diff --git a/.github/workflows/ssh-relay-runtime-artifacts.yml b/.github/workflows/ssh-relay-runtime-artifacts.yml
index 3577813a4ec..f88fca55d2c 100644
--- a/.github/workflows/ssh-relay-runtime-artifacts.yml
+++ b/.github/workflows/ssh-relay-runtime-artifacts.yml
@@ -269,6 +269,7 @@ jobs:
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-in-use-lease.test.ts \
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-eviction.test.ts \
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-root.test.ts \
+            src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.test.ts \
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-compiled-manifest-trust.test.ts \
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-official-manifest.test.ts \
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-manifest-accepted-keys.test.ts \
@@ -808,6 +809,7 @@ jobs:
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-in-use-lease.test.ts `
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-eviction.test.ts `
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-root.test.ts `
+            src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.test.ts `
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-compiled-manifest-trust.test.ts `
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-official-manifest.test.ts `
             src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-manifest-accepted-keys.test.ts `
diff --git a/config/scripts/ssh-relay-runtime-workflow.test.mjs b/config/scripts/ssh-relay-runtime-workflow.test.mjs
index ebda96bf749..e8457a3f6fa 100644
--- a/config/scripts/ssh-relay-runtime-workflow.test.mjs
+++ b/config/scripts/ssh-relay-runtime-workflow.test.mjs
@@ -127,6 +127,7 @@ describe('SSH relay runtime artifact workflow', () => {
       'ssh-relay-artifact-cache-in-use-lease.test.ts',
       'ssh-relay-artifact-cache-eviction.test.ts',
       'ssh-relay-artifact-cache-root.test.ts',
+      'ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.test.ts',
       'ssh-relay-compiled-manifest-trust.test.ts',
       'ssh-relay-official-manifest.test.ts',
       'ssh-relay-manifest-accepted-keys.test.ts',
diff --git a/docs/reference/plans/2026-07-14-ssh-relay-github-release-implementation-checklist-summary.md b/docs/reference/plans/2026-07-14-ssh-relay-github-release-implementation-checklist-summary.md
index e4c1d48fd94..eab5ec9b61e 100644
--- a/docs/reference/plans/2026-07-14-ssh-relay-github-release-implementation-checklist-summary.md
+++ b/docs/reference/plans/2026-07-14-ssh-relay-github-release-implementation-checklist-summary.md
@@ -9,9 +9,23 @@ keeps commands, hashes, runner identities, timings, and failure details.
 A checked box means the work has evidence in the detailed ledger. Design approval alone does not
 complete a box.
 
-Active checkpoint: **Milestone 5 / Work Package 4 desktop resolver/cache — disconnected app-owned
-cache-root locally green and wired; commit/all-six native proof next, 2026-07-15, Codex
-implementation owner.** `E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-ROOT-LOCAL-001` passes 3/3 purpose tests, the native
+Active checkpoint: **Milestone 5 / Work Package 4 desktop resolver/cache — disconnected warm-cache
+resolution locally green and wired; commit/all-six native proof next, 2026-07-15, Codex
+implementation owner.** `E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-RESOLUTION-LOCAL-001` passes 9/9 purpose tests,
+16/16 focused+workflow-oracle tests, 323/323 non-full-size SSH relay tests, 280/280 release-script
+tests, typecheck, lint, format, reliability, max-lines, localization, and diff gates. Missing trust
+and compatibility legacy results perform no cache I/O; a miss returns only the immutable selected
+artifact; a verified hit acquires an in-use lease before exposure; corruption and lease failures
+propagate closed. No download, Electron/startup, SSH/Beta mode/tuple/publication/default caller
+exists.
+`E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-ROOT-CI-001` closes the pure cache-root contract at exact head `aefcaa9a9`:
+all six primary native Node 24 jobs, both Linux supplements, Windows x64 baseline, PR Checks, Golden
+E2E, and computer-use pass; Windows arm64 build 26200 remains correctly gated against 26100. The
+startup-boundary audit found that a late direct `app.getPath('userData')` adapter would be unsafe
+because `app.setName()` can change that path. The eventual startup caller must supply Orca's
+pre-`app.setName()` canonical path. The next slice may only compose explicit resolver/cache
+dependencies; it must add no proxy, SSH/Beta mode/tuple/publication/default behavior.
+`E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-ROOT-LOCAL-001` passes 3/3 purpose tests, the native
 workflow oracle, 314/314 non-full-size SSH relay tests, 280/280 release-script tests, typecheck,
 lint, format, reliability, max-lines, localization, and diff gates. Both POSIX and PowerShell native
 artifact commands now run the purpose suite. The pure function accepts only an absolute
diff --git a/docs/reference/plans/2026-07-14-ssh-relay-github-release-implementation-checklist.md b/docs/reference/plans/2026-07-14-ssh-relay-github-release-implementation-checklist.md
index a24590f087f..ffbf5746947 100644
--- a/docs/reference/plans/2026-07-14-ssh-relay-github-release-implementation-checklist.md
+++ b/docs/reference/plans/2026-07-14-ssh-relay-github-release-implementation-checklist.md
@@ -8,8 +8,8 @@ work; keep exact commands, runner identities, hashes, metrics, and residual gaps
 
 Date created: 2026-07-14<br>
 Last updated: 2026-07-15<br>
-Current phase: Milestone 5 / Work Package 4 desktop resolver/cache — **In progress — 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner: audit the smallest disconnected app-owned relay artifact cache-root contract**. Keep Electron/product consumers, cache orchestration, the build constant, production key/manifest/resources, downloader/SSH/settings/tuples/publication/default behavior absent. Real Apple/SignPath rehearsals remain an explicit late gate and are not on this package's critical path.<br>
-Session checkpoint: **In progress — 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner** — `E-M5-OFFICIAL-MANIFEST-COMPOSITION-CI-001` closes the immutable-trust/fixed-resource composition at exact head `749f775f15cbd92354fe43e4c142900d4b921614`: all six primary native jobs, both Linux supplements, Windows x64 baseline, PR Checks, Golden E2E, and computer-use pass. Hosted Windows arm64 build 26200 remains correctly rejected against required 26100. Begin only the disconnected cache-root audit/RED; merging to `main` remains prohibited and SignPath is deferred. No Electron resource, downloader, SSH, setting, tuple, publication, or default-path consumer exists. Legacy remains the production default.<br>
+Current phase: Milestone 5 / Work Package 4 desktop resolver/cache — **In progress — 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner: audit the smallest disconnected resolver/cache composition**. Require the eventual startup caller to supply Orca's pre-`app.setName()` canonical user-data path; keep filesystem orchestration outside import time and production manifest/resources, proxy, SSH/settings/tuples/publication/default behavior absent. Real Apple/SignPath rehearsals remain an explicit late gate and are not on this package's critical path.<br>
+Session checkpoint: **In progress — 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner** — `E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-ROOT-CI-001` closes the pure cache-root contract at exact head `aefcaa9a938710e275e3b49ab71446f73b01e075`: all six primary native Node 24 jobs, both Linux supplements, Windows x64 baseline, PR Checks, Golden E2E, and computer-use pass. `E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-STARTUP-BOUNDARY-AUDIT-001` rejects a late direct Electron adapter because `app.setName()` can change `app.getPath('userData')`; the eventual startup caller must pass `getCanonicalUserDataPath()`. Begin only the disconnected resolver/cache composition audit; merging to `main` remains prohibited and SignPath is deferred. No SSH, setting, tuple, publication, or default-path consumer exists. Legacy remains the production default.<br>
 Primary design: [SSH relay GitHub Release plan](./2026-07-14-ssh-relay-github-release-plan.html)<br>
 Motivating issues: [#8450](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/issues/8450), [#1693](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/issues/1693)
 
@@ -142,10 +142,15 @@ same change as the work it records.
   accounting, and bounded 2 GiB eviction pass locally and on all six native clients under
   E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-LOCK-CI-001, E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-ENTRY-CI-001, and
   E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-EVICTION-CI-001. No production consumer exists.
-- Active package: **In progress — 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner** — audit a pure app-owned
-  relay artifact cache-root derivation from a caller-supplied native user-data path. Keep Electron
-  `app.getPath`, directory creation, cache lookup/publication/eviction orchestration, environment
-  overrides, downloader, SSH, mode, tuple, publication, and defaults separately gated.
+- Completed package: pure app-owned relay artifact cache-root derivation. An absolute
+  caller-supplied native user-data path, fixed versioned namespace, environment non-redirection,
+  local gates, and all-six native Node 24 proof are green under
+  E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-ROOT-LOCAL-RED-001, E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-ROOT-LOCAL-001, and
+  E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-ROOT-CI-001. No Electron or product caller exists.
+- Active package: **In progress — 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner** — audit the smallest
+  disconnected resolver/cache composition over explicit dependencies. The eventual startup caller,
+  not an SSH module, must supply `getCanonicalUserDataPath()` captured before `app.setName()`.
+  Keep proxy integration, SSH, mode, tuple, publication, and defaults separately gated.
 - Completed Work Package 2 gate: target-native Windows source-signature reports from exact-head
   artifact jobs 87267322867 and 87267322870 were independently downloaded and matched to their
   identities and signing-stage reports under E-M3-WINDOWS-SOURCE-SIGNATURE-CI-001. PR Checks
@@ -14359,6 +14364,130 @@ config/vitest.config.ts --maxWorkers=1 config/scripts/ssh-relay-runtime-*.test.m
 - Remaining proof for this slice: commit the coherent package and require all six primary native
   Node 24 jobs plus the existing adjacent PR/E2E gates before advancing to another desktop adapter.
 
+### E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-ROOT-CI-001 — all-six native cache-root proof
+
+- Date/owner: 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner.
+- Exact source/workflow: `aefcaa9a938710e275e3b49ab71446f73b01e075`, artifact run
+  [29472780636](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/actions/runs/29472780636). The purpose suite passes
+  within the complete runtime contract step under Node 24.18.0 on all six primary native clients.
+- Primary jobs: Linux arm64 87539171165 passes in 3m02s; Linux x64 87539171175 in 2m26s; Windows
+  x64 87539171177 in 5m53s; macOS arm64 87539171184 in 1m48s; Windows arm64 87539171191 in 10m53s;
+  and macOS x64 87539171195 in 6m15s. Every job completes deterministic artifact build, exact runtime
+  smoke, full-size extraction/cache measurement, and unpublished artifact upload after the contract
+  step.
+- Supplements/floors: Linux arm64/x64 supplement jobs 87540022894/87540022920 pass. Windows x64
+  baseline job 87540654596 passes. Windows arm64 baseline job 87540654549 verifies and executes the
+  exact 85,213,511-byte expanded runtime with Node 24.18.0, PTY, watcher, and resource settlement,
+  then correctly rejects observed build `10.0.26200` against required build 26100
+  (`qualified: false`, `osBuild: false`). The tuple remains disabled and this retained floor gate is
+  the artifact workflow's sole expected failure.
+- Adjacent gates: PR Checks run
+  [29472780621](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/actions/runs/29472780621), job 87539170670, passes in
+  14m48s including lint, typecheck, Git compatibility, full tests, unpacked app, and packaged CLI
+  smoke. Golden E2E run
+  [29472780625](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/actions/runs/29472780625) passes Linux job
+  87539170813 in 4m55s and macOS job 87539170863 in 5m06s. Computer-use run
+  [29472780628](https://github.com/stablyai/orca/actions/runs/29472780628) passes Windows job
+  87539170947 in 4m30s and Ubuntu job 87539170974 in 3m04s.
+- Closure: native `node:path` semantics, the fixed versioned namespace, absolute-path rejection,
+  frozen metadata, and environment non-redirection are proven on Linux, macOS, and Windows x64/
+  arm64. No Electron/product caller, filesystem/cache operation, proxy/downloader, SSH, setting,
+  tuple, publication, or default-path behavior exists; legacy remains unchanged.
+- Residual gaps: Electron user-data adaptation, filesystem/cache orchestration, read-only/disk-full/
+  quota/inode faults, proxy/certificate/live download, offline transfer, SSH install/launch, native
+  trust, oldest Windows arm64/macOS/Linux-kernel floors, per-target Beta wiring, and every tuple
+  remain open.
+
+### E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-STARTUP-BOUNDARY-AUDIT-001 — canonical user-data path correction
+
+- Date/owner: 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner.
+- Audit: complete reads of `configureDevUserDataPath`, `initDataPath`, and
+  `getCanonicalUserDataPath`; startup-order search over `configureDevUserDataPath`, `app.setName`,
+  and all existing `app.getPath('userData')` consumers; import/caller search for the new cache-root
+  module. No HTML-plan text prescribes a direct Electron adapter, so the clean primary plan requires
+  no content correction.
+- Finding: Orca deliberately captures canonical user data after dev/E2E `app.setPath` handling but
+  before `app.setName()`, because a late `app.getPath('userData')` can resolve to a different
+  directory on case-sensitive filesystems. A new SSH module that calls Electron directly would
+  therefore risk split cache ownership and bypass the established startup boundary.
+- Correction: do not implement the proposed late Electron adapter. Keep
+  `sshRelayArtifactCacheRoot(userDataPath)` dependency-injected. The eventual startup/product caller
+  must pass `getCanonicalUserDataPath()` after initialization; tests may pass isolated absolute
+  paths. No environment variable may replace that path.
+- Next package: audit the smallest disconnected resolver/cache composition over the already-proven
+  official manifest, selector, download, extraction, cache-entry, lease, and eviction capabilities.
+  It must accept explicit dependencies and add no import-time I/O, Electron/startup caller, proxy,
+  SSH, setting, tuple, publication, or default behavior.
+
+### E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-RESOLUTION-AUDIT-001 — warm-cache acquisition seam
+
+- Date/owner: 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner.
+- Audit: complete reads of official-manifest composition, platform selector, downloader, extractor,
+  cache entry verification/publication, in-use lease, and eviction modules; export/caller search
+  confirms every capability remains disconnected outside tests/fixtures.
+- Findings: the smallest useful composition is selection plus verified cache lookup plus in-use
+  lease acquisition. Missing compiled trust and compatibility-selected legacy results must return
+  before cache I/O. A cache miss must return the immutable selected artifact without downloading;
+  a verified hit must acquire a lease before exposing a frozen entry snapshot. Relative cache roots,
+  cancellation, integrity/quarantine errors, and lease failures must propagate without becoming a
+  miss or legacy result.
+- Deliberately separate: download staging, proxy/certificate integration, cold publication,
+  eviction, availability/fallback classification, canonical startup caller, SSH transfer/install,
+  `ORCA_RELAY_PATH`, Beta settings, tuples, publication, and defaults.
+- Required RED: exact operation order and call counts for unavailable, legacy, miss, and hit;
+  immutable returned identity; absolute-root and pre-aborted guards; fail-closed lookup-integrity and
+  lease errors; proof that no downloader, Electron, startup, SSH, or fallback caller is introduced.
+
+### E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-RESOLUTION-LOCAL-RED-001 — cache resolution composition is absent
+
+- Date/owner: 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner.
+- Command: `pnpm exec vitest run --config config/vitest.config.ts --maxWorkers=1
+src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.test.ts`.
+- Result: expected FAIL, one failed suite / zero tests in 403 ms because
+  `./ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution` does not exist. Seven purpose cases define unavailable and
+  compatibility short circuits, immutable miss/hit identity, lease-before-hit exposure,
+  absolute-root and cancellation guards, and fail-closed integrity/lease propagation.
+- Consumer disconnection: only the purpose test imports the absent module. No downloader, Electron,
+  startup, SSH, setting, fallback, tuple, publication, or default caller exists.
+
+### E-M5-ARTIFACT-CACHE-RESOLUTION-LOCAL-001 — disconnected warm-cache resolution
+
+- Date/owner: 2026-07-15, Codex implementation owner.
+- Implementation: `ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.ts` composes only the verified official
+  manifest, compatibility selector, strict cache lookup, and in-use lease. Missing trust and legacy
+  selections return before cache I/O; cache miss returns the immutable selected artifact; cache hit
+  returns a frozen verified entry snapshot only after lease acquisition. Integrity/quarantine and
+  lease errors are not classified or converted here.
+- Focused command: `/usr/bin/time -l pnpm exec vitest run --config config/vitest.config.ts
+--maxWorkers=1 src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.test.ts` — PASS, 1 file / 9 tests
+  in 855 ms Vitest, 2.54 s wall, 131,825,664-byte maximum RSS. Cases cover unavailable/legacy zero-
+  I/O short circuits, immutable miss, real default cache miss, exact lookup-before-lease hit, frozen
+  entry identity, absolute root, pre-abort, post-acquisition cancellation release, and fail-closed
+  integrity/lease errors.
+- Native workflow wiring/oracle: the purpose suite is present once in each POSIX and PowerShell
+  native artifact command. `/usr/bin/time -l pnpm exec vitest run --config config/vitest.config.ts
+--maxWorkers=1 src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.test.ts
+config/scripts/ssh-relay-runtime-workflow.test.mjs` — PASS, 2 files / 16 tests in 1.68 s Vitest,
+  3.58 s wall, 131,989,504-byte maximum RSS.
+- Broader SSH relay command: `/usr/bin/time -l pnpm exec vitest run --config
+config/vitest.config.ts --maxWorkers=1 --silent=true src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-*.test.ts` — PASS, 27
+  files / 323 tests; 3 declared full-size files/tests skipped; 18.04 s Vitest, 19.47 s wall,
+  301,465,600-byte maximum RSS.
+- Release-script command: `/usr/bin/time -l pnpm exec vitest run --config
+config/vitest.config.ts --maxWorkers=1 --silent=true config/scripts/ssh-relay-runtime-*.test.mjs`
+  — PASS, 50 files / 280 tests in 19.47 s Vitest, 21.25 s wall, 188,203,008-byte maximum RSS.
+- Repository gates: targeted `oxfmt --write` completes on six files in 1.895 s; `pnpm typecheck` and
+  `pnpm lint` pass. Lint includes switch exhaustiveness, 41 reliability gates, no new max-lines
+  bypass, bundled skill-guide verification, 9,837 localization references and locale parity, and
+  zero localization coverage candidates. Local Node 26.0.0 emits only the expected engine warning;
+  exact Node 24 native proof remains pending.
+- Boundary: no download staging, proxy/certificate integration, cold publication, eviction,
+  availability/fallback classification, Electron/startup caller, SSH transfer/install/launch,
+  `ORCA_RELAY_PATH`, Beta setting, tuple, publication, or default-path change. Legacy remains
+  unchanged.
+- Remaining proof for this slice: commit the coherent package and require all six primary native
+  Node 24 jobs plus adjacent PR/E2E gates before adding cold download/publication composition.
+
 ## Accepted Gaps
 
 No product gap is accepted merely because it appears in this list. Each entry requires explicit
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.test.ts b/src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a045b84c53b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,248 @@
+import { mkdtemp, rm } from 'node:fs/promises'
+import { join } from 'node:path'
+import { tmpdir } from 'node:os'
+
+import nacl from 'tweetnacl'
+import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+
+import { createSshRelayArtifactTestManifest } from './ssh-relay-artifact-test-manifest'
+import { SshRelayArtifactCacheIntegrityError } from './ssh-relay-artifact-cache-entry'
+import {
+  resolveSshRelayArtifactCache,
+  type SshRelayArtifactCacheResolutionOperations
+} from './ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution'
+import type { SshRelayOfficialManifest } from './ssh-relay-official-manifest'
+import {
+  signSshRelayArtifactManifest,
+  sshRelayManifestKeyId,
+  verifySshRelayArtifactManifest
+} from './ssh-relay-manifest-signature'
+import type { SshRelayDigest } from './ssh-relay-runtime-identity'
+
+const keyPair = nacl.sign.keyPair.fromSeed(Uint8Array.from({ length: 32 }, (_, index) => index))
+const cacheRoot = join(tmpdir(), 'orca-relay-cache-resolution')
+const compatibleHost = {
+  os: 'linux' as const,
+  architecture: 'x64' as const,
+  processTranslated: false,
+  kernelVersion: '6.8.0',
+  libc: { family: 'glibc' as const, version: '2.39' },
+  libstdcxxVersion: '6.0.33',
+  glibcxxVersion: '3.4.33'
+}
+
+function officialManifest(): SshRelayOfficialManifest {
+  const manifest = createSshRelayArtifactTestManifest()
+  manifest.signatures = [signSshRelayArtifactManifest(manifest, keyPair.secretKey)]
+  return Object.freeze({
+    manifest: verifySshRelayArtifactManifest(manifest, [
+      { keyId: sshRelayManifestKeyId(keyPair.publicKey), publicKey: keyPair.publicKey }
+    ]),
+    acceptedKeysSha256: `sha256:${'a'.repeat(64)}` as SshRelayDigest
+  })
+}
+
+function cacheEntryFor(official: SshRelayOfficialManifest) {
+  const tuple = official.manifest.tuples[0]
+  return {
+    contentId: tuple.contentId,
+    tupleId: tuple.tupleId,
+    entryPath: join(cacheRoot, 'entries', tuple.contentId.slice('sha256:'.length)),
+    archivePath: join(cacheRoot, tuple.archive.name),
+    runtimeRoot: join(cacheRoot, 'runtime'),
+    proofPath: join(cacheRoot, 'install-proof.json'),
+    files: tuple.entries.length,
+    expandedBytes: tuple.entries.reduce(
+      (total, value) => total + (value.type === 'file' ? value.size : 0),
+      0
+    )
+  }
+}
+
+const operations = {
+  lookup: vi.fn<SshRelayArtifactCacheResolutionOperations['lookup']>(),
+  acquireInUseLease: vi.fn<SshRelayArtifactCacheResolutionOperations['acquireInUseLease']>()
+}
+
+beforeEach(() => {
+  operations.lookup.mockReset()
+  operations.acquireInUseLease.mockReset()
+})
+
+describe('SSH relay artifact cache resolution', () => {
+  it('returns unavailable before cache I/O when official trust is unprovisioned', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+        { officialManifest: null, host: compatibleHost, cacheRoot },
+        operations
+      )
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ kind: 'unavailable', reason: 'official-manifest-unavailable' })
+    expect(operations.lookup).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(operations.acquireInUseLease).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('returns a compatibility legacy result before cache I/O', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+        {
+          officialManifest: officialManifest(),
+          host: { ...compatibleHost, processTranslated: true },
+          cacheRoot
+        },
+        operations
+      )
+    ).resolves.toEqual({ kind: 'legacy', reason: 'translated-process' })
+    expect(operations.lookup).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+    expect(operations.acquireInUseLease).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('returns an immutable selected artifact on cache miss without acquiring a lease', async () => {
+    operations.lookup.mockResolvedValue({ kind: 'miss' })
+
+    const result = await resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+      { officialManifest: officialManifest(), host: compatibleHost, cacheRoot },
+      operations
+    )
+
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ kind: 'cache-miss', artifact: { tupleId: 'linux-x64-glibc' } })
+    expect(Object.isFrozen(result)).toBe(true)
+    expect(operations.lookup).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(operations.lookup.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatchObject({ cacheRoot })
+    expect(operations.acquireInUseLease).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('uses the real verified cache lookup on a disconnected miss', async () => {
+    const root = await mkdtemp(join(tmpdir(), 'orca-relay-cache-resolution-real-'))
+    try {
+      await expect(
+        resolveSshRelayArtifactCache({
+          officialManifest: officialManifest(),
+          host: compatibleHost,
+          cacheRoot: join(root, 'cache')
+        })
+      ).resolves.toMatchObject({
+        kind: 'cache-miss',
+        artifact: { tupleId: 'linux-x64-glibc' }
+      })
+    } finally {
+      await rm(root, { recursive: true, force: true })
+    }
+  })
+
+  it('acquires a lease before exposing a frozen verified cache entry', async () => {
+    const official = officialManifest()
+    const entry = cacheEntryFor(official)
+    const lease = {
+      leasePath: join(cacheRoot, 'in-use', 'lease'),
+      token: 'b'.repeat(32),
+      assertOwned: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+      release: vi.fn(async () => {})
+    }
+    operations.lookup.mockResolvedValue({ kind: 'hit', entry })
+    operations.acquireInUseLease.mockResolvedValue(lease)
+
+    const result = await resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+      { officialManifest: official, host: compatibleHost, cacheRoot },
+      operations
+    )
+
+    expect(result).toMatchObject({ kind: 'cache-hit', entry, lease })
+    expect(Object.isFrozen(result)).toBe(true)
+    expect(result.kind === 'cache-hit' && Object.isFrozen(result.entry)).toBe(true)
+    expect(operations.acquireInUseLease).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+    expect(operations.acquireInUseLease.mock.calls[0][0]).toMatchObject({ cacheRoot, entry })
+    expect(operations.lookup.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]).toBeLessThan(
+      operations.acquireInUseLease.mock.invocationCallOrder[0]
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('releases an acquired lease when cancellation wins before exposure', async () => {
+    const official = officialManifest()
+    const controller = new AbortController()
+    const release = vi.fn(async () => {})
+    operations.lookup.mockResolvedValue({ kind: 'hit', entry: cacheEntryFor(official) })
+    operations.acquireInUseLease.mockImplementation(async () => {
+      controller.abort(new Error('cancel after lease'))
+      return {
+        leasePath: join(cacheRoot, 'in-use', 'lease'),
+        token: 'c'.repeat(32),
+        assertOwned: vi.fn(async () => {}),
+        release
+      }
+    })
+
+    await expect(
+      resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+        {
+          officialManifest: official,
+          host: compatibleHost,
+          cacheRoot,
+          signal: controller.signal
+        },
+        operations
+      )
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/cancel after lease/i)
+    expect(release).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('rejects a relative cache root before invoking cache operations', async () => {
+    await expect(
+      resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+        {
+          officialManifest: officialManifest(),
+          host: compatibleHost,
+          cacheRoot: 'relative/cache'
+        },
+        operations
+      )
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/absolute|cache root/i)
+    expect(operations.lookup).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('settles pre-aborted requests without invoking cache operations', async () => {
+    const controller = new AbortController()
+    controller.abort(new Error('cancel cache resolution'))
+
+    await expect(
+      resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+        {
+          officialManifest: officialManifest(),
+          host: compatibleHost,
+          cacheRoot,
+          signal: controller.signal
+        },
+        operations
+      )
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/cancel cache resolution/i)
+    expect(operations.lookup).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('propagates cache integrity and lease failures without returning miss or legacy', async () => {
+    operations.lookup.mockRejectedValueOnce(
+      new SshRelayArtifactCacheIntegrityError(
+        'corrupt cache entry',
+        join(cacheRoot, 'quarantine', 'corrupt'),
+        new Error('tree mismatch')
+      )
+    )
+    await expect(
+      resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+        { officialManifest: officialManifest(), host: compatibleHost, cacheRoot },
+        operations
+      )
+    ).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(SshRelayArtifactCacheIntegrityError)
+
+    const official = officialManifest()
+    operations.lookup.mockResolvedValueOnce({
+      kind: 'hit',
+      entry: cacheEntryFor(official)
+    })
+    operations.acquireInUseLease.mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('lease ownership displaced'))
+    await expect(
+      resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+        { officialManifest: official, host: compatibleHost, cacheRoot },
+        operations
+      )
+    ).rejects.toThrow(/lease ownership displaced/i)
+  })
+})
diff --git a/src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.ts b/src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..f78296c5b75
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/main/ssh/ssh-relay-artifact-cache-resolution.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,99 @@
+import { isAbsolute } from 'node:path'
+
+import {
+  lookupSshRelayArtifactCacheEntry,
+  type SshRelayArtifactCacheLookup
+} from './ssh-relay-artifact-cache-entry'
+import type { SshRelayArtifactCacheEntry } from './ssh-relay-artifact-cache-entry-verification'
+import {
+  acquireSshRelayArtifactCacheInUseLease,
+  type SshRelayArtifactCacheInUseLease
+} from './ssh-relay-artifact-cache-in-use-lease'
+import {
+  selectSshRelayArtifact,
+  type SshRelayArtifactLegacyReason,
+  type SshRelayHostEvidence,
+  type SshRelaySelectedArtifact
+} from './ssh-relay-artifact-selector'
+import type { SshRelayOfficialManifest } from './ssh-relay-official-manifest'
+
+export type SshRelayArtifactCacheResolutionOperations = Readonly<{
+  lookup: typeof lookupSshRelayArtifactCacheEntry
+  acquireInUseLease: typeof acquireSshRelayArtifactCacheInUseLease
+}>
+
+const DEFAULT_OPERATIONS: SshRelayArtifactCacheResolutionOperations = Object.freeze({
+  lookup: lookupSshRelayArtifactCacheEntry,
+  acquireInUseLease: acquireSshRelayArtifactCacheInUseLease
+})
+
+export type SshRelayArtifactCacheResolution =
+  | Readonly<{ kind: 'unavailable'; reason: 'official-manifest-unavailable' }>
+  | Readonly<{ kind: 'legacy'; reason: SshRelayArtifactLegacyReason }>
+  | Readonly<{ kind: 'cache-miss'; artifact: SshRelaySelectedArtifact }>
+  | Readonly<{
+      kind: 'cache-hit'
+      artifact: SshRelaySelectedArtifact
+      entry: Readonly<SshRelayArtifactCacheEntry>
+      lease: SshRelayArtifactCacheInUseLease
+    }>
+
+function frozenUnavailable(): SshRelayArtifactCacheResolution {
+  return Object.freeze({ kind: 'unavailable', reason: 'official-manifest-unavailable' })
+}
+
+function frozenLegacy(reason: SshRelayArtifactLegacyReason): SshRelayArtifactCacheResolution {
+  return Object.freeze({ kind: 'legacy', reason })
+}
+
+function frozenEntry(
+  lookup: Extract<SshRelayArtifactCacheLookup, { kind: 'hit' }>
+): Readonly<SshRelayArtifactCacheEntry> {
+  return Object.freeze({ ...lookup.entry })
+}
+
+export async function resolveSshRelayArtifactCache(
+  {
+    officialManifest,
+    host,
+    cacheRoot,
+    signal
+  }: {
+    officialManifest: SshRelayOfficialManifest | null
+    host: SshRelayHostEvidence
+    cacheRoot: string
+    signal?: AbortSignal
+  },
+  operations: SshRelayArtifactCacheResolutionOperations = DEFAULT_OPERATIONS
+): Promise<SshRelayArtifactCacheResolution> {
+  signal?.throwIfAborted()
+  if (officialManifest === null) {
+    return frozenUnavailable()
+  }
+
+  const selection = selectSshRelayArtifact(officialManifest.manifest, host)
+  if (selection.kind === 'legacy') {
+    return frozenLegacy(selection.reason)
+  }
+  if (typeof cacheRoot !== 'string' || !isAbsolute(cacheRoot)) {
+    throw new Error('SSH relay artifact cache resolution root must be absolute')
+  }
+
+  signal?.throwIfAborted()
+  // Why: integrity/quarantine errors intentionally escape this boundary and can never become misses.
+  const lookup = await operations.lookup({ cacheRoot, artifact: selection, signal })
+  signal?.throwIfAborted()
+  if (lookup.kind === 'miss') {
+    return Object.freeze({ kind: 'cache-miss', artifact: selection })
+  }
+
+  const entry = frozenEntry(lookup)
+  const lease = await operations.acquireInUseLease({ cacheRoot, entry, signal })
+  try {
+    signal?.throwIfAborted()
+    return Object.freeze({ kind: 'cache-hit', artifact: selection, entry, lease })
+  } catch (error) {
+    await lease.release().catch(() => {})
+    throw error
+  }
+}