Block phase progress without live backend

src/index.ts

@@ -786,6 +786,7 @@ export class TempestCommand extends EventEmitter<CommandEvents> {
   public resume(): void {
     if (!this.running || !this.paused) return;
     this.paused = false;
+    this.stallReason = null;
     this.emit('command:resumed');
   }
 
@@ -837,6 +838,9 @@ export class TempestCommand extends EventEmitter<CommandEvents> {
   /** Track whether we've seeded initial tasks for the current mission */
   private taskSeeded: boolean = false;
 
+  /** Human-readable reason a mission was paused because required work failed. */
+  private stallReason: string | null = null;
+
   /**
    * Main tick loop — seeds tasks, dispatches to operators, advances phases
    */
@@ -889,13 +893,28 @@ export class TempestCommand extends EventEmitter<CommandEvents> {
     );
     const inFlight = allMissionTasks.filter(t => this.activeDispatches.has(t.id));
 
-    // If we have tasks, all are done, and nothing is in-flight → advance phase
+    // If we have tasks, all are done, and nothing is in-flight → advance phase.
+    // Failed required tasks are terminal, but they are not successful progress.
+    // Stall instead of walking the phase bar forward with no backend/model work.
     if (allMissionTasks.length > 0 && pendingOrActive.length === 0 && inFlight.length === 0) {
+      const failedCurrentPhase = allMissionTasks.filter(
+        t => t.phase === mission.currentPhase && t.status === 'failed'
+      );
+      if (failedCurrentPhase.length > 0) {
+        const firstError = failedCurrentPhase[0].result?.error;
+        this.stallReason = `stalled in ${mission.currentPhase}: ${failedCurrentPhase.length} required task(s) failed` +
+          (firstError ? ` — ${firstError}` : '');
+        this.paused = true;
+        this.emit('command:paused');
+        return;
+      }
+
       const phaseIndex = mission.phases.indexOf(mission.currentPhase);
       if (phaseIndex === -1) return; // Guard: phase not found (race condition)
       if (phaseIndex < mission.phases.length - 1) {
         // Advance to next phase and generate tasks
         this.mission.advancePhase(mission.id);
+        this.stallReason = null;
         const targets = this.targetEnv.getAllTargets();
         for (const target of targets) {
           this.mission.generateNextPhaseTasks(target.address);
@@ -972,8 +991,12 @@ export class TempestCommand extends EventEmitter<CommandEvents> {
         // double-fire the completion hook.
         if (!this.activeDispatches.has(task.id)) return;
         this.clearDispatch(task.id);
-        taskQueue.complete(task.id, result);
-        this.hooks.onTaskCompleted?.(task);
+        if (result.success === false) {
+          taskQueue.fail(task.id, result.error || result.output || 'task returned unsuccessful result');
+        } else {
+          taskQueue.complete(task.id, result);
+          this.hooks.onTaskCompleted?.(task);
+        }
       }).catch((_error) => {
         if (!this.activeDispatches.has(task.id)) return;
         this.clearDispatch(task.id);
@@ -1199,6 +1222,7 @@ export class TempestCommand extends EventEmitter<CommandEvents> {
     vault: ReturnType<EvidenceVault['getStats']>;
     opsec: ReturnType<OpsecController['getStats']>;
     activeMission: string | null;
+    stallReason: string | null;
   } {
     const activeMission = this.mission.getActiveMission();
 
@@ -1212,6 +1236,7 @@ export class TempestCommand extends EventEmitter<CommandEvents> {
       vault: this.vault.getStats(),
       opsec: this.opsec.getStats(),
       activeMission: activeMission?.id || null,
+      stallReason: this.stallReason,
     };
   }
 

src/server.ts

@@ -5982,6 +5982,13 @@ app.post('/api/mission/start', async (req: Request, res: Response): Promise<void
     res.status(400).json({ error: 'API key required — pass apiKey, configure one on the server, or connect a local agent (Claude Code / Codex / Hermes)' });
     return;
   }
+  if (provider === 'local-agent') {
+    const localAgent = await requireLiveLocalAgent(model);
+    if (!localAgent.ok) {
+      res.status(503).json({ error: localAgent.error });
+      return;
+    }
+  }
 
   if (targets.length === 0) {
     res.status(400).json({ error: 'At least one target required' });
@@ -6217,6 +6224,7 @@ app.get('/api/mission/status', (_req: Request, res: Response) => {
   res.json({
     active: status.running,
     paused: status.paused,
+    stallReason: status.stallReason,
     name: status.name,
     tickCount: status.tickCount,
     mission: mission ? {
@@ -7380,6 +7388,22 @@ async function refreshConnectedLocalAgentHealth(force = false): Promise<void> {
   }));
 }
 
+async function requireLiveLocalAgent(model: string | undefined): Promise<{ ok: true; id: string } | { ok: false; error: string }> {
+  const id = String(model || 'codex').trim();
+  const entry = connectedLocalAgents.get(id);
+  if (!entry) return { ok: false, error: `local agent "${id}" is not connected — connect it in Settings first` };
+
+  await refreshConnectedLocalAgentHealth(true);
+  const refreshed = connectedLocalAgents.get(id);
+  if (refreshed?.lastPing?.ok) return { ok: true, id };
+
+  return {
+    ok: false,
+    error: `local agent "${id}" is connected but not live` +
+      (refreshed?.lastPing?.error ? ` — ${refreshed.lastPing.error}` : ''),
+  };
+}
+
 // GET /api/agents/local/detect — which agents are installed / authed / ready (no tokens spent)
 app.get('/api/agents/local/detect', async (_req: Request, res: Response): Promise<void> => {
   try {