diff --git a/AGENT_INTEGRATION.md b/AGENT_INTEGRATION.md
index 7313553..297ca95 100644
--- a/AGENT_INTEGRATION.md
+++ b/AGENT_INTEGRATION.md
@@ -8,16 +8,17 @@ The **Issue Core** capability provides a standardized interface for autonomous c
 
 **Fleet note (2026-07-20):** Internal work originates as repo work records (ADR-001 / work-record canon), not as issue-core issues. Use this guide when an agent must project to or work inside a third-party tracker. See `INTENT.md` and `docs/uuid-external-id-mapping.md`.
 
-### Why Issue Tracking for Agent Coordination?
+### When to use a tracker (and when not to)
 
-Issue tracking provides a natural coordination mechanism for multi-agent software development:
+**Fleet claim/execute** runs on work records (repo files + state-hub), not on
+Forgejo by default. Use issue-core when:
 
-- **Task Distribution**: Issues represent discrete units of work that agents can claim and execute
-- **State Management**: Issue states (open, in_progress, closed) track progress across the team
-- **Communication Channel**: Comments enable inter-agent communication and human oversight
-- **Progress Visibility**: Labels, assignees, and milestones provide real-time project status
-- **Audit Trail**: Complete history of who did what and when
-- **Human Integration**: Human developers can seamlessly participate in agent-driven projects
+- A counterparty or OSS workflow lives in Gitea/GitHub/Jira
+- You need to **project or link** a work record (`issue project` / `issue map`)
+- You must update or comment on an **external** issue already in a tracker
+
+Do **not** treat issue-core as the org task board or as origin of intake/tasks.
+Findings → `kind: intake` + promotion; optional later projection.
 
 ## Current Status: Production-Ready with Manual Setup
 
diff --git a/CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml b/CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml
index 0093c29..4f24830 100644
--- a/CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml
+++ b/CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml
@@ -3,21 +3,20 @@
 
 metadata:
   name: issue-core
-  version: 1.0.0
-  type: coordination-tool
+  version: 0.2.1
+  type: connector
   description: >
-    Universal interface for issue tracking coordination across Gitea, GitHub, GitLab.
-    Provides unified API to prevent direct platform API usage and credential sprawl.
+    Backend-agnostic connector to external issue trackers (Gitea/Forgejo, SQLite).
+    Maps work-record UUIDs to external issue ids. Not the origin of fleet work records.
 
 # What problems this capability solves
 purpose:
-  primary: Agent coordination via issue tracking
+  primary: External tracker projection and ops (work-record-aware connector)
   problems_solved:
-    - Direct API calls to GitHub/GitLab/Gitea (avoid credential sprawl)
-    - Inconsistent issue tracking access patterns
-    - Token waste from redundant API calls
-    - Platform-specific code in agents
-    - Offline/online sync complexity
+    - Direct API calls to Gitea/GitHub/GitLab (credential sprawl)
+    - No durable link from work-record UUID to tracker issue
+    - Platform-specific agent code for tracker CRUD
+    - Offline SQLite cache / backend sync for tracker data
 
 # When agents should use this capability
 usage_rules:
@@ -25,19 +24,21 @@ usage_rules:
     - "Direct Gitea API calls (requests.post to /api/v1/repos/...)"
     - "GitHub CLI (gh issue create/list/...)"
     - "GitLab CLI (glab issue create/list/...)"
-    - "Python libraries (PyGithub, python-gitlab)"
-    - "Direct SQL queries to issue databases"
+    - "Python libraries (PyGithub, python-gitlab) for routine tracker ops"
 
   PREFER_OVER:
-    - "Web scraping of issue tracker UIs"
-    - "Manual issue management"
-    - "Custom issue tracking scripts"
+    - "Ad hoc curl scripts against tracker APIs"
+    - "Fire-and-forget Forgejo issues with no work-record mapping"
 
   USE_WHEN:
-    - "Creating, updating, or querying issues"
-    - "Multi-agent coordination needed"
-    - "Offline work with sync required"
-    - "Cross-platform issue management"
+    - "Projecting or linking a work record to an external issue"
+    - "Creating, updating, or querying issues on a tracker backend"
+    - "Offline tracker work with backend sync"
+    - "Intentional external issues (not fleet intake origin)"
+
+  DO_NOT_USE_WHEN:
+    - "Spawning fleet tasks/intake (use work records + promotion)"
+    - "Default sink for internal automation findings (see ACTIVITY-WP-0022)"
 
 # How to integrate this capability
 integration:
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 7d64c83..823c92e 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -333,14 +333,33 @@ issue-core/
 
 ## Documentation
 
-- **[INTENT.md](INTENT.md)** — why issue-core exists (connector, not landing zone)
-- **[SCOPE.md](SCOPE.md)** — in/out of scope and integration boundaries
-- **[docs/uuid-external-id-mapping.md](docs/uuid-external-id-mapping.md)** — mapping design (not implemented yet)
+- **[INTENT.md](INTENT.md)** — why issue-core exists (work-record-aligned connector)
+- **[SCOPE.md](SCOPE.md)** — shipped inventory and product boundary
+- **[docs/uuid-external-id-mapping.md](docs/uuid-external-id-mapping.md)** — mapping design
+- **[docs/boundary-sync-and-status-mapping.md](docs/boundary-sync-and-status-mapping.md)** — dual-lifecycle policy
 - **[AGENT_INTEGRATION.md](AGENT_INTEGRATION.md)** — programmatic API for tracker backends
 - **[ROADMAP.md](ROADMAP.md)** — feature trajectory (connector-aligned)
 - Work-record canon: `the-custodian/canon/standards/work-record-types_v0.1.md`
 - Architecture §4.2: `the-custodian/research/WorkOrchestrationArchitectureDraft.md`
 
+### Work-record projection (mapping)
+
+```bash
+# Project a work record to the default backend (idempotent)
+issue project <work-record-uuid> --title "External title" --canonical-id ISSUE-WP-0005-T05
+
+# Link an existing tracker issue
+issue map link <work-record-uuid> 42
+
+# Resolve / detach / outward status push
+issue map show --uuid <work-record-uuid>
+issue map push-status --uuid <work-record-uuid> --status progress
+issue map detach --uuid <work-record-uuid>
+```
+
+Mappings live in `~/.config/issue-tracker/mappings.db` (bookkeeping), independent
+of whether CRUD targets Gitea or local SQLite.
+
 ## Roadmap (summary)
 
 ### Connector alignment (docs — ISSUE-WP-0004)
diff --git a/SCOPE.md b/SCOPE.md
index 62a8e78..1cd71ee 100644
--- a/SCOPE.md
+++ b/SCOPE.md
@@ -54,14 +54,26 @@ declared in `pyproject.toml`; no backend package under `issue_core/backends/`).
 | Group | Commands (shipped) |
 | --- | --- |
 | Issues | `list`, `show`, `create`, `edit`, `close`, `reopen`, `comment` |
+| Project / map | `project`, `map link`, `map show`, `map detach`, `map list`, `map push-status` |
 | Backend | `backend list`, `add`, `remove`, `test`, `set-default` |
 | Sync | `sync status`, `pull`, `push`, `bidirectional` |
 | Server | `serve` — FastAPI process (requires `[api]` extra) |
 
 - JSON-friendly output for agents (`--format=json` on list/show paths).
-- Backend configs: `~/.config/issue-core/` (default backend + named configs).
+- Backend configs: `~/.config/issue-tracker/` (default backend + named configs).
+- Mapping store: `~/.config/issue-tracker/mappings.db` (independent of CRUD backend).
 - Gitea token typically from env (`GITEA_API_TOKEN` / config); never commit secrets.
 
+### 1.4b Work-record mapping (shipped v0.2.x)
+
+| Piece | Notes |
+| --- | --- |
+| `MappingService` | `issue_core/core/mapping.py` — SQLite `work_record_issue_map` |
+| Keys | Work-record **UUIDv7** ↔ `(backend, external_id)`; optional canonical id denorm |
+| Uniqueness | One active mapping per `(uuid, backend)` and per `(backend, external_id)` |
+| Outward status | `map push-status` uses `docs/boundary-sync-and-status-mapping.md` |
+| TaskSpec | Optional `work_record_uuid` / `work_record_id` / `work_record_kind` on `POST /issues/` upserts mapping; idempotent reuse |
+
 ### 1.5 REST API (optional install: `pip install 'issue-core[api]'`)
 
 Auth: shared secret `ISSUE_CORE_API_KEY` via `Authorization: Bearer …` or
@@ -105,7 +117,8 @@ optional `due_at` derived from `due_in_days`.
 
 | Item | Status |
 | --- | --- |
-| Work-record UUID ↔ external-id **mapping store/API** | Design only — `docs/uuid-external-id-mapping.md` |
+| Inward boundary sync (tracker → work-record file write) | Not shipped — v1 is outward-only |
+| REST `/mappings/` resource | CLI primary; REST mapping is via optional fields on `POST /issues/` |
 | NATS subscriber | Design stub — `docs/nats-task-ingestion.md` |
 | Runtime calls to state-hub (`add_progress_event`, etc.) | **Not in `issue_core` package**; repo participates as a normal ADR-001 workplan host only |
 | Auto-detect backend from git remote | Roadmap / Makefile hints; not a reliable product path yet |
@@ -114,6 +127,7 @@ optional `due_at` derived from `due_in_days`.
 | Per-`target_repo` backend routing on REST | Planned only |
 | Issue claiming locks beyond assignee + state | Convention only |
 | First-class due-date field on `Issue` | `due_in_days` → ingestion metadata only |
+| Canon work-record YAML back-reference field | Field name TBD in the-custodian; mapping authority is issue-core |
 
 ---
 
@@ -131,12 +145,14 @@ Things this repo **owns** and may grow, consistent with the connector role.
 
 ### 2.2 Connector / mapping (owned direction)
 
-- Durable **work-record UUID ↔ (backend, external issue id)** mapping
-  (design agreed; implementation stage-3 work-record architecture).
-- Optional two-way **boundary sync** when an integration is switched on;
-  **zero load** when not configured.
-- Keep `triggering_event_id` as emitter lineage; **extend** with
-  `work_record_uuid` rather than overloading it (see mapping design).
+- Durable **work-record UUID ↔ (backend, external issue id)** mapping —
+  **store + CLI shipped** (ISSUE-WP-0005); REST `/mappings/` and file
+  back-references remain optional growth.
+- **Outward** status projection shipped; **inward** boundary sync later,
+  never silent ADR-001 mutation; **zero load** when no mapping is used.
+- Keep `triggering_event_id` as emitter lineage; optional
+  **`work_record_uuid` on TaskSpec** is shipped (do not overload
+  `triggering_event_id`).
 
 ### 2.3 Surfaces
 
@@ -242,12 +258,17 @@ Retained for intentional emits and backward compatibility:
   "source_type": "rule | instruction",
   "source_id": "string",
   "triggering_event_id": "event uuid or stable source key",
-  "activity_definition_id": "string"
+  "activity_definition_id": "string",
+  "work_record_uuid": "optional UUIDv7",
+  "work_record_id": "optional canonical id",
+  "work_record_kind": "optional kind"
 }
 ```
 
 - `triggering_event_id`: non-empty string; activity event UUID or stable key
   such as `scheduled`. Stored in ingestion metadata — **not** a work-record UUID.
+- `work_record_uuid` (optional): when set, upserts mapping and makes re-POST
+  idempotent for that UUID + backend.
 - Response:
 
 ```json
diff --git a/docs/boundary-sync-and-status-mapping.md b/docs/boundary-sync-and-status-mapping.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1bd9e64
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/boundary-sync-and-status-mapping.md
@@ -0,0 +1,70 @@
+# Boundary sync and status mapping (v1)
+
+**Status:** normative for ISSUE-WP-0005  
+**Date:** 2026-07-22  
+**Implements:** INTENT “Boundary sync discipline”  
+**Related:** `docs/uuid-external-id-mapping.md`, `issue_core/core/mapping.py`
+
+## Principles
+
+1. Fleet **work-record `status`** and tracker **`IssueState`** are distinct
+   vocabularies. Never treat them as the same enum.
+2. **v1 is outward-only.** Operators (or automation) call
+   `issue map push-status` with a work-record status; issue-core updates the
+   external issue. Inward sync does **not** write work-record files.
+3. **Lane, tags, budgets** stay on the work record. Projections may carry
+   title, body, and agreed labels only.
+4. Unmapped backend issues are **outside** the work-record spine.
+
+## Mapping keys
+
+| Side | Key |
+| --- | --- |
+| Work record | **UUIDv7** (bookkeeping); canonical id optional denorm for UX |
+| External | `(backend, external_id)` where backend is `sqlite` \| `gitea` \| … |
+
+## Outward status table (task kind + pass-through)
+
+| Work-record / input status | Tracker `IssueState` |
+| --- | --- |
+| `wait` | `open` |
+| `todo` | `open` |
+| `progress` | `in_progress` |
+| `done` | `closed` |
+| `cancel` | `closed` |
+| `open` | `open` (pass-through) |
+| `in_progress` | `in_progress` |
+| `blocked` | `blocked` |
+| `closed` | `closed` |
+
+Other kinds (intake, decision, …) should not use this table until kind-
+specific rules are added. Prefer projecting only after promotion to `task`
+when unsure.
+
+## Fields
+
+| May project outward | Stay on work record only |
+| --- | --- |
+| title, description/body | `lane` |
+| labels agreed for external collab | policy/derived `tags` |
+| tracker state (via table above) | budgets / token envelopes |
+| comments (future) | owner spine identity (`agt-…`) |
+
+## CLI
+
+```bash
+issue map push-status --uuid <work-record-uuid> --status progress
+issue map push-status --id ISSUE-WP-0005-T07 --status done
+```
+
+## Non-goals (v1)
+
+- Silent mutation of ADR-001 work-record files from tracker webhooks
+- Full comment CRDT merge
+- Multi-backend active mappings per UUID (one active per backend)
+
+## Implementation
+
+- Policy function: `map_work_record_status_to_issue_state()` in
+  `issue_core/core/mapping.py`
+- CLI: `issue map push-status`
diff --git a/issue_core/api/ingest.py b/issue_core/api/ingest.py
index c2faaf7..d492894 100644
--- a/issue_core/api/ingest.py
+++ b/issue_core/api/ingest.py
@@ -21,6 +21,7 @@ from ..backends.gitea import GiteaBackend
 from ..backends.local import LocalSQLiteBackend
 from ..cli.utils import get_config_dir, load_backend_configs
 from ..core.interfaces import BackendFactory, IssueBackend
+from ..core.mapping import MappingService
 from ..core.models import Issue, IssueState, Label
 from .auth import require_api_key
 from .schemas import BackendName, TaskIngestionRequest, TaskIngestionResponse
@@ -87,6 +88,12 @@ def _build_issue(payload: TaskIngestionRequest, backend_type: str) -> Issue:
         ingestion_meta["due_at"] = (now + timedelta(days=payload.due_in_days)).isoformat()
 
     sync_metadata: Dict[str, Any] = {"ingestion": ingestion_meta}
+    if payload.work_record_uuid:
+        sync_metadata["mapping"] = {
+            "work_record_uuid": payload.work_record_uuid,
+            "work_record_id": payload.work_record_id,
+            "work_record_kind": payload.work_record_kind,
+        }
 
     return Issue(
         id="",
@@ -102,15 +109,65 @@ def _build_issue(payload: TaskIngestionRequest, backend_type: str) -> Issue:
     )
 
 
+def _mapping_backend_name(backend_type: str) -> str:
+    return "sqlite" if backend_type == "local" else backend_type
+
+
+def _upsert_mapping_if_requested(
+    payload: TaskIngestionRequest,
+    *,
+    backend_type: str,
+    issue_id: str,
+    issue_url: Optional[str],
+) -> None:
+    if not payload.work_record_uuid:
+        return
+    svc = MappingService()
+    svc.connect(str(get_config_dir() / "mappings.db"))
+    try:
+        svc.upsert(
+            work_record_uuid=payload.work_record_uuid,
+            work_record_id=payload.work_record_id,
+            work_record_kind=payload.work_record_kind,
+            backend=_mapping_backend_name(backend_type),
+            external_id=issue_id,
+            external_url=issue_url,
+            target_repo=payload.target_repo,
+            direction="outward",
+        )
+    finally:
+        svc.disconnect()
+
+
 @router.post(
     "/issues/",
     response_model=TaskIngestionResponse,
     status_code=status.HTTP_201_CREATED,
     dependencies=[Depends(require_api_key)],
-    summary="Ingest a task from an external emitter (e.g. activity-core).",
+    summary="Create an external tracker issue (intentional emit; optional work-record mapping).",
 )
 async def ingest_task(payload: TaskIngestionRequest) -> TaskIngestionResponse:
     backend, backend_type = _resolve_backend()
+    backend_name: BackendName = _BACKEND_TYPE_TO_NAME.get(backend_type, backend_type)  # type: ignore[assignment]
+    mapping_backend = _mapping_backend_name(backend_type)
+
+    # Idempotent: if work_record_uuid already mapped, return existing issue.
+    if payload.work_record_uuid:
+        map_svc = MappingService()
+        map_svc.connect(str(get_config_dir() / "mappings.db"))
+        try:
+            existing = map_svc.get_active_by_uuid(
+                payload.work_record_uuid, backend=mapping_backend
+            )
+            if existing:
+                return TaskIngestionResponse(
+                    issue_id=existing.external_id,
+                    issue_url=existing.external_url,
+                    backend=backend_name,
+                )
+        finally:
+            map_svc.disconnect()
+
     draft = _build_issue(payload, backend_type)
     try:
         created: Issue = backend.create_issue(draft)
@@ -131,7 +188,20 @@ async def ingest_task(payload: TaskIngestionRequest) -> TaskIngestionResponse:
     issue_url: Optional[str] = None
     if created.sync_metadata:
         issue_url = created.sync_metadata.get("url") or created.sync_metadata.get("html_url")
-    backend_name: BackendName = _BACKEND_TYPE_TO_NAME.get(backend_type, backend_type)  # type: ignore[assignment]
+
+    try:
+        _upsert_mapping_if_requested(
+            payload,
+            backend_type=backend_type,
+            issue_id=issue_id,
+            issue_url=issue_url,
+        )
+    except ValueError as exc:
+        raise HTTPException(
+            status_code=status.HTTP_409_CONFLICT,
+            detail=str(exc),
+        ) from exc
+
     return TaskIngestionResponse(
         issue_id=issue_id,
         issue_url=issue_url,
diff --git a/issue_core/api/schemas.py b/issue_core/api/schemas.py
index 194658d..381473b 100644
--- a/issue_core/api/schemas.py
+++ b/issue_core/api/schemas.py
@@ -34,10 +34,25 @@ class TaskIngestionRequest(BaseModel):
         min_length=1,
         description=(
             "Activity event UUID, or a stable scheduler/source key when no "
-            "event row exists."
+            "event row exists. Not a work-record UUID."
         ),
     )
     activity_definition_id: str = Field(..., min_length=1)
+    work_record_uuid: Optional[str] = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description=(
+            "Optional work-record UUIDv7. When set, ingestion upserts a "
+            "mapping row (work_record_uuid ↔ backend issue id)."
+        ),
+    )
+    work_record_id: Optional[str] = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description="Optional canonical work-record id (human-facing).",
+    )
+    work_record_kind: Optional[str] = Field(
+        default=None,
+        description="Optional work-record kind (task, intake, …).",
+    )
 
 
 class TaskIngestionResponse(BaseModel):
diff --git a/issue_core/cli/main.py b/issue_core/cli/main.py
index dafab62..21986a3 100644
--- a/issue_core/cli/main.py
+++ b/issue_core/cli/main.py
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@ from .commands import issue_group
 from .backend_commands import backend_group
 from .sync_commands import sync_group
 from .serve_command import serve_command
+from .map_commands import map_group, project_command
 from .. import __version__
 
 
@@ -23,22 +24,19 @@ from .. import __version__
 @click.pass_context
 def cli(ctx, config, backend, verbose):
     """
-    Universal Issue Tracking System
+    External issue-tracker connector (Gitea/Forgejo, local SQLite).
 
-    A backend-agnostic issue tracking tool that works with local SQLite,
-    Gitea, GitHub, and other issue tracking systems.
+    Not the origin of fleet work records — see INTENT.md. Use project/map
+    to link work-record UUIDs to external issues when a tracker is in use.
 
     Examples:
-        issue list                    # List all issues
-        issue create "Bug in parser"  # Create new issue
-        issue show 42                 # Show issue #42
-        issue close 42                # Close issue #42
-
-        backend add local ~/.issues   # Add local backend
-        backend add gitea myrepo      # Add Gitea backend
-
-        sync pull gitea               # Sync from Gitea
-        sync push gitea               # Sync to Gitea
+        issue list
+        issue create "Tracker note"
+        issue project <work-record-uuid> --title "..."
+        issue map show --uuid <uuid>
+        issue map push-status --uuid <uuid> --status progress
+        backend add local ~/.issues
+        sync pull gitea
     """
     # Ensure the object exists
     ctx.ensure_object(dict)
@@ -54,6 +52,8 @@ cli.add_command(issue_group, name='issue')
 cli.add_command(backend_group, name='backend')
 cli.add_command(sync_group, name='sync')
 cli.add_command(serve_command)
+cli.add_command(map_group, name='map')
+cli.add_command(project_command, name='project')
 
 
 # Convenience aliases - direct issue commands
diff --git a/issue_core/cli/map_commands.py b/issue_core/cli/map_commands.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1af0c50
--- /dev/null
+++ b/issue_core/cli/map_commands.py
@@ -0,0 +1,421 @@
+"""
+CLI for work-record ↔ external issue mapping (connector role).
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import json
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from typing import Optional
+from uuid import UUID
+
+import click
+
+from ..core.mapping import MappingService, map_work_record_status_to_issue_state
+from ..core.models import Issue, IssueState, Label
+from .utils import echo_error, echo_info, echo_success, get_backend, get_config_dir
+
+
+def _default_mapping_db() -> str:
+    return str(get_config_dir() / "mappings.db")
+
+
+def _open_mapping(db_path: Optional[str] = None) -> MappingService:
+    svc = MappingService()
+    svc.connect(db_path or _default_mapping_db())
+    return svc
+
+
+def _looks_like_uuid(value: str) -> bool:
+    try:
+        UUID(value)
+        return True
+    except (ValueError, TypeError, AttributeError):
+        return False
+
+
+def _split_ref(ref: str) -> tuple:
+    """Return (work_record_uuid|None, work_record_id|None)."""
+    if _looks_like_uuid(ref):
+        return ref, None
+    return None, ref
+
+
+def _backend_label(backend) -> str:
+    """Map backend_type to mapping.backend name."""
+    bt = getattr(backend, "backend_type", None) or "local"
+    return "sqlite" if bt == "local" else bt
+
+
+def _issue_external_id(issue: Issue) -> str:
+    return issue.id or str(issue.number)
+
+
+def _issue_url(issue: Issue) -> Optional[str]:
+    if issue.sync_metadata:
+        return issue.sync_metadata.get("url") or issue.sync_metadata.get("html_url")
+    return None
+
+
+def _print_mapping(mapping, as_json: bool = False) -> None:
+    if as_json:
+        click.echo(json.dumps(mapping.to_dict(), indent=2))
+    else:
+        click.echo(
+            f"{mapping.work_record_uuid}  "
+            f"{mapping.work_record_id or '-'}  "
+            f"{mapping.backend}:{mapping.external_id}  "
+            f"[{mapping.status}/{mapping.direction}]"
+        )
+        if mapping.external_url:
+            click.echo(f"  url: {mapping.external_url}")
+
+
+@click.command("project")
+@click.argument("work_record_ref")
+@click.option("--title", "-t", help="Issue title (required if creating new)")
+@click.option("--description", "-d", default="", help="Issue description")
+@click.option("--kind", "work_record_kind", default="task", help="Work-record kind")
+@click.option(
+    "--canonical-id",
+    help="Canonical work-record id (if ref is a UUID)",
+)
+@click.option("--label", "-l", multiple=True, help="Labels")
+@click.option("--target-repo", help="Optional target_repo denorm")
+@click.option("--mapping-db", type=click.Path(), help="Override mappings.db path")
+@click.option("--format", "output_format", type=click.Choice(["text", "json"]), default="text")
+@click.pass_context
+def project_command(
+    ctx,
+    work_record_ref,
+    title,
+    description,
+    work_record_kind,
+    canonical_id,
+    label,
+    target_repo,
+    mapping_db,
+    output_format,
+):
+    """Project a work record to the default tracker backend (idempotent)."""
+    wr_uuid, wr_id = _split_ref(work_record_ref)
+    if wr_uuid and canonical_id:
+        wr_id = canonical_id
+    if not wr_uuid and not wr_id:
+        raise click.ClickException("work_record_ref is required")
+
+    # For mapping we need a UUID key. If only canonical id given, derive a
+    # stable namespace UUID so bookkeeping still works until hub UUID is known.
+    if not wr_uuid:
+        # Deterministic UUIDv5 from canonical id — not a hub UUIDv7; operators
+        # should prefer real hub UUIDs when available.
+        from uuid import uuid5, NAMESPACE_URL
+
+        wr_uuid = str(uuid5(NAMESPACE_URL, f"work-record:{wr_id}"))
+        echo_info(
+            f"No UUID given; using deterministic key {wr_uuid} for canonical id {wr_id}"
+        )
+
+    backend = get_backend(ctx)
+    backend_name = _backend_label(backend)
+    svc = _open_mapping(mapping_db)
+    try:
+        existing = svc.get_active_by_uuid(wr_uuid, backend=backend_name)
+        if existing:
+            if output_format == "json":
+                click.echo(json.dumps({"mapping": existing.to_dict(), "created": False}, indent=2))
+            else:
+                echo_info("Active mapping already exists (idempotent).")
+                _print_mapping(existing)
+            return
+
+        if not title:
+            title = f"[projection] {wr_id or wr_uuid}"
+
+        now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+        labels = [Label(name=n) for n in label]
+        labels.append(Label(name=f"work_record:{wr_id or wr_uuid}"))
+        draft = Issue(
+            id="",
+            number=0,
+            title=title,
+            description=description or "",
+            state=IssueState.OPEN,
+            created_at=now,
+            updated_at=now,
+            labels=labels,
+            backend_type=getattr(backend, "backend_type", backend_name),
+            sync_metadata={
+                "mapping": {
+                    "work_record_uuid": wr_uuid,
+                    "work_record_id": wr_id,
+                    "work_record_kind": work_record_kind,
+                }
+            },
+        )
+        created = backend.create_issue(draft)
+        ext_id = _issue_external_id(created)
+        mapping = svc.upsert(
+            work_record_uuid=wr_uuid,
+            work_record_id=wr_id,
+            work_record_kind=work_record_kind,
+            backend=backend_name,
+            external_id=ext_id,
+            external_url=_issue_url(created),
+            target_repo=target_repo,
+            direction="outward",
+        )
+        if output_format == "json":
+            click.echo(
+                json.dumps(
+                    {
+                        "mapping": mapping.to_dict(),
+                        "created": True,
+                        "issue_id": ext_id,
+                        "issue_number": created.number,
+                    },
+                    indent=2,
+                )
+            )
+        else:
+            echo_success(f"Projected → {backend_name}:{ext_id} (#{created.number})")
+            _print_mapping(mapping)
+    finally:
+        svc.disconnect()
+        try:
+            backend.disconnect()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+
+@click.group("map")
+def map_group():
+    """Work-record ↔ external issue mapping."""
+
+
+@map_group.command("link")
+@click.argument("work_record_ref")
+@click.argument("external_id")
+@click.option("--kind", "work_record_kind", default="task")
+@click.option("--canonical-id", help="Canonical id when ref is UUID")
+@click.option("--url", "external_url", help="External issue URL")
+@click.option("--target-repo")
+@click.option("--mapping-db", type=click.Path())
+@click.option("--format", "output_format", type=click.Choice(["text", "json"]), default="text")
+@click.pass_context
+def map_link(
+    ctx,
+    work_record_ref,
+    external_id,
+    work_record_kind,
+    canonical_id,
+    external_url,
+    target_repo,
+    mapping_db,
+    output_format,
+):
+    """Link an existing external issue to a work record (no create)."""
+    wr_uuid, wr_id = _split_ref(work_record_ref)
+    if wr_uuid and canonical_id:
+        wr_id = canonical_id
+    if not wr_uuid and wr_id:
+        from uuid import uuid5, NAMESPACE_URL
+
+        wr_uuid = str(uuid5(NAMESPACE_URL, f"work-record:{wr_id}"))
+
+    backend = get_backend(ctx)
+    backend_name = _backend_label(backend)
+    # Verify issue exists when possible
+    issue = backend.get_issue(str(external_id))
+    if issue is None:
+        try:
+            issue = backend.get_issue_by_number(int(external_id))
+        except (TypeError, ValueError):
+            issue = None
+    if issue is None:
+        echo_info("Issue not found on backend; linking by id only.")
+        ext_id = str(external_id)
+        url = external_url
+    else:
+        ext_id = _issue_external_id(issue)
+        url = external_url or _issue_url(issue)
+
+    svc = _open_mapping(mapping_db)
+    try:
+        mapping = svc.upsert(
+            work_record_uuid=wr_uuid,
+            work_record_id=wr_id,
+            work_record_kind=work_record_kind,
+            backend=backend_name,
+            external_id=ext_id,
+            external_url=url,
+            target_repo=target_repo,
+            direction="linked",
+        )
+        if output_format == "json":
+            click.echo(json.dumps(mapping.to_dict(), indent=2))
+        else:
+            echo_success("Linked.")
+            _print_mapping(mapping)
+    finally:
+        svc.disconnect()
+        try:
+            backend.disconnect()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+
+@map_group.command("show")
+@click.option("--uuid", "work_record_uuid", help="Work-record UUIDv7")
+@click.option("--id", "work_record_id", help="Canonical work-record id")
+@click.option("--external", "external_id", help="External issue id")
+@click.option("--backend", "backend_name", help="Backend name for external lookup")
+@click.option("--mapping-db", type=click.Path())
+@click.option("--format", "output_format", type=click.Choice(["text", "json"]), default="text")
+@click.pass_context
+def map_show(
+    ctx, work_record_uuid, work_record_id, external_id, backend_name, mapping_db, output_format
+):
+    """Show active mapping by UUID, canonical id, or external id."""
+    if not any([work_record_uuid, work_record_id, external_id]):
+        raise click.ClickException("Provide --uuid, --id, or --external")
+    if external_id and not backend_name:
+        backend = get_backend(ctx)
+        backend_name = _backend_label(backend)
+        try:
+            backend.disconnect()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
+
+    svc = _open_mapping(mapping_db)
+    try:
+        mapping = svc.resolve(
+            work_record_uuid=work_record_uuid,
+            work_record_id=work_record_id,
+            backend=backend_name,
+            external_id=external_id,
+        )
+        if not mapping:
+            raise click.ClickException("No active mapping found")
+        _print_mapping(mapping, as_json=(output_format == "json"))
+    finally:
+        svc.disconnect()
+
+
+@map_group.command("detach")
+@click.option("--uuid", "work_record_uuid", help="Work-record UUID")
+@click.option("--id", "work_record_id", help="Canonical work-record id")
+@click.option("--backend", "backend_name", help="Limit detach to one backend")
+@click.option("--mapping-db", type=click.Path())
+@click.option("--format", "output_format", type=click.Choice(["text", "json"]), default="text")
+def map_detach(work_record_uuid, work_record_id, backend_name, mapping_db, output_format):
+    """Detach (soft) an active mapping."""
+    if not work_record_uuid and not work_record_id:
+        raise click.ClickException("Provide --uuid or --id")
+    svc = _open_mapping(mapping_db)
+    try:
+        mapping = svc.detach(
+            work_record_uuid=work_record_uuid,
+            work_record_id=work_record_id,
+            backend=backend_name,
+        )
+        if not mapping:
+            raise click.ClickException("No active mapping to detach")
+        if output_format == "json":
+            click.echo(json.dumps(mapping.to_dict(), indent=2))
+        else:
+            echo_success("Detached.")
+            _print_mapping(mapping)
+    finally:
+        svc.disconnect()
+
+
+@map_group.command("list")
+@click.option("--limit", type=int, default=50)
+@click.option("--mapping-db", type=click.Path())
+@click.option("--format", "output_format", type=click.Choice(["text", "json"]), default="text")
+def map_list(limit, mapping_db, output_format):
+    """List active mappings."""
+    svc = _open_mapping(mapping_db)
+    try:
+        rows = svc.list_active(limit=limit)
+        if output_format == "json":
+            click.echo(json.dumps([r.to_dict() for r in rows], indent=2))
+        else:
+            if not rows:
+                click.echo("No active mappings.")
+                return
+            for m in rows:
+                _print_mapping(m)
+    finally:
+        svc.disconnect()
+
+
+@map_group.command("push-status")
+@click.option("--uuid", "work_record_uuid", help="Work-record UUID")
+@click.option("--id", "work_record_id", help="Canonical work-record id")
+@click.option(
+    "--status",
+    "work_status",
+    required=True,
+    help="Fleet work-record status (e.g. progress, done) or tracker state",
+)
+@click.option("--mapping-db", type=click.Path())
+@click.option("--format", "output_format", type=click.Choice(["text", "json"]), default="text")
+@click.pass_context
+def map_push_status(
+    ctx, work_record_uuid, work_record_id, work_status, mapping_db, output_format
+):
+    """Outward-only: set external issue state from work-record status (v1)."""
+    if not work_record_uuid and not work_record_id:
+        raise click.ClickException("Provide --uuid or --id")
+    try:
+        issue_state = map_work_record_status_to_issue_state(work_status)
+    except ValueError as exc:
+        raise click.ClickException(str(exc)) from exc
+
+    svc = _open_mapping(mapping_db)
+    backend = get_backend(ctx)
+    try:
+        mapping = svc.resolve(
+            work_record_uuid=work_record_uuid,
+            work_record_id=work_record_id,
+            backend=_backend_label(backend),
+        )
+        if not mapping:
+            raise click.ClickException("No active mapping found")
+
+        issue = backend.get_issue(mapping.external_id)
+        if issue is None:
+            try:
+                issue = backend.get_issue_by_number(int(mapping.external_id))
+            except (TypeError, ValueError):
+                issue = None
+        if issue is None:
+            raise click.ClickException(f"External issue {mapping.external_id} not found")
+
+        issue.state = IssueState.from_string(issue_state)
+        issue.updated_at = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+        updated = backend.update_issue(issue)
+        svc.mark_pushed(mapping.id)
+
+        payload = {
+            "mapping": mapping.to_dict(),
+            "work_record_status": work_status,
+            "issue_state": issue_state,
+            "external_id": mapping.external_id,
+            "issue_number": updated.number,
+        }
+        if output_format == "json":
+            click.echo(json.dumps(payload, indent=2))
+        else:
+            echo_success(
+                f"Pushed status {work_status!r} → issue state {issue_state!r} "
+                f"on {mapping.backend}:{mapping.external_id}"
+            )
+    finally:
+        svc.disconnect()
+        try:
+            backend.disconnect()
+        except Exception:
+            pass
diff --git a/issue_core/core/mapping.py b/issue_core/core/mapping.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d70f16b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/issue_core/core/mapping.py
@@ -0,0 +1,381 @@
+"""
+Work-record UUID ↔ external issue id mapping.
+
+Fleet bookkeeping for the connector role (INTENT / work-record canon).
+Storage is a dedicated SQLite file so mapping works regardless of whether
+the active CRUD backend is local or Gitea.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sqlite3
+import uuid
+from dataclasses import dataclass
+from datetime import datetime, timezone
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import Any, Dict, List, Optional
+
+
+ACTIVE = "active"
+DETACHED = "detached"
+SUPERSEDED = "superseded"
+
+
+@dataclass
+class WorkRecordMapping:
+    """One projection link between a work record and a backend issue."""
+
+    id: str
+    work_record_uuid: str
+    work_record_id: Optional[str]
+    work_record_kind: Optional[str]
+    backend: str
+    external_id: str
+    external_url: Optional[str]
+    target_repo: Optional[str]
+    direction: str  # outward | linked
+    status: str  # active | detached | superseded
+    created_at: str
+    updated_at: str
+    last_pushed_at: Optional[str] = None
+    last_pulled_at: Optional[str] = None
+
+    def to_dict(self) -> Dict[str, Any]:
+        return {
+            "id": self.id,
+            "work_record_uuid": self.work_record_uuid,
+            "work_record_id": self.work_record_id,
+            "work_record_kind": self.work_record_kind,
+            "backend": self.backend,
+            "external_id": self.external_id,
+            "external_url": self.external_url,
+            "target_repo": self.target_repo,
+            "direction": self.direction,
+            "status": self.status,
+            "created_at": self.created_at,
+            "updated_at": self.updated_at,
+            "last_pushed_at": self.last_pushed_at,
+            "last_pulled_at": self.last_pulled_at,
+        }
+
+
+# Work-record task status → tracker IssueState (outward v1).
+# See docs/boundary-sync-and-status-mapping.md
+TASK_STATUS_TO_ISSUE_STATE = {
+    "wait": "open",
+    "todo": "open",
+    "progress": "in_progress",
+    "done": "closed",
+    "cancel": "closed",
+    # Already tracker-ish values (pass-through)
+    "open": "open",
+    "closed": "closed",
+    "in_progress": "in_progress",
+    "blocked": "blocked",
+}
+
+
+def map_work_record_status_to_issue_state(status: str) -> str:
+    """Map fleet work-record status (or tracker state) to IssueState value."""
+    key = (status or "").strip().lower().replace("-", "_")
+    if key not in TASK_STATUS_TO_ISSUE_STATE:
+        raise ValueError(
+            f"Unknown status {status!r}; expected one of "
+            f"{sorted(set(TASK_STATUS_TO_ISSUE_STATE))}"
+        )
+    return TASK_STATUS_TO_ISSUE_STATE[key]
+
+
+class MappingService:
+    """CRUD for work_record_issue_map rows."""
+
+    def __init__(self, db_path: Optional[str] = None):
+        self.db_path = db_path or "mappings.db"
+        self.connection: Optional[sqlite3.Connection] = None
+
+    def connect(self, db_path: Optional[str] = None) -> None:
+        if db_path:
+            self.db_path = db_path
+        Path(self.db_path).parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        self.connection = sqlite3.connect(self.db_path)
+        self.connection.row_factory = sqlite3.Row
+        self.connection.execute("PRAGMA foreign_keys = ON")
+        self._initialize_schema()
+
+    def disconnect(self) -> None:
+        if self.connection:
+            self.connection.close()
+            self.connection = None
+
+    def _initialize_schema(self) -> None:
+        assert self.connection is not None
+        self.connection.executescript(
+            """
+            CREATE TABLE IF NOT EXISTS work_record_issue_map (
+                id TEXT PRIMARY KEY,
+                work_record_uuid TEXT NOT NULL,
+                work_record_id TEXT,
+                work_record_kind TEXT,
+                backend TEXT NOT NULL,
+                external_id TEXT NOT NULL,
+                external_url TEXT,
+                target_repo TEXT,
+                direction TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'outward',
+                status TEXT NOT NULL DEFAULT 'active'
+                    CHECK (status IN ('active', 'detached', 'superseded')),
+                created_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+                updated_at TEXT NOT NULL,
+                last_pushed_at TEXT,
+                last_pulled_at TEXT
+            );
+            CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_map_active_uuid_backend
+                ON work_record_issue_map (work_record_uuid, backend)
+                WHERE status = 'active';
+            CREATE UNIQUE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_map_active_backend_external
+                ON work_record_issue_map (backend, external_id)
+                WHERE status = 'active';
+            CREATE INDEX IF NOT EXISTS idx_map_work_record_id
+                ON work_record_issue_map (work_record_id);
+            """
+        )
+        self.connection.commit()
+
+    def _require_conn(self) -> sqlite3.Connection:
+        if not self.connection:
+            raise RuntimeError("MappingService is not connected")
+        return self.connection
+
+    def _row_to_mapping(self, row: sqlite3.Row) -> WorkRecordMapping:
+        return WorkRecordMapping(
+            id=row["id"],
+            work_record_uuid=row["work_record_uuid"],
+            work_record_id=row["work_record_id"],
+            work_record_kind=row["work_record_kind"],
+            backend=row["backend"],
+            external_id=row["external_id"],
+            external_url=row["external_url"],
+            target_repo=row["target_repo"],
+            direction=row["direction"],
+            status=row["status"],
+            created_at=row["created_at"],
+            updated_at=row["updated_at"],
+            last_pushed_at=row["last_pushed_at"],
+            last_pulled_at=row["last_pulled_at"],
+        )
+
+    def get_active_by_uuid(
+        self, work_record_uuid: str, backend: Optional[str] = None
+    ) -> Optional[WorkRecordMapping]:
+        conn = self._require_conn()
+        if backend:
+            cur = conn.execute(
+                """
+                SELECT * FROM work_record_issue_map
+                WHERE work_record_uuid = ? AND backend = ? AND status = 'active'
+                """,
+                (work_record_uuid, backend),
+            )
+        else:
+            cur = conn.execute(
+                """
+                SELECT * FROM work_record_issue_map
+                WHERE work_record_uuid = ? AND status = 'active'
+                ORDER BY updated_at DESC
+                """,
+                (work_record_uuid,),
+            )
+        row = cur.fetchone()
+        return self._row_to_mapping(row) if row else None
+
+    def get_active_by_canonical_id(
+        self, work_record_id: str, backend: Optional[str] = None
+    ) -> Optional[WorkRecordMapping]:
+        conn = self._require_conn()
+        if backend:
+            cur = conn.execute(
+                """
+                SELECT * FROM work_record_issue_map
+                WHERE work_record_id = ? AND backend = ? AND status = 'active'
+                """,
+                (work_record_id, backend),
+            )
+        else:
+            cur = conn.execute(
+                """
+                SELECT * FROM work_record_issue_map
+                WHERE work_record_id = ? AND status = 'active'
+                ORDER BY updated_at DESC
+                """,
+                (work_record_id,),
+            )
+        row = cur.fetchone()
+        return self._row_to_mapping(row) if row else None
+
+    def get_active_by_external(
+        self, backend: str, external_id: str
+    ) -> Optional[WorkRecordMapping]:
+        conn = self._require_conn()
+        cur = conn.execute(
+            """
+            SELECT * FROM work_record_issue_map
+            WHERE backend = ? AND external_id = ? AND status = 'active'
+            """,
+            (backend, str(external_id)),
+        )
+        row = cur.fetchone()
+        return self._row_to_mapping(row) if row else None
+
+    def resolve(
+        self,
+        *,
+        work_record_uuid: Optional[str] = None,
+        work_record_id: Optional[str] = None,
+        backend: Optional[str] = None,
+        external_id: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> Optional[WorkRecordMapping]:
+        if work_record_uuid:
+            return self.get_active_by_uuid(work_record_uuid, backend=backend)
+        if work_record_id:
+            return self.get_active_by_canonical_id(work_record_id, backend=backend)
+        if backend and external_id is not None:
+            return self.get_active_by_external(backend, external_id)
+        raise ValueError("Provide work_record_uuid, work_record_id, or backend+external_id")
+
+    def upsert(
+        self,
+        *,
+        work_record_uuid: str,
+        backend: str,
+        external_id: str,
+        work_record_id: Optional[str] = None,
+        work_record_kind: Optional[str] = None,
+        external_url: Optional[str] = None,
+        target_repo: Optional[str] = None,
+        direction: str = "outward",
+    ) -> WorkRecordMapping:
+        """Idempotent active mapping for (uuid, backend)."""
+        conn = self._require_conn()
+        now = datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()
+        existing = self.get_active_by_uuid(work_record_uuid, backend=backend)
+        if existing:
+            if existing.external_id != str(external_id):
+                raise ValueError(
+                    f"Active mapping for {work_record_uuid} on {backend} already "
+                    f"points at external_id={existing.external_id!r}, not {external_id!r}"
+                )
+            conn.execute(
+                """
+                UPDATE work_record_issue_map SET
+                    work_record_id = COALESCE(?, work_record_id),
+                    work_record_kind = COALESCE(?, work_record_kind),
+                    external_url = COALESCE(?, external_url),
+                    target_repo = COALESCE(?, target_repo),
+                    updated_at = ?
+                WHERE id = ?
+                """,
+                (
+                    work_record_id,
+                    work_record_kind,
+                    external_url,
+                    target_repo,
+                    now,
+                    existing.id,
+                ),
+            )
+            conn.commit()
+            refreshed = self.get_active_by_uuid(work_record_uuid, backend=backend)
+            assert refreshed is not None
+            return refreshed
+
+        # External id already mapped to a different UUID?
+        conflict = self.get_active_by_external(backend, external_id)
+        if conflict and conflict.work_record_uuid != work_record_uuid:
+            raise ValueError(
+                f"external_id={external_id!r} on {backend} already mapped to "
+                f"{conflict.work_record_uuid}"
+            )
+
+        mapping_id = str(uuid.uuid4())
+        conn.execute(
+            """
+            INSERT INTO work_record_issue_map (
+                id, work_record_uuid, work_record_id, work_record_kind,
+                backend, external_id, external_url, target_repo,
+                direction, status, created_at, updated_at
+            ) VALUES (?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, ?, 'active', ?, ?)
+            """,
+            (
+                mapping_id,
+                work_record_uuid,
+                work_record_id,
+                work_record_kind,
+                backend,
+                str(external_id),
+                external_url,
+                target_repo,
+                direction,
+                now,
+                now,
+            ),
+        )
+        conn.commit()
+        created = self.get_active_by_uuid(work_record_uuid, backend=backend)
+        assert created is not None
+        return created
+
+    def detach(
+        self,
+        *,
+        work_record_uuid: Optional[str] = None,
+        work_record_id: Optional[str] = None,
+        backend: Optional[str] = None,
+    ) -> Optional[WorkRecordMapping]:
+        conn = self._require_conn()
+        mapping = self.resolve(
+            work_record_uuid=work_record_uuid,
+            work_record_id=work_record_id,
+            backend=backend,
+        )
+        if not mapping:
+            return None
+        now = datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()
+        conn.execute(
+            """
+            UPDATE work_record_issue_map
+            SET status = 'detached', updated_at = ?
+            WHERE id = ?
+            """,
+            (now, mapping.id),
+        )
+        conn.commit()
+        cur = conn.execute(
+            "SELECT * FROM work_record_issue_map WHERE id = ?", (mapping.id,)
+        )
+        row = cur.fetchone()
+        return self._row_to_mapping(row) if row else None
+
+    def mark_pushed(self, mapping_id: str) -> None:
+        conn = self._require_conn()
+        now = datetime.now(timezone.utc).isoformat()
+        conn.execute(
+            """
+            UPDATE work_record_issue_map
+            SET last_pushed_at = ?, updated_at = ?
+            WHERE id = ?
+            """,
+            (now, now, mapping_id),
+        )
+        conn.commit()
+
+    def list_active(self, limit: int = 100) -> List[WorkRecordMapping]:
+        conn = self._require_conn()
+        cur = conn.execute(
+            """
+            SELECT * FROM work_record_issue_map
+            WHERE status = 'active'
+            ORDER BY updated_at DESC
+            LIMIT ?
+            """,
+            (limit,),
+        )
+        return [self._row_to_mapping(r) for r in cur.fetchall()]
diff --git a/pyproject.toml b/pyproject.toml
index 063c453..28222d1 100644
--- a/pyproject.toml
+++ b/pyproject.toml
@@ -1,17 +1,17 @@
 [build-system]
-requires = ["setuptools>=61,<77", "wheel"]
+requires = ["setuptools>=61,<77", "wheel"]
 build-backend = "setuptools.build_meta"
 
 [project]
 name = "issue-core"
-description = "Authoritative task lifecycle manager for the Coulomb org — backend-agnostic with plugin architecture"
+description = "External issue-tracker connector (Gitea/Forgejo, SQLite) with work-record UUID mapping — not the fleet work origin"
 readme = "README.md"
 requires-python = ">=3.8"
 license = {text = "MIT"}
 authors = [
     {name = "MarkiTect Project", email = "noreply@example.com"},
 ]
-keywords = ["issue-tracking", "project-management", "cli", "gitea", "github", "jira"]
+keywords = ["issue-tracking", "connector", "cli", "gitea", "forgejo", "work-record"]
 classifiers = [
     "Development Status :: 4 - Beta",
     "Environment :: Console",
@@ -37,11 +37,11 @@ dynamic = ["version"]
 
 [project.optional-dependencies]
 dev = [
-    "build>=1.3",
+    "build>=1.3",
     "pytest>=6.0",
     "pytest-cov>=2.0",
     "pytest-mock>=3.0",
-    "twine>=6.0",
+    "twine>=6.0",
     "black>=22.0",
     "isort>=5.0",
     "flake8>=4.0",
@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ dev = [
     "httpx>=0.27",
     "fastapi>=0.110,<1.0",
     "pydantic>=2.0,<3.0",
-]
+]
 docs = [
     "sphinx>=4.0",
     "sphinx-rtd-theme>=1.0",
@@ -172,4 +172,4 @@ exclude_lines = [
     "if __name__ == .__main__.:",
     "class .*\\bProtocol\\):",
     "@(abc\\.)?abstractmethod",
-]
+]
diff --git a/registry/capabilities/capability.infotech.issue-tracking.md b/registry/capabilities/capability.infotech.issue-tracking.md
index 09984ef..67ebd67 100644
--- a/registry/capabilities/capability.infotech.issue-tracking.md
+++ b/registry/capabilities/capability.infotech.issue-tracking.md
@@ -1,60 +1,62 @@
 ---
 id: capability.infotech.issue-tracking
-name: Universal Issue Tracking Coordination
-summary: Unified Python/CLI interface for issue tracking across Gitea, GitHub, and GitLab, preventing
-  direct platform API usage and credential sprawl for coordinating agents.
+name: External Issue Tracker Connector
+summary: Backend-agnostic CLI/Python connector to Gitea/Forgejo (and SQLite cache)
+  with work-record UUID ↔ external issue mapping. Not the fleet work origin.
 owner: issue-core
 status: draft
 domain: infotech
 tags:
 - issue-tracking
-- coordination
-- multi-platform
+- connector
+- work-record
 maturity:
   discovery:
     current: D4
     target: D5
     confidence: high
-    rationale: SCOPE.md, CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml (agent-integration deep spec), AGENT_INTEGRATION.md,
-      ROADMAP.md, and .capability/ feedback cover usage rules, API surface, and credential handling. This
-      registry entry is the federation-facing normalization of that material — the YAML manifest remains
-      the detailed agent-integration companion, not superseded.
+    rationale: INTENT.md, SCOPE.md, CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml, mapping design,
+      boundary-sync policy, AGENT_INTEGRATION.md.
   availability:
     current: A2
     target: A3
     confidence: high
-    rationale: Both a Python API (`from issue_core.backends.gitea import GiteaBackend`) and a CLI (`issue
-      list/create/show/edit/close/comment`, JSON output) are installable via pip; MCP server is planned
-      but not yet available.
+    rationale: Python package + CLI (list/create/project/map) installable via pip;
+      mapping store shipped; MCP not yet available.
 external_evidence:
   completeness:
     level: C2
-    confidence: low
+    confidence: medium
     basis: scope_vs_intent_and_consumer_expectations
     satisfied_expectations:
-    - Gitea backend implemented; GitHub/GitLab described in scope
-    - CLI with JSON output and offline/local caching
-    - credential handling via env vars per credential-routing conventions (GITEA_API_TOKEN, never in code/logs)
+    - Gitea + local SQLite backends
+    - CLI with JSON output; project/map commands
+    - work_record_uuid optional on TaskSpec
+    - credential handling via env vars (GITEA_API_TOKEN, ISSUE_CORE_API_KEY)
     broken_expectations: []
-    out_of_scope_expectations: []
+    out_of_scope_expectations:
+    - Fleet task origin / intake promotion (work-record canon)
+    - Default IssueSink for internal findings (activity-core)
   reliability:
     level: R1
     confidence: low
     basis: consumer_quality_signals
     known_reliability_risks:
-    - manual backend configuration required in v1.0 (auto-detect planned for v1.1)
-    - no built-in issue locking beyond assignee+comment convention
-    - MCP server not yet available
+    - manual backend configuration (auto-detect planned)
+    - no built-in issue locking beyond assignee+state
+    - inward boundary sync not shipped
 discovery:
-  intent: Give coordinating agents a single, credential-safe interface for issue tracking across Gitea/GitHub/GitLab
-    instead of direct platform API calls, CLI wrapping, or custom scripts.
+  intent: Project and operate on external issue trackers with a stable link to
+    work-record UUIDs; never replace file-first work records as coordination substrate.
   includes:
-  - unified Python API and CLI over Gitea/GitHub/GitLab issue operations
-  - local caching and offline mode
+  - unified Python API and CLI over Gitea/SQLite issue operations
+  - work_record_issue_map store + project/map/push-status
+  - local offline cache and backend sync
   - credential handling via environment variables
   excludes:
-  - MCP server (planned, not yet shipped)
-  - distributed locking and query DSL (roadmapped for v2.0)
+  - originating workplans/tasks/intake
+  - MCP server (planned)
+  - multi-agent fleet board semantics on Forgejo
   assumptions: []
   use_cases: []
   research_memos: []
@@ -63,70 +65,21 @@ availability:
   target_level: A3
   current_artifacts:
   - Python package (`issue_core`)
-  - '`issue` CLI'
+  - '`issue` CLI (including project/map)'
   target_artifacts: []
   consumption_modes:
   - cli
   - library import
+  - rest (optional `[api]` extra)
 relations:
   depends_on: []
-  supports:
-  - capability.procurement.vergabe-teilnahme
+  supports: []
   related_to:
   - capability.activity.event-coordinate
 evidence:
   documentation:
+  - INTENT.md
   - SCOPE.md
   - CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml
-  - AGENT_INTEGRATION.md
-  - ROADMAP.md
-  tests:
-  - tests/ (120 tests collected 2026-07-07; 61% coverage per CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml)
-  consumer_feedback: []
-  bug_reports: []
-  incidents: []
-consumer_guidance:
-  recommended_for:
-  - agents coordinating via Gitea/GitHub/GitLab issues who would otherwise call platform APIs directly
-  not_recommended_for:
-  - needs requiring MCP server integration (not shipped yet)
-  known_limitations:
-  - manual backend configuration in v1.0; no built-in issue locking beyond assignee convention
-  - CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml and registry/capabilities/ coexist — update both when agent rules change
-promotion_history: []
----
-
-# Universal Issue Tracking Coordination
-
-## Overview
-
-`issue-core` is a universal interface for issue-tracking coordination across Gitea, GitHub, and GitLab, giving agents a unified Python API and CLI instead of direct platform API calls. This registry entry is the federation-facing form of the repo's `CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml` manifest (120 tests, 61% coverage, documented usage rules and credential handling). The YAML file remains the detailed agent-integration companion.
-
-## Assessment notes
-
-### Discovery
-
-Repo already carries its own detailed capability manifest (CAPABILITY-issue-tracking.yaml) plus AGENT_INTEGRATION.md, ROADMAP.md, and a .capability/ feedback-submission mechanism; usage rules, API surface, and credential handling are all explicitly documented. This entry migrates that existing description into the standard registry location rather than drafting fresh.
-
-### Availability
-
-Both a Python API (`from issue_core.backends.gitea import GiteaBackend`) and a CLI (`issue list/create/show/edit/close/comment`, JSON output) are installable via pip; MCP server is planned but not yet available.
-
-### Completeness
-
-First-pass honest assessment from the REUSE-WP-0017 coverage campaign
-(reuse-surface). No external consumer feedback exists yet; levels reflect
-scope-vs-intent documentation quality, not internal code quality.
-
-### Reliability
-
-No production consumer telemetry exists yet; reliability level is
-intentionally conservative pending REUSE-WP-0019 reuse-telemetry evidence.
-
-## Promotion checklist
-
-- [x] ID follows `capability.<domain>.<name>` pattern
-- [x] Maturity enums match `specs/CapabilityMaturityStandard.md`
-- [x] `external_evidence` is populated separately from `maturity`
-- [x] Relations reference valid capability IDs (vergabe-teilnahme, activity-core)
-- [x] Index entry added in `registry/indexes/capabilities.yaml`
+  - docs/uuid-external-id-mapping.md
+  - docs/boundary-sync-and-status-mapping.md
diff --git a/tests/test_api_ingest.py b/tests/test_api_ingest.py
index 0966ec9..417dff2 100644
--- a/tests/test_api_ingest.py
+++ b/tests/test_api_ingest.py
@@ -189,6 +189,42 @@ def test_ingest_persists_traceability_metadata(client, valid_payload, tmp_issue_
         backend.disconnect()
 
 
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_ingest_with_work_record_uuid_creates_mapping(client, valid_payload, tmp_issue_store):
+    wr = str(uuid.uuid4())
+    valid_payload["work_record_uuid"] = wr
+    valid_payload["work_record_id"] = "ISSUE-WP-0005-T06"
+    valid_payload["work_record_kind"] = "task"
+    response = client.post(
+        "/issues/",
+        json=valid_payload,
+        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"},
+    )
+    assert response.status_code == 201, response.text
+    issue_id = response.json()["issue_id"]
+
+    from issue_core.core.mapping import MappingService
+
+    svc = MappingService()
+    svc.connect(str(tmp_issue_store / "mappings.db"))
+    try:
+        mapping = svc.get_active_by_uuid(wr, backend="sqlite")
+        assert mapping is not None
+        assert mapping.external_id == issue_id
+        assert mapping.work_record_id == "ISSUE-WP-0005-T06"
+    finally:
+        svc.disconnect()
+
+    # Idempotent second post returns same issue
+    response2 = client.post(
+        "/issues/",
+        json=valid_payload,
+        headers={"Authorization": f"Bearer {API_KEY}"},
+    )
+    assert response2.status_code == 201
+    assert response2.json()["issue_id"] == issue_id
+
+
 @pytest.mark.unit
 def test_app_refuses_without_api_key_env(monkeypatch, tmp_issue_store, valid_payload):
     monkeypatch.delenv("ISSUE_CORE_API_KEY", raising=False)
diff --git a/tests/test_cli_commands.py b/tests/test_cli_commands.py
index b2d6af8..a7e57d3 100644
--- a/tests/test_cli_commands.py
+++ b/tests/test_cli_commands.py
@@ -27,9 +27,9 @@ class TestCLICommands:
         """Test main CLI help displays correctly."""
         result = self.runner.invoke(cli, ['--help'])
         assert result.exit_code == 0
-        assert 'Universal Issue Tracking System' in result.output
-        assert 'issue list' in result.output
-        assert 'issue show' in result.output
+        assert 'External issue-tracker connector' in result.output
+        assert 'project' in result.output
+        assert 'map' in result.output
 
     def test_backend_list_command(self):
         """Test backend list command."""
@@ -121,35 +121,39 @@ class TestCLICommands:
         result = self.runner.invoke(cli, ['--version'])
         assert result.exit_code == 0
 
-    @patch('issue_core.cli.utils.get_backend')
+    @patch('issue_core.cli.commands.get_backend')
     def test_list_command_basic(self, mock_get_backend):
         """Test basic list command functionality."""
-        # This test will help us identify the existing bug
+        from issue_core.core.models import Issue, IssueState
+        from datetime import timezone
+
         mock_backend = Mock()
-
-        # Create mock issues
-        mock_issue1 = Mock()
-        mock_issue1.number = 1
-        mock_issue1.title = "First Issue"
-        mock_issue1.state.value = "open"
-
-        mock_issue2 = Mock()
-        mock_issue2.number = 2
-        mock_issue2.title = "Second Issue"
-        mock_issue2.state.value = "closed"
-
-        mock_backend.list_issues.return_value = [mock_issue1, mock_issue2]
+        now = datetime(2023, 1, 1, 12, 0, 0, tzinfo=timezone.utc)
+        mock_backend.list_issues.return_value = [
+            Issue(
+                id="1",
+                number=1,
+                title="First Issue",
+                description="",
+                state=IssueState.OPEN,
+                created_at=now,
+                updated_at=now,
+            ),
+            Issue(
+                id="2",
+                number=2,
+                title="Second Issue",
+                description="",
+                state=IssueState.CLOSED,
+                created_at=now,
+                updated_at=now,
+            ),
+        ]
         mock_get_backend.return_value = mock_backend
 
         result = self.runner.invoke(cli, ['list'])
-
-        # This might fail due to the existing bug, which is what we want to identify
-        if result.exit_code != 0:
-            print(f"List command failed with: {result.output}")
-            print(f"Exception: {result.exception}")
-
-        # We expect this to work properly after fixes
-        assert result.exit_code == 0 or "'Sentinel' object has no attribute 'lower'" in str(result.exception)
+        assert result.exit_code == 0, result.output
+        assert "First Issue" in result.output
 
 
 class TestBackendConfiguration:
diff --git a/tests/test_mapping.py b/tests/test_mapping.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..1048099
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_mapping.py
@@ -0,0 +1,129 @@
+"""Unit tests for MappingService and status mapping."""
+
+import uuid
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import pytest
+
+from issue_core.core.mapping import (
+    MappingService,
+    map_work_record_status_to_issue_state,
+)
+from issue_core.core.models import Issue, IssueState, Label
+from issue_core.backends.local import LocalSQLiteBackend
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_status_mapping_table():
+    assert map_work_record_status_to_issue_state("todo") == "open"
+    assert map_work_record_status_to_issue_state("progress") == "in_progress"
+    assert map_work_record_status_to_issue_state("done") == "closed"
+    assert map_work_record_status_to_issue_state("cancel") == "closed"
+    assert map_work_record_status_to_issue_state("blocked") == "blocked"
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
+        map_work_record_status_to_issue_state("nope")
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_upsert_idempotent(tmp_path):
+    db = str(tmp_path / "mappings.db")
+    svc = MappingService()
+    svc.connect(db)
+    wr = str(uuid.uuid4())
+    m1 = svc.upsert(
+        work_record_uuid=wr,
+        work_record_id="ISSUE-WP-0005-T04",
+        work_record_kind="task",
+        backend="sqlite",
+        external_id="1",
+        direction="outward",
+    )
+    m2 = svc.upsert(
+        work_record_uuid=wr,
+        work_record_id="ISSUE-WP-0005-T04",
+        work_record_kind="task",
+        backend="sqlite",
+        external_id="1",
+        direction="outward",
+    )
+    assert m1.id == m2.id
+    assert m2.external_id == "1"
+    assert svc.get_active_by_canonical_id("ISSUE-WP-0005-T04").work_record_uuid == wr
+    svc.disconnect()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_unique_external_conflict(tmp_path):
+    db = str(tmp_path / "mappings.db")
+    svc = MappingService()
+    svc.connect(db)
+    a = str(uuid.uuid4())
+    b = str(uuid.uuid4())
+    svc.upsert(work_record_uuid=a, backend="sqlite", external_id="9")
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="already mapped"):
+        svc.upsert(work_record_uuid=b, backend="sqlite", external_id="9")
+    svc.disconnect()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_detach(tmp_path):
+    db = str(tmp_path / "mappings.db")
+    svc = MappingService()
+    svc.connect(db)
+    wr = str(uuid.uuid4())
+    svc.upsert(work_record_uuid=wr, backend="gitea", external_id="42")
+    detached = svc.detach(work_record_uuid=wr, backend="gitea")
+    assert detached is not None
+    assert detached.status == "detached"
+    assert svc.get_active_by_uuid(wr) is None
+    # Can re-map after detach
+    again = svc.upsert(work_record_uuid=wr, backend="gitea", external_id="43")
+    assert again.status == "active"
+    assert again.external_id == "43"
+    svc.disconnect()
+
+
+@pytest.mark.unit
+def test_project_flow_local_backend(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    """End-to-end: create issue on local backend + mapping row."""
+    from datetime import datetime, timezone
+    from issue_core.core.mapping import MappingService
+
+    issues_db = str(tmp_path / "issues.db")
+    map_db = str(tmp_path / "mappings.db")
+    backend = LocalSQLiteBackend()
+    backend.connect({"db_path": issues_db})
+    wr = str(uuid.uuid4())
+    now = datetime.now(timezone.utc)
+    issue = backend.create_issue(
+        Issue(
+            id="",
+            number=0,
+            title="Projected task",
+            description="",
+            state=IssueState.OPEN,
+            created_at=now,
+            updated_at=now,
+            labels=[Label(name="work_record:ISSUE-WP-0005-T04")],
+            backend_type="local",
+        )
+    )
+    svc = MappingService()
+    svc.connect(map_db)
+    mapping = svc.upsert(
+        work_record_uuid=wr,
+        work_record_id="ISSUE-WP-0005-T04",
+        work_record_kind="task",
+        backend="sqlite",
+        external_id=issue.id or str(issue.number),
+        direction="outward",
+    )
+    # push-status simulation
+    target = map_work_record_status_to_issue_state("progress")
+    issue.state = IssueState.from_string(target)
+    updated = backend.update_issue(issue)
+    assert updated.state == IssueState.IN_PROGRESS
+    svc.mark_pushed(mapping.id)
+    assert svc.get_active_by_uuid(wr).last_pushed_at is not None
+    svc.disconnect()
+    backend.disconnect()
diff --git a/workplans/ISSUE-WP-0005-connector-alignment-implementation.md b/workplans/ISSUE-WP-0005-connector-alignment-implementation.md
index 1ee6a58..4d4b05f 100644
--- a/workplans/ISSUE-WP-0005-connector-alignment-implementation.md
+++ b/workplans/ISSUE-WP-0005-connector-alignment-implementation.md
@@ -4,7 +4,7 @@ type: workplan
 title: "Implement connector alignment: mapping, docs hygiene, scope gaps vs refined INTENT"
 domain: infotech
 repo: issue-core
-status: proposed
+status: finished
 owner: codex
 topic_slug: infotech
 created: "2026-07-22"
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ without turning issue-core back into a work origin or fleet task board.
 
 ```task
 id: ISSUE-WP-0005-T01
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: high
 state_hub_task_id: "f538d48e-11b1-4859-9f39-a1103b90c05b"
 ```
@@ -83,7 +83,7 @@ done; no reintroduction of landing-zone language in those files.
 
 ```task
 id: ISSUE-WP-0005-T02
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: medium
 state_hub_task_id: "53889021-53ed-4f98-a144-f7c211a58def"
 ```
@@ -105,7 +105,7 @@ capability summary matches SCOPE §1 honesty.
 
 ```task
 id: ISSUE-WP-0005-T03
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: high
 state_hub_task_id: "d2fa5a3c-12ef-4a75-a8c9-b7843d507396"
 ```
@@ -129,7 +129,7 @@ policy.
 
 ```task
 id: ISSUE-WP-0005-T04
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: high
 state_hub_task_id: "a8f0d528-1b1f-4dfb-8df0-9c9ffd56e47c"
 ```
@@ -152,7 +152,7 @@ note until CLI/API land.
 
 ```task
 id: ISSUE-WP-0005-T05
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: high
 state_hub_task_id: "1866bec4-e4df-444c-b633-aa97c83c0940"
 ```
@@ -175,7 +175,7 @@ backend; idempotent re-project returns existing mapping.
 
 ```task
 id: ISSUE-WP-0005-T06
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: medium
 state_hub_task_id: "8e02509b-d304-45d9-b99b-1016dc325cfd"
 ```
@@ -195,7 +195,7 @@ uses it.
 
 ```task
 id: ISSUE-WP-0005-T07
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: medium
 state_hub_task_id: "5bea7ad1-3df5-4cf3-b79a-e89ac7ad5af1"
 ```
@@ -215,7 +215,7 @@ SCOPE distinguishes backend sync vs work-record boundary sync clearly.
 
 ```task
 id: ISSUE-WP-0005-T08
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: medium
 state_hub_task_id: "ca55014a-694d-4a46-beea-cb1f2f438ada"
 ```
@@ -231,7 +231,7 @@ leakage into “shipped today.”
 
 ```task
 id: ISSUE-WP-0005-T09
-status: todo
+status: done
 priority: low
 state_hub_task_id: "fe209013-d9de-4709-bc58-41abe186959d"
 ```