DR-042 Phase C (legibility, part 1): expedition objective HUD, Aether button, cold-start seed, Biomass sink, palette declutter

Scoping/design-gated (wf_7c5a555e-136). Fixes "the base reads as inert after Phase A":

- C7b objective readout: new replicated ExpeditionObjective{[GhostField] byte State, short Remaining} on the
  untagged CycleDirector ghost (cross-region safe). Sole writer ZoneEnemyDirectorSystem, written ABOVE its
  early-returns (snapshot-above-early-return) so the HUD never freezes stale. Play-verified it replicates
  server->client.
- C7a gate prompt + C7b HUD readout: HudSystem shows "GO TO THE EXPEDITION GATE" / "EXPEDITION IN PROGRESS - N
  remaining" / "CLEARED - return to claim", below the siege/overrun overrides.
- C6a Aether upgrade button: un-gated BuildSendSystem.UpgradeAbility (was #if UNITY_EDITOR); HudSystem adds a
  MenuUi.Button with live affordability tint (the only Aether sink was U-key only).
- C6c cold-start seed: CycleDirectorSpawnSystem seeds Tuning.StartingOre (50) into the ledger on a NEW game only
  (born-correct, pre-Playback), killing the silent turret-before-fabricator deadlock. Play-verified seededOre=50.
- C6b Biomass sink: Wall cost Ore->Biomass (the dead currency now has a home). Play-verified WallCostRes=Biomass.
- C6d palette declutter: hide dead Pylon/Harvester/Conveyor from the build palette + trimmed their dev hotkeys
  (catalog/prefabs stay baked, code-intact per DR-020).

389/389 EditMode + clean netcode Play smoke (ghost re-hash OK, no exceptions). SaveData stays v5.
C5 (walls block enemies) is the remaining Phase C item, sequenced separately.

Co-Authored-By: Claude Opus 4.8 <noreply@anthropic.com>

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Authoring/Building/StructureCatalogAuthoring.cs

@@ -68,7 +68,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Authoring
                     {
                         Type = StructureType.Wall,
                         Prefab = GetEntity(authoring.WallPrefab, TransformUsageFlags.Dynamic),
-                        CostResourceId = ResourceId.Ore,
+                        CostResourceId = ResourceId.Biomass, // DR-042 C6b: walls cost Biomass (the dead currency's only sink)
                         CostAmount = authoring.WallCostOre,
                     });
                 }

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Authoring/World/CycleDirectorAuthoring.cs

@@ -73,6 +73,11 @@ namespace ProjectM.Authoring
                 // CycleDirectorSpawnSystem overrides it with a persisted Victory/Loss on Continue.
                 AddComponent(entity, new RunOutcome { Value = RunOutcomeId.InProgress });
 
+                // DR-042 C7b: replicated expedition-objective summary (the HUD 'enemies remaining / cleared' readout).
+                // Born Idle; ZoneEnemyDirectorSystem is the sole writer. New [GhostField] component -> re-hashes the
+                // runtime-spawned director ghost (server + client bake the same prefab -> hash matches), like CoreIntegrity.
+                AddComponent(entity, new ExpeditionObjective { State = ExpeditionObjectiveState.Idle, Remaining = 0 });
+
 
                 AddComponent(entity, new ThreatConfig
                 {

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Building/BuildSendSystem.cs

@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
     /// rotates a conveyor's facing. Fire is suppressed while build mode is active (PlayerInputGatherSystem reads
     /// <see cref="BuildPaletteState.Active"/>), so the place-click never also fires. Build mode is suspended while
     /// the pause overlay is open, and the frame a palette button changes the selection never also places.
-    /// (2) keyboard hotkeys (fallback, suppressed in palette mode): B/V/N/H/F/C place at the local player's cell.
+    /// (2) keyboard hotkeys (fallback, suppressed in palette mode): B/V/F place at the local player's cell.
     /// Editor-only statics (PlaceStructure / PlaceHarvester / ...) drive the same RPC path from execute_code for
     /// headless validation. Managed SystemBase; UnityEngine.InputSystem types are fully qualified to avoid the
     /// ProjectM.Simulation.PlayerInput name collision. The server re-validates legality + cost authoritatively.
@@ -30,10 +30,9 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
         {
             (UnityEngine.InputSystem.Key.B, StructureType.Turret),
             (UnityEngine.InputSystem.Key.V, StructureType.Wall),
-            (UnityEngine.InputSystem.Key.N, StructureType.Pylon),
-            (UnityEngine.InputSystem.Key.H, StructureType.Harvester),
             (UnityEngine.InputSystem.Key.F, StructureType.Fabricator),
-            (UnityEngine.InputSystem.Key.C, StructureType.Conveyor),
+            // DR-042 C6d: Pylon/Harvester/Conveyor are dead (unwired automation) — dropped from the hotkey fallback
+            // to match the hidden build palette; their PlaceStructure execute_code statics remain for dev.
         };
 
         UnityEngine.Camera _camera;   // cursor -> ground re-raycast for click-to-place (resolved lazily)
@@ -41,11 +40,16 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
         Material _ghostMat;
         byte _lastSelected;           // skip placing on the frame a palette click changes the selection
 
+        // DR-042 C6a: the ability-upgrade send is RUNTIME (the HUD Aether button calls UpgradeAbility); only the
+        // execute_code PLACE statics stay editor-gated. Mirrors EquipSendSystem's unconditional queue + drain.
+        static int s_PendingUpgrades = 0;
+        /// <summary>Runtime hook (HUD Aether button) + execute_code: queue an ability-damage upgrade.</summary>
+        public static void UpgradeAbility() => s_PendingUpgrades++;
+
 #if UNITY_EDITOR
         struct PendingBuild { public byte Type; public int CellX; public int CellZ; public byte Direction; }
         static readonly System.Collections.Generic.Queue<PendingBuild> s_PendingBuild =
             new System.Collections.Generic.Queue<PendingBuild>();
-        static int s_PendingUpgrades = 0;
 
         /// <summary>EDITOR / execute_code hook: queue a structure placement at a specific cell.</summary>
         public static void PlaceStructure(byte type, int cellX, int cellZ, byte direction = 0) =>
@@ -69,8 +73,6 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
         /// <summary>EDITOR / execute_code hook: queue a conveyor placement facing direction (0=+X,1=-X,2=+Z,3=-Z).</summary>
         public static void PlaceConveyor(int cellX, int cellZ, byte direction) => PlaceStructure(StructureType.Conveyor, cellX, cellZ, direction);
 
-        /// <summary>EDITOR / execute_code hook: queue an ability-damage upgrade.</summary>
-        public static void UpgradeAbility() => s_PendingUpgrades++;
 #endif
 
         protected override void OnCreate()
@@ -115,17 +117,19 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
                     SendUpgrade(connection);
             }
 
+            // DR-042 C6a: the ability-upgrade drain runs at RUNTIME (the HUD Aether button enqueues via UpgradeAbility);
+            // only the execute_code PLACE drain stays editor-gated.
+            while (s_PendingUpgrades > 0)
+            {
+                s_PendingUpgrades--;
+                SendUpgrade(connection);
+            }
 #if UNITY_EDITOR
             while (s_PendingBuild.Count > 0)
             {
                 var b = s_PendingBuild.Dequeue();
                 SendBuild(connection, b.Type, b.CellX, b.CellZ, b.Direction);
             }
-            while (s_PendingUpgrades > 0)
-            {
-                s_PendingUpgrades--;
-                SendUpgrade(connection);
-            }
 #endif
         }
 

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Client/Presentation/HudSystem.cs

@@ -67,6 +67,8 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
         // END-2: terminal win/loss banner (observes the replicated RunOutcome; latched server-side).
         VisualElement _runBanner;
         Label _runBannerText, _runBannerSub;
+        // DR-042 C6a: the Aether ability-upgrade button (was U-key only) + its live affordability tint.
+        Button _upgradeBtn;
 
 
         readonly List<VisualElement> _pips = new();
@@ -181,6 +183,28 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
             _locationText.style.color = onExpedition ? new Color(1f, 0.8f, 0.4f)
                 : finalSiege ? new Color(1f, 0.3f, 0.25f)
                 : siege ? new Color(1f, 0.55f, 0.4f) : new Color(0.6f, 0.95f, 0.7f);
+            // DR-042 C7 (gate prompt) + C7b (objective readout): the expedition is the win-driver, so signpost it.
+            // Reads the REPLICATED ExpeditionObjective summary (cross-region safe). Lower priority than the siege /
+            // cold-turret / overrun overrides below, which still win.
+            if (SystemAPI.TryGetSingleton<ExpeditionObjective>(out var obj))
+            {
+                if (onExpedition)
+                {
+                    if (obj.State == ExpeditionObjectiveState.Cleared)
+                    { _locationText.text = "ZONE CLEARED   -   return to base to claim"; _locationText.style.color = new Color(0.5f, 1f, 0.6f); }
+                    else if (obj.State == ExpeditionObjectiveState.Active)
+                    { _locationText.text = "CLEAR THE ZONE   -   " + obj.Remaining + " enemies remaining"; _locationText.style.color = new Color(1f, 0.8f, 0.4f); }
+                }
+                else if (!siege)
+                {
+                    if (obj.State == ExpeditionObjectiveState.Cleared)
+                    { _locationText.text = "EXPEDITION CLEARED   -   return to claim your reward"; _locationText.style.color = new Color(0.5f, 1f, 0.6f); }
+                    else if (obj.State == ExpeditionObjectiveState.Active)
+                    { _locationText.text = "EXPEDITION IN PROGRESS   -   " + obj.Remaining + " enemies remaining"; _locationText.style.color = new Color(1f, 0.8f, 0.4f); }
+                    else
+                    { _locationText.text = "GO TO THE EXPEDITION GATE   -   clear a sortie to advance the Engine"; _locationText.style.color = new Color(0.55f, 0.85f, 1f); }
+                }
+            }
 
             // ---- Goal (hex-pip meter, or a continuous bar for large targets) ----
             if (SystemAPI.TryGetSingleton<GoalProgress>(out var goal))
@@ -230,6 +254,9 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
             _oreNum.text = ore.ToString();
             _bioNum.text = bio.ToString();
             _chargeNum.text = charge.ToString();
+            // DR-042 C6a: dim the Aether upgrade button when it isn't affordable (cost is a compile-time const).
+            if (_upgradeBtn != null)
+                _upgradeBtn.style.opacity = aether >= Tuning.AbilityUpgradeCostAmount ? 1f : 0.5f;
             // EB-2 quiet-turret cue (GLOBAL, not per-turret, so the deterministic Charge split never reads as one
             // broken turret): a dry base during a siege tells the player to build a Fabricator.
             if (siege && charge == 0 && !onExpedition)
@@ -446,13 +473,19 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
             }
         }
 
+        // DR-042 C6d: Harvester/Conveyor/Pylon are dead (unwired automation) -> hidden from the build palette
+        // (catalog + prefabs stay baked, code-intact per DR-020). Only Turret/Wall/Fabricator are buildable in the UI.
+        static bool IsPaletteType(byte type) =>
+            type != StructureType.Pylon && type != StructureType.Harvester && type != StructureType.Conveyor;
+
         void UpdatePalette(int aether, int ore, int bio, bool onExpedition)
         {
             if (!_paletteBuilt && SystemAPI.TryGetSingletonEntity<StructureCatalog>(out var catE))
             {
                 var cat = SystemAPI.GetBuffer<StructureCatalogEntry>(catE);
                 for (int i = 0; i < cat.Length; i++)
-                    AddPaletteItem(cat[i].Type, cat[i].CostAmount, cat[i].CostResourceId);
+                    if (IsPaletteType(cat[i].Type))
+                        AddPaletteItem(cat[i].Type, cat[i].CostAmount, cat[i].CostResourceId);
                 _paletteBuilt = true;
             }
             if (!_paletteBuilt) { _paletteRow.style.display = DisplayStyle.None; return; }
@@ -809,6 +842,11 @@ namespace ProjectM.Client
             strip.Add(ResourceChip(theme != null ? theme.OreIcon : null, OreAmber, "0", out _oreNum, 30, 22));
             strip.Add(ResourceChip(theme != null ? theme.BioIcon : null, BioGreen, "0", out _bioNum, 26, 20));
             strip.Add(ResourceChip(null, ChargeViolet, "0", out _chargeNum, 26, 20)); // EB-2 turret ammo (flat violet, no icon)
+            // DR-042 C6a: the only Aether sink (ability-damage upgrade) gets a visible, clickable button (was U-key
+            // only). The Button element handles its own picking even though the HUD root Ignores clicks.
+            _upgradeBtn = MenuUi.Button("UPGRADE DMG  (" + Tuning.AbilityUpgradeCostAmount + " AETHER)", BuildSendSystem.UpgradeAbility);
+            _upgradeBtn.style.marginLeft = 18;
+            strip.Add(_upgradeBtn);
 
             root.Add(strip);
         }

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/Combat/ZoneEnemyDirectorSystem.cs

@@ -20,6 +20,10 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
     /// wave is fully spawned and every zone enemy is dead, it marks <see cref="CycleRuntime.ClearedThisEpoch"/> once —
     /// the gate's once-per-epoch Ore reward reads that on the player's return.
     ///
+    /// DR-042 C7b: it ALSO writes the replicated <see cref="ExpeditionObjective"/> summary every tick, ABOVE the
+    /// presence early-return (snapshot-above-early-return), so the client HUD's "enemies remaining / cleared" readout
+    /// never freezes stale even when nobody is out.
+    ///
     /// Ordering: <c>[UpdateAfter(ExpeditionFieldSystem)]</c> ONLY. ExpeditionFieldSystem is itself
     /// <c>[UpdateAfter(CyclePhaseSystem)]</c>, so ALSO declaring <c>[UpdateBefore(CyclePhaseSystem)]</c> here (as the
     /// v1 plan first sketched) would close a CyclePhase-&gt;Field-&gt;Zone-&gt;CyclePhase sort cycle that throws at Play
@@ -51,26 +55,55 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
                 return;
             uint now = serverTick.TickIndexForValidTick;
 
-            // Per-player presence: only run while someone is OUT in the expedition (mirrors ExpeditionFieldSystem).
+            // Per-player presence: the SPAWNER only runs while someone is OUT in the expedition (mirrors
+            // ExpeditionFieldSystem). The objective readout below is written FIRST, every tick, even when nobody's out.
             int expeditionPlayers = 0;
             foreach (var region in SystemAPI.Query<RefRO<RegionTag>>().WithAll<PlayerTag>())
                 if (region.ValueRO.Region == RegionId.Expedition)
                     expeditionPlayers++;
-            if (expeditionPlayers == 0)
-                return; // nobody out there: the field manager owns teardown, we do nothing
 
             var directorEntity = SystemAPI.GetSingletonEntity<ZoneEnemyDirector>();
             var dir = SystemAPI.GetComponent<ZoneEnemyDirector>(directorEntity);
             var zs = SystemAPI.GetComponent<ZoneEnemyState>(directorEntity);
-            var prefabs = SystemAPI.GetBuffer<ZoneEnemyPrefab>(directorEntity);
-            if (prefabs.Length == 0)
-                return;
 
             var cycleEntity = SystemAPI.GetSingletonEntity<CycleState>();
             var cycle = SystemAPI.GetComponent<CycleState>(cycleEntity);
             var runtime = SystemAPI.GetComponent<CycleRuntime>(cycleEntity);
             int epoch = runtime.ExpeditionEpoch;
 
+            int aliveZone = m_ZoneEnemies.CalculateEntityCount();
+
+            // DR-042 C7b: write the REPLICATED objective summary FIRST, above the early-returns (snapshot-above-
+            // early-return) so the HUD never freezes stale. Rides the untagged CycleDirector ghost (cross-region safe).
+            if (SystemAPI.HasComponent<ExpeditionObjective>(cycleEntity))
+            {
+                byte objState;
+                short objRemaining;
+                if (runtime.ClearedThisEpoch != 0 && runtime.LastRewardedEpoch != runtime.ExpeditionEpoch)
+                {
+                    objState = ExpeditionObjectiveState.Cleared; // cleared but not yet claimed -> "return to claim"
+                    objRemaining = 0;
+                }
+                else if (expeditionPlayers > 0 && (aliveZone > 0 || zs.RemainingToSpawn > 0))
+                {
+                    objState = ExpeditionObjectiveState.Active;
+                    objRemaining = (short)math.min(aliveZone + zs.RemainingToSpawn, short.MaxValue);
+                }
+                else
+                {
+                    objState = ExpeditionObjectiveState.Idle;
+                    objRemaining = 0;
+                }
+                SystemAPI.SetComponent(cycleEntity, new ExpeditionObjective { State = objState, Remaining = objRemaining });
+            }
+
+            if (expeditionPlayers == 0)
+                return; // nobody out there: the field manager owns teardown, the spawner does nothing
+
+            var prefabs = SystemAPI.GetBuffer<ZoneEnemyPrefab>(directorEntity);
+            if (prefabs.Length == 0)
+                return;
+
             // MC-2: build the 4-type weighted mix band from the director's baked weights (shared math with the base
             // siege). GruntsPerWave/ChargersPerWave are the Grunt/Charger base counts.
             var bands = new MixBands
@@ -94,8 +127,6 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
                 zs.NextSpawnTick = TickUtil.NonZero(now); // first slot this tick
             }
 
-            int aliveZone = m_ZoneEnemies.CalculateEntityCount();
-
             if (zs.RemainingToSpawn > 0)
             {
                 // Spawn only in Calm (a base Siege pauses the expedition wave), one SLOT per cadence, under the cap.

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Server/World/CycleDirectorSpawnSystem.cs

@@ -63,6 +63,8 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
                 ecb.AddComponent(director, new RunPhase { Value = RunPhaseId.Normal });
 
                 // Born-correct load: if the menu staged a save (Continue), apply it AT SPAWN so the director
+                // DR-042 C6c: a NEW game seeds starting Ore below; a restored save (Continue) keeps its ledger.
+                bool restoredLedger = false;
                 // ghost never serializes a default GoalProgress / empty ledger to clients (no replication flicker).
                 if (SystemAPI.TryGetSingletonEntity<PendingSave>(out var pendingEntity))
                 {
@@ -79,6 +81,7 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
                         var srcLedger = SystemAPI.GetBuffer<PendingSaveLedgerRow>(pendingEntity);
                         var destLedger = ecb.SetBuffer<StorageEntry>(director);
                         SaveApply.WriteLedger(srcLedger, destLedger);
+                        restoredLedger = true; // a save restored the ledger -> do NOT seed starting Ore (C6c)
 
                         // END-1: born-correct the Engine Core. Max comes from the BAKED prefab (never the save); a
                         // persisted wounded Current (>0) restores clamped to Max, else (0 = pre-v4 save) born full.
@@ -99,6 +102,12 @@ namespace ProjectM.Server
                     ecb.DestroyEntity(pendingEntity);
                 }
 
+                // DR-042 C6c: NEW game only (no restored ledger) -> seed a little Ore so the build loop isn't a cold
+                // deadlock (a turret needs Charge from a Fabricator that costs Ore you haven't mined yet). Appended
+                // BEFORE Playback so the ghost first-serializes WITH the seed (no empty-ledger replication flicker).
+                if (!restoredLedger)
+                    ecb.AppendToBuffer(director, new StorageEntry { ItemId = ResourceId.Ore, Count = Tuning.StartingOre });
+
                 // Host-only autosave flag; SaveWriteSystem consumes it on the Siege->Calm checkpoint.
                 ecb.AddComponent(director, new SaveRequest { Pending = 0 });
             }

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Simulation/Tuning.cs

@@ -63,6 +63,13 @@ namespace ProjectM.Simulation
         /// Ore. Operator feel-fork: keep generous so turrets stay fed while you keep mining.</summary>
         public const int TurretChargeCostPerShot = 1;
 
+        // ---- Cold start (CycleDirectorSpawnSystem seeds the shared ledger on a NEW game) ----
+
+        /// <summary>DR-042 C6c: Ore deposited into the shared ledger at spawn on a NEW game ONLY (a restored save keeps
+        /// its persisted ledger). Bootstraps the Fabricator(30)->Charge->Turret(10) chain so a turret placed before any
+        /// mining isn't a silent cold deadlock. Ore-only so the 'build a Fabricator to arm turrets' lesson survives.</summary>
+        public const int StartingOre = 50;
+
         // ---- Inventory (per-player bag; InventoryMath / ResourceHarvestSystem / InventoryDepositSystem) ----
 
         /// <summary>Max stacks a player can carry; InventoryMath rejects deposits past this and the harvest remainder spills to the global ledger.</summary>

Assets/_Project/Scripts/Simulation/World/CycleComponents.cs

@@ -83,4 +83,29 @@ namespace ProjectM.Simulation
         /// <summary>1 once the current epoch's expedition wave has FULLY spawned and been cleared to zero live zone enemies; reset to 0 on the empty-&gt;occupied epoch bump. The reward fires only on a REAL clear.</summary>
         public byte ClearedThisEpoch;
     }
+
+    /// <summary>
+    /// DR-042 C7b — a SMALL replicated summary of the current expedition objective so the client HUD can show an
+    /// "enemies remaining / cleared — return to claim" readout. Rides the GLOBAL UNTAGGED CycleDirector ghost
+    /// (alongside <see cref="CycleState"/> / GoalProgress) so GhostRelevancy.SetIsIrrelevant never hides it
+    /// cross-region — a base teammate can't see the expedition's own (region-tagged, relevancy-hidden) enemy
+    /// ghosts. SOLE writer: ZoneEnemyDirectorSystem (server, plain group), written ABOVE its early-returns
+    /// (snapshot-above-early-return) so the readout never freezes stale. byte/short, never enum (writer is [BurstCompile]).
+    /// </summary>
+    public struct ExpeditionObjective : IComponentData
+    {
+        /// <summary>0 = Idle (no sortie active), 1 = Active (wave in progress), 2 = Cleared (return to claim).</summary>
+        [GhostField] public byte State;
+
+        /// <summary>Live zone enemies remaining (alive + not-yet-spawned) while Active; 0 when Idle/Cleared.</summary>
+        [GhostField] public short Remaining;
+    }
+
+    /// <summary>State constants for <see cref="ExpeditionObjective.State"/> (byte, not enum — Burst/serialization).</summary>
+    public static class ExpeditionObjectiveState
+    {
+        public const byte Idle = 0;
+        public const byte Active = 1;
+        public const byte Cleared = 2;
+    }
 }