diff --git a/gitgalaxy/standards/language_standards/_shared_patterns.py b/gitgalaxy/standards/language_standards/_shared_patterns.py
index 7b232b694..5bcb63a50 100644
--- a/gitgalaxy/standards/language_standards/_shared_patterns.py
+++ b/gitgalaxy/standards/language_standards/_shared_patterns.py
@@ -43,7 +43,26 @@
     r"للقيام به|لاحقا|يجب عمله"  # Arabic
     r")"
 )
-GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT = re.compile(f"{_SPACED_PLANNED}|{_DENSE_PLANNED}", re.I)
+# #2537: `-` is a regex word boundary, so the bare `\b(...)\b` alternations
+# matched debt keywords EMBEDDED INSIDE hyphenated code identifiers -- COBOL
+# data items (`HACK-LEVEL`, `BUG-COUNT`), COBOL/Lisp-family paragraph and
+# symbol names (`PROBE-TODO`, `probe-todo`), css classes (`.bug-icon`) --
+# inflating tech-debt scoring from ordinary code in exactly the hyphenated-
+# identifier ecosystems (COBOL/JCL, Lisp, css) where debt measurement matters
+# most. Python's `HACK_LEVEL` was inert only by tokenization luck (`_` is a
+# word char, so `\bHACK\b` can't fire mid-identifier).
+# THE GUARD: refuse a match glued to a hyphen-plus-alphanumeric on either
+# side -- the shape of an identifier CONTINUING through the hyphen. Real
+# comment markers keep counting, including hyphen-adjacent ones whose
+# neighbor char is NOT alphanumeric: `-- TODO x` (Ada/Haskell/SQL comments),
+# a glued `--TODO`, or a trailing `TODO--` (the char beside the hyphen is
+# another `-`, not a letter/digit). Deliberately scoped to the SPACED
+# (Latin/Cyrillic) alternation only: the DENSE CJK/RTL alternation has no
+# hyphenated-identifier idiom to guard against.
+_HYPHEN_IDENT_PRE = r"(?<![A-Za-z0-9]-)"
+_HYPHEN_IDENT_POST = r"(?!-[A-Za-z0-9])"
+
+GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT = re.compile(f"{_HYPHEN_IDENT_PRE}{_SPACED_PLANNED}{_HYPHEN_IDENT_POST}|{_DENSE_PLANNED}", re.I)
 
 
 # --- 2. FRAGILE DEBT (Hacks, FIXMEs, Code Smells) ---
@@ -70,7 +89,8 @@
     r"مؤقت|إصلاح|ترقيع"  # Arabic (Tarqie = Patching/Hacking)
     r")"
 )
-GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT = re.compile(f"{_SPACED_FRAGILE}|{_DENSE_FRAGILE}", re.I)
+# #2537: same hyphenated-identifier guard as GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT above.
+GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT = re.compile(f"{_HYPHEN_IDENT_PRE}{_SPACED_FRAGILE}{_HYPHEN_IDENT_POST}|{_DENSE_FRAGILE}", re.I)
 
 
 # --- 3. AI / LLM & ML SDK DETECTION (split by SIGNAL_SCHEMA category) ---
diff --git a/tests/core_engine/test_language_standards_strict.py b/tests/core_engine/test_language_standards_strict.py
index 861f70964..d90180905 100644
--- a/tests/core_engine/test_language_standards_strict.py
+++ b/tests/core_engine/test_language_standards_strict.py
@@ -205,3 +205,63 @@ def test_spec_exposure_adjacent_quantifier_redos_sweep(language, old_pattern_tex
         assert spec_exposure.search(extra_positive), (
             f"{language}: lost its own extra alternative ({extra_positive!r}) while bounding the fix"
         )
+
+
+# ==============================================================================
+# TEST 9: HYPHENATED-IDENTIFIER DEBT LEAK (#2537)
+# The two GLOBAL debt patterns are shared by every language block, so this
+# cross-language regression lives here rather than in any one per-language
+# strict file (cobol/scheme carry their own end-to-end-shaped repros too).
+# ==============================================================================
+def test_global_debt_patterns_ignore_hyphenated_identifiers():
+    """#2537: `-` is a regex word boundary, so the unguarded `\\b(...)\\b`
+    alternations matched debt keywords EMBEDDED INSIDE hyphenated code
+    identifiers (COBOL `HACK-LEVEL`, Lisp `probe-todo`, css `.bug-icon`),
+    inflating tech-debt scoring from ordinary code. The guard must refuse a
+    match glued to hyphen-plus-alphanumeric on either side while keeping
+    every real comment-marker shape -- including hyphen-ADJACENT ones whose
+    neighbor char is not alphanumeric (`-- TODO`, `--TODO`, `TODO--`)."""
+    from gitgalaxy.standards.language_standards._shared_patterns import (
+        GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT,
+        GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT,
+    )
+
+    # Identifier-embedded shapes: must NOT count.
+    for pattern, text in (
+        (GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT, "77 HACK-LEVEL PIC 9."),  # COBOL data item
+        (GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT, "DISPLAY HACK-LEVEL."),  # ...and its reference
+        (GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT, "MOVE 0 TO WS-BUG-COUNT."),  # both-sides glued
+        (GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT, ".bug-icon { color: red; }"),  # css class
+        (GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, "       PROBE-TODO."),  # COBOL paragraph name
+        (GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, "(define (probe-todo plan)"),  # Lisp-family symbol
+        (GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, "see the todo-list section"),  # kebab prose
+    ):
+        assert not pattern.search(text), f"identifier-embedded debt keyword counted: {text!r}"
+
+    # Real debt markers: must still count, exactly once each.
+    for pattern, text in (
+        (GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT, "      * HACK: shortcut kept deliberately"),  # COBOL comment
+        (GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT, ";; HACK: shortcut"),  # Lisp comment
+        (GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT, "# FIXME handle overflow"),
+        (GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, "      * TODO: fill in the probe body later"),
+        (GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, "-- TODO wire this up"),  # Ada/Haskell/SQL comment
+        (GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, "--TODO glued to the comment marker"),
+        (GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, "TODO-- reversed gluing"),
+        (GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, "@todo document this"),
+        (GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, "待办事项"),  # DENSE (CJK) path unguarded
+    ):
+        assert len(pattern.findall(text)) == 1, f"real debt marker lost or duplicated: {text!r}"
+
+    # The guards add fixed-width lookarounds only (no new quantifiers) -- prove
+    # both patterns stay immune to a hyphen-heavy adversarial payload anyway.
+    from pathlib import Path as _P
+    import sys as _sys
+
+    _langs_dir = str(_P(__file__).resolve().parent.parent / "extraction" / "languages")
+    if _langs_dir not in _sys.path:
+        _sys.path.insert(0, _langs_dir)
+    from _strict_harness import assert_redos_immune as _immune  # type: ignore
+
+    payload = "TOD-" * 25000 + "TODO-"
+    _immune(GLOBAL_PLANNED_DEBT, payload, timeout_sec=3.0)
+    _immune(GLOBAL_FRAGILE_DEBT, "HAC-" * 25000 + "HACK-", timeout_sec=3.0)
diff --git a/tests/extraction/languages/test_cobol_strict.py b/tests/extraction/languages/test_cobol_strict.py
index 86c346d36..ad7b8835a 100644
--- a/tests/extraction/languages/test_cobol_strict.py
+++ b/tests/extraction/languages/test_cobol_strict.py
@@ -110,7 +110,6 @@ def test_cobol_ghost_satellite_prevention():
     ("regex_execution", "INSPECT X TALLYING Y.", "MOVE X TO Y."),
     ("time_date_logic", "ACCEPT WS-DATE FROM DATE.", "MOVE X TO Y."),
     ("ipc_rpc_bridges", "CALL 'SUBPROG' USING X.", "MOVE X TO Y."),
-
     # --- DEEP ADVERSARIAL CASES ---
     # args: multiline parsing and commas
     ("args", "USING \n BY REFERENCE WS-A \n BY CONTENT WS-B", "MOVE X TO Y."),
@@ -118,28 +117,22 @@ def test_cobol_ghost_satellite_prevention():
     ("args", "USING WS-A, WS-B, WS-C", "MOVE X TO Y."),
     ("args", "USING \n WS-A \n WS-B \n WS-C", "MOVE X TO Y."),
     ("args", "USING BY VALUE WS-A", "MOVE X TO Y."),
-
     # branch: edge cases, multi-word, line-wrapped
     ("branch", "DEPENDING \n ON", "MOVE X TO Y."),
     ("branch", "ON \n SIZE ERROR", "MOVE X TO Y."),
     ("branch", "INVALID \n KEY", "MOVE X TO Y."),
     ("branch", "AT \n END", "MOVE X TO Y."),
     ("branch", "NOT AT END", None),
-
     # func_start: reserved words shouldn't match, edge margins
     ("func_start", "       MY-FUNC SECTION 12.", "       DIVISION."),
     ("func_start", "       1234-VALID-PARA.", "       SECTION."),
     ("func_start", "       SOME-PARA.", "       PROCEDURE DIVISION."),
     ("func_start", "000100 VALID-FUNC-WITH-MARGIN.", "000100 WORKING-STORAGE SECTION."),
     ("func_start", "      -VALID-WITH-DASH.", "      *COMMENT-SHOULD-NOT-MATCH."),
-
     # class_start: trailing clauses, optional names
     ("class_start", "       PROGRAM-ID. MYPROG IS INITIAL.", "       100-PROCESS-RECORDS SECTION."),
     ("class_start", "       CLASS-ID. FOO INHERITS BASE.", "       01 WS-DATA."),
-
-
     ("class_start", "000100 PROGRAM-ID. P1.", "       PROCEDURE DIVISION."),
-
     # structural_boundaries:
     ("structural_boundaries", "PROCEDURE DIVISION", "MOVE X TO Y."),
     ("structural_boundaries", "XML PARSE", "MOVE X TO Y."),
@@ -149,7 +142,6 @@ def test_cobol_ghost_satellite_prevention():
 ]
 
 
-
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("signature,positive,negative", _COBOL_SIMPLE_CASES)
 def test_cobol_signature_positive_and_negative(signature, positive, negative):
     pattern = COBOL_RULES[signature]
@@ -412,3 +404,30 @@ def test_cobol_redos_immunity_sweep():
     assert COBOL_RULES["func_start"].search("       100-PROCESS-RECORDS SECTION.")
     assert COBOL_RULES["class_start"].search("       PROGRAM-ID. MYPROG.")
     assert COBOL_RULES["time_date_logic"].search("ACCEPT WS-DATE FROM DATE.")
+
+
+def test_cobol_debt_rules_ignore_hyphenated_identifiers_regression():
+    """#2537: cobol's debt rules (the shared GLOBAL patterns) counted debt
+    keywords embedded inside hyphenated identifiers -- the #1096 control
+    corpus's `77 HACK-LEVEL PIC 9.` data item recorded fragile_debt from
+    plain code and the `PROBE-TODO.` paragraph name recorded planned_debt.
+    Real `* HACK:` / `* TODO:` comment markers must keep counting."""
+    fragile = COBOL_RULES["fragile_debt"]
+    planned = COBOL_RULES["planned_debt"]
+
+    corpus_shaped = (
+        "      * Keyword Rosetta control shell: cobol / c\n"
+        "       77 HACK-LEVEL PIC 9.\n"
+        "       PROBE-DEBT.\n"
+        "      * HACK: shortcut kept deliberately for the rosetta corpus\n"
+        "           DISPLAY HACK-LEVEL.\n"
+        "       PROBE-TODO.\n"
+        "      * TODO: fill in the probe body later\n"
+        "           DISPLAY 'PLANNED'.\n"
+    )
+    assert len(fragile.findall(corpus_shaped)) == 1, "fragile_debt must count ONLY the * HACK: comment"
+    assert len(planned.findall(corpus_shaped)) == 1, "planned_debt must count ONLY the * TODO: comment"
+
+    # Realistic mainframe identifier shapes from #2537's report.
+    for text in ("MOVE 1 TO BUG-COUNT.", "05 WS-FIX-FLAG PIC X.", "ADD 1 TO HACK-TOTAL."):
+        assert not fragile.search(text), f"fragile_debt matched inside identifier: {text!r}"
diff --git a/tests/extraction/languages/test_scheme_strict.py b/tests/extraction/languages/test_scheme_strict.py
index 8fa2d4dd9..745ad6d0b 100644
--- a/tests/extraction/languages/test_scheme_strict.py
+++ b/tests/extraction/languages/test_scheme_strict.py
@@ -324,6 +324,7 @@ def test_scheme_redos_immunity_sweep():
     assert SCHEME_RULES["class_start"].search("(define-record-type <point> (make-point x y) point?)")
     assert SCHEME_RULES["globals"].search("(define default->value 5)")
 
+
 _SCHEME_DEEP_CASES = [
     # branch
     ("branch", "(\n  if a b c)", "xif"),
@@ -331,27 +332,23 @@ def test_scheme_redos_immunity_sweep():
     ("branch", "(cond\n (else 1))", "conditional"),
     ("branch", "(when (and a b))", "awhen"),
     ("branch", "unless", "runless"),
-
     # args
     ("args", "(define (foo \n x \n y)\n  ...)", "(define foo 5)"),
     ("args", "(define (foo))", "(define (foo"),
     ("args", "(define (foo . rest) ...)", "(define foo (lambda (x) x))"),
     ("args", "(define (foo!x y))", "(define foo!x)"),
     ("args", "(define (a-b-c d e))", "(+ 1 2)"),
-
     # func_start
     ("func_start", "(define (call/cc-wrapper x) ...)", "(define foo 5)"),
     ("func_start", "(\n  define (foo x))", "(define-syntax foo)"),
     ("func_start", "(define (* a b) ...)", None),
     ("func_start", "(define (1+ x) x)", "(define)"),
-    ("func_start", "(define (foo))", "define (foo)"), # space instead of (
-
+    ("func_start", "(define (foo))", "define (foo)"),  # space instead of (
     # class_start
     ("class_start", "(define-record-type point)", "(define-record-type)"),
     ("class_start", "(\n  define-record-type <point>)", "(define (define-record-type x))"),
     ("class_start", "(define-record-type (point x y))", "(+ 1 2)"),
     ("class_start", "(define-record-type point\n  (make-point))", "define-record-type x"),
-
     # structural_boundaries
     ("structural_boundaries", "(let ((x 1)) x)", "let-syntax"),
     ("structural_boundaries", "(let* ((x 1)) x)", "foo-let"),
@@ -360,6 +357,7 @@ def test_scheme_redos_immunity_sweep():
     ("structural_boundaries", "(do ((i 0 (+ i 1))) ((= i 5)) i)", "redo"),
 ]
 
+
 @pytest.mark.parametrize("signature,positive,negative", _SCHEME_DEEP_CASES)
 def test_scheme_deep_cases(signature, positive, negative):
     pattern = SCHEME_RULES[signature]
@@ -367,3 +365,20 @@ def test_scheme_deep_cases(signature, positive, negative):
     assert pattern.search(positive), f"Deep positive failed for {signature}: {positive!r}"
     if negative:
         assert not pattern.search(negative), f"Deep negative failed for {signature}: {negative!r}"
+
+
+def test_scheme_debt_rules_ignore_hyphenated_symbols_regression():
+    """#2537: scheme reproduces the hyphenated-identifier debt leak -- a
+    `(define (probe-todo ...))` symbol recorded planned_debt alongside the
+    real `;; TODO:` comment (the #1096 control corpus measured planned_debt
+    2 for one planted marker). Kebab-case is THE Lisp-family naming
+    convention, so ordinary symbols must never feed debt scoring."""
+    planned = SCHEME_RULES["planned_debt"]
+    fragile = SCHEME_RULES["fragile_debt"]
+
+    corpus_shaped = "(define (probe-todo plan)\n  ;; TODO: fill in the probe body later\n  'planned)\n"
+    assert len(planned.findall(corpus_shaped)) == 1, "planned_debt must count ONLY the ;; TODO: comment"
+
+    for text in ("(fix-me-later x)", "(define bug-tracker '())", "(hack-level 9)"):
+        assert not fragile.search(text), f"fragile_debt matched inside symbol: {text!r}"
+        assert not planned.search(text), f"planned_debt matched inside symbol: {text!r}"
diff --git a/tests/golden_master_audit.json b/tests/golden_master_audit.json
index 7053962f7..ef1020eea 100644
--- a/tests/golden_master_audit.json
+++ b/tests/golden_master_audit.json
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@
                 "pyyaml": false
             },
             "Target Root Name": "data",
-            "Absolute Project Path": "/home/joe/nyx_projects/language-crucible/data",
-            "Analysis ISO Timestamp": "2026-08-31T20:55:44.403298+00:00",
-            "Total Scan Duration": "54.93 seconds"
+            "Absolute Project Path": "/srv/storage_16tb/projects/gitgalaxy/language-crucible/data",
+            "Analysis ISO Timestamp": "2026-08-31T22:52:15.971169+00:00",
+            "Total Scan Duration": "20.47 seconds"
         },
         "Source Control Footprint (Immutable Anchor)": {
             "Active Branch": "HEAD",
             "Commit Hash (SHA-1)": "77bc85ecb8bb2fa8331b83f2bd348ec735df66e3",
-            "Remote Origin URL": "https://github.com/squid-protocol/language-crucible",
+            "Remote Origin URL": "https://github.com/squid-protocol/language-crucible.git",
             "Last Code Integration Date": "2026-08-30T08:52:00-04:00"
         }
     },
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
         "health": {
             "avg_cognitive_load": 29.79,
             "avg_safety_score": 47.68,
-            "avg_tech_debt": 32.24,
+            "avg_tech_debt": 32.218,
             "avg_documentation": 28.806
         },
         "composition": {
@@ -3284,7 +3284,7 @@
                 "avg_exposures": {
                     "cognitive_load": 2.61,
                     "safety_score": 0.0,
-                    "tech_debt": 13.66,
+                    "tech_debt": 12.64,
                     "verification": 1.15,
                     "api_exposure": 5.51,
                     "concurrency": 0.0,
@@ -3531,7 +3531,7 @@
                 "avg_exposures": {
                     "cognitive_load": 35.61,
                     "safety_score": 37.33,
-                    "tech_debt": 14.96,
+                    "tech_debt": 12.57,
                     "verification": 12.63,
                     "api_exposure": 2.18,
                     "concurrency": 0.0,
@@ -3911,7 +3911,7 @@
                 "avg_exposures": {
                     "cognitive_load": 36.28,
                     "safety_score": 37.92,
-                    "tech_debt": 31.78,
+                    "tech_debt": 31.4,
                     "verification": 30.55,
                     "api_exposure": 1.17,
                     "concurrency": 0.0,
@@ -4405,7 +4405,7 @@
                 "avg_exposures": {
                     "cognitive_load": 19.67,
                     "safety_score": 10.54,
-                    "tech_debt": 35.01,
+                    "tech_debt": 34.81,
                     "verification": 35.7,
                     "api_exposure": 0.51,
                     "concurrency": 11.33,
@@ -198687,7 +198687,7 @@
             "Average Risk Exposures": {
                 "Cognitive Load Exposure": "19.67%",
                 "Error & Exception Exposure": "10.54%",
-                "Tech Debt Exposure": "35.01%",
+                "Tech Debt Exposure": "34.81%",
                 "Testing Exposure": "35.7%",
                 "API Exposure": "0.51%",
                 "Concurrency Exposure": "11.33%",
@@ -209340,7 +209340,7 @@
                     "4. Vulnerability & Risk Exposures": {
                         "Cognitive Load Exposure": "15.85%",
                         "Error & Exception Exposure": "16.07%",
-                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "43.64%",
+                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "42.23%",
                         "Testing Exposure": "2.47%",
                         "API Exposure": "0.13%",
                         "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -212372,7 +212372,7 @@
                         "Module Dependencies (Imports)": 13,
                         "Authorship Metadata": 0,
                         "Planned Work (TODOs)": 16,
-                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 1,
+                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 0,
                         "Specification Traceability Tags": 0,
                         "Server-Side Rendering Contexts": 0,
                         "Event Publishers / Emitters": 0,
@@ -294894,7 +294894,7 @@
             "Average Risk Exposures": {
                 "Cognitive Load Exposure": "36.28%",
                 "Error & Exception Exposure": "37.92%",
-                "Tech Debt Exposure": "31.78%",
+                "Tech Debt Exposure": "31.4%",
                 "Testing Exposure": "30.55%",
                 "API Exposure": "1.17%",
                 "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -297609,7 +297609,7 @@
                     "4. Vulnerability & Risk Exposures": {
                         "Cognitive Load Exposure": "94.5%",
                         "Error & Exception Exposure": "89.82%",
-                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "88.35%",
+                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "61.61%",
                         "Testing Exposure": "80.0%",
                         "API Exposure": "1.66%",
                         "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -298661,7 +298661,7 @@
                         "Module Dependencies (Imports)": 56,
                         "Authorship Metadata": 0,
                         "Planned Work (TODOs)": 0,
-                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 1,
+                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 0,
                         "Specification Traceability Tags": 0,
                         "Server-Side Rendering Contexts": 0,
                         "Event Publishers / Emitters": 0,
@@ -716424,7 +716424,7 @@
             "Average Risk Exposures": {
                 "Cognitive Load Exposure": "35.61%",
                 "Error & Exception Exposure": "37.33%",
-                "Tech Debt Exposure": "14.96%",
+                "Tech Debt Exposure": "12.57%",
                 "Testing Exposure": "12.63%",
                 "API Exposure": "2.18%",
                 "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -717359,7 +717359,7 @@
                     "4. Vulnerability & Risk Exposures": {
                         "Cognitive Load Exposure": "100.0%",
                         "Error & Exception Exposure": "26.81%",
-                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "45.69%",
+                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "12.19%",
                         "Testing Exposure": "80.0%",
                         "API Exposure": "0.14%",
                         "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -717451,7 +717451,7 @@
                         "Module Dependencies (Imports)": 2,
                         "Authorship Metadata": 0,
                         "Planned Work (TODOs)": 1,
-                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 4,
+                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 0,
                         "Specification Traceability Tags": 0,
                         "Server-Side Rendering Contexts": 0,
                         "Event Publishers / Emitters": 0,
@@ -867552,7 +867552,7 @@
             "Average Risk Exposures": {
                 "Cognitive Load Exposure": "2.61%",
                 "Error & Exception Exposure": "0.0%",
-                "Tech Debt Exposure": "13.66%",
+                "Tech Debt Exposure": "12.64%",
                 "Testing Exposure": "1.15%",
                 "API Exposure": "5.51%",
                 "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -867760,7 +867760,7 @@
                     "4. Vulnerability & Risk Exposures": {
                         "Cognitive Load Exposure": "5.21%",
                         "Error & Exception Exposure": "0.0%",
-                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "27.32%",
+                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "25.29%",
                         "Testing Exposure": "2.3%",
                         "API Exposure": "11.01%",
                         "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -867822,7 +867822,7 @@
                         "Module Dependencies (Imports)": 0,
                         "Authorship Metadata": 1,
                         "Planned Work (TODOs)": 1,
-                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 12,
+                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 11,
                         "Specification Traceability Tags": 0,
                         "Server-Side Rendering Contexts": 0,
                         "Event Publishers / Emitters": 0,
diff --git a/tests/golden_master_zero_dep_audit.json b/tests/golden_master_zero_dep_audit.json
index a5214e3df..9983c449a 100644
--- a/tests/golden_master_zero_dep_audit.json
+++ b/tests/golden_master_zero_dep_audit.json
@@ -11,14 +11,14 @@
                 "pyyaml": false
             },
             "Target Root Name": "data",
-            "Absolute Project Path": "/home/joe/nyx_projects/language-crucible/data",
-            "Analysis ISO Timestamp": "2026-08-31T20:57:30.709225+00:00",
-            "Total Scan Duration": "49.87 seconds"
+            "Absolute Project Path": "/srv/storage_16tb/projects/gitgalaxy/language-crucible/data",
+            "Analysis ISO Timestamp": "2026-08-31T22:52:40.726425+00:00",
+            "Total Scan Duration": "18.44 seconds"
         },
         "Source Control Footprint (Immutable Anchor)": {
             "Active Branch": "HEAD",
             "Commit Hash (SHA-1)": "77bc85ecb8bb2fa8331b83f2bd348ec735df66e3",
-            "Remote Origin URL": "https://github.com/squid-protocol/language-crucible",
+            "Remote Origin URL": "https://github.com/squid-protocol/language-crucible.git",
             "Last Code Integration Date": "2026-08-30T08:52:00-04:00"
         }
     },
@@ -238,7 +238,7 @@
         "health": {
             "avg_cognitive_load": 29.79,
             "avg_safety_score": 47.68,
-            "avg_tech_debt": 32.24,
+            "avg_tech_debt": 32.218,
             "avg_documentation": 28.806
         },
         "composition": {
@@ -3284,7 +3284,7 @@
                 "avg_exposures": {
                     "cognitive_load": 2.61,
                     "safety_score": 0.0,
-                    "tech_debt": 13.66,
+                    "tech_debt": 12.64,
                     "verification": 1.15,
                     "api_exposure": 5.51,
                     "concurrency": 0.0,
@@ -3531,7 +3531,7 @@
                 "avg_exposures": {
                     "cognitive_load": 35.61,
                     "safety_score": 37.33,
-                    "tech_debt": 14.96,
+                    "tech_debt": 12.57,
                     "verification": 12.63,
                     "api_exposure": 2.18,
                     "concurrency": 0.0,
@@ -3911,7 +3911,7 @@
                 "avg_exposures": {
                     "cognitive_load": 36.28,
                     "safety_score": 37.92,
-                    "tech_debt": 31.78,
+                    "tech_debt": 31.4,
                     "verification": 30.55,
                     "api_exposure": 1.17,
                     "concurrency": 0.0,
@@ -4405,7 +4405,7 @@
                 "avg_exposures": {
                     "cognitive_load": 19.67,
                     "safety_score": 10.54,
-                    "tech_debt": 35.01,
+                    "tech_debt": 34.81,
                     "verification": 35.7,
                     "api_exposure": 0.51,
                     "concurrency": 11.33,
@@ -198687,7 +198687,7 @@
             "Average Risk Exposures": {
                 "Cognitive Load Exposure": "19.67%",
                 "Error & Exception Exposure": "10.54%",
-                "Tech Debt Exposure": "35.01%",
+                "Tech Debt Exposure": "34.81%",
                 "Testing Exposure": "35.7%",
                 "API Exposure": "0.51%",
                 "Concurrency Exposure": "11.33%",
@@ -209340,7 +209340,7 @@
                     "4. Vulnerability & Risk Exposures": {
                         "Cognitive Load Exposure": "15.85%",
                         "Error & Exception Exposure": "16.07%",
-                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "43.64%",
+                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "42.23%",
                         "Testing Exposure": "2.47%",
                         "API Exposure": "0.13%",
                         "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -212372,7 +212372,7 @@
                         "Module Dependencies (Imports)": 13,
                         "Authorship Metadata": 0,
                         "Planned Work (TODOs)": 16,
-                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 1,
+                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 0,
                         "Specification Traceability Tags": 0,
                         "Server-Side Rendering Contexts": 0,
                         "Event Publishers / Emitters": 0,
@@ -294894,7 +294894,7 @@
             "Average Risk Exposures": {
                 "Cognitive Load Exposure": "36.28%",
                 "Error & Exception Exposure": "37.92%",
-                "Tech Debt Exposure": "31.78%",
+                "Tech Debt Exposure": "31.4%",
                 "Testing Exposure": "30.55%",
                 "API Exposure": "1.17%",
                 "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -297609,7 +297609,7 @@
                     "4. Vulnerability & Risk Exposures": {
                         "Cognitive Load Exposure": "94.5%",
                         "Error & Exception Exposure": "89.82%",
-                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "88.35%",
+                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "61.61%",
                         "Testing Exposure": "80.0%",
                         "API Exposure": "1.66%",
                         "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -298661,7 +298661,7 @@
                         "Module Dependencies (Imports)": 56,
                         "Authorship Metadata": 0,
                         "Planned Work (TODOs)": 0,
-                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 1,
+                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 0,
                         "Specification Traceability Tags": 0,
                         "Server-Side Rendering Contexts": 0,
                         "Event Publishers / Emitters": 0,
@@ -716424,7 +716424,7 @@
             "Average Risk Exposures": {
                 "Cognitive Load Exposure": "35.61%",
                 "Error & Exception Exposure": "37.33%",
-                "Tech Debt Exposure": "14.96%",
+                "Tech Debt Exposure": "12.57%",
                 "Testing Exposure": "12.63%",
                 "API Exposure": "2.18%",
                 "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -717359,7 +717359,7 @@
                     "4. Vulnerability & Risk Exposures": {
                         "Cognitive Load Exposure": "100.0%",
                         "Error & Exception Exposure": "26.81%",
-                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "45.69%",
+                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "12.19%",
                         "Testing Exposure": "80.0%",
                         "API Exposure": "0.14%",
                         "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -717451,7 +717451,7 @@
                         "Module Dependencies (Imports)": 2,
                         "Authorship Metadata": 0,
                         "Planned Work (TODOs)": 1,
-                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 4,
+                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 0,
                         "Specification Traceability Tags": 0,
                         "Server-Side Rendering Contexts": 0,
                         "Event Publishers / Emitters": 0,
@@ -867552,7 +867552,7 @@
             "Average Risk Exposures": {
                 "Cognitive Load Exposure": "2.61%",
                 "Error & Exception Exposure": "0.0%",
-                "Tech Debt Exposure": "13.66%",
+                "Tech Debt Exposure": "12.64%",
                 "Testing Exposure": "1.15%",
                 "API Exposure": "5.51%",
                 "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -867760,7 +867760,7 @@
                     "4. Vulnerability & Risk Exposures": {
                         "Cognitive Load Exposure": "5.21%",
                         "Error & Exception Exposure": "0.0%",
-                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "27.32%",
+                        "Tech Debt Exposure": "25.29%",
                         "Testing Exposure": "2.3%",
                         "API Exposure": "11.01%",
                         "Concurrency Exposure": "0.0%",
@@ -867822,7 +867822,7 @@
                         "Module Dependencies (Imports)": 0,
                         "Authorship Metadata": 1,
                         "Planned Work (TODOs)": 1,
-                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 12,
+                        "Acknowledged Tech Debt (FIXMEs)": 11,
                         "Specification Traceability Tags": 0,
                         "Server-Side Rendering Contexts": 0,
                         "Event Publishers / Emitters": 0,