diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8c66f7d..6aee725 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -1,195 +1,46 @@
-```
-PRIM-005
-LIMENWARD
-Boundary enforcement
-
-STATUS: REGISTERED
-REGISTRY: https://speedkit.eu
-SNAPSHOT: https://speedkit.eu/REGISTRY_SNAPSHOT.json
-```
-
-Registered artifact. Identity governed by SPEEDKIT registry.
-
-STATUS: FINAL
-
----
-
-**LIMENWARD v0.0.0** is a boundary primitive.
-
-It does not decide.
-It does not verify.
-It does not witness.
-It does not execute.
-
-It enforces **transition discipline**.
-
-LIMENWARD exists only at the threshold between states.
-
----
-
-## Philosophy
-
-Most failures occur *between* steps, not within them.
-
-LIMENWARD exists to make transitions explicit, deliberate, and auditable.
-It does not evaluate content.
-It evaluates **whether passage is permitted**.
-
-If a boundary matters, it must be guarded.
-
----
-
-## What LIMENWARD Guards
-
-LIMENWARD is invoked when something attempts to cross a boundary, including but not limited to:
-
-* draft → final
-* private → public
-* uncommitted → committed
-* unverifiable → verifiable
-* observation → action
-
-It answers one question only:
-
-> **Is this allowed to cross, right now?**
-
----
-
-## What It Enforces
-
-LIMENWARD enforces *preconditions*, not outcomes.
-
-Specifically:
-
-* No ambiguity exists at the moment of transition
-* Explicit intent or finality is present
-* Forbidden states are blocked at the boundary
-
-LIMENWARD does not judge correctness.
-It judges **right to proceed**.
-
----
-
-## What It Is Not
-
-* Not a judge
-* Not a verifier
-* Not a witness
-* Not an executor
-* Not a safety mechanism
-
-Anything that changes state is out of scope.
+# limenward
 
----
+## Purpose
 
-## Behavior
+Atomic primitive: boundary gating / threshold guard.
 
-* Consumes context via `stdin`
-* Refuses silent invocation
-* Evaluates boundary conditions deterministically
-* Emits exactly one verdict
-* Appends allowed transitions to a ledger
-* Exits immediately after evaluation
+## Status
 
-No retries.
-No flags.
-No configuration.
+- **Stability**: Experimental
+- **SemVer**: Not guaranteed until v1.0.0
+- **Security**: See **Security** section below
 
----
+## Scope
 
-## Verdicts
+- What this repo is responsible for
+- What it explicitly does **not** do
 
-LIMENWARD emits exactly one of the following:
+## Quickstart
 
-* `ALLOWED` — the transition may proceed
-* `DENIED` — the transition is blocked
+```bash
+# clone
+git clone https://github.com/Verifrax/limenward.git
+cd limenward
 
-The verdict concerns **permission**, not quality.
-
----
-
-## Usage
-
-LIMENWARD is never run alone.
-It must guard a transition.
-
-```sh
-<transition-context> | ./limenward.sh
+# install (adjust if needed)
+# (placeholder) npm install / pnpm install / go test ./... / etc.
 ```
 
-### Example
-
-```sh
-echo "ready for release" | ./limenward.sh
-```
-
-If all boundary conditions are satisfied:
-
-```text
-ALLOWED
-```
-
-If a boundary condition is violated:
-
-```text
-DENIED
-```
-
----
-
-## Contract
-
-Once a verdict is emitted:
-
-* The decision stands
-* Responsibility transfers to the caller
-* Circumvention is explicit, not accidental
-
-LIMENWARD guarantees **clarity at the boundary**.
-
----
-
-## Relationship to Other Artifacts
-
-* **GUILLOTINE** — destroys state
-* **IRREVOCULL** — judges output
-* **ATTESTORIUM** — witnesses reality
-* **VALIDEXOR** — verifies claims
-* **LIMENWARD** — guards transitions
-
-Each artifact is orthogonal.
-None can replace another.
-
----
-
-## Warning
-
-Boundaries create accountability.
-
-If you do not want to be responsible for crossing one,
-do not invoke LIMENWARD.
-
----
-
-## About
-
-LIMENWARD is a minimal, deterministic boundary guard for irreversible systems.
-
-If transitions do not matter, do not use it.
-If they do, nothing else is sufficient.
-
----
+## Repository layout
 
-## Responsibility Boundary
+- `/` Root sources
+- `/.github/` Issue + PR templates
+- `/docs/` Documentation (if present)
 
-This software is provided under the MIT License.
+## Security
 
-The MIT License permits use, copying, modification, and redistribution of the code, but it does not provide assurance, certification, audit defense, operational guarantees, or liability coverage.
+- Report vulnerabilities privately: **security@verifrax.org**
+- Do **not** open public issues for sensitive findings
 
-Use of this software in environments where failure, compliance, legal exposure, or irreversible decisions matter requires an accountable party.
+## Contributing
 
-The original maintainer is available for assurance, adaptation, and responsibility when such accountability is required.
+See `CONTRIBUTING.md`.
 
-Contact: contact@speedkit.eu
+## License
 
-Authoritative signed records are issued separately and are not produced by the software.
+MIT. See `LICENSE`.