diff --git a/packages/api/gateway/src/client/journal-stream.ts b/packages/api/gateway/src/client/journal-stream.ts
index f21e79f241..306779ba94 100644
--- a/packages/api/gateway/src/client/journal-stream.ts
+++ b/packages/api/gateway/src/client/journal-stream.ts
@@ -7,9 +7,9 @@ import type {
   RemoteStreamOptions,
 } from './remote-stream.ts'
 
-/** Transport-neutral opening cursor or journal entry. */
-export type RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor> =
-  | { readonly type: 'opened'; readonly cursor: Cursor }
+/** Transport-neutral opening snapshot or journal entry. */
+export type RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor, Page> =
+  | { readonly type: 'opened'; readonly cursor: Cursor; readonly page: Page }
   | { readonly type: 'entry'; readonly entry: Entry }
 
 /** One committed journal-window update. */
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export type RemoteJournalChange<Page, Entry> =
   }
   | { readonly type: 'append'; readonly entry: Entry }
 
-type JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor> = RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor>>
+type JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor> = RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor, Page>>
 
 /** Gateway capability used to create one reconnecting Remote stream. */
 export interface RemoteStreamFactory {
@@ -65,13 +65,13 @@ export interface RemoteJournalStreamOptions<Page, Entry, Cursor> {
 }
 
 /**
- * Owns follow-before-page opening, ordered live delivery, pagination, and repair.
+ * Owns snapshot-first opening, ordered live delivery, pagination, and repair.
  *
  * The domain retains its published window during reconnection. A replacement is
- * published only after a tail page reaches the generation's opening cursor.
+ * published only after the opening page reaches the generation's cursor.
  */
 export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = void> {
-  private readonly stream: RemoteStream<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor>>
+  private readonly stream: RemoteStream<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor, Page>>
   private initialRequest!: PageRequest
   private resumeCursor: Cursor | undefined
   private hasResumeCursor = false
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
   private disposed = false
   private done: Promise<void> | undefined
   private closing: Promise<void> | undefined
-  private pendingNext: Promise<IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>> | undefined
+  private pendingNext: Promise<IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>> | undefined
 
   /**
    * @param remote - Gateway factory for the reconnecting physical-generation stream.
@@ -93,12 +93,9 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
     remote: RemoteStreamFactory,
     private readonly options: RemoteJournalStreamOptions<Page, Entry, Cursor>,
   ) {
-    this.stream = remote.$stream<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor>>({
+    this.stream = remote.$stream<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor, Page>>({
       name: options.name,
-      open: signal => this.follow(
-        this.hasResumeCursor ? this.resumeCursor : undefined,
-        signal,
-      ),
+      open: signal => this.follow(this.initialRequest, signal),
       ended: accepted => accepted
         ? new RemoteStreamCarrierError(`${options.name} ended without a terminal result`)
         : new Error(
@@ -111,15 +108,15 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
   }
 
   /**
-   * Open one physical journal generation after the last accepted cursor.
-   * @param after - last accepted cursor, or `undefined` for the initial generation.
+   * Open one physical journal generation with a complete current snapshot.
+   * @param request - opening-window request retained for later repair.
    * @param signal - cancellation lifetime of the physical generation.
    * @returns opening cursor followed by live entries.
    */
   protected abstract follow(
-    after: Cursor | undefined,
+    request: PageRequest,
     signal: AbortSignal,
-  ): AsyncIterable<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor>>
+  ): AsyncIterable<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor, Page>>
 
   /**
    * Read one journal page through the addressed domain source.
@@ -143,7 +140,7 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
   }
 
   /**
-   * Establish follow before reading and publishing the initial page.
+   * Establish follow and publish the opening snapshot carried by its first frame.
    * @param request - initial tail-page request.
    * @returns after the first complete window is published.
    */
@@ -155,7 +152,7 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
     try {
       const first = await this.takeNext(iterator)
       if (first.done) throw new Error(`${this.options.name} ended before its opening cursor`)
-      await this.replaceGeneration(request, first.value, iterator, false)
+      this.replaceGeneration(first.value, false)
       this.opened = true
       this.done = this.consume(iterator)
     } catch (error) {
@@ -217,7 +214,7 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
   }
 
   private async consume(
-    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>,
+    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>,
   ): Promise<void> {
     try {
       while (true) {
@@ -225,7 +222,7 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
         if (next.done) return
         const item = next.value
         if (item.generation !== this.generation) {
-          await this.replaceGeneration(this.repairPageRequest(), item, iterator, true)
+          this.replaceGeneration(item, true)
           continue
         }
         if (item.value.type === 'opened') {
@@ -238,35 +235,18 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
     }
   }
 
-  private async replaceGeneration(
-    request: PageRequest,
-    initial: JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>,
-    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>,
+  private replaceGeneration(
+    initial: JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>,
     resumed: boolean,
-  ): Promise<void> {
-    let item = initial
-    let isResumed = resumed
-    while (true) {
-      const cursor = this.opening(item, isResumed)
-      this.setResumeCursor(cursor)
-      const superseded = await this.replaceThrough(
-        request,
-        cursor,
-        item.generation,
-        item.signal,
-        iterator,
-        [],
-      )
-      if (superseded === undefined) return
-      item = superseded
-      isResumed = true
-    }
+  ): void {
+    const opening = this.opening(initial, resumed)
+    this.replaceFromOpening(opening.page, opening.cursor)
   }
 
   private opening(
-    item: RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor>>,
+    item: RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, Cursor, Page>>,
     resumed: boolean,
-  ): Cursor {
+  ): { readonly cursor: Cursor; readonly page: Page } {
     if (item.value.type !== 'opened') {
       throw new Error(`${resumed ? 'resumed ' : ''}${this.options.name} emitted an entry before its opening cursor`)
     }
@@ -279,13 +259,30 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
     }
     this.generation = item.generation
     item.accept()
-    return cursor
+    return { cursor, page: item.value.page }
+  }
+
+  /** Publish a generation's opening page without issuing a second Remote call. */
+  private replaceFromOpening(page: Page, cursor: Cursor): void {
+    this.assertPageThrough(page, cursor)
+    const entries = [...this.options.entries(page)]
+    this.assertPage(entries)
+    const first = entries[0]
+    this.firstCursor = first === undefined ? undefined : this.options.cursor(first)
+    this.lastCursor = cursor
+    this.setResumeCursor(cursor)
+    this.options.publish({
+      type: 'replace',
+      page,
+      entries,
+      hasMore: this.options.hasMore(page),
+    })
   }
 
   private async acceptEntry(
     entry: Entry,
-    item: JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>,
-    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>,
+    item: JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>,
+    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>,
   ): Promise<void> {
     const cursor = this.options.cursor(entry)
     const last = this.lastCursor as Cursor
@@ -301,7 +298,7 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
         [entry],
       )
       if (superseded !== undefined) {
-        await this.replaceGeneration(request, superseded, iterator, true)
+        this.replaceGeneration(superseded, true)
       }
       return
     }
@@ -316,9 +313,9 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
     requiredCursor: Cursor,
     generation: number,
     signal: AbortSignal,
-    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>,
+    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>,
     queued: Entry[],
-  ): Promise<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor> | undefined> {
+  ): Promise<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor> | undefined> {
     let read = await this.readPageWhileFollowing(
       request,
       requiredCursor,
@@ -351,6 +348,7 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
       throw new Error(`${this.options.name} page did not reach its opening cursor`)
     }
     const first = entries[0]
+    /* v8 ignore next -- a successful positive-cursor replacement page cannot be empty. */
     this.firstCursor = first === undefined ? undefined : this.options.cursor(first)
     this.lastCursor = this.tailCursor(entries)
     this.setResumeCursor(this.lastCursor)
@@ -368,11 +366,11 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
     through: Cursor,
     generation: number,
     signal: AbortSignal,
-    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>,
+    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>,
     queued: Entry[],
   ): Promise<
     | { readonly type: 'page'; readonly page: Page }
-    | { readonly type: 'superseded'; readonly item: JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor> }
+    | { readonly type: 'superseded'; readonly item: JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor> }
   > {
     const page = this.readPage(request, through, signal).then(
       value => ({ type: 'page' as const, value }),
@@ -410,12 +408,12 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
 
   private async awaitReplacementGeneration(
     generation: number,
-    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>,
-    initial: Promise<IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>>,
-  ): Promise<{ readonly type: 'superseded'; readonly item: JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor> }> {
+    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>,
+    initial: Promise<IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>>,
+  ): Promise<{ readonly type: 'superseded'; readonly item: JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor> }> {
     let pending = initial
     while (true) {
-      let next: IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>
+      let next: IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>
       try {
         next = await pending
       } finally {
@@ -461,15 +459,15 @@ export abstract class RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, Cursor, PageRequest = voi
   }
 
   private nextResult(
-    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>,
-  ): Promise<IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>> {
+    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>,
+  ): Promise<IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>> {
     this.pendingNext ??= iterator.next()
     return this.pendingNext
   }
 
   private async takeNext(
-    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>,
-  ): Promise<IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Entry, Cursor>>> {
+    iterator: AsyncIterator<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>,
+  ): Promise<IteratorResult<JournalStreamItem<Page, Entry, Cursor>>> {
     const pending = this.nextResult(iterator)
     try {
       return await pending
diff --git a/packages/api/gateway/tests/journal-stream.client.spec.ts b/packages/api/gateway/tests/journal-stream.client.spec.ts
index 38362c5598..cc364bbf51 100644
--- a/packages/api/gateway/tests/journal-stream.client.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/api/gateway/tests/journal-stream.client.spec.ts
@@ -25,9 +25,12 @@ interface PageRequest {
   readonly limit?: number
 }
 
+type JournalFrame = RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number, Page>
+type ScriptedFrame = JournalFrame
+
 interface Generation {
   readonly frames: readonly (
-    RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number> | Promise<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>
+    ScriptedFrame | Promise<ScriptedFrame>
   )[]
   readonly terminal?: Error
   readonly hold?: boolean
@@ -67,7 +70,7 @@ class FixtureJournal extends RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, number, PageReques
     private readonly calls: string[],
     private readonly pageRequests: PageRequest[],
     private readonly pageCursors: number[],
-    private readonly followCursors: (number | undefined)[],
+    private readonly followRequests: PageRequest[],
     changes: RemoteJournalChange<Page, Entry>[],
     failed: (error: unknown) => void,
     factory: RemoteStreamFactory = STREAM_FACTORY,
@@ -87,11 +90,11 @@ class FixtureJournal extends RemoteJournalStream<Page, Entry, number, PageReques
 
   /** @inheritdoc */
   protected override async * follow(
-    after: number | undefined,
+    request: PageRequest,
     signal: AbortSignal,
-  ): AsyncIterable<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>> {
+  ): AsyncIterable<JournalFrame> {
     this.calls.push('follow')
-    this.followCursors.push(after)
+    this.followRequests.push(request)
     const generation = this.generations.shift()
     if (generation === undefined) throw new Error('no scripted journal generation')
     for (const [index, frame] of generation.frames.entries()) {
@@ -138,12 +141,12 @@ function journalFixture(
   readonly calls: string[]
   readonly pageRequests: PageRequest[]
   readonly pageCursors: number[]
-  readonly followCursors: (number | undefined)[]
+  readonly followRequests: PageRequest[]
 } {
   const calls: string[] = []
   const pageRequests: PageRequest[] = []
   const pageCursors: number[] = []
-  const followCursors: (number | undefined)[] = []
+  const followRequests: PageRequest[] = []
   const changes: RemoteJournalChange<Page, Entry>[] = []
   const failed = vi.fn()
   const journal = new FixtureJournal(
@@ -152,24 +155,28 @@ function journalFixture(
     calls,
     pageRequests,
     pageCursors,
-    followCursors,
+    followRequests,
     changes,
     failed,
     factory,
   )
-  return { journal, changes, failed, calls, pageRequests, pageCursors, followCursors }
+  return { journal, changes, failed, calls, pageRequests, pageCursors, followRequests }
+}
+
+function opened(cursor: number, value: Page): JournalFrame {
+  return { type: 'opened', cursor, page: value }
 }
 
 function remoteItem(
   generation: number,
-  value: RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>,
+  value: ScriptedFrame,
   signal: AbortSignal,
-): RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>> {
+): RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame> {
   return { generation, value, signal, accept: vi.fn() }
 }
 
 function controlledFactory(
-  next: () => Promise<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>>>,
+  next: () => Promise<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>,
 ): RemoteStreamFactory {
   const lifetime = new AbortController()
   return {
@@ -189,17 +196,17 @@ function controlledFactory(
 }
 
 describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
-  it('opens follow before page, removes overlap, appends live entries, and prepends history', async () => {
+  it('opens from the follow snapshot, removes overlap, appends live entries, and prepends history', async () => {
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [{
         frames: [
-          { type: 'opened', cursor: 3 },
+          opened(3, page('tail', [2, 3], true)),
           { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 3 } },
           { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 4 } },
         ],
         hold: true,
       }],
-      [page('tail', [2, 3], true), page('older', [0, 1])],
+      [page('older', [0, 1])],
     )
 
     await fixture.journal.open({ limit: 2 })
@@ -207,8 +214,8 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     await fixture.journal.prepend({ before: 2, limit: 2 })
 
     expect(fixture.calls.slice(0, 2)).toEqual(['follow', 'page'])
-    expect(fixture.pageRequests).toEqual([{ limit: 2 }, { before: 2, limit: 2 }])
-    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3, 4])
+    expect(fixture.pageRequests).toEqual([{ before: 2, limit: 2 }])
+    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([4])
     expect(fixture.changes).toEqual([
       { type: 'replace', page: page('tail', [2, 3], true), entries: entries(2, 3), hasMore: true },
       { type: 'append', entry: { seq: 4 } },
@@ -220,8 +227,8 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
 
   it('exposes its shared cancellation signal', async () => {
     const fixture = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: -1 }], hold: true }],
-      [page('empty', [])],
+      [{ frames: [opened(-1, page('empty', []))], hold: true }],
+      [],
     )
 
     expect(fixture.journal.signal.aborted).toBe(false)
@@ -239,10 +246,10 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     const finish = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
     const resumed = journalFixture(
       [
-        { frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }], waitAfterFrames: finish.promise },
+        { frames: [opened(0, page('initial', [0]))], waitAfterFrames: finish.promise },
         { frames: [] },
       ],
-      [page('initial', [0])],
+      [],
     )
     await resumed.journal.open({})
     finish.resolve(undefined)
@@ -255,8 +262,8 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
 
   it('prepends into an empty window and accepts its first live entry', async () => {
     const empty = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: -1 }], hold: true }],
-      [page('empty', []), page('older', [0]), page('oldest', [])],
+      [{ frames: [opened(-1, page('empty', []))], hold: true }],
+      [page('older', [0]), page('oldest', [])],
     )
     await empty.journal.open({})
     await empty.journal.prepend({})
@@ -269,10 +276,10 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     })
     await empty.journal.dispose()
 
-    const live = Promise.withResolvers<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>()
+    const live = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
     const followed = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: -1 }, live.promise], hold: true }],
-      [page('empty', [])],
+      [{ frames: [opened(-1, page('empty', [])), live.promise], hold: true }],
+      [],
     )
     await followed.journal.open({})
     live.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 0 } })
@@ -281,61 +288,27 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     await followed.journal.dispose()
   })
 
-  it('publishes one sorted replacement from an exact page and live entries queued while it loads', async () => {
-    let resolvePage!: (value: Page) => void
-    const openingPage = new Promise<Page>((resolve) => { resolvePage = resolve })
-    const fixture = journalFixture(
-      [{
-        frames: [
-          { type: 'opened', cursor: 15 },
-          { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 17 } },
-          { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 16 } },
-        ],
-        hold: true,
-      }],
-      [openingPage],
-    )
-
-    const opening = fixture.journal.open({ limit: 6 })
-    await vi.waitFor(() => {
-      expect(fixture.calls.filter(call => call === 'page')).toHaveLength(1)
-    })
-    expect(fixture.changes).toEqual([])
-
-    resolvePage(page('opening', [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]))
-    await opening
-
-    expect(fixture.changes).toEqual([{
-      type: 'replace',
-      page: page('opening', [10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15]),
-      entries: entries(10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17),
-      hasMore: false,
-    }])
-    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([15])
-    await fixture.journal.dispose()
-  })
-
   it('repairs a replacement generation through one tail page and drops replay overlap', async () => {
     const lost = new RemoteStreamCarrierError('carrier lost')
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [
         {
           frames: [
-            { type: 'opened', cursor: 1 },
+            opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])),
             { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 2 } },
           ],
           terminal: lost,
         },
         {
           frames: [
-            { type: 'opened', cursor: 4 },
+            opened(4, page('replacement', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4])),
             { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 3 } },
             { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 4 } },
           ],
           hold: true,
         },
       ],
-      [page('initial', [0, 1]), page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4])],
+      [],
     )
 
     await fixture.journal.open({ limit: 5 })
@@ -343,10 +316,10 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
 
     expect(fixture.changes.map(change => change.type)).toEqual(['replace', 'append', 'replace'])
     expect(fixture.changes[2]).toMatchObject({
-      type: 'replace', page: { marker: 'repair' }, entries: entries(0, 1, 2, 3, 4),
+      type: 'replace', page: { marker: 'replacement' }, entries: entries(0, 1, 2, 3, 4),
     })
-    expect(fixture.followCursors).toEqual([undefined, 2])
-    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1, 4])
+    expect(fixture.followRequests).toEqual([{ limit: 5 }, { limit: 5 }])
+    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([])
     expect(fixture.failed).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     await fixture.journal.dispose()
   })
@@ -355,11 +328,14 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [
         {
-          frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }],
+          frames: [
+            opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])),
+            { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 3 } },
+          ],
           terminal: new RemoteStreamCarrierError('carrier lost during page'),
         },
         {
-          frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 2 }],
+          frames: [opened(3, page('replacement', [0, 1, 2, 3]))],
           hold: true,
         },
       ],
@@ -369,20 +345,28 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
           signal.addEventListener('abort', aborted, { once: true })
           if (signal.aborted) aborted()
         }),
-        page('replacement', [0, 1, 2]),
       ],
     )
 
     await fixture.journal.open({ limit: 3 })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.changes).toHaveLength(2) })
 
-    expect(fixture.changes).toEqual([{
-      type: 'replace',
-      page: page('replacement', [0, 1, 2]),
-      entries: entries(0, 1, 2),
-      hasMore: false,
-    }])
-    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1, 2])
-    expect(fixture.followCursors).toEqual([undefined, 1])
+    expect(fixture.changes).toEqual([
+      {
+        type: 'replace',
+        page: page('initial', [0, 1]),
+        entries: entries(0, 1),
+        hasMore: false,
+      },
+      {
+        type: 'replace',
+        page: page('replacement', [0, 1, 2, 3]),
+        entries: entries(0, 1, 2, 3),
+        hasMore: false,
+      },
+    ])
+    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3])
+    expect(fixture.followRequests).toEqual([{ limit: 3 }, { limit: 3 }])
     expect(fixture.failed).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
     await fixture.journal.dispose()
   })
@@ -391,12 +375,12 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [{
         frames: [
-          { type: 'opened', cursor: 1 },
+          opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])),
           { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 4 } },
         ],
         hold: true,
       }],
-      [page('initial', [0, 1]), page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4])],
+      [page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4])],
     )
 
     await fixture.journal.open({})
@@ -404,24 +388,22 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
 
     expect(fixture.changes.map(change => change.type)).toEqual(['replace', 'replace'])
     expect(fixture.changes[1]).toMatchObject({ page: { marker: 'repair' } })
-    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1, 4])
+    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([4])
     await fixture.journal.dispose()
   })
 
   it('replaces a superseded live-gap repair with the next generation', async () => {
-    const gap = Promise.withResolvers<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>()
+    const gap = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [
         {
-          frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }, gap.promise],
+          frames: [opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])), gap.promise],
           terminal: new RemoteStreamCarrierError('generation lost'),
         },
-        { frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 4 }], hold: true },
+        { frames: [opened(4, page('replacement', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]))], hold: true },
       ],
       [
-        page('initial', [0, 1]),
         () => new Promise<Page>(() => {}),
-        page('replacement', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]),
       ],
     )
 
@@ -435,103 +417,173 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
   })
 
   it('replaces a superseded second repair page with the next generation', async () => {
-    const live = Promise.withResolvers<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>()
-    const liveConsumed = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
-    const openingPage = Promise.withResolvers<Page>()
+    const firstLive = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
+    const secondLive = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
+    const secondConsumed = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
+    const firstRepair = Promise.withResolvers<Page>()
     const finish = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [
         {
-          frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }, live.promise],
+          frames: [
+            opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])),
+            firstLive.promise,
+            secondLive.promise,
+          ],
           waitAfterFrames: finish.promise,
           terminal: new RemoteStreamCarrierError('generation lost'),
-          afterFrame: (index) => { if (index === 1) liveConsumed.resolve(undefined) },
+          afterFrame: (index) => { if (index === 2) secondConsumed.resolve(undefined) },
         },
-        { frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 4 }], hold: true },
+        { frames: [opened(5, page('replacement', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]))], hold: true },
       ],
       [
-        openingPage.promise,
-        () => new Promise<Page>(() => {}),
-        page('replacement', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]),
+        firstRepair.promise,
+        signal => new Promise<Page>((_resolve, reject) => {
+          signal.addEventListener('abort', () => { reject(new Error('page aborted')) }, { once: true })
+        }),
       ],
     )
 
-    const opening = fixture.journal.open({})
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1]) })
-    live.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 3 } })
-    await liveConsumed.promise
-    openingPage.resolve(page('opening', [0, 1]))
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1, 3]) })
+    await fixture.journal.open({})
+    firstLive.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 3 } })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3]) })
+    secondLive.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 5 } })
+    await secondConsumed.promise
+    firstRepair.resolve(page('first-repair', [0, 1, 2, 3]))
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3, 5]) })
     finish.resolve(undefined)
-    await opening
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.changes).toHaveLength(2) })
 
-    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1, 3, 4])
-    expect(fixture.changes).toEqual([{
-      type: 'replace',
-      page: page('replacement', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4]),
-      entries: entries(0, 1, 2, 3, 4),
-      hasMore: false,
-    }])
+    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3, 5])
+    expect(fixture.changes).toEqual([
+      {
+        type: 'replace',
+        page: page('initial', [0, 1]),
+        entries: entries(0, 1),
+        hasMore: false,
+      },
+      {
+        type: 'replace',
+        page: page('replacement', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]),
+        entries: entries(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5),
+        hasMore: false,
+      },
+    ])
     await fixture.journal.dispose()
   })
 
-  it('rereads the tail when queued entries advance beyond the opening page', async () => {
-    const live = Promise.withResolvers<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>()
-    const liveConsumed = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
-    const openingPage = Promise.withResolvers<Page>()
+  it('rereads the tail when queued entries advance beyond the first repair page', async () => {
+    const firstLive = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
+    const secondLive = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
+    const secondConsumed = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
+    const firstRepair = Promise.withResolvers<Page>()
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [{
-        frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }, live.promise],
+        frames: [
+          opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])),
+          firstLive.promise,
+          secondLive.promise,
+        ],
         hold: true,
-        afterFrame: (index) => { if (index === 1) liveConsumed.resolve(undefined) },
+        afterFrame: (index) => { if (index === 2) secondConsumed.resolve(undefined) },
       }],
-      [openingPage.promise, page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3])],
+      [firstRepair.promise, page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5])],
     )
 
-    const opening = fixture.journal.open({ limit: 4 })
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1]) })
-    live.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 3 } })
-    await liveConsumed.promise
-    openingPage.resolve(page('opening', [0, 1]))
-    await opening
+    await fixture.journal.open({ limit: 4 })
+    firstLive.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 3 } })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3]) })
+    secondLive.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 5 } })
+    await secondConsumed.promise
+    firstRepair.resolve(page('first-repair', [0, 1, 2, 3]))
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.changes).toHaveLength(2) })
 
-    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1, 3])
-    expect(fixture.changes).toEqual([{
-      type: 'replace', page: page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3]), entries: entries(0, 1, 2, 3), hasMore: false,
-    }])
+    expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3, 5])
+    expect(fixture.changes.at(-1)).toEqual({
+      type: 'replace',
+      page: page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]),
+      entries: entries(0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5),
+      hasMore: false,
+    })
+    await fixture.journal.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it('merges contiguous entries that arrive while a replacement page is loading', async () => {
+    const firstLive = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
+    const secondLive = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
+    const secondConsumed = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
+    const repair = Promise.withResolvers<Page>()
+    const fixture = journalFixture(
+      [{
+        frames: [
+          opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])),
+          firstLive.promise,
+          secondLive.promise,
+        ],
+        hold: true,
+        afterFrame: (index) => { if (index === 2) secondConsumed.resolve(undefined) },
+      }],
+      [repair.promise],
+    )
+
+    await fixture.journal.open({})
+    firstLive.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 3 } })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3]) })
+    secondLive.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 4 } })
+    await secondConsumed.promise
+    repair.resolve(page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3]))
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.changes).toHaveLength(2) })
+
+    expect(fixture.changes.at(-1)).toEqual({
+      type: 'replace',
+      page: page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3]),
+      entries: entries(0, 1, 2, 3, 4),
+      hasMore: false,
+    })
     await fixture.journal.dispose()
   })
 
   it('rejects when queued entries advance beyond the second repair page', async () => {
-    const firstLive = Promise.withResolvers<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>()
-    const secondLive = Promise.withResolvers<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>()
-    const firstConsumed = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
+    const firstLive = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
+    const secondLive = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
+    const thirdLive = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
     const secondConsumed = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
-    const openingPage = Promise.withResolvers<Page>()
-    const repairPage = Promise.withResolvers<Page>()
+    const thirdConsumed = Promise.withResolvers<undefined>()
+    const firstRepair = Promise.withResolvers<Page>()
+    const secondRepair = Promise.withResolvers<Page>()
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [{
-        frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }, firstLive.promise, secondLive.promise],
+        frames: [
+          opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])),
+          firstLive.promise,
+          secondLive.promise,
+          thirdLive.promise,
+        ],
         hold: true,
         afterFrame: (index) => {
-          if (index === 1) firstConsumed.resolve(undefined)
           if (index === 2) secondConsumed.resolve(undefined)
+          if (index === 3) thirdConsumed.resolve(undefined)
         },
       }],
-      [openingPage.promise, repairPage.promise],
+      [firstRepair.promise, secondRepair.promise],
     )
 
-    const opening = fixture.journal.open({})
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1]) })
+    await fixture.journal.open({})
     firstLive.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 3 } })
-    await firstConsumed.promise
-    openingPage.resolve(page('opening', [0, 1]))
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([1, 3]) })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3]) })
     secondLive.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 5 } })
     await secondConsumed.promise
-    repairPage.resolve(page('repair', [0, 1, 2, 3]))
+    firstRepair.resolve(page('first-repair', [0, 1, 2, 3]))
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([3, 5]) })
+    thirdLive.resolve({ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 7 } })
+    await thirdConsumed.promise
+    secondRepair.resolve(page('second-repair', [0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5]))
 
-    await expect(opening).rejects.toThrow('page did not reach its opening cursor')
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.failed).toHaveBeenCalledOnce() })
+    expect(fixture.failed.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toMatchObject({
+      message: 'fixture journal page did not reach its opening cursor',
+    })
+    await fixture.journal.dispose()
   })
 
   it('reports a resumed generation that emits an entry before its cursor', async () => {
@@ -539,13 +591,13 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [
         {
-          frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }],
+          frames: [opened(0, page('initial', [0]))],
           waitAfterFrames: finish.promise,
           terminal: new RemoteStreamCarrierError('lost'),
         },
         { frames: [{ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 1 } }] },
       ],
-      [page('initial', [0])],
+      [],
     )
 
     await fixture.journal.open({})
@@ -558,14 +610,14 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
   })
 
   it('reports a duplicate opening cursor after the initial page is published', async () => {
-    const duplicate = Promise.withResolvers<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>()
+    const duplicate = Promise.withResolvers<ScriptedFrame>()
     const fixture = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }, duplicate.promise], hold: true }],
-      [page('initial', [0])],
+      [{ frames: [opened(0, page('initial', [0])), duplicate.promise], hold: true }],
+      [],
     )
 
     await fixture.journal.open({})
-    duplicate.resolve({ type: 'opened', cursor: 0 })
+    duplicate.resolve(opened(0, page('duplicate', [0])))
     await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.failed).toHaveBeenCalledOnce() })
     expect(fixture.failed.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toMatchObject({
       message: 'fixture journal emitted more than one opening cursor',
@@ -573,47 +625,16 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     await fixture.journal.dispose()
   })
 
-  it('propagates follow failures and duplicate cursors while an opening page is pending', async () => {
-    const pendingPage = new Promise<Page>(() => {})
+  it('reports a follow failure after publishing its opening snapshot', async () => {
     const failedFollow = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }], terminal: new Error('follow failed') }],
-      [pendingPage],
-    )
-    await expect(failedFollow.journal.open({})).rejects.toThrow('follow failed')
-
-    const duplicate = Promise.withResolvers<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>()
-    const duplicatePage = new Promise<Page>(() => {})
-    const duplicateOpening = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }, duplicate.promise] }],
-      [duplicatePage],
-    )
-    const opening = duplicateOpening.journal.open({})
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(duplicateOpening.pageCursors).toEqual([0]) })
-    duplicate.resolve({ type: 'opened', cursor: 0 })
-    await expect(opening).rejects.toThrow('more than one opening cursor')
-  })
-
-  it('rejects an iterator that ends while its opening page is pending', async () => {
-    const generation = new AbortController()
-    const results = [
-      Promise.resolve<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>>>({
-        done: false,
-        value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }, generation.signal),
-      }),
-      Promise.resolve<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>>>({
-        done: true,
-        value: undefined,
-      }),
-    ]
-    const fixture = journalFixture(
+      [{ frames: [opened(0, page('initial', [0]))], terminal: new Error('follow failed') }],
       [],
-      [new Promise<Page>(() => {})],
-      controlledFactory(() => results.shift() ?? Promise.resolve({ done: true, value: undefined })),
-    )
-
-    await expect(fixture.journal.open({})).rejects.toThrow(
-      'ended while reading its replacement page',
     )
+    await failedFollow.journal.open({})
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(failedFollow.failed).toHaveBeenCalledOnce() })
+    expect(failedFollow.failed.mock.calls[0]?.[0]).toMatchObject({ message: 'follow failed' })
+    expect(failedFollow.changes).toHaveLength(1)
+    await failedFollow.journal.dispose()
   })
 
   it('rejects an iterator that ends before its opening cursor', async () => {
@@ -627,17 +648,17 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
 
   it('suppresses a consumer failure after disposal begins', async () => {
     const generation = new AbortController()
-    const next = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>>>()
+    const next = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>()
     const results = [
-      Promise.resolve<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>>>({
+      Promise.resolve<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>({
         done: false,
-        value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }, generation.signal),
+        value: remoteItem(1, opened(0, page('initial', [0])), generation.signal),
       }),
       next.promise,
     ]
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [],
-      [page('initial', [0])],
+      [],
       controlledFactory(() => results.shift() ?? Promise.resolve({ done: true, value: undefined })),
     )
 
@@ -645,7 +666,7 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     const closing = fixture.journal.dispose()
     next.resolve({
       done: false,
-      value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }, generation.signal),
+      value: remoteItem(1, opened(0, page('duplicate', [0])), generation.signal),
     })
     await closing
     expect(fixture.failed).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
@@ -658,17 +679,17 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
       final: undefined,
       message: 'more than one opening cursor',
     },
-  ])('rejects when an aborted page generation $name', async ({ final, message }) => {
+  ])('reports when an aborted repair generation $name', async ({ final, message }) => {
     const generation = new AbortController()
-    const pending = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>>>()
-    const nextPending = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>>>()
+    const gap = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>()
+    const replacement = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>()
     const results = [
-      Promise.resolve<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<RemoteJournalFrame<Entry, number>>>>({
+      Promise.resolve<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>({
         done: false,
-        value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }, generation.signal),
+        value: remoteItem(1, opened(0, page('initial', [0])), generation.signal),
       }),
-      pending.promise,
-      nextPending.promise,
+      gap.promise,
+      replacement.promise,
     ]
     const fixture = journalFixture(
       [],
@@ -678,47 +699,154 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
       controlledFactory(() => results.shift() ?? Promise.resolve({ done: true, value: undefined })),
     )
 
-    const opening = fixture.journal.open({})
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(results).toHaveLength(1) })
+    await fixture.journal.open({})
+    gap.resolve({
+      done: false,
+      value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 2 } }, generation.signal),
+    })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([2]) })
     generation.abort()
     if (final === undefined) {
-      pending.resolve({
+      replacement.resolve({
         done: false,
-        value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 1 } }, generation.signal),
-      })
-      await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(results).toHaveLength(0) })
-      nextPending.resolve({
-        done: false,
-        value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }, generation.signal),
+        value: remoteItem(1, opened(2, page('duplicate', [0, 1, 2])), generation.signal),
       })
     } else {
-      pending.resolve(final)
+      replacement.resolve(final)
     }
-    await expect(opening).rejects.toThrow(message)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.failed).toHaveBeenCalledOnce() })
+    const failure: unknown = fixture.failed.mock.calls[0]?.[0]
+    expect(failure).toBeInstanceOf(Error)
+    if (!(failure instanceof Error)) throw new Error('journal failure was not an Error')
+    expect(failure.message).toContain(message)
+    await fixture.journal.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it('discards old-generation entries while waiting for the replacement opening', async () => {
+    const generation = new AbortController()
+    const gap = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>()
+    const stale = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>()
+    const replacement = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>()
+    const results = [
+      Promise.resolve<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>({
+        done: false,
+        value: remoteItem(1, opened(0, page('initial', [0])), generation.signal),
+      }),
+      gap.promise,
+      stale.promise,
+      replacement.promise,
+    ]
+    const fixture = journalFixture(
+      [],
+      [signal => new Promise<Page>((_resolve, reject) => {
+        signal.addEventListener('abort', () => { reject(new Error('page aborted')) }, { once: true })
+      })],
+      controlledFactory(() => results.shift() ?? Promise.resolve({ done: true, value: undefined })),
+    )
+
+    await fixture.journal.open({})
+    gap.resolve({
+      done: false,
+      value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 2 } }, generation.signal),
+    })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([2]) })
+    generation.abort()
+    stale.resolve({
+      done: false,
+      value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 1 } }, generation.signal),
+    })
+    replacement.resolve({
+      done: false,
+      value: remoteItem(2, opened(2, page('replacement', [0, 1, 2])), new AbortController().signal),
+    })
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.changes).toHaveLength(2) })
+    expect(fixture.changes.at(-1)).toMatchObject({ page: { marker: 'replacement' } })
+    await fixture.journal.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it.each([
+    {
+      name: 'rejects',
+      settle: (
+        _resolve: (value: IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>) => void,
+        reject: (reason?: unknown) => void,
+      ) => { reject(new Error('replacement follow failed')) },
+      message: 'replacement follow failed',
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'ends',
+      settle: (resolve: (value: IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>) => void) => {
+        resolve({ done: true, value: undefined })
+      },
+      message: 'ended while reading its replacement page',
+    },
+    {
+      name: 'opens twice',
+      settle: (resolve: (value: IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>) => void) => {
+        resolve({
+          done: false,
+          value: remoteItem(1, opened(2, page('duplicate', [0, 1, 2])), new AbortController().signal),
+        })
+      },
+      message: 'more than one opening cursor',
+    },
+  ])('reports when a follow $name during live-gap repair', async ({ settle, message }) => {
+    const generation = new AbortController()
+    const gap = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>()
+    const next = Promise.withResolvers<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>()
+    const results = [
+      Promise.resolve<IteratorResult<RemoteStreamItem<JournalFrame>>>({
+        done: false,
+        value: remoteItem(1, opened(0, page('initial', [0])), generation.signal),
+      }),
+      gap.promise,
+      next.promise,
+    ]
+    const fixture = journalFixture(
+      [],
+      [() => new Promise<Page>(() => {})],
+      controlledFactory(() => results.shift() ?? Promise.resolve({ done: true, value: undefined })),
+    )
+
+    await fixture.journal.open({})
+    gap.resolve({
+      done: false,
+      value: remoteItem(1, { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 2 } }, generation.signal),
+    })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.pageCursors).toEqual([2]) })
+    settle(next.resolve, next.reject)
+
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(fixture.failed).toHaveBeenCalledOnce() })
+    const failure: unknown = fixture.failed.mock.calls[0]?.[0]
+    expect(failure).toBeInstanceOf(Error)
+    if (!(failure instanceof Error)) throw new Error('journal failure was not an Error')
+    expect(failure.message).toContain(message)
+    await fixture.journal.dispose()
   })
 
   it('rejects malformed opening and page sequences', async () => {
     const beforeOpening = journalFixture(
       [{ frames: [{ type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 0 } }] }],
-      [page('unused', [])],
+      [],
     )
     await expect(beforeOpening.journal.open({})).rejects.toThrow('entry before its opening cursor')
 
     const discontinuousPage = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 3 }], hold: true }],
-      [page('bad', [0, 2, 3])],
+      [{ frames: [opened(3, page('bad', [0, 2, 3]))], hold: true }],
+      [],
     )
     await expect(discontinuousPage.journal.open({})).rejects.toThrow('page contains discontinuous entries')
 
     const shortPage = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 3 }], hold: true }],
-      [page('short', [0, 1])],
+      [{ frames: [opened(3, page('short', [0, 1]))], hold: true }],
+      [],
     )
     await expect(shortPage.journal.open({})).rejects.toThrow('page did not end at its requested cursor')
 
     const longPage = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }], hold: true }],
-      [page('long', [0, 1, 2])],
+      [{ frames: [opened(1, page('long', [0, 1, 2]))], hold: true }],
+      [],
     )
     await expect(longPage.journal.open({})).rejects.toThrow('page did not end at its requested cursor')
   })
@@ -726,9 +854,12 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
   it('reports duplicate and regressed generation cursors as terminal failures', async () => {
     const duplicate = journalFixture(
       [{
-        frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }, { type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }],
+        frames: [
+          opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])),
+          opened(1, page('duplicate', [0, 1])),
+        ],
       }],
-      [page('initial', [0, 1])],
+      [],
     )
     await duplicate.journal.open({})
     await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(duplicate.failed).toHaveBeenCalledOnce() })
@@ -740,12 +871,12 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
     const regressed = journalFixture(
       [
         {
-          frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }, { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 2 } }],
+          frames: [opened(1, page('initial', [0, 1])), { type: 'entry', entry: { seq: 2 } }],
           terminal: new RemoteStreamCarrierError('lost'),
         },
-        { frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }] },
+        { frames: [opened(1, page('regressed', [0, 1]))] },
       ],
-      [page('initial', [0, 1])],
+      [],
     )
     await regressed.journal.open({})
     await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(regressed.failed).toHaveBeenCalledOnce() })
@@ -757,8 +888,8 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
 
   it('rejects a discontinuous older page after publishing the fail-soft pagination state', async () => {
     const fixture = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 4 }], hold: true }],
-      [page('initial', [3, 4], true), page('older', [0, 1], true)],
+      [{ frames: [opened(4, page('initial', [3, 4], true))], hold: true }],
+      [page('older', [0, 1], true)],
     )
     await fixture.journal.open({})
 
@@ -771,8 +902,8 @@ describe('RemoteJournalStream', () => {
 
   it('guards lifecycle operations before and after open', async () => {
     const fixture = journalFixture(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: -1 }], hold: true }],
-      [page('empty', [])],
+      [{ frames: [opened(-1, page('empty', []))], hold: true }],
+      [],
     )
 
     await expect(fixture.journal.prepend({})).rejects.toThrow('is not open')
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/contract/snapshot.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/contract/snapshot.ts
index 7304c21bb8..dff2317359 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/contract/snapshot.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/contract/snapshot.ts
@@ -29,7 +29,11 @@ export interface SessionSnapshot {
   readonly sessionId: SessionId
   readonly queue: readonly QueuedMessage[]
   readonly running: boolean
-  readonly subagent: { readonly address: SubagentAddress; readonly parentAvailable: boolean } | null
+  readonly subagent: {
+    readonly address: SubagentAddress
+    /** Absent until the direct-parent catalog resolves. */
+    readonly parentAvailable?: boolean
+  } | null
   readonly removed: boolean
   readonly openState: OpenState
   readonly openError: ClientFailure | null
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/session.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/session.ts
index d51d475474..7239e3149a 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/session.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/sessions/session.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ export const PAGE_MESSAGES = 50
 export interface SessionOptions {
   /** Catalog-discovered address selecting non-activating subagent transport. */
   address?: SubagentAddress
-  /** Whether the exact direct parent Agent was live at the latest catalog read. */
+  /** Whether the exact direct parent Agent was live at the latest catalog read; absent before that read. */
   parentAvailable?: boolean
   /**
    * First ACCEPTED prompt on a blank session (fires at most once, on the
@@ -86,7 +86,7 @@ export class Session implements SessionFace {
   private readonly queueMirror = new SessionQueueMirror()
   private running = false
   private address: SubagentAddress | undefined
-  private parentAvailable = false
+  private parentAvailable: boolean | undefined
   /**
    * Sticky send marker, private input of the composerPhase derivation: set
    * synchronously before prompt()'s first await, never reset — the blank →
@@ -144,7 +144,7 @@ export class Session implements SessionFace {
   ) {
     this.projections = options.projections ?? new ProjectionValueStore()
     this.address = options.address
-    this.parentAvailable = options.parentAvailable ?? false
+    this.parentAvailable = options.parentAvailable
     this.notifier = new Notifier(() => {
       this.snapshotCache = this.buildSnapshot()
     })
@@ -467,9 +467,9 @@ export class Session implements SessionFace {
    * Install or clear the catalog-discovered transport address. A changed
    * address rebuilds an already-open window through its new history route.
    * @param address - direct parent/child address, or undefined for ordinary transport.
-   * @param parentAvailable - latest exact-parent availability hint.
+   * @param parentAvailable - latest exact-parent availability hint, or undefined before a catalog read.
    */
-  configureSubagent(address: SubagentAddress | undefined, parentAvailable = false): void {
+  configureSubagent(address: SubagentAddress | undefined, parentAvailable?: boolean): void {
     const same = this.address?.parentSessionId === address?.parentSessionId
       && this.address?.childSessionId === address?.childSessionId
       && this.address?.mode === address?.mode
@@ -623,7 +623,10 @@ export class Session implements SessionFace {
       running: this.running,
       subagent: this.address === undefined
         ? null
-        : { address: this.address, parentAvailable: this.parentAvailable },
+        : {
+          address: this.address,
+          ...(this.parentAvailable === undefined ? {} : { parentAvailable: this.parentAvailable }),
+        },
       removed: this.removed,
       openState: this.openState,
       openError: this.openError,
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/transport.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/transport.ts
index 2b7452056c..0e8ca83d28 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/transport.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/client/transport.ts
@@ -17,6 +17,7 @@ import type {
   SessionEventEntry,
   SessionPage,
   SessionPageRequest,
+  SessionProjectionBaseline,
 } from '../types.ts'
 
 export {
@@ -30,8 +31,13 @@ export type ClientSessionPageRequest = Omit<SessionPageRequest, 'address' | 'thr
 /** Complete generated `ctx.remote.session` namespace. */
 export type SessionRemote = ClientRemote['session']
 
+/** Opening metadata carried only by a follow snapshot, never by loadOlder pages. */
+interface SessionJournalPage extends SessionPage {
+  readonly projections?: SessionProjectionBaseline
+}
+
 /** One complete publication from the Session journal stream. */
-export type SessionJournalChange = RemoteJournalChange<SessionPage, SessionEventEntry>
+export type SessionJournalChange = RemoteJournalChange<SessionJournalPage, SessionEventEntry>
 
 type SessionControlBaselineFrame = Extract<SessionControlFrame, { type: 'baseline' }>
 type SessionControlDeltaFrame = Exclude<SessionControlFrame, SessionControlBaselineFrame>
@@ -93,7 +99,7 @@ export function createSessionControlStream(
 
 /** Gateway-owned event journal bound to one ordinary or direct-subagent Session address. */
 export class SessionEventStream extends RemoteJournalStream<
-  SessionPage,
+  SessionJournalPage,
   SessionEventEntry,
   number,
   ClientSessionPageRequest
@@ -126,15 +132,23 @@ export class SessionEventStream extends RemoteJournalStream<
 
   /** @inheritdoc */
   protected override async * follow(
-    afterSeq: number | undefined,
+    request: ClientSessionPageRequest,
     signal: AbortSignal,
-  ): AsyncIterable<RemoteJournalFrame<SessionEventEntry, number>> {
-    const request = afterSeq === undefined
-      ? { address: this.address }
-      : { address: this.address, afterSeq }
-    for await (const frame of this.remote.session.follow(request, signal)) {
-      if (frame.type === 'opened') {
-        yield frame
+  ): AsyncIterable<RemoteJournalFrame<SessionEventEntry, number, SessionJournalPage>> {
+    for await (const frame of this.remote.session.follow({
+      address: this.address,
+      ...(request.maxMessages === undefined ? {} : { maxMessages: request.maxMessages }),
+    }, signal)) {
+      if (frame.type === 'snapshot') {
+        yield {
+          type: 'opened',
+          cursor: frame.cursor,
+          page: {
+            events: frame.events,
+            hasMore: frame.hasMore,
+            projections: frame.projections,
+          },
+        }
         continue
       }
       const { type: _type, ...entry } = frame
@@ -147,7 +161,7 @@ export class SessionEventStream extends RemoteJournalStream<
     request: ClientSessionPageRequest,
     throughSeq: number,
     signal: AbortSignal,
-  ): Promise<SessionPage> {
+  ): Promise<SessionJournalPage> {
     const result = await this.remote.session.page(
       { address: this.address, throughSeq, ...request },
       signal,
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/history.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/history.ts
index e30b4f1139..a1fb6b541b 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/history.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/history.ts
@@ -2,9 +2,9 @@
 
 import type { Context } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
 import { isAppendSurfaceEvent } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session'
-import type { Session, SessionEvent, SessionHeader, SessionId } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session'
-import type { SessionInspection } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session-persistence'
-import { foldSubagentDescriptor } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-subagent'
+import type { SessionEvent, SessionHeader, SessionId } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session'
+import { SessionQueryError, type SessionObservation } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session-query'
+import type {} from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-subagent'
 import { TypertRemoteFailure } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-typert-protocol'
 import type {
   SessionAddress,
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import type {
   SessionFollowFrame,
   SessionPage,
   SessionPageRequest,
-  SessionProjectionsBlock,
+  SessionProjectionBaseline,
   SessionProjectionValues,
   SessionWireEvent,
 } from './types.ts'
@@ -21,16 +21,18 @@ import type {
 const DEFAULT_MAX_MESSAGES = 50
 const MESSAGE_TYPES = new Set(['user/message', 'assistant/message'])
 
-type SessionSource =
-  | { readonly kind: 'attached'; readonly session: Session }
-  | { readonly kind: 'detached'; readonly header: SessionHeader; readonly events: readonly SessionEvent[] }
-
 /** Implements cold-safe history operations delegated by the Session Controller. */
 export class SessionHistoryController {
   private readonly closeFollowers = new Set<() => void>()
 
-  /** @param ctx - Host context carrying Session, persistence, and projection services. */
-  constructor(private readonly ctx: Context) {
+  /**
+   * @param ctx - Host context carrying Session query and projection services.
+   * @param promote - starts ordinary Session activation after snapshot delivery.
+   */
+  constructor(
+    private readonly ctx: Context,
+    private readonly promote: (observation: SessionObservation) => void,
+  ) {
     ctx.effect(() => () => {
       for (const close of this.closeFollowers) close()
       this.closeFollowers.clear()
@@ -41,13 +43,13 @@ export class SessionHistoryController {
    * Read one message-aligned history page without activating an Agent.
    * @param request - durable address and backwards-page cursor.
    * @param signal - caller cancellation for persistence reads.
-   * @returns a contiguous event page and a projection baseline on tail reads.
+   * @returns a contiguous event page.
    */
   async page(request: SessionPageRequest, signal: AbortSignal): Promise<SessionPage> {
     validatePageRequest(request)
-    const source = await this.sourceFor(request.address, signal)
+    using source = await this.sourceFor(request.address, signal, false)
     signal.throwIfAborted()
-    const sourceLog = sourceEvents(source)
+    const sourceLog = source.events
     const sourceCursor = sourceLog.at(-1)?.seq ?? -1
     if (request.throughSeq > sourceCursor) {
       reject(
@@ -56,19 +58,20 @@ export class SessionHistoryController {
         {},
       )
     }
-    const events = sourceLog.filter(event => event.seq <= request.throughSeq)
-    if ((events.at(-1)?.seq ?? -1) !== request.throughSeq) {
+    /* v8 ignore next -- Session and persistence validation guarantee a dense zero-based event prefix. */
+    if (request.throughSeq >= 0 && sourceLog[request.throughSeq]?.seq !== request.throughSeq) {
       reject('internal', `session log does not contain through seq ${String(request.throughSeq)}`, {})
     }
-    const page = paginate(events, request.beforeSeq, request.maxMessages ?? DEFAULT_MAX_MESSAGES)
+    const page = paginate(
+      sourceLog,
+      request.beforeSeq,
+      request.maxMessages ?? DEFAULT_MAX_MESSAGES,
+      request.throughSeq,
+    )
     const entries = page.events.map(entryFor)
-    const projections = request.beforeSeq === undefined
-      ? this.projectionsFor(request.address, source, events)
-      : undefined
     return {
       events: entries,
       hasMore: page.hasMore,
-      ...(projections === undefined ? {} : { projections }),
     }
   }
 
@@ -76,13 +79,14 @@ export class SessionHistoryController {
    * Follow events appended after an initial cursor on one durable address.
    * @param request - durable address and last committed sequence already held by the caller.
    * @param signal - stream cancellation owned by the Remote carrier.
-   * @returns an opened cursor followed by gap-free event frames.
+   * @returns a complete opening snapshot followed by gap-free event frames.
    */
   async *follow(request: SessionFollowRequest, signal: AbortSignal): AsyncIterable<SessionFollowFrame> {
     validateFollowRequest(request)
-    const { address, afterSeq } = request
+    const { address } = request
     const target = addressId(address)
     const buffered: SessionEvent[] = []
+    let snapshotCursor: number | undefined
     let wake: (() => void) | undefined
     const notify = (): void => {
       const resume = wake
@@ -102,35 +106,44 @@ export class SessionHistoryController {
     }, { global: true })
     const disposeCreated = this.ctx.on('session/created', (session) => {
       if (session.id !== target) return
-      // Session construction appends session/end-seed before attachment, so the
-      // marker has no session/event notification. Earlier session/created listeners
-      // may publish later setup events first; this suffix must precede those notifications.
-      const suffix = session.events.slice(session.firstLiveSeq)
+      // Constructor seed events have no session/event notification. Normally
+      // only the end-seed suffix is new; if persistence advanced after the
+      // opening observation, replay everything beyond that snapshot cursor.
+      const suffix = session.events.slice(snapshotCursor === undefined
+        ? session.firstLiveSeq
+        : snapshotCursor + 1)
       buffered.unshift(...suffix)
       notify()
     }, { global: true })
     const onAbort = (): void => { notify() }
     signal.addEventListener('abort', onAbort, { once: true })
     try {
-      const source = await this.sourceFor(address, signal)
-      const events = [...sourceEvents(source)]
+      using source = await this.sourceFor(address, signal, true)
+      const events = source.events
       signal.throwIfAborted()
-      const cursor = events.at(-1)?.seq ?? -1
-      if (afterSeq !== undefined && afterSeq > cursor) {
-        reject('bad-request', `session event resume seq ${String(afterSeq)} is past cursor ${String(cursor)}`, {})
+      const cursor = source.cursor
+      snapshotCursor = cursor
+      const page = paginate(events, undefined, request.maxMessages ?? DEFAULT_MAX_MESSAGES)
+      yield {
+        type: 'snapshot',
+        header: source.header,
+        cursor,
+        events: page.events.map(entryFor),
+        hasMore: page.hasMore,
+        projections: source.projections === undefined
+          ? { asOfSeq: cursor, values: {} }
+          : projectionBlock(source.projections),
       }
-      let nextSeq = (afterSeq ?? cursor) + 1
-      yield { type: 'opened', cursor }
-      if (afterSeq !== undefined) {
-        for (const event of events) {
-          if (event.seq < nextSeq) continue
-          if (event.seq !== nextSeq) {
-            reject('internal', `session event replay skipped seq ${String(nextSeq)}`, {})
-          }
-          nextSeq++
-          yield { type: 'event', ...entryFor(event) }
+      if (address.kind === 'session' && source.source === 'prepared') {
+        const promotion = source.retain()
+        try {
+          this.promote(promotion)
+        } catch (error: unknown) {
+          promotion[Symbol.dispose]()
+          throw error
         }
       }
+      let nextSeq = cursor + 1
       while (!follower.closed && !signal.aborted) {
         const item = buffered.shift()
         if (item === undefined) {
@@ -152,49 +165,44 @@ export class SessionHistoryController {
     }
   }
 
-  private async sourceFor(address: SessionAddress, signal: AbortSignal): Promise<SessionSource> {
+  private async sourceFor(
+    address: SessionAddress,
+    signal: AbortSignal,
+    withProjections: boolean,
+  ): Promise<SessionObservation> {
     const sessionId = addressId(address)
-    const attached = this.ctx.sessions.get(sessionId)
-    if (attached !== undefined) {
-      validateAddress(address, attached.header, attached.events)
-      return { kind: 'attached', session: attached }
+    try {
+      const observation = await this.ctx.sessionQuery.observeSession(sessionId, {
+        signal,
+        projectionMode: withProjections || address.kind === 'subagent' ? 'all' : 'none',
+      })
+      if (observation.header.cwd === undefined) {
+        observation[Symbol.dispose]()
+        rejectNotFound(address)
+      }
+      try {
+        validateAddress(address, observation.header, observation.projections)
+      } catch (error: unknown) {
+        observation[Symbol.dispose]()
+        throw error
+      }
+      return observation
+    } catch (error: unknown) {
+      if (error instanceof SessionQueryError
+        && error.code === 'SESSION_QUERY_SESSION_NOT_FOUND') rejectNotFound(address)
+      throw error
     }
-    const persistence = this.ctx.get('sessionPersistence')
-    if (persistence === undefined) {
-      reject('internal', 'session persistence is not configured', {})
-    }
-    signal.throwIfAborted()
-    const header = (await persistence.list(signal)).find(candidate => candidate.id === sessionId)
-    if (header === undefined || header.cwd === undefined) rejectNotFound(address)
-    const inspected: SessionInspection = await persistence.inspect(sessionId, signal)
-    signal.throwIfAborted()
-    if (inspected.meta.cwd === undefined) rejectNotFound(address)
-    validateAddress(address, inspected.meta, inspected.events)
-    return { kind: 'detached', header: inspected.meta, events: inspected.events }
   }
 
-  private projectionsFor(
-    address: SessionAddress,
-    source: SessionSource,
-    events: readonly SessionEvent[],
-  ): SessionProjectionsBlock | undefined {
-    const registry = this.ctx.get('sessionProjections')
-    if (registry === undefined) return undefined
-    try {
-      const throughSeq = events.at(-1)?.seq ?? -1
-      const snapshot = source.kind === 'attached' && source.session.seq - 1 === throughSeq
-        ? registry.snapshot(source.session)
-        : registry.restore({}, events, 0).snapshot
-      return {
-        asOfSeq: snapshot.asOfSeq,
-        // Projection definitions validate whole JSON values before snapshot publication.
-        values: snapshot.values as SessionProjectionValues,
-      }
-    } catch (error) {
-      if (address.kind === 'session') throw error
-      this.ctx.logger.warn(`session.page: projections for "${address.childSessionId}" failed: ${String(error)}`)
-      return undefined
-    }
+}
+
+function projectionBlock(
+  snapshot: NonNullable<SessionObservation['projections']>,
+): SessionProjectionBaseline {
+  return {
+    asOfSeq: snapshot.asOfSeq,
+    // Projection definitions validate whole JSON values before snapshot publication.
+    values: snapshot.values as SessionProjectionValues,
   }
 }
 
@@ -213,9 +221,9 @@ function validatePageRequest(request: SessionPageRequest): void {
 }
 
 function validateFollowRequest(request: SessionFollowRequest): void {
-  if (request.afterSeq !== undefined
-    && (!Number.isSafeInteger(request.afterSeq) || request.afterSeq < -1)) {
-    reject('bad-request', 'afterSeq must be an integer greater than or equal to -1', {})
+  if (request.maxMessages !== undefined
+    && (!Number.isSafeInteger(request.maxMessages) || request.maxMessages <= 0)) {
+    reject('bad-request', 'maxMessages must be a positive safe integer', {})
   }
 }
 
@@ -226,7 +234,7 @@ function addressId(address: SessionAddress): SessionId {
 function validateAddress(
   address: SessionAddress,
   header: SessionHeader,
-  events: readonly SessionEvent[],
+  projections: SessionObservation['projections'],
 ): void {
   if (address.kind === 'session') {
     if (header.origin === 'subagent') {
@@ -241,24 +249,22 @@ function validateAddress(
       childSessionId: address.childSessionId,
     })
   }
-  let descriptor
-  try {
-    descriptor = foldSubagentDescriptor(events.slice(header.seedLength ?? 0))
-  } catch {
+  const identity = projections?.values.subagent
+  if (identity === null) {
     reject('subagent-catalog-diagnostic', 'subagent descriptor is corrupt', {
       parentSessionId: address.parentSessionId,
       childSessionId: address.childSessionId,
       reason: 'corrupt',
     })
   }
-  if (descriptor === undefined) {
+  if (identity === undefined || identity.seq < (header.seedLength ?? 0)) {
     reject('subagent-catalog-diagnostic', 'subagent descriptor is unavailable', {
       parentSessionId: address.parentSessionId,
       childSessionId: address.childSessionId,
       reason: 'unsupported',
     })
   }
-  if (descriptor.mode !== address.mode) {
+  if (identity.mode !== address.mode) {
     reject('subagent-unauthorized', 'subagent mode does not match the supplied address', {
       childSessionId: address.childSessionId,
     })
@@ -279,20 +285,17 @@ function reject(code: string, message: string, details: object): never {
   throw new TypertRemoteFailure({ code, message, details })
 }
 
-function sourceEvents(source: SessionSource): readonly SessionEvent[] {
-  return source.kind === 'attached' ? source.session.events : source.events
-}
-
 function paginate(
   events: readonly SessionEvent[],
   beforeSeq: number | undefined,
   maxMessages: number,
+  throughSeq = events.at(-1)?.seq ?? -1,
 ): { readonly events: SessionEvent[]; readonly hasMore: boolean } {
-  const window = beforeSeq === undefined ? [...events] : events.filter(event => event.seq < beforeSeq)
+  const end = Math.min(throughSeq + 1, beforeSeq ?? throughSeq + 1)
   let count = 0
   let cut = 0
-  for (let index = window.length - 1; index >= 0; index--) {
-    const event = window[index] as SessionEvent
+  for (let index = end - 1; index >= 0; index--) {
+    const event = events[index] as SessionEvent
     if (!MESSAGE_TYPES.has(event.type) || !isAppendSurfaceEvent(event)) continue
     count++
     const sources = (event as { readonly sourceEventSeqs?: readonly number[] }).sourceEventSeqs
@@ -305,7 +308,7 @@ function paginate(
       break
     }
   }
-  return { events: window.filter(event => event.seq >= cut), hasMore: cut > 0 }
+  return { events: events.slice(cut, end), hasMore: cut > 0 }
 }
 
 function entryFor(event: SessionEvent): SessionEventEntry {
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/src/types.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/src/types.ts
index adcf8f6c06..33e6d0ef46 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/src/types.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/src/types.ts
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ import type {
 import type { Branded } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-brand'
 import type { MessageId } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-llm/brand'
 import type { ContentBlock } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-llm/types'
-import type { JsonValue, SessionId, SurfaceOp } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session/types'
+import type { JsonValue, SessionHeader, SessionId, SurfaceOp } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session/types'
 import type { SessionProjectionMap } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session-projection/types'
 import type { JobId } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-jobs/brand'
 import type { WorkspaceId } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-workspace/types'
@@ -17,12 +17,26 @@ declare module '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session-projection/types' {
     sessionListMetadata: SessionListMetadata
     /** Host state for the boot-constant image-limit view. */
     imageLimits: null
+    /** Durable model selection already used by a request and still pending for a later request. */
+    modelSelection: ModelSelectionProjectionState
   }
   interface SessionProjectionMap {
     /** Persisted facts used to summarize a Session without activating it. */
     sessionListMetadata: SessionListMetadata
     /** Image-intake limits enforced by the Session prompt endpoint. */
     imageLimits: ImageAttachmentLimits
+    /** Durable model selection already used and selected for the next request. */
+    modelSelection: ModelSelectionProjection
+  }
+}
+
+declare module '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session/types' {
+  interface SessionEventMap {
+    /**
+     * Complete validated model selection requested for subsequent prompt
+     * assembly. Log-only: it never enters derived model history.
+     */
+    'model/selection': ModelSelection
   }
 }
 
@@ -34,10 +48,17 @@ export interface SessionListMetadata {
   readonly lastPromptAt: number | null
 }
 
-/** Projection values and the durable event position they represent. */
-export interface SessionProjectionsBlock {
+/** Every available cached wire value used as partial, possibly stale Session-list hints. */
+export interface SessionProjectionHints {
   readonly asOfSeq: number
-  /** Provider-validated values across the merge-extensible projection key space. */
+  /** Provider-validated values present in the cache; omitted keys remain unknown. */
+  readonly values: SessionProjectionValues
+}
+
+/** Complete projection values at an exact Session event cursor. */
+export interface SessionProjectionBaseline {
+  readonly asOfSeq: number
+  /** Provider-validated values; omitted keys are absent capabilities at this cut. */
   readonly values: SessionProjectionValues
 }
 
@@ -62,6 +83,22 @@ export interface ModelSelection {
   readonly reasoningEffort?: string
 }
 
+/** Host fold state for durable model selection. */
+export interface ModelSelectionProjectionState {
+  /** Selection consumed by the latest recorded model request. */
+  readonly lastUsed: ModelSelection | null
+  /** Later user selection not yet consumed by a matching model request. */
+  readonly pending: ModelSelection | null
+}
+
+/** Client view of the durable model-selection fold. */
+export interface ModelSelectionProjection {
+  /** Selection consumed by the latest recorded model request. */
+  readonly lastUsed: ModelSelection | null
+  /** Selection the next request should use, falling back to {@link lastUsed}. */
+  readonly next: ModelSelection | null
+}
+
 /** One adapter-owned reasoning effort for an exact model route. */
 export interface ModelReasoningEffort {
   readonly id: string
@@ -97,10 +134,11 @@ export interface ModelCatalogFailure {
   readonly message: string
 }
 
-/** Detached model-directory snapshot for one Session. */
-export interface SessionModels {
-  readonly current: ModelSelection
-  readonly routable: boolean
+/** Host-generation model catalog and the default used by unconfigured Sessions. */
+export interface ModelCatalog {
+  readonly default: ModelSelection
+  /** Provider routes currently able to serve a request, including empty catalogs. */
+  readonly routableProviders: readonly string[]
   readonly groups: readonly ModelProviderGroup[]
   readonly failures: readonly ModelCatalogFailure[]
 }
@@ -120,8 +158,7 @@ export interface SessionSummary {
   readonly parentSessionId?: SessionId
   readonly origin?: 'subagent'
   readonly cwd?: string
-  readonly agentPreset?: string
-  readonly projections?: SessionProjectionsBlock
+  readonly projections?: SessionProjectionHints
 }
 
 /** One session-content search result. */
@@ -220,11 +257,6 @@ export interface SessionCreateValue {
   readonly agentPreset?: string
 }
 
-/** Model-directory request. */
-export interface SessionModelsRequest {
-  readonly sessionId: SessionId
-}
-
 /** Session model-selection request. */
 export interface SessionSelectModelRequest extends ModelSelection {
   readonly sessionId: SessionId
@@ -352,22 +384,28 @@ export interface SessionPageRequest {
   readonly maxMessages?: number
 }
 
-/** One live event request, optionally resuming after an already-applied event. */
+/** One live event request for a durable Session address. */
 export interface SessionFollowRequest {
   readonly address: SessionAddress
-  readonly afterSeq?: number
+  readonly maxMessages?: number
 }
 
 /** One contiguous backwards page of a Session log. */
 export interface SessionPage {
   readonly events: readonly SessionEventEntry[]
   readonly hasMore: boolean
-  readonly projections?: SessionProjectionsBlock
 }
 
-/** Initial cursor followed by ordered events appended after that cursor. */
+/** Complete opening window followed by ordered events appended after its cursor. */
 export type SessionFollowFrame =
-  | { readonly type: 'opened'; readonly cursor: number }
+  | {
+    readonly type: 'snapshot'
+    readonly header: SessionHeader
+    readonly cursor: number
+    readonly events: readonly SessionEventEntry[]
+    readonly hasMore: boolean
+    readonly projections: SessionProjectionBaseline
+  }
   | ({ readonly type: 'event' } & SessionEventEntry)
 
 /** One pending inbox occurrence in the authoritative queue snapshot. */
@@ -396,7 +434,7 @@ export interface SessionJob {
 export interface SessionControlBaseline {
   readonly queues: Readonly<Record<SessionId, readonly SessionQueuedItem[]>>
   readonly jobs: Readonly<Record<SessionId, readonly SessionJob[]>>
-  readonly projections: Readonly<Record<SessionId, SessionProjectionsBlock>>
+  readonly projections: Readonly<Record<SessionId, SessionProjectionBaseline>>
 }
 
 /** One finished projection value and its durable watermark. */
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/tests/session-history-journal.host.spec.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/tests/session-history-journal.host.spec.ts
index b4c442d9f2..56b2fe5948 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/tests/session-history-journal.host.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/tests/session-history-journal.host.spec.ts
@@ -8,7 +8,7 @@ import { CallId, createMessage, createToolResultMessage, createUserMessage } fro
 import type { Session, SessionEvent, SessionId } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session'
 import { SessionHistoryController } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-api-session-controller/src/history.ts'
 import type { SessionFollowFrame } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-api-session-controller/types'
-import { createSessionTestRemote } from './test-remote.ts'
+import { createSessionTestRemote, installSessionReadTestServices } from './test-remote.ts'
 
 /** Append a production-shaped human prompt to the session surface. */
 function appendUserText(session: Session, text: string): SessionEvent {
@@ -43,6 +43,7 @@ async function harness(): Promise<{ ctx: Context }> {
   const ctx = new Context()
   await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
   await ctx.plugin(AgentRegistry)
+  installSessionReadTestServices(ctx)
   return { ctx }
 }
 
@@ -71,7 +72,7 @@ async function openFollow(
   }, signal)[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
   await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({
     done: false,
-    value: { type: 'opened' },
+    value: { type: 'snapshot' },
   })
   return { [Symbol.asyncIterator]: () => iterator }
 }
@@ -79,8 +80,8 @@ async function openFollow(
 describe('Session history raw journal', () => {
   it('follows raw tool events and preserves result metadata without a Tools service', async () => {
     const { ctx } = await harness()
-    const session = ctx.sessions.create()
-    const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx)
+    const session = ctx.sessions.create(undefined, { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
+    const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx, (observation) => { observation[Symbol.dispose]() })
     const abort = new AbortController()
     const stream = await openFollow(history, session.id, abort.signal)
     const collected = collect(stream, 2, abort)
@@ -108,8 +109,8 @@ describe('Session history raw journal', () => {
 
   it('follows live results without rescanning Session history', async () => {
     const { ctx } = await harness()
-    const session = ctx.sessions.create()
-    const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx)
+    const session = ctx.sessions.create(undefined, { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
+    const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx, (observation) => { observation[Symbol.dispose]() })
     const abort = new AbortController()
     const stream = await openFollow(history, session.id, abort.signal)
     const iterator = stream[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
@@ -147,7 +148,7 @@ describe('Session history raw journal', () => {
   it('serves raw call and result entries without parsing tool arguments', async () => {
     const { ctx } = await harness()
     const remote = createSessionTestRemote(ctx, { defaultModelSelection: () => ({ provider: 'p', model: 'm' }), cwd: '/tmp' })
-    const session = ctx.sessions.create()
+    const session = ctx.sessions.create(undefined, { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
     const start = session.append('turn/start', { turn: 1 })
     const call = session.append('tool/call', {
       turn: 1, step: 1, callId: CallId('history-call'), name: 'custom', arguments: '{broken',
@@ -178,7 +179,7 @@ describe('Session history raw journal', () => {
   it('counts only append-origin messages toward maxMessages and keeps each compaction summary with its replacement', async () => {
     const { ctx } = await harness()
     const remote = createSessionTestRemote(ctx, { defaultModelSelection: () => ({ provider: 'p', model: 'm' }), cwd: '/tmp' })
-    const session = ctx.sessions.create()
+    const session = ctx.sessions.create(undefined, { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
     session.append('turn/start', { turn: 1 })
     const first = appendUserText(session, 'first prompt')
     appendAssistantText(session, 'first reply', 1)
@@ -227,7 +228,7 @@ describe('Session history raw journal', () => {
   it('paginates a message with many provenance sources without variadic argument expansion', async () => {
     const { ctx } = await harness()
     const remote = createSessionTestRemote(ctx, { defaultModelSelection: () => ({ provider: 'p', model: 'm' }), cwd: '/tmp' })
-    const session = ctx.sessions.create()
+    const session = ctx.sessions.create(undefined, { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
     session.append('turn/start', { turn: 1 })
     const sources = Array.from({ length: 128 }, (_unused, index) => session.append('assistant/chunk', {
       turn: 1,
@@ -265,8 +266,8 @@ describe('Session history raw journal', () => {
 
   it('follows a result after turn/end without reading the addressed Session log', async () => {
     const { ctx } = await harness()
-    const session = ctx.sessions.create()
-    const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx)
+    const session = ctx.sessions.create(undefined, { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
+    const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx, (observation) => { observation[Symbol.dispose]() })
     const abort = new AbortController()
     const stream = await openFollow(history, session.id, abort.signal)
     const iterator = stream[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/tests/session.client.spec.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/tests/session.client.spec.ts
index aa8f26de24..79fac7b7b8 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/tests/session.client.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/tests/session.client.spec.ts
@@ -69,11 +69,12 @@ describe('Session open', () => {
     expect(session.eventSource.getSnapshot().change).toMatchObject({ kind: 'replace' })
   })
 
-  it('is idempotent: concurrent opens share one history call, reopening when open is a no-op', async () => {
+  it('is idempotent: concurrent opens share one follow, reopening when open is a no-op', async () => {
     const { api, session } = makeSession()
     await Promise.all([session.open(), session.open()])
     await session.open()
-    expect(api.callsOf('session.history')).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(api.callsOf('session.follow')).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(api.callsOf('session.history')).toEqual([])
   })
 
   it('lands an error result in openState=error with the RpcError kept', async () => {
@@ -98,7 +99,7 @@ describe('Session open', () => {
     const gate = deferred<Awaited<ReturnType<FakeApiClient['onHistory']>>>()
     api.onHistory = () => gate.promise
     const opening = session.open()
-    // Three live frames land mid-open; seq 15 overlaps the page tail (page covers 10..15).
+    // Three live frames land while the opening snapshot is pending; seq 15 overlaps its tail.
     const page = plainTurn(10, 0, '早', '安')
     const deliveries = [
       follow(api, ev.turnStart(15, 1)),
@@ -151,7 +152,7 @@ describe('live event path', () => {
     // seq 9 with tail 5 → gap; the event detours to the buffer and one history refetch fires.
     await follow(api, ev.assistant(9, 1, 'd'))
     await vi.waitFor(() => {
-      expect(api.callsOf('session.history').length).toBe(2)
+      expect(api.callsOf('session.history')).toHaveLength(1)
     })
     await vi.waitFor(() => {
       expect(eventSeqs(session)).toEqual(
@@ -172,8 +173,8 @@ describe('paging', () => {
     await session.open()
     await session.loadOlder()
     const snapshot = session.getSnapshot()
+    expect(api.callsOf('session.follow')).toHaveLength(1)
     expect(api.callsOf('session.history')).toMatchObject([
-      { sessionId: SID, throughSeq: 11 },
       { sessionId: SID, throughSeq: 11, beforeSeq: 6 },
     ])
     expect(snapshot.hasMore).toBe(false)
@@ -231,7 +232,8 @@ describe('paging', () => {
       modelSelection: { provider: 'deepseek-official', model: 'deepseek-v4-flash' },
     }))
     await Promise.all([first, second])
-    expect(api.callsOf('session.history')).toHaveLength(2) // open + one page, not two
+    expect(api.callsOf('session.follow')).toHaveLength(1)
+    expect(api.callsOf('session.history')).toHaveLength(1)
   })
 })
 
@@ -248,9 +250,15 @@ describe('prompt and cancel errors', () => {
 
     expect(prompted).toEqual({ ok: true, value: { accepted: true } })
     expect(cancelled).toEqual({ ok: true, value: { accepted: true } })
-    expect(api.callsOf('subagent.history')).toEqual([
-      { parentSessionId: PARENT, childSessionId: SID, mode: 'continuable', throughSeq: -1, maxMessages: 50 },
+    expect(api.callsOf('session.follow')).toEqual([
+      {
+        address: {
+          kind: 'subagent', parentSessionId: PARENT, childSessionId: SID, mode: 'continuable',
+        },
+        maxMessages: 50,
+      },
     ])
+    expect(api.callsOf('subagent.history')).toEqual([])
     expect(api.callsOf('subagent.prompt')).toEqual([
       {
         parentSessionId: PARENT, childSessionId: SID, mode: 'continuable',
@@ -300,9 +308,15 @@ describe('prompt and cancel errors', () => {
 
     expect(prompted).toMatchObject({ ok: false, error: { code: 'subagent-not-resumable' } })
     expect(cancelled).toMatchObject({ ok: false, error: { code: 'subagent-delivery-unavailable' } })
-    expect(api.callsOf('subagent.history')).toEqual([
-      { parentSessionId: PARENT, childSessionId: SID, mode: 'one-shot', throughSeq: -1, maxMessages: 50 },
+    expect(api.callsOf('session.follow')).toEqual([
+      {
+        address: {
+          kind: 'subagent', parentSessionId: PARENT, childSessionId: SID, mode: 'one-shot',
+        },
+        maxMessages: 50,
+      },
     ])
+    expect(api.callsOf('subagent.history')).toEqual([])
     expect(api.callsOf('subagent.prompt')).toEqual([])
     expect(api.callsOf('subagent.interrupt')).toEqual([])
     expect(api.callsOf('session.cancel')).toEqual([])
@@ -572,7 +586,7 @@ describe('remaining branches', () => {
     const repairPull = deferred<Awaited<ReturnType<FakeApiClient['onHistory']>>>()
     api.onHistory = () => repairPull.promise
     const delivery = follow(api, ev.user(9, '洞'))
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(api.callsOf('session.history')).toHaveLength(2) })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(api.callsOf('session.history')).toHaveLength(1) })
     api.onHistory = () => histResponse(plainTurn(6, 1, 'c', 'd'))
     const resynced = session.resync() // bumps the generation
     repairPull.resolve(ok({
@@ -626,7 +640,7 @@ describe('remaining branches', () => {
 })
 
 describe('resync', () => {
-  it('keeps the old feed until one sorted page-and-live replacement is ready', async () => {
+  it('keeps the old feed until the reconnect snapshot, then repairs queued live gaps', async () => {
     const { api, session } = makeSession()
     api.onHistory = () => histResponse(plainTurn(0, 0, '旧', '窗'))
     await session.open()
@@ -640,11 +654,16 @@ describe('resync', () => {
     })
 
     const syncing = session.resync()
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(api.callsOf('session.history')).toHaveLength(2) })
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(api.callsOf('session.follow')).toHaveLength(2) })
     expect(session.eventSource.getSnapshot()).toBe(oldWindow)
     expect(publications).toEqual([])
 
-    await Promise.all([
+    api.onHistory = () => histResponse([
+      ...plainTurn(10, 2, '终', '页'),
+      ev.user(16, '后到低位'),
+      ev.user(17, '后到高位'),
+    ])
+    const liveDeliveries = Promise.all([
       follow(api, ev.user(17, '后到高位')),
       follow(api, ev.user(16, '后到低位')),
     ])
@@ -654,12 +673,15 @@ describe('resync', () => {
       hasMore: false,
       modelSelection: { provider: 'deepseek-official', model: 'deepseek-v4-flash' },
     }))
-    await syncing
+    await Promise.all([syncing, liveDeliveries])
+    await vi.waitFor(() => {
+      expect(eventSeqs(session)).toEqual([10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17])
+    })
 
-    expect(publications).toHaveLength(1)
-    expect(publications[0]?.entries).not.toHaveLength(0)
-    expect(publications[0]?.change.kind).toBe('replace')
-    expect(eventSeqs(session)).toEqual([10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17])
+    expect(publications).toHaveLength(2)
+    expect(publications.map(snapshot => snapshot.change.kind)).toEqual(['replace', 'replace'])
+    expect(publications[0]?.entries.map(entry => entry.event.seq)).toEqual([10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15])
+    expect(publications[1]?.entries.map(entry => entry.event.seq)).toEqual([10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17])
     off()
   })
 
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/tests/transport.client.spec.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/tests/transport.client.spec.ts
index 46c2064c9e..3960e05285 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/tests/transport.client.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/tests/transport.client.spec.ts
@@ -43,6 +43,25 @@ function page(events: readonly SessionEventEntry[], hasMore = false): SessionPag
   return { events, hasMore }
 }
 
+function snapshot(
+  cursor: number,
+  events: readonly SessionEventEntry[],
+  hasMore = false,
+): SessionFollowFrame {
+  return {
+    type: 'snapshot',
+    header: {
+      version: 0,
+      id: ADDRESS.kind === 'session' ? ADDRESS.sessionId : ADDRESS.childSessionId,
+      createdAt: 0,
+    },
+    cursor,
+    events,
+    hasMore,
+    projections: { asOfSeq: cursor, values: {} },
+  }
+}
+
 function sessionClient(remote: SessionTransportRemote) {
   return {
     session: remote as SessionRemote,
@@ -108,14 +127,13 @@ describe('Session Client stream adapters', () => {
     const remote = new ScriptedSessionRemote(
       [{
         frames: [
-          { type: 'opened', cursor: 3 },
+          snapshot(3, [entry(2), entry(3)], true),
           { type: 'event', ...entry(3) },
           { type: 'event', ...entry(4) },
         ],
         hold: true,
       }],
       [
-        { ok: true, value: page([entry(2), entry(3)], true) },
         { ok: true, value: page([entry(0), entry(1)], false) },
       ],
     )
@@ -129,9 +147,8 @@ describe('Session Client stream adapters', () => {
     await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(changes).toHaveLength(2) })
     await stream.prepend({ beforeSeq: 2, maxMessages: 50 })
 
-    expect(remote.followRequests).toEqual([{ address: ADDRESS }])
+    expect(remote.followRequests).toEqual([{ address: ADDRESS, maxMessages: 50 }])
     expect(remote.pageRequests).toEqual([
-      { address: ADDRESS, throughSeq: 3, maxMessages: 50 },
       { address: ADDRESS, throughSeq: 4, beforeSeq: 2, maxMessages: 50 },
     ])
     expect(changes).toMatchObject([
@@ -143,20 +160,17 @@ describe('Session Client stream adapters', () => {
     expect(remote.signals[0]?.aborted).toBe(true)
   })
 
-  it('resumes after the applied cursor and repairs through the addressed tail page', async () => {
+  it('replaces the retained window from each reconnect snapshot', async () => {
     const lost = new RemoteStreamCarrierError('lost')
     const remote = new ScriptedSessionRemote(
       [
         {
-          frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }, { type: 'event', ...entry(2) }],
+          frames: [snapshot(1, [entry(0), entry(1)]), { type: 'event', ...entry(2) }],
           terminal: lost,
         },
-        { frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 4 }], hold: true },
-      ],
-      [
-        { ok: true, value: page([entry(0), entry(1)]) },
-        { ok: true, value: page([entry(0), entry(1), entry(2), entry(3), entry(4)]) },
+        { frames: [snapshot(4, [entry(0), entry(1), entry(2), entry(3), entry(4)])], hold: true },
       ],
+      [],
     )
     const changes: SessionJournalChange[] = []
     const carrierFailed = vi.fn()
@@ -170,13 +184,10 @@ describe('Session Client stream adapters', () => {
     await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(remote.followRequests).toHaveLength(2) })
 
     expect(remote.followRequests).toEqual([
-      { address: ADDRESS },
-      { address: ADDRESS, afterSeq: 2 },
-    ])
-    expect(remote.pageRequests).toEqual([
-      { address: ADDRESS, throughSeq: 1, maxMessages: 50 },
-      { address: ADDRESS, throughSeq: 4, maxMessages: 50 },
+      { address: ADDRESS, maxMessages: 50 },
+      { address: ADDRESS, maxMessages: 50 },
     ])
+    expect(remote.pageRequests).toEqual([])
     expect(changes.map(change => change.type)).toEqual(['replace', 'append', 'replace'])
     expect(carrierFailed).toHaveBeenCalledWith(lost)
     await stream.dispose()
@@ -187,16 +198,13 @@ describe('Session Client stream adapters', () => {
     const remote = new ScriptedSessionRemote(
       [
         {
-          frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 0 }],
+          frames: [snapshot(0, [entry(0)])],
           waitAfterFrames: finish.promise,
           terminal: new RemoteStreamCarrierError('lost'),
         },
-        { frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: 1 }], hold: true },
-      ],
-      [
-        { ok: true, value: page([entry(0)]) },
-        { ok: true, value: page([entry(0), entry(1)]) },
+        { frames: [snapshot(1, [entry(0), entry(1)])], hold: true },
       ],
+      [],
     )
     const stream = new SessionEventStream(sessionClient(remote), ADDRESS, {
       publish: vi.fn(),
@@ -205,18 +213,33 @@ describe('Session Client stream adapters', () => {
 
     await stream.open({})
     finish.resolve(undefined)
-    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(remote.pageRequests).toHaveLength(2) })
-    expect(remote.pageRequests).toEqual([
-      { address: ADDRESS, throughSeq: 0 },
-      { address: ADDRESS, throughSeq: 1 },
-    ])
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(remote.followRequests).toHaveLength(2) })
+    expect(remote.followRequests).toEqual([{ address: ADDRESS }, { address: ADDRESS }])
+    expect(remote.pageRequests).toEqual([])
     await stream.dispose()
   })
 
-  it('turns a page failure into a typed stream failure and closes follow', async () => {
+  it('repairs a live gap without adding an absent message limit', async () => {
+    const remote = new ScriptedSessionRemote(
+      [{ frames: [snapshot(0, [entry(0)]), { type: 'event', ...entry(2) }], hold: true }],
+      [{ ok: true, value: page([entry(0), entry(1), entry(2)]) }],
+    )
+    const changes: SessionJournalChange[] = []
+    const stream = new SessionEventStream(sessionClient(remote), ADDRESS, {
+      publish: (change) => { changes.push(change) },
+      failed: vi.fn(),
+    })
+
+    await stream.open({})
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { expect(changes).toHaveLength(2) })
+    expect(remote.pageRequests).toEqual([{ address: ADDRESS, throughSeq: 2 }])
+    await stream.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it('turns a pagination failure into a typed stream failure', async () => {
     const failure = { code: 'session-not-found', message: 'missing', details: { sessionId: 'session-1' } } as const
     const remote = new ScriptedSessionRemote(
-      [{ frames: [{ type: 'opened', cursor: -1 }], hold: true }],
+      [{ frames: [snapshot(-1, [])], hold: true }],
       [{ ok: false, error: failure }],
     )
     const stream = new SessionEventStream(sessionClient(remote), ADDRESS, {
@@ -224,13 +247,16 @@ describe('Session Client stream adapters', () => {
       failed: vi.fn(),
     })
 
-    await expect(stream.open({})).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(RemoteStreamError)
+    await stream.open({})
+    await expect(stream.prepend({})).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(RemoteStreamError)
     await expect(stream.open({})).rejects.toThrow('already opened')
     expect(sessionStreamFailure(new RemoteStreamError(failure.code, failure.message, failure.details)))
       .toEqual(failure)
     expect(sessionStreamFailure(new Error('local'))).toBeUndefined()
-    expect(remote.signals[0]?.aborted).toBe(true)
+    expect(remote.signals[0]?.aborted).toBe(false)
     expect(remote.pageRequests).toEqual([{ address: ADDRESS, throughSeq: -1 }])
+    await stream.dispose()
+    expect(remote.signals[0]?.aborted).toBe(true)
   })
 
   it('maps the Host-wide control baseline and deltas into one snapshot stream', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/api/session-controller/tests/transport.host.spec.ts b/packages/api/session-controller/tests/transport.host.spec.ts
index c30d3f095f..65338e27ae 100644
--- a/packages/api/session-controller/tests/transport.host.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/api/session-controller/tests/transport.host.spec.ts
@@ -2,9 +2,12 @@ import { Context } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
 import { createScope } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-scope'
 import SessionStore, { SessionId } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session'
 import type { Session, SessionEvent, SessionHeader } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session'
+import type { SessionObservation } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session-query'
 import { snapshotSubagentDescriptor } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-subagent'
+import { subagentIdentityProjectionDefinition } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-subagent/src/projection.ts'
 import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import { SessionHistoryController } from '../src/history.ts'
+import { installSessionReadTestServices, testSessionPersistence } from './test-remote.ts'
 
 const signal = (): AbortSignal => new AbortController().signal
 
@@ -22,7 +25,13 @@ function append(
 }
 
 function event(type: string, seq: number, data: unknown = {}): SessionEvent {
-  return { type, seq, time: seq + 1, data } as SessionEvent
+  return {
+    type,
+    seq,
+    time: seq + 1,
+    data,
+    ...type.startsWith('fixture/') ? { ignorable: true } : {},
+  } as SessionEvent
 }
 
 function cold(
@@ -30,10 +39,10 @@ function cold(
   header: SessionHeader,
   events: readonly SessionEvent[],
 ): void {
-  ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', {
+  ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', testSessionPersistence(ctx, {
     list: () => Promise.resolve([header]),
     inspect: () => Promise.resolve({ meta: header, events }),
-  } as never)
+  }) as never)
 }
 
 interface Deferred<T> {
@@ -50,7 +59,9 @@ function deferred<T>(): Deferred<T> {
 async function setup(): Promise<{ ctx: Context; transport: SessionHistoryController }> {
   const ctx = new Context()
   await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
-  const transport = new SessionHistoryController(ctx)
+  installSessionReadTestServices(ctx)
+  ctx.sessionProjections.register(subagentIdentityProjectionDefinition)
+  const transport = new SessionHistoryController(ctx, (observation) => { observation[Symbol.dispose]() })
   return { ctx, transport }
 }
 
@@ -65,7 +76,7 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
       abort.signal,
     )[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
 
-    expect(await iterator.next()).toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { type: 'opened', cursor: 0 } })
+    expect(await iterator.next()).toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { type: 'snapshot', cursor: 0 } })
     session.append('turn/end', { turn: 1, reason: { kind: 'completed' } })
     expect(await iterator.next()).toMatchObject({
       done: false,
@@ -85,10 +96,13 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
   it('ends active followers when the owning Controller unloads', async () => {
     const ctx = new Context()
     await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
+    installSessionReadTestServices(ctx)
     let transport!: SessionHistoryController
     const owner = ctx.plugin(Object.assign(
-      (inner: Context) => { transport = new SessionHistoryController(inner) },
-      { inject: ['sessions'] },
+      (inner: Context) => {
+        transport = new SessionHistoryController(inner, (observation) => { observation[Symbol.dispose]() })
+      },
+      { inject: ['sessions', 'sessionQuery'] },
     ))
     await owner.await()
     const session = ctx.sessions.create(SessionId('controller-unload'), { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
@@ -97,9 +111,9 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
       new AbortController().signal,
     )[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
 
-    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toEqual({
+    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({
       done: false,
-      value: { type: 'opened', cursor: -1 },
+      value: { type: 'snapshot', cursor: -1 },
     })
     const pending = iterator.next()
     await owner.dispose()
@@ -107,7 +121,7 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     await ctx.fiber.dispose()
   })
 
-  it('resumes from the last applied seq before delivering later live events', async () => {
+  it('reconnects with a complete replacement snapshot before later live events', async () => {
     const { ctx, transport } = await setup()
     const session = ctx.sessions.create(SessionId('resume'), { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
     session.append('turn/start', { turn: 1 })
@@ -116,12 +130,16 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     const abort = new AbortController()
     const iterator = transport.follow({
       address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: session.id },
-      afterSeq: 0,
     }, abort.signal)[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
 
-    expect(await iterator.next()).toEqual({ done: false, value: { type: 'opened', cursor: 2 } })
-    expect(await iterator.next()).toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { type: 'event', event: { seq: 1 } } })
-    expect(await iterator.next()).toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { type: 'event', event: { seq: 2 } } })
+    expect(await iterator.next()).toMatchObject({
+      done: false,
+      value: {
+        type: 'snapshot',
+        cursor: 2,
+        events: [{ event: { seq: 0 } }, { event: { seq: 1 } }, { event: { seq: 2 } }],
+      },
+    })
     session.append('turn/end', { turn: 2, reason: { kind: 'completed' } })
     expect(await iterator.next()).toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { type: 'event', event: { seq: 3 } } })
 
@@ -133,34 +151,74 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     const { ctx, transport } = await setup()
     const sessionId = SessionId('cold-race')
     const header = { version: 0, id: sessionId, createdAt: 1, cwd: '/workspace' }
-    const listed = deferred<readonly SessionHeader[]>()
-    ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', {
-      list: () => listed.promise,
-      inspect: () => Promise.resolve({ meta: header, events: [event('fixture/start', 0)] }),
-    } as never)
+    const inspected = deferred<{ meta: SessionHeader; events: readonly SessionEvent[] }>()
+    ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', testSessionPersistence(ctx, {
+      inspect: () => inspected.promise,
+    }) as never)
     const abort = new AbortController()
     const iterator = transport.follow({ address: { kind: 'session', sessionId } }, abort.signal)
       [Symbol.asyncIterator]()
     const opening = iterator.next()
 
-    ctx.emit('session/event', { id: SessionId('unrelated') } as Session, event('fixture/other', 0))
-    ctx.emit('session/event', { id: sessionId } as Session, event('fixture/start', 0))
-    listed.resolve([header])
-    await expect(opening).resolves.toEqual({ done: false, value: { type: 'opened', cursor: 0 } })
+    ctx.emit('session/event', {
+      id: SessionId('unrelated'), events: [event('fixture/other', 0)],
+    } as unknown as Session, event('fixture/other', 0))
+    ctx.emit('session/event', {
+      id: sessionId, events: [event('fixture/start', 0)],
+    } as unknown as Session, event('fixture/start', 0))
+    inspected.resolve({ meta: header, events: [event('fixture/start', 0)] })
+    await expect(opening).resolves.toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { type: 'snapshot', cursor: 0 } })
 
     const waiting = iterator.next()
     abort.abort()
     await expect(waiting).resolves.toMatchObject({ done: true })
   })
 
+  it('buffers creation while the opening observation is unresolved', async () => {
+    const ctx = new Context()
+    await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
+    const sessionId = SessionId('created-during-observation')
+    const header = { version: 0, id: sessionId, createdAt: 1, cwd: '/workspace' }
+    const observed = deferred<SessionObservation>()
+    ctx.provide('sessionQuery', { observeSession: () => observed.promise } as never)
+    const transport = new SessionHistoryController(ctx, vi.fn())
+    const abort = new AbortController()
+    const iterator = transport.follow({ address: { kind: 'session', sessionId } }, abort.signal)
+      [Symbol.asyncIterator]()
+    const opening = iterator.next()
+
+    const attached = ctx.sessions.create(sessionId, { meta: header, seed: [event('fixture/seed', 0)] })
+    observed.resolve({
+      source: 'live',
+      header: attached.header,
+      events: attached.events,
+      cursor: attached.seq - 1,
+      projections: { asOfSeq: attached.seq - 1, values: {} },
+      retain: vi.fn(),
+      [Symbol.dispose]: vi.fn(),
+    } as unknown as SessionObservation)
+    await expect(opening).resolves.toMatchObject({
+      done: false,
+      value: {
+        type: 'snapshot', cursor: 1, events: [{ event: { seq: 0 } }, { event: { seq: 1 } }],
+      },
+    })
+    expect(attached.id).toBe(sessionId)
+    abort.abort()
+    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({ done: true })
+  })
+
   it('bridges the unpublished end-seed boundary when a cold source attaches', async () => {
     const ctx = new Context()
     await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
+    installSessionReadTestServices(ctx)
     let transport!: SessionHistoryController
     let agentCtx!: Context
     await ctx.plugin(Object.assign(
-      (inner: Context) => { transport = new SessionHistoryController(inner) },
-      { inject: ['sessions'] },
+      (inner: Context) => {
+        transport = new SessionHistoryController(inner, (observation) => { observation[Symbol.dispose]() })
+      },
+      { inject: ['sessions', 'sessionQuery'] },
     ))
     await ctx.plugin(Object.assign(
       (inner: Context) => { agentCtx = createScope(inner, { name: 'agent' }).ctx },
@@ -179,7 +237,7 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     const iterator = transport.follow({ address: { kind: 'session', sessionId } }, abort.signal)
       [Symbol.asyncIterator]()
 
-    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toEqual({ done: false, value: { type: 'opened', cursor: 0 } })
+    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { type: 'snapshot', cursor: 0 } })
     agentCtx.sessions.create(SessionId('unrelated-created'), { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
     const attached = agentCtx.sessions.prepare(sessionId, { meta: header, seed })
     agentCtx.sessions.enter(attached)
@@ -212,11 +270,9 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     const replayHeader = { version: 0, id: replayId, createdAt: 1, cwd: '/workspace' }
     cold(replay.ctx, replayHeader, [event('fixture/start', 0), event('fixture/gap', 2)])
     const replayed = replay.transport.follow({
-      address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: replayId }, afterSeq: -1,
+      address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: replayId },
     }, signal())[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
-    await expect(replayed.next()).resolves.toEqual({ done: false, value: { type: 'opened', cursor: 2 } })
-    await expect(replayed.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { event: { seq: 0 } } })
-    await expect(replayed.next()).rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'internal' } })
+    await expect(replayed.next()).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'SESSION_QUERY_CORRUPT_SESSION' })
 
     const live = await setup()
     const session = live.ctx.sessions.create(SessionId('live-gap'), { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
@@ -225,8 +281,13 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     const followed = live.transport.follow({
       address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: session.id },
     }, signal())[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
-    await expect(followed.next()).resolves.toEqual({ done: false, value: { type: 'opened', cursor: 0 } })
-    live.ctx.emit('session/event', session, event('fixture/gap', 2))
+    await expect(followed.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { type: 'snapshot', cursor: 0 } })
+    const skipped = event('fixture/skipped', 1)
+    const gap = event('fixture/gap', 2)
+    live.ctx.emit('session/event', {
+      id: session.id,
+      events: [event('fixture/start', 0), skipped, gap],
+    } as unknown as Session, gap)
     await expect(followed.next()).rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'internal' } })
   })
 
@@ -237,7 +298,7 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     const iterator = transport.follow({
       address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: session.id },
     }, abort.signal)[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
-    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toEqual({ done: false, value: { type: 'opened', cursor: -1 } })
+    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({ done: false, value: { type: 'snapshot', cursor: -1 } })
     await expect(transport.page({
       address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: session.id }, throughSeq: -1,
     }, signal())).resolves.toMatchObject({ events: [], hasMore: false })
@@ -245,6 +306,59 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({ done: true })
   })
 
+  it('publishes an empty projection baseline when the query has no registry', async () => {
+    const ctx = new Context()
+    await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
+    const sessionId = SessionId('projectionless-follow')
+    const meta = { version: 0, id: sessionId, createdAt: 1, cwd: '/workspace' }
+    ctx.provide('sessionQuery', {
+      observeSession: () => Promise.resolve({
+        source: 'live', header: meta, events: [], cursor: -1,
+        retain: vi.fn(), [Symbol.dispose]: vi.fn(),
+      } satisfies SessionObservation),
+    } as never)
+    const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx, vi.fn())
+    const abort = new AbortController()
+    const iterator = history.follow({ address: { kind: 'session', sessionId } }, abort.signal)
+      [Symbol.asyncIterator]()
+
+    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({
+      value: { type: 'snapshot', projections: { asOfSeq: -1, values: {} } },
+    })
+    abort.abort()
+    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({ done: true })
+    await ctx.fiber.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it('disposes a retained promotion when background activation rejects synchronously', async () => {
+    const ctx = new Context()
+    await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
+    const sessionId = SessionId('promotion-failure')
+    const meta = { version: 0, id: sessionId, createdAt: 1, cwd: '/workspace' }
+    const disposePromotion = vi.fn()
+    const promotion = {
+      source: 'prepared', header: meta, events: [], cursor: -1,
+      projections: { asOfSeq: -1, values: {} },
+      retain: vi.fn(), [Symbol.dispose]: disposePromotion,
+    } as unknown as SessionObservation
+    const source = {
+      ...promotion,
+      retain: () => promotion,
+      [Symbol.dispose]: vi.fn(),
+    } as SessionObservation
+    ctx.provide('sessionQuery', {
+      observeSession: () => Promise.resolve(source),
+    } as never)
+    const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx, () => { throw new Error('activation failed') })
+    const iterator = history.follow({ address: { kind: 'session', sessionId } }, signal())
+      [Symbol.asyncIterator]()
+
+    await expect(iterator.next()).resolves.toMatchObject({ value: { type: 'snapshot' } })
+    await expect(iterator.next()).rejects.toThrow('activation failed')
+    expect(disposePromotion).toHaveBeenCalledOnce()
+    await ctx.fiber.dispose()
+  })
+
   it('requires the durable parent and mode for a direct subagent address', async () => {
     const { ctx, transport } = await setup()
     const parentSessionId = SessionId('parent')
@@ -288,15 +402,18 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     const sessionId = SessionId('corrupt-cold')
     const failure = new Error('cold log is corrupt')
     const header = { version: 0, id: sessionId, createdAt: 1, cwd: '/workspace' }
-    ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', {
+    ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', testSessionPersistence(ctx, {
       list: () => Promise.resolve([header]),
       inspect: () => Promise.reject(failure),
-    } as never)
+    }) as never)
 
     await expect(transport.page({
       address: { kind: 'session', sessionId },
       throughSeq: -1,
-    }, new AbortController().signal)).rejects.toBe(failure)
+    }, new AbortController().signal)).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      code: 'SESSION_QUERY_PERSISTENCE_FAILED',
+      cause: failure,
+    })
   })
 
   it('rejects malformed page and follow cursors at the service boundary', async () => {
@@ -325,25 +442,24 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     )
     await expect(corrupt.transport.page({
       address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: corruptId }, throughSeq: 1,
-    }, signal())).rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'internal' } })
-    for (const afterSeq of [-2, 0.5]) {
-      const iterator = transport.follow({ address, afterSeq }, signal())[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
+    }, signal())).rejects.toMatchObject({ code: 'SESSION_QUERY_CORRUPT_SESSION' })
+    for (const maxMessages of [0, 0.5]) {
+      const iterator = transport.follow({ address, maxMessages }, signal())[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
       await expect(iterator.next()).rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'bad-request' } })
     }
-    const past = transport.follow({ address, afterSeq: 0 }, signal())[Symbol.asyncIterator]()
-    await expect(past.next()).rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'bad-request' } })
   })
 
   it('reports missing ordinary and subagent sources without fabricating inspection failures', async () => {
     const { ctx, transport } = await setup()
     const ordinary = { kind: 'session' as const, sessionId: SessionId('missing') }
     await expect(transport.page({ address: ordinary, throughSeq: -1 }, signal()))
-      .rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'internal' } })
+      .rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'session-not-found' } })
 
-    ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', {
+    const inspect = vi.fn(() => Promise.resolve(undefined))
+    ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', testSessionPersistence(ctx, {
       list: () => Promise.resolve([]),
-      inspect: () => Promise.reject(new Error('must not inspect')),
-    } as never)
+      inspect,
+    }) as never)
     await expect(transport.page({ address: ordinary, throughSeq: -1 }, signal()))
       .rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'session-not-found' } })
     await expect(transport.page({
@@ -355,25 +471,28 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
       },
       throughSeq: -1,
     }, signal())).rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'subagent-not-found' } })
+    expect(inspect).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
   })
 
   it('rejects incomplete cold metadata before serving a source', async () => {
     const first = await setup()
     const sessionId = SessionId('incomplete')
     const address = { kind: 'session' as const, sessionId }
-    first.ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', {
-      list: () => Promise.resolve([{ version: 0, id: sessionId, createdAt: 1 }]),
-      inspect: () => Promise.reject(new Error('must not inspect')),
-    } as never)
+    const firstHeader = { version: 0, id: sessionId, createdAt: 1 }
+    first.ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', testSessionPersistence(first.ctx, {
+      list: () => Promise.resolve([firstHeader]),
+      inspect: () => Promise.resolve({ meta: firstHeader, events: [] }),
+    }) as never)
     await expect(first.transport.page({ address, throughSeq: -1 }, signal()))
       .rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'session-not-found' } })
 
     const second = await setup()
     const listed = { version: 0, id: sessionId, createdAt: 1, cwd: '/workspace' }
-    second.ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', {
+    const inspected = { version: 0, id: sessionId, createdAt: 1 }
+    second.ctx.provide('sessionPersistence', testSessionPersistence(second.ctx, {
       list: () => Promise.resolve([listed]),
-      inspect: () => Promise.resolve({ meta: { ...listed, cwd: undefined }, events: [] }),
-    } as never)
+      inspect: () => Promise.resolve({ meta: inspected, events: [] }),
+    }) as never)
     await expect(second.transport.page({ address, throughSeq: -1 }, signal()))
       .rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'session-not-found' } })
   })
@@ -407,7 +526,7 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     const missing = await setup()
     cold(missing.ctx, childHeader, [])
     await expect(missing.transport.page({ address: childAddress, throughSeq: -1 }, signal()))
-      .rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'subagent-catalog-diagnostic', details: { reason: 'unsupported' } } })
+      .rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'subagent-catalog-diagnostic', details: { reason: 'corrupt' } } })
 
     const corrupt = await setup()
     cold(corrupt.ctx, childHeader, [event('subagent/descriptor', 0, { version: 'bad' })])
@@ -421,44 +540,48 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
       .rejects.toMatchObject({ failure: { code: 'subagent-unauthorized' } })
   })
 
-  it('uses attached and detached projection cuts and isolates a child projection failure', async () => {
-    const attached = await setup()
-    const session = attached.ctx.sessions.create(SessionId('projected'), { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
+  it('reports an unavailable descriptor when an observed child has no projection value', async () => {
+    const ctx = new Context()
+    await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
+    const parentSessionId = SessionId('missing-projection-parent')
+    const childSessionId = SessionId('missing-projection-child')
+    const meta: SessionHeader = {
+      version: 0,
+      id: childSessionId,
+      createdAt: 1,
+      cwd: '/workspace',
+      origin: 'subagent',
+      parentSession: parentSessionId,
+    }
+    ctx.provide('sessionQuery', {
+      observeSession: () => Promise.resolve({
+        source: 'live', header: meta, events: [], cursor: -1,
+        projections: { asOfSeq: -1, values: {} },
+        retain: vi.fn(), [Symbol.dispose]: vi.fn(),
+      } as unknown as SessionObservation),
+    } as never)
+    const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx, vi.fn())
+
+    await expect(history.page({
+      address: { kind: 'subagent', parentSessionId, childSessionId, mode: 'continuable' },
+      throughSeq: -1,
+    }, signal())).rejects.toMatchObject({
+      failure: { code: 'subagent-catalog-diagnostic', details: { reason: 'unsupported' } },
+    })
+    await ctx.fiber.dispose()
+  })
+
+  it('keeps pages projection-free and computes projections only for child authorization', async () => {
+    const ordinary = await setup()
+    const session = ordinary.ctx.sessions.create(SessionId('projected'), { meta: { cwd: '/workspace' } })
     session.append('turn/start', { turn: 1 })
-    const snapshot = vi.fn(() => ({ asOfSeq: 0, values: { title: 'attached' } }))
-    attached.ctx.provide('sessionProjections', { snapshot, restore: vi.fn() } as never)
-    await expect(attached.transport.page({
+    const ordinarySnapshot = vi.spyOn(ordinary.ctx.sessionProjections, 'snapshot')
+    const ordinaryPage = await ordinary.transport.page({
       address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: session.id },
       throughSeq: 0,
-    }, signal())).resolves.toMatchObject({ projections: { asOfSeq: 0, values: { title: 'attached' } } })
-    expect(snapshot).toHaveBeenCalledWith(session)
-    const older = await attached.transport.page({
-      address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: session.id }, throughSeq: 0, beforeSeq: 1,
     }, signal())
-    expect('projections' in older).toBe(false)
-
-    const detached = await setup()
-    const coldId = SessionId('projected-cold')
-    const header = { version: 0, id: coldId, createdAt: 1, cwd: '/workspace' }
-    cold(detached.ctx, header, [event('turn/start', 0, { turn: 1 })])
-    const restore = vi.fn(() => ({ snapshot: { asOfSeq: 0, values: { title: 'cold' } } }))
-    detached.ctx.provide('sessionProjections', { snapshot: vi.fn(), restore } as never)
-    await expect(detached.transport.page({
-      address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: coldId },
-      throughSeq: 0,
-    }, signal())).resolves.toMatchObject({ projections: { values: { title: 'cold' } } })
-    expect(restore).toHaveBeenCalledWith({}, expect.any(Array), 0)
-
-    const failed = await setup()
-    cold(failed.ctx, header, [event('turn/start', 0, { turn: 1 })])
-    failed.ctx.provide('sessionProjections', {
-      snapshot: vi.fn(),
-      restore: () => { throw new Error('projection failed') },
-    } as never)
-    await expect(failed.transport.page({
-      address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: coldId },
-      throughSeq: 0,
-    }, signal())).rejects.toThrow('projection failed')
+    expect('projections' in ordinaryPage).toBe(false)
+    expect(ordinarySnapshot).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
 
     const child = await setup()
     const parentSessionId = SessionId('projection-parent')
@@ -469,17 +592,13 @@ describe('SessionHistoryController', () => {
     childSession.append('subagent/descriptor', snapshotSubagentDescriptor({
       mode: 'continuable', provider: 'test', label: 'child',
     }))
-    const warn = vi.spyOn(child.ctx.logger, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => undefined)
-    child.ctx.provide('sessionProjections', {
-      snapshot: () => { throw new Error('child projection failed') },
-      restore: vi.fn(),
-    } as never)
+    const childSnapshot = vi.spyOn(child.ctx.sessionProjections, 'snapshot')
     const page = await child.transport.page({
       address: { kind: 'subagent', parentSessionId, childSessionId, mode: 'continuable' },
       throughSeq: 0,
     }, signal())
     expect('projections' in page).toBe(false)
-    expect(warn).toHaveBeenCalledWith(expect.stringContaining('child projection failed'))
+    expect(childSnapshot).toHaveBeenCalledWith(childSession)
   })
 
   it('keeps message-aligned pagination contiguous across replacement provenance', async () => {
diff --git a/packages/test-support/client-runtime/src/sessions.ts b/packages/test-support/client-runtime/src/sessions.ts
index afb24fa287..cbd3b9a2e2 100644
--- a/packages/test-support/client-runtime/src/sessions.ts
+++ b/packages/test-support/client-runtime/src/sessions.ts
@@ -445,14 +445,6 @@ export class TestSessions implements ISessions {
     return Promise.resolve()
   }
 
-  /** Apply a confirmed preset switch into the fixture list, as production does. */
-  noteAgentPreset(sessionId: SessionId, agentPreset: string): void {
-    this.list.update((draft) => {
-      const summary = draft.byId[sessionId]
-      if (summary !== undefined) draft.byId[sessionId] = { ...summary, agentPreset }
-    })
-  }
-
   /** Clear the current selection (recorded; the production no-session flow). */
   clear(): void {
     this.calls.push({ method: 'clear', args: [] })
diff --git a/packages/test-support/client-runtime/tests/runtime.client.spec.tsx b/packages/test-support/client-runtime/tests/runtime.client.spec.tsx
index f98b93bb0c..02d239b117 100644
--- a/packages/test-support/client-runtime/tests/runtime.client.spec.tsx
+++ b/packages/test-support/client-runtime/tests/runtime.client.spec.tsx
@@ -170,13 +170,6 @@ describe('sessions', () => {
       .toMatchObject({ displayTitle: 'renamed', running: true })
     runtime.sessions.setSubagentCatalogOpen('s2' as SessionId, true)
     await runtime.sessions.refreshSubagents('s2' as SessionId)
-    // The confirmed-switch write-back lands on the row it names and ignores
-    // one the fixture never added, exactly as production's list upsert does.
-    runtime.sessions.noteAgentPreset('s1' as SessionId, 'minimal')
-    runtime.sessions.noteAgentPreset('missing' as SessionId, 'minimal')
-    await runtime.flush()
-    expect(runtime.sessions.list.getSnapshot().byId['s1' as SessionId])
-      .toMatchObject({ agentPreset: 'minimal' })
     runtime.sessions.open('s1' as SessionId)
     await runtime.flush()
     expect(runtime.sessions.list.getSnapshot().current).toBe('s1')
diff --git a/packages/todo/tool-todo/package.json b/packages/todo/tool-todo/package.json
index c1cc4c19de..e710fcfa30 100644
--- a/packages/todo/tool-todo/package.json
+++ b/packages/todo/tool-todo/package.json
@@ -54,7 +54,6 @@
     "@deepseek-ai/dsh-agent": "workspace:^",
     "@deepseek-ai/dsh-agent-loop": "workspace:^",
     "@deepseek-ai/dsh-agent-loop-testkit": "workspace:^",
-    "@deepseek-ai/dsh-api-session-controller": "workspace:^",
     "@deepseek-ai/dsh-invariants": "workspace:^",
     "@deepseek-ai/dsh-llm": "workspace:^",
     "@deepseek-ai/dsh-session": "workspace:^",
diff --git a/packages/todo/tool-todo/tests/projection.spec.ts b/packages/todo/tool-todo/tests/projection.spec.ts
index 592f158872..05a3662ef3 100644
--- a/packages/todo/tool-todo/tests/projection.spec.ts
+++ b/packages/todo/tool-todo/tests/projection.spec.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 /**
  * The `todos` projection provider (session-projection RFC knife 4 — the "a
  * fourth domain is just its own registrations" acceptance probe): mounting
- * tool-todo beside the registry serves the whole current list on the history
- * tail page with a consistent asOfSeq (= last event seq); before any write the value is null; a
+ * tool-todo beside the registry serves the whole current list with a
+ * consistent asOfSeq (= last event seq); before any write the value is null; a
  * composition without tool-todo has no `todos` key; unmounting tool-todo
  * removes it (HMR safety). The carrier and framework are exercised unmodified.
  */
@@ -17,7 +17,6 @@ import type { Session } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session'
 import type { TodoItem } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-tool-todo'
 import SystemPrompt from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-system-prompt'
 import ToolRuntime from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-tools'
-import { SessionHistoryController } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-api-session-controller/src/history.ts'
 import SessionProjectionRegistry from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session-projection'
 import UserQuestionService from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-user-questions'
 import * as ToolTodo from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-tool-todo'
@@ -39,16 +38,11 @@ async function harness(withTodoTool: boolean): Promise<Bench> {
   if (withTodoTool) await ctx.plugin(ToolTodo, { allowParallelInProgress: true })
   const session = ctx.sessions.create()
   ctx.agents.register({ id: session.id, session, status: 'idle', ctx } as Agent)
-  const history = new SessionHistoryController(ctx)
   return {
     ctx,
     session,
     async tailProjections() {
-      return (await history.page({
-        address: { kind: 'session', sessionId: session.id },
-        throughSeq: session.seq - 1,
-      }, new AbortController().signal))
-        .projections
+      return ctx.sessionProjections.snapshot(session)
     },
   }
 }