diff --git a/docs/indeehub-distribution-current-design.md b/docs/indeehub-distribution-current-design.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..39cb6d33
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/indeehub-distribution-current-design.md
@@ -0,0 +1,73 @@
+# IndeeHub distribution: current implementation design
+
+Status: design for the post-1.9 follow-up, not implemented/accepted. Earlier
+swarm plans describe historical experiments and must not be read as live proof.
+
+## Standards checked on 2026-10-05
+
+- Nostr [NIP-71](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/71.md)
+  defines video metadata, including addressable normal-video kind34235. Use a
+  stable producer/project identifier for revisions. This does not define paid
+  viewing rights. Hash/media metadata follows
+  [NIP-94](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/94.md).
+- [NIP-98](https://github.com/nostr-protocol/nips/blob/master/98.md) authenticates
+  HTTP requests; it is not proof of payment or permission to another creator's
+  project. Keep the existing verified app session and project ownership checks.
+- [Cashu NUT-18](https://github.com/cashubtc/nuts/blob/main/18.md) supplies payment
+  request negotiation. [NUT-04](https://github.com/cashubtc/nuts/blob/main/04.md)
+  covers mint quotes/issuance; method-specific current specifications and older
+  deployed mint responses must both be capability-tested. Keep quote identifiers
+  private to the receiving wallet. Payment settlement must be correlated to the
+  purchase, never inferred from a change in wallet balance.
+- [NUT-19](https://github.com/cashubtc/nuts/blob/main/19.md) provides mint-side
+  cached responses where supported. It supplements a durable local payment
+  journal; it does not replace one or make an arbitrary retry safe.
+- [LNURL-pay](https://github.com/lnurl/luds/blob/luds/06.md) supports an invoice
+  handoff. A Lightning address by itself is not a signed settlement receipt.
+
+## Required implementation contract
+
+1. Backstage publishes only the selected, owned project. Announcements contain
+   public metadata, producer identity, node identity, content hashes, current
+   price/window and accepted-method capabilities. Never publish Cloud paths,
+   mint quotes, tokens, paid media keys or private management addresses.
+2. Each instance's Archipelago source verifies signatures, identity bindings and
+   monotonic event revisions. Persist discovery so a relay outage does not empty
+   an existing library. Keep other sources and the current default intact.
+3. A purchase binds buyer identity, publisher, project revision, amount, currency,
+   selected payment method and an unpredictable idempotency identifier. Persist
+   the quote before requesting payment. Snapshot the offer so later edits cannot
+   silently change the purchased terms.
+4. Reuse file-payment capability negotiation and proven settlement primitives.
+   Existing file Lightning invoices currently require LND; therefore adding
+   first-use Lightning-to-Cashu receiving is real work, not a display label. The
+   receiver must verify a correlated invoice/mint receipt and recover issuance
+   after a lost response before granting access. Its provisioned ecash address
+   must map to the actual receiving wallet. No new real payment is authorized by
+   this design; use isolated fixtures until a bounded payment is approved.
+5. A paid purchase creates one durable entitlement. Default demo window proposal:
+   start at the first successfully authorized media response; persist start and
+   expiry atomically. Retries, seek and reconnect reuse it without another
+   payment. Check the entitlement for every media/range/key request. Clock
+   rollback must not extend an already-started window.
+6. Browser/companion playback remains ordinary authenticated local HTTP. Actual
+   inter-node media bytes use FIPS, with a bound node identity and authenticated
+   purchase capability. No silent Tor/LAN/iroh fallback for required FIPS media.
+   Show a recoverable unavailable route without requesting another payment.
+7. Range/segment serving streams bounded buffers with backpressure and cancel
+   propagation. Do not read an entire paid film into a Vec before serving it.
+   Verify length/hash/revision, reject malformed ranges and path escapes, and
+   keep cache access subject to the same entitlement. Delivered plaintext cannot
+   be made impossible to copy; expiry controls subsequent authorized delivery.
+
+## Qualification that remains required
+
+Publisher/receiver integration must cover altered metadata, forged identities,
+wrong mint, rejected/late/duplicate payment, missing transaction response, restart,
+clock change, expired window, revocation, missing FIPS route, seek and disconnect.
+Measure real media-byte transport and memory use. Test the actual Backstage,
+Archipelago listing, purchase and player on mobile/desktop and companion.
+
+Use only the operator-designated Yaya Cloud video, preserve the source, and
+publish the IndeeHub app image/catalog update at the end of qualification.
+One working fixture is not acceptance of the complete distributed flow.
diff --git a/docs/peering-reliability-followup.md b/docs/peering-reliability-followup.md
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..42b8d476
--- /dev/null
+++ b/docs/peering-reliability-followup.md
@@ -0,0 +1,64 @@
+# Peer requests, delivery, and availability follow-up
+
+Status: implementation under qualification. Not a claim of reciprocal live-node
+acceptance or completion of the post-1.9 backlog.
+
+## Confirmed failures
+
+Yaya retained the dev node's approved inbound request while the dev node retained
+its outbound Sent request, without reciprocal federation membership. Approval
+previously had no durable delivery/retry record. Configured managed relays were
+also omitted from reply publication; that separate repair is in 9a041bed.
+
+The Connected Nodes card cached untimestamped reachability booleans, with cached
+results overriding the shared store. A failing RPC was rendered as an offline
+route. Nostr requests were absent from its Requests tab and badge.
+
+## Changes
+
+- Persist the approval decision and a node-key-encrypted reply before delivery.
+  Retry the same invite with bounded exponential backoff, at most four eligible
+  replies per background pass. Relay acknowledgement alone does not remove it;
+  reciprocal membership does. Removed peers and expired requests are excluded.
+- Recover legacy Approved rows through the same supported delivery path. Do not
+  edit peer files by hand or elevate Observer relationships to Trusted.
+- Serialize pending-store mutations and replace its private file atomically.
+  Malformed storage is preserved and fails explicitly. Conflicting decisions
+  cannot both win. Approved requests expire after 30 days to permit reconnect.
+- Validate the invite's DID and key against the requested identity, normalize
+  discovery trust to Observer before acceptance and callback.
+- Poll in the background every 30 seconds, skipping missed ticks.
+- Show Nostr requests in Connected Nodes with a direct link to review them.
+  Preserve pending rows on failed refresh, and surface partial failures.
+- Render independently arriving node lists, limit reachability probes to four,
+  ignore superseded replies and age timestamped reachability after 90 seconds.
+  An RPC failure is unknown; an explicit failed reachability check is unreachable.
+  Report last successful contact without inventing continuous offline duration.
+- Place online nodes first, then unknown and unreachable, preserving order within
+  each group. Fleet describes stale reports as Not reporting. Map labels include
+  last contact and dashed links indicate no recent contact, not a live route.
+
+## Evidence so far
+
+- Original full backend candidate: 1,693 passed, 4 ignored, no failures, through
+  the isolated runner (`/tmp/archy-peering-full-backend.log`).
+- Additional review added recovery-through-real-relay and retry-backoff checks;
+  all 50 focused federation tests pass, including actual encrypted relay delivery
+  for legacy Approved rows and suppression of duplicate attempts during backoff.
+  Final formatted source also passes all 1,693 backend tests (4 ignored).
+- Connected Nodes: 9 focused tests pass, including independent rendering,
+  mixed failed/negative/successful probes, Nostr requests, cache age and clock skew.
+- Fleet/request display: 13 focused tests pass.
+- Type checking and production UI build pass. Final frontend suite: 1,238 tests
+  in 153 files pass (`/tmp/archy-peering-full-ui-final.log`).
+- Yaya Chromium at 390 and 1440px passes candidate-asset browser checks with
+  deterministic peer RPC fixtures: availability text/order, approved Nostr requests,
+  connection navigation and no page errors (`/tmp/archy-peering-browser-candidate-7.log`).
+  Fixture checks are not evidence of actual reciprocal membership.
+- Clean backend artifact at 10d31ae1: SHA256
+  `120bd0f51fbceafeceb5557117a442fffc432a7b4d5115da1a163e472f7160da`.
+  Actual-node deployment and reciprocal membership checks remain required.
+
+The prior reply-rejection test expected a Pending row. This revision deliberately
+supersedes that behavior: the decision remains Approved with delivery pending,
+so a relay outage does not undo an operator decision or require reapproval.
diff --git a/docs/post-1.9.0-work-backlog.md b/docs/post-1.9.0-work-backlog.md
index 578d5f95..4d71e7f5 100644
--- a/docs/post-1.9.0-work-backlog.md
+++ b/docs/post-1.9.0-work-backlog.md
@@ -1,8 +1,17 @@
 # Work requested after 1.9.0-alpha
 
-Status: queued by the operator on 2026-10-05. Complete the current release first;
-these requests do not silently expand its artifact scope. No implementation or
-acceptance is claimed by this backlog.
+Status: implementation and qualification in progress. 1.9.0-alpha was published
+separately; these follow-ups are not in its immutable artifacts. The list below
+remains the complete acceptance scope, not a claim that every item is finished.
+
+Current evidence is recorded in [Fleet metrics](fleet-metrics-followup.md),
+[peering reliability](peering-reliability-followup.md), and the
+[IndeeHub design review](indeehub-distribution-current-design.md). Monitoring and
+the tested signer/dashboard candidate are deployed to dev and Yaya with rollback
+backups; actual IndeeHub image publication is deferred until the end as requested.
+Framework's authenticated Monitoring check awaits an operator dashboard login.
+Streaming, storage-source integrations, AIUI setup, V4V packaging/player,
+companion hardware checks and the full Fleet acceptance matrix remain open.
 
 ## 1. Distributed IndeeHub publishing and paid viewing
 
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/components/federation/NetworkMap3D.vue b/neode-ui/src/components/federation/NetworkMap3D.vue
index 14945465..39961782 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/components/federation/NetworkMap3D.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/components/federation/NetworkMap3D.vue
@@ -12,6 +12,7 @@
       <span class="node-map-legend-item"><span class="node-map-dot" :style="{ background: motionTokens.color.trusted }"></span>Trusted</span>
       <span class="node-map-legend-item"><span class="node-map-dot" :style="{ background: motionTokens.color.observer }"></span>Observer</span>
       <span class="node-map-legend-item"><span class="node-map-dot" :style="{ background: motionTokens.color.untrusted }"></span>Untrusted</span>
+      <span class="node-map-legend-item">Dashed: no recent contact</span>
       <span v-if="requests?.length" class="node-map-legend-item"><span class="node-map-dot" :style="{ background: motionTokens.color.pending }"></span>Request</span>
     </div>
     <!-- 2D/3D projection toggle — tweens the camera between the flat radial
@@ -81,6 +82,7 @@ export interface MapNode {
   label: string
   trust_level: 'trusted' | 'observer' | 'untrusted'
   online: boolean
+  statusLabel?: string
   app_count: number
   is_self: boolean
 }
@@ -162,6 +164,7 @@ interface PeerVis {
   dying: boolean
   el: SVGGElement
   label: SVGTextElement
+  statusText: SVGTextElement
   linkEl: SVGPathElement | null
   dots: GlobeDot[]
   radiusPx: number
@@ -461,9 +464,15 @@ function createPeer(node: MapNode, slot: { angle: number; ringRadius: number },
     fill: motionTokens.color.textSecondary, 'font-size': '11px', 'font-family': FONT,
   })
   label.textContent = node.label
+  const statusText = el('text', {
+    dy: String(r + 28), 'text-anchor': 'middle', fill: motionTokens.color.textSecondary,
+    'font-size': '9px', 'font-family': FONT,
+  })
+  statusText.textContent = node.statusLabel || (node.online ? 'Online' : 'Status unknown')
   const title = el('title')
-  title.textContent = `${node.did}\nApps: ${node.app_count}\n${node.online ? 'Online' : 'Offline'}`
-  g.append(label, title)
+  title.textContent = `${node.did}\nApps: ${node.app_count}\n${statusText.textContent}`
+  g.setAttribute('aria-label', `${node.label}: ${statusText.textContent}`)
+  g.append(label, statusText, title)
   g.addEventListener('click', () => emit('select', node.did))
   nodesLayer!.appendChild(g)
 
@@ -483,6 +492,7 @@ function createPeer(node: MapNode, slot: { angle: number; ringRadius: number },
     dying: false,
     el: g,
     label,
+    statusText,
     linkEl,
     dots,
     radiusPx: r,
@@ -672,7 +682,9 @@ function applyGraph() {
       existing.node = node
       if (existing.label.textContent !== node.label) existing.label.textContent = node.label
       const title = existing.el.querySelector('title')
-      if (title) title.textContent = `${node.did}\nApps: ${node.app_count}\n${node.online ? 'Online' : 'Offline'}`
+      existing.statusText.textContent = node.statusLabel || (node.online ? 'Online' : 'Status unknown')
+      existing.el.setAttribute('aria-label', `${node.label}: ${existing.statusText.textContent}`)
+      if (title) title.textContent = `${node.did}\nApps: ${node.app_count}\n${existing.statusText.textContent}`
       stylePeerDom(existing)
     }
 
@@ -1249,7 +1261,7 @@ function initialBuild() {
 }
 
 const graphSignature = computed(() => JSON.stringify({
-  nodes: props.nodes.map(n => [n.did, n.label, n.trust_level, n.online, n.app_count, n.is_self]),
+  nodes: props.nodes.map(n => [n.did, n.label, n.trust_level, n.online, n.statusLabel, n.app_count, n.is_self]),
   links: props.links.map(l => [l.source, l.target]),
   requests: (props.requests ?? []).map(r => [r.id, r.label]),
 }))
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/web5Badge.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/web5Badge.test.ts
index 071b78cf..771665d6 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/web5Badge.test.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/stores/__tests__/web5Badge.test.ts
@@ -6,6 +6,7 @@ import { useWeb5BadgeStore } from '../web5Badge'
 vi.mock('@/api/rpc-client', () => ({
   rpcClient: {
     call: vi.fn(),
+    federationListPendingRequests: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ requests: [] }),
   },
 }))
 
@@ -75,4 +76,25 @@ describe('useWeb5BadgeStore', () => {
     await store.refresh()
     expect(store.pendingRequestCount).toBe(2)
   })
+  it('counts incoming Nostr requests while excluding outbound and completed requests', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(rpcClient.call).mockResolvedValueOnce({ requests: [{ id: 'legacy' }] })
+    const common = { from_did: 'did:key:peer', from_nostr_pubkey: 'key', from_nostr_npub: 'npub', from_name: null, message: null, received_at: new Date().toISOString() }
+    vi.mocked(rpcClient.federationListPendingRequests).mockResolvedValueOnce({ requests: [
+      { ...common, id: 'incoming', state: 'pending', outbound: false },
+      { ...common, id: 'outgoing', state: 'sent', outbound: true },
+      { ...common, id: 'approved', state: 'approved', outbound: false },
+    ] })
+    const store = useWeb5BadgeStore()
+    await store.refresh()
+    expect(store.pendingRequestCount).toBe(2)
+  })
+  it('preserves the previous badge when the Nostr source cannot be refreshed', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(rpcClient.call).mockResolvedValueOnce({ requests: [] })
+    vi.mocked(rpcClient.federationListPendingRequests).mockRejectedValueOnce(new Error('offline'))
+    const store = useWeb5BadgeStore()
+    store.pendingRequestCount = 3
+    await store.refresh()
+    expect(store.pendingRequestCount).toBe(3)
+  })
+
 })
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/stores/web5Badge.ts b/neode-ui/src/stores/web5Badge.ts
index 87ef34c0..60224f46 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/stores/web5Badge.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/stores/web5Badge.ts
@@ -6,11 +6,18 @@ export const useWeb5BadgeStore = defineStore('web5Badge', () => {
   const pendingRequestCount = ref(0)
 
   async function refresh() {
-    try {
-      const res = await rpcClient.call<{ requests: Array<{ id: string }> }>({ method: 'network.list-requests' })
-      pendingRequestCount.value = res.requests?.length ?? 0
-    } catch (e) {
-      if (import.meta.env.DEV) console.warn('Badge refresh failed — best-effort', e)
+    const results = await Promise.allSettled([
+      rpcClient.call<{ requests: Array<{ id: string }> }>({ method: 'network.list-requests' }),
+      rpcClient.federationListPendingRequests(),
+    ])
+    // Do not clear an existing badge when a request source is unavailable.
+    if (results.every(result => result.status === 'fulfilled')) {
+      const legacy = results[0]
+      const nostr = results[1]
+      if (legacy?.status === 'fulfilled' && nostr?.status === 'fulfilled') {
+        pendingRequestCount.value = (legacy.value.requests?.length ?? 0) +
+          (nostr.value.requests?.filter(request => request.state === 'pending' && !request.outbound).length ?? 0)
+      }
     }
   }
 
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/Federation.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/Federation.vue
index 0eec7cba..9213aec5 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/Federation.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/Federation.vue
@@ -181,6 +181,7 @@
 
       <PendingRequestsPanel
         :requests="pendingRequests"
+        :peer-dids="nodes.map(node => node.did)"
         :polling="pollingHandshake"
         :busy-id="pendingBusyId"
         @poll="pollHandshake"
@@ -259,6 +260,7 @@
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
 import { ref, computed, onMounted, onUnmounted } from 'vue'
+import { validContact, lastContactLabel } from './web5/nodeAvailability'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
 import { useCachedResource } from '@/composables/useCachedResource'
 import { useTransportStore } from '@/stores/transport'
@@ -347,6 +349,7 @@ const selfDid = ref<string>((() => {
   try { return localStorage.getItem('neode_did') || '' } catch { return '' }
 })())
 
+const availabilityNow = ref(Date.now())
 const mapNodes = computed(() => {
   const result = []
   if (selfDid.value) {
@@ -365,6 +368,7 @@ const mapNodes = computed(() => {
       label: nodeName(node),
       trust_level: node.trust_level as 'trusted' | 'observer' | 'untrusted',
       online: isOnlineCheck(node),
+      statusLabel: isOnlineCheck(node) ? 'Online' : lastContactLabel(node.last_seen, availabilityNow.value),
       app_count: node.last_state?.apps?.length ?? 0,
       is_self: false,
     })
@@ -570,10 +574,8 @@ async function cancelPending(id: string) {
 }
 
 function isOnlineCheck(node: FederatedNode): boolean {
-  if (!node.last_seen) return false
-  const lastSeen = new Date(node.last_seen).getTime()
-  const tenMinutesAgo = Date.now() - 10 * 60 * 1000
-  return lastSeen > tenMinutesAgo
+  const lastSeen = validContact(node.last_seen, availabilityNow.value)
+  return lastSeen !== undefined && availabilityNow.value - lastSeen < 10 * 60 * 1000
 }
 
 /** Explicit reload (mutations, retry): surfaces a load failure in the error
@@ -830,6 +832,7 @@ onMounted(async () => {
     // Self DID not available
   }
   autoRefreshTimer = setInterval(() => {
+    availabilityNow.value = Date.now()
     void nodesRes.refresh()
     loadPendingRequests()
   }, 5000)
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/federation/PendingRequestsPanel.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/federation/PendingRequestsPanel.vue
index 0c4e63d1..6c695a85 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/federation/PendingRequestsPanel.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/federation/PendingRequestsPanel.vue
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 <template>
-  <div v-if="visibleRequests.length > 0" class="glass-card p-6 mb-6">
+  <div id="connection-requests" v-if="visibleRequests.length > 0" class="glass-card p-6 mb-6">
     <div class="flex items-center justify-between mb-4">
       <div>
-        <h2 class="text-base font-semibold text-white">Pending Peer Requests</h2>
+        <h2 class="text-base font-semibold text-white">Nostr Connection Requests</h2>
         <p class="text-xs text-white/60">
           Inbound requests await your approval. Outbound requests show what you've sent.
-          Approved peers are added as <span class="text-orange-300">Observer</span> — promote
-          to Trusted manually if you want them to receive state syncs.
+          Connections become <span class="text-orange-300">Observer</span> peers.
+          Approval delivery retries automatically while the other node connects.
         </p>
       </div>
       <button
@@ -80,6 +80,7 @@ const props = defineProps<{
   requests: PendingPeerRequest[]
   polling: boolean
   busyId: string | null
+  peerDids?: string[]
 }>()
 
 defineEmits<{
@@ -96,6 +97,7 @@ const visibleRequests = computed(() => {
   const cutoff = Date.now() - 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000
   return props.requests.filter((r) => {
     if (r.state === 'pending' || r.state === 'sent') return true
+    if (r.state === 'approved' && !props.peerDids?.includes(r.from_did)) return true
     const ts = new Date(r.received_at).getTime()
     return Number.isFinite(ts) && ts >= cutoff
   })
@@ -104,14 +106,20 @@ const visibleRequests = computed(() => {
 function badgeClass(r: PendingPeerRequest): string {
   if (r.state === 'pending') return 'bg-yellow-500/20 text-yellow-300'
   if (r.state === 'sent') return 'bg-blue-500/20 text-blue-300'
-  if (r.state === 'approved') return 'bg-green-500/20 text-green-300'
+  if (r.state === 'approved') return props.peerDids?.includes(r.from_did)
+    ? 'bg-green-500/20 text-green-300' : 'bg-yellow-500/20 text-yellow-300'
   if (r.state === 'rejected') return 'bg-red-500/20 text-red-300'
   return 'bg-white/10 text-white/50'
 }
 
 function badgeLabel(r: PendingPeerRequest): string {
   if (r.outbound && r.state === 'sent') return 'Sent'
-  if (r.outbound && r.state === 'approved') return 'They approved'
+  if (r.state === 'approved') {
+    if (props.peerDids?.includes(r.from_did)) return 'Peer added'
+    const age = Date.now() - new Date(r.received_at).getTime()
+    if (!Number.isFinite(age) || age > 30 * 24 * 60 * 60 * 1000) return 'Approval expired — reconnect'
+    return r.outbound ? 'They approved — connecting' : 'Approved — connecting'
+  }
   if (r.outbound && r.state === 'rejected') return 'They rejected'
   if (r.outbound) return r.state
   if (r.state === 'pending') return 'Inbound'
@@ -126,7 +134,7 @@ function shortNpub(npub: string): string {
 function relative(iso: string): string {
   const ts = new Date(iso).getTime()
   if (!Number.isFinite(ts)) return iso
-  const diff = Date.now() - ts
+  const diff = Math.max(0, Date.now() - ts)
   const sec = Math.floor(diff / 1000)
   if (sec < 60) return `${sec}s ago`
   const min = Math.floor(sec / 60)
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/federation/__tests__/PendingRequestsPanel.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/federation/__tests__/PendingRequestsPanel.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..693330b6
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/federation/__tests__/PendingRequestsPanel.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import PendingRequestsPanel from '../PendingRequestsPanel.vue'
+import type { PendingPeerRequest } from '@/api/rpc-client'
+const request: PendingPeerRequest = {
+  id: 'request', from_did: 'did:key:peer', from_nostr_pubkey: 'key', from_nostr_npub: 'npub',
+  from_name: 'Other node', message: null, outbound: false, state: 'approved',
+  received_at: new Date(Date.now()-2*86400000).toISOString(),
+}
+describe('Nostr connection progress', () => {
+  it('keeps unresolved approvals visible and distinguishes local membership', async () => {
+    const wrapper=mount(PendingRequestsPanel,{props:{requests:[request],polling:false,busyId:null,peerDids:[]}})
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Approved — connecting')
+    expect(wrapper.text()).not.toContain('Peer added')
+    await wrapper.setProps({requests:[{...request,received_at:new Date().toISOString()}],peerDids:[request.from_did]})
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Peer added')
+    expect(wrapper.text()).not.toContain('Approved — connecting')
+    wrapper.unmount()
+  })
+  it('explains expired approval instead of claiming a connection is still progressing', () => {
+    const wrapper=mount(PendingRequestsPanel,{props:{requests:[{...request,received_at:new Date(Date.now()-31*86400000).toISOString()}],polling:false,busyId:null}})
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Approval expired — reconnect')
+    wrapper.unmount()
+  })
+})
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/FleetNodeGrid.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/FleetNodeGrid.vue
index 94b0999c..fd637dd3 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/FleetNodeGrid.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/FleetNodeGrid.vue
@@ -84,7 +84,7 @@
         </div>
         <div class="flex flex-wrap gap-x-3 gap-y-1 items-center justify-between text-xs text-white/40 mt-1">
           <span>{{ node.uptime_secs === null ? 'Uptime unavailable' : 'Up ' + formatUptime(node.uptime_secs) }}</span>
-          <span>{{ fleetStatus(node.reported_at) === 'unknown' ? 'Status unknown' : fleetStatus(node.reported_at) === 'offline' ? 'Offline · last seen ' + timeAgo(node.reported_at) : 'Seen ' + timeAgo(node.reported_at) }}</span>
+          <span>{{ fleetStatus(node.reported_at) === 'unknown' ? 'Status unknown' : fleetStatus(node.reported_at) === 'stale' ? 'Not reporting · last seen ' + timeAgo(node.reported_at) : 'Seen ' + timeAgo(node.reported_at) }}</span>
         </div>
       </div>
     </div>
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/FleetOverviewCards.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/FleetOverviewCards.vue
index ebb8f120..aae22443 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/FleetOverviewCards.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/FleetOverviewCards.vue
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@
       <p class="text-2xl font-bold text-white">{{ nodeCount }}</p>
       <p class="text-xs text-white/40">
         <span class="fleet-dot-online"></span> {{ onlineCount }} online
-        <span class="ml-1 fleet-dot-offline"></span> {{ offlineCount }} offline
+        <span class="ml-1 fleet-dot-offline"></span> {{ offlineCount }} not reporting
         <span v-if="unknownCount" class="ml-1">{{ unknownCount }} unknown</span>
       </p>
     </div>
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/__tests__/FleetNodeGrid.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/__tests__/FleetNodeGrid.test.ts
index e0091196..9bbb8dcc 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/__tests__/FleetNodeGrid.test.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/__tests__/FleetNodeGrid.test.ts
@@ -18,7 +18,7 @@ describe('fleet unavailable readings', () => {
     expect(cards).toHaveLength(2)
     expect(cards[0]!.text()).toContain('0%')
     expect(cards[0]!.text()).toContain('—')
-    expect(cards[0]!.text()).toContain('Offline · last seen 2d ago')
+    expect(cards[0]!.text()).toContain('Not reporting · last seen 2d ago')
     expect(cards[1]!.text()).toContain('Status unknown')
     expect(cards[1]!.text()).not.toContain('0%')
     expect(cards[1]!.text()).toContain('Uptime unavailable')
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/__tests__/useFleetData.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/__tests__/useFleetData.test.ts
index 587a88a9..2936e682 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/__tests__/useFleetData.test.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/__tests__/useFleetData.test.ts
@@ -46,7 +46,7 @@ describe('fleet data helpers', () => {
     vi.useRealTimers()
   })
 
-  it('sorts status with online nodes first, then latest report', () => {
+  it('sorts status with online nodes first without shuffling within a status group', () => {
     vi.useFakeTimers()
     vi.setSystemTime(new Date('2026-06-10T12:00:00Z'))
     const nodes = [
@@ -56,8 +56,8 @@ describe('fleet data helpers', () => {
     ]
 
     expect(sortFleetNodes(nodes, 'status').map(n => n.node_id)).toEqual([
-      'online-new',
       'online-old',
+      'online-new',
       'offline',
     ])
 
@@ -133,9 +133,9 @@ describe('fleet missing data and clock boundaries', () => {
       expect(isOnline(value)).toBe(false)
       expect(timeAgo(value)).toBe('Unknown')
     }
-    expect(fleetStatus('2026-06-10T11:30:00Z')).toBe('offline')
+    expect(fleetStatus('2026-06-10T11:30:00Z')).toBe('stale')
     expect(fleetStatus('2026-06-10T12:00:30Z')).toBe('online')
-    expect(sortFleetNodes([node('unknown', ''), node('future', '2027-01-01T00:00:00Z'), node('old', '2026-06-10T10:00:00Z'), node('new', '2026-06-10T11:59:00Z')], 'status').map(n => n.node_id)).toEqual(['new', 'old', 'unknown', 'future'])
+    expect(sortFleetNodes([node('unknown', ''), node('future', '2027-01-01T00:00:00Z'), node('old', '2026-06-10T10:00:00Z'), node('new', '2026-06-10T11:59:00Z')], 'status').map(n => n.node_id)).toEqual(['new', 'unknown', 'future', 'old'])
   })
   it('keeps valid zero separate from unavailable and invalid measurements', () => {
     expect(normalizeFleetNode({cpu_pct: 0}).cpu_pct).toBe(0)
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/useFleetData.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/useFleetData.ts
index b3f9377c..202bc68e 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/useFleetData.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/fleet/useFleetData.ts
@@ -70,10 +70,10 @@ export function timeAgo(dateStr: string): string {
   return `${diffDays}d ago`
 }
 
-export function fleetStatus(reportedAt: string): 'online' | 'offline' | 'unknown' {
+export function fleetStatus(reportedAt: string): 'online' | 'stale' | 'unknown' {
   const age = Date.now() - new Date(reportedAt).getTime()
   if (!Number.isFinite(age) || age < -60_000) return 'unknown'
-  return age < 30 * 60 * 1000 ? 'online' : 'offline'
+  return age < 30 * 60 * 1000 ? 'online' : 'stale'
 }
 
 export function isOnline(reportedAt: string): boolean {
@@ -159,10 +159,8 @@ export function sortFleetNodes(nodes: FleetNode[], sortBy: SortOption): FleetNod
   switch (sortBy) {
     case 'status':
       sorted.sort((a, b) => {
-        const aOnline = isOnline(a.reported_at)
-        const bOnline = isOnline(b.reported_at)
-        if (aOnline !== bOnline) return aOnline ? -1 : 1
-        return reportTime(b) - reportTime(a)
+        const rank = { online: 0, unknown: 1, stale: 2 }
+        return rank[fleetStatus(a.reported_at)] - rank[fleetStatus(b.reported_at)]
       })
       break
     case 'last-seen':
@@ -277,7 +275,7 @@ export function useFleetData() {
   // --- Computed ---
 
   const onlineCount = computed(() => nodes.value.filter(n => isOnline(n.reported_at)).length)
-  const offlineCount = computed(() => nodes.value.filter(n => fleetStatus(n.reported_at) === 'offline').length)
+  const offlineCount = computed(() => nodes.value.filter(n => fleetStatus(n.reported_at) === 'stale').length)
   const unknownCount = computed(() => nodes.value.filter(n => fleetStatus(n.reported_at) === 'unknown').length)
   const healthyCount = computed(() => nodes.value.filter(n => isOnline(n.reported_at) && n.cpu_pct !== null && n.mem_pct !== null && n.disk_pct !== null && n.recent_alerts.length === 0).length)
 
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5ConnectedNodes.vue b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5ConnectedNodes.vue
index e0d8db2b..e8512e2a 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5ConnectedNodes.vue
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/Web5ConnectedNodes.vue
@@ -25,7 +25,7 @@
     </div>
 
     <!-- Tabs: Trusted | Observers | Messages | Requests -->
-    <div class="flex gap-1 mb-4 border-b border-white/10">
+    <div class="flex gap-1 mb-4 border-b border-white/10 overflow-x-auto whitespace-nowrap shrink-0">
       <button
         @click="nodesContainerTab = 'trusted'"
         class="px-4 py-2 text-sm font-medium rounded-t-lg transition-colors"
@@ -48,11 +48,12 @@
         :class="nodesContainerTab === 'requests' ? 'bg-white/10 text-white' : 'text-white/60 hover:text-white/80 hover:bg-white/5'"
       >
         {{ t('web5.requests') }}
-        <span v-if="connectionRequests.length > 0" class="ml-1.5 text-xs text-orange-400">({{ connectionRequests.length }})</span>
-        <span v-if="connectionRequests.length > 0" class="w-2 h-2 rounded-full bg-orange-500 animate-pulse"></span>
+        <span v-if="requestCount > 0" class="ml-1.5 text-xs text-orange-400">({{ requestCount }})</span>
+        <span v-if="requestCount > 0" class="w-2 h-2 rounded-full bg-orange-500 animate-pulse"></span>
       </button>
     </div>
 
+    <p v-if="peersError && nodesContainerTab !== 'requests'" role="status" class="text-xs text-amber-200 mb-2">{{ peersError }}</p>
     <!-- Trusted tab -->
     <div v-show="nodesContainerTab === 'trusted'" class="space-y-2 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto max-h-72 xl:flex-1 xl:basis-0 xl:max-h-none">
       <div v-if="loadingPeers && peers.length === 0" class="p-4 text-center text-white/60 text-sm">
@@ -65,16 +66,16 @@
         {{ t('common.loading') }}
       </div>
       <div
-        v-for="p in peers"
+        v-for="p in sortedPeers"
         :key="p.pubkey"
         @click="router.push({ path: '/dashboard/server/federation', query: { node: p.did || p.pubkey || p.onion } })"
         class="flex items-center justify-between p-3 bg-white/5 rounded-lg cursor-pointer hover:bg-white/10 transition-colors"
       >
         <div class="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
-          <div class="w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0" :class="peerReachable[p.onion] ? 'bg-green-400' : 'bg-amber-400'"></div>
+          <div class="w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0" :class="statusClass(p)"></div>
           <div class="min-w-0">
             <p class="text-sm font-mono text-white/90 truncate">{{ p.name || p.onion || (p.pubkey || '').slice(0, 16) + '...' }}</p>
-            <p class="text-xs text-white/50 truncate">{{ p.onion }}</p>
+            <p class="text-xs text-white/50 truncate">{{ availabilityText(p) }} · {{ contactText(p) }}</p>
           </div>
         </div>
         <button
@@ -98,16 +99,16 @@
         {{ t('common.loading') }}
       </div>
       <div
-        v-for="p in observers"
+        v-for="p in sortedObservers"
         :key="p.pubkey"
         @click="router.push({ path: '/dashboard/server/federation', query: { node: p.did || p.pubkey || p.onion } })"
         class="flex items-center justify-between p-3 bg-white/5 rounded-lg cursor-pointer hover:bg-white/10 transition-colors"
       >
         <div class="flex items-center gap-3 min-w-0">
-          <div class="w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0" :class="peerReachable[p.onion] ? 'bg-green-400' : 'bg-amber-400'"></div>
+          <div class="w-2 h-2 rounded-full shrink-0" :class="statusClass(p)"></div>
           <div class="min-w-0">
             <p class="text-sm font-mono text-white/90 truncate">{{ p.name || p.onion || (p.pubkey || '').slice(0, 16) + '...' }}</p>
-            <p class="text-xs text-white/50 truncate">{{ p.onion }}</p>
+            <p class="text-xs text-white/50 truncate">{{ availabilityText(p) }} · {{ contactText(p) }}</p>
           </div>
         </div>
         <span class="px-2 py-1 text-xs rounded bg-blue-500/20 text-blue-300 shrink-0">
@@ -118,10 +119,17 @@
 
     <!-- Requests tab -->
     <div v-show="nodesContainerTab === 'requests'" class="space-y-2 min-h-0 overflow-y-auto max-h-72 xl:flex-1 xl:basis-0 xl:max-h-none">
-      <div v-if="loadingRequests && connectionRequests.length === 0" class="p-4 text-center text-white/60 text-sm">
+      <p v-if="requestError" role="status" class="text-xs text-amber-200">{{ requestError }}</p>
+      <button v-for="request in nostrRequests" :key="'nostr:' + request.id"
+        class="w-full text-left p-3 bg-white/5 rounded-lg hover:bg-white/10 transition-colors"
+        @click="router.push({ path: '/dashboard/server/federation', hash: '#connection-requests' })">
+        <span class="block text-sm text-white truncate">{{ request.from_name || request.from_did || request.from_nostr_npub }}</span>
+        <span class="block text-xs text-white/60">Nostr · {{ request.state === 'approved' ? 'Approved — connecting' : request.outbound ? 'Sent — awaiting approval' : 'Incoming — review request' }}</span>
+      </button>
+      <div v-if="loadingRequests && requestCount === 0" class="p-4 text-center text-white/60 text-sm">
         {{ t('common.loading') }}
       </div>
-      <div v-else-if="connectionRequests.length === 0" class="p-4 text-center text-white/60 text-sm">
+      <div v-else-if="requestCount === 0" class="p-4 text-center text-white/60 text-sm">
         {{ t('web5.noRequests') }}
       </div>
       <div v-else-if="loadingRequests" class="p-2 text-center text-white/45 text-xs">
@@ -231,13 +239,14 @@
 </template>
 
 <script setup lang="ts">
-import { ref, computed } from 'vue'
+import { ref, computed, onMounted, onUnmounted } from 'vue'
 import { useRouter } from 'vue-router'
 import { useI18n } from 'vue-i18n'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
 import { useMessageToast } from '@/composables/useMessageToast'
 import { useWeb5BadgeStore } from '@/stores/web5Badge'
-import { useAppStore } from '@/stores/app'
+import type { PendingPeerRequest } from '@/api/rpc-client'
+import { availabilityRank, lastContactLabel, nodeAvailability, validContact, type ReachabilitySample } from './nodeAvailability'
 import { useModalKeyboard } from '@/composables/useModalKeyboard'
 import { formatMessageTime } from './utils'
 import type { Peer, ConnectionRequest } from './types'
@@ -246,13 +255,13 @@ const router = useRouter()
 const { t } = useI18n()
 const messageToast = useMessageToast()
 const web5Badge = useWeb5BadgeStore()
-const appStore = useAppStore()
 
-const CONNECTED_NODES_CACHE_KEY = 'archipelago.web5.connected-nodes.v1'
+
+const CONNECTED_NODES_CACHE_KEY = 'archipelago.web5.connected-nodes.v2'
 type ConnectedNodesCache = {
   peers: Peer[]
   observers: Peer[]
-  peerReachable: Record<string, boolean>
+  peerReachable: Record<string, ReachabilitySample>
   connectionRequests: ConnectionRequest[]
 }
 
@@ -289,8 +298,27 @@ const cached = readConnectedNodesCache()
 const peers = ref<Peer[]>(cached.peers ?? [])
 const observers = ref<Peer[]>(cached.observers ?? [])
 const loadingPeers = ref(false)
-const peerReachableLocal = ref<Record<string, boolean>>(cached.peerReachable ?? {})
-const peerReachable = computed(() => ({ ...appStore.peerHealth, ...peerReachableLocal.value }))
+const peerReachableLocal = ref<Record<string, ReachabilitySample>>(cached.peerReachable ?? {})
+const now = ref(Date.now())
+let ageTimer: ReturnType<typeof setInterval> | undefined
+let peerGeneration = 0
+onMounted(() => { ageTimer = setInterval(() => { now.value = Date.now() }, 15_000) })
+onUnmounted(() => { clearInterval(ageTimer); peerGeneration++ })
+function availability(peer: Peer) { return nodeAvailability(peerReachableLocal.value[peer.onion], now.value) }
+function availabilityText(peer: Peer) {
+  const status = availability(peer)
+  return status === 'online' ? 'Online' : status === 'unreachable' ? 'Unreachable' : 'Status unknown'
+}
+function contactText(peer: Peer) {
+  const local = validContact(peerReachableLocal.value[peer.onion]?.lastSeen, now.value) ?? 0
+  const recorded = validContact(peer.last_seen, now.value) ?? 0
+  return lastContactLabel(Math.max(local, recorded), now.value)
+}
+function statusClass(peer: Peer) {
+  return availability(peer) === 'online' ? 'bg-green-400' : availability(peer) === 'unreachable' ? 'bg-amber-400' : 'bg-white/30'
+}
+const sortedPeers = computed(() => [...peers.value].sort((a, b) => availabilityRank(availability(a)) - availabilityRank(availability(b))))
+const sortedObservers = computed(() => [...observers.value].sort((a, b) => availabilityRank(availability(a)) - availabilityRank(availability(b))))
 
 // Send message modal
 const showSendMessageModal = ref(false)
@@ -309,6 +337,10 @@ const sendMessageSuccess = ref('')
 
 // Connection requests
 const connectionRequests = ref<ConnectionRequest[]>(cached.connectionRequests ?? [])
+const nostrRequests = ref<PendingPeerRequest[]>([])
+const requestCount = computed(() => connectionRequests.value.length + nostrRequests.value.length)
+const requestError = ref('')
+const peersError = ref('')
 const loadingRequests = ref(false)
 const processingRequestId = ref<string | null>(null)
 
@@ -329,13 +361,14 @@ function federationNodeToPeer(node: FederationNode): Peer {
     onion: node.onion,
     pubkey: node.pubkey,
     did: node.did,
+    last_seen: node.last_seen,
     name: node.name || `Federation: ${node.did?.slice(0, 16) || 'node'}`,
   }
 }
 
 function switchToRequestsTab() {
   nodesContainerTab.value = 'requests'
-  if (connectionRequests.value.length === 0 && !loadingRequests.value) {
+  if (!loadingRequests.value) {
     loadConnectionRequests()
   }
 }
@@ -346,74 +379,58 @@ function refreshActiveTab() {
   else void loadPeers()
 }
 
+function persistCache() {
+  writeConnectedNodesCache({ peers: peers.value, observers: observers.value, peerReachable: peerReachableLocal.value, connectionRequests: connectionRequests.value })
+}
 async function loadPeers() {
-  const hadPeers = peers.value.length > 0 || observers.value.length > 0
+  if (loadingPeers.value) return
+  const generation = ++peerGeneration
   loadingPeers.value = true
-  try {
-    // Independent RPCs — fetched together (serialized they stacked two full
-    // mesh round-trips before anything rendered).
-    const [res, fedSettled] = await Promise.all([
-      rpcClient.listPeers(),
-      rpcClient.federationListNodes().catch(() => null),
-    ])
-    const peerList = res.peers || []
-    const observerList: Peer[] = []
-
-    try {
-      const fedNodes = fedSettled?.nodes || []
-      for (const n of fedNodes) {
-        if (!n.onion || n.trust_level === 'untrusted') {
-          continue
-        }
-
-        if (n.trust_level === 'observer') {
-          if (!observerList.some(p => p.onion === n.onion || p.pubkey === n.pubkey)) {
-            observerList.push(federationNodeToPeer(n))
-          }
-          continue
-        }
-
-        if (!peerList.some(p => p.onion === n.onion || p.pubkey === n.pubkey)) {
-          peerList.push(federationNodeToPeer(n))
-        }
-      }
-    } catch {
-      // Federation may not be set up
+  peersError.value = ''
+  let direct: Peer[] | undefined
+  let federated: FederationNode[] | undefined
+  function applyLists() {
+    if (generation !== peerGeneration) return
+    const trusted = direct ? [...direct] : [...peers.value]
+    const observerList: Peer[] = federated ? [] : [...observers.value]
+    for (const node of federated ?? []) {
+      if (!node.onion || node.trust_level === 'untrusted') continue
+      const list = node.trust_level === 'observer' ? observerList : trusted
+      const peer = federationNodeToPeer(node)
+      const index = list.findIndex(p => p.did === node.did || p.onion === node.onion || (p.pubkey && p.pubkey === node.pubkey))
+      if (index < 0) list.push(peer)
+      else list[index] = { ...list[index], ...peer }
     }
-
-    peers.value = peerList
+    peers.value = trusted
     observers.value = observerList
-    // The list is ready — render it and re-enable Refresh NOW. The
-    // reachability dots fill in as probes resolve. Before 2026-07-22 the
-    // probes ran ONE AT A TIME with a 30s Tor timeout each, so Refresh sat
-    // disabled for N-offline-peers × 30s ("takes ages").
-    loadingPeers.value = false
-    void Promise.allSettled(
-      [...peers.value, ...observers.value].map(async (p) => {
-        try {
-          const check = await rpcClient.checkPeerReachable(p.onion)
-          peerReachableLocal.value[p.onion] = check.reachable
-        } catch {
-          peerReachableLocal.value[p.onion] = false
-        }
-      }),
-    ).then(() => {
-      writeConnectedNodesCache({
-        peers: peers.value,
-        observers: observers.value,
-        peerReachable: peerReachableLocal.value,
-        connectionRequests: connectionRequests.value,
-      })
-    })
-  } catch (e) {
-    if (import.meta.env.DEV) console.error('Failed to load peers:', e)
-    if (!hadPeers) {
-      peers.value = []
-      observers.value = []
-    }
-  } finally {
-    loadingPeers.value = false
+    persistCache()
   }
+  const results = await Promise.allSettled([
+    rpcClient.listPeers().then(result => { direct = result.peers || []; applyLists() }),
+    rpcClient.federationListNodes().then(result => { federated = result.nodes || []; applyLists() }),
+  ])
+  if (generation !== peerGeneration) return
+  if (results.some(result => result.status === 'rejected')) peersError.value = 'Some nodes could not be refreshed. Showing available information.'
+  loadingPeers.value = false
+  // Bound concurrent probes, render each result immediately, and ignore replies
+  // from a superseded refresh. A failed RPC is unknown, not an offline node.
+  const pending = [...new Map([...peers.value, ...observers.value].map(peer => [peer.onion, peer])).values()]
+  async function probe() {
+    while (pending.length && generation === peerGeneration) {
+      const peer = pending.shift()!
+      let reachable: boolean | null = null
+      try { reachable = (await rpcClient.checkPeerReachable(peer.onion)).reachable } catch { /* unknown */ }
+      if (generation !== peerGeneration) return
+      now.value = Date.now()
+      peerReachableLocal.value[peer.onion] = {
+        reachable,
+        checkedAt: now.value,
+        lastSeen: reachable ? now.value : validContact(peerReachableLocal.value[peer.onion]?.lastSeen, now.value),
+      }
+      persistCache()
+    }
+  }
+  void Promise.all(Array.from({ length: Math.min(4, pending.length) }, probe))
 }
 
 async function sendMessage() {
@@ -437,23 +454,20 @@ async function sendMessage() {
 }
 
 async function loadConnectionRequests() {
-  const hadRequests = connectionRequests.value.length > 0
+  if (loadingRequests.value) return
   loadingRequests.value = true
-  try {
-    const res = await rpcClient.call<{ requests: ConnectionRequest[] }>({ method: 'network.list-requests' })
-    connectionRequests.value = res.requests || []
-    web5Badge.pendingRequestCount = connectionRequests.value.length
-    writeConnectedNodesCache({
-      peers: peers.value,
-      observers: observers.value,
-      peerReachable: peerReachableLocal.value,
-      connectionRequests: connectionRequests.value,
-    })
-  } catch {
-    if (!hadRequests) connectionRequests.value = []
-  } finally {
-    loadingRequests.value = false
-  }
+  requestError.value = ''
+  const results = await Promise.allSettled([
+    rpcClient.call<{ requests: ConnectionRequest[] }>({ method: 'network.list-requests' }).then(res => { connectionRequests.value = res.requests || [] }),
+    rpcClient.federationListPendingRequests().then(res => {
+      nostrRequests.value = (res.requests || []).filter(request => request.state === 'pending' || request.state === 'sent' ||
+        (request.state === 'approved' && ![...peers.value, ...observers.value].some(peer => peer.did === request.from_did)))
+    }),
+  ])
+  if (results.some(result => result.status === 'rejected')) requestError.value = 'Some requests could not be refreshed. Try again.'
+  web5Badge.pendingRequestCount = connectionRequests.value.length + nostrRequests.value.filter(request => request.state === 'pending' && !request.outbound).length
+  persistCache()
+  loadingRequests.value = false
 }
 
 async function acceptRequest(requestId: string) {
@@ -461,7 +475,7 @@ async function acceptRequest(requestId: string) {
   try {
     await rpcClient.call({ method: 'network.accept-request', params: { id: requestId } })
     connectionRequests.value = connectionRequests.value.filter(r => r.id !== requestId)
-    web5Badge.pendingRequestCount = connectionRequests.value.length
+    web5Badge.pendingRequestCount = connectionRequests.value.length + nostrRequests.value.filter(request => request.state === 'pending' && !request.outbound).length
     writeConnectedNodesCache({
       peers: peers.value,
       observers: observers.value,
@@ -482,7 +496,7 @@ async function rejectRequest(requestId: string) {
   try {
     await rpcClient.call({ method: 'network.reject-request', params: { id: requestId } })
     connectionRequests.value = connectionRequests.value.filter(r => r.id !== requestId)
-    web5Badge.pendingRequestCount = connectionRequests.value.length
+    web5Badge.pendingRequestCount = connectionRequests.value.length + nostrRequests.value.filter(request => request.state === 'pending' && !request.outbound).length
     writeConnectedNodesCache({
       peers: peers.value,
       observers: observers.value,
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/Web5ConnectedNodes.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/Web5ConnectedNodes.test.ts
index d4d18d33..994ac5f9 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/Web5ConnectedNodes.test.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/Web5ConnectedNodes.test.ts
@@ -1,8 +1,10 @@
-import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils'
-import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { mount, flushPromises, enableAutoUnmount } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import Web5ConnectedNodes from '../Web5ConnectedNodes.vue'
 import { rpcClient } from '@/api/rpc-client'
 
+enableAutoUnmount(afterEach)
+
 vi.mock('vue-router', () => ({
   useRouter: () => ({ push: vi.fn() }),
 }))
@@ -15,6 +17,7 @@ vi.mock('@/api/rpc-client', () => ({
   rpcClient: {
     listPeers: vi.fn(() => new Promise(() => {})),
     federationListNodes: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ nodes: [] }),
+    federationListPendingRequests: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ requests: [] }),
     checkPeerReachable: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ reachable: false }),
     call: vi.fn(),
   },
@@ -41,6 +44,7 @@ vi.mock('@/composables/useModalKeyboard', () => ({
 describe('Web5ConnectedNodes', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks()
+    sessionStorage.clear()
   })
 
   it('shows a loading state for empty trusted nodes while peers are loading', async () => {
@@ -83,4 +87,43 @@ describe('Web5ConnectedNodes', () => {
 
     expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Please connect')
   })
+  it('shows Nostr requests beside legacy requests without requiring discovery first', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(rpcClient.call).mockResolvedValue({ requests: [] })
+    vi.mocked(rpcClient.federationListPendingRequests).mockResolvedValueOnce({ requests: [{
+      id: 'nostr-1', from_did: 'did:key:yaya', from_name: 'Yaya', from_nostr_npub: 'npub1yaya',
+      from_nostr_pubkey: 'abc', message: null, received_at: new Date().toISOString(), state: 'approved', outbound: false,
+    }] })
+    const wrapper = mount(Web5ConnectedNodes)
+    await wrapper.vm.loadConnectionRequests()
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Yaya')
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Approved — connecting')
+    expect(wrapper.text()).not.toContain('web5.noRequests')
+  })
+
+  it('renders direct peers while federation is slow and distinguishes probe failure from unreachable', async () => {
+    vi.mocked(rpcClient.listPeers).mockResolvedValueOnce({ peers: [
+      { onion: 'online.onion', pubkey: 'online', name: 'Available node' },
+      { onion: 'failed.onion', pubkey: 'failed', name: 'Query failed' },
+      { onion: 'offline.onion', pubkey: 'offline', name: 'No route' },
+    ] })
+    let finish!: (value: { nodes: [] }) => void
+    vi.mocked(rpcClient.federationListNodes).mockReturnValueOnce(new Promise(resolve => { finish = resolve }))
+    vi.mocked(rpcClient.checkPeerReachable).mockImplementation(async onion => {
+      if (onion === 'failed.onion') throw new Error('unauthorized')
+      return { onion, reachable: onion === 'online.onion' }
+    })
+    const wrapper = mount(Web5ConnectedNodes)
+    const load = wrapper.vm.loadPeers()
+    await flushPromises()
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Available node')
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Status unknown')
+    finish({ nodes: [] })
+    await load
+    await flushPromises()
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Online · Last seen just now')
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Unreachable · No confirmed contact')
+    expect(wrapper.text()).toContain('Status unknown · No confirmed contact')
+    expect(wrapper.text()).not.toContain('Offline for')
+  })
+
 })
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/Web5ConnectedNodesScroll.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/Web5ConnectedNodesScroll.test.ts
index cf6ed9ca..79c0dc2a 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/Web5ConnectedNodesScroll.test.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/Web5ConnectedNodesScroll.test.ts
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
-import { mount } from '@vue/test-utils'
-import { beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
+import { mount, enableAutoUnmount } from '@vue/test-utils'
+import { afterEach, beforeEach, describe, expect, it, vi } from 'vitest'
 import Web5ConnectedNodes from '../Web5ConnectedNodes.vue'
 
 // Structural pin for UIFIX-02: the connected-nodes card's height must track
@@ -7,6 +7,8 @@ import Web5ConnectedNodes from '../Web5ConnectedNodes.vue'
 // child), and the tab panes must scroll inside that height rather than
 // growing to fit every row. See:
 
+enableAutoUnmount(afterEach)
+
 vi.mock('vue-router', () => ({
   useRouter: () => ({ push: vi.fn() }),
 }))
@@ -19,6 +21,7 @@ vi.mock('@/api/rpc-client', () => ({
   rpcClient: {
     listPeers: vi.fn(() => new Promise(() => {})),
     federationListNodes: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ nodes: [] }),
+    federationListPendingRequests: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ requests: [] }),
     checkPeerReachable: vi.fn().mockResolvedValue({ reachable: false }),
     call: vi.fn(),
   },
@@ -45,6 +48,7 @@ vi.mock('@/composables/useModalKeyboard', () => ({
 describe('Web5ConnectedNodes scroll contract (UIFIX-02)', () => {
   beforeEach(() => {
     vi.clearAllMocks()
+    sessionStorage.clear()
   })
 
   it('gives all three tab panes the bounded, sibling-matched scroll contract', () => {
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/nodeAvailability.test.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/nodeAvailability.test.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..102e36a7
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/__tests__/nodeAvailability.test.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+import { describe, expect, it } from 'vitest'
+import { nodeAvailability, lastContactLabel, validContact, REACHABILITY_MAX_AGE, availabilityRank } from '../nodeAvailability'
+
+describe('node availability observations', () => {
+  const now = Date.parse('2026-10-06T00:00:00Z')
+  it('ages cached observations and rejects malformed or future samples', () => {
+    expect(nodeAvailability({ reachable: true, checkedAt: now }, now)).toBe('online')
+    expect(nodeAvailability({ reachable: false, checkedAt: now }, now)).toBe('unreachable')
+    expect(nodeAvailability({ reachable: null, checkedAt: now }, now)).toBe('unknown')
+    for (const checkedAt of [NaN, now + 120000, now - REACHABILITY_MAX_AGE - 1]) {
+      expect(nodeAvailability({ reachable: true, checkedAt }, now)).toBe('unknown')
+    }
+    expect(nodeAvailability(undefined, now)).toBe('unknown')
+  })
+  it('reports last contact without inventing continuous offline duration', () => {
+    expect(lastContactLabel(now - 2 * 86400000, now)).toBe('Last seen 2d ago')
+    for (const value of [null, undefined, '', 'broken', 0, now + 120000]) {
+      expect(validContact(value, now)).toBeUndefined()
+      expect(lastContactLabel(value, now)).toBe('No confirmed contact')
+    }
+    expect(lastContactLabel(now + 30000, now)).toBe('Last seen just now')
+    expect(['unreachable', 'online', 'unknown'].sort((a, b) => availabilityRank(a as any) - availabilityRank(b as any))).toEqual(['online', 'unknown', 'unreachable'])
+  })
+})
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/nodeAvailability.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/nodeAvailability.ts
new file mode 100644
index 00000000..68bb2453
--- /dev/null
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/nodeAvailability.ts
@@ -0,0 +1,25 @@
+/** Reachability is an observation, not proof of a continuous outage. */
+export interface ReachabilitySample { reachable: boolean | null; checkedAt: number; lastSeen?: number }
+export type NodeAvailability = 'online' | 'unreachable' | 'unknown'
+export const REACHABILITY_MAX_AGE = 90_000
+
+export function validContact(value: unknown, now: number): number | undefined {
+  const timestamp = typeof value === 'number' ? value : typeof value === 'string' ? Date.parse(value) : NaN
+  return Number.isFinite(timestamp) && timestamp > 0 && timestamp <= now + 60_000 ? timestamp : undefined
+}
+export function nodeAvailability(sample: ReachabilitySample | undefined, now: number): NodeAvailability {
+  if (!sample || !Number.isFinite(sample.checkedAt) || now - sample.checkedAt > REACHABILITY_MAX_AGE || sample.checkedAt > now + 60_000) return 'unknown'
+  return sample.reachable === true ? 'online' : sample.reachable === false ? 'unreachable' : 'unknown'
+}
+export function lastContactLabel(value: unknown, now: number): string {
+  const timestamp = validContact(value, now)
+  if (!timestamp) return 'No confirmed contact'
+  const seconds = Math.max(0, Math.floor((now - timestamp) / 1000))
+  if (seconds < 60) return 'Last seen just now'
+  if (seconds < 3600) return `Last seen ${Math.floor(seconds / 60)}m ago`
+  if (seconds < 86400) return `Last seen ${Math.floor(seconds / 3600)}h ago`
+  return `Last seen ${Math.floor(seconds / 86400)}d ago`
+}
+export function availabilityRank(status: NodeAvailability): number {
+  return status === 'online' ? 0 : status === 'unknown' ? 1 : 2
+}
diff --git a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/types.ts b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/types.ts
index a6af7a48..071df800 100644
--- a/neode-ui/src/views/web5/types.ts
+++ b/neode-ui/src/views/web5/types.ts
@@ -159,4 +159,4 @@ export interface DwnMessageEntry {
 
 export type VisibilityLevel = 'hidden' | 'discoverable' | 'public'
 
-export type Peer = { onion: string; pubkey: string; name?: string; did?: string }
+export type Peer = { onion: string; pubkey: string; name?: string; did?: string; last_seen?: string }