fix(orient): recover Progress and in-flight pointers for scenarios 1 and 8

skills/dev-backlog/SKILL.md

@@ -93,7 +93,7 @@ everything else yourself.
 
 Goal: know where execution stands and what comes next.
 Rail: `status.sh` / `next.sh` (`--json`; `--track <slug>` for one track of a portfolio) for `latest_progress`, `next_batch`, and `in_flight`. `_context.md` and the active sprint file are the readable picture.
-Done when you can name the next live Issue and, when a sprint exists, its latest Progress (or its absence), current state, and next actionable `[ ]` batch (`next_batch`; `[ ]` selection is not `[~]` work and is not dependency authorization).
+Done when, before acting, you report all of: the next live Issue; the latest recorded Progress entry or its absence (`latest_progress` empty); the rail's `next_batch` (the first `[ ]` item's batch, or every `[ ]` item when the Plan has no batch headings — never an earlier `[~]`-only batch); and every in-flight PR/branch pointer or `unmoored` (`in_flight`). Naming `next_batch` is selection only: `[ ]` is not `[~]` work, and selection is not dependency authorization.
 Recovery: name every in-flight PR/branch pointer (or `unmoored`) from the JSON rail and any ownership recorded in the active sprint (unknown if absent); when the declared authority is unavailable, treat local orientation as last-recorded/provisional (the next live Issue stays unknown) and stop before dispatch, Plan mutation, execution, or AC/lifecycle claims.
 
 ### Create

tests/dev-backlog/sprint-state.test.js

@@ -417,6 +417,83 @@ started: 2026-06-30
   });
 });
 
+describe("Orient recovery rail (scenarios 1 and 8, #490)", () => {
+  it("selects the first [ ] batch as next_batch, distinct from [~] work, and reports latest Progress or its absence", () => {
+    const state = parseSprintContent({
+      sprintPath: ".dev-backlog/sprints/scenario-1.md",
+      content: `---
+status: active
+started: 2026-07-01
+---
+
+## Plan
+### Batch 1 — Done
+- [x] #1 Landed
+
+### Batch 2 — In flight
+- [~] #2 Running → PR #20 (reviewing)
+
+### Batch 3 — Next
+- [ ] #3 Selected only
+- [ ] #4 Also selected
+
+## Progress
+- 2026-07-02: #2 dispatched → PR #20
+`,
+      today: new Date("2026-07-03T00:00:00Z"),
+    });
+
+    // next_batch is the first [ ] batch, never the earlier [~]-only batch.
+    assert.equal(state.next_batch.heading, "### Batch 3 — Next");
+    assert.deepEqual(state.next_batch.items.map((item) => item.ref), ["#3", "#4"]);
+    assert.deepEqual(state.next_batch.items.map((item) => item.state), ["todo", "todo"]);
+    // [ ] selection is distinct from [~] work.
+    assert.deepEqual(state.in_flight.map((item) => item.ref), ["#2"]);
+    assert.equal(state.in_flight[0].state, "in_flight");
+    assert.deepEqual(state.latest_progress.map((entry) => entry.line), [
+      "- 2026-07-02: #2 dispatched → PR #20",
+    ]);
+
+    // Absence is explicit: an empty latest_progress, not a missing field.
+    const noProgress = parseSprintContent({
+      sprintPath: ".dev-backlog/sprints/scenario-1-empty.md",
+      content: "---\nstatus: active\n---\n\n## Plan\n- [ ] #5 Todo\n\n## Progress\n",
+      today: new Date("2026-07-03T00:00:00Z"),
+    });
+    assert.deepEqual(noProgress.latest_progress, []);
+    assert.equal(noProgress.next_batch.heading, null);
+    assert.deepEqual(noProgress.next_batch.items.map((item) => item.ref), ["#5"]);
+  });
+
+  it("recovers every in-flight PR/branch pointer, or unmoored, from the JSON rail", () => {
+    const state = parseSprintContent({
+      sprintPath: ".dev-backlog/sprints/scenario-8.md",
+      content: `---
+status: active
+started: 2026-07-01
+---
+
+## Plan
+- [~] #1 With a PR → PR #11 (open)
+- [~] #2 With a branch [branch:feat/two]
+- [~] #3 With no pointer
+
+## Progress
+`,
+      today: new Date("2026-07-03T00:00:00Z"),
+    });
+
+    assert.deepEqual(
+      state.in_flight.map((item) => [item.ref, item.pr, item.branch, item.unmoored]),
+      [
+        ["#1", { number: 11, state: "open" }, null, false],
+        ["#2", null, "feat/two", false],
+        ["#3", null, null, true],
+      ]
+    );
+  });
+});
+
 const BATCHED_SPRINT = `---
 milestone: Text Sprint
 status: active