# β close-out — cycle #400

**Reviewer:** β (collapsed on δ)
**Date:** 2026-05-21
**Issue:** cnos#400 — Phase 5 of #366 (γ shrink)

## Verdict

**APPROVED at R1.** All 7 ACs PASS. The managerial-residue sweep is honest (2 DROP entries; β-rigor requirement ≥1 satisfied). F1/F2 absorption verified mechanically. No broken cross-references; the four-skill mesh (γ ↔ delta ↔ harness ↔ release-effector) remains discoverable from any entry point.

## Review evidence

See `beta-review.md` for the full AC1–AC7 walk and the cross-reference mesh check.

## Release evidence

- `gamma/SKILL.md` line count: 499 (target ≤523). 33.3% reduction.
- `delta/SKILL.md` frontmatter: 0 findings on `tools/validate-skill-frontmatter.sh`.
- F1 mechanical oracle: `rg "Phase 4b.*pending|harness mechanics.*operator" delta/SKILL.md` exit 1 (no matches).
- Cross-skill mesh: all 9 cross-reference anchors verified against post-shrink γ.

## β-collapse declaration

β was collapsed onto δ-as-agent per the breadth-2026-05-12 precedent. Independence-by-actor relaxation is compensated by the **artifact-only review surface**: this β verdict is mechanically reproducible from the diff + ACs in the issue + cross-skill mesh check, without consulting α's hidden reasoning. The artifacts on the cycle branch are the inputs; the verdict is a function of them.

Per `release/SKILL.md §3.8` configuration-floor clause, γ-axis grade floor applies due to γ=δ collapse. The α/β collapse onto δ is the breadth-2026-05-12 doctrinal mode for designed-and-built protocol-doctrine cycles where the reviewer surface is intrinsically mechanical (line counts, grep oracles, schema validators, cross-reference resolution).

## Release readiness signal

This cycle is materially review-ready and approved for merge. Release-ready signal: docs-only cycle disposition is likely (no code surface touched; only markdown skill files). γ will decide release shape (docs-only vs tagged) at closure.

## Open items

None binding.
