# Evidence Ledger

## Intent

Repair the issue #159 research defects and deliver a source-grounded, authority-safe `pace-plan` skill that passes the repository's actual packaging and eval contracts.

## Authority

- **Granted:** modify local workspace files and run local validation; later, publish the exact approved replacement to GitHub comment `5086185139` with the stated backup and rollback path.
- **Not granted:** delete GitHub content, commit, push, merge, deploy, transmit, activate, or test a real communications system.

## Inspected Artifacts

- GitHub issue `magnus919/agent-skills#159` and existing issue comment `5086185139`.
- `AGENTS.md`, `agent-skills/SKILL.md`, and skill-format references.
- `spec-driven-development/SKILL.md`, SPEC and VERIFICATION templates, and quality gates.
- `neckbeard/SKILL.md`, stage, authority, and evidence-ledger references.
- `research-methodology/SKILL.md` and original assets from `HEAD`.
- Directly extracted CISA/NCSWIC PACE PDF and its CISA publication page.
- Existing skill, README, eval, validator, and generated-catalog patterns in this repository.
- Independent issue/spec review and independent source/safety review, followed by targeted re-review.

## Assumptions

- Local modify authority is implied by the instruction to execute the specification; publish authority is not.
- The issue's requested artifact set is sufficient without a CLI because no deterministic repeated computation was identified.
- The repository package, not real emergency-communications operation, is the declared verification target.

## Alternatives Rejected

- **Keep filled research-methodology assets:** rejected because they are reusable templates shared by future investigations.
- **Retain the broad seven-source synthesis:** rejected because several sources were indirect and several claims exceeded the directly inspected evidence.
- **Add a PACE validator CLI:** rejected because plan quality depends on local facts, authority, and judgment rather than deterministic computation.
- **Use one large SKILL.md:** rejected because conditional planning, operation, troubleshooting, and exercise details support progressive disclosure.
- **Correct the GitHub comment automatically:** rejected because that crosses from modify to publish authority.

## Files Changed

- Added the complete `pace-plan/` skill package, delivery specification, verification report, and evidence ledger.
- Updated `README.md` with the alphabetized skill catalog entry.
- Updated `.claude-plugin/marketplace.json`, `.codex-plugin/plugin.json`, and `llms.txt` through repository generators.
- Restored `research-methodology/assets/research-brief.md` and `research-methodology/assets/research-log.md` to `HEAD`; they therefore do not appear in the final diff.
- Removed the superseded `pace-planning/research/PACE-research-findings.md` after direct evidence and exclusions were preserved.

## Commands And Observed Outputs

| Command or check | Observed output | Boundary |
|---|---|---|
| `git diff --exit-code -- research-methodology/assets/research-brief.md research-methodology/assets/research-log.md` | Exit 0, no diff | Component: shared asset restoration |
| `python3 scripts/validate-evals.py` | 13 manifests validated | Integration: eval contracts |
| `python3 scripts/test-eval-validation.py` | 27 tests passed | Component: validator behavior |
| `ruby scripts/validate-skills.rb` | 112 canonical skills validated | Integration: repository skill contract |
| Three `gen-*.rb --write` commands | Generated catalogs for 102 public skills | Integration: generated packaging |
| Three `gen-*.rb` check commands | All generated catalogs current | Integration: generated packaging |
| `skills-ref validate ./pace-plan` | Command unavailable | Unverified external reference validator |
| Independent issue/spec review | Initial findings; targeted re-review resolved high and medium findings | Manual contract review |
| Independent safety/source review | Initial findings; targeted re-review resolved high and medium findings | Manual source and safety review |
| Approved `gh api` comment edit and fresh refetch | Stored body matched the approved replacement; comment updated at 2026-07-27T01:08:00Z | Published issue record |

## Verification Boundary

The exercised target is the local repository delivery boundary: skill structure, links, README requirements, eval schema, repository validator behavior, and generated catalogs. Direct source fidelity was checked against the extracted CISA document. See `VERIFICATION.md` for the per-criterion verdict.

## Unverified Boundaries

- No executable grader ran the seven output-quality prompts against a model.
- `skills-ref` was unavailable.
- No live communications system or real organizational procedure was exercised.

## Rollback And Follow-Up Triggers

- Remove the `pace-plan` catalog entry and package, then rerun all generators if the skill is rejected before delivery.
- Revisit path quality language if a retained primary source contradicts the current failure-domain interpretation.
- Revise eval assertions after real model runs expose false passes or false failures.
- Restore the original GitHub body from the operator-local pre-mutation JSON backup only if explicitly directed; no machine-local path is part of the portable skill package.

## Status

**done-with-gap:** Local repository and approved GitHub correction targets passed. Model-run grading evidence is not part of repository eval contract v1, and `skills-ref` was unavailable.