slice 10A: activate the control envelope (Down channel) + hub-backed desired provider (v0.15.0)

The control envelope becomes live: the agent caches the hub's desired-state +
generation and re-fetches GET /hosts/{id}/desired-state only when the
generation advances. A new internal/desired Syncer maps the wire shape into a
reconcile.CachingProvider feeding the engine; benign deltas reconcile, an
explicit guest decommission is gated pending_signature (exec is 10B). Adds the
DesiredStateResponse/WireDesiredState wire types + Client.FetchDesiredState +
the loop EnvelopeObserver seam. Cross-repo golden (envelope + desired-state)
byte-identical with the hub.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 (1M context) <noreply@anthropic.com>

CHANGELOG.md

@@ -3,6 +3,22 @@
 All notable changes to **felhom-agent** are recorded here. Update on every code
 change that gets pushed.
 
+## v0.15.0 — slice 10A: hub desired-state serving — the "Down" channel (2026-06-10)
+
+The agent half of slice 10A. The control envelope (`hub.ControlEnvelope`) stops being "reserved — ignored" and becomes the live **Down channel**: a cheap change-notification on every heartbeat. The agent caches the hub's desired-state + its generation; only when **`DesiredGeneration` advances** does it fetch the full state (the heartbeat stays light, the heavy state moves on change). The engine then reconciles **benign** deltas and the gate marks an explicit **destructive** delta `pending_signature` (no signer in 10A → never executed; signed execution is 10B). Pairs with hub v0.9.0.
+
+### Added / changed
+- **`internal/reconcile`**: `DesiredGuest.Decommission` — the canonical **destructive desired-state delta** (an EXPLICIT flag, not "absent from the list", so a partial hub list can never mass-destroy). The planner emits `ActionDecommission` → `ClassDecommission` → Destructive → the gate refuses it `pending_signature`. `Reconcile` now counts a `pending_signature` refusal as **`Result.Pending`** (expected, logged INFO) rather than a failure; any other refusal stays a real failure. `ActionDecommission` has **no executor** (slice 10B) — a defensive guard refuses to run it. New **`CachingProvider`** (thread-safe DesiredState + generation cache; `Desired`/`Update`/`Generation`) — the production `DesiredProvider`, replacing `EmptyProvider` in the daemon engine (empty until the hub serves intent → cold-start is a live no-op, unchanged).
+- **`internal/hub`**: the **`ControlEnvelope`** fields are now active (DesiredGeneration drives the fetch, HasSignedOps noted). New wire types **`DesiredStateResponse`** + **`WireDesiredState`** (guests + forward-compat `restore_directive` (10D) / `pbs_namespace` / opaque `storage_manifest`+`backup_policy`) + **`WireDesiredGuest`** (vmid/run/spec/description/decommission). New **`Client.FetchDesiredState`** (GET `/api/v1/hosts/{host_id}/desired-state`, self-scoped to the client's own host). New **`EnvelopeObserver`** loop seam + `SetEnvelopeObserver` — the loop hands the envelope to the sync layer each cycle (hub does not import reconcile/desired).
+- **`internal/desired`** (new): the **`Syncer`** — implements `hub.EnvelopeObserver`, fetches desired-state on a generation advance, maps the wire shape to the reconcile domain, and updates the `CachingProvider`. Caches the **fetched** generation (robust to a generation that advanced mid-fetch); a fetch failure keeps the last-known state. `restore_directive` is carried + logged, not acted on (10D). Wired in `cmd/felhom-agent` (daemon): provider → engine, syncer → loop.
+
+### Tests
+- reconcile: a desired-state with one benign + one decommission delta → **benign applied, destructive gated pending (not executed)**; `Plan` emits decommission-only for a decommissioned guest + classifies Destructive; `CachingProvider` update/isolation.
+- desired: **fetch-once-on-advance** (no re-fetch on an unchanged generation), fetch-failure-keeps-cache, caches-the-fetched-generation.
+- hub client: `FetchDesiredState` hits the self-scoped path with the bearer + decodes (incl. `restore_directive`); a 403 is a typed `HTTPError`.
+- loop: the cycle notifies the observer + adopts `PollIntervalSeconds`; a report error skips the observer.
+- cross-repo golden: `testdata/desired-state.golden.json` + `control-envelope.golden.json` decode + key-set guard, **byte-identical** with felhom.eu/hub.
+
 ## v0.14.0 — slice 9: host metrics to the controller (`GET /host/metrics` + CPU-temp collector) (2026-06-10)
 
 The de-privileged controller (slice 8C) sees only its own cgroup, so it can't read host health itself. Slice 9 **re-serves** the slice-4 collector's host + per-storage view to the customer over the local API, plus the one missing collector — CPU/chassis temperature — so the customer sees their box's health in the controller. Host-wide, token-authed, fresh (a live collect, not the 15-min hub snapshot). Assumption: **one customer per host** (the home-server model); if a host ever serves multiple customers, host-wide CPU/mem would leak cross-customer load → revisit then.

REPORT.md

@@ -1,53 +1,61 @@
-# REPORT — slice 9 (agent half): host metrics to the controller (v0.14.0) (2026-06-10)
+# REPORT — slice 10A (agent half): hub desired-state serving — the "Down" channel (v0.15.0) (2026-06-10)
 
 > Overwrite-latest report. Cumulative history: [CHANGELOG.md](CHANGELOG.md).
 
 ## What was implemented
 
-The agent half of **slice 9** — re-serving the host's health to the customer's controller, plus the
+The agent half of **slice 10A**: activate the control envelope as the live **Down channel** and feed
-one new collector (CPU/chassis temperature). The de-privileged controller (slice 8C) sees only its
+a hub-backed desired-state into the reconcile engine. Pairs with hub v0.9.0.
-own cgroup, so it cannot read host metrics itself; the agent already collects host CPU/mem/loadavg/
-uptime + per-storage targets for the hub, and slice 9 exposes that to the customer over the local API.
 
-### `internal/hub/cputemp.go` — CPU/chassis-temp collector (new)
+### The control loop (now live)
-- `TempReader` seam + `SysfsTempReader`: reads the CPU package temperature from **sysfs** — hwmon
+report (heartbeat) → control envelope → (DesiredGeneration advanced past cache? fetch desired-state)
-  (`coretemp`/`k10temp`/`zenpower`/`cpu_thermal`, preferring the `Package id 0` input) then thermal
+→ reconcile benign / gate destructive → report. The heartbeat stays light; the heavy desired-state is
-  zones (preferring `x86_pkg_temp`/`coretemp`/`cpu-thermal`, falling back to `acpitz`).
+fetched **only on a generation advance**.
-- **No external binary, no privilege** (sysfs is world-readable) → the root-CLI fence is untouched.
-- **Graceful-null**: a missing sensor, an unsupported board, an implausible reading (outside
-  5–150 °C), or any read error all degrade to `nil` ("n/a") — never fails the report. Same nullable
-  contract as the per-disk `SmartSummary.TemperatureC`.
 
-### `internal/hub` — shared wire field + collector reuse
+### `internal/reconcile`
-- `HostMetrics` gains **`CPUTempC *int` (`cpu_temp_c`)** — nullable, on the **shared** struct, so the
+- **`DesiredGuest.Decommission`** — the canonical **destructive** desired-state delta (an EXPLICIT
-  **hub report carries it too** (operator freebie). Cross-repo host-report golden updated
+  flag, never "absent from the list", so a partial hub list can't mass-destroy). Planner emits
-  **byte-identical** with the hub's copy.
+  `ActionDecommission` → `ClassDecommission` → Destructive → the gate refuses `pending_signature`.
-- `Collector` gains a nil-safe `temp TempReader` (defaults to the real `SysfsTempReader`;
+- **`Reconcile`** now counts a `pending_signature` gate refusal as **`Result.Pending`** (expected,
-  `SetTempReader` injects a fake in tests). `Collect()` now sets `cpu_temp_c` on the report.
+  INFO-logged), not a failure; any other refusal stays a real failure. `ActionDecommission` has **no
-- **`Collector.HostMetricsNow(ctx)`** — a fresh `NodeStatus` + CPU-temp read returning just the host
+  executor** (10B) — a defensive guard refuses to run it.
-  block; the source for the local API (current cpu%/temp, not the 15-min hub snapshot).
+- **`CachingProvider`** — thread-safe DesiredState + generation cache (`Desired`/`Update`/
+  `Generation`); the production provider, replacing `EmptyProvider` in the daemon engine. Empty until
+  the hub serves intent → cold-start is a live no-op (unchanged behaviour).
 
-### `internal/localapi` — `GET /host/metrics` (new endpoint)
+### `internal/hub`
-- `host_metrics.go`: host-wide health (cpu%/mem/load/uptime/`cpu_temp_c`) + per-storage capacity
+- `ControlEnvelope` fields are now active. New wire types **`DesiredStateResponse`** +
-  (total/used/fraction, thin-pool, SMART temp+wear). Token-authed via `withGuest` (host-wide data; a
+  **`WireDesiredState`** (guests + forward-compat `restore_directive` (10D) / `pbs_namespace` / opaque
-  cross-guest `?vmid=` still 403). Best-effort on storage (a view error still returns the host
+  `storage_manifest`+`backup_policy`) + **`WireDesiredGuest`**. New **`Client.FetchDesiredState`**
-  block). Served only when the `HostMetrics` provider (the shared collector) is wired in
+  (GET `/api/v1/hosts/{host_id}/desired-state`, self-scoped to the client's own host). New
-  `buildLocalAPIServer` — else 503 "not configured".
+  **`EnvelopeObserver`** loop seam + `SetEnvelopeObserver` (hub does not import reconcile/desired).
+
+### `internal/desired` (new) + wiring
+- **`Syncer`** — implements `hub.EnvelopeObserver`; fetches on a generation advance, maps wire→domain,
+  updates the `CachingProvider`. Caches the **fetched** generation (race-robust); a fetch failure keeps
+  the last-known state. `restore_directive` carried + logged, not acted on (10D). Wired in
+  `cmd/felhom-agent`: provider → engine, syncer → loop.
 
 ## Tests (all green)
-- `cputemp_test.go`, `hostmetrics_test.go`, `host_metrics_test.go`: hwmon/thermal-zone selection +
+- reconcile: **benign applied + destructive decommission gated pending (not executed)**; Plan
-  **graceful-null**, `HostMetricsNow` populate/null/hard-error, endpoint populated + `cpu_temp_c:null`
+  decommission-only + classifies Destructive; CachingProvider update/isolation.
-  serialization + **401 without a token** + 403 cross-guest + 503 not-configured.
+- desired: **fetch-once-on-advance** / no-refetch-on-unchanged / fetch-failure-keeps-cache /
-- `go test ./...` green; `go vet ./internal/hub ./internal/localapi` clean.
+  caches-the-fetched-generation.
+- hub: `FetchDesiredState` path+auth+decode (incl. `restore_directive`) + typed 403; loop notifies the
+  observer + adopts `PollIntervalSeconds`, skips the observer on a report error.
+- cross-repo golden (`desired-state` + `control-envelope`) decode + key-set guard, byte-identical with
+  felhom.eu/hub. `go test ./...` green.
 
 ## Versioning / docs
-- Version `0.13.0 → 0.14.0`; `CHANGELOG.md` updated. Doc 03 §6 (local-API surface) + §9 (roadmap +
+- Version `0.14.0 → 0.15.0`; `CHANGELOG.md` updated. Doc 03 §4 (control loop live) + §9 (slice table:
-  changelog) updated.
+  10A done, 10B/10C/10D pending) updated.
 
-## Assumption (noted, not built)
+## Out of scope (per the task)
-- **One customer per host** (home-server model): `/host/metrics` is host-wide. A multi-customer host
+- Signed-op **execution** (verify + run the gated destructive op) → 10B (10A marks it pending only).
-  would leak cross-customer CPU/mem → revisit then.
+- **Restore-mode / re-enroll** consumption (a new box's first directive) → 10D; 10A serves
+  already-authenticated hosts only.
 
 ## Pending
-- **Live validation** on the demo (build + deploy agent v0.14.0; controller monitoring page → real
+- **Live validation** on the demo: build+deploy agent v0.15.0 + hub v0.9.0; admin-set a desired-state
-  N100 CPU%/temp + per-storage, cross-checked vs `pvesh`/`free`/`df`).
+  with a benign + a decommission delta → generation bumps → agent fetches → reconciles benign + gates
+  the decommission; change `poll_interval_seconds`; confirm a host can't fetch another host's state.

cmd/felhom-agent/main.go

@@ -27,6 +27,7 @@ import (
 	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/authz"
 	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/backup"
 	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/config"
+	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/desired"
 	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/escrow"
 	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/hub"
 	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/localapi"
@@ -40,7 +41,7 @@ import (
 
 // version is the agent version. Overridable at build time with
 // -ldflags "-X main.version=<v>"; defaults to the in-repo CHANGELOG version.
-var version = "0.14.0"
+var version = "0.15.0"
 
 func main() {
 	var (
@@ -237,6 +238,15 @@ func runDaemon(cfg config.Config, logger *slog.Logger) int {
 	loop := hub.NewLoop(collector, client, time.Duration(hcfg.PollSeconds)*time.Second, logger)
 	interval := time.Duration(hcfg.PollSeconds) * time.Second
 
+	// Desired-state provider (slice 10A): the hub-served target the reconcile engine converges
+	// toward. Starts EMPTY (generation 0) — reconcile is a live no-op until the hub serves intent,
+	// exactly like the slice-4 EmptyProvider. The desired.Syncer (wired below) fills it when the
+	// control envelope's generation advances. Replaces EmptyProvider in the engine.
+	desiredProvider := reconcile.NewCachingProvider()
+	// The "Down" channel sync hook: on each heartbeat, fetch desired-state when the generation
+	// advances. The loop calls it via the EnvelopeObserver seam (hub does not import desired).
+	loop.SetEnvelopeObserver(desired.NewSyncer(client, desiredProvider, logger))
+
 	ctx, stop := signal.NotifyContext(context.Background(), os.Interrupt, syscall.SIGTERM)
 	defer stop()
 	logger.Info("felhom-agent daemon starting",
@@ -304,7 +314,7 @@ func runDaemon(cfg config.Config, logger *slog.Logger) int {
 		API:      px,
 		Queue:    queue,
 		Journal:  journal,
-		Provider: reconcile.EmptyProvider{}, // slice 4: no live desired-state source
+		Provider: desiredProvider, // slice 10A: hub-served desired-state (empty until the hub serves intent)
 		Gate:     gate,
 		HostID:   cfg.Hub.HostID,
 		Logger:   logger,

internal/desired/syncer.go

@@ -0,0 +1,97 @@
+// Package desired bridges the hub's "Down" channel (the control-envelope generation signal +
+// the desired-state fetch) to the reconcile engine's provider (slice 10A). It implements
+// hub.EnvelopeObserver: on each heartbeat it inspects the envelope's DesiredGeneration and, only
+// when it has ADVANCED past the cached one, fetches the full desired-state and updates the
+// engine's CachingProvider. So the heartbeat stays light; the heavy state moves on change.
+//
+// It lives in its own package because it imports BOTH hub (the wire client + types) and reconcile
+// (the domain DesiredState + CachingProvider). hub does not import it (the loop sees only the
+// hub.EnvelopeObserver seam) and reconcile does not import it — so there is no import cycle.
+package desired
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"log/slog"
+
+	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/hub"
+	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/reconcile"
+)
+
+// Fetcher fetches this host's desired-state from the hub. Satisfied by *hub.Client.
+type Fetcher interface {
+	FetchDesiredState(ctx context.Context) (*hub.DesiredStateResponse, error)
+}
+
+// Syncer keeps the engine's CachingProvider in step with the hub's authoritative desired-state.
+type Syncer struct {
+	fetcher  Fetcher
+	provider *reconcile.CachingProvider
+	logger   *slog.Logger
+}
+
+// NewSyncer builds a Syncer over the hub fetcher and the engine's provider.
+func NewSyncer(fetcher Fetcher, provider *reconcile.CachingProvider, logger *slog.Logger) *Syncer {
+	if logger == nil {
+		logger = slog.Default()
+	}
+	return &Syncer{fetcher: fetcher, provider: provider, logger: logger}
+}
+
+// OnEnvelope implements hub.EnvelopeObserver. It fetches + caches the desired-state ONLY when the
+// envelope's generation advances past the provider's cached generation — otherwise it is a no-op
+// (the cached state is already current). A fetch failure keeps the last-known state (the engine
+// keeps reconciling toward it) and is retried on the next advance signal.
+func (s *Syncer) OnEnvelope(ctx context.Context, env *hub.ControlEnvelope) {
+	if env == nil || s.provider == nil {
+		return
+	}
+	have := s.provider.Generation()
+	if env.DesiredGeneration <= have {
+		return // cached: the heavy desired-state moves only on a generation advance
+	}
+	resp, err := s.fetcher.FetchDesiredState(ctx)
+	if err != nil {
+		s.logger.Warn("desired: fetch failed; keeping cached desired-state",
+			"have_generation", have, "envelope_generation", env.DesiredGeneration, "err", err)
+		return
+	}
+	state := mapWire(resp.DesiredState, s.logger)
+	// Cache against the FETCHED generation (not the envelope's) — robust to a generation that
+	// advanced again between the heartbeat and this fetch (we won't re-fetch the same state).
+	s.provider.Update(resp.Generation, state)
+	s.logger.Info("desired: updated from hub",
+		"generation", resp.Generation, "guests", len(state.Guests))
+	if env.HasSignedOps {
+		// 10A only notes the flag; fetching + verifying + executing signed ops is slice 10B.
+		s.logger.Info("desired: hub reports pending signed ops (fetch/execute is slice 10B)")
+	}
+}
+
+// mapWire maps the hub wire desired-state to the reconcile domain. 10A acts only on guests; the
+// forward-compat fields (restore_directive — 10D — etc.) are carried on the wire and logged, but
+// not translated into actions here.
+func mapWire(w hub.WireDesiredState, logger *slog.Logger) reconcile.DesiredState {
+	guests := make(map[int]reconcile.DesiredGuest, len(w.Guests))
+	for _, g := range w.Guests {
+		dg := reconcile.DesiredGuest{
+			VMID:         g.VMID,
+			Spec:         g.Spec,
+			Description:  g.Description,
+			Decommission: g.Decommission,
+		}
+		switch g.Run {
+		case "running":
+			dg.Run = reconcile.RunRunning
+		case "stopped":
+			dg.Run = reconcile.RunStopped
+		default:
+			dg.Run = reconcile.RunUnspecified // unknown/empty → unmanaged (planner leaves run alone)
+		}
+		guests[g.VMID] = dg
+	}
+	if w.RestoreDirective != nil {
+		logger.Info("desired: restore_directive present (consumed in slice 10D — ignored in 10A)",
+			"mode", w.RestoreDirective.Mode)
+	}
+	return reconcile.DesiredState{Guests: guests}
+}

internal/desired/syncer_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,117 @@
+package desired
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"errors"
+	"io"
+	"log/slog"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/hub"
+	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/reconcile"
+)
+
+func quiet() *slog.Logger { return slog.New(slog.NewTextHandler(io.Discard, nil)) }
+
+// fakeFetcher counts FetchDesiredState calls and returns a fixed response (or error).
+type fakeFetcher struct {
+	resp  *hub.DesiredStateResponse
+	err   error
+	calls int
+}
+
+func (f *fakeFetcher) FetchDesiredState(context.Context) (*hub.DesiredStateResponse, error) {
+	f.calls++
+	return f.resp, f.err
+}
+
+func env(gen int64, signed bool) *hub.ControlEnvelope {
+	return &hub.ControlEnvelope{DesiredGeneration: gen, HasSignedOps: signed}
+}
+
+// The headline caching behaviour: desired-state is fetched ONCE when the generation advances, and
+// NOT re-fetched while the generation is unchanged (the heartbeat stays light).
+func TestSyncer_FetchesOnceOnGenerationAdvance(t *testing.T) {
+	run := "running"
+	f := &fakeFetcher{resp: &hub.DesiredStateResponse{
+		Generation: 1,
+		DesiredState: hub.WireDesiredState{Guests: []hub.WireDesiredGuest{
+			{VMID: 100, Run: run},
+			{VMID: 200, Decommission: true},
+		}},
+	}}
+	p := reconcile.NewCachingProvider()
+	s := NewSyncer(f, p, quiet())
+	ctx := context.Background()
+
+	// Generation 0 (fresh host, no intent) → NO fetch.
+	s.OnEnvelope(ctx, env(0, false))
+	if f.calls != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("fetched %d times at generation 0, want 0", f.calls)
+	}
+
+	// Generation advances to 1 → fetch exactly once, cache updated.
+	s.OnEnvelope(ctx, env(1, false))
+	if f.calls != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("fetched %d times on advance, want 1", f.calls)
+	}
+	if p.Generation() != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("cached generation = %d, want 1", p.Generation())
+	}
+	st, _ := p.Desired(ctx)
+	if st.Guests[100].Run != reconcile.RunRunning {
+		t.Errorf("guest 100 run = %q, want running", st.Guests[100].Run)
+	}
+	if !st.Guests[200].Decommission {
+		t.Errorf("guest 200 decommission = false, want true")
+	}
+
+	// Same generation on the next heartbeats → NO re-fetch (cached).
+	s.OnEnvelope(ctx, env(1, false))
+	s.OnEnvelope(ctx, env(1, false))
+	if f.calls != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("re-fetched on an unchanged generation (calls=%d, want 1)", f.calls)
+	}
+
+	// A further advance → one more fetch.
+	f.resp = &hub.DesiredStateResponse{Generation: 2, DesiredState: hub.WireDesiredState{}}
+	s.OnEnvelope(ctx, env(2, false))
+	if f.calls != 2 || p.Generation() != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("second advance: calls=%d gen=%d, want 2/2", f.calls, p.Generation())
+	}
+}
+
+// A fetch failure keeps the last-known cache (the engine keeps reconciling toward it) and does not
+// advance the cached generation (so the next heartbeat retries).
+func TestSyncer_FetchFailureKeepsCache(t *testing.T) {
+	p := reconcile.NewCachingProvider()
+	p.Update(1, reconcile.DesiredState{Guests: map[int]reconcile.DesiredGuest{100: {VMID: 100, Run: reconcile.RunRunning}}})
+	f := &fakeFetcher{err: errors.New("hub down")}
+	s := NewSyncer(f, p, quiet())
+
+	s.OnEnvelope(context.Background(), env(5, false)) // generation jumped, but fetch fails
+	if p.Generation() != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("generation advanced to %d despite fetch failure, want kept at 1", p.Generation())
+	}
+	st, _ := p.Desired(context.Background())
+	if st.Guests[100].Run != reconcile.RunRunning {
+		t.Errorf("cache lost on fetch failure: %+v", st.Guests)
+	}
+}
+
+// The fetched generation (not the envelope's) is what gets cached — robust to a generation that
+// advanced again between the heartbeat and the fetch.
+func TestSyncer_CachesFetchedGeneration(t *testing.T) {
+	f := &fakeFetcher{resp: &hub.DesiredStateResponse{Generation: 7, DesiredState: hub.WireDesiredState{}}}
+	p := reconcile.NewCachingProvider()
+	s := NewSyncer(f, p, quiet())
+	s.OnEnvelope(context.Background(), env(5, false)) // envelope said 5, fetch returned 7
+	if p.Generation() != 7 {
+		t.Errorf("cached generation = %d, want 7 (the fetched generation)", p.Generation())
+	}
+	// A later envelope at generation 6 must NOT trigger a re-fetch (we already have 7).
+	s.OnEnvelope(context.Background(), env(6, false))
+	if f.calls != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("re-fetched at generation 6 when cache is 7 (calls=%d)", f.calls)
+	}
+}

internal/hub/client.go

@@ -25,6 +25,7 @@ const reportPath = "/api/v1/host-report"
 type Client struct {
 	baseURL string
 	apiKey  string
+	hostID  string // for the slice-10A desired-state/jobs paths (/hosts/{hostID}/…)
 	hc      *http.Client
 	logger  *slog.Logger
 }
@@ -51,12 +52,12 @@ func NewClient(cfg config.HubConfig, logger *slog.Logger) (*Client, error) {
 		Timeout:   time.Duration(cfg.TimeoutSeconds) * time.Second,
 		Transport: &http.Transport{TLSClientConfig: tlsCfg},
 	}
-	return newClient(cfg.URL, cfg.APIKey, hc, logger), nil
+	return newClient(cfg.URL, cfg.APIKey, cfg.HostID, hc, logger), nil
 }
 
 // newClient is the shared constructor (tests inject a mock-transport *http.Client).
-func newClient(baseURL, apiKey string, hc *http.Client, logger *slog.Logger) *Client {
+func newClient(baseURL, apiKey, hostID string, hc *http.Client, logger *slog.Logger) *Client {
-	return &Client{baseURL: strings.TrimRight(baseURL, "/"), apiKey: apiKey, hc: hc, logger: logger}
+	return &Client{baseURL: strings.TrimRight(baseURL, "/"), apiKey: apiKey, hostID: hostID, hc: hc, logger: logger}
 }
 
 // TransportError is a network/connection failure (no HTTP response). It never
@@ -109,6 +110,40 @@ func (c *Client) Report(ctx context.Context, r *HostReport) (*ControlEnvelope, e
 	return &env, nil
 }
 
+// FetchDesiredState GETs the host's authoritative desired-state (slice 10A — the "Down" channel's
+// heavy payload). The agent calls this ONLY when the heartbeat envelope's DesiredGeneration has
+// advanced past its cached one (the heartbeat stays light; the state moves on change). It is
+// self-scoped server-side: the per-host key only ever reads ITS OWN host (the client uses its
+// configured hostID). Errors are typed (transport vs HTTP) and never include the bearer token.
+func (c *Client) FetchDesiredState(ctx context.Context) (*DesiredStateResponse, error) {
+	if c.hostID == "" {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("hub: FetchDesiredState requires a configured host_id")
+	}
+	url := c.baseURL + "/api/v1/hosts/" + c.hostID + "/desired-state"
+	req, err := http.NewRequestWithContext(ctx, http.MethodGet, url, nil)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("hub: building desired-state request: %w", err)
+	}
+	req.Header.Set("Authorization", "Bearer "+c.apiKey)
+	req.Header.Set("Accept", "application/json")
+
+	resp, err := c.hc.Do(req)
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, &TransportError{Err: err}
+	}
+	defer resp.Body.Close()
+
+	raw, _ := io.ReadAll(io.LimitReader(resp.Body, 1<<20))
+	if resp.StatusCode < 200 || resp.StatusCode >= 300 {
+		return nil, &HTTPError{StatusCode: resp.StatusCode, BodyTail: tail(raw, 256)}
+	}
+	var out DesiredStateResponse
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &out); err != nil {
+		return nil, fmt.Errorf("hub: decoding desired-state: %w", err)
+	}
+	return &out, nil
+}
+
 func tail(b []byte, max int) string {
 	s := strings.TrimSpace(string(b))
 	if len(s) > max {

internal/hub/desired_client_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,77 @@
+package hub
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"net/http"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// FetchDesiredState GETs the SELF-SCOPED path with the bearer token and decodes the response.
+func TestFetchDesiredState_PathAuthAndDecode(t *testing.T) {
+	var gotPath, gotAuth, gotMethod string
+	c := testClient(func(r *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+		gotPath = r.URL.Path
+		gotAuth = r.Header.Get("Authorization")
+		gotMethod = r.Method
+		return httpResp(200, `{"generation":4,"desired_state":{"guests":[
+			{"vmid":100,"run":"running"},
+			{"vmid":200,"decommission":true}
+		],"restore_directive":{"mode":"guest_loss","archive":"local:backup/x","vmid":100}}}`), nil
+	})
+
+	resp, err := c.FetchDesiredState(context.Background())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("FetchDesiredState: %v", err)
+	}
+	// Self-scoped: the client only ever fetches ITS OWN host (the configured host_id).
+	if gotMethod != http.MethodGet || gotPath != "/api/v1/hosts/demo-host-01/desired-state" {
+		t.Errorf("request = %s %s, want GET /api/v1/hosts/demo-host-01/desired-state", gotMethod, gotPath)
+	}
+	if gotAuth != "Bearer super-secret-bearer-key" {
+		t.Errorf("auth header = %q, want the per-host bearer", gotAuth)
+	}
+	if resp.Generation != 4 {
+		t.Errorf("generation = %d, want 4", resp.Generation)
+	}
+	if len(resp.DesiredState.Guests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("guests = %d, want 2", len(resp.DesiredState.Guests))
+	}
+	if resp.DesiredState.Guests[0].Run != "running" || !resp.DesiredState.Guests[1].Decommission {
+		t.Errorf("guests = %+v", resp.DesiredState.Guests)
+	}
+	// Forward-compat restore_directive is carried through (consumed in 10D).
+	if resp.DesiredState.RestoreDirective == nil || resp.DesiredState.RestoreDirective.Mode != "guest_loss" {
+		t.Errorf("restore_directive = %+v, want carried (mode guest_loss)", resp.DesiredState.RestoreDirective)
+	}
+}
+
+// A non-2xx response is a typed HTTPError (e.g. a 403 self-scope refusal from the hub).
+func TestFetchDesiredState_HTTPError(t *testing.T) {
+	c := testClient(func(r *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) {
+		return httpResp(403, `Forbidden: host_id mismatch`), nil
+	})
+	_, err := c.FetchDesiredState(context.Background())
+	if err == nil {
+		t.Fatal("expected an error on 403")
+	}
+	var he *HTTPError
+	if !asHTTPError(err, &he) || he.StatusCode != 403 {
+		t.Errorf("err = %v, want HTTPError 403", err)
+	}
+}
+
+func asHTTPError(err error, target **HTTPError) bool {
+	for err != nil {
+		if he, ok := err.(*HTTPError); ok {
+			*target = he
+			return true
+		}
+		type unwrapper interface{ Unwrap() error }
+		if u, ok := err.(unwrapper); ok {
+			err = u.Unwrap()
+		} else {
+			return false
+		}
+	}
+	return false
+}

internal/hub/desired_contract_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,75 @@
+package hub
+
+import (
+	"encoding/json"
+	"os"
+	"testing"
+)
+
+// The desired-state wire is a contract DUPLICATED across two repos (no shared types module yet).
+// testdata/desired-state.golden.json and testdata/control-envelope.golden.json MUST be kept
+// byte-identical with felhom.eu/hub's copies; these tests decode them through the agent structs
+// and key-set-compare, catching drift between the struct and the served shape.
+func TestDesiredStateGolden_DecodesAndKeySet(t *testing.T) {
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile("testdata/desired-state.golden.json")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var resp DesiredStateResponse
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &resp); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("golden does not decode into DesiredStateResponse: %v", err)
+	}
+	if resp.Generation != 4 {
+		t.Errorf("generation = %d, want 4", resp.Generation)
+	}
+	if len(resp.DesiredState.Guests) != 2 {
+		t.Fatalf("guests = %d, want 2", len(resp.DesiredState.Guests))
+	}
+	benign := resp.DesiredState.Guests[0]
+	if benign.VMID != 100 || benign.Run != "running" || benign.Spec == nil || benign.Spec.Cores != 2 || benign.Description == nil {
+		t.Errorf("benign guest = %+v", benign)
+	}
+	destructive := resp.DesiredState.Guests[1]
+	if destructive.VMID != 200 || !destructive.Decommission {
+		t.Errorf("destructive guest = %+v, want vmid 200 decommission", destructive)
+	}
+	if resp.DesiredState.PBSNamespace != "felhom-cust-acme" {
+		t.Errorf("pbs_namespace = %q", resp.DesiredState.PBSNamespace)
+	}
+	if resp.DesiredState.RestoreDirective == nil || resp.DesiredState.RestoreDirective.Mode != "guest_loss" {
+		t.Errorf("restore_directive = %+v, want carried (guest_loss)", resp.DesiredState.RestoreDirective)
+	}
+
+	// Bidirectional key-set drift guard: the marshaled struct's keys must match the golden's
+	// (top-level, the desired_state object, and a guest element).
+	var golden map[string]any
+	json.Unmarshal(raw, &golden)
+	b, _ := json.Marshal(resp)
+	var got map[string]any
+	json.Unmarshal(b, &got)
+	assertSameKeys(t, "<desired-state top>", golden, got)
+	assertSameKeys(t, "desired_state", golden["desired_state"], got["desired_state"])
+	assertSameKeys(t, "desired_state.guests[0]",
+		firstElem(golden["desired_state"].(map[string]any)["guests"]),
+		firstElem(got["desired_state"].(map[string]any)["guests"]))
+	assertSameKeys(t, "desired_state.restore_directive",
+		golden["desired_state"].(map[string]any)["restore_directive"],
+		got["desired_state"].(map[string]any)["restore_directive"])
+}
+
+func TestControlEnvelopeGolden_Decodes(t *testing.T) {
+	raw, err := os.ReadFile("testdata/control-envelope.golden.json")
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatal(err)
+	}
+	var env ControlEnvelope
+	if err := json.Unmarshal(raw, &env); err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("golden does not decode into ControlEnvelope: %v", err)
+	}
+	if env.Status != "ok" || env.PollIntervalSeconds == nil || *env.PollIntervalSeconds != 900 {
+		t.Errorf("envelope poll/status = %+v", env)
+	}
+	if env.DesiredGeneration != 4 || !env.HasSignedOps || env.Blocked {
+		t.Errorf("envelope flags = gen %d signed %v blocked %v", env.DesiredGeneration, env.HasSignedOps, env.Blocked)
+	}
+}

internal/hub/loop.go

@@ -20,6 +20,15 @@ type collectorIface interface {
 	Collect(ctx context.Context) (*HostReport, error)
 }
 
+// EnvelopeObserver is notified of the hub's control envelope on every heartbeat (slice 10A).
+// The desired-state sync layer (internal/desired) implements it: when DesiredGeneration advances
+// past its cache it fetches the full desired-state and updates the engine's provider. Defined
+// here (consumer-side) so hub does NOT import the desired/reconcile packages — same seam pattern
+// as the collector's StorageObserver. A nil observer (no desired-state wiring) is a clean no-op.
+type EnvelopeObserver interface {
+	OnEnvelope(ctx context.Context, env *ControlEnvelope)
+}
+
 // Loop is the agent's first daemon run loop: collect a host-report, POST it, adopt
 // the hub's cadence, repeat. It is resilient — a collect or report error is logged
 // and the loop continues (the data plane is independent of the agent; a hub outage
@@ -31,6 +40,7 @@ type Loop struct {
 	interval  time.Duration
 	logger    *slog.Logger
 	trigger   <-chan struct{}  // optional: an out-of-band report request (storage watchdog)
+	observer  EnvelopeObserver // optional: the slice-10A desired-state sync hook
 }
 
 // NewLoop builds the loop. interval is the starting cadence (the hub may override it
@@ -48,6 +58,11 @@ func NewLoop(collector collectorIface, client reporter, interval time.Duration,
 // so this fires at most once per debounce window.
 func (l *Loop) SetTrigger(ch <-chan struct{}) { l.trigger = ch }
 
+// SetEnvelopeObserver wires the slice-10A desired-state sync hook. It is called once per cycle
+// with the hub's control envelope (after the interval is adopted), so the sync layer can fetch
+// desired-state when the generation advances. Optional — unset is a clean no-op.
+func (l *Loop) SetEnvelopeObserver(o EnvelopeObserver) { l.observer = o }
+
 // Run reports immediately, then on each tick, until ctx is cancelled (then nil).
 func (l *Loop) Run(ctx context.Context) error {
 	interval := l.interval
@@ -97,9 +112,15 @@ func (l *Loop) cycle(ctx context.Context, current time.Duration) time.Duration {
 	}
 	l.logger.Debug("hub: report sent",
 		"guests", len(report.Guests),
-		// reserved/forward-compat envelope fields — logged only, never acted on (slice 4).
 		"blocked", env.Blocked, "desired_generation", env.DesiredGeneration, "has_signed_ops", env.HasSignedOps)
 
+	// Slice 10A: hand the envelope to the desired-state sync hook (fetch desired-state on a
+	// generation advance). Done off the report's critical path semantics — a sync/fetch failure
+	// is the observer's concern and never affects the heartbeat cadence below.
+	if l.observer != nil {
+		l.observer.OnEnvelope(ctx, env)
+	}
+
 	if env.PollIntervalSeconds == nil {
 		return current
 	}

internal/hub/loop_test.go

@@ -35,6 +35,47 @@ func (r *fakeReporter) Report(ctx context.Context, _ *HostReport) (*ControlEnvel
 	return r.env, nil
 }
 
+// recordingObserver records the envelopes the loop hands it (slice 10A EnvelopeObserver seam).
+type recordingObserver struct{ envs []*ControlEnvelope }
+
+func (o *recordingObserver) OnEnvelope(_ context.Context, e *ControlEnvelope) { o.envs = append(o.envs, e) }
+
+// The loop notifies the EnvelopeObserver once per successful cycle (with the envelope) AND still
+// adopts PollIntervalSeconds — the two are independent.
+func TestLoop_CycleNotifiesObserverAndAdoptsInterval(t *testing.T) {
+	var cn, rn int32
+	env := &ControlEnvelope{DesiredGeneration: 3, HasSignedOps: true, PollIntervalSeconds: intPtr(120)}
+	loop := NewLoop(
+		&fakeCollector{report: &HostReport{}, n: &cn},
+		&fakeReporter{env: env, n: &rn},
+		900*time.Second, quietLogger())
+	obs := &recordingObserver{}
+	loop.SetEnvelopeObserver(obs)
+
+	got := loop.cycle(context.Background(), 900*time.Second)
+	if len(obs.envs) != 1 || obs.envs[0].DesiredGeneration != 3 || !obs.envs[0].HasSignedOps {
+		t.Fatalf("observer envelopes = %+v, want 1 with gen 3 + has_signed_ops", obs.envs)
+	}
+	if got != 120*time.Second {
+		t.Errorf("poll interval = %v, want 120s adopted alongside the observer notify", got)
+	}
+}
+
+// On a report failure the observer is NOT notified (there is no envelope to act on).
+func TestLoop_ReportErrorSkipsObserver(t *testing.T) {
+	var cn, rn int32
+	loop := NewLoop(
+		&fakeCollector{report: &HostReport{}, n: &cn},
+		&fakeReporter{env: &ControlEnvelope{}, errSeq: []error{errors.New("hub 5xx")}, n: &rn},
+		900*time.Second, quietLogger())
+	obs := &recordingObserver{}
+	loop.SetEnvelopeObserver(obs)
+	loop.cycle(context.Background(), 900*time.Second)
+	if len(obs.envs) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("observer notified on a report error: %+v", obs.envs)
+	}
+}
+
 func TestClampInterval(t *testing.T) {
 	cases := []struct {
 		in      int

internal/hub/mock_test.go

@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ func (f roundTripFunc) RoundTrip(r *http.Request) (*http.Response, error) { retu
 
 // testClient builds a hub Client over a mock transport (no network).
 func testClient(rt roundTripFunc) *Client {
-	return newClient("https://hub.example.test", "super-secret-bearer-key", &http.Client{Transport: rt}, quietLogger())
+	return newClient("https://hub.example.test", "super-secret-bearer-key", "demo-host-01", &http.Client{Transport: rt}, quietLogger())
 }
 
 func httpResp(code int, body string) *http.Response {

internal/hub/report.go

@@ -1,5 +1,7 @@
 package hub
 
+import "encoding/json"
+
 // HostReport is the wire contract shared with the hub's ingest
 // (felhom.eu TASK-slice3-hub-ingest). Field NAMES must match the hub
 // field-for-field. Encoding is ordinary encoding/json (no canonicalization —
@@ -233,15 +235,62 @@ type PBSSnapshot struct {
 
 type AuditEntry struct{} // audit-log tail entry fields TBD
 
-// ControlEnvelope is the hub's 200 response to a host-report. This slice the agent
+// ControlEnvelope is the hub's 200 response to a host-report — the "Down" channel (slice 10A).
-// adopts ONLY PollIntervalSeconds; the rest are reserved/forward-compat fields it
+// It is a cheap change-notification on every heartbeat: the agent adopts PollIntervalSeconds,
-// logs at most and never acts on (reconcile, slice 4, consumes them).
+// and when DesiredGeneration ADVANCES past its cached one it fetches the full desired-state from
+// GET /hosts/{id}/desired-state (the heavy state moves only on change). HasSignedOps flags a
+// non-empty signed-jobs queue (the agent fetches/executes them in 10B). Blocked stays reserved.
 type ControlEnvelope struct {
 	Status string `json:"status"`
 	// PollIntervalSeconds is a pointer so a missing field (keep current interval) is
 	// distinguishable from an explicit 0.
 	PollIntervalSeconds *int  `json:"poll_interval_seconds"`
-	Blocked             bool  `json:"blocked"`            // reserved — ignored (slice 4)
+	Blocked             bool  `json:"blocked"`            // reserved — ignored
-	DesiredGeneration   int64 `json:"desired_generation"` // reserved — ignored (slice 4)
+	DesiredGeneration   int64 `json:"desired_generation"` // slice 10A: the cached-vs-current change signal
-	HasSignedOps        bool  `json:"has_signed_ops"`     // reserved — ignored (slice 4)
+	HasSignedOps        bool  `json:"has_signed_ops"`     // slice 10A: signed-jobs queue non-empty (exec 10B)
+}
+
+// DesiredStateResponse is GET /hosts/{host_id}/desired-state (slice 10A — the "Down" channel's
+// heavy payload, fetched only when the envelope's generation advances). Generation is the
+// generation this state corresponds to, so the agent caches state+generation atomically. This is
+// a cross-repo wire contract (DUPLICATED in felhom.eu/hub until a shared module exists); the
+// desired-state golden stays byte-identical across the two repos.
+type DesiredStateResponse struct {
+	Generation   int64            `json:"generation"`
+	DesiredState WireDesiredState `json:"desired_state"`
+}
+
+// WireDesiredState is the hub's authoritative per-host target (slice 10A). The agent reconciles the
+// parts it can today (guests: benign deltas reconciled, an explicit decommission gated
+// pending_signature); the rest are FORWARD-COMPAT — carried + cached, NOT acted on in 10A. The
+// restore_directive is consumed in 10D (host/guest-loss DR); storage_manifest / backup_policy /
+// pbs_namespace are placeholders kept opaque so the wire is stable as those land.
+type WireDesiredState struct {
+	Guests []WireDesiredGuest `json:"guests"`
+
+	StorageManifest  json.RawMessage       `json:"storage_manifest,omitempty"`
+	BackupPolicy     json.RawMessage       `json:"backup_policy,omitempty"`
+	PBSNamespace     string                `json:"pbs_namespace,omitempty"`
+	RestoreDirective *WireRestoreDirective `json:"restore_directive,omitempty"` // slice 10D (forward-compat)
+}
+
+// WireDesiredGuest is one guest's target (slice 10A). Every field is optional ("unmanaged"); the
+// agent's planner acts only on the fields that are set. Run is running|stopped|""; Spec reuses
+// GuestSpec (cores/memory_bytes/disk_bytes); Decommission is the EXPLICIT destructive delta (gated
+// pending_signature in 10A — executor is 10B).
+type WireDesiredGuest struct {
+	VMID         int        `json:"vmid"`
+	Run          string     `json:"run,omitempty"`
+	Spec         *GuestSpec `json:"spec,omitempty"`
+	Description  *string    `json:"description,omitempty"`
+	Decommission bool       `json:"decommission,omitempty"`
+}
+
+// WireRestoreDirective is the forward-compat restore directive (slice 10D — host/guest-loss DR).
+// Defined now so the wire contract is stable; 10A carries it through to the cache but does NOT
+// consume it (no restore is initiated from desired-state in 10A).
+type WireRestoreDirective struct {
+	Mode    string `json:"mode,omitempty"`    // guest_loss | host_loss (10D vocabulary)
+	Archive string `json:"archive,omitempty"` // source archive/snapshot to restore from
+	VMID    int    `json:"vmid,omitempty"`
 }

internal/hub/testdata/control-envelope.golden.json

@@ -0,0 +1,7 @@
+{
+  "status": "ok",
+  "poll_interval_seconds": 900,
+  "blocked": false,
+  "desired_generation": 4,
+  "has_signed_ops": true
+}

internal/hub/testdata/desired-state.golden.json

@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+{
+  "generation": 4,
+  "desired_state": {
+    "guests": [
+      {
+        "vmid": 100,
+        "run": "running",
+        "spec": { "cores": 2, "memory_bytes": 2147483648, "disk_bytes": 21474836480 },
+        "description": "felhom: acme prod"
+      },
+      {
+        "vmid": 200,
+        "decommission": true
+      }
+    ],
+    "pbs_namespace": "felhom-cust-acme",
+    "restore_directive": {
+      "mode": "guest_loss",
+      "archive": "local:backup/vzdump-lxc-200-2026_06_09-11_00_00.tar.zst",
+      "vmid": 200
+    }
+  }
+}

internal/reconcile/classify.go

@@ -107,6 +107,8 @@ func classOfAction(k ActionKind) OpClass {
 		return ClassSetConfig
 	case ActionResize:
 		return ClassResize
+	case ActionDecommission:
+		return ClassDecommission
 	default:
 		return OpClass(k)
 	}

internal/reconcile/engine.go

@@ -86,6 +86,7 @@ type Result struct {
 	Planned  int
 	Executed int     // succeeded
 	Failed   int     // errored
+	Pending  int     // destructive actions gated pending_signature (slice 10A — expected, not failed)
 	Errors   []error // one per failed action
 }
 
@@ -110,11 +111,12 @@ func (e *Engine) Reconcile(ctx context.Context) (Result, error) {
 		return res, nil
 	}
 
-	// Every mutation passes the reversibility gate before the queue (doc 03 §4).
+	// Every mutation passes the reversibility gate before the queue (doc 03 §4). Benign actions
-	// Reconcile only produces benign actions, so each is allowed unsigned — but the
+	// are allowed unsigned; a DESTRUCTIVE delta (slice 10A: an explicit decommission) is refused
-	// gate is genuinely in the path: a destructive class here would be refused
+	// `pending_signature` when no operator signature is present — that is EXPECTED, not a failure:
-	// (pending_signature) and never dispatched. A gate refusal counts as a failed
+	// 10A serves destructive intent but never executes it (the signed-op execution is 10B). So a
-	// action (it should not happen for the benign reconcile set).
+	// pending_signature refusal is counted as Pending and logged at INFO; any OTHER refusal (a
+	// benign action denied, or a destructive one rejected for a different reason) is a real failure.
 	type dispatched struct {
 		act Action
 		ch  <-chan error
@@ -124,10 +126,16 @@ func (e *Engine) Reconcile(ctx context.Context) (Result, error) {
 		act := actions[i]
 		dec := e.gate.Authorize(intentForAction(e.hostID, act), nil)
 		if !dec.Allowed {
+			if dec.Disposition == Destructive && dec.Reason == ReasonPendingSignature {
+				res.Pending++
+				e.logger.Info("reconcile: destructive action gated pending operator signature (slice 10B)",
+					"vmid", act.VMID, "kind", act.Kind, "reason", dec.Reason)
+				continue
+			}
 			res.Failed++
 			res.Errors = append(res.Errors, fmt.Errorf("reconcile: gate refused %s vmid %d: %s",
 				act.Kind, act.VMID, dec.Reason))
-			e.logger.Error("reconcile: gate refused a benign action (unexpected)",
+			e.logger.Error("reconcile: gate refused an action unexpectedly",
 				"vmid", act.VMID, "kind", act.Kind, "reason", dec.Reason)
 			continue
 		}
@@ -174,6 +182,12 @@ func (e *Engine) execute(ctx context.Context, act Action) error {
 		} else {
 			upid, err = e.api.ResizeLXC(ctx, act.VMID, disk, size)
 		}
+	case ActionDecommission:
+		// Reaching here means a destructive decommission passed the gate (a verified signature) —
+		// which only happens once 10B wires the signed-op executor. In 10A there is no signer, so
+		// the gate refuses it before dispatch and this branch is unreachable. Fail safe loudly
+		// rather than silently no-op, so a future signed path can't accidentally execute here.
+		err = fmt.Errorf("reconcile: decommission executor is slice 10B (refusing to execute vmid %d)", act.VMID)
 	default:
 		err = fmt.Errorf("reconcile: unknown action kind %q", act.Kind)
 	}
@@ -261,7 +275,7 @@ func (e *Engine) reconcileOnce(ctx context.Context) {
 	}
 	if res.Planned > 0 {
 		e.logger.Info("reconcile: pass complete",
-			"planned", res.Planned, "executed", res.Executed, "failed", res.Failed)
+			"planned", res.Planned, "executed", res.Executed, "failed", res.Failed, "pending", res.Pending)
 	}
 }
 

internal/reconcile/plan.go

@@ -24,6 +24,11 @@ const (
 	// emits it only when desired DiskBytes > actual; a shrink is data-losing and is refused
 	// (never silently applied as a grow). Slice 5 Phase B; unfed live until slice 10.
 	ActionResize ActionKind = "resize"
+	// ActionDecommission tears a guest down — the canonical DESTRUCTIVE delta (slice 10A). The
+	// planner emits it for an explicit DesiredGuest.Decommission; it classifies ClassDecommission
+	// → Destructive, so the gate refuses it `pending_signature` (no signer in 10A → never
+	// executed). Its EXECUTOR is slice 10B; 10A only plans + gates it.
+	ActionDecommission ActionKind = "decommission"
 )
 
 // growRoundMiB rounds a positive byte delta UP to whole MiB for the Proxmox `+<n>M` grow
@@ -88,6 +93,20 @@ func Plan(desired DesiredState, actual ActualState, norm FieldNormalizers) []Act
 			continue
 		}
 
+		// EXPLICIT decommission (slice 10A) — the destructive delta. Emit it as a single
+		// ActionDecommission and emit NOTHING else for this guest (no point reconciling cores
+		// on a guest the operator wants torn down). It is classified Destructive downstream, so
+		// the gate refuses it pending_signature in 10A (executor is 10B). Only emitted when the
+		// guest actually exists (decommissioning an absent guest is a no-op).
+		if d.Decommission {
+			actions = append(actions, Action{
+				VMID:   vmid,
+				Kind:   ActionDecommission,
+				Reason: "decommission requested (destructive — requires operator signature)",
+			})
+			continue
+		}
+
 		// Benign spec/description changes → a single SetConfig, only when we could
 		// read the current config (else we'd write blind).
 		if a.SpecKnown {

internal/reconcile/slice10_test.go

@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+package reconcile
+
+import (
+	"context"
+	"testing"
+
+	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/hub"
+	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/proxmox"
+)
+
+// The headline slice-10A reconcile behaviour: a desired-state carrying ONE benign delta and ONE
+// destructive (decommission) delta → the benign op is applied, the destructive one is GATED
+// pending_signature (counted Pending, NOT Failed) and is NEVER executed (no signer in 10A).
+func TestReconcile_BenignAppliedDestructiveGated(t *testing.T) {
+	api := &fakeAPI{
+		lxc: []proxmox.Guest{
+			{VMID: 100, Status: "stopped"}, // benign: desired running → Start
+			{VMID: 200, Status: "running"}, // destructive: decommission → gated
+		},
+		cfg: map[int]proxmox.GuestConfig{100: {Cores: 2}, 200: {Cores: 2}},
+	}
+	provider := StaticProvider{State: DesiredState{Guests: map[int]DesiredGuest{
+		100: {VMID: 100, Run: RunRunning},
+		200: {VMID: 200, Decommission: true},
+	}}}
+	e, _, _ := newEngine(t, api, provider)
+
+	res, err := e.Reconcile(context.Background())
+	if err != nil {
+		t.Fatalf("Reconcile: %v", err)
+	}
+	if res.Planned != 2 {
+		t.Errorf("planned = %d, want 2 (one benign + one destructive)", res.Planned)
+	}
+	// Benign Start(100) applied.
+	if res.Executed != 1 || len(api.starts) != 1 || api.starts[0] != 100 {
+		t.Errorf("benign delta not applied: executed=%d starts=%v", res.Executed, api.starts)
+	}
+	// Destructive decommission GATED pending (not a failure).
+	if res.Pending != 1 {
+		t.Errorf("pending = %d, want 1 (decommission gated pending_signature)", res.Pending)
+	}
+	if res.Failed != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("failed = %d, want 0 (a pending_signature gate is expected, not a failure)", res.Failed)
+	}
+	// And it was NEVER executed: no destroy/decommission op reached Proxmox.
+	if len(api.destroys) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("destructive decommission EXECUTED (destroys=%v) — it must be gated, not run", api.destroys)
+	}
+}
+
+// Plan unit: an explicit Decommission emits exactly one ActionDecommission and suppresses any
+// other delta for that guest (no point reconciling cores on a guest being torn down).
+func TestPlan_DecommissionEmitsDestructiveActionOnly(t *testing.T) {
+	desired := DesiredState{Guests: map[int]DesiredGuest{
+		// Decommission set AND a spec drift — only the decommission should be emitted.
+		7: {VMID: 7, Decommission: true, Spec: &hub.GuestSpec{Cores: 9, MemoryBytes: 9 << 20}, Run: RunStopped},
+	}}
+	actual := ActualState{Guests: map[int]ActualGuest{
+		7: {VMID: 7, Run: RunRunning, SpecKnown: true, Cores: 2},
+	}}
+	actions := Plan(desired, actual, DefaultNormalizers())
+	if len(actions) != 1 {
+		t.Fatalf("actions = %d (%+v), want exactly 1 (decommission only)", len(actions), actions)
+	}
+	if actions[0].Kind != ActionDecommission || actions[0].VMID != 7 {
+		t.Errorf("action = %+v, want decommission of vmid 7", actions[0])
+	}
+	// And it classifies destructive.
+	if Classify(classOfAction(ActionDecommission), Provenance{}) != Destructive {
+		t.Error("ActionDecommission must classify Destructive (no provenance)")
+	}
+}
+
+// Decommission of an ABSENT guest is a no-op (nothing to tear down).
+func TestPlan_DecommissionAbsentGuestNoop(t *testing.T) {
+	desired := DesiredState{Guests: map[int]DesiredGuest{7: {VMID: 7, Decommission: true}}}
+	actual := ActualState{Guests: map[int]ActualGuest{}} // guest 7 not present
+	if actions := Plan(desired, actual, DefaultNormalizers()); len(actions) != 0 {
+		t.Errorf("decommission of absent guest emitted %+v, want none", actions)
+	}
+}
+
+// CachingProvider: empty until Update, then serves the cached state + generation, and isolates
+// the cache from caller mutation.
+func TestCachingProvider_UpdateAndIsolation(t *testing.T) {
+	p := NewCachingProvider()
+	if p.Generation() != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh generation = %d, want 0", p.Generation())
+	}
+	if st, _ := p.Desired(context.Background()); len(st.Guests) != 0 {
+		t.Fatalf("fresh provider should be empty, got %+v", st.Guests)
+	}
+
+	p.Update(3, DesiredState{Guests: map[int]DesiredGuest{5: {VMID: 5, Run: RunRunning}}})
+	if p.Generation() != 3 {
+		t.Errorf("generation after update = %d, want 3", p.Generation())
+	}
+	st, _ := p.Desired(context.Background())
+	if len(st.Guests) != 1 || st.Guests[5].Run != RunRunning {
+		t.Fatalf("cached state = %+v", st.Guests)
+	}
+	// Mutating the returned copy must NOT affect the cache.
+	st.Guests[5] = DesiredGuest{VMID: 5, Run: RunStopped}
+	st.Guests[99] = DesiredGuest{VMID: 99}
+	st2, _ := p.Desired(context.Background())
+	if len(st2.Guests) != 1 || st2.Guests[5].Run != RunRunning {
+		t.Errorf("cache was mutated by a caller: %+v", st2.Guests)
+	}
+}

internal/reconcile/state.go

@@ -3,6 +3,7 @@ package reconcile
 import (
 	"context"
 	"encoding/json"
+	"sync"
 
 	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/hub"
 	"gitea.dooplex.hu/admin/felhom-agent/internal/proxmox"
@@ -50,6 +51,14 @@ type DesiredGuest struct {
 	// Description, when non-nil, manages the cosmetic `description` field (the first
 	// proven SetConfig round-trip, slice-4 pre-check). Nil = unmanaged.
 	Description *string
+	// Decommission, when true, is an EXPLICIT destructive intent to tear the guest down
+	// (slice 10A). It is the canonical destructive desired-state delta: the planner emits an
+	// ActionDecommission, which classifies ClassDecommission → Destructive → the gate refuses it
+	// `pending_signature` unless a verified operator signature is present. 10A never has a signer,
+	// so a decommission is always gated (never executed); the signed execution path is 10B. An
+	// explicit flag (not "absent from the desired list") is the safe design — a partial/empty hub
+	// list can never silently mass-destroy guests.
+	Decommission bool
 }
 
 // DesiredState is the vmid-keyed target for this host. At slice 4 the only live
@@ -101,6 +110,53 @@ type StaticProvider struct{ State DesiredState }
 // Desired returns the static state.
 func (p StaticProvider) Desired(context.Context) (DesiredState, error) { return p.State, nil }
 
+// CachingProvider is the slice-10A production provider: a thread-safe cache of the hub-served
+// DesiredState plus the generation it corresponds to. The hub-sync layer (internal/desired) calls
+// Update when the heartbeat envelope's generation advances and a fresh fetch arrives; the engine
+// reads the cache via Desired each reconcile tick. Until the first Update it returns an empty
+// state (generation 0) — so reconcile is a live no-op exactly like EmptyProvider, with zero
+// mutations, which is the correct cold-start behaviour.
+type CachingProvider struct {
+	mu    sync.RWMutex
+	state DesiredState
+	gen   int64
+}
+
+// NewCachingProvider builds an empty provider (generation 0, no guests).
+func NewCachingProvider() *CachingProvider {
+	return &CachingProvider{state: DesiredState{Guests: map[int]DesiredGuest{}}}
+}
+
+// Desired returns the cached state (a shallow copy of the guest map so a caller can't mutate the
+// cache, and a concurrent Update can't race the read).
+func (p *CachingProvider) Desired(context.Context) (DesiredState, error) {
+	p.mu.RLock()
+	defer p.mu.RUnlock()
+	out := DesiredState{Guests: make(map[int]DesiredGuest, len(p.state.Guests))}
+	for k, v := range p.state.Guests {
+		out.Guests[k] = v
+	}
+	return out, nil
+}
+
+// Update replaces the cached state + generation (called by the sync layer on a generation advance).
+func (p *CachingProvider) Update(generation int64, state DesiredState) {
+	p.mu.Lock()
+	defer p.mu.Unlock()
+	if state.Guests == nil {
+		state.Guests = map[int]DesiredGuest{}
+	}
+	p.state = state
+	p.gen = generation
+}
+
+// Generation returns the cached generation (the agent's view of "what I have applied from").
+func (p *CachingProvider) Generation() int64 {
+	p.mu.RLock()
+	defer p.mu.RUnlock()
+	return p.gen
+}
+
 // GuestAPI is the narrow Proxmox surface the engine needs: read actual state and
 // dispatch the benign-on-existing-guest mutations. *proxmox.Client satisfies it; a
 // fake satisfies it in tests. Every mutating call returns a UPID (or "" for the