diff --git a/docs/plans/2026-08-18-release-stabilization.md b/docs/plans/2026-08-18-release-stabilization.md
index 3223abc4..9623ccb1 100644
--- a/docs/plans/2026-08-18-release-stabilization.md
+++ b/docs/plans/2026-08-18-release-stabilization.md
@@ -418,12 +418,12 @@ checkpoint. Do not infer status from chat history.
 
 | Slice | Status | Commit(s) | Evidence/gates | Exact next action |
 |---|---|---|---|---|
-| R0 | PLAN ACCEPTED; tracking/owner assignment pending | — | Audit complete at `15539a22`; user started R1 | Track plan+audit artifacts; assign R4 owner |
-| R1 | COMPLETE ON CAMPAIGN BRANCH; not yet merged | `0a934cf5` | 2026-08-18 checkpoint below; F-009/T-001 resolved and committed | Preserve while R2 runs; merge through the normal review path |
-| R2 | COMPLETE ON CAMPAIGN BRANCH; not yet merged | `2ac05486`, `c38f6b88` | Checkpoints below; F-014/F-019 resolved, F-010 machine-readable, supported .NET tool portion of F-004 resolved | Begin R3; merge through normal review |
-| R3 | NOT STARTED | — | T-002–T-018; F-015/F-021/F-022/F-030 | Begin complete test inventory, naming, skip, and value classification |
-| R4 | NOT STARTED; may run parallel | — | F-001/F-026/F-031/F-034 | Assign owner/legal provenance decision path |
-| R5 | NOT STARTED | — | F-002/F-003/F-006/F-007/F-011/F-020/F-027/F-029/F-032 | Wait for R2–R3 |
+| R0 | PLAN ACCEPTED; R4 OWNER DECISION DEFERRED | — | Audit complete at `15539a22`; user completed R1–R3 | Retain the plan and audit artifacts as campaign authority |
+| R1 | COMPLETE; MERGE AUTHORIZED 2026-08-18 | `0a934cf5` | 2026-08-18 checkpoint below; F-009/T-001 resolved and committed | Merge with the complete R1–R3 stabilization branch |
+| R2 | COMPLETE; MERGE AUTHORIZED 2026-08-18 | `2ac05486`, `c38f6b88` | Checkpoints below; F-014/F-019 resolved, F-010 machine-readable, supported .NET tool portion of F-004 resolved | Merge with the complete R1–R3 stabilization branch |
+| R3 | COMPLETE; MERGE AUTHORIZED 2026-08-18 | `14d371a0`, `b64c8041` | Final inventory: 1,254 files, 11,414 attributed methods, 22 approved source readers; Release gate: 14,346/14,346 | Merge the stabilization branch; retain the closeout ledger as authority |
+| R4 | DEFERRED BY USER FOR FRIEND-ONLY RELEASE | — | F-001/F-026/F-031/F-034 remain public-release blockers | Resume before any public release; keep credentials and research artifacts out of friend packages |
+| R5 | DEFERRED BY USER | — | F-002/F-003/F-006/F-007/F-011/F-020/F-027/F-029/F-032 | Resume later with the bounded documentation-authority goal |
 | R6 | NOT STARTED | — | F-004/F-005/F-012/F-016/F-023/F-028 | Wait for R3/R5 |
 | R7 | NOT STARTED | — | F-017/F-018/F-024/F-025 | Wait for R3 |
 | R8 | NOT STARTED | — | F-008/F-013/F-033 | Wait for R1–R3 and cleanup decisions |
@@ -684,7 +684,8 @@ review, and cross-session ledger entry are all complete.
 
 ## 20. Immediate next action
 
-Review and commit the R2 complete-gate checkpoint, then decide whether the next
-bounded goal is the remaining R2 locked-restore/warning/toolchain work or R3's
-truthful test taxonomy. Assign the R4 decision owner in parallel. Do not begin
+Fast-forward `main` through the completed R1–R3 stabilization branch and push
+the merged result. R4 and R5 are explicitly deferred for the friend-only
+release. Before any public release, resume R4; when maintainability work
+resumes, begin with the bounded R5 documentation-authority goal. Do not begin
 bulk comment, artifact, giant-file, or unrelated cleanup first.