diff --git a/src/agents/athena/athena-config-injection.test.ts b/src/agents/athena/athena-config-injection.test.ts
index 85ae79b3b..077c8c752 100644
--- a/src/agents/athena/athena-config-injection.test.ts
+++ b/src/agents/athena/athena-config-injection.test.ts
@@ -77,11 +77,11 @@ describe("Athena prompt config injection placeholders", () => {
         expect(athenaConfig.prompt).toContain("<constraints>")
       })
 
-      it("#then places council setup after step 1 and removes first-action wording", () => {
+      it("#then places council setup after step 1 routing and removes first-action wording", () => {
         const prompt = athenaConfig.prompt ?? ""
         expect(prompt).not.toContain("CRITICAL: Council Setup (Your First Action)")
 
-        const step1Index = prompt.indexOf("Step 1: Understand the question and decide the route.")
+        const step1Index = prompt.indexOf("Step 1: Route the message.")
         const step2Index = prompt.indexOf("Step 2: Council setup (default flow before launch).")
 
         expect(step1Index).toBeGreaterThan(-1)
@@ -94,25 +94,29 @@ describe("Athena prompt config injection placeholders", () => {
         expect(prompt).not.toContain("Classification disambiguation rule:")
       })
 
-      it("#then requires question tool routing in self-answerable path", () => {
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).toContain("Athena MUST ask the user to choose direct answer vs council using the Question tool")
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).toContain("header: \"Routing\"")
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).toContain("label: \"Answer directly\"")
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).toContain("label: \"Consult council\"")
+      it("#then uses two-phase routing with 6 categories and pre-checks", () => {
+        const prompt = athenaConfig.prompt ?? ""
+        expect(prompt).toContain("FIRST INTERACTION")
+        expect(prompt).toContain("SUBSEQUENT INTERACTIONS")
+        expect(prompt).toContain("Pre-checks (override all categories)")
+        expect(prompt).toContain("Council-worthy & clear")
+        expect(prompt).toContain("Simple/factual")
+        expect(prompt).toContain("Wrong-agent")
       })
 
-      it("#then requires question tool clarifications in ambiguous council path", () => {
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).toContain("Use the Question tool (not open-ended free text) for 1-2 targeted clarifications")
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).toContain("Formulate the questions and options dynamically")
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).not.toContain("header: \"Output Type\"")
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).not.toContain("header: \"Scope\"")
+      it("#then uses targeted Question tool for ambiguous routing", () => {
+        const prompt = athenaConfig.prompt ?? ""
+        expect(prompt).toContain("Clarify with targeted Question tool")
+        expect(prompt).not.toContain("header: \"Output Type\"")
+        expect(prompt).not.toContain("header: \"Scope\"")
       })
 
       it("#then keeps intent classification anchored to step 3 wording", () => {
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).toContain("Step 3: Classify the question intent by primary objective.")
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).toContain("Then proceed to Step 2.")
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).not.toContain("Then classify intent and proceed to Step 2.")
-        expect(athenaConfig.prompt).not.toContain("Classify intent immediately and proceed to Step 2.")
+        const prompt = athenaConfig.prompt ?? ""
+        expect(prompt).toContain("Step 3: Classify the question intent by primary objective.")
+        expect(prompt).toContain("Proceed directly to Step 2")
+        expect(prompt).not.toContain("Then classify intent and proceed to Step 2.")
+        expect(prompt).not.toContain("Classify intent immediately and proceed to Step 2.")
       })
 
       it("#then excludes non-interactive mode branch from runtime prompt", () => {
diff --git a/src/agents/athena/guidance/audit.ts b/src/agents/athena/guidance/audit.ts
index b564fc86d..9a43bcd3c 100644
--- a/src/agents/athena/guidance/audit.ts
+++ b/src/agents/athena/guidance/audit.ts
@@ -140,6 +140,7 @@ Question({
     options: [
       { label: "Fix now (Atlas)", description: "Hand off to Atlas for direct implementation" },
       { label: "Create plan (Prometheus)", description: "Hand off to Prometheus for planning and phased execution" },
+      { label: "Cross-check with council", description: "Launch a new council session with this synthesis as context" },
       { label: "No action", description: "Review only - no delegation" }
     ],
     multiple: false
@@ -149,5 +150,6 @@ Question({
 6) Execute selected action:
 - Fix now (Atlas) -> switch_agent(agent="atlas") with ONLY selected findings
 - Create plan (Prometheus) -> switch_agent(agent="prometheus") with ONLY selected findings
+- Cross-check with council -> launch a new council session with the current synthesis as context. Restart from Step 2 (council setup) with the synthesis included in the prompt.
 - No action -> acknowledge and end
 </runtime_action_paths>`
diff --git a/src/agents/athena/guidance/create.ts b/src/agents/athena/guidance/create.ts
index 11a0fff9f..960578fa3 100644
--- a/src/agents/athena/guidance/create.ts
+++ b/src/agents/athena/guidance/create.ts
@@ -45,7 +45,7 @@ Question({
       { label: "Implement selected creation (Sisyphus ultrawork)", description: "Implementation with Sisyphus using ultrawork mode" },
       { label: "Write selected creation to document", description: "Save to .sisyphus/athena/notes/ (named after this council session)" },
       { label: "Ask follow-up", description: "Ask another creation-focused question" },
-      { label: "Done", description: "No further action needed" }
+      { label: "Cross-check with council", description: "Launch a new council session with this synthesis as context" },
     ],
     multiple: false
   }]
@@ -57,5 +57,5 @@ Question({
 - Implement selected creation (Sisyphus ultrawork) -> switch_agent(agent="sisyphus") and prefix handoff context with "ultrawork ", including only selected creation(s).
 - Write selected creation to document -> write the document to the ".sisyphus/athena/notes/" directory using the council session name from the council_finalize archive_dir, then report the exact path.
 - Ask follow-up -> ask user then restart the council workflow from Step 3 (intent classification).
-- Done -> acknowledge and end.
+- Cross-check with council -> launch a new council session with the current synthesis as context. Restart from Step 2 (council setup) with the synthesis included in the prompt.
 </runtime_action_paths>`
diff --git a/src/agents/athena/guidance/diagnose.ts b/src/agents/athena/guidance/diagnose.ts
index 61c6cfa59..8d633f773 100644
--- a/src/agents/athena/guidance/diagnose.ts
+++ b/src/agents/athena/guidance/diagnose.ts
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ Question({
       { label: "Implement (Hephaestus)", description: "Hand off to Hephaestus for direct implementation" },
       { label: "Implement (Sisyphus)", description: "Hand off to Sisyphus for implementation" },
       { label: "Implement (Sisyphus ultrawork)", description: "Hand off to Sisyphus with ultrawork mode" },
+      { label: "Cross-check with council", description: "Launch a new council session with this synthesis as context" },
       { label: "No action", description: "Review only - no delegation" }
     ],
     multiple: false
@@ -43,5 +44,6 @@ Question({
 - Implement (Hephaestus) -> switch_agent(agent="hephaestus")
 - Implement (Sisyphus) -> switch_agent(agent="sisyphus")
 - Implement (Sisyphus ultrawork) -> switch_agent(agent="sisyphus") and prefix the handoff context with "ultrawork "
+- Cross-check with council -> launch a new council session with the current synthesis as context. Restart from Step 2 (council setup) with the synthesis included in the prompt.
 - No action -> acknowledge and end
 </runtime_action_paths>`
diff --git a/src/agents/athena/guidance/evaluate.ts b/src/agents/athena/guidance/evaluate.ts
index 55011441c..0344810f1 100644
--- a/src/agents/athena/guidance/evaluate.ts
+++ b/src/agents/athena/guidance/evaluate.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Question({
       { label: "Adopt option -> implement now", description: "Implement a selected option immediately" },
       { label: "Write to document", description: "Save to .sisyphus/athena/notes/ (named after this council session)" },
       { label: "Ask follow-up", description: "Ask another comparison question" },
-      { label: "Done", description: "No further action needed" }
+      { label: "Cross-check with council", description: "Launch a new council session with this synthesis as context" },
     ],
     multiple: false
   }]
@@ -58,5 +58,5 @@ Question({
 - Adopt option -> implement now + Sisyphus ultrawork -> switch_agent(agent="sisyphus") and prefix handoff context with "ultrawork ".
 - Write to document -> write the document to the ".sisyphus/athena/notes/" directory using the council session name from the council_finalize archive_dir, then report the exact path.
 - Ask follow-up -> ask user then restart the council workflow from Step 3 (intent classification).
-- Done -> acknowledge and end.
+- Cross-check with council -> launch a new council session with the current synthesis as context. Restart from Step 2 (council setup) with the synthesis included in the prompt.
 </runtime_action_paths>`
diff --git a/src/agents/athena/guidance/explain.ts b/src/agents/athena/guidance/explain.ts
index 24788eebc..49bc1f6b9 100644
--- a/src/agents/athena/guidance/explain.ts
+++ b/src/agents/athena/guidance/explain.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Question({
       { label: "Convert to action plan (Prometheus)", description: "Turn insights into a phased plan" },
       { label: "Write to document", description: "Save to .sisyphus/athena/notes/ (named after this council session)" },
       { label: "Ask follow-up", description: "Ask another explanatory question" },
-      { label: "Done", description: "No further action needed" }
+      { label: "Cross-check with council", description: "Launch a new council session with this synthesis as context" },
     ],
     multiple: false
   }]
@@ -29,5 +29,5 @@ Question({
 - Convert to action plan (Prometheus) -> switch_agent(agent="prometheus") with synthesized explanation and target outcome.
 - Write to document -> write the document to the ".sisyphus/athena/notes/" directory using the council session name from the council_finalize archive_dir, then report the exact path.
 - Ask follow-up -> ask user then restart the council workflow from Step 3 (intent classification).
-- Done -> acknowledge and end.
+- Cross-check with council -> launch a new council session with the current synthesis as context. Restart from Step 2 (council setup) with the synthesis included in the prompt.
 </runtime_action_paths>`
diff --git a/src/agents/athena/guidance/freeform.ts b/src/agents/athena/guidance/freeform.ts
index 5b708479c..83b79266c 100644
--- a/src/agents/athena/guidance/freeform.ts
+++ b/src/agents/athena/guidance/freeform.ts
@@ -19,7 +19,7 @@ Question({
       { label: "Implement now", description: "Implement directly from this result" },
       { label: "Write to document", description: "Save to .sisyphus/athena/notes/ (named after this council session)" },
       { label: "Ask follow-up", description: "Ask another question" },
-      { label: "Done", description: "No further action needed" }
+      { label: "Cross-check with council", description: "Launch a new council session with this synthesis as context" },
     ],
     multiple: false
   }]
@@ -46,5 +46,5 @@ Question({
 - Implement now + Sisyphus ultrawork -> switch_agent(agent="sisyphus") and prefix handoff context with "ultrawork ".
 - Write to document -> write the document to the ".sisyphus/athena/notes/" directory using the council session name from the council_finalize archive_dir, then report the exact path.
 - Ask follow-up -> ask user then restart the council workflow from Step 3 (intent classification).
-- Done -> acknowledge and end.
+- Cross-check with council -> launch a new council session with the current synthesis as context. Restart from Step 2 (council setup) with the synthesis included in the prompt.
 </runtime_action_paths>`
diff --git a/src/agents/athena/guidance/perspectives.ts b/src/agents/athena/guidance/perspectives.ts
index fe63eeeb9..968743984 100644
--- a/src/agents/athena/guidance/perspectives.ts
+++ b/src/agents/athena/guidance/perspectives.ts
@@ -21,7 +21,7 @@ Question({
       { label: "Commit to stance -> implement now", description: "Implement based on a chosen stance immediately" },
       { label: "Write to document", description: "Save to .sisyphus/athena/notes/ (named after this council session)" },
       { label: "Ask follow-up", description: "Ask another perspective question" },
-      { label: "Done", description: "No further action needed" }
+      { label: "Cross-check with council", description: "Launch a new council session with this synthesis as context" },
     ],
     multiple: false
   }]
@@ -60,5 +60,5 @@ Question({
 - Commit to stance -> implement now + Sisyphus ultrawork -> switch_agent(agent="sisyphus") and prefix handoff context with "ultrawork ".
 - Write to document -> write the document to the ".sisyphus/athena/notes/" directory using the council session name from the council_finalize archive_dir, then report the exact path.
 - Ask follow-up -> ask user then restart the council workflow from Step 3 (intent classification).
-- Done -> acknowledge and end.
+- Cross-check with council -> launch a new council session with the current synthesis as context. Restart from Step 2 (council setup) with the synthesis included in the prompt.
 </runtime_action_paths>`
diff --git a/src/agents/athena/guidance/plan.ts b/src/agents/athena/guidance/plan.ts
index 44a61c0a5..3cc8c3d12 100644
--- a/src/agents/athena/guidance/plan.ts
+++ b/src/agents/athena/guidance/plan.ts
@@ -20,6 +20,7 @@ Question({
       { label: "Plan selected phase (Prometheus)", description: "Choose one phase for Prometheus to plan. Run /start-work to execute." },
       { label: "Write to document", description: "Save to .sisyphus/athena/notes/ (named after this council session)" },
       { label: "Ask follow-up", description: "Ask another planning question" },
+      { label: "Cross-check with council", description: "Launch a new council session with this synthesis as context" },
       { label: "Done", description: "No further action needed" }
     ],
     multiple: false
@@ -44,5 +45,6 @@ Question({
 - Plan selected phase (Prometheus) -> switch_agent(agent="prometheus") with only the selected phase plus dependencies, framed as work to be planned.
 - Write to document -> write the document to the ".sisyphus/athena/notes/" directory using the council session name from the council_finalize archive_dir, then report the exact path to the user.
 - Ask follow-up -> ask user then restart the council workflow from Step 3 (intent classification).
+- Cross-check with council -> launch a new council session with the current synthesis as context. Restart from Step 2 (council setup) with the synthesis included in the prompt.
 - Done -> acknowledge and end.
 </runtime_action_paths>`