diff --git a/.env.example b/.env.example
index 8f5f149..6347e96 100644
--- a/.env.example
+++ b/.env.example
@@ -9,10 +9,14 @@ PRIMARY_BRANCH=main                        # main or master
 # PROJECT_NAME=yourproject                 # optional — auto-derived from CODEBERG_REPO
 
 # ── Auth tokens ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
-# Codeberg API token (read from ~/.netrc by default, override here if needed)
-# CODEBERG_TOKEN=
+# Dev-agent token: push branches, create PRs, merge PRs.
+# Use the dedicated bot account (e.g. factory_bot / disinto_dev).
+# Branch protection: this account must be in the merge whitelist.
+CODEBERG_TOKEN=
 
-# Codeberg review bot token (separate account for formal reviews)
+# Review-agent token: post review comments and submit formal approvals.
+# Use the human/admin account (e.g. johba).
+# Branch protection: this account must be in the approvals whitelist.
 REVIEW_BOT_TOKEN=
 
 # ── Woodpecker CI ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index 939109c..f985882 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -76,7 +76,7 @@ backlog issues (all deps closed) or orphaned in-progress issues and spawns
 - `dev/phase-test.sh` — Integration test for the phase protocol
 
 **Environment variables consumed** (via `lib/env.sh` + project TOML):
-- `CODEBERG_TOKEN` — API auth for issue/PR operations
+- `CODEBERG_TOKEN` — Dev-agent token (push, PR creation, merge) — use the dedicated bot account
 - `CODEBERG_REPO`, `CODEBERG_API` — Target repository
 - `PROJECT_NAME`, `PROJECT_REPO_ROOT` — Local checkout path
 - `PRIMARY_BRANCH` — Branch to merge into (e.g. `main`, `master`)
@@ -101,7 +101,8 @@ spawns `review-pr.sh <pr-number>`.
 - `review/review-pr.sh` — Creates/reuses a tmux session (`review-{project}-{pr}`), injects PR diff, waits for Claude to write structured JSON output, posts markdown review + formal Codeberg review, auto-creates follow-up issues for pre-existing tech debt
 
 **Environment variables consumed**:
-- `CODEBERG_TOKEN`, `REVIEW_BOT_TOKEN` — Separate tokens for posting reviews (branch protection requires a different user)
+- `CODEBERG_TOKEN` — Dev-agent token (must not be the same account as REVIEW_BOT_TOKEN)
+- `REVIEW_BOT_TOKEN` — Review-agent token for approvals (use human/admin account; branch protection: in approvals whitelist)
 - `CODEBERG_REPO`, `CODEBERG_API`, `PROJECT_NAME`, `PROJECT_REPO_ROOT`
 - `PRIMARY_BRANCH`, `WOODPECKER_REPO_ID`
 - `MATRIX_TOKEN`, `MATRIX_ROOM_ID`, `MATRIX_HOMESERVER`
diff --git a/dev/dev-agent.sh b/dev/dev-agent.sh
index ae24e06..23c2489 100755
--- a/dev/dev-agent.sh
+++ b/dev/dev-agent.sh
@@ -523,10 +523,27 @@ echo \"PHASE:awaiting_ci\" > \"${PHASE_FILE}\"
 (CI runs again after each push — always write awaiting_ci, not awaiting_review)
 
 **When you receive an \"Approved\" injection:**
+The injection includes exact API commands. Merge the PR and close the issue directly:
 \`\`\`bash
+# Merge (replace NNN with the actual PR number from the injection):
+curl -sf -X POST \\
+  -H \"Authorization: token \${CODEBERG_TOKEN}\" \\
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \\
+  \"${API}/pulls/NNN/merge\" \\
+  -d '{\"Do\":\"merge\",\"delete_branch_after_merge\":true}'
+
+# Close the issue:
+curl -sf -X PATCH \\
+  -H \"Authorization: token \${CODEBERG_TOKEN}\" \\
+  -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \\
+  \"${API}/issues/${ISSUE}\" \\
+  -d '{\"state\":\"closed\"}'
+
+# Signal done:
 echo \"PHASE:done\" > \"${PHASE_FILE}\"
 \`\`\`
-The orchestrator handles the merge. You are done.
+If merge fails due to conflicts, rebase first then retry the merge.
+If merge repeatedly fails, write PHASE:needs_human.
 
 **If refusing (too large, unmet dep, already done):**
 \`\`\`bash
diff --git a/dev/dev-poll.sh b/dev/dev-poll.sh
index 99520fc..991c5a0 100755
--- a/dev/dev-poll.sh
+++ b/dev/dev-poll.sh
@@ -163,54 +163,6 @@ log() {
   printf '[%s] poll: %s\n' "$(date -u '+%Y-%m-%d %H:%M:%S UTC')" "$*" >> "$LOGFILE"
 }
 
-# HELPER: try merge, rebase if mergeable=false, then retry once
-try_merge_or_rebase() {
-  local pr_num="$1" issue_num="$2" branch="$3"
-  local merge_code
-
-  merge_code=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -X POST \
-    -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-    "${API}/pulls/${pr_num}/merge" \
-    -d '{"Do":"merge","delete_branch_after_merge":true}')
-
-  if [ "$merge_code" = "200" ] || [ "$merge_code" = "204" ]; then
-    log "PR #${pr_num} merged! Closing #${issue_num}"
-    curl -sf -X PATCH -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-      "${API}/issues/${issue_num}" -d '{"state":"closed"}' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-    curl -sf -X DELETE -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-      "${API}/issues/${issue_num}/labels/in-progress" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-    matrix_send "dev" "✅ PR #${pr_num} merged! Issue #${issue_num} done." 2>/dev/null || true
-    ci_fix_reset "$pr_num"
-    return 0
-  fi
-
-  # Merge failed — always try rebase (Codeberg mergeable field is unreliable)
-  log "PR #${pr_num} merge failed (HTTP ${merge_code}) — attempting rebase"
-  matrix_send "dev" "🔀 PR #${pr_num} merge failed (${merge_code}) — auto-rebasing" 2>/dev/null || true
-  local worktree="/tmp/rebase-pr-${pr_num}"
-  rm -rf "$worktree"
-  git -C "${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT}" fetch origin 2>/dev/null || true
-  if git -C "${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT}" worktree add "$worktree" "$branch" 2>/dev/null &&
-     git -C "$worktree" rebase "origin/${PRIMARY_BRANCH}" 2>/dev/null &&
-     git -C "$worktree" push --force-with-lease origin "$branch" 2>/dev/null; then
-    log "PR #${pr_num} rebased — CI will re-run, merge on next poll"
-    git -C "${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT}" worktree remove "$worktree" 2>/dev/null || true
-  else
-    git -C "${PROJECT_REPO_ROOT}" worktree remove --force "$worktree" 2>/dev/null || true
-    if handle_ci_exhaustion "$pr_num" "$issue_num"; then
-      log "PR #${pr_num} rebase failed — CI exhausted, not spawning"
-      return 1
-    fi
-    log "PR #${pr_num} rebase failed — spawning dev-agent to fix (attempt ${CI_FIX_ATTEMPTS}/3)"
-    matrix_send "dev" "❌ PR #${pr_num} rebase failed — spawning dev-agent (attempt ${CI_FIX_ATTEMPTS}/3)" 2>/dev/null || true
-    nohup "${SCRIPT_DIR}/dev-agent.sh" "$issue_num" >> "$LOGFILE" 2>&1 &
-    log "started dev-agent PID $! for PR #${pr_num} (rebase fix)"
-  fi
-  return 1
-}
-
 # --- Check if dev-agent already running ---
 if [ -f "$LOCKFILE" ]; then
   LOCK_PID=$(cat "$LOCKFILE" 2>/dev/null || echo "")
@@ -326,10 +278,9 @@ if [ "$ORPHAN_COUNT" -gt 0 ]; then
       jq -r '[.[] | select(.state == "REQUEST_CHANGES") | select(.stale == false)] | length') || true
 
     if ci_passed "$CI_STATE" && [ "${HAS_APPROVE:-0}" -gt 0 ]; then
-      PR_BRANCH=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-        "${API}/pulls/${HAS_PR}" | jq -r '.head.ref') || true
-      log "PR #${HAS_PR} approved + CI green → merging"
-      try_merge_or_rebase "$HAS_PR" "$ISSUE_NUM" "$PR_BRANCH"
+      log "PR #${HAS_PR} approved + CI green → spawning dev-agent to merge"
+      nohup "${SCRIPT_DIR}/dev-agent.sh" "$ISSUE_NUM" >> "$LOGFILE" 2>&1 &
+      log "started dev-agent PID $! for issue #${ISSUE_NUM} (agent-merge)"
       exit 0
 
     elif ci_passed "$CI_STATE" && [ "${HAS_CHANGES:-0}" -gt 0 ]; then
@@ -396,11 +347,12 @@ for i in $(seq 0 $(($(echo "$OPEN_PRS" | jq 'length') - 1))); do
     "${API}/pulls/${PR_NUM}/reviews" | \
     jq -r '[.[] | select(.state == "APPROVED") | select(.stale == false)] | length') || true
 
-  # Try merge if approved + CI green
+  # Spawn agent to merge if approved + CI green
   if ci_passed "$CI_STATE" && [ "${HAS_APPROVE:-0}" -gt 0 ]; then
-    log "PR #${PR_NUM} (issue #${STUCK_ISSUE}) approved + CI green → merging"
-    try_merge_or_rebase "$PR_NUM" "$STUCK_ISSUE" "$PR_BRANCH"
-    continue
+    log "PR #${PR_NUM} (issue #${STUCK_ISSUE}) approved + CI green → spawning dev-agent to merge"
+    nohup "${SCRIPT_DIR}/dev-agent.sh" "$STUCK_ISSUE" >> "$LOGFILE" 2>&1 &
+    log "started dev-agent PID $! for stuck PR #${PR_NUM} (agent-merge)"
+    exit 0
   fi
 
   # Stuck: REQUEST_CHANGES or CI failure → spawn agent
@@ -473,11 +425,10 @@ for i in $(seq 0 $((BACKLOG_COUNT - 1))); do
       jq -r '[.[] | select(.state == "REQUEST_CHANGES") | select(.stale == false)] | length') || true
 
     if ci_passed "$CI_STATE" && [ "${HAS_APPROVE:-0}" -gt 0 ]; then
-      EXISTING_BRANCH=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-        "${API}/pulls/${EXISTING_PR}" | jq -r '.head.ref') || true
-      log "#${ISSUE_NUM} PR #${EXISTING_PR} approved + CI green → merging"
-      try_merge_or_rebase "$EXISTING_PR" "$ISSUE_NUM" "$EXISTING_BRANCH"
-      continue
+      log "#${ISSUE_NUM} PR #${EXISTING_PR} approved + CI green → spawning dev-agent to merge"
+      nohup "${SCRIPT_DIR}/dev-agent.sh" "$ISSUE_NUM" >> "$LOGFILE" 2>&1 &
+      log "started dev-agent PID $! for issue #${ISSUE_NUM} (agent-merge)"
+      exit 0
 
     elif [ "${HAS_CHANGES:-0}" -gt 0 ]; then
       log "#${ISSUE_NUM} PR #${EXISTING_PR} has REQUEST_CHANGES — picking up"
diff --git a/dev/phase-handler.sh b/dev/phase-handler.sh
index 919fec3..b1480d8 100644
--- a/dev/phase-handler.sh
+++ b/dev/phase-handler.sh
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 # dev/phase-handler.sh — Phase callback functions for dev-agent.sh
 #
 # Source this file from dev-agent.sh after lib/agent-session.sh is loaded.
-# Defines: post_refusal_comment(), do_merge(), _on_phase_change()
+# Defines: post_refusal_comment(), _on_phase_change()
 #
 # Required globals from dev-agent.sh:
 #   ISSUE, CODEBERG_TOKEN, API, CODEBERG_WEB, PROJECT_NAME, FACTORY_ROOT
@@ -10,7 +10,7 @@
 #   PRIMARY_BRANCH, SESSION_NAME, LOGFILE, ISSUE_TITLE
 #   CI_POLL_TIMEOUT, MAX_CI_FIXES, MAX_REVIEW_ROUNDS, REVIEW_POLL_TIMEOUT
 #   CI_RETRY_COUNT, CI_FIX_COUNT, REVIEW_ROUND, CLAIMED
-#   WOODPECKER_REPO_ID, WOODPECKER_TOKEN, WOODPECKER_SERVER, REVIEW_BOT_TOKEN
+#   WOODPECKER_REPO_ID, WOODPECKER_TOKEN, WOODPECKER_SERVER
 #
 # Calls back to dev-agent.sh-defined helpers:
 #   cleanup_worktree(), cleanup_labels()
@@ -48,138 +48,6 @@ ${body}
   rm -f "/tmp/refusal-comment.txt" "/tmp/refusal-comment.json"
 }
 
-# =============================================================================
-# MERGE HELPER
-# =============================================================================
-do_merge() {
-  local sha="$1"
-  local pr="${PR_NUMBER}"
-
-  for _m in $(seq 1 20); do
-    local ci
-    ci=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-      "${API}/commits/${sha}/status" | jq -r '.state // "unknown"')
-    [ "$ci" = "success" ] && break
-    if [ "$ci" = "failure" ] || [ "$ci" = "error" ]; then
-      log "CI is red before merge attempt — aborting"
-      notify "PR #${pr} CI is failing; cannot merge."
-      return 1
-    fi
-    sleep 30
-  done
-
-  # Pre-emptive rebase to avoid merge conflicts
-  local mergeable
-  mergeable=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-    "${API}/pulls/${pr}" | jq -r '.mergeable // true')
-  if [ "$mergeable" = "false" ]; then
-    log "PR #${pr} has merge conflicts — attempting rebase"
-    local work_dir="${WORKTREE:-$REPO_ROOT}"
-    if (cd "$work_dir" && git fetch origin "${PRIMARY_BRANCH}" && git rebase "origin/${PRIMARY_BRANCH}" 2>&1); then
-      log "rebase succeeded — force pushing"
-      (cd "$work_dir" && git push origin "${BRANCH}" --force-with-lease 2>&1) || true
-      sha=$(cd "$work_dir" && git rev-parse HEAD)
-      log "waiting for CI on rebased commit ${sha:0:7}"
-      local r_ci
-      for _r in $(seq 1 20); do
-        r_ci=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-          "${API}/commits/${sha}/status" | jq -r '.state // "unknown"')
-        [ "$r_ci" = "success" ] && break
-        if [ "$r_ci" = "failure" ] || [ "$r_ci" = "error" ]; then
-          log "CI failed after rebase"
-          notify "PR #${pr} CI failed after rebase. Needs manual fix."
-          return 1
-        fi
-        sleep 30
-      done
-    else
-      log "rebase failed — aborting and escalating"
-      (cd "$work_dir" && git rebase --abort 2>/dev/null) || true
-      notify "PR #${pr} has merge conflicts that need manual resolution."
-      return 1
-    fi
-  fi
-
-  local http_code
-  http_code=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -X POST \
-    -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-    "${API}/pulls/${pr}/merge" \
-    -d '{"Do":"merge","delete_branch_after_merge":true}')
-
-  if [ "$http_code" = "200" ] || [ "$http_code" = "204" ]; then
-    log "PR #${pr} merged!"
-    curl -sf -X DELETE \
-      -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-      "${API}/branches/${BRANCH}" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-    curl -sf -X PATCH \
-      -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-      -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-      "${API}/issues/${ISSUE}" \
-      -d '{"state":"closed"}' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-    cleanup_labels
-    notify_ctx \
-      "✅ PR #${pr} merged! Issue #${ISSUE} done." \
-      "✅ PR <a href='${CODEBERG_WEB}/pulls/${pr}'>#${pr}</a> merged! <a href='${CODEBERG_WEB}/issues/${ISSUE}'>Issue #${ISSUE}</a> done."
-    agent_kill_session "$SESSION_NAME"
-    cleanup_worktree
-    rm -f "$PHASE_FILE" "$IMPL_SUMMARY_FILE" "$THREAD_FILE"
-    exit 0
-  else
-    log "merge failed (HTTP ${http_code}) — attempting rebase and retry"
-    local work_dir="${WORKTREE:-$REPO_ROOT}"
-    if (cd "$work_dir" && git fetch origin "${PRIMARY_BRANCH}" && git rebase "origin/${PRIMARY_BRANCH}" 2>&1); then
-      log "rebase succeeded — force pushing"
-      (cd "$work_dir" && git push origin "${BRANCH}" --force-with-lease 2>&1) || true
-      sha=$(cd "$work_dir" && git rev-parse HEAD)
-      log "waiting for CI on rebased commit ${sha:0:7}"
-      local r2_ci
-      for _r2 in $(seq 1 20); do
-        r2_ci=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-          "${API}/commits/${sha}/status" | jq -r '.state // "unknown"')
-        [ "$r2_ci" = "success" ] && break
-        if [ "$r2_ci" = "failure" ] || [ "$r2_ci" = "error" ]; then
-          log "CI failed after merge-retry rebase"
-          notify "PR #${pr} CI failed after rebase. Needs manual fix."
-          return 1
-        fi
-        sleep 30
-      done
-      # Re-approve (force push dismisses stale approvals)
-      curl -sf -X POST \
-        -H "Authorization: token ${REVIEW_BOT_TOKEN:-${CODEBERG_TOKEN}}" \
-        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-        "${API}/pulls/${pr}/reviews" \
-        -d '{"event":"APPROVED","body":"Auto-approved after rebase."}' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-      # Retry merge
-      http_code=$(curl -s -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -X POST \
-        -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-        -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-        "${API}/pulls/${pr}/merge" \
-        -d '{"Do":"merge","delete_branch_after_merge":true}')
-      if [ "$http_code" = "200" ] || [ "$http_code" = "204" ]; then
-        log "PR #${pr} merged after rebase!"
-        notify_ctx \
-          "✅ PR #${pr} merged! Issue #${ISSUE} done." \
-          "✅ PR <a href='${CODEBERG_WEB}/pulls/${pr}'>#${pr}</a> merged! <a href='${CODEBERG_WEB}/issues/${ISSUE}'>Issue #${ISSUE}</a> done."
-        curl -sf -X PATCH -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-          -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
-          "${API}/issues/${ISSUE}" -d '{"state":"closed"}' >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
-        cleanup_labels
-        agent_kill_session "$SESSION_NAME"
-        cleanup_worktree
-        rm -f "$PHASE_FILE" "$IMPL_SUMMARY_FILE" "$THREAD_FILE"
-        exit 0
-      fi
-    else
-      (cd "$work_dir" && git rebase --abort 2>/dev/null) || true
-    fi
-    log "merge still failing after rebase (HTTP ${http_code})"
-    notify "PR #${pr} merge failed after rebase (HTTP ${http_code}). Needs human attention."
-    return 1
-  fi
-}
-
 # =============================================================================
 # PHASE DISPATCH CALLBACK
 # =============================================================================
@@ -473,9 +341,33 @@ Instructions:
 
         if [ "$VERDICT" = "APPROVE" ]; then
           REVIEW_FOUND=true
-          agent_inject_into_session "$SESSION_NAME" "Approved! PR #${PR_NUMBER} has been approved by the reviewer.
-Write PHASE:done to the phase file — the orchestrator will handle the merge:
-  echo \"PHASE:done\" > \"${PHASE_FILE}\""
+          agent_inject_into_session "$SESSION_NAME" "Approved! PR #${PR_NUMBER} has been approved.
+
+Merge the PR and close the issue directly — do NOT wait for the orchestrator:
+
+  # Merge the PR:
+  curl -sf -X POST \\
+    -H \"Authorization: token \${CODEBERG_TOKEN}\" \\
+    -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \\
+    \"${API}/pulls/${PR_NUMBER}/merge\" \\
+    -d '{\"Do\":\"merge\",\"delete_branch_after_merge\":true}'
+
+  # Close the issue:
+  curl -sf -X PATCH \\
+    -H \"Authorization: token \${CODEBERG_TOKEN}\" \\
+    -H 'Content-Type: application/json' \\
+    \"${API}/issues/${ISSUE}\" \\
+    -d '{\"state\":\"closed\"}'
+
+If merge fails due to conflicts, rebase first:
+  git fetch origin ${PRIMARY_BRANCH} && git rebase origin/${PRIMARY_BRANCH}
+  git push --force-with-lease origin ${BRANCH}
+  # Then retry the merge curl above.
+
+After a successful merge write PHASE:done:
+  echo \"PHASE:done\" > \"${PHASE_FILE}\"
+
+If merge repeatedly fails, write PHASE:needs_human with a reason."
           break
 
         elif [ "$VERDICT" = "REQUEST_CHANGES" ] || [ "$VERDICT" = "DISCUSS" ]; then
@@ -557,26 +449,23 @@ Instructions:
     # Don't inject anything — supervisor-poll.sh (#81) injects human replies, gardener-poll.sh as backup
 
   # ── PHASE: done ─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
+  # The agent already merged the PR and closed the issue. Just clean up local state.
   elif [ "$phase" = "PHASE:done" ]; then
-    status "phase done — merging PR #${PR_NUMBER:-?}"
+    status "phase done — agent merged PR #${PR_NUMBER:-?}, cleaning up"
 
-    if [ -z "${PR_NUMBER:-}" ]; then
-      log "ERROR: PHASE:done but no PR_NUMBER — cannot merge"
-      notify "PHASE:done but no PR known — needs human attention"
-      agent_kill_session "$SESSION_NAME"
-      cleanup_labels
-      return 1
-    fi
+    # Notify Matrix (agent already closed the issue and removed labels via API)
+    notify_ctx \
+      "✅ PR #${PR_NUMBER:-?} merged! Issue #${ISSUE} done." \
+      "✅ PR <a href='${CODEBERG_WEB}/pulls/${PR_NUMBER:-?}'>#${PR_NUMBER:-?}</a> merged! <a href='${CODEBERG_WEB}/issues/${ISSUE}'>Issue #${ISSUE}</a> done."
 
-    MERGE_SHA=$(curl -sf -H "Authorization: token ${CODEBERG_TOKEN}" \
-      "${API}/pulls/${PR_NUMBER}" | jq -r '.head.sha') || true
+    # Belt-and-suspenders: ensure in-progress label removed (idempotent)
+    cleanup_labels
 
-    # do_merge exits 0 on success; returns 1 on failure
-    do_merge "$MERGE_SHA" || true
-
-    # If we reach here, merge failed (do_merge returned 1)
-    log "merge failed — injecting error into session"
-    agent_inject_into_session "$SESSION_NAME" "Merge failed for PR #${PR_NUMBER}. The orchestrator could not merge automatically. This may be due to merge conflicts or CI. Investigate the PR state and write PHASE:needs_human if human intervention is required."
+    # Local cleanup
+    agent_kill_session "$SESSION_NAME"
+    cleanup_worktree
+    rm -f "$PHASE_FILE" "$IMPL_SUMMARY_FILE" "$THREAD_FILE"
+    CLAIMED=false  # Don't unclaim again in cleanup()
 
   # ── PHASE: failed ───────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
   elif [ "$phase" = "PHASE:failed" ]; then