diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/app.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/app.ts
index 7786432d585..db8586719d3 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/app.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/app.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,7 @@ import { ASSIGNMENT_LEASE_AUDIENCE, assignmentLeaseKeyId } from './assignment-le
 import { AssignmentRejectionLogWindow } from './assignment-rejection-log-window.js'
 import { CELL_ADMISSION_STATES } from './cell-admission-selector.js'
 import { registerCellSeatFeedRoute } from './cell-seat-feed-route.js'
+import { ReservePaceError, type ReserveAssignment, type ReservePlan } from './reserve-assignment.js'
 import { registerCellReserveRoutes } from './cell-reserve-routes.js'
 import type { DemoteRequest, ReserveOutcome, ReserveRequest } from './cell-reserve-contract.js'
 import type { CellSeatFeedPage } from './cell-seat-log.js'
@@ -128,6 +129,8 @@ export function createRelayApp(
     cellIncarnation?: string
     cellSeatFeed?: (sinceSeq: number | null) => CellSeatFeedPage
     cellFlags?: () => AppliedControlFlags<CellFlags>
+    // Step 5 on directors; absent keeps today's path for every request.
+    reservePlacement?: ReserveAssignment
     cellReserve?: (request: ReserveRequest) => ReserveOutcome[]
     cellDemote?: (request: DemoteRequest) => string
     cellReserverPoll?: () => void
@@ -419,6 +422,56 @@ export function createRelayApp(
         ? requestedRegion
         : RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION
     operations.recordRegionRequest?.(requestedRegion)
+    const signAssignment = async (assignment: RelayAssignment) =>
+      await new SignJWT({
+        purpose: 'cell-assignment',
+        cellId: assignment.cellId,
+        cellUrl: assignment.cellUrl,
+        assignmentEpoch: assignment.assignmentEpoch,
+        relayHostId: claims.relayHostId
+      })
+        .setProtectedHeader({ alg: 'HS256', kid: assignmentLeaseKid })
+        .setIssuer(config.publicUrl)
+        .setAudience(ASSIGNMENT_LEASE_AUDIENCE)
+        .setSubject(claims.sub)
+        .setIssuedAt()
+        .setExpirationTime('5m')
+        .sign(config.assignmentSigningKey)
+    // Step 5: switched-on cells answer from the map; anything else keeps today's path below.
+    let step5: { epochFloor?: number; placeFresh?: () => Promise<RelayAssignment | null> } = {}
+    if (operations.reservePlacement && !body.data.regionCorrection) {
+      let plan: ReservePlan
+      try {
+        plan = await operations.reservePlacement.plan(identity, {
+          reconnect: Boolean(body.data.reconnect),
+          region: targetRegion
+        })
+      } catch (error) {
+        if (!(error instanceof ReservePaceError)) throw error
+        plan = { kind: 'retry', retryAfterSeconds: error.retryAfterSeconds, reason: 'paced' }
+      }
+      if (plan.kind === 'answer') {
+        operations.recordAssignmentAdmission?.(plan.lane === 'sticky' ? 'sticky' : 'placement')
+        return context.json({
+          v: 1,
+          cellUrl: plan.assignment.cellUrl,
+          assignmentEpoch: plan.assignment.assignmentEpoch,
+          lease: await signAssignment(plan.assignment)
+        })
+      }
+      if (plan.kind === 'retry') {
+        operations.recordAssignmentUnavailable?.(
+          plan.reason === 'map-incomplete'
+            ? 'reserve-map-incomplete'
+            : plan.reason === 'database'
+              ? 'reserve-database'
+              : 'reserve-paced'
+        )
+        context.header('Retry-After', String(plan.retryAfterSeconds))
+        return context.json({ error: 'assignment_temporarily_unavailable' }, 503)
+      }
+      step5 = { epochFloor: plan.epochFloor, placeFresh: plan.placeFresh }
+    }
     let admission: { release(): void } | null = null
     let lane: AssignmentAdmissionLane = 'placement'
     if (body.data.reconnect) {
@@ -519,9 +572,19 @@ export function createRelayApp(
         if (!current) return context.json({ error: 'assignment_not_found' }, 409)
         assignment = current
       } else {
-        assignment = requestedRegion
-          ? await operations.assignments.assign(identity, requestedRegion, targetRegion)
-          : await operations.assignments.assign(identity)
+        // Without step 5 the call is exactly today's.
+        const step5Active = step5.epochFloor !== undefined || step5.placeFresh !== undefined
+        assignment = step5Active
+          ? await operations.assignments.assign(
+              identity,
+              requestedRegion,
+              requestedRegion ? targetRegion : undefined,
+              undefined,
+              step5
+            )
+          : requestedRegion
+            ? await operations.assignments.assign(identity, requestedRegion, targetRegion)
+            : await operations.assignments.assign(identity)
       }
       if (body.data.regionCorrection) {
         try {
@@ -537,6 +600,11 @@ export function createRelayApp(
         }
       }
     } catch (error) {
+      if (error instanceof ReservePaceError) {
+        operations.recordAssignmentUnavailable?.('reserve-paced')
+        context.header('Retry-After', String(error.retryAfterSeconds))
+        return context.json({ error: 'assignment_temporarily_unavailable' }, 503)
+      }
       if (error instanceof RelayAssignmentRowBusyError) {
         logAssignmentRejection({
           route: 'assign',
@@ -593,20 +661,7 @@ export function createRelayApp(
           ` host=${relayHostLogDigest(claims.relayHostId)} cell=${assignment.cellId}`
       )
     }
-    const lease = await new SignJWT({
-      purpose: 'cell-assignment',
-      cellId: assignment.cellId,
-      cellUrl: assignment.cellUrl,
-      assignmentEpoch: assignment.assignmentEpoch,
-      relayHostId: claims.relayHostId
-    })
-      .setProtectedHeader({ alg: 'HS256', kid: assignmentLeaseKid })
-      .setIssuer(config.publicUrl)
-      .setAudience(ASSIGNMENT_LEASE_AUDIENCE)
-      .setSubject(claims.sub)
-      .setIssuedAt()
-      .setExpirationTime('5m')
-      .sign(config.assignmentSigningKey)
+    const lease = await signAssignment(assignment)
     return context.json({
       v: 1,
       cellUrl: assignment.cellUrl,
@@ -814,6 +869,10 @@ export function createRelayApp(
       ...(operations.cellAdmitModeEffective
         ? { admitModeEffective: operations.cellAdmitModeEffective() }
         : {}),
+      // Placement as built, not as configured: `on` only when this director books reserve cells.
+      ...(config.role === 'director'
+        ? { reservePlacement: operations.reservePlacement?.placementMode ?? 'off' }
+        : {}),
       connectionCapacity:
         config.connectionHardCap === undefined
           ? null
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/assignment-store.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/assignment-store.ts
index 2541348d128..d085b55dae2 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/assignment-store.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/assignment-store.ts
@@ -751,15 +751,26 @@ export class RelayAssignmentStore {
     placementRegion: RelayRegion = preferredRegion ?? RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION,
     // evacuateDeadCells re-enters placement from a sweep; it must not take the
     // bounded wait, whose 55P03 would surface as a terminal sweep failure.
-    lockMode: CellInventoryLockMode = 'request'
+    lockMode: CellInventoryLockMode = 'request',
+    // Step 5: a fresh placement may first be booked on a reserve-mode cell, outside any
+    // transaction; and a database mint stays above every epoch the director's map knew.
+    step5: { epochFloor?: number; placeFresh?: () => Promise<RelayAssignment | null> } = {}
   ): Promise<RelayAssignment> {
     const sticky = await this.assignStickyWithLockRetry(identity, lockMode, preferredRegion)
     if (sticky) return sticky
+    const booked = await step5.placeFresh?.()
+    if (booked) return booked
     // Only placement needs the global inventory critical section; queueing those
     // attempts locally avoids turning true placement bursts into NOWAIT storms.
     return await this.serializeAssignment(
       async () =>
-        await this.assignWithLockRetry(identity, lockMode, preferredRegion, placementRegion)
+        await this.assignWithLockRetry(
+          identity,
+          lockMode,
+          preferredRegion,
+          placementRegion,
+          step5.epochFloor ?? 0
+        )
     )
   }
 
@@ -778,7 +789,8 @@ export class RelayAssignmentStore {
     identity: AssignmentIdentity,
     lockMode: CellInventoryLockMode,
     preferredRegion?: RelayRegion,
-    placementRegion: RelayRegion = preferredRegion ?? RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION
+    placementRegion: RelayRegion = preferredRegion ?? RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION,
+    epochFloor = 0
   ): Promise<RelayAssignment> {
     const deadline = Date.now() + ASSIGNMENT_LOCK_RETRY_DEADLINE_MS
     let inventoryScope: AssignmentInventoryScope = 'none'
@@ -789,7 +801,8 @@ export class RelayAssignmentStore {
           inventoryScope,
           lockMode,
           preferredRegion,
-          placementRegion
+          placementRegion,
+          epochFloor
         )
       } catch (error) {
         if (error instanceof AssignmentInventoryScopeChanged) {
@@ -1038,7 +1051,8 @@ export class RelayAssignmentStore {
     inventoryScope: AssignmentInventoryScope,
     lockMode: CellInventoryLockMode,
     preferredRegion?: RelayRegion,
-    placementRegion: RelayRegion = preferredRegion ?? RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION
+    placementRegion: RelayRegion = preferredRegion ?? RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION,
+    epochFloor = 0
   ): Promise<RelayAssignment> {
     const now = this.now()
     // An isolated retry takes its tier's rows before anything reassigns this,
@@ -1313,7 +1327,9 @@ export class RelayAssignmentStore {
         }
       }
       await this.adjustCellReservation(transaction, target.cellId, 1)
-      const assignmentEpoch = existing ? integer(existing, 'assignment_epoch') + 1 : 1
+      // A host that left a reserve-mode cell inside the ledger's lag never reuses an epoch.
+      const assignmentEpoch =
+        Math.max(existing ? integer(existing, 'assignment_epoch') : 0, epochFloor) + 1
       // Counters follow the leases the host still holds, plus the new control.
       const counts = activityCounts(keptLeases)
       counts.control += 1
@@ -7879,7 +7895,8 @@ export class RelayAssignmentStore {
     const now = this.now()
     const rows = await this.database.query(
       `SELECT cell.cell_id, cell.cell_url, cell.capacity_requests, region.region,
-              admission.roll_isolated_at, runtime.ready, runtime.last_heartbeat_at
+              admission.admission_state, admission.roll_isolated_at, runtime.ready,
+              runtime.last_heartbeat_at
        FROM relay_cells cell
        LEFT JOIN relay_cell_regions region ON region.cell_id = cell.cell_id
        LEFT JOIN relay_cell_admission admission ON admission.cell_id = cell.cell_id
@@ -7902,7 +7919,12 @@ export class RelayAssignmentStore {
           heartbeatExpiresAt !== null &&
           heartbeatExpiresAt > now &&
           integer(row, 'capacity_requests') > 0 &&
-          optionalInteger(row, 'roll_isolated_at') === undefined
+          optionalInteger(row, 'roll_isolated_at') === undefined,
+        // Step 5 places only on general cells that are not isolated for a roll.
+        general:
+          optionalText(row, 'admission_state') === 'general' &&
+          optionalInteger(row, 'roll_isolated_at') === undefined &&
+          integer(row, 'capacity_requests') > 0
       }
     })
   }
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-client.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-client.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..16a400a693d
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-client.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,55 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { CellReserveClient } from './cell-reserve-client.js'
+
+const target = { cellId: 'c1', cellUrl: 'https://c1.example' }
+const item = (userId: string, epoch = 3) => ({
+  userId,
+  relayHostId: 'abcdefghijklmnop',
+  epoch,
+  ttlMs: 30_000
+})
+
+describe('cell reserve client', () => {
+  it('batches a cell’s bookings into one request and maps each answer back', async () => {
+    const fetchImpl = vi.fn(async (_url: string | URL | Request, init?: RequestInit) => {
+      const body = JSON.parse(String(init?.body)) as { items: Array<{ userId: string }> }
+      return Response.json({
+        v: 1,
+        results: body.items.map((entry) =>
+          entry.userId === 'b' ? { outcome: 'seated-newer', epoch: 9 } : { outcome: 'ok' }
+        )
+      })
+    })
+    const client = new CellReserveClient({
+      directorId: 'director-a',
+      identityToken: async () => 'token',
+      fetch: fetchImpl
+    })
+    const answers = await Promise.all([
+      client.reserve(target, item('a')),
+      client.reserve(target, item('b')),
+      client.reserve(target, item('c'), true)
+    ])
+    expect(answers).toEqual([{ outcome: 'ok' }, { outcome: 'seated-newer', epoch: 9 }, { outcome: 'ok' }])
+    // One booking batch and one dry-run batch.
+    expect(fetchImpl).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(2)
+    const first = JSON.parse(String(fetchImpl.mock.calls[0]![1]?.body)) as Record<string, unknown>
+    expect(first).toMatchObject({ v: 1, directorId: 'director-a', items: [{ userId: 'a' }, { userId: 'b' }] })
+    expect(String(fetchImpl.mock.calls[0]![0])).toBe('https://c1.example/internal/reserve')
+  })
+
+  it('reads every item as unreachable when the cell fails or answers out of shape', async () => {
+    for (const fetchImpl of [
+      async () => Promise.reject(new Error('timeout')),
+      async () => new Response('nope', { status: 503 }),
+      async () => Response.json({ v: 1, results: [] })
+    ]) {
+      const client = new CellReserveClient({
+        directorId: 'director-a',
+        identityToken: async () => 'token',
+        fetch: fetchImpl
+      })
+      expect(await client.reserve(target, item('a'))).toEqual({ outcome: 'unreachable' })
+    }
+  })
+})
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-client.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-client.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..4daaa0beece
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-client.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,108 @@
+import {
+  CELL_DEMOTE_PATH,
+  CELL_RESERVE_MAX_ITEMS,
+  CELL_RESERVE_PATH,
+  ReserveResponseSchema,
+  type DemoteRequest,
+  type ReserveItem
+} from './cell-reserve-contract.js'
+import type { ReserveAttempt } from './reserve-placement.js'
+
+// The director's calls to cells. Bookings for one cell batch for up to 5 ms or 64 items;
+// a cell that does not answer within the timeout is unverifiable, and every item in the
+// batch reads `unreachable` (one of the request's three tries).
+export const CELL_RESERVE_FLUSH_MS = 5
+export const CELL_RESERVE_TIMEOUT_MS = 1_000
+
+export type ReserveTarget = { cellId: string; cellUrl: string }
+
+type Pending = { item: ReserveItem; resolve: (attempt: ReserveAttempt) => void }
+
+export class CellReserveClient {
+  private readonly batches = new Map<string, { target: ReserveTarget; dryRun: boolean; items: Pending[] }>()
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly input: {
+      directorId: string
+      identityToken: () => Promise<string>
+      fetch?: typeof fetch
+      flushMs?: number
+      timeoutMs?: number
+    }
+  ) {}
+
+  reserve(target: ReserveTarget, item: ReserveItem, dryRun = false): Promise<ReserveAttempt> {
+    const key = `${target.cellId}\u0000${dryRun ? 'dry' : 'book'}`
+    return new Promise((resolve) => {
+      let batch = this.batches.get(key)
+      if (!batch) {
+        batch = { target, dryRun, items: [] }
+        this.batches.set(key, batch)
+        const timer = setTimeout(() => this.flush(key), this.input.flushMs ?? CELL_RESERVE_FLUSH_MS)
+        timer.unref?.()
+      }
+      batch.items.push({ item, resolve })
+      if (batch.items.length >= CELL_RESERVE_MAX_ITEMS) this.flush(key)
+    })
+  }
+
+  // The cell treats repeats as one; a failure is only logged, and the next poll retries.
+  async demote(target: ReserveTarget, request: DemoteRequest): Promise<boolean> {
+    try {
+      const response = await this.post(target, CELL_DEMOTE_PATH, request)
+      await response.body?.cancel().catch(() => undefined)
+      return response.ok
+    } catch {
+      return false
+    }
+  }
+
+  private flush(key: string): void {
+    const batch = this.batches.get(key)
+    if (!batch) return
+    this.batches.delete(key)
+    void this.send(batch.target, batch.dryRun, batch.items)
+  }
+
+  private async send(target: ReserveTarget, dryRun: boolean, items: Pending[]): Promise<void> {
+    let results: Array<{ outcome: string; epoch?: number }> | null = null
+    try {
+      const response = await this.post(target, CELL_RESERVE_PATH, {
+        v: 1,
+        directorId: this.input.directorId,
+        ...(dryRun ? { dryRun: true } : {}),
+        items: items.map((pending) => pending.item)
+      })
+      if (response.ok) {
+        const body = ReserveResponseSchema.safeParse(await response.json().catch(() => null))
+        if (body.success && body.data.results.length === items.length) results = body.data.results
+      } else {
+        await response.body?.cancel().catch(() => undefined)
+      }
+    } catch {
+      results = null
+    }
+    items.forEach((pending, index) => {
+      const result = results?.[index]
+      pending.resolve(
+        !result
+          ? { outcome: 'unreachable' }
+          : result.outcome === 'seated-newer' && typeof result.epoch === 'number'
+            ? { outcome: 'seated-newer', epoch: result.epoch }
+            : { outcome: result.outcome }
+      )
+    })
+  }
+
+  private async post(target: ReserveTarget, path: string, body: unknown): Promise<Response> {
+    return await (this.input.fetch ?? fetch)(new URL(path, target.cellUrl), {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: {
+        authorization: `Bearer ${await this.input.identityToken()}`,
+        'content-type': 'application/json'
+      },
+      body: JSON.stringify(body),
+      signal: AbortSignal.timeout(this.input.timeoutMs ?? CELL_RESERVE_TIMEOUT_MS)
+    })
+  }
+}
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/config.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/config.ts
index cd8f88eef5b..7e0406f80f4 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/config.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/config.ts
@@ -99,6 +99,9 @@ const EnvSchema = z.object({
   ORCA_RELAY_PUBLIC_ASSIGNMENTS_ENABLED: EnvironmentBooleanSchema,
   ORCA_RELAY_REGIONAL_PLACEMENT_ENABLED: EnvironmentBooleanSchema,
   ORCA_RELAY_REGION_CORRECTION_COHORT_PERCENT: z.coerce.number().int().min(0).max(100).default(0),
+  // Step 5 on directors: `off` (default) is today's path; `dry-run` asks the picked cell to
+  // check a booking without making it, and logs the answer; `on` places on switched-on cells.
+  ORCA_RELAY_RESERVE_PLACEMENT: z.enum(['off', 'dry-run', 'on']).default('off'),
   // Step 3 shadow directory: unset or empty polls no cell; `all` or a comma list of cell ids.
   ORCA_RELAY_SHADOW_SEAT_FEED_CELLS: z
     .string()
@@ -218,6 +221,7 @@ export type RelayConfig = {
   rehomeDirectorServiceAccount?: string
   rehomeAudience?: string
   shadowSeatFeedCells?: 'all' | string[]
+  reservePlacement?: 'off' | 'dry-run' | 'on'
   runtimeServiceAccount: string
   directorUrl?: string
   heartbeatAudience?: string
@@ -368,6 +372,7 @@ export function loadRelayConfig(env: NodeJS.ProcessEnv = process.env): RelayConf
     rehomeDirectorServiceAccount: parsed.ORCA_RELAY_REHOME_DIRECTOR_SERVICE_ACCOUNT,
     rehomeAudience: parsed.ORCA_RELAY_REHOME_AUDIENCE,
     shadowSeatFeedCells: parsed.ORCA_RELAY_SHADOW_SEAT_FEED_CELLS,
+    reservePlacement: parsed.ORCA_RELAY_RESERVE_PLACEMENT,
     runtimeServiceAccount:
       parsed.ORCA_RELAY_RUNTIME_SERVICE_ACCOUNT ?? parsed.ORCA_RELAY_DEPLOY_SERVICE_ACCOUNT,
     directorUrl,
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/director-reserve-placement-status.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/director-reserve-placement-status.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..190ceca4ffb
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/director-reserve-placement-status.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,81 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { RelayConfig } from './config.js'
+
+vi.mock('./admin-token-verifier.js', () => ({
+  createAdminTokenVerifier: () => async (token: string) => token === 'deploy-token',
+  createReadOnlyAdminTokenVerifier: () => async () => false,
+  createRegionalRehomeControlApplyTokenVerifier: () => async () => false,
+  createRegionalRehomeRuntimeTokenVerifier: () => async () => false,
+  createRegionalRehomeTokenVerifier: () => async () => false,
+  createRuntimeTokenVerifier: () => async () => false
+}))
+
+vi.mock('./relay-token-verifier.js', () => ({
+  createRelayTokenVerifier: () => async () => null,
+  readBearer: (value: string | undefined) => value?.replace(/^Bearer /, '') ?? null
+}))
+
+import { createRelayApp } from './app.js'
+
+// The deploy guard reads a director's placement here, so it must be what the director does.
+describe('a director reports its reserve placement as built', () => {
+  const status = async (operations: Record<string, unknown>, overrides: Partial<RelayConfig> = {}) => {
+    const app = createRelayApp(config(overrides), {
+      store: {} as never,
+      assignments: {} as never,
+      drain: vi.fn(),
+      ready: vi.fn(async () => true),
+      ...operations
+    })
+    const response = await app.request('/v1/admin/runtime-status', {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { authorization: 'Bearer deploy-token', 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify({ v: 1 })
+    })
+    return (await response.json()) as Record<string, unknown>
+  }
+
+  it('says off when placement is configured on but was never built', async () => {
+    expect(await status({}, { reservePlacement: 'on' })).toMatchObject({ role: 'director', reservePlacement: 'off' })
+  })
+
+  it('says what the built placement does', async () => {
+    expect(await status({ reservePlacement: { placementMode: 'on' } }, { reservePlacement: 'on' })).toMatchObject({
+      reservePlacement: 'on'
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('reports nothing for a cell', async () => {
+    expect(await status({}, { role: 'cell', cellId: 'production-gce-c1' })).not.toHaveProperty('reservePlacement')
+  })
+})
+
+function config(overrides: Partial<RelayConfig> = {}): RelayConfig {
+  return {
+    port: 8080,
+    publicUrl: 'https://relay.example.test',
+    cellUrl: 'https://relay.example.test',
+    region: 'us-central1',
+    authIssuer: 'https://auth.example.test',
+    authAudience: 'orca-relay',
+    jwksUrl: 'https://auth.example.test/jwks',
+    assignmentSigningKey: new Uint8Array(32),
+    role: 'director',
+    cellId: 'director',
+    cells: [],
+    adminAudience: 'https://relay.example.test/v1/admin/drain',
+    deployServiceAccount: 'deploy@example.test',
+    runtimeServiceAccount: 'relay-cell@example.test',
+    adminJwksUrl: 'https://auth.example.test/jwks',
+    databasePoolMax: 10,
+    publicAssignmentsEnabled: true,
+    publicAssignmentConcurrency: 2,
+    publicAssignmentQueueMax: 128,
+    publicAssignmentWaitMs: 4_000,
+    publicResolveConcurrency: 1,
+    publicResolveWaitMs: 5_000,
+    publicAssignmentRetryAfterSeconds: 5,
+    dataDir: './data',
+    ...overrides
+  }
+}
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/floating-promise-census.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/floating-promise-census.test.ts
index 0a647836a51..19fd403a8db 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/floating-promise-census.test.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/floating-promise-census.test.ts
@@ -12,6 +12,8 @@ const NEVER_REJECTS = new Map([
   ['relay-background-operation.ts#runRelayBackgroundOperation', 'catches and logs every failure'],
   ['assignment-cleanup-steps.ts#runAssignmentCleanup', 'runs each step through the above'],
   ['cell-heartbeat-client.ts#send', 'one try/catch around the whole send'],
+  ['cell-reserve-client.ts#send', 'one try/catch around the request; resolves every item'],
+  ['cell-reserve-client.ts#demote', 'one try/catch around the request'],
   ['control-renewal-batch.ts#flush', 'rejects the waiters, never itself'],
   ['regional-rehome-worker.ts#run', 'one try/catch around the whole poll'],
   ['relay-control-flag-channel.ts#poll', 'one catch on the whole read']
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/google-metadata-identity-token.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/google-metadata-identity-token.ts
index f51f6282a65..9b93ad6f7c1 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/google-metadata-identity-token.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/google-metadata-identity-token.ts
@@ -20,3 +20,24 @@ export async function googleMetadataIdentityToken(
   }
   return token
 }
+
+// Google identity tokens live an hour; minting one per request would be a metadata read each.
+// A failed mint is never reused.
+export function reusedIdentityToken(
+  mint: () => Promise<string>,
+  now: () => number = Date.now,
+  reuseMs = 10 * 60_000
+): () => Promise<string> {
+  let token: { value: Promise<string>; at: number } | undefined
+  return () => {
+    const at = now()
+    if (!token || at - token.at > reuseMs) {
+      const value = mint()
+      token = { value, at }
+      value.catch(() => {
+        if (token?.value === value) token = undefined
+      })
+    }
+    return token.value
+  }
+}
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-observability.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-observability.ts
index 612beb0fa1e..b24b0608ea6 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-observability.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-observability.ts
@@ -63,6 +63,10 @@ export type AssignmentUnavailableCause =
   | 'relay_connection_headroom_exhausted'
   | 'relay_home_cell_unavailable'
   | 'relay_assignment_row_busy'
+  // Step 5: a starting director's map, a never-seen host with the database down, or intake.
+  | 'reserve-map-incomplete'
+  | 'reserve-database'
+  | 'reserve-paced'
 
 // Row-lock waiters seen in one pg_stat_activity sample, by who waits, on which
 // table, behind whom. Roles come from each pool's application_name.
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-server.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-server.ts
index 53151ffda87..d2f8e71ab56 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-server.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-server.ts
@@ -47,6 +47,10 @@ import { createRelayTokenVerifier, readBearer } from './relay-token-verifier.js'
 import { closeRelayWebSocket } from './relay-websocket-close.js'
 import { ShadowDirectoryCompare } from './shadow-directory-compare.js'
 import { startShadowSeatPoller } from './shadow-seat-directory.js'
+import { CellReserveClient } from './cell-reserve-client.js'
+import { googleMetadataIdentityToken, reusedIdentityToken } from './google-metadata-identity-token.js'
+import { ReserveAssignment } from './reserve-assignment.js'
+import { ReservePlacer } from './reserve-placement.js'
 import { ProcessQueuedByteBudget } from './splice-forwarder.js'
 
 // A malformed percent-escape in the request target must be a client error, never a URIError
@@ -168,12 +172,62 @@ export function createRelayServer(
     observeGrace: (event) => observability.recordReadinessGrace(event)
   })
   const ready = readiness.check
+  // Set once placement is built: a director configured `on` that could not build it (no map or
+  // no rehome credential) books nothing, so it must not keep a reserve cell's dead-man fed.
+  const placing = { on: false }
   const shadowSeatPoller = startShadowSeatPoller(config, {
-    listCells: () => assignments.seatFeedCells()
+    listCells: () => assignments.seatFeedCells(),
+    reserver: () => placing.on
   })
   const shadowCompare = shadowSeatPoller
     ? new ShadowDirectoryCompare(shadowSeatPoller.directory, options.now)
     : undefined
+  // Step 5 on directors: needs the map and the rehome credential the cells verify.
+  const directorId = randomUUID()
+  const rehomeAudience = config.rehomeAudience
+  const reservePlacement =
+    config.role === 'director' &&
+    shadowSeatPoller &&
+    rehomeAudience &&
+    (config.reservePlacement ?? 'off') !== 'off'
+      ? new ReserveAssignment({
+          mode: config.reservePlacement ?? 'off',
+          directory: shadowSeatPoller.directory,
+          cells: shadowSeatPoller.cells,
+          startedAt: shadowSeatPoller.startedAt,
+          placer: new ReservePlacer(options.now, options.random),
+          client: new CellReserveClient({
+            directorId,
+            identityToken: reusedIdentityToken(
+              () => googleMetadataIdentityToken(rehomeAudience),
+              options.now
+            )
+          }),
+          readRow: async (identity) => await assignments.hostWhereabouts(identity),
+          now: options.now,
+          random: options.random
+        })
+      : undefined
+  placing.on = reservePlacement?.placementMode === 'on'
+  // A director that is not placing while a cell is in reserve mode strands that cell's hosts on
+  // its memory: its dead-man flips it back, and this says so loudly until then.
+  const offWithReserveTimer =
+    config.role === 'director' && shadowSeatPoller && !placing.on
+      ? setInterval(() => {
+          const { directory } = shadowSeatPoller
+          const cells = directory.cellIds().filter((cellId) => directory.admitModeOf(cellId) === 'reserve')
+          if (cells.length === 0) return
+          console.error(
+            JSON.stringify({
+              event: 'orca_relay_reserve_placement_off_with_reserve_cells',
+              cells,
+              placement: reservePlacement?.placementMode ?? 'off',
+              configured: config.reservePlacement ?? 'off'
+            })
+          )
+        }, 60_000)
+      : null
+  offWithReserveTimer?.unref()
   const configuredConnectionLimits =
     config.connectionHardCap === undefined
       ? null
@@ -328,6 +382,7 @@ export function createRelayServer(
     recordAssignmentUnavailable: (cause) => observability.recordAssignmentUnavailable?.(cause),
     recordRegionRequest: (region) => observability.recordRegionRequest?.(region),
     shadowSeats: shadowSeatPoller?.directory,
+    reservePlacement,
     compareShadowSeats: shadowCompare
       ? (route, identity, answer) => {
           shadowCompare.compare(route, identity, answer)
@@ -754,6 +809,8 @@ export function createRelayServer(
     connectionSnapshot,
     ready,
     cellIncarnation,
-    shadowSeatPoller
+    shadowSeatPoller,
+    directorId,
+    reservePlacement
   }
 }
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/reserve-assignment.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/reserve-assignment.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..c48d8f3a4ac
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/reserve-assignment.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,283 @@
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import type { CellReserveClient } from './cell-reserve-client.js'
+import { ReserveAssignment, ReservePaceError, RESERVE_STARTUP_GATE_MS } from './reserve-assignment.js'
+import { ReservePlacer, type ReserveAttempt } from './reserve-placement.js'
+import { ShadowSeatDirectory, type SeatFeedCell, type SeatFeedResponse } from './shadow-seat-directory.js'
+
+const HOST = { userId: 'user-1', relayHostId: 'abcdefghijklmnop' }
+const US = 'us-central1' as const
+
+function cellList(ids: string[], region = US): SeatFeedCell[] {
+  return ids.map((cellId) => ({
+    cellId,
+    cellUrl: `https://${cellId}.example`,
+    region,
+    heartbeatExpiresAt: Number.MAX_SAFE_INTEGER,
+    requiredForComplete: true,
+    general: true
+  }))
+}
+
+function feed(
+  cellId: string,
+  overrides: Partial<SeatFeedResponse> & { admitMode?: 'db' | 'reserve' } = {}
+): SeatFeedResponse {
+  const { admitMode = 'reserve', ...rest } = overrides
+  return {
+    v: 1,
+    cellId,
+    incarnation: `${cellId}-incarnation-1`,
+    seq: 1,
+    at: 0,
+    counts: { seats: 0, controls: 0, bookings: 0, units: 0, ceiling: 500 },
+    intake: { perSec: 100, burst: 20, tokens: 20 },
+    flagsApplied: { generation: 3, flags: { admitMode } },
+    full: [],
+    ...rest
+  }
+}
+
+function setup(
+  options: {
+    cells?: SeatFeedCell[]
+    feeds?: SeatFeedResponse[]
+    reserve?: (cellId: string, sticky: boolean) => ReserveAttempt
+    row?: (identity: { userId: string; relayHostId: string }) => Promise<{ cellId: string; assignmentEpoch: number } | null>
+    mode?: 'off' | 'dry-run' | 'on'
+    startedAt?: number
+  } = {}
+) {
+  const now = { value: 100_000 }
+  const cells = options.cells ?? cellList(['c1', 'c2'])
+  const directory = new ShadowSeatDirectory()
+  directory.setCells(cells.map((cell) => cell.cellId))
+  for (const response of options.feeds ?? cells.map((cell) => feed(cell.cellId))) {
+    directory.apply(response.cellId, response, now.value - 1, now.value - 1)
+  }
+  const reserved: Array<{ cellId: string; epoch: number; sticky: boolean; dryRun: boolean }> = []
+  const demoted: Array<{ cellId: string; epoch: number; joinedAt: number }> = []
+  const client = {
+    reserve: vi.fn(async (target: { cellId: string }, item: { epoch: number; sticky?: boolean }, dryRun = false) => {
+      reserved.push({ cellId: target.cellId, epoch: item.epoch, sticky: item.sticky ?? false, dryRun })
+      return options.reserve?.(target.cellId, item.sticky ?? false) ?? { outcome: 'ok' }
+    }),
+    demote: vi.fn(async (target: { cellId: string }, request: { epoch: number; joinedAt: number }) => {
+      demoted.push({ cellId: target.cellId, epoch: request.epoch, joinedAt: request.joinedAt })
+      return true
+    })
+  } satisfies Pick<CellReserveClient, 'reserve' | 'demote'>
+  // Each director's estimate starts empty; a second of refill gives it its share.
+  const placer = new ReservePlacer(() => now.value, () => 0.25)
+  const assignment = new ReserveAssignment({
+    mode: options.mode ?? 'on',
+    directory,
+    cells: () => cells,
+    startedAt: options.startedAt ?? 0,
+    placer,
+    // SAFETY: only reserve and demote are called, and both are implemented above.
+    // oxlint-disable-next-line typescript/consistent-type-assertions -- SAFETY: see above.
+    client: client as unknown as CellReserveClient,
+    readRow: options.row ?? (async () => null),
+    now: () => now.value,
+    random: () => 0.25,
+    log: () => undefined
+  })
+  // Starts each cell's refill clock, as a director's first look does.
+  for (const cell of assignment.placementCells()) placer.hasBudget(cell)
+  now.value += 1_000
+  for (const response of options.feeds ?? cells.map((cell) => feed(cell.cellId))) {
+    directory.apply(response.cellId, { ...response, full: response.full ?? [] }, now.value - 1, now.value - 1)
+  }
+  return { assignment, directory, reserved, demoted, now }
+}
+
+function seated(epoch: number, joinedAt = 0) {
+  return { ...HOST, epoch, generation: 1, state: 'active', joinedAt }
+}
+
+describe('reserve assignment on a director', () => {
+  it('keeps today’s path when off, or when no cell reports reserve mode', async () => {
+    expect((await setup({ mode: 'off' }).assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: true, region: US })).kind).toBe(
+      'database'
+    )
+    const databaseOnly = setup({ feeds: [feed('c1', { admitMode: 'db' }), feed('c2', { admitMode: 'db' })] })
+    expect(await databaseOnly.assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: false, region: US })).toEqual({
+      kind: 'database'
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('reads what each cell acts on: a tripped dead-man is db, a flip back still leasing is reserve', async () => {
+    const tripped = setup({
+      feeds: [feed('c1', { admitModeEffective: 'db' }), feed('c2', { admitModeEffective: 'db' })]
+    })
+    expect(await tripped.assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: false, region: US })).toEqual({ kind: 'database' })
+    const leasing = setup({ feeds: [feed('c1', { admitMode: 'db', admitModeEffective: 'reserve' }), feed('c2')] })
+    expect(leasing.directory.admitModeOf('c1')).toBe('reserve')
+  })
+
+  it('before every live cell has answered, holds back only hosts that may be on an unheard cell', async () => {
+    const cells = cellList(['c1', 'c2'])
+    const onUnheard = { ...HOST, relayHostId: 'qrstuvwxyzabcdef' }
+    const gated = setup({
+      cells,
+      feeds: [feed('c1')],
+      startedAt: 100_500,
+      row: async (identity) =>
+        identity.relayHostId === onUnheard.relayHostId ? { cellId: 'c2', assignmentEpoch: 3 } : null
+    })
+    // A fresh host goes to today's path, with no booking yet.
+    expect(await gated.assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: false, region: US })).toEqual({
+      kind: 'database',
+      epochFloor: 0
+    })
+    expect(gated.reserved).toEqual([])
+    expect(await gated.assignment.plan(onUnheard, { reconnect: true, region: US })).toMatchObject({
+      kind: 'retry',
+      reason: 'map-incomplete'
+    })
+    gated.now.value = 100_500 + RESERVE_STARTUP_GATE_MS
+    expect((await gated.assignment.plan(onUnheard, { reconnect: true, region: US })).kind).not.toBe('retry')
+  })
+
+  it('answers a reconnect from memory at the same epoch with no booking and no database read', async () => {
+    const row = vi.fn(async () => null)
+    const { assignment, reserved } = setup({
+      feeds: [feed('c1', { full: [seated(7)] }), feed('c2')],
+      row
+    })
+    const plan = await assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: true, region: US })
+    expect(plan).toMatchObject({ kind: 'answer', lane: 'sticky', assignment: { cellId: 'c1', assignmentEpoch: 7 } })
+    expect(reserved).toEqual([])
+    expect(row).not.toHaveBeenCalled()
+  })
+
+  it('re-books a host on a cell that restarted since its seat, and only then answers it', async () => {
+    const { assignment, directory, reserved, now } = setup({
+      feeds: [feed('c1', { full: [seated(7)] }), feed('c2')]
+    })
+    // The cell restarted: its full snapshot no longer holds the seat.
+    directory.apply('c1', feed('c1', { incarnation: 'c1-incarnation-2' }), now.value, now.value)
+    const plan = await assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: true, region: US })
+    expect(reserved[0]).toEqual({ cellId: 'c1', epoch: 7, sticky: true, dryRun: false })
+    expect(plan).toMatchObject({ kind: 'answer', lane: 'sticky', assignment: { cellId: 'c1', assignmentEpoch: 7 } })
+  })
+
+  it('never sends a drained or demoted host back, and books it elsewhere above every known epoch', async () => {
+    const { assignment, directory, reserved, now } = setup()
+    directory.apply(
+      'c1',
+      feed('c1', {
+        full: undefined,
+        seq: 3,
+        changes: [
+          { seq: 2, kind: 'join', ...HOST, epoch: 7, generation: 1, at: 1 },
+          { seq: 3, kind: 'leave', ...HOST, epoch: 7, generation: 1, closeCode: 4503, at: 2 }
+        ]
+      }),
+      now.value,
+      now.value
+    )
+    const plan = await assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: true, region: US })
+    expect(plan).toMatchObject({ kind: 'answer', lane: 'placement', assignment: { assignmentEpoch: 8 } })
+    expect(reserved.every((call) => !call.sticky && call.epoch === 8)).toBe(true)
+  })
+
+  it('leaves a host the map last saw on a database-mode cell to today’s path, with the floor', async () => {
+    const { assignment } = setup({
+      feeds: [feed('c1', { admitMode: 'db', full: [seated(4)] }), feed('c2')]
+    })
+    const plan = await assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: true, region: US })
+    expect(plan).toMatchObject({ kind: 'database', epochFloor: 4 })
+    expect(plan.kind === 'database' && typeof plan.placeFresh).toBe('function')
+  })
+
+  it('leaves a cell without a feed (c17/c18) on today’s path without starving the reserve pool', async () => {
+    const cells = cellList(['c1', 'c2', 'c17'])
+    let rowOnOld = false
+    const { assignment, directory, reserved, now } = setup({
+      cells,
+      feeds: [feed('c1'), feed('c2', { admitMode: 'db' })],
+      row: async () => (rowOnOld ? { cellId: 'c17', assignmentEpoch: 5 } : null)
+    })
+    directory.markNoFeed('c17', now.value)
+    expect(directory.isComplete()).toBe(true)
+    // An old image reports no ceiling; counting it as a database cell would zero the share.
+    expect(await assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: false, region: US })).toMatchObject({
+      kind: 'answer',
+      lane: 'placement',
+      assignment: { cellId: 'c1' }
+    })
+    expect(reserved.map((call) => call.cellId)).not.toContain('c17')
+    rowOnOld = true
+    expect(
+      await assignment.plan({ ...HOST, relayHostId: 'qrstuvwxyzabcdef' }, { reconnect: true, region: US })
+    ).toMatchObject({ kind: 'database', epochFloor: 5 })
+    // A cell that rolled back to an image without the feed takes no placement.
+    directory.markNoFeed('c1', now.value)
+    expect(directory.cellState('c1')?.ceiling).toBeUndefined()
+    expect(assignment.placementCells().find((cell) => cell.cellId === 'c1')?.general).toBe(false)
+  })
+
+  it('reads the row once for a host the map never saw, and refuses it while the database is down', async () => {
+    const down = setup({ row: async () => Promise.reject(new Error('timeout')) })
+    expect(await down.assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: false, region: US })).toMatchObject({
+      kind: 'retry',
+      reason: 'database'
+    })
+    const known = setup({ row: async () => ({ cellId: 'c1', assignmentEpoch: 11 }) })
+    expect(await known.assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: false, region: US })).toMatchObject({
+      kind: 'answer',
+      assignment: { assignmentEpoch: 12 }
+    })
+  })
+
+  it('paces with Retry-After when every reserve cell is out of budget and no database cell exists', async () => {
+    const { assignment } = setup({ reserve: () => ({ outcome: 'intake' }) })
+    await expect(assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: false, region: US })).rejects.toBeInstanceOf(
+      ReservePaceError
+    )
+  })
+
+  it('tells the old reserve seat to go when it books the host elsewhere, naming that seat exactly', async () => {
+    const { assignment, directory, demoted, now } = setup({
+      feeds: [feed('c1', { full: [seated(5, 1_000)] }), feed('c2')],
+      // c1 is full, so the host lands on c2.
+      reserve: (cellId) => (cellId === 'c1' ? { outcome: 'full' } : { outcome: 'ok' })
+    })
+    // The host left c1 for a reason that moves it: its next placement is fresh, above 5.
+    directory.apply(
+      'c1',
+      feed('c1', {
+        full: undefined,
+        seq: 2,
+        changes: [{ seq: 2, kind: 'drain-only', ...HOST, epoch: 5, generation: 1, at: 2 }]
+      }),
+      now.value,
+      now.value
+    )
+    const plan = await assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: true, region: US })
+    expect(plan).toMatchObject({ kind: 'answer', lane: 'placement', assignment: { assignmentEpoch: 6 } })
+    expect(demoted).toEqual([{ cellId: 'c1', epoch: 5, joinedAt: 1_000 }])
+  })
+
+  it('answers a reconnect only at the newest epoch, newest join first', async () => {
+    const { assignment, reserved } = setup({
+      feeds: [feed('c1', { full: [seated(6, 1_000)] }), feed('c2', { full: [seated(5, 3_000)] })]
+    })
+    // c2's seat joined later but at an older epoch: a stale rebind, never the answer.
+    expect(await assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: true, region: US })).toMatchObject({
+      kind: 'answer',
+      lane: 'sticky',
+      assignment: { cellId: 'c1', assignmentEpoch: 6 }
+    })
+    expect(reserved).toEqual([])
+  })
+
+  it('in dry run only asks a cell to check a booking, and never changes the answer', async () => {
+    const { assignment, reserved } = setup({ mode: 'dry-run' })
+    const plan = await assignment.plan(HOST, { reconnect: false, region: US })
+    expect(plan.kind).toBe('database')
+    expect(plan.kind === 'database' && (await plan.placeFresh?.())).toBeNull()
+    expect(reserved).toMatchObject([{ dryRun: true }])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/reserve-assignment.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/reserve-assignment.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..701bdc1e0d4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/reserve-assignment.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,386 @@
+import {
+  ASSIGNMENT_LIMITS,
+  RELAY_CLOSE_CODE,
+  RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION,
+  type RelayRegion
+} from '@orca-cloud/relay-contract'
+import type { RelayAssignment } from './assignment-store.js'
+import { CELL_RESERVE_TTL_MS } from './cell-reserve-contract.js'
+import type { CellReserveClient } from './cell-reserve-client.js'
+import { relayHostLogDigest } from './relay-host-log-digest.js'
+import {
+  mintEpoch,
+  type PlacementCell,
+  type ReservePlacer
+} from './reserve-placement.js'
+import type { SeatFeedCell, ShadowSeat, ShadowSeatDirectory } from './shadow-seat-directory.js'
+
+// Step 5 on a director: answer a desktop from the in-memory map for cells that report
+// admitMode=reserve, and fall back to today's database path for everything else. The cell
+// decides every booking; this only estimates, picks and asks.
+
+// A leaver may rejoin its cell from memory this long, as the cell's own rule 2 allows.
+export const RESERVE_STICKY_RECENT_MS = 10 * 60_000
+// A starting director waits this long for every live cell before it answers.
+export const RESERVE_STARTUP_GATE_MS = 30_000
+const SUMMARY_INTERVAL_MS = 60_000
+// A leaver for these reasons was moved off its cell; it is not sent back there.
+const NO_REJOIN_CLOSE_CODES: ReadonlySet<number> = new Set([
+  RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.DRAINING,
+  RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.WRONG_CELL
+])
+
+export type ReservePlacementMode = 'off' | 'dry-run' | 'on'
+
+export class ReservePaceError extends Error {
+  constructor(readonly retryAfterSeconds: number) {
+    super('reserve_cells_paced')
+  }
+}
+
+type Identity = { userId: string; relayHostId: string }
+
+export type ReservePlan =
+  | { kind: 'answer'; assignment: RelayAssignment; lane: 'sticky' | 'placement' }
+  | { kind: 'retry'; retryAfterSeconds: number; reason: 'map-incomplete' | 'database' | 'paced' }
+  | {
+      kind: 'database'
+      epochFloor?: number
+      placeFresh?: () => Promise<RelayAssignment | null>
+    }
+
+export class ReserveAssignment {
+  private summary: PlacementSummary = emptySummary()
+  private summaryAt: number
+
+  constructor(
+    private readonly input: {
+      mode: ReservePlacementMode
+      directory: ShadowSeatDirectory
+      cells: () => readonly SeatFeedCell[]
+      startedAt: number
+      placer: ReservePlacer
+      client: CellReserveClient
+      // One primary-key read of the host's row: only for a host the map has never seen.
+      readRow: (identity: Identity) => Promise<{ cellId: string; assignmentEpoch: number } | null>
+      now?: () => number
+      random?: () => number
+      log?: (line: string) => void
+    }
+  ) {
+    this.summaryAt = this.now()
+  }
+
+  // What this director actually does; the deploy guard reads it through runtime-status.
+  get placementMode(): ReservePlacementMode {
+    return this.input.mode
+  }
+
+  private now(): number {
+    return (this.input.now ?? Date.now)()
+  }
+
+  private random(): number {
+    return (this.input.random ?? Math.random)()
+  }
+
+  placementCells(dryRun = false): PlacementCell[] {
+    const { directory } = this.input
+    return this.input.cells().flatMap((cell) => {
+      const state = directory.cellState(cell.cellId)
+      if (!state) return []
+      const reserve = directory.admitModeOf(cell.cellId) === 'reserve'
+      return [
+        {
+          cellId: cell.cellId,
+          region: cell.region,
+          // A dry run asks every step-5 cell, so the shadow covers cells still in database mode.
+          reserve: dryRun ? state.ceiling !== undefined : reserve,
+          general: cell.general === true && state.status === 'live',
+          draining: state.draining === true,
+          polledAt: state.status === 'live' ? (state.polledAt ?? null) : null,
+          seats: Math.max(0, (state.units ?? state.reportedSeats ?? 0) - (state.bookings ?? 0)),
+          bookings: state.bookings ?? 0,
+          ...(state.ceiling === undefined ? {} : { ceiling: state.ceiling }),
+          intakePerSec: state.intake?.perSec ?? 0,
+          intakeTokens: state.intake?.tokens ?? 0
+        }
+      ]
+    })
+  }
+
+  private hasReserveCells(): boolean {
+    return this.input.directory.cellIds().some((cellId) => this.input.directory.admitModeOf(cellId) === 'reserve')
+  }
+
+  async plan(identity: Identity, request: { reconnect: boolean; region: RelayRegion }): Promise<ReservePlan> {
+    this.flushSummary()
+    if (this.input.mode === 'off') return { kind: 'database' }
+    if (this.input.mode === 'dry-run') {
+      return { kind: 'database', placeFresh: async () => await this.dryRun(identity, request.region) }
+    }
+    if (!this.hasReserveCells()) return { kind: 'database' }
+    const now = this.now()
+    const { directory } = this.input
+    // Until every live cell has answered, only a host that may be on an unheard cell waits.
+    const incomplete = !directory.isComplete() && now - this.input.startedAt < RESERVE_STARTUP_GATE_MS
+    const seats = directory.seatsOf(identity.userId, identity.relayHostId)
+    const left = directory
+      .recentlyLeftOf(identity.userId, identity.relayHostId, now)
+      .filter((entry) => now - entry.at <= RESERVE_STICKY_RECENT_MS)
+      .at(-1)
+    const booking = directory.bookingOf(identity.userId, identity.relayHostId)
+    const known = [
+      ...seats.map((seat) => seat.epoch),
+      ...(left ? [left.epoch] : []),
+      ...(booking ? [booking.epoch] : [])
+    ]
+    let row: { cellId: string; assignmentEpoch: number } | null = null
+    if (known.length === 0) {
+      try {
+        row = await this.input.readRow(identity)
+      } catch {
+        // A host the map never saw, with the database down: its epoch cannot be minted safely.
+        this.summary.retries.database += 1
+        return { kind: 'retry', retryAfterSeconds: 2, reason: 'database' }
+      }
+      if (row) known.push(row.assignmentEpoch)
+    }
+    const epochFloor = known.length === 0 ? 0 : Math.max(...known)
+    const lastCellId = seats[0]?.cellId ?? left?.cellId ?? row?.cellId
+    if (incomplete) {
+      if (lastCellId !== undefined && directory.cellState(lastCellId)?.status === 'pending') {
+        this.summary.retries.mapIncomplete += 1
+        return { kind: 'retry', retryAfterSeconds: 1, reason: 'map-incomplete' }
+      }
+      // Fresh placement waits for the full map; today's path places meanwhile.
+      if (lastCellId === undefined) return { kind: 'database', epochFloor }
+    }
+
+    if (request.reconnect) {
+      const sticky = await this.stickyFromMemory(identity, seats, left, now)
+      if (sticky) {
+        this.summary.sticky += 1
+        return { kind: 'answer', assignment: sticky, lane: 'sticky' }
+      }
+    }
+    const placeFresh = async (): Promise<RelayAssignment | null> =>
+      await this.placeFresh(identity, request.region, epochFloor, seats)
+    // Where the host was last seen decides who owns it: a database-mode cell keeps today's
+    // path, sticky included; only a fresh placement may be booked on a reserve-mode cell.
+    const lastOnReserve = lastCellId !== undefined && directory.admitModeOf(lastCellId) === 'reserve'
+    if (!lastOnReserve && (seats.length > 0 || left !== undefined || row !== null)) {
+      return { kind: 'database', epochFloor, placeFresh }
+    }
+    const placed = await placeFresh()
+    if (placed) return { kind: 'answer', assignment: placed, lane: 'placement' }
+    return { kind: 'database', epochFloor }
+  }
+
+  // The same epoch on the same cell: no booking, no database, no row lock. A cell that
+  // restarted since forgot the seat, so it is asked to hold it first.
+  private async stickyFromMemory(
+    identity: Identity,
+    seats: ShadowSeat[],
+    left: { cellId: string; epoch: number; incarnation?: string; closeCode?: number } | undefined,
+    now: number
+  ): Promise<RelayAssignment | null> {
+    // Highest epoch first, then the newest join: only the newest grant may be answered from
+    // memory, so a stale seat (or a leaver at a lower epoch) is never sent back.
+    const newest = Math.max(0, ...seats.map((seat) => seat.epoch), left?.epoch ?? 0)
+    const candidates: Array<{
+      cellId: string
+      epoch: number
+      incarnation?: string
+      seated: boolean
+      joinedAt: number
+    }> = [
+      ...seats
+        .filter((seat) => seat.state === 'active')
+        .map((seat) => ({
+          cellId: seat.cellId,
+          epoch: seat.epoch,
+          incarnation: seat.incarnation,
+          seated: true,
+          joinedAt: seat.joinedAt
+        })),
+      ...(left && !NO_REJOIN_CLOSE_CODES.has(left.closeCode ?? 0) ? [{ ...left, seated: false, joinedAt: -1 }] : [])
+    ]
+      .filter((candidate) => candidate.epoch === newest)
+      .sort((first, second) => second.joinedAt - first.joinedAt)
+    for (const candidate of candidates) {
+      const cell = this.input.cells().find((entry) => entry.cellId === candidate.cellId)
+      const state = this.input.directory.cellState(candidate.cellId)
+      const placement = this.placementCells().find((entry) => entry.cellId === candidate.cellId)
+      if (!cell || !state || !placement || !this.input.placer.isCandidate(placement, cell.region, now)) {
+        continue
+      }
+      if (!candidate.seated && !this.input.placer.hasSeat(placement)) continue
+      if (candidate.incarnation !== undefined && candidate.incarnation !== state.incarnation) {
+        const answer = await this.input.client.reserve(cell, {
+          ...identity,
+          epoch: candidate.epoch,
+          ttlMs: CELL_RESERVE_TTL_MS,
+          sticky: true
+        })
+        this.summary.stickyReserves += 1
+        if (answer.outcome !== 'ok') continue
+      }
+      return {
+        ...identity,
+        cellId: cell.cellId,
+        cellUrl: cell.cellUrl,
+        assignmentEpoch: candidate.epoch,
+        leaseExpiresAt: now + ASSIGNMENT_LIMITS.activityLeaseMs,
+        region: cell.region
+      }
+    }
+    return null
+  }
+
+  private async placeFresh(
+    identity: Identity,
+    region: RelayRegion,
+    epochFloor: number,
+    seats: readonly ShadowSeat[] = []
+  ): Promise<RelayAssignment | null> {
+    const placements = this.placementCells()
+    if (this.random() >= this.input.placer.reservePoolShare(placements, region)) return null
+    const regions = region === RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION ? [region] : [region, RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION]
+    for (const target of regions) {
+      const result = await this.input.placer.place({
+        cells: placements,
+        region: target,
+        epoch: mintEpoch([epochFloor]),
+        reserve: async (cellId, epoch) => {
+          const cell = this.input.cells().find((entry) => entry.cellId === cellId)
+          if (!cell) return { outcome: 'unreachable' }
+          const answer = await this.input.client.reserve(cell, {
+            ...identity,
+            epoch,
+            ttlMs: CELL_RESERVE_TTL_MS
+          })
+          this.summary.outcomes[answer.outcome] = (this.summary.outcomes[answer.outcome] ?? 0) + 1
+          return answer
+        }
+      })
+      this.summary.calls += result.calls
+      if (result.kind === 'placed') {
+        this.summary.placed += 1
+        this.supersede(identity, seats, result.cellId, result.epoch)
+        const cell = this.input.cells().find((entry) => entry.cellId === result.cellId)!
+        return {
+          ...identity,
+          cellId: cell.cellId,
+          cellUrl: cell.cellUrl,
+          assignmentEpoch: result.epoch,
+          leaseExpiresAt: this.now() + ASSIGNMENT_LIMITS.activityLeaseMs,
+          region: cell.region
+        }
+      }
+      if (result.kind === 'pace') {
+        this.summary.retries.paced += 1
+        throw new ReservePaceError(result.retryAfterSeconds)
+      }
+      // Database cells in this region take it; a region with none spills as today.
+      const hasDatabaseCells = placements.some(
+        (cell) => !cell.reserve && cell.region === target && cell.general && !cell.draining
+      )
+      if (hasDatabaseCells) break
+    }
+    this.summary.database += 1
+    return null
+  }
+
+  // Never changes an answer: books nothing, and returns null so today's path places.
+  private async dryRun(identity: Identity, region: RelayRegion): Promise<null> {
+    const placements = this.placementCells(true)
+    const cell = this.input.placer.pick(placements, region, new Set())
+    const target = cell && this.input.cells().find((entry) => entry.cellId === cell.cellId)
+    if (!target) return null
+    const startedAt = performance.now()
+    void this.input.client
+      .reserve(target, { ...identity, epoch: 1, ttlMs: CELL_RESERVE_TTL_MS }, true)
+      .then((answer) => {
+        const elapsedMs = performance.now() - startedAt
+        this.summary.dryRun.outcomes[answer.outcome] = (this.summary.dryRun.outcomes[answer.outcome] ?? 0) + 1
+        this.summary.dryRun.latenciesMs.push(elapsedMs)
+      })
+      .catch(() => undefined)
+    return null
+  }
+
+  // Supersede at placement: the old seats this director's map holds on reserve cells are told
+  // to go. Each cell checks the seat's epoch and join itself, so a stale map only misses.
+  private supersede(identity: Identity, seats: readonly ShadowSeat[], cellId: string, epoch: number): void {
+    for (const seat of seats) {
+      if (seat.cellId === cellId || seat.epoch >= epoch) continue
+      if (this.input.directory.admitModeOf(seat.cellId) !== 'reserve') continue
+      const cell = this.input.cells().find((entry) => entry.cellId === seat.cellId)
+      if (!cell) continue
+      this.summary.supersedes += 1
+      void this.input.client.demote(cell, {
+        v: 1,
+        userId: identity.userId,
+        relayHostId: identity.relayHostId,
+        epoch: seat.epoch,
+        joinedAt: seat.joinedAt
+      })
+      this.input.log?.(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          event: 'orca_relay_reserve_supersede',
+          relayHostIdDigest: relayHostLogDigest(identity.relayHostId),
+          fromCellId: seat.cellId,
+          toCellId: cellId
+        })
+      )
+    }
+  }
+
+  private flushSummary(): void {
+    const now = this.now()
+    if (now - this.summaryAt < SUMMARY_INTERVAL_MS) return
+    this.summaryAt = now
+    const { latenciesMs, outcomes } = this.summary.dryRun
+    latenciesMs.sort((left, right) => left - right)
+    const percentile = (share: number) =>
+      latenciesMs.length === 0
+        ? null
+        : Math.round(latenciesMs[Math.min(latenciesMs.length - 1, Math.floor(share * latenciesMs.length))]!)
+    ;(this.input.log ?? ((line: string) => console.log(line)))(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        event: 'orca_relay_reserve_placement_summary',
+        mode: this.input.mode,
+        ...this.summary,
+        dryRun: { outcomes, count: latenciesMs.length, p50Ms: percentile(0.5), p99Ms: percentile(0.99) }
+      })
+    )
+    this.summary = emptySummary()
+  }
+}
+
+type PlacementSummary = {
+  sticky: number
+  stickyReserves: number
+  placed: number
+  calls: number
+  database: number
+  supersedes: number
+  outcomes: Record<string, number>
+  retries: { mapIncomplete: number; database: number; paced: number }
+  dryRun: { outcomes: Record<string, number>; latenciesMs: number[] }
+}
+
+function emptySummary(): PlacementSummary {
+  return {
+    sticky: 0,
+    stickyReserves: 0,
+    placed: 0,
+    calls: 0,
+    database: 0,
+    supersedes: 0,
+    outcomes: {},
+    retries: { mapIncomplete: 0, database: 0, paced: 0 },
+    dryRun: { outcomes: {}, latenciesMs: [] }
+  }
+}
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/shadow-seat-directory.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/shadow-seat-directory.test.ts
index 8e90f442b66..83822afa8fd 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/shadow-seat-directory.test.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/shadow-seat-directory.test.ts
@@ -139,7 +139,7 @@ describe('startShadowSeatPoller', () => {
     expect(cell.requests[1]?.searchParams.get('since')).toBe(`${INCARNATION}:2`)
     expect(cell.directory.seatsOf('user-a', 'host-1')).toEqual([])
     expect(cell.directory.recentlyLeftOf('user-a', 'host-1', 1_000)).toEqual([
-      { cellId: 'cell-a', epoch: 3, generation: 1, closeCode: 4001, at: 53 }
+      { cellId: 'cell-a', epoch: 3, generation: 1, incarnation: INCARNATION, closeCode: 4001, at: 53 }
     ])
     expect(cell.directory.seatsOf('user-a', 'host-2')).toMatchObject([{ state: 'drain-only' }])
     expect(cell.directory.seatsOf('user-a', 'host-3')).toMatchObject([
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/shadow-seat-directory.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/shadow-seat-directory.ts
index 4785dbe4766..8cd0f7814db 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/shadow-seat-directory.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/shadow-seat-directory.ts
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 import type { RelayRegion } from '@orca-cloud/relay-contract'
 import { z } from 'zod'
 import type { RelayConfig } from './config.js'
-import { googleMetadataIdentityToken } from './google-metadata-identity-token.js'
+import { googleMetadataIdentityToken, reusedIdentityToken } from './google-metadata-identity-token.js'
 
 // Step 3: each director polls every cell's seat feed and keeps who is seated
 // where in memory. It decides nothing; readers only compare and report.
@@ -30,6 +30,15 @@ const SeatChangeSchema = z.object({
   generation: z.number().int(),
   state: z.string().optional(),
   closeCode: z.number().int().optional(),
+  // Step 5: on `reserve`, and on the join a booking admitted.
+  reservedBy: z.string().optional(),
+  at: z.number()
+})
+const RecentlyLeftSchema = z.object({
+  userId: z.string(),
+  relayHostId: z.string(),
+  epoch: z.number().int(),
+  closeCode: z.number().int().optional(),
   at: z.number()
 })
 const SeatSchema = z.object({
@@ -52,17 +61,29 @@ const SeatFeedSchema = z.object({
       // Seats in the cell's own log, under the same generation rule: equals the map exactly.
       seats: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
       // Drops at the start of a close handshake, up to ~30 s before the leave lands.
-      controls: z.number().int().nonnegative()
+      controls: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
+      // Step 5: live bookings, every unit the cell's ledger counts, and its placement ceiling.
+      bookings: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
+      units: z.number().int().nonnegative(),
+      ceiling: z.number().int().nonnegative()
     })
     .partial()
     .optional(),
+  intake: z
+    .object({ perSec: z.number().nonnegative(), burst: z.number(), tokens: z.number() })
+    .optional(),
   flagsApplied: z
     .object({ generation: z.union([z.string(), z.number()]), flags: z.record(z.unknown()) })
     .optional(),
+  // What the cell acts on: reserve also while a flip back is still leasing its controls, or
+  // db once its dead-man has flipped it back. Absent from older images.
+  admitModeEffective: z.enum(['db', 'reserve']).optional(),
   changes: z.array(SeatChangeSchema).optional(),
   // The cell cut the page (2,000 changes); poll again at once.
   more: z.boolean().optional(),
-  full: z.array(SeatSchema).optional()
+  full: z.array(SeatSchema).optional(),
+  // Step 5, with `full`: the cell's leavers of the last 10 minutes.
+  recentlyLeft: z.array(RecentlyLeftSchema).optional()
 })
 export type SeatFeedResponse = z.infer<typeof SeatFeedSchema>
 
@@ -74,6 +95,8 @@ export type SeatFeedCell = {
   heartbeatExpiresAt: number | null
   // Live, with capacity, and not roll-isolated: completeness waits only on these.
   requiredForComplete: boolean
+  // Admission state general and not roll-isolated: step 5 places only on these.
+  general?: boolean
 }
 
 export type ShadowSeat = {
@@ -84,12 +107,15 @@ export type ShadowSeat = {
   state: string
   joinedAt: number
   observedAt: number
+  // The cell incarnation that reported it: a restart since means the cell forgot it.
+  incarnation?: string
 }
 
 export type RecentlyLeftSeat = {
   cellId: string
   epoch: number
   generation: number
+  incarnation?: string
   closeCode?: number
   // A full resync dropped the seat, so no close code was seen.
   resync?: true
@@ -111,6 +137,24 @@ export type SeatFeedCellState = {
   reportedSeats?: number
   reportedControls?: number
   flagsApplied?: SeatFeedResponse['flagsApplied']
+  admitModeEffective?: 'db' | 'reserve'
+  // Step 5: when the answered poll was sent, and the cell's own reserve numbers.
+  polledAt?: number
+  bookings?: number
+  units?: number
+  ceiling?: number
+  intake?: SeatFeedResponse['intake']
+}
+
+// A join a booking admitted, for the director that booked it (its after-the-fact row).
+export type BookedJoin = {
+  cellId: string
+  userId: string
+  relayHostId: string
+  epoch: number
+  generation: number
+  joinedAt: number
+  reservedBy: string
 }
 
 type CellCursor = SeatFeedCellState & { seats: Map<string, ShadowSeat> }
@@ -131,6 +175,9 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
   private heartbeats: HeartbeatSnapshot | undefined
   // Per host, the newest database epoch seen and when: stands in for the grant time.
   private readonly databaseEpochs = new Map<string, { epoch: number; firstSeenAt: number }>()
+  // Per host, the newest booking any cell reported (step 5 epoch mint). Age-ordered.
+  private readonly bookings = new Map<string, { cellId: string; epoch: number; at: number }>()
+  onBookedJoin?: (join: BookedJoin) => void
 
   // Cells no longer listed are forgotten with their seats; new ones start pending.
   // `required` defaults to every listed cell.
@@ -161,7 +208,8 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
     return `${cursor.incarnation}:${cursor.seq}`
   }
 
-  apply(cellId: string, response: SeatFeedResponse, now: number): void {
+  // `polledAt` is when the request left; the reply holds every change before it.
+  apply(cellId: string, response: SeatFeedResponse, now: number, polledAt = now): void {
     const cursor = this.cells.get(cellId)
     if (!cursor) return
     if (response.cellId !== cellId) {
@@ -170,7 +218,19 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
     }
     let seq: number | null = response.seq
     if (response.full) {
-      this.replaceSeats(cursor, response.full, now)
+      this.replaceSeats(cursor, response.full, now, response.incarnation)
+      for (const left of response.recentlyLeft ?? []) {
+        const key = hostKey(left.userId, left.relayHostId)
+        if (cursor.seats.has(key)) continue
+        this.rememberLeft(key, {
+          cellId,
+          epoch: left.epoch,
+          generation: 0,
+          incarnation: response.incarnation,
+          ...(left.closeCode === undefined ? {} : { closeCode: left.closeCode }),
+          at: left.at
+        })
+      }
     } else {
       seq =
         cursor.incarnation === response.incarnation
@@ -195,8 +255,31 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
     cursor.reportedSeats = response.counts?.seats
     cursor.reportedControls = response.counts?.controls
     cursor.flagsApplied = response.flagsApplied
+    cursor.admitModeEffective = response.admitModeEffective
+    cursor.polledAt = polledAt
+    cursor.bookings = response.counts?.bookings
+    cursor.units = response.counts?.units
+    cursor.ceiling = response.counts?.ceiling
+    cursor.intake = response.intake
   }
 
+  // The newest booking any cell reported for this host since this director started.
+  bookingOf(userId: string, relayHostId: string): { cellId: string; epoch: number } | undefined {
+    return this.bookings.get(hostKey(userId, relayHostId))
+  }
+
+  // Applied state only: what the cell last said its switch is, never the desired object.
+  admitModeOf(cellId: string): 'db' | 'reserve' {
+    const cursor = this.cells.get(cellId)
+    if (cursor?.admitModeEffective) return cursor.admitModeEffective
+    return cursor?.flagsApplied?.flags.admitMode === 'reserve' ? 'reserve' : 'db'
+  }
+
+  cellIds(): string[] {
+    return [...this.cells.keys()]
+  }
+
+
   // An old cell (404) has no feed; its last known seats stay, marked by status.
   markNoFeed(cellId: string, now: number): void {
     const cursor = this.cells.get(cellId)
@@ -205,6 +288,12 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
     cursor.lastAnsweredAt = now
     cursor.incarnation = undefined
     cursor.seq = undefined
+    // An image without the feed takes no booking. Its reserve switch is #27058's to keep.
+    cursor.polledAt = undefined
+    cursor.bookings = undefined
+    cursor.units = undefined
+    cursor.ceiling = undefined
+    cursor.intake = undefined
   }
 
   fail(cellId: string, reason: string): void {
@@ -332,6 +421,11 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
       if (change.seq !== seq + 1) return null
       seq = change.seq
       const key = hostKey(change.userId, change.relayHostId)
+      // A booking is not a seat and carries no generation.
+      if (change.kind === 'reserve') {
+        this.rememberBooking(key, cursor.cellId, change.epoch, change.at)
+        continue
+      }
       const seat = cursor.seats.get(key)
       // A superseded generation's leave can arrive after its successor's join.
       if (seat && change.generation < seat.generation) continue
@@ -342,8 +436,20 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
           generation: change.generation,
           state: change.state ?? 'active',
           joinedAt: change.at,
-          observedAt: now
+          observedAt: now,
+          incarnation: cursor.incarnation
         })
+        if (change.reservedBy !== undefined) {
+          this.onBookedJoin?.({
+            cellId: cursor.cellId,
+            userId: change.userId,
+            relayHostId: change.relayHostId,
+            epoch: change.epoch,
+            generation: change.generation,
+            joinedAt: change.at,
+            reservedBy: change.reservedBy
+          })
+        }
       } else if (change.kind === 'leave') {
         if (seat) {
           this.unseat(cursor, key)
@@ -351,6 +457,7 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
             cellId: cursor.cellId,
             epoch: change.epoch,
             generation: change.generation,
+            incarnation: cursor.incarnation,
             closeCode: change.closeCode,
             at: change.at
           })
@@ -366,7 +473,12 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
     return seq
   }
 
-  private replaceSeats(cursor: CellCursor, full: SeatFeedResponse['full'] & object, now: number) {
+  private replaceSeats(
+    cursor: CellCursor,
+    full: SeatFeedResponse['full'] & object,
+    now: number,
+    incarnation: string
+  ) {
     const next = new Map<string, ShadowSeat>()
     for (const seat of full) {
       next.set(hostKey(seat.userId, seat.relayHostId), {
@@ -375,7 +487,8 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
         generation: seat.generation,
         state: seat.state,
         joinedAt: seat.joinedAt,
-        observedAt: now
+        observedAt: now,
+        incarnation
       })
     }
     for (const [key, seat] of cursor.seats) {
@@ -385,6 +498,7 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
         cellId: cursor.cellId,
         epoch: seat.epoch,
         generation: seat.generation,
+        ...(seat.incarnation === undefined ? {} : { incarnation: seat.incarnation }),
         resync: true,
         at: now
       })
@@ -414,6 +528,17 @@ export class ShadowSeatDirectory {
     if (seats.size === 0) this.hosts.delete(key)
   }
 
+  private rememberBooking(key: string, cellId: string, epoch: number, at: number): void {
+    const known = this.bookings.get(key)
+    if (known && known.epoch > epoch) return
+    this.bookings.delete(key)
+    this.bookings.set(key, { cellId, epoch, at })
+    if (this.bookings.size > SHADOW_SEAT_RECENTLY_LEFT_MAX_HOSTS) {
+      const oldest = this.bookings.keys().next().value
+      if (oldest !== undefined) this.bookings.delete(oldest)
+    }
+  }
+
   private rememberLeft(key: string, entry: RecentlyLeftSeat): void {
     const entries = this.recentlyLeft.get(key) ?? []
     this.recentlyLeft.delete(key)
@@ -439,10 +564,16 @@ export type ShadowSeatPollerOptions = {
   now?: () => number
   pollMs?: number
   log?: (line: string) => void
+  // True while this director places on reserve cells (ORCA_RELAY_RESERVE_PLACEMENT=on).
+  reserver?: () => boolean
 }
 
 export type ShadowSeatPoller = {
   directory: ShadowSeatDirectory
+  // The cell list as last read: url, region, liveness and admission.
+  cells: () => readonly SeatFeedCell[]
+  // When the poller started, for the startup gate.
+  startedAt: number
   // One round: refreshes the cell list when due, then polls every idle cell.
   tick: () => Promise<void>
   stop: () => void
@@ -470,28 +601,17 @@ export function startShadowSeatPoller(
     options.identityToken ??
     ((tokenAudience: string) => googleMetadataIdentityToken(tokenAudience, fetchImpl))
   const directory = new ShadowSeatDirectory()
+  const startedAt = now()
   const inFlight = new Set<string>()
   let cells: SeatFeedCell[] = []
   let cellsReadAt: number | undefined
   let cellListInFlight = false
   let cellListFailures = 0
   let cellListRetryAt = 0
-  let token: { value: Promise<string>; at: number } | undefined
   let lastSummaryAt = now()
   let stopped = false
 
-  const identity = (): Promise<string> => {
-    const at = now()
-    if (!token || at - token.at > IDENTITY_TOKEN_REUSE_MS) {
-      const value = tokenProvider(audience)
-      token = { value, at }
-      // A failed fetch must not be reused for ten minutes.
-      value.catch(() => {
-        if (token?.value === value) token = undefined
-      })
-    }
-    return token.value
-  }
+  const identity = reusedIdentityToken(() => tokenProvider(audience), now, IDENTITY_TOKEN_REUSE_MS)
 
   const refreshCells = async (): Promise<void> => {
     if (cellListInFlight) return
@@ -538,8 +658,11 @@ export function startShadowSeatPoller(
   // Returns true when the cell cut the page and the next one should follow at once.
   const fetchPage = async (cell: SeatFeedCell): Promise<boolean> => {
     const url = new URL('/v1/admin/cell-seats', cell.cellUrl)
+    const polledAt = now()
     const since = directory.since(cell.cellId)
     if (since !== undefined) url.searchParams.set('since', since)
+    // Placing on reserve cells: keeps each cell's dead-man from flipping it back to db.
+    if (options.reserver?.()) url.searchParams.set('reserver', '1')
     const response = await fetchImpl(url, {
       headers: { authorization: `Bearer ${await identity()}` },
       signal: AbortSignal.timeout(SHADOW_SEAT_POLL_TIMEOUT_MS)
@@ -560,7 +683,7 @@ export function startShadowSeatPoller(
       directory.fail(cell.cellId, 'malformed')
       return false
     }
-    directory.apply(cell.cellId, body.data, now())
+    directory.apply(cell.cellId, body.data, now(), polledAt)
     return body.data.more === true && directory.cellState(cell.cellId)?.status === 'live'
   }
 
@@ -605,6 +728,8 @@ export function startShadowSeatPoller(
   timer.unref()
   return {
     directory,
+    cells: () => cells,
+    startedAt,
     tick: () => round(true),
     stop: () => {
       stopped = true