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+# CLAUDE.md — GoldenEye 007 PC port
+
+This file auto-loads every session. It is the operating manual. The full
+rules are in `AGENTS.md` (imported below); this file adds the two
+checklists that were being skipped.
+
+@AGENTS.md
+
+## Session preflight — do this in your FIRST few tool calls, before acting
+
+Having a concrete "next step" from the handoff is NOT license to skip this.
+
+1. Read `docs/HANDOFF.md` — immediate task, standing procedure, environment gotchas.
+2. Read `docs/PORT-LEARNINGS.md` — recurring bug classes (you will re-derive
+   bugs already catalogued here if you don't).
+3. If you may dispatch a subagent this session, read `docs/AGENT-WORKFLOW.md`
+   NOW — not at dispatch time.
+
+## Dispatch preflight — EVERY Agent/Task spawn, no exceptions
+
+A subagent brief is INVALID and must not be sent unless it contains all of:
+
+- **FILES YOU MAY TOUCH** — disjoint from every other running agent.
+- **BUDGET** — `<= N build->run->inspect cycles` or `~M min`. Tight for
+  cheap-class bugs (truncations, off-by-ones); more room for structural ones
+  (matrix handedness, format specs). Escalate the default as the project hardens.
+- **ON EXPIRY** — stop, revert temp probes, write up what you have in
+  `docs/PCPortResearch.md` §F with an explicit confidence rating. A good
+  write-up of a half-solved bug is a deliverable, not a failure.
+- **KNOWN-GOOD / RULED OUT**, **CONSTRAINTS** (no game-logic changes;
+  ABI/layout/format only; `#ifdef PORT`; documented in §F), **REPORT** shape.
+- Instruction to read `docs/PORT-LEARNINGS.md` first and append any
+  generalisable quirk to it.
+
+Full template: `docs/AGENT-WORKFLOW.md` -> "Standard investigation-subagent
+brief template".
+
+## Verification cadence (integrator / overseer)
+
+- **Per merged patch:** single-frame `GE_PCDUMP` capture diffed against the
+  committed golden baseline. Cheap. Do NOT gate every patch on a long soak.
+- **Per batch / integration checkpoint:** one 60s `-level_09` crash-free run.
+- Subagents on small disjoint subsystems (input, audio, saves, converters)
+  don't run the game — the overseer verifies.
diff --git a/docs/HANDOFF.md b/docs/HANDOFF.md
index 129bc38c..2e8c60aa 100644
--- a/docs/HANDOFF.md
+++ b/docs/HANDOFF.md
@@ -1,6 +1,14 @@
 # Handoff brief — GoldenEye 007 PC port (Phase 2: Session M-3 —
 # STAGE-LOAD → RENDER crash chain CLEAR; BUNKER1 renders, next is D75 model quality)
 
+## PREFLIGHT — before touching anything (a concrete next-step below is NOT a reason to skip this)
+
+1. `CLAUDE.md` (auto-loaded) + `AGENTS.md` non-negotiables.
+2. This file, top-to-bottom.
+3. `docs/PORT-LEARNINGS.md` — recurring bug classes.
+4. Dispatching a subagent? `docs/AGENT-WORKFLOW.md` FIRST. Every brief needs
+   FILES / BUDGET / ON-EXPIRY / CONSTRAINTS / REPORT (see CLAUDE.md "Dispatch preflight").
+
 _Paste-ready brief. Authoritative context: `AGENTS.md`,
 `docs/PCPortResearch.md` §F (D69, D78-D102), `docs/BRIEF-D69-stage-load.md`._