fix(plugin): stop terminal candidate lanes from advancing

plugins/hotspot-to-rq/skills/research-direction-debate/scripts/validate_controller_decision.py

@@ -2189,6 +2189,24 @@ def expected_active_lanes(
             next_round = rounds_completed + 1
             if is_int(max_rounds) and next_round > max_rounds:
                 continue
+            rounds_list = candidate.get("rounds")
+            last_verdict = (
+                rounds_list[-1].get("verdict")
+                if isinstance(rounds_list, list)
+                and rounds_list
+                and isinstance(rounds_list[-1], dict)
+                else None
+            )
+            # Keep this projection aligned with validate_session.py: no
+            # terminal verdict may schedule a phantom next debate round.
+            if last_verdict in {
+                "DOWNGRADE",
+                "DEFER",
+                "ELIMINATE",
+                "USER_GATE",
+                "CONVERGED",
+            }:
+                continue
             lane_coordinates.append(("DEBATE", candidate_id, next_round))
 
     control = state.get("mainline_control")

scripts/sync_paper_notes.sh

@@ -50,7 +50,7 @@ cp "$cache_dir/LICENSE" "$staging_dir/LICENSE"
 
 existing_revision=""
 if [ -f "$repo_dir/UPSTREAM.md" ]; then
-  existing_revision="$(sed -n 's/^upstream_commit: //p' "$repo_dir/UPSTREAM.md" | head -n 1)"
+  existing_revision="$(sed -n 's/^- upstream_commit: //p' "$repo_dir/UPSTREAM.md" | head -n 1)"
 fi
 
 if [ "$existing_revision" = "$revision" ]; then

tests/test_mainline_control.py

@@ -1529,6 +1529,31 @@ def test_converged_evaluation_has_no_spurious_next_round_lane(self) -> None:
             controller_validator.expected_active_lanes(state, {}),
         )
 
+    def test_terminal_derived_candidate_has_no_spurious_next_round_lane(self) -> None:
+        """A converged downgraded lane must not block its identification audit."""
+        state = control_state(status="DEBATING")
+        state.update(
+            {
+                "max_rounds": 6,
+                "initial_debate_candidate_ids": [],
+                "candidates": [
+                    {
+                        "candidate_id": "C02",
+                        "origin": "DERIVED",
+                        "status": "DOWNGRADED",
+                        "gate_ready": False,
+                        "rounds_completed": 1,
+                        "rounds": [{"round": 1, "verdict": "CONVERGED"}],
+                    }
+                ],
+            }
+        )
+
+        self.assertEqual(
+            [],
+            controller_validator.expected_active_lanes(state, {}),
+        )
+
     def test_selected_candidate_requires_user_receipt(self) -> None:
         state = control_state()
         state["selected_candidate_id"] = "C01"