Render scripted boss phases and accelerate validated mod loading

docs/iron-coast-stage2-design.md

@@ -99,8 +99,13 @@ and pointer input complete all eight sorties, saving and loading the pilot,
 script state and RNG between each, then replay the finale. Three normal Energy
 purchases are paid from carried credits. The route finishes the first eight
 with 334,910 credits, and the saved replay with 396,520; equipment stays owned
-and rewards are not duplicated. Authors also check every mission at all four
-difficulties, starter gear, full inventories and delayed objective completion.
+and rewards are not duplicated. Independent review also completes the eight
+sorties and a saved finale replay at all four difficulties from the same
+registered-pilot baseline, using paid Energy repairs. Authors check full
+inventories, purchased weapons and delayed objective completion. The aggregate
+README subsequently corrects the mission-selection instructions; its separate
+successor receipt verifies that every content, script, image and sound file
+remains identical. The final saved route binds the successor package hash.
 Control policies vary, so these are achievable fixture outcomes rather than
 predictions of player earnings or difficulty.
 
@@ -112,10 +117,24 @@ review inspected 232 decoded SD/HD outputs at scales 1–4 and checked 75 native
 sound effects with nonzero output and exact FX mute. The music package records
 separate complete-score FM and loop-boundary validation.
 
-The ordinary suites pass 310 headless and 374 desktop tests. Final focused
+Script-pinned boss phase artwork reaches both sprites and shadows; resetting a
+pin restores normal animation. A synthetic Host regression covers ground and
+air enemies in SD/HD at scales 1 and 4, and the real artwork previews assert
+that consecutive boss phases produce distinct displayed pixels.
+
+PNG activation still fully decodes artwork and retains the same size, canvas,
+HD-resolution and catalog-palette checks. It now avoids converting validation
+images to indexed pixels only to discard them. Paired checks with all 45 mods
+reduce active content construction from 26.9 to 7.0 seconds; all 6,682 unique
+referenced PNGs produce byte-identical indexed output. Actual package startup
+is measured separately during relocation tests.
+
+The ordinary suites pass 315 headless and 380 desktop tests. Final focused
 checks pass four portable campaign checks plus the real saved route, nine
 weapon tests, nine shared-enemy tests, six animation/effect API tests and the
-ignored Host preview check. All 34 Host captures were visually inspected:
+ignored Host preview check. All 34 Host captures were visually inspected; after the phase fix, the six
+changed SD/HD phase pictures were inspected again and the other 28 remained
+byte-identical:
 SD/HD boss artwork on each mission's terrain, both shop modes, weapon details,
 Nightbreak/finale mission cards, dependencies and the disable confirmation.
 Bosses in these pictures are deliberate art previews; actual combat phase

docs/resume-checkpoint.md

@@ -26,23 +26,31 @@ the relocation. See [repository layout](repository.md).
 
 ### Current runtime and Stage 2 work
 
-The `b8b8620` runtime checkpoint includes the reviewed **1,148-frame / 421-sequence**
-HD snapshot in both executables' shared catalog. It contains **6,848 data files**
-with unchanged original `INDEX`. Linux binary SHA-256 is
-`fdfcf03f126279246f3b762987e02fa7b385f07b4d31339732037462f9e52413`;
-Windows is `a74cc4ea20ddc17a39fe4cbf2da2e7391a561d1975b114ec56dd35fb5ff38f2d`.
-The engine now exposes checked script commands for boss animation frames and
-native impact-effect kinds. Original effect serialization remains compatible.
+The current Linux and Windows runtimes include the reviewed **1,148-frame /
+421-sequence** HD snapshot and **6,848 data files**, with unchanged original
+`INDEX`. Linux binary SHA-256 is
+`7e62ae1b0e8d18670a7c6c3d4f6419878f696f62ba4c7dd2ee9ebf7545f648de`;
+Windows is `63d040f5d5c76bad15a74ab1ef54ca992a0fd9cd8b7a46f8506d8cce4fbec275`.
+Checked script commands control nonlegacy boss animation frames and native
+impact-effect kinds. The renderer applies phase pins to sprites and both
+shadow layers; clearing a pin restores ordinary animation. Original effect
+serialization remains compatible. PNG activation fully decodes with the same
+limits while avoiding discarded palette conversion; all 6,682 referenced PNG
+outputs compare byte-identically and five rejection/output regressions pass.
 
 **Iron Coast II: Black Tide** adds eight missions, eight bosses, three shared
 enemies, three original FM scores and two optional purchased weapons through
-23 individual packages. All eight missions pass starter-gun runs at difficulties
-0–3. All 23 package freezes and independent long-run checks are complete. The
-actual registered-pilot Veteran route saves between eight wins and a finale
-replay; all 34 Host artwork/shop/menu captures are inspected. Final relocated
-Linux/Windows archives are the remaining release checks. The ordinary source suites pass **310
-headless / 374 desktop** tests. [Stage 2 design and validation](iron-coast-stage2-design.md)
-records the new content and final acceptance scope.
+23 individual packages. Independent review completes the eight missions plus
+saved finale replay at difficulties 0–3 from registered-pilot starting gear,
+with paid repairs. The final root Veteran route saves/loads between nine wins
+and binds the documentation-only aggregate successor hash. All 34 Host
+artwork/shop/menu pictures are reviewed; the six changed phase pictures were
+inspected again and the other 28 remain byte-identical. Ordinary release suites
+pass **315 headless / 380 desktop** tests, with 26/36 deliberate original-data
+and capture tests ignored. Final Linux/Windows archive relocation checks are
+in progress against the corrected runtimes; previous archive receipts remain
+historical. [Stage 2 design and validation](iron-coast-stage2-design.md)
+records content, controls, prices and acceptance scope.
 
 Original HD work continues under `hd_coordinator`; later approved candidates
 remain separate from the immutable packaged 1,148-frame snapshot. The paragraphs

docs/windows-build.md

@@ -62,18 +62,24 @@ mods, captures SDL gameplay and publishes the zip as a workflow artifact.
 The included GNU executable uses the reviewed **1,148-frame HD snapshot**;
 the shared manifest binds **6,848 data files** and the package contains
 **45 installed mods**. Its SHA-256 is
-`a74cc4ea20ddc17a39fe4cbf2da2e7391a561d1975b114ec56dd35fb5ff38f2d`.
+`63d040f5d5c76bad15a74ab1ef54ca992a0fd9cd8b7a46f8506d8cce4fbec275`.
 The [1,148-frame native Windows run](https://github.com/Quintine/RustRaptor/actions/runs/38126069413)
 passed portable tests, exact committed GNU runtime checks, the MSVC desktop
 build and exported-folder catalog, HD, mod and SDL gameplay validation. That
 run preceded the Stage 2 content commit; it verifies the engine and the
 previous 22 mod packages.
 
-The expanded workflow additionally completes all eight Black Tide missions
-and a saved finale replay with normal firing/input and paid repairs. It then
-checks all 45 mods and captures Stage 2 gameplay, FM music and music-muted
-sound effects from the MSVC package. Final archive relocation evidence is
-recorded after export and identifies the exact ZIP tested.
+The [first Stage 2 native run](https://github.com/Quintine/RustRaptor/actions/runs/38127321917)
+also completes all eight Black Tide missions and a saved finale replay with
+normal firing/input and paid repairs. It validates all 45 mods, the MSVC
+package and actual FM music plus music-muted sound effects. That run precedes
+the displayed-phase fix and PNG-validation optimization.
+
+The current workflow additionally checks phase sprites and ground/air shadows
+in SD/HD, then asserts distinct consecutive phases in actual Host previews
+with shop/menu captures. The corrected included executable and final archive
+receive fresh relocation and SDL/audio checks; the receipt identifies the
+exact ZIP tested. These checks use isolated profiles and preserve user saves.
 
 Earlier Windows checkpoints passed 279 portable tests under Wine 11.19,
 including save replacement and preservation of a locked existing save.