diff --git a/Makefile b/Makefile
index 4f9b5f9..60a726a 100644
--- a/Makefile
+++ b/Makefile
@@ -1,5 +1,6 @@
 # ops-warden development and install targets
 ROOT := $(dir $(abspath $(lastword $(MAKEFILE_LIST))))
+UNIT_PYTHON ?= $(ROOT)/.venv/bin/python
 PHASE_MEMORY_REPO ?= $(abspath $(ROOT)/../phase-memory)
 
 .DEFAULT_GOAL := help
@@ -43,7 +44,7 @@ verify-memory: check-memory
 	@warden memory status
 
 test:
-	PYTHONPATH=src:$(PHASE_MEMORY_REPO)/src uv run pytest
+	"$(UNIT_PYTHON)" -I scripts/run_unit_tests.py --phase-memory-root "$(PHASE_MEMORY_REPO)" $(TEST_ARGS)
 
 lint:
 	uv run ruff check .
diff --git a/docs/development/safe-unit-tests.md b/docs/development/safe-unit-tests.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6600c6a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/development/safe-unit-tests.md
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# Safe unit-test entry point
+
+Use `make test`, or `.venv/bin/python -I scripts/run_unit_tests.py`. Dependencies
+must already be installed; this path does not run uv, synchronize or download.
+`UNIT_PYTHON` may select another existing interpreter. `PHASE_MEMORY_REPO` remains
+an explicit local source option. Pass pytest options with `TEST_ARGS`, for example
+`make test TEST_ARGS='-q tests/test_safe_unit_runner.py'`.
+
+The launcher creates an empty temporary HOME and temporary fixture root and starts
+an isolated (`-I`) Python interpreter with a constructed environment. Caller token,
+proxy, Python, pytest, XDG and Warden configuration variables are never copied or
+inventoried. Third-party pytest plugin autoload is disabled. Tests can explicitly
+introduce synthetic variables with monkeypatch, but allowed children always get
+the original temporary HOME and a fresh environment, never those variables.
+
+Before pytest import/collection, a Python audit hook and subprocess wrapper:
+
+- deny file opens outside the selected source roots, installed interpreter/library
+  roots and fixture root; writes through open are limited to the fixture root;
+- deny sockets, DNS and process creation except the closed fixture inventory;
+- refuse shell, executable, preexec and inherited-FD overrides outside that inventory;
+- install the same file/socket/process denial before executing every allowed
+  Python child, including BrowserInputs' exact validator code and reverified copied
+  module hashes. Validator children cannot start further processes.
+
+The process inventory in `scripts/run_unit_tests.py` is intentionally small:
+BrowserInputs validation, four metadata-checker scripts with fixed argument shapes,
+the exact original-intent restart probe, the synthetic containment print, and
+closed guard-regression probes. Metadata checkers receive only fixture output
+paths. Only the generated-artifact checker child can run the exact read-only Git
+log/status queries for this repository's catalog, with global/system config and
+optional locks disabled, hooks disabled and fsmonitor disabled. Those local Git
+commands are not provider operations.
+
+Two reviewed non-Python cases remain: exact-byte, temporary contract-double scripts
+with a closed argv list, and five exact fixed `printf` commands used by existing
+transport tests. They run Bash without profile/rc startup and without inherited
+environment; no arbitrary shell text, provider binary, SSH, kubectl or OpenBao
+command is permitted. Default unit selection excludes four integration-marked
+SSH-keygen tests. Selecting them explicitly does not grant their native commands.
+
+Only `test_desk.py::test_approve_flow_http_dry` receives a network lease. It may
+bind `127.0.0.1:0` and connect to the endpoint actually allocated to that test's
+socket. DNS is replaced by numeric fixture resolution. Another loopback service
+(e.g. the real Hub on port 8000), Unix sockets and remote endpoints stay denied.
+The lease and registered endpoints are cleared after the test.
+
+Coverage tests now use the explicit public declaration projection snapshot in
+`tests/fixtures/workload-coverage`, with provenance hashes. They compare the
+published source snapshot rather than silently consulting the workstation HOME.
+Run the existing coverage report separately with an explicit estate root when
+measuring current estate state. Tests of the acknowledged NetKingdom source use
+`--netkingdom-root` (default: sibling source checkout), never a HOME symlink. The
+optional Phase Memory library's one existing public coordination-profile fixture
+is explicitly readable alongside its source; no runtime memory store is inherited.
+
+This is an accident guard for trusted unit tests, not a security sandbox for
+hostile Python, native extensions or hostile installed dependencies. It does not
+revoke already-open descriptors, prevent every filesystem mutation syscall, or
+provide OS process/network isolation. Fixed Bash/Git fixture processes rely on
+the reviewed executable and source/argument shapes; Python audit hooks do not run
+inside those binaries. Do not run untrusted test code under a privileged runtime.
+Direct `pytest` bypasses this launcher and is not equivalent validation. No
+production Warden boundary, grant, catalog, source pin or owner credential changes.
diff --git a/scripts/run_unit_tests.py b/scripts/run_unit_tests.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c812b2
--- /dev/null
+++ b/scripts/run_unit_tests.py
@@ -0,0 +1,283 @@
+"""Run trusted unit tests with no inherited credentials or external I/O.
+
+This is an accident guard for this suite, not an OS sandbox for hostile Python.
+Direct pytest bypasses it. Use make test (already installed dependencies only).
+"""
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import hashlib
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import runpy
+import socket
+import subprocess
+import sys
+import tempfile
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+SELF = Path(__file__).resolve()
+SHELL_FIXTURES = {
+    "printf 'the-secret-value'", "printf 'sekret'", "printf 'new'",
+    "printf '%s' '{\"wrap_info\":{\"token\":\"hvs.WRAP\"}}'",
+    "printf 'not-json'",
+}
+JOURNAL_CODE_SHA256 = '69aa18f302fd698104cb2253b4af0c3a077e72a0a427183e3dce1444c4926df9'
+
+
+class IsolationDenied(PermissionError, subprocess.SubprocessError):
+    """A unit test attempted an unreviewed external operation."""
+
+
+def clean_environment(home: Path, temporary: Path) -> dict[str, str]:
+    # Construct, never copy/inventory the caller's environment.
+    return {'HOME': str(home), 'TMPDIR': str(temporary), 'PATH': '/usr/bin:/bin',
+            'LANG': 'C.UTF-8', 'PYTHONDONTWRITEBYTECODE': '1',
+            'PYTEST_DISABLE_PLUGIN_AUTOLOAD': '1'}
+
+
+def inside(path: Path, roots: tuple[Path, ...]) -> bool:
+    return any(path == root or root in path.parents for root in roots)
+
+
+class Guard:
+    def __init__(self, temporary: Path, read_roots: list[Path], child: bool = False, git_metadata: bool = False):
+        self.temporary = temporary.resolve()
+        self.read_roots = tuple(p.resolve() for p in read_roots)
+        self.child = child
+        self.git_metadata = git_metadata
+        self.loopback_test = False
+        self.endpoints: set[tuple[str, int]] = set()
+        self.launch = None
+        self.original_popen = subprocess.Popen
+
+    def fixture_path(self, value: str) -> Path:
+        path = Path(value).resolve()
+        if not inside(path, (self.temporary,)):
+            raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: non-fixture path')
+        return path
+
+    def audit(self, event, args):
+        if event == 'open' and not isinstance(args[0], int):
+            path = Path(os.fsdecode(args[0])).resolve()
+            mode, flags = args[1:3]
+            write = ((isinstance(mode, str) and any(c in mode for c in 'wax+'))
+                     or (isinstance(flags, int) and flags & (os.O_WRONLY | os.O_RDWR | os.O_CREAT | os.O_TRUNC | os.O_APPEND)))
+            roots = (self.temporary,) if write else self.read_roots
+            if path != Path('/dev/null') and not inside(path, roots):
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: file outside reviewed roots')
+        if event == 'subprocess.Popen':
+            if self.launch is None or tuple(args[1]) != self.launch:
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: unexpected process')
+        if event in {'os.system', 'os.exec', 'os.posix_spawn', 'os.fork', 'os.forkpty'}:
+            raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: native execution disabled')
+        if event.startswith('socket.'):
+            if not self.loopback_test or self.child:
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: sockets disabled')
+            if event == 'socket.__new__':
+                if args[1] != socket.AF_INET or args[2] & 15 != socket.SOCK_STREAM:
+                    raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: socket family/type denied')
+            elif event == 'socket.bind':
+                if args[1] != ('127.0.0.1', 0):
+                    raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: only ephemeral fixture bind')
+            elif event == 'socket.connect':
+                if args[1] not in self.endpoints:
+                    raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: only this fixture endpoint')
+            elif event not in {'socket.gethostname'}:
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: DNS/socket operation denied')
+
+    def python_payload(self, argv):
+        """Closed subprocess inventory; every allowed Python child installs guard."""
+        from warden import case_inputs
+        if (len(argv) == 5 and argv[:3] == [sys.executable, '-I', '-c']
+                and argv[3] == case_inputs._VALIDATE):
+            directory = self.fixture_path(argv[4])
+            if not directory.name.startswith('warden-case-validator-'):
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: validator fixture directory differs')
+            # Reverify copied modules immediately before launch, independently of caller.
+            for relative, digest in case_inputs.SOURCE_PINS.items():
+                if hashlib.sha256((directory / relative).read_bytes()).hexdigest() != digest:
+                    raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: validator source pin differs')
+            return {'code': argv[3], 'args': [str(directory)]}
+        if len(argv) == 3 and argv[:2] == [sys.executable, '-c'] and argv[2] == 'print("SYNTHETIC-SECRET")':
+            return {'code': argv[2], 'args': []}
+        if (len(argv) == 6 and argv[:3] == [sys.executable, '-B', '-c']
+                and hashlib.sha256(argv[3].encode()).hexdigest() == JOURNAL_CODE_SHA256):
+            self.fixture_path(argv[4])
+            if len(argv[5]) > 192:
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: journal source bound')
+            return {'code': argv[3], 'args': argv[4:]}
+        if len(argv) >= 2 and argv[0] in (sys.executable, 'python3'):
+            script = Path(argv[1]).resolve()
+            args = argv[2:]
+            if script == ROOT / 'tests/unit_isolation_probe.py' and len(args) == 1 and args[0] in {'state', 'socket', 'provider', 'home', 'nested'}:
+                return {'script': str(script), 'args': args}
+            if script == ROOT / 'scripts/check_layer_conformance.py' and not args:
+                return {'script': str(script), 'args': args}
+            if script == ROOT / 'scripts/emit_high_risk_paths.py' and args == ['--check']:
+                return {'script': str(script), 'args': args, 'git_metadata': True}
+            if script == ROOT / 'scripts/check_principals_drift.py' and len(args) == 4 and args[::2] == ['--inventory', '--infra']:
+                for value in args[1::2]:
+                    self.fixture_path(value)
+                return {'script': str(script), 'args': args}
+            if script == ROOT / 'scripts/build_flex_auth_registry.py':
+                if (len(args) in (3, 5) and Path(args[0]).resolve() == ROOT / 'examples/inventory.seed.yaml'
+                        and args[-2] == '-o' and (len(args) == 3 or args[1] == '--zone-resolutions')):
+                    self.fixture_path(args[-1])
+                    if len(args) == 5:
+                        self.fixture_path(args[2])
+                    return {'script': str(script), 'args': args}
+        raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: command not in reviewed subprocess inventory')
+
+    def popen(self, argv, *pos, **kw):
+        if pos or kw.get('executable') or kw.get('preexec_fn') or kw.get('pass_fds') or kw.get('close_fds') is False:
+            raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: unexpected process options')
+        if kw.pop('shell', False):
+            if self.child or not isinstance(argv, str) or argv not in SHELL_FIXTURES:
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: unreviewed shell command')
+            return self.spawn(['/bin/bash', '--noprofile', '--norc', '-c', argv], kw)
+        if not isinstance(argv, (list, tuple)):
+            raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: argv list required')
+        argv = [os.fspath(x) for x in argv]
+        # Never run a real provider: the only shell fixture is an exact-byte double.
+        from warden.doubles import _DOUBLES
+        metadata_commands = (['git', 'log', '-1', '--format=%H %cI', '--', str(ROOT / 'registry/routing/catalog.yaml')],
+                             ['git', 'status', '--porcelain', '--', str(ROOT / 'registry/routing/catalog.yaml')])
+        if self.child and not (self.git_metadata and argv in metadata_commands):
+            raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: nested process disabled')
+        candidate = Path(argv[0])
+        if not candidate.is_absolute():
+            import shutil
+            resolved = shutil.which(argv[0], path=kw.get('env', os.environ).get('PATH', ''))
+            candidate = Path(resolved) if resolved else candidate
+        if self.child and self.git_metadata:
+            if Path(kw.get('cwd', '.')).resolve() != ROOT:
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: metadata cwd differs')
+            command = ['/usr/bin/git', '-c', 'core.fsmonitor=false', '-c', 'core.hooksPath=/dev/null', '--no-pager', *argv[1:]]
+        elif candidate.is_absolute() and inside(candidate.resolve(), (self.temporary,)) and candidate.name in _DOUBLES:
+            if candidate.read_text() != _DOUBLES[candidate.name].script:
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: double bytes differ')
+            tail = argv[1:]
+            if (candidate.name == 'bao' and tail not in (
+                    ['kv', 'get', '-field=NPM_AUTH_TOKEN', 'platform/x/y'],
+                    ['kv', 'get', '-field=API_KEY', 'platform/x/y/z'],
+                    ['login', '-method=oidc'], ['write', 'secret/x'])) or (candidate.name == 'key-cape' and tail != ['login']):
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: double arguments differ')
+            command = ['/bin/bash', '--noprofile', '--norc', str(candidate), *tail]
+        else:
+            payload = self.python_payload(argv)
+            payload.update(temporary=str(self.temporary), read_roots=[str(x) for x in self.read_roots])
+            command = [sys.executable, '-I', str(SELF), '--child', json.dumps(payload)]
+        return self.spawn(command, kw)
+
+    def spawn(self, command, kw):
+        cwd = Path(kw.get('cwd') or ROOT).resolve()
+        if not inside(cwd, (ROOT, self.temporary)):
+            raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: non-fixture working directory')
+        kw['cwd'] = str(cwd)
+        # env supplied by tests is never propagated: even synthetic token mutations
+        # remain in the parent. All approved children have only this fresh environment.
+        kw['env'] = clean_environment(self.temporary / 'home', self.temporary)
+        kw['env'].update(GIT_CONFIG_NOSYSTEM='1', GIT_CONFIG_GLOBAL='/dev/null', GIT_OPTIONAL_LOCKS='0')
+        self.launch = tuple(command)
+        try:
+            return self.original_popen(command, **kw)
+        finally:
+            self.launch = None
+
+    def install(self):
+        sys.addaudithook(self.audit)
+        subprocess.Popen = self.popen
+        guard = self
+        original_socket = socket.socket
+        class FixtureSocket(original_socket):
+            def bind(self, address):
+                super().bind(address)
+                guard.endpoints.add(self.getsockname())
+        socket.socket = FixtureSocket
+        def numeric_addresses(host, port, family=0, type=0, proto=0, flags=0):
+            if not guard.loopback_test or (host, port) not in guard.endpoints:
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: DNS/external endpoint denied')
+            return [(socket.AF_INET, socket.SOCK_STREAM, 6, '', (host, port))]
+        socket.getaddrinfo = numeric_addresses
+        def local_name(host=''):
+            if not guard.loopback_test or host != '127.0.0.1':
+                raise IsolationDenied('unit isolation: hostname lookup denied')
+            return 'localhost'
+        socket.getfqdn = local_name
+
+    def pytest_configure(self, config):
+        config._unit_guard = self
+
+    # Exact single synthetic HTTP test only; no other test gets a loopback lease.
+    def pytest_runtest_setup(self, item):
+        self.loopback_test = item.nodeid == 'tests/test_desk.py::test_approve_flow_http_dry'
+        self.endpoints.clear()
+
+    def pytest_runtest_teardown(self, item):
+        self.loopback_test = False
+        self.endpoints.clear()
+
+
+def worker(temporary: Path, arguments: list[str], netkingdom: Path | None, phase: Path | None):
+    sys.dont_write_bytecode = True
+    tempfile.tempdir = str(temporary)
+    paths = [ROOT / 'src']
+    if phase:
+        paths.append(phase / 'src')
+    # Explicit trusted source roots only, never ambient PYTHONPATH/plugins.
+    sys.path[:0] = [str(p) for p in paths]
+    roots = [ROOT, *paths, Path(sys.prefix), Path(sys.base_prefix), temporary]
+    if phase:
+        roots.append(phase / 'tests/fixtures/ops-warden-coordination-profile.json')
+    if netkingdom:
+        roots.append(netkingdom)
+        os.environ['WARDEN_TEST_NETKINGDOM_ROOT'] = str(netkingdom)
+    guard = Guard(temporary, roots)
+    guard.install()
+    # Pytest itself and collection run only after installation.
+    import pytest
+    raise SystemExit(pytest.main(['-p', 'no:cacheprovider', '--basetemp', str(temporary / 'pytest'), *arguments], plugins=[guard]))
+
+
+def main():
+    if sys.argv[1:2] == ['--child']:
+        payload = json.loads(sys.argv[2])
+        temporary = Path(payload['temporary'])
+        sys.dont_write_bytecode = True
+        tempfile.tempdir = str(temporary)
+        sys.path.insert(0, str(ROOT / 'src'))
+        guard = Guard(temporary, [Path(p) for p in payload['read_roots']], child=True,
+                      git_metadata=payload.get('git_metadata', False))
+        guard.install()
+        sys.argv = [payload.get('script', '-c'), *payload['args']]
+        if 'script' in payload:
+            runpy.run_path(payload['script'], run_name='__main__')
+        else:
+            exec(compile(payload['code'], '<reviewed-unit-child>', 'exec'), {'__name__': '__main__'})
+        return
+    if sys.argv[1:2] == ['--worker']:
+        temporary = Path(sys.argv[2])
+        netkingdom = Path(sys.argv[3]) if sys.argv[3] else None
+        phase = Path(sys.argv[4]) if sys.argv[4] else None
+        worker(temporary, sys.argv[5:], netkingdom, phase)
+        return
+    import argparse
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument('--netkingdom-root', type=Path, default=ROOT.parent / 'net-kingdom')
+    parser.add_argument('--phase-memory-root', type=Path, default=ROOT.parent / 'phase-memory')
+    options, arguments = parser.parse_known_args()
+    netkingdom = options.netkingdom_root.resolve() if options.netkingdom_root.is_dir() else None
+    phase = options.phase_memory_root.resolve() if (options.phase_memory_root / 'src').is_dir() else None
+    with tempfile.TemporaryDirectory(prefix='warden-unit-') as directory:
+        temporary = Path(directory)
+        home = temporary / 'home'
+        home.mkdir()
+        result = subprocess.run([sys.executable, '-I', str(SELF), '--worker', str(temporary),
+                                 str(netkingdom) if netkingdom else '', str(phase) if phase else '', *arguments],
+                                cwd=ROOT, env=clean_environment(home, temporary))
+        raise SystemExit(result.returncode)
+
+
+if __name__ == '__main__':
+    main()
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/provenance.json b/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/provenance.json
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6340fb1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/provenance.json
@@ -0,0 +1,20 @@
+[
+  {
+    "repo": "rapp-core-hub",
+    "source": "retained public snapshot from warden-1.3-kernel-fixes-r1 test preparation",
+    "source_sha256": "98e81fb1116aa0ac9dc1a3e7aef9dd87c6d2110d98d46fbfca2f76eec8f3a77b",
+    "projection_sha256": "9ce902da0c77809f1094a634244652835b162f59682e9fa6923d8c8aa4ed4a3c"
+  },
+  {
+    "repo": "rapp-issue-core",
+    "source": "retained public snapshot from warden-1.3-kernel-fixes-r1 test preparation",
+    "source_sha256": "0425c9fe84e26b359b2a35fc37ef8fcb781de1aaa6229c59fcd246ee523514a5",
+    "projection_sha256": "a1956deecf2f0fbca44549e5ea5e8f1c4b74ebf91a9482c64c982491af0d923b"
+  },
+  {
+    "repo": "rapp-qonto",
+    "source": "retained public snapshot from warden-1.3-kernel-fixes-r1 test preparation",
+    "source_sha256": "6279dc2f3ab09519dffa1ceeedb2095f1182960e0106109a87aa5c0052446883",
+    "projection_sha256": "15aa9809e8d6a120c516be5ce9adfb72c00382140c171e791083ad117f503b3f"
+  }
+]
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/rapp-core-hub/declarations/rapp.yaml b/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/rapp-core-hub/declarations/rapp.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..4f7bf9c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/rapp-core-hub/declarations/rapp.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,15 @@
+# Public declaration projection for the published coverage snapshot; not live evidence.
+rapp_id: rapp-core-hub
+workload_identity:
+  name: core-hub
+composition:
+  member_repos:
+  - deployables:
+    - core-hub-api
+    - core-hub-migrate
+    - hub-core-candidate
+    - hub-core-candidate-migrate
+    - repository-classification-publisher
+data_classification: confidential
+criticality: high
+readiness_state: verified
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/rapp-issue-core/declarations/rapp.yaml b/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/rapp-issue-core/declarations/rapp.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..0fda745
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/rapp-issue-core/declarations/rapp.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Public declaration projection for the published coverage snapshot; not live evidence.
+rapp_id: rapp-issue-core
+workload_identity:
+  name: issue-core
+composition:
+  member_repos:
+  - deployables:
+    - issue-core
+data_classification: confidential
+criticality: high
+readiness_state: verified
diff --git a/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/rapp-qonto/declarations/rapp.yaml b/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/rapp-qonto/declarations/rapp.yaml
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7392f75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/fixtures/workload-coverage/rapp-qonto/declarations/rapp.yaml
@@ -0,0 +1,11 @@
+# Public declaration projection for the published coverage snapshot; not live evidence.
+rapp_id: rapp-qonto
+workload_identity:
+  name: qonto
+composition:
+  member_repos:
+  - deployables:
+    - rapp-qonto
+data_classification: restricted
+criticality: critical
+readiness_state: verified
diff --git a/tests/test_case_plan.py b/tests/test_case_plan.py
index 88ba871..7de67e4 100644
--- a/tests/test_case_plan.py
+++ b/tests/test_case_plan.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import copy
+import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
@@ -12,7 +13,8 @@ from warden.case_plan import CaseError, plan_case
 from warden.cli import app
 from warden.routing.catalog import load_catalog
 
-LIVE_CASE = Path.home() / "net-kingdom/security-cases/forgejo-netkingdom-oidc.yaml"
+LIVE_CASE = Path(os.environ.get("WARDEN_TEST_NETKINGDOM_ROOT",
+                                Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "net-kingdom")) / "security-cases/forgejo-netkingdom-oidc.yaml"
 
 TYPE = {
     "apiVersion": "netkingdom.io/security-case-type/v0.1",
diff --git a/tests/test_case_type.py b/tests/test_case_type.py
index 488c7cf..2ca08b8 100644
--- a/tests/test_case_type.py
+++ b/tests/test_case_type.py
@@ -2,6 +2,7 @@
 from __future__ import annotations
 
 import copy
+import os
 from pathlib import Path
 
 import pytest
@@ -12,7 +13,8 @@ from warden.case_type import check_follow_through, load_type
 from warden.cli import app
 from warden.routing.catalog import load_catalog
 
-LIVE_TYPE = Path.home() / "net-kingdom/security-case-types/oidc-browser-relying-party/type.yaml"
+LIVE_TYPE = Path(os.environ.get("WARDEN_TEST_NETKINGDOM_ROOT",
+                                Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2] / "net-kingdom")) / "security-case-types/oidc-browser-relying-party/type.yaml"
 
 BASE = {
     "apiVersion": "netkingdom.io/security-case-type/v0.1",
diff --git a/tests/test_layer_conformance.py b/tests/test_layer_conformance.py
index 1ba7165..64ea533 100644
--- a/tests/test_layer_conformance.py
+++ b/tests/test_layer_conformance.py
@@ -273,7 +273,11 @@ class TestPepStanceMap:
 # --- classification coverage (v0.8 §6.4 obligation 3) -------------------------
 
 def test_published_coverage_equals_measured_coverage():
-    """The published figure must equal what the repo actually measures.
+    """The published figure must equal its explicit public declaration snapshot.
+
+    This is a deterministic source check, not a claim about current estate state.
+    Live measurement remains scripts/report_coverage.py with an explicit estate
+    root; tests never treat the developer HOME as an authority or fixture.
 
     ops-warden asked gate-house for §13.1's Coverage column and its figures are
     that column's first entries, so their accuracy is ours to hold. The register
@@ -295,7 +299,7 @@ def test_published_coverage_equals_measured_coverage():
     published = yaml.safe_load((repo / "pep-stance.yaml").read_text())[
         "classification_coverage"
     ]
-    measured = module.measure()
+    measured = module.measure(repo / "tests/fixtures/workload-coverage")
 
     for population in ("signing_targets", "routing_lanes"):
         assert published[population] == measured[population], population
diff --git a/tests/test_safe_unit_runner.py b/tests/test_safe_unit_runner.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..972854a
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/test_safe_unit_runner.py
@@ -0,0 +1,92 @@
+"""Exercise installed parent and nested child controls, never real credentials."""
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import socket
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+import pytest
+
+ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
+
+
+@pytest.fixture
+def guarded(request):
+    guard = getattr(request.config, '_unit_guard', None)
+    if guard is None:
+        pytest.skip('requires make test / scripts/run_unit_tests.py')
+    return guard
+
+
+def test_parent_environment_is_allowlisted_and_home_is_temporary(guarded):
+    # The external regression invocation sets synthetic BAO_TOKEN/VAULT_TOKEN/HOME.
+    assert 'BAO_TOKEN' not in os.environ
+    assert 'VAULT_TOKEN' not in os.environ
+    assert Path(os.environ['TMPDIR']) in Path.home().parents
+    assert 'PYTHONPATH' not in os.environ
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('command', [
+    ['bao', 'token', 'lookup'], ['ssh', 'railiance01'], ['curl', 'http://127.0.0.1:8000'],
+    [sys.executable, '-c', 'import os; print(os.environ)'],
+])
+def test_unexpected_process_refused_before_launch(guarded, command):
+    with pytest.raises(PermissionError, match='unit isolation'):
+        subprocess.run(command, check=True)
+
+
+def test_parent_socket_denies_even_unregistered_loopback(guarded):
+    with pytest.raises(PermissionError, match='unit isolation'):
+        socket.socket().connect(('127.0.0.1', 8000))
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('path', ['/home/synthetic-ambient-unit-fixture/.vault-token',
+                                  '/root/.kube/config', '/proc/self/environ',
+                                  '/tmp/warden-synthetic-ambient-home/.vault-token'])
+def test_ambient_paths_refused_without_opening_them(guarded, path):
+    with pytest.raises(PermissionError, match='unit isolation'):
+        Path(path).read_bytes()
+
+
+def test_symlink_cannot_escape_fixture_root(guarded, tmp_path):
+    link = tmp_path / 'ambient'
+    link.symlink_to('/home/synthetic-ambient-unit-fixture/.vault-token')
+    with pytest.raises(PermissionError, match='unit isolation'):
+        link.read_bytes()
+
+
+def test_child_drops_even_synthetic_token_environment(guarded, monkeypatch):
+    monkeypatch.setenv('BAO_TOKEN', 'synthetic-only-never-a-real-token')
+    monkeypatch.setenv('VAULT_TOKEN', 'synthetic-only-never-a-real-token')
+    monkeypatch.setenv('HOME', '/home/synthetic-ambient-unit-fixture')
+    result = subprocess.run([sys.executable, str(ROOT / 'tests/unit_isolation_probe.py'), 'state'],
+                            capture_output=True, text=True, check=True, env=dict(os.environ))
+    assert json.loads(result.stdout) == {'bao_token_present': False,
+                                        'vault_token_present': False, 'home_in_temporary': True}
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize('mode', ['socket', 'provider', 'home', 'nested'])
+def test_guard_exists_in_each_allowed_python_child(guarded, mode):
+    result = subprocess.run([sys.executable, str(ROOT / 'tests/unit_isolation_probe.py'), mode],
+                            capture_output=True, text=True, check=True)
+    assert result.stdout == 'denied\n'
+
+
+def test_forged_provider_double_refused(guarded, tmp_path):
+    provider = tmp_path / 'bao'
+    provider.write_text('#!/bin/bash\necho not-the-reviewed-fixture\n')
+    provider.chmod(0o700)
+    with pytest.raises(PermissionError, match='double bytes differ'):
+        subprocess.run([str(provider), 'token', 'lookup'], check=True)
+
+
+def test_os_open_truncation_respects_read_only_source_root(guarded, tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+    # Synthetic readable source outside the guard's writable subtree.
+    source = tmp_path / 'synthetic-source'
+    source.write_bytes(b'synthetic public source')
+    monkeypatch.setattr(guarded, 'temporary', tmp_path / 'writable')
+    with pytest.raises(PermissionError, match='unit isolation'):
+        descriptor = os.open(source, os.O_RDONLY | os.O_TRUNC)
+        os.close(descriptor)
+    assert source.read_bytes() == b'synthetic public source'
diff --git a/tests/test_workload_join.py b/tests/test_workload_join.py
index 2439c22..313be70 100644
--- a/tests/test_workload_join.py
+++ b/tests/test_workload_join.py
@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 """Explicit lane-to-workload join tests (WARDEN-WP-0032 / RMGR-WP-0010-T06)."""
 from pathlib import Path
+import hashlib
+import json
 
 import yaml
 
@@ -10,7 +12,8 @@ ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[1]
 
 
 def test_repo_catalog_uses_only_explicit_workload_references():
-    report = build(ROOT / "registry/routing/catalog.yaml", Path.home())
+    report = build(ROOT / "registry/routing/catalog.yaml",
+                   ROOT / "tests/fixtures/workload-coverage")
     assert report["ok"] is True
     assert len(report["resolved"]) == 4
     assert len(report["unknown"]) == 22
@@ -67,3 +70,14 @@ def test_invalid_exact_deployable_resolves_unknown(tmp_path):
     assert not report["resolved"]
     assert report["unknown"][0]["lane"] == "x"
     assert "deployable" in report["unknown"][0]["reason"]
+
+
+def test_public_workload_projection_matches_provenance():
+    base = ROOT / 'tests/fixtures/workload-coverage'
+    provenance = json.loads((base / 'provenance.json').read_text())
+    expected = {'rapp-core-hub', 'rapp-issue-core', 'rapp-qonto'}
+    assert len(provenance) == len(expected)
+    assert {row['repo'] for row in provenance} == expected
+    for row in provenance:
+        projection = base / row['repo'] / 'declarations/rapp.yaml'
+        assert hashlib.sha256(projection.read_bytes()).hexdigest() == row['projection_sha256']
diff --git a/tests/unit_isolation_probe.py b/tests/unit_isolation_probe.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d4c6596
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit_isolation_probe.py
@@ -0,0 +1,29 @@
+"""Closed child regression probes; executed only under the unit runner guard."""
+import json
+import os
+from pathlib import Path
+import socket
+import subprocess
+import sys
+
+mode = sys.argv[1]
+if mode == 'state':
+    print(json.dumps({'bao_token_present': 'BAO_TOKEN' in os.environ,
+                      'vault_token_present': 'VAULT_TOKEN' in os.environ,
+                      'home_in_temporary': Path(os.environ['TMPDIR']) in Path.home().parents}))
+else:
+    try:
+        if mode == 'socket':
+            socket.socket().connect(('127.0.0.1', 8000))
+        elif mode == 'provider':
+            subprocess.run(['bao', 'token', 'lookup'], check=True)
+        elif mode == 'home':
+            Path('/home/synthetic-ambient-unit-fixture/.vault-token').read_text()
+        elif mode == 'nested':
+            subprocess.run([sys.executable, '-c', 'print("SYNTHETIC-SECRET")'], check=True)
+        else:
+            raise AssertionError('unknown probe')
+    except PermissionError:
+        print('denied')
+    else:
+        raise AssertionError('external operation was not refused')
diff --git a/workplans/WARDEN-WP-0044-security-case-follow-through.md b/workplans/WARDEN-WP-0044-security-case-follow-through.md
index aa9f798..3ad2870 100644
--- a/workplans/WARDEN-WP-0044-security-case-follow-through.md
+++ b/workplans/WARDEN-WP-0044-security-case-follow-through.md
@@ -354,3 +354,41 @@ then use the preserved isolated review runner, not the ambient `make test` path.
 No credential lookup, live investigation or rotation is authorized by this note.
 T03 remains progress; contained sessions, authenticated owner provenance,
 materialization, exact type acknowledgment/pin and first native case remain open.
+
+
+2026-10-17 safe unit-runner source candidate: `make test` now selects an existing
+interpreter and `scripts/run_unit_tests.py`, which constructs the environment and
+empty temporary HOME before pytest collection, denies unexpected process/socket
+use and ambient file opens, and guards the pinned BrowserInputs child too.
+Closed fixture exceptions cover the synthetic desk endpoint, metadata checkers,
+exact-byte contract doubles and fixed transport prints; they confer no provider
+authority. Explicit public declaration fixtures replace ambient HOME source
+lookups. See `docs/development/safe-unit-tests.md` and Custodian packet
+`docs/changes/netkingdom-target-2026-10-17/warden-safe-unit-runner-r1`.
+Synthetic token, ambient-path, forged-provider and nested-child regressions are
+retained alongside the initial failed isolation runs and corrected results. This
+is a source candidate for the existing safe-test handoff, not an OS sandbox or
+native case acceptance. T03 remains progress; contained sessions, authenticated
+owner provenance, materialization, exact type acknowledgment/pin and first native
+case remain open. No credential lookup, live investigation or rotation occurred.
+
+Candidate validation: ordinary `make test` under synthetic ambient token/HOME
+controls passes 783 tests with four integration-marked tests deselected. Affected
+focused checks pass 117 tests; new runner code/regressions pass Ruff. Retained
+initial failures exposed fixture dependencies and were corrected, not suppressed.
+
+
+2026-10-17 root follow-through: the original safe-runner source candidate was
+independently rejected for O_TRUNC open-write misclassification and unchecked
+public fixture projection hashes. Both counterexamples are retained. The minimal
+correction treats truncating/appending opens as writes and adds the closed
+projection-byte provenance regression. Root inspected the two exact corrections
+and ran ordinary make test on stable corrected source with only synthetic parent
+HOME/token/Python/pytest sentinels: 785 passed, four deselected. No real credential
+or native provider action occurred. Initial author failures and rejected review
+are preserved in the Custodian warden-safe-unit-runner-r1 and
+warden-safe-unit-runner-review-r1 packets, with root disposition/full result in
+warden-safe-unit-integration-r1. This completes the known trusted-unit-entry
+accident-prevention follow-through; direct pytest bypass, native/non-open/preopened
+file-descriptor limits remain explicit. No OS sandbox, isolated agent assignment,
+production grant or native T03 acceptance follows. T03 stays progress.