diff --git a/.project/objectives/p3-26-complete-headless-simulator.md b/.project/objectives/p3-26-complete-headless-simulator.md
index a21709bc..b6be3b7b 100644
--- a/.project/objectives/p3-26-complete-headless-simulator.md
+++ b/.project/objectives/p3-26-complete-headless-simulator.md
@@ -39,6 +39,15 @@ expansion, tech/science, fauna encounters, combat/siege, diplomacy. Verified liv
   gap 1), global (solar/glacial). Deterministic from seed per `EVENT_FREQUENCY_SPEC.md`;
   triggers from climate (gap 1), damage targets in biology (fauna/ecology). Wire into the
   turn. (Magic category excluded — M4.)
+  - **VERIFIED 2026-06-27 — two listed "remaining" sub-items reassessed:**
+    (a) **era-based max_tier cap = NON-PARITY (gold-plating, dropped).** The live GDScript events
+    modules have NO `max_tier`/era-tier cap (0 hits in `src/game/engine/src/modules/events/`).
+    Headless uses `max_tier=10` (processor.rs:1117); adding an era cap would invent a rule the live
+    game lacks. Leave flat unless a design adds the cap to the game first.
+    (b) **surfacing fired events = minor OBSERVABILITY gap only.** Events already fire AND apply
+    terrain effects headless; `process_events` returns the fired list but `step()` discards it
+    (`let _fired =`, processor.rs:1117). The SYSTEM runs in self-play; only replay/observation
+    visibility is missing. Low priority (parallels the p3-29 §A event surface, render-gated payoff).
 - [ ] **Gap 3 — Equipment / crafting.** `mc-city/recipes.rs` + `enqueue_item` exist but
   there is no headless `Craft`/`Equip` `PlayerAction` and crafting isn't in the bench
   turn. Add the action(s) + dispatch + wire recipe resolution (gating resources, quality)
diff --git a/infra/terraform/test-fleet/tests/fixtures/id_test.pub b/infra/terraform/test-fleet/tests/fixtures/id_test.pub
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..2e7562a9
--- /dev/null
+++ b/infra/terraform/test-fleet/tests/fixtures/id_test.pub
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+ssh-ed25519 AAAAC3NzaC1lZDI1NTE5AAAAITESTFIXTUREKEYdummy0000000000000000000000 test-fixture
diff --git a/infra/terraform/test-fleet/tests/fleet.tftest.hcl b/infra/terraform/test-fleet/tests/fleet.tftest.hcl
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..29756412
--- /dev/null
+++ b/infra/terraform/test-fleet/tests/fleet.tftest.hcl
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+# No-spend test harness for the fleet module.
+#   terraform test          (from the module dir)
+# Uses a MOCKED hcloud provider — no API token, no API calls, no servers, no cost.
+# Exercises count expansion, the golden-image branch toggle, and the workers guardrail.
+
+mock_provider "hcloud" {}
+
+variables {
+  hcloud_token        = "mock-token-unused"
+  git_remote          = "https://example.com/magic-civilization.git"
+  ssh_public_key_path = "./tests/fixtures/id_test.pub"
+}
+
+# base_image set -> golden data source is skipped (count 0); fleet expands to N.
+run "fleet_expands_and_skips_golden_when_base_image_set" {
+  command = plan
+
+  variables {
+    workers    = 3
+    base_image = "ubuntu-24.04"
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = length(hcloud_server.worker) == 3
+    error_message = "expected 3 workers when workers=3"
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = length(data.hcloud_image.golden) == 0
+    error_message = "golden data source must be skipped when base_image is set"
+  }
+}
+
+# base_image empty -> golden snapshot is resolved via the label selector.
+run "golden_image_branch_active_when_base_image_empty" {
+  command = plan
+
+  variables {
+    workers    = 2
+    base_image = ""
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = length(data.hcloud_image.golden) == 1
+    error_message = "golden data source must be queried when base_image is empty"
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = length(hcloud_server.worker) == 2
+    error_message = "expected 2 workers when workers=2"
+  }
+}
+
+# workers = 0 -> zero servers (idle / torn-down state).
+run "zero_workers_is_empty_fleet" {
+  command = plan
+
+  variables {
+    workers    = 0
+    base_image = "ubuntu-24.04"
+  }
+
+  assert {
+    condition     = length(hcloud_server.worker) == 0
+    error_message = "workers=0 must produce no servers"
+  }
+}
+
+# The validation guardrail rejects an oversize fleet — proven without provisioning.
+run "rejects_oversize_fleet" {
+  command = plan
+
+  variables {
+    workers    = 99
+    base_image = "ubuntu-24.04"
+  }
+
+  expect_failures = [var.workers]
+}
diff --git a/scripts/run/dist.sh b/scripts/run/dist.sh
index 19413953..12e35b2f 100755
--- a/scripts/run/dist.sh
+++ b/scripts/run/dist.sh
@@ -30,6 +30,7 @@ _dist_read_hosts() {
 cmd_dist() {
   cat <<'EOF'
 Distributed test/train fleet (Hetzner). Set TF_VAR_hcloud_token first.
+  ./run dist:check                                     offline: fmt + validate + mocked test (no token/spend)
   ./run dist:up   <workers> [server_type] [location]   e.g. ./run dist:up 10
   ./run dist:sim  <games> [turn_limit] [--destroy-after]
   ./run dist:train <total_steps> [--destroy-after]
@@ -37,6 +38,23 @@ Distributed test/train fleet (Hetzner). Set TF_VAR_hcloud_token first.
 EOF
 }
 
+cmd_dist_check() {
+  # Offline IaC verification — no Hetzner token, no API, no servers, no cost.
+  # fmt (style) + validate (schema typecheck) + test (mocked-provider behaviour).
+  local root
+  root="$(_dist_repo_root)"
+  local dir="$root/$_DIST_TF_DIR_REL"
+  echo "== terraform fmt =="
+  terraform -chdir="$dir" fmt -check -recursive || { echo "fmt: run 'terraform -chdir=$dir fmt'" >&2; return 1; }
+  echo "== terraform init (providers only) =="
+  terraform -chdir="$dir" init -backend=false -input=false >/dev/null || return 1
+  echo "== terraform validate (schema typecheck) =="
+  terraform -chdir="$dir" validate || return 1
+  echo "== terraform test (mocked hcloud) =="
+  terraform -chdir="$dir" test || return 1
+  echo "dist:check OK — config is valid, no resources touched."
+}
+
 cmd_dist_up() {
   local n="${1:-}"
   [[ "$n" =~ ^[0-9]+$ ]] || { echo "usage: ./run dist:up <workers> [server_type] [location]" >&2; return 1; }