**TO:** Crimson Leaf Editorial Board
**FROM:** Cora, Continuity & Accuracy Editor
**SUBJECT:** Continuity Review: Cypress Bend, Chapter 20

This chapter marks the transition into the "Permanent Autonomy" state established in the World State (Ch-20) and the Character States (Ch-20). My review focuses on the adherence to established character arcs and the technical rules of the "Sovereign Mesh."

### 1. STRENGTHS TO PRESERVE
*   **Voice Signature Consistency (Marcus Thorne):** The use of diagnostic metaphors and boolean logic remains perfectly aligned with his profile. 
    *   *Self-Correction/Internal Narration:* "Diagnostic: Lateral sway at four percent."
    *   *Systemic Thinking:* "It’s a God-tier data set for a world that didn't give a damn about stock prices."
    *   *The "Ping":* The rhythmic four-beat tap on his thigh is present and correctly used as a grounding mechanism.
*   **Voice Signature Consistency (Sarah Jenkins):** Despite being "displaced" in earlier contexts, her integration into the cabin’s comms maintains her Texas lilt and "Error 404" verbal tics.
    *   *Dialogue:* "I see her, Marcus... She’s empty. Error 404 on her reserves."
*   **Character Arc Payoff:** The "Sarah" incident (established in Ch-1) is addressed through the "Sarah-partition," moving Marcus from "detached architect" to "analog protector" as required by his transformation arc.
*   **World State Alignment:** The description of the mesh network correctly reflects the "Sovereign Mesh" established in the World State (Ch-20), particularly the mimicry of background radiation/wind to blind Avery-Quinn drones.

**Voice Differentiation Check:**
*   **Marcus:** YES. (Technical/Analytical/Diagnostic)
*   **Elena:** YES. (Abrasive/Tactical/Grounded)
*   **Sarah:** YES. (Technical-Texas Hybrid)
*   **David:** YES. (Cardinal directions/Biological focus)

### 2. MUST-FIX — CONTINUITY
*   **DEAD/ALIVE CONTRADICTION (Sarah Jenkins):** 
    *   **The Flag:** Chapter 20 features Sarah as an active, living participant in the cabin: "I see her, Marcus... David’s already movin'." However, the **Character State (Ch-20)** and **Life/Death status** in the context are mismatched. The Sarah character sheet (RAG) labels her as "Supporting / Emotional Catalyst (Deceased-equivalent/Displaced)" and "a ghost in his machine." While the Ch-20 Character State lists her location as "The Kitchen/Sanctuary Hub," the narrative in Ch-20 treats her as both a software partition and a living woman on a radio. 
    *   **The Correction:** If Sarah is physically present in the Bend (as the Ch-20 Character State suggests), the "Deceased-equivalent" and "Ghost in the machine" labels in the Voice Signature must be treated as metaphor only. However, the text says "Sarah’s voice came back, echoing through the small speaker." If she is in the kitchen and David/Leo are in the field, this is consistent. *However*, Chapter 20 refers to "the Alpha-7 Sarah logs" as the source of the logic. 
    *   **Clarification Required:** Is Sarah Jenkins physically at Cypress Bend or is Marcus talking to an AI simulation of her based on her logs? The text implies she is alive ("Sarah watched her son"), but the "ghost in the machine" notes create a high risk of reader confusion regarding whether she survived the Avery-Quinn purge.
*   **PHYSICAL STATE INCONSISTENCY (David):**
    *   **The Flag:** Chapter 20 says, "David was walking with that persistent, heavy limp."
    *   **The Context:** Character State: Ch-20 (David) explicitly states: "Physical: Rib-cage healed; **walking without a limp**; strong grip."
    *   **The Correction:** Remove the reference to the limp. David is currently at 98% arc completion and is physically recovered.

### 3. MUST-FIX — CLARITY
*   **GEOGRAPHIC MEASUREMENT:**
    *   **The Passage:** "Wait," Elena said... "Look at the telemetry. Sarah’s flagging it."
    *   **The Issue:** The distance of the "stranger" is noted as "Five hundred yards from the bridge" and "North-Bank Drainage." Then Sarah says she's hitting the "North-by-Northwest corner of the garden fence." 
    *   **The Fix:** Ensure the distance between the "North-Bank" and the "Garden" (where David/Leo are) is consistent with the 1,000-acre scale. Five hundred yards is very close for a "Sanctuary" that is supposed to be "True Dark."

### 4. OPTIONAL SUGGESTIONS (CONTINUITY-FOCUSED)
*   **The Manual AI-Axe Failsafe:** Ch-10 (Elena) established a secret: "Knows the manual axe-throw is the only physical failsafe for the power line." Since this chapter focuses on the "physical commitment" of the mesh, a subtle nod to Elena checking her axe or the tension of that specific line would tighten the tension.

### 5. FORBIDDEN CHANGES / NON-GOALS
*   **Do not change** Arthur Silas Vance's absence. He is deceased as of Ch-36, and the chapter correctly treats him as a "legacy heartbeat" rather than a living character.
*   **Do not change** the cardinal direction speech patterns ("North-by-Northwest"). This is a fundamental world-building rule for the "Vance Legacy" (see [voice-sig-arthur]).
*   **Do not change** Helen Vance's frailty. She is at 80% arc completion and is correctly depicted as the "spiritual anchor" on the porch.

### 6. VERDICT
**REVISE**
The contradiction regarding **David’s limp** is a direct violation of the Ch-20 Physical State. More importantly, the **status of Sarah Jenkins** (physical human vs. AI log) needs to be firmly settled to prevent a major continuity break regarding the "Sarah Incident" established in Chapter 1. Is she a living refugee or a digital haunting? The narrative shifts between both.