv());
-        argv.add("--mcp-config");
-        argv.add(mcpJson);
-        argv.add("--append-system-prompt");
-        argv.add(REPLY_CHARTER);
+        if (cfg.hasMcp()) {
+            String mcpJson = "{\"mcpServers\":{\"bridge\":{\"type\":\"http\",\"url\":\""
+                    + cfg.mcpUrl() + "\"}}}";
+            argv.add("--mcp-config");
+            argv.add(mcpJson);
+        }
+        if (charter != null) {
+            argv.add("--append-system-prompt");
+            argv.add(charter);
+        }
         return argv;
     }
 

bridged/src/main/java/dev/ltms/bridged/member/HerdrPeerLauncher.java

@@ -44,7 +44,7 @@ import java.util.regex.Pattern;
  *   <li>{@code namePrefix} (constructor arg) — the label prefix ({@code claude}, {@code opencode})
  *       that drives both unique naming and the orphan-reap pattern, so each adapter reaps only its
  *       own kind of pane and never another's.</li>
- *   <li>{@link #buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile)} — the peer-specific env map + argv, including any
+ *   <li>{@link #buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile, LaunchSpec)} — the peer-specific env map + argv, including any
  *       subscription/guard check, MCP mount, and instruction injection. The base never sees how the
  *       peer is configured; it only places and starts the returned {@link Launch}.</li>
  * </ul>
@@ -80,15 +80,25 @@ public abstract class HerdrPeerLauncher implements PeerLauncher {
     private final AtomicLong nameSeq = new AtomicLong(); // per-peer counter (herdr agent names only)
 
     /**
-     * The {@code fleet.tabLabel} template; a {@code null} supplier or a {@code null}/blank value ⇒
-     * {@link BridgedConfig.Fleet#DEFAULT_TAB_LABEL}. A profile's own {@code tabLabel} still
-     * overrides it.
+     * Live fleet config, read once per spawn. A null supplier or value leaves tab labels at their
+     * default and supplies no role charter. A profile's own {@code tabLabel} still overrides it.
      *
-     * <p>CB-559: a supplier rather than a String, so a config reload renames the <em>next</em> tab
-     * without a restart. Existing tabs keep the label they were given — bridged does not rewrite a
-     * label it already wrote.
+     * <p>CB-559: a supplier rather than a snapshot, so a config reload affects the next launch
+     * without a restart. Existing tabs keep the label they were given.
      */
-    private final Supplier<String> tabLabelTemplate;
+    private final Supplier<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet;
+
+    /** The final instruction always requires a bridge reply when the bridge MCP is mounted. */
+    protected static final String REPLY_CHARTER =
+            "You are a spawned member in the claude-bridge fleet. Every message you receive arrives "
+            + "through the bridge, and the ONLY channel back to the sender is the bridge_reply MCP tool. "
+            + "Text you write in your terminal is NOT sent anywhere — the sender cannot see your screen, "
+            + "so an in-terminal answer is silently discarded. Therefore you MUST end EVERY turn by calling "
+            + "bridge_reply with `content` set to your complete response. This holds for every message without "
+            + "exception — tasks, questions, clarifications, acknowledgements, and ordinary back-and-forth "
+            + "conversation. Call bridge_reply exactly once, as the final action of your turn, with your full "
+            + "answer in `content`; never wait for confirmation first. If you end a turn without calling "
+            + "bridge_reply, the sender receives nothing and the exchange stalls.";
 
     /**
      * Tab numbers, counted per {@code role/profile} pair (CB-557).
@@ -142,21 +152,19 @@ public abstract class HerdrPeerLauncher implements PeerLauncher {
     }
 
     /**
-     * As above, plus the {@code fleet.tabLabel} template (CB-557).
+     * As above, plus the live {@code fleet} config (CB-557).
      *
-     * @param tabLabelTemplate fleet-wide tab-label template, read per spawn (CB-559); {@code null},
-     *                         or a supplier yielding {@code null}/blank ⇒
-     *                         {@link BridgedConfig.Fleet#DEFAULT_TAB_LABEL}. A separate constructor
-     *                         rather than a new parameter on the one above, so every existing call
-     *                         site keeps the default without an edit.
+     * @param fleet live fleet config, read once per spawn; {@code null} ⇒ default tab label and no
+     *              role charter. A separate constructor rather than a new parameter on the one
+     *              above, so every existing call site keeps the default without an edit.
      */
     protected HerdrPeerLauncher(String namePrefix, AgentControl agents, WorkspaceControl spaces,
                                 Map<String, BridgedConfig.Profile> profiles, String defaultProfile,
                                 Function<String, String> env,
                                 long spawnReadyTimeoutMs,
                                 LongSupplier nowMillis, Runnable sleeper,
-                                Supplier<String> tabLabelTemplate) {
-        this.tabLabelTemplate = tabLabelTemplate;
+                                Supplier<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet) {
+        this.fleet = fleet;
         this.namePrefix = namePrefix;
         this.agents = agents;
         this.spaces = spaces;
@@ -175,22 +183,7 @@ public abstract class HerdrPeerLauncher implements PeerLauncher {
      * Any subscription/guard check, MCP mount, and instruction injection happen here. The env map
      * and argv are adapter-private; the base only places and starts what is returned.
      */
-    protected abstract Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg);
-
-    /**
-     * Session-aware variant of {@link #buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile)} (CB-547a). Default
-     * discards the session identity and delegates to the profile-only form, so an adapter that
-     * carries no durable peer session (opencode, say) inherits byte-identical behaviour and needs
-     * no change. An adapter that does (Claude Code) overrides this to mint/resume the id and to
-     * surface it on the returned {@link Launch#agentSessionId()}.
-     *
-     * @param cfg               the resolved profile to spawn
-     * @param sessionName       the bridge's logical session name, or null/blank for launcher-derived
-     * @param resumeSessionId   the peer's own prior session id to resume, or null/blank for fresh
-     */
-    protected Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, String sessionName, String resumeSessionId) {
-        return buildLaunch(cfg);
-    }
+    protected abstract Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, LaunchSpec spec);
 
     /** Direct transport access for peer-specific, non-turn control operations. */
     protected final AgentControl agents() {
@@ -225,6 +218,10 @@ public abstract class HerdrPeerLauncher implements PeerLauncher {
         }
     }
 
+    /** All per-spawn values adapters may need, including the base-composed effective charter. */
+    protected record LaunchSpec(String sessionName, String resumeSessionId, MemberRole role, String charter) {
+    }
+
     // --- profile surface -----------------------------------------------------------------------
 
     /** The configured peer profile names (what {@code spawn(profile)} accepts). */
@@ -295,18 +292,23 @@ public abstract class HerdrPeerLauncher implements PeerLauncher {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Spawn a peer with session identity (CB-547a). {@code sessionName} and {@code resumeSessionId}
-     * are threaded from the {@link SpawnRequest} into {@link #buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile,
-     * String, String)}, and the launch's resolved agent-session id is returned alongside the agent
-     * so the caller can put it on the {@link PeerHandle}.
+     * Spawn a peer with session identity (CB-547a). The session values, role, and charter are
+     * threaded from the {@link SpawnRequest} into {@link #buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile,
+     * LaunchSpec)}, and the launch's resolved agent-session id is returned alongside the agent so
+     * the caller can put it on the {@link PeerHandle}.
      */
     protected Spawned spawnInternal(String profileName, String requestedCwd, String callerCwd,
                                     String sessionName, String resumeSessionId, MemberRole role) {
         BridgedConfig.Profile cfg = requireProfile(profileName);
-        Launch launch = buildLaunch(cfg, sessionName, resumeSessionId);
+        BridgedConfig.Fleet liveFleet = fleet == null ? null : fleet.get();
+        String roleCharter = liveFleet == null ? null : liveFleet.charterFor(role);
+        String replyCharter = cfg.hasMcp() ? REPLY_CHARTER : null;
+        String charter = roleCharter == null ? replyCharter
+                : replyCharter == null ? roleCharter : roleCharter + "\n\n" + replyCharter;
+        Launch launch = buildLaunch(cfg, new LaunchSpec(sessionName, resumeSessionId, role, charter));
         String cwd = resolveCwd(requestedCwd, cfg, callerCwd);
         Agent agent = cfg.tabPlacement()
-                ? spawnInTab(cfg, launch.env(), launch.argv(), cwd, role)
+                ? spawnInTab(cfg, launch.env(), launch.argv(), cwd, role, liveFleet)
                 : spawnAsPane(cfg, launch.env(), launch.argv(), cwd);
         return new Spawned(agent, launch.agentSessionId());
     }
@@ -382,7 +384,7 @@ public abstract class HerdrPeerLauncher implements PeerLauncher {
 
     /** Dedicated worker space → own tab (carrying cwd+env) → start the peer into the seed pane. */
     private Agent spawnInTab(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, Map<String, String> workerEnv,
-                             List<String> argv, String cwd, MemberRole role) {
+                             List<String> argv, String cwd, MemberRole role, BridgedConfig.Fleet liveFleet) {
         Workspace space = spaces.ensureWorkspace(cfg.workspace());
         Tab.Created tab = spaces.createTab(space.workspaceId(), cwd, workerEnv);
         log.info("spawning {} profile={} space={} tab={} cwd={}",
@@ -415,7 +417,7 @@ public abstract class HerdrPeerLauncher implements PeerLauncher {
         tidy("label tab " + tab.tab().tabId(),
                 () -> spaces.renameTab(tab.tab().tabId(),
                         cfg.renderTabLabel(
-                                tabLabelTemplate == null ? null : tabLabelTemplate.get(),
+                                liveFleet == null ? null : liveFleet.tabLabel(),
                                 role, nextLabelSeq(role, cfg.profile()))));
         log.info("{} started pane={} tab={} terminal={}",
                 namePrefix, started.agent().paneId(), started.agent().tabId(), started.agent().terminalId());

bridged/src/main/java/dev/ltms/bridged/member/OpenCodeLauncher.java

@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ import java.util.function.Supplier;
  *   <li><strong>File-based MCP mount + instructions.</strong> opencode has no inline
  *       {@code --mcp-config}/{@code --append-system-prompt}. Instead the bridge writes an ephemeral
  *       {@code opencode.json} that declares the bridge as a {@code remote} MCP server and lists a
- *       reply-charter file under {@code instructions}, then points the worker at it with
+ *       member-charter file under {@code instructions}, then points the worker at it with
  *       {@code OPENCODE_CONFIG}. This is the one place the launcher touches disk — Claude never did.</li>
  *   <li><strong>Model as a flag.</strong> the {@code provider/model} selector is passed as
  *       {@code -m}, not an env var.</li>
@@ -54,38 +54,9 @@ public final class OpenCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
     /** Writer for the generated {@code opencode.json}. */
     private static final ObjectMapper JSON = new ObjectMapper();
 
-    /**
-     * Standing instruction written to the charter file and mounted via the config's
-     * {@code instructions} so the worker returns its result through {@code bridge_reply}. Kept on
-     * disk (not a launch flag) because opencode's {@code instructions} takes file paths, not inline
-     * text — the file is regenerated per spawn and never touches the worker's own profile.
-     */
-    static final String REPLY_CHARTER =
-            "You are an off-subscription worker in the claude-bridge fleet, running under opencode. "
-            + "Every message you receive arrives through the bridge, and the ONLY channel back to the "
-            + "sender is the bridge_reply MCP tool. Text you write in your terminal is NOT sent "
-            + "anywhere — the sender cannot see your screen, so an in-terminal answer is silently "
-            + "discarded. Therefore you MUST end EVERY turn by calling bridge_reply with `content` set "
-            + "to your complete response. This holds for every message without exception — tasks, "
-            + "questions, clarifications, acknowledgements, and ordinary back-and-forth conversation. "
-            + "Call bridge_reply exactly once, as the final action of your turn, with your full answer "
-            + "in `content`; never wait for confirmation first. If you end a turn without calling "
-            + "bridge_reply, the sender receives nothing and the exchange stalls.";
-
     /** Root under which per-spawn opencode config dirs are created (injectable for tests). */
     private final Path configRoot;
 
-    /**
-     * The current spawn's resume-target session id, threaded from {@link #spawn(SpawnRequest)} to
-     * {@link #buildLaunch} across the base's {@code spawn -> spawnInternal -> buildLaunch} chain,
-     * which carries no request. A plain field would race under concurrent spawns (the base supports
-     * them), so it is thread-local: each spawn captures its own request's id on its own thread, and
-     * {@code buildLaunch}, synchronous and same-thread, reads exactly that one. Set only around the
-     * {@code super.spawn} call and cleared in {@code finally}, so a paused/leftover value can never
-     * bleed into the next spawn.
-     */
-    private final ThreadLocal<String> resumeSessionId = new ThreadLocal<>();
-
     /**
      * Session discovery against opencode's on-disk storage ({@link OpenCodeSessionDiscovery}) —
      * the one seam that knows opencode's private session-file layout. Its root is injectable for
@@ -126,10 +97,10 @@ public final class OpenCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
                             Map<String, BridgedConfig.Profile> profiles, String defaultProfile,
                             Function<String, String> env,
                             long spawnReadyTimeoutMs, long spawnReadyPollMs,
-                            Supplier<String> tabLabelTemplate) {
+                            Supplier<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet) {
         this(agents, spaces, profiles, defaultProfile, env, spawnReadyTimeoutMs,
                 System::currentTimeMillis, () -> sleepUninterruptibly(spawnReadyPollMs),
-                defaultConfigRoot(), defaultDiscoveryRoot(), tabLabelTemplate);
+                defaultConfigRoot(), defaultDiscoveryRoot(), fleet);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -164,8 +135,7 @@ public final class OpenCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
     /**
      * Full testability constructor, plus the fleet-wide tab-label template (CB-557).
      *
-     * @param tabLabelTemplate {@code fleet.tabLabel}; {@code null}/blank ⇒
-     *                         {@link BridgedConfig.Fleet#DEFAULT_TAB_LABEL}
+     * @param fleet live fleet config, read once for each spawn
      */
     public OpenCodeLauncher(AgentControl agents, WorkspaceControl spaces,
                             Map<String, BridgedConfig.Profile> profiles, String defaultProfile,
@@ -173,9 +143,9 @@ public final class OpenCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
                             long spawnReadyTimeoutMs,
                             LongSupplier nowMillis, Runnable sleeper,
                             Path configRoot, Path discoveryRoot,
-                            Supplier<String> tabLabelTemplate) {
+                            Supplier<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet) {
         super(NAME_PREFIX, agents, spaces, profiles, defaultProfile, env,
-                spawnReadyTimeoutMs, nowMillis, sleeper, tabLabelTemplate);
+                spawnReadyTimeoutMs, nowMillis, sleeper, fleet);
         this.configRoot = configRoot;
         this.discovery = new OpenCodeSessionDiscovery(discoveryRoot);
     }
@@ -193,20 +163,21 @@ public final class OpenCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
      * {@inheritDoc}
      *
      * <p>Builds the opencode launch: no {@code ANTHROPIC_*} and no guard (opencode reads its own
-     * provider credentials); when the profile mounts the bridge MCP, generate an ephemeral
-     * {@code opencode.json} (remote MCP server + reply-charter instructions) and point the worker at
-     * it via {@code OPENCODE_CONFIG}; carry the parity-neutral git-forge grant; and select the model
-     * with {@code -m}.
+     * provider credentials); when the profile mounts the bridge MCP or has a member charter,
+     * generate an ephemeral {@code opencode.json} (remote MCP server + member-charter instructions)
+     * and point the worker at it via {@code OPENCODE_CONFIG}; carry the parity-neutral git-forge
+     * grant; and select the model with {@code -m}.
      */
     @Override
-    protected Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg) {
+    protected Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, LaunchSpec spec) {
         Map<String, String> workerEnv = baseEnv(cfg);
-        // A config file is needed for the bridge MCP mount, for a pinned endpoint (CB-508), or both.
-        if (cfg.hasMcp() || hasCustomProvider(cfg)) {
-            workerEnv.put("OPENCODE_CONFIG", writeConfig(cfg).toString());
+        // A config file is needed for the bridge MCP mount, a member charter, or a pinned endpoint (CB-508).
+        if (cfg.hasMcp() || spec.charter() != null || hasCustomProvider(cfg)) {
+            workerEnv.put("OPENCODE_CONFIG", writeConfig(cfg, spec.charter()).toString());
         }
         applyGitToken(workerEnv, cfg);
-        return new Launch(workerEnv, argvWithResume(argvWithModel(argvWithAuto(cfg), cfg)));
+        return new Launch(workerEnv,
+                argvWithResume(argvWithModel(argvWithAuto(cfg), cfg), spec.resumeSessionId()));
     }
 
     /**
@@ -243,11 +214,9 @@ public final class OpenCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
      * The launch argv plus, on a resumed spawn, opencode's {@code -s <id>} flag to continue a prior
      * conversation by its session id. {@code -s, --session <id>} resumes an existing session; on a
      * fresh spawn (no resume target) no flag is added, letting opencode start a brand-new session.
-     * The id comes from the current spawn request's {@code resumeSessionId}, threaded per-thread by
-     * {@link #spawn(SpawnRequest)}.
+     * The id comes from the base launch spec.
      */
-    private List<String> argvWithResume(List<String> argv) {
-        String id = resumeSessionId.get();
+    private List<String> argvWithResume(List<String> argv, String id) {
         if (id == null || id.isBlank()) {
             return argv;
         }
@@ -267,12 +236,12 @@ public final class OpenCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
     }
 
     /**
-     * Write an ephemeral {@code opencode.json} (and the reply-charter file it references) into a
+     * Write an ephemeral {@code opencode.json} (and the member-charter file it references) into a
      * fresh per-spawn directory under {@link #configRoot}, and return the config file's path for
      * {@code OPENCODE_CONFIG}. The dir is unique per spawn so concurrent workers never race on it;
      * it is best-effort cleaned on JVM exit (worker config is disposable — regenerated every spawn).
      */
-    private Path writeConfig(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg) {
+    private Path writeConfig(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, String charterText) {
         try {
             Path dir = Files.createTempDirectory(configRoot, "bridged-opencode-");
             dir.toFile().deleteOnExit();
@@ -295,16 +264,19 @@ public final class OpenCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
             // if per-profile control is ever wanted, add a profile knob rather than dropping this.
             root.putObject("compaction").put("auto", true);
 
-            if (cfg.hasMcp()) {
-                Path charter = dir.resolve("reply-charter.md");
-                Files.writeString(charter, REPLY_CHARTER);
+            if (charterText != null) {
+                Path charter = dir.resolve("member-charter.md");
+                Files.writeString(charter, charterText);
                 charter.toFile().deleteOnExit();
 
+                root.putArray("instructions").add(charter.toAbsolutePath().toString());
+            }
+
+            if (cfg.hasMcp()) {
                 ObjectNode bridge = root.putObject("mcp").putObject("bridge");
                 bridge.put("type", "remote");
                 bridge.put("url", cfg.mcpUrl());
                 bridge.put("enabled", true);
-                root.putArray("instructions").add(charter.toAbsolutePath().toString());
             }
             if (hasCustomProvider(cfg)) {
                 addCustomProvider(root, cfg);
@@ -380,31 +352,11 @@ public final class OpenCodeLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
         return afterScheme.contains("/") ? trimmed : trimmed + "/v1";
     }
 
-    /**
-     * {@inheritDoc}
-     *
-     * <p>adds this adapter's session-identity work around the base's spawn — as opencode cannot be
-     * told its session id at spawn (see {@link Capability#SESSION_RESUME} vs
-     * {@link Capability#SESSION_NAME}), identity is only ever adopted after the fact:
-     * <ul>
-     *   <li>the request's {@code resumeSessionId} is remembered for {@link #buildLaunch} to turn
-     *       into {@code -s <id>}; and</li>
-     *   <li>the returned handle is wrapped so its
-     *       {@link dev.ltms.bridged.peer.PeerHandle#agentSessionId()} performs lazy session
-     *       discovery against opencode's storage (see {@link OpenCodeSessionDiscovery}) — always
-     *       non-blocking, {@code null} until opencode has persisted the session record.</li>
-     * </ul>
-     */
+    /** Add lazy on-disk session discovery to the base handle. */
     @Override
     public PeerHandle spawn(SpawnRequest req) {
-        resumeSessionId.set(req.resumeSessionId());
-        try {
-            PeerHandle inner = super.spawn(req);
-            return new SessionAwareHandle(inner, discovery, effectiveCwd(req));
-        } finally {
-            // Never let a paused/leftover resume id bleed into the next spawn on this thread.
-            resumeSessionId.remove();
-        }
+        PeerHandle inner = super.spawn(req);
+        return new SessionAwareHandle(inner, discovery, effectiveCwd(req));
     }
 
     /**

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

@@ -127,6 +127,8 @@ public final class MessageService {
     public enum Phase {
         /** Delegated and in flight — queued for the worker or being worked. */
         PENDING,
+        /** The worker is paused in {@code bridge_ask}; {@link TaskView#reply} and {@link TaskView#turnId} identify it. */
+        ASKING,
         /** The worker's turn finished; {@link TaskView#reply} holds the answer. */
         DONE,
         /** The delegation could not complete (timed out, worker gone, or busy). */
@@ -136,16 +138,28 @@ public final class MessageService {
     /**
      * A poll snapshot of an async delegation.
      *
-     * @param reply       the answer when {@link #phase} is {@link Phase#DONE}, else {@code null}
+     * @param reply       the answer when {@link #phase} is {@link Phase#DONE}, or the question when
+     *                    {@link #phase} is {@link Phase#ASKING}; otherwise {@code null}
      * @param replySource {@code "reply"} (structured {@code bridge_reply}) or {@code "transcript"}
      *                    (completion scrape) when {@link Phase#DONE}, else {@code null}
-     * @param detail      a human note (live worker status while pending, or the failure reason)
+     * @param detail      a human note (live worker status while pending, ask state, or failure reason)
+     * @param turnId      correlation id for an {@link Phase#ASKING} ticket, else {@code null}
      */
-    public record TaskView(String ticket, Phase phase, String reply, String replySource, String detail) {
+    public record TaskView(String ticket, Phase phase, String reply, String replySource, String detail,
+                           String turnId) {
     }
 
     /** An in-flight or finished async delegation, keyed by its ticket. */
-    private record Task(String target, CompletableFuture<Reply> future, long createdNanos) {
+    private static final class Task {
+        private final String target;
+        private final CompletableFuture<Reply> future = new CompletableFuture<>();
+        private final long createdNanos = System.nanoTime();
+        private volatile Reply question;
+        private volatile String turnId;
+
+        private Task(String target) {
+            this.target = target;
+        }
     }
 
     private final AgentControl agents;
@@ -156,6 +170,10 @@ public final class MessageService {
     private final Metrics metrics; // CB-502: nullable — no registry in unit tests
     private final ConcurrentHashMap<String, ReentrantLock> sessionLocks = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
     private final ConcurrentHashMap<String, Task> tasks = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+    /** The async task that currently owns a target's send lock. */
+    private final ConcurrentHashMap<String, Task> asyncTasksByTarget = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
+    /** Async tickets paused on a specific {@code bridge_ask} turn. */
+    private final ConcurrentHashMap<String, Task> asyncTasksByTurn = new ConcurrentHashMap<>();
     private final AtomicLong ticketSeq = new AtomicLong();
     private final ExecutorService asyncExecutor = Executors.newThreadPerTaskExecutor(
             Thread.ofVirtual().name("bridge-async-", 0).factory());
@@ -333,6 +351,9 @@ public final class MessageService {
             return new Reply(Outcome.BUSY, null); // another send held the session the whole window
         }
         try {
+            if (hasAsyncQuestion(target)) {
+                return new Reply(Outcome.BUSY, null); // the worker's current turn is paused for its lead
+            }
             // Open the waiter BEFORE queueing delivery (CB-548). A fast reply — the worker already
             // injectable the instant we enqueue — otherwise arrives before the waiter is registered
             // and orphans into the inbox while this send blocks to the timeout (the enqueue-before-
@@ -393,12 +414,14 @@ public final class MessageService {
                 rendezvous.closeAsk(ticket.turnId());
                 return new AskResult(AskOutcome.NO_WAITER, null); // no primary is blocked on this worker
             }
+            markAsyncQuestion(workerSession, question, ticket.turnId());
         }
         try {
             String answer = ticket.answer().get(timeoutMillis, TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
             return new AskResult(AskOutcome.ANSWERED, answer);
         } catch (TimeoutException e) {
             log.debug("bridge_ask from {} went unanswered in {}ms", workerSession, timeoutMillis);
+            clearAsyncQuestion(ticket.turnId(), true);
             return new AskResult(AskOutcome.TIMED_OUT, null);
         } catch (ExecutionException e) {
             Throwable cause = e.getCause();
@@ -441,9 +464,12 @@ public final class MessageService {
                 rendezvous.close(workerSession, reply);
                 return new Reply(Outcome.STALE_TURN, null); // lapsed between the lookup and the unblock
             }
+            clearAsyncQuestion(turnId, false);
             try {
                 Rendezvous.Resolution r = reply.get(remainingMillis(deadlineNanos), TimeUnit.MILLISECONDS);
-                return new Reply(outcomeOf(r.kind()), r.text(), r.turnId());
+                Reply result = new Reply(outcomeOf(r.kind()), r.text(), r.turnId());
+                finishAsyncTask(turnId, result);
+                return result;
             } catch (TimeoutException e) {
                 // The worker resumed but hasn't replied yet — no completion fallback arms an answered
                 // turn (it never re-entered the injector), so a silent worker rides out the window.
@@ -483,9 +509,27 @@ public final class MessageService {
      */
     public String sendAsync(String target, String content, Runnable onAccepted) {
         String ticket = "task-" + ticketSeq.incrementAndGet();
-        CompletableFuture<Reply> future = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
-                () -> send(target, content, ASYNC_TIMEOUT_MS, onAccepted), asyncExecutor);
-        tasks.put(ticket, new Task(target, future, System.nanoTime()));
+        Task task = new Task(target);
+        tasks.put(ticket, task);
+        asyncExecutor.submit(() -> {
+            try {
+                Runnable trackingAccepted = () -> {
+                    if (onAccepted != null) {
+                        onAccepted.run();
+                    }
+                    asyncTasksByTarget.put(target, task);
+                };
+                Reply result = send(target, content, ASYNC_TIMEOUT_MS, trackingAccepted);
+                if (result.outcome() == Outcome.QUESTION) {
+                    asyncTasksByTarget.remove(target, task);
+                } else {
+                    finishAsyncTask(task, result);
+                }
+            } catch (Throwable t) {
+                task.future.completeExceptionally(t);
+                asyncTasksByTarget.remove(target, task);
+            }
+        });
         pruneTerminalTickets();
         log.debug("async send {} -> {}", ticket, target);
         return ticket;
@@ -501,27 +545,32 @@ public final class MessageService {
         if (task == null) {
             return null;
         }
-        CompletableFuture<Reply> f = task.future();
+        CompletableFuture<Reply> f = task.future;
         if (!f.isDone()) {
-            return new TaskView(ticket, Phase.PENDING, null, null, "worker " + liveStatus(task.target()));
+            Reply question = task.question;
+            if (question != null) {
+                return new TaskView(ticket, Phase.ASKING, question.text(), null,
+                        "worker is waiting for your answer", question.turnId());
+            }
+            return new TaskView(ticket, Phase.PENDING, null, null, "worker " + liveStatus(task.target), null);
         }
         Reply r;
         try {
             r = f.getNow(null);
         } catch (CompletionException | java.util.concurrent.CancellationException e) {
             Throwable cause = (e instanceof CompletionException ce && ce.getCause() != null) ? ce.getCause() : e;
-            return new TaskView(ticket, Phase.FAILED, null, null, cause.getMessage());
+            return new TaskView(ticket, Phase.FAILED, null, null, cause.getMessage(), null);
         }
         if (r.completed()) {
             String source = r.outcome() == Outcome.REPLIED ? "reply" : "transcript";
-            return new TaskView(ticket, Phase.DONE, r.text(), source, null);
+            return new TaskView(ticket, Phase.DONE, r.text(), source, null, null);
         }
         // A wedged worker (CB-109) carries the error context as its reason; the timeout/busy
         // outcomes carry none, so fall back to the outcome name.
         String detail = r.outcome() == Outcome.WORKER_FAILED && r.text() != null
                 ? r.text()
                 : "no reply — " + r.outcome().name().toLowerCase();
-        return new TaskView(ticket, Phase.FAILED, null, null, detail);
+        return new TaskView(ticket, Phase.FAILED, null, null, detail, null);
     }
 
     /** Best-effort live worker status for a pending poll; never throws (a lookup error is just noise). */
@@ -536,7 +585,51 @@ public final class MessageService {
     /** Drop finished tickets older than the TTL so the registry cannot grow without bound. */
     private void pruneTerminalTickets() {
         long cutoff = System.nanoTime() - TICKET_TTL_NANOS;
-        tasks.values().removeIf(t -> t.future().isDone() && t.createdNanos() < cutoff);
+        tasks.values().removeIf(t -> t.future.isDone() && t.createdNanos < cutoff);
+    }
+
+    /** Record the active question for an async ticket; blocking sends have no entry and stay unchanged. */
+    private void markAsyncQuestion(String target, String text, String turnId) {
+        Task task = asyncTasksByTarget.get(target);
+        if (task != null) {
+            task.question = new Reply(Outcome.QUESTION, text, turnId);
+            task.turnId = turnId;
+            asyncTasksByTurn.put(turnId, task);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Clear an answered or lapsed question, but only when it matches the ticket's current turn. */
+    private void clearAsyncQuestion(String turnId, boolean forgetTurn) {
+        Task task = asyncTasksByTurn.get(turnId);
+        if (task != null && turnId.equals(task.turnId)) {
+            task.question = null;
+            if (forgetTurn) {
+                asyncTasksByTurn.remove(turnId, task);
+                task.turnId = null;
+            }
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Complete and detach an async ticket after its worker's actual terminal reply. */
+    private void finishAsyncTask(Task task, Reply result) {
+        task.future.complete(result);
+        asyncTasksByTarget.remove(task.target, task);
+        if (task.turnId != null) {
+            asyncTasksByTurn.remove(task.turnId, task);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** Complete the async ticket correlated to a specific answered turn. */
+    private void finishAsyncTask(String turnId, Reply result) {
+        Task task = asyncTasksByTurn.get(turnId);
+        if (task != null) {
+            finishAsyncTask(task, result);
+        }
+    }
+
+    /** A new send must not open a waiter while an async ticket owns this worker's paused turn. */
+    private boolean hasAsyncQuestion(String target) {
+        return asyncTasksByTurn.values().stream().anyMatch(task -> target.equals(task.target));
     }
 
     /** Release the async executor. */

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

@@ -111,6 +111,28 @@ class BridgedConfigTest {
         assertDoesNotThrow(() -> BridgedConfig.load(f));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void absentChartersRemainValidAndPresentChartersUseRoleWireNames(@TempDir Path dir) throws Exception {
+        Path absent = dir.resolve("absent.yaml");
+        Files.writeString(absent, "fleet: {}\n");
+        BridgedConfig withoutCharters = BridgedConfig.load(absent);
+        assertDoesNotThrow(withoutCharters::validateCharters);
+        assertNull(withoutCharters.fleet().charterFor(MemberRole.ARCHITECT));
+
+        Path blank = dir.resolve("blank.yaml");
+        Files.writeString(blank, "fleet:\n  charters:\n    architect: '   '\n");
+        IllegalStateException blankError = assertThrows(IllegalStateException.class,
+                () -> BridgedConfig.load(blank).validateCharters());
+        assertTrue(blankError.getMessage().contains("fleet.charters.architect is blank"));
+
+        Path unknown = dir.resolve("unknown.yaml");
+        Files.writeString(unknown, "fleet:\n  charters:\n    architetc: text\n");
+        IllegalStateException unknownError = assertThrows(IllegalStateException.class,
+                () -> BridgedConfig.load(unknown).validateCharters());
+        assertTrue(unknownError.getMessage().contains("architetc"));
+        assertTrue(unknownError.getMessage().contains("[architect, dev, reviewer]"));
+    }
+
     /**
      * CB-530. Unknown keys stay ignored — config must be allowed to run ahead of the code — but they
      * must be NAMED at load. A whole block that parses, is dropped, and is never mentioned again is

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

@@ -66,6 +66,64 @@ class ConfigRefTest {
         assertEquals("[{profile}] {role}", ref.get().fleet().tabLabel());
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void aCharterChangeIsHotAndReachesTheLiveConfig(@TempDir Path dir) throws Exception {
+        Path f = dir.resolve("bridged.yaml");
+        Files.writeString(f, yaml("""
+                fleet:
+                  charters:
+                    architect: old charter
+                """));
+        ConfigRef ref = refFor(f);
+        assertEquals("old charter", ref.get().fleet().charterFor(
+                dev.ltms.bridged.peer.MemberRole.ARCHITECT));
+
+        Files.writeString(f, yaml("""
+                fleet:
+                  charters:
+                    architect: new charter
+                """));
+        ConfigRef.Outcome out = ref.reload();
+
+        assertTrue(out.applied());
+        assertTrue(out.deferred().isEmpty());
+        assertEquals("new charter", ref.get().fleet().charterFor(
+                dev.ltms.bridged.peer.MemberRole.ARCHITECT));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void invalidChartersRefuseReloadAndKeepTheRunningConfig(@TempDir Path dir) throws Exception {
+        Path f = dir.resolve("bridged.yaml");
+        Files.writeString(f, yaml("""
+                fleet:
+                  charters:
+                    architect: valid charter
+                """));
+        ConfigRef ref = refFor(f);
+        BridgedConfig before = ref.get();
+
+        Files.writeString(f, yaml("""
+                fleet:
+                  charters:
+                    architect: " "
+                """));
+        ConfigRef.Outcome blank = ref.reload();
+        assertFalse(blank.applied());
+        assertTrue(blank.error().contains("fleet.charters.architect is blank"));
+        assertSame(before, ref.get());
+
+        Files.writeString(f, yaml("""
+                fleet:
+                  charters:
+                    architetc: valid charter
+                """));
+        ConfigRef.Outcome unknown = ref.reload();
+        assertFalse(unknown.applied());
+        assertTrue(unknown.error().contains("architetc"));
+        assertTrue(unknown.error().contains("architect"));
+        assertSame(before, ref.get());
+    }
+
     /**
      * The point of the whole class: a consumer holding the ref sees the new value without being
      * rebuilt. A component that captured {@code get()} into a field would still show the old one.

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

@@ -53,6 +53,18 @@ class BridgeMcpTest {
         return ((McpSchema.TextContent) r.content().getFirst()).text();
     }
 
+    private void assertSendRoundTrips(String target, Set<String> profiles) throws Exception {
+        CompletableFuture<McpSchema.CallToolResult> send = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                () -> BridgeMcp.send(messages, target, "hi", 4000L, null, profiles));
+        long deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (!rendezvous.isWaiting(target) && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+        }
+        assertTrue(rendezvous.isWaiting(target), "send should be accepted for " + target);
+        BridgeMcp.reply(messages, target, "received");
+        assertEquals("received", textOf(send.get(6, TimeUnit.SECONDS)));
+    }
+
     private static ClaudeCodeLauncher workerService(FakeHerdr h, String baseUrl, Set<String> allow) {
         BridgedConfig.Profile cfg = new BridgedConfig.Profile(
                 "ltms-local", baseUrl, "coder", null, "BRIDGED_WORKER_TOKEN", null,
@@ -69,7 +81,7 @@ class BridgeMcpTest {
     void sendThenReplyRoundTrips() throws Exception {
         // bridge_send blocks; bridge_reply resolves it with the worker's structured answer.
         CompletableFuture<McpSchema.CallToolResult> send = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
-                () -> BridgeMcp.send(messages, "term_a", "review this", 4000L));
+                () -> BridgeMcp.send(messages, "term_a", "review this", 4000L, null, Set.of()));
 
         // Wait until the send has opened its waiter so the reply resolves it (CB-307: reply now
         // queues in the inbox if no waiter is open, which would break the round-trip).
@@ -91,7 +103,7 @@ class BridgeMcpTest {
     @Test
     void asyncSendReturnsATicketThenPollReportsTheReply() throws Exception {
         // wait:false parity — a ticket is issued, resolved by a reply, and surfaced by bridge_poll.
-        McpSchema.CallToolResult accepted = BridgeMcp.sendAsync(messages, "term_a", "do it");
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult accepted = BridgeMcp.sendAsync(messages, "term_a", "do it", null, Set.of());
         assertNotEquals(Boolean.TRUE, accepted.isError());
         String out = textOf(accepted);
         assertTrue(out.contains("ticket="), out);
@@ -120,6 +132,131 @@ class BridgeMcpTest {
         assertEquals("async LGTM", textOf(polled));
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void asyncSendSurfacesAnAskThenKeepsTheTicketForTheFinalReply() throws Exception {
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult accepted = BridgeMcp.sendAsync(messages, "term_a", "do it", null, Set.of());
+        String ticket = textOf(accepted).substring(textOf(accepted).indexOf("ticket=") + "ticket=".length()).trim();
+
+        long deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (!rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a") && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+        }
+        assertTrue(rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a"));
+
+        CompletableFuture<McpSchema.CallToolResult> ask = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                () -> BridgeMcp.ask(messages, "term_a", "which config?", 5000L));
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult question = BridgeMcp.poll(messages, ticket, null);
+        deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (!textOf(question).contains("[question") && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+            question = BridgeMcp.poll(messages, ticket, null);
+        }
+        assertTrue(textOf(question).contains("which config?"), textOf(question));
+        String questionText = textOf(question);
+        String afterTurnId = questionText.substring(questionText.indexOf("turnId=\"") + "turnId=\"".length());
+        String turnId = afterTurnId.substring(0, afterTurnId.indexOf('"'));
+
+        CompletableFuture<McpSchema.CallToolResult> answer = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                () -> BridgeMcp.answer(messages, turnId, "config.yaml", 5000L));
+        assertEquals("config.yaml", textOf(ask.get(6, TimeUnit.SECONDS)));
+
+        deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (!rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a") && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+        }
+        assertTrue(rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a"));
+        BridgeMcp.reply(messages, "term_a", "done");
+        assertEquals("done", textOf(answer.get(6, TimeUnit.SECONDS)));
+
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult done = BridgeMcp.poll(messages, ticket, null);
+        deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (!"done".equals(textOf(done)) && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+            done = BridgeMcp.poll(messages, ticket, null);
+        }
+        assertEquals("done", textOf(done));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void unansweredAsyncAskReturnsTheTicketToPending() throws Exception {
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult accepted = BridgeMcp.sendAsync(messages, "term_a", "do it", null, Set.of());
+        String ticket = textOf(accepted).substring(textOf(accepted).indexOf("ticket=") + "ticket=".length()).trim();
+
+        long deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (!rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a") && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+        }
+        assertTrue(rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a"));
+
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult ask = BridgeMcp.ask(messages, "term_a", "still there?", 50L);
+        assertTrue(textOf(ask).contains("no answer"), textOf(ask));
+        assertTrue(textOf(BridgeMcp.poll(messages, ticket, null)).startsWith("[pending"));
+
+        BridgeMcp.reply(messages, "term_a", "finished after timeout");
+        assertEquals("finished after timeout", messages.drainReplies("term_a").getFirst().content());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void asyncSendFailureDoesNotLeaveItsTicketPending() throws Exception {
+        String ticket = messages.sendAsync("term_a", "do it", () -> {
+            throw new IllegalStateException("accept failed");
+        });
+
+        long deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        MessageService.TaskView view = messages.poll(ticket);
+        while (view.phase() == MessageService.Phase.PENDING && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+            view = messages.poll(ticket);
+        }
+        assertEquals(MessageService.Phase.FAILED, view.phase());
+        assertEquals("accept failed", view.detail());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void anotherAsyncTicketCannotCaptureAReplyWhileTheFirstTicketIsAsking() throws Exception {
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult firstAccepted = BridgeMcp.sendAsync(messages, "term_a", "first", null, Set.of());
+        String firstTicket = textOf(firstAccepted).substring(textOf(firstAccepted).indexOf("ticket=") + "ticket=".length()).trim();
+
+        long deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (!rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a") && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+        }
+        assertTrue(rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a"));
+
+        CompletableFuture<McpSchema.CallToolResult> ask = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                () -> BridgeMcp.ask(messages, "term_a", "which config?", 5000L));
+        MessageService.TaskView first = messages.poll(firstTicket);
+        deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (first.phase() != MessageService.Phase.ASKING && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+            first = messages.poll(firstTicket);
+        }
+        assertEquals(MessageService.Phase.ASKING, first.phase());
+        String firstTurnId = first.turnId();
+
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult secondAccepted = BridgeMcp.sendAsync(messages, "term_a", "second", null, Set.of());
+        String secondTicket = textOf(secondAccepted).substring(textOf(secondAccepted).indexOf("ticket=") + "ticket=".length()).trim();
+        MessageService.TaskView second = messages.poll(secondTicket);
+        deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
+        while (second.phase() == MessageService.Phase.PENDING && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+            second = messages.poll(secondTicket);
+        }
+        assertEquals(MessageService.Phase.FAILED, second.phase());
+
+        BridgeMcp.reply(messages, "term_a", "late reply");
+        assertEquals("late reply", messages.drainReplies("term_a").getFirst().content());
+
+        CompletableFuture<McpSchema.CallToolResult> answer = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
+                () -> BridgeMcp.answer(messages, firstTurnId, "config.yaml", 5000L));
+        assertEquals("config.yaml", textOf(ask.get(6, TimeUnit.SECONDS)));
+        while (!rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a") && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
+            Thread.sleep(5);
+        }
+        BridgeMcp.reply(messages, "term_a", "done");
+        assertEquals("done", textOf(answer.get(6, TimeUnit.SECONDS)));
+    }
+
     @Test
     void pollUnknownTicketIsAnError() {
         McpSchema.CallToolResult res = BridgeMcp.poll(messages, "task-999", null);
@@ -129,15 +266,40 @@ class BridgeMcpTest {
 
     @Test
     void sendTimesOutWithAWorkingNote() {
-        McpSchema.CallToolResult res = BridgeMcp.send(messages, "term_a", "hi", 120L);
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult res = BridgeMcp.send(messages, "term_a", "hi", 120L, null, Set.of());
         assertNotEquals(Boolean.TRUE, res.isError(), "a timeout is informational, not a tool error");
         assertTrue(textOf(res).contains("no reply"), "got: " + textOf(res));
     }
 
     @Test
     void sendRejectsMissingArgs() {
-        assertTrue(BridgeMcp.send(messages, null, "hi", null).isError());
-        assertTrue(BridgeMcp.send(messages, "term_a", "  ", null).isError());
+        assertTrue(BridgeMcp.send(messages, null, "hi", null, null, Set.of()).isError());
+        assertTrue(BridgeMcp.send(messages, "term_a", "  ", null, null, Set.of()).isError());
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void sendRejectsAConfiguredProfileNameBeforeAcceptingIt() {
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult blocking = BridgeMcp.send(messages, "sol", "hi", 100L, null, Set.of("sol"));
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult async = BridgeMcp.sendAsync(messages, "sol", "hi", null, Set.of("sol"));
+
+        assertTrue(blocking.isError());
+        assertTrue(async.isError());
+        assertTrue(textOf(blocking).contains("sol"));
+        assertTrue(textOf(blocking).contains("configured profile name"));
+        assertTrue(textOf(blocking).contains("bridge_list"));
+        assertFalse(textOf(async).contains("ticket="));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void sendAllowsPeerLeadMemberAndUnclassifiedTargets() throws Exception {
+        Set<String> profiles = Set.of("sol");
+
+        assertSendRoundTrips("term_peer_lead", profiles);
+        assertSendRoundTrips("term_live_member", profiles);
+
+        // A herdr-owned pane outside the bridge roster cannot be classified at accept time.
+        McpSchema.CallToolResult result = BridgeMcp.send(messages, "external-pane", "hi", 10L, null, profiles);
+        assertFalse(result.isError(), "an unclassified target must not be rejected at acceptance time");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -173,7 +335,7 @@ class BridgeMcpTest {
     void askThenAnswerRoundTrips() throws Exception {
         // The primary delegates and blocks; wait until its waiter is open before the worker asks.
         CompletableFuture<McpSchema.CallToolResult> send = CompletableFuture.supplyAsync(
-                () -> BridgeMcp.send(messages, "term_a", "do X", 5000L));
+                () -> BridgeMcp.send(messages, "term_a", "do X", 5000L, null, Set.of()));
         long deadline = System.currentTimeMillis() + 3000;
         while (!rendezvous.isWaiting("term_a") && System.currentTimeMillis() < deadline) {
             //noinspection BusyWait

bridged/src/test/java/dev/ltms/bridged/member/ClaudeCodeLauncherTest.java

@@ -102,6 +102,53 @@ class ClaudeCodeLauncherTest {
                 "the operator's own args are preserved, in order, ahead of the model flag");
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void appendsTheBaseComposedRoleAndReplyCharter() {
+        FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
+        String roleCharter = "You review changes.";
+        BridgedConfig.Profile cfg = new BridgedConfig.Profile(
+                "sonnet", "http://gx00.gw:8000", null, null, "BRIDGED_WORKER_TOKEN",
+                List.of("claude"), "tab", "bridged-workers", "w #{n}",
+                "http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp", null, null);
+        ClaudeCodeLauncher svc = new ClaudeCodeLauncher(new AgentControl(herdr), new WorkspaceControl(herdr),
+                new SubscriptionGuard(Set.of("gx00.gw")), Map.of(cfg.profile(), cfg), cfg.profile(), _ -> null,
+                0, 0L, () -> fleet(Map.of("reviewer", roleCharter), null));
+
+        svc.spawn(new SpawnRequest("sonnet", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.REVIEWER));
+
+        List<String> args = spawnedArgs(herdr);
+        int flag = args.indexOf("--append-system-prompt");
+        assertEquals(1, args.stream().filter("--append-system-prompt"::equals).count(),
+                "the composed charter is passed once");
+        assertEquals(roleCharter + "\n\n" + HerdrPeerLauncher.REPLY_CHARTER, args.get(flag + 1),
+                "the role charter comes first and the reply rule comes last");
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void profileWithoutMcpOrRoleCharterGetsNoSystemPrompt() {
+        FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
+        ClaudeCodeLauncher svc = labelService(herdr, () -> fleet(Map.of(), null));
+
+        svc.spawn(new SpawnRequest("sonnet", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.DEV));
+
+        assertFalse(spawnedArgs(herdr).contains("--append-system-prompt"));
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void profileWithoutMcpStillGetsItsRoleCharter() {
+        FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
+        String roleCharter = "You design changes.";
+        ClaudeCodeLauncher svc = labelService(herdr, () -> fleet(Map.of("architect", roleCharter), null));
+
+        svc.spawn(new SpawnRequest("sonnet", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.ARCHITECT));
+
+        List<String> args = spawnedArgs(herdr);
+        int flag = args.indexOf("--append-system-prompt");
+        assertTrue(flag >= 0, "a role charter does not need an MCP mount");
+        assertEquals(roleCharter, args.get(flag + 1));
+        assertFalse(args.contains("--mcp-config"));
+    }
+
     private ClaudeCodeLauncher multiProfile(FakeHerdr herdr) {
         BridgedConfig.Profile gx10 = new BridgedConfig.Profile("gx10", "http://gx10.gw:8000", "coder",
                 null, "BRIDGED_WORKER_TOKEN", List.of("claude"), "tab", "bridged-workers", "w #{n}", null, null, null);
@@ -796,14 +843,18 @@ class ClaudeCodeLauncherTest {
                 .toList();
     }
 
+    private static BridgedConfig.Fleet fleet(Map<String, String> charters, String tabLabel) {
+        return new BridgedConfig.Fleet(Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(), charters, tabLabel);
+    }
+
     /** A profile with no {@code tabLabel:} of its own — the fleet template decides. */
-    private ClaudeCodeLauncher labelService(FakeHerdr herdr, Supplier<String> fleetTemplate) {
+    private ClaudeCodeLauncher labelService(FakeHerdr herdr, Supplier<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet) {
         BridgedConfig.Profile cfg = new BridgedConfig.Profile(
                 "sonnet", "http://gx00.gw:8000", "sonnet", null, "BRIDGED_WORKER_TOKEN",
                 List.of("claude"), "tab", "bridged-workers", null, null, null, null);
         return new ClaudeCodeLauncher(new AgentControl(herdr), new WorkspaceControl(herdr),
                 new SubscriptionGuard(Set.of("gx00.gw")), Map.of(cfg.profile(), cfg), cfg.profile(),
-                _ -> null, 0, 0L, fleetTemplate);
+                _ -> null, 0, 0L, fleet);
     }
 
     /**
@@ -814,7 +865,7 @@ class ClaudeCodeLauncherTest {
     @Test
     void theFleetTemplateNamesTheRoleTheMemberWasSpawnedFor() {
         FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
-        ClaudeCodeLauncher svc = labelService(herdr, () -> "{role}: {profile} #{n}");
+        ClaudeCodeLauncher svc = labelService(herdr, () -> fleet(null, "{role}: {profile} #{n}"));
 
         svc.spawn(new SpawnRequest("sonnet", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.REVIEWER));
 
@@ -825,7 +876,7 @@ class ClaudeCodeLauncherTest {
     @Test
     void theCounterRunsPerRoleAndProfileNotPerFleet() {
         FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
-        ClaudeCodeLauncher svc = labelService(herdr, () -> "{role}: {profile} #{n}");
+        ClaudeCodeLauncher svc = labelService(herdr, () -> fleet(null, "{role}: {profile} #{n}"));
 
         svc.spawn(new SpawnRequest("sonnet", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.DEV));
         svc.spawn(new SpawnRequest("sonnet", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.REVIEWER));
@@ -839,7 +890,7 @@ class ClaudeCodeLauncherTest {
     @Test
     void aBlankFleetTemplateFallsBackToTheRoleFirstDefault() {
         FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
-        labelService(herdr, () -> null).spawn(
+        labelService(herdr, () -> fleet(null, null)).spawn(
                 new SpawnRequest("sonnet", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.ARCHITECT));
 
         assertEquals(List.of("architect: sonnet #1"), tabLabels(herdr));
@@ -855,7 +906,7 @@ class ClaudeCodeLauncherTest {
                 List.of("claude"), "tab", "bridged-workers", "pinned {profile}", null, null, null);
         new ClaudeCodeLauncher(new AgentControl(herdr), new WorkspaceControl(herdr),
                 new SubscriptionGuard(Set.of("gx00.gw")), Map.of(cfg.profile(), cfg), cfg.profile(),
-                _ -> null, 0, 0L, () -> "{role}: {profile} #{n}")
+                _ -> null, 0, 0L, () -> fleet(null, "{role}: {profile} #{n}"))
                 .spawn(new SpawnRequest("sonnet", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.REVIEWER));
 
         assertEquals(List.of("pinned sonnet"), tabLabels(herdr));
@@ -870,7 +921,7 @@ class ClaudeCodeLauncherTest {
     void theTemplateIsReadOnEverySpawnSoAnEditTakesEffect() {
         FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
         AtomicReference<String> template = new AtomicReference<>("{role}: {profile} #{n}");
-        ClaudeCodeLauncher svc = labelService(herdr, template::get);
+        ClaudeCodeLauncher svc = labelService(herdr, () -> fleet(null, template.get()));
 
         svc.spawn(new SpawnRequest("sonnet", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.DEV));
         template.set("[{profile}] {role} {n}");

bridged/src/test/java/dev/ltms/bridged/member/CompositePeerLauncherTest.java

@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ class CompositePeerLauncherTest {
         }
 
         @Override
-        protected Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg) {
+        protected Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, LaunchSpec spec) {
             return new Launch(Map.of(), List.of());
         }
 

bridged/src/test/java/dev/ltms/bridged/member/HerdrPeerLauncherCharterTest.java

@@ -0,0 +1,71 @@
+package dev.ltms.bridged.member;
+
+import dev.ltms.bridged.config.BridgedConfig;
+import dev.ltms.bridged.herdr.AgentControl;
+import dev.ltms.bridged.herdr.FakeHerdr;
+import dev.ltms.bridged.herdr.WorkspaceControl;
+import dev.ltms.bridged.peer.Capability;
+import dev.ltms.bridged.peer.MemberRole;
+import dev.ltms.bridged.peer.SpawnRequest;
+import org.junit.jupiter.api.Test;
+
+import java.util.ArrayList;
+import java.util.List;
+import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.Set;
+import java.util.concurrent.atomic.AtomicReference;
+import java.util.function.Supplier;
+
+import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.assertEquals;
+
+class HerdrPeerLauncherCharterTest {
+
+    @Test
+    void readsAndComposesTheFleetCharterForEachSpawn() {
+        AtomicReference<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet = new AtomicReference<>(fleet(Map.of()));
+        CapturingLauncher launcher = new CapturingLauncher(fleet::get);
+
+        launcher.spawn(new SpawnRequest("mcp", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.DEV));
+        fleet.set(fleet(Map.of("dev", "role charter")));
+        launcher.spawn(new SpawnRequest("mcp", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.DEV));
+        launcher.spawn(new SpawnRequest("no-mcp", null, null, null, null, MemberRole.DEV));
+
+        assertEquals(HerdrPeerLauncher.REPLY_CHARTER, launcher.specs.get(0).charter(),
+                "without a role charter, MCP profiles receive only the reply charter");
+        assertEquals("role charter\n\n" + HerdrPeerLauncher.REPLY_CHARTER, launcher.specs.get(1).charter(),
+                "the changed supplier value is read for the next spawn and the reply rule is last");
+        assertEquals("role charter", launcher.specs.get(2).charter(),
+                "a role charter does not depend on an MCP mount");
+    }
+
+    private static BridgedConfig.Fleet fleet(Map<String, String> charters) {
+        return new BridgedConfig.Fleet(Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(), charters, null);
+    }
+
+    private static final class CapturingLauncher extends HerdrPeerLauncher {
+        private final List<LaunchSpec> specs = new ArrayList<>();
+
+        CapturingLauncher(Supplier<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet) {
+            super("test", new AgentControl(new FakeHerdr()), new WorkspaceControl(new FakeHerdr()),
+                    Map.of("mcp", profile("mcp", "http://bridge"),
+                            "no-mcp", profile("no-mcp", null)),
+                    "mcp", _ -> null, 0, () -> 0L, () -> { }, fleet);
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        protected Launch buildLaunch(BridgedConfig.Profile cfg, LaunchSpec spec) {
+            specs.add(spec);
+            return new Launch(Map.of(), List.of("test"));
+        }
+
+        @Override
+        public Set<Capability> capabilities() {
+            return Set.of();
+        }
+
+        private static BridgedConfig.Profile profile(String name, String mcpUrl) {
+            return new BridgedConfig.Profile(name, "http://gx00.gw:8000", null, null,
+                    "BRIDGED_WORKER_TOKEN", List.of("test"), "pane", null, null, mcpUrl, null, null);
+        }
+    }
+}

bridged/src/test/java/dev/ltms/bridged/member/OpenCodeLauncherTest.java

@@ -17,6 +17,10 @@ import java.nio.file.Files;
 import java.nio.file.Path;
 import java.util.List;
 import java.util.Map;
+import java.util.concurrent.ExecutorService;
+import java.util.concurrent.Executors;
+import java.util.concurrent.Future;
+import java.util.function.Supplier;
 
 import static org.junit.jupiter.api.Assertions.*;
 
@@ -34,12 +38,19 @@ class OpenCodeLauncherTest {
     }
 
     /** Gate-disabled launcher whose per-spawn config dirs land under an inspectable temp root. */
-    private OpenCodeLauncher service(FakeHerdr herdr, Path configRoot, BridgedConfig.Profile cfg) {
+    private static OpenCodeLauncher service(FakeHerdr herdr, Path configRoot, BridgedConfig.Profile cfg) {
         return new OpenCodeLauncher(new AgentControl(herdr), new WorkspaceControl(herdr),
                 Map.of(cfg.profile(), cfg), cfg.profile(), k -> "GITEA_ACCESS_TOKEN".equals(k) ? "tok" : null,
                 0, System::currentTimeMillis, () -> { }, configRoot, configRoot);
     }
 
+    private static OpenCodeLauncher service(FakeHerdr herdr, Path configRoot, BridgedConfig.Profile cfg,
+                                            Supplier<BridgedConfig.Fleet> fleet) {
+        return new OpenCodeLauncher(new AgentControl(herdr), new WorkspaceControl(herdr),
+                Map.of(cfg.profile(), cfg), cfg.profile(), _ -> null,
+                0, System::currentTimeMillis, () -> { }, configRoot, configRoot, fleet);
+    }
+
     @SuppressWarnings("unchecked")
     private static Map<String, Object> lastStart(FakeHerdr herdr) {
         return (Map<String, Object>) herdr.lastCall("agent.start").params();
@@ -62,8 +73,10 @@ class OpenCodeLauncherTest {
     @Test
     void writesRemoteMcpConfigAndCharterInstructionsWhenMcpUrlSet(@TempDir Path root) throws Exception {
         FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
-        service(herdr, root, opencodeCfg("google/gemini-2.5-pro", "http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp", null))
-                .spawn();
+        BridgedConfig.Fleet fleet = new BridgedConfig.Fleet(Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(),
+                Map.of("dev", "role rule"), null);
+        service(herdr, root, opencodeCfg("google/gemini-2.5-pro", "http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp", null),
+                () -> fleet).spawn();
 
         Map<String, String> env = startEnv(herdr);
         assertNull(env.get("ANTHROPIC_BASE_URL"), "opencode carries no ANTHROPIC_* / subscription boundary");
@@ -82,13 +95,15 @@ class OpenCodeLauncherTest {
                 "the profile's bridge MCP url is present");
         assertTrue(bridge.path("enabled").asBoolean(), "the bridge server is enabled");
         assertTrue(json.path("instructions").isArray() && !json.path("instructions").isEmpty(),
-                "the reply charter is mounted via instructions");
+                "the member charter is mounted via instructions");
 
-        // The instructions entry is a real file path holding the reply charter.
-        Path charter = Path.of(cfgPath).resolveSibling("reply-charter.md");
+        // The instructions entry is a real file path holding the composed member charter.
+        Path charter = Path.of(cfgPath).resolveSibling("member-charter.md");
         assertTrue(Files.exists(charter), "the charter file the config references was written");
-        assertTrue(Files.readString(charter).contains("bridge_reply"),
-                "the charter instructs the worker to answer via bridge_reply");
+        assertEquals("role rule\n\n" + HerdrPeerLauncher.REPLY_CHARTER, Files.readString(charter),
+                "the composed charter keeps the role rule first and the reply rule last");
+        assertEquals(charter.toAbsolutePath().toString(), json.path("instructions").get(0).asText(),
+                "instructions names the charter file by its absolute path");
     }
 
     @Test
@@ -100,6 +115,69 @@ class OpenCodeLauncherTest {
                 "no bridge MCP url → no config file and no OPENCODE_CONFIG");
     }
 
+    @Test
+    void roleCharterWithoutMcpOrCustomProviderStillWritesAConfig(@TempDir Path root) throws Exception {
+        FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
+        BridgedConfig.Fleet fleet = new BridgedConfig.Fleet(Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(),
+                Map.of("dev", "role rule"), null);
+        Path configRoot = Files.createDirectory(root.resolve("configs"));
+        Path checkout = Files.createDirectory(root.resolve("checkout"));
+        service(herdr, configRoot, opencodeCfg("google/gemini-2.5-pro", null, null), () -> fleet).spawn();
+
+        String cfgPath = startEnv(herdr).get("OPENCODE_CONFIG");
+        assertNotNull(cfgPath, "a role charter needs a config even without MCP or custom provider");
+        JsonNode json = new ObjectMapper().readTree(Path.of(cfgPath).toFile());
+        Path charter = Path.of(json.path("instructions").get(0).asText());
+        assertEquals("role rule", Files.readString(charter), "the base-composed role charter is unchanged");
+        assertTrue(json.path("mcp").isMissingNode(), "a charter does not add an MCP mount");
+        assertTrue(charter.startsWith(configRoot), "the charter is written under the temp config root");
+        try (var files = Files.walk(checkout)) {
+            assertFalse(files.anyMatch(path -> path.getFileName().toString().equals("member-charter.md")),
+                    "the worker checkout receives no charter file");
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void nullCharterWritesNoCharterFileOrInstructions(@TempDir Path root) throws Exception {
+        FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
+        service(herdr, root, pinnedCfg("local-vllm/model", "http://127.0.0.1:8000", null),
+                () -> new BridgedConfig.Fleet(Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(), Map.of(), null)).spawn();
+
+        String config = startEnv(herdr).get("OPENCODE_CONFIG");
+        assertNotNull(config, "the custom provider still needs a config");
+        JsonNode json = new ObjectMapper().readTree(Path.of(config).toFile());
+        assertTrue(json.path("instructions").isMissingNode(), "a null charter adds no instructions entry");
+        try (var files = Files.walk(root)) {
+            assertFalse(files.anyMatch(path -> path.getFileName().toString().equals("member-charter.md")),
+                    "a null charter creates no charter file");
+        }
+    }
+
+    @Test
+    void concurrentSpawnsWriteSeparateCharterDirectories(@TempDir Path root) throws Exception {
+        BridgedConfig.Profile cfg = opencodeCfg("google/gemini-2.5-pro", "http://127.0.0.1:8765/mcp", null);
+        ExecutorService executor = Executors.newFixedThreadPool(2);
+        try {
+            Future<String> first = executor.submit(() -> spawnConfigPath(root, cfg));
+            Future<String> second = executor.submit(() -> spawnConfigPath(root, cfg));
+
+            Path firstCharter = Path.of(first.get()).resolveSibling("member-charter.md");
+            Path secondCharter = Path.of(second.get()).resolveSibling("member-charter.md");
+            assertNotEquals(firstCharter.getParent(), secondCharter.getParent(),
+                    "each concurrent spawn owns a separate config directory");
+            assertTrue(Files.exists(firstCharter));
+            assertTrue(Files.exists(secondCharter));
+        } finally {
+            executor.shutdownNow();
+        }
+    }
+
+    private static String spawnConfigPath(Path root, BridgedConfig.Profile cfg) {
+        FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();
+        service(herdr, root, cfg).spawn();
+        return startEnv(herdr).get("OPENCODE_CONFIG");
+    }
+
     @Test
     void passesTheModelAsDashMFlagAlongsideAutoApprove(@TempDir Path root) {
         FakeHerdr herdr = new FakeHerdr();