diff --git a/.github/workflows/desktop-bundled-release.yml b/.github/workflows/desktop-bundled-release.yml
index 6e3ad61e41..291044fd55 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/desktop-bundled-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/desktop-bundled-release.yml
@@ -80,6 +80,12 @@ on:
       tag:
         required: true
         type: string
+      claim-tag:
+        default: ''
+        type: string
+      claim-object:
+        default: ''
+        type: string
       release-phase:
         required: true
         type: string
@@ -192,7 +198,7 @@ jobs:
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
         with:
-          ref: ${{ (inputs.build_commit != '' || inputs.channel != '') && github.sha || inputs.tag }}
+          ref: ${{ (inputs.build_commit != '' || inputs.channel != '' || inputs.release-phase != '') && github.sha || inputs.tag }}
           # Full checkout, always. Commit admission (require_pushed) needs the
           # full graph AND every pushed branch ref fetched into
           # refs/remotes/origin/* — a depth-1 checkout fetches only github.sha,
@@ -247,6 +253,9 @@ jobs:
         id: admission
         env:
           TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
+          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
+          RELEASE_CLAIM_TAG: ${{ inputs.claim-tag }}
+          RELEASE_CLAIM_OBJECT: ${{ inputs.claim-object }}
           BUILD_COMMIT: ${{ inputs.build_commit }}
           CHANNEL_BUILD: ${{ steps.allocate.outputs.channel_build || '' }}
           CHANNEL_REQUEST_SHA256: ${{ steps.allocate.outputs.channel_request_sha256 || '' }}
@@ -295,9 +304,8 @@ jobs:
           fi
           case "$RELEASE_PHASE" in
             candidate|publish|promote)
-              [[ "$TAG" =~ ^v(0|[1-9][0-9]*)\.(0|[1-9][0-9]*)\.(0|[1-9][0-9]*)$ ]] || { echo "::error::not a release tag: $TAG"; exit 1; }
-              [ "$GITHUB_REF" = "refs/tags/$TAG" ] || exit 1
-              [ "$(git rev-parse HEAD)" = "$GITHUB_SHA" ] || exit 1
+              python -m scripts.releases.stable verify
+              exit 0
               ;;
             '') [[ "$TAG" == *+canary.* ]] || { echo 'Use Stable Release for stable tags' >&2; exit 1; } ;;
             *) echo 'Unknown release phase' >&2; exit 1 ;;
@@ -367,6 +375,7 @@ jobs:
       HERMES_DESKTOP_VARIANT: bundled
       HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
       HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT: ${{ inputs.build_commit != '' && needs.validate.outputs.channel-build == '' && needs.validate.outputs.sha || '' }}
+      HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT: ${{ inputs.release-phase != '' && needs.validate.outputs.sha || '' }}
       HERMES_PAYLOAD_VERSION: ${{ needs.validate.outputs.payload-version }}
       # Signature outputs are separate from the prepared dependency snapshot.
       ELECTRON_BUILDER_CACHE: ${{ github.workspace }}/.cache/electron-builder
@@ -461,6 +470,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           args=(--tag "$HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG")
           if [ -n "$HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT" ]; then args=(--commit "$HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT"); fi
+          if [ -n "$HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT" ]; then args+=(--release-commit "$HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT"); fi
           if [ -n "${CHANNEL_BUILD:-}" ]; then args=(--channel-request "$RUNNER_TEMP/channel-request.json"); fi
           python scripts/bundles/desktop.py "${args[@]}" --variant bundled --prepare-only \
             --work "$RUNNER_TEMP/desktop-job" --cache "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.cache/desktop-inputs"
@@ -710,6 +720,7 @@ jobs:
       HERMES_DESKTOP_VARIANT: bundled
       HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
       HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT: ${{ inputs.build_commit != '' && needs.validate.outputs.channel-build == '' && needs.validate.outputs.sha || '' }}
+      HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT: ${{ inputs.release-phase != '' && needs.validate.outputs.sha || '' }}
       HERMES_PAYLOAD_VERSION: ${{ needs.validate.outputs.payload-version }}
       CLOUDFLARE_R2_BUCKET: ${{ vars.CLOUDFLARE_R2_BUCKET }}
       CLOUDFLARE_R2_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ needs.validate.outputs.public-root }}
@@ -789,6 +800,7 @@ jobs:
         run: |
           args=(--tag "$HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG")
           if [ -n "$HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT" ]; then args=(--commit "$HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT"); fi
+          if [ -n "$HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT" ]; then args+=(--release-commit "$HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT"); fi
           if [ -n "${CHANNEL_BUILD:-}" ]; then args=(--channel-request "$RUNNER_TEMP/channel-request.json"); fi
           python3 scripts/bundles/desktop.py "${args[@]}" --variant bundled --prepare-only \
             --work "$RUNNER_TEMP/desktop-job" --cache "$GITHUB_WORKSPACE/.cache/desktop-inputs"
@@ -1477,6 +1489,7 @@ jobs:
     env:
       HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
       HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT: ${{ inputs.build_commit != '' && needs.validate.outputs.channel-build == '' && needs.validate.outputs.sha || '' }}
+      HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT: ${{ inputs.release-phase != '' && needs.validate.outputs.sha || '' }}
       # termux_build.sh gates on `gh release view <tag>` (refuse to build
       # before the release exists); gh needs GH_TOKEN or it errors out and
       # the gate misreads that as "release not found".
@@ -1636,7 +1649,13 @@ jobs:
         # termux_build.sh lands wheelhouse/ + index.json + SHA256SUMS in the
         # payload root, where build_deb.sh's --no-index pip install finds it.
         run: |
-          if [ -n "$HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT" ]; then
+          if [ -n "${HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT:-}" ]; then
+            bash scripts/termux/termux_build.sh \
+              --repo . \
+              --tag "$HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG" \
+              --release-commit "$HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT" \
+              --out termux-build/payload
+          elif [ -n "$HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT" ]; then
             # The checkout is the admitted commit. No release tag is required.
             bash scripts/termux/termux_build.sh \
               --repo . \
@@ -1671,7 +1690,14 @@ jobs:
         # Native dependency staging stays above; .deb validation still runs
         # in a fresh pinned container with no opt-out.
         run: |
-          if [ -n "$HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT" ]; then
+          if [ -n "${HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT:-}" ]; then
+            python3 scripts/termux/build.py \
+              --repo . \
+              --tag "$HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG" \
+              --release-commit "$HERMES_RELEASE_COMMIT" \
+              --payload termux-build/payload \
+              --out termux-build/deb
+          elif [ -n "$HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT" ]; then
             python3 scripts/termux/build.py \
               --repo . \
               --commit "$HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT" \
@@ -2086,12 +2112,6 @@ jobs:
         with:
           cache-python: false
       - run: python -m scripts.ci.python_packages ruamel.yaml==0.18.17 -- -m scripts.bundles.release_artifacts promote --root verified
-      - name: Render the admitted candidate smoke results
-        env:
-          RELEASE_COMMIT: ${{ needs.validate.outputs.sha }}
-        run: |
-          python scripts/render-builds-table.py --tag "$RELEASE_TAG" --repo "$GITHUB_REPOSITORY" \
-            --candidate-manifest-sha256 "$CANDIDATE_MANIFEST_SHA256" --candidate-commit "$RELEASE_COMMIT"
 
   stable-phase-result:
     name: Stable bundle phase completed
diff --git a/.github/workflows/docker.yml b/.github/workflows/docker.yml
index 3c131afce9..0513272301 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/docker.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/docker.yml
@@ -30,6 +30,11 @@ on:
         required: false
         type: string
         default: ''
+      version:
+        description: "Release version stamped into the isolated image build context."
+        required: false
+        type: string
+        default: ''
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
@@ -152,6 +157,12 @@ jobs:
           # candidate commit, never a mutable branch ref.
           ref: ${{ needs.mode.outputs.release == 'true' && github.sha || '' }}
 
+      - name: Stamp release build context
+        if: needs.mode.outputs.release == 'true'
+        env:
+          RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
+        run: python3 scripts/releases/stamping.py --tree . --version "$RELEASE_VERSION"
+
       - name: Write install stamp
         run: python3 scripts/write_install_stamp.py --output install-stamp.json --distribution docker --update-mechanism external --source ci
       - name: Reject profile exports in the build context
diff --git a/.github/workflows/nix.yml b/.github/workflows/nix.yml
index 6a6f12917d..1e8565f84f 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/nix.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/nix.yml
@@ -21,6 +21,11 @@ on:
         required: false
         type: boolean
         default: false
+      version:
+        description: 'Release version stamped into an isolated flake source tree.'
+        required: false
+        type: string
+        default: ''
 
 permissions:
   contents: read
@@ -131,7 +136,16 @@ jobs:
           purge-created: 0
           purge-primary-key: never
 
+      - name: Prepare isolated release source
+        if: inputs.release == true
+        env:
+          RELEASE_VERSION: ${{ inputs.version }}
+        run: |
+          mkdir -p "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-source"
+          git archive "$GITHUB_SHA" | tar -x -C "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-source"
+          python3 scripts/releases/stamping.py --tree "$RUNNER_TEMP/release-source" --version "$RELEASE_VERSION"
+
       - name: nix flake check
         # --print-build-logs: a check that fails then prints the assertion
         # that failed, and not only the derivation that failed to build.
-        run: nix flake check --print-build-logs
+        run: nix flake check "${{ inputs.release == true && format('path:{0}/release-source', runner.temp) || '.' }}" --print-build-logs
diff --git a/.github/workflows/pm-bundle.yml b/.github/workflows/pm-bundle.yml
index 09e46d021a..769971961b 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/pm-bundle.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/pm-bundle.yml
@@ -25,6 +25,11 @@ on:
         required: false
         type: boolean
         default: false
+      version:
+        description: 'Release version stamped into the isolated payload tree.'
+        required: false
+        type: string
+        default: ''
       ref:
         description: 'Git ref to bundle (default: the triggering commit, github.sha)'
         required: false
@@ -57,6 +62,8 @@ jobs:
   bundle:
     name: bundle ${{ matrix.target.label }}
     runs-on: ${{ matrix.target.runner }}
+    env:
+      HERMES_PAYLOAD_VERSION: ${{ inputs.release == true && inputs.version || '' }}
     # Leave time for setup, cache saves and smoke tests around the wheel build.
     timeout-minutes: 180
     strategy:
diff --git a/.github/workflows/stable-release.yml b/.github/workflows/stable-release.yml
index 14f9c01fca..79ebc7be1e 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/stable-release.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/stable-release.yml
@@ -6,9 +6,13 @@ on:
   workflow_dispatch:
     inputs:
       tag:
-        description: Exact stable tag, matching the selected workflow ref
+        description: Exact annotated claim tag, matching the selected workflow ref
         required: true
         type: string
+      autopublish:
+        description: Publish after the release is green
+        required: true
+        type: boolean
       baseline-manifest:
         description: Optional HTTPS manifest of the previous published stable packages
         default: ''
@@ -25,8 +29,12 @@ jobs:
   admit:
     runs-on: ubuntu-24.04
     outputs:
+      claim-tag: ${{ steps.admit.outputs.claim-tag }}
+      claim-object: ${{ steps.admit.outputs.claim-object }}
       tag: ${{ steps.admit.outputs.tag }}
       commit: ${{ steps.admit.outputs.commit }}
+      version: ${{ steps.admit.outputs.version }}
+      release-id: ${{ steps.admit.outputs.release-id }}
     steps:
       - uses: actions/checkout@de0fac2e4500dabe0009e67214ff5f5447ce83dd # v6.0.2
         with:
@@ -39,7 +47,7 @@ jobs:
         run: python -m scripts.releases.stable admit
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
-          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
+          RELEASE_CLAIM_TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
 
   ci:
     name: Full CI pipeline
@@ -60,19 +68,22 @@ jobs:
     with:
       release-phase: test
       tag: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}
+      version: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.version }}
 
   nix:
-    needs: [ci, docker]
+    needs: [admit, ci, docker]
     uses: ./.github/workflows/nix.yml
     with:
       release: true
+      version: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.version }}
 
   pm-bundle:
-    needs: [ci, docker]
+    needs: [admit, ci, docker]
     uses: ./.github/workflows/pm-bundle.yml
     with:
       release: true
       ref: ${{ github.sha }}
+      version: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.version }}
 
   termux-checks:
     needs: [ci, docker]
@@ -113,6 +124,8 @@ jobs:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/desktop-bundled-release.yml
     with:
       tag: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}
+      claim-tag: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-tag }}
+      claim-object: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-object }}
       release-phase: candidate
 
   transitions:
@@ -136,6 +149,8 @@ jobs:
         env:
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
           RELEASE_TAG: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}
+          RELEASE_CLAIM_TAG: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-tag }}
+          RELEASE_CLAIM_OBJECT: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-object }}
           CANDIDATE_MANIFEST_URL: ${{ needs.candidates.outputs.manifest-url }}
           CANDIDATE_MANIFEST_SHA256: ${{ needs.candidates.outputs.manifest-sha256 }}
           BASELINE_MANIFEST_URL: ${{ inputs.baseline-manifest }}
@@ -200,6 +215,7 @@ jobs:
     with:
       release-phase: publish
       tag: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}
+      version: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.version }}
 
   publish-bundles:
     name: Publish tested bundle artifacts
@@ -212,6 +228,8 @@ jobs:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/desktop-bundled-release.yml
     with:
       tag: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}
+      claim-tag: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-tag }}
+      claim-object: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-object }}
       release-phase: publish
       manifest-sha256: ${{ needs.candidates.outputs.manifest-sha256 }}
 
@@ -238,6 +256,7 @@ jobs:
     with:
       release-phase: promote
       tag: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}
+      version: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.version }}
 
   promote-bundles:
     name: Advance stable bundle channels
@@ -250,6 +269,8 @@ jobs:
     uses: ./.github/workflows/desktop-bundled-release.yml
     with:
       tag: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}
+      claim-tag: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-tag }}
+      claim-object: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-object }}
       release-phase: promote
       manifest-sha256: ${{ needs.candidates.outputs.manifest-sha256 }}
 
@@ -278,16 +299,16 @@ jobs:
       - run: python -m scripts.releases.stable gate admit ci docker acceptance candidates publication promote-docker promote-bundles
         env:
           RELEASE_NEEDS: ${{ toJSON(needs) }}
-      - name: Record accepted stable packages and publish release, then advance the R2 head
-        # Keep the source/native head last: a failed manifest or GitHub transaction
-        # must leave protocol-aware readers on the previous accepted release.
-        run: |
-          python -m scripts.releases.stable complete
-          python -m scripts.releases.channel_releases stable --root "$RUNNER_TEMP/stable-channel"
+      - name: Create the final tag and retarget the accepted release
+        run: python -m scripts.releases.stable complete
         env:
           RELEASE_NEEDS: ${{ toJSON(needs) }}
           GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
-          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ inputs.tag }}
+          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}
+          RELEASE_CLAIM_TAG: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-tag }}
+          RELEASE_CLAIM_OBJECT: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-object }}
+          RELEASE_ID: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.release-id }}
+          AUTOPUBLISH: ${{ inputs.autopublish }}
           CANDIDATE_MANIFEST_URL: ${{ needs.candidates.outputs.manifest-url }}
           CANDIDATE_MANIFEST_SHA256: ${{ needs.candidates.outputs.manifest-sha256 }}
           CLOUDFLARE_R2_ACCOUNT_ID: ${{ secrets.CLOUDFLARE_R2_ACCOUNT_ID }}
@@ -295,3 +316,12 @@ jobs:
           CLOUDFLARE_R2_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY: ${{ secrets.CLOUDFLARE_R2_SECRET_ACCESS_KEY }}
           CLOUDFLARE_R2_BUCKET: ${{ vars.CLOUDFLARE_R2_BUCKET }}
           CLOUDFLARE_R2_PUBLIC_URL: ${{ vars.CLOUDFLARE_R2_PUBLIC_URL }}
+      - name: Render the admitted candidate smoke results
+        env:
+          GH_TOKEN: ${{ github.token }}
+          RELEASE_TAG: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}
+          RELEASE_COMMIT: ${{ needs.admit.outputs.commit }}
+          CANDIDATE_MANIFEST_SHA256: ${{ needs.candidates.outputs.manifest-sha256 }}
+        run: |
+          python scripts/render-builds-table.py --tag "$RELEASE_TAG" --repo "$GITHUB_REPOSITORY" \
+            --candidate-manifest-sha256 "$CANDIDATE_MANIFEST_SHA256" --candidate-commit "$RELEASE_COMMIT"
diff --git a/scripts/bundles/desktop.py b/scripts/bundles/desktop.py
index bba80fb5bd..a38f009e64 100644
--- a/scripts/bundles/desktop.py
+++ b/scripts/bundles/desktop.py
@@ -7,7 +7,6 @@ import os
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
-import tomllib
 from pathlib import Path
 
 ROOT = Path(__file__).resolve().parents[2]
@@ -24,14 +23,10 @@ def capture(argv: list[str], repo: Path) -> str:
     return subprocess.check_output(argv, cwd=repo, text=True, encoding="utf-8").strip()
 
 
-def release_version(repo: Path, tag: str) -> str:
-    from hermes_cli.update_channel import is_canary_tag
+def release_version(_repo: Path, tag: str) -> str:
     from scripts.termux.deb_version import channel_for_tag
 
     channel_for_tag(tag)  # shared release tag grammar, not a second version parser
-    version = tomllib.loads((repo / "pyproject.toml").read_text(encoding="utf-8-sig"))["project"]["version"]
-    if not is_canary_tag(tag) and tag != "v" + version:
-        raise ValueError(f"tag {tag} does not match project version {version}")
     return tag[1:]
 
 
@@ -117,6 +112,7 @@ def main() -> None:
     parser.add_argument("--commit", dest="commit_build", default=None,
                         help="Commit-only build: exact full 40-char SHA the checkout is at; "
                              "version comes from the target pyproject, no tag is referenced")
+    parser.add_argument("--release-commit", help="Admitted commit for a stable tag not created until green")
     parser.add_argument("--channel-request", type=Path, help="Immutable admitted channel request JSON")
     parser.add_argument("--variant", choices=["bundled", "store", "light"])
     parser.add_argument("--repo", type=Path, default=ROOT)
@@ -129,7 +125,8 @@ def main() -> None:
     builder_args = [v for v in args.builder_args if v != "--"]
     try:
         if args.prepared:
-            if args.tag or args.commit_build or args.channel_request or args.prepare_only or args.work or args.cache:
+            if (args.tag or args.commit_build or args.release_commit or args.channel_request
+                    or args.prepare_only or args.work or args.cache):
                 parser.error("--prepared supplies the complete build request")
             build_prepared(args.prepared, builder_args, args.variant)
         else:
@@ -141,7 +138,8 @@ def main() -> None:
                                           cache=args.cache or args.repo / ".cache/desktop-inputs",
                                           bundle_env=decode(os.environ.get("HERMES_BUNDLE_ENV_JSON", "")),
                                           channel_request=json.loads(args.channel_request.read_text(encoding="utf-8-sig"))
-                                          if args.channel_request else None)
+                                          if args.channel_request else None,
+                                          release_commit=args.release_commit)
             if args.prepare_only and builder_args:
                 parser.error("builder arguments belong to the build phase")
             result = prepare(request)
diff --git a/scripts/bundles/desktop_prepare.py b/scripts/bundles/desktop_prepare.py
index d5dca72140..949ad3d1fb 100644
--- a/scripts/bundles/desktop_prepare.py
+++ b/scripts/bundles/desktop_prepare.py
@@ -99,7 +99,7 @@ class BuildRequest:
     @classmethod
     def create(cls, source: Path, *, tag: str | None, commit: str | None, variant: str,
                work: Path, cache: Path, bundle_env: dict[str, str | None],
-               channel_request: dict | None = None) -> BuildRequest:
+               channel_request: dict | None = None, release_commit: str | None = None) -> BuildRequest:
         from pm.store import current_target
         from scripts.bundles.desktop import release_version
         from scripts.releases.bundle_env import validate
@@ -139,7 +139,8 @@ class BuildRequest:
         else:
             assert tag is not None  # The exclusive selection was checked above.
             version = release_version(source, tag)
-            commit = git(source, "rev-parse", "--verify", f"refs/tags/{tag}^{{commit}}")
+            commit = require_commit(release_commit) if release_commit else \
+                git(source, "rev-parse", "--verify", f"refs/tags/{tag}^{{commit}}")
         require_source(source, commit)
         if channel_request is not None:
             if version != channel_request["sourceVersion"]:
diff --git a/scripts/bundles/native.py b/scripts/bundles/native.py
index aa773d5f1d..ee85016ab6 100644
--- a/scripts/bundles/native.py
+++ b/scripts/bundles/native.py
@@ -1,12 +1,13 @@
 """Native payload staging through PM's existing package authority."""
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import argparse
+import datetime as dt
 import os
 import shutil
 import subprocess
 import sys
 import tempfile
-import argparse
 from dataclasses import asdict
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -177,6 +178,12 @@ def _prepare_native(*, out: Path, ref: str, source: Path, cache: Path,
     # with a revision selecting different pins.
     if (repo_dir / "pm/lock.json").read_bytes() != paths.lockfile_path().read_bytes():
         raise ValueError("selected revision's PM lock differs from the builder; use a checkout at that revision")
+    build_env = os.environ if env is None else env
+    if version := build_env.get("HERMES_PAYLOAD_VERSION"):
+        from scripts.releases.stamping import stamp
+        now = dt.datetime.now(dt.UTC)
+        release_date = build_env.get("HERMES_RELEASE_DATE") or f"{now.year}.{now.month}.{now.day}"
+        stamp(repo_dir, version, release_date)
 
     names = [
         n for n in _bundle_package_names()
@@ -219,7 +226,7 @@ def _prepare_native(*, out: Path, ref: str, source: Path, cache: Path,
     venv_dir = out / "venv"
     if venv_dir.exists():
         shutil.rmtree(venv_dir)
-    env = dict(os.environ if env is None else env)
+    env = dict(build_env)
     from pm import build_environment
 
     # Cold native wheels need a larger budget than interactive installs.
diff --git a/scripts/releases/stable.py b/scripts/releases/stable.py
index 0f5d65ee09..2a12d8fa45 100644
--- a/scripts/releases/stable.py
+++ b/scripts/releases/stable.py
@@ -38,12 +38,13 @@ def admit_claim(tag: str, commit: str, *, on_main) -> dict:
         raise ValueError(f"{tag} is not a claim tag")
     if not on_main(commit):
         raise ValueError(f"{commit} is not on main")
-    return {"version": version, "commit": commit}
+    return {"claim_tag": tag, "tag": f"v{version}", "version": version, "commit": commit}
 
 
-def require_stable_identity(tag: str, commit: str, ref: str) -> None:
-    if not isinstance(tag, str) or not STABLE_TAG_RE.fullmatch(tag) or not SHA.fullmatch(commit or "") or ref != f"refs/tags/{tag}":
-        raise ValueError("Stable release must run on its exact stable tag and commit")
+def require_stable_identity(tag: str, commit: str) -> None:
+    """Validate the final payload identity without requiring its future ref."""
+    if not isinstance(tag, str) or not STABLE_TAG_RE.fullmatch(tag) or not SHA.fullmatch(commit or ""):
+        raise ValueError("Invalid stable payload identity")
 
 
 def require_success(needs: dict, required: list[str]) -> None:
@@ -69,7 +70,7 @@ def successful_smoke_results(needs: object) -> dict:
 
 def validate_candidates(manifest: dict, tag: str, commit: str, public_base: str,
                         *, allow_legacy: bool = False) -> dict:
-    require_stable_identity(tag, commit, f"refs/tags/{tag}")
+    require_stable_identity(tag, commit)
     if manifest.get("schema") not in (1, 2) or manifest.get("tag") != tag or manifest.get("commit") != commit or not isinstance(manifest.get("packages"), list):
         raise ValueError("Candidate manifest does not match release identity")
     if manifest["schema"] == 1:
@@ -169,17 +170,47 @@ def output(argv: list[str]) -> str:
     return subprocess.check_output(argv, text=True, encoding="utf-8").strip()
 
 
-def check_tag(env: dict, run=output) -> tuple[str, str]:
-    tag, commit = env.get("RELEASE_TAG"), env.get("GITHUB_SHA")
-    require_stable_identity(tag, commit, env.get("GITHUB_REF"))
-    actual = run(["git", "rev-parse", f"refs/tags/{tag}^{{commit}}"])
-    remote = dict(line.split()[::-1] for line in run(["git", "ls-remote", "origin", f"refs/tags/{tag}", f"refs/tags/{tag}^{{}}"] ).splitlines())
-    remote_commit = remote.get(f"refs/tags/{tag}^{{}}", remote.get(f"refs/tags/{tag}"))
-    if actual != commit or remote_commit != commit or run(["git", "rev-parse", "HEAD"]) != commit:
-        raise ValueError("Release tag or checkout moved")
+def check_claim(env: dict, run=output) -> dict:
+    """Bind the run to one remote annotated claim object and its commit."""
+    claim_tag, commit = env.get("RELEASE_CLAIM_TAG"), env.get("GITHUB_SHA")
+    if not isinstance(claim_tag, str) or env.get("GITHUB_REF") != f"refs/tags/{claim_tag}":
+        raise ValueError("Stable release must run on its exact claim ref")
+    if not isinstance(commit, str) or not SHA.fullmatch(commit):
+        raise ValueError("Stable claim needs an exact commit")
+    claim_ref = f"refs/tags/{claim_tag}"
+    local_object = run(["git", "rev-parse", claim_ref])
+    local_commit = run(["git", "rev-parse", f"{claim_ref}^{{commit}}"])
+    if run(["git", "cat-file", "-t", local_object]) != "tag":
+        raise ValueError("Stable claim must be an annotated tag")
+    remote = dict(line.split()[::-1] for line in run(
+        ["git", "ls-remote", "origin", claim_ref, f"{claim_ref}^{{}}"]
+    ).splitlines())
+    remote_object = remote.get(claim_ref)
+    remote_commit = remote.get(f"{claim_ref}^{{}}")
+    expected_object = env.get("RELEASE_CLAIM_OBJECT")
+    if (local_commit != commit or remote_commit != commit or remote_object != local_object
+            or (expected_object and remote_object != expected_object)
+            or run(["git", "rev-parse", "HEAD"]) != commit):
+        raise ValueError("Stable claim tag or checkout moved")
     run(["git", "fetch", "origin", "main"])
-    run(["git", "merge-base", "--is-ancestor", commit, "origin/main"])
-    return tag, commit
+
+    def on_main(sha: str) -> bool:
+        try:
+            run(["git", "merge-base", "--is-ancestor", sha, "origin/main"])
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+            return False
+        return True
+
+    admitted = admit_claim(claim_tag, commit, on_main=on_main)
+    return {**admitted, "claim_object": local_object}
+
+
+def stable_context(env: dict, run=output) -> tuple[str, str, dict]:
+    claim = check_claim(env, run=run)
+    tag = env.get("RELEASE_TAG")
+    if not isinstance(tag, str) or tag != claim["tag"]:
+        raise ValueError("Stable payload tag differs from the admitted claim")
+    return tag, claim["commit"], claim
 
 
 def emit(values: dict, env: dict) -> None:
@@ -199,7 +230,7 @@ def read_admitted_candidate(tag: str, commit: str, public_base: str, digest: str
     """The page and package promoter consume the same pinned admission."""
     if not DIGEST.fullmatch(digest or ""):
         raise ValueError("Pinned candidate manifest digest is required")
-    require_stable_identity(tag, commit, f"refs/tags/{tag}")
+    require_stable_identity(tag, commit)
     manifest = read_manifest(f"{public_base.rstrip('/')}/releases/tag/{tag}/release-candidates.json",
                              digest, expected_origin=public_base)
     validate_candidates(manifest, tag, commit, public_base)
@@ -213,24 +244,37 @@ def summary(text: str, env: dict) -> None:
 
 def admit(env: dict) -> None:
     """Admit the claim. The checkout carries 0.0.0, so the tag is the version."""
-    tag, commit = env.get("RELEASE_TAG"), env.get("GITHUB_SHA")
-    admitted = admit_claim(tag, commit, on_main=lambda sha: _on_main(sha, env))
-    emit({"tag": tag, "commit": admitted["commit"], "version": admitted["version"]}, env)
-    summary(f"## Stable candidate {tag}\nCommit: {commit}\nVersion: {admitted['version']}\n", env)
+    admitted = check_claim(env)
+    repository = env["GITHUB_REPOSITORY"]
+    release = json.loads(output([
+        "gh", "release", "view", admitted["claim_tag"], "--repo", repository,
+        "--json", "databaseId,tagName,isDraft,isPrerelease",
+    ]))
+    if (release.get("tagName") != admitted["claim_tag"] or release.get("isDraft") is not True
+            or release.get("isPrerelease") is not False or not isinstance(release.get("databaseId"), int)):
+        raise ValueError("Stable claim must already own one non-prerelease draft")
+    emit({
+        "claim-tag": admitted["claim_tag"], "claim-object": admitted["claim_object"],
+        "tag": admitted["tag"], "commit": admitted["commit"], "version": admitted["version"],
+        "release-id": release["databaseId"],
+    }, env)
+    summary(
+        f"## Stable candidate {admitted['claim_tag']}\nCommit: {admitted['commit']}\n"
+        f"Version: {admitted['version']}\nPayload tag: {admitted['tag']}\n",
+        env,
+    )
 
 
-def _on_main(commit: str, env: dict) -> bool:
-    try:
-        output(["git", "merge-base", "--is-ancestor", commit, "origin/main"])
-    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
-        return False
-    return True
+def verify(env: dict) -> None:
+    """Revalidate claim custody in a reusable privileged workflow."""
+    tag, commit, _claim = stable_context(env)
+    emit({"tag": tag, "sha": commit, "channel": "stable", "payload-version": tag[1:]}, env)
 
 
 def transitions(env: dict) -> None:
     from scripts.releases.r2 import put
 
-    tag, commit = check_tag(env)
+    tag, commit, _claim = stable_context(env)
     base = env["CLOUDFLARE_R2_PUBLIC_URL"].rstrip("/")
     candidate = read_candidate(env)
     validate_candidates(candidate, tag, commit, base)
@@ -258,22 +302,75 @@ def transitions(env: dict) -> None:
     emit(matrices, env)
 
 
-def complete(env: dict) -> None:
-    from scripts.releases.r2 import put
+def ensure_final_tag(tag: str, commit: str, claim: dict, run=output) -> str:
+    """Create or verify the immutable annotated final tag."""
+    require_stable_identity(tag, commit)
+    ref = f"refs/tags/{tag}"
+    remote_raw = run(["git", "ls-remote", "origin", ref, f"{ref}^{{}}"])
+    if not remote_raw:
+        try:
+            local_object = run(["git", "rev-parse", "--verify", ref])
+        except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+            message = json.dumps({
+                "schema": 1, "version": tag[1:], "commit": commit,
+                "claimTag": claim["claim_tag"], "claimTagObject": claim["claim_object"],
+            }, sort_keys=True, separators=(",", ":"))
+            run([
+                "git", "-c", "user.name=Hermes Release Automation",
+                "-c", "user.email=release-bot@users.noreply.github.com",
+                "tag", "-a", tag, commit, "-m", message,
+            ])
+        else:
+            if (run(["git", "cat-file", "-t", local_object]) != "tag"
+                    or run(["git", "rev-parse", f"{ref}^{{commit}}"]) != commit):
+                raise ValueError("Local final tag collision")
+        run(["git", "push", "origin", ref])
+        remote_raw = run(["git", "ls-remote", "origin", ref, f"{ref}^{{}}"])
+    remote = dict(line.split()[::-1] for line in remote_raw.splitlines())
+    tag_object, peeled = remote.get(ref), remote.get(f"{ref}^{{}}")
+    if not tag_object or peeled != commit:
+        raise ValueError("Final stable tag points at the wrong commit or is lightweight")
+    try:
+        local_object = run(["git", "rev-parse", ref])
+    except subprocess.CalledProcessError:
+        run(["git", "fetch", "origin", f"{ref}:{ref}"])
+        local_object = run(["git", "rev-parse", ref])
+    if local_object != tag_object or run(["git", "cat-file", "-t", local_object]) != "tag":
+        raise ValueError("Final stable tag object differs from the verified remote")
+    return tag_object
 
-    tag, commit = check_tag(env)
+
+def _autopublish(value: str | None) -> bool:
+    if value not in {"true", "false"}:
+        raise ValueError("AUTOPUBLISH must be exactly true or false")
+    return value == "true"
+
+
+def retarget_release(repository: str, release_id: int, tag: str, commit: str, *, publish: bool,
+                     run=output) -> None:
+    endpoint = f"repos/{repository}/releases/{release_id}"
+    run([
+        "gh", "api", "--method", "PATCH", endpoint,
+        "--raw-field", f"tag_name={tag}", "--raw-field", f"target_commitish={commit}",
+        "--field", "prerelease=false", "--field", f"draft={str(not publish).lower()}",
+    ])
+    release = json.loads(run(["gh", "api", endpoint]))
+    if (release.get("id") != release_id or release.get("tag_name") != tag
+            or release.get("prerelease") is not False or release.get("draft") is not (not publish)):
+        raise ValueError("Stable release retarget did not persist")
+
+
+def complete(env: dict) -> None:
+    tag, commit, claim = stable_context(env)
     base = env["CLOUDFLARE_R2_PUBLIC_URL"].rstrip("/")
     candidate = read_candidate(env)
     validate_candidates(candidate, tag, commit, base)
-    file = Path(env["RUNNER_TEMP"]) / "release-candidates.json"
-    file.write_text(json.dumps(candidate), encoding="utf-8")
-    put(tag=tag, key="releases/stable/release-candidates.json", key_is_full=True, file=file)
-    if read_manifest(f"{base}/releases/stable/release-candidates.json") != candidate:
-        raise ValueError("Stable manifest read-back mismatch")
-    output(["gh", "release", "edit", tag, "--repo", env["GITHUB_REPOSITORY"], "--draft=false"])
-    release = json.loads(output(["gh", "release", "view", tag, "--repo", env["GITHUB_REPOSITORY"], "--json", "isDraft"]))
-    if release["isDraft"]:
-        raise ValueError("Stable release remained a draft")
+    ensure_final_tag(tag, commit, claim)
+    release_id = env.get("RELEASE_ID", "")
+    if not str(release_id).isdigit():
+        raise ValueError("Stable release database ID is required")
+    publish = _autopublish(env.get("AUTOPUBLISH"))
+    retarget_release(env["GITHUB_REPOSITORY"], int(release_id), tag, commit, publish=publish)
 
 
 def main(argv: list[str] | None = None, env: dict | None = None) -> None:
@@ -284,9 +381,9 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None, env: dict | None = None) -> None:
         summary("\n".join(f"- {name}: {needs.get(name, {}).get('result', 'missing')}" for name in argv[1:]), env)
         require_success(needs, argv[1:])
         return
-    commands = {"admit": admit, "transitions": transitions, "complete": complete}
+    commands = {"admit": admit, "verify": verify, "transitions": transitions, "complete": complete}
     if len(argv) != 1 or argv[0] not in commands:
-        raise ValueError("Expected admit, gate, transitions or complete")
+        raise ValueError("Expected admit, verify, gate, transitions or complete")
     commands[argv[0]](env)
 
 
diff --git a/scripts/releases/stamping.py b/scripts/releases/stamping.py
index bae65b44f1..f83bfe7e21 100644
--- a/scripts/releases/stamping.py
+++ b/scripts/releases/stamping.py
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ placeholder version.
 """
 from __future__ import annotations
 
+import argparse
+import datetime as dt
 import re
 from pathlib import Path
 
@@ -29,10 +31,17 @@ def stamp(tree: Path, version: str, release_date: str) -> list[Path]:
             written.append(path)
 
     init = tree / "hermes_cli" / "__init__.py"
-    _rewrite(init, r'__version__\s*=\s*"[^"]+"', f'__version__ = "{version}"')
     _rewrite(init, r'__release_date__\s*=\s*"[^"]+"', f'__release_date__ = "{release_date}"')
     touch(init)
 
+    generated = tree / "hermes_cli" / "_version.py"
+    generated.write_text(
+        '"""Generated release identity. Do not commit."""\n\n'
+        f'__version__ = "{version}"\n',
+        encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+    written.append(generated)
+
     pyproject = tree / "pyproject.toml"
     _rewrite(pyproject, r'^version\s*=\s*"[^"]+"', f'version = "{version}"', count=1, flags=re.MULTILINE)
     touch(pyproject)
@@ -66,3 +75,17 @@ def stamp(tree: Path, version: str, release_date: str) -> list[Path]:
         touch(path)
 
     return written
+
+
+def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> None:
+    parser = argparse.ArgumentParser(description=__doc__)
+    parser.add_argument("--tree", type=Path, required=True)
+    parser.add_argument("--version", required=True)
+    now = dt.datetime.now(dt.UTC)
+    parser.add_argument("--release-date", default=f"{now.year}.{now.month}.{now.day}")
+    args = parser.parse_args(argv)
+    stamp(args.tree.resolve(), args.version, args.release_date)
+
+
+if __name__ == "__main__":
+    main()
diff --git a/scripts/termux/build.py b/scripts/termux/build.py
index 1d0e085f0f..f42eaf7410 100644
--- a/scripts/termux/build.py
+++ b/scripts/termux/build.py
@@ -26,6 +26,7 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
     identity = parser.add_mutually_exclusive_group(required=True)
     identity.add_argument("--tag")
     identity.add_argument("--commit")
+    parser.add_argument("--release-commit")
     args = parser.parse_args(argv)
 
     try:
@@ -33,6 +34,10 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
             deb_version_for_tag(args.tag)
         else:
             require_commit(args.commit)
+        if args.release_commit is not None:
+            if args.tag is None:
+                parser.error("--release-commit requires --tag")
+            require_commit(args.release_commit)
     except ValueError as exc:
         parser.error(str(exc))
 
@@ -42,6 +47,8 @@ def main(argv: list[str] | None = None) -> int:
             parser.error(f"{option} must name an existing directory: {path}")
     product = repo / ".build/termux/tui"
     revision = ["--tag", args.tag] if args.tag is not None else ["--commit", args.commit]
+    if args.release_commit is not None:
+        revision.extend(["--release-commit", args.release_commit])
     commands = [
         ["node", str(repo / "scripts/build/node-deps.mjs"),
          "--source", str(repo), "--workspace", "ui-tui"],
diff --git a/scripts/termux/build_deb.sh b/scripts/termux/build_deb.sh
index 345718d797..0077c1412b 100644
--- a/scripts/termux/build_deb.sh
+++ b/scripts/termux/build_deb.sh
@@ -32,6 +32,7 @@ REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$HERE/../.." && pwd)"
 REPO=""
 TAG=""
 COMMIT_MODE=""
+RELEASE_COMMIT=""
 PAYLOAD=""
 OUT=""
 TUI_PRODUCT=""
@@ -45,6 +46,7 @@ while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
         --repo) REPO="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
         --tag) TAG="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
         --commit) COMMIT_MODE="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
+        --release-commit) RELEASE_COMMIT="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
         --payload) PAYLOAD="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
         --tui-product) TUI_PRODUCT="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
         --out) OUT="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
@@ -52,7 +54,9 @@ while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
     esac
 done
 [ -n "$REPO" ] && [ -n "$PAYLOAD" ] && [ -n "$OUT" ] || usage
-{ [ -n "$TAG" ] || [ -n "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } && { [ -z "$TAG" ] || [ -z "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } || usage
+{ [ -n "$TAG" ] || [ -n "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } || usage
+{ [ -z "$TAG" ] || [ -z "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } || usage
+[ -z "$RELEASE_COMMIT" ] || { [ -n "$TAG" ] && [ -z "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } || usage
 
 for tool in python3 git docker dpkg-deb jq; do
     command -v "$tool" >/dev/null || fail "missing tool: $tool"
@@ -66,26 +70,33 @@ REPO_ABS="$(cd "$REPO" && pwd)"
 PAYLOAD_ABS="$(cd "$PAYLOAD" && pwd)"
 
 # Resolve source identity before writing output or changing payload files.
-# Commit mode requires the checkout HEAD and staged version to agree.
-if [ -n "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; then
-    [[ "$COMMIT_MODE" =~ ^[a-f0-9]{40}$ ]] || fail "--commit requires an exact full 40-character SHA"
+# Commit and pre-final stable modes require the checkout HEAD and staged version to agree.
+if [ -n "$COMMIT_MODE" ] || [ -n "$RELEASE_COMMIT" ]; then
+    SELECTED_COMMIT="${RELEASE_COMMIT:-$COMMIT_MODE}"
+    [[ "$SELECTED_COMMIT" =~ ^[a-f0-9]{40}$ ]] || fail "commit identity requires an exact full 40-character SHA"
     COMMIT="$(git -C "$REPO_ABS" rev-parse HEAD)" || fail "not a git checkout: $REPO_ABS"
-    [ "$COMMIT" = "$COMMIT_MODE" ] || fail "checkout HEAD $(echo "$COMMIT" | cut -c1-12) is not the requested commit"
-    PY_VERSION="$(python3 - "$REPO_ROOT" "$REPO_ABS" "$COMMIT" "$PAYLOAD_ABS/app/pyproject.toml" <<'PY'
+    [ "$COMMIT" = "$SELECTED_COMMIT" ] || fail "checkout HEAD $(echo "$COMMIT" | cut -c1-12) is not the requested commit"
+    PY_VERSION="$(python3 - "$REPO_ROOT" "$REPO_ABS" "$COMMIT" "$PAYLOAD_ABS/app/pyproject.toml" "$TAG" <<'PY'
 import sys, tomllib
 from pathlib import Path
 sys.path.insert(0, sys.argv[1])
 from scripts.releases.commit_build import version_at
-version = version_at(Path(sys.argv[2]), sys.argv[3])
+version = sys.argv[5][1:] if sys.argv[5] else version_at(Path(sys.argv[2]), sys.argv[3])
 staged = tomllib.loads(Path(sys.argv[4]).read_text(encoding="utf-8"))["project"]["version"]
 if staged != version:
     raise ValueError("payload version does not match the admitted commit")
 print(version)
 PY
     )" || fail "commit version validation failed"
-    DEB_VERSION="${PY_VERSION}+commit${COMMIT_MODE:0:12}"
-    export HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG=""
-    export HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT="$COMMIT_MODE"
+    if [ -n "$RELEASE_COMMIT" ]; then
+        DEB_VERSION="$(python3 "$HERE/deb_version.py" "$TAG")" || fail "version derivation failed for tag $TAG"
+        export HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG="$TAG"
+        unset HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT
+    else
+        DEB_VERSION="${PY_VERSION}+commit${COMMIT_MODE:0:12}"
+        export HERMES_PAYLOAD_TAG=""
+        export HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT="$COMMIT_MODE"
+    fi
 else
     unset HERMES_BUILD_COMMIT
     COMMIT="$(git -C "$REPO_ABS" rev-parse --verify "refs/tags/$TAG^{commit}")" \
@@ -106,7 +117,7 @@ PKG="hermes-agent"
 
 # [1] Version derivation: tag mode uses the pure function in deb_version.py
 # (tested separately). Commit mode derives it from pyproject above.
-if [ -z "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; then
+if [ -z "$COMMIT_MODE" ] && [ -z "$RELEASE_COMMIT" ]; then
     log "Deriving Debian version from tag $TAG"
     DEB_VERSION="$(python3 "$HERE/deb_version.py" "$TAG")" || fail "version derivation failed for tag $TAG"
 fi
diff --git a/scripts/termux/termux_build.sh b/scripts/termux/termux_build.sh
index 0217fb5e7c..abe6f73297 100755
--- a/scripts/termux/termux_build.sh
+++ b/scripts/termux/termux_build.sh
@@ -146,18 +146,23 @@ fi
 REPO=""
 TAG=""
 COMMIT_MODE=""
+RELEASE_COMMIT=""
 OUT=""
 while [ "$#" -gt 0 ]; do
     case "$1" in
         --repo) REPO="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
         --tag) TAG="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
         --commit) COMMIT_MODE="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
+        --release-commit) RELEASE_COMMIT="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
         --out) OUT="${2:?}"; shift 2 ;;
         *) printf 'usage: termux_build.sh --repo <dir> (--tag <tag> | --commit <full-sha>) --out <dir>\n' >&2; exit 2 ;;
     esac
 done
-[ -n "$REPO" ] && [ -n "$OUT" ] && { [ -n "$TAG" ] || [ -n "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } && { [ -z "$TAG" ] || [ -z "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } || {
+[ -n "$REPO" ] && [ -n "$OUT" ] && { [ -n "$TAG" ] || [ -n "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } || {
     printf 'usage: termux_build.sh --repo <dir> (--tag <tag> | --commit <full-sha>) --out <dir>\n' >&2; exit 2; }
+{ [ -z "$TAG" ] || [ -z "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } || fail "--tag and --commit are mutually exclusive"
+[ -z "$RELEASE_COMMIT" ] || { [ -n "$TAG" ] && [ -z "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; } \
+    || fail "--release-commit requires --tag and conflicts with --commit"
 
 for tool in git curl docker python3; do
     command -v "$tool" >/dev/null 2>&1 \
@@ -171,7 +176,13 @@ case "$ARCH" in
 esac
 
 # Check source identity before writing build output.
-if [ -n "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; then
+if [ -n "$RELEASE_COMMIT" ]; then
+    [[ "$RELEASE_COMMIT" =~ ^[a-f0-9]{40}$ ]] || fail "--release-commit requires an exact full 40-character SHA"
+    [ "$(git -C "$REPO" rev-parse HEAD)" = "$RELEASE_COMMIT" ] || fail "checkout does not match --release-commit"
+    python3 "$HERE/deb_version.py" "$TAG" >/dev/null || fail "invalid release identity $TAG"
+    log "Stable release build of $TAG at admitted commit $RELEASE_COMMIT"
+    REF="$RELEASE_COMMIT"
+elif [ -n "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; then
     [[ "$COMMIT_MODE" =~ ^[a-f0-9]{40}$ ]] || fail "--commit requires an exact full 40-character SHA"
     [ "$(git -C "$REPO" rev-parse HEAD)" = "$COMMIT_MODE" ] || fail "checkout does not match --commit"
     log "Commit-only build of $COMMIT_MODE -- skipping the tag/release gates"
@@ -205,6 +216,7 @@ sys.path.insert(0, sys.argv[1])
 from scripts.bundles.payload import snapshot
 snapshot(Path(sys.argv[1]), sys.argv[2], Path(sys.argv[3]))
 PY
+[ -z "$TAG" ] || python3 "$REPO_ABS/scripts/releases/stamping.py" --tree "$WORK/tree" --version "${TAG#v}"
 [ -f "$WORK/tree/pyproject.toml" ] || fail "archived tag tree has no pyproject.toml -- bad tag?"
 REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$HERE/../.." && pwd)"
 DIGEST="$(cd "$REPO_ROOT" && python3 -c 'from pm.lock import termux_docker_digest; print(termux_docker_digest())')"
@@ -397,7 +409,7 @@ cp -a "$WORK/tree" "$OUT_ABS/app"
 # [h] Only a successful native build and both gates can publish cache proof.
 log "Emitting index.json and SHA256SUMS"
 provenance=(--tag "$TAG")
-if [ -n "$COMMIT_MODE" ]; then provenance=(--commit "$COMMIT_MODE"); fi
+if [ -z "$TAG" ]; then provenance=(--commit "$COMMIT_MODE"); fi
 python3 "$HERE/wheelhouse_cache.py" write "${CACHE_ARGS[@]}" "${provenance[@]}" \
     || fail "manifest emission failed"
 
diff --git a/tests/ci/test_desktop_release_tag_admission.py b/tests/ci/test_desktop_release_tag_admission.py
index fbb9fb37ea..74701d64e8 100644
--- a/tests/ci/test_desktop_release_tag_admission.py
+++ b/tests/ci/test_desktop_release_tag_admission.py
@@ -6,9 +6,9 @@ unreviewed commit must never reach the signing build. Two layers are tested:
 
 * Structure — the workflow declares the admitted SHA as a job output and
   every privileged job checks out THAT, not the (moveable) tag ref.
-* Behavior — the admission script is executed, verbatim from the workflow
-  YAML, inside real temp git repositories: a tag on origin/main passes and
-  exports the full SHA; a tag-shaped ref NOT on main is refused.
+* Behavior — the production admission command runs inside real temp git
+  repositories: an annotated claim on origin/main passes and exports the full
+  SHA; a claim for a commit NOT on main is refused.
 """
 
 from __future__ import annotations
@@ -31,13 +31,6 @@ def _workflow() -> dict:
     return yaml.safe_load(_WORKFLOW.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
 
 
-def _admission_script() -> str:
-    """The admission run script, verbatim — the single source of truth."""
-    steps = _workflow()["jobs"]["validate"]["steps"]
-    scripts = [s for s in steps if isinstance(s, dict) and s.get("id") == "admission"]
-    assert len(scripts) == 1, "expected exactly one admission step in the validate job"
-    return scripts[0]["run"]
-
 
 # ---------------------------------------------------------------------------
 # Structure: the admitted SHA is the only build input privileged jobs see.
@@ -69,7 +62,7 @@ def test_signing_jobs_pin_source_and_controller_revisions_not_mutable_tags():
             if name in {"publish-channel"} or step.get("if") == "needs.validate.outputs.channel-build != ''":
                 expected = "${{ github.sha }}"
             elif name == "validate":
-                expected = "${{ (inputs.build_commit != '' || inputs.channel != '') && github.sha || inputs.tag }}"
+                expected = "${{ (inputs.build_commit != '' || inputs.channel != '' || inputs.release-phase != '') && github.sha || inputs.tag }}"
             elif name == "assemble-win32-bundle":
                 expected = "${{ needs.validate.outputs.channel-build != '' && github.sha || needs.validate.outputs.sha }}"
             assert ref == expected, (
@@ -162,23 +155,22 @@ def _seed_repo(root: Path) -> tuple[Path, Path]:
     return origin, clone
 
 
-def _run_admission(clone: Path, tag: str) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
+def _run_admission(clone: Path, tag: str, claim_tag: str) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
     gh_output = clone / "github_output.txt"
     gh_output.write_text("", encoding="utf-8")
     env = _child_env(
         TAG=tag,
+        RELEASE_TAG=tag,
+        RELEASE_CLAIM_TAG=claim_tag,
+        RELEASE_CLAIM_OBJECT=_git("rev-parse", f"refs/tags/{claim_tag}", cwd=clone),
         GITHUB_OUTPUT=str(gh_output),
-        RELEASE_PHASE="" if "+canary." in tag else "candidate",
-        GITHUB_REF=f"refs/tags/{tag}",
+        RELEASE_PHASE="candidate",
+        GITHUB_REF=f"refs/tags/{claim_tag}",
         GITHUB_SHA=_git("rev-parse", "HEAD", cwd=clone),
-        # checkout@v6 runs run-steps with `bash -e -o pipefail`; -e/-o are on
-        # the command line below, so nothing else is needed from the env.
+        PYTHONPATH=str(_REPO),
     )
-    script = _admission_script()
-    script_file = clone / "admission.sh"
-    script_file.write_text(script, encoding="utf-8")
     return subprocess.run(
-        [_BASH, "-e", "-o", "pipefail", str(script_file)],
+        [sys.executable, "-m", "scripts.releases.stable", "verify"],
         cwd=clone,
         env=env,
         capture_output=True,
@@ -187,11 +179,12 @@ def _run_admission(clone: Path, tag: str) -> subprocess.CompletedProcess:
     )
 
 
-def test_tag_on_origin_main_is_admitted_and_exports_the_full_sha(tmp_path: Path):
+def test_claim_on_origin_main_is_admitted_and_exports_the_full_sha(tmp_path: Path):
     _origin, clone = _seed_repo(tmp_path)
-    _git("tag", "v0.1.2", cwd=clone)
+    _git("tag", "-a", "v0.1.2-rc", "-m", "claim", cwd=clone)
+    _git("push", "origin", "refs/tags/v0.1.2-rc", cwd=clone)
 
-    proc = _run_admission(clone, "v0.1.2")
+    proc = _run_admission(clone, "v0.1.2", "v0.1.2-rc")
     assert proc.returncode == 0, proc.stdout + proc.stderr
 
     gh_output = (clone / "github_output.txt").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
@@ -199,30 +192,29 @@ def test_tag_on_origin_main_is_admitted_and_exports_the_full_sha(tmp_path: Path)
     assert f"sha={expected}" in gh_output
 
 
-def test_tag_not_on_origin_main_is_refused(tmp_path: Path):
+def test_claim_not_on_origin_main_is_refused(tmp_path: Path):
     _origin, clone = _seed_repo(tmp_path)
     # A commit that exists ONLY in the clone — never pushed, never reviewed.
     (clone / "rogue.txt").write_text("unreviewed\n", encoding="utf-8")
     _git("add", "-A", cwd=clone)
     _git("commit", "-m", "rogue", cwd=clone)
-    _git("tag", "v0.1.2+canary.20260830T120000Z", cwd=clone)
+    _git("tag", "-a", "v0.1.2-rc", "-m", "claim", cwd=clone)
+    _git("push", "origin", "refs/tags/v0.1.2-rc", cwd=clone)
 
-    proc = _run_admission(clone, "v0.1.2+canary.20260830T120000Z")
+    proc = _run_admission(clone, "v0.1.2", "v0.1.2-rc")
     assert proc.returncode != 0, "a tag off origin/main must not be admitted"
-    assert "not an ancestor of origin/main" in proc.stdout + proc.stderr
+    assert "is not on main" in proc.stdout + proc.stderr
     # And nothing was exported for the signing jobs to consume.
     assert "sha=" not in (clone / "github_output.txt").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
 
 
-def test_malformed_tag_is_refused_before_any_git_work(tmp_path: Path):
+def test_malformed_claim_is_refused(tmp_path: Path):
     _origin, clone = _seed_repo(tmp_path)
-    proc = _run_admission(clone, "v0.1.2-rc1")
+    _git("tag", "-a", "v0.1.2-rc1", "-m", "bad claim", cwd=clone)
+    _git("push", "origin", "refs/tags/v0.1.2-rc1", cwd=clone)
+    proc = _run_admission(clone, "v0.1.2", "v0.1.2-rc1")
     assert proc.returncode != 0
-    # Refused at the shape/lockstep legs — either message is a valid refusal.
-    assert (
-        "not a release tag" in proc.stdout + proc.stderr
-        or "does not match pyproject.toml version" in proc.stdout + proc.stderr
-    )
+    assert "is not a claim tag" in proc.stdout + proc.stderr
 
 
 def _require_step(job: str, name_prefix: str) -> dict:
diff --git a/tests/ci/test_stable_release_graph.py b/tests/ci/test_stable_release_graph.py
index ff6ff91f04..83d6e2797f 100644
--- a/tests/ci/test_stable_release_graph.py
+++ b/tests/ci/test_stable_release_graph.py
@@ -47,3 +47,22 @@ def test_all_applicable_ci_jobs_are_aggregated_and_desktop_e2e_stays_deferred():
     assert checks <= set(jobs["all-checks-pass"]["needs"])
     assert jobs["e2e-desktop"]["if"] == "false"
     assert "workflow_call" in workflow("ci.yaml")["on"]
+
+
+def test_claim_custody_and_final_payload_identity_reach_every_privileged_phase():
+    release = workflow("stable-release.yml")
+    jobs = release["jobs"]
+    assert release["on"]["workflow_dispatch"]["inputs"]["autopublish"]["required"] == "true"
+    assert {"claim-tag", "claim-object", "tag", "commit", "version", "release-id"} <= \
+        set(jobs["admit"]["outputs"])
+    for name in ("candidates", "publish-bundles", "promote-bundles"):
+        call = jobs[name]["with"]
+        assert call["tag"] == "${{ needs.admit.outputs.tag }}"
+        assert call["claim-tag"] == "${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-tag }}"
+        assert call["claim-object"] == "${{ needs.admit.outputs.claim-object }}"
+    for name in ("docker", "nix", "pm-bundle"):
+        assert jobs[name]["with"]["version"] == "${{ needs.admit.outputs.version }}"
+    complete = jobs["complete"]["steps"]
+    final = next(i for i, step in enumerate(complete) if step.get("name", "").startswith("Create the final tag"))
+    render = next(i for i, step in enumerate(complete) if step.get("name", "").startswith("Render the admitted"))
+    assert final < render
diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_bundle_payload.py b/tests/scripts/test_bundle_payload.py
index 835f530fc1..07d0b2f14e 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/test_bundle_payload.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_bundle_payload.py
@@ -16,11 +16,10 @@ from scripts.build.launchers import posix_launcher
 from scripts.bundles.desktop import release_version
 
 
-def test_release_version_must_match_project(tmp_path):
-    (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text('[project]\nversion="1.2.3"\n', encoding="utf-8")
+def test_release_version_comes_from_the_release_identity_not_the_checkout(tmp_path):
+    (tmp_path / "pyproject.toml").write_text('[project]\nversion="0.0.0"\n', encoding="utf-8")
     assert release_version(tmp_path, "v1.2.3") == "1.2.3"
-    with pytest.raises(ValueError):
-        release_version(tmp_path, "v1.2.4")
+    assert release_version(tmp_path, "v1.2.4") == "1.2.4"
 
 
 def test_wrapper_rejects_unresolved_template_fields(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_desktop_preparation.py b/tests/scripts/test_desktop_preparation.py
index 0bffb5fce3..537f65e863 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/test_desktop_preparation.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_desktop_preparation.py
@@ -29,6 +29,19 @@ def _project(tmp_path: Path) -> tuple[Path, str]:
     return source, commit
 
 
+def test_stable_build_accepts_the_admitted_commit_before_the_final_tag_exists(tmp_path):
+    from scripts.bundles.desktop_prepare import BuildRequest
+
+    source, commit = _project(tmp_path)
+    request = BuildRequest.create(
+        source, tag="v1.2.4", commit=None, release_commit=commit, variant="bundled",
+        work=tmp_path / "work", cache=tmp_path / "cache", bundle_env={},
+    )
+
+    assert request.commit == commit
+    assert request.version == "1.2.4"
+
+
 def test_prepared_input_roundtrip_rejects_mutation_and_foreign_source(tmp_path):
     from scripts.bundles.desktop_prepare import BuildRequest, PreparedDesktop
 
diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_stable_admission.py b/tests/scripts/test_stable_admission.py
index 48453e42f8..5083c21583 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/test_stable_admission.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_stable_admission.py
@@ -13,7 +13,10 @@ def test_admission_reads_the_version_from_the_claim():
     commit = "a" * 40
     admitted = admit_claim("v0.21.5-rc", commit, on_main=lambda sha: sha == commit)
 
-    assert admitted == {"version": "0.21.5", "commit": commit}
+    assert admitted == {
+        "claim_tag": "v0.21.5-rc", "tag": "v0.21.5",
+        "version": "0.21.5", "commit": commit,
+    }
 
 
 def test_admission_refuses_a_claim_for_a_commit_off_main():
diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_stable_release.py b/tests/scripts/test_stable_release.py
index 1ee2f30cad..608dea8564 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/test_stable_release.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_stable_release.py
@@ -10,8 +10,8 @@ from pathlib import Path
 import pytest
 
 from scripts.releases.stable import (
-    check_tag, plan_transitions, read_manifest, require_stable_identity,
-    require_success, validate_candidates,
+    check_claim, ensure_final_tag, plan_transitions, read_manifest, require_stable_identity,
+    require_success, retarget_release, validate_candidates,
 )
 
 BASE = "https://releases.example"
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@ def test_transitions_bind_all_arches_identity_version_and_archive():
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="Legacy candidate"):
         validate_candidates(old, old["tag"], old["commit"], BASE)
     new = candidates("v1.2.4", "b" * 40, "2" * 64)
-    require_stable_identity(new["tag"], new["commit"], "refs/tags/v1.2.4")
-    for tag, ref in [("v1.2.4", "refs/heads/main"), ("v1.2.4+canary.20260907T143420Z", "refs/tags/v1.2.4+canary.20260907T143420Z")]:
+    require_stable_identity(new["tag"], new["commit"])
+    for tag in ("v1.2.4+canary.20260907T143420Z", "v1.2.4-rc"):
         with pytest.raises(ValueError):
-            require_stable_identity(tag, new["commit"], ref)
+            require_stable_identity(tag, new["commit"])
     transitions = plan_transitions(old, new, BASE)
     assert {row["target"] for row in transitions} == {"windows-x64", "windows-arm64", "macos-x64", "macos-arm64"}
     assert all(row["transition"]["new"]["commit"] == new["commit"] for row in transitions)
@@ -186,18 +186,31 @@ def test_manifest_origin_checks_with_real_https(https_origin):
     assert server.requests == []
 
 
-def test_tag_movement_fails_closed(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
+def test_claim_object_movement_and_lightweight_tags_fail_closed(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     commit = "a" * 40
-    env = {"RELEASE_TAG": "v1.2.3", "GITHUB_SHA": commit, "GITHUB_REF": "refs/tags/v1.2.3"}
+    claim_object = "b" * 40
+    ref = "refs/tags/v1.2.3-rc"
+    env = {"RELEASE_CLAIM_TAG": "v1.2.3-rc", "RELEASE_CLAIM_OBJECT": claim_object,
+           "GITHUB_SHA": commit, "GITHUB_REF": ref}
 
     def git(argv):
         if argv[1] == "ls-remote":
-            return f"{'b' * 40}\trefs/tags/v1.2.3\n{commit}\trefs/tags/v1.2.3^{{}}"
-        return commit if argv[1] == "rev-parse" else ""
+            return f"{claim_object}\t{ref}\n{commit}\t{ref}^{{}}"
+        if argv[1] == "cat-file":
+            return "tag"
+        if argv[1] == "rev-parse":
+            return claim_object if argv[-1] == ref else commit
+        return ""
 
-    assert check_tag(env, git) == ("v1.2.3", commit)
+    assert check_claim(env, git) == {
+        "claim_tag": "v1.2.3-rc", "claim_object": claim_object,
+        "tag": "v1.2.3", "version": "1.2.3", "commit": commit,
+    }
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="moved"):
-        check_tag(env, lambda argv: f"{'c' * 40}\trefs/tags/v1.2.3" if argv[1] == "ls-remote" else git(argv))
+        check_claim(env, lambda argv: f"{'c' * 40}\t{ref}\n{commit}\t{ref}^{{}}"
+                    if argv[1] == "ls-remote" else git(argv))
+    with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="annotated"):
+        check_claim(env, lambda argv: "commit" if argv[1] == "cat-file" else git(argv))
 
     repo = tmp_path / "repo"
     remote = tmp_path / "remote.git"
@@ -212,10 +225,39 @@ def test_tag_movement_fails_closed(tmp_path, monkeypatch):
     subprocess.run(["git", "commit", "-m", "first"], check=True, capture_output=True)
     actual = subprocess.check_output(["git", "rev-parse", "HEAD"], text=True, encoding="utf-8").strip()
     subprocess.run(["git", "remote", "add", "origin", str(remote)], check=True)
-    subprocess.run(["git", "tag", "v1.2.3"], check=True)
-    subprocess.run(["git", "push", "origin", "main", "v1.2.3"], check=True, capture_output=True)
-    env["GITHUB_SHA"] = actual
-    assert check_tag(env) == ("v1.2.3", actual)
-    subprocess.run(["git", "--git-dir", str(remote), "update-ref", "-d", "refs/tags/v1.2.3"], check=True)
+    subprocess.run(["git", "tag", "-a", "v1.2.3-rc", "-m", "claim"], check=True)
+    subprocess.run(["git", "push", "origin", "main", "v1.2.3-rc"], check=True, capture_output=True)
+    env.update({"GITHUB_SHA": actual, "RELEASE_CLAIM_OBJECT": subprocess.check_output(
+        ["git", "rev-parse", ref], text=True, encoding="utf-8").strip()})
+    claim = check_claim(env)
+    assert claim["commit"] == actual
+    final_object = ensure_final_tag("v1.2.3", actual, claim)
+    remote_final = subprocess.check_output(
+        ["git", "ls-remote", "origin", "refs/tags/v1.2.3", "refs/tags/v1.2.3^{}"],
+        text=True, encoding="utf-8",
+    )
+    assert f"{final_object}\trefs/tags/v1.2.3" in remote_final
+    assert f"{actual}\trefs/tags/v1.2.3^{{}}" in remote_final
+    subprocess.run(["git", "--git-dir", str(remote), "update-ref", "-d", ref], check=True)
     with pytest.raises(ValueError, match="moved"):
-        check_tag(env)
+        check_claim(env)
+
+
+@pytest.mark.parametrize("publish", [False, True])
+def test_retarget_release_preserves_the_database_id_and_explicit_draft_policy(publish):
+    commit = "a" * 40
+    calls = []
+
+    def gh(argv):
+        calls.append(argv)
+        if argv[1:3] == ["api", "repos/example/project/releases/42"]:
+            return json.dumps({
+                "id": 42, "tag_name": "v1.2.3", "target_commitish": commit,
+                "prerelease": False, "draft": not publish,
+            })
+        return "{}"
+
+    retarget_release("example/project", 42, "v1.2.3", commit, publish=publish, run=gh)
+
+    assert ["--field", f"draft={str(not publish).lower()}"] == calls[0][-2:]
+    assert calls[1] == ["gh", "api", "repos/example/project/releases/42"]
diff --git a/tests/scripts/test_version_stamping.py b/tests/scripts/test_version_stamping.py
index 794a2b66ef..23a76301d0 100644
--- a/tests/scripts/test_version_stamping.py
+++ b/tests/scripts/test_version_stamping.py
@@ -13,7 +13,7 @@ import pytest
 def _tree(root: Path) -> None:
     (root / "hermes_cli").mkdir()
     (root / "hermes_cli" / "__init__.py").write_text(
-        '__version__ = "0.0.0"\n__release_date__ = "2026.1.1"\n', encoding="utf-8")
+        '__release_date__ = "2026.1.1"\n', encoding="utf-8")
     (root / "pyproject.toml").write_text('version = "0.0.0"\n', encoding="utf-8")
     desktop = root / "apps" / "desktop"
     desktop.mkdir(parents=True)
@@ -51,8 +51,8 @@ def test_stamping_writes_the_build_tree_and_leaves_the_source_tree(tmp_path):
     assert (source / "pyproject.toml").read_text(encoding="utf-8") == before
     assert 'version = "0.21.5"' in (build / "pyproject.toml").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     init = (build / "hermes_cli" / "__init__.py").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
-    assert '__version__ = "0.21.5"' in init
     assert '__release_date__ = "2026.9.22"' in init
+    assert '__version__ = "0.21.5"' in (build / "hermes_cli" / "_version.py").read_text(encoding="utf-8")
     assert json.loads((build / "apps" / "desktop" / "package.json").read_text())["version"] == "0.21.5"
     # The lockfile root stays; only the desktop workspace entry moves.
     lock = json.loads((build / "package-lock.json").read_text())