diff --git a/exec/PROMPT.md b/exec/PROMPT.md
index d7464e4..f74d910 100644
--- a/exec/PROMPT.md
+++ b/exec/PROMPT.md
@@ -9,17 +9,8 @@ ${CHARACTER_BLOCK}
 ## How this conversation works
 
 You are in a persistent tmux session. The executive communicates with you via
-Matrix. Their messages are injected into your session. You respond by writing
-to stdout — your output is captured and posted back to the Matrix thread.
-
-**Response format**: Write your response between markers so the output capture
-script can extract it cleanly:
-
-```
----EXEC-RESPONSE-START---
-Your response here. Markdown is fine.
----EXEC-RESPONSE-END---
-```
+Matrix. Their messages are injected into your session. Just respond naturally —
+your output is captured automatically and posted back to the Matrix thread.
 
 Keep responses concise. The executive is reading on a chat client, not a
 terminal. A few paragraphs max unless they ask for detail.
diff --git a/exec/exec-briefing.sh b/exec/exec-briefing.sh
index 96ae3f9..f574f4f 100755
--- a/exec/exec-briefing.sh
+++ b/exec/exec-briefing.sh
@@ -2,15 +2,10 @@
 # =============================================================================
 # exec-briefing.sh — Daily morning briefing via the executive assistant
 #
-# Cron wrapper: spawns a one-shot Claude session that gathers factory state
-# and posts a morning briefing to Matrix. Unlike the interactive session,
-# this runs, posts, and exits.
+# Cron entry: 0 7 * * * /path/to/disinto/exec/exec-briefing.sh [project.toml]
 #
-# Usage:
-#   exec-briefing.sh [projects/disinto.toml]
-#
-# Cron:
-#   0 7 * * *  /path/to/disinto/exec/exec-briefing.sh
+# Sends a briefing prompt to exec-inject.sh, which handles session management,
+# response capture, and Matrix posting. No duplication of compass/context logic.
 # =============================================================================
 set -euo pipefail
 
@@ -20,134 +15,43 @@ FACTORY_ROOT="$(dirname "$SCRIPT_DIR")"
 export PROJECT_TOML="${1:-$FACTORY_ROOT/projects/disinto.toml}"
 # shellcheck source=../lib/env.sh
 source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/env.sh"
-# shellcheck source=../lib/agent-session.sh
-source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/agent-session.sh"
-# shellcheck source=../lib/formula-session.sh
-source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/formula-session.sh"
 # shellcheck source=../lib/guard.sh
 source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/guard.sh"
 
 LOG_FILE="$SCRIPT_DIR/exec.log"
-# shellcheck disable=SC2034  # consumed by run_formula_and_monitor
-SESSION_NAME="exec-briefing-${PROJECT_NAME}"
-PHASE_FILE="/tmp/exec-briefing-${PROJECT_NAME}.phase"
-# shellcheck disable=SC2034
-PHASE_POLL_INTERVAL=10
-
 log() { echo "[$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S)Z] $*" >> "$LOG_FILE"; }
 
 # ── Guards ────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 check_active exec
-acquire_cron_lock "/tmp/exec-briefing.lock"
-check_memory 2000
+
+# Memory guard
+AVAIL_MB=$(free -m 2>/dev/null | awk '/Mem:/{print $7}' || echo 9999)
+if [ "${AVAIL_MB:-0}" -lt 2000 ]; then
+  log "SKIP: low memory (${AVAIL_MB}MB available)"
+  exit 0
+fi
 
 log "--- Exec briefing start ---"
 
-# ── Load compass (required) ────────────────────────────────────────────
-COMPASS_FILE="${EXEC_COMPASS:-${HOME}/.disinto/compass.md}"
-if [ ! -f "$COMPASS_FILE" ]; then
-  log "FATAL: compass not found at ${COMPASS_FILE} — exec agent refuses to start without its compass"
-  exit 1
-fi
-COMPASS_BLOCK=$(cat "$COMPASS_FILE")
+BRIEFING_PROMPT="Daily briefing request (automated, $(date -u '+%Y-%m-%d')):
 
-# ── Load character (voice/relationships from repo) ────────────────────
-CHARACTER_FILE="${EXEC_CHARACTER:-$SCRIPT_DIR/CHARACTER.md}"
-CHARACTER_BLOCK=""
-if [ -f "$CHARACTER_FILE" ]; then
-  CHARACTER_BLOCK=$(cat "$CHARACTER_FILE")
-fi
+Produce a concise morning briefing covering:
+1. Pipeline status — blocked issues, failing CI, stale PRs?
+2. Recent activity — what merged/closed in the last 24h?
+3. Backlog health — depth, underspecified issues?
+4. Predictions — any unreviewed from the predictor?
+5. Concerns — anything needing human attention today?
 
-# Merge: compass first, then character
-CHARACTER_BLOCK="${COMPASS_BLOCK}
+Check the forge API, git log, agent journals, and issue tracker.
+Under 500 words. Lead with what needs action."
 
-${CHARACTER_BLOCK}"
-
-# ── Load memory ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-MEMORY_BLOCK="(no previous memory)"
-MEMORY_FILE="$PROJECT_REPO_ROOT/exec/MEMORY.md"
-if [ -f "$MEMORY_FILE" ]; then
-  MEMORY_BLOCK=$(cat "$MEMORY_FILE")
-fi
-
-# ── Gather factory state ───────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Open issues count
-OPEN_ISSUES=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-  "${FORGE_API}/issues?state=open&type=issues&limit=1" 2>/dev/null \
-  | jq 'length' 2>/dev/null || echo "?")
-
-# Open PRs
-OPEN_PRS=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${FORGE_TOKEN}" \
-  "${FORGE_API}/pulls?state=open&limit=1" 2>/dev/null \
-  | jq 'length' 2>/dev/null || echo "?")
-
-# Pending vault items
-VAULT_PENDING=$(ls "$FACTORY_ROOT/vault/pending/" 2>/dev/null | wc -l || echo 0)
-
-# Recent agent activity (last 24h log lines)
-RECENT_ACTIVITY=""
-for agent_dir in supervisor planner predictor gardener dev review; do
-  latest_log="$FACTORY_ROOT/${agent_dir}/${agent_dir}.log"
-  if [ -f "$latest_log" ]; then
-    lines=$(grep "$(date -u +%Y-%m-%d)" "$latest_log" 2>/dev/null | tail -5 || true)
-    if [ -n "$lines" ]; then
-      RECENT_ACTIVITY="${RECENT_ACTIVITY}
-### ${agent_dir} (today)
-${lines}
-"
-    fi
-  fi
-done
-
-# ── Build briefing prompt ──────────────────────────────────────────────
-# shellcheck disable=SC2034  # consumed by run_formula_and_monitor
-PROMPT="You are the executive assistant for ${FORGE_REPO}. This is a morning briefing run.
-
-## Your character
-${CHARACTER_BLOCK}
-
-## Your memory
-${MEMORY_BLOCK}
-
-## Current factory state
-- Open issues: ${OPEN_ISSUES}
-- Open PRs: ${OPEN_PRS}
-- Pending vault items: ${VAULT_PENDING}
-
-${RECENT_ACTIVITY}
-
-## Task
-
-Produce a morning briefing for the executive. Be concise — 10-15 lines max.
-Cover:
-1. What happened overnight (merges, CI failures, agent activity)
-2. What needs attention today (blocked issues, vault items, stale work)
-3. One observation or recommendation
-
-Fetch additional data if needed:
-- Open issues: curl -sf -H \"Authorization: token \${FORGE_TOKEN}\" '${FORGE_API}/issues?state=open&type=issues&limit=20'
-- Recent closed: curl -sf -H \"Authorization: token \${FORGE_TOKEN}\" '${FORGE_API}/issues?state=closed&type=issues&limit=10&sort=updated&direction=desc'
-- Prerequisite tree: cat ${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT}/planner/prerequisite-tree.md
-
-Write your briefing between markers:
-\`\`\`
----EXEC-RESPONSE-START---
-Your briefing here.
----EXEC-RESPONSE-END---
-\`\`\`
-
-Then log the briefing to: ${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT}/exec/journal/\$(date -u +%Y-%m-%d).md
-(append, don't overwrite — there may be interactive sessions later today)
-
-Then: echo 'PHASE:done' > '${PHASE_FILE}'
-
-## Environment
-FACTORY_ROOT=${FACTORY_ROOT}
-PROJECT_REPO_ROOT=${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT}
-PHASE_FILE=${PHASE_FILE}"
-
-# ── Run session ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-export CLAUDE_MODEL="${CLAUDE_MODEL:-sonnet}"
-run_formula_and_monitor "exec-briefing" 600
+bash "$SCRIPT_DIR/exec-inject.sh" \
+  "briefing-cron" \
+  "$BRIEFING_PROMPT" \
+  "" \
+  "$PROJECT_TOML" || {
+    log "briefing injection failed"
+    exit 1
+  }
 
 log "--- Exec briefing done ---"
diff --git a/exec/exec-inject.sh b/exec/exec-inject.sh
index 60989cc..1a2ba34 100755
--- a/exec/exec-inject.sh
+++ b/exec/exec-inject.sh
@@ -6,26 +6,21 @@
 # Handles session lifecycle: spawn if needed, inject, capture, post to Matrix.
 #
 # Usage:
-#   exec-inject.sh <sender> <message_body> <thread_id> [project_toml]
+#   exec-inject.sh <sender> <message_body> [thread_id] [project_toml]
 #
-# Flow:
-#   1. Check for active exec tmux session → spawn via exec-session.sh if needed
-#   2. Inject the executive's message into the Claude session
-#   3. Monitor tmux output for ---EXEC-RESPONSE-START/END--- markers
-#   4. Post captured response back to Matrix thread
-#   5. Log the exchange to journal
+# Response capture uses the idle marker from lib/agent-session.sh — no
+# special output format required from Claude.
 # =============================================================================
 set -euo pipefail
 
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "$0")" && pwd)"
 FACTORY_ROOT="$(dirname "$SCRIPT_DIR")"
 
-SENDER="${1:?Usage: exec-inject.sh <sender> <message> <thread_id> [project.toml]}"
+SENDER="${1:?Usage: exec-inject.sh <sender> <message> [thread_id] [project.toml]}"
 MESSAGE="${2:?}"
-THREAD_ID="${3:?}"
-PROJECT_TOML="${4:-$FACTORY_ROOT/projects/disinto.toml}"
+THREAD_ID="${3:-}"
+export PROJECT_TOML="${4:-$FACTORY_ROOT/projects/disinto.toml}"
 
-export PROJECT_TOML
 # shellcheck source=../lib/env.sh
 source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/env.sh"
 # shellcheck source=../lib/agent-session.sh
@@ -33,105 +28,99 @@ source "$FACTORY_ROOT/lib/agent-session.sh"
 
 LOG_FILE="$SCRIPT_DIR/exec.log"
 SESSION_NAME="exec-${PROJECT_NAME}"
-RESPONSE_FILE="/tmp/exec-response-${PROJECT_NAME}.txt"
-CAPTURE_TIMEOUT="${EXEC_CAPTURE_TIMEOUT:-300}"  # 5 min max wait for response
+RESPONSE_TIMEOUT="${EXEC_RESPONSE_TIMEOUT:-300}"
 
 log() { echo "[$(date -u +%Y-%m-%dT%H:%M:%S)Z] $*" >> "$LOG_FILE"; }
 
 # ── Ensure session exists ───────────────────────────────────────────────
 if ! tmux has-session -t "$SESSION_NAME" 2>/dev/null; then
   log "no active exec session — spawning"
-  RESULT=$(bash "$SCRIPT_DIR/exec-session.sh" "$PROJECT_TOML" 2>>"$LOG_FILE")
-  if [ "$RESULT" != "STARTED" ] && [ "$RESULT" != "ACTIVE" ]; then
-    log "ERROR: failed to start exec session (got: ${RESULT})"
-    matrix_send "exec" "❌ Could not start executive assistant session" "$THREAD_ID" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  bash "$SCRIPT_DIR/exec-session.sh" "$PROJECT_TOML" 2>>"$LOG_FILE" || {
+    log "ERROR: failed to start exec session"
+    [ -n "$THREAD_ID" ] && matrix_send "exec" "❌ Could not start executive assistant session" "$THREAD_ID" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
     exit 1
-  fi
-  # Give Claude a moment to process the initial prompt
-  sleep 3
+  }
+  # Wait for Claude to process the initial prompt
+  agent_wait_for_claude_ready "$SESSION_NAME" 120 || {
+    log "ERROR: session not ready after spawn"
+    exit 1
+  }
 fi
 
+# ── Snapshot pane before injection ──────────────────────────────────────
+BEFORE_LINES=$(tmux capture-pane -t "$SESSION_NAME" -p 2>/dev/null | wc -l)
+IDLE_MARKER="/tmp/claude-idle-${SESSION_NAME}.ts"
+rm -f "$IDLE_MARKER"
+
 # ── Inject message ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 INJECT_MSG="Message from ${SENDER}:
 
 ${MESSAGE}"
 
 log "injecting message from ${SENDER}: ${MESSAGE:0:100}"
+agent_inject_into_session "$SESSION_NAME" "$INJECT_MSG"
 
-INJECT_TMP=$(mktemp /tmp/exec-inject-XXXXXX)
-printf '%s' "$INJECT_MSG" > "$INJECT_TMP"
-tmux load-buffer -b "exec-msg" "$INJECT_TMP" || true
-tmux paste-buffer -t "$SESSION_NAME" -b "exec-msg" || true
-sleep 0.5
-tmux send-keys -t "$SESSION_NAME" "" Enter || true
-tmux delete-buffer -b "exec-msg" 2>/dev/null || true
-rm -f "$INJECT_TMP"
-
-# ── Capture response ───────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Poll tmux pane content for the response markers
-log "waiting for response (timeout: ${CAPTURE_TIMEOUT}s)"
-rm -f "$RESPONSE_FILE"
-
+# ── Wait for Claude to finish responding ────────────────────────────────
 ELAPSED=0
-POLL_INTERVAL=3
-while [ "$ELAPSED" -lt "$CAPTURE_TIMEOUT" ]; do
-  sleep "$POLL_INTERVAL"
-  ELAPSED=$((ELAPSED + POLL_INTERVAL))
+POLL=5
+while [ "$ELAPSED" -lt "$RESPONSE_TIMEOUT" ]; do
+  sleep "$POLL"
+  ELAPSED=$((ELAPSED + POLL))
 
-  # Capture recent pane content (last 200 lines)
-  PANE_CONTENT=$(tmux capture-pane -t "$SESSION_NAME" -p -S -200 2>/dev/null || true)
-
-  if echo "$PANE_CONTENT" | grep -q "EXEC-RESPONSE-END"; then
-    # Extract response between markers
-    RESPONSE=$(echo "$PANE_CONTENT" | sed -n '/---EXEC-RESPONSE-START---/,/---EXEC-RESPONSE-END---/p' \
-      | grep -v "EXEC-RESPONSE-START\|EXEC-RESPONSE-END" \
-      | tail -n +1)
-
-    if [ -n "$RESPONSE" ]; then
-      printf '%s' "$RESPONSE" > "$RESPONSE_FILE"
-      log "response captured (${#RESPONSE} chars)"
-      break
-    fi
+  if [ -f "$IDLE_MARKER" ]; then
+    log "response complete after ${ELAPSED}s"
+    break
   fi
 
-  # Check if session died
   if ! tmux has-session -t "$SESSION_NAME" 2>/dev/null; then
     log "ERROR: exec session died while waiting for response"
-    matrix_send "exec" "❌ Executive assistant session ended unexpectedly" "$THREAD_ID" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+    [ -n "$THREAD_ID" ] && matrix_send "exec" "❌ Executive assistant session ended unexpectedly" "$THREAD_ID" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
     exit 1
   fi
 done
 
-# ── Post response to Matrix ────────────────────────────────────────────
-if [ -f "$RESPONSE_FILE" ] && [ -s "$RESPONSE_FILE" ]; then
-  RESPONSE=$(cat "$RESPONSE_FILE")
-  # Truncate if too long for Matrix (64KB limit, keep under 4KB for readability)
-  if [ ${#RESPONSE} -gt 4000 ]; then
-    RESPONSE="${RESPONSE:0:3950}
-
-(truncated — full response in exec journal)"
-  fi
-  matrix_send "exec" "$RESPONSE" "$THREAD_ID" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-  log "response posted to Matrix thread"
-
-  # Journal the exchange
-  JOURNAL_DIR="$PROJECT_REPO_ROOT/exec/journal"
-  mkdir -p "$JOURNAL_DIR"
-  JOURNAL_FILE="$JOURNAL_DIR/$(date -u +%Y-%m-%d).md"
-  {
-    echo ""
-    echo "## $(date -u +%H:%M) UTC — ${SENDER}"
-    echo ""
-    echo "**Q:** ${MESSAGE}"
-    echo ""
-    echo "**A:** ${RESPONSE}"
-    echo ""
-    echo "---"
-  } >> "$JOURNAL_FILE"
-  log "exchange logged to $(basename "$JOURNAL_FILE")"
-else
-  log "WARNING: no response captured within ${CAPTURE_TIMEOUT}s"
-  matrix_send "exec" "⚠️ Still thinking... (response not ready within ${CAPTURE_TIMEOUT}s, session is still active)" "$THREAD_ID" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+if [ "$ELAPSED" -ge "$RESPONSE_TIMEOUT" ]; then
+  log "WARN: response timeout after ${RESPONSE_TIMEOUT}s"
+  [ -n "$THREAD_ID" ] && matrix_send "exec" "⚠️ Still thinking... (response not ready within ${RESPONSE_TIMEOUT}s)" "$THREAD_ID" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  exit 0
 fi
 
-rm -f "$RESPONSE_FILE"
+# ── Capture response (pane diff) ────────────────────────────────────────
+RESPONSE=$(tmux capture-pane -t "$SESSION_NAME" -p -S -500 2>/dev/null \
+  | tail -n +"$((BEFORE_LINES + 1))" \
+  | grep -v '^❯' | grep -v '^$' \
+  | head -100)
+
+if [ -z "$RESPONSE" ]; then
+  log "WARN: empty response captured"
+  RESPONSE="(processed your message but produced no visible output)"
+fi
+
+# ── Post response to Matrix ────────────────────────────────────────────
+if [ ${#RESPONSE} -gt 3500 ]; then
+  RESPONSE="${RESPONSE:0:3500}
+
+(truncated — full response in exec journal)"
+fi
+
+if [ -n "$THREAD_ID" ]; then
+  matrix_send "exec" "$RESPONSE" "$THREAD_ID" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+else
+  matrix_send "exec" "$RESPONSE" "" "exec" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+fi
+log "response posted to Matrix"
+
+# ── Journal the exchange ───────────────────────────────────────────────
+JOURNAL_DIR="$PROJECT_REPO_ROOT/exec/journal"
+mkdir -p "$JOURNAL_DIR"
+{
+  echo ""
+  echo "## $(date -u +%H:%M) UTC — ${SENDER}"
+  echo ""
+  echo "**Q:** ${MESSAGE}"
+  echo ""
+  echo "**A:** ${RESPONSE}"
+  echo ""
+  echo "---"
+} >> "$JOURNAL_DIR/$(date -u +%Y-%m-%d).md"
+log "exchange logged to journal"
diff --git a/exec/exec-session.sh b/exec/exec-session.sh
index 6490958..d620ff3 100755
--- a/exec/exec-session.sh
+++ b/exec/exec-session.sh
@@ -178,14 +178,9 @@ PROJECT_REPO_ROOT=${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT}
 PRIMARY_BRANCH=${PRIMARY_BRANCH}
 PHASE_FILE=${PHASE_FILE}
 
-## Response format
-When responding to the executive, write your response between these markers:
-\`\`\`
----EXEC-RESPONSE-START---
-Your response here.
----EXEC-RESPONSE-END---
-\`\`\`
-This allows the output capture to extract and post your response to Matrix.
+## How this works
+You are in a persistent tmux session. Messages from the executive arrive via
+Matrix. Just respond naturally — your output is captured automatically.
 
 ## Phase protocol
 When the executive ends the conversation (says goodbye, done, etc.):
diff --git a/lib/matrix_listener.sh b/lib/matrix_listener.sh
index 007aa3e..e9f6707 100755
--- a/lib/matrix_listener.sh
+++ b/lib/matrix_listener.sh
@@ -345,10 +345,12 @@ Interpret this response and decide how to proceed."
         # Route message to exec session — spawn on demand if needed
         EXEC_PROJECT=$(awk -F'\t' -v id="$THREAD_ROOT" '$1 == id {print $5}' "$THREAD_MAP" 2>/dev/null || true)
         EXEC_PROJECT="${EXEC_PROJECT:-${PROJECT_NAME:-disinto}}"
+        EXEC_TOML="${FACTORY_ROOT}/projects/${EXEC_PROJECT}.toml"
+        [ -f "$EXEC_TOML" ] || EXEC_TOML=""
 
-        # Delegate entirely to exec-inject.sh (handles spawn + inject + capture + Matrix post)
-        bash "${FACTORY_ROOT}/exec/exec-inject.sh" "$SENDER" "$BODY" "$THREAD_ROOT" \
-          "${FACTORY_ROOT}/projects/${EXEC_PROJECT}.toml" >> "$LOGFILE" 2>&1 &
+        # Delegate to exec-inject.sh (handles spawn + inject + capture + Matrix post)
+        nohup bash "${FACTORY_ROOT}/exec/exec-inject.sh" "$SENDER" "$BODY" "$THREAD_ROOT" \
+          "$EXEC_TOML" >> "$LOGFILE" 2>&1 &
         log "exec message from ${SENDER} dispatched to exec-inject.sh"
 
         if ! grep -qF "$THREAD_ROOT" "$ACKED_FILE" 2>/dev/null; then