diff --git a/src/client/agentTree.ts b/src/client/agentTree.ts
index c6085c0..4982f83 100644
--- a/src/client/agentTree.ts
+++ b/src/client/agentTree.ts
@@ -198,7 +198,10 @@ export function agentStatsOf(values: Record<string, unknown> | undefined): Agent
     : null
   return {
     head,
-    requests: timeline !== null ? timeline.requests.length : 0,
+    // The split-generation wire head carries the tally precomputed (the
+    // request records ride the detail channel); the inline generation's rows
+    // count their served records.
+    requests: timeline !== null ? (timeline.counts?.steps ?? timeline.requests.length) : 0,
     billed,
     durationMs: agentDurationOf(values?.subagentTiming),
     identity: agentIdentityOf(values?.subagent),
diff --git a/src/client/components/browser.tsx b/src/client/components/browser.tsx
index 6f2d067..e047b94 100644
--- a/src/client/components/browser.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/browser.tsx
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import { React } from '../react'
 import type { ContentFetcher, ConversationNodeLike, HeaderFetcher } from '../services'
 import type { ViewKit } from '../viewkit'
 import { blockSummaryOf, callSummaryOf, parseCallArgs } from '../callSummary'
+import type { DetailState } from '../timelineSource'
+import { makeDetailNote } from './detailNote'
 import { makeNodeText } from './nodes'
 import { fetchMissNote, useFetchOnMiss } from './fetchOnMiss'
 import { imageRefOf, makeImageCard } from './images'
@@ -51,6 +53,13 @@ export interface ContextBrowserProps {
   hoverKey?: string | null
   onHoverKey?: (key: string | null) => void
   loadImage?: ImageLoader
+  /**
+   * The timeline source's detail state (split generation): while the first
+   * detail read is pending or settled without data, a note strip names the
+   * state (the picker/sections otherwise show a misleading empty surface).
+   */
+  detailState?: DetailState
+  onDetailRetry?: () => void
 }
 
 interface ParamSchema {
@@ -556,6 +565,7 @@ export function makeContextBrowser(
   StackedBar: (props: StackedBarProps) => ReactNS.ReactElement,
 ): (props: ContextBrowserProps) => ReactNS.ReactElement {
   const { t, fmt, fmtTime, catLabel } = kit
+  const DetailNote = makeDetailNote(kit)
   const nodeText = makeNodeText(kit)
   const rich = makeRichText(kit)
   const ImageCard = makeImageCard(kit)
@@ -985,6 +995,12 @@ export function makeContextBrowser(
         {view.approximate
           ? <div className="lc-br-note">{t('browser.approx')}</div>
           : null}
+        {props.detailState === 'loading'
+          ? <DetailNote state="loading" className="lc-br-note" />
+          : null}
+        {props.detailState === 'failed' && props.onDetailRetry !== undefined
+          ? <DetailNote state="failed" onRetry={props.onDetailRetry} className="lc-br-note" />
+          : null}
 
         <div className="lc-br-cats">
           {CATS.map((c) => {
diff --git a/src/client/components/contextModal.tsx b/src/client/components/contextModal.tsx
index 3b656fa..95356fc 100644
--- a/src/client/components/contextModal.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/contextModal.tsx
@@ -9,8 +9,9 @@ import { measureDock } from '../dockMeasure'
 import { headlineOf } from '../headline'
 import { modalStoreOf, takePendingConsume } from '../modalStore'
 import type { ClientCtx, SessionStandardProps, SessionsFace } from '../services'
-import { contextBreakdownOf, contextPressureOf, conversationNodesOf, headersOf, projectionOf, timelineOf } from '../services'
+import { contextBreakdownOf, contextPressureOf, conversationNodesOf, headersOf, projectionOf } from '../services'
 import { makeContentFetcher, makeHeaderFetcher } from '../historyPage'
+import { useTimelineSource } from '../timelineSource'
 import type { ViewKit } from '../viewkit'
 import { makeContextBrowser } from './browser'
 import { makeCurrentComposition } from './currentComposition'
@@ -36,7 +37,10 @@ export function makeContextModal(ctx: ClientCtx, kit: ViewKit): (props: ContextM
   function ContextModalBody(props: ContextModalProps): ReactNS.ReactElement | null {
     const sessionId = typeof props.sessionId === 'string' ? props.sessionId : ''
     const open = typeof props.useContextModal === 'function' ? props.useContextModal(s => s) : false
-    const data = projectionOf(props, 'contextTimeline', timelineOf)
+    // The timeline source (timelineSource.ts) — shares the tab's per-session
+    // detail store, so an open tab's detail serves the modal with no refetch.
+    const source = useTimelineSource(ctx, props)
+    const data = source.data
     const pressure = projectionOf(props, 'contextPressure', contextPressureOf)
     const breakdown = projectionOf(props, 'contextBreakdown', contextBreakdownOf)
     const headers = projectionOf(props, 'contextHeaders', headersOf)
@@ -124,6 +128,8 @@ export function makeContextModal(ctx: ClientCtx, kit: ViewKit): (props: ContextM
                 fetchHeader={fetchHeader}
                 hoverKey={hoverCat}
                 onHoverKey={setHoverCat}
+                detailState={source.detailState}
+                onDetailRetry={source.retryDetail}
               />
             </div>
           )}
diff --git a/src/client/components/contextView.tsx b/src/client/components/contextView.tsx
index 7cb068a..73f7b65 100644
--- a/src/client/components/contextView.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/contextView.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,8 @@
 /**
- * Context tab root: renders the harness-pushed `contextTimeline` projection and composes stats, composition, history, events and messages;
- * never calls RPC and holds no cache — the harness owns the projection pipeline end to end.
+ * Context tab root: renders the `contextTimeline` projection and composes stats, composition, history, events and messages.
+ * The data plane is the harness's projection pipeline end to end; the one addition is the split generation's on-demand
+ * detail read (timelineSource.ts) — the pushed wire value is the slim head, and the heavy collections arrive from the
+ * host's detail endpoint only while the tab (or modal) is open.
  */
 
 import type * as ReactNS from 'react'
@@ -8,9 +10,11 @@ import type { ContextEventRecord, RequestRecord, SurfaceNode } from '../../share
 import { briefNodes, briefOf } from '../brief'
 import { headlineOf } from '../headline'
 import type { SessionStandardProps } from '../services'
-import { contextBreakdownOf, contextPressureOf, conversationNodesOf, headersOf, imageLoaderOf, numOf, projectionOf, timelineOf, tokenUsageOf, unsupportedOf } from '../services'
+import { contextBreakdownOf, contextPressureOf, conversationNodesOf, headersOf, imageLoaderOf, numOf, projectionOf, tokenUsageOf, unsupportedOf } from '../services'
 import type { ClientCtx, ConversationNodeLike } from '../services'
 import { makeContentFetcher, makeHeaderFetcher } from '../historyPage'
+import { useTimelineSource } from '../timelineSource'
+import { makeDetailNote } from './detailNote'
 import { canOpenPathsOf, openPathVia, workspaceOf } from '../services'
 import { activityOf, locateStepOf } from '../fileActivity'
 import type { FileOp } from '../fileActivity'
@@ -25,7 +29,7 @@ import { makeFileCard } from './fileCard'
 import { makePluginInfo } from './pluginInfo'
 import { makeUpgradeGate } from './upgradeGate'
 import { makeRequestDetail } from './requestDetail'
-import { makeStatsContext } from './statsContext'
+import { countsOfRecords, makeStatsContext } from './statsContext'
 import { makeStatsTiming } from './statsTiming'
 import { makeStatsTokens } from './statsTokens'
 import { makeLegend, makeStackedBar } from './stackedBar'
@@ -61,6 +65,7 @@ export function makeContextView(
   const StatsTokens = makeStatsTokens(kit, Donut)
   const PluginInfo = makePluginInfo(kit)
   const UpgradeGate = makeUpgradeGate(kit)
+  const DetailNote = makeDetailNote(kit)
   const ContextBrowser = makeContextBrowser(kit, StackedBar)
   const AgentGraph = makeAgentGraph(ctx, kit)
   const ErrorBoundary = makeErrorBoundary(t)
@@ -69,7 +74,12 @@ export function makeContextView(
   // card, not a white screen; the boundary itself has NO hooks, so the body's hook order and loading/data flow stay unchanged.
   function ContextViewBody(props: SessionStandardProps): ReactNS.ReactElement {
     const sessionId = props.sessionId
-    const data = projectionOf(props, 'contextTimeline', timelineOf)
+    // The timeline source (timelineSource.ts): the pushed value on the inline
+    // generation, or the slim head merged with the on-demand detail on the
+    // split generation. `detailState`/`retryDetail` drive the detail cards'
+    // loading/failed notes.
+    const source = useTimelineSource(ctx, props)
+    const data = source.data
     // Official token-meter `contextPressure` projection — the same key the chat's context ring reads; token-meter owns estimation, the Host
     // no longer mirrors it. Absent → derived fallback.
     const pressure = projectionOf(props, 'contextPressure', contextPressureOf)
@@ -188,8 +198,11 @@ export function makeContextView(
     // Leg 2: the action row belongs to the reply that CLOSED a turn, so the jump is turn-level — flip the chart to turn bars, pin that
     // turn's aggregate (the relayed seq is the turn's last request, exactly the aggregate's record), and center it: the same flow as a
     // turn-strip click. An aged-out turn clamps to the oldest retained bar. No page-scroller anchor → the reset degrades quietly.
+    // The split generation waits for the detail read first: the relayed seq resolves against the served request records, so the
+    // one-shot request must not be consumed while the collections are still pending (it re-fires when they land).
+    const detailReady = source.detailState === 'ready' || source.detailState === 'legacy'
     React.useEffect(() => {
-      if (jumpSeq === null || data === null) return
+      if (jumpSeq === null || data === null || !detailReady) return
       setJumpSeq(null)
       const target = jumpTargetOf(aggregateByTurn(requests), jumpSeq)
       if (target === null) return
@@ -198,7 +211,7 @@ export function makeContextView(
       setFocusTurn(target.turn ?? 0)
       // The restore layout effect resolved the shared scroller on this same data render (layout effects precede this one).
       if (scrollerRef.current !== null) scrollerRef.current.scrollTop = 0
-    }, [jumpSeq, data, requests])
+    }, [jumpSeq, data, requests, detailReady])
 
     // Step-brief raw material: every served node seq-sorted (live tail + archive), and the conversation-snapshot
     // join the brief uses for call-argument enrichment (same join the Context browser builds).
@@ -322,7 +335,7 @@ export function makeContextView(
       <div className="lc-root" ref={rootRef}>
 
         <div className="lc-cols lc-head">
-          <StatsContext requests={requests} events={events} toolCalls={data.toolCalls} images={data.images}
+          <StatsContext counts={data.counts ?? countsOfRecords(requests, events)} toolCalls={data.toolCalls} images={data.images}
             cost={data.cost} locale={activeLocale} />
           <StatsTokens usage={usage} />
           <StatsTiming timing={data.timing ?? null} locale={activeLocale} />
@@ -366,7 +379,11 @@ export function makeContextView(
                 </div>
               </div>
               {displayRequests.length === 0
-                ? <div className="lc-empty">{t('trend.empty')}</div>
+                // Split generation, first detail read pending or failed: say
+                // so instead of claiming the session has no history.
+                ? (detailReady
+                  ? <div className="lc-empty">{t('trend.empty')}</div>
+                  : <DetailNote state={source.detailState === 'failed' ? 'failed' : 'loading'} onRetry={source.retryDetail} />)
                 : (
                   <div>
                     <TrendChart
@@ -425,6 +442,8 @@ export function makeContextView(
               nodeFocus={nodeFocus}
               onNodeFocusHandled={clearNodeFocus}
               loadImage={loadImage}
+              detailState={source.detailState}
+              onDetailRetry={source.retryDetail}
             />
           </div>
         </div>
@@ -443,9 +462,10 @@ export function makeContextView(
                 ))}
               </div>
             </div>
-            <EventList events={shownEvents} />
+            <EventList events={shownEvents} state={source.detailState} onRetry={source.retryDetail} />
           </div>
-          <FileCard activity={fileActivity} scope={fileScope} workspace={workspace} onOpen={fileOpener} onLocate={locateFileOp} />
+          <FileCard activity={fileActivity} scope={fileScope} workspace={workspace} onOpen={fileOpener} onLocate={locateFileOp}
+            state={source.detailState} onRetry={source.retryDetail} />
         </div>
 
         <AgentGraph
diff --git a/src/client/components/detailNote.tsx b/src/client/components/detailNote.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..41df6db
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/components/detailNote.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,40 @@
+/**
+ * The detail collections' pending/failed note — the split generation's
+ * visible loading story (timelineSource.ts): while the first detail read is
+ * in flight the detail-driven cards show this strip instead of a misleading
+ * empty state, and a settled-without-data read arms the retry button (never
+ * a spinner that never resolves, never a silent empty chart). Callers guard
+ * the failed state on a retry callback being wired (an unwired failure keeps
+ * the plain text).
+ */
+
+import type * as ReactNS from 'react'
+import type { ViewKit } from '../viewkit'
+
+import { React } from '../react'
+
+export function makeDetailNote(kit: ViewKit): (props: {
+  /** The pending kind: the first read in flight, or settled without data. */
+  state: 'loading' | 'failed'
+  /** The retry affordance for the failed read; absent = the note renders inert text. */
+  onRetry?: () => void
+  /** The container's style class: cards use the shared empty well, the browser its inline note strip. */
+  className?: string
+}) => ReactNS.ReactElement {
+  const { t } = kit
+  return function DetailNote(props: {
+    state: 'loading' | 'failed'
+    onRetry?: () => void
+    className?: string
+  }): ReactNS.ReactElement {
+    const cls = props.className ?? 'lc-empty'
+    if (props.state === 'loading') return <div className={cls}>{t('detail.loading')}</div>
+    return (
+      <div className={cls}>
+        {props.onRetry !== undefined
+          ? <button type="button" className="lc-br-retry" onClick={props.onRetry}>{t('detail.loadFailed')}</button>
+          : t('detail.loadFailed')}
+      </div>
+    )
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/client/components/events.tsx b/src/client/components/events.tsx
index 075496c..bdd3ced 100644
--- a/src/client/components/events.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/events.tsx
@@ -7,13 +7,24 @@ import type * as ReactNS from 'react'
 import type { ContextEventRecord } from '../../shared/types'
 import { IconBranchOutline16, IconPlusOutline16 } from '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-ui-primitives'
 import type { Translate } from '../i18n'
+import type { DetailState } from '../timelineSource'
 import type { ViewKit } from '../viewkit'
+import { makeDetailNote } from './detailNote'
 
 import { React } from '../react'
 
 const EVENT_ICONS: Record<string, string> = { compaction: '✂', prune: '✂', inject: '＋', model: '⇄', mode: '⇄' }
 
-export interface EventListProps { events: ContextEventRecord[] }
+export interface EventListProps {
+  events: ContextEventRecord[]
+  /**
+   * The timeline source's detail state (split generation): with no events to
+   * list, `loading`/`failed` replace the empty claim with the pending note /
+   * retry button — an un-fetched list is not an empty one.
+   */
+  state?: DetailState
+  onRetry?: () => void
+}
 
 export function makeEventText(t: Translate): {
   eventLabel: (ev: ContextEventRecord) => string
@@ -70,6 +81,7 @@ function syncTitles(root: HTMLElement): void {
 
 export function makeEventList(kit: ViewKit): (props: EventListProps) => ReactNS.ReactElement {
   const { t, fmt, fmtTime, eventLabel, eventAt } = kit
+  const DetailNote = makeDetailNote(kit)
   return function EventList(props: EventListProps): ReactNS.ReactElement {
     // Hooks stay unconditional (Rules of Hooks): events going empty ->
     // non-empty in one mounted instance must not grow the hook count — an
@@ -92,6 +104,10 @@ export function makeEventList(kit: ViewKit): (props: EventListProps) => ReactNS.
       return () => { window.removeEventListener('resize', onResize) }
     }, [])
     if (props.events.length === 0) {
+      if (props.state === 'loading') return <DetailNote state="loading" />
+      if (props.state === 'failed' && props.onRetry !== undefined) {
+        return <DetailNote state="failed" onRetry={props.onRetry} />
+      }
       return <div className="lc-empty">{t('events.empty')}</div>
     }
     const sorted = props.events.slice().reverse()
diff --git a/src/client/components/fileCard.tsx b/src/client/components/fileCard.tsx
index d9b0bff..ed99e7a 100644
--- a/src/client/components/fileCard.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/fileCard.tsx
@@ -15,7 +15,9 @@ import type * as ReactNS from 'react'
 import { absPathOf, displayPathOf, glyphOf } from '../fileActivity'
 import type { FileActivity, FileEntry, FileOp, FileOpKind } from '../fileActivity'
 import type { ContextSettings, DefaultFileSort } from '../settings'
+import type { DetailState } from '../timelineSource'
 import type { ViewKit } from '../viewkit'
+import { makeDetailNote } from './detailNote'
 
 import { React } from '../react'
 
@@ -31,10 +33,18 @@ export interface FileCardProps {
   onOpen?: (absPath: string) => void
   /** Reveal one operation's result node in the Context browser; absent = op lines render inert. */
   onLocate?: (op: FileOp) => void
+  /**
+   * The timeline source's detail state (split generation): the activity fold
+   * reads the detail collections, so a pending/failed first read replaces the
+   * empty claim with the pending note / retry button.
+   */
+  state?: DetailState
+  onRetry?: () => void
 }
 
 export function makeFileCard(kit: ViewKit, settings: ContextSettings): ReactNS.ComponentType<FileCardProps> {
   const { t, fmt, fmtTime } = kit
+  const DetailNote = makeDetailNote(kit)
 
   function matches(e: FileEntry, f: FileFilter): boolean {
     if (f === 'all') return true
@@ -130,7 +140,11 @@ export function makeFileCard(kit: ViewKit, settings: ContextSettings): ReactNS.C
           <span className="lc-card-title-text">{t('files.title')}</span>
           <span className="lc-card-sub">{props.scope}</span>
         </div>
-        {activity.entries.length === 0 ? (
+        {activity.entries.length === 0 && props.state === 'loading' ? (
+          <DetailNote state="loading" />
+        ) : activity.entries.length === 0 && props.state === 'failed' && props.onRetry !== undefined ? (
+          <DetailNote state="failed" onRetry={props.onRetry} />
+        ) : activity.entries.length === 0 ? (
           <div className="lc-empty">{t('files.empty')}</div>
         ) : (
           <div>
diff --git a/src/client/components/statsContext.tsx b/src/client/components/statsContext.tsx
index 962e338..c018f7c 100644
--- a/src/client/components/statsContext.tsx
+++ b/src/client/components/statsContext.tsx
@@ -10,19 +10,44 @@
  * marker + styled DOM tip) explains the whole-session estimate and lists the
  * per-1M-token table straight from cost.ts, so printed rates can never drift
  * from the math.
+ *
+ * The counts arrive precomputed: the split-generation wire head carries them
+ * (shared/types.ts `TimelineCounts` — computed over the retained records),
+ * and the caller derives them from the collections on the inline generation
+ * (`countsOfRecords`). The card itself never touches the collections.
  */
 
 import type * as ReactNS from 'react'
-import type { ContextEventRecord, RequestRecord, SessionCostUsage } from '../../shared/types'
+import type { ContextEventRecord, RequestRecord, SessionCostUsage, TimelineCounts } from '../../shared/types'
 import { estimateSessionCost, formatCost, formatPriceRate, sessionPrices } from '../cost'
 import type { CostCurrency } from '../cost'
 import type { ViewKit } from '../viewkit'
 
 import { React } from '../react'
 
+/**
+ * The inline generation's counter derivation — the exact tally the card ran
+ * over the served collections before the split (distinct turn values, record
+ * count, per-kind event tallies). The host's split-generation counts match
+ * it by construction (fold.ts buildTimelineHead).
+ */
+export function countsOfRecords(requests: readonly RequestRecord[], events: readonly ContextEventRecord[]): TimelineCounts {
+  const turns = new Set<number>()
+  for (const req of requests) turns.add(req.turn ?? 0)
+  let injects = 0
+  let compactions = 0
+  let prunes = 0
+  for (const ev of events) {
+    if (ev.kind === 'inject') injects++
+    else if (ev.kind === 'compaction') compactions++
+    else if (ev.kind === 'prune') prunes++
+  }
+  return { turns: turns.size, steps: requests.length, injects, compactions, prunes }
+}
+
 export function makeStatsContext(kit: ViewKit): (props: {
-  requests: RequestRecord[]
-  events: ContextEventRecord[]
+  /** The session-shape and event tallies (host-precomputed on the split generation). */
+  counts: TimelineCounts
   /** Tool calls with a result live in the current context (absent on older hosts). */
   toolCalls?: number
   /** Image blocks live in the current context (absent on older hosts). */
@@ -32,25 +57,12 @@ export function makeStatsContext(kit: ViewKit): (props: {
 }) => ReactNS.ReactElement {
   const { t, fmt } = kit
   return function StatsContext(props: {
-    requests: RequestRecord[]
-    events: ContextEventRecord[]
+    counts: TimelineCounts
     toolCalls?: number
     images?: number
     cost?: SessionCostUsage
     locale: string
   }): ReactNS.ReactElement {
-    const turns = new Set<number>()
-    let steps = 0
-    for (const req of props.requests) {
-      turns.add(req.turn ?? 0)
-      steps++
-    }
-    let injects = 0, compactions = 0, prunes = 0
-    for (const ev of props.events) {
-      if (ev.kind === 'inject') injects++
-      else if (ev.kind === 'compaction') compactions++
-      else if (ev.kind === 'prune') prunes++
-    }
     const currency: CostCurrency = props.locale === 'zh' ? 'cny' : 'usd'
     const cost = estimateSessionCost(props.cost, currency)
     const fmtRate = (n: number): string => formatPriceRate(n, currency)
@@ -85,14 +97,14 @@ export function makeStatsContext(kit: ViewKit): (props: {
           <span className="lc-card-sub">{t('stats.hint')}</span>
         </div>
         <div className="lc-stats">
-          {cell(t('stats.turns'), turns.size)}
-          {cell(t('stats.steps'), steps)}
+          {cell(t('stats.turns'), props.counts.turns)}
+          {cell(t('stats.steps'), props.counts.steps)}
           {cell(t('stats.toolCalls'), props.toolCalls ?? 0)}
           {cell(t('stats.images'), props.images ?? 0)}
           {cell(t('stats.cost'), cost === null ? '—' : formatCost(cost, currency), costTip)}
-          {cell(t('stats.injects'), injects)}
-          {cell(t('stats.compactions'), compactions)}
-          {cell(t('stats.prunes'), prunes)}
+          {cell(t('stats.injects'), props.counts.injects)}
+          {cell(t('stats.compactions'), props.counts.compactions)}
+          {cell(t('stats.prunes'), props.counts.prunes)}
         </div>
       </div>
     )
diff --git a/src/client/headline.ts b/src/client/headline.ts
index 9c7f31b..db0448a 100644
--- a/src/client/headline.ts
+++ b/src/client/headline.ts
@@ -43,13 +43,17 @@ export function headlineOf(
   const projected = pressure !== null && typeof pressure.projectedTokens === 'number'
     ? pressure.projectedTokens
     : undefined
-  const requests = data.requests
-  const lastReq = requests.length > 0 ? requests[requests.length - 1] : null
   // Fallback anchor: the newest request's provider prompt plus the heuristic
   // surface movement since it was logged (same shape as the projection, one
-  // request behind).
-  const derived = lastReq !== null && typeof lastReq.prompt === 'number'
-    ? lastReq.prompt + (current.total - lastReq.total)
+  // request behind). The split-generation wire head carries that record's
+  // billing summary as `last` (the request records ride the detail channel);
+  // the inline generation reads its newest record directly.
+  const last = data.last
+  const requests = data.requests
+  const lastReq = requests.length > 0 ? requests[requests.length - 1] : null
+  const anchor = last !== undefined ? last : lastReq
+  const derived = anchor !== null && typeof anchor.prompt === 'number'
+    ? anchor.prompt + (current.total - anchor.total)
     : undefined
   const occupancyTokens = projected ?? derived ?? null
   const window = pressure !== null && typeof pressure.contextWindow === 'number'
diff --git a/src/client/i18n.ts b/src/client/i18n.ts
index 8010bae..470cb6a 100644
--- a/src/client/i18n.ts
+++ b/src/client/i18n.ts
@@ -137,6 +137,8 @@ export const DICT_ZH: Record<string, string> = {
   'agents.billed': '累计计费 {n}',
   'agents.open': '点击打开会话 →',
   'loading': '正在读取会话日志…',
+  'detail.loading': '正在加载历史数据…',
+  'detail.loadFailed': '历史数据加载失败，点击重试',
   'error': '上下文数据读取失败：',
   'error.retry': '重试',
   'gate.title': '请更新 DeepSeek Harness 版本',
@@ -359,6 +361,8 @@ export const DICT_EN: Record<string, string> = {
   'agents.billed': '{n} billed',
   'agents.open': 'click to open →',
   'loading': 'Reading the session log…',
+  'detail.loading': 'Loading history…',
+  'detail.loadFailed': 'History failed to load — click to retry',
   'error': 'Failed to read context data: ',
   'error.retry': 'Retry',
   'gate.title': 'Update DeepSeek Harness',
diff --git a/src/client/index.ts b/src/client/index.ts
index 3416aef..d08d307 100644
--- a/src/client/index.ts
+++ b/src/client/index.ts
@@ -6,12 +6,13 @@
  * context-composition timeline: current makeup, per-request stacked-bar
  * history, context events, and the live message list.
  *
- * Since v0.9 the tab needs no custom data plane: the Host half pushes its
- * fold through the harness's session-projection pipeline
- * (`contextTimeline` projection key), and this half reads the finished value
- * from the framework standard kit (`useProjection('contextTimeline')`, a
- * standard prop on every session-scope slot component). No polling, no RPC,
- * no client-side cache.
+ * Since v0.9 the tab rides the harness's session-projection pipeline
+ * (`contextTimeline` projection key), read from the framework standard kit
+ * (`useProjection('contextTimeline')`, a standard prop on every session-scope
+ * slot component). The wire value is the split generation's slim head; the
+ * heavy collections arrive on demand from the host's detail endpoint, one
+ * read per viewing client (timelineSource.ts). No polling, no stale-while-
+ * revalidate cache.
  *
  * This module is the body of the package's `./client` bundle: tsdown
  * (tsdown.config.ts) bundles it (external `react` — the browser module table
diff --git a/src/client/services.ts b/src/client/services.ts
index fe6a755..2d1faa9 100644
--- a/src/client/services.ts
+++ b/src/client/services.ts
@@ -211,7 +211,8 @@ export function numOf(value: unknown): number {
   return typeof value === 'number' && Number.isFinite(value) ? value : 0
 }
 
-function objectsOf<T>(value: unknown): T[] {
+/** Shared per-item collection guard: drop non-object entries, keep the rest. */
+export function objectsOf<T>(value: unknown): T[] {
   if (!Array.isArray(value)) return []
   return value.filter((v): v is T => v !== null && typeof v === 'object')
 }
@@ -279,7 +280,10 @@ export function timelineOf(value: unknown): ContextTimeline | null {
   // The baseline-gate record survives sanitizing: a fallback payload that
   // somehow fails the fast path must still pop the gate modal.
   const unsupported = unsupportedOf(data.unsupported)
-  return {
+  // The split-generation head fields survive sanitizing too.
+  const counts = countsOf(data.counts)
+  const last = lastOf(data.last)
+  const safe: ContextTimeline = {
     ok: true,
     ...(unsupported !== null ? { unsupported } : {}),
     ...(typeof data.model === 'string' ? { model: data.model } : {}),
@@ -301,11 +305,46 @@ export function timelineOf(value: unknown): ContextTimeline | null {
     ...(typeof data.images === 'number' ? { images: data.images } : {}),
     ...(typeof data.toolCalls === 'number' ? { toolCalls: data.toolCalls } : {}),
     archive: objectsOf(data.archive),
+    ...(counts !== undefined ? { counts } : {}),
+    ...(last !== undefined ? { last } : {}),
+    ...(typeof data.detailRev === 'number' && Number.isFinite(data.detailRev) ? { detailRev: data.detailRev } : {}),
     ...(cost !== undefined ? { cost } : {}),
     ...(timing !== null ? { timing } : {}),
     ...(typeof data.surfaceFloor === 'number' ? { surfaceFloor: data.surfaceFloor } : {}),
     ...(typeof data.archiveFloor === 'number' ? { archiveFloor: data.archiveFloor } : {}),
   }
+  return safe
+}
+
+/**
+ * The split head's count figures, re-proved field by field: a present-but-
+ * partial record zeroes its unreadable fields (the stats board's no-NaN
+ * guarantee), an absent or non-record value stays absent (legacy generation
+ * — callers derive the counts from the collections instead).
+ */
+function countsOf(value: unknown): ContextTimeline['counts'] {
+  const data = asRecord(value)
+  if (data === null) return undefined
+  return {
+    turns: numOf(data.turns),
+    steps: numOf(data.steps),
+    injects: numOf(data.injects),
+    compactions: numOf(data.compactions),
+    prunes: numOf(data.prunes),
+  }
+}
+
+/** The split head's newest-request summary; absent or shapeless stays absent. */
+function lastOf(value: unknown): ContextTimeline['last'] {
+  const data = asRecord(value)
+  if (data === null) return undefined
+  if (typeof data.seq !== 'number' || !Number.isFinite(data.seq)) return undefined
+  if (typeof data.total !== 'number' || !Number.isFinite(data.total)) return undefined
+  return {
+    seq: data.seq,
+    total: data.total,
+    ...(typeof data.prompt === 'number' && Number.isFinite(data.prompt) ? { prompt: data.prompt } : {}),
+  }
 }
 
 /**
diff --git a/src/client/timelineSource.ts b/src/client/timelineSource.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7788285
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/client/timelineSource.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,315 @@
+/**
+ * The timeline source behind the Context tab and the /context modal —
+ * reconciles the two `contextTimeline` wire generations into the single
+ * value the cards have always rendered.
+ *
+ * Generations (the marker is `detailRev` on the delivered value):
+ * - INLINE (older hosts, channel-less deployments, the baseline-gate
+ *   fallback): the wire value carries the collections in place. It passes
+ *   through untouched — no fetch ever happens.
+ * - SPLIT (current host with the detail channel live): the wire value is the
+ *   slim head (~1KB — every session.list row, control baseline, and push
+ *   frame carries it whole). The collections arrive from the host's
+ *   `/dsh-context` `detail` endpoint (host/detail.ts): one targeted read
+ *   when the tab/modal first opens, then a debounced refetch whenever the
+ *   pushed `detailRev` outruns the served detail. Closed tabs fetch nothing.
+ *
+ * The no-stale-content guarantees: the store is per session and shared by
+ * the tab and the modal; a refetch is single-flight with a trailing edge
+ * (a rev bumped mid-flight re-reads after settle); responses race-safe by
+ * revision (latest wins, with the refold exception — a host that refolded
+ * restarts the revision, and a response matching the requested rev is
+ * accepted regardless of order); a transport failure keeps the last good
+ * detail and backs off; an absent answer (the session left the live set)
+ * stops the trailing until the head moves again. With no detail at all,
+ * failure surfaces as a retryable note on the detail cards instead of an
+ * empty chart.
+ */
+
+import type { ContextTimeline, ContextTimelineDetail } from '../shared/types'
+import { React } from './react'
+import type { ClientCtx, SessionStandardProps } from './services'
+import { asRecord, numOf, objectsOf, projectionOf, timelineOf } from './services'
+
+// The channel/endpoint pair of host/detail.ts — re-declared here: the client
+// bundle inlines every import, and the host module must never reach it.
+const DETAIL_CHANNEL = '/dsh-context'
+const DETAIL_ENDPOINT = 'detail'
+
+/**
+ * Narrow the detail endpoint's payload to a render-safe value (the same
+ * boundary rigor as `timelineOf`): collections re-proved per item, scalars
+ * zeroed, a missing/NaN revision rejects the whole payload (the caller then
+ * shows the retryable failure note instead of half-merged data).
+ */
+export function detailOf(value: unknown): ContextTimelineDetail | null {
+  const data = asRecord(value)
+  if (data === null) return null
+  if (typeof data.rev !== 'number' || !Number.isFinite(data.rev) || data.rev < 0) return null
+  return {
+    rev: data.rev,
+    requests: objectsOf(data.requests),
+    events: objectsOf(data.events),
+    nodes: objectsOf(data.nodes),
+    droppedNodes: numOf(data.droppedNodes),
+    archive: objectsOf(data.archive),
+    ...(typeof data.surfaceFloor === 'number' ? { surfaceFloor: data.surfaceFloor } : {}),
+    ...(typeof data.archiveFloor === 'number' ? { archiveFloor: data.archiveFloor } : {}),
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * The detail reader over the harness's generic Connection RPC
+ * (`ctx.connection.rpc.call`) — resolved through the inject-free reflect
+ * read (the same seam openPathVia/workspaceOf use), so a hostile or absent
+ * connection service degrades to `undefined` instead of throwing. The
+ * returned thunk resolves the session's current detail, `null` when the
+ * session is not live anymore, and rejects on transport failure or a
+ * malformed payload (the store turns the two into the retryable state).
+ */
+export function makeDetailFetcher(
+  ctx: ClientCtx,
+  sessionId: string,
+): (() => Promise<ContextTimelineDetail | null>) | undefined {
+  if (sessionId === '') return undefined
+  let call: ((channel: string, endpoint: string, payload: unknown) => Promise<unknown>) | undefined
+  try {
+    const rpc = asRecord(asRecord(ctx.get('connection'))?.rpc)
+    const fn = rpc?.call
+    if (rpc !== null && typeof fn === 'function') {
+      call = (fn as (channel: string, endpoint: string, payload: unknown) => Promise<unknown>).bind(rpc)
+    }
+  } catch { /* a hostile service read — no fetcher, the cards keep their note */ }
+  if (call === undefined) return undefined
+  return async () => {
+    const result = await call(DETAIL_CHANNEL, DETAIL_ENDPOINT, { sessionId })
+    const r = asRecord(result)
+    if (r === null || r.ok !== true) throw new Error('dsh-context: detail rpc failed')
+    if (r.value === null) return null
+    const detail = detailOf(r.value)
+    if (detail === null) throw new Error('dsh-context: detail rpc malformed')
+    return detail
+  }
+}
+
+/** The store's observable snapshot, rebuilt on every transition (identity-gated for useSyncExternalStore). */
+export interface DetailSnap {
+  /** The newest accepted detail (kept while a refetch is in flight — the cards never flicker back to loading). */
+  detail: ContextTimelineDetail | null
+  /** The last read settled without data (transport failure or absence) and there is no detail to show. */
+  failed: boolean
+  /** A read is scheduled or in flight. */
+  pending: boolean
+}
+
+const EMPTY_SNAP: DetailSnap = { detail: null, failed: false, pending: false }
+
+/** The fetch debounce base; each consecutive failure doubles the wait, capped at 3 doublings. */
+const DETAIL_DEBOUNCE_MS = 300
+
+/**
+ * One session's detail ledger. Exported for tests (a zero debounce makes the
+ * machine synchronous-ish); the app reaches it through `detailStoreOf`.
+ */
+export class DetailStore {
+  private detail: ContextTimelineDetail | null = null
+  /** The revision of `detail` (latest-wins cursor); -1 before the first landing. */
+  private acceptedRev = -1
+  /** The newest revision the head has asked for. */
+  private wantedRev = -1
+  /** The head rev the IN-FLIGHT (or scheduled) read targets — the refold exception's acceptance key. */
+  private targetRev = -1
+  /** The head rev seen last — a DECREASE means the host refolded (revisions restart). */
+  private lastHeadRev = -1
+  private failed = false
+  private inFlight = false
+  private timer: ReturnType<typeof setTimeout> | null = null
+  private failures = 0
+  private readonly listeners = new Set<() => void>()
+  private snap: DetailSnap = EMPTY_SNAP
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly fetcher: (() => Promise<ContextTimelineDetail | null>) | undefined,
+    private readonly baseDelay: number = DETAIL_DEBOUNCE_MS,
+  ) {}
+
+  readonly subscribe = (fn: () => void): (() => void) => {
+    this.listeners.add(fn)
+    return () => this.listeners.delete(fn)
+  }
+
+  readonly getSnapshot = (): DetailSnap => this.snap
+
+  /**
+   * The head's current revision arrived: schedule the trailing-edge read
+   * when it outruns the served detail. A rev DECREASE means the host
+   * refolded the session (a discarded checkpoint, a restart): revisions are
+   * no longer comparable, so the ledger resets and refetches.
+   */
+  request(rev: number): void {
+    if (rev < this.lastHeadRev) {
+      this.acceptedRev = -1
+      this.wantedRev = -1
+      this.detail = null
+      this.failed = false
+    }
+    this.lastHeadRev = rev
+    if (rev <= this.acceptedRev || rev <= this.wantedRev) return
+    this.wantedRev = rev
+    this.schedule()
+  }
+
+  /** Re-arm after a failure (the cards' retry note): immediate, backoff reset. */
+  readonly retry = (): void => {
+    this.failures = 0
+    if (this.detail !== null) return
+    if (this.timer !== null) {
+      clearTimeout(this.timer)
+      this.timer = null
+    }
+    if (!this.inFlight) void this.fire()
+  }
+
+  private schedule(): void {
+    if (this.timer !== null) return
+    this.timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      this.timer = null
+      void this.fire()
+    }, this.baseDelay * 2 ** Math.min(this.failures, 3))
+    this.emit()
+  }
+
+  private async fire(): Promise<void> {
+    // A trailing timer fired while an earlier read is still in flight — that
+    // read's settle re-arms when the wanted rev still outruns the served one.
+    if (this.inFlight) return
+    if (this.fetcher === undefined) {
+      // No connection face on this deployment: the typed failure arms the
+      // cards' note. (The slim head is only served when the host channel
+      // went live, so this is the exotic path.)
+      this.failed = true
+      this.emit()
+      return
+    }
+    this.inFlight = true
+    this.targetRev = this.wantedRev
+    this.emit()
+    try {
+      const d = await this.fetcher()
+      if (d !== null) {
+        // Latest-wins, with the refold exception: a response matching the
+        // requested rev is the current truth even when its number trails a
+        // pre-refold landing.
+        if (d.rev >= this.acceptedRev || d.rev === this.targetRev) {
+          this.detail = d
+          this.acceptedRev = d.rev
+        }
+        this.failures = 0
+        this.failed = false
+      } else {
+        // Absent (the session left the live set): keep the last detail, stop
+        // the trailing until the head moves again (a disposed session's rev
+        // never does), and arm the note only when nothing is showable.
+        this.wantedRev = this.acceptedRev
+        this.failed = this.detail === null
+        this.failures++
+      }
+    } catch {
+      this.failed = this.detail === null
+      this.failures++
+    }
+    this.inFlight = false
+    // The head moved while the read settled (or an earlier read lost the
+    // race): trail once more, debounced.
+    if (this.wantedRev > this.acceptedRev) this.schedule()
+    this.emit()
+  }
+
+  private emit(): void {
+    const pending = this.timer !== null || this.inFlight
+    const next: DetailSnap = { detail: this.detail, failed: this.failed, pending }
+    if (next.detail === this.snap.detail && next.failed === this.snap.failed && next.pending === this.snap.pending) return
+    this.snap = next
+    for (const fn of this.listeners) fn()
+  }
+}
+
+/** Page-lifetime per-session stores (the tab and the modal share one). */
+const stores = new Map<string, DetailStore>()
+
+export function detailStoreOf(ctx: ClientCtx, sessionId: string): DetailStore {
+  let store = stores.get(sessionId)
+  if (store === undefined) {
+    store = new DetailStore(makeDetailFetcher(ctx, sessionId))
+    stores.set(sessionId, store)
+  }
+  return store
+}
+
+/** Test isolation: drop every cached store. */
+export function resetTimelineDetailStores(): void {
+  stores.clear()
+}
+
+export type DetailState = 'legacy' | 'loading' | 'ready' | 'failed'
+
+export interface TimelineSource {
+  /**
+   * The value the cards render — the inline generation's value untouched, or
+   * the slim head merged with the fetched detail collections (empty while
+   * the first read is in flight; `detailState` names that).
+   */
+  data: ContextTimeline | null
+  detailState: DetailState
+  retryDetail: () => void
+}
+
+const noopSubscribe = (): (() => void) => () => {}
+const noopRetry = (): void => {}
+
+/**
+ * The view's one read of the timeline (see the module header for the
+ * generation rules). Hook-order safe: every hook runs unconditionally, the
+ * branches below only shape the returned record.
+ */
+export function useTimelineSource(ctx: ClientCtx, props: SessionStandardProps): TimelineSource {
+  const head = projectionOf(props, 'contextTimeline', timelineOf)
+  const sessionId = typeof props.sessionId === 'string' ? props.sessionId : ''
+  // The split marker: the slim head carries the detail revision; anything
+  // else (the inline value, the gate fallback, a corrupt payload) is the
+  // inline generation — `headRev` null means no detail channel work at all.
+  const headRev = head !== null && typeof head.detailRev === 'number' ? head.detailRev : null
+  const slim = headRev !== null
+  const store = React.useMemo(
+    () => (slim ? detailStoreOf(ctx, sessionId) : null),
+    [ctx, sessionId, slim],
+  )
+  const snap = React.useSyncExternalStore(
+    store !== null ? store.subscribe : noopSubscribe,
+    store !== null ? store.getSnapshot : () => EMPTY_SNAP,
+  )
+  React.useEffect(() => {
+    if (store !== null && headRev !== null) store.request(headRev)
+  }, [store, headRev])
+
+  return React.useMemo<TimelineSource>(() => {
+    if (head === null) return { data: null, detailState: 'loading', retryDetail: noopRetry }
+    if (!slim || store === null) return { data: head, detailState: 'legacy', retryDetail: noopRetry }
+    const detail = snap.detail
+    const data: ContextTimeline = detail === null
+      ? head
+      : {
+        ...head,
+        requests: detail.requests,
+        events: detail.events,
+        nodes: detail.nodes,
+        droppedNodes: detail.droppedNodes,
+        archive: detail.archive,
+        // Slim heads serve no floors; the detail's pair lands whole here.
+        ...(detail.surfaceFloor !== undefined ? { surfaceFloor: detail.surfaceFloor } : {}),
+        ...(detail.archiveFloor !== undefined ? { archiveFloor: detail.archiveFloor } : {}),
+      }
+    const detailState: DetailState = detail !== null ? 'ready' : snap.failed ? 'failed' : 'loading'
+    return { data, detailState, retryDetail: store.retry }
+  }, [head, slim, store, snap])
+}
diff --git a/src/host/detail.ts b/src/host/detail.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..3580e9f
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/host/detail.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,135 @@
+/**
+ * The on-demand DETAIL channel of the split `contextTimeline` generation.
+ *
+ * The projection's wire value is the slim head (fold.ts `buildTimelineHead`);
+ * the heavy collections (per-request records, context events, the served
+ * surface window, the removed-node archive) are served HERE instead — one
+ * targeted read per viewing client, only while its Context tab or /context
+ * modal is open, instead of riding every session.list row, control baseline,
+ * follow snapshot, and push frame whole (see shared/types.ts
+ * `ContextTimelineDetail`).
+ *
+ * The channel is the harness's generic Connection RPC (`ctx.connection.rpc`),
+ * the same transport the plugin used before the v0.9 projection migration —
+ * verified present on every supported baseline (0.1.2-rc.1+). The handler
+ * reads the unit's CURRENT fold state through the registry's `stateOf` (no
+ * second fold, no private copy): the client only ever details a session it
+ * is viewing, and a viewed session is attached by definition, so a live
+ * Session always backs the read. A session that left the live set
+ * mid-request (disposed) or a unit that never registered resolves to a
+ * typed `null` — the client keeps its last detail and offers a retry,
+ * never an unhandled rejection.
+ *
+ * Load order is never assumed: `watchDetailChannel` nests a `ctx.inject` on
+ * the two faces, so a connection service that activates AFTER this plugin
+ * still arms the channel (cordis replays the inject when the dependency set
+ * completes). The returned gate is read by the timeline unit's view at every
+ * serve, so the wire generation flips to slim the moment the channel goes
+ * live and flips back if it unloads — the client reconciles both (it detects
+ * the generation per value, timelineSource.ts). A deployment whose
+ * connection/sessions services never compose keeps the gate closed forever
+ * and serves the inline value unchanged.
+ */
+
+import type { Context } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
+import type { FoldBounds } from './config'
+import { buildTimelineDetail } from './fold'
+
+/** The plugin's generic Connection RPC channel (the pre-v0.9 name, kept). */
+export const DETAIL_CHANNEL = '/dsh-context'
+/** The one endpoint the channel serves: the session's timeline detail. */
+export const DETAIL_ENDPOINT = 'detail'
+
+/** The channel's liveness, read by the timeline unit's view at every serve. */
+export interface DetailChannelGate {
+  readonly live: boolean
+}
+
+/** The host `connection` service, as far as the channel consumes it. */
+interface ConnectionHostFace {
+  rpc?: {
+    // The handler's result is awaited by the transport, so the synchronous
+    // handler below (a plain envelope read off the live fold state) is valid.
+    handle?(
+      channel: string,
+      handler: (endpoint: string, payload: unknown) => unknown,
+    ): () => void
+  }
+}
+
+/** The host `sessions` service, as far as the channel consumes it (the strict-global-read idiom). */
+interface SessionsHostFace {
+  get?(id: string): unknown
+}
+
+/** The RPC failure envelope the transport expects (ConnectionRpcFailure). */
+function failure(code: string, message: string): { ok: false; error: { code: string; message: string; details: object } } {
+  return { ok: false, error: { code, message, details: {} } }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Arm the detail endpoint whenever the connection and sessions services are
+ * both composed (see the module header for the load-order contract). The
+ * registration rides the injected fiber: either service unloading withdraws
+ * the channel and closes the gate.
+ */
+export function watchDetailChannel(ctx: Context, bounds: FoldBounds): DetailChannelGate {
+  const gate = { live: false }
+  ctx.inject(['connection', 'sessions'], (c) => {
+    const connection = c.get('connection') as ConnectionHostFace | undefined
+    const sessions = c.get('sessions') as SessionsHostFace | undefined
+    // Bind at extraction (an unbound hand-off loses `this` on the real faces).
+    const handle = typeof connection?.rpc?.handle === 'function'
+      ? connection.rpc.handle.bind(connection.rpc)
+      : undefined
+    const getSession = typeof sessions?.get === 'function' ? sessions.get.bind(sessions) : undefined
+    if (handle === undefined || getSession === undefined) return
+    const projections = ctx.sessionProjections
+
+    const handler = (endpoint: string, payload: unknown): unknown => {
+      if (endpoint !== DETAIL_ENDPOINT) {
+        return failure('dsh-context/unknown-endpoint', `unknown endpoint: ${endpoint}`)
+      }
+      const sessionId = payload !== null && typeof payload === 'object'
+        ? (payload as { sessionId?: unknown }).sessionId
+        : undefined
+      if (typeof sessionId !== 'string' || sessionId === '') {
+        return failure('dsh-context/bad-request', 'missing sessionId')
+      }
+      try {
+        const session = getSession(sessionId)
+        // Only live (attached) sessions carry fold state; a viewed session is
+        // always attached, so a miss here means the session left the live set —
+        // typed null, not an error: the client keeps its last detail.
+        if (session === undefined || session === null) return { ok: true, value: null }
+        // `stateOf` materializes the cell at the session cursor (no-op when
+        // the drive is current) and returns the LIVE state — never mutate it.
+        const state = projections.stateOf(session as never, 'contextTimeline')
+        // The unit is absent only in the baseline-gated composition, which never
+        // installs this channel — a miss is defensive.
+        if (state === undefined) return { ok: true, value: null }
+        return { ok: true, value: buildTimelineDetail(state, bounds) }
+      } catch (err) {
+        return failure('gateway/internal', err instanceof Error ? err.message : String(err))
+      }
+    }
+
+    try {
+      c.effect(() => {
+        const unregister = handle(DETAIL_CHANNEL, handler)
+        return () => {
+          unregister()
+        }
+      }, 'dsh-context: detail channel')
+    } catch {
+      // A hostile or rejecting registry must not take the plugin down — the
+      // gate stays closed and the wire value stays inline.
+      return
+    }
+    gate.live = true
+    return () => {
+      gate.live = false
+    }
+  })
+  return gate
+}
diff --git a/src/host/fold.ts b/src/host/fold.ts
index dc31597..86a8f34 100644
--- a/src/host/fold.ts
+++ b/src/host/fold.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@
  *   the request/event records are the raw material of `buildTimelineView`.
  */
 
-import type { Category, ContextEventRecord, CostFamilyUsage, RequestRecord, SessionCostUsage, Snapshot, SurfaceNode, TimingTotals, ToolTimingTotals } from '../shared/types'
+import type { Category, ContextEventRecord, ContextTimelineDetail, CostFamilyUsage, RequestRecord, SessionCostUsage, Snapshot, SurfaceNode, TimingTotals, ToolTimingTotals } from '../shared/types'
 import { estimateSystemTokens } from '../shared/estimate'
 import type { FoldBounds } from './config'
 import {
@@ -100,6 +100,15 @@ export interface TimelineState {
    */
   cost?: SessionCostUsage
   archiveFloor?: number
+  /**
+   * The detail collections' revision marker (see ContextTimelineDetail):
+   * bumped by every fold that mutates the request records, context events,
+   * live surface, or the removed-node archive — the slim wire head carries
+   * it so an open tab knows its fetched detail went stale. Absent until the
+   * first detail fold (undefined reads as 0; never materialize an
+   * `undefined`-valued property — the plain-JSON precondition above).
+   */
+  detailRev?: number
   /**
    * Whole-session timing totals (see TimingTotals) — running sums over the
    * COMPLETE session log, like `cost`. Absent until the first step or tool
@@ -234,6 +243,17 @@ function categoryOf(type: string, message: { source?: MessageSource } | undefine
   return 'user'
 }
 
+/**
+ * Mark the detail collections dirty (TimelineState.detailRev). Every caller
+ * is a fold branch that just mutated the requests/events/surface/archive;
+ * branches that touch only the working slots (stepStart, callNames, the
+ * shadow claim) or the envelope scalars do NOT bump — the served detail is
+ * unchanged, and an open tab has nothing to refetch.
+ */
+function bumpDetailRev(st: TimelineState): void {
+  st.detailRev = (st.detailRev ?? 0) + 1
+}
+
 /**
  * Archive removed surface nodes as stamped COPIES — the objects leaving
  * `st.surface` are shared with the persisted previous state, so `gone` must
@@ -657,6 +677,7 @@ export function applyTimeline(state: TimelineState, event: TimelineEvent, bounds
         // too. Firing only on a real change keeps the list equal to the record.
         if ((data?.reason === 'change' || data?.reason === 'resume') && s.model && s.lastModel && s.model !== s.lastModel) {
           s.events.push({ seq: event.seq, time: event.time, kind: 'model', from: s.lastModel, to: s.model })
+          bumpDetailRev(s)
         }
         if (s.model) s.lastModel = s.model
         break
@@ -717,6 +738,7 @@ export function applyTimeline(state: TimelineState, event: TimelineEvent, bounds
       // `event.data` for user/message (no `data.message` indirection).
         const msg = deriveEventMessage(event as never) as MessageLike | null
         const s = ensure()
+        bumpDetailRev(s)
         const node = applySurface(s, event, event.type, data, msg)
         const source = msg?.source
         if (isInjection(source)) {
@@ -744,6 +766,7 @@ export function applyTimeline(state: TimelineState, event: TimelineEvent, bounds
       // the envelope would miss all content).
         const toolMsg = deriveEventMessage(event as never) as MessageLike | null
         const s = ensure()
+        bumpDetailRev(s)
         const node = applySurface(s, event, event.type, data, toolMsg)
         // A skill load via the `skill` tool returns the loaded skill's
         // instructions as a tool result — content the harness injected into the
@@ -770,6 +793,7 @@ export function applyTimeline(state: TimelineState, event: TimelineEvent, bounds
       // before this response joins the surface.
         const usage = data?.usage as UsageLike | null | undefined
         const s = ensure()
+        bumpDetailRev(s)
         const total = s.systemTokens + s.toolsTokens + s.sums.user + s.sums.inject + s.sums.assistant + s.sums.tool
         const record: RequestRecord = {
           time: event.time, seq: event.seq,
@@ -841,12 +865,14 @@ export function applyTimeline(state: TimelineState, event: TimelineEvent, bounds
         if (data && typeof data.active === 'boolean') {
           const s = ensure()
           s.events.push({ seq: event.seq, time: event.time, kind: 'mode', name: data.active ? 'plan.on' : 'plan.off' })
+          bumpDetailRev(s)
         }
         break
       }
       case 'compaction/summary':
       case 'compaction/prune': {
         const s = ensure()
+        bumpDetailRev(s)
         // Arm the shadow-price claim: the replacement that follows this
         // event synchronously shadows exactly these node seqs.
         if (data && Array.isArray(data.shadowedSeqs)) {
@@ -882,22 +908,21 @@ export function applyTimeline(state: TimelineState, event: TimelineEvent, bounds
 }
 
 /**
-   * Serve the projection's wire view: bound the surface nodes to the newest tail and attach each event to the request around it; stamp
-   * COPIES
-  * — the persisted state objects are never mutated.
+ * The envelope scalars both wire generations share: current composition, the
+ * live-surface counters, and the copied cost/timing totals. Served value
+ * fields are COPIES — the served value must never alias persisted state.
+ * Optional scalars use conditional spread: an unknown value must not
+ * materialize an `undefined`-valued property (the lossless-JSON pipeline —
+ * a single such property can fail the whole push, the failure mode behind
+ * issue #29).
  */
-export function buildTimelineView(state: TimelineState, bounds: FoldBounds): Snapshot {
+function headFieldsOf(state: TimelineState): Snapshot {
   const surfaceTotal = state.sums.user + state.sums.inject + state.sums.assistant + state.sums.tool
   // NOTE: provider-anchored occupancy (the official chat ring) is NOT folded
   // here since 0.11 — the Client reads token-meter's own `contextPressure`
   // projection key for it (token-meter owns estimation and replay). This
   // value keeps only the heuristic composition; `current.total` includes the
   // envelope (system + tools) and the live surface.
-  // Optional scalars use conditional spread: an unknown value must not
-  // materialize an `undefined`-valued property on the served view. The wire
-  // value travels the harness's lossless-JSON pipeline — a single
-  // `undefined`-valued property can fail the whole push (the failure mode
-  // behind issue #29), so absence beats a present-but-undefined key.
   const result: Snapshot = {
     ok: true,
     ...(state.model !== undefined ? { model: state.model } : {}),
@@ -918,13 +943,13 @@ export function buildTimelineView(state: TimelineState, bounds: FoldBounds): Sna
     // count. Calls still in flight (no result yet) and results compacted or
     // pruned out of the surface are both excluded.
     toolCalls: state.surface.reduce((n, node) => node.cat === 'tool' ? n + 1 : n, 0),
-    requests: state.requests.map(r => ({ ...r })),
-    events: state.events.map(e => ({ ...e })),
+    requests: [],
+    events: [],
     nodes: [],
     droppedNodes: 0,
-    archive: state.archived.map(n => ({ ...n })),
+    archive: [],
   }
-  // The cost totals ride the wire as COPIES (same rule as requests/events:
+  // The cost totals ride the wire as COPIES (same rule as the collections:
   // the served value must never alias persisted state).
   if (state.cost !== undefined) {
     const copyFam = (f: CostFamilyUsage | undefined): CostFamilyUsage | undefined => {
@@ -947,6 +972,24 @@ export function buildTimelineView(state: TimelineState, bounds: FoldBounds): Sna
     for (const k in state.timing.tools) tools[k] = { ...state.timing.tools[k] }
     result.timing = { ...state.timing, tools }
   }
+  return result
+}
+
+/**
+ * The heavy collections: copies of the retained request records and context
+ * events (each event attached to the requests around it — the chart's ✂
+ * anchoring), the bounded served surface window, and the removed-node
+ * archive. Shared verbatim by the inline wire view (channel-less hosts) and
+ * the on-demand detail payload (host/detail.ts).
+ */
+function detailCollectionsOf(state: TimelineState, bounds: FoldBounds): Omit<ContextTimelineDetail, 'rev'> {
+  const result: Omit<ContextTimelineDetail, 'rev'> = {
+    requests: state.requests.map(r => ({ ...r })),
+    events: state.events.map(e => ({ ...e })),
+    nodes: [],
+    droppedNodes: 0,
+    archive: state.archived.map(n => ({ ...n })),
+  }
   // The served slice: the newest `maxNodes` tail PLUS every live inject node
   // older than the tail. Injections (AGENTS.md, session-start context, …)
   // land on the surface FIRST, so in a long session the plain tail window
@@ -995,3 +1038,52 @@ export function buildTimelineView(state: TimelineState, bounds: FoldBounds): Sna
   }
   return result
 }
+
+/**
+ * The split generation's SLIM wire head: the envelope scalars plus the
+ * precomputed count figures, the newest request's billing summary (the
+ * headline's derived anchor), and the detail revision marker. Small enough
+ * to ride every delivery channel whole (~1KB) — the heavy collections moved
+ * to the on-demand detail channel (host/detail.ts).
+ */
+export function buildTimelineHead(state: TimelineState): Snapshot {
+  const result = headFieldsOf(state)
+  // The stats board's count figures, over the RETAINED records (the same set
+  // the detail serves): distinct turn values and per-kind event tallies.
+  const turns = new Set<number>()
+  for (const r of state.requests) turns.add(r.turn ?? 0)
+  let injects = 0
+  let compactions = 0
+  let prunes = 0
+  for (const e of state.events) {
+    if (e.kind === 'inject') injects++
+    else if (e.kind === 'compaction') compactions++
+    else if (e.kind === 'prune') prunes++
+  }
+  result.counts = { turns: turns.size, steps: state.requests.length, injects, compactions, prunes }
+  const last = state.requests.at(-1)
+  if (last !== undefined) {
+    result.last = { seq: last.seq, total: last.total, ...(typeof last.prompt === 'number' ? { prompt: last.prompt } : {}) }
+  }
+  result.detailRev = state.detailRev ?? 0
+  return result
+}
+
+/**
+ * The on-demand detail payload (host/detail.ts serves it off the live fold
+ * state): the heavy collections plus the revision marker the head carries.
+ */
+export function buildTimelineDetail(state: TimelineState, bounds: FoldBounds): ContextTimelineDetail {
+  return { rev: state.detailRev ?? 0, ...detailCollectionsOf(state, bounds) }
+}
+
+/**
+   * Serve the INLINE projection wire view (channel-less hosts): the head
+   * scalars with the detail collections in place — the shape every delivery
+   * channel carried before the split generation. Bound the surface nodes to
+   * the newest tail and attach each event to the request around it; stamp
+   * COPIES — the persisted state objects are never mutated.
+ */
+export function buildTimelineView(state: TimelineState, bounds: FoldBounds): Snapshot {
+  return { ...headFieldsOf(state), ...detailCollectionsOf(state, bounds) }
+}
diff --git a/src/host/index.ts b/src/host/index.ts
index f86446b..7b652c8 100644
--- a/src/host/index.ts
+++ b/src/host/index.ts
@@ -2,11 +2,14 @@
  * dsh-context — Host half (installed package entry).
  *
  * A plain Cordis plugin module (ESM) loaded by the harness as the
- * `dsh-context` loader row. Since v0.9 the Host half is a single *projection
- * unit* (`timeline.ts`): registered on `ctx.sessionProjections`, it folds a
+ * `dsh-context` loader row. Since v0.9 the Host half is built on *projection
+ * units* (`timeline.ts`): registered on `ctx.sessionProjections`, they fold a
  * session's durable event log into the per-request context-composition
- * timeline and lets the harness stream the finished value to the browser
- * through its push pipeline. There is no custom RPC channel anymore.
+ * timeline and let the harness stream the finished values to the browser
+ * through its push pipeline. The one exception is the on-demand detail
+ * channel (detail.ts): a single generic Connection RPC endpoint serving the
+ * heavy collections per VIEWING client, so the wire value every channel
+ * carries whole stays a slim head.
  *
  * Required service: the session-projection registry (the framework drives
  * the unit over `session/event` and persists its state via the projection
@@ -19,7 +22,8 @@
 
 import type { Context } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
 import { createToolAttribution } from './attribution'
-import { Config } from './config'
+import { Config, resolveBounds } from './config'
+import { watchDetailChannel } from './detail'
 import { createFallbackHeadersDefinition, createFallbackTimelineDefinition } from './fallback'
 import { createContextHeadersDefinition } from './headers'
 import { installSettings } from './settings'
@@ -58,7 +62,12 @@ export function apply(ctx: Context, config: Config): void {
   // third-party / agent-scoped / dynamic tools on top. Strictly additive — an
   // unsupported cordis or a missed read degrades to the static chain.
   const attribution = createToolAttribution(ctx)
-  ctx.sessionProjections.register(createContextTimelineDefinition(config))
+  // The split wire generation (detail.ts): the detail channel arms whenever
+  // the connection/sessions services compose (load order never assumed), and
+  // the unit's view reads the gate per serve — slim while the channel is
+  // live, inline otherwise.
+  const gate = watchDetailChannel(ctx, resolveBounds(config))
+  ctx.sessionProjections.register(createContextTimelineDefinition(config, () => gate.live))
   ctx.sessionProjections.register(createContextHeadersDefinition(name => attribution.ownerOf(name)))
   installSettings(ctx)
 }
@@ -66,6 +75,6 @@ export function apply(ctx: Context, config: Config): void {
 // ---- public type surface (stable for downstream consumers) -------------------
 
 export type { Category, ContextEventRecord, RequestRecord, Snapshot, ContextTimeline, SurfaceNode } from '../shared/types'
-export type { ContextHeaders, HeaderRecord, HeaderTool } from '../shared/types'
+export type { ContextHeaders, HeaderRecord, HeaderTool, ContextTimelineDetail, TimelineCounts, TimelineLast } from '../shared/types'
 export type { TimelineState } from './fold'
 export type { HeadersState } from './headers'
diff --git a/src/host/timeline.ts b/src/host/timeline.ts
index 3ffd5f4..da586fc 100644
--- a/src/host/timeline.ts
+++ b/src/host/timeline.ts
@@ -23,7 +23,7 @@ import type { Config } from './config'
 import { resolveBounds } from './config'
 import type { ProjectionDefinition } from './compat'
 import type { ContextTimeline } from '../shared/types'
-import { applyTimeline, buildTimelineView, createTimelineState } from './fold'
+import { applyTimeline, buildTimelineHead, buildTimelineView, createTimelineState } from './fold'
 import type { TimelineState } from './fold'
 
 /** Validate the wire payload before it leaves the host (strict: no drift). */
@@ -121,7 +121,30 @@ const unsupportedSchema = z.object({
   minimum: z.string(),
 }).strict()
 
-/** Exported for the fallback unit (fallback.ts): one wire contract, one schema. */
+/** The stats board's precomputed count figures (the split head — see Snapshot.counts). */
+const countsSchema = z.object({
+  turns: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
+  steps: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
+  injects: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
+  compactions: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
+  prunes: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
+}).strict()
+
+/** The newest retained request's billing summary (the split head's headline anchor). */
+const lastSchema = z.object({
+  seq: z.number(),
+  total: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
+  prompt: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
+}).strict()
+
+/**
+ * One wire contract for both generations: the SPLIT head (envelope scalars +
+ * counts/last/detailRev; the heavy collections stay absent — they ride the
+ * on-demand detail channel, host/detail.ts) and the INLINE value
+ * (channel-less hosts and the fallback unit carry the collections in place).
+ * The collections are therefore optional on the schema; the split marker is
+ * `detailRev` (present ⟺ split).
+ */
 export const contextTimelineSchema = z.object({
   ok: z.literal(true),
   unsupported: unsupportedSchema.optional(),
@@ -131,13 +154,16 @@ export const contextTimelineSchema = z.object({
   current: currentSchema,
   images: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
   toolCalls: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
-  requests: z.array(requestRecordSchema),
-  events: z.array(contextEventSchema),
+  counts: countsSchema.optional(),
+  last: lastSchema.optional(),
+  detailRev: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
+  requests: z.array(requestRecordSchema).optional(),
+  events: z.array(contextEventSchema).optional(),
   cost: z.object({ flash: costFamilySchema.optional(), pro: costFamilySchema.optional() }).strict().optional(),
   timing: timingTotalsSchema.optional(),
-  nodes: z.array(surfaceNodeSchema),
-  droppedNodes: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
-  archive: z.array(surfaceNodeSchema),
+  nodes: z.array(surfaceNodeSchema).optional(),
+  droppedNodes: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
+  archive: z.array(surfaceNodeSchema).optional(),
   surfaceFloor: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
   archiveFloor: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
 }).strict() as unknown as z.ZodType<ContextTimeline>
@@ -172,6 +198,7 @@ const timelineStateSchema = z.object({
   callNames: z.record(z.string(), z.object({ name: z.string(), start: z.number() }).strict()),
   pendingShadowedSeqs: z.array(z.number()).optional(),
   pendingShadowEventSeq: z.number().optional(),
+  detailRev: z.number().int().nonnegative().optional(),
 }) as unknown as z.ZodType<TimelineState>
 
 /**
@@ -192,10 +219,25 @@ const timelineStateSchema = z.object({
  * `wire` block the registry treats the unit as host-only and never delivers
  * `contextTimeline` to the browser (the Context tab would stay on its
  * loading screen forever).
+ *
+ * `slim` selects the wire generation PER SERVE (a liveness probe, not a
+ * fixed flag): while the on-demand detail channel is live (host/detail.ts),
+ * the wire value is the SLIM head (buildTimelineHead) — the heavy
+ * collections no longer ride every session.list row, control baseline,
+ * follow snapshot, and push frame. Before the channel arms (the connection
+ * service may activate after this plugin) or on a deployment whose
+ * connection/sessions services never compose, the unit serves the INLINE
+ * value so the tab keeps working end to end. Both generations validate
+ * against the same schema (the collections are optional on it), and both
+ * fold the SAME state — the split is view-only, so no `stateVersion` bump
+ * and no cached-row invalidation comes with it (the `detailRev` state field
+ * is additive-optional: older rows restore without it and read as revision
+ * 0).
  */
-export function createContextTimelineDefinition(config: Config): ProjectionDefinition<'contextTimeline', TimelineState> {
+export function createContextTimelineDefinition(config: Config, slim: () => boolean): ProjectionDefinition<'contextTimeline', TimelineState> {
   const bounds = resolveBounds(config)
-  const view = (state: TimelineState): ContextTimeline => buildTimelineView(state, bounds)
+  const view = (state: TimelineState): ContextTimeline =>
+    slim() ? buildTimelineHead(state) : buildTimelineView(state, bounds)
   const definition: ProjectionDefinition<'contextTimeline', TimelineState> = {
     key: 'contextTimeline',
     stateSchema: timelineStateSchema,
diff --git a/src/shared/types.ts b/src/shared/types.ts
index 0ac558d..2e60ffd 100644
--- a/src/shared/types.ts
+++ b/src/shared/types.ts
@@ -20,10 +20,14 @@ declare module '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session-projection/types' {
   // dsh 0.1.1 — the definition's K constraint moved to the state map).
   interface SessionProjectionMap {
     /**
-     * The plugin's whole-value context timeline: current composition,
-     * per-request history, context events, and the model-visible surface.
-     * The Host folds it from the session log; clients receive the finished
-     * value (key absence = the plugin's host half is not composed).
+     * The plugin's context timeline: current composition, counters, and the
+     * headline anchor. Since the split generation the wire value is the SLIM
+     * head (every delivery channel — session.list rows, control baselines,
+     * push frames — carries it whole); the per-request history, context
+     * events, and the surface/archive collections ride the on-demand detail
+     * channel ({@link ContextTimelineDetail}, host/detail.ts). Channel-less
+     * hosts keep the inline generation (the collections stay in the value).
+     * Key absence = the plugin's host half is not composed.
      */
     contextTimeline: ContextTimeline
     /**
@@ -44,6 +48,33 @@ declare module '@deepseek-ai/dsh-session-projection/types' {
 
 export type Category = 'user' | 'inject' | 'assistant' | 'tool'
 
+/**
+ * The stats board's count figures, precomputed host-side over the RETAINED
+ * request/event records (the same set the detail payload serves). Carried by
+ * the split-generation wire head so the board — and the Agent card's
+ * per-session request tally — never need the collections themselves.
+ * `steps` doubles as the retained request-record count.
+ */
+export interface TimelineCounts {
+  turns: number
+  steps: number
+  injects: number
+  compactions: number
+  prunes: number
+}
+
+/**
+ * The newest retained request record's billing summary — the headline's
+ * derived-occupancy anchor (`prompt + surface movement since`), carried by
+ * the split-generation wire head so the headline never needs the request
+ * records themselves.
+ */
+export interface TimelineLast {
+  seq: number
+  total: number
+  prompt?: number
+}
+
 /**
  * The per-user display-preference vocabulary of the `dsh-context` settings
  * namespace — the ONE declaration both halves share: the Host registers the
@@ -106,6 +137,23 @@ export interface Snapshot {
    * hosts; clients treat absence as zero.
    */
   toolCalls?: number
+  /**
+   * Split-generation head fields — present exactly when the host serves the
+   * SLIM head (the heavy collections moved to the on-demand detail channel,
+   * host/detail.ts) and absent on the inline generation (older or
+   * channel-less hosts serve the collections in place). `detailRev` is the
+   * detail's revision marker: it bumps whenever the detail collections
+   * change, so an open tab refetches on the push alone.
+   */
+  counts?: TimelineCounts
+  last?: TimelineLast
+  detailRev?: number
+  /**
+   * The per-request history / context-event collections. On the split
+   * generation these stay ABSENT from the wire value (every session.list row,
+   * control baseline, and push frame would carry them whole otherwise); the
+   * client fills them from the detail channel ({@link ContextTimelineDetail}).
+   */
   requests: RequestRecord[]
   events: ContextEventRecord[]
   /**
@@ -148,6 +196,26 @@ export interface Snapshot {
   archiveFloor?: number
 }
 
+/**
+ * The on-demand DETAIL payload of the split `contextTimeline` generation —
+ * the heavy collections (per-request records, context events, the served
+ * surface window, and the removed-node archive) that the slim wire head no
+ * longer carries through every delivery channel. The host serves it off the
+ * live fold state at the `/dsh-context` `detail` endpoint (host/detail.ts);
+ * `rev` mirrors the head's `detailRev` at build time and acts as the
+ * client's latest-wins cursor.
+ */
+export interface ContextTimelineDetail {
+  rev: number
+  requests: RequestRecord[]
+  events: ContextEventRecord[]
+  nodes: SurfaceNode[]
+  droppedNodes: number
+  archive: SurfaceNode[]
+  surfaceFloor?: number
+  archiveFloor?: number
+}
+
 /**
   * The `contextTimeline` projection's whole value — the same snapshot the Client has always rendered. `ok` is always `true` here (a
   * delivered projection is by definition available); kept for wire compatibility with the snapshot shape.
diff --git a/tests/baselines.ts b/tests/baselines.ts
index f9e461f..340597d 100644
--- a/tests/baselines.ts
+++ b/tests/baselines.ts
@@ -26,6 +26,24 @@ export interface ClientSeam {
   markdownChrome: string
   /** The platform module table the shell seeds (client-bundle requires must resolve). */
   platformModules: readonly string[]
+  /**
+   * The faces the split timeline's on-demand detail channel rides
+   * (host/detail.ts + client/timelineSource.ts): the host's generic
+   * Connection RPC registry, the browser caller, and the projection
+   * registry's `stateOf` read. Each probe is a needle in the named source
+   * file of the baseline tag.
+   */
+  detailChannel: {
+    /** `HostConnectionRpc` in the connection package's shared rpc source. */
+    hostRpcFile: string
+    hostRpcNeedle: string
+    /** The browser caller's `call(channel, endpoint, payload…)` in the connection client source. */
+    clientRpcFile: string
+    clientRpcNeedle: string
+    /** The registry's `stateOf` unit-state read (the detail endpoint's data source). */
+    registryFile: string
+    registryNeedle: string
+  }
 }
 
 export interface Baseline {
@@ -60,6 +78,14 @@ export const BASELINES: readonly Baseline[] = [
         '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-ui-slots',
         '@deepseek-ai/dsh-client-ui-primitives',
       ],
+      detailChannel: {
+        hostRpcFile: 'packages/client/connection/src/rpc.ts',
+        hostRpcNeedle: 'HostConnectionRpc',
+        clientRpcFile: 'packages/client/connection/src/client/rpc.ts',
+        clientRpcNeedle: 'call(channel, endpoint, payload',
+        registryFile: 'packages/session/session-projection/src/index.ts',
+        registryNeedle: 'stateOf<',
+      },
     },
   },
 ]
diff --git a/tests/client/agentTree.spec.ts b/tests/client/agentTree.spec.ts
index ab57bd7..b171290 100644
--- a/tests/client/agentTree.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/agentTree.spec.ts
@@ -130,6 +130,19 @@ describe('agentStatsOf', () => {
     assert.deepEqual(stats.identity, { mode: 'continuable', label: 'helper' })
   })
 
+  test('split-generation rows: the precomputed tally serves without the request records', () => {
+    // The slim wire head carries no `requests` collection — the Agent card
+    // reads the host-precomputed tally off `counts.steps` instead.
+    const slim = {
+      ...timeline(500, 0),
+      counts: { turns: 2, steps: 7, injects: 1, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 },
+      detailRev: 7,
+    }
+    const stats = agentStatsOf({ contextTimeline: slim })
+    assert.equal(stats.requests, 7)
+    assert.ok(stats.head !== null, 'the head still derives from the slim row')
+  })
+
   test('pressure-only rows still yield an occupancy head without slices', () => {
     const projected = agentStatsOf({ contextPressure: { projectedTokens: 250, contextWindow: 1000 } })
     assert.deepEqual(projected.head, { tokens: 250, window: 1000, pct: 25, parts: [] })
diff --git a/tests/client/components/browser.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/browser.spec.ts
index eb8e68b..7aad1d8 100644
--- a/tests/client/components/browser.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/components/browser.spec.ts
@@ -9,6 +9,7 @@ import { describe, test } from 'vitest'
 import { h } from '../../../src/client/react'
 import { makeContextBrowser, type ContextBrowserProps } from '../../../src/client/components/browser'
 import { makeStackedBar } from '../../../src/client/components/stackedBar'
+import { DICT_EN } from '../../../src/client/i18n'
 import { UNKNOWN_TOOL_SOURCE, type ContextHeaders, type ContextTimeline, type HeaderEpochContent, type RequestRecord, type SurfaceNode } from '../../../src/shared/types'
 import { headersOf, type ConversationNodeLike, type ImageLoader } from '../../../src/client/services'
 import { click, flush, hover, makeKit, mount, query, queryAll, text, unhover, type Mounted } from '../helpers/kit'
@@ -1468,3 +1469,39 @@ describe('ContextBrowser focus bridges', () => {
     await m.unmount()
   })
 })
+
+describe('ContextBrowser — the split generation detail states', () => {
+  test('a pending detail read names the state on the note strip', async () => {
+    const m = await mount(h(Browser, { data: tl({}), headers: null, detailState: 'loading' }))
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loading']))
+    // The picker still offers the live surface (the sections read zero until the detail lands).
+    assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-br-pick option').length, 1)
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('a failed detail read arms the retry button on the strip', async () => {
+    let retries = 0
+    const m = await mount(h(Browser, {
+      data: tl({}),
+      headers: null,
+      detailState: 'failed',
+      onDetailRetry: () => { retries++ },
+    }))
+    await click(query(m.container, '.lc-br-retry'))
+    assert.equal(retries, 1)
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('a landed (or inline) detail renders no strip', async () => {
+    for (const state of ['ready', 'legacy'] as const) {
+      const m = await mount(h(Browser, { data: tl({}), headers: null, detailState: state }))
+      assert.ok(!text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loading']))
+      assert.ok(!text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loadFailed']))
+      await m.unmount()
+    }
+    // And the prop-less caller (older hosts) renders nothing either.
+    const m = await mount(h(Browser, { data: tl({}), headers: null }))
+    assert.ok(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-br-retry').length === 0)
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/client/components/contextModal.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/contextModal.spec.ts
index d292375..1f2a72c 100644
--- a/tests/client/components/contextModal.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/components/contextModal.spec.ts
@@ -406,3 +406,56 @@ describe('ContextModal', () => {
     await m.unmount()
   })
 })
+
+describe('ContextModal — the split generation', () => {
+  /** Poll until the predicate holds (the detail store's debounce rides real timers). */
+  async function until(fn: () => boolean, message: string): Promise<void> {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 400; i++) {
+      if (fn()) return
+      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5))
+    }
+    assert.fail(message)
+  }
+
+  test('the modal shares the detail channel: the browser lands the collections on open', async () => {
+    const ctx = new TestClientCtx({
+      services: {
+        sessions: new TestSessions(),
+        connection: {
+          rpc: {
+            call: async () => ({
+              ok: true,
+              value: {
+                rev: 1,
+                requests: [{ seq: 1, turn: 1, step: 1, time: 1, system: 1, tools: 2, user: 3, inject: 4, assistant: 5, tool: 6, total: 21 }],
+                events: [],
+                nodes: [{ seq: 1, cat: 'assistant', tokens: 5, text: 'modal reply' }],
+                droppedNodes: 0,
+                archive: [],
+              },
+            }),
+          },
+        },
+      },
+    })
+    const ContextModal = makeContextModal(asClientCtx(ctx), kit)
+    const head = timeline({
+      counts: { turns: 1, steps: 1, injects: 0, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 },
+      last: { seq: 1, total: 21, prompt: 20 },
+      detailRev: 1,
+    })
+    const m = await mount(h(ContextModal, {
+      sessionId: 'sm-slim',
+      useContextModal: OPEN,
+      useProjection: (key: string) => (key === 'contextTimeline' ? head : undefined),
+    }))
+    // The composition card paints off the head while the browser's detail note shows.
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['overview.title']))
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loading']))
+    // The detail lands: the browser serves the step picker + the sections.
+    await until(() => !text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loading']), 'the modal detail never landed')
+    assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-br-pick option').length, 2, 'live + the one served step')
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes('1 Item'), 'the assistant section counts the served node')
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/client/components/contextView.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/contextView.spec.ts
index 8ce68e5..8dc69ae 100644
--- a/tests/client/components/contextView.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/components/contextView.spec.ts
@@ -943,3 +943,108 @@ describe('ContextView — chat→Context jump', () => {
     await m2.unmount()
   })
 })
+
+describe('ContextView — the split generation (slim head + detail channel)', () => {
+  /** A slim wire head: the pushed value with the collections empty and the counters/markers on. */
+  function slimHead(over: Record<string, unknown> = {}): ContextTimeline {
+    return timeline({
+      model: 'deepseek-v4-flash',
+      provider: 'deepseek',
+      contextWindow: 128000,
+      toolCalls: 3,
+      images: 1,
+      counts: { turns: 1, steps: 3, injects: 1, compactions: 1, prunes: 0 },
+      last: { seq: 6, total: 420, prompt: 410 },
+      detailRev: 6,
+      ...over,
+    })
+  }
+
+  /** The matching detail payload (richTimeline's collections). */
+  function slimDetail(rev = 6): Record<string, unknown> {
+    const rich = richTimeline()
+    return {
+      rev,
+      requests: rich.requests,
+      events: rich.events,
+      nodes: rich.nodes,
+      droppedNodes: rich.droppedNodes,
+      archive: rich.archive,
+    }
+  }
+
+  /** A ctx whose connection.rpc.call serves (or fails) the detail endpoint. */
+  function slimCtx(serve: () => Promise<unknown>): TestClientCtx {
+    return new TestClientCtx({
+      services: {
+        connection: { rpc: { call: (_channel: string, _endpoint: string, _payload: unknown) => serve() } },
+      },
+    })
+  }
+
+  async function until(fn: () => boolean, message: string): Promise<void> {
+    for (let i = 0; i < 400; i++) {
+      if (fn()) return
+      await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5))
+    }
+    assert.fail(message)
+  }
+
+  test('the head paints the counters immediately; the detail collections land through the channel', async () => {
+    const ctx = slimCtx(async () => ({ ok: true, value: slimDetail() }))
+    const View = makeView(ctx)
+    const m = await mount(h(View, { sessionId: 'sv-slim', useProjection: projectionsFor(slimHead()) }))
+
+    // First paint: the counters are real (no detail needed), the detail cards name the pending read.
+    const values = queryAll(m.container, '.lc-stat-value').map(el => text(el))
+    assert.deepEqual(values.slice(0, 2), ['1', '3'], 'turns/steps from the head counters')
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loading']))
+    assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-bar').length, 0, 'the chart waits for the detail')
+    assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-br-pick option').length, 1, 'the picker holds only the live row')
+
+    // The detail lands: every card renders its real content, the notes clear.
+    await until(() => queryAll(m.container, '.lc-bar').length === 3, 'the detail never landed')
+    assert.ok(!text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loading']))
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes('heads-up'), 'the events list serves the detail')
+    assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-br-pick option').length, 4, 'live + three steps')
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes('reply three'), 'the brief rows serve the detail')
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['files.empty']), 'no file ops in this detail')
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('a failed detail read arms the retry notes; one click refires and the cards land', async () => {
+    let online = false
+    const ctx = slimCtx(async () => {
+      if (!online) throw new Error('offline')
+      return { ok: true, value: slimDetail() }
+    })
+    const View = makeView(ctx)
+    const m = await mount(h(View, { sessionId: 'sv-slim-fail', useProjection: projectionsFor(slimHead()) }))
+    await until(() => text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loadFailed']), 'the failure never surfaced')
+    assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-bar').length, 0)
+
+    online = true
+    await click(query(m.container, '.lc-br-retry'))
+    await until(() => queryAll(m.container, '.lc-bar').length === 3, 'the retry never recovered the cards')
+    assert.ok(!text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loadFailed']))
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes('heads-up'))
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('the jump relay survives the split: held while the detail reads, resolves when it lands', async () => {
+    const ctx = slimCtx(async () => ({ ok: true, value: slimDetail() }))
+    const View = makeView(ctx)
+    // The jump is armed BEFORE the view mounts (the chat action relay) — the
+    // detail read is still pending, so the pin must wait for it (not consume
+    // and clamp against an empty record list).
+    requestContextFocus('sv-slim-jump', 4)
+    const m = await mount(h(View, { sessionId: 'sv-slim-jump', useProjection: projectionsFor(slimHead()) }))
+    assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-bar-selected').length, 0, 'nothing pins before the detail')
+    await until(
+      () => queryAll(m.container, '.lc-bar[data-seq="4"]')[0]?.className.includes('lc-bar-selected') === true,
+      'the jump never resolved',
+    )
+    assert.equal(takeContextFocus('sv-slim-jump'), null)
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/client/components/detailNote.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/detailNote.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49a2366
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/client/components/detailNote.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+// DetailNote (src/client/components/detailNote.tsx): the split generation's
+// detail-pending note — loading strip, the failed state's retry button, and
+// the inert plain-text failure when no retry is wired.
+
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict'
+import { describe, test } from 'vitest'
+import { h } from '../../../src/client/react'
+import { makeDetailNote } from '../../../src/client/components/detailNote'
+import { DICT_EN, DICT_ZH } from '../../../src/client/i18n'
+import { click, makeKit, mount, query, text } from '../helpers/kit'
+
+const DetailNote = makeDetailNote(makeKit())
+const DetailNoteZh = makeDetailNote(makeKit('zh'))
+
+describe('DetailNote', () => {
+  test('the loading strip names the pending read', async () => {
+    const m = await mount(h(DetailNote, { state: 'loading' as const }))
+    assert.equal(text(m.container), DICT_EN['detail.loading'])
+    assert.equal(query(m.container, 'div').className, 'lc-empty', 'the default well class')
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('the failed strip arms the retry button; the caller class applies', async () => {
+    let retries = 0
+    const m = await mount(h(DetailNote, {
+      state: 'failed' as const,
+      onRetry: () => { retries++ },
+      className: 'lc-br-note',
+    }))
+    assert.equal(query(m.container, 'div').className, 'lc-br-note')
+    await click(query(m.container, '.lc-br-retry'))
+    assert.equal(retries, 1)
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('a failed note without a retry callback renders the inert text', async () => {
+    const m = await mount(h(DetailNote, { state: 'failed' as const }))
+    assert.equal(text(m.container), DICT_EN['detail.loadFailed'])
+    assert.equal(m.container.querySelector('button'), null)
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('the zh locale localizes both states', async () => {
+    const m = await mount(h(DetailNoteZh, { state: 'loading' as const }))
+    assert.equal(text(m.container), DICT_ZH['detail.loading'])
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/client/components/events.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/events.spec.ts
index 51940f2..6870be6 100644
--- a/tests/client/components/events.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/components/events.spec.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ import { h } from '../../../src/client/react'
 import { makeEventList, makeEventText } from '../../../src/client/components/events'
 import { fmtTime } from '../../../src/client/format'
 import type { ContextEventRecord } from '../../../src/shared/types'
-import { flush, makeKit, mount, query, queryAll, text } from '../helpers/kit'
+import { DICT_EN } from '../../../src/client/i18n'
+import { click, flush, makeKit, mount, query, queryAll, text } from '../helpers/kit'
 
 const kit = makeKit()
 const { eventLabel, eventAt } = makeEventText(kit.t)
@@ -197,3 +198,26 @@ describe('EventList', () => {
     await m.unmount()
   })
 })
+
+describe('EventList — the split generation detail states', () => {
+  test('a pending detail read shows the loading note instead of the empty claim', async () => {
+    const m = await mount(h(EventList, { events: [], state: 'loading', onRetry: () => {} }))
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loading']))
+    assert.ok(!text(m.container).includes('No context events yet'))
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('a failed detail read arms the retry button; a failed read without one falls back to the empty claim', async () => {
+    let retries = 0
+    const m = await mount(h(EventList, { events: [], state: 'failed', onRetry: () => { retries++ } }))
+    const retry = query(m.container, '.lc-br-retry')
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes(DICT_EN['detail.loadFailed']))
+    await click(retry)
+    assert.equal(retries, 1)
+
+    const inert = await mount(h(EventList, { events: [], state: 'failed' }))
+    assert.ok(text(inert.container).includes('No context events yet'), 'no retry wired — the plain empty state')
+    await inert.unmount()
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/client/components/fileCard.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/fileCard.spec.ts
index a5108fd..e4a7684 100644
--- a/tests/client/components/fileCard.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/components/fileCard.spec.ts
@@ -523,3 +523,34 @@ describe('FileCard — workspace display and system open', () => {
     await m2.unmount()
   })
 })
+
+describe('FileCard — the split generation detail states', () => {
+  test('a pending detail read shows the loading note instead of the empty claim', async () => {
+    const m = await mount(h(FileCard, {
+      activity: richActivity({ entries: [] }),
+      scope: 'live',
+      state: 'loading',
+      onRetry: () => {},
+    }))
+    assert.ok(text(m.container).includes('Loading history'))
+    assert.ok(!text(m.container).includes('No file reads'))
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('a failed detail read arms the retry button; without one the empty claim stays', async () => {
+    let retries = 0
+    const m = await mount(h(FileCard, {
+      activity: richActivity({ entries: [] }),
+      scope: 'live',
+      state: 'failed',
+      onRetry: () => { retries++ },
+    }))
+    await click(query(m.container, '.lc-br-retry'))
+    assert.equal(retries, 1)
+
+    const inert = await mount(h(FileCard, { activity: richActivity({ entries: [] }), scope: 'live', state: 'failed' }))
+    assert.ok(text(inert.container).includes('No file reads'), 'no retry wired — the plain empty state')
+    await inert.unmount()
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/client/components/statsContext.spec.ts b/tests/client/components/statsContext.spec.ts
index ad6359a..5069b32 100644
--- a/tests/client/components/statsContext.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/components/statsContext.spec.ts
@@ -1,11 +1,14 @@
 // StatsContext (src/client/components/statsContext.tsx) rendered with real
 // React: the eight-cell 2×4 grid — session shape, the priced cost cell with
-// its rate tooltip, and the context-event tally — in both locales.
+// its rate tooltip, and the context-event tally — in both locales. The count
+// figures arrive precomputed (the split generation's wire head carries them);
+// `countsOfRecords` is the inline generation's derivation, pinned here to the
+// same totals.
 
 import assert from 'node:assert/strict'
 import { describe, test } from 'vitest'
 import { h } from '../../../src/client/react'
-import { makeStatsContext } from '../../../src/client/components/statsContext'
+import { countsOfRecords, makeStatsContext } from '../../../src/client/components/statsContext'
 import type { ContextEventRecord, RequestRecord, SessionCostUsage } from '../../../src/shared/types'
 import { makeKit, mount, query, queryAll, text } from '../helpers/kit'
 
@@ -35,12 +38,26 @@ function cells(container: HTMLElement): { labels: string[]; values: string[] } {
   }
 }
 
+describe('countsOfRecords (the inline generation derivation)', () => {
+  test('tallies distinct turns, records, and the three priced event kinds', () => {
+    // Two steps in turn 1, one in turn 2, one without a turn (folds as turn 0).
+    const counts = countsOfRecords(
+      [req(1), req(1), req(2), req()],
+      [ev('inject'), ev('inject'), ev('inject'), ev('compaction'), ev('compaction'), ev('prune'), ev('model'), ev('mode')],
+    )
+    // model/mode events do not appear (only the three priced kinds do).
+    assert.deepEqual(counts, { turns: 3, steps: 4, injects: 3, compactions: 2, prunes: 1 })
+  })
+
+  test('empty collections tally zero', () => {
+    assert.deepEqual(countsOfRecords([], []), { turns: 0, steps: 0, injects: 0, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 })
+  })
+})
+
 describe('StatsContext', () => {
   test('folds the eight-cell grid: shape stats, cost, and the event tally', async () => {
     const m = await mount(h(StatsContext, {
-      // Two steps in turn 1, one in turn 2, one without a turn (folds as turn 0).
-      requests: [req(1), req(1), req(2), req()],
-      events: [ev('inject'), ev('inject'), ev('inject'), ev('compaction'), ev('compaction'), ev('prune'), ev('model'), ev('mode')],
+      counts: { turns: 3, steps: 4, injects: 3, compactions: 2, prunes: 1 },
       toolCalls: 3,
       images: 2,
       cost: COST,
@@ -53,19 +70,25 @@ describe('StatsContext', () => {
       'Turns', 'Steps', 'Tool Calls', 'Images',
       'Cost?', 'Injections', 'Compactions', 'Prunes',
     ])
-    // model/mode events do not appear (only their three priced kinds do).
     assert.deepEqual(values, ['3', '4', '3', '2', '$0.44', '3', '2', '1'])
     await m.unmount()
   })
 
   test('absent counters and cost degrade to zeros and the dash', async () => {
-    const m = await mount(h(StatsContext, { requests: [], events: [], locale: 'en' }))
+    const m = await mount(h(StatsContext, {
+      counts: { turns: 0, steps: 0, injects: 0, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 },
+      locale: 'en',
+    }))
     assert.deepEqual(cells(m.container).values, ['0', '0', '0', '0', '—', '0', '0', '0'])
     await m.unmount()
   })
 
   test('only the cost cell is tipped; the bubble lists both families with peak/off rates', async () => {
-    const m = await mount(h(StatsContext, { requests: [], events: [], cost: COST, locale: 'en' }))
+    const m = await mount(h(StatsContext, {
+      counts: { turns: 0, steps: 0, injects: 0, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 },
+      cost: COST,
+      locale: 'en',
+    }))
     assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-stat-tip').length, 1)
     assert.equal(queryAll(m.container, '.lc-stat-q').length, 1)
     const tip = text(query(m.container, '.lc-stat-tip'))
@@ -78,7 +101,11 @@ describe('StatsContext', () => {
   })
 
   test('the zh locale localizes labels and prices the cost in CNY', async () => {
-    const m = await mount(h(StatsContextZh, { requests: [req(1)], events: [ev('compaction')], cost: COST, locale: 'zh' }))
+    const m = await mount(h(StatsContextZh, {
+      counts: { turns: 1, steps: 1, injects: 0, compactions: 1, prunes: 0 },
+      cost: COST,
+      locale: 'zh',
+    }))
     assert.ok(text(m.container).includes('上下文统计'))
     const { labels, values } = cells(m.container)
     assert.deepEqual(labels, ['轮次', '步数', '工具调用', '图片', '预估费用?', '注入', '压缩', '剪枝'])
diff --git a/tests/client/headline.spec.ts b/tests/client/headline.spec.ts
index 5293700..52b930b 100644
--- a/tests/client/headline.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/headline.spec.ts
@@ -66,6 +66,17 @@ describe('headlineOf occupancy', () => {
     const h = headlineOf(timeline())
     assert.equal(h.tokens, 100)
   })
+
+  test('the split head anchors the derivation from `last` (the records ride the detail channel)', () => {
+    // lastReq.prompt + surface movement since: 150 + (100 - 80).
+    const h = headlineOf(timeline({ last: { seq: 9, total: 80, prompt: 150 } }), null)
+    assert.equal(h.tokens, 170)
+  })
+
+  test('a `last` without a numeric prompt yields no derived anchor', () => {
+    const h = headlineOf(timeline({ last: { seq: 9, total: 80 } }), null)
+    assert.equal(h.tokens, 100)
+  })
 })
 
 describe('headlineOf window and pct', () => {
diff --git a/tests/client/services.spec.ts b/tests/client/services.spec.ts
index ea83e6a..e5c2f84 100644
--- a/tests/client/services.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/client/services.spec.ts
@@ -223,6 +223,63 @@ describe('timelineOf', () => {
       assert.ok(!('unsupported' in out), JSON.stringify(bad))
     }
   })
+
+  test('the split-generation slim head: counters/anchor/revision survive, the absent collections zero out', () => {
+    const head = {
+      ok: true,
+      model: 'm',
+      current,
+      counts: { turns: 3, steps: 12, injects: 2, compactions: 1, prunes: 0 },
+      last: { seq: 9, total: 100, prompt: 90 },
+      detailRev: 12,
+    }
+    const out = timelineOf(head)
+    assert.ok(out !== null)
+    assert.deepEqual(out.counts, { turns: 3, steps: 12, injects: 2, compactions: 1, prunes: 0 })
+    assert.deepEqual(out.last, { seq: 9, total: 100, prompt: 90 })
+    assert.equal(out.detailRev, 12)
+    assert.deepEqual(out.requests, [])
+    assert.deepEqual(out.nodes, [])
+    assert.deepEqual(out.archive, [])
+  })
+
+  test('the slim head fields re-prove: partial counts zero per field, shapeless last/detailRev drop', () => {
+    const out = timelineOf({ current, counts: { turns: 2, steps: 'many' }, last: { seq: 'x' }, detailRev: 'r' })
+    assert.ok(out !== null)
+    assert.deepEqual(out.counts, { turns: 2, steps: 0, injects: 0, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 })
+    assert.ok(!('last' in out), 'a wrong-typed seq drops the anchor whole')
+    assert.ok(!('detailRev' in out), 'a wrong-typed revision drops the marker (reads as the inline generation)')
+    const noCounts = timelineOf({ current, counts: 'junk', last: null, detailRev: NaN })
+    assert.ok(noCounts !== null)
+    assert.ok(!('counts' in noCounts))
+    assert.ok(!('last' in noCounts))
+    assert.ok(!('detailRev' in noCounts))
+    // A wrong-typed total drops the anchor too; a prompt-less anchor keeps just seq/total.
+    const badTotal = timelineOf({ current, last: { seq: 1, total: 'x' } })
+    assert.ok(badTotal !== null && !('last' in badTotal))
+    const noPrompt = timelineOf({ current, last: { seq: 1, total: 7 } })
+    assert.ok(noPrompt !== null)
+    assert.deepEqual(noPrompt.last, { seq: 1, total: 7 })
+  })
+
+  test('a slim head carrying the (empty) collections passes through by reference, markers intact', () => {
+    // The host's head builder emits the four collections as empty lists, so
+    // the split generation rides the cheap pass-through path like any
+    // well-formed value — the markers/counts survive untouched.
+    const head = {
+      ok: true,
+      current,
+      counts: { turns: 1, steps: 1, injects: 0, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 },
+      last: { seq: 1, total: 7 },
+      detailRev: 1,
+      requests: [],
+      events: [],
+      nodes: [],
+      archive: [],
+      droppedNodes: 0,
+    }
+    assert.equal(timelineOf(head), head)
+  })
 })
 
 describe('unsupportedOf', () => {
diff --git a/tests/client/timelineSource.spec.ts b/tests/client/timelineSource.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..7a0a22c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/client/timelineSource.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,498 @@
+// The timeline source (src/client/timelineSource.ts): the detail payload
+// narrow, the Connection-RPC fetcher, the per-session detail store machine
+// (debounce / single-flight / latest-wins / refold / retry / backoff), and
+// the useTimelineSource hook merging both wire generations into the value
+// the cards render.
+
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict'
+import { describe, test, vi, afterEach } from 'vitest'
+import { act } from 'react'
+import type { ReactElement } from 'react'
+import { h } from '../../src/client/react'
+import type { ClientCtx } from '../../src/client/services'
+import {
+  DetailStore,
+  detailOf,
+  detailStoreOf,
+  makeDetailFetcher,
+  resetTimelineDetailStores,
+  useTimelineSource,
+} from '../../src/client/timelineSource'
+import type { ContextTimeline, ContextTimelineDetail } from '../../src/shared/types'
+import { TestClientCtx, asClientCtx } from './helpers/harness'
+import { mount, text } from './helpers/kit'
+
+afterEach(() => {
+  resetTimelineDetailStores()
+  vi.restoreAllMocks()
+  vi.useRealTimers()
+})
+
+/** A render-safe detail payload (the shape the host endpoint serves). */
+function detail(rev: number, over: Record<string, unknown> = {}): ContextTimelineDetail {
+  return {
+    rev,
+    requests: [{ seq: rev, time: 0, system: 1, tools: 2, user: 3, inject: 0, assistant: 4, tool: 5, total: 15 }],
+    events: [{ seq: rev, time: 0, kind: 'inject', form: 'context' }],
+    nodes: [{ seq: rev, cat: 'user', tokens: 3 }],
+    droppedNodes: 0,
+    archive: [],
+    ...over,
+  }
+}
+
+/** A slim wire head (the split generation's pushed value). */
+function slimHead(rev: number, over: Record<string, unknown> = {}): Record<string, unknown> {
+  return {
+    ok: true,
+    model: 'm',
+    current: { system: 1, tools: 2, user: 3, inject: 0, assistant: 4, tool: 5, total: 15 },
+    counts: { turns: 1, steps: 1, injects: 1, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 },
+    last: { seq: 9, total: 15, prompt: 14 },
+    detailRev: rev,
+    ...over,
+  }
+}
+
+/** A ctx whose connection face serves the given call behavior. */
+function ctxWithCall(call: unknown): ClientCtx {
+  const ctx = new TestClientCtx()
+  if (call !== undefined) ctx.setService('connection', { rpc: { call } })
+  return asClientCtx(ctx)
+}
+
+/** Poll until the predicate holds (real timers ride the store's debounce). */
+async function until(fn: () => boolean, message: string): Promise<void> {
+  for (let i = 0; i < 400; i++) {
+    if (fn()) return
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5))
+  }
+  assert.fail(message)
+}
+
+describe('detailOf', () => {
+  test('rejects non-records and revision-less/negative/NaN payloads', () => {
+    assert.equal(detailOf(null), null)
+    assert.equal(detailOf(42), null)
+    assert.equal(detailOf({}), null)
+    assert.equal(detailOf({ rev: '1' }), null)
+    assert.equal(detailOf({ rev: -1 }), null)
+    assert.equal(detailOf({ rev: NaN }), null)
+  })
+
+  test('narrows a served payload: collections re-proved per item, floors conditional', () => {
+    const d = detail(3, {
+      requests: [{ seq: 3 }, null, 'junk'],
+      nodes: [null, { seq: 2 }],
+      droppedNodes: 'many',
+      surfaceFloor: 7,
+      archiveFloor: 'no',
+    })
+    const narrowed = detailOf(d)
+    assert.ok(narrowed !== null)
+    assert.equal(narrowed.rev, 3)
+    assert.deepEqual(narrowed.requests, [{ seq: 3 }])
+    assert.deepEqual(narrowed.nodes, [{ seq: 2 }])
+    assert.equal(narrowed.droppedNodes, 0, 'a wrong-typed scalar zeroes')
+    assert.equal(narrowed.surfaceFloor, 7)
+    assert.equal(narrowed.archiveFloor, undefined, 'a wrong-typed floor stays absent')
+    // A numeric archiveFloor rides through.
+    assert.equal(detailOf(detail(1, { archiveFloor: 9 }))?.archiveFloor, 9)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('makeDetailFetcher', () => {
+  test('no session id, no connection face, or a hostile read yields no fetcher', () => {
+    assert.equal(makeDetailFetcher(ctxWithCall(async () => ({ ok: true, value: null })), ''), undefined)
+    assert.equal(makeDetailFetcher(asClientCtx(new TestClientCtx()), 's1'), undefined, 'no connection service')
+    assert.equal(makeDetailFetcher(ctxWithCall(undefined), 's1'), undefined)
+    assert.equal(makeDetailFetcher(ctxWithCall('not-a-function'), 's1'), undefined)
+    const hostile = { get: () => { throw new Error('hostile') } }
+    assert.equal(makeDetailFetcher(hostile as unknown as ClientCtx, 's1'), undefined)
+  })
+
+  test('the envelope contract: not-ok rejects, null value means absent, malformed value rejects', async () => {
+    const failed = makeDetailFetcher(ctxWithCall(async () => ({ ok: false, error: { code: 'x', message: 'm', details: {} } })), 's1')!
+    await assert.rejects(() => failed(), /detail rpc failed/)
+
+    const absent = makeDetailFetcher(ctxWithCall(async () => ({ ok: true, value: null })), 's1')!
+    assert.equal(await absent(), null)
+
+    const malformed = makeDetailFetcher(ctxWithCall(async () => ({ ok: true, value: { no: 'rev' } })), 's1')!
+    await assert.rejects(() => malformed(), /detail rpc malformed/)
+
+    const transport = makeDetailFetcher(ctxWithCall(async () => { throw new Error('offline') }), 's1')!
+    await assert.rejects(() => transport(), /offline/)
+  })
+
+  test('a good read resolves the narrowed detail and rides the declared channel pair', async () => {
+    const seen: string[] = []
+    const fetcher = makeDetailFetcher(ctxWithCall(async (channel: string, endpoint: string, payload: unknown) => {
+      seen.push(channel, endpoint)
+      assert.deepEqual(payload, { sessionId: 's1' })
+      return { ok: true, value: detail(4) }
+    }), 's1')!
+    const d = await fetcher()
+    assert.equal(d?.rev, 4)
+    assert.deepEqual(seen, ['/dsh-context', 'detail'])
+  })
+})
+
+describe('DetailStore', () => {
+  /** A fetcher with a call log and a programmable queue of outcomes. */
+  function scriptedFetcher(outcomes: (ContextTimelineDetail | null | Error)[]): { fetcher: () => Promise<ContextTimelineDetail | null>; calls: number[] } {
+    const calls: number[] = []
+    return {
+      calls,
+      fetcher: async () => {
+        calls.push(Date.now())
+        const next = outcomes.length > 0 ? outcomes.shift() : null
+        if (next instanceof Error) throw next
+        return next ?? null
+      },
+    }
+  }
+
+  async function settle(): Promise<void> {
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 5))
+  }
+
+  test('request schedules the trailing-edge read; the snapshot transitions pending → landed', async () => {
+    const { fetcher, calls } = scriptedFetcher([detail(1)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 0)
+    const seen: string[] = []
+    store.subscribe(() => seen.push('change'))
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().pending, false)
+    store.request(1)
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().pending, true, 'the debounce window is armed')
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev, 1)
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().pending, false)
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().failed, false)
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 1)
+    assert.ok(seen.length > 0, 'listeners fired')
+    // The same revision asks for nothing new.
+    store.request(1)
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 1, 'a covered revision does not refetch')
+  })
+
+  test('unsubscribe stops the notifications', async () => {
+    const { fetcher } = scriptedFetcher([detail(1)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 0)
+    const seen: string[] = []
+    const off = store.subscribe(() => seen.push('change'))
+    off()
+    store.request(1)
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(seen.length, 0)
+  })
+
+  test('a rev bump during the in-flight read re-reads after settle (trailing edge)', async () => {
+    let gate!: () => void
+    const first = new Promise<ContextTimelineDetail | null>(resolve => { gate = () => resolve(detail(1)) })
+    let call = 0
+    const store = new DetailStore(() => {
+      call++
+      return call === 1 ? first : Promise.resolve(detail(2))
+    }, 0)
+    store.request(1)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { assert.equal(call, 1) })
+    store.request(2)
+    gate()
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 2, 'the trailing read never landed')
+    assert.equal(call, 2)
+  })
+
+  test('latest-wins: a stale response (behind the served rev, off-target) drops; the trail re-reads', async () => {
+    const { fetcher, calls } = scriptedFetcher([detail(3), detail(2), detail(4)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 0)
+    store.request(3)
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev, 3)
+    store.request(4)
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 4, 'the trail never converged')
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 3, 'the stale rev-2 answer burned one read before the rev-4 landing')
+  })
+
+  test('a rev DECREASE means the host refolded: the ledger resets and refetches', async () => {
+    const { fetcher } = scriptedFetcher([detail(5), detail(2)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 0)
+    store.request(5)
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev, 5)
+    store.request(2)
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 2, 'the refold reset never refetched')
+  })
+
+  test('a transport failure with no detail arms the failed state; the backoff trailing recovers on its own', async () => {
+    const { fetcher, calls } = scriptedFetcher([new Error('offline'), detail(1)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 20)
+    store.request(1)
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().failed === true, 'the failure never surfaced')
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().detail, null)
+    // No manual retry: the trailing edge re-reads after the backoff window.
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 1, 'the trailing recovery never landed')
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().failed, false)
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 2)
+  })
+
+  test('a transport failure WITH detail keeps the served value (no flicker to failed), then recovers', async () => {
+    const { fetcher, calls } = scriptedFetcher([detail(1), new Error('offline'), detail(2)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 0)
+    store.request(1)
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 1, 'the first read never landed')
+    store.request(2)
+    // Mid-way: the failed read settles with the last good detail still serving
+    // (>=: the zero-debounce trail can land the recovery between two polls).
+    await until(() => calls.length >= 2, 'the second read never fired')
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 2, 'the trailing recovery never landed')
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().failed, false, 'the failed read never flipped the cards to failed')
+  })
+
+  test('an absent answer stops the trailing; a fresh rev asks again', async () => {
+    const { fetcher, calls } = scriptedFetcher([null, detail(2)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 0)
+    store.request(1)
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().failed, true, 'absent with nothing to show arms the note')
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 1, 'absence stops the self-trailing')
+    store.request(2)
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 2, 'the fresh rev never refetched')
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().failed, false)
+  })
+
+  test('retry with no armed timer refires directly (the stopped-trailing shape)', async () => {
+    // Absence stops the trailing timer; the manual retry must not wait on one.
+    const { fetcher, calls } = scriptedFetcher([null, detail(1)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 0)
+    store.request(1)
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().failed === true, 'the absent read never settled')
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 1)
+    store.retry()
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 1, 'the timer-less retry never fired')
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 2)
+  })
+
+  test('retry during an in-flight read does not stack a second call', async () => {
+    let release!: (d: ContextTimelineDetail | null) => void
+    let started = false
+    const store = new DetailStore(() => {
+      started = true
+      return new Promise<ContextTimelineDetail | null>(resolve => { release = resolve })
+    }, 0)
+    store.request(1)
+    await until(() => started, 'the read never started')
+    store.retry()
+    release(detail(1))
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 1, 'the in-flight read never landed')
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().failed, false)
+  })
+
+  test('absence with a served detail keeps it and stays silent', async () => {
+    const { fetcher } = scriptedFetcher([detail(1), null])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 0)
+    store.request(1)
+    await settle()
+    store.request(2)
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().pending === false, 'the absent read never settled')
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev, 1)
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().failed, false)
+  })
+
+  test('without a fetcher the store types the failure (the exotic no-connection path)', async () => {
+    const store = new DetailStore(undefined, 0)
+    store.request(1)
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().failed, true)
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().detail, null)
+  })
+
+  test('retry re-arms immediately and resets the backoff', async () => {
+    const { fetcher, calls } = scriptedFetcher([new Error('offline'), detail(1)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 1000)
+    store.request(1)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { assert.equal(calls.length, 1) }, { timeout: 3000 })
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().failed === true, 'the failure never settled')
+    store.retry()
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 1, 'the retry never refetched')
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 2)
+    // A retry with a served detail is a no-op.
+    store.retry()
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 2)
+  })
+
+  test('consecutive failures back the debounce off exponentially', async () => {
+    vi.useFakeTimers()
+    const { fetcher, calls } = scriptedFetcher([new Error('a'), new Error('b'), detail(1)])
+    const store = new DetailStore(fetcher, 10)
+    store.request(1)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(10)
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 1, 'the first read fires after the base window')
+    assert.equal(store.getSnapshot().failed, true)
+    // The failed read's trailing edge waits out the DOUBLED window.
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(19)
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 1, 'the trailing read waits out the doubled window')
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1)
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 2)
+    // Second failure: the window doubles again (40).
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(39)
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 2)
+    await vi.advanceTimersByTimeAsync(1)
+    assert.equal(calls.length, 3, 'the recovered read lands')
+  })
+
+  test('a rev bump arriving while a read is in flight waits out the flight, then trails', async () => {
+    // The in-flight guard: the bumped rev's timer fires DURING the first read
+    // and must not stack a second call; the settle re-arms it.
+    let release!: (d: ContextTimelineDetail | null) => void
+    let call = 0
+    const store = new DetailStore(() => {
+      call++
+      if (call === 1) return new Promise<ContextTimelineDetail | null>(resolve => { release = resolve })
+      return Promise.resolve(detail(2))
+    }, 0)
+    store.request(1)
+    await vi.waitFor(() => { assert.equal(call, 1) })
+    store.request(2)
+    await settle()
+    assert.equal(call, 1, 'no stacked read while the first is in flight')
+    release(detail(1))
+    await until(() => store.getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 2, 'the trailing read never landed')
+    assert.equal(call, 2)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('detailStoreOf', () => {
+  test('one store per session, shared by every consumer; reset drops the cache', () => {
+    const ctx = ctxWithCall(async () => ({ ok: true, value: detail(1) }))
+    const a = detailStoreOf(ctx, 's1')
+    assert.equal(a, detailStoreOf(ctxWithCall(async () => ({ ok: true, value: null })), 's1'), 'the session key wins, the first fetcher keeps serving')
+    assert.notEqual(a, detailStoreOf(ctx, 's2'))
+    resetTimelineDetailStores()
+    assert.notEqual(detailStoreOf(ctx, 's1'), a, 'a reset store is a fresh instance')
+  })
+})
+
+/** A probe component rendering the source's observable surface as text. */
+function SourceProbe(props: { ctx: ClientCtx; sessionId: string; value: unknown }): ReactElement {
+  const source = useTimelineSource(props.ctx, {
+    sessionId: props.sessionId,
+    useProjection: (key: string) => (key === 'contextTimeline' ? props.value : undefined),
+  })
+  const data = source.data
+  return h('div', null,
+    h('span', { 'data-k': 'state' }, source.detailState),
+    h('span', { 'data-k': 'steps' }, data === null ? 'null' : String(data.requests.length)),
+    h('span', { 'data-k': 'turns' }, String(data?.counts?.turns ?? 'x')),
+    h('span', { 'data-k': 'rev' }, String(data?.detailRev ?? 'x')),
+    h('span', { 'data-k': 'floors' }, `${String(data?.surfaceFloor ?? 'x')}/${String(data?.archiveFloor ?? 'x')}`),
+    h('span', { 'data-k': 'model' }, data?.model ?? 'x'),
+    h('button', { 'data-k': 'retry', onClick: source.retryDetail }, 'retry'))
+}
+
+function probeRead(container: HTMLElement, key: string): string {
+  return text(container.querySelector(`[data-k="${key}"]`) as HTMLElement)
+}
+
+describe('useTimelineSource', () => {
+  test('the inline generation passes through untouched and never fetches', async () => {
+    let calls = 0
+    const ctx = ctxWithCall(async () => {
+      calls++
+      return { ok: true, value: detail(1) }
+    })
+    const inline: ContextTimeline = {
+      ok: true,
+      model: 'inline-m',
+      current: { system: 1, tools: 2, user: 3, inject: 0, assistant: 4, tool: 5, total: 15 },
+      requests: [{ seq: 1, time: 0, system: 1, tools: 2, user: 3, inject: 0, assistant: 4, tool: 5, total: 15 }],
+      events: [],
+      nodes: [],
+      droppedNodes: 0,
+      archive: [],
+    }
+    const m = await mount(h(SourceProbe, { ctx, sessionId: 's1', value: inline }))
+    await new Promise(resolve => setTimeout(resolve, 350))
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'state'), 'legacy')
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'steps'), '1')
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'model'), 'inline-m')
+    assert.equal(calls, 0, 'the inline generation never opens the detail channel')
+    // The legacy retry is the inert no-op (the cards show no note).
+    await act(async () => {
+      ;(m.container.querySelector('[data-k="retry"]') as HTMLElement).click()
+    })
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('no projection value keeps the loading surface', async () => {
+    const m = await mount(h(SourceProbe, { ctx: ctxWithCall(undefined), sessionId: 's1', value: undefined }))
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'state'), 'loading')
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'steps'), 'null')
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('the split generation: counters render off the head immediately, the detail lands through the channel', async () => {
+    let calls = 0
+    const ctx = ctxWithCall(async () => {
+      calls++
+      return { ok: true, value: detail(3, { surfaceFloor: 2, archiveFloor: 5 }) }
+    })
+    const m = await mount(h(SourceProbe, { ctx, sessionId: 's1', value: slimHead(3) }))
+    // The first paint: the head's counters with the detail still pending.
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'state'), 'loading')
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'turns'), '1', 'the head counters render before the detail lands')
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'steps'), '0', 'the collections wait for the channel')
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'floors'), 'x/x', 'no floors before the detail')
+    await until(() => probeRead(m.container, 'state') === 'ready', 'the detail never landed')
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'steps'), '1', 'the merged requests serve')
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'rev'), '3')
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'floors'), '2/5', 'the detail floors merge')
+    assert.ok(calls >= 1)
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('a rev bump on the pushed head refetches the detail', async () => {
+    let served = 3
+    const ctx = ctxWithCall(async () => ({ ok: true, value: detail(served) }))
+    const m = await mount(h(SourceProbe, { ctx, sessionId: 's1', value: slimHead(3) }))
+    await until(() => probeRead(m.container, 'state') === 'ready', 'the first read never landed')
+    assert.equal(detailStoreOf(ctx, 's1').getSnapshot().detail?.rev, 3)
+    served = 4
+    await m.update(h(SourceProbe, { ctx, sessionId: 's1', value: slimHead(4) }))
+    // The probe's rev cell reads the HEAD's marker (4 as pushed); the store's
+    // served detail proves the refetch.
+    assert.equal(probeRead(m.container, 'rev'), '4')
+    await until(() => detailStoreOf(ctx, 's1').getSnapshot().detail?.rev === 4, 'the refetch never landed')
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('the failed read arms the retry affordance, which refires the read', async () => {
+    let online = false
+    let calls = 0
+    const ctx = ctxWithCall(async () => {
+      calls++
+      if (!online) throw new Error('offline')
+      return { ok: true, value: detail(1) }
+    })
+    const m = await mount(h(SourceProbe, { ctx, sessionId: 's1', value: slimHead(1) }))
+    await until(() => probeRead(m.container, 'state') === 'failed', 'the failure never surfaced')
+    online = true
+    await act(async () => {
+      ;(m.container.querySelector('[data-k="retry"]') as HTMLElement).click()
+    })
+    await until(() => probeRead(m.container, 'state') === 'ready', 'the retry never recovered')
+    assert.ok(calls >= 2)
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+
+  test('an absent answer (the session left the live set) surfaces the failed note', async () => {
+    const ctx = ctxWithCall(async () => ({ ok: true, value: null }))
+    const m = await mount(h(SourceProbe, { ctx, sessionId: 's1', value: slimHead(1) }))
+    await until(() => probeRead(m.container, 'state') === 'failed', 'absence never surfaced')
+    await m.unmount()
+  })
+})
+
diff --git a/tests/compat/matrix.spec.ts b/tests/compat/matrix.spec.ts
index e3488b4..8cd727c 100644
--- a/tests/compat/matrix.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/compat/matrix.spec.ts
@@ -117,6 +117,13 @@ describe.skipIf(reasons.length > 0)('compat matrix — real dsh sources per base
       assert.equal(staging.dshHasString(baseline.tag, "'remote.session'", 'packages/api/*/src/**'), true)
     })
 
+    test('detail channel: the Connection RPC faces and the registry stateOf exist', () => {
+      const dc = baseline.client.detailChannel
+      assert.equal(staging.dshHasString(baseline.tag, dc.hostRpcNeedle, dc.hostRpcFile), true, 'host RPC registry face')
+      assert.equal(staging.dshHasString(baseline.tag, dc.clientRpcNeedle, dc.clientRpcFile), true, 'browser RPC caller face')
+      assert.equal(staging.dshHasString(baseline.tag, dc.registryNeedle, dc.registryFile), true, 'registry stateOf face')
+    })
+
     test('client: MarkdownText chrome prop', () => {
       assert.equal(staging.dshHasString(baseline.tag, baseline.client.markdownChrome, 'packages/client/ui-primitives/src/markdown/MarkdownText.tsx'), true)
     })
diff --git a/tests/host/compat/registry.spec.ts b/tests/host/compat/registry.spec.ts
index f418ebd..e0beac7 100644
--- a/tests/host/compat/registry.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/host/compat/registry.spec.ts
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ function fullLog(): TimelineEvent[] {
 function bootSession(baselineIndex: number, log = fullLog()): { driver: RegistryDriver; session: SessionLike; log: TimelineEvent[] } {
   const baseline = BASELINES[baselineIndex]
   const driver = new RegistryDriver(baseline)
-  driver.register(createContextTimelineDefinition({}))
+  driver.register(createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false))
   driver.register(createContextHeadersDefinition())
   const session: SessionLike = { seq: 0, header: { id: 's-matrix', cwd: '/tmp' }, inheritedEventCount: 0, events: [] }
   driver.sessionCreated(session)
@@ -92,8 +92,42 @@ for (const [index, baseline] of BASELINES.entries()) {
       assert.equal(headers.headers[0].tools[0].name, 'bash')
     })
 
+    test('the split generation (slim head) rides the same registry contract', () => {
+      // The slim head is the wire value when the detail channel is live
+      // (host/detail.ts): the registry drives, caches, restores, and gates it
+      // identically — only the served value differs.
+      const driver = new RegistryDriver(baseline)
+      driver.register(createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => true))
+      driver.register(createContextHeadersDefinition())
+      const session: SessionLike = { seq: 0, header: { id: 's-slim', cwd: '/tmp' }, inheritedEventCount: 0, events: [] }
+      driver.sessionCreated(session)
+      // One log instance (the envelope builders' clock is monotonic — a second
+      // call would mint fresh times and the restore comparison would drift).
+      const log = fullLog()
+      for (const event of log) {
+        session.events[event.seq] = event
+        session.seq = event.seq + 1
+        driver.driveEvent(session, event)
+      }
+      const timeline = driver.snapshot(session).values.contextTimeline as {
+        detailRev?: number
+        counts?: { steps: number }
+        nodes: unknown[]
+        requests: unknown[]
+      }
+      assert.equal(typeof timeline.detailRev, 'number', 'the split marker rides the push feed')
+      assert.equal(timeline.counts?.steps, 2, 'the counters travel on the head')
+      assert.equal(timeline.nodes.length, 0, 'the collections stay off the wire')
+      assert.equal(timeline.requests.length, 0)
+      // The cache contract is unchanged: plain-JSON rows, and a restore that
+      // refolds to the live cut.
+      assert.ok(driver.checkpointJson(session) !== undefined)
+      const cold = driver.restore({}, log, 0, session.header)
+      assert.deepEqual(cold.values, driver.snapshot(session).values)
+    })
+
     test('init tolerates the registry call shape: the header and inherited-count arguments go unobserved', () => {
-      const timelineDef = createContextTimelineDefinition({})
+      const timelineDef = createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false)
       const headersDef = createContextHeadersDefinition()
       const probe = { id: 's-init', cwd: '/tmp' }
       for (const def of [timelineDef, headersDef]) {
@@ -103,7 +137,7 @@ for (const [index, baseline] of BASELINES.entries()) {
       }
       // And through the driver, whose init arity follows the registry's.
       const driver = new RegistryDriver(baseline)
-      driver.register(createContextTimelineDefinition({}))
+      driver.register(createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false))
       const session: SessionLike = { seq: 0, header: probe, inheritedEventCount: 7, events: [] }
       driver.sessionCreated(session)
       assert.equal(driver.snapshot(session).values.contextTimeline !== undefined, true)
@@ -210,7 +244,7 @@ for (const [index, baseline] of BASELINES.entries()) {
       const { driver: current, session } = bootSession(index, log)
       const rows = current.checkpoint(session)
       const rolledBack = new RegistryDriver(baseline)
-      rolledBack.register({ ...createContextTimelineDefinition({}), stateVersion: 12 })
+      rolledBack.register({ ...createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false), stateVersion: 12 })
       rolledBack.register(createContextHeadersDefinition())
       assert.equal(rolledBack.viewCheckpoint(rows).contextTimeline, undefined)
       const restored = rolledBack.restore(rows, log, 0, session.header)
@@ -251,12 +285,12 @@ for (const [index, baseline] of BASELINES.entries()) {
 
     test('registry registration rules: bad stateVersion and shared-key version conflicts are refused', () => {
       const driver = new RegistryDriver(baseline)
-      const def = createContextTimelineDefinition({})
+      const def = createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false)
       assert.throws(() => driver.register({ ...def, key: 'x' as never, stateVersion: -1 }), RegistryViolationError)
       assert.throws(() => driver.register({ ...def, key: 'y' as never, stateVersion: 1.5 }), RegistryViolationError)
       driver.register(def)
       // Same key at the SAME stateVersion shares the registration (preset ref-counting).
-      assert.doesNotThrow(() => driver.register(createContextTimelineDefinition({})))
+      assert.doesNotThrow(() => driver.register(createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false)))
       assert.throws(() => driver.register({ ...def, stateVersion: 14 }), RegistryViolationError)
     })
   })
diff --git a/tests/host/detail.spec.ts b/tests/host/detail.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..65008ab
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/host/detail.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,238 @@
+// The on-demand detail channel (src/host/detail.ts): the nested-inject
+// gating on the connection/sessions faces (load-order independent), the
+// gate's live flip on unload, and the endpoint's typed outcomes — the detail
+// payload off the live fold state, the typed `null` for a gone session or an
+// absent unit, and the failure envelope for bad payloads and hostile reads
+// (the channel must never throw into the transport).
+
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict'
+import { describe, test } from 'vitest'
+import type { Context } from '@deepseek-ai/cordis'
+import { watchDetailChannel } from '../../src/host/detail'
+import { resolveBounds } from '../../src/host/config'
+import type { TimelineState } from '../../src/host/fold'
+import { assistantMessage, header, userMessage } from './helpers/events'
+import { driveTimeline } from './helpers/projection'
+
+const BOUNDS = resolveBounds({})
+
+type Handler = (endpoint: string, payload: unknown) => unknown
+
+interface CtxSpec {
+  connection?: unknown
+  sessions?: unknown
+  stateOf?: (session: unknown, key: string) => unknown
+}
+
+/**
+ * A minimal host ctx double with cordis inject semantics: the callback runs
+ * once its dependency list completes (here: immediately when the services
+ * map has them, never otherwise), and its returned disposer is collected.
+ */
+function ctxOf(spec: CtxSpec): { ctx: Context; captured: { channel?: string; handler?: Handler }; disposers: (() => void)[] } {
+  const captured: { channel?: string; handler?: Handler } = {}
+  const disposers: (() => void)[] = []
+  const services = new Map<string, unknown>()
+  if ('connection' in spec) services.set('connection', spec.connection)
+  if ('sessions' in spec) services.set('sessions', spec.sessions)
+  const ctx = {
+    get: (name: string) => services.get(name),
+    sessionProjections: { stateOf: spec.stateOf ?? (() => undefined) },
+    effect(fn: () => unknown, _label?: string) {
+      const d = fn()
+      if (typeof d === 'function') disposers.push(d as () => void)
+      return () => {}
+    },
+    inject(deps: string[], cb: (c: unknown) => unknown) {
+      if (!deps.every(d => services.has(d))) return
+      const d = cb(ctx)
+      if (typeof d === 'function') disposers.push(d as () => void)
+    },
+  }
+  // Wire the connection face so handle() captures its registration.
+  if (spec.connection !== undefined && spec.connection !== null) {
+    const conn = spec.connection as { rpc?: { handle?: unknown } }
+    if (typeof conn.rpc?.handle === 'function') {
+      conn.rpc.handle = (channel: string, handler: Handler) => {
+        captured.channel = channel
+        captured.handler = handler
+        return () => {}
+      }
+    }
+  }
+  return { ctx: ctx as unknown as Context, captured, disposers }
+}
+
+/** A live sessions face whose get() serves the `s1` id only. */
+function sessionsWith(session: unknown): { get(id: string): unknown } {
+  return { get: (id: string) => (id === 's1' ? session : undefined) }
+}
+
+function okSession(): object {
+  return { id: 's1' }
+}
+
+describe('watchDetailChannel gating', () => {
+  test('the gate stays closed without the connection or sessions service', () => {
+    // Neither service.
+    assert.equal(watchDetailChannel(ctxOf({}).ctx, BOUNDS).live, false)
+    // Sessions only.
+    assert.equal(watchDetailChannel(ctxOf({ sessions: sessionsWith(okSession()) }).ctx, BOUNDS).live, false)
+    // Connection only.
+    const connOnly = ctxOf({ connection: { rpc: { handle: () => () => {} } } })
+    assert.equal(watchDetailChannel(connOnly.ctx, BOUNDS).live, false)
+    // A connection without the rpc.handle face, or a sessions without get.
+    assert.equal(watchDetailChannel(ctxOf({ connection: { rpc: {} }, sessions: sessionsWith(okSession()) }).ctx, BOUNDS).live, false)
+    assert.equal(watchDetailChannel(ctxOf({
+      connection: { rpc: { handle: () => () => {} } },
+      sessions: { get: 42 },
+    }).ctx, BOUNDS).live, false)
+  })
+
+  test('the gate opens on registration and closes on unload', () => {
+    const { ctx, captured, disposers } = ctxOf({
+      connection: { rpc: { handle: () => () => {} } },
+      sessions: sessionsWith(okSession()),
+    })
+    const gate = watchDetailChannel(ctx, BOUNDS)
+    assert.equal(gate.live, true)
+    assert.equal(captured.channel, '/dsh-context')
+    assert.equal(typeof captured.handler, 'function')
+    // Unload: the inject fiber's disposer closes the gate (the wire flips back to inline).
+    for (const d of disposers) d()
+    assert.equal(gate.live, false)
+  })
+
+  test('a rejecting registry keeps the gate closed without throwing', () => {
+    const ctx = {
+      get: (name: string) =>
+        name === 'connection'
+          ? {
+            rpc: {
+              handle: () => {
+                throw new Error('registration rejected')
+              },
+            },
+          }
+          : name === 'sessions'
+            ? sessionsWith(okSession())
+            : undefined,
+      sessionProjections: { stateOf: () => undefined },
+      effect(fn: () => unknown) {
+        fn()
+        return () => {}
+      },
+      inject(deps: string[], cb: (c: unknown) => unknown) {
+        if (deps.every(d => (d === 'connection' || d === 'sessions'))) cb(ctx)
+      },
+    }
+    assert.equal(watchDetailChannel(ctx as unknown as Context, BOUNDS).live, false)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('the detail endpoint', () => {
+  function liveCtx(state: TimelineState | undefined): { ctx: Context; captured: { handler?: Handler } } {
+    return ctxOf({
+      connection: { rpc: { handle: () => () => {} } },
+      sessions: sessionsWith(okSession()),
+      stateOf: () => state,
+    })
+  }
+
+  test('unknown endpoints and bad payloads fail with typed envelopes', async () => {
+    const { ctx, captured } = liveCtx(undefined)
+    watchDetailChannel(ctx, BOUNDS)
+    const handler = captured.handler!
+    assert.deepEqual(await handler('nope', { sessionId: 's1' }), {
+      ok: false,
+      error: { code: 'dsh-context/unknown-endpoint', message: 'unknown endpoint: nope', details: {} },
+    })
+    for (const payload of [null, 42, {}, { sessionId: 42 }, { sessionId: '' }]) {
+      const result = await handler('detail', payload) as { ok: boolean; error?: { code: string } }
+      assert.equal(result.ok, false, `payload ${JSON.stringify(payload)} rejected`)
+      assert.equal(result.error?.code, 'dsh-context/bad-request')
+    }
+  })
+
+  test('a session outside the live set resolves to the typed null', async () => {
+    const { state } = driveTimeline([userMessage(1, [{ type: 'text', text: 'hi' }], { kind: 'user' })])
+    const { ctx, captured } = liveCtx(state)
+    watchDetailChannel(ctx, BOUNDS)
+    assert.deepEqual(await captured.handler!('detail', { sessionId: 'gone' }), { ok: true, value: null })
+  })
+
+  test('an absent unit state resolves to the typed null', async () => {
+    const { ctx, captured } = liveCtx(undefined)
+    watchDetailChannel(ctx, BOUNDS)
+    assert.deepEqual(await captured.handler!('detail', { sessionId: 's1' }), { ok: true, value: null })
+  })
+
+  test('serves the fold state\'s detail payload with its revision', async () => {
+    const { state } = driveTimeline([
+      header(1, { model: 'deepseek-v4-flash', provider: 'deepseek' }),
+      userMessage(2, [{ type: 'text', text: 'hi' }], { kind: 'user' }),
+      assistantMessage(3, { turn: 1, step: 0, usage: { inputTokens: 10, outputTokens: 5 } }),
+    ])
+    const { ctx, captured } = liveCtx(state)
+    watchDetailChannel(ctx, BOUNDS)
+    const result = await captured.handler!('detail', { sessionId: 's1' }) as { ok: true; value: { rev: number; requests: unknown[]; nodes: unknown[] } }
+    assert.equal(result.ok, true)
+    assert.equal(result.value.rev, 2, 'two detail-mutating folds')
+    assert.equal(result.value.requests.length, 1)
+    assert.equal(result.value.nodes.length, 2)
+  })
+
+  test('hostile reads degrade to the failure envelope, never a throw', async () => {
+    // sessions.get throwing.
+    const throwingGet = ctxOf({
+      connection: { rpc: { handle: () => () => {} } },
+      sessions: {
+        get: () => {
+          throw new Error('hostile sessions')
+        },
+      },
+    })
+    watchDetailChannel(throwingGet.ctx, BOUNDS)
+    const r1 = await throwingGet.captured.handler!('detail', { sessionId: 's1' }) as { ok: boolean; error: { code: string; message: string } }
+    assert.equal(r1.ok, false)
+    assert.equal(r1.error.code, 'gateway/internal')
+    assert.equal(r1.error.message, 'hostile sessions')
+
+    // stateOf throwing.
+    const throwingState = ctxOf({
+      connection: { rpc: { handle: () => () => {} } },
+      sessions: sessionsWith(okSession()),
+      stateOf: () => {
+        throw new Error('hostile registry')
+      },
+    })
+    watchDetailChannel(throwingState.ctx, BOUNDS)
+    const r2 = await throwingState.captured.handler!('detail', { sessionId: 's1' }) as { ok: boolean; error: { message: string } }
+    assert.equal(r2.ok, false)
+    assert.equal(r2.error.message, 'hostile registry')
+
+    // A state whose collections are junk (the detail builder throws).
+    const junkState = ctxOf({
+      connection: { rpc: { handle: () => () => {} } },
+      sessions: sessionsWith(okSession()),
+      stateOf: () => ({ requests: null }),
+    })
+    watchDetailChannel(junkState.ctx, BOUNDS)
+    const r3 = await junkState.captured.handler!('detail', { sessionId: 's1' }) as { ok: boolean }
+    assert.equal(r3.ok, false)
+
+    // A non-Error rejection stringifies into the envelope.
+    const stringThrow = ctxOf({
+      connection: { rpc: { handle: () => () => {} } },
+      sessions: {
+        get: () => {
+          throw 'string boom'
+        },
+      },
+    })
+    watchDetailChannel(stringThrow.ctx, BOUNDS)
+    const r4 = await stringThrow.captured.handler!('detail', { sessionId: 's1' }) as { ok: boolean; error: { message: string } }
+    assert.equal(r4.ok, false)
+    assert.equal(r4.error.message, 'string boom')
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/host/fold-split.spec.ts b/tests/host/fold-split.spec.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6c6d6eb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/host/fold-split.spec.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,208 @@
+// The split wire generation (src/host/fold.ts buildTimelineHead /
+// buildTimelineDetail + the detailRev ledger): the slim head carries the
+// counters and the headline anchor while the detail payload serves the heavy
+// collections, and the revision bumps exactly on detail-mutating folds.
+// Also pins the equivalence: inline view = head + detail, so the two
+// generations can never drift apart.
+
+import assert from 'node:assert/strict'
+import { describe, test } from 'vitest'
+import { buildTimelineDetail, buildTimelineHead } from '../../src/host/fold'
+import type { TimelineEvent } from '../../src/host/fold'
+import { resolveBounds } from '../../src/host/config'
+import {
+  assistantChunk,
+  assistantMessage,
+  compaction,
+  header,
+  planMode,
+  requestContext,
+  stepEnd,
+  stepStart,
+  toolCall,
+  toolResult,
+  userMessage,
+} from './helpers/events'
+import { assertPlainJson, driveTimeline, timelineDef } from './helpers/projection'
+
+/** A session log touching every envelope family the fold serves (mirrors the compat driver's canonical log). */
+function canonicalLog(): TimelineEvent[] {
+  return [
+    header(1, {
+      system: 'You are an agent.',
+      tools: [{ name: 'bash', description: 'run a command' }],
+      model: 'deepseek-v4-flash',
+      provider: 'deepseek',
+    }),
+    requestContext(2, { contextWindow: 128000 }),
+    stepStart(3),
+    userMessage(4, [{ type: 'text', text: 'hello there' }], { kind: 'user' }),
+    assistantMessage(5, { turn: 1, step: 0, usage: { inputTokens: 10, outputTokens: 5, cacheReadTokens: 3 } }),
+    toolCall(6, { callId: 'c1', name: 'bash' }),
+    toolResult(7, { callId: 'c1', content: [{ type: 'text', text: 'ok' }] }),
+    stepEnd(8),
+    assistantMessage(9, { turn: 1, step: 1, usage: { inputTokens: 20, outputTokens: 8 } }),
+    compaction(10, 'summary', { shadowedTokenCount: 12, shadowedSeqs: [4] }),
+    planMode(11, { active: true }),
+  ]
+}
+
+describe('the detailRev ledger', () => {
+  test('bumps exactly on the detail-mutating folds of the canonical log', () => {
+    // Mutations: userMessage(4), assistantMessage(5), toolResult(7),
+    // assistantMessage(9), compaction(10), planMode(11) — six in total.
+    const { state } = driveTimeline(canonicalLog())
+    assert.equal(state.detailRev, 6)
+  })
+
+  test('the working-slot and envelope folds do NOT bump (nothing to refetch)', () => {
+    const { def, state } = driveTimeline(canonicalLog())
+    // step/start (arms the step slot), tool/call (arms the call ledger), the
+    // first-token chunk stamp, request/context (capacity metadata), and a
+    // header with an UNCHANGED model all leave the detail collections as-is.
+    const follow: TimelineEvent[] = [
+      requestContext(12, { contextWindow: 256000 }),
+      header(13, { model: 'deepseek-v4-flash', provider: 'deepseek', reason: 'change' }),
+      stepStart(14),
+      toolCall(15, { callId: 'c2', name: 'bash' }),
+      assistantChunk(16, { type: 'text-delta', text: 'tok' }),
+    ]
+    let st = state
+    for (const ev of follow) st = def.apply(st, ev)
+    assert.equal(st.detailRev, 6, 'no detail mutation, no bump')
+    // The chunk stamp and the step lifecycle DID fold (state changed) — only the rev stayed.
+    assert.notEqual(st, state)
+  })
+
+  test('a real model switch bumps (the events collection gains a row)', () => {
+    const { def, state } = driveTimeline(canonicalLog())
+    const switched = def.apply(state, header(12, { model: 'deepseek-v4-pro', provider: 'deepseek', reason: 'change' }))
+    assert.equal(switched.detailRev, 7)
+  })
+
+  test('the rev is plain JSON and survives the state gate', () => {
+    const { states } = driveTimeline(canonicalLog())
+    for (const state of states) assertPlainJson(state)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('buildTimelineHead', () => {
+  test('serves the counters, the headline anchor, and the revision — with empty collections', () => {
+    const { state } = driveTimeline(canonicalLog())
+    const head = buildTimelineHead(state)
+    assert.equal(head.ok, true)
+    assert.equal(head.model, 'deepseek-v4-flash')
+    assert.equal(head.provider, 'deepseek')
+    assert.equal(head.contextWindow, 128000)
+    assert.ok(head.current.total > 0)
+    // The retained records tally: one turn, two steps, the compaction event.
+    assert.deepEqual(head.counts, { turns: 1, steps: 2, injects: 0, compactions: 1, prunes: 0 })
+    // The headline anchor is the newest retained request's billing summary.
+    const lastReq = state.requests.at(-1)!
+    assert.deepEqual(head.last, { seq: lastReq.seq, total: lastReq.total, prompt: 20 })
+    assert.equal(head.detailRev, 6)
+    // The collections stay empty on the head — the detail channel serves them.
+    assert.deepEqual(head.requests, [])
+    assert.deepEqual(head.events, [])
+    assert.deepEqual(head.nodes, [])
+    assert.equal(head.droppedNodes, 0)
+    assert.deepEqual(head.archive, [])
+    assertPlainJson(head)
+  })
+
+  test('the counters tally injects/prunes, and a turn-less record folds as turn 0', () => {
+    const { state } = driveTimeline([
+      userMessage(1, [{ type: 'text', text: 'ctx' }], { kind: 'plugin', form: 'context', plugin: 'dsh-test' }),
+      compaction(2, 'prune', { shadowedTokenCount: 3 }),
+      assistantMessage(3, {}), // no turn: the replay shape folds as turn 0
+    ])
+    const head = buildTimelineHead(state)
+    assert.deepEqual(head.counts, { turns: 1, steps: 1, injects: 1, compactions: 0, prunes: 1 })
+  })
+
+  test('a fresh state serves zeroed counters and no last/detailRev payload keys beyond the marker', () => {
+    const head = buildTimelineHead(timelineDef().init())
+    assert.deepEqual(head.counts, { turns: 0, steps: 0, injects: 0, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 })
+    assert.equal(head.last, undefined, 'no request yet — the anchor stays absent')
+    assert.equal(head.detailRev, 0)
+    assert.equal(head.current.total, 0)
+  })
+
+  test('the newest request without a usage sample anchors without prompt', () => {
+    const { state } = driveTimeline([
+      userMessage(1, [{ type: 'text', text: 'hi' }], { kind: 'user' }),
+      assistantMessage(2, { turn: 1, step: 1 }),
+    ])
+    const head = buildTimelineHead(state)
+    assert.deepEqual(head.last, { seq: 2, total: state.requests[0].total })
+    assert.ok(head.last !== undefined && !('prompt' in head.last), 'no undefined-valued prompt key')
+  })
+})
+
+describe('buildTimelineDetail', () => {
+  test('serves the same collections the inline view serves, plus the revision', () => {
+    const { state, view } = driveTimeline(canonicalLog())
+    const detail = buildTimelineDetail(state, resolveBounds({}))
+    assert.equal(detail.rev, 6)
+    assert.deepEqual(detail.requests, view.requests)
+    assert.deepEqual(detail.events, view.events)
+    assert.deepEqual(detail.nodes, view.nodes)
+    assert.equal(detail.droppedNodes, view.droppedNodes)
+    assert.deepEqual(detail.archive, view.archive)
+    assert.equal(detail.surfaceFloor, view.surfaceFloor)
+    assert.equal(detail.archiveFloor, view.archiveFloor)
+    assertPlainJson(detail)
+    // The detail never aliases the persisted state.
+    assert.notEqual(detail.requests[0], state.requests[0])
+    assert.notEqual(detail.archive, state.archived)
+  })
+
+  test('the served window and floors follow the retention bounds (same rule as the inline view)', () => {
+    const events: TimelineEvent[] = [
+      userMessage(1, [{ type: 'text', text: 'injected' }], { kind: 'plugin', form: 'context', plugin: 'dsh-test' }),
+      userMessage(2, [{ type: 'text', text: 'x1' }]),
+      userMessage(3, [{ type: 'text', text: 'x2' }]),
+      userMessage(4, [{ type: 'text', text: 'x3' }]),
+      userMessage(5, [{ type: 'text', text: 'x4' }]),
+    ]
+    const { state } = driveTimeline(events)
+    const detail = buildTimelineDetail(state, resolveBounds({ maxNodes: 2 }))
+    assert.deepEqual(detail.nodes.map(n => n.seq), [1, 4, 5], 'the out-of-window inject is pinned ahead of the tail')
+    assert.equal(detail.droppedNodes, 2)
+    assert.equal(detail.surfaceFloor, 3)
+    assert.equal(detail.rev, 5)
+  })
+})
+
+describe('the split wire generation (definition slim flag)', () => {
+  test('the slim view validates against the wire schema and carries the marker', () => {
+    const slim = timelineDef({}, true)
+    const { state } = driveTimeline(canonicalLog())
+    const view = slim.wire.view(state)
+    assert.equal(slim.wire.viewSchema.safeParse(view).success, true, 'the slim head validates')
+    assert.equal(typeof view.detailRev, 'number', 'the split marker is present')
+    assert.ok(view.counts !== undefined)
+    assert.deepEqual(view.nodes, [], 'collections stay off the wire value')
+  })
+
+  test('the inline view carries the collections and NO split markers', () => {
+    const inline = timelineDef({}, false)
+    const { state } = driveTimeline(canonicalLog())
+    const view = inline.wire.view(state)
+    assert.equal(inline.wire.viewSchema.safeParse(view).success, true, 'the inline value validates on the same schema')
+    assert.equal(view.detailRev, undefined)
+    assert.equal(view.counts, undefined)
+    assert.ok(view.nodes.length > 0)
+    assert.ok(view.requests.length > 0)
+  })
+
+  test('equivalence: the inline view is exactly the head plus the detail (minus the markers)', () => {
+    const { state } = driveTimeline(canonicalLog())
+    const head = buildTimelineHead(state)
+    const detail = buildTimelineDetail(state, resolveBounds({}))
+    const inline = timelineDef({}, false).wire.view(state)
+    const { counts: _counts, last: _last, detailRev: _rev, ...headScalars } = head
+    const { rev: _detailRev, ...collections } = detail
+    assert.deepEqual(inline, { ...headScalars, ...collections })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/tests/host/helpers/projection.ts b/tests/host/helpers/projection.ts
index 39aa610..64c93bb 100644
--- a/tests/host/helpers/projection.ts
+++ b/tests/host/helpers/projection.ts
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ export interface TimelineDefLike {
   apply(state: TimelineState, event: TimelineEvent): TimelineState
   wire: {
     /** The wire gate every delivery channel parses the served value with. */
-    viewSchema: { parse(value: unknown): unknown }
+    viewSchema: { parse(value: unknown): unknown; safeParse(value: unknown): { success: boolean } }
     view(state: TimelineState): ContextTimeline
   }
 }
@@ -40,8 +40,8 @@ export interface HeadersDefLike {
   wire: { view(state: HeadersState): ContextHeaders }
 }
 
-export function timelineDef(config?: Config): TimelineDefLike {
-  return createContextTimelineDefinition(config ?? {}) as unknown as TimelineDefLike
+export function timelineDef(config?: Config, slim = false): TimelineDefLike {
+  return createContextTimelineDefinition(config ?? {}, () => slim) as unknown as TimelineDefLike
 }
 
 export function headersDef(): HeadersDefLike {
diff --git a/tests/host/index.spec.ts b/tests/host/index.spec.ts
index 93a4f14..3a6691e 100644
--- a/tests/host/index.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/host/index.spec.ts
@@ -113,7 +113,7 @@ describe('dsh-context host plugin', () => {
     assert.ok(timeline.length > 0, 'contextTimeline changes notified')
     const last = timeline.at(-1)?.value
     assert.equal(
-      createContextTimelineDefinition({}).wire.viewSchema.safeParse(last).success,
+      createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false).wire.viewSchema.safeParse(last).success,
       true,
       'the notified value is the validated wire view',
     )
@@ -184,6 +184,52 @@ describe('dsh-context host plugin', () => {
     assert.equal(snapshot.values.contextHeaders, undefined)
   })
 
+  test('the split generation with the detail channel live: slim wire head + the endpoint serves the collections', async () => {
+    const ctx = new Context()
+    let handler: ((endpoint: string, payload: unknown) => Promise<unknown>) | undefined
+    ctx.provide('connection', {
+      rpc: {
+        handle: (_channel: string, h: never) => {
+          handler = h
+          return () => {}
+        },
+      },
+    })
+    await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
+    await ctx.plugin(SessionProjectionRegistry)
+    await ctx.plugin(plugin, noConfig)
+    const session = ctx.sessions.create()
+    appendRealEnvelopes(session)
+
+    const timeline = ctx.sessionProjections.snapshot(session).values.contextTimeline
+    assert.ok(timeline !== undefined)
+    assert.equal(typeof timeline.detailRev, 'number', 'the split marker rides the slim head')
+    assert.deepEqual(timeline.counts, { turns: 1, steps: 1, injects: 0, compactions: 0, prunes: 0 })
+    assert.equal(timeline.nodes.length, 0, 'the collections stay off the wire value')
+    assert.equal(timeline.requests.length, 0)
+
+    assert.ok(handler !== undefined, 'the detail channel registered')
+    const result = await handler('detail', { sessionId: session.header.id }) as {
+      ok: boolean
+      value: { rev: number; nodes: unknown[]; requests: unknown[] } | null
+    }
+    assert.equal(result.ok, true)
+    assert.ok(result.value !== null, 'a viewed session is live — its detail serves')
+    assert.equal(result.value.rev, timeline.detailRev, 'the payload mirrors the head revision')
+    assert.equal(result.value.nodes.length, 2, 'user + assistant surface nodes')
+    assert.equal(result.value.requests.length, 1)
+  })
+
+  test('without the connection service the wire value stays inline', async () => {
+    const { ctx } = await boot()
+    const session = ctx.sessions.create()
+    appendRealEnvelopes(session)
+    const timeline = ctx.sessionProjections.snapshot(session).values.contextTimeline
+    assert.ok(timeline !== undefined)
+    assert.equal(timeline.detailRev, undefined, 'no channel, no split marker')
+    assert.equal(timeline.nodes.length, 2, 'the collections ride the wire value as before')
+  })
+
   test('stays pending without the registry, starts when it arrives', async () => {
     const ctx = new Context()
     await ctx.plugin(SessionStore)
diff --git a/tests/host/timeline.spec.ts b/tests/host/timeline.spec.ts
index d274414..402220c 100644
--- a/tests/host/timeline.spec.ts
+++ b/tests/host/timeline.spec.ts
@@ -47,7 +47,7 @@ function realLog(): TimelineEvent[] {
 
 describe('createContextTimelineDefinition', () => {
   test('carries the supported projection contract on one unit', () => {
-    const def = createContextTimelineDefinition({})
+    const def = createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false)
     assert.equal(def.key, 'contextTimeline')
     assert.equal(def.stateVersion, 13)
     assert.equal(typeof def.init, 'function')
@@ -59,7 +59,7 @@ describe('createContextTimelineDefinition', () => {
   })
 
   test('the wire schema accepts a real folded view; the state schema accepts every intermediate state', () => {
-    const def = createContextTimelineDefinition({})
+    const def = createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false)
     const drive = driveTimeline(realLog())
     const parsed = def.wire.viewSchema.safeParse(drive.view)
     assert.equal(parsed.success, true, 'a real folded view validates')
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ describe('createContextTimelineDefinition', () => {
   })
 
   test('the wire schema rejects drift', () => {
-    const def = createContextTimelineDefinition({})
+    const def = createContextTimelineDefinition({}, () => false)
     const drive = driveTimeline(realLog())
 
     const extra = structuredClone(drive.view) as unknown as Record<string, unknown>