diff --git a/specs/zeroclaw_dual_hw_orchestration_spec.md b/specs/zeroclaw_dual_hw_orchestration_spec.md
index b4676ce..d6f03e8 100644
--- a/specs/zeroclaw_dual_hw_orchestration_spec.md
+++ b/specs/zeroclaw_dual_hw_orchestration_spec.md
@@ -64,23 +64,31 @@ This keeps `autonomy.workspace_only = true` effective on a per-repo boundary.
 - `tools/ai/zeroclaw_dual_chat.sh`
   - target switch by alias (`rtc`, `zacus`) or absolute path,
   - message mode (`-m`) or interactive mode,
+  - loads local auth env file `~/.zeroclaw/env` when present,
   - provider auto-fallback (`copilot` -> `openai-codex` -> `openrouter`),
   - token sourcing from `gh auth token` at runtime only when `copilot` is selected.
 - `tools/ai/zeroclaw_stack_up.sh`
   - starts local gateway and local follow server,
   - reuses existing listeners when ports are already bound (prevents duplicate-start failures),
+  - loads local auth env file `~/.zeroclaw/env` when present,
+  - attempts automatic gateway pairing and token refresh,
+  - validates bearer token with a malformed webhook probe (`{}` payload) and re-pairs when possible,
   - generates live follow dashboard at `http://127.0.0.1:8788/`,
   - dashboard includes live polling panels for `/conversations.jsonl` and `/gateway.log` (1s polling),
   - preserves direct raw links: `/conversations.jsonl` and `/gateway.log`,
   - writes `artifacts/zeroclaw/prometheus.yml` scrape config,
-  - supports local Prometheus startup via `ZEROCLAW_PROM_MODE` (`off`, `auto`, `binary`, `docker`),
+  - supports local Prometheus startup via `ZEROCLAW_PROM_MODE` (`off`, `auto`, `binary`, `docker`) with `auto` fallback `binary -> docker`,
+  - on macOS, auto-attempts Docker Desktop startup before Prometheus docker mode,
   - stores pair token in `artifacts/zeroclaw/pair_token.txt`.
 - `tools/ai/zeroclaw_stack_down.sh`
   - stops local gateway/follow processes,
   - stops local Prometheus process/container if managed by the stack,
   - confirms logs remain in `artifacts/zeroclaw/`.
 - `tools/ai/zeroclaw_webhook_send.sh`
-  - requires `--allow-model-call` before any real webhook send,
+  - sends webhook by default (no mandatory allow flag),
+  - keeps `--allow-model-call` as backward-compatible legacy option,
+  - supports `--dry-run` to validate payload/limits without network send,
+  - enforces autonomous local quotas with `artifacts/zeroclaw/webhook_budget.json`,
   - supports `--repo-hint <hint>` metadata tagging,
   - appends enriched JSONL traces to `artifacts/zeroclaw/conversations.jsonl`.
 
@@ -155,22 +163,43 @@ Compatibility rule:
 
 - viewer tolerates legacy lines that only contain `ts`, `message`, `response_raw`.
 
-Credit-protection rule:
+Webhook execution and cost controls:
 
-- without `--allow-model-call`, `zeroclaw_webhook_send.sh` exits non-zero and does not send/write logs.
+- webhook send is enabled by default.
+- `--dry-run` performs validation only (no network call, no execution log append).
+- hourly quota and message-size limits are enforced by environment variables:
+  - `ZEROCLAW_WEBHOOK_MAX_CALLS_PER_HOUR` (default: `40`)
+  - `ZEROCLAW_WEBHOOK_MAX_CHARS` (default: `1200`)
+- quota state is stored in `artifacts/zeroclaw/webhook_budget.json`.
 
 ## 9) Prometheus Integration
 
 Economical default:
 
-- `ZEROCLAW_PROM_MODE=auto` (start only if local `prometheus` binary exists)
+- `ZEROCLAW_PROM_MODE=auto` (try local `prometheus` binary first, then Docker fallback)
 
 Optional modes:
 
 - `ZEROCLAW_PROM_MODE=off` disables Prometheus startup
 - `ZEROCLAW_PROM_MODE=binary` requires local `prometheus` binary
 - `ZEROCLAW_PROM_MODE=docker` runs `prom/prometheus:latest` locally
+- `ZEROCLAW_DOCKER_WAIT_SECS` controls Docker daemon wait timeout (default: `90`)
+- `ZEROCLAW_PROM_READY_WAIT_SECS` controls Prometheus readiness wait (default: `15`)
 
 Default local endpoint when running:
 
 - `http://127.0.0.1:9090/targets`
+
+## 10) Local Auth Bootstrap
+
+Recommended local secret file:
+
+- `~/.zeroclaw/env` (permissions `600`)
+
+Suggested contents:
+
+- `OPENROUTER_API_KEY=...`
+
+Behavior:
+
+- `zeroclaw_dual_chat.sh`, `zeroclaw_stack_up.sh`, and `zeroclaw_webhook_send.sh` auto-load this file if present.
diff --git a/tools/ai/zeroclaw_dual_chat.sh b/tools/ai/zeroclaw_dual_chat.sh
index 3df69ef..415d0c2 100755
--- a/tools/ai/zeroclaw_dual_chat.sh
+++ b/tools/ai/zeroclaw_dual_chat.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,18 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
+load_local_env() {
+  local env_file="${ZEROCLAW_ENV_FILE:-$HOME/.zeroclaw/env}"
+  [[ -f "$env_file" ]] || return 0
+  chmod 600 "$env_file" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  set -a
+  # shellcheck disable=SC1090
+  source "$env_file"
+  set +a
+}
+
+load_local_env
+
 ZEROCLAW_BIN="${ZEROCLAW_BIN:-/Users/cils/Documents/Lelectron_rare/Kill_LIFE/zeroclaw/target/release/zeroclaw}"
 RTC_REPO="/Users/cils/Documents/Lelectron_rare/RTC_BL_PHONE"
 ZACUS_REPO="/Users/cils/Documents/Lelectron_rare/le-mystere-professeur-zacus"
diff --git a/tools/ai/zeroclaw_stack_up.sh b/tools/ai/zeroclaw_stack_up.sh
index d681ad1..3296069 100755
--- a/tools/ai/zeroclaw_stack_up.sh
+++ b/tools/ai/zeroclaw_stack_up.sh
@@ -1,6 +1,18 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
+load_local_env() {
+  local env_file="${ZEROCLAW_ENV_FILE:-$HOME/.zeroclaw/env}"
+  [[ -f "$env_file" ]] || return 0
+  chmod 600 "$env_file" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  set -a
+  # shellcheck disable=SC1090
+  source "$env_file"
+  set +a
+}
+
+load_local_env
+
 ROOT_DIR="/Users/cils/Documents/Lelectron_rare/Kill_LIFE"
 ART_DIR="${ZEROCLAW_ART_DIR:-$ROOT_DIR/artifacts/zeroclaw}"
 ZEROCLAW_BIN="${ZEROCLAW_BIN:-$ROOT_DIR/zeroclaw/target/release/zeroclaw}"
@@ -13,6 +25,8 @@ PROM_PORT="${ZEROCLAW_PROM_PORT:-9090}"
 PROM_RETENTION="${ZEROCLAW_PROM_RETENTION:-24h}"
 PROM_SCRAPE_INTERVAL="${ZEROCLAW_PROM_SCRAPE_INTERVAL:-15s}"
 PROM_CONTAINER="${ZEROCLAW_PROM_CONTAINER:-zeroclaw-prometheus}"
+DOCKER_WAIT_SECS="${ZEROCLAW_DOCKER_WAIT_SECS:-90}"
+PROM_READY_WAIT_SECS="${ZEROCLAW_PROM_READY_WAIT_SECS:-15}"
 
 GW_PID_FILE="$ART_DIR/gateway.pid"
 FW_PID_FILE="$ART_DIR/follow.pid"
@@ -61,6 +75,41 @@ listener_pid_on_port() {
   lsof -nP -iTCP:"$port" -sTCP:LISTEN -t 2>/dev/null | head -n 1
 }
 
+ensure_docker_daemon() {
+  if ! command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  if docker info >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  if [[ "$(uname -s)" == "Darwin" ]]; then
+    open -ga Docker >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  fi
+
+  local waited=0
+  while (( waited < DOCKER_WAIT_SECS )); do
+    if docker info >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+    sleep 2
+    waited=$((waited + 2))
+  done
+  return 1
+}
+
+wait_for_prometheus_ready() {
+  local waited=0
+  while (( waited < PROM_READY_WAIT_SECS )); do
+    if curl -fsS "http://$PROM_HOST:$PROM_PORT/-/ready" >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+      return 0
+    fi
+    sleep 1
+    waited=$((waited + 1))
+  done
+  return 1
+}
+
 write_prometheus_config() {
   mkdir -p "$PROM_DATA_DIR"
   cat >"$PROM_CONFIG_FILE" <<EOF
@@ -78,7 +127,7 @@ EOF
 
 start_prometheus_binary() {
   if is_running "$PROM_PID_FILE"; then
-    PROM_STATUS="binary(pid $(cat "$PROM_PID_FILE"))"
+    PROM_STATUS="binary(existing pid $(cat "$PROM_PID_FILE"))"
     return 0
   fi
   if ! command -v prometheus >/dev/null 2>&1; then
@@ -94,7 +143,11 @@ start_prometheus_binary() {
   sleep 0.3
   if is_running "$PROM_PID_FILE"; then
     printf '%s\n' "binary" >"$PROM_MANAGED_FILE"
-    PROM_STATUS="binary"
+    if wait_for_prometheus_ready; then
+      PROM_STATUS="binary(ready)"
+    else
+      PROM_STATUS="binary(starting)"
+    fi
     return 0
   fi
   rm -f "$PROM_PID_FILE"
@@ -105,14 +158,18 @@ start_prometheus_docker() {
   if ! command -v docker >/dev/null 2>&1; then
     return 1
   fi
-  if ! docker info >/dev/null 2>&1; then
+  if ! ensure_docker_daemon; then
     return 1
   fi
   local running_id
   running_id="$(docker ps --filter "name=^/${PROM_CONTAINER}$" --format '{{.ID}}' | head -n 1)"
   if [[ -n "$running_id" ]]; then
     printf '%s\n' "docker" >"$PROM_MANAGED_FILE"
-    PROM_STATUS="docker(existing:$PROM_CONTAINER)"
+    if wait_for_prometheus_ready; then
+      PROM_STATUS="docker(existing:$PROM_CONTAINER,ready)"
+    else
+      PROM_STATUS="docker(existing:$PROM_CONTAINER,starting)"
+    fi
     return 0
   fi
 
@@ -133,12 +190,100 @@ start_prometheus_docker() {
     --web.listen-address=:9090 2>>"$PROM_LOG" || true)"
   if [[ -n "$container_id" ]]; then
     printf '%s\n' "docker" >"$PROM_MANAGED_FILE"
-    PROM_STATUS="docker($PROM_CONTAINER)"
+    if wait_for_prometheus_ready; then
+      PROM_STATUS="docker($PROM_CONTAINER,ready)"
+    else
+      PROM_STATUS="docker($PROM_CONTAINER,starting)"
+    fi
     return 0
   fi
   return 1
 }
 
+gateway_is_paired() {
+  curl -fsS "http://$GATEWAY_HOST:$GATEWAY_PORT/health" 2>/dev/null | python3 -c 'import json,sys
+raw=sys.stdin.read().strip()
+try:
+  obj=json.loads(raw) if raw else {}
+except Exception:
+  sys.exit(1)
+sys.exit(0 if obj.get("paired") else 1)' >/dev/null 2>&1
+}
+
+read_pair_token() {
+  [[ -f "$TOKEN_FILE" ]] || return 1
+  cat "$TOKEN_FILE" 2>/dev/null
+}
+
+token_is_usable() {
+  local token="${1:-}"
+  [[ -n "$token" ]] || return 1
+  local http_status
+  http_status="$(curl -sS -o /dev/null -w "%{http_code}" -X POST "http://$GATEWAY_HOST:$GATEWAY_PORT/webhook" \
+    -H "Authorization: Bearer $token" \
+    -H "Content-Type: application/json" \
+    -d '{}' || true)"
+
+  # 400/422 typically means auth passed but payload was intentionally malformed.
+  if [[ "$http_status" == "401" || "$http_status" == "403" || "$http_status" == "000" ]]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  return 0
+}
+
+extract_pair_code() {
+  grep -Eo 'X-Pairing-Code: [0-9]{6}' "$GW_LOG" 2>/dev/null | tail -1 | awk '{print $2}' || true
+}
+
+write_pair_token_from_code() {
+  local pair_code="$1"
+  local pair_json token
+  pair_json="$(curl -sS -X POST "http://$GATEWAY_HOST:$GATEWAY_PORT/pair" -H "X-Pairing-Code: $pair_code" || true)"
+  token="$(printf '%s' "$pair_json" | python3 -c 'import json,sys
+raw=sys.stdin.read().strip()
+try:
+  obj=json.loads(raw) if raw else {}
+except Exception:
+  obj={}
+print(obj.get("token",""), end="")')"
+  if [[ -z "$token" ]]; then
+    return 1
+  fi
+  printf '%s\n' "$token" >"$TOKEN_FILE"
+  chmod 600 "$TOKEN_FILE"
+  return 0
+}
+
+ensure_gateway_pairing() {
+  local current_token=""
+  current_token="$(read_pair_token || true)"
+  if gateway_is_paired && token_is_usable "$current_token"; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  local pair_code
+  pair_code="$(extract_pair_code)"
+  if [[ -n "$pair_code" ]]; then
+    write_pair_token_from_code "$pair_code" || true
+  fi
+
+  current_token="$(read_pair_token || true)"
+  if gateway_is_paired && token_is_usable "$current_token"; then
+    return 0
+  fi
+
+  sleep 0.5
+  pair_code="$(extract_pair_code)"
+  if [[ -n "$pair_code" ]]; then
+    write_pair_token_from_code "$pair_code" || true
+  fi
+
+  current_token="$(read_pair_token || true)"
+  if ! token_is_usable "$current_token"; then
+    rm -f "$TOKEN_FILE"
+  fi
+}
+
 if is_running "$GW_PID_FILE"; then
   echo "[info] gateway already running (pid $(cat "$GW_PID_FILE"))."
 elif [[ -n "$(listener_pid_on_port "$GATEWAY_PORT")" ]]; then
@@ -172,21 +317,7 @@ for _ in $(seq 1 40); do
   sleep 0.25
 done
 
-PAIR_CODE="$(grep -Eo 'X-Pairing-Code: [0-9]{6}' "$GW_LOG" 2>/dev/null | tail -1 | awk '{print $2}' || true)"
-if [[ -n "$PAIR_CODE" ]]; then
-  PAIR_JSON="$(curl -sS -X POST "http://$GATEWAY_HOST:$GATEWAY_PORT/pair" -H "X-Pairing-Code: $PAIR_CODE" || true)"
-  TOKEN="$(printf '%s' "$PAIR_JSON" | python3 -c 'import json,sys
-raw=sys.stdin.read().strip()
-try:
-  obj=json.loads(raw) if raw else {}
-except Exception:
-  obj={}
-print(obj.get("token",""), end="")')"
-  if [[ -n "$TOKEN" ]]; then
-    printf '%s\n' "$TOKEN" >"$TOKEN_FILE"
-    chmod 600 "$TOKEN_FILE"
-  fi
-fi
+ensure_gateway_pairing
 
 write_prometheus_config
 case "$PROM_MODE" in
@@ -196,8 +327,12 @@ case "$PROM_MODE" in
     ;;
   auto)
     rm -f "$PROM_MANAGED_FILE"
-    if ! start_prometheus_binary; then
-      PROM_STATUS="disabled(prometheus missing; use ZEROCLAW_PROM_MODE=docker)"
+    if start_prometheus_binary; then
+      :
+    elif start_prometheus_docker; then
+      :
+    else
+      PROM_STATUS="disabled(no prometheus backend available)"
     fi
     ;;
   binary)
@@ -209,7 +344,7 @@ case "$PROM_MODE" in
   docker)
     rm -f "$PROM_MANAGED_FILE"
     if ! start_prometheus_docker; then
-      PROM_STATUS="disabled(docker unavailable)"
+      PROM_STATUS="disabled(docker unavailable or daemon not ready)"
     fi
     ;;
   *)
@@ -443,5 +578,13 @@ EOF
 
 echo "Gateway: http://$GATEWAY_HOST:$GATEWAY_PORT/health"
 echo "Follow : http://127.0.0.1:$FOLLOW_PORT/"
+echo "Prom   : http://$PROM_HOST:$PROM_PORT/targets ($PROM_STATUS)"
 echo "Logs   : $GW_LOG"
 echo "Token  : $TOKEN_FILE"
+if [[ ! -s "$TOKEN_FILE" ]]; then
+  if gateway_is_paired; then
+    echo "[warn] gateway is paired but local bearer token is unavailable; webhook_send may require ZEROCLAW_BEARER or gateway re-pair."
+  else
+    echo "[warn] pair token not found. If gateway is waiting for pairing, restart and pair again."
+  fi
+fi
diff --git a/tools/ai/zeroclaw_webhook_send.sh b/tools/ai/zeroclaw_webhook_send.sh
index 7144caa..65fb78e 100755
--- a/tools/ai/zeroclaw_webhook_send.sh
+++ b/tools/ai/zeroclaw_webhook_send.sh
@@ -1,26 +1,43 @@
 #!/usr/bin/env bash
 set -euo pipefail
 
+load_local_env() {
+  local env_file="${ZEROCLAW_ENV_FILE:-$HOME/.zeroclaw/env}"
+  [[ -f "$env_file" ]] || return 0
+  chmod 600 "$env_file" >/dev/null 2>&1 || true
+  set -a
+  # shellcheck disable=SC1090
+  source "$env_file"
+  set +a
+}
+
+load_local_env
+
 ART_DIR="${ZEROCLAW_ART_DIR:-/Users/cils/Documents/Lelectron_rare/Kill_LIFE/artifacts/zeroclaw}"
 HOST="${ZEROCLAW_GATEWAY_HOST:-127.0.0.1}"
 PORT="${ZEROCLAW_GATEWAY_PORT:-3000}"
 TOKEN_FILE="$ART_DIR/pair_token.txt"
 CONVO_FILE="$ART_DIR/conversations.jsonl"
+BUDGET_FILE="$ART_DIR/webhook_budget.json"
+MAX_CALLS_PER_HOUR="${ZEROCLAW_WEBHOOK_MAX_CALLS_PER_HOUR:-40}"
+MAX_CHARS="${ZEROCLAW_WEBHOOK_MAX_CHARS:-1200}"
 
 usage() {
   cat >&2 <<USAGE
 Usage:
-  $(basename "$0") [--repo-hint <hint>] [--allow-model-call] "message"
+  $(basename "$0") [--repo-hint <hint>] [--allow-model-call] [--dry-run] "message"
 
 Options:
   --repo-hint <hint>    conversation source hint (e.g. rtc, zacus)
-  --allow-model-call    required to actually send webhook requests
+  --allow-model-call    legacy option (no longer required)
+  --dry-run             validate payload and limits without network send
   -h, --help            show this help
 USAGE
 }
 
 REPO_HINT="unknown"
 ALLOW_MODEL_CALL=0
+DRY_RUN=0
 MESSAGE=""
 
 while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
@@ -38,6 +55,10 @@ while [[ $# -gt 0 ]]; do
       ALLOW_MODEL_CALL=1
       shift
       ;;
+    --dry-run)
+      DRY_RUN=1
+      shift
+      ;;
     -h|--help)
       usage
       exit 0
@@ -64,22 +85,79 @@ if [[ -z "$MESSAGE" ]]; then
   exit 1
 fi
 
-if [[ "$ALLOW_MODEL_CALL" -ne 1 ]]; then
-  echo "[guard] dry guard / credit protection: add --allow-model-call to send." >&2
-  exit 10
+if [[ "$ALLOW_MODEL_CALL" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  echo "[info] --allow-model-call accepted (legacy no-op)." >&2
 fi
 
 TOKEN="${ZEROCLAW_BEARER:-}"
 if [[ -z "$TOKEN" && -f "$TOKEN_FILE" ]]; then
   TOKEN="$(cat "$TOKEN_FILE")"
 fi
+
+mkdir -p "$ART_DIR"
+touch "$CONVO_FILE"
+
+MESSAGE_CHARS="$(python3 -c 'import sys;print(len(sys.argv[1]))' "$MESSAGE")"
+if (( MESSAGE_CHARS > MAX_CHARS )); then
+  echo "[budget] message length ${MESSAGE_CHARS} exceeds ZEROCLAW_WEBHOOK_MAX_CHARS=${MAX_CHARS}." >&2
+  exit 11
+fi
+
+if [[ "$DRY_RUN" -eq 1 ]]; then
+  echo "[dry-run] payload validated; no network call performed."
+  echo "[dry-run] repo_hint=$REPO_HINT chars=$MESSAGE_CHARS"
+  exit 0
+fi
+
 if [[ -z "$TOKEN" ]]; then
   echo "[fail] no bearer token found. Start stack first or set ZEROCLAW_BEARER." >&2
   exit 2
 fi
 
-mkdir -p "$ART_DIR"
-touch "$CONVO_FILE"
+if ! python3 - "$BUDGET_FILE" "$MAX_CALLS_PER_HOUR" <<'PY'
+import json
+import os
+import sys
+import time
+
+path = sys.argv[1]
+max_calls = int(sys.argv[2])
+now = int(time.time())
+window_start = now - 3600
+
+state = {"calls": []}
+if os.path.exists(path):
+  try:
+    with open(path, "r", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+      loaded = json.load(f)
+    if isinstance(loaded, dict):
+      state = loaded
+  except Exception:
+    state = {"calls": []}
+
+calls = []
+for item in state.get("calls", []):
+  try:
+    ts = int(float(item))
+  except Exception:
+    continue
+  if ts >= window_start:
+    calls.append(ts)
+
+if max_calls > 0 and len(calls) >= max_calls:
+  print(f"[budget] hourly call limit reached: {len(calls)}/{max_calls}", file=sys.stderr)
+  sys.exit(1)
+
+calls.append(now)
+tmp_path = path + ".tmp"
+with open(tmp_path, "w", encoding="utf-8") as f:
+  json.dump({"calls": calls}, f, ensure_ascii=False, indent=2)
+os.replace(tmp_path, path)
+print(f"[budget] calls in last hour: {len(calls)}/{max_calls}", file=sys.stderr)
+PY
+then
+  exit 12
+fi
 
 PAYLOAD="$(python3 -c 'import json,sys;print(json.dumps({"message":sys.argv[1]}))' "$MESSAGE")"
 TMP_BODY="$(mktemp)"