diff --git a/docs/overnight/LOG.md b/docs/overnight/LOG.md
index 2e72dc0..ec65c77 100644
--- a/docs/overnight/LOG.md
+++ b/docs/overnight/LOG.md
@@ -55,3 +55,11 @@ Run: `npm run build:preview` then serve `dist` (dev server shows a blank page).
 - **Verdict: KEEP with fixes** (Fable, hardware GL): Contact bars were striped (aubergine outro bars under black), now frame draws its own bars; canvas resized on open due to overflow lock (removed); focus dropped after save; `c` worked on phones where the button is hidden; round 5's HUD exit tab had been dropped, restored; REC dot got a no-music blink.
 - **Known weaknesses:** postcard is the 1440x900 buffer scaled to 1600 (slightly soft) and keeps the lens bars; no phone version; shutter click only while soundtrack runs; two chapter-label vocabularies in the frame.
 - Screenshots: docs/overnight/round6/ (postcard.webp is the real downloaded file).
+
+## Round 7: Relay Station (Toolkit transmitter masts)
+- **What:** the Toolkit chapter is a pre-dawn relay station. Four lattice masts (one per toolkit group, rung count = technology count: 11/8/4/3) stand in the side margins; as scroll passes 0.04/0.22/0.40/0.58 each comes online: violet lamp rungs ignite bottom-up, a red beacon blinks at 0.5 Hz, a violet sky beam sweeps. The reading plates get an accent "· ONLINE" state in the same order. Hovering a technology flashes its rung. Reverse scroll takes it offline. A short synthesized chirp plays per mast when sound is on. Lite tier: static lit masts; reduced motion: CSS-only ONLINE plates.
+- **Why:** Toolkit was the last chapter with no world beat and the dullest content in any portfolio; lists become a lit skyline with honest counts, placed in the margins the panel does not cover.
+- **Build:** journey/relay-progress.ts, composables/useRelay.ts, scene/world/relay-masts.ts, audio/relay-tone.ts (lazy), styles/relay.css. 839 tests, initial JS 118.08 KB gz (**1.9 KB left**), scene chunk 214 KB.
+- **Verdict: KEEP with fixes** (Fable, hardware GL): near/far pairs overlapped and the near-right mast clipped, so layout is now aspect-aware with the far mast closer to centre; lamps were white and rungs grey, now hot violet above the bloom threshold; beams brightened and widened with a eased base; hover flash made visible.
+- **Known weaknesses:** lamp cores still tonemap to lavender-white (violet lives in the halo); masts are slivers on phones and modest at 1024 wide; hover flash is a peripheral beat; chirp verified by unit test only.
+- Screenshots: docs/overnight/round7/.
diff --git a/docs/overnight/round7/before-p05-1440.webp b/docs/overnight/round7/before-p05-1440.webp
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round7/p01-1440-mast1-online-entry.webp b/docs/overnight/round7/p01-1440-mast1-online-entry.webp
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index 0000000..a1b1831
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round7/p05-1440-three-online-reading.webp b/docs/overnight/round7/p05-1440-three-online-reading.webp
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round7/p05-390-and-reduced-motion.webp b/docs/overnight/round7/p05-390-and-reduced-motion.webp
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round7/p09-1024x700.webp b/docs/overnight/round7/p09-1024x700.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..dab00e9
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round7/p09-1440-all-online-beams.webp b/docs/overnight/round7/p09-1440-all-online-beams.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..66f9c1d
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diff --git a/docs/overnight/round7/reverse-p002-1440-offline.webp b/docs/overnight/round7/reverse-p002-1440-offline.webp
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2b3782d
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diff --git a/scripts/lib/bundle-budgets.mjs b/scripts/lib/bundle-budgets.mjs
index 17c4839..b1ea366 100644
--- a/scripts/lib/bundle-budgets.mjs
+++ b/scripts/lib/bundle-budgets.mjs
@@ -40,6 +40,8 @@ export const classifyArtifact = (path, source = '') => {
   if (/^assets\/environment-[^/]+\.js$/u.test(path)) return 'first-live-scene';
   // DASHCAM: the photo-mode frame and postcard, loaded on first open.
   if (/^assets\/DashcamFrame-[^/]+\.(?:js|css)$/u.test(path)) return 'deferred-non-video';
+  // RELAY STATION: the mast chirp, loaded when the first mast comes online with sound on.
+  if (/^assets\/relay-tone-[^/]+\.js$/u.test(path)) return 'deferred-non-video';
   if (/^assets\/nightdrive-(?:grand-tourer|districts)-[^/]+\.glb$/u.test(path)) return 'first-live-scene';
   if (/\.(?:woff2?|ttf|otf)$/u.test(path)) return 'initial-fonts';
   if (/^assets\/hero-[^/]+\.(?:avif|webp|png|jpe?g)$/u.test(path)) return 'hero-poster';
diff --git a/src/App.vue b/src/App.vue
index c1a8ed9..c673b9f 100644
--- a/src/App.vue
+++ b/src/App.vue
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ import './styles/headlight.css';
 import './styles/route-log.css';
 import './styles/billboard.css';
 import './styles/dashcam.css';
+import './styles/relay.css';
 
 defineProps<{ inputs: Readonly<ProductionInputs> }>();
 </script>
diff --git a/src/audio/relay-tone.ts b/src/audio/relay-tone.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c64d3c0
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/audio/relay-tone.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,45 @@
+import { readSwitchboard } from '@/audio/music-pulse';
+
+/** Tone length, seconds. */
+export const RELAY_TONE_SECONDS = 0.12;
+export const RELAY_TONE_GAIN = 0.12;
+/** At most one tone every 0.6 s, however fast the scroll. */
+export const RELAY_TONE_GAP_SECONDS = 0.6;
+
+let lastStart = Number.NEGATIVE_INFINITY;
+
+/**
+ * RELAY STATION: a mast coming online chirps once, a 120 ms sine rising
+ * 880 -> 1320 Hz, through the switchboard (mix bus) so mute and volume
+ * apply. Lazy-loaded by the scene; plays only while the soundtrack is
+ * running and audible; never creates an AudioContext and never throws.
+ */
+export function playRelayTone(): boolean {
+  try {
+    const input = readSwitchboard();
+    if (input === null || input.context.state !== 'running') return false;
+    const context = input.context;
+    const start = context.currentTime + 0.005;
+    if (start - lastStart < RELAY_TONE_GAP_SECONDS) return false;
+    lastStart = start;
+    const osc = context.createOscillator();
+    osc.type = 'sine';
+    osc.frequency.setValueAtTime(880, start);
+    osc.frequency.exponentialRampToValueAtTime(1320, start + RELAY_TONE_SECONDS);
+    const envelope = context.createGain();
+    envelope.gain.setValueAtTime(0, start);
+    envelope.gain.linearRampToValueAtTime(RELAY_TONE_GAIN, start + 0.01);
+    envelope.gain.exponentialRampToValueAtTime(0.0002, start + RELAY_TONE_SECONDS);
+    osc.connect(envelope);
+    envelope.connect(input);
+    osc.onended = () => {
+      osc.disconnect();
+      envelope.disconnect();
+    };
+    osc.start(start);
+    osc.stop(start + RELAY_TONE_SECONDS + 0.01);
+    return true;
+  } catch {
+    return false;
+  }
+}
diff --git a/src/components/AppShell.vue b/src/components/AppShell.vue
index 0ee394e..8714dff 100644
--- a/src/components/AppShell.vue
+++ b/src/components/AppShell.vue
@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ import { useRouteMemory } from '@/composables/useRouteMemory';
 import { useRouteLog } from '@/composables/useRouteLog';
 import { useBillboard } from '@/composables/useBillboard';
 import { useDashcam } from '@/composables/useDashcam';
+import { useRelay } from '@/composables/useRelay';
 import { assetUrl } from '@/content/asset-url';
 import { signRouteFor } from '@/journey/sign-routes';
 import { END_OF_SHIFT_SUBLINE } from '@/journey/dawn';
@@ -93,6 +94,7 @@ const maintenanceSubline = useMaintenanceWindow(journey);
 const routeLogSubline = useRouteLog(journey, () => props.content);
 /* DRIVE-IN (Selected builds): the floodlit billboard follows the case studies. */
 useBillboard(journey, () => props.content.projects.selected, props.manifest, exitFor('selected-builds'));
+useRelay(journey, () => props.content.toolkit);
 useCardEntrances();
 const route = useRouteMemory(canonicalSectionIds, () => journey.value.activeSectionId);
 const resume = computed(() => {
diff --git a/src/composables/useRelay.ts b/src/composables/useRelay.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..f9790aa
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/composables/useRelay.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+import { computed, onMounted, onUnmounted, shallowRef, watch, type Ref } from 'vue';
+import type { ToolkitGroup } from '@/content/types';
+import type { JourneySnapshot } from '@/journey/types';
+import { sectionLocalProgress } from '@/journey/route-log';
+import { publishRelay, relayOnline } from '@/journey/relay-progress';
+
+/**
+ * RELAY STATION, DOM side: html[data-relay-online] ("1".."4") through
+ * Toolkit and (fine pointer) html[data-relay-focus] ("group:item") while a
+ * technology is hovered. After mount only, so the server HTML is unchanged;
+ * works without the scene (CSS keys the ONLINE plates off the attribute).
+ */
+export function useRelay(journey: Readonly<Ref<JourneySnapshot>>, groups: () => readonly ToolkitGroup[]): void {
+  const mounted = shallowRef(false);
+  const html = (): DOMStringMap => document.documentElement.dataset;
+  const online = computed(() => (mounted.value ? relayOnline(sectionLocalProgress(journey.value, 'toolkit')) : 0));
+  watch(online, (n) => { if (n === 0) delete html().relayOnline; else html().relayOnline = String(n); });
+  let idle = 0;
+  const hover = (event: Event): void => {
+    const item = (event.target as Element).closest?.('.toolkit-item');
+    const group = item?.closest('.toolkit-group');
+    if (!item || !group?.parentElement) return;
+    clearTimeout(idle);
+    if (event.type === 'pointerover') html().relayFocus = `${[...group.parentElement.children].indexOf(group)}:${[...item.parentElement!.children].indexOf(item)}`;
+    else idle = window.setTimeout(() => delete html().relayFocus, 1200);
+  };
+  const listen = (on: boolean): void => ['pointerover', 'pointerout'].forEach((type) =>
+    document.getElementById('toolkit')?.[on ? 'addEventListener' : 'removeEventListener'](type, hover));
+  onMounted(() => {
+    publishRelay(groups().map((group) => group.technologies.length));
+    mounted.value = true;
+    if (window.matchMedia?.('(hover: hover) and (pointer: fine)').matches) listen(true);
+  });
+  onUnmounted(() => { mounted.value = false; listen(false); clearTimeout(idle); delete html().relayOnline; delete html().relayFocus; });
+}
diff --git a/src/journey/relay-progress.ts b/src/journey/relay-progress.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b4628fd
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/journey/relay-progress.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,35 @@
+/**
+ * RELAY STATION: the Toolkit chapter is a pre-dawn relay station. One mast
+ * per toolkit group comes online in turn as the chapter scrolls, its lamp
+ * rungs igniting bottom-up, one per technology. Shared by the DOM
+ * (html[data-relay-online]) and the lazy scene chunk, so it stays tiny and
+ * pure. Scroll-driven, so scrolling back takes the masts offline again.
+ */
+
+/** Chapter-local progress at which each mast comes online. */
+export const RELAY_STOPS = [0.04, 0.22, 0.4, 0.58] as const;
+/** A mast's rungs light bottom-up over this much chapter progress after its stop. */
+export const RELAY_RAMP = 0.12;
+/** Beacon blink rate (photosensitivity: well under 3 Hz). */
+export const BEACON_HZ = 0.5;
+
+/** How many masts are online at chapter progress p (0 outside the chapter). */
+export const relayOnline = (p: number | null): number =>
+  p === null ? 0 : RELAY_STOPS.filter((stop) => p >= stop).length;
+
+/** 0..1: rung `rung` of `count` on mast `mast` at progress p. Each rung takes its own slice of the ramp. */
+export function rungLit(p: number | null, mast: number, rung: number, count: number): number {
+  const stop = RELAY_STOPS[mast];
+  if (p === null || stop === undefined || count <= 0) return 0;
+  const t = Math.min(1, Math.max(0, (p - stop - (RELAY_RAMP * rung) / count) / (RELAY_RAMP / count)));
+  return t * t * (3 - 2 * t);
+}
+
+/** The DOM publishes rung counts (technologies per group) here; the scene reads them each frame. */
+let counts: readonly number[] = [];
+
+export function publishRelay(next: readonly number[]): void {
+  counts = next.slice(0, RELAY_STOPS.length);
+}
+
+export const readRelay = (): { counts: readonly number[] } => ({ counts });
diff --git a/src/scene/world/composition.ts b/src/scene/world/composition.ts
index 11a5a69..b8851ce 100644
--- a/src/scene/world/composition.ts
+++ b/src/scene/world/composition.ts
@@ -94,3 +94,9 @@ export const CHAPTER_COMPOSITIONS: Readonly<
  * out when the board goes dark, so it is fully reversible.
  */
 export const BILLBOARD_NUDGE = { targetZ: -6, shift: 0.03, seconds: 0.9 } as const;
+
+/**
+ * RELAY STATION: while a mast is online the lens lifts toward the mast tops
+ * and the sky beams. Eased in over 0.9 s, back out when the station goes dark.
+ */
+export const RELAY_NUDGE = { targetY: 3, seconds: 0.9 } as const;
diff --git a/src/scene/world/environment.ts b/src/scene/world/environment.ts
index fb528be..7be55c1 100644
--- a/src/scene/world/environment.ts
+++ b/src/scene/world/environment.ts
@@ -38,7 +38,8 @@ import { createHeadlights } from '@/scene/world/headlights';
 import { maintenanceProgress } from '@/journey/maintenance-progress';
 import { createMilestones } from '@/scene/world/milestones';
 import { billboardNear, createBillboard, textureSize } from '@/scene/world/billboard';
-import { BILLBOARD_NUDGE } from '@/scene/world/composition';
+import { BILLBOARD_NUDGE, RELAY_NUDGE } from '@/scene/world/composition';
+import { createRelayMasts } from '@/scene/world/relay-masts';
 import { isMilestoneSection, sectionLocalProgress } from '@/journey/route-log';
 import { dawnStep, type DawnStep } from '@/journey/dawn';
 import { dawnLightUniforms } from '@/scene/world/dawn-light';
@@ -185,7 +186,15 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
     textureSize: textureSize(context.quality),
   });
   let billboardKey = '';
+  // RELAY STATION: transmitter masts come online through Toolkit. Low tier,
+  // touch and data saver: all rungs lit, steady beacons, no beams, hover or tone.
+  const relay = createRelayMasts(
+    context.resources,
+    maintenanceTier === 'full'
+      && (globalThis.navigator as { connection?: { saveData?: boolean } } | undefined)?.connection?.saveData !== true,
+  );
   scene.add(
+    relay.group,
     billboard.mesh,
     maintenance.group,
     milestones.mesh,
@@ -380,6 +389,15 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
         musicPulse,
         deltaSeconds,
       );
+      const relayNudge = relay.update(
+        snapshot.activeSectionId,
+        snapshot.activeSectionId === 'toolkit' ? sectionLocalProgress(snapshot, 'toolkit') : null,
+        musicPulse,
+        document.documentElement.dataset.relayFocus,
+        deltaSeconds,
+        now,
+        camera.aspect,
+      );
       const billboardNudge = billboard.update({
         section: snapshot.activeSectionId,
         p: snapshot.activeSectionId === 'selected-builds'
@@ -533,7 +551,7 @@ export async function createProceduralSceneGeneration(
           baseComposition.targetY,
           upcoming.targetY,
           anticipation,
-        ),
+        ) + RELAY_NUDGE.targetY * relayNudge,
         targetZ: THREE.MathUtils.lerp(
           baseComposition.targetZ,
           upcoming.targetZ,
diff --git a/src/scene/world/relay-masts.ts b/src/scene/world/relay-masts.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..9c9d7f7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/scene/world/relay-masts.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,469 @@
+import * as THREE from 'three';
+import type { SectionId } from '@/content/types';
+import { SIGN_ACCENTS } from '@/journey/sign-routes';
+import { BEACON_HZ, readRelay, RELAY_STOPS, rungLit } from '@/journey/relay-progress';
+import type { SceneResourceBag } from '@/scene/resources';
+import { CHAPTER_COMPOSITIONS, RELAY_NUDGE } from './composition';
+
+type ThreeVector3 = InstanceType<typeof THREE.Vector3>;
+type ThreeBufferGeometry = InstanceType<typeof THREE.BufferGeometry>;
+type ThreeColor = InstanceType<typeof THREE.Color>;
+type ThreeShaderMaterial = InstanceType<typeof THREE.ShaderMaterial>;
+type ThreeGroup = InstanceType<typeof THREE.Group>;
+type ThreeMaterial = InstanceType<typeof THREE.Material>;
+type ThreeInstancedBufferAttribute = InstanceType<typeof THREE.InstancedBufferAttribute>;
+type ThreeInstancedMesh = InstanceType<typeof THREE.InstancedMesh>;
+
+/**
+ * RELAY STATION, scene side. Four lattice transmitter masts, one per toolkit
+ * group, stand on the far shoulders, alternating sides (first on the right).
+ * As the chapter scrolls each comes online in turn: its lamp rungs ignite
+ * bottom-up (one per technology), a red beacon blinks at 0.5 Hz and a thin
+ * additive beam sweeps the sky every 6 s. Every beat is a pure function of
+ * section-local progress, so scrolling back takes the masts offline again.
+ * One InstancedMesh per part (frames, rungs, beacons, beams). Hovering a
+ * technology flashes its rung. Lite (low tier, touch, data saver): all rungs
+ * lit from chapter entry, steady beacons, no beams, hover or tone.
+ */
+/** Lattice mast at scale 1 (the world is ~2.3x life size). */
+export const MAST_HEIGHT = 44;
+const BASE_HALF = 2.4;
+const TOP_HALF = 0.7;
+const ANTENNA = 6;
+const LEG = 0.36;
+const BRACE = 0.16;
+const SECTIONS = 9;
+/** Rungs fill this band of the mast's height, bottom-up. */
+const RUNG_FROM = 0.08;
+const RUNG_SPAN = 0.8;
+const MAX_RUNGS = 64;
+const FLASH_SECONDS = 0.45;
+/** A flashing rung swells (width, height factors): the lit lamps are already hot, so colour alone would not read. */
+const FLASH_SWELL = { width: 0.5, height: 2.2 } as const;
+/** One hover flash per rung at most every 0.35 s (photosensitivity). */
+export const RUNG_FLASH_GAP_SECONDS = 0.35;
+const BEAM_LENGTH = 170;
+const BEAM_WIDTH = 7;
+/** Beam brightness cap (additive, so bloom does not blow out). */
+export const BEAM_INTENSITY = 0.65;
+const SWEEP_SECONDS = 6;
+const PULSE_GAIN = 0.08;
+
+/**
+ * Where the masts stand, placed by where they land in the frame (toolkit
+ * lens: camera y 8.6, z 25, fov 62). `fx` is the fraction of the half-width
+ * from the centre: the 84%-wide reading panel covers up to 0.84, so every
+ * mast sits in the side margin. The near mast of each pair stands at the
+ * frame edge, the far one just inside it, closer to the centre (perspective:
+ * a row receding toward the vanishing point), so the pair reads as two
+ * towers along the shoulder and never overlaps. `fy` is where the beacon
+ * lands as a fraction of the half-height above the centre: in the upper
+ * third, clear of the nav bar. x and the scale follow from those and the
+ * viewport aspect, so the masts keep their place on narrow lenses too.
+ * Portrait (phones): the margins are slivers, so the masts tuck under the
+ * panel edge instead of leaving the frame.
+ */
+const LENS = CHAPTER_COMPOSITIONS.toolkit;
+export const DESIGN_ASPECT = 1.6;
+const TAN_HALF_HEIGHT = Math.tan(THREE.MathUtils.degToRad(LENS.fov / 2));
+const SLOT_FRAMES = [
+  { z: -55, fx: 0.94, fy: 0.72 },
+  { z: -55, fx: 0.94, fy: 0.72 },
+  { z: -130, fx: 0.875, fy: 0.56 },
+  { z: -130, fx: 0.875, fy: 0.56 },
+] as const;
+
+interface RelaySlot {
+  z: number;
+  side: number;
+  x: number;
+  scale: number;
+}
+
+let slotAspect = Number.NaN;
+let slots: RelaySlot[] = [];
+
+/** The four stands for a viewport aspect (memoised: the aspect changes only on resize). */
+export function relaySlots(aspect: number = DESIGN_ASPECT): RelaySlot[] {
+  if (aspect === slotAspect) return slots;
+  slotAspect = aspect;
+  const portrait = aspect < 1.18;
+  slots = SLOT_FRAMES.map((slot, i) => {
+    const side = i % 2 === 0 ? 1 : -1;
+    const distance = LENS.z - slot.z;
+    const fx = portrait ? slot.fx * 0.9 : slot.fx;
+    return {
+      z: slot.z,
+      side,
+      x: side * fx * TAN_HALF_HEIGHT * aspect * distance,
+      scale: (LENS.y + slot.fy * TAN_HALF_HEIGHT * distance) / (MAST_HEIGHT + ANTENNA),
+    };
+  });
+  return slots;
+}
+
+const clamp01 = (value: number): number => Math.min(1, Math.max(0, value));
+const smooth = (from: number, to: number, value: number): number => {
+  const t = clamp01((value - from) / (to - from));
+  return t * t * (3 - 2 * t);
+};
+const halfWidthAt = (y: number): number => THREE.MathUtils.lerp(BASE_HALF, TOP_HALF, y / MAST_HEIGHT);
+
+/** The chapter fades the station in and out at its edges. */
+export const relayPresence = (p: number): number => smooth(0, 0.05, p) * (1 - smooth(0.95, 1, p));
+
+export interface RelayRung {
+  /** World height of the rung's centre. */
+  y: number;
+  halfWidth: number;
+  lit: number;
+}
+
+export interface RelayMast {
+  x: number;
+  z: number;
+  scale: number;
+  side: number;
+  height: number;
+  presence: number;
+  /** 0..1: the mast is online (beacon and beam). */
+  level: number;
+  rungs: RelayRung[];
+}
+
+/** Every mast's frame for chapter progress p (null outside Toolkit: all absent). */
+export function relayLayout(
+  p: number | null,
+  counts: readonly number[] = readRelay().counts,
+  full = true,
+  aspect: number = DESIGN_ASPECT,
+): RelayMast[] {
+  return relaySlots(aspect).slice(0, counts.length).map((slot, mast) => {
+    const count = counts[mast] ?? 0;
+    const presence = p === null ? 0 : relayPresence(p);
+    const live = presence > 0;
+    return {
+      x: slot.x,
+      z: slot.z,
+      scale: slot.scale,
+      side: slot.side,
+      height: (MAST_HEIGHT + ANTENNA) * slot.scale,
+      presence,
+      level: !live ? 0 : full ? smooth(RELAY_STOPS[mast]!, RELAY_STOPS[mast]! + 0.03, p!) : 1,
+      rungs: Array.from({ length: count }, (_, rung) => {
+        const y = MAST_HEIGHT * (RUNG_FROM + (RUNG_SPAN * (rung + 0.5)) / count);
+        return { y: y * slot.scale, halfWidth: halfWidthAt(y) * slot.scale, lit: !live ? 0 : full ? rungLit(p, mast, rung, count) : 1 };
+      }),
+    };
+  });
+}
+
+/** One strut from a to b, square section t. */
+function strut(a: ThreeVector3, b: ThreeVector3, t: number): ThreeBufferGeometry {
+  const dir = b.clone().sub(a);
+  const geometry = new THREE.BoxGeometry(t, dir.length(), t).translate(0, dir.length() / 2, 0);
+  geometry.applyQuaternion(new THREE.Quaternion().setFromUnitVectors(new THREE.Vector3(0, 1, 0), dir.normalize()));
+  return geometry.translate(a.x, a.y, a.z);
+}
+
+function merge(pieces: ThreeBufferGeometry[]): ThreeBufferGeometry {
+  const positions: number[] = [];
+  const normals: number[] = [];
+  const indices: number[] = [];
+  for (const piece of pieces) {
+    const offset = positions.length / 3;
+    positions.push(...piece.getAttribute('position').array);
+    normals.push(...piece.getAttribute('normal').array);
+    indices.push(...Array.from(piece.getIndex()!.array as ArrayLike<number>, (i) => i + offset));
+    piece.dispose();
+  }
+  const merged = new THREE.BufferGeometry();
+  merged.setAttribute('position', new THREE.Float32BufferAttribute(positions, 3));
+  merged.setAttribute('normal', new THREE.Float32BufferAttribute(normals, 3));
+  merged.setIndex(indices);
+  return merged;
+}
+
+/** Four tapered legs, X braces and rings on every face, and an antenna. */
+function latticeGeometry(): ThreeBufferGeometry {
+  const corner = (y: number, sx: number, sz: number) => new THREE.Vector3(sx * halfWidthAt(y), y, sz * halfWidthAt(y));
+  const corners = [[1, 1], [-1, 1], [-1, -1], [1, -1]] as const;
+  const pieces: ThreeBufferGeometry[] = [];
+  corners.forEach(([sx, sz]) => pieces.push(strut(corner(0, sx, sz), corner(MAST_HEIGHT, sx, sz), LEG)));
+  for (let k = 0; k <= SECTIONS; k += 1) {
+    const y0 = (MAST_HEIGHT * k) / SECTIONS;
+    const y1 = (MAST_HEIGHT * (k + 1)) / SECTIONS;
+    corners.forEach(([sx, sz], c) => {
+      const [nx, nz] = corners[(c + 1) % 4]!;
+      pieces.push(strut(corner(y0, sx, sz), corner(y0, nx, nz), BRACE));
+      if (k < SECTIONS) {
+        pieces.push(strut(corner(y0, sx, sz), corner(y1, nx, nz), BRACE));
+        pieces.push(strut(corner(y0, nx, nz), corner(y1, sx, sz), BRACE));
+      }
+    });
+  }
+  pieces.push(strut(new THREE.Vector3(0, MAST_HEIGHT - 1, 0), new THREE.Vector3(0, MAST_HEIGHT + ANTENNA, 0), 0.3));
+  return merge(pieces);
+}
+
+const SCREEN_DOOR = /* glsl */ `
+  vec2 cell = mod(floor(gl_FragCoord.xy), 4.0);
+  float threshold = (mod(cell.x + cell.y * 2.0, 4.0) * 4.0 + mod(cell.y, 2.0) * 2.0 + mod(cell.x, 2.0) + 0.5) / 16.0;
+  if (vState.z < threshold) discard;
+`;
+
+/** x: lit/level, y: flash, z: presence. */
+function solidMaterial(accent: ThreeColor, pulse: { value: number }, body: string): ThreeShaderMaterial {
+  return new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
+    uniforms: { uAccent: { value: accent }, uPulse: pulse },
+    vertexShader: /* glsl */ `
+      attribute vec3 aState;
+      varying vec3 vState;
+      varying vec3 vNormal;
+      void main() {
+        vState = aState;
+        vNormal = normalize(mat3(modelMatrix * instanceMatrix) * normal);
+        gl_Position = projectionMatrix * viewMatrix * modelMatrix * instanceMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0);
+      }
+    `,
+    fragmentShader: /* glsl */ `
+      uniform vec3 uAccent;
+      uniform float uPulse;
+      varying vec3 vState;
+      varying vec3 vNormal;
+      void main() {
+        ${SCREEN_DOOR}
+        float key = max(0.0, dot(normalize(vNormal), normalize(vec3(-0.45, 0.85, 0.35))));
+        vec3 color;
+        ${body}
+        gl_FragColor = vec4(color, 1.0);
+        #include <tonemapping_fragment>
+        #include <colorspace_fragment>
+      }
+    `,
+    fog: false,
+  });
+}
+
+export interface RelayRungState {
+  lit: number;
+  flash: number;
+}
+
+export interface RelayMastsWorld {
+  readonly group: ThreeGroup;
+  /**
+   * Section-local progress (null outside Toolkit), the smoothed bass pulse,
+   * html[data-relay-focus] ("group:item"), frame delta and the frame clock
+   * (ms) and the viewport aspect. Returns the camera nudge, 0..1 (eased).
+   */
+  update(section: SectionId, p: number | null, pulse: number, focus: string | undefined, deltaSeconds: number, now: number, aspect?: number): number;
+  /** Test hook: every rung's lit and flash level, in group order. */
+  rungs(): RelayRungState[];
+  /** Test hook: each beacon's current level. */
+  beacons(): number[];
+  /** Test hook: masts online, and tones requested. */
+  online(): { count: number; tones: number };
+}
+
+const instanced = (geometry: ThreeBufferGeometry, material: ThreeMaterial, count: number, name: string) => {
+  const mesh = new THREE.InstancedMesh(geometry, material, count);
+  mesh.name = name;
+  mesh.frustumCulled = false;
+  mesh.instanceMatrix.setUsage(THREE.DynamicDrawUsage);
+  return mesh;
+};
+
+const stateAttribute = (geometry: ThreeBufferGeometry, count: number): ThreeInstancedBufferAttribute => {
+  const state = new THREE.InstancedBufferAttribute(new Float32Array(count * 3), 3);
+  state.setUsage(THREE.DynamicDrawUsage);
+  geometry.setAttribute('aState', state);
+  return state;
+};
+
+const defaultTone = (): void => {
+  void import('@/audio/relay-tone').then((tone) => tone.playRelayTone(), () => undefined);
+};
+
+export function createRelayMasts(resources: SceneResourceBag, full: boolean, tone: () => void = defaultTone): RelayMastsWorld {
+  const accent = new THREE.Color(SIGN_ACCENTS.toolkit);
+  const pulseUniform = { value: 0 };
+  const group = new THREE.Group();
+  group.name = 'relay-station';
+  group.visible = false;
+
+  const frameGeometry = resources.own('geometry', latticeGeometry());
+  const frameState = stateAttribute(frameGeometry, SLOT_FRAMES.length);
+  const frames = instanced(frameGeometry, resources.own('material', solidMaterial(accent, pulseUniform, /* glsl */ `
+    color = vec3(0.07, 0.06, 0.1) + vec3(0.1, 0.09, 0.15) * key + uAccent * (0.08 + 0.22 * vState.x);
+  `)), SLOT_FRAMES.length, 'relay-masts');
+
+  const rungGeometry = resources.own('geometry', new THREE.BoxGeometry(1, 1, 1));
+  const rungState = stateAttribute(rungGeometry, MAX_RUNGS);
+  const rungMesh = instanced(rungGeometry, resources.own('material', solidMaterial(accent, pulseUniform, /* glsl */ `
+    // Lit lamps are a hot, saturated violet (hotter than the bloom threshold, so they glow violet, not white).
+    vec3 lamp = vec3(0.62, 0.3, 1.0) * 2.1 * (1.0 + ${PULSE_GAIN.toFixed(2)} * uPulse);
+    vec3 dark = uAccent * 0.12 + vec3(0.02) * key;
+    // Hover flash: the rung turns ice-white and swells (see FLASH_SWELL).
+    color = mix(mix(dark, lamp, vState.x), vec3(0.78, 1.0, 1.0) * 2.4, vState.y);
+  `)), MAX_RUNGS, 'relay-rungs');
+
+  const beaconGeometry = resources.own('geometry', new THREE.OctahedronGeometry(1.6));
+  const beaconState = stateAttribute(beaconGeometry, SLOT_FRAMES.length);
+  const beaconMesh = instanced(beaconGeometry, resources.own('material', solidMaterial(accent, pulseUniform, /* glsl */ `
+    color = vec3(1.0, 0.12, 0.08) * (0.12 + 2.2 * vState.x);
+  `)), SLOT_FRAMES.length, 'relay-beacons');
+  group.add(frames, rungMesh, beaconMesh);
+
+  // The sky beam: a thin additive quad from the beacon, leaning in over the road and sweeping every 6 s.
+  let beamMesh: ThreeInstancedMesh | null = null;
+  let beamState: ThreeInstancedBufferAttribute | null = null;
+  if (full) {
+    const beamGeometry = resources.own('geometry', new THREE.PlaneGeometry(1, 1).translate(0, 0.5, 0));
+    beamState = stateAttribute(beamGeometry, SLOT_FRAMES.length);
+    beamMesh = instanced(beamGeometry, resources.own('material', new THREE.ShaderMaterial({
+      uniforms: { uAccent: { value: accent } },
+      vertexShader: /* glsl */ `
+        attribute vec3 aState;
+        varying vec2 vUv;
+        varying float vLevel;
+        void main() {
+          vUv = uv;
+          vLevel = aState.x * aState.z;
+          gl_Position = projectionMatrix * viewMatrix * modelMatrix * instanceMatrix * vec4(position, 1.0);
+        }
+      `,
+      fragmentShader: /* glsl */ `
+        uniform vec3 uAccent;
+        varying vec2 vUv;
+        varying float vLevel;
+        void main() {
+          float across = pow(max(0.0, 1.0 - abs(vUv.x - 0.5) * 2.0), 2.0);
+          // The base eases in over the first 12% so the source does not read as a blown blob at the beacon.
+          float along = pow(1.0 - vUv.y, 1.6) * smoothstep(0.0, 0.12, vUv.y);
+          vec3 color = mix(vec3(0.6, 0.36, 1.0), vec3(0.9, 0.92, 1.0), 0.3) * across * along * ${BEAM_INTENSITY.toFixed(2)} * vLevel;
+          gl_FragColor = vec4(color, 1.0);
+          #include <tonemapping_fragment>
+          #include <colorspace_fragment>
+        }
+      `,
+      transparent: true,
+      blending: THREE.AdditiveBlending,
+      depthWrite: false,
+      fog: false,
+    })), SLOT_FRAMES.length, 'relay-beams');
+    group.add(beamMesh);
+  }
+
+  const flash = new Float32Array(MAX_RUNGS);
+  const sinceFlash = new Float32Array(MAX_RUNGS).fill(Number.POSITIVE_INFINITY);
+  const lit = new Float32Array(MAX_RUNGS);
+  const beaconLevels = [0, 0, 0, 0];
+  let total = 0;
+  let lastFocus: string | undefined;
+  let lastSection: SectionId | null = null;
+  let onlineCount = 0;
+  let tones = 0;
+  let nudgeRun = 0;
+  const matrix = new THREE.Matrix4();
+  const position = new THREE.Vector3();
+  const rotation = new THREE.Quaternion();
+  const scale = new THREE.Vector3();
+  const forward = new THREE.Vector3(0, 0, 1);
+
+  return {
+    group,
+    rungs: () => Array.from({ length: total }, (_, i) => ({ lit: lit[i]!, flash: flash[i]! })),
+    beacons: () => [...beaconLevels],
+    online: () => ({ count: onlineCount, tones }),
+    update(section, p, pulse, focus, deltaSeconds, now, aspect = DESIGN_ASPECT) {
+      const dt = Math.max(0, deltaSeconds);
+      const live = section === 'toolkit' ? p : null;
+      const masts = relayLayout(live, readRelay().counts, full, aspect);
+      const changed = section !== lastSection;
+      lastSection = section;
+
+      // A mast coming online (scrolling forward, not a jump into the chapter) chirps once.
+      const count = live === null ? 0 : RELAY_STOPS.filter((stop, i) => i < masts.length && live >= stop).length;
+      if (full && !changed && count > onlineCount) {
+        tones += 1;
+        tone();
+      }
+      onlineCount = count;
+      nudgeRun = clamp01(nudgeRun + (count > 0 ? 1 : -1) * (dt / RELAY_NUDGE.seconds));
+
+      // Hover: the focused technology's rung flashes, at most every 0.35 s.
+      let focusIndex = -1;
+      if (full && focus !== undefined && focus !== lastFocus) {
+        const [g, item] = focus.split(':').map(Number);
+        if (masts[g!] !== undefined && item! >= 0 && item! < masts[g!]!.rungs.length) {
+          focusIndex = masts.slice(0, g).reduce((sum, mast) => sum + mast.rungs.length, 0) + item!;
+        }
+      }
+      lastFocus = focus;
+
+      const time = now / 1000;
+      let index = 0;
+      let any = false;
+      masts.forEach((mast, m) => {
+        const visible = mast.presence > 0;
+        any ||= visible;
+        scale.setScalar(visible ? mast.scale : 0);
+        rotation.identity();
+        position.set(mast.x, 0, mast.z);
+        frames.setMatrixAt(m, matrix.compose(position, rotation, scale));
+        frameState.setXYZ(m, mast.level, 0, mast.presence);
+
+        // A soft 0.5 Hz blink while online (lite: steady).
+        const blink = full ? Math.pow(0.5 + 0.5 * Math.cos(2 * Math.PI * BEACON_HZ * time + m * 1.3), 3) : 0.6;
+        beaconLevels[m] = visible ? mast.level * (0.2 + 0.8 * blink) : 0;
+        position.set(mast.x, (MAST_HEIGHT + ANTENNA) * mast.scale, mast.z);
+        beaconMesh.setMatrixAt(m, matrix.compose(position, rotation, scale));
+        beaconState.setXYZ(m, beaconLevels[m]!, 0, mast.presence);
+
+        if (beamMesh !== null && beamState !== null) {
+          const sweep = mast.side * 0.5 + 0.4 * Math.sin((2 * Math.PI * time) / SWEEP_SECONDS + m * 1.7);
+          rotation.setFromAxisAngle(forward, sweep);
+          const shown = visible && mast.level > 0 ? mast.scale : 0;
+          beamMesh.setMatrixAt(m, matrix.compose(position, rotation, scale.set(BEAM_WIDTH * shown, BEAM_LENGTH * shown, 1)));
+          beamState.setXYZ(m, mast.level, 0, mast.presence);
+          rotation.identity();
+        }
+
+        for (const rung of mast.rungs) {
+          if (index >= MAX_RUNGS) break;
+          sinceFlash[index]! += dt;
+          if (index === focusIndex && visible && sinceFlash[index]! >= RUNG_FLASH_GAP_SECONDS) {
+            flash[index] = 1;
+            sinceFlash[index] = 0;
+          } else {
+            flash[index] = Math.max(0, flash[index]! - dt / FLASH_SECONDS);
+          }
+          lit[index] = rung.lit;
+          const s = visible ? mast.scale : 0;
+          const f = flash[index]!;
+          position.set(mast.x, rung.y, mast.z + rung.halfWidth + 0.35 * s);
+          scale.set(visible ? rung.halfWidth * 2.3 * (1 + FLASH_SWELL.width * f) : 0, 0.9 * s * (1 + FLASH_SWELL.height * f), 0.6 * s);
+          rungMesh.setMatrixAt(index, matrix.compose(position, rotation, scale));
+          rungState.setXYZ(index, rung.lit, flash[index]!, mast.presence);
+          index += 1;
+        }
+      });
+      total = index;
+      rungMesh.count = total;
+      frames.count = masts.length;
+      beaconMesh.count = masts.length;
+      if (beamMesh !== null) beamMesh.count = masts.length;
+      group.visible = any;
+      if (any) {
+        pulseUniform.value = full ? clamp01(pulse) : 0;
+        for (const mesh of [frames, rungMesh, beaconMesh, beamMesh]) {
+          if (mesh === null) continue;
+          mesh.instanceMatrix.needsUpdate = true;
+          (mesh.geometry.getAttribute('aState') as ThreeInstancedBufferAttribute).needsUpdate = true;
+        }
+      }
+      return nudgeRun * nudgeRun * (3 - 2 * nudgeRun);
+    },
+  };
+}
diff --git a/src/styles/relay.css b/src/styles/relay.css
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..97c8727
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/styles/relay.css
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/* RELAY STATION: toolkit groups come ONLINE in order, one per mast in the
+   scene. Also the whole effect without a scene (reduced motion, static).
+   html[data-relay-online] exists only after mount. */
+html[data-relay-online] #toolkit .toolkit-group {
+  transition: border-color 600ms ease, box-shadow 600ms ease;
+}
+html[data-relay-online='1'] #toolkit .toolkit-group:nth-child(-n + 1),
+html[data-relay-online='2'] #toolkit .toolkit-group:nth-child(-n + 2),
+html[data-relay-online='3'] #toolkit .toolkit-group:nth-child(-n + 3),
+html[data-relay-online='4'] #toolkit .toolkit-group:nth-child(-n + 4) {
+  border-block-start-color: var(--chapter-accent, var(--accent));
+  box-shadow: inset 0 2px 0 var(--chapter-accent, var(--accent));
+}
+html[data-relay-online='1'] #toolkit .toolkit-group:nth-child(-n + 1) h3::after,
+html[data-relay-online='2'] #toolkit .toolkit-group:nth-child(-n + 2) h3::after,
+html[data-relay-online='3'] #toolkit .toolkit-group:nth-child(-n + 3) h3::after,
+html[data-relay-online='4'] #toolkit .toolkit-group:nth-child(-n + 4) h3::after {
+  content: ' · ONLINE' / '';
+  font: 500 0.62em/1 var(--mono);
+  letter-spacing: 0.12em;
+  color: var(--chapter-accent, var(--accent));
+}
+@media (prefers-reduced-motion: reduce) {
+  html[data-relay-online] #toolkit .toolkit-group { transition: none; }
+}
diff --git a/tests/unit/AppShell.test.ts b/tests/unit/AppShell.test.ts
index 63cdc31..79cb6e1 100644
--- a/tests/unit/AppShell.test.ts
+++ b/tests/unit/AppShell.test.ts
@@ -180,6 +180,16 @@ describe('DRIVE-IN on the server', () => {
   });
 });
 
+describe('RELAY STATION on the server', () => {
+  it('ships no relay state: the toolkit groups render unchanged', async () => {
+    const html = await render('/', validInputs);
+    expect(html).not.toContain('data-relay');
+    expect(html).not.toContain('ONLINE');
+    const document = await renderedDocument();
+    expect(document.querySelectorAll('#toolkit .toolkit-group').length).toBe(validInputs.content.toolkit.length);
+  });
+});
+
 describe('HIGH BEAM on the server', () => {
   it('ships no beam state: the name renders fully lit and its text is unchanged', async () => {
     const html = await render('/', validInputs);
diff --git a/tests/unit/relay-masts.test.ts b/tests/unit/relay-masts.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..5846933
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/relay-masts.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,158 @@
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { resolve } from 'node:path';
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest';
+import { SceneResourceBag } from '@/scene/resources';
+import { BEAM_INTENSITY, createRelayMasts, RUNG_FLASH_GAP_SECONDS, relayLayout } from '@/scene/world/relay-masts';
+import { publishRelay } from '@/journey/relay-progress';
+import { readSwitchboard } from '@/audio/music-pulse';
+import { playRelayTone } from '@/audio/relay-tone';
+import type { PortfolioContent, SectionId } from '@/content/types';
+
+const content = JSON.parse(
+  readFileSync(resolve(process.cwd(), 'content/public/portfolio-content.json'), 'utf8'),
+) as PortfolioContent;
+const counts = content.toolkit.map((group) => group.technologies.length);
+
+afterEach(() => publishRelay([]));
+
+const station = (full: boolean) => {
+  publishRelay(counts);
+  const tone = vi.fn();
+  return { world: createRelayMasts(new SceneResourceBag(), full, tone), tone };
+};
+
+describe('relay mast layout', () => {
+  it('stands four big masts on the far shoulders, alternating sides, first on the right', () => {
+    const masts = relayLayout(0.5, counts);
+    expect(masts).toHaveLength(4);
+    masts.forEach((mast, i) => {
+      expect(Math.abs(mast.x)).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(50);
+      expect(mast.height).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(40);
+      expect(Math.sign(mast.x)).toBe(i % 2 === 0 ? 1 : -1);
+      expect(mast.z).toBeLessThanOrEqual(-40);
+      expect(mast.z).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(-130);
+    });
+    expect(masts.map((mast) => mast.rungs.length)).toEqual(counts);
+    expect(BEAM_INTENSITY).toBeLessThanOrEqual(0.8);
+  });
+
+  it('keeps the pair on each side apart and inside the frame, on wide and narrow lenses', () => {
+    for (const aspect of [1.6, 1024 / 700]) {
+      const masts = relayLayout(0.5, counts, true, aspect);
+      const tanHalfWidth = Math.tan((62 / 2) * (Math.PI / 180)) * aspect;
+      // Screen x of a mast's centre as a fraction of the half-width, and its lamp half-span in the same units.
+      const frame = (mast: (typeof masts)[number]) => {
+        const distance = 25 - mast.z;
+        const unit = 1 / (tanHalfWidth * distance);
+        return { centre: Math.abs(mast.x) * unit, span: mast.rungs[0]!.halfWidth * 1.15 * unit };
+      };
+      const near = frame(masts[0]!);
+      const far = frame(masts[2]!);
+      expect(near.centre + near.span).toBeLessThanOrEqual(1);
+      expect(far.centre - far.span).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0.84);
+      expect(far.centre + far.span).toBeLessThan(near.centre - near.span);
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('is absent outside the chapter and fades at its edges', () => {
+    expect(relayLayout(null, counts).every((mast) => mast.presence === 0)).toBe(true);
+    expect(relayLayout(0, counts).every((mast) => mast.presence === 0)).toBe(true);
+    expect(relayLayout(1, counts).every((mast) => mast.presence === 0)).toBe(true);
+    expect(relayLayout(0.5, counts).every((mast) => mast.presence === 1)).toBe(true);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('relay masts world', () => {
+  it('draws one rung instance per technology for the current content', () => {
+    const { world } = station(true);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.5, 0, undefined, 0.016, 0);
+    expect(world.rungs()).toHaveLength(26);
+    expect(world.group.visible).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('is hidden outside Toolkit', () => {
+    const { world } = station(true);
+    for (const section of ['start', 'selected-builds', 'contact'] as SectionId[]) {
+      world.update(section, 0.5, 0, undefined, 0.016, 0);
+      expect(world.group.visible).toBe(false);
+    }
+    world.update('toolkit', null, 0, undefined, 0.016, 0);
+    expect(world.group.visible).toBe(false);
+  });
+
+  it('lights rungs in order with scroll and unlights them in reverse', () => {
+    const { world } = station(true);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.3, 0, undefined, 0.016, 0);
+    const lit = world.rungs().map((rung) => rung.lit);
+    expect(lit.slice(0, 11).every((v) => v === 1)).toBe(true);
+    expect(lit.slice(19).every((v) => v === 0)).toBe(true);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.1, 0, undefined, 0.016, 16);
+    expect(world.rungs().slice(11).every((rung) => rung.lit === 0)).toBe(true);
+  });
+
+  it('chirps once per mast coming online, never on a jump into the chapter', () => {
+    const { world, tone } = station(true);
+    world.update('contact', null, 0, undefined, 0.016, 0);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.5, 0, undefined, 0.016, 16);
+    expect(tone).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.6, 0, undefined, 0.016, 32);
+    expect(tone).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.3, 0, undefined, 0.016, 48);
+    expect(tone).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1);
+  });
+
+  it('flashes a hovered rung at most every 0.35 s', () => {
+    const { world } = station(true);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.5, 0, undefined, 0.016, 0);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.5, 0, '0:2', 0.016, 16);
+    expect(world.rungs()[2]!.flash).toBe(1);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.5, 0, '1:0', 0.1, 116);
+    expect(world.rungs()[11]!.flash).toBe(1);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.5, 0, '0:2', 0.1, 216);
+    expect(world.rungs()[2]!.flash).toBeLessThan(1);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.5, 0, '1:0', RUNG_FLASH_GAP_SECONDS, 566);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.5, 0, '0:2', 0.016, 582);
+    expect(world.rungs()[2]!.flash).toBe(1);
+  });
+
+  it('lite: every rung lit from chapter entry, steady beacons, no hover flash and no tone', () => {
+    const { world, tone } = station(false);
+    world.update('toolkit', 0.02, 0, undefined, 0.016, 0);
+    expect(world.rungs().every((rung) => rung.lit === 1)).toBe(true);
+    const levels = new Set<number>();
+    for (let t = 0; t < 4000; t += 100) {
+      world.update('toolkit', 0.3 + t / 20000, 0, t % 200 === 0 ? '0:1' : '0:2', 0.1, t);
+      world.beacons().forEach((level) => levels.add(Math.round(level * 1000)));
+    }
+    expect(levels.size).toBe(1);
+    expect(world.rungs().every((rung) => rung.flash === 0)).toBe(true);
+    expect(tone).not.toHaveBeenCalled();
+  });
+
+  it('full: beacons blink at 0.5 Hz (one cycle every 2 s)', () => {
+    const { world } = station(true);
+    const samples: number[] = [];
+    for (let t = 0; t <= 2000; t += 50) {
+      world.update('toolkit', 0.7, 0, undefined, 0.05, t);
+      samples.push(world.beacons()[0]!);
+    }
+    expect(samples[0]).toBeCloseTo(samples[40]!, 5);
+    expect(Math.max(...samples) - Math.min(...samples)).toBeGreaterThan(0.5);
+  });
+
+  it('nudges the lens while a mast is online and eases back', () => {
+    const { world } = station(true);
+    let nudge = 0;
+    for (let i = 0; i < 60; i += 1) nudge = world.update('toolkit', 0.5, 0, undefined, 0.016, i * 16);
+    expect(nudge).toBe(1);
+    for (let i = 0; i < 60; i += 1) nudge = world.update('contact', null, 0, undefined, 0.016, 1000 + i * 16);
+    expect(nudge).toBe(0);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('relay tone', () => {
+  it('stays silent without an audible switchboard', () => {
+    expect(readSwitchboard()).toBeNull();
+    expect(playRelayTone()).toBe(false);
+  });
+});
diff --git a/tests/unit/relay-progress.test.ts b/tests/unit/relay-progress.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..ba50f27
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/relay-progress.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,119 @@
+import { readFileSync } from 'node:fs';
+import { resolve } from 'node:path';
+import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils';
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it } from 'vitest';
+import { defineComponent, h, nextTick, shallowRef } from 'vue';
+import { useRelay } from '@/composables/useRelay';
+import { BEACON_HZ, publishRelay, readRelay, RELAY_STOPS, relayOnline, rungLit } from '@/journey/relay-progress';
+import type { JourneySnapshot } from '@/journey/types';
+import type { PortfolioContent, SectionId } from '@/content/types';
+
+const content = JSON.parse(
+  readFileSync(resolve(process.cwd(), 'content/public/portfolio-content.json'), 'utf8'),
+) as PortfolioContent;
+const counts = content.toolkit.map((group) => group.technologies.length);
+
+const sweep = (from: number, to: number, steps = 400): number[] =>
+  Array.from({ length: steps + 1 }, (_, i) => from + ((to - from) * i) / steps);
+
+afterEach(() => publishRelay([]));
+
+describe('relay progress', () => {
+  it('has one stop per group and blinks well under 3 Hz', () => {
+    expect(RELAY_STOPS).toHaveLength(4);
+    expect(counts).toHaveLength(4);
+    expect(BEACON_HZ).toBeLessThanOrEqual(3);
+  });
+
+  it('brings masts online monotonically and takes them offline in reverse', () => {
+    const forward = sweep(0, 1).map(relayOnline);
+    forward.forEach((n, i) => { if (i > 0) expect(n).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(forward[i - 1]!); });
+    const backward = [...sweep(0, 1)].reverse().map(relayOnline);
+    expect(backward).toEqual([...forward].reverse());
+    expect(relayOnline(null)).toBe(0);
+    expect(relayOnline(0)).toBe(0);
+    expect(relayOnline(0.6)).toBe(4);
+  });
+
+  it('lights every rung monotonically and reversibly, all lit by the end of the ramp', () => {
+    counts.forEach((count, mast) => {
+      for (let rung = 0; rung < count; rung += 1) {
+        const forward = sweep(0, 1).map((p) => rungLit(p, mast, rung, count));
+        forward.forEach((v, i) => { if (i > 0) expect(v).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(forward[i - 1]!); });
+        expect([...sweep(0, 1)].reverse().map((p) => rungLit(p, mast, rung, count))).toEqual([...forward].reverse());
+        expect(rungLit(RELAY_STOPS[mast]! - 0.001, mast, rung, count)).toBe(0);
+        expect(rungLit(0.71, mast, rung, count)).toBe(1);
+      }
+    });
+    expect(rungLit(null, 0, 0, 3)).toBe(0);
+  });
+
+  it('lights rungs bottom-up in index order', () => {
+    for (const p of sweep(0, 1)) {
+      counts.forEach((count, mast) => {
+        for (let rung = 1; rung < count; rung += 1) {
+          expect(rungLit(p, mast, rung, count)).toBeLessThanOrEqual(rungLit(p, mast, rung - 1, count));
+        }
+      });
+    }
+  });
+
+  it('carries the rung counts from the DOM to the scene', () => {
+    expect(readRelay().counts).toEqual([]);
+    publishRelay(counts);
+    expect(readRelay().counts).toEqual([11, 8, 4, 3]);
+    publishRelay([1, 2, 3, 4, 5]);
+    expect(readRelay().counts).toHaveLength(4);
+  });
+});
+
+describe('useRelay', () => {
+  const snapshot = (activeSectionId: SectionId, a: number, n: number | null): JourneySnapshot => ({
+    scrollY: 0,
+    routeProgress: 0.8,
+    direction: 0,
+    acceleration: 0,
+    driveSpeed: 0,
+    activeSectionId,
+    chapter: 'systems',
+    sign: null,
+    arrived: false,
+    sectionActivation: { layoutRevision: 1, activeHeadingOffsetVh: a, nextHeadingOffsetVh: n },
+  } as unknown as JourneySnapshot);
+
+  it('sets html[data-relay-online] through Toolkit only, publishes counts, and cleans up', async () => {
+    const journey = shallowRef(snapshot('additional-work', -0.5, 1.5));
+    const wrapper = mount(defineComponent({
+      setup() {
+        useRelay(journey, () => content.toolkit);
+        return () => h('span');
+      },
+    }));
+    const root = document.documentElement;
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(readRelay().counts).toEqual(counts);
+    expect(root.dataset.relayOnline).toBeUndefined();
+
+    journey.value = snapshot('toolkit', -0.1, 1.9); // p 0.05
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(root.dataset.relayOnline).toBe('1');
+    journey.value = snapshot('toolkit', -1, 1); // p 0.5
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(root.dataset.relayOnline).toBe('3');
+    journey.value = snapshot('toolkit', -1.3, 0.7); // p 0.65
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(root.dataset.relayOnline).toBe('4');
+    journey.value = snapshot('toolkit', -0.5, 1.5); // p 0.25, scrolling back
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(root.dataset.relayOnline).toBe('2');
+    journey.value = snapshot('contact', -0.2, null);
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(root.dataset.relayOnline).toBeUndefined();
+    journey.value = snapshot('toolkit', -1, 1);
+    await nextTick();
+    expect(root.dataset.relayOnline).toBe('3');
+    wrapper.unmount();
+    expect(root.dataset.relayOnline).toBeUndefined();
+    expect(root.dataset.relayFocus).toBeUndefined();
+  });
+});