diff --git a/.torch/prompts/COMMON.md b/.torch/prompts/COMMON.md
index 56986db..261d491 100644
--- a/.torch/prompts/COMMON.md
+++ b/.torch/prompts/COMMON.md
@@ -2,6 +2,24 @@
 
 Repository state outranks conversation memory. Query ownership before crossing a domain boundary.
 
+## Owner priority update: reliability before visual polish (2026-10-03 UTC)
+
+The owner requested that TORCH's operating defects be fixed first so the fleet
+benefits from improved operation. This supersedes the UI-first ordering below,
+not the existing resume authorization or safety boundaries. The authoritative
+backlog priorities were changed through the revision-checked owner API.
+
+Sequence the smallest safe current-schema stopped-unknown recovery and CLI
+qualification first; then truthful lifecycle/status and their source-safety
+prerequisites; then qualified bounded continuation/event-driven wakes under
+pause, budget and authority policy; then actionable operational attention.
+Compact cards/detail modals and coordinator Chat remain high-priority work after
+these reliability gates. Do not require the entire future company architecture
+to deliver a safe minimal recovery. Reprioritization does not resolve blockers,
+grant test consent, enable automatic wakes or launch agents. Preserve task owners,
+dependencies and evidence; explicitly block/resequence existing assignments when
+needed rather than replacing them silently or creating concurrent assignments.
+
 ## Owner-approved fleet resume and priority polish cycle (2026-10-02)
 
 The owner explicitly said: "We got a reset. lets get torch as pollished as we can.
diff --git a/docs/TODO.md b/docs/TODO.md
index 10a1d9b..44ea4c8 100644
--- a/docs/TODO.md
+++ b/docs/TODO.md
@@ -1,5 +1,27 @@
 # TORCH remaining work
 
+## Current owner priority: reliability first (2026-10-03 UTC)
+
+This ordering supersedes the UI-first ordering below. The existing authoritative
+backlog, not this index, controls task state and assignment.
+
+1. Safe current-schema runtime recovery (`TASK-company-runtime-recovery`) and
+   combined CLI qualification (`TASK-pilot-cli-suite-timeout`).
+2. Truthful startup/session status (`TASK-pilot-starting-presence`) and its
+   existing Kernel reservation/Work candidate-safety prerequisites.
+3. Persistent operations and bounded event-driven continuation
+   (`TASK-conversation-persistent-operations`,
+   `TASK-conversation-event-driven-wakes`), followed by actual scheduler
+   qualification (`TASK-conversation-scheduler-qualification`).
+4. Specific actionable operational warnings (`TASK-console-attention-actions`).
+5. Compact cards/detail modals and coordinator-first Chat remain high priority.
+
+The first four groups and incomplete technical prerequisites are urgent;
+scheduler qualification is high. These priority-only changes preserve owners,
+states, dependencies and evidence. Blocked remains blocked; automatic wakes stay
+disabled until qualified and explicitly activated. Older pause/install/status
+statements below are historical snapshots, not current runtime evidence.
+
 ## Priority UI cycle: compact cards and agent Chat
 
 Owner-approved [Console UI spec](CONSOLE_CHAT_AND_COMPACT_CARDS_SPEC.md).