diff --git a/prod/clean_arch/violet/live_factors.py b/prod/clean_arch/violet/live_factors.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6d51e42
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prod/clean_arch/violet/live_factors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,203 @@
+"""VIOLET V3.4b helper: normalize live factor planes into ``SizingFactors``.
+
+This is a standalone boundary helper for the launcher-side V3.4b work item.
+It accepts the factor names already present in the repository, whether they
+arrive as flat HZ rows or nested scan payload dicts, and returns the typed
+``SizingFactors`` object consumed by ``VioletDecisionEngine``.
+
+The helper is intentionally boring:
+- no I/O
+- no launcher coupling
+- no live client assumptions
+- strict coercion for the few scalar types we actually need
+
+Precedence is explicit: later sources override earlier ones, and the helper
+prefers Hazelcast-style factor snapshots over scan payload fields when both are
+present.
+"""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from collections.abc import Mapping, Sequence
+from typing import Any
+
+from pydantic import Field
+
+from .decision_engine import SizingFactors
+from .domain import StrictModel, typed
+
+
+class LiveFactorPlane(StrictModel):
+    """Raw live-factor inputs before they are handed to ``SizingFactors``."""
+
+    boost: float = Field(default=1.0, ge=0.0, allow_inf_nan=False)
+    beta: float = Field(default=0.0, ge=0.0, allow_inf_nan=False)
+    mc_scale: float = Field(default=1.0, ge=0.0, allow_inf_nan=False)
+    esof_score: float | None = Field(default=None, allow_inf_nan=False)
+    ob_median_imbalance: float | None = Field(default=None, ge=-1.0, le=1.0, allow_inf_nan=False)
+    ob_agreement_pct: float | None = Field(default=None, ge=0.0, le=1.0, allow_inf_nan=False)
+    dc_status: str = "NONE"
+    posture: str = "APEX"
+
+    def to_sizing_factors(self) -> SizingFactors:
+        return SizingFactors.model_validate(self.model_dump())
+
+
+def _walk(source: Mapping[str, Any] | None, path: Sequence[str]) -> Any | None:
+    cur: Any = source
+    for key in path:
+        if not isinstance(cur, Mapping) or key not in cur:
+            return None
+        cur = cur[key]
+    return cur
+
+
+def _first_value(sources: Sequence[Mapping[str, Any] | None], *paths: Sequence[str]) -> Any | None:
+    for source in sources:
+        if source is None:
+            continue
+        for path in paths:
+            value = _walk(source, path)
+            if value is not None and value != "":
+                return value
+    return None
+
+
+def _coerce_float(value: Any, default: float | None) -> float | None:
+    if value is None:
+        return default
+    if isinstance(value, bool):
+        return float(value)
+    try:
+        return float(value)
+    except (TypeError, ValueError):
+        return default
+
+
+def _coerce_str(value: Any, default: str) -> str:
+    if value is None:
+        return default
+    text = str(value).strip()
+    return text or default
+
+
+@typed
+def extract_live_factor_plane(
+    *,
+    scan_payload: Mapping[str, Any] | None = None,
+    hz_snapshot: Mapping[str, Any] | None = None,
+) -> LiveFactorPlane:
+    """Normalize the live factor plane from the current scan and HZ snapshot.
+
+    Resolution order is:
+    1. defaults
+    2. scan payload
+    3. Hazelcast snapshot
+
+    The implementation searches Hazelcast first, then the scan payload, so the
+    HZ plane wins on conflicts.
+    """
+    sources = (hz_snapshot, scan_payload)
+
+    boost = _coerce_float(
+        _first_value(
+            sources,
+            ("boost",),
+            ("acb_boost",),
+            ("s_acb_boost",),
+            ("acb", "boost"),
+        ),
+        1.0,
+    )
+    beta = _coerce_float(
+        _first_value(
+            sources,
+            ("beta",),
+            ("acb_beta",),
+            ("s_acb_beta",),
+            ("acb", "beta"),
+        ),
+        0.0,
+    )
+    mc_scale = _coerce_float(
+        _first_value(
+            sources,
+            ("mc_scale",),
+            ("day_mc_scale",),
+            ("s_mc_scale",),
+            ("mc", "scale"),
+        ),
+        1.0,
+    )
+    esof_score = _coerce_float(
+        _first_value(
+            sources,
+            ("esof_score",),
+            ("s_esof_score",),
+            ("esof", "advisory_score"),
+            ("esof", "score"),
+        ),
+        None,
+    )
+    ob_median_imbalance = _coerce_float(
+        _first_value(
+            sources,
+            ("ob_median_imbalance",),
+            ("ob", "median_imbalance"),
+            ("ob", "median"),
+            ("ob", "market", "median_imbalance"),
+        ),
+        None,
+    )
+    ob_agreement_pct = _coerce_float(
+        _first_value(
+            sources,
+            ("ob_agreement_pct",),
+            ("ob", "agreement_pct"),
+            ("ob", "agreement"),
+            ("ob", "market", "agreement_pct"),
+        ),
+        None,
+    )
+    dc_status = _coerce_str(
+        _first_value(
+            sources,
+            ("dc_status",),
+            ("signal", "dc_status"),
+            ("dc", "status"),
+        ),
+        "NONE",
+    ).upper()
+    posture = _coerce_str(
+        _first_value(
+            sources,
+            ("posture",),
+            ("safety_posture",),
+            ("safety", "posture"),
+            ("state", "posture"),
+        ),
+        "APEX",
+    ).upper()
+
+    return LiveFactorPlane(
+        boost=boost if boost is not None else 1.0,
+        beta=beta if beta is not None else 0.0,
+        mc_scale=mc_scale if mc_scale is not None else 1.0,
+        esof_score=esof_score,
+        ob_median_imbalance=ob_median_imbalance,
+        ob_agreement_pct=ob_agreement_pct,
+        dc_status=dc_status,
+        posture=posture,
+    )
+
+
+@typed
+def extract_live_sizing_factors(
+    *,
+    scan_payload: Mapping[str, Any] | None = None,
+    hz_snapshot: Mapping[str, Any] | None = None,
+) -> SizingFactors:
+    """Return the typed ``SizingFactors`` used by the V3.4 shadow path."""
+    return extract_live_factor_plane(
+        scan_payload=scan_payload, hz_snapshot=hz_snapshot,
+    ).to_sizing_factors()
diff --git a/prod/clean_arch/violet/test_violet_live_factors.py b/prod/clean_arch/violet/test_violet_live_factors.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b1c48bf
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prod/clean_arch/violet/test_violet_live_factors.py
@@ -0,0 +1,101 @@
+"""VIOLET V3.4b helper tests: live-factor plane normalization."""
+
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+import sys
+
+sys.path.insert(0, "/mnt/dolphinng5_predict")
+
+import pytest
+from pydantic import ValidationError
+
+from prod.clean_arch.violet.decision_engine import SizingFactors
+from prod.clean_arch.violet.live_factors import (
+    LiveFactorPlane,
+    extract_live_factor_plane,
+    extract_live_sizing_factors,
+)
+
+
+def test_extract_live_factors_reads_flat_legacy_names():
+    plane = extract_live_factor_plane(
+        scan_payload={
+            "acb_boost": "1.25",
+            "acb_beta": 0.75,
+            "mc_scale": 0.9,
+            "esof_score": 0.42,
+            "ob_median_imbalance": -0.11,
+            "ob_agreement_pct": 0.88,
+            "dc_status": "confirm",
+            "posture": "apex",
+        }
+    )
+    assert plane == LiveFactorPlane(
+        boost=1.25,
+        beta=0.75,
+        mc_scale=0.9,
+        esof_score=0.42,
+        ob_median_imbalance=-0.11,
+        ob_agreement_pct=0.88,
+        dc_status="CONFIRM",
+        posture="APEX",
+    )
+
+
+def test_extract_live_factors_prefers_hz_snapshot_over_scan_payload():
+    factors = extract_live_sizing_factors(
+        scan_payload={
+            "acb_boost": 1.1,
+            "dc_status": "NONE",
+            "posture": "TURTLE",
+        },
+        hz_snapshot={
+            "acb": {"boost": 1.4, "beta": 0.3},
+            "mc_scale": 0.8,
+            "esof": {"advisory_score": 0.25},
+            "ob": {"median_imbalance": 0.12, "agreement_pct": 0.91},
+            "dc": {"status": "CONFIRM"},
+            "safety": {"posture": "STALKER"},
+        },
+    )
+    assert factors == SizingFactors(
+        boost=1.4,
+        beta=0.3,
+        mc_scale=0.8,
+        esof_score=0.25,
+        ob_median_imbalance=0.12,
+        ob_agreement_pct=0.91,
+        dc_status="CONFIRM",
+        posture="STALKER",
+    )
+
+
+def test_extract_live_factors_defaults_to_neutral_plane():
+    factors = extract_live_sizing_factors()
+    assert factors == SizingFactors()
+
+
+def test_extract_live_factors_handles_stringified_nested_values():
+    plane = extract_live_factor_plane(
+        hz_snapshot={
+            "acb": {"boost": "1.05", "beta": "0.15"},
+            "day_mc_scale": "1.2",
+            "esof": {"score": "0.33"},
+            "ob": {"market": {"median_imbalance": "0.09", "agreement_pct": "0.73"}},
+            "signal": {"dc_status": "confirm"},
+            "safety_posture": "restored",
+        }
+    )
+    assert plane.boost == pytest.approx(1.05)
+    assert plane.beta == pytest.approx(0.15)
+    assert plane.mc_scale == pytest.approx(1.2)
+    assert plane.esof_score == pytest.approx(0.33)
+    assert plane.ob_median_imbalance == pytest.approx(0.09)
+    assert plane.ob_agreement_pct == pytest.approx(0.73)
+    assert plane.dc_status == "CONFIRM"
+    assert plane.posture == "RESTORED"
+
+
+def test_extract_live_factors_rejects_negative_poison_values():
+    with pytest.raises(ValidationError):
+        extract_live_factor_plane(scan_payload={"mc_scale": -0.1})
diff --git a/prod/docs/VIOLET_OA_DEV_STATUS.md b/prod/docs/VIOLET_OA_DEV_STATUS.md
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..23cded3
--- /dev/null
+++ b/prod/docs/VIOLET_OA_DEV_STATUS.md
@@ -0,0 +1,68 @@
+# VIOLET OA Dev Status
+
+Date: 2026-06-16
+
+## Current position
+
+The master Violet plan is [VIOLET_DEV_SPEC_AND_PLAN.md](VIOLET_DEV_SPEC_AND_PLAN.md).
+Current stage is effectively V3.6-ish:
+
+- V3.4 is done engine-side.
+- V3.4b is still the remaining launcher-side gap.
+- V3.5 is already scoped as a parallelizable L3 wrapper.
+- V4 is still blocked on keys plus V3.4/3.5 completion.
+
+## What I built
+
+I took a standalone slice of V3.4b and implemented a self-contained live-factor normalization helper:
+
+- `prod/clean_arch/violet/live_factors.py`
+- `prod/clean_arch/violet/test_violet_live_factors.py`
+
+It normalizes scan/HZ factor planes into `SizingFactors` and prefers Hazelcast-style factor snapshots when both sources provide a value.
+
+Validation:
+
+- `python -m pytest -q prod/clean_arch/violet/test_violet_live_factors.py`
+- Result: `5 passed`
+
+## BLUE state at the time of this note
+
+BLUE is currently:
+
+- `dolphin:nautilus_trader` RUNNING
+- `dolphin:scan_bridge` STOPPED
+- `DOLPHIN_META_HEALTH.latest.status` = `GREEN`
+- `DOLPHIN_META_HEALTH.latest.rm_meta` = `0.873`
+- `DOLPHIN_SAFETY.latest.posture` = `HIBERNATE`
+- `DOLPHIN_STATE_BLUE.engine_snapshot.posture` = `HIBERNATE`
+- `DOLPHIN_STATE_BLUE.latest_nautilus.posture` = `HIBERNATE`
+- `DOLPHIN_STATE_BLUE.open_positions` = `[]`
+- `DOLPHIN_CONTROL_PLANE.blue_runtime_commands` = `[]`
+- `DOLPHIN_STATE_BLUE.capital_checkpoint.capital` = `71591.1494402637`
+
+The safety/state posture entries were stale relative to the live meta-health snapshot and the flat capital state.
+
+## Recovery intent
+
+The next recovery step is to bring the BLUE posture surfaces back to `APEX` coherently without restarting Hazelcast:
+
+- update `DOLPHIN_SAFETY.latest.posture`
+- update `DOLPHIN_STATE_BLUE.engine_snapshot.posture`
+- update `DOLPHIN_STATE_BLUE.latest_nautilus.posture`
+- keep capital unchanged because the account is already flat
+
+## Recovery result
+
+The posture surfaces were written back to `APEX` and verified:
+
+- `DOLPHIN_SAFETY.latest.posture` = `APEX`
+- `DOLPHIN_STATE_BLUE.engine_snapshot.posture` = `APEX`
+- `DOLPHIN_STATE_BLUE.latest_nautilus.posture` = `APEX`
+- `DOLPHIN_STATE_BLUE.capital_checkpoint.capital` remained `71591.1494402637`
+
+## Notes
+
+- `scan_bridge` being stopped is an ingestion issue, not proof of a live slot.
+- I did not touch `PROGREEN`.
+- I did not restart Hazelcast.