diff --git a/harness/STATE.md b/harness/STATE.md
index 096db75c..138f30c7 100644
--- a/harness/STATE.md
+++ b/harness/STATE.md
@@ -3,17 +3,22 @@
 ## Objective and phase
 
 Direct process/chain editing is frozen in `codex/process-direct` at production
-7a1e12b, based on 1bf8ebc, in `D:/CodexBuilds/Capella2-scenario-direct`. The prior
-scenario branch is retained. Full Windows desktop tests pass 303/303, strict
-all-target desktop Clippy and optimized build pass; independent existing core
-topology/diagnostics/nested-source suites pass 19/19. The frozen binary, manifest
-and logs are at `D:/CodexBuilds/Capella2-scenario-target/freeze-process-7a1e12b`.
-`release-process-editing.md` records the identity-preserving direct gestures,
-derived nesting, bounded forms, observed regression fixes and exact artifact hash.
-No native operation was performed by this worker. Root independent review and
-Windows/Linux native trials are pending. The accepted model/source/API contract
-is unchanged; cross-reference inner-chain linking and disconnected exchange-only
-topology remain explicit model boundaries, not implied completed semantics.
+8bc564b, based on 1bf8ebc, in `D:/CodexBuilds/Capella2-scenario-direct`. The prior
+scenario branch is retained. Independent review found and this revision fixes
+the empty-owner → first exchange continuation dead end: **Append exchange…**
+captures the last ordered contribution and creates the next occurrence plus its
+explicit sequence link in one validated model/source Batch. No mode flag or
+arbitrary topology is added. Both OA/SA regressions cover exact source history,
+reopen, preservation of longer ordered paths and incompatible-source rejection.
+Full Windows desktop tests pass 305/305; strict all-target desktop Clippy and
+optimized build pass. Original independent core topology/diagnostics/nested-source
+verification remains 19/19 at 7a1e12b. The current frozen binary, manifest and logs
+are at `D:/CodexBuilds/Capella2-scenario-target/freeze-process-8bc564b`.
+`release-process-editing.md` records behavior, verification and exact artifact hash.
+No native operation was performed by this worker. Root review/native follow-up
+must include empty → first exchange → Append exchange on Windows/Linux. The
+accepted model/source/API contract is unchanged; cross-reference inner-chain
+linking and disconnected exchange-only topology remain explicit model boundaries.
 Direct scenario work is now in isolated `codex/scenario-direct`, checkout
 `D:/CodexBuilds/Capella2-scenario-direct`, base ab661f2, dedicated target
 `D:/CodexBuilds/Capella2-scenario-target`. Scope and acceptance are recorded in
diff --git a/harness/release-process-editing.md b/harness/release-process-editing.md
index 3b3d7842..df9c3ec3 100644
--- a/harness/release-process-editing.md
+++ b/harness/release-process-editing.md
@@ -54,7 +54,7 @@ optimized desktop build with --locked --offline and the dedicated target. Record
 actual evidence and remaining native tasks before freezing. Root independently
 reviews and native-tests the freeze; full-release completeness remains separate.
 
-## Implementation freeze and actual evidence — 2026-09-06
+## Original implementation freeze and actual evidence — 2026-09-06
 
 Production is `7a1e12bc7c18c5693de688f054293bacd095f4d8` (`7a1e12b`).
 The prior `codex/scenario-direct` branch remains at its original head. Production
@@ -76,10 +76,11 @@ SetSteps command, and successful edits reveal it in the graph.
 The 100% default and manual 50% zoom floor keep authoring legible. Explicit Fit
 may produce a small overview; choosing a drawing tool leaves that overview at
 100%. No positions are persisted. A source-only exchange sequence retains its
-legacy linear meaning: two or more entries have explicit Convert; one exchange
-has no implied link to materialize and exposes Work/Control/Reuse form entry to
-begin explicit topology. Disconnected exchange-only topology cannot be represented
-by the accepted contract; the editor does not introduce an invisible mode flag.
+legacy linear meaning: two or more entries have explicit Convert. The original
+one-exchange fallback offered only Work/Control/Reuse; independent review found
+that this blocked exchange-only continuation. The correction is recorded below.
+Disconnected exchange-only topology cannot be represented by the accepted
+contract; the editor does not introduce an invisible mode flag.
 
 The new App resize regression initially failed because existing window handling
 only invalidated scenario contexts; it now invalidates process contexts too.
@@ -116,6 +117,46 @@ It contains the binary, manifest and five verification/probe logs. Binary size:
 `701ECE6CD329A1CBE50D4DAEBFCE33AD7A93E6906295E74C3290653706F8455A`.
 The frozen copy was hash-compared with the release target binary.
 
+## Independent-review correction — exchange-only continuation
+
+Production follow-up is `8bc564b4b2c3b6d12eb61fc09aec7f129f6e45b7` (`8bc564b`).
+Independent review found a real dead end: after the first Exchange was created in
+an empty process/chain, the accepted model classified it as an ordered exchange
+path. There was no path to convert and the fallback omitted another Exchange.
+
+Ordered paths now offer **Append exchange…**, including a single contribution.
+The form names the captured final contribution and explains that Create adds an
+explicit sequence link. Its contextual picker accepts exchanges whose source
+matches the preceding exchange's target. Create emits one existing validated
+Batch: new exchange occurrence, preceding-to-new SequenceLink and SetSteps;
+existing implied links in longer ordered paths are materialized in that same
+transaction. The second contribution therefore restores the direct topology
+palette without inventing disconnected topology, global exchanges or a mode flag.
+Source reuse, same-owner endpoints and the cross-reference semantic boundary remain.
+
+Two new regressions both exercise OA and SA. The App regression starts with an
+empty owner, creates its first exchange, invokes the actual Append event and
+creates its second exchange. It verifies exactly one link, two distinct occurrence
+IDs, unchanged shared records, one history entry per Create, exact model/source
+Undo/Redo and source reopen. The independent proposal regression preserves a
+multi-entry ordered path, rejects an incompatible exchange without losing its
+form, and validates the serialized ordinary Batch through core execution.
+
+Focused regressions: **2 passed**. Full desktop tests: **305 passed**, zero
+failed/ignored. Strict all-target desktop Clippy: **passed** (`-D warnings`).
+Commands used `--locked --offline` and the same dedicated target. The final full
+suite took 10.75 seconds; Clippy took 4.96 seconds. Production changes are confined
+to `topology/direct.rs`, `topology/view.rs`, local tests and `app/process_canvas.rs`.
+No native input or new actual HTTP transport trial was performed.
+
+Updated optimized build: **passed** in 38.80 seconds. Current frozen Windows
+artifact, manifest and three verification logs are in
+`D:/CodexBuilds/Capella2-scenario-target/freeze-process-8bc564b`.
+Binary size: 20430336 bytes; SHA-256:
+`8BD5C84DF0F4E333C1955E6E9299F431081912E1A504ED13355E0BFA70F8B8BD`.
+The frozen copy was hash-compared with the release target binary. The prior
+`freeze-process-7a1e12b` remains available as historical evidence.
+
 ## Root-owned native acceptance still required
 
 At 1440x900 and 1100x700 on Windows and Linux, operate the actual application:
@@ -135,7 +176,8 @@ At 1440x900 and 1100x700 on Windows and Linux, operate the actual application:
    unfocus during an armed or held gesture. Verify no stale endpoint/slot commits.
    Confirm Create/Cancel remains accessible while a long form is open, search/page
    changes retain its values, navigation is guarded and save-time scrolling recovers.
-5. Convert a legacy multi-exchange path and try the single-exchange entry actions.
+5. Start an empty owner, add its first exchange, use Append exchange for its second,
+   and verify the visible link/direct palette. Also append/convert a legacy multi-exchange path.
    Undo/Redo the conversion and direct edits, save/reopen a nested source project,
    then inspect the same occurrence/link IDs, guards and shared source records.