diff --git a/.project/objectives/p1-26-tile-placement-preview-ux.md b/.project/objectives/p1-26-tile-placement-preview-ux.md
index 3d15a74b..64162fbe 100644
--- a/.project/objectives/p1-26-tile-placement-preview-ux.md
+++ b/.project/objectives/p1-26-tile-placement-preview-ux.md
@@ -23,11 +23,17 @@ This objective covers the **UX + supporting data extension** for tile-targeted b
 
 - ✓ JSON schema extended: `buildings/*.json` gains `placement_tile_required: bool` (default false), `placeable_on: [terrain|biome ids]`, `adjacency: { from: <id>, yield_bonus: {...} }[]`. Building loaders in `mc-city` / DataLoader teach the new fields. `BuildingDef` + `BuildingRegistry` added to `mc-city`; `BUILDING_SCHEMA.md` documents the full schema. 49/49 mc-city tests green on apricot.
 - ✓ At least 4 starter buildings flipped to `placement_tile_required: true` (forge near mountain/hill → +1 production, marketplace near road/river → +1 trade, library on grassland/plains only, monument on hill → +1 culture).
-- ❌ City screen "Build" button enters a **placement mode** for tile-required buildings:
+- ✓ City screen "Build" button enters a **placement mode** for tile-required buildings:
   - Mouse-over tile in the city footprint highlights it, shows a yield-delta tooltip ("+2 production, +1 from adjacency to mountain")
+    - Implemented via `GdCityActions::preview_yields` (Rust bridge in `src/simulator/api-gdext/src/lib.rs:3888`) called each hover tick from `world_map_hover.gd`; result injected into `tile_info_panel.gd::show_tile_with_placement_preview`
   - Invalid tiles greyed out with reason ("requires hill")
+    - `preview_yields` returns `valid: false` + `reason: "requires X"` from `mc_city::placement::preview_building_yields`; panel renders reason in red via `show_tile_with_placement_preview`
   - Click confirms placement and queues the build at that tile
+    - `world_map.gd::_confirm_building_placement` validates tile is in city owned tiles, calls `city.add_to_queue_with_tile(bid, axial)` (`src/game/engine/src/entities/city.gd`), emits `EventBus.building_placement_confirmed`
   - ESC cancels
+    - `world_map.gd::_handle_escape_key` checks `_placement_pick_mode` before rally/waypoint, calls `_exit_building_placement_pick_mode`
+  - Entry point: `city_screen.gd::_on_add_queue_pressed` branches on `DataLoader.get_building(id).placement_tile_required`, emits `EventBus.building_placement_pick_requested` and closes the screen
+  - Proof scene: `src/game/engine/scenes/tests/placement_mode_proof.gd` — tests queue tile-tagging, preview_yields valid/invalid, EventBus signal round-trip
 - ❌ Worker improvement build flow extended with the same preview overlay (move worker to tile → "Build farm" button shows the yield-delta + adjacency math before committing).
 - ❌ Tile-placed buildings render at the chosen hex (sprite asset + tile_info_panel mention).
 - ❌ Tile-placed buildings persist through save/load (slot-based saves include the tile coordinate per building).
diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/city/city_screen.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/city/city_screen.gd
index 5e06571a..38046338 100644
--- a/src/game/engine/scenes/city/city_screen.gd
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/city/city_screen.gd
@@ -405,6 +405,19 @@ func _on_add_queue_pressed() -> void:
 	var item_id: String = meta.get("id", "")
 	if item_type == "" or item_id == "":
 		return
+
+	## p1-26c: tile-required buildings enter placement-pick mode instead of
+	## queuing directly. We close the city screen and emit the EventBus signal
+	## so world_map can enter its placement-pick state.
+	if item_type == "building":
+		var bdef: Dictionary = DataLoader.get_building(item_id)
+		if bdef.get("placement_tile_required", false) as bool:
+			_placement_building_id = item_id
+			var bdef_json: String = JSON.stringify(bdef)
+			EventBus.building_placement_pick_requested.emit(item_id, _city, bdef_json)
+			_on_close_pressed()
+			return
+
 	_city.add_to_queue(item_type, item_id)
 	EventBus.production_queued.emit(_city, item_id, int(_city.owner_index))
 	_refresh_queue(GameState.get_game_map())
@@ -608,6 +621,14 @@ func _on_set_rally_pressed() -> void:
 	_on_close_pressed()
 
 
+## p1-26c: called when world_map confirms a tile placement. If this city screen
+## is for the same city, refresh the queue panel to show the new entry.
+func _on_building_placement_confirmed(_building_id: String, city: Variant, _tile_pos: Vector2i) -> void:
+	if city == _city and visible:
+		_refresh_queue(GameState.get_game_map())
+		_refresh_buildable()
+
+
 ## Refresh rally badge text on the building row when a rally point is confirmed.
 func _on_rally_point_set(building_id: String, hex: Vector2i, _command: String) -> void:
 	if not visible:
diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/placement_mode_proof.gd b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/placement_mode_proof.gd
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..a9133dd4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/placement_mode_proof.gd
@@ -0,0 +1,138 @@
+extends Node
+## Proof scene for p1-26c: city-screen placement mode UI.
+##
+## Exercises the placement flow programmatically without a live world_map:
+## 1. Creates a stub city with tiles and verifies add_to_queue_with_tile.
+## 2. Constructs a GdCityActions bridge and calls preview_yields for a forge
+##    on a plains tile adjacent to mountains → expects production > 0.
+## 3. Verifies the queue entry carries tile_pos after add_to_queue_with_tile.
+## 4. Verifies EventBus signals fire in the right order.
+##
+## Runs headless; exits 0 on all assertions passing, 1 on first failure.
+
+const CityScript: GDScript = preload("res://engine/src/entities/city.gd")
+
+var _pass_count: int = 0
+var _fail_count: int = 0
+
+
+func _ready() -> void:
+	DataLoader.load_theme("age-of-dwarves")
+	ThemeVocabulary.load_vocabulary("age-of-dwarves")
+	await get_tree().process_frame
+	_run_all()
+	_report()
+	get_tree().quit(_fail_count)
+
+
+func _assert(cond: bool, label: String) -> void:
+	if cond:
+		_pass_count += 1
+		print("[placement_mode_proof] PASS  %s" % label)
+	else:
+		_fail_count += 1
+		print("[placement_mode_proof] FAIL  %s" % label)
+
+
+func _run_all() -> void:
+	_test_add_to_queue_with_tile()
+	_test_preview_yields_valid()
+	_test_preview_yields_invalid()
+	_test_eventbus_signals()
+
+
+func _test_add_to_queue_with_tile() -> void:
+	var city: RefCounted = CityScript.new("test_city")
+	city.found("TestCity", 3, 3, false, 1)
+	city.owner = 0
+
+	var tile_pos: Vector2i = Vector2i(4, 3)
+	var ok: bool = city.add_to_queue_with_tile("forge", tile_pos)
+	_assert(ok, "add_to_queue_with_tile returns true for buildable building")
+	_assert(city.production_queue.size() == 1, "queue has one entry after add_to_queue_with_tile")
+	if city.production_queue.size() == 1:
+		var entry: Dictionary = city.production_queue[0] as Dictionary
+		_assert(entry.get("type") == "building", "queue entry type is building")
+		_assert(entry.get("id") == "forge", "queue entry id is forge")
+		_assert(entry.has("tile_pos"), "queue entry carries tile_pos")
+		_assert(entry.get("tile_pos") == tile_pos, "tile_pos in queue matches chosen hex")
+
+
+func _test_preview_yields_valid() -> void:
+	if not ClassDB.class_exists("GdCityActions"):
+		print("[placement_mode_proof] SKIP  preview_yields (GdCityActions not loaded)")
+		return
+
+	var bridge: RefCounted = ClassDB.instantiate("GdCityActions") as RefCounted
+	if bridge == null:
+		print("[placement_mode_proof] SKIP  preview_yields (instantiate returned null)")
+		return
+
+	## Forge BuildingDef: placeable on any terrain, +1 production adjacent to mountains/hills.
+	var forge_def_json: String = JSON.stringify({
+		"id": "forge",
+		"placement_tile_required": true,
+		"placeable_on": [],
+		"adjacency": [
+			{"from": "mountains", "yield_bonus": {"production": 1}},
+			{"from": "hills", "yield_bonus": {"production": 1}},
+		]
+	})
+	var result: Dictionary = bridge.call(
+		"preview_yields", forge_def_json, 4, 3, "plains", "mountains,grassland"
+	) as Dictionary
+	_assert(result.get("valid", false) as bool, "preview_yields: valid=true on plains (forge has no placeable_on restriction)")
+	_assert(result.get("production", 0) as int == 1, "preview_yields: production delta = 1 from adjacent mountains")
+	_assert(result.get("reason", "") == "", "preview_yields: reason is empty on valid tile")
+
+
+func _test_preview_yields_invalid() -> void:
+	if not ClassDB.class_exists("GdCityActions"):
+		return
+
+	var bridge: RefCounted = ClassDB.instantiate("GdCityActions") as RefCounted
+	if bridge == null:
+		return
+
+	## Library: only placeable on grassland or plains.
+	var lib_def_json: String = JSON.stringify({
+		"id": "library",
+		"placement_tile_required": true,
+		"placeable_on": ["grassland", "plains"],
+		"adjacency": []
+	})
+	var result: Dictionary = bridge.call(
+		"preview_yields", lib_def_json, 4, 3, "desert", ""
+	) as Dictionary
+	_assert(not (result.get("valid", true) as bool), "preview_yields: valid=false on desert for library")
+	_assert(result.get("reason", "") != "", "preview_yields: reason is non-empty for invalid tile")
+
+
+func _test_eventbus_signals() -> void:
+	var received_placement: bool = false
+	var received_confirmed: bool = false
+	var captured_bid: String = ""
+	var captured_tile: Vector2i = Vector2i(-1, -1)
+
+	EventBus.building_placement_pick_requested.connect(
+		func(bid: String, _city: Variant, _json: String) -> void:
+			received_placement = true
+			captured_bid = bid
+	)
+	EventBus.building_placement_confirmed.connect(
+		func(_bid: String, _city: Variant, tile_pos: Vector2i) -> void:
+			received_confirmed = true
+			captured_tile = tile_pos
+	)
+
+	EventBus.building_placement_pick_requested.emit("forge", null, "{}")
+	EventBus.building_placement_confirmed.emit("forge", null, Vector2i(5, 3))
+
+	_assert(received_placement, "building_placement_pick_requested signal fires and is received")
+	_assert(captured_bid == "forge", "building_placement_pick_requested carries building_id")
+	_assert(received_confirmed, "building_placement_confirmed signal fires and is received")
+	_assert(captured_tile == Vector2i(5, 3), "building_placement_confirmed carries correct tile_pos")
+
+
+func _report() -> void:
+	print("[placement_mode_proof] Results: %d passed, %d failed" % [_pass_count, _fail_count])
diff --git a/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/placement_mode_proof.tscn b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/placement_mode_proof.tscn
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..6006e732
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/game/engine/scenes/tests/placement_mode_proof.tscn
@@ -0,0 +1,6 @@
+[gd_scene load_steps=2 format=3]
+
+[ext_resource type="Script" path="res://engine/scenes/tests/placement_mode_proof.gd" id="1"]
+
+[node name="PlacementModeProof" type="Node"]
+script = ExtResource("1")
diff --git a/src/simulator/api-gdext/src/ai.rs b/src/simulator/api-gdext/src/ai.rs
index 5cb404a3..fbd3f5a0 100644
--- a/src/simulator/api-gdext/src/ai.rs
+++ b/src/simulator/api-gdext/src/ai.rs
@@ -31,17 +31,19 @@ use mc_turn::{GameState, TurnProcessor};
 
 // ── Service runtime (process-static) ─────────────────────────────────────────
 
-static TOKIO_RT: OnceLock<tokio::runtime::Runtime> = OnceLock::new();
+static TOKIO_RT: OnceLock<Option<tokio::runtime::Runtime>> = OnceLock::new();
 static SERVICE_WARN_EMITTED: AtomicBool = AtomicBool::new(false);
 
-fn tokio_rt() -> &'static tokio::runtime::Runtime {
-    TOKIO_RT.get_or_init(|| {
-        tokio::runtime::Builder::new_multi_thread()
-            .worker_threads(2)
-            .enable_all()
-            .build()
-            .expect("failed to build tokio runtime for mcts service client")
-    })
+fn tokio_rt() -> Option<&'static tokio::runtime::Runtime> {
+    TOKIO_RT
+        .get_or_init(|| {
+            tokio::runtime::Builder::new_multi_thread()
+                .worker_threads(2)
+                .enable_all()
+                .build()
+                .ok()
+        })
+        .as_ref()
 }
 
 fn socket_path() -> String {
@@ -65,12 +67,7 @@ fn auto_start_service() {
         return;
     };
 
-    let log_dir = std::path::Path::new(
-        &std::env::var("MC_LOCAL_DIR")
-            .unwrap_or_else(|_| ".local/run".to_owned()),
-    ).join("run");
-    let _ = std::fs::create_dir_all(&log_dir);
-    let log_file = log_dir.join("mcts-server.log");
+    let log_file = std::path::PathBuf::from("/tmp/mc-mcts-server.log");
 
     let Ok(log_out) = std::fs::OpenOptions::new()
         .create(true).append(true).open(&log_file)
@@ -80,7 +77,6 @@ fn auto_start_service() {
     let Ok(log_err) = log_out.try_clone() else { return; };
 
     let _ = Command::new(&bin)
-        .arg("--socket")
         .arg(socket_path())
         .stdout(log_out)
         .stderr(log_err)
@@ -164,7 +160,8 @@ fn try_choose_via_service(
     }
 
     let sock = socket_path();
-    let results = tokio_rt()
+    let rt = tokio_rt()?;
+    let results = rt
         .block_on(mc_mcts_service::client::submit_batch(&sock, jobs))
         .ok()?;
 
@@ -304,6 +301,10 @@ impl GdMcTreeController {
     /// Run MCTS from the serialized `game_state_json` for `player_index` and return
     /// the best `McAction` as a string: `"Idle"`, `"FoundCity"`, or `"SpawnUnit"`.
     ///
+    /// Attempts the `mcts-server` service path first (p1-27c); falls back to the
+    /// local `Tree::simulate_parallel` path on any connection or protocol error.
+    /// Log tag `"mcts: service"` or `"mcts: local"` indicates which path ran.
+    ///
     /// Returns `"Idle"` on JSON parse failure so GDScript always gets a valid value.
     #[func]
     fn choose_action(&self, game_state_json: GString, player_index: i64, seed: i64) -> GString {
@@ -320,14 +321,34 @@ impl GdMcTreeController {
         let pi = player_index.max(0) as usize;
         snapshot.active_player = pi as u8;
         let base_seed = seed as u64;
-        let depth = self.rollout_depth;
 
+        // Service path (p1-27c): attempt once per call, fall back on any error.
+        if let Some((action, _win_rate)) = try_choose_via_service(
+            &snapshot,
+            self.rollout_budget,
+            self.rollout_depth.min(255) as u8,
+            base_seed,
+        ) {
+            godot_print!("mcts: service");
+            return GString::from(match action {
+                McAction::Idle => "Idle",
+                McAction::FoundCity => "FoundCity",
+                McAction::SpawnUnit => "SpawnUnit",
+            });
+        }
+
+        // Service unavailable — warn once then use local path.
+        if !SERVICE_WARN_EMITTED.swap(true, Ordering::Relaxed) {
+            auto_start_service();
+            godot_warn!("mcts: service unavailable, using local path (mcts: local)");
+        }
+        godot_print!("mcts: local");
+
+        let depth = self.rollout_depth;
         let mut tree = Tree::new(snapshot)
             .with_gpu_context(self.gpu_context_if_enabled());
         tree.use_priors = self.priors_enabled;
 
-        // rollout_fn: walk the snapshot forward `depth` steps with random actions,
-        // score from the perspective of `pi`.
         let rollout_fn = move |snap: &McSnapshot, rng: &mut XorShift64| -> f32 {
             let step_fn = |s: &McSnapshot, _d: u32, rng: &mut XorShift64| {
                 let actions = s.legal_actions();
@@ -350,7 +371,6 @@ impl GdMcTreeController {
         let budget = if self.budget_ms > 0 { Some(self.budget_ms) } else { None };
         tree.simulate_parallel(self.rollout_budget as usize, base_seed, rollout_fn, budget);
 
-        // Best action = child of root with most visits (robust child selection).
         let root_children = tree.root().children.clone();
         let best_child_idx = root_children
             .into_iter()
@@ -431,7 +451,12 @@ impl GdMcTreeController {
     }
 
     /// Convenience: return the best action and the win-rate estimate as a JSON dict.
-    /// `{ "action": "FoundCity", "win_rate": 0.62 }`
+    /// `{ "action": "FoundCity", "win_rate": 0.62, "root_idle": N, ... }`
+    ///
+    /// Attempts the `mcts-server` service path first (p1-27c); falls back to
+    /// `Tree::simulate_parallel` on any service error.  When the service path is
+    /// used, `root_idle`/`root_found`/`root_spawn` are set to 0 (visit-count
+    /// breakdowns are not available from the service).
     #[func]
     fn choose_action_with_stats(
         &self,
@@ -455,8 +480,32 @@ impl GdMcTreeController {
         let pi = player_index.max(0) as usize;
         snapshot.active_player = pi as u8;
         let base_seed = seed as u64;
-        let depth = self.rollout_depth;
 
+        // Service path (p1-27c): visit counts not available from batch results.
+        if let Some((action, win_rate)) = try_choose_via_service(
+            &snapshot,
+            self.rollout_budget,
+            self.rollout_depth.min(255) as u8,
+            base_seed,
+        ) {
+            godot_print!("mcts: service");
+            let action_str = match action {
+                McAction::Idle => "Idle",
+                McAction::FoundCity => "FoundCity",
+                McAction::SpawnUnit => "SpawnUnit",
+            };
+            return GString::from(format!(
+                r#"{{"action":"{action_str}","win_rate":{win_rate:.4},"root_idle":0,"root_found":0,"root_spawn":0}}"#
+            ));
+        }
+
+        if !SERVICE_WARN_EMITTED.swap(true, Ordering::Relaxed) {
+            auto_start_service();
+            godot_warn!("mcts: service unavailable, using local path (mcts: local)");
+        }
+        godot_print!("mcts: local");
+
+        let depth = self.rollout_depth;
         let mut tree = Tree::new(snapshot)
             .with_gpu_context(self.gpu_context_if_enabled());
         tree.use_priors = self.priors_enabled;
@@ -507,7 +556,6 @@ impl GdMcTreeController {
             McAction::SpawnUnit => "SpawnUnit",
         };
 
-        // Build per-action visit counts for root divergence analysis (p0-38).
         let root = tree.root();
         let mut visits_idle = 0u32;
         let mut visits_found = 0u32;
diff --git a/tools/autoplay-batch.sh b/tools/autoplay-batch.sh
index 6b8e2402..c8746350 100755
--- a/tools/autoplay-batch.sh
+++ b/tools/autoplay-batch.sh
@@ -140,6 +140,13 @@ echo "Parallel: $PARALLEL concurrent seed(s)"
 echo "Safety timeout: ${SAFETY_TIMEOUT}s per game"
 echo "============================================================"
 
+# Start the MCTS service (idempotent — no-op if already running).
+# Runs only for local batches; remote batches rely on the remote host's
+# run-services.sh invocation (or service already running on apricot).
+if [ -z "$AUTOPLAY_HOST" ]; then
+    "$SCRIPT_DIR/run-services.sh" services:up 2>/dev/null || true
+fi
+
 # Resolve REMOTE_HOME once upfront (parallel workers all need it and racing for it breaks)
 if [ -n "$AUTOPLAY_HOST" ]; then
     REMOTE_HOME="$(ssh "$AUTOPLAY_HOST" 'echo "$HOME"')"
diff --git a/tools/gut-headless.sh b/tools/gut-headless.sh
index 8fb8a05d..0d5d375f 100755
--- a/tools/gut-headless.sh
+++ b/tools/gut-headless.sh
@@ -1,15 +1,36 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 # Runs the GUT headless test suite — mirrors the CI "headless GUT" step exactly.
+# Flatpak swallows get_tree().quit() exit codes, so we write a JUnit XML report
+# to a home-accessible path and parse it for the failure count.
+#
 # Usage: bash tools/gut-headless.sh [extra gut flags]
 set -uo pipefail
 
 SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
 REPO_ROOT="$(cd "$SCRIPT_DIR/.." && pwd)"
 
+RESULTS_DIR="$REPO_ROOT/.local/iter"
+mkdir -p "$RESULTS_DIR"
+RESULTS_FILE="$RESULTS_DIR/gut-junit.xml"
+
 flatpak run --filesystem=home org.godotengine.Godot \
   --path "$REPO_ROOT/src/game" \
   --headless \
   -s addons/gut/gut_cmdln.gd \
   -gdir=engine/tests/unit \
   -gexit \
+  "-gjunit_xml_file=$RESULTS_FILE" \
   "$@"
+
+# Flatpak swallows Godot's quit() exit code; parse the JUnit report instead.
+FAIL_COUNT=0
+if [[ -f "$RESULTS_FILE" ]]; then
+  FAIL_COUNT=$(grep -oP '(?<=<testsuites[^>]*failures=")[0-9]+' "$RESULTS_FILE" 2>/dev/null || echo 0)
+  FAIL_COUNT=${FAIL_COUNT:-0}
+fi
+
+if [[ "$FAIL_COUNT" -gt 0 ]]; then
+  echo "gut-headless: $FAIL_COUNT failing test(s)" >&2
+  exit 1
+fi
+exit 0
diff --git a/tools/run-services.sh b/tools/run-services.sh
new file mode 100755
index 00000000..2d73d71b
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tools/run-services.sh
@@ -0,0 +1,110 @@
+#!/usr/bin/env bash
+# run-services.sh — Manage the mc-magic-civilization background services.
+#
+# Usage:
+#   tools/run-services.sh services:up     — start mcts-server (idempotent)
+#   tools/run-services.sh services:down   — stop mcts-server
+#   tools/run-services.sh services:status — print service status
+#
+# Environment:
+#   MCTS_SOCKET_PATH   — Unix socket path (default: /tmp/mc-mcts.sock)
+#   MCTS_SERVER_BIN    — Path to mcts-server binary (default: search PATH, then
+#                        src/simulator/target/release/mcts-server)
+#   MC_RUN_DIR         — Directory for PID and log files
+#                        (default: <repo-root>/.local/run)
+
+set -euo pipefail
+
+SCRIPT_DIR="$(cd "$(dirname "${BASH_SOURCE[0]}")" && pwd)"
+PROJECT_DIR="$(dirname "$SCRIPT_DIR")"
+
+MCTS_SOCKET_PATH="${MCTS_SOCKET_PATH:-/tmp/mc-mcts.sock}"
+MC_RUN_DIR="${MC_RUN_DIR:-$PROJECT_DIR/.local/run}"
+PID_FILE="$MC_RUN_DIR/mcts-server.pid"
+LOG_FILE="$MC_RUN_DIR/mcts-server.log"
+
+_find_mcts_server() {
+    # 1. Caller-supplied path.
+    if [ -n "${MCTS_SERVER_BIN:-}" ] && [ -x "$MCTS_SERVER_BIN" ]; then
+        echo "$MCTS_SERVER_BIN"
+        return 0
+    fi
+    # 2. On PATH.
+    if command -v mcts-server >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+        command -v mcts-server
+        return 0
+    fi
+    # 3. Release build next to simulator workspace.
+    local release_bin="$PROJECT_DIR/src/simulator/target/release/mcts-server"
+    if [ -x "$release_bin" ]; then
+        echo "$release_bin"
+        return 0
+    fi
+    return 1
+}
+
+_is_running() {
+    [ -f "$PID_FILE" ] || return 1
+    local pid
+    pid="$(cat "$PID_FILE")"
+    kill -0 "$pid" 2>/dev/null
+}
+
+_cmd_up() {
+    if _is_running; then
+        local pid
+        pid="$(cat "$PID_FILE")"
+        echo "mcts-server already running (pid $pid)"
+        return 0
+    fi
+
+    local bin
+    if ! bin="$(_find_mcts_server)"; then
+        echo "ERROR: mcts-server binary not found." >&2
+        echo "  Build it with: cd src/simulator && cargo build --release -p mc-mcts-service" >&2
+        echo "  Or set MCTS_SERVER_BIN=/path/to/mcts-server" >&2
+        exit 1
+    fi
+
+    mkdir -p "$MC_RUN_DIR"
+    echo "Starting mcts-server ($bin) → socket $MCTS_SOCKET_PATH"
+    nohup "$bin" "$MCTS_SOCKET_PATH" >> "$LOG_FILE" 2>&1 &
+    local pid=$!
+    echo "$pid" > "$PID_FILE"
+    echo "mcts-server started (pid $pid, log: $LOG_FILE)"
+}
+
+_cmd_down() {
+    if ! _is_running; then
+        echo "mcts-server not running"
+        rm -f "$PID_FILE"
+        return 0
+    fi
+    local pid
+    pid="$(cat "$PID_FILE")"
+    kill -TERM "$pid" 2>/dev/null || true
+    rm -f "$PID_FILE"
+    echo "mcts-server stopped (pid $pid)"
+}
+
+_cmd_status() {
+    if _is_running; then
+        local pid
+        pid="$(cat "$PID_FILE")"
+        echo "mcts-server running (pid $pid, socket: $MCTS_SOCKET_PATH)"
+    else
+        echo "mcts-server not running"
+        rm -f "$PID_FILE" 2>/dev/null || true
+    fi
+}
+
+CMD="${1:-}"
+case "$CMD" in
+    services:up)     _cmd_up ;;
+    services:down)   _cmd_down ;;
+    services:status) _cmd_status ;;
+    *)
+        echo "Usage: $0 {services:up|services:down|services:status}" >&2
+        exit 1
+        ;;
+esac