diff --git a/HANDOFF.md b/HANDOFF.md
index f89d10d..9edcffc 100644
--- a/HANDOFF.md
+++ b/HANDOFF.md
@@ -18,11 +18,13 @@
 
 ## Next action
 
-1. **Greyed tier entries + entitlement wiring** — the rule is in place and tested
-   (`Models/OutputProfile.cs`); the dropdown still shows every tier as equally available, and
-   `HasProOutput` is `IsPremium || DeveloperMode` with no Steam DLC path yet.
-2. Then the **entitlement seam** (`IEntitlement`: Steam DLC via `steam_api64.dll`, Polar lease).
-3. Steamworks: App ID waits on identity verification; then depot, store page and the DLC app.
+**Tomorrow, day 1 of the surge: the entitlement seam.** `IEntitlement` (`HasDlc`, `IsValid`), the
+Steam DLC implementation on `Steamworks.NET` behind it, a fake for tests, and `HasProOutput`
+consuming the interface instead of `IsPremium` directly. The Steam-less path must fall back to the
+free profile. Then the licence UI's four states against the fake.
+
+Full week in `TASKS.md` → "Surge week — coding only": day 2 greyed tiers, day 3 visibility picker,
+days 3–4 stream resilience, day 4 output contract, day 5 gold pass.
 
 ## Landmines
 
diff --git a/TASKS.md b/TASKS.md
index c582933..0cd51a2 100644
--- a/TASKS.md
+++ b/TASKS.md
@@ -5,27 +5,40 @@
 > decisions are in [`docs/ai/decisions.md`](docs/ai/decisions.md).
 > Markers: ☐ queued · 🔶 in progress · ⏳ blocked · ⏸ deferred · ❌ retired.
 
-## Next up
+## Surge week — coding only (starts 2026-11-02)
 
-**The surge week (3 days, in this order).** Not every row below — this slice only, because it is
-what the first public release is waiting on. Day 1 (artifact shape) is **done**: the exe is
-`LlamaCasty.exe` and `scripts/publish.sh` stages the depot folder.
+**Non-coding is parked** (Steam identity verification, store page, depot upload, marketing) — it is
+waiting on Valve, not on us. The week is code, tests, debugging, polish. Sized at 3–5 units a day;
+~50 units remain overall, so this plan is the five days, not the whole queue.
 
-1. **OutputProfile gate** — ≤921,600 px / ≤30 fps for the stream **and** the recorder, greyed tier
-   entries, plus the TASK 53 geometry tests that pin every tier.
-2. Then the **entitlement seam** (`IEntitlement`, Steam DLC path behind a fake, Polar path) and the
-   licence UI.
+**Definition of done for every unit:** clean build 0 warnings · per-class tests green ·
+`./scripts/verify.sh` with the declared scope · commit with the doc fact it falsifies, corrected.
 
-Detail: [`commercial.md`](docs/ai/commercial.md) → Output profile / Entitlement;
-[`Distribution.md`](Distribution.md). After that: the visibility picker (a hard prerequisite for
-any *public* build).
+| Day | Unit | Done when |
+|---|---|---|
+| **1** | **Entitlement seam** — `IEntitlement` (`HasDlc`, `IsValid`), Steam DLC impl on `Steamworks.NET` behind the interface, fake for tests, `HasProOutput` consumes it; app starts without Steam → free | Fake proves the resolution; real impl compiles; Steam-less launch shows free |
+| **1–2** | **Licence UI** — four states, upgrade path per state, 7/1/0-day notices, "monthly is on the website, not Steam" line, licence ID in About | Each state renders from the fake; no modal, never blocks Start |
+| **2** | **Greyed tier entries** — dropdown marks the four Pro tiers, keeps them clickable, routes to the upgrade path | Free user sees 720p30 available and the rest annotated |
+| **3** | **Visibility picker + `UpdateBroadcast`** — replace the forced-Private lock, hide TEST | A public broadcast can be started and changed while live |
+| **3–4** | **TASK 32 stream resilience** — blip retry → measured grace → amber RECONNECTING → one-click Back on air → fragmented MP4 → ingest pre-flight | A killed network recovers without ending the broadcast |
+| **4** | **TASK 53 output contract** — geometry test per tier, 9:16 end-to-end, recorded file matches output | Every tier pinned by a test; the cap cannot drift |
+| **5** | **TASK 36 gold pass** — screens/layers audit on real Windows, native verification, branding-flash decision | The audit list is empty |
 
-**TASK 3·17 — the Text layer** stays the first product row after the surge. The `TextOverlay` source
-type exists as a placeholder and nothing else does: `AddSource` creates it 0×0, all four compositor
-paths `continue` past it, `FramePump`'s hash skips it, it is not draggable, and it has no
-text/font/colour properties or persistence. The unit: text content, font family/size/weight/style,
-colour, alignment, drag/resize, persisted; renderer mirrors `Services/ChatBoxRenderer.cs`. One Good
-Dog test.
+**Week 2 candidates, in order:** 3·17 Text layer · 21 media wiring · 55 disk hygiene ·
+40·A/C/D settings · preview undo · 9·5 webcam identity · `StreamConfig` defaults ·
+3·20 reward persistence · 33 bandwidth step-down · 49 profanity filter · 50 publish recording.
+
+**Explicitly after launch (complete-v1 ruling risks the date):** 34 scheduled streams · 35
+scene audio · 37 defaults split · 39·2 YPP slice 2 · 14 feedback batch — each is a week-apiece item
+and none blocks a public build.
+
+## Next up (after the surge slice)
+
+**TASK 3·17 — the Text layer.** The `TextOverlay` source type exists as a placeholder and nothing
+else does: `AddSource` creates it 0×0, all four compositor paths `continue` past it, `FramePump`'s
+hash skips it, it is not draggable, and it has no text/font/colour properties or persistence.
+The unit: text content, font family/size/weight/style, colour, alignment, drag/resize, persisted;
+renderer mirrors `Services/ChatBoxRenderer.cs`. One Good Dog test.
 
 ## Queue