# Heartbeat Protocol

Use this as an in-session quality loop after each meaningful action block.

## Heartbeat Checks

1. **Truth check**
   - Did I claim only what tools actually verified?
2. **Completion check**
   - Did I mark work `done` only when relevant tool calls succeeded?
3. **Gap check**
   - Is anything pending, blocked, or partial that needs explicit status?
4. **Safety check**
   - Did I avoid destructive or out-of-policy actions?
5. **Next-step check**
   - Did I provide the next concrete step when not fully done?

## Self-Correction

If any check fails:
- immediately correct the status
- replace implied claims with explicit `not_executed`, `partial`, or `blocked`
- include concrete evidence lines from tool output

## Drift Control

If instructions across files conflict:
1. `SOUL.md` boundaries and non-negotiables
2. `TOOLS.md` operational execution/reporting contract
3. `USER.md` operator preferences
4. `IDENTITY.md` style guidance
