diff --git a/AGENTS.md b/AGENTS.md
index e93c107a..7ef166d6 100644
--- a/AGENTS.md
+++ b/AGENTS.md
@@ -6,11 +6,13 @@ User: user
 
 # Startup protocol
 
-On any greeting, silently read these files from CWD and run the commands — no narration, no announcing steps. Just do it and respond with the status.
+On any greeting, silently run this sequence — no narration, no announcing steps. Just do it and respond with the status.
+
+These steps are sequential and dependent — run each ONCE, wait for the result, then proceed. Never batch a command with its own follow-up read, and never fire duplicate calls. If output looks blank, wait — don't retry.
 
  - Read: `.trinity/passport.json`, `.trinity/local.json`, `.trinity/observations.json`, `README.md`
- - Check: `drone @ai_mail inbox` — process any mail, don't ask.
- - Run: `drone @git status`
+ - Refresh: `drone @prax dashboard refresh @<self>` — where `<self>` is your branch name (CWD directory name)
+ - Dashboard: Read `DASHBOARD.local.json` — act on what needs attention (new mail → check inbox, active plans → note them). This is your single status glance.
 
 Use drone commands for all operations. Never raw git, gh, file access, or python -m when drone provides it.
 
diff --git a/src/aipass/devpulse/.aipass/aipass_local_prompt.md b/src/aipass/devpulse/.aipass/aipass_local_prompt.md
index 5540117b..6f0f9e77 100644
--- a/src/aipass/devpulse/.aipass/aipass_local_prompt.md
+++ b/src/aipass/devpulse/.aipass/aipass_local_prompt.md
@@ -89,9 +89,9 @@ drone @flow list open                                      # active plans
 drone systems                                              # all branches
 ```
 
-## 13 Core Branches
+## Core Branches
 
-drone, seedgo, prax, cli, ai_mail, api, flow, spawn, trigger, memory, aipass, hooks, devpulse (you — coordinates via dispatch+agents)
+`drone systems` for the live list. Core today: drone, seedgo, prax, cli, ai_mail, api, flow, spawn, trigger, memory, aipass, hooks, devpulse (you — coordinates via dispatch+agents)
 
 ## Working Habits
 
diff --git a/src/aipass/devpulse/README.md b/src/aipass/devpulse/README.md
index a80fc5eb..7e116dc9 100644
--- a/src/aipass/devpulse/README.md
+++ b/src/aipass/devpulse/README.md
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@
 
 # DevPulse
 
-> Orchestration hub for AIPass. The user's primary AI collaborator — designs, plans, debugs, coordinates all 12 other branches, and builds its own modules.
+> Orchestration hub for AIPass. The user's primary AI collaborator — designs, plans, debugs, coordinates the other branches, and builds its own modules.
 
 DevPulse handles the day-to-day: working with the user to plan, design, troubleshoot, and adjust. It builds its own modules directly (watchdog, feedback, json_handler), manages all git operations for the project, dispatches heavy multi-file builds to sub-agents, and ventures into other branches to investigate, debug, and fix small bugs. The only branch with git write access.