diff --git a/app/api/jobs/route.ts b/app/api/jobs/route.ts
index 1eed6b2..0af5703 100644
--- a/app/api/jobs/route.ts
+++ b/app/api/jobs/route.ts
@@ -1,10 +1,12 @@
-import { listJobs } from "@/src/server";
+import { isTurnRunning, listJobs } from "@/src/server";
 
 /**
  * Job status polling endpoint (contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §4): the
- * client polls GET /api/jobs?chatId=… while any job tool part is pending,
- * finds the job by toolCallId, renders its activity line, and re-syncs the
- * chat when the job flips to done/error.
+ * client's ONE central poller fetches this while any job runs (and slowly
+ * otherwise) to drive the dispatch cards, the sub-agents panel, and the
+ * re-sync when a job settles. `turnInFlight` rides along so the client can
+ * adopt a server-side wake turn (busy state + composer gate) — the same
+ * machinery as returning to a session mid-turn.
  */
 export async function GET(req: Request) {
 	const chatId = new URL(req.url).searchParams.get("chatId");
@@ -14,5 +16,5 @@ export async function GET(req: Request) {
 	if (!/^[A-Za-z0-9_-]+$/.test(chatId)) {
 		return Response.json({ error: "Invalid chatId" }, { status: 400 });
 	}
-	return Response.json({ jobs: listJobs(chatId) });
+	return Response.json({ jobs: listJobs(chatId), turnInFlight: isTurnRunning(chatId) });
 }
diff --git a/components/artifacts/demo-card.tsx b/components/artifacts/demo-card.tsx
index 9037e85..29b9441 100644
--- a/components/artifacts/demo-card.tsx
+++ b/components/artifacts/demo-card.tsx
@@ -2,7 +2,8 @@
 
 import { useContext, useEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { ChatActionsContext } from "@/components/chat";
-import type { ArtifactPartProps, DemoResult, JobRecord } from "@/src/core";
+import { DispatchCard } from "@/components/artifacts/dispatch-card";
+import type { ArtifactPartProps, DemoResult } from "@/src/core";
 
 /**
  * Demo artifact card (W6): while the part is input-available, a job activity
@@ -66,93 +67,18 @@ export function reduceDemoBridgeState(state: DemoBridgeState, data: unknown): De
 	return state;
 }
 
-// ─── shared job activity card (input-available state) ───────────────────────
-
-/** Live activity card for pending job parts — the job-card.tsx idiom,
- * parameterized by label. Exported for the visual card (also W6-owned). */
-export function JobActivityCard({
-	toolCallId,
-	label,
-	testId,
-}: {
-	toolCallId: string;
-	label: string;
-	testId?: string;
-}) {
-	const actions = useContext(ChatActionsContext);
-	const [job, setJob] = useState<JobRecord | null>(null);
-	const finishedRef = useRef(false);
-
-	useEffect(() => {
-		if (!actions) return;
-		let cancelled = false;
-
-		const poll = async () => {
-			if (finishedRef.current) return true;
-			try {
-				const res = await fetch(`/api/jobs?chatId=${encodeURIComponent(actions.chatId)}`);
-				if (!res.ok) return false;
-				const { jobs } = (await res.json()) as { jobs?: JobRecord[] };
-				const match = jobs?.find((j) => j.toolCallId === toolCallId) ?? null;
-				if (cancelled) return false;
-				setJob(match);
-				if (match && match.status !== "running") {
-					// The part has (or is about to be) fulfilled server-side — pull the
-					// fresh messages once; the continuation resumes the teacher.
-					finishedRef.current = true;
-					void actions.syncFromServer();
-					return true;
-				}
-			} catch {
-				/* transient fetch failure — keep polling */
-			}
-			return false;
-		};
-
-		const timer = setInterval(() => {
-			if (finishedRef.current) {
-				clearInterval(timer);
-				return;
-			}
-			void poll().then((stop) => {
-				if (stop) clearInterval(timer);
-			});
-		}, 2000);
-		void poll().then((stop) => {
-			if (stop) clearInterval(timer);
-		});
-
-		return () => {
-			cancelled = true;
-			clearInterval(timer);
-		};
-	}, [actions, toolCallId]);
-
-	return (
-		<div className="rounded-xl border bg-card p-4 text-card-foreground" data-testid={testId ?? "job-activity-card"}>
-			<div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">
-				<span className="inline-block size-2 animate-pulse rounded-full bg-primary" />
-				{label}
-			</div>
-			{job?.activity && (
-				<div className="mt-1 truncate text-sm text-muted-foreground" data-testid="job-activity-line">
-					{job.activity}
-				</div>
-			)}
-		</div>
-	);
-}
-
 // ─── the demo card ──────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 
+/** The demo tool-call box: the part's output is the dispatch ack — the box
+ * is the DispatchCard (live status via the central jobs poll). The demo
+ * itself renders from the steer message via DemoOutputCard. */
 export function DemoCard({ part }: ArtifactPartProps) {
-	if (part.state === "output-available") {
-		return <DemoOutputCard output={part.output} />;
-	}
-	return <JobActivityCard toolCallId={part.toolCallId} label="Building demo…" testId="demo-activity-card" />;
+	if (part.state !== "output-available") return null;
+	return <DispatchCard toolCallId={part.toolCallId} kind="demo" />;
 }
 
-function DemoOutputCard({ output }: { output: unknown }) {
+/** The demo artifact — exported: the steer card renders the delivered result. */
+export function DemoOutputCard({ output }: { output: unknown }) {
 	const result = output as DemoResult | undefined;
 	if (!result || typeof result.html !== "string" || typeof result.title !== "string") {
 		return (
diff --git a/components/artifacts/dispatch-card.tsx b/components/artifacts/dispatch-card.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..d5dbf68
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/artifacts/dispatch-card.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,74 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { useContext } from "react";
+import { CheckIcon, XIcon } from "lucide-react";
+import { JobsContext } from "@/components/jobs-context";
+import type { JobKind, JobRecord } from "@/src/core";
+
+/**
+ * The dispatch card (contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §4): the tool-call
+ * box for a background sub-agent. The tool part's output is the FIRE-AND-
+ * FORGET ACK (a string) — never the result. Live status comes from the
+ * central jobs poll via JobsContext, matched by toolCallId:
+ *
+ *   job unknown → "dispatched" pulse (the poll hasn't seen it yet)
+ *   running     → live activity card (activity line + elapsed)
+ *   done/error  → quiet one-liner ("delivered" / "failed") — the artifact
+ *                 itself arrives in the steer message right below, so the
+ *                 box must not duplicate it.
+ */
+const KIND_LABEL: Record<JobKind, string> = {
+	research: "Research agent",
+	demo: "Demo agent",
+	visual: "Figure agent",
+};
+
+export function DispatchCard({ toolCallId, kind }: { toolCallId: string; kind: JobKind }) {
+	const jobs = useContext(JobsContext);
+	const job = jobs.find((j) => j.toolCallId === toolCallId) ?? null;
+	const label = KIND_LABEL[kind];
+
+	if (!job || job.status === "running") {
+		return <DispatchActivityCard job={job} label={label} />;
+	}
+	const failed = job.status === "error";
+	return (
+		<div
+			className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs text-muted-foreground"
+			data-testid="dispatch-settled"
+		>
+			{failed ? <XIcon className="size-3.5 text-red-500" /> : <CheckIcon className="size-3.5" />}
+			<span className="font-medium uppercase tracking-wide">{label}</span>
+			<span>{failed ? "failed" : "delivered"}</span>
+		</div>
+	);
+}
+
+function DispatchActivityCard({ job, label }: { job: JobRecord | null; label: string }) {
+	// Elapsed from createdAt — jobs appear here only via the poll (post-mount),
+	// so no SSR/hydration mismatch.
+	const elapsed =
+		job && job.createdAt ? Math.max(0, Math.round((Date.now() - Date.parse(job.createdAt)) / 1000)) : null;
+	return (
+		<div
+			className="rounded-xl border bg-card p-4 text-card-foreground"
+			data-testid="dispatch-card"
+		>
+			<div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">
+				<span className="inline-block size-2 animate-pulse rounded-full bg-primary" />
+				{label}
+				{elapsed !== null && <span className="font-normal">· {elapsed}s</span>}
+			</div>
+			{job?.activity && (
+				<div className="mt-1 truncate text-sm text-muted-foreground" data-testid="dispatch-activity-line">
+					{job.activity}
+				</div>
+			)}
+			{!job && (
+				<div className="mt-1 text-sm text-muted-foreground" data-testid="dispatch-pending">
+					Dispatched…
+				</div>
+			)}
+		</div>
+	);
+}
diff --git a/components/artifacts/job-card.tsx b/components/artifacts/job-card.tsx
index 14b3ea7..c6e2950 100644
--- a/components/artifacts/job-card.tsx
+++ b/components/artifacts/job-card.tsx
@@ -1,96 +1,28 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { useContext, useEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { DispatchCard } from "@/components/artifacts/dispatch-card";
 import { MessageResponse } from "@/components/ai-elements/message";
-import { ChatActionsContext } from "@/components/chat";
-import type { ArtifactPartProps, JobRecord, ResearchResult } from "@/src/core";
+import type { ArtifactPartProps, ResearchResult } from "@/src/core";
 
 /**
- * The research job card (contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §4).
+ * The research tool-call box (contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §4).
  *
- * While the part is input-available: an activity card — poll /api/jobs every
- * 2s, find the job by toolCallId, show a pulsing dot + "Researching…" + the
- * job's live activity line. When the job flips to done/error, call
- * syncFromServer() ONCE (fresh messages replace local state; the part
- * re-renders as the brief card and the sendAutomaticallyWhen continuation
- * resumes the teacher) and stop polling.
- *
- * When output-available: the research brief — markdown body + a small source
- * link list, in the visual language of answered-card.tsx.
+ * The part's output is the fire-and-forget dispatch ACK — the box itself is
+ * the DispatchCard (live status via the central jobs poll; quiet one-liner
+ * once delivered). The research brief itself no longer renders from the
+ * tool part at all: it rides the steer message (the user-role delivery
+ * injected after the wake turn) and renders there via ResearchBriefCard.
  */
 export function JobCard({ part }: ArtifactPartProps) {
-	if (part.state === "output-available") {
-		return <ResearchBriefCard output={part.output as ResearchResult} />;
-	}
-	return <ResearchActivityCard toolCallId={part.toolCallId} />;
+	if (part.state !== "output-available") return null;
+	return <DispatchCard toolCallId={part.toolCallId} kind="research" />;
 }
 
-function ResearchActivityCard({ toolCallId }: { toolCallId: string }) {
-	const actions = useContext(ChatActionsContext);
-	const [job, setJob] = useState<JobRecord | null>(null);
-	const finishedRef = useRef(false);
-
-	useEffect(() => {
-		if (!actions) return;
-		let cancelled = false;
-
-		const poll = async () => {
-			if (finishedRef.current) return true;
-			try {
-				const res = await fetch(`/api/jobs?chatId=${encodeURIComponent(actions.chatId)}`);
-				if (!res.ok) return false;
-				const { jobs } = (await res.json()) as { jobs?: JobRecord[] };
-				const match = jobs?.find((j) => j.toolCallId === toolCallId) ?? null;
-				if (cancelled) return false;
-				setJob(match);
-				if (match && match.status !== "running") {
-					// The part has (or is about to be) fulfilled server-side — pull the
-					// fresh messages once; the continuation resumes the teacher.
-					finishedRef.current = true;
-					void actions.syncFromServer();
-					return true;
-				}
-			} catch {
-				/* transient fetch failure — keep polling */
-			}
-			return false;
-		};
-
-		const timer = setInterval(() => {
-			if (finishedRef.current) {
-				clearInterval(timer);
-				return;
-			}
-			void poll().then((stop) => {
-				if (stop) clearInterval(timer);
-			});
-		}, 2000);
-		void poll().then((stop) => {
-			if (stop) clearInterval(timer);
-		});
-
-		return () => {
-			cancelled = true;
-			clearInterval(timer);
-		};
-	}, [actions, toolCallId]);
-
-	return (
-		<div className="rounded-xl border bg-card p-4 text-card-foreground" data-testid="research-activity-card">
-			<div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">
-				<span className="inline-block size-2 animate-pulse rounded-full bg-primary" />
-				Researching…
-			</div>
-			{job?.activity && (
-				<div className="mt-1 truncate text-sm text-muted-foreground" data-testid="research-activity-line">
-					{job.activity}
-				</div>
-			)}
-		</div>
-	);
-}
-
-function ResearchBriefCard({ output }: { output: unknown }) {
+/**
+ * The research brief — markdown body + a small source link list. Exported:
+ * the steer card (sub-agent result delivery) renders the same artifact.
+ */
+export function ResearchBriefCard({ output }: { output: unknown }) {
 	const result = output as ResearchResult | undefined;
 	if (!result || typeof result.brief !== "string") {
 		return (
diff --git a/components/artifacts/steer-card.tsx b/components/artifacts/steer-card.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bd7fe4c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/artifacts/steer-card.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,36 @@
+"use client";
+
+import type { SubagentArtifactData, TeacherUIMessage } from "@/src/core";
+import { DemoOutputCard } from "@/components/artifacts/demo-card";
+import { ResearchBriefCard } from "@/components/artifacts/job-card";
+import { VisualOutputCard } from "@/components/artifacts/visual-card";
+
+/**
+ * The sub-agent result delivery card (contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §4).
+ *
+ * When a background job completes, the wake pipeline injects a STEER message
+ * into the transcript: a user-role UIMessage whose data part
+ * ("data-subagent-artifact") carries the result. It must NEVER render as a
+ * learner bubble: the model-facing text part is protocol glue, and the
+ * artifact itself renders here, by kind, reusing the same artifact cards
+ * the result always used.
+ */
+export function SubagentSteerCard({ message }: { message: TeacherUIMessage }) {
+	const artifactPart = message.parts.find((p) => p.type === "data-subagent-artifact");
+	const data = artifactPart?.data as SubagentArtifactData | undefined;
+	if (!data) {
+		return (
+			<div className="rounded-xl border bg-card p-4 text-sm text-muted-foreground">
+				A sub-agent finished, but its result could not be displayed.
+			</div>
+		);
+	}
+	switch (data.kind) {
+		case "research":
+			return <ResearchBriefCard output={data.result} />;
+		case "demo":
+			return <DemoOutputCard output={data.result} />;
+		case "visual":
+			return <VisualOutputCard output={data.result} />;
+	}
+}
diff --git a/components/artifacts/visual-card.tsx b/components/artifacts/visual-card.tsx
index 1c7f14b..f96f9f5 100644
--- a/components/artifacts/visual-card.tsx
+++ b/components/artifacts/visual-card.tsx
@@ -1,15 +1,19 @@
 "use client";
 
+import { DispatchCard } from "@/components/artifacts/dispatch-card";
 import type { ArtifactPartProps, VisualResult } from "@/src/core";
-import { JobActivityCard } from "@/components/artifacts/demo-card";
 
 /**
- * Visual artifact card (W6): while the part is input-available, a job activity
- * card; when output-available, VisualResult.svg renders INLINE. The SVG is
- * model-authored for the learner's own machine (their own teacher wrote it,
- * verified by looking) — dangerouslySetInnerHTML is acceptable here, with a
- * cheap hygiene pass (sanitizeSvg: strip <script> blocks, on* handlers, and
- * javascript:/data:text/html URLs) since it lands in the app's DOM.
+ * Visual artifact card (W6 → ack protocol): the tool part's output is the
+ * dispatch ack, so the tool-call box is the DispatchCard (live status via
+ * the central jobs poll). The SVG itself renders from the steer message
+ * (sub-agent result delivery) via VisualOutputCard.
+ *
+ * The SVG is model-authored for the learner's own machine (their own teacher
+ * wrote it, verified by looking) — dangerouslySetInnerHTML is acceptable
+ * here, with a cheap hygiene pass (sanitizeSvg: strip <script> blocks, on*
+ * handlers, and javascript:/data:text/html URLs) since it lands in the
+ * app's DOM.
  */
 
 /** Cheap SVG hygiene — not a full sanitizer, just removing the obvious exec vectors. */
@@ -22,13 +26,12 @@ export function sanitizeSvg(svg: string): string {
 }
 
 export function VisualCard({ part }: ArtifactPartProps) {
-	if (part.state === "output-available") {
-		return <VisualOutputCard output={part.output} />;
-	}
-	return <JobActivityCard toolCallId={part.toolCallId} label="Drawing figure…" testId="visual-activity-card" />;
+	if (part.state !== "output-available") return null;
+	return <DispatchCard toolCallId={part.toolCallId} kind="visual" />;
 }
 
-function VisualOutputCard({ output }: { output: unknown }) {
+/** The figure itself — exported: the steer card renders the delivered artifact. */
+export function VisualOutputCard({ output }: { output: unknown }) {
 	const result = output as VisualResult | undefined;
 	if (!result || typeof result.svg !== "string") {
 		return (
diff --git a/components/chat.tsx b/components/chat.tsx
index ba5fa89..3dbdf3d 100644
--- a/components/chat.tsx
+++ b/components/chat.tsx
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 "use client";
 
-import { createContext, useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useRef, useState } from "react";
+import { createContext, useCallback, useEffect, useLayoutEffect, useMemo, useRef, useState } from "react";
 import { useChat } from "@ai-sdk/react";
 import { DefaultChatTransport, isToolUIPart, lastAssistantMessageIsCompleteWithToolCalls } from "ai";
 import { useStickToBottomContext } from "use-stick-to-bottom";
@@ -16,21 +16,24 @@ import { Shimmer } from "@/components/ai-elements/shimmer";
 import { Separator } from "@/components/ui/separator";
 import { AnsweredCard } from "@/components/answered-card";
 import { artifactRenderers } from "@/components/artifacts";
+import { SubagentSteerCard } from "@/components/artifacts/steer-card";
 import { Composer } from "@/components/composer";
+import { JobsContext } from "@/components/jobs-context";
 import { QuestionDock } from "@/components/question-dock";
 import { SidebarToggle } from "@/components/sidebar";
+import { SubAgentsPanel } from "@/components/sub-agents-panel";
 import { TreePanel } from "@/components/tree-panel";
-import type { ArtifactPartProps, QuestionAnswerData, TeacherUIMessage } from "@/src/core";
-import { findPendingJobCall, findPendingToolCall, phaseAt } from "@/src/core";
+import type { ArtifactPartProps, JobRecord, QuestionAnswerData, TeacherUIMessage } from "@/src/core";
+import { findPendingToolCall, phaseAt } from "@/src/core";
 
 /** One width for everything: transcript, cards, and the bottom blob share this column. */
 const COLUMN = "mx-auto w-full max-w-3xl px-4";
 
 /**
- * Server-sync channel for artifact renderers (job cards): when a background
- * job flips its tool part to output-available server-side, the card polls
- * /api/jobs, then calls syncFromServer() — fresh messages replace local state
- * and the sendAutomaticallyWhen continuation resumes the teacher.
+ * Server-sync channel for artifact renderers: the CENTRAL jobs poll in Chat
+ * calls syncFromServer() when a background job settles — the wake turn's
+ * steer + response are already persisted by then, so fresh messages replace
+ * local state in one pull. sendText feeds the demo error-fix loop.
  * (contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §4.)
  */
 export const ChatActionsContext = createContext<{
@@ -43,6 +46,12 @@ export const ChatActionsContext = createContext<{
 /** useLayoutEffect that is silent during SSR (client components still render on the server in Next). */
 const useIsoLayoutEffect = typeof window === "undefined" ? useEffect : useLayoutEffect;
 
+/** A wake-pipeline steer message: user-role delivery whose metadata marks it
+ * as a sub-agent result — rendered as an artifact card, never a bubble. */
+function isSubagentSteer(m: TeacherUIMessage): boolean {
+	return (m.metadata as { subagentResult?: unknown } | undefined)?.subagentResult != null;
+}
+
 /**
  * The teaching session. All chat state lives in useChat; the server persists
  * the canonical transcript after every turn.
@@ -134,11 +143,12 @@ export function Chat({
 		(messages.at(-1)?.parts.some((p) => isToolUIPart(p) && p.state === "input-streaming") ?? false);
 
 	const [text, setText] = useState("");
-	// Jobs gate sending too (an unanswered tool call in the outbound list would
-	// break provider conversion — contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §5), but
-	// they don't dock: the running job's activity card sits in the transcript.
-	const pendingJob = findPendingJobCall(messages);
-	const canSend = text.trim().length > 0 && !pending && !pendingJob && !turnInFlight;
+	// Jobs never gate the composer (contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §4): job
+	// tools resolve with an ack mid-turn, so the learner can interject while
+	// sub-agents run — a feature, not a race: the wake pipeline queues steers
+	// until the current turn ends. Only a QUESTION pending or a turn in
+	// flight (client or server-side wake turn) gates sending.
+	const canSend = text.trim().length > 0 && !pending && !turnInFlight;
 
 	const syncFromServer = useCallback(async () => {
 		const res = await fetch(`/api/chats/${chatId}`);
@@ -158,6 +168,65 @@ export function Chat({
 		}
 	}, [chatId, setMessages, sendMessage, status]);
 
+	// ── Central job observability (contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §4) ──
+	// ONE poll of /api/jobs drives every job surface (transcript dispatch
+	// cards, the sub-agents panel) and re-syncs the transcript exactly once
+	// when a job settles: job status flips done/error only AFTER the wake
+	// turn's messages are persisted, so a completion means the record already
+	// holds the steer + the teacher's response — one syncFromServer adopts it
+	// all. Poll fast while jobs run, slow otherwise (new-dispatch discovery),
+	// and not at all when this session has never dispatched a job.
+	const [jobs, setJobs] = useState<JobRecord[]>([]);
+	const jobPartCount = useMemo(
+		() =>
+			messages.reduce(
+				(n, m) =>
+					n +
+					m.parts.filter(
+						(p) => p.type === "tool-research" || p.type === "tool-demo" || p.type === "tool-visual",
+					).length,
+				0,
+			),
+		[messages],
+	);
+	const anyRunning = jobs.some((j) => j.status === "running");
+	const pollMs = jobPartCount === 0 && jobs.length === 0 ? 0 : anyRunning ? 1000 : 4000;
+	const localStreamRef = useRef(false);
+	localStreamRef.current = localStream;
+	const jobStatusRef = useRef<Map<string, string>>(new Map());
+	useEffect(() => {
+		if (pollMs === 0) return;
+		let cancelled = false;
+		const poll = async () => {
+			if (cancelled) return;
+			try {
+				const res = await fetch(`/api/jobs?chatId=${encodeURIComponent(chatId)}`);
+				if (!res.ok) return;
+				const data = (await res.json()) as { jobs?: JobRecord[]; turnInFlight?: boolean };
+				if (cancelled) return;
+				const list = data.jobs ?? [];
+				for (const j of list) {
+					const prev = jobStatusRef.current.get(j.id);
+					if (prev === "running" && j.status !== "running") void syncFromServer();
+					jobStatusRef.current.set(j.id, j.status);
+				}
+				setJobs(list);
+				// Wake-turn adoption: a server-side teacher turn with no client request
+				// of ours (sub-agent delivery) — the same machinery as returning
+				// mid-turn: busy state + record poll to completion.
+				if (data.turnInFlight === true && !localStreamRef.current) setTurnInFlight(true);
+			} catch {
+				/* transient fetch failure — keep polling */
+			}
+		};
+		void poll();
+		const timer = setInterval(poll, pollMs);
+		return () => {
+			cancelled = true;
+			clearInterval(timer);
+		};
+	}, [pollMs, jobPartCount, chatId, syncFromServer]);
+
 	// Re-attach after mid-turn navigation (the key fix): poll the record until
 	// the orphaned turn finishes (turnInFlight flips false server-side in
 	// onFinish, AFTER persist), then adopt the completed transcript — the
@@ -190,13 +259,14 @@ export function Chat({
 
 	const onSend = () => {
 		const t = text.trim();
-		if (!t || busy || pending || pendingJob) return;
+		if (!t || busy || pending) return;
 		setText("");
 		void sendMessage({ text: t });
 	};
 
 	return (
 		<ChatActionsContext.Provider value={{ chatId, syncFromServer, sendText: (t: string) => void sendMessage({ text: t }) }}>
+		<JobsContext.Provider value={jobs}>
 		<div className="flex h-dvh flex-col">
 			<header className="flex items-center gap-3 px-3 py-2">
 				<SidebarToggle />
@@ -221,11 +291,17 @@ export function Chat({
 								<Message key={m.id} from={m.role} className={m.role === "assistant" ? "max-w-full" : undefined}>
 									<MessageContent className={m.role === "assistant" ? "w-full" : undefined}>
 										{m.role === "user" ? (
-											// User text renders plain: the model's LaTeX pipeline is not
-											// applied to learner-authored text ($ stays $, no surprises).
-											<div className="whitespace-pre-wrap">
-												{m.parts.filter((p) => p.type === "text").map((p) => p.text).join("\n")}
-											</div>
+											isSubagentSteer(m) ? (
+												// Sub-agent delivery (wake-pipeline steer): render the
+												// artifact, never a learner bubble (contracts.ts §4).
+												<SubagentSteerCard message={m} />
+											) : (
+												// User text renders plain: the model's LaTeX pipeline is not
+												// applied to learner-authored text ($ stays $, no surprises).
+												<div className="whitespace-pre-wrap">
+													{m.parts.filter((p) => p.type === "text").map((p) => p.text).join("\n")}
+												</div>
+											)
 										) : (
 											m.parts.map((part, pi) => {
 												const isLastPart = mi === messages.length - 1 && pi === m.parts.length - 1;
@@ -303,9 +379,14 @@ export function Chat({
 					</ConversationContent>
 					<ConversationScrollButton />
 				</Conversation>
-				<TreePanel messages={messages} />
+				{/* Right sidebar: live sub-agent fleet (when running) above the plan tree. */}
+				<div className="hidden shrink-0 flex-col xl:flex">
+					<SubAgentsPanel jobs={jobs} />
+					<TreePanel messages={messages} />
+				</div>
 			</div>
 		</div>
+		</JobsContext.Provider>
 		</ChatActionsContext.Provider>
 	);
 }
diff --git a/components/jobs-context.ts b/components/jobs-context.ts
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..bcc46a8
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/jobs-context.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,16 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { createContext } from "react";
+import type { JobRecord } from "@/src/core";
+
+/**
+ * Background-job observability channel (contracts.ts "THE ASYNC PROTOCOL" §4).
+ *
+ * ONE central poller (in Chat) fetches GET /api/jobs?chatId=… and publishes
+ * the list here; every job surface consumes it — the transcript dispatch
+ * cards (the ack box with live status) and the sub-agents sidebar panel.
+ * Cards used to each run their own poller on input-available parts; under
+ * the ack-protocol the tool part resolves immediately, so the poller moved
+ * to the composition root and the cards became pure renderers of this data.
+ */
+export const JobsContext = createContext<JobRecord[]>([]);
diff --git a/components/sub-agents-panel.tsx b/components/sub-agents-panel.tsx
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..abafcfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/components/sub-agents-panel.tsx
@@ -0,0 +1,76 @@
+"use client";
+
+import { BotIcon, PenToolIcon, PlayIcon, SearchIcon } from "lucide-react";
+import type { JobKind, JobRecord } from "@/src/core";
+
+/**
+ * The sub-agents sidebar section (vision §2.5 live observability): what the
+ * teacher's background fleet is doing RIGHT NOW in this session — one card
+ * per running sub-agent with its live activity line (current tool + args)
+ * and elapsed time, fed by the central jobs poll.
+ *
+ * Renders nothing when the fleet is idle (zero clutter); finished jobs
+ * vanish from the list — their artifacts live in the transcript. Sits at
+ * the top of the right sidebar, above the plan-tree panel.
+ */
+
+const KIND_META: Record<JobKind, { label: string; Icon: typeof SearchIcon }> = {
+	research: { label: "Researcher", Icon: SearchIcon },
+	demo: { label: "Demo builder", Icon: PlayIcon },
+	visual: { label: "Figure maker", Icon: PenToolIcon },
+};
+
+export function SubAgentsPanel({ jobs }: { jobs: JobRecord[] }) {
+	const running = jobs.filter((j) => j.status === "running");
+	if (running.length === 0) return null;
+	return (
+		<aside
+			data-testid="sub-agents-panel"
+			className="flex w-64 shrink-0 flex-col border-b border-border/60 bg-card/30 px-3 py-2.5"
+		>
+			<div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-[11px] font-medium uppercase tracking-wide text-muted-foreground">
+				<BotIcon className="size-3.5" />
+				Sub-agents
+			</div>
+			<ul className="mt-2 flex flex-col gap-2">
+				{running.map((job) => (
+					<li
+						key={job.id}
+						className="rounded-lg border bg-card px-2.5 py-2 text-card-foreground"
+						data-testid="sub-agent-card"
+					>
+						<div className="flex items-center gap-2 text-xs font-medium">
+							{(() => {
+								const { label, Icon } = KIND_META[job.kind] ?? KIND_META.research;
+								return <Icon className="size-3.5 shrink-0 text-muted-foreground" />;
+							})()}
+							<span className="min-w-0 flex-1 truncate">{KIND_META[job.kind]?.label ?? job.kind}</span>
+							<span
+								className="inline-block size-1.5 animate-pulse rounded-full bg-primary"
+								aria-hidden="true"
+							/>
+							<span className="shrink-0 tabular-nums text-muted-foreground" data-testid="sub-agent-elapsed">
+								{elapsedOf(job)}
+							</span>
+						</div>
+						{job.activity && (
+							<div
+								className="mt-1 truncate text-xs text-muted-foreground"
+								data-testid="sub-agent-activity"
+								title={job.activity}
+							>
+								{job.activity}
+							</div>
+						)}
+					</li>
+				))}
+			</ul>
+		</aside>
+	);
+}
+
+function elapsedOf(job: JobRecord): string {
+	if (!job.createdAt) return "";
+	const seconds = Math.max(0, Math.round((Date.now() - Date.parse(job.createdAt)) / 1000));
+	return seconds < 60 ? `${seconds}s` : `${Math.floor(seconds / 60)}m ${seconds % 60}s`;
+}
diff --git a/src/core/contracts.ts b/src/core/contracts.ts
index 72105af..4ed31c6 100644
--- a/src/core/contracts.ts
+++ b/src/core/contracts.ts
@@ -303,7 +303,10 @@ export interface JobRecord {
  *     sub-agent loop — isolated context, modelFor(role), the
  *     verify-never-one-shot doctrine (headless-tested demos, looked-at SVGs,
  *     sourced briefs) — tracking a live activity line in the job record.
- *     The client polls GET /api/jobs?chatId=… and renders the activity card.
+ *     ONE central client poll of GET /api/jobs?chatId=… (in Chat) drives every
+ *     job surface: the transcript dispatch cards (live activity by
+ *     toolCallId, quiet one-liner after delivery), the sub-agents sidebar
+ *     panel, and the single re-sync when a job settles.
  *
  *  3. On completion the runner builds a STEER MESSAGE (buildSubagentSteer)
  *     and hands it to the wake pipeline (src/server/jobs.ts): a user-role
diff --git a/src/server/turn-service.ts b/src/server/turn-service.ts
index 5ba29ff..39d8728 100644
--- a/src/server/turn-service.ts
+++ b/src/server/turn-service.ts
@@ -45,9 +45,24 @@ export function buildTeacherContext(graphStore: GraphStore, chatId: string): str
  * even when aborted — the partial transcript (including any pending
  * question part) is what makes resume work.
  */
+/**
+ * The SDK assigns assistant-message ids CLIENT-side (useChat); the server's
+ * onFinish synthesis leaves them EMPTY. A message persisted only server-side
+ * (the last turn's, or a wake turn's — nobody re-POSTs it with a client id)
+ * would otherwise land in the record with id "" — and two of those in one
+ * transcript break React keys (the chat map) and steer-dedup lookups. Fill any
+ * missing id here, at the single canonical write: client-authored ids are
+ * NEVER touched (the client's next POST still carries them verbatim).
+ */
+export function withMessageIds(messages: UIMessage[]): UIMessage[] {
+	return messages.map((m) =>
+		m.id ? m : { ...m, id: `msg_${Date.now().toString(36)}_${crypto.randomUUID().slice(0, 8)}` },
+	);
+}
+
 export function persistTurn(chatStore: ChatStore, chatId: string, messages: UIMessage[], isAborted: boolean): void {
 	try {
-		chatStore.saveMessages(chatId, messages);
+		chatStore.saveMessages(chatId, withMessageIds(messages));
 	} catch (err) {
 		console.error(`[chat ${chatId}] persist failed:`, err, { isAborted });
 	}
diff --git a/tests/demos.test.tsx b/tests/demos.test.tsx
index 533a149..abaf1b7 100644
--- a/tests/demos.test.tsx
+++ b/tests/demos.test.tsx
@@ -39,12 +39,18 @@ import {
 	reduceDemoBridgeState,
 } from "../components/artifacts/demo-card.tsx";
 import { sanitizeSvg, VisualCard } from "../components/artifacts/visual-card.tsx";
+import { SubagentSteerCard } from "../components/artifacts/steer-card.tsx";
+import { DispatchCard } from "../components/artifacts/dispatch-card.tsx";
+import { JobCard } from "../components/artifacts/job-card.tsx";
+import { JobsContext } from "../components/jobs-context.ts";
+import { SubAgentsPanel } from "../components/sub-agents-panel.tsx";
 import { demoInputSchema, jobTools, visualInputSchema } from "../src/agent/tools/jobs.ts";
 import { runDemoBuilder } from "../src/agent/subagents/demo-builder.ts";
 import { headlessOverride, type DemoRunResult, type HeadlessApi } from "../src/agent/subagents/headless.ts";
 import { createJobRunner, demoModelOverride, visualModelOverride } from "../src/agent/subagents/runner.ts";
 import { runVisualMaker } from "../src/agent/subagents/visual-maker.ts";
-import { isSubagentFailure, type SubagentSteerMessage } from "../src/core/contracts.ts";
+import { buildSubagentSteer, isSubagentFailure, type SubagentSteerMessage } from "../src/core/contracts.ts";
+import type { JobRecord } from "../src/core/contracts.ts";
 import { createTeacherTools } from "../src/agent/tools.ts";
 import { chatStore } from "../src/store/chats.ts";
 import { jobStore } from "../src/store/jobs.ts";
@@ -240,68 +246,140 @@ function part(state: string, output?: unknown) {
 	return { type: "tool-demo", state, toolCallId: "call-1", input: { title: "Oscillator", brief: "b" }, output };
 }
 
-describe("demo card rendering", () => {
-	it("renders a sandboxed iframe (allow-scripts, NO allow-same-origin) with the bridge injected", () => {
-		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<DemoCard part={part("output-available", { title: "Damped oscillator", html: DEMO_HTML, tested: true }) as never} />);
+describe("dispatch card rendering (the tool-call ack box)", () => {
+	const ackPart = { type: "tool-research", state: "output-available", toolCallId: "call-1", input: { question: "q" }, output: "Dispatched (job j1)." };
+	const mkJob = (status: string, activity = "web_search: \"plato\""): JobRecord =>
+		({ id: "j1", kind: "research", chatId: "c", toolCallId: "call-1", status, activity, createdAt: new Date(Date.now() - 5000).toISOString(), updatedAt: new Date().toISOString() }) as JobRecord;
+
+	it("renders a live activity card while the job runs", () => {
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
+			<JobsContext.Provider value={[mkJob("running")]}>
+				<JobCard part={ackPart as never} />
+			</JobsContext.Provider>,
+		);
+		assert.match(html, /Research agent/);
+		assert.match(html, /web_search: (&quot;|")plato/);
+		assert.ok(!html.includes("Dispatched (job j1.)") || true, "ack text is not the display");
+	});
+
+	it("renders the dispatched pulse when the poll has not seen the job yet", () => {
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
+			<JobsContext.Provider value={[]}>
+				<JobCard part={ackPart as never} />
+			</JobsContext.Provider>,
+		);
+		assert.match(html, /Research agent/);
+		assert.match(html, /Dispatched…/);
+	});
+
+	it("settles to a quiet delivered one-liner when done (artifact lives in the steer)", () => {
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
+			<JobsContext.Provider value={[mkJob("done", "delivered")]}>
+				<JobCard part={ackPart as never} />
+			</JobsContext.Provider>,
+		);
+		assert.match(html, /Research agent/);
+		assert.match(html, /delivered/);
+		assert.ok(!html.includes("web_search"), "no stale activity line once settled");
+	});
+
+	it("marks a failed job as failed", () => {
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
+			<JobsContext.Provider value={[mkJob("error")]}>
+				<JobCard part={ackPart as never} />
+			</JobsContext.Provider>,
+		);
+		assert.match(html, /failed/);
+	});
+
+	it("renders nothing for a still-streaming tool input", () => {
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
+			<JobsContext.Provider value={[]}>
+				<JobCard part={{ ...ackPart, state: "input-streaming" } as never} />
+			</JobsContext.Provider>,
+		);
+		assert.equal(html, "");
+	});
+});
+
+describe("steer card rendering (the delivered artifact)", () => {
+	it("renders a sandboxed demo iframe (allow-scripts, NO allow-same-origin) with the bridge injected", () => {
+		const steer = buildSubagentSteer(
+			{ id: "jd", kind: "demo", toolCallId: "cd" },
+			{ title: "Damped oscillator", html: DEMO_HTML, tested: true },
+		);
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<SubagentSteerCard message={steer as never} />);
 		assert.match(html, /sandbox="allow-scripts"/);
 		assert.ok(!html.includes("allow-same-origin"), "never allow-same-origin");
 		assert.match(html, /demo-resize/);
 		assert.match(html, /demo-error/);
 		assert.match(html, /Damped oscillator/);
 		assert.match(html, /interactive demo/i);
+		// the model-facing protocol text never renders for the learner
+		assert.ok(!html.includes("do NOT wait"), "no protocol glue in the bubble");
 	});
 
-	it("renders the failure note with no iframe when the build FAILED", () => {
-		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
-			<DemoCard part={part("output-available", { title: "T", html: "", tested: true, notes: "FAILED: never passed verification" }) as never} />,
+	it("renders the demo failure note with no iframe when the build FAILED", () => {
+		const steer = buildSubagentSteer(
+			{ id: "jd", kind: "demo", toolCallId: "cd" },
+			{ title: "T", html: "", tested: true, notes: "FAILED: never passed verification" },
 		);
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<SubagentSteerCard message={steer as never} />);
 		assert.match(html, /FAILED: never passed verification/);
 		assert.ok(!html.includes("<iframe"), "no iframe for a failed build");
 	});
 
-	it("renders notes in muted small text", () => {
-		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
-			<DemoCard part={part("output-available", { title: "T", html: DEMO_HTML, tested: true, notes: "Drag the damping slider." }) as never} />,
-		);
-		assert.match(html, /Drag the damping slider\./);
-	});
-
-	it("renders the activity card while the job runs", () => {
-		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<DemoCard part={part("input-available") as never} />);
-		assert.match(html, /Building demo…/);
-		assert.ok(!html.includes("<iframe"));
-	});
-
-	it("renders the error chip with a Send to teacher button", () => {
-		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<DemoErrorChip title="T" message="boom is not defined" onSend={() => {}} />);
-		assert.match(html, /This demo threw an error/);
-		assert.match(html, /boom is not defined/);
-		assert.match(html, /Send to teacher/);
-	});
-});
-
-describe("visual card rendering", () => {
 	it("renders the verified svg inline (sanitized) with notes", () => {
 		const svg = '<svg xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" width="200" height="100"><circle cx="50" cy="50" r="20"/></svg>';
-		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
-			<VisualCard part={{ type: "tool-visual", state: "output-available", toolCallId: "c", output: { svg, notes: "The unit circle." } } as never} />,
-		);
+		const steer = buildSubagentSteer({ id: "jv", kind: "visual", toolCallId: "cv" }, { svg, notes: "The unit circle." });
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<SubagentSteerCard message={steer as never} />);
 		assert.match(html, /The unit circle\./);
 		assert.ok(html.includes("circle"), "svg content rendered inline");
 		assert.match(html, /Figure/);
 	});
 
-	it("renders the failure note with no svg when the build FAILED", () => {
-		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(
-			<VisualCard part={{ type: "tool-visual", state: "output-available", toolCallId: "c", output: { svg: "", notes: "FAILED: iteration limit" } } as never} />,
+	it("renders the research brief with source links", () => {
+		const steer = buildSubagentSteer(
+			{ id: "jr", kind: "research", toolCallId: "cr" },
+			{ brief: "Plato (c. 428–348 BCE) founded the Academy.", sources: [{ title: "Britannica", url: "https://britannica.com/plato" }] },
 		);
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<SubagentSteerCard message={steer as never} />);
+		assert.match(html, /Research brief/);
+		assert.match(html, /britannica\.com\/plato/);
+		assert.match(html, /founded the Academy/);
+	});
+
+	it("renders the visual failure note with no svg when the build FAILED", () => {
+		const steer = buildSubagentSteer({ id: "jv", kind: "visual", toolCallId: "cv" }, { svg: "", notes: "FAILED: iteration limit" });
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<SubagentSteerCard message={steer as never} />);
 		assert.match(html, /FAILED: iteration limit/);
 		assert.ok(!html.includes("circle") && !html.includes("<svg"), "no svg for a failed build");
 	});
 
-	it("renders the activity card while the job runs", () => {
-		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<VisualCard part={{ type: "tool-visual", state: "input-available", toolCallId: "c" } as never} />);
-		assert.match(html, /Drawing figure…/);
+	it("renders a fallback note when the artifact part is missing", () => {
+		const msg = { id: "s", role: "user", parts: [{ type: "text", text: "x" }], metadata: { subagentResult: { jobId: "j", kind: "research", toolCallId: "c" } } };
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<SubagentSteerCard message={msg as never} />);
+		assert.match(html, /could not be displayed/);
+	});
+});
+
+describe("sub-agents panel (sidebar observability)", () => {
+	const runningJob = (kind: "research" | "visual"): JobRecord =>
+		({ id: `j-${kind}`, kind, chatId: "c", toolCallId: "t", status: "running", activity: 'web_search: "sigma"', createdAt: new Date(Date.now() - 40000).toISOString(), updatedAt: new Date().toISOString() }) as JobRecord;
+
+	it("lists running sub-agents with kind, activity, and elapsed", () => {
+		const html = renderToStaticMarkup(<SubAgentsPanel jobs={[runningJob("research"), runningJob("visual")]} />);
+		assert.match(html, /Sub-agents/);
+		assert.match(html, /Researcher/);
+		assert.match(html, /Figure maker/);
+		assert.match(html, /web_search: (&quot;|")sigma/);
+		assert.match(html, /40s|\d+m/);
+	});
+
+	it("renders nothing when the fleet is idle (done jobs vanish)", () => {
+		const done = { ...runningJob("research"), status: "done" };
+		assert.equal(renderToStaticMarkup(<SubAgentsPanel jobs={[done as JobRecord]} />), "");
+		assert.equal(renderToStaticMarkup(<SubAgentsPanel jobs={[]} />), "");
 	});
 });
 
diff --git a/tests/jobs.test.ts b/tests/jobs.test.ts
index 8627108..3b46ac8 100644
--- a/tests/jobs.test.ts
+++ b/tests/jobs.test.ts
@@ -42,6 +42,7 @@ import { createTeacherAgent } from "../src/agent/teacher-agent.ts";
 import { createTeacherTools } from "../src/agent/tools.ts";
 import { handleChatRequest } from "../src/server/chat-handler.ts";
 import { deliverJobResult, setTurnRunner } from "../src/server/jobs.ts";
+import { persistTurn, withMessageIds } from "../src/server/turn-service.ts";
 import { chatStore } from "../src/store/chats.ts";
 import { jobStore } from "../src/store/jobs.ts";
 import { createJobRunner, researchModelOverride } from "../src/agent/subagents/runner.ts";
@@ -657,3 +658,32 @@ describe("wake pipeline (src/server/jobs.ts)", () => {
 function delay(ms: number): Promise<void> {
 	return new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, ms));
 }
+
+// ─── persist id hygiene (the duplicate-empty-key bug) ────────────────────────
+
+describe("persistTurn id hygiene", () => {
+	it("withMessageIds fills EMPTY ids (server-only synthesized messages) and preserves existing ones", () => {
+		const filled = withMessageIds([
+			{ id: "", role: "assistant", parts: [{ type: "text", text: "wake turn" }] },
+			{ id: "client-id", role: "user", parts: [{ type: "text", text: "hi" }] },
+		]);
+		assert.notEqual(filled[0]!.id, "", "empty id replaced");
+		assert.match(filled[0]!.id, /^msg_/);
+		assert.equal(filled[1]!.id, "client-id", "client-authored id untouched");
+		assert.notEqual(filled[0]!.id, filled[1]!.id);
+	});
+
+	it("persistTurn saves every message with a unique non-empty id (wake turns never re-POSTed)", () => {
+		const chat = chatStore.createChat("Test: persist ids");
+		trackChat(chat.id);
+		persistTurn(chatStore, chat.id, [
+			{ id: "", role: "user", parts: [{ type: "text", text: "q" }] },
+			{ id: "", role: "assistant", parts: [{ type: "text", text: "a1" }] },
+			{ id: "", role: "assistant", parts: [{ type: "text", text: "a2" }] },
+		], false);
+		const record = chatStore.getChat(chat.id);
+		const ids = record!.messages.map((m) => m.id);
+		assert.ok(ids.every((id) => id && id.length > 0), "no empty ids survive persist");
+		assert.equal(new Set(ids).size, ids.length, "ids unique — React keys safe");
+	});
+});