diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/app.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/app.ts
index 8dd8deeb4e4..91fe5fcf3f6 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/app.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/app.ts
@@ -39,6 +39,8 @@ 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 { registerCellReserveRoutes } from './cell-reserve-routes.js'
+import type { DemoteRequest, ReserveOutcome, ReserveRequest } from './cell-reserve-contract.js'
 import type { CellSeatFeedPage } from './cell-seat-log.js'
 import { type CellFlags, supportedCellFlags } from './cell-flags.js'
 import type { AppliedControlFlags } from './relay-control-flag-channel.js'
@@ -126,6 +128,13 @@ export function createRelayApp(
     cellIncarnation?: string
     cellSeatFeed?: (sinceSeq: number | null) => CellSeatFeedPage
     cellFlags?: () => AppliedControlFlags<CellFlags>
+    cellReserve?: (request: ReserveRequest) => ReserveOutcome[]
+    cellDemote?: (request: DemoteRequest) => string
+    cellReserveCounts?: () => {
+      bookings: number
+      intake: { perSec: number; burst: number; tokens: number }
+    } | null
+    cellPlacementCeiling?: number
     isDraining?: () => boolean
     regionalRehomeSafetySnapshot?: () => RegionalRehomeSafetySnapshot
     runtimeCounts?: () => RelayRuntimeCounts
@@ -333,7 +342,14 @@ export function createRelayApp(
     seatFeed: operations.cellSeatFeed,
     isDraining: operations.isDraining,
     runtimeCounts: operations.runtimeCounts,
-    cellFlags: operations.cellFlags
+    cellFlags: operations.cellFlags,
+    reserveCounts: operations.cellReserveCounts,
+    placementCeiling: operations.cellPlacementCeiling
+  })
+  registerCellReserveRoutes(app, config, {
+    verifyRegionalRehomeToken,
+    reserve: operations.cellReserve,
+    demote: operations.cellDemote
   })
 
   // Not /healthz: Google Front End reserves that path before the container.
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-flags.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-flags.ts
index f9e01b967f7..6543a826681 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-flags.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-flags.ts
@@ -5,34 +5,51 @@ import type { ControlFlagParse } from './relay-control-flag-channel.js'
 // keys are dropped; a known key with a bad value voids the object.
 export type CellFlags = {
   readinessLocal: boolean
-  ticketCheck: 'off' | 'shadow'
+  // `enforce` admits a hello on a valid lease alone; only reserve mode reads it.
+  ticketCheck: 'off' | 'shadow' | 'enforce'
   // Off restores Node's default: any unhandled rejection ends the process (#26817 reverted).
   rejectionFence: boolean
   // Past statement_timeout before a lost reply ends its connection; absent keeps the boot value.
   readTimeoutMarginMs?: number
+  // Step 5: `reserve` admits booked and recently seated hosts without the database.
+  admitMode: 'db' | 'reserve'
+  // Bookings per second this cell accepts; absent means its region's default.
+  intakePerSec?: number
+  // Answers a director's dry-run booking check; off, the reserve endpoint is inert in db mode.
+  reserveDryRun: boolean
 }
 
 export const CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS: CellFlags = {
   readinessLocal: false,
   ticketCheck: 'off',
-  rejectionFence: true
+  rejectionFence: true,
+  admitMode: 'db',
+  reserveDryRun: false
 }
 
 export const READ_TIMEOUT_MARGIN_MIN_MS = 1_000
 export const READ_TIMEOUT_MARGIN_MAX_MS = 60_000
 
+// Until E-pre measures each cell's accept rate (S3 §4.2).
+export function defaultIntakePerSec(region: string | undefined): number {
+  return region === 'asia-east2' ? 2 : 5
+}
+
 export const CELL_FLAGS_APPLIED_EVENT = 'orca_relay_cell_flags_applied'
 
 const CellFlagsSchema = z.object({
   readinessLocal: z.boolean().default(CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS.readinessLocal),
-  ticketCheck: z.enum(['off', 'shadow']).default(CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS.ticketCheck),
+  ticketCheck: z.enum(['off', 'shadow', 'enforce']).default(CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS.ticketCheck),
   rejectionFence: z.boolean().default(CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS.rejectionFence),
   readTimeoutMarginMs: z
     .number()
     .int()
     .min(READ_TIMEOUT_MARGIN_MIN_MS)
     .max(READ_TIMEOUT_MARGIN_MAX_MS)
-    .optional()
+    .optional(),
+  admitMode: z.enum(['db', 'reserve']).default(CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS.admitMode),
+  intakePerSec: z.number().positive().max(1_000).optional(),
+  reserveDryRun: z.boolean().default(CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS.reserveDryRun)
 })
 const KNOWN_FLAG_KEYS = new Set(Object.keys(CellFlagsSchema.shape))
 
@@ -41,6 +58,9 @@ export type SupportedCellFlag =
   | { type: 'enum'; values: string[] }
   | { type: 'number'; min?: number; max?: number; integer?: boolean }
 
+// Parsed, never offered: ticketCheck=enforce has no step that turns it on yet.
+const UNOFFERED_FLAG_VALUES: Record<string, string[]> = { ticketCheck: ['enforce'] }
+
 // What this image accepts, read from the schema itself: the flag tool refuses a key or value
 // the cell would drop or void before it writes.
 export function supportedCellFlags(): Record<string, SupportedCellFlag> {
@@ -51,7 +71,10 @@ export function supportedCellFlags(): Record<string, SupportedCellFlag> {
       inner = inner instanceof z.ZodDefault ? inner.removeDefault() : inner.unwrap()
     }
     if (inner instanceof z.ZodBoolean) supported[key] = { type: 'boolean' }
-    else if (inner instanceof z.ZodEnum) supported[key] = { type: 'enum', values: [...inner.options] }
+    else if (inner instanceof z.ZodEnum) {
+      const unoffered = UNOFFERED_FLAG_VALUES[key] ?? []
+      supported[key] = { type: 'enum', values: inner.options.filter((value: string) => !unoffered.includes(value)) }
+    }
     else if (inner instanceof z.ZodNumber) {
       supported[key] = {
         type: 'number',
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-admission.blackbox.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-admission.blackbox.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..a952679ff53
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-admission.blackbox.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,444 @@
+import { createHash, createHmac } from 'node:crypto'
+import { createServer, type Server } from 'node:http'
+import { createServer as createNetServer } from 'node:net'
+import { buildHostProofMacInput, HOST_CHALLENGE_PLAINTEXT_DOMAIN } from '@orca-cloud/relay-contract'
+import { exportJWK, generateKeyPair, SignJWT } from 'jose'
+import nacl from 'tweetnacl'
+import { afterEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import WebSocket from 'ws'
+import type { RawData } from 'ws'
+import { CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS, type CellFlags } from './cell-flags.js'
+import type { RelayConfig } from './config.js'
+import { PostgresDatabase } from './database.js'
+import type { AppliedControlFlags } from './relay-control-flag-channel.js'
+import { createRelayServer, HOST_HELLO_SHED_OLDEST_WAIT_MS } from './relay-server.js'
+
+// A step-5 cell whose database pool is wedged: every query waits forever and the hello shed
+// is armed. Booked and recently seated hosts must still connect; everything else must not.
+
+async function unusedPort(): Promise<number> {
+  const server = createNetServer()
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => server.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', resolve))
+  const address = server.address()
+  if (!address || typeof address === 'string') throw new Error('missing test port')
+  await new Promise<void>((resolve) => server.close(() => resolve()))
+  return address.port
+}
+
+function stalledPool() {
+  const pool = {
+    options: { max: 2, connectionTimeoutMillis: 0 },
+    totalCount: 2,
+    idleCount: 0,
+    waitingCount: 0,
+    connect: () => {
+      pool.waitingCount++
+      return new Promise<never>(() => {})
+    },
+    end: async () => undefined
+  }
+  return pool
+}
+
+function cellConfig(port: number, issuer: string): RelayConfig {
+  const relayUrl = `http://127.0.0.1:${port}`
+  return {
+    port,
+    publicUrl: relayUrl,
+    cellUrl: relayUrl,
+    authIssuer: issuer,
+    authAudience: 'orca-relay',
+    jwksUrl: issuer,
+    assignmentSigningKey: new Uint8Array(32),
+    role: 'cell',
+    cellId: 'production-gce-c3',
+    cells: [{ id: 'production-gce-c3', url: relayUrl, capacityRequests: 4_000 }],
+    adminAudience: `${relayUrl}/admin`,
+    deployServiceAccount: 'deploy@example.com',
+    runtimeServiceAccount: 'runtime@example.com',
+    connectionHardCap: 600,
+    connectionUnobservedBound: 60,
+    adminJwksUrl: `${issuer}/admin-jwks`,
+    databasePoolMax: 2,
+    publicAssignmentsEnabled: true,
+    publicAssignmentConcurrency: 1,
+    publicAssignmentQueueMax: 128,
+    publicAssignmentWaitMs: 4_000,
+    publicResolveConcurrency: 1,
+    publicResolveWaitMs: 5_000,
+    publicAssignmentRetryAfterSeconds: 5,
+    dataDir: './test-data'
+  }
+}
+
+function nextMessage(socket: WebSocket): Promise<Record<string, unknown>> {
+  return new Promise((resolve, reject) => {
+    socket.once('message', (data: RawData) => {
+      try {
+        resolve(JSON.parse(data.toString()) as Record<string, unknown>)
+      } catch (error) {
+        reject(error)
+      }
+    })
+    socket.once('error', reject)
+  })
+}
+
+describe('a reserve-mode cell admits from memory with its database wedged', () => {
+  const cleanup: Array<() => Promise<void> | void> = []
+
+  afterEach(async () => {
+    for (const close of cleanup.splice(0).reverse()) await close()
+    vi.restoreAllMocks()
+  })
+
+  async function startCell(
+    flags: Partial<CellFlags>,
+    connectionLedgerLimits?: { hardCap: number; controlReserve: number }
+  ) {
+    vi.spyOn(console, 'log').mockImplementation(() => undefined)
+    vi.spyOn(console, 'warn').mockImplementation(() => undefined)
+    const keys = await generateKeyPair('ES256')
+    const publicJwk = await exportJWK(keys.publicKey)
+    const jwksServer: Server = createServer((_request, response) => {
+      response.setHeader('content-type', 'application/json')
+      response.end(
+        JSON.stringify({ keys: [{ ...publicJwk, kid: 'test-key', alg: 'ES256', use: 'sig' }] })
+      )
+    })
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => jwksServer.listen(0, '127.0.0.1', resolve))
+    cleanup.push(() => new Promise<void>((resolve) => jwksServer.close(() => resolve())))
+    const jwksAddress = jwksServer.address()
+    if (!jwksAddress || typeof jwksAddress === 'string') throw new Error('missing JWKS address')
+    const issuer = `http://127.0.0.1:${jwksAddress.port}`
+    const realNow = Date.now()
+    let elapsedMs = 0
+    vi.spyOn(Date, 'now').mockImplementation(() => realNow + elapsedMs)
+    const database = new PostgresDatabase(stalledPool() as never)
+    for (let index = 0; index < 2; index++) void database.query('SELECT 1').catch(() => {})
+    elapsedMs += HOST_HELLO_SHED_OLDEST_WAIT_MS
+    let applied: AppliedControlFlags<CellFlags> = {
+      generation: 3,
+      flags: { ...CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS, ...flags }
+    }
+    const port = await unusedPort()
+    const relay = createRelayServer(cellConfig(port, issuer), database, {
+      cellFlags: () => applied,
+      ...(connectionLedgerLimits ? { connectionLedgerLimits } : {})
+    })
+    relay.server.listen(port, '127.0.0.1')
+    await new Promise<void>((resolve) => relay.server.once('listening', resolve))
+    cleanup.push(() => new Promise<void>((resolve) => relay.server.close(() => resolve())))
+
+    const host = async () => {
+      const keyPair = nacl.box.keyPair()
+      const hostId = createHash('sha256').update(keyPair.publicKey).digest('base64url').slice(0, 16)
+      const token = await new SignJWT({
+        prof: 'profile-1',
+        org: 'org-1',
+        purpose: 'host-control',
+        relayHostId: hostId
+      })
+        .setProtectedHeader({ alg: 'ES256', kid: 'test-key' })
+        .setIssuer(issuer)
+        .setAudience('orca-relay')
+        .setSubject('user-1')
+        .setIssuedAt()
+        .setExpirationTime('5m')
+        .sign(keys.privateKey)
+      return { keyPair, hostId, token }
+    }
+
+    // The upgrade status, or the first control frame after the proof.
+    const connect = async (
+      identity: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof host>>,
+      epoch: number
+    ): Promise<{
+      status: number
+      ack?: Record<string, unknown>
+      socket?: WebSocket
+      closeCode?: Promise<number>
+    }> => {
+      const socket = new WebSocket(`ws://127.0.0.1:${port}/v1/host/control`, {
+        headers: { authorization: `Bearer ${identity.token}` },
+        perMessageDeflate: false
+      })
+      const opened = await new Promise<{ status: number }>((resolve, reject) => {
+        socket.once('unexpected-response', (request, response) => {
+          resolve({ status: response.statusCode ?? 0 })
+          request.destroy()
+        })
+        socket.once('open', () => resolve({ status: 101 }))
+        socket.once('error', reject)
+      })
+      if (opened.status !== 101) return opened
+      cleanup.push(() => socket.terminate())
+      const closeCode = new Promise<number>((resolve) => socket.once('close', resolve))
+      socket.send(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          type: 'host-hello',
+          v: 1,
+          relayHostId: identity.hostId,
+          assignmentEpoch: epoch,
+          hostPublicKeyB64: Buffer.from(identity.keyPair.publicKey).toString('base64'),
+          appVersion: 'test'
+        })
+      )
+      const challenge = await Promise.race([
+        nextMessage(socket),
+        closeCode.then(() => null),
+        new Promise<null>((resolve) => setTimeout(() => resolve(null), 500))
+      ])
+      if (!challenge || challenge.type !== 'host-challenge') return { status: 101, socket, closeCode }
+      const plaintext = nacl.box.open(
+        Buffer.from(String(challenge.ciphertextB64), 'base64'),
+        Buffer.from(String(challenge.nonceB64), 'base64'),
+        Buffer.from(String(challenge.relayEphemeralPublicKeyB64), 'base64'),
+        identity.keyPair.secretKey
+      )!
+      const domainLength = new TextEncoder().encode(`${HOST_CHALLENGE_PLAINTEXT_DOMAIN}\0`).length
+      const transcriptLength = new DataView(
+        plaintext.buffer,
+        plaintext.byteOffset + domainLength,
+        4
+      ).getUint32(0, false)
+      const transcriptStart = domainLength + 4
+      const transcript = plaintext.slice(transcriptStart, transcriptStart + transcriptLength)
+      const secret = plaintext.slice(transcriptStart + transcriptLength)
+      socket.send(
+        JSON.stringify({
+          type: 'host-challenge-ack',
+          challengeId: challenge.challengeId,
+          proofB64: createHmac('sha256', secret)
+            .update(buildHostProofMacInput(transcript))
+            .digest('base64')
+        })
+      )
+      return { status: 101, ack: await nextMessage(socket), socket }
+    }
+
+    // An upgrade that never sends its hello, so it keeps its connection unit.
+    const upgradeOnly = async (identity: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof host>>): Promise<number> => {
+      const socket = new WebSocket(`ws://127.0.0.1:${port}/v1/host/control`, {
+        headers: { authorization: `Bearer ${identity.token}` },
+        perMessageDeflate: false
+      })
+      cleanup.push(() => socket.terminate())
+      return await new Promise<number>((resolve, reject) => {
+        socket.once('unexpected-response', (request, response) => {
+          resolve(response.statusCode ?? 0)
+          request.destroy()
+        })
+        socket.once('open', () => resolve(101))
+        socket.once('error', reject)
+      })
+    }
+
+    const book = (identity: Awaited<ReturnType<typeof host>>, epoch: number) =>
+      relay.sessions.reserve({
+        v: 1,
+        directorId: 'director-a',
+        items: [{ userId: 'user-1', relayHostId: identity.hostId, epoch, ttlMs: 30_000 }]
+      })
+
+    return {
+      relay,
+      host,
+      connect,
+      upgradeOnly,
+      book,
+      setFlags: (next: Partial<CellFlags>) => {
+        applied = { generation: applied.generation + 1, flags: { ...CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS, ...next } }
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  it('answers a director dry run only while reserveDryRun is on, and books nothing either way', async () => {
+    const cell = await startCell({})
+    const identity = await cell.host()
+    const check = () =>
+      cell.relay.sessions.reserve({
+        v: 1,
+        directorId: 'director-a',
+        dryRun: true,
+        items: [{ userId: 'user-1', relayHostId: identity.hostId, epoch: 7, ttlMs: 30_000 }]
+      })
+    expect(check()).toEqual([{ outcome: 'off' }])
+    cell.setFlags({ reserveDryRun: true })
+    expect(check()).toEqual([{ outcome: 'ok' }])
+    expect(cell.relay.sessions.reserveCounts()?.bookings).toBe(0)
+    // A real booking on a database-mode cell stays off, whatever the dry-run switch says.
+    expect(cell.book(identity, 7)).toEqual([{ outcome: 'off' }])
+  })
+
+  it('connects a booked host, and only at its booked epoch, without a database read', async () => {
+    const cell = await startCell({ admitMode: 'reserve' })
+    const booked = await cell.host()
+    expect(cell.book(booked, 7)).toEqual([{ outcome: 'ok' }])
+    const stranger = await cell.host()
+    // No booking and no seat: the wedged pool sheds it, as today.
+    expect((await cell.connect(stranger, 7)).status).toBe(503)
+    const reply = await cell.connect(booked, 7)
+    expect(reply.ack).toMatchObject({ type: 'host-hello-ack', generation: 1 })
+    const page = cell.relay.sessions.seatFeed(null)
+    expect('full' in page && page.full).toMatchObject([{ relayHostId: booked.hostId, epoch: 7 }])
+    const changes = cell.relay.sessions.seatFeed(0)
+    expect('changes' in changes && changes.changes.map((change) => [change.kind, change.reservedBy])).toEqual([
+      ['reserve', 'director-a'],
+      ['join', 'director-a']
+    ])
+  })
+
+  it('lets a host that just left rejoin at the same epoch from memory', async () => {
+    const cell = await startCell({ admitMode: 'reserve' })
+    const identity = await cell.host()
+    cell.book(identity, 4)
+    const first = await cell.connect(identity, 4)
+    expect(first.ack).toMatchObject({ type: 'host-hello-ack' })
+    first.socket!.close()
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50))
+    expect((await cell.connect(identity, 4)).ack).toMatchObject({ type: 'host-hello-ack' })
+    // A different epoch is not the seat it remembers: shed at the hello, not queued on the pool.
+    const other = await cell.connect(identity, 5)
+    expect(other.ack).toBeUndefined()
+    expect(await other.closeCode).toBe(4429)
+  })
+
+  it('keeps today’s path when the switch is off, even for a booking made while it was on', async () => {
+    const cell = await startCell({ admitMode: 'reserve' })
+    const identity = await cell.host()
+    cell.book(identity, 2)
+    cell.setFlags({ admitMode: 'db' })
+    expect((await cell.connect(identity, 2)).status).toBe(503)
+    expect(cell.book(identity, 3)).toEqual([{ outcome: 'off' }])
+  })
+
+  it('demotes exactly the seat a director names, and repeats are one demotion', async () => {
+    const cell = await startCell({ admitMode: 'reserve' })
+    const identity = await cell.host()
+    cell.book(identity, 9)
+    await cell.connect(identity, 9)
+    const page = cell.relay.sessions.seatFeed(null)
+    const joinedAt = 'full' in page ? page.full[0]!.joinedAt : -1
+    const seat = { v: 1 as const, userId: 'user-1', relayHostId: identity.hostId, epoch: 9 }
+    expect(cell.relay.sessions.demote({ ...seat, joinedAt: joinedAt - 1 })).toBe('not-seated')
+    expect(cell.relay.sessions.demote({ ...seat, joinedAt })).toBe('demoted')
+    expect(cell.relay.sessions.demote({ ...seat, joinedAt })).toBe('already-demoted')
+    const changes = cell.relay.sessions.seatFeed(0)
+    expect('changes' in changes && changes.changes.at(-1)?.kind).toBe('drain-only')
+    // A demoted seat no longer holds its epoch against a new booking.
+    expect(cell.book(identity, 9)).toEqual([{ outcome: 'ok' }])
+  })
+
+  it('gives every booking unit back when the cell starts to drain', async () => {
+    const cell = await startCell({ admitMode: 'reserve' })
+    const identity = await cell.host()
+    cell.book(identity, 2)
+    expect(cell.relay.sessions.reserveCounts()?.bookings).toBe(1)
+    cell.relay.sessions.drain(30_000)
+    expect(cell.relay.sessions.reserveCounts()?.bookings).toBe(0)
+    expect(cell.book(identity, 3)).toEqual([{ outcome: 'draining' }])
+  })
+
+  it('takes no demotion on a database-mode cell', async () => {
+    const cell = await startCell({ admitMode: 'reserve' })
+    const identity = await cell.host()
+    cell.book(identity, 9)
+    await cell.connect(identity, 9)
+    const page = cell.relay.sessions.seatFeed(null)
+    const joinedAt = 'full' in page ? page.full[0]!.joinedAt : -1
+    cell.setFlags({ admitMode: 'db' })
+    const seat = { v: 1 as const, userId: 'user-1', relayHostId: identity.hostId, epoch: 9, joinedAt }
+    expect(cell.relay.sessions.demote(seat)).toBe('off')
+    const changes = cell.relay.sessions.seatFeed(0)
+    expect('changes' in changes && changes.changes.at(-1)?.kind).toBe('join')
+  })
+
+  it('ends a demotion with its socket, so the host booked back later is an ordinary seat', async () => {
+    const cell = await startCell({ admitMode: 'reserve' })
+    const identity = await cell.host()
+    cell.book(identity, 9)
+    const loser = await cell.connect(identity, 9)
+    const page = cell.relay.sessions.seatFeed(null)
+    const joinedAt = 'full' in page ? page.full[0]!.joinedAt : -1
+    const seat = { v: 1 as const, userId: 'user-1', relayHostId: identity.hostId, epoch: 9, joinedAt }
+    expect(cell.relay.sessions.demote(seat)).toBe('demoted')
+    // The loser goes on its own, well before the 60 s demotion close.
+    loser.socket!.close()
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50))
+    const left = cell.relay.sessions.seatFeed(0)
+    // Recorded as moved, so neither rule 2 nor a director's sticky sends it back at 9.
+    expect('changes' in left && left.changes.at(-1)).toMatchObject({ kind: 'leave', closeCode: 4409 })
+    expect((await cell.connect(identity, 9)).ack).toBeUndefined()
+    // Booked back onto this cell at a newer epoch: admitted, and then remembered as seated.
+    expect(cell.book(identity, 11)).toEqual([{ outcome: 'ok' }])
+    const back = await cell.connect(identity, 11)
+    expect(back.ack).toMatchObject({ type: 'host-hello-ack' })
+    back.socket!.close()
+    await new Promise((resolve) => setTimeout(resolve, 50))
+    expect((await cell.connect(identity, 11)).ack).toMatchObject({ type: 'host-hello-ack' })
+  })
+
+  it('refuses a booked upgrade at the hard cap and leaves the feed units and bookings as they were', async () => {
+    const hardCap = 4
+    const cell = await startCell({ admitMode: 'reserve' }, { hardCap, controlReserve: 1 })
+    const [waiting, seated] = [await cell.host(), await cell.host()]
+    expect(cell.book(waiting, 5)[0]?.outcome).toBe('ok')
+    expect(cell.book(seated, 5)[0]?.outcome).toBe('ok')
+    expect((await cell.connect(seated, 5)).ack?.type).toBe('host-hello-ack')
+    // Rebinds over the live control may rise to the hard cap; unproven, they hold their units.
+    expect(await cell.upgradeOnly(seated)).toBe(101)
+    expect(await cell.upgradeOnly(seated)).toBe(101)
+    const before = {
+      units: cell.relay.connectionSnapshot()!.enforcedConnectionUnits,
+      bookings: cell.relay.sessions.reserveCounts()!.bookings
+    }
+    expect(before).toEqual({ units: hardCap, bookings: 1 })
+    expect((await cell.connect(waiting, 5)).status).toBe(503)
+    expect({
+      units: cell.relay.connectionSnapshot()!.enforcedConnectionUnits,
+      bookings: cell.relay.sessions.reserveCounts()!.bookings
+    }).toEqual(before)
+  }, 30_000)
+
+  it('never crosses the hard cap under seeded bookings, hellos, rebooks and closes', async () => {
+    const hardCap = 6
+    const cell = await startCell({ admitMode: 'reserve' }, { hardCap, controlReserve: 1 })
+    const hosts = await Promise.all(Array.from({ length: 12 }, () => cell.host()))
+    const epochs = new Map<string, number>()
+    const open: WebSocket[] = []
+    let seed = 7
+    const random = () => {
+      seed = (seed * 1_103_515_245 + 12_345) % 2_147_483_648
+      return seed / 2_147_483_648
+    }
+    let peak = 0
+    for (let step = 0; step < 240; step += 1) {
+      const identity = hosts[Math.floor(random() * hosts.length)]!
+      const roll = random()
+      if (roll < 0.4) {
+        // A director's fresh booking, or a re-book at a newer epoch.
+        const epoch = (epochs.get(identity.hostId) ?? 1) + (random() < 0.5 ? 0 : 1)
+        if (cell.book(identity, epoch)[0]?.outcome === 'ok') epochs.set(identity.hostId, epoch)
+      } else if (roll < 0.8) {
+        const reply = await cell.connect(identity, epochs.get(identity.hostId) ?? 1)
+        if (reply.ack?.type === 'host-hello-ack') open.push(reply.socket!)
+      } else if (open.length > 0) {
+        const socket = open.splice(Math.floor(random() * open.length), 1)[0]!
+        // A newer control for the same host may already have replaced it.
+        if (socket.readyState !== WebSocket.CLOSED) {
+          const closed = new Promise((resolve) => socket.once('close', resolve))
+          socket.close()
+          await closed
+        }
+      }
+      const counts = cell.relay.connectionSnapshot()!
+      peak = Math.max(peak, counts.physicalConnections)
+      expect(counts.physicalConnections).toBeLessThanOrEqual(hardCap)
+      expect(counts.enforcedConnectionUnits).toBeLessThanOrEqual(hardCap)
+    }
+    // The run did reach the cap, so the bound was exercised.
+    expect(peak).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(hardCap - 1)
+  }, 60_000)
+})
+
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-book.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-book.test.ts
index c408b51467c..1d5d051936a 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-book.test.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-book.test.ts
@@ -110,4 +110,22 @@ describe('cell reserve book', () => {
     book.clear()
     expect(capacity.held()).toBe(0)
   })
+
+  it('hands a booking unit to the host upgrade, so the host counts once until its hello', () => {
+    const capacity = units(2)
+    const book = new CellReserveBook(capacity, () => 100)
+    book.reserve('d1', item('a', 2), reserveMode)
+    expect(capacity.held()).toBe(1)
+    book.handOff('a', 'abcdefghijklmnop')
+    book.handOff('a', 'abcdefghijklmnop')
+    expect(capacity.held()).toBe(0)
+    // Still a booking for the hello, at its own epoch only.
+    expect(book.has('a', 'abcdefghijklmnop')).toBe(true)
+    expect(book.take('a', 'abcdefghijklmnop', 3)).toBeNull()
+    // A newer booking for a handed-off host needs a unit of its own.
+    expect(book.reserve('d1', item('a', 3), reserveMode).outcome).toBe('ok')
+    expect(capacity.held()).toBe(1)
+    expect(book.take('a', 'abcdefghijklmnop', 3)).toMatchObject({ epoch: 3 })
+    expect(capacity.held()).toBe(0)
+  })
 })
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-book.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-book.ts
index e67ed54161a..089f4727f89 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-book.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-book.ts
@@ -33,7 +33,8 @@ export type CellBooking = {
   expiresAt: number
 }
 
-type HeldBooking = CellBooking & { unit: BookingUnit }
+// `handedOff`: the host's upgrade now counts this unit, so the booking holds none.
+type HeldBooking = CellBooking & { unit: BookingUnit; handedOff: boolean }
 
 function hostKey(userId: string, relayHostId: string): string {
   return `${userId}\u0000${relayHostId}`
@@ -104,11 +105,12 @@ export class CellReserveBook {
       return { outcome: 'seated-newer', epoch: known }
     }
     // A lower-epoch booking for this host hands its unit to the new one.
-    if (!booked && !this.capacity.canReserve()) return { outcome: 'full' }
+    const heldUnit = booked && !booked.handedOff ? booked.unit : undefined
+    if (!heldUnit && !this.capacity.canReserve()) return { outcome: 'full' }
     // The post-restart sticky re-booking books nothing new, so it takes no token.
     if (!item.sticky && this.intake.available(now) < 1) return { outcome: 'intake' }
     if (dryRun) return { outcome: 'ok' }
-    const unit = booked?.unit ?? this.capacity.tryReserve()
+    const unit = heldUnit ?? this.capacity.tryReserve()
     if (!unit) return { outcome: 'full' }
     if (!item.sticky) this.intake.take(now)
     this.bookings.set(key, {
@@ -117,7 +119,8 @@ export class CellReserveBook {
       epoch: item.epoch,
       directorId,
       expiresAt: now + item.ttlMs,
-      unit
+      unit,
+      handedOff: false
     })
     return { outcome: 'ok' }
   }
@@ -127,6 +130,15 @@ export class CellReserveBook {
     return booking !== undefined && booking.expiresAt > this.now()
   }
 
+  // The booked host's upgrade takes over its unit, so the host counts once until its hello.
+  // The upgrade carries no epoch; the hello's take() still requires the booked one.
+  handOff(userId: string, relayHostId: string): void {
+    const booking = this.bookings.get(hostKey(userId, relayHostId))
+    if (!booking || booking.handedOff || booking.expiresAt <= this.now()) return
+    booking.handedOff = true
+    booking.unit.release()
+  }
+
   // The hello's rule 1: a booking for this host at exactly this epoch admits it once.
   take(userId: string, relayHostId: string, epoch: number): CellBooking | null {
     const key = hostKey(userId, relayHostId)
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-routes.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-routes.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..32390953df1
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-routes.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,62 @@
+import { Hono } from 'hono'
+import { describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { registerCellReserveRoutes } from './cell-reserve-routes.js'
+import type { RelayConfig } from './config.js'
+
+const cell = {
+  role: 'cell',
+  cellId: 'production-gce-c3',
+  rehomeAudience: 'https://relay.example/rehome',
+  rehomeDirectorServiceAccount: 'director@example.com'
+} as RelayConfig
+
+function app(config: RelayConfig = cell) {
+  const reserve = vi.fn(() => [{ outcome: 'ok' as const }])
+  const demote = vi.fn(() => 'demoted')
+  const routes = new Hono()
+  registerCellReserveRoutes(routes, config, {
+    verifyRegionalRehomeToken: async (token) => token === 'director-token',
+    reserve,
+    demote
+  })
+  const post = (path: string, body: unknown, token = 'director-token') =>
+    routes.request(path, {
+      method: 'POST',
+      headers: { authorization: `Bearer ${token}`, 'content-type': 'application/json' },
+      body: JSON.stringify(body)
+    })
+  return { post, reserve, demote }
+}
+
+const booking = {
+  v: 1,
+  directorId: 'director-a',
+  items: [{ userId: 'user-1', relayHostId: 'abcdefghijklmnop', epoch: 3, ttlMs: 30_000 }]
+}
+
+describe('cell reserve routes', () => {
+  it('books for a director holding the rehome credential and refuses everyone else', async () => {
+    const { post, reserve } = app()
+    const ok = await post('/internal/reserve', booking)
+    expect(await ok.json()).toEqual({ v: 1, results: [{ outcome: 'ok' }] })
+    expect((await post('/internal/reserve', booking, 'someone-else')).status).toBe(401)
+    expect((await post('/internal/reserve', { ...booking, items: [] })).status).toBe(400)
+    expect((await post('/internal/reserve', { ...booking, v: 2 })).status).toBe(400)
+    expect(reserve).toHaveBeenCalledTimes(1)
+  })
+
+  it('is absent on a director and on a cell without the rehome pair', async () => {
+    expect((await app({ ...cell, role: 'director' }).post('/internal/reserve', booking)).status).toBe(404)
+    const noPair = app({ ...cell, rehomeDirectorServiceAccount: undefined })
+    expect((await noPair.post('/internal/demote', {})).status).toBe(404)
+  })
+
+  it('demotes only a fully named seat', async () => {
+    const { post, demote } = app()
+    const seat = { v: 1, userId: 'user-1', relayHostId: 'abcdefghijklmnop', epoch: 3 }
+    expect((await post('/internal/demote', seat)).status).toBe(400)
+    const reply = await post('/internal/demote', { ...seat, joinedAt: 1_000 })
+    expect(await reply.json()).toEqual({ v: 1, outcome: 'demoted' })
+    expect(demote).toHaveBeenCalledWith({ ...seat, joinedAt: 1_000 })
+  })
+})
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-routes.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-routes.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000000..46e103c1a95
--- /dev/null
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-reserve-routes.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,57 @@
+import type { Hono } from 'hono'
+import {
+  CELL_DEMOTE_PATH,
+  CELL_RESERVE_PATH,
+  DemoteRequestSchema,
+  ReserveRequestSchema,
+  type DemoteRequest,
+  type ReserveOutcome,
+  type ReserveRequest
+} from './cell-reserve-contract.js'
+import type { RelayConfig } from './config.js'
+import { readBearer } from './relay-token-verifier.js'
+
+const MAX_BODY_BYTES = 16 * 1024
+
+// The directors' rehome credential, as the seat feed uses. Unlike the feed these write, but a
+// director can already place any host through the database, so they grant nothing new.
+export function registerCellReserveRoutes(
+  app: Hono,
+  config: RelayConfig,
+  input: {
+    verifyRegionalRehomeToken: (token: string) => Promise<boolean>
+    reserve?: (request: ReserveRequest) => ReserveOutcome[]
+    demote?: (request: DemoteRequest) => string
+  }
+): void {
+  const authorize = async (header: string | undefined): Promise<'ok' | 404 | 401> => {
+    if (config.role !== 'cell' || !input.reserve || !input.demote) return 404
+    if (!config.rehomeAudience || !config.rehomeDirectorServiceAccount) return 404
+    const bearer = readBearer(header)
+    return bearer && (await input.verifyRegionalRehomeToken(bearer)) ? 'ok' : 401
+  }
+  const unauthorized = (status: 404 | 401) =>
+    status === 404 ? { error: 'reserve_unavailable' } : { error: 'invalid_token' }
+
+  app.post(CELL_RESERVE_PATH, async (context) => {
+    const auth = await authorize(context.req.header('authorization'))
+    if (auth !== 'ok') return context.json(unauthorized(auth), auth)
+    if (Number(context.req.header('content-length') ?? 0) > MAX_BODY_BYTES) {
+      return context.json({ error: 'request_too_large' }, 413)
+    }
+    const body = ReserveRequestSchema.safeParse(await context.req.json().catch(() => null))
+    if (!body.success) return context.json({ error: 'invalid_request' }, 400)
+    return context.json({ v: 1, results: input.reserve!(body.data) })
+  })
+
+  app.post(CELL_DEMOTE_PATH, async (context) => {
+    const auth = await authorize(context.req.header('authorization'))
+    if (auth !== 'ok') return context.json(unauthorized(auth), auth)
+    if (Number(context.req.header('content-length') ?? 0) > MAX_BODY_BYTES) {
+      return context.json({ error: 'request_too_large' }, 413)
+    }
+    const body = DemoteRequestSchema.safeParse(await context.req.json().catch(() => null))
+    if (!body.success) return context.json({ error: 'invalid_request' }, 400)
+    return context.json({ v: 1, outcome: input.demote!(body.data) })
+  })
+}
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-feed-route.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-feed-route.ts
index 178b88de369..3385353118c 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-feed-route.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-feed-route.ts
@@ -19,6 +19,12 @@ export function registerCellSeatFeedRoute(
     isDraining?: () => boolean
     runtimeCounts?: () => RelayRuntimeCounts
     cellFlags?: () => AppliedControlFlags<CellFlags>
+    // Step 5: what a director needs to estimate a seat and a booking here.
+    reserveCounts?: () => {
+      bookings: number
+      intake: { perSec: number; burst: number; tokens: number }
+    } | null
+    placementCeiling?: number
     now?: () => number
   }
 ): void {
@@ -39,6 +45,7 @@ export function registerCellSeatFeedRoute(
       cursor !== null && cursor.incarnation === input.cellIncarnation ? cursor.seq : null
     const { seats, ...page } = input.seatFeed(sinceSeq)
     const counts = input.runtimeCounts?.()
+    const reserve = input.reserveCounts?.() ?? null
     return context.json({
       v: 1,
       cellId: config.cellId,
@@ -49,8 +56,17 @@ export function registerCellSeatFeedRoute(
         controls: counts?.controls ?? 0,
         // The feed's own view: a reader that applied every change holds exactly this many.
         // `controls` drops when a socket starts closing, `seats` when its close lands.
-        seats
+        seats,
+        ...(reserve && input.placementCeiling !== undefined
+          ? {
+              bookings: reserve.bookings,
+              // Every unit the ledger counts against the ceiling, bookings and phones included.
+              units: counts?.enforcedConnectionUnits ?? 0,
+              ceiling: input.placementCeiling
+            }
+          : {})
       },
+      ...(reserve ? { intake: reserve.intake } : {}),
       // Applied, never desired: generation 0 means no object has been read since boot.
       ...(input.cellFlags ? { flagsApplied: input.cellFlags() } : {}),
       ...page
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-feed.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-feed.test.ts
index 9bde68090a3..ecfbbd0c48c 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-feed.test.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-feed.test.ts
@@ -69,8 +69,10 @@ const SeatFeedReplySchema = z.object({
       generation: z.number(),
       flags: z.object({
         readinessLocal: z.boolean(),
-        ticketCheck: z.enum(['off', 'shadow']),
-        rejectionFence: z.boolean()
+        ticketCheck: z.enum(['off', 'shadow', 'enforce']),
+        rejectionFence: z.boolean(),
+        admitMode: z.enum(['db', 'reserve']),
+        reserveDryRun: z.boolean()
       }),
       ignoredKeys: z.array(z.string()).optional()
     })
@@ -352,7 +354,10 @@ describe('cell seat feed', () => {
         readinessLocal: { type: 'boolean' },
         ticketCheck: { type: 'enum', values: ['off', 'shadow'] },
         rejectionFence: { type: 'boolean' },
-        readTimeoutMarginMs: { type: 'number', min: 1_000, max: 60_000, integer: true }
+        readTimeoutMarginMs: { type: 'number', min: 1_000, max: 60_000, integer: true },
+        admitMode: { type: 'enum', values: ['db', 'reserve'] },
+        intakePerSec: { type: 'number', max: 1_000 },
+        reserveDryRun: { type: 'boolean' }
       }
     })
   })
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-log.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-log.test.ts
index fcf8505c04b..d3854c8c8ab 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-log.test.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-log.test.ts
@@ -104,4 +104,38 @@ describe('cell seat cursor', () => {
     expect(parseCellSeatCursor('a:-1')).toBe('invalid')
     expect(parseCellSeatCursor('a b:1')).toBe('invalid')
   })
+
+  it('never seats a booking, and remembers leavers for ten minutes for the full snapshot', () => {
+    let now = 0
+    const log = new CellSeatLog(64, () => now)
+    const host = { userId: 'user-1', relayHostId: 'abcdefghijklmnop' }
+    log.append({ kind: 'reserve', ...host, epoch: 4, generation: 0, reservedBy: 'd1', at: now })
+    expect(log.seatCount()).toBe(0)
+    log.append({ kind: 'join', ...host, epoch: 4, generation: 1, reservedBy: 'd1', at: now })
+    expect(log.seatOf(host.userId, host.relayHostId)).toMatchObject({ epoch: 4, state: 'active' })
+    now = 1_000
+    log.append({ kind: 'leave', ...host, epoch: 4, generation: 1, closeCode: 1006, at: now })
+    expect(log.recentlyLeftOf(host.userId, host.relayHostId)).toEqual({ ...host, epoch: 4, closeCode: 1006, at: 1_000 })
+    const page = log.read(null)
+    expect('full' in page && page.recentlyLeft).toEqual([{ ...host, epoch: 4, closeCode: 1006, at: 1_000 }])
+    now = 1_000 + 10 * 60_000
+    expect(log.recentlyLeftOf(host.userId, host.relayHostId)).toBeUndefined()
+  })
+
+  it('sends only the newest page of leavers in a full snapshot', () => {
+    const log = new CellSeatLog(CELL_SEAT_FEED_PAGE_MAX * 4, () => 0)
+    const leavers = CELL_SEAT_FEED_PAGE_MAX + 5
+    for (let index = 0; index < leavers; index += 1) {
+      const host = { userId: `user-${index}`, relayHostId: 'abcdefghijklmnop', epoch: 1, generation: 1 }
+      log.append({ kind: 'join', ...host, at: 0 })
+      log.append({ kind: 'leave', ...host, closeCode: 1006, at: 0 })
+    }
+    const page = log.read(null)
+    const left = 'full' in page ? page.recentlyLeft : []
+    expect(left).toHaveLength(CELL_SEAT_FEED_PAGE_MAX)
+    expect(left.at(-1)?.userId).toBe(`user-${leavers - 1}`)
+    // The cell itself still remembers the oldest.
+    expect(log.recentlyLeftOf('user-0', 'abcdefghijklmnop')).toBeDefined()
+  })
 })
+
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-log.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-log.ts
index fd93b78e080..6524976911c 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-log.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/cell-seat-log.ts
@@ -6,13 +6,15 @@
 //   Apply a change only when its generation is >= the seat's: a superseded generation's
 //   socket can close after its successor joined. `full` is this log's own seats under the
 //   same rules, so a reader that applies every change holds exactly `counts.seats`.
+//   Step 5 adds `reserve` (a booking, never a seat) and `reservedBy` on the join it admitted;
+//   a full snapshot also carries `recentlyLeft`, this cell's leavers of the last 10 minutes.
 
 export type CellSeatState = 'active' | 'drain-only'
 
 export type CellSeatChange = {
   seq: number
   // `active` lifts a drain-only the host cleared itself (a refreshed token after it expired).
-  kind: 'join' | 'leave' | 'drain-only' | 'active'
+  kind: 'join' | 'leave' | 'drain-only' | 'active' | 'reserve'
   userId: string
   relayHostId: string
   epoch: number
@@ -21,6 +23,8 @@ export type CellSeatChange = {
   state?: CellSeatState
   // Only on leave.
   closeCode?: number
+  // On reserve, and on the join a booking admitted: the director that booked it.
+  reservedBy?: string
   at: number
 }
 
@@ -33,9 +37,17 @@ export type CellSeat = {
   joinedAt: number
 }
 
+export type RecentlyLeftCellSeat = {
+  userId: string
+  relayHostId: string
+  epoch: number
+  closeCode?: number
+  at: number
+}
+
 export type CellSeatPage =
   | { seq: number; changes: CellSeatChange[]; more: boolean }
-  | { seq: number; full: CellSeat[] }
+  | { seq: number; full: CellSeat[]; recentlyLeft: RecentlyLeftCellSeat[] }
 
 // What the registry hands the route: a page plus the log's own seat count.
 export type CellSeatFeedPage = CellSeatPage & { seats: number }
@@ -43,13 +55,21 @@ export type CellSeatFeedPage = CellSeatPage & { seats: number }
 // ~10 minutes of a full-cell drain's joins and leaves (inferred), at ~130 B each.
 export const CELL_SEAT_LOG_CAPACITY = 20_000
 export const CELL_SEAT_FEED_PAGE_MAX = 2_000
+// How long a leaver may rejoin here at the same epoch without the database (step 5 rule 2).
+export const CELL_RECENT_SEAT_MS = 10 * 60_000
+const CELL_RECENT_SEAT_MAX = 20_000
 
 export class CellSeatLog {
   private readonly ring: (CellSeatChange | undefined)[]
   private readonly seats = new Map<string, CellSeat>()
+  // Insertion order is age order.
+  private readonly recent = new Map<string, RecentlyLeftCellSeat>()
   private headSeq = 0
 
-  constructor(private readonly capacity = CELL_SEAT_LOG_CAPACITY) {
+  constructor(
+    private readonly capacity = CELL_SEAT_LOG_CAPACITY,
+    private readonly now: () => number = Date.now
+  ) {
     this.ring = new Array<CellSeatChange | undefined>(capacity)
   }
 
@@ -67,7 +87,11 @@ export class CellSeatLog {
   read(sinceSeq: number | null): CellSeatPage {
     const oldestSeq = Math.max(1, this.headSeq - this.capacity + 1)
     if (sinceSeq === null || sinceSeq > this.headSeq || sinceSeq < oldestSeq - 1) {
-      return { seq: this.headSeq, full: [...this.seats.values()].map((seat) => ({ ...seat })) }
+      return {
+        seq: this.headSeq,
+        full: [...this.seats.values()].map((seat) => ({ ...seat })),
+        recentlyLeft: this.recentlyLeft()
+      }
     }
     const lastSeq = Math.min(this.headSeq, sinceSeq + CELL_SEAT_FEED_PAGE_MAX)
     const changes: CellSeatChange[] = []
@@ -77,11 +101,30 @@ export class CellSeatLog {
     return { seq: lastSeq, changes, more: lastSeq < this.headSeq }
   }
 
+  seatOf(userId: string, relayHostId: string): CellSeat | undefined {
+    return this.seats.get(JSON.stringify([userId, relayHostId]))
+  }
+
+  recentlyLeftOf(userId: string, relayHostId: string): RecentlyLeftCellSeat | undefined {
+    const entry = this.recent.get(JSON.stringify([userId, relayHostId]))
+    return entry && entry.at > this.now() - CELL_RECENT_SEAT_MS ? entry : undefined
+  }
+
+  // The newest page's worth: an older leaver the director misses only takes the database path.
+  private recentlyLeft(): RecentlyLeftCellSeat[] {
+    const cutoff = this.now() - CELL_RECENT_SEAT_MS
+    const live = [...this.recent.values()].filter((entry) => entry.at > cutoff)
+    return live.slice(-CELL_SEAT_FEED_PAGE_MAX).map((entry) => ({ ...entry }))
+  }
+
   private applyToSeats(change: Omit<CellSeatChange, 'seq'>): void {
+    // A booking is not a seat.
+    if (change.kind === 'reserve') return
     const key = JSON.stringify([change.userId, change.relayHostId])
     const seat = this.seats.get(key)
     if (seat && change.generation < seat.generation) return
     if (change.kind === 'join') {
+      this.recent.delete(key)
       this.seats.set(key, {
         userId: change.userId,
         relayHostId: change.relayHostId,
@@ -91,11 +134,29 @@ export class CellSeatLog {
         joinedAt: change.at
       })
     } else if (change.kind === 'leave') {
+      if (!seat) return
       this.seats.delete(key)
+      this.rememberLeft(key, {
+        userId: change.userId,
+        relayHostId: change.relayHostId,
+        epoch: seat.epoch,
+        ...(change.closeCode === undefined ? {} : { closeCode: change.closeCode }),
+        at: change.at
+      })
     } else if (seat) {
       seat.state = change.kind === 'active' ? 'active' : 'drain-only'
     }
   }
+
+  private rememberLeft(key: string, entry: RecentlyLeftCellSeat): void {
+    this.recent.delete(key)
+    this.recent.set(key, entry)
+    const cutoff = entry.at - CELL_RECENT_SEAT_MS
+    for (const [oldestKey, oldest] of this.recent) {
+      if (this.recent.size <= CELL_RECENT_SEAT_MAX && oldest.at > cutoff) break
+      this.recent.delete(oldestKey)
+    }
+  }
 }
 
 // Malformed cursors are a caller bug, so they are refused rather than resynced.
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.ts
index 7de30853e84..5410addee44 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/host-session-registry.ts
@@ -28,8 +28,11 @@ import nacl from 'tweetnacl'
 import type WebSocket from 'ws'
 import type { RawData } from 'ws'
 import type { RelayConfig } from './config.js'
+import type { AssignmentLeaseClass } from './assignment-lease.js'
 import type { AssignmentLeaseShadow } from './assignment-lease-shadow.js'
 import type { RelayAssignmentStore } from './assignment-store.js'
+import type { CellAdmitMode, CellReserveBook } from './cell-reserve-book.js'
+import type { DemoteRequest, ReserveOutcome, ReserveRequest } from './cell-reserve-contract.js'
 import { CellSeatLog, type CellSeatChange, type CellSeatFeedPage } from './cell-seat-log.js'
 import { ControlRenewalBatch } from './control-renewal-batch.js'
 import { RelayCredentialStore, type CredentialReservation } from './credential-store.js'
@@ -205,6 +208,30 @@ const ACTIVATION_QUEUE_WAIT_MS = 30_000
 export const CONTROL_LEASE_MS = 6 * 60 * 60 * 1000
 export const CONTROL_LEASE_JITTER_MS = 30 * 60 * 1000
 
+// Step 5 on a cell: what the per-cell switch says, and the booking book it admits from.
+export type CellReserveAdmission = {
+  mode: () => CellAdmitMode
+  ticketEnforce: () => boolean
+  dryRunEnabled: () => boolean
+  // The pool-pressure shed's condition: a hello memory cannot admit is shed, not queued.
+  databaseShedding: () => boolean
+  book: CellReserveBook
+  verifyLease: (input: {
+    lease: string | undefined
+    userId: string
+    relayHostId: string
+    helloEpoch: number
+  }) => Promise<AssignmentLeaseClass>
+}
+
+// A leaver that closed for these reasons was moved off this cell; it may not rejoin from memory.
+const NO_REJOIN_CLOSE_CODES: ReadonlySet<number> = new Set([
+  RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.DRAINING,
+  RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.WRONG_CELL
+])
+// A demoted duplicate keeps its splices this long, then closes so the desktop re-assigns.
+export const DEMOTION_CLOSE_MS = 60_000
+
 export class HostSessionRegistry {
   private readonly sessions = new Map<string, HostSession>()
   private readonly activationQueues = new Map<string, Promise<void>>()
@@ -218,7 +245,10 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
   // Hosts whose drain has been sent. Paced sends land minutes apart, so "this cell is
   // draining" is not the same question as "this host has been told to leave".
   private readonly drainSentHosts = new Set<string>()
-  private readonly seatLog = new CellSeatLog()
+  private readonly seatLog: CellSeatLog
+  // Seat key -> the demoted control socket. Its own set, not drainSentHosts: it ends with
+  // that socket (close, rebind or a new join), so a later booking here is a fresh seat.
+  private readonly demotedSeats = new Map<string, WebSocket>()
 
   private readonly idleWork = new Map<string, number>()
   private readonly idleAttempts = new Map<
@@ -345,8 +375,115 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
     private readonly now: () => number = Date.now,
     private readonly random: () => number = Math.random,
     private readonly cellIncarnation?: string,
-    private readonly assignmentLeaseShadow?: AssignmentLeaseShadow
-  ) {}
+    private readonly assignmentLeaseShadow?: AssignmentLeaseShadow,
+    private readonly reserveAdmission?: CellReserveAdmission
+  ) {
+    this.seatLog = new CellSeatLog(undefined, now)
+  }
+
+  // Reserve mode is only ever a cell's, and only while its applied switch says so.
+  private reserveMode(): boolean {
+    return this.config.role === 'cell' && this.reserveAdmission?.mode() === 'reserve'
+  }
+
+  inReserveMode(): boolean {
+    return this.reserveMode()
+  }
+
+  reserveCounts(): { bookings: number; intake: { perSec: number; burst: number; tokens: number } } | null {
+    const book = this.reserveAdmission?.book
+    return book ? { bookings: book.count(), intake: book.intakeSnapshot() } : null
+  }
+
+  reserve(request: ReserveRequest): ReserveOutcome[] {
+    const admission = this.reserveAdmission
+    if (this.config.role !== 'cell' || !admission || (request.dryRun && !admission.dryRunEnabled())) {
+      return request.items.map(() => ({ outcome: 'off' }))
+    }
+    const context = {
+      mode: admission.mode(),
+      draining: this.draining,
+      seatedEpoch: (userId: string, relayHostId: string) => {
+        const seat = this.seatLog.seatOf(userId, relayHostId)
+        return seat && !this.demotedSeats.has(this.key(userId, relayHostId)) ? seat.epoch : undefined
+      }
+    }
+    return request.items.map((item) => {
+      const outcome = admission.book.reserve(request.directorId, item, context, request.dryRun)
+      if (outcome.outcome === 'ok' && !request.dryRun) {
+        this.seatLog.append({
+          kind: 'reserve',
+          userId: item.userId,
+          relayHostId: item.relayHostId,
+          epoch: item.epoch,
+          generation: 0,
+          reservedBy: request.directorId,
+          at: this.now()
+        })
+      }
+      return outcome
+    })
+  }
+
+  // The upgrade's view: a booked host claims its unit up to the hard cap, and neither a booked
+  // nor a recently seated host needs the database, so the pool-pressure shed skips them.
+  reserveAdmissionFor(identity: RelayIdentityKey): 'booked' | 'seated' | null {
+    if (!this.reserveMode()) return null
+    if (this.reserveAdmission!.book.has(identity.userId, identity.relayHostId)) return 'booked'
+    const seat = this.seatLog.seatOf(identity.userId, identity.relayHostId)
+    const left = this.seatLog.recentlyLeftOf(identity.userId, identity.relayHostId)
+    return seat || (left && !NO_REJOIN_CLOSE_CODES.has(left.closeCode ?? 0)) ? 'seated' : null
+  }
+
+  // Rule 2: seated here at this epoch, or left here at it within 10 minutes for a reason that
+  // did not move the host away.
+  private seatedHereAt(userId: string, relayHostId: string, epoch: number): boolean {
+    if (this.drainSentHosts.has(relayHostId)) return false
+    if (this.demotedSeats.has(this.key(userId, relayHostId))) return false
+    const seat = this.seatLog.seatOf(userId, relayHostId)
+    if (seat) return seat.epoch === epoch
+    const left = this.seatLog.recentlyLeftOf(userId, relayHostId)
+    return left !== undefined && left.epoch === epoch && !NO_REJOIN_CLOSE_CODES.has(left.closeCode ?? 0)
+  }
+
+  // A director names this seat the loser of a duplicate: stop taking phones for it now, and
+  // close it once its splices have had time to finish. Repeats are one demotion.
+  demote(request: DemoteRequest): 'demoted' | 'already-demoted' | 'not-seated' | 'off' {
+    // Only a reserve-mode cell takes demotions, so flipping admitMode back reverts the route.
+    if (!this.reserveMode()) return 'off'
+    const session = this.get(request)
+    const key = this.key(request.userId, request.relayHostId)
+    // The seat the director saw: the same host rejoining here later is a different seat.
+    const seat = this.seatLog.seatOf(request.userId, request.relayHostId)
+    if (
+      !session ||
+      session.state === 'closed' ||
+      !session.socket ||
+      session.assignmentEpoch !== request.epoch ||
+      seat?.joinedAt !== request.joinedAt
+    ) {
+      return 'not-seated'
+    }
+    const socket = session.socket
+    if (this.demotedSeats.get(key) === socket) return 'already-demoted'
+    this.demotedSeats.set(key, socket)
+    this.markSeatDrainOnly(session)
+    const timer = setTimeout(() => {
+      if (this.demotedSeats.get(key) === socket) {
+        socket.close(RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.WRONG_CELL, 'seated on a newer cell')
+      }
+    }, DEMOTION_CLOSE_MS)
+    timer.unref?.()
+    console.warn(
+      JSON.stringify({
+        event: 'orca_relay_cell_seat_demoted',
+        ...this.logIdentity(),
+        relayHostIdDigest: relayHostLogDigest(session.relayHostId),
+        assignmentEpoch: request.epoch
+      })
+    )
+    return 'demoted'
+  }
 
   // Renewals leave the heartbeat as an enqueue: one statement per cell per
   // window replaces one write transaction per host, which is what keeps the
@@ -456,6 +593,12 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
     markStage('credential')
     const sessionKey = this.key(reservation.userId, hostId)
     const session = this.sessions.get(sessionKey)
+    if (session?.socket && this.demotedSeats.get(sessionKey) === session.socket) {
+      capacityReservation?.release()
+      await this.store.failReservation(reservation)
+      this.rejectClient(socket, RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.DRAINING)
+      return
+    }
     if (
       !session ||
       session.state !== 'active' ||
@@ -906,6 +1049,8 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
 
   drain(graceMs: number, options: { paceWindowMs?: number } = {}): void {
     this.draining = true
+    // A draining cell admits no booking, so the units they hold go back now.
+    this.reserveAdmission?.book.clear()
     // A later drain (an emergency one, or shutdown) owns every session again, so nothing
     // queued by an earlier paced drain may still fire: it would re-send and, worse, keep
     // the event loop alive for the rest of a window the operator just cut short.
@@ -1016,19 +1161,50 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
         relayHostId: identity.relayHostId,
         helloEpoch: hello.data.assignmentEpoch
       }) ?? null
+    // Reserve mode admits, in order, a booking, a seat this cell remembers, and (dark) a valid
+    // lease; anything else falls to today's database check. The mode is read once per hello.
+    const reserveMode = this.reserveMode()
+    let reservedBy: string | undefined
+    let admittedFromMemory = false
+    if (reserveMode) {
+      const booking = this.reserveAdmission!.book.take(
+        identity.sub,
+        identity.relayHostId,
+        hello.data.assignmentEpoch
+      )
+      reservedBy = booking?.directorId
+      admittedFromMemory =
+        booking !== null ||
+        this.seatedHereAt(identity.sub, identity.relayHostId, hello.data.assignmentEpoch) ||
+        (this.reserveAdmission!.ticketEnforce() &&
+          (await this.reserveAdmission!.verifyLease({
+            lease: assignmentLease,
+            userId: identity.sub,
+            relayHostId: identity.relayHostId,
+            helloEpoch: hello.data.assignmentEpoch
+          })) === 'valid')
+    }
+    if (reserveMode && !admittedFromMemory && this.reserveAdmission!.databaseShedding()) {
+      // Memory cannot admit it (e.g. seated here, but at another epoch), and the wedged pool
+      // would only time out its database check: shed it now, as the upgrade shed does.
+      this.observer.recordAuth(false)
+      socket.close(RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.LIMIT_EXCEEDED, 'relay temporarily unavailable')
+      return
+    }
     const assignmentReadStartedAt = performance.now()
     // Combined is staging-only compatibility; stamped cells require the durable director epoch.
     const assignmentValid =
-      this.config.role === 'combined'
+      admittedFromMemory ||
+      (this.config.role === 'combined'
         ? hello.data.assignmentEpoch === 1
         : await this.assignments.verifyCellAssignment({
             userId: identity.sub,
             relayHostId: identity.relayHostId,
             cellId: this.config.cellId,
             assignmentEpoch: hello.data.assignmentEpoch
-          })
+          }))
     // The database answer decides; the lease is only compared with it.
-    if (leaseShadow && leaseCheck) {
+    if (leaseShadow && leaseCheck && !admittedFromMemory) {
       leaseShadow.record(
         leaseCheck,
         assignmentValid,
@@ -1112,7 +1288,8 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
             rebind,
             hello.data.assignmentEpoch,
             hello.data.appVersion,
-            connectionInclusionWatermark
+            connectionInclusionWatermark,
+            admittedFromMemory ? { reservedBy } : undefined
           ),
         socket,
         'host activation'
@@ -1128,7 +1305,9 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
     rebind: boolean,
     assignmentEpoch: number,
     appVersion: string,
-    connectionInclusionWatermark?: number
+    connectionInclusionWatermark?: number,
+    // Present when the hello was admitted from memory: no database registration.
+    reserved?: { reservedBy?: string }
   ): Promise<void> {
     const release = this.beginIdleWork(identity.relayHostId)
     if (!release) {
@@ -1162,7 +1341,8 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
           rebind,
           assignmentEpoch,
           appVersion,
-          connectionInclusionWatermark
+          connectionInclusionWatermark,
+          reserved
         )
       })
     this.activationQueues.set(key, activation)
@@ -1182,10 +1362,11 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
     rebind: boolean,
     assignmentEpoch: number,
     appVersion: string,
-    connectionInclusionWatermark?: number
+    connectionInclusionWatermark?: number,
+    reserved?: { reservedBy?: string }
   ): Promise<void> {
     let controlActivityId: string | null = null
-    if (this.config.role === 'cell') {
+    if (this.config.role === 'cell' && !reserved) {
       try {
         controlActivityId = await this.assignments.activateControl(
           { userId: identity.sub, relayHostId: identity.relayHostId },
@@ -1245,7 +1426,8 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
       existing.activityRenewalDueAt = this.now() + RELAY_PROTOCOL_LIMITS.controlPingIntervalMs
       this.wireActiveControl(existing)
       this.sendHelloAck(existing)
-      this.appendSeatChange(existing, 'join')
+      this.demotedSeats.delete(this.key(identity.sub, identity.relayHostId))
+      this.appendSeatChange(existing, 'join', undefined, reserved?.reservedBy)
       if (existing.regionalDrainAttemptId) this.reassertRegionalDrain(existing)
       previousSocket?.close(RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.PEER_DROPPED, 'control rebound')
       return
@@ -1315,9 +1497,10 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
     // A host that proved itself again is not signed out, whatever it said last.
     this.hostCloseReasons.forget(sessionKey)
     this.sessions.set(sessionKey, session)
+    this.demotedSeats.delete(sessionKey)
     this.wireActiveControl(session)
     this.sendHelloAck(session)
-    this.appendSeatChange(session, 'join')
+    this.appendSeatChange(session, 'join', undefined, reserved?.reservedBy)
   }
 
   seatFeed(sinceSeq: number | null): CellSeatFeedPage {
@@ -1327,7 +1510,8 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
   private appendSeatChange(
     session: HostSession,
     kind: CellSeatChange['kind'],
-    closeCode?: number
+    closeCode?: number,
+    reservedBy?: string
   ): void {
     this.seatLog.append({
       kind,
@@ -1339,6 +1523,7 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
         ? { state: session.state }
         : {}),
       ...(closeCode === undefined ? {} : { closeCode }),
+      ...(reservedBy === undefined ? {} : { reservedBy }),
       at: this.now()
     })
   }
@@ -1376,8 +1561,12 @@ export class HostSessionRegistry {
       // Guarded on identity: a predecessor retired by a rebind must not stamp a
       // cause onto the live session that replaced it.
       if (session.socket === socket) {
-        this.hostCloseReasons.record(this.key(session.identity.sub, session.relayHostId), reason)
-        this.appendSeatChange(session, 'leave', code)
+        const seatKey = this.key(session.identity.sub, session.relayHostId)
+        this.hostCloseReasons.record(seatKey, reason)
+        // However it closed, a demoted seat was moved: it may not rejoin here from memory.
+        const demoted = this.demotedSeats.get(seatKey) === socket
+        if (demoted) this.demotedSeats.delete(seatKey)
+        this.appendSeatChange(session, 'leave', demoted ? RELAY_CLOSE_CODE.WRONG_CELL : code)
       }
       // One line per control close makes reconnect churners attributable by
       // host digest without exposing the raw relay host id.
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-ledger.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-ledger.test.ts
index f807c34d20d..d04a80bf665 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-ledger.test.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-ledger.test.ts
@@ -169,4 +169,22 @@ describe('RelayConnectionLedger', () => {
       enforcedConnectionUnits: 0
     })
   })
+
+  it('books units only below the placement ceiling and releases each once', () => {
+    const ledger = new RelayConnectionLedger(6, 2)
+    const first = ledger.tryReserveBooking(2)!
+    expect(ledger.tryReserveBooking(2)).not.toBeNull()
+    expect(ledger.tryReserveBooking(2)).toBeNull()
+    // A host control may still rise to the socket ceiling past the bookings.
+    expect(ledger.tryReserveControl(false)).not.toBeNull()
+    first.release()
+    first.release()
+    expect(ledger.counts().reservedConnectionUnits).toBe(1)
+    // Never above the socket ceiling, whatever the caller's ceiling says.
+    expect(ledger.canReserveBooking(100)).toBe(true)
+    ledger.tryReserveControl(false)
+    ledger.tryReserveControl(false)
+    expect(ledger.canReserveBooking(100)).toBe(false)
+  })
 })
+
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-ledger.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-ledger.ts
index 9c678695fa8..8ffc6356b94 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-ledger.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-connection-ledger.ts
@@ -146,6 +146,27 @@ export class RelayConnectionLedger {
     return this.reserveUpgrade(this.normalAdmissionLimit)
   }
 
+  // A step-5 booking holds one reserved unit, but only below the placement ceiling the
+  // director would use, so phones keep the headroom between it and the socket ceiling.
+  tryReserveBooking(limit: number): { release(): void } | null {
+    if (!this.canReserveBooking(limit)) return null
+    this.advanceWatermark()
+    this.reservedConnectionUnits++
+    let released = false
+    return {
+      release: () => {
+        if (released) return
+        released = true
+        this.advanceWatermark()
+        this.reservedConnectionUnits--
+      }
+    }
+  }
+
+  canReserveBooking(limit: number): boolean {
+    return this.enforcedConnectionUnits + 1 <= Math.min(limit, this.normalAdmissionLimit)
+  }
+
   counts(): RelayConnectionLedgerCounts {
     return {
       physicalConnections: this.physicalConnections,
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-control-flag-channel.test.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-control-flag-channel.test.ts
index c99f230124c..1245bd1f4fe 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-control-flag-channel.test.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-control-flag-channel.test.ts
@@ -134,6 +134,20 @@ describe('control flag channel', () => {
     expect(output).not.toContain(ACCESS_TOKEN)
   })
 
+  it('applies the step-5 switches: admit mode, intake rate and enforced tickets', async () => {
+    const google = fakeGoogle(
+      cellObject(5, { admitMode: 'reserve', intakePerSec: 3.5, ticketCheck: 'enforce' })
+    )
+    const channel = cellChannel(google.fetchImpl)
+    await channel.poll()
+    expect(channel.applied().flags).toEqual({
+      ...CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS,
+      admitMode: 'reserve',
+      intakePerSec: 3.5,
+      ticketCheck: 'enforce'
+    })
+  })
+
   it('applies the fence and read-timeout switches within their bounds', async () => {
     const google = fakeGoogle(cellObject(5, { rejectionFence: false, readTimeoutMarginMs: 4_000 }))
     const channel = cellChannel(google.fetchImpl)
@@ -157,22 +171,24 @@ describe('control flag channel', () => {
   })
 
   it('ignores unknown keys but voids the object on a bad known value or another cell', async () => {
-    const google = fakeGoogle(cellObject(5, { readinessLocal: true, admitMode: 'memory' }))
+    const google = fakeGoogle(cellObject(5, { readinessLocal: true, placer: 'memory' }))
     const channel = cellChannel(google.fetchImpl)
     await channel.poll()
     expect(channel.applied()).toEqual({
       generation: 5,
       flags: { ...CELL_FLAG_DEFAULTS, readinessLocal: true },
-      ignoredKeys: ['admitMode']
+      ignoredKeys: ['placer']
     })
-    expect(appliedLines().at(-1)).toMatchObject({ ignoredKeys: ['admitMode'] })
+    expect(appliedLines().at(-1)).toMatchObject({ ignoredKeys: ['placer'] })
     for (const [generation, object] of [
-      [6, cellObject(6, { readinessLocal: false, ticketCheck: 'enforce' })],
-      [7, cellObject(7, { readinessLocal: 'no' })],
-      [8, cellObject(8, { readTimeoutMarginMs: 500 })],
-      [9, cellObject(9, { readTimeoutMarginMs: 61_000 })],
-      [10, cellObject(10, { rejectionFence: 'off' })],
-      [11, cellObject(11, { readinessLocal: false }, 'production-gce-c8')]
+      [6, cellObject(6, { readinessLocal: false, ticketCheck: 'strict' })],
+      [7, cellObject(7, { readinessLocal: false, admitMode: 'memory' })],
+      [8, cellObject(8, { readinessLocal: false, intakePerSec: -1 })],
+      [9, cellObject(9, { readinessLocal: 'no' })],
+      [10, cellObject(10, { readTimeoutMarginMs: 500 })],
+      [11, cellObject(11, { readTimeoutMarginMs: 61_000 })],
+      [12, cellObject(12, { rejectionFence: 'off' })],
+      [13, cellObject(13, { readinessLocal: false }, 'production-gce-c8')]
     ] as const) {
       google.state.object = object
       await channel.poll()
diff --git a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-server.ts b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-server.ts
index 821ac12df6d..525cd6b977a 100644
--- a/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-server.ts
+++ b/cloud/apps/relay/src/relay-server.ts
@@ -9,7 +9,8 @@ import {
   RELAY_CLOSE_CODE,
   RELAY_DEFAULT_REGION,
   RELAY_PROTOCOL_LIMITS,
-  RelayAuthSchema
+  RelayAuthSchema,
+  cellPlacementCeiling
 } from '@orca-cloud/relay-contract'
 import type { IncomingMessage } from 'node:http'
 import { randomUUID } from 'node:crypto'
@@ -19,7 +20,10 @@ import { WebSocketServer } from 'ws'
 import type WebSocket from 'ws'
 import type { RawData } from 'ws'
 import { createRelayApp } from './app.js'
-import type { CellFlags } from './cell-flags.js'
+import { classifyAssignmentLease } from './assignment-lease.js'
+import { defaultIntakePerSec, type CellFlags } from './cell-flags.js'
+import { CellReserveBook } from './cell-reserve-book.js'
+import type { DemoteRequest, ReserveRequest } from './cell-reserve-contract.js'
 import { AssignmentLeaseShadow } from './assignment-lease-shadow.js'
 import { RelayAssignmentStore } from './assignment-store.js'
 import type { RelayConfig } from './config.js'
@@ -60,6 +64,8 @@ function decodePathSegment(value: string): string | null {
 // tripping it. On 10-07 every window that met both also logged SQL failures.
 export const HOST_HELLO_SHED_OLDEST_WAIT_MS = 1_000
 const HOST_HELLO_SHED_RETRY_AFTER_SECONDS = 2
+// Shipped desktops ignore it; it is for the ones that learn to read it.
+const CELL_FULL_RETRY_AFTER_SECONDS = 2
 
 function rejectUpgrade(
   socket: NodeJS.WritableStream,
@@ -165,6 +171,41 @@ export function createRelayServer(
   const shadowCompare = shadowSeatPoller
     ? new ShadowDirectoryCompare(shadowSeatPoller.directory, options.now)
     : undefined
+  const configuredConnectionLimits =
+    config.connectionHardCap === undefined
+      ? null
+      : (options.connectionLedgerLimits ?? {
+          hardCap: config.connectionHardCap,
+          controlReserve: RELAY_ADMISSION_BUDGETS.reservedHostControls
+        })
+  const connectionLedger =
+    configuredConnectionLimits === null
+      ? null
+      : new RelayConnectionLedger(
+          configuredConnectionLimits.hardCap,
+          configuredConnectionLimits.controlReserve
+        )
+  // Step 5: a booking may fill the cell only to the ceiling the directors place against.
+  const placementCeiling =
+    config.connectionHardCap === undefined || config.connectionUnobservedBound === undefined
+      ? null
+      : cellPlacementCeiling(config.connectionHardCap, config.connectionUnobservedBound)
+  const reserveBook =
+    config.role === 'cell' && connectionLedger && placementCeiling !== null
+      ? new CellReserveBook(
+          {
+            tryReserve: () => connectionLedger.tryReserveBooking(placementCeiling),
+            canReserve: () => connectionLedger.canReserveBooking(placementCeiling)
+          },
+          () =>
+            options.cellFlags?.().flags.intakePerSec ?? defaultIntakePerSec(config.region),
+          options.now
+        )
+      : null
+  // The hello shed's test: the pool is already timing queries out.
+  const databaseShedding = (): boolean =>
+    readRelayDatabasePoolPressure(database).databasePoolWaiting >= config.databasePoolMax &&
+    readRelayDatabasePoolOldestWaitMs(database) >= HOST_HELLO_SHED_OLDEST_WAIT_MS
   const queuedBytes = new ProcessQueuedByteBudget()
   const sessions = new HostSessionRegistry(
     config,
@@ -180,8 +221,26 @@ export function createRelayServer(
       enabled: () => options.cellFlags?.().flags.ticketCheck === 'shadow',
       key: config.assignmentSigningKey,
       cellId: config.cellId
-    })
+    }),
+    reserveBook
+      ? {
+          mode: () => options.cellFlags?.().flags.admitMode ?? 'db',
+          ticketEnforce: () => options.cellFlags?.().flags.ticketCheck === 'enforce',
+          dryRunEnabled: () => options.cellFlags?.().flags.reserveDryRun === true,
+          databaseShedding: () => databaseShedding(),
+          book: reserveBook,
+          verifyLease: (input) =>
+            classifyAssignmentLease({
+              ...input,
+              key: config.assignmentSigningKey,
+              cellId: config.cellId
+            })
+        }
+      : undefined
   )
+  // Expired bookings give their units back even while no director is reserving.
+  const reserveSweepTimer = reserveBook ? setInterval(() => reserveBook.sweep(), 1_000) : null
+  reserveSweepTimer?.unref()
   const app = createRelayApp(config, {
     store,
     assignments,
@@ -204,6 +263,14 @@ export function createRelayServer(
     cellIncarnation,
     cellSeatFeed: (sinceSeq) => sessions.seatFeed(sinceSeq),
     cellFlags: options.cellFlags,
+    ...(reserveBook && placementCeiling !== null
+      ? {
+          cellReserve: (request: ReserveRequest) => sessions.reserve(request),
+          cellDemote: (request: DemoteRequest) => sessions.demote(request),
+          cellReserveCounts: () => sessions.reserveCounts(),
+          cellPlacementCeiling: placementCeiling
+        }
+      : {}),
     isDraining: () => sessions.isDraining(),
     runtimeCounts: () => runtimeCounts(),
     regionalRehomeSafetySnapshot: () => ({
@@ -258,20 +325,6 @@ export function createRelayServer(
   })
   let preAuthConnections = 0
   let totalConnections = 0
-  const configuredConnectionLimits =
-    config.connectionHardCap === undefined
-      ? null
-      : (options.connectionLedgerLimits ?? {
-          hardCap: config.connectionHardCap,
-          controlReserve: RELAY_ADMISSION_BUDGETS.reservedHostControls
-        })
-  const connectionLedger =
-    configuredConnectionLimits === null
-      ? null
-      : new RelayConnectionLedger(
-          configuredConnectionLimits.hardCap,
-          configuredConnectionLimits.controlReserve
-        )
   const preAuthBySource = new Map<string, number>()
   const preAuthAttemptsBySource = new Map<string, { windowStartedAt: number; count: number }>()
 
@@ -567,21 +620,28 @@ export function createRelayServer(
         userId: identity.sub,
         relayHostId: identity.relayHostId
       })
+      // Null outside reserve mode, so today's path is untouched there.
+      const reserveAdmission = sessions.reserveAdmissionFor({
+        userId: identity.sub,
+        relayHostId: identity.relayHostId
+      })
       // A hello costs several pooled queries, each failing after a 2 s wait. Shed
       // only while the pool is already timing them out: the refused desktop gets
       // the same connect error and backoff a timed-out hello gives it today, 2 s
       // sooner (shipped desktops ignore Retry-After). A rebind over a live control
       // is a lease rotation, not a reconnect, so it is never refused here.
-      if (
-        !isRebind &&
-        readRelayDatabasePoolPressure(database).databasePoolWaiting >= config.databasePoolMax &&
-        readRelayDatabasePoolOldestWaitMs(database) >= HOST_HELLO_SHED_OLDEST_WAIT_MS
-      ) {
+      if (!isRebind && reserveAdmission === null && databaseShedding()) {
         observability.recordHostHelloShed()
         rejectUpgrade(socket, 503, 'Service Unavailable', HOST_HELLO_SHED_RETRY_AFTER_SECONDS)
         return
       }
-      const controlUpgrade = connectionLedger?.tryReserveControl(isRebind) ?? null
+      // A booked host may rise to the hard cap. Once its upgrade holds a unit, the booking's
+      // goes back, so the host counts once; a refused upgrade leaves the booking whole.
+      const controlUpgrade =
+        connectionLedger?.tryReserveControl(isRebind || reserveAdmission === 'booked') ?? null
+      if (controlUpgrade && reserveAdmission === 'booked') {
+        reserveBook?.handOff(identity.sub, identity.relayHostId)
+      }
       if (
         (connectionLedger && !controlUpgrade) ||
         (!connectionLedger && totalConnections >= RELAY_ADMISSION_BUDGETS.cloudRunConcurrency)
@@ -589,7 +649,8 @@ export function createRelayServer(
         rejectUpgrade(
           socket,
           connectionLedger ? 503 : 429,
-          connectionLedger ? 'Service Unavailable' : 'Too Many Requests'
+          connectionLedger ? 'Service Unavailable' : 'Too Many Requests',
+          connectionLedger && sessions.inReserveMode() ? CELL_FULL_RETRY_AFTER_SECONDS : undefined
         )
         return
       }