# CHOAM Nexus Secret Ally prototype

13 September 2026. The Spice Collection trade is **Prototyped** in the development
Nexus module. Its battle inspection alternative is still missing. This checkpoint
does not enable normal Nexus starts, certify the full card family, or open a
publication gate.

## Source and behavior

The printed CHOAM card's Secret Ally panel allows a Worthless card to be discarded
during Spice Collection for two spice, or a random unused opposing hand card to
be inspected after a victory. The [common source contract](NEXUS_CARD_RULES.md)
records the [photographed publisher component](https://boardgamegeek.com/image/7767032/dune-ecaz-and-moritani)
and publisher lifecycle rules. [Native Cunning](NEXUS_CHOAM_RULES.md) has different
costs and effects and is not reused as a substitute for this panel.

Only an unallied holder with CHOAM absent may use this trade, in Basic or Advanced.
The server quotes the holder's actual Worthless cards. The player selects one;
its printed identity and physical discard custody remain intact. Both that card
and the CHOAM Nexus card are spent, and two spice are paid from the bank exactly
once. No native faction identity, market sale, Cunning conversion, or Auditor
payment is introduced. No blanket Nexus Karama immunity is inferred: this trade
uses the absent-faction panel rather than a native CHOAM advantage.

Collection readiness remains optional; continuing without trading keeps the
cards. The action cannot interrupt a decision, Truthtrance, committed discard,
exchange, or queued automatic Collection choice. It may still be used while its
owner is ready if Collection has not ended. Exhaustive simultaneous Collection
combinations remain part of the later integration pass.

## Connected paths

- `game/nexus-choam-trade.ts` provides the private quote and saved receipt checks.
  `game/engine.ts` applies payment, Nexus/card custody and the semantic fresh
  discard continuation. The completed history remains private server evidence.
- `game/nexus-choam-trade-options.ts` supplies the shared human/AI action.
  `components/nexus-choam-trade.tsx` provides a card picker, inspector, costs and
  availability reasons at the table. All four AI profiles use eligible trades.
- The existing JSON room state stores the receipt. No database migration or
  server restart is required. Recovery validates the already-paid outcome and
  retires the discard; it never credits spice a second time.

## Focused evidence and remaining scope

Run `npm test -- nexus-choam-trade`. Focused cases cover Basic/Advanced payment,
physical custody, all four AI profiles, private rendered controls, wrong-mode and
stale action rejection, Truthtrance locking, damaged saved receipts and JSON
continuation. Production SQLite tests exercise competing trades, seat restoration,
replay rejection and an already-paid discard resume.

The after-victory inspection still needs an original battle receipt, exclusion of
the opponent's used cards, a private one-card sample and composition with winner
cleanup. Complete Nexus games, broader Homeworld interactions, strategic choice
between the two Secret Ally uses and visual acceptance of that full family remain
unfinished. Prototype evidence is deliberately narrower than complete compliance.