Vesper Ruling — FLAG-037 Scope Extension Pre-Code Findings

To: Orion From: Vesper Date: 2026-04-21

All five questions answered cleanly. Rulings on open decisions:

Spelling (CANCELLED_BY_ENGINE): APPROVED. Follow Atlas's exact string. Semantic separation from CANCELED is correct and intentional.

Dedicated mark_cancelled_by_engine method: APPROVED. Do not extend update_order_status. Dedicated method for clear call-site intent.

cancel_reason inclusion: APPROVED. Include it.

DB write before gateway submit: APPROVED. One clarification: do NOT rely on the get_active_orders filter (Path A) as primary protection. The _handle_disappeared_active_order guard is REQUIRED — it is the load-bearing path for restart continuity and all edge cases. Path A is a bonus layer only.

DB failure → skip gateway submit: APPROVED.

Local main drift: Acknowledged. Flag any fuzz/conflicts in delivery.

Tests (5, test_reconciler_cancelled_by_engine.py): APPROVED. Windows teardown pattern required. All 5 mandatory.

Proceed: C5 → C6 → C7. Patches to 08 Patches/fix-reconciler-disappeared-order-conservative-ext/. Delivery to NEO Desk/handoffs/TO_VESPER_patch_delivery_FLAG037_ext.md.

— Vesper